AN: As always I don't own Harry Potter or the characters and world created by J. K. Rowling. The only thing I own is the story that they will be participating in. This story has been working in my mind for a few days now and I am finally going to give in and give it a shot. Please feel free to comment or review and if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them.

Hermione awoke with a start, as the dream left her yet again. A slight movement beside of her alerted her to the fact that Harry was still asleep at her side. She smiled softly as she looked over at the fourteen year old boy beside of her who had suffered so much at such a young age. His naked form was hidden beneath the cover that they shared in their secret room which she knew was the Room of Requirement. He had just completed the first task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament earlier that morning and she had met him up here afterward for a little alone time. They had never become a couple, despite the fact that for over a year now they had been meeting up here to calm each other down when one of them was upset or when time allowed simply to just fulfill their hormones for a while.

She stood as she felt her legs ache from the cold of the stone floor, wishing that the room had provided a bed this time. The cool air, surrounded her naked body and she shivered slightly as her breasts became slightly aroused. She walked over to the window that the room had provided and smiled as it showed a clear view of the lake far below. Taking a moment to watch as several students playing by the water. She turned and walked back over to the makeshift bed just as he was waking up.

"About time you came back to us." She said with a soft smile.

He grunted and just watched her for a moment, his emerald eyes shining in the afternoon sunlight that streamed in through the window. She laughed and then lay back down beside of him, watching him breathe. It had been a while since they had been able to meet up here and she was glad she had been able to convince him into joining her for some time. In the year since they had started having sex, she had never really thought much about what would happen as time went on, just that they both seemed to need this escape from reality for reasons that both of them understood that no one else did. But, since that fateful Halloween day, she had noticed feelings beginning to arouse for him, feelings that she had never really expected to arise. Every time she saw him, the room would light up and she would feel a shiver of excitement that only he was able to cause, even if they were just meeting up to head down to breakfast.

"What time is it?" He asked as he sat up and began to stretch the soreness from his limbs.

"About four." She said as she grabbed her wristwatch and looked at it.

"We should head down soon." He said with a frown.

"Or we could order in." She said with a gentle laugh.

"As tempting as that sounds, I am sure there is going to be a thunderous party tonight, and we should be there."

She sighed, it was one thing to have to go and eat, but she was beginning to grow tired of the many parties that the houses threw. Taking a moment to readjust her watch on her wrist she began to dress, sliding her panties back up her slender legs from where she sat. Just as she was reaching for her bra, she felt his hand stop hers and she turned to look at him.

"If it were up to me, we would just stay here tonight." He said with a soft smile.

She smirked, "And miss all the fun?" She joked.

"Yeah...fun..."

She frowned and scooted closer to him. "Look, I know things have been rough this year, but I am sure you will pull through. You always do." She said as she gently brushed a few stray strands of his hair from his forehead. "Besides, you will have me there to keep you inline."

He chuckled, "Yeah, but I could think of so many other things that we could be doing." He said with a wink.

She giggled, feeling a surge of longing spread through her body and she could feel her pussy moisten at the thought. "Oh behave!" She said with a soft, playful slap on his shoulder.

"I am behaving." He said, "See!" He stood and began to dress, pulling his boxers up as soon as he found them.

She shook her head and returned to dressing. Her mind wandered as she gently reassembled her uniform, going through her emotions and feelings for the boy beside of her. She had always known from the very first day she had met him that he would always be special to her, she just never realized she would begin to have feelings for him beyond just friends and friends with benefits. Her heart ached at the thought of this being nothing but a passing phase in their lives. She so wanted more, yet could not understand why she wanted more. She wondered if he felt this connection as well, but was too afraid to ask. He had never kissed her, never given away any hint that his feelings for her had also deepened into something beyond just a boy and his friend, yet she already knew that she loved him and wanted him to be more than just what they were already.

"Hermione..." He said as she turned to look up at him.

"Yes Harry?" She asked, curiosity shining in her large brown eyes.

"I...nothing..." He said, seeming to be conflicted in his thoughts.

"What is it Harry?" She asked, slightly confused with concern on her face.

"It's nothing..." He answered, still seeming conflicted.

"Tell me Harry." She said with a frown.

"I..It's...Well, well I was just wondering." He said, seeming to have some complications with getting what he wanted to say out. "You see, there is a ball going to be held at Christmas and well I was wondering if..if you would, you know..would you like to go with me?" As he finished, his cheeks flushed bright red.

She smiled, "Of course I would love to." She said as she gently hugged him, happiness bubbling inside of her. "But you do realize that people are going to think you and I are dating." She continued.

He shrugged, "And what if we were?" He aasked, his cheeks turning even more red.

"I..I don'l know!" She said, now joining him in blushing.

"'Mione?" He asked, looking her over for a moment.

"Yes Harry." She said, watching him.

"We...I mean...You and I." He said, tripping over his thoughts again

"I know...but, I still wouldn't protest it." She said in asnwer.

"You think that I would?" He said.

"No, but I don't think us dating would help you right now." She said with a sinking feeling.

"Look, I know I have the tournament and everything, but I know I could still do us." He said.

She smiled softly, "I know you could Harry, but I just don't think we need to become more involved than we are already at this point in time. Think about what that would entail and lead to." She said as she grabbed her bag and walked over to the door.

"I will see you at dinner." She said as she opened the door and walked out into the empty hall.