A/N: I am not J.K. Rowling and do not own any of the characters.
1.
Hermione was suspicious. Then again, so were Ron and Harry. Unlike Ron, however, Hermione wasn't suspicious of Harry. Harry was his usual oblivious self. And unlike Harry, Hermione wasn't suspicious of Malfoy. Granted, Harry's suspicion of said blonde had everything to do with Harry's obliviousness. *Sigh* No. Hermione was suspicious of the last person she ever thought she'd need to be suspicious about. She had written this person off as not having enough brain cells to undertake suspicious activity. She wasn't certain whether to feel relieved the brain cells were there or feel irritated that the existence of the brain cells was interrupting her study time. Exams were coming up, after all - in a mere 8 months. Her favorite highlighter was already running out. She'd have to owl her mum for more. And page flags. Lots of page flags. All the page flags. Wait, where was she…
Oh yes, Hermione was suspicious. And the subject of her suspicions? Ron. Ronald Fucking Bilius Weasley. Her red-headed best friend whose talents included beating probably every witch and wizard alive at wizarding chess and Annoying the Everloving Fuck out of Hermione. The suspicious behavior had already been added under the category of Annoying the Everloving Fuck out of Hermione. He was currently employing his other talent against Harry (which really didn't take much effort, bless Harry's heart), who was too busy using his own limited brain cells trying to figure out how to prove his suspicions about Malfoy. Luckily Malfoy's current whereabouts and activities were unknown to Hermione (and apparently Harry - seriously, the level of stalking her "straight" friend engaged in should have clued all of Hogwarts into the fact that Harry was indeed anything but straight). *Sigh* Hermione thanked the gods that Harry and his obsession were housed in different areas of the castle. The two wizards would likely be dead if they lived in the same dormitory, either by each other's wands or their fellow dorm mates' wands (constant fighting and obsessing would have no doubt eventually led to constant snogging and shagging…hmmm, maybe Harry's obliviousness was for the best). At least the bloodshed would have occurred in the dungeons, since Malfoy would have murdered the sorting hat had it tried to put him in Gryffindor. Red just wasn't his color, and he'd have been stuck with Weasleys. Wait. Can you murder an inanimate object, even if it is sentient? Sounds like another topic for the Shit to Research when Harry and Ron Aren't Acting Like Idiots List. So far only one topic has been crossed off the Shit to Research when Harry and Ron Aren't Acting Like Idiots List (hereafter referred to as "The List"), and that was purely by accident. Damn Bulstrode and her cat. Luckily Madam Pomfrey had given Hermione her own room during that episode, otherwise she'd never live it down. Harry and Ron still laughed about the ears, tail and whiskers. Friends with minimal brain cells and a failure to see what's right in front of them (even with those hideous glasses) really are for the best. Imagine if her best friends were female… *shudder*
Right. Back to the point. Hermione was suspicious. Ron had been jumpy and secretive ever since term started a month ago. Not to mention Ron kept a very close eye on Harry. At first, Hermione thought he was jumping on the Malfoy Is a Death Eater bandwagon with Harry. As annoying as that would have been, her second suspicion was far more worrisome - that Ron had realized what was really going on with Malfoy, and by extension, Harry. But no. Ron was firmly convinced both that his best friend was straight and that said friend detested Malfoy, despite the rather clear evidence. So, Hermione had been forced to channel Harry and stalk her red-headed, chess-loving best friend. Since she sat next to him at all meals and most classes, this was rather easy. What wasn't easy was figuring out just what was going on. Ginny didn't know, and Fred and George had yet to respond to her letter. Maybe Ron was secretly a Death Eater… *Hysterically laughing* Honestly, Ron would never join Voldemort. Or Malfoy. Not that Malfoy was a Death Eater. Harry was often an idiot, particularly when it comes to Malfoy. Hermione wasn't complaining though. The wizarding world had enough problems, what with Voldemort and his masked cronies causing mayhem. Harry finally seeing what had been all but smacking him in the face in regards to Malfoy would likely cause their world to implode. Wait… maybe that's the solution for destroying Voldemort. Maybe Hermione should add that to The List - highlighted of course. With a page flag next to it too. Oh yes, first thing in the morning she was going to owl her mum. Research was very important after all. Ron's suspicious behavior (of the non- Death Eater variety) would have to wait.
Hermione decided it was time for bed. As she headed across the common room to say goodnight to Ron and Harry, she saw Ron quickly tugging the sleeve of his shirt down his left arm. Seamus was sitting next to Ron, whispered something and jerked his head towards Hermione. "Shit, buggering, fuck..." was all Hermione heard before Ron launched off the couch and ran to his dorm. Hermione reached Seamus and Dean, both of whom started to talk about the weather for the first Quidditch match. In two weeks. Hermione stared at the two to no avail - they continued to pretend that she wasn't there and that they had no clue about what had just happened. Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to find Harry. Harry was sullenly staring at the map, muttering under his breath about Malfoy being up to something. Hermione patted Harry on the cheek and suggested he not stay up all night stalking good looking wizards or else people would start to talk. Harry didn't seem to hear, so Hermione walked up to her room. On the way she decided to start a new list tomorrow: What in the Bloody Hell is Going on with Ron? What in the Bloody Hell is Going on with Ron apparently was going to be first priority. *Sigh* Boys...