The smell of parchment and fresh ink had always attracted Hermione Granger, so it was only natural to find her studying in Hogwarts' library. Lying flat on its spin in front of the young witch was a newly bound copy of A Brief History of Muggle Monarchs in the Wizarding World. Hermione was quietly reading chapter eight about the political conflicts between Henry VIII and one of his wives, who happened to be a prominent witch of the era.

While quickly finishing the last line of the chapter, Hermione's ear twitched. She heard the familiar sound of a sprinting Ron Weasley and looked up at her friend.

"Hermione!" Ron gasped while panting.

"Well Ronald, what trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?" Hermione asked.

"Well, Snape was walking by the common room and I thought it would be funny to trick Seamus into mix some lilix power with that red stuff you gave me for Christmas…and throw it at Snape."

"RON! That red stuff was Dragon Puff! Mixed with lilix power, it'll -"

"Explode, I know," Ron interrupted. "It was great, and you should have seen the look on Snape's face too, but Seamus ratted me out when Snape saw him, that weasel, and know Snape looks like he's gonna breathe fire…ON ME!"

"Well, it is your fault, you know," Hermione said as she reopened he book.

"But Hermione, you gotta help me. He's gonna torture me! Can you imagine Snape's Cruciatus curse? It'll be brutal!"

Hermione looked up at Ron. She knew that she couldn't say no to that face, especially since it belonged to the man she loved.

"Alright, follow me," she said, and they were off. Hermione quickly slammed her book shut and grabbed Ron's hand (which Ron didn't seem to mind). She ran out of the Library and down a corridor. As they ran, torches spontaneously lighted up to reveal the dark corridor ahead. Ron and Hermione ran as fast as they could. Hermione made a left turn at the end of the hallway and kept going. Farther and farther into the castle they ran, but Snape was still behind them. They could hear his voice calling for Ron. Suddenly, Hermione stopped.

"What are you doing?" Ron asked her.

"Saving you, what do you think I'm doing?" She replied.

"But there's nothing here! If you wanted to go to the common room, you should have made a right."

"Ronald, will you shut up for once and trust me!"

Hermione took out her want and made a figure-eight with it in the air. Then she tapped a tile on the floor and yelled "Alohomora."

"Hermione, are you completely mental? There's no lock's out here for you to open! Why are you-," but before Ron could finish, a picture of a lion appeared on the tile. Then the floor shook and a small hole appeared in the floor. Hermione grinned and jumped in, followed by Ron.

Once underground, Hermione looked up and yelled "Ascendio," and the tile shot back up, filling the hole that the two students had just crawled through.

Hermione turned to Ron and said," Now, what were you were saying?"

CH2

"Hermione, what the bloody hell was that?" asked Ron.

"Well, if you must know, I was reading about a secret passage that Godric Gryffindor made in the castle last week in Hogwarts, A History. Thought it would come in handy, and it did!" She said enthusiastically.

"But how did you find it? I thought the passage was lost."

"Well, I did a little snooping and found it. Honestly Ron, didn't you realize me being absent from dinner last weekend?"

Ron didn't answer, but inside he wanted to say yes. Of course he noticed Hermione's absence, she meant everything to him! In fact, he was worried sick, but was too shy to ask Hermione what she was doing.

"We better get a move on it. I – uh – don't want to be late for dinner," said Ron.

Hermione glared at him and took charge. She told Ron to walk down the dark passageway that she lit with the tip of her wand.

"Hermione, exactly how many times have you been down here?" Ron asked

"Technically, none. But that's ok because I have keen intuition and an idea of where we're going," she replied.

"Great, just want I wanted to hear," Ron said sarcastically.

"Well Ronald, if you want to lead the wa -"

Hermione had stopped, and for good reason. Ron looked over the witch's shoulder and saw that the small path had turned into a massive dome-shaped building filled with everything imaginable.

"Hermione, where are we?"

"I think w..we're in the r…room of requirement," Hermione stuttered.

Without warning, the entrance to the hidden pathway sealed itself behind Ron and Hermione. The two said nothing, but gave each other a worried expression, and walked forward. As they walked, they noticed that they had never seen this part of the room of requirement before, and decided that it was probably the opposite side of the room away from the entrance.

"Hey Hermione," Ron said, "I just wanted to tell you that…"

He paused, thinking that what he was about to say could somehow backfire.

"Yah," said Hermione.

"I –uh – just wanted to tell you that I did notice you weren't at supper last Saturday and Sunday."

His palms were sweaty and hot. Hermione turned and said nothing. Oh no thought Ron. What have I done! That was stupid, Weasley. Why not tell her that you just love her, you as-

"Thanks Ron"

"Oh, no problem."