Author's Note: Hi there! This is my first short story I've ever written so I thought it would be best if I started out with a songfic or rather story that was based off a song. It's a good song so I'll try my best to put it into story format. The song is "Car Underwater" by Armor for Sleep, so I hope you enjoy! Any critique would be welcome! D

The story is my version of what goes on in sixth year between Ron and Hermione, so no HBP spoilers. Oh yeah, and I don't own Harry Potter or anything related to him.

Chapter One

Passing Time

It was already a month into the new school year and the temperature was dropping fast. Every fireplace in the school was ablaze but even that didn't seem to help in the drafty corridors, at least that's what Hermione thought as she, Harry, and Ron were on their way to Defense Against the Dark Arts.

As the days passed by, she couldn't help but notice that there was something she needed. For being such a brainy girl, it was frustrating to not understand herself. She was a prefect, she organized a foundation-somewhat- to help house elves, she had perfect grades, a good family life, and two incredibly loyal best friends she could only dream of. But yet, something had seriously gone wrong somewhere. Hermione wasn't sure where, when, or what, but something was amiss and she was determined to get to the bottom of it.

"What do you think, Hermione?"

Great, she thought, caught daydreaming again.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" turning towards Harry, who was looking at her quizzically.

"I asked if you were up for a little outing this weekend to Fred and George's new shop in Hogsmede. Were you drifting again?" He was looking at her like her nose just grew a foot.

"So what if I was? I have a lot on my mind," she defended herself.

"If I didn't know any better, Hermione, I'd say you were drifting, and not just today, but what about yesterday in Herbology? I've never seen you not raise your hand in class," Ron had joined their conversation now, obviously concerned.

"Look you two, I'm fine. I must be getting a little stressed or something, nothing to worry about." Hermione hoped her lying was better than Ron's- she didn't want to have to explain herself right now.

"And as for your field trip to Hogsmede, I do hope you realize that it is NOT the proper weekend. I will take no part in your little escapades off grounds. And I certainly would not risk my status as prefect to be caught at your brothers' joke shop!" Ron looked at her incredulously.

"Excuse me, but it's not like its Zonko's we're talking about. I could use a few of the Everlasting Stink Bombs Fred just made! Those things take at least three days for the smell to disappear…Not that I would ever use them at Hogwarts of course," he added that last bit when he saw Hermione's mouth open, ready to interject.

Before she was about to speak, another red head appeared between her and Harry.

"'Ello there mates! Wat's the goings on 'round 'ere?" said a very hyper Ginny in her very annoying Cockney impression.

"Well, Ron and Hermione are just bickering as usual," Harry spoke above the two fighting, acknowledging Ginny's nod, "we were just discussing our field trip to Fred and George's shop this weekend. Care to join us?"

Ginny looked at Ron on the other side of Harry. He looked a little flustered, but determined. Of course Hermione would try and stop them but she never succeeded in the past.

"Of course I will!" she lowered her voice, "Don't worry, I'll talk to her."

"Come on Hermione! We could take Harry's cloak all the way there and back!" Ron obviously had not given up.

"Really, Ron, do you think all three of us will fit under that thing? Both you and Harry have grown like weeds over the years, and what about Ginny? Oh, what am I saying! We're not going!" Hermione's face was pink and a few stray hairs were resting on her forehead when she turned to Ginny.

"Honestly, some people just do not change!" There was a hint of surrender in her tone and even the tiniest smile had managed to escape. Only Ginny caught this and a slow, curious grin crept on her face.

"What are you smirking at?" the one thing Hermione hated most, besides not understanding herself, was someone knowing something she didn't.

"Mmmhmm…I think I understand it now," the trio looked at Ginny with questioning glances, Hermione with a slightly pinker face.

"I think I'll be off. Can't be late, especially when there are two prefects right next to me." Ginny left the three of them behind as she skipped down the hall.

"I think we should do the same, Snape will probably take ten points from each of us," Harry said, ending the argument.

"Yeah, that and he'll probably kill us and use our bones for some sort of potion, the git!" Ron never stopped concocting images of Snape at his worst.

"Ron! Language please, there are first years around," and Hermione never stopped bugging Ron about his colorful language.

By the time Hermione go back from the library, Gryffindor tower was a madhouse. It seemed like everyone was there talking, laughing, or running around. The only exception was Ron and Harry playing a game of Wizard Chess in front of the largest fireplace. She noticed Ginny in the corner of the room, sitting by a big picture window doing homework. Relieved that her favorite spot hadn't been taken, she walked over and sat across from Ginny.

"Ugh, these books are so heavy…So why is everyone down here, it's only Thursday?" Hermione could have sworn it was a full moon with their behavior when she suddenly thought of Remus Lupin, her favorite Defense Against the Dark Arts professor with a ping of sadness.

"I'm not sure, maybe pre-weekend jitters?" Ginny stared down at her paper avoiding Hermione's gaze.

"Maybe…aside from the fact that midterms are in a week! Last night the common room was as quiet as the library! Something's not right, Ginny." Hermione took a closer look at Ginny's cheeks turning red. "And you know why, don't you? What did you do?" she nagged. It took a few seconds for Ginny to compose herself before she spoke.

"George asked me to…I mean, if I could sort of test his latest on our dearest fellow students," Hermione was staring at her with huge eyes.

"You what! What did you give them, Ginny? And how, there's so many!" she found it was hard to speak. What would happen to her if Professor McGonagall just walked in to see this mess?

"It's totally harmless, well mostly. George calls it Think-Me-Not. He said it's like a sedative but without the drowsing effects. Whoever inhales the gas, that's what it is, lets loose and forgets about their responsibilities,"

Hermione wasn't sure how to feel- relieved because Fred and George actually made something that could be useful or stressed because Fred and George made something that could hurt the whole house.

"How does it last, Ginny?" suddenly Hermione covered her mouth and nose. "Oh Merlin, I've been breathing it in this whole time!"

Ginny laughed at Hermione's reaction. "Don't worry, its fading away," she said pulling down Hermione's hands, "Fred said it only lasted about an hour."

"What about you? And Harry and Ron?"

"Well, I left as soon as I set it off and got back when it started wearing out. As for those two, they were in here the whole time. Though I doubt they had much stress on about midterms to begin with. Can't make a lazy procrastinator lazier I guess."

Hermione looked over at the fireplace in time to see Ron's knight skew one of Harry's pawns.

"Honestly, I don't think those two will ever get their priorities straight," she sighed.

Ginny gave her the same look she did earlier that morning.

"Hermione, why do you fuss so much over them?" she was sick of Hermione never opening up to her. Sure, that was her choice, but Ginny thought it was high time for the whiz kid to give in a little to her girly instincts.

"Is it a crime to worry about your friends' futures? Besides, if I don't nag them, who will?"

"Well, I just think it's a little more deeply rooted than that," she said closing her book with her parchment inside.

"You should really get a folder to keep those neat. And by deeply rooted, I certainly hope you don't mean what I think you mean. I could never feel that way for Harry,"

"Who said I was talking about Harry?" Ginny gathered her books and turned her back.

"Oh, and please come with us this weekend. It will be fun, I promise. Besides, I think someone really wants you to come," she smiled and walked away before Hermione could say anything.