The next day Hermione woke up feeling slightly sore in her neck from falling asleep on the sofa. She didn't quite know how she got to bed last night, or when she fell asleep. She was sure she didn't finish her essay and was now going to have to cancel with Ginny and Neville so she could finish it.

After getting dressed in a pair of dark wash jeans and a white t-shirt with a light brown bomber jacket on top. She brushed out her hair and put it back up. She slipped on her trainers and made her way down the hall to the sofa to retrieve her forgotten essay and books to finish down by the lake. She noticed her school bag was missing and a note left in its place.

"I've taken your school bag and hid it where you'll never find it. Come down to breakfast and you can have it back when we get back from Hogsmeade. - Neville"

"He's lucky I know Ginny well enough to know she's behind this." She seethed.

She stormed down to the great hall in a fit of rage, well more of panic since she has no idea the state of her essay or the rest of her things. It's not like she has anything to hide, but everything has a place and an order she likes it in.

When she reached the Gryffindor table and found the pest of a redhead she stalked over to her. "Okay where is it."

Ginny turned to her with a smug look as Neville stopped mid bite of his sausage. "Whatever do you mean?" She smiled at her angry friend.

"You know exactly what I mean. I know Neville would know better than to take my school bag. My whole life is in there Ginerva and I want it back!" Hermione was not above casting a nasty hex to get the girl to talk.

"Hermione, it's only been a week and already Neville has to carry you to bed. That's just not normal. We want you to have a day off. We don't want you to burn out." Ginny had concern in her eyes and Hermione felt a little embarrassed that Neville had to carry her to bed. She glanced at Neville and saw he had the same look of concern as well. She knew she was over working herself but she needed to get perfect scores on all her NEWTs, that way she would have her choice of jobs since she had no idea what to do.

"I get my bag back the second we get back to the castle. No funny business. I'm not above giving you detention." She paused for dramatic effect. "With Filch." Ginny narrowed her eyes at her friend and nodded. Neville looked between the two girls and thanked Merlin he did not have to feel the wrath of either of them.

"Well I don't know about you guys but I'm ready to go." Neville stepped in before anything serious happened.

The 3 friends made the trek down to the small village of Hogsmeade. With their cheeks red and noses numb they ducked into the small bookstore on the edge of town. Of course, Ginny objected stating that she had more important things to do, and left the remaining two in the dust with a promise of lunch at Hogs Head.

"Good now I don't have to be subjected to her constant nagging." Hermione weaved in and out of the isles of books running her fingers over the spines.

"What would she be nagging you about?" Inquired Neville. Hermione had forgotten he was right behind her.

"Uh, nothing just girl stuff." She said quickly. She saw a flash of hurt in his eyes but accepted her answer without protest. She felt bad, but how could she tell him about the dreams. He would most certainly judge her, or worse laugh at her. "Look I want to apologize about the whole carrying me to bed situation. I'll just move my studies into my room at night, save you the trouble." Hermione found a book she was interested in and pulled it out to flip through.

"If you studied in your room to avoid me. I'd feel a little put out Hermione." Neville was genuinely hurt by Hermione thinking that was a good answer to the problem. She looked at him and frowned.

"That's not it at all Neville. I just don't want to disrupt your life with my annoying study habits." He studied her face for a moment contemplating what he should say next.

"That's not a good enough answer and you know it." he didn't want her to spend all her time in her room. He had grown to like the nightly study sessions with the witch. The comfortable silence was something he had never had with anyone before. Usually people would avoid being alone with him. That was the reason for liking plants so much, they listened and never judged, and didn't run away. Like she was doing right now.

"Neville, I'd never try to avoid you. I'm just embarrassed that you had to pick me up and carry me to bed. That must not have been easy for you." he sighed and walked away from her.

"Carrying you was the easy part. Watching you self-destruct is the hard part. I'm going back up to the castle, I just remembered some things I forgot to do for Professor Sprout." And like that he was gone, leaving Hermione to wonder what just happened.