Author's Note: First, a disclaimer I seem to have forgotten –all characters are JK Rowling's. The plot is mine.

So… it seems this little story of mine has gained quite a lot of fans and attention in the few days it's been since I posted it. Which makes me incredibly happy! And means that I'll be listening to what the review have been saying and adding more to the story. I'm starting off with a prequel to the main story –where you guys will learn exactly what happened on the night Hermione was remembering, that night in the Gryffindor tower, and the morning after…

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It wasn't that she wasn't proud of him –far from it. She was practically bursting with joy after that Quidditch match, after watching make save after save, so confident in himself. Watching in embarrassment as after every save he threw her a kiss. Blushing at the jeers and whistles from the Gryffindor students, particularly Fred and George. And that kiss –the kiss he had given her after he had landed and she had run onto the field with the other Gryffindor students.

So it wasn't that. It wasn't that she didn't want to be at this party. The atmosphere was so light and happy and she really felt like taking a break –and here was the perfect place to do so. There were drinks, good food and good company, and the boy she loved was by her side, ecstatic at his victory. Ron Weasely. Her King, she jokingly called him, after the silly little song Slytherin had sung about him.

So it really wasn't any of that. She loved Ron and she wanted to stay with him, to celebrate with him… but her Arithmancy exam was coming up and she had to study, as well as get a good night's rest. She'd already stayed as long as she could without feeling too guilty, so after she finished her glass of butterbeer she'd kiss him good night and head to her room. She looked around the common room at all the happy faces – Neville laughing with Colin Creevey, Harry staring lovingly into Ginny's eyes (she'd highly approved when they'd gotten together after the Yule Ball), Lavender Brown glancing in her and Ron's direction and whispering something to Parvati Patil. Hermione laughed, realizing that after this, Ron would be some sort of mini-celebrity. But it was all right –it was Hermione he loved, and nothing else mattered.

She downed the rest of her butterbeer and stood up. She smoothed down her robes and put her hand on Ron's forearm. He immediately turned from his conversation with Dean Thomas and smiled at her. "What's up, 'Mione?"

"Nothing, I just needed to tell you that I'll be going to my room now." She smiled at him despite his stench of firewhisky. The silly little boy. He'd have a raging headache the next day.

Ron swayed on the spot and grinned. "To your room? Really? Would you want me to join you?" He waggled his eyebrows and hiccupped.

"No thank you, Ronald. You know perfectly well that I'm leaving this party early because I have an Arithmancy exam tomorrow and I need to do some light reviewing, as well as get a good night's sleep. For heaven's sake, get your mind out of the gutter," she said, half-playfully, half-annoyed. Honestly, Ron was such a boy sometimes. But an adorable one. Hers.

Ron's face fell. "Oh come on, 'Mione. We've been dating for a year already…"

"For the last time, Ronald, no. Now good night. Watch the whisky- you'll get a hangover." She tiptoed and planted a small kiss on his lips. He tried to grab her waist and deepen it, but the alcohol had made him clumsy, so she just laughed and pulled away. Ron cast her another disappointed, hurt look then turned back to Dean. She walked to her room and shut the door. Ah, peace. She opened her books, feeling relieved at the knowledge that she could trust Ron tonight, just like every other night…

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"Shh! Ron! Careful! What if someone sees us?"

"D-don't worry, s'late. No one's gonna be 'round here no more."

"Oh, what if someone saw us leave the tower?"

"Ev'ryone was sleepin'."

"Are you sure? What if someone walks in on us?"

"We'll just t-tell the damn room t'not let anyone in then."

"And Hermione…"

"Ferget 'Mione. I wan' be wi' you…"

"All right…"

From his hiding place in the shadows, Draco Malfoy could see and hear everything that went on between the two students. They were partially in shadow so he couldn't tell who the other one was, but from what he could decipher, one of them was the stupid Weasel King that Granger was dating. An obviously drunk Weasel. And if it was the Weasel, then the other one should be Granger. But something seemed wrong. The other student's voice was a little too high, a little too ineloquent. It was missing the bossy tone and the clear-cut pronunciation that Malfoy knew so well. At this realization, something went icy cold inside him. If this was Weasel, and the other one wasn't Granger…

The other student stepped into the light, and Malfoy's eyes widened. It definitely wasn't Granger. Standing next to Ron, her blouse coming undone, was Lavender Brown.

Malfoy's hand clenched around his wand. It was taking an incredible amount of self-control not to hex these two to the very depths of hell. Why was the Weasel cheating on Granger? And why of all people with this airhead? A fresh surge of anger ran through his body as Ron's words registered in his mind. Forget Hermione. That bastard…

Malfoy shook his head and silently told himself to direct his thoughts elsewhere. This—this infatuation with Hermione Granger was bad for him. She was below his status because she was a m—and mud— He couldn't even bring himself to think it. He shook his head again and looked up. The Weasel and the Gryffindor skank had disappeared into the Room of Requirement. So they were safe, for now. But soon, soon, Malfoy would make that little Weasel pay for what he was doing to Hermione Granger.

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Author's Note: I apologize for the confusing timeline. I do realize that in the first part of this story I said that Hermione had caught Ron with Lavender a few months after this incident. I'll remedy that in the next few chapters, where I'll elaborate on the morning after this (and all the things I said had happened then). Hopefully this didn't disappoint… from the looks of it a lot of you were excited for this story's continuation. Review me so I'll know what to do! Thanks for both the past reviews and the incoming ones. :D