I have been informed this has the "Pax Seal of Approval" by Pax Humana, who has acted as beta for all four entries in this series so far. Hope the rest of you enjoy it as well.

December 1993

Minerva McGonagall waited for the last of her third year Lions to join them in the Great Hall for breakfast. While many students had returned home for the Yule holidays, a few notable exceptions stayed behind, including Potter, Granger, and Weasley. The youngest male Weasley was yet to show, extremely peculiar given his love of food and his undying determination to be one of Mr Potter's closest friends.

Mr Potter and Miss Granger had long since arrived and were close to finishing their respective meals without even a glance about looking for their friend. When the house elves began to clean the empty platters away, Minerva decided enough was enough. Making her way down to the Head Boy, she began her inquiry.

"Mr Weasley, do you know where your youngest brother has gotten off to?"

Percy Weasley met her gaze. "No, ma'am. I haven't seen him all morning."

Minerva raised an eyebrow. "And don't you find that odd given his usual habits regarding meals?"

The oldest Weasley student began nervously looking about, likely trying to locate his wayward sibling.

The Deputy Headmistress continued. "I have not heard anything from Madam Pomfrey, so he is not in the hospital wing. Therefore, Mr Weasley, you will accompany me back to the tower to locate him as you seem unable to keep track of your charges without supervision."

Knowing she had embarrassed her Head Boy and likely generated some animosity between the brothers, MInerva did not wait for an acknowledgement. She made her way down the table, stopping briefly once she reached Mr Potter and Miss Granger.

Without pause, she asked about their missing friend. "Do you two happen to know where Mr Weasley has gotten off to?"

After a short, shared look, Miss Granger answered for the two of them. "We haven't seen him since bed last night when we had a bit of a row over the broom Harry received yesterday."

Having been a teacher for many decades, Minerva knew when students were lying. Having survived the Marauders, for her sanity she let many little lies go. Such was the case with Miss Granger's answer.

Nodding her assent, Minerva gestured for Percy to follow her as she made her way back to Gryffindor Tower.

As the pair approached the tower portrait, she began to hear muffled sounds. Arriving at the entrance to the tower, guarded by the allegedly affectionately nicknamed Fat Lady, Minerva once again inquisitively quirked an eyebrow.

"Charlotte, what is that ruckus I'm hearing?"

The portrait looked awash in relief that the Head of House was there. "I'm not sure, ma'am. I've just been hearing this awful caterwauling, coming from behind me since just after breakfast started."

"Very well, we'll just have to investigate." With a nod, the portrait opened unleashing a blast of sound that threatened to put Minerva and her companion on their rears.

"SOMEBODY GET ME DOWN FROM HERE!"

Charging forward with the requisite courage of a member of her house; Minerva bound into the common room looking around for the trouble.

When she looked up, she immediately turned her eyes away.

"Mr Weasley! What in the name of-" she cut herself off before her words got away from her. "What are you doing riding a broom without a stitch of clothing in the middle of the house common room?"

Ron Weasley, even after two and a half years of near punishment for being unable to put a stopper in his mouth, had yet to learn his lesson. "Some bloody Snake stuck me up here in the middle of the night! He stuck my hands to the broom and made it so the broom wouldn't move! Get me the bloody hell down from here!"

Minerva's lips thinned. Turning to the Head Boy at her side, she issued her commands. "Mr Weasley. Seeing as, according to your brother, there has been someone trespassing in the tower, I must investigate the matter. I leave it to you to get him down, clothed, and appropriately punished for his language and behaviour in the presence of a faculty member." With a firm glare she issued one final caveat. "Do not take out your frustrations for failing your responsibilities on him."

With a swish of her robes, Minerva turned and left to inform the Headmaster of another break-in. Rather, that was the impression she wanted to leave with the brothers Weasley. Her destination was with someone far more likely to have knowledge of the events.

Arriving at the school library, she walked over to the desk where Irma Pince was scowling at the students using the resources with careless disregard to their value. "Irma, do you happen to know where Miss Granger is hidden away?"

The librarian's scowl lessened at the mention of the only student who had proven to adequately care for what she viewed as her children. "Miss Granger is with Mr Potter at their usual table in the back, behind the charms section."

A polite nod signaling her understanding, Minerva departed with her destination established. As she neared the back wall, Minerva walked down the second-to-last row, providing a wall between her and the target table.

Nearing the table, she stopped a few feet short so as to not be directly visible through the gaps in the bookcases.

"Hermione, what did you do to Ron?"

At Mr Potter's statement, Minerva cast a quick charm to magnify the volume of the conversation slightly.

"Nothing he didn't deserve."

Mr Potter let loose a sigh. "And what did he deserve for trying to get me angry with you for reporting the broomstick to McGonagall?"

"He wanted a broomstick. I gave him a broomstick. One that he will never be able to separate himself from."

Thud.

Minerva knew that sound. Fifteen years and she still recognized the sound of a Potter banging his head against a table due to a headache from his paramour.

Mr Potter's muffled voice filtered through the bookshelves. "Fine, considering what he said last night it was justified. Just, no more for the rest of the week. Okay, Hermione?"

Minerva heard some shuffling. Peering through the shelves, she saw her two favourite students cuddling, not that she would ever admit to having favourites.

Miss Granger was curled up, completely in Mr Potter's lap. It was an adorably nostalgic sight. Mr Potter's father and mother had cuddled the exact same way after that traitor Sirius Black had been irritated at being ignored and turned both of their hair Slytherin green.

History repeated itself in the most delightful of ways, Minerva decided.

Now, she just had to report to Albus that it was merely a prank and there was no evidence as to who was responsible.

Yes. This is only the start of Ron's misery. I won't say I hate the character, but he leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion.

If you enjoyed this or have ideas for situations where we might find our adorably violent Hermione getting revenge for some slight against her or her Harry, please leave a review or send a PM.