A/N I don't own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does.

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The first thing Hermione noticed the next morning as she made her way down to the common room was a bunch of students huddled around the Ravenclaw common room talking nervously among themselves. As soon as she had glimpsed the notice she immediately knew this was another of the Educational Decrees passed by Professor or rather High Inquisitor Umbridge. This was the second such decree passed since the school year had begun while a couple had been passed before the school year had even begun. One of the decrees had eventually resulted in Umbridge being appointed their new Defence against Dark Arts teacher. The number of decrees had already numbered twenty-three. She went closer to read the notice.

BY ORDER

TH HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS

All Student Organisations, Societies, Groups, Teams and Clubs are henceforth disbanded.

An Organisation, Society, Group, Team or Club is hereby defined as the regular meeting of three or more students.

Permission to re-form may be sort from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge).

No Student Organisation, Society, Group, Team or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor.

The above is in accordance with

Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four.

Signed:

Dolores Jane Umbridge

HIGH INQUISITOR

Hermione froze on the spot. This could not be a coincidence, she must know but how? She wasn't the only who made the connection. Several other Ravenclaw's who were at the Hog's Head were nervously conversing among themselves. Hermione knew they had taken a big risk but she had not expected them to get caught the very first day. She eagerly made her way to the Great Hall wondering if the same notice had been put across the other.

By the amount of whispering conversation going around in the great hall she was quite sure the notice had been put across all the houses. She carefully scanned the faces of all the students that had been present for the meeting but to her surprise all of their faces were completely normal, even those who had looked reluctant to sign the parchment yesterday. She came to the conclusion that someone must have heard them at the Hog's Head as she had complete faith in her spell work and was sure the Jinx worked.

She looked around to the Gryffindor table to see Ron if he was just as confused as her. He caught her eye and motioned her to him. She got up and went over to where he stood.

"How does she know? I can't see anyone with a disfigured face," she asked.

"We were heard at the Hog's Head," said Ron.

"How do you know that?" she asked.

"Siri…I just know, and mum knows as well and she wasn't too happy," said Ron looking annoyed at himself. He clearly wasn't about to tell how he found out.

"And how did your mum know?" she questioned him again trying to draw him out.

"Harry and me…"

"It's Harry and I," she corrected him on pure instinct.

"Fine, Harry and I are apparently going to have bodyguards every time we go out of the castle," said Ron not looking pleased. "But I am still going through with it, as is everyone else".

"Look Hermione, this time it's a lot more serious. We are going to be breaking a school rule aimed directly at us," said Ron rubbing his arm. "If we get caught it won't be pretty so if you want to back out I would understand and I won't think any less of you".

"I am going to stick this through. Did you really think I was going to back out?" she said giving him a fierce glare.

Ron chuckled. "No this is exactly what I expected. You know, I think I am beginning to have a bad influence on you," he said teasingly.

"You could never be a bad influence on me," she said almost to herself.

"What?" asked Ron who had apparently heard.

"Nothing," she quickly replied turning slightly pink.

"This…this includes Quidditch as well," she asked trying to change the subject but immediately wished she hadn't as Ron's face darkened. She still couldn't help chuckle inwardly at how passionate he was about sport. She found his childlike enthusiasm and the way his face would light up when he talked about Quidditch quite endearing. He was in the quidditch team for the first time and was both nervous and excited.

"Yeah it does. Angelina thinks she can get permission if Harry and I can behave," said Ron.

"Behave?"

"Detentions with Umbridge," said Ron airily and again seemed to subconsciously rub his arm. "I think Harry and I have racked up more detentions than the twins so far this year, which is some achievement, let me tell you"

"That's nothing to be proud of," she snapped.

"Sure, but it's tough to sit there while she talks bloody nonsense," said Ron.

"I wish you wouldn't swear so much," she sighed.

"Never mind that, meet me after classes today. We found a place to meet and I need to ask you something," said Ron sounding a bit annoyed.

"Fine," she replied and went back to the Ravenclaw table.

As she was eating she again subconsciously looked at Ron who was now very busy in conversation Harry. In all the excitement she had almost forgotten her admission from last night. She liked Ron and now as she looked at him she saw him in a different light. There was no doubt he was handsome and quite imposing. He himself looked oblivious to that (which suited her fine) but many girls did look at him longer than it was necessary. His flaming red hair was of a darker shade than any of his siblings and pretty much always unruly which of course made him even more handsome. The best part about him though was his eyes. They were the darkest shade of blue she had ever seen and made him very striking to look at. Then there was his height. He was almost a foot taller than her but it looked like he still hadn't gotten used to his growth spurt and did look a bit awkward on occasions. Yes, he most certainly was devilishly handsome but it was the little things that had attracted her. She loved it how he would jump to her defence before she do anything, his talent to completely relax her and make her laugh and his light teasing but unlike his brothers he never took any of his jokes or teasing too far. Even his disgusting eating habits were a lot more appealing right now.

Despite all the distractions, the last month or so had offered; Hermione's studies had not been neglected. The only problem she encountered was on occasions she would find herself thinking about Ron and she would go into a daze and it would then take her some time to compose herself and return back to her work. Thankfully, this was not a regular occurrence. She mentally scolded herself for allowing a boy to disrupt her studies.

The rest of the day went by fairly quickly. In between finishing the various essays assigned by the different teachers and understanding some of the tougher concepts in class Hermione had almost forgotten that she was to meet Ron after her classes. It was not until she remembered how hungry she was did she remember that she was to meet him. Not knowing where he could be she made her way to towards the great hall and saw him standing by the Castle door.

He led her outside the castle and near the lake before he started.

"Like I told you we found a place for the meetings and it's quite brilliant really. And unless someone squeals Umbridge is never likely to find out. I don't think even Filch knows the place," said Ron.

"Really? Where is it?" she asked curiously. She had considered Filch's knowledge and the castle and its secrets quite vast.

"It's called the Room of Requirement. Basically it turns into whatever room you need it to be. Dobby found it," said Ron.

"That's brilliant. How come I've never heard of it though and who's Dobby?" asked Hermione.

"Dobby is a house elf. Bit of a nutter when it comes to Harry," said Ron rolling his eyes. "Anyway according to Dobby not many other than the house elves know about it,"

"Where is this room?" she asked.

"Seventh floor corridor," said Ron. "We'll be having our first meeting in a couple of days there"

"You said you wanted to ask me something?" she said remembering.

"Yeah well, I know you're very busy with the O.W.L's but we need some way to alert the other members of when the meetings will be held. And you're the best with spells so I thought I'd ask you to come up with something if you're not too busy that is," said Ron.

Hermione blushed a little at the praise. "Sure, I'll do it. A Protean charm should do the trick" she said. She was about to add something when she saw something on his arms that sent chills through her. His sleeve had just moved up which exposed his arms to her. The skin was frayed and there were spots of blood there.

"R-Ron what's wrong with your arm," she asked.

"Er Nothing," said Ron hastily pulling down his sleeve.

"Don't lie," she said and grabbed his arm to inspect it. She almost fainted at what she saw. The skin was red with small amounts of blood oozing out. She could make out words against his skin 'I must not tell lies'.

"Ron who did this," she asked her voice trembling a little.

"Umbridge's detention," said Ron sighing a little. "She makes us write a blood quill,"

"Ron this is torture," she screamed. "How could you not tell any of the teacher's about this, they wouldn't stand for this"

"I can't Hermione, it will create more problems than it will solve" said Ron rather roughly.

"Come with me," she said suddenly. Ron looked a bit too surprised to refuse and followed her. Hermione took them both to the Ravenclaw common room. She made Ron sit while she went up to her Dorm. Hermione came down with something her hand.

"Here, take this," she said handing him a small bowl filled with a yellow liquid.

"What's this?" asked Ron.

"Soak your arms in it," she said. "It should make you feel better,"

Ron did as he was told by Hermione and it appeared to have a positive effect because he did not speak for about 10 minutes as Hermione watched him concern.

"Thanks Hermione. Have I ever told you how brilliant you are?" said Ron finally breaking the silence.

"Only about a 100 times," said Hermione breaking out into a smile.

"I am serious. I couldn't ask for a better friend," said Ron.

"Better than Harry?" she teased Ron.

"You're different to Harry," said Ron.

"How so?"

"You're a girl," he said simply as if that explained everything.

"Who would've guessed," she replied sarcastically.

"Well I'll be leaving now," said Ron.

"Wait," said Hermione. "Promise me you'll never give Umbridge another excuse to give you detention," she said pleadingly.

"I promise," he said with sincerity and left the common room.

Hermione had never hated any teacher. Sure she disliked Snape's blatant prejudice against any house other than Slytherin but nothing came close to the way she felt for Umbridge right now. Not only was she the worst teacher she had come ever come across, she was using torture as a means of getting her point across. She now understood Ron's desire to have these meetings, he felt like he was doing something to get back at her.

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Hope everyone likes this chapter.

Just to clarify, that while Ron may not as of yet be attracted to her, he obviously enjoys spending time with her. Ron's PoV will be up in the next 2 or 3 chapters where he will realise his feelings for her.