Hello again to all of my readers! I know its been forever since I updated, but college life is keeping me very busy as of late and I've barely had any time to work on this story. I have NOT given up on this but I don't know when the next update will be, but I will complete this story hopefully. Anyways, this chapter is about the prefect rounds mentioned in the previous chapter. It does not contain any quotes from the book . I hope you like it. As always, don't forget to review!
*Disclaimer*- I don't own Harry Potter.
Chapter 10- Late Night Wanderings
That night, Ron walked quietly down the deserted corridors with Hermione to do their prefect rounds. They were supposed to meet up with the Head-Girl and Head-Boy to find out which part of the castle they were responsible for. As he walked in silence with Hermione, he could not help but noticing how her face seemed to glow in the dimly lit hallways. A few times, he caught himself staring and looked away quickly. She's changed from last year, he thought.
Ron and Hermione reached the Great Hall few minutes later and walked inside to find the Head-Girl and Head-Boy examining the patrol schedules. After a few moments, they looked up.
"Finally you're here," said the Head-Boy, a tall, easygoing Hufflepuff.
"Your schedules are ready, you have the dungeons tonight," said the Head-Girl, a short stern-looking Ravenclaw.
Ron and Hermione took the schedules, left the Great Hall together, and started walking to the dungeons.
Ron noticed that Hermione had brought her schoolbag with her. Surely she can't be studying at this time of the night can she? But I wouldn't put it past her to try, he thought.
They approached the staircase leading to the dungeons a few minutes later.
Hermione shivered as they descended into the shadowy depths of their assigned spot. She noticed the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room at once from reading Hogwarts, A History. She also noticed that the corridor was dimly lit and silent. We are completely alone now, she thought. The cold dungeon air sent more shivers down her spine.
"Are you alright?" asked Ron.
"Just a bit cold."
Ron had a fit of gallantry and took off his cloak. "Here, take this."
"Thanks," said Hermione with a smile. She put on the long cloak and smelled the scent of Ron's hair. She flushed pink at once, wrapping the cloak tightly around her.
"Better?"
Hermione nodded and shifted slightly closer to Ron.
They stood in quiet companionship for what seemed like hours.
Now it was Ron's turn to shiver, it was so cold that he could see his own breath.
Hermione noticed. "Ron, you're freezing! Here, take your cloak back."
"I'm fine," protested Ron.
"No, you're not!"
"Yes I am!"
"Don't you lie to me Ronald Weasley!" snapped Hermione.
Ron shivered even more. "I'd rather you have the cloak than me."
Since when did he start caring for me so much? wondered Hermione. "But you need the cloak, just look at yourself!"
Ron hesitated. "Well— maybe we could share it," he suggested quietly. What did you just say? She probably thinks I'm some kind of freak now, he thought.
"Yeah— we could do that," said Hermione, flushing even more pink. Slipped the long cloak off one of her shoulders and offered it to Ron.
Ron moved closer and accepted it, wrapping the cloak around them like a blanket. He also flushed red when he felt Hermione's shoulder rub against his.
Silence followed as they stood in the deserted corridor, watching the entrance of the Slytherin common room. In the hallway to the right, there were a few unused classrooms and a storage closet.
"It's a nice night out," commented Ron. The feeling of Hermione being so close was sending blood rushing to his head.
"Yes it is," agreed Hermione quietly. Looking for something to do, she started rummaging around in her schoolbag and took out a roll of parchment, some ink, and one of the phoenix feather quills that Ron gave her over the summer.
"What are you doing?" asked Ron curiously.
"Writing a letter," replied Hermione, dipping her quill in some ink.
"To who?" questioned Ron, noticing that she was using the quills he gave her.
"Viktor."
"Krum?" asked Ron angrily.
"How many other Viktors do we know?"
Ron gave a snort of disgust and glared at Hermione.
"Honestly Ron, why is this such a touchy subject for you?"
"Because he's from Durmstrang, Hermione!" hissed Ron. "And You-Know-Who is back, and Karakoff is a former Death Eater, and you shouldn't be fooling around with him!"
"That's bullocks and you know it! Who was the one trying to get his autograph two years ago? Tell me the real reason why you don't approve of Krum," snapped Hermione.
Ron was taken aback at her sudden use of language, but he remained furious. "Because he's not good enough for you!" he retorted.
Hermione's jaw dropped. "So who is good enough for me?"
"Well I don't know."
"Really, no one at all you could think of?" said Hermione, glaring at Ron with such intensity that it made him turn even more scarlet.
Ron gazed into Hermione's chocolate-brown eyes. "M—" he stammered, not able to bring himself to say that he meant himself.
"Yes?" Hermione encouraged. He's going to say something, oh bloody hell he's going to say something! She didn't know whether to shout or throw herself into his arms. She stood still, waiting for Ron to finish.
"I don't know! But certainly not Vicky," he said in disgust.
Hermione's temper flared again. "Let me tell you something Ronald," she snapped. "Viktor and I are nothing more than friends, and even if I was fooling around with him, it's none of your business!"
"Well you certainly seemed to disapprove of Fleur!"
"That's— that's completely different!" she stuttered, taken aback by his sudden retort.
"How?"
"She's— she's a complete pig! Honestly, she goes around like she's a complete queen and she's so full of herself!"
"The same is true for Krum!"
"Oh grow up already Ron! We are just friends!" cried Hermione, close to tears now.
"He seems to have more than just friendship on his mind," said Ron bluntly.
"Well I most certainly do not!" snapped Hermione, a tear streaking down her cheek.
"Well, good," muttered Ron, relieved that Hermione did not have feelings for Krum.
Before Hermione could reply, the sound of hurried footsteps interrupted their conversation.
Ron spun around instantly, ready to hex whoever was there. Strangely enough, he heard giggling and whispers. The footsteps were coming from the hallway to the right, where the unused classrooms were. Who the hell is up at this time of night? he wondered.
Hermione stood beside Ron, wand in hand also. She tensed herself as the footsteps came closer and closer. "Who's there?" she called out.
"Do you hear that Draco? Sounds like a Mudblood speaking," sneered Pansy Parkinson as she came into view, clutching Malfoy's arm. Her hair was ruffled and her shirt was un-tucked.
"What are you doing here!" snapped Ron, letting his cloak fall to the floor.
"Bog off Weasel," taunted Malfoy, walking behind Pansy and looking similarly disheveled.
"Stop avoiding the question! Why are you out here at night!" snapped Hermione.
"In case you didn't notice Granger, we were supposed to patrol the dungeons tonight," scowled Draco.
Hermione did not believe his story at all. But she checked her schedule and found out that he was speaking the truth. "That still does not explain why you two look like this!"
"That, is none of your business Granger," said Malfoy, winking.
"You were— you were snogging!" exclaimed Ron.
"Way to put two and two together Weasley," mocked Draco, looking pleased when Pansy giggled loudly.
"That's against the prefects' code," said Hermione bluntly.
"What are you going to do Mudblood? Turn us in? Like you could ever prove it," taunted Parkinson.
Ron raised his wand. "Don't call her that!"
"Like you can stop us Weasley," sneered Malfoy, raising his own wand.
Hermione sensed trouble and stepped in front of Ron. "Don't do it, you could get expelled!"
"Yeah listen to your girlfriend!" taunted Malfoy.
"Stuff it Malfoy!" he shouted, flushing red at the mention of Hermione being his girlfriend.
"It's not like he has ever had one anyways," said Pansy.
Draco laughed. "What kind of girl would want him? Face it Weasley, you're just jealous you can't do some snogging yourself!"
Snape, who was also patrolling the dungeons, heard the commotion. "Is there a problem here?" he asked, approaching silently behind them.
"None at all sir," said Draco, lowering his wand.
"Mr. Weasley, put your wand down," said Snape.
Ron obeyed reluctantly.
"Now let's see here, fifteen points from Gryffindor for fighting. Be thankful it isn't more," said Snape. "Now, I suggest both of you go to bed before I start handing out detentions."
Ron scowled, but picked up his cloak where it had fallen to the floor and left briskly.
"Ron, wait up!" called Hermione, hastily picking up her schoolbag and rushing after him.
But Ron did not wait for her as he made a beeline for the Gryffindor common room. Once he was inside the common room, he sat down into one of the armchairs by the fireplace and buried his face in his hands. Maybe what Malfoy said was true, what if I am just jealous? It's not like I've had a girlfriend before, he thought.
Hermione entered the common room a few moments later, red-faced and breathless. "Ron?" she asked carefully, sitting next to him.
"What?" he asked irritably.
"I just wanted to make sure you're alright," said Hermione.
"Why shouldn't I be?".
"Ron, listen to me, what Malfoy and Parkinson said is not true at all."
Ron snorted in reply.
"Honestly Ron!"
"Yeah? Well name one girl that would be willing to be with me? I'm pathetic," he said.
Hermione hesitated before speaking. "I know one in particular," she muttered.
Ron looked up. "Who?" he asked.
Hermione froze. She had no idea that a single word could have such an effect on her. Her heart was screaming to tell him that she meant herself, but her mind rebelled against the thought. "She doesn't want anyone to know."
"You're just saying that to make me feel better," he said.
"Honestly, it's true," she said, getting up and pretending to be tired so she could avoid Ron's piercing glare. "Goodnight Ron."
Ron watched as she hurried up the stairs to her dorm, wondering what had just happened. He rubbed his eyes and went up his dorm shortly afterwards, thinking it would be best to get some rest before pondering it again.
Hermione practically threw herself on her bed once she reached her dorm. Parvati and Lavender were already sound asleep, but sleep was the one thing that would not come to Hermione, her mind raced with a thousand different thoughts as she thought about what had happened that day. Do I really love him? she asked herself, but she already knew the answer. She had smelled Ron's hair in potion's class and her logic-centered mind could not escape the obvious truth. Yes I do, she thought before drifting into a deep sleep.
Author's note- Feel free to list suggestions on what you want me to write about in the reviews section, or drop me a PM. I'll reply to all signed reviews and I want some feedback. The next chapter is also mostly free from quotes in the book and it will put more focus on Lavender/Cormac.