CHAPTER TEN

Get out of here, you alien, you!

Having said goodbye to Mandy and Cho, who went l to their dormitories, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Krum went up to the Gryffindor Tower. They all went to sit down in the common room; they were the only ones there.

Everybody else was going up to bed, and they caught phrases such as, "Why do ya think the balls been called off?" and "Hmmm… Darn, I wanted to see if I could get an autograph from one of the Weird Sisters…"

"What do you reckon's going on?" inquired Ron, who had taken a lambchop that he had snuck from the ball out from under the sleeve of his robes, devouring it.

"For heaven's sake, Ron, will you cut it out with this food?" said Hermione, ignoring him. "I don't want you throwing up everywhere…. If you go to the hospital wing you'll miss lessons and be behind on your work!" said the annoyed Hermione earnestly, whipping out the lamb chop from out of Ron's grasp and putting it in the fire hastily.

Harry smiled. Yes, he thought, that was Hermione, schoolwork before anything else - even your health.

Hermione then answered Ron's question. "If you even cared about what was going onyou just might have listened in on what the teachers were saying. They mentioned Lavender missing…. But I bet you could care less about her."

Ron gave a guilty squirm in his seat. "The only reason I went with Mandy was because I didn't want to look like an idiot going by myself. I didn't go because I didn't want to go with Lavendar."

Hermione looked at Ron sternly then said, "You will look more of an idiot when Lavender finds out that you were not the least bit interested in trying to find her! Of course in Hogwarts, a History it states that there are over three thousand staircases here… But that's not the point. You should have not gone at all than with Mandy! It's very rude. I can just imagine what your explanation to Lavender will be…." Hermione put on a very flat, stupid sounding voice on, mimicking Ron, and slouching over to one side.

"'Uh, Lavender, since I barely looked anywhere for you and couldn't find you… I didn't even stop to consider that something bad might have happened to you… I just went right along and took another girl so I wouldn't damage my image…But I still like you anyway!'" Hermione's voice resumed now. "No consideration at all…" Hermione was starting to look quite angry now.

Ron stood up, shaking with anger. "You wouldn't know anything, if your nose is always buried in a book. You wouldn't have a free schedule to study these types of things if you were already studying for something like the next exam. Heck, what do I know, you could be reading up on the earth because it's not your home planet and doesn't contain your own species." At this, Harry and Hermione both stood up. Hermione looked as if someone had slapped her.

"That was completely beside the point!"

"Are you just trying to avoid the subject?"

"Guys, come on, break it up!"

"Ron, please would you just calm down?"

"I'm not calming down until I get an apology from the alien!"

"I AM NOT AN ALIEN!"

And with that Hermione stormed off to her dormitories, leaving Harry looking concerned, Krum confused, and Ron triumphant.

This is exactly why they broke up last year, Harry thought.

When Ron and Harry went up to the boy's dormitories (Krum was sleeping in the common room) they talked softly so as to not wake Neville, Seamus and Dean.

"You know Ron, it wouldn't hurt to lay off the poor girl. She's just trying to help everyone and then you go --" Harry's words were cut off by a piercing scream that shook the Gryffindor Tower.

At once the entire lot of the Gryffindors came running down into the common room, shortly followed by Professor McGonagall.

"Settle down, now, settle down. Is everyone here?"

Yes, Harry thought to himself, catching his breath from running down the stairs. Yes, it looked like everyone was here.

All the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh year boys, all the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh year girls… But wait, Harry thought to himself. He looked at the group of seventh year girls. Of course Lavender was missing, but it was something else, something that Harry couldn't quite place. Then it hit him.

Hermione was gone.