-You Can't be Mad Forever-

The first week of school had come to an end and Hermione was sitting outside on the lawn underneath a willow tree.

It was a glorious Saturday afternoon and Hermione was in a very good mood as she sat reading her book, "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" and sucking on the red, cherry flavored lollipop that she had been craving all day.

The past week had been a hard one, what with her not speaking to Ron, but she had asked her mother to send her this book as a way to get some answers about men and how to deal with them.

Though the book at times seemed like absolute rubbish, she couldn't put it down and couldn't help laughing whenever the book described a man like Ronald Weasley.

Of course this only brought back fond memories about her and Ron's romance, and even though she was no longer mad at him, she refused to let him know it.

It was, after all, much more fun to see him trying so desperately hard to get her attention and trying to make her laugh.

All this morning he had tried to talk to her at breakfast in the great hall. When he realized that he wasn't going to get a better answer out of her than "yes" or "no" or "not now", he asked her about her book she was reading.

Hermione had thought a moment and decided that she should give him some hope so she responded with, "I'm trying to figure out just how to stop hating you. After all, if you're going to be my husband one day, I can't be mad forever."

She had looked over the corner of her book and saw Ron's ears go red. His face broke out into a grin and he had left the table for his quidditch practice a lot happier than he had been.

Hermione put down her book and removed the lollipop from her mouth. She licked her lips and looked around at the scene in front of her; a group of third years were sitting on benches close to the school playing multiple games of exploding snap. Another group of kids were on the edge of the lake, tickling the giant squids tentacles, one younger girl looked too frighten to get close to the beast and was on the verge of screaming.

Hermione then saw two boys walking towards the castle wearing crimson quidditch robes. Hermione turned her body and squinted to get a better look. The two boys were being flocked on by three sixth year girls.

Hermione felt a surge of jealousy run through her veins. Why the hell is that girl all over Ron?

She watched as the boys stopped walking and the three girls started to grab at Ron and Harry's arms. Hermione got up so fast that her book fell off of her lap with a thud.

She stood there for a second, not knowing what to do, and then picked up her book, shoved her lollipop back in her mouth and slyly walked across the lawn and to the boys.

Ron was feeling very awkward, he had never had so much attention before, especially from three very good looking girls. Ron looked over at Harry for support, but Harry was too busy trying to keep Rhoda Grant's hands away from his chest.

Ron felt someone pinch his left arm and turned to see Lindsey Botterill grabbing on to his arm, "Whoa Ron, I didn't know you were so muscular. Do you work out?" she asked while batting her many eyelashes.

Ron felt his ears going red. He ran his fingers nervously threw his hair, not knowing how to respond. He grew even more scared when he heard someone say, "Excuse me ladies, but I believe you're trespassing on private property."

Ron looked up and saw Hermione standing in front of him and the two girls. She was holding a book against her hip with her left hand, and had a lollipop in her right hand.

Hermione stood there and eyed the girls up and down, her posture full of sassy attitude and a smirk on her face. Ron began to blush, he was thankful to see that Hermione was no longer ignoring him.

Hermione's raised eyebrow expression bounced from one girl to the other, she waited for a response. The three Ravenclaw girls let go of the boys but didn't leave. They came together in between the boys and Hermione, all three of them with crossed arms, they weren't going to leave that easily.

Ron and Harry glanced at each other, both with an expression of intrigue.

Hermione grinned. If these girls want a fight, they'll get a fight, she thought. She tossed the book and the lollipop to the floor, all the while watching the girls.

As she made for her wand she shook her head slowly and said, "I didn't want to have to do this, but if I must, I think a nice wart growing charm will work the best on you girls. Pity, you're so pretty."

When Hermione's wand was out, she saw one of the girls back down and slowly edge away, obliviously she had not believed that Hermione would actually fight back.

The other girls shot quick, nasty but scared looks at Hermione and then they too followed their friend and slowly walked back to the school.

Hermione watched them leave and was tempted to yell after them, but she was suddenly grabbed up by Ron who spun her around and kissed her hard on the lips.

When he finally put her down, Hermione smiled and said, "Well I had to do something, I couldn't let those scarlet women take you away from me."