"Miss Granger!" Hermione spun round from where she'd been talking to Joe and Hatty to see Professor Dumbledore hurrying towards them, "I am glad I caught you before the carriages left," He said as he reached them. Dumbledore waved her friends to carry on and continued, "I thought it best to talk with you since I've had several other teachers comment on your recent activities," He nodded inside the doors of the castle where the teachers were congregating as breakfast had finished, "Madame Durrey suggested I postpone your Hogsmeade privileges,"

"What! No!" Dumbledore looked down at her with one eyebrow raised and she checked herself, "I'm sorry professor, but why? I haven't done anything wrong!" she protested and a lower volume.

"I can quite understand your point of view; she's simply worried about your wellbeing,"

"Are you sir? Not letting me go,"

"No, no I think it'll do you good to get out of the cramped castle, I know how hard you work and everything that's gone on recently. The older professor shut his eyes for a moment and then appeared to shake himself from his moment of contemplation. "Your extra funds are mostly in your account at Gringotts the school set up for you, but I took the liberty to reach into it for some shopping funds for your trip out today,"

"Thank you sir," She said accepting the small purse, not checking its contents, "Do you know anything more about why, that thing, happened to Katie,"

"I'm afraid we don't. The ministry of magic are reviewing all the given statements and evidence my dear, either it was an accident or we'll be none the wiser I feel,"

"Why's that?"

"If it were intentional I can only presume the person were smart enough to cover their actions and motive. Without a confession I feel the truth will probably be lost to the chaos and the crowd that surrounded the event,"

"Sir I did everything I could, I…"

"As I understand the events it was not your fault." The professor interjected firmly, Do not blame yourself for not doing any more than you did," Hermione looked away and took a breath to steady herself and her resolve.

"Any the other comments sir?"

"Ah, you'll be pleased to hear these include both praise and esteem for your ability, though your defence against the dark arts practice is worryingly developed it seems. It is a shame you cannot remember how you developed so, but regardless, with such ability and hardworking attitude there have been some suggestions made. Do I still understand that you do not want to be joining the final year students?"

"Sir, I don't know how I know this stuff, I appreciate the concern but if I may stay here for longer I would certainly prefer it,"

"Very well, however I do have another proposition for you, one that actually came from Professor Slughorn. Miss Granger we would like to know if you would accept the position of prefect, in Miss Moore's absence, as well as during her forthcoming bed rest and recovery,"

"Sir, I…"

"As much as I hope you'll say yes, I'll leave you a few days to decide,"

"Thank you Professor,"

"Now do catch up with your friends, Madame Durrey will surely want another word with me if she caught the look on your face just now," Hermione nodded and turned in the direction of her friends waiting at one of the carriages.

"What was all that about?" Joe asked, offering her a hand to help her up into the carriage.

"He was just checking whether I was okay, you know how he looks out for me," Hermione told them, tucking the purse into her coat pocket as the skeletally drawn carriage pulled away.

"Yeah, aren't you special?"

"Jealous Joe?" Hatty jibed.

"Nope, in awe," Hermione laughed as her friend cringed.

"Ugh, shut up!" Hatty whacked him on the arm, "What do you see in him Mione?"

"Someone to do my bidding," She said, shrugging.

"Totally should have been in Slytherin,"

"Aw, but you'd miss me,"

"Too right," Joe threw an arm around her shoulders.

"Where did you say Algie was going to meet us?" Hatty asked.

"Depends on when he gets out of Gauci's detention, might just stay in the castle if she over works him with cleaning those creature cages. Will probably keep Flick company, since she's not feeling too well,"

"We could bring them something back though right?"

"Sure, find some popping candy or chocolate frogs,"

"By the look of Flick this morning she'd never catch a chocolate frog even without its one good jump,"

Hatty pulled Hermione into the dress shops lining one street when Joe busied himself with super secret prank stuff.

"There's a Christmas ball that Slughorn hosts each year, for his top students. You're bound to be invited, which means if you don't take Joe as your date you should definitely take me,"

"Why won't you be invited yourself?" Hermione asked.

"Not high enough grades or family status,"

"Family status?" Hermione's brow furrowed as she frowned.

"You're lucky you don't know your family. It's a real sore spot for muggleborns,"

"Riddle thinks I'm muggleborn,"

"Wonder why? I mean I know he's usually right but if he thought that he's far too up himself to have anything to do with you,"

"Hatty? Are you muggleborn?"

"Half," she muttered, "Dad's a wizard; not that it does me any favours,"

"You're great at defence,"

"Not as good as you, I think you terrify half the Slytherin in our class with some of the spells you come out with," The both giggled as Hatty pulled out a dress from the rack for Hermione's opinion.

Half and hour later the girls were getting hungry so headed back towards the hog's head where they met up with Joe who was chatting with the barman. They ordered some lunch slid into one of the booths and sat chatting for a good while. They were just agreeing to head back to the castle when Hermione remembered what she had intended to pick up while they were out.

"I'll catch up with you on the way back," she promised them and shuffled her way past them to the door and then on to the apothecary. From all the books she'd gone through looking up various potions she could use for Slughorn's project she'd found three she wanted try combining with her original choice of study. The apothecary would have the ingredients she hadn't managed to find in Slughorn's ingredients cupboard, and if she was lucky with her experiment she'd want the extra ingredients for future potions.

As she entered the shop she saw out of the corner of her eye a hooded figure pause at the corner of the shop on the opposite side of the street. She felt sure she'd seen the same cloaked figure in the pub as well. The way they were hunched against the wind suggested an older person and as she looked up they were choking, holding one arm close to their chest and the other hand at their mouth. She shook of her paranoid thoughts and entered the store.

There was something about stepping into a cluttered space like this that provoked a smile. The potential maybe, of all these seemingly innocuous bottles and substances; Hermione could only dream of learning how to use each one in any number of potions and charms. She couldn't find her way tot eh items she needed without help so she approached the counter. No one was stood about but a bell sat in the centre of the counter, suggesting she ring for assistance. Hermione hit the bell twice and although no sound appeared to be emitted from it a frizzy haired witch stumbled from the back doorway.

"Oh hello deary, I didn't hear you come in. Lost something have you?"

"I'm just not sure where to begin actually; I'm looking for a few things in particular,"

"Well no time to waste then," She beckoned for the list Hermione had in her hand. Hermione handed it over and the witch traced her eyes down the ingredients, "not a problem," She began rummaging under the counter and returned with a stack of brown paper. And then with a shrill whistle she pointed her finger at one of the stacks in the corner. It could only be described as clutter in Hermione's eyes but out flew what looked like a little paper bird which landed on the counter in front of them and cocked its head to one side looking up at its mistress, much like a robin in its mannerisms. The witch held up the list to it and it promptly flew off around the shop picking up various items and bringing them back to the counter. The witch wrapped each item in a sheet of paper as Hermione watch the little bird with amazement.

"It's charmed right? Animation and intelligence,"

"Oh I wouldn't know dear, I'm not very accomplished as they come. It was a present from a student up at the school. He found it tiresome to wait for me to find everything he needed so one day he brought in the little thing and taught it how to fetch everything for me,"

"It's so pretty," Hermione said as it swooped down just missing her shoulder.

"It's been nothing but a blessing, though where it decides to nest can be a bother. Chose my teapot a few months ago, I almost poured hot water over it!" They both laughed as the little bird returned to the counter, dropped the final item for wrapping and hopped about until the witch passed it a little seed from the pot at the corner of the counter.

"It doesn't actually eat then, hoards them until the mice find its hiding place,"

"I feel like I should be thanking it for its help,"

"If you come back often enough dear it'll remember you, I does with a few of the teachers at the school, and the young man who made it for me,"

"Oh I definitely will, thank you," She took the carefully wrapped package, tucked it into her satchel and said goodbye as she left the store.