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Sirius-black-sfan: You don't get it? Well, Hermione always helps with problem. And everyone thinks she has a problem. So who can help? Thanx for the review!

Rubber-duckiesofdoom: I am not for RW/HG relationships, so a new character makes an appearance! Thanx for the review!

Kilikapele: Okay, I'll edit that! Thanx!

Chapter 25: Set Ups

The couple collapsed in laughter. Wait, I guess I should start at the beginning. Now you're all disappointed, aren't you?

Okay, I guess it all began a fine October morning. More specifically, Hogsmeade weekend and Halloween! So, Hermione got up, and began her morning ritual. Which consisted of a crude form of showering (hey- it's Saturday!) and something that resembled getting dressed. After putting her foot through something not her sock for the third time, she got it right.

Lily finally got up, and said, "You're not going to wear your uniform!" Hermione shrugged, and was about to leave the dorm when Lily jumped up and grabbed her sleeve.

"Today you're going to Hogsmeade and not stalking dust bunnies in the library." Hermione scowled. "How'd you know about my hobby?"

Lily just dragged her to the wardrobe and started pulling out clothes. They spent a half an hour getting clothes together, then another getting together their make-up. After everything was ready, they descended the stairs. Harry and Ron whistled, while James just grinned.

The girls looked great. Hermione had her hair straightened, and it was in waves down her back, clipped up on the left side. Her mini skirt (not too short!) was a beautiful blue that only Hermione could pull off in a 'good' way. Her tube-top was really stunning, as she had used a blouse over it.

Lily looked really pretty, too, with her halter top in beautiful lavender with a matching purple skirt. James and Lily fell in step with each other as they headed out, and Hermione stayed back to talk with Harry and Ron.

"Hermione, did Lily tell you-" Ron started, but Harry stepped on his foot casually.

"OW-OW! What was that for?" Hermione sighed at the two. True, Hermione and Ron were the ones who fought, but Harry and Ron had their moments too.

When they stopped talking and started staring at Hermione, she grew really mad.

"What the hell are you two staring at?" she yelled. Wow, talk about anger-management problems!

"Jeez, Hermione, we don't have a clue what you're talking about!" Harry started, but Hermione just held up a hand.

"Harry, Harry… You are not a good actor. Never have been, never will be. Now TELL me before I blast your heads off!" Hermione stared at them pointedly.

"Okay, okay." Ron started. Harry picked up, "We think you're, well, the Marauders, think you're a prude." Hermione started to seethe. She would definitely see to it that none of those boys (plus Lily) would never see the light of day again.

"HERMIONE! Calm down, we just are going to help you!" Hermione scowled, and said, "I'm listening…" But Harry stopped. Hermione sighed and said, "I thought you were going to tell me." Harry just pointed behind her. She turned around.

"I never thought Miss Granger would threaten other students!" A fake, stern voice said laced with mirth. Hermione managed a small grin, but it grew. Cade Fauthom, a very cute Gryffindor, was standing behind her.

"You look nice." Cade was so sweet, Hermione was just smiling. She noticed Harry and Ron sneak off. Hermione started to follow, but Cade just kept pace to her. Hermione smiled nervously, and just tried to speed up. But the Gryffindor Beater had no trouble keeping up. Hermione turned to say, "You know, Cade, you're very sweet, but what the hell do you think you're doing?" Cade looked confused.

"But you're friends said you wanted to go on a date with me." Hermione ran a tired hand over her face.

"Those retards. So that's what they meant by they're going to 'help me'." Cade looked at her and he grinned.

"Let's get back at them, shall we? I mean, we're both smart- we can think up a way." Hermione smiled evilly.

"Sounds like a plan." Hermione pulled him into the Three Broomsticks. (They had long since reached Hogsmeade.)

"Now, what to do?" Hermione said casually. Cade looked around and spotted Hermione's friends about two tables away.

"I say let's go and see the, uh, Shrieking Shack."Cade sdaid loudly. Hermione looked over toward her dirty lying friends. They were listening way too eagerly and seemed to be cracking up. Harry even burst out laughing quietly when Hermione said, "Sure!" They left, and for the purpose of the walk, Cade slung his arm around her shoulder.

James and the rest of the group conveniently decided it was time for them to leave at that moment.

Hermione began whispering quickly to Cade. "They want us to be a 'couple', so let's pretend to snog, ok? Then we turn around and hit them with, I don't know, about 2 tons of purple jelly?" Cade grinned. "I'm going to enjoy this." Hermione smacked him lightly.

They walked toward the small woods by the Shrieking Shack and put their arms around each other. Hermione put her face next to his and they pretended, if you want to cal it that. Then, as Hermione saw the others peaking out from behind a tree. She whispered, "Now!" And they yelled a spell she had told him earlier. The area around the others filled quickly with green jelly, and Hermione frowned. "I was going for bright pink, but this is just as good, don't you think, Cade?" He nodded, still laughing hysterically.

The couple collapsed in laughter., and now do you see why I had to explain?

The group dragged themselves into a clearing not covered in jelly. "NOT funny Hermione!" Lily yelled, but she was laughing, too. Harry was rolling around, laughing so hard he could barely breathe. Remus was stuttering something like "I'm sorry! I didn't want to do it! I'm sorry…" He did not improve Sirius' condition, nor James'. They were still leaning against each other, having difficulty breathing, they were laughing so hard. Though it might be because they had been near the ground when they 'flood' occurred and gotten a lungful of the stuff.

Hermione giggled, being more composed than the others. "Now that was mean, Hermione!" Lily said, but with less conviction then she would normally have. Hermione smiled brightly, and tried to look innocent. It didn't work.

"See you around, Cade. And next time you want a date, ask me, don't work through my friends. They aren't the most reliable bunch." The group made noises of protest through their laughs. Cade waved goodbye and Hermione turned to her friends.

"You guys are so going to pay!" Hermione was really mad. And from experience, Harry and Ron took cover. Lily just looked at Hermione, and said, "Haven't we suffered enough?"

Hermione just looked at them, and said, "No, and this will be fun."

I can't really tell you what she did to them, because they were all sworn to secrecy. Or she just didn't do anything. I don't really know. But, back to the story…

Two days later, on Monday, classes started up again. Unlike that one day in Hogsmeade, it was really cold. So, the winter ritual for couples began. Offering their cloaks to the girls, then girls saying maybe a nice warm broom closet would be nice… Hermione was sick of it. But at least Lily and James refrained from that. Most of the time.

The Marauders and Co. decided they needed a break. So that night they didn't study and decided to spend the night down in the kitchens. After eating lots of ice cream, Harry decided it was time for bed. Especially since it was almost midnight. They still had classes the next day!

They left the kitchens, and the boys had bulging pockets . The corridors were dark, and every noise made Harry jump. Reflex, that's all, Harry tried to tell himself. But really, he was quite freaked out. He wasn't totally out of it, really, even if for the first time in his whole life he had a normal two school years.

A crash made him jump almost two feet, and the others looked at him.

"Just nervous!" He said, trying o find out what the crash was. When Peeves zoomed out of the corridor from where the crash had come from, Harry sighed. Nothing, just Peeves. But another crash came, and Harry remembered seeing Peeves not make a crack at him or the others, and he had never seen Peeves look scared before.

Then several more crashes resounded in the corridor behind them, and Harry stopped. The others looked at him again, worried.

"That's not Peeves."

I have so much humor here, but the cliffy opens a lot of possibilities.