A/N: I'm sure I'm not the only one who's been experiencing techincal difficulties in the last week but if I am I apologise.

'A week and nothing! Bet the Ministry's going mental.'

Ignoring Ron's outburst, Hermione ran her own eyes briefly over the Saturday edition of The Daily Prophet. As it had been every day in the past week, the front page was occupied with a huge photo of Sirius Black snarling menacingly and a run-down of his crimes and what to do if he was seen. The main gist of that seemed to be 'run in the opposite direction'. It was good advice, some that Harry could be advised to heed. Well, if only he'd listen to anything she- or Ginny- said.

Passing the paper along to Ginny, she allowed her girlfriend to read the article as she continued with her breakfast.

'What are you up to today?' Ron asked suddenly.

Recognising, after a moment, that the statement was directed at her, she looked at him. 'Oh, erm… Why?'

'Me and Harry were going down to Hagrid's, wondered if you wanted to come.'

'Um…' She glanced to Ginny.

'I'm busy all day,' the redhead supplied, barely looking up from the newspaper. 'Did you read all this?'

'Wha... No,' Hermione muttered. 'What are you doing all day?'

'He's been sighted,' said Ginny, frowning. 'Somewhere not too far either.'

Ron snatched the paper. 'Give me that.'

'Try saying please next time,' his sister replied irritably. 'It's just polite.'

Her brother mumbled something then began reading the newspaper closely. 'He has as well.'

'Mmm, because I was lying,' Ginny said, rolling her eyes.

Hermione cleared her throat. 'What did you say you were doing today?'

'I didn't.'

'Well, do you think you could?'

Harry was looking amused across the table. 'Come with us to Hagrid's. Maybe you can persuade him not to show us anything that likes to eat its kids next week.'

Pulling her eyes away from Ginny's head, she nodded. 'I can try, I suppose.'

'Hey, listen to this,' Ron said after turning the page. 'The Ministry's placing wizards at the gates of the school!'

Frowning, Harry asked. 'What good'll that do? If Black got past the Dementors…'

'It makes it look like they're doing something,' Ginny said quietly. 'That's the point, Harry.'

'Will Albus announce it to the students, do you think?'

'The choice has rather been taken out of his hands,' Minerva answered, arching an eyebrow as she delved further into the article she was reading. 'A public announcement, no less.'

Molly sat down beside her. 'Oh, he hasn't!'

'Well, Cornelius has to be seen to be doing something,' said Minerva, shaking her head. 'Even if it does compromise the very security he's trying to implement.'

'I doubt Black'll be a regular of The Daily Prophet,' Molly reasoned. 'He can hardly pop into Hogsmeade can he?'

'It's still thoughtless of him.'

'Everyone's eager to get him. Speaking of which, do you know when you're on duty yet?'

'Albus said he'd issue a rota today as a matter of fact. It's quite astounding; Cornelius only officially agreed to the plan late night and it's already in the paper! Quite a media mogul, isn't he?'

Molly smiled and entwined their fingers. 'You look tired.'

'Oh, don't worry about me,' Minerva said briskly. 'I'm perfectly fine.'

'I didn't say otherwise. But you won't stop me being concerned.

'You're a wonderful woman, Molly.'

She blushed crimson. 'I'm really…'

'Yes, you are,' interjected Minerva. 'And I love you for it.'

'Hermione. Hermione!'

'Harry, what?' She rounded on him angrily then prompted, 'Well?'

He shrugged. 'It doesn't matter now, you've already stepped in it.'

Grimacing, she looked down to her shoes and halted. As she pulled out her wand and muttered an incantation, Harry also stopped though Ron, already walking a few paces ahead and humming an incredibly annoying tune, carried on oblivious.

'You seem a bit distracted,' Harry commented when they began walking through the crisp grass again.

'Am I? I hadn't realised.'

'Harry, really. If you've got something to say, please say it,' she said, glancing at him once then casting her gaze back towards the grass.

'I haven't actually. You're free to be as stupid as you want.'

Repressing a scowl, she instead contented herself with raising an eyebrow. 'Well, if I'm being stupid as you say, you probably won't want to be around me. I'm curious, though, what am I- apparently- being stupid about?'

'Ginny! As if you didn't know.' When she neglected to answer him, he went on, 'There's plenty of things she could've had to do today.'

'Harry, I don't know what you're talking about.'

He sighed. 'Fine. Just remember, Ginny wanting to do work or whatever today isn't half as big a problem as Sirius Black.'

Briefly, she looked to him. 'Harry, I'm…'

As she began her apology though, Ron appeared to finish his chorus and noticed he was walking alone. 'Oi, you two! Get a move on.'

'Come on,' Harry said, smiling. 'Don't want him starting all over again, do we?'

'Please, take a seat.'

As she did so, Minerva examined the Headmaster's face- impassive as ever. 'No word yet?'

'Nothing official. However, my own personal sources are suggesting Black may already be in Hogsmeade.'

'You believe he is coming here then.'

'I had very little doubt from the minute I heard of his escape. If you remember Sirius as well as I do, you'll recall his pure passion for seeing things to the end. Of course, his primary pursuits in those days were schemes with James Potter, but I'm sure the same applies.'

'I never believed he truly meant harm,' Minerva murmured aloud something she had inwardly pondered on many occasions. 'With some, maliciousness is evident in their nature, but I thought Black to be mischievous, and that was the extent of it.'

Albus shook his head slightly. 'Minerva, so did we all. But our priority now must be Harry.'

'Of course,' she concurred, returning her thoughts to that particular matter. 'Are you still of the belief that he shouldn't be informed?'

Pausing, the Headmaster removed his spectacles, cleaned them and replaced them on his nose. 'Who would be the one fortunate to tell him? I rather feel I would be the nominated party.'

'I'd do it.'

He smiled slightly. 'Yes, I know. Alas, I doubt I could be content passing off my problems. A peril of leadership, one could say.'

'I do think he should be told,' Minerva said plainly.

'Several at the Ministry are of the same opinion.'

Though he hadn't said it there was a name hanging in the air between them. She decided it should be spoken. 'Arthur Weasley, for one.'

He raised his eyes to hers briefly. 'Yes, I've received two owls from him in the last week. I understand his concerns and if the situation is prolonged I'll consider filling Harry in on the more intricate details.'

She nodded. 'My offer still stands.'

'I'm sure.' Lifting his wand, Albus pointed it to a stack of folded pieces of parchment and sent one into her outstretched hand. 'The timetable. All negotiable, of course.'

Scanning it, she shook her head. 'This is satisfactory.'

'I'm glad to hear it.'

'These are really nice, Hagrid,' Hermione said with more sincerity than she thought she was capable of. It turned out to be an unfortunate remark, however, as the Care of Magical creatures professor pushed the plate further across to her.

'Have another! Harry, Ron don't seem hungry.'

The boys smiled. 'No, Hagrid,' Harry said politely. 'Had a big breakfast.'

'Me too,' Ron added quickly.

Cowards, she thought as she pleasantly slipped another of the suspect buns into her mouth. Swallowing, and after turning slightly green at the taste, she asked, 'So, Hagrid, you're okay?'

'Can't complain! As long as there's Bowtruckles to be looked after, I'm happy!'

'Bowtruckles?' Hermione repeated interestedly. 'Are they for us?'

'They might be! Have to wait and see, won't ya?' He grinned then moved over to the kettle. 'I was makin' you a cup a tea, wasn't I?'

'Thanks, Hagrid.'

'I'll give you a hand,' Harry said suddenly, jumping to his feet and following the gamekeeper over to the sink.

Glancing at them, Hermione then looked to Ron nervously. She'd tried not to be alone with him recently, terrified she'd say something and put her foot in it. Her excessive work had been the perfect excuse but she couldn't pull her quill out now. 'Alright?' she questioned with a weak smile.

He shrugged. 'Usual. You?'

'Oh, you know.'

'Not really,' he objected. 'Hardly seen you lately. You're always off working or something.'

The distaste in his voice was amusing and she couldn't help but laugh. 'Yeah, I'm terrible like that.'

Ron chuckled. 'Yeah, you are. But you've got redeeming features.'

'That's nice to know.'

'Don't you want to know what they are?'

'Not really.'

'Shame. Had a speech planned out and everything.'

Her face broke out into a real grin. 'Some other time perhaps.'

'I'll pencil it in.'

A sudden clanging of pots indicated the arrival of their tea, courtesy of Harry. 'You two alright?'

Still smiling, she nodded. 'Perfect.'

'What are you doing out here? It's cold.'

Minerva glanced over her shoulder as Molly stepped out of the door behind her. 'I'm sorry. It's just a beautiful evening.'

Molly slipped an arm around her waist. 'It is. But it's still cold.'

She smiled and closed her eyes against the overcast night. She could still feel the light billowing from the cottage behind them yet she was content in this semi-darkness. A bark broke her reverie. Pulling herself back into the present, she turned to face Molly. 'Let's go in, shall we?'

Nodding, Molly led them back inside, closed and locked the door securely. 'I know we're on an island but…'

'No harm in being conscientious,' Minerva replied, drawing the curtains over the sink. 'Albus issued me with the rota today. I have second watch Friday evening, a five-hour stint.'

'Well, that's not so bad.'

Answering the unasked question, Minerva added, 'Monday and Thursday evenings, first watch. He volunteered for an extra shift.'

Molly nodded. 'I thought he might. Was there anymore news, did Albus say?'

'Unofficial sightings, there's always plenty.' There was no point concerning Molly with talk of Hogsmeade sightings, it was likely they would come to nothing.

Ginny had been exceptionally late for dinner and had then sat with a group of second-years; Colin Creevey had seemed particularly happy about that. Having then eaten at the pace usually reserved for a starving elephant, the second-year had disappeared from the table without a goodbye.

Hermione watched all this, distracted from her stew and dumplings. Harry, she could tell, was aware of her little looks up the table. Ron, on the other hand, was digging so ferociously into his dinner that it would've taken a bull trampling down the table to out him off. That suited her; she thought she might be on level terms with him for the first time since she'd started seeing Ginny and she didn't want to ruin that. Though she'd never admit it to anyone- let alone him- he was a good friend and a nice person to have around; occasionally, at any rate.

When she returned to the common room with the boys, she expected to see Ginny slouched in a chair with a newspaper or something, but she wasn't. As Ron dropped into a chair near the fire and closed his eyes, Harry muttered, 'If you don't mind me saying, you've got a look on your face that reminds me of Snape. On a bad day.'

She shot him a frown. 'I'm fine.'

He shrugged. 'Okay, then.'

'Oh, I'm going upstairs,' she announced with disdain, glancing once at the figure of Ron with his mouth wide open, before stomping up the stairs.

As soon as she reached her empty dormitory she sensed something wasn't right. Looking around she tried to place just what was amiss. It took a few seconds but she got it. Every morning she opened the curtains on her four-poster bed all the way around, just to let some air in; however, at the moment they were tightly drawn.

Immediately suspicious, she pulled out her wand and held it tightly. Trying not to acknowledge her hand was shaking, she reached out and pulled back the curtain…

'Surprise.'

She didn't lower her wand so much as drop it with a clatter. Surrounded by garlands of artificial flowers which were flashing pink, red and purple, and next to a cuddly teddy-bear, obviously hand-made by the lopsided grin on its face, which was under some kind of a charm which made its eyes change colour regularly, was a certain second-year. 'Ginny, what the…'

'I just wanted to do something nice for you,' the redhead said anxiously, the grin slowly sliding from her face, probably at the shocked expression Hermione knew adorned her own features. 'If I…'

'Oh, no, Gin,' she interrupted quickly, picking up her wand and dropping onto her bed beside her girlfriend. 'This is just shock, that's all. I've spent half the day worrying that you'd…'

'That I'd what?' Ginny questioned, lifting a hand to brush a hair away from her eyes. 'That I'd gone off you or something?'

Hermione blushed. 'Yeah.'

'You know, for a bright girl, you're stupid sometimes,' answered Ginny, leaning forward and kissing her. 'I'd better go. I've got an essay due in Monday that I haven't even thought about.'

'Do you need any help?'

'No, I'll be alright. Just check under your pillow before you go to sleep.'

After watching Ginny out of the door with a bemused smile on her face, Hermione immediately drew the curtains around the bed and lifted her pillow. Underneath it she found a hand-made card, with pressed dried flowers across the rim and 'I love you' written on the inside in gold pen. To the left of that was a waving photograph of Ginny, probably taken in the summer.

Hermione bit her lip and grinned. Now all she had to think of was how to repay the very sweet favour.

Molly was fast asleep. After checking, Minerva did as she had done every night in the last week. Carefully going downstairs, avoiding the fifth step from the bottom which always creaked and had done since an accident with an exploding in her youth, she settled herself at the kitchen table, pulled out the map from her dressing-gown pocket and lit the tip of her wand.