After breakfast, Harry and Ron headed upstairs. Ron kept talking about the Quidditch team.

"With Fred and George gone I have no idea of what we're ganna do. They're the best beaters Hogwarts has seen in years. I just don't know if we're ganna ever have anyone as good as them. We barely won the cup last year without you and them."

"I'm sure we can do something. We can find people that can be almost as good as they."

"I don't know. They're kinda unique, those two, you know? I don't even know where we're putting Ginny in the team."

Harry nodded, "She's fast. She can be a good Chaser."

"I don't know. Ginny's a bit, well, she's a bit weak. One of those Slytherin blokes can really hurt her. They're much bigger than she."

"I suppose you're right, but she's clever."

"What are you two up to? You left us downstairs." Hermione said as she pushed Ron to the side.

"Hey, don't push me."

"Don't be a baby, Ron. I really didn't hurt you." She glared at him as she said those words, but quickly said to Harry, "Who is she?"

"What?" said Harry who was incapable of understanding why Hermione's tone was a bit hurried.

"Yeah Hermione, what are you talking 'bout?" Ron said as he slowly crossed his arms.

"Oh, you be quiet." She slightly rolled her eyes and said, "She's in the running to be head girl against me."

Hermione's eyes lowered to the ground and Harry realized that Hermione felt horror at the fact that there was someone who could spoil her plans.

"So that's why you were quiet at the table. I would have thought that you would start talking about Hogwarts and ramble on from what you know from that damn book, 'Hogwarts: A History.'"

"Be quiet, Ron."

"Why are you so upset, Hermione?" Harry tried to look at her face, but she kept it down despite Harry's prodding.

"It's stupid of me. It's nothing against her, you know."

"Does she even know?" asked Ron who was now towering Hermione.

"I don't think so. She was unaware who I was so I don't think she received the list."

"What list? What in bloody blazes are you up to?" said Ron who seemed to be growing impatient for his inability to understand what Hermione was thinking.

"You didn't get a list? But you are on it. You've must have disregarded it."

"No, I wouldn't have ignored something from school."

"Well, maybe they never send you one."

"You are too much, Hermione. Show us the list for goodness sake."

Her eyes narrowed at Ron's scarlet face, but she handed to him a yellowish parchment. Harry move closer and read:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is proud to announce that you are in the running to become head boy or head girl, respectively, for your seventh year at Hogwarts. Even though that time is not in the immediate future, we urge you to continue with your academic endeavors in your up coming academic school year. But, not only academic success will account for our decision on whom will become head boy or head girl. The panel that has to decide such award consist of the finest professors Hogwarts acclaims. They will take into consideration the integrity, character, and morality, as well as many more qualities that we feel are necessary for the nominees to process in order to receive such a grand honor. We hope that everyone who is nominated understands that this is a preliminary list which might change. We hope that everyone will do there best in order to earn the right to represent Hogwarts to the world.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

And as Harry looked down at the list he saw many familiar names. Hermione G., Ronald W., and many others including Milvia S., but what shocked Harry the most was seeing his name, Harry P, right before Draco M.

"I didn't get this letter, either." said Harry who saw that Hermione had calmed. "I don't think she knows anything about the subject. Maybe," Harry looked at the letter, "she doesn't even care about being head girl."

"Who wouldn't care about being head boy or girl at Hogwarts? What's more important than that?" Her body suddenly took a sharp slant towards Harry.

"Us," said Ron, "it isn't like it's not important, but," he took a step toward Hermione as he brushed away a stray hair that covered her left eye, "there are more important things in life."

"Yeah, like what, Ron?" She said as she pointed her finger at Ron's long nose.

"Well," he scratched his head for a second when he grinned, "Quidditch."

"Oh, why do I even bother." She pushed Ron and Harry to go downstairs.

"What's her problem?"

"I don't know, Harry. She's been pretty odd all summer, even for Hermione's sake."

"Do you think it's this head girl business?"

"Nope. I think something happened with her folks. She was crying when we went to pick her up."

"Really. I wonder what could have made her so upset."

"Must have been something major. Hermione usually doesn't let small things bother her."