None of the characters in this story (except Rosemary Brooks, Kathy Weasley, Professor Clarke, and Sarah) belong to me.
They are the creations of JK Rowling.

The rest of the holidays were very quiet. Gryffindor common room had become very subdued, especially because Fred and
George Weasley weren't up to their usual tricks. Ron was well-known and well-liked, and everyone was a bit shocked that
he was now lying unconscious in the hospital wing. For Harry, the only thing to look forward to was the Hogsmeade
weekend before school started. He had to admit that it was a bit odd; they'd already had a Hogsmeade visit right before the
holidays, but he wasn't complaining. Anything to get away from the awful silence of the common room.

On Saturday afternoon, after spending most of the day in Hogsmeade, Harry and Hermione went to see Hagrid, more to get
away from the other Gryffindors than anything else. They walked slowly across the grounds, and Hermione was back to her
usual self.

"Do you know," she said, "I don't think I quite finished that Charms essay. I know I started it because I had to get a few
books out of the library, but -"

"Shut up, Hermione," said Harry wearily.

Hermione looked a bit offended. "I was just trying to take your mind off things."

"Well don't," Harry said more rudely than he meant.

"Look, Harry, I know this is difficult for everyone, but you could at least try to cheer up..."

"I don't want to cheer up. I need to be on my guard."

Hermione gave an exasperated sigh. "You know who you sound like? Mad-Eye Moody. Constant vigilance." She paused.
"If someone's bent on poisoning you, you can't really do much about it."

"Oh, so I should just sit here and wait for them to get me, should I?" Harry said angrily. They walked in silence until they
got to Hagrid's hut. They knocked, and the huge man opened the door.

"You two all righ'?" he asked gruffly.

"Yeah, we're fine," said Hermione quietly. Harry said nothing.

"Come on in, then," said Hagrid, "and 'ave some tea."

***

Harry and Hermione stayed with Hagrid until about four o'clock. Hagrid was cheerful, despite what had happened to Ron,
and the three of them talked about everything that had been going on lately.

"You 'ad that American professor yet?" asked Hagrid.

"Yeah," said Harry. "She's a bit mad, really. 'You are the adults of tomorrow' and all that. But she's okay."

"Smiles a bit, don't she?" Hagrid said, smiling.

"Yes, she does," said Hermione. "I'm really not sure the Ministry would approve if they knew about her teaching
methods..."

"Honestly, Hermione. Who cares? I thought you liked talking to all the Salem students."

"Well, yes..." Hermione admitted. "But still..."

"Enjoyin' the company of the American boys, are ye, 'Ermione?" said Hagrid, winking. Harry looked at him in amazement.
Hagrid never said things like that to Hermione.

"Yes, I suppose so..." said Hermione slowly.

"But the old friends are the best, eh?" said Hagrid, winking again. Harry still had no idea what he was talking about.

Hermione blushed. "Yes, they are," she said very quietly.

They said good-bye to Hagrid and made their way back up to the castle, Hermione still slightly pink, and Harry in a state of
utter bafflement.

***

The common room was empty when Harry and Hermione entered. All of the other students were still in Hogsmeade, and
probably wouldn't be back until eight or nine o'clock. Hermione went up to her dormitory dejectedly; despite their talk with
Hagrid she was still very upset. But the dormitory wasn't empty as she had supposed.

"Rosemary?" she said in amazement. "I thought you'd still be in Hogsmeade!"

Rosemary turned from the mirror, and Hermione saw that she was wearing the most garish make-up she could manage.
"Yes, well, I'll be going back there in a little while," said Rosemary, smiling through bright red lips.

"Why are you... made up like... that?" said Hermione cautiously. Rosemary giggled.

"I thought you might say that. Does it look terrible?"

"Um... well, yes," said Hermione honestly. "You're not planning to go out like that, are you?"

"Of course," said Rosemary. She smiled at Hermione's bewildered face. "Maybe I should explain. You remember the dress I
was wearing at Christmas?"

"Vividly," said Hermione. Secretly she rather admired Rosemary for wearing that dress, but she had to feign disdain.

"Well..." Rosemary said slowly. "It seems to have made a bit of an impression on Draco Malfoy."

"Excuse me?" Hermione gasped. "You don't mean -"

"Yes," said Rosemary proudly. "He asked me out. Well, as out as anything gets around here. So I'm meeting him in
Hogsmeade for the evening."

"But why?"

"Hermione," said Rosemary in fake astonishment. "I'm amazed that you of all people can't see the brilliant possibilities of
this situation."

Hermione shook her head. "No, I can't say I do."

"Have you actually seen this make-up?" Rosemary smiled. "I'm going to act as embarrassingly as possible in Hogsmeade.
Make Malfoy squirm, that kind of thing. Serves him right, I say. Most of the Gryffindors are in on the joke; they're staying
to watch." She grinned. "Will you be joining us?"

Inside Hermione a battle was going on. On the one hand, she hated Malfoy, she always had, and Rosemary was quite
correct, it served him right. But on the other hand, she was a prefect. She was supposed to protect the pupils. Deep down
she knew that Rosemary was planning to do a horrible thing. But -

Hermione laughed. "Where on earth did you get such a brilliant idea? Of course I'll come, Harry probably will too."

"Oh, it was Fred and George. They think of really great jokes, don't they?" Rosemary turned back to the mirror. "I'll be
down in a minute. Now let me finish getting ready."

As Hermione walked down the stairs to find Harry, she was still laughing. Her conscience, however, was starting to give a
guilty twinge. She was a prefect. She was supposed to behave in a responsible manner. But Malfoy had given her a lot of
pain over the years. He'd tormented her and her friends, he'd been mean whenever possible, his father was almost certainly a
Death Eater. He most probably deserved anything he got.

"Just this once..." Hermione whispered to herself. "Just this once, I promise, and then I'll be the trustworthy person I'm
supposed to be. Surely I've earned just this little bit of revenge..."


Author's Note: Next time -- find out what happens on Rosemary and Malfoy's "date"! To all Malfoy fans, I'm very sorry,
but the idea was too good to pass up. If only Ron was here to see it...::sniff, sniff:: Yes, I miss him too. I still value any
ideas/opinions on who has been poisoning people. Any new ideas? Anyone?
I feel I must apologize for my friends from school who have been reviewing this story. Namely, "Emma April", "Natasha",
"Groovay Penguin" and "Captain Carrot." Yes, I do admit to knowing them, and they are entirely mad. I just wanted to
explain references they made to teachers at school, etc. No, Captain Carrot, B didn't edit this. And how is Professor Clarke
like Mr V the drama teacher? Never mind, I don't want to know... And yes, Groovay Penguin, I have a terrible sense of
direction. I have ceased to care.
Please keep reading and reviewing!