A/N: Four days…that's not too bad for a new upload is it? ducks from tomatoes and lettuce being thrown in her direction from angry reviewers lol! Anyway, I hope all of you enjoy this – it's my longest chapter yet! Just for you!

Next chapter they go to Hogwarts, and I have a few twists there I hope you like!

Disclaimer: I have no money, what makes you think I expect to get money from this? Silly people! shakes her head in bewilderment

~***~

"Well, well, if it isn't Mudblood and Potty-boy," came a drawled voice from inside the room.

"Malfoy, what are you doing here?" Harry spat out. Hermione couldn't help but stare, her mouth slightly open, at blonde-haired Draco Malfoy with a sick feeling in her stomach.

Draco sneered at him, "Not too bright are you Potter? I'm in the prefects' compartment, why do you think I'm here?" He turned and looked at Hermione with disdain, "You might want to close your trap, Granger." He laughed snidely, "Oh right, you never do close your mouth do you?" Mimicking Hermione, he raised his hand in the air and in a falsetto voice, "Oh Professor, I know the answer. Professor!!" The other Slytherin prefects started to laugh out loud, while the Gryffindor prefects looked murderously on.

Hermione placed a restraining hand on Harry's arm as he clenched his fist and started to move towards Malfoy.

"That little ferret isn't worth it Harry," she said loudly. The Gryffindor prefects were now the ones to start to laugh.

Draco narrowed his eyes, and opened his mouth to reply, when a hand slapped the table.

"That's enough!"

They all turned to look in surprise at the two people standing at the far end of the compartment they hadn't noticed before.

"Sit down all of you," the girl looked at them. No one moved. The guy sighed, "Now people!"

Harry and Hermione shrugged at each other and sat beside their fellow Gryffindor prefects.

Hermione looked closely at the two in front of her, and realised quickly that these must be the new Head Boy and Head Girl. From their robes, the girl seemed to be from Ravenclaw and the boy, with a sinking heart, from Slytherin. "Great, all the support Malfoy needs." She thought to herself.

The girl started to speak, "First of all, the spectacle we all witnessed will not be tolerated again. You were chosen as prefects to be models for our schoolmates, and are expected to not act so childishly." She gave a pointed look to Draco, Hermione, and Harry.

"Second of all," the Head Boy continued, "do not expect any favours from us just because you are prefects. If anything, your behaviour will be more scrutinised because you are prefects." Hermione started to flush and she knew Malfoy was smirking at her and Harry. The Head Boy seemed to realise this, as he then said, "This goes for you too, Ravenclaws and Slytherins. Just because we are the Head Girl and Head Boy does not mean we will go easy on you. We are Head Boy and Head Girl of ALL Hogwarts' students, not just those from our houses." He looked at all the prefects, "Do you understand?'

They all nodded and muttered, "yes". The only thing that was slightly comforting to Hermione was the sullen look on Malfoy's face. It was obvious that he had thought that he would get away with any action as he was a prefect and would have his Head Boy protecting him. He looked as if the rug under his feet was swept away from him and Hermione had to keep from laughing out loud. Instead, she just smirked back at him, while he sourly looked at her.

"Good, now that that's done, let's start by introducing ourselves," the Head Girl stated, "I'm this year's Head Girl, as I'm sure most of you have figured out. My name is Armaya Mehta, you can call me Maya for short, and I'm in my seventh year in Ravenclaw.

"And I'm Kalen Duggan, a seventh year in Slytherin, and the Head Boy," Kalen said.

"Why don't we go around the room and you can say your name, house, and year you are in," suggested Maya.

Dutifully, everyone said his or her name. Hermione looked around for the 5th year prefects; there was Hannah Abbot and Justin Finch-Fletchley from Hufflepuff, Terry Boot and Mandy Brocklehurst from Ravenclaw, and Malfoy and Blaise Zambini from Slytherin. She smiled inside, "at least Pansy isn't a prefect," she thought.

Hermione looked up at Maya and Kalen when everyone finished introducing themselves.

"Professor Dumbledore wanted Kalen and I to inform you today of the duties and responsibilities that prefects must regard," Maya reported. "This meeting shouldn't take too long as we'll have another meeting in the first week of school."

"As prefects we will meet every week to discuss any events that we should be aware of, and to give feedback on how to handle situations," Kalen said as he handed out a package to everyone. "The sheets in front of you will explain all the necessary duties and actions."

Maya interrupted him, "We trust you will read this package before the first meeting, which will take place this Friday as they will be useful in the future. Kalen and I just wanted to make sure that you are comfortable as prefects. You are expected to guide and help students, especially the first years."

"Occasionally, you will be required to discipline your schoolmates. However, in most cases you will only need to take points of their house," Kalen gave them a stern glance. "Taking off excessive points or taking them off for no valid reason will not go by unnoticed. That package lists all 'strayed' behaviour that students have committed in the past and the points that were taken off for each. We expect you to follow them with the same action. During our weekly meetings we will collect everyone's report that says who they gave punishment to, why, and how much."

"For any behaviour that appears to be out of your league, we ask you to report them to the student-in-question's head of house for them to take over. Again this procedure is listed in your package," Maya continued. She gave them all a little smile, "Beyond that, we ask you to enjoy yourselves. It's a great honour to be a prefect, and we welcome you into our little circle."

Kalen and Maya glanced at each other.

"Well, I think that's all that really needs to be said for now. Unless there are any questions…?" Kalen asked.

No one said anything.

"Okay then, I ask the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors to come to me, and the Slytherins and Hufflepuffs can go to Kalen and receive the password to their respective common room. Your first duty as prefects is to escort your housemates to the common room, especially the first years, and to provide them with the password," Maya closed.

Hermione and Harry stood up with the rest of the Gryffindor prefects and each received a slip of paper with a word on it, "butterbeer." They all grinned at each other; they liked this password! Around the room, "Incendio!" could be heard and the pieces of paper went up in flames before curling into grey ashes.

~***~

Harry and Hermione stepped out of the compartment and headed back.

"That wasn't too bad, was it? I thought…actually, I didn't know what to expect!" Harry told her.

"Hmmm…oh yeah, Maya and Kalen seem really nice," Hermione said being distracted from rifling through the package they had received.

Harry started to laugh, "Oh come on Hermione, we have the whole week to read this package."

She looked at him, ready to dispute that, but shook her head and laughed alongside him instead. "Okay Harry, I guess I could put this away for now." She continued on, pursing her lips, "I'm really surprised with Kalen's behaviour though."

"Really? Why? I thought he seemed rather nice, if somewhat strict and serious," Harry replied.

"That's my point Harry. He's a Slytherin and he was decent! He showed no favouritism to the Slytherins or yelled at any Gryffindors," Hermione explained.

"Maybe that's why Dumbledore chose him as Head Boy," Harry reasoned. "They can't show favouritism right? Just like Kalen and Maya said." His face brightened up, "Hey let's tell Ron what the password is. He's going to think it's awesome!"

Hermione stared at him.

"What?" Harry asked. "Oh…" He sighed, "We'll have to talk to him soon before he blows this up to more than it is."

"You're right," Hermione agreed. "It's just a matter of getting him to listen to us though."

The walked along a corridor in silence for a while, before a thought occurred to Hermione.

"Harry, why didn't you tell us that you became a prefect?" she asked, taking a sidelong glance at one of her best friends.

"I wasn't sure what to tell you two. I mean, Ron was really angry with me last year when he thought I put my name in the Goblet of Fire. He thought I was just trying to gather attention. I didn't know what he would think if I became prefect and he didn't," he said in a rather hopeless voice.

"All right, but why didn't you tell me?" she asked arching an eyebrow in his direction. He laughed weakly in return.

"I knew you wanted to become a prefect ever since first year, and how you want to become Head Girl too eventually. I figured when you didn't say anything about it when we met at the Burrow that you hadn't been selected and I felt really bad. I mean, I expected you to be jumping up and down and pinning your badge as soon as you found out," he explained.

Hermione blushed slightly; that was exactly what she did when she received the letter.

"When you didn't say anything, and I couldn't see the badge on you, I assumed the worst. I didn't know how to tell you I was a prefect without hurting you, so I kept putting it off." He finally looked at her in the eye, "Sorry Hermione."

She smiled in return, "Don't be. After all, I didn't tell you either, or Ron." She stopped abruptly and turned to face him, causing him to bump into her. "Speaking of Ron, how about we go and knock some sense into him?"

Harry grinned back at her, "And how would we go about doing that?"

"I have a plan, but we need to speak to Fred and George first. Let's go!" And the two of them strode quickly towards Fred and George's compartment.

~***~

Hermione, Harry, Fred, George, and Lee were crouching outside the compartment Ron was in.

Fred and George had told them he had been sulking in that compartment since he came on the train and wouldn't talk to any one. When Hermione and Harry explained what they were going to do, Fred and George quickly agreed to help. Lee decided to come with them and help. Or that was what he said at least, Hermione thought it was because he wanted to join in the fun. She didn't say anything though, as she needed their help.

"Ready?" she whispered to the four boys with her. They all nodded grinning at her.

She took a deep breath, straightened up, and started pounding on the compartment door.

"Ron Weasley, open this door!"

Dead silence.

She continued to pound on the door with her fists. "Ron, you better get up and open this door this second, or you'll be sorry!" she hollered.

Nothing. Well, nothing except for Fred, George, and Lee holding their hands against their mouths to keep from laughing.

"RON WEASLEY! You KNOW I can open this door. Whether I unlock it or rip the door off the hinges with a spell. So you might as well open it yourself!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. She could see out of the corner of her eye that students were peering out of their compartments wondering what was going on, but she paid no heed to them.

She finally heard him muttering and getting up, and soon the door opened up a crack and they could hear him say spitefully, "I don't really want to talk to you Hermione. Go and talk to your friend Harry."

"Since he's standing right here, maybe we can ALL talk." She nodded grimly to the boys, and they all pushed hard on the door before Ron could close it, sending Ron flying across the compartment to land sprawling on the floor.

They followed him in and Ron looked up at all them, eyes wide with astonishment as they surrounded him.

Lee closed the door behind them and leaned against it preventing him from escaping.

Harry in the centre with Hermione, had his wand out at Ron, "Expelliarmus!" And with his other hand, deftly caught Ron's wand that came flying to him.

Hermione stepped up, "Mobilicorpus!" And floated Ron so that he sat down on one of the seats.

"Now, I won't have to put a full body-bind on you to keep you from leaving, will I Ron?" Hermione asked him sweetly.

He shook his violently.

"Good. Now we're going to talk. Actually, Harry and I are going to talk, and you're going to listen."

He looked at her waiting, and then glanced at the grinning Fred and George with a puzzled look on his face.

Harry caught the glance, "Don't worry about them. They're just here for back-up." He took a deep breath. "Listen Ron, I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was a prefect. Things were rough this summer, and I didn't really care if I was a prefect when I received the letter."

Hermione and Ron both stared at him. They hadn't really talked about his summer and how he was. He never seemed to want to talk to them about it in the Burrow, and they didn't pressure him.

"I guess I felt guilty. After all, Cedric was a prefect, and look what happened to him. What I did to him," Harry continued with a slight crack in his voice.

"Harry…," Hermione whispered.

"You didn't do that, Harry," Ron interjected at the same time.

"Anyway," Harry moved on, "I didn't care that I was prefect, but I didn't know how to tell you that since I thought you might think it was me gaining attention over you. And I didn't tell Hermione because I wasn't sure if she was a prefect and I didn't want to hurt her either."

Ron didn't say anything, but he didn't look angry at least. He turned to Hermione ready to hear her explanation.

"I already told you why I didn't tell you I was a prefect, Ron Weasley," she said rather crossly.

"No, you didn't!" Ron incredulously.

"Oh yes I did. Right when we first got on the train. It's not my fault you weren't listening," Hermione retorted.

"Wha-? Oh, yeah…" Ron remembered, flushing slightly.

"Now what are you going to do about this?" she demanded of him.

He looked at her blankly and recovered. "Both of you still could have told me before we arrived here," he complained.

"Would you have listened?"

"Of course, I would have," he sputtered back.

Harry and Hermione looked at each other before laughing.

"I can't believe you said that Ron! You wouldn't have listened at all!" Harry exclaimed still laughing. Hermione winked at Fred, George, and Harry.

"Right, and there's only one thing to do with people like you Ron Weasley," Hermione said menacingly. All four of them crept up to where Ron was, while he was trying to back up as much as he could.

"Now!" On that pre-planned signal, the four of them whipped out one of the Weasley Wizards Wheezes' fake wands that changed into rubber haddocks and started to whack him with them. Fred and George were definitely getting into the spirit of things (Hermione had to make sure none of the wands changed to tin parrots before they entered the compartment).

"We're going to knock some sense into you Ron even if it takes us the entire trip! Literally!" Hermione yelled while laughing with the other three attackers.

Ron began to laugh as well and finally managed to yell out, "Okay, okay! Enough already."

They stopped, eventually. Harry had to pull Fred and George off of Ron and the twins ran off with Lee to continue their rubber haddock war.

Left alone in the compartment, Harry, Hermione, and Ron stared at each other.

"I am sorry I never told either of you guys. I should have, and…I'm sorry I didn't," Hermione said apologetically.

"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have assumed what your reactions would be. I mean, you two are my closest friends. If I can't tell you, who can I? The Dursleys?" He laughed sarcastically at the last statement.

"So, do you forgive us Ron, for not telling you? Both of us are really sorry. And, I couldn't imagine if you were still angry," she pleaded. "Besides, if not, we'll call Fred and George back in," she threatened.

Ron laughed and pretended to cringe. "No, anything but those two!" he joked.

"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you guys earlier. Friends?" he asked hesitantly.

"Of course!" Harry replied, while Hermione said emphatically, "Forever".

Hermione looked at the two of them with their silly smiles on their face, knowing fully that the same goofy smile was on her face, and her eyes welled up with tears. She ran and hugged them both as tightly as she could.

"Oh, let's not fight again. I hate it when we fight," Hermione cried to the two of them.

Ron looked over Hermione to Harry, "Blimey, she's off her rocker now." Harry shrugged and rolled his eyes in return. She punched them both in the arm and was prepared to reprimand them when Ron held up his hands in a defensive gesture.

"Don't yell Hermione. You hate it when we fight remember?" he jokingly remarked. He paused and continued, "Besides, I'm hungry. I haven't had any food since breakfast. Harry, have you seen the food cart lady go by?"

Harry talked to Ron while Hermione rolled her eyes and sat down to read her prefect package with a smile on her face. Everything is going to turn out just fine this year, she thought happily.

~***~

~***~

A/N: So what did you think? Come on, review! Lol!

White: Oh, you should review. You really, really should! Although, I must admit, I was notorious before for reading stories and reviewing. But I changed, honest! ;-) Thanks for adding me on to your list of fav's; that's AWESOME! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Eleanor: I thought having it in Hermione's perspective would give it a slight difference. I'm sorry, but what questions did you have? I tried to find a review from you before, but I couldn't find it. As for the book, I think J.K. Rowling will pair them up eventually. I can't wait for the 5th book to come out though!

Omega: Thanks a lot! I hope the 4 days weren't too long!

Rally-as-Twiddle's: I wanted to get this up earlier, but I had 2 papers and an assignment due on Friday, and I needed sleep by the time I got home. But I made it extra long! hopeful expression that this makes it all better

Bluetreeleaves: I tried to keep it with J.K. Rowling's character. What creative inspirations authors choose to use is up to them, as it is a fanfic site, however, I can't do that because I can't see it happen without bursting into laughter. Call it lack of creativity, or something. Anyway, certain guys suck for sure. Like your wanna-be stalker dude. It's amazing how immature they can be sometimes. Not all, but some ;-)

Blue: I read your review and made sure Ron wasn't lonely anymore ;-) I have forgotten good-for-nothing boy. I just blame it on his immaturity level and thank God that I didn't go out with him in the first place! pats herself on the back for her good sense lol! Blue is my favourite colour too; I had to expand my wardrobe because the majority of my clothes were blue!

Madison: He's one of my favourite characters too, but he certainly fits the stereotype of a redhead eh? Thanks for the compliments on my chapter!

HermioneM: They freak me out too! Guys really do act like little petulant 5 year olds. One moment they're happy, but if they don't get what they want, temper tantrum!

MusicalRose: Sorry! But you made it public first right? But could you imagine going out with a real Percy? Scary thought! I can't wait to read book 5 to see what happens with Percy! Actually, with everyone and everything. I hope Ms. Rowling hurries up!!! I had to include the robes. After all, George and Fred promised Harry, and I couldn't imagine Ron wearing those old maroon robes again! shudders

A/N: Thanks so much. Not only on the support of this story (I haven't received one flame – yea!) but on good-for-nothing boy as well! You guys ROCK! big hug to all my reviewers!

shal