Disc- Nope...no letter...anyway Trinity and Gabrielle are mine. Just thought I'd claim them for once.

A/N -Don't really got anything to say here. Thanks to those who reviewed I guess. I really cherish reviews since *sigh* I don't get too many. THIS IS THE SECOND-TO-LAST CHAPTER! I know, you can all cry cause you're so sad. Don't worry though, To End All Pain will be up sometime after. Yes, I know it's short. But the next chapter is two times as long as this!

~Recap

"Oh nothing. Just something very important to me. Something that means a lot to me...and to someone else," he added.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Harry! Where were you?" Ron yelled from across the hall.

"Shut it Ron," Harry said nervously.

"Sorry," Ron said, watching Harry sit down across from him. "Lupin wasn't too ecstatic about you missing class."

"Since when do you care? I thought you were mad about Ginny and me," Harry said.

"Oh...right," Ron said. "I forgot about that."

"Forgot? You forgot? You expect me to believe you forgot?" Harry let out a mocking laugh.

"I did," Ron said shrugging.

"Bull."

"Fine. Don't believe me. I've gotten over it. Ginny's liked you forever; she deserves a chance," Ron said.

"Why do you say that?" Harry asked.

"Hello? She's liked since before she came to Hogwarts. I think she's entitled to try it," Ron said.

"What makes you think it won't last?" Harry defied.

"Please. I don't know why you're doing this, but it's because of Hermione. Ginny's some sort of rebound," Harry opened his mouth to respond, but Ron cut him off. "And don't you even try to deny it. I'm not stupid. You're using Ginny to make Hermione jealous, aren't you?" Ron played. Harry was just using Ginny, but Ron didn't care because Ginny didn't. She acted as though she didn't mind.

"So what if I am? What good are you going to do?" Harry sneered.

"Nothing. It's none of my business. If my sister wants to be used, that's her problem," Ron said simply.

"But you're always protecting her and such. Why are you so reluctant this time?" Harry said.

"Because it's you. If it was Malfoy, well, that's a completely different story. But we don't have to worry about that. Ginny would never even think of Malfoy like that," Ron said, folding his arms contentedly.

'You have no idea,' Harry thought. Ron was in for a rude awakening when he found out Ginny suggested the idea about them making someone jealous.

"See? Speechless," Ron proudly said.

"OK you win," Harry said, but inside was smiling mockingly.

" I knew it. I always do because I'm all-knowing," Ron said and Harry snorted into his plate.

"All-knowing?" Harry mocked, and felt a mischievous smile creep up on his lips. "Would you like to bet on it? Let's say, 10 galleons?"

"Are you crazy? I don't have 10 galleons," Ron paused. "Make it five."

"You're on," Harry said and smiled. This was going to be fun.

"Challenge me. Go on," Ron said.

"Four times eight divided by the quantity x plus thirty-six," Harry said easily and Ron's jaw dropped. (A/N- I just made this up off the top of my head. I don't think it's even solvable)!

"Can I have that in English please?" Ron was still dumbfounded.

"Fork over the dough," Harry said.

"Dough?"

"Money Weasley, money," Harry said, sounding much like Malfoy.

"I have a secret for you. I don't have five galleons," he said gleefully.

"When you get it, it's mine," Harry said.

"No. I'll never get it. I'll grow up and live in a small house and make wand-made food products. I'll never get a job, or earn money," Ron said.

"Want to bet?"

"Not that again! No, I don't want to bet because I'm going to be an Auror," Ron said. "And so are you and Hermione."

"Well, I'm going to be a Quidditch player first. I'll retire an Auror though," Harry said.

"Right," Ron paused. "Because we all know you're a reserve for the Arrows."

"Correct. Their seeker now is so old, a Shooting Star is faster than him!"

"Well Harry, sorry to inform you, but I don't think you've been listening in Astronomy," Ron said.

"What makes you say that?"

"A shooting star travels...er...really, really fast," Ron said, unable to detect the actual speed.

"Well Ron, sorry to inform you, but I was talking about the old broom," Harry said and Ron blushed a little.

"Right. I knew that, I was just making sure you did," Ron excused.

Harry rolled his eyes, then glanced at his watch. "Crap! We got to go! Grab your things, I'm out of here."

============
-24 hours later

"Someone had a late night," Ron teased Hermione.

"Shut up," she said.

"Out with Malfoy, I assume. Or should I say inside Malfoy?" Ron said with a sly look on his face and Hermione stared dumbfounded at him, then threw her pumpkin juice on him.

"How dare you? That's not even close! We were talking if you must know. That was so...so...unacceptable Ron Weasley!" Hermione screeched.

It was difficult for Ron to talk, for pumpkin juice was dripping down his face, and tiny droplets of juice rested on his lips. He quickly licked them off, then retorted at Hermione.

"Talking eh? When? When he was mauling you, or when he was on top of you?" he said.

"Ron you are way out of line. That is incredibly horrible of you, and I can't believe you'd joke abut something like that! Honestly! I have values you know," Hermione said. Her face was bright red, and she was clenching her fists.

"Values? What are they? Get laid by the best-looking bloke in school before graduation? Or let all your old friends learn to hate you? How about the one about your stubbornness stopping you from being with the one you really love? What about that?" Ron exclaimed.

"I have not, and won't go all the way with Malfoy! Please! You, of all people, should know that. Old friends? Ha! You just accused me of doing everything I'd never do," Hermione defended.

"What about the one about your stubbornness?" Harry quietly asked. He had let them have their argument, but he wanted Hermione's opinion on this.

Hermione looked shocked to have Harry speaking directly to her, and she opened her mouth, but then thoughtfully closed it. "That may have happened."

"May?" Ron burst out. "You know it did! We all know! The whole freaking school knows, Hermione!"

"No they don't! Do they?" she looked scared.

"No, they don't all know. Ron," Harry gave him a dirty look, "was just exaggerating to make a point. Though judging by the tone of Ron's voice, I wouldn't be surprised if some know now."

"Jeez...thanks Ron. I really appreciate you telling everyone about our problems," Hermione said.

"I'm not the one with the problems," Ron answered.

"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure of that Weasley," Harry smiled while talking.

"Huh?" he answered dimly.

"You owe me five galleons," Harry said.

"Oops...forgot about that. Maybe I can forget about it for a few more days...then months...then years...then," Harry cut Ron off.

"You lost fair and square. Fess up," Harry said, extending his palm to Ron.

"I told you I haven't got the money yet. I'll give it to you when I do," Ron said, but was crossing his fingers underneath the table.
"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing," they answered simultaneously.

"I'm sure. What's going on with this five galleons thing?" Hermione said.

"Just a little bet that Ron lost. Something about, oh...what was it Ron?" Harry faked.

"I...er...don't remember," Ron said with a grin sneaking up on his lips. "I guess since neither of us remembers, I don't have to pay."

"Wait!" Harry exclaimed and Ron's face fell. "If was about you being all-knowing. Does that ring a bell?"

"I don't know what you are talking about," Ron smiled innocently.

"I think you do," Harry said in a sing-song voice.

"I don't think I do," Ron spoke through gritted teeth.
"Forget it Weasley. Just remember you owe me five galleons. Doesn't matter what you say," Harry smirked.

"That is a pathetic impression of me if I ever saw one," Malfoy's voice drawled from behind the three Gryffindors.

"What do you want Malfoy?" Ron said with his teeth still gritted.

"Just the pleasure of my girlfriend's company," he said slyly and sat down next to Hermione, putting his arm around her shoulders. "Is that so wrong?"

"How about you have the pleasure of her company somewhere else? We're bust right now," Harry said in a extraordinarily calm voice. Ron gave him a look that said, 'Why so civil?'

"Oh but you see, I can't do that. Hermione happens to be sitting right here, and I know she doesn't like my friends. Isn't that right dearest?" he turned to Hermione.

Hermione bit her lip, and looked sympathetically at Harry and Ron. "Well, he's right," she said and Ron's jaw dropped.

For a second, Ron was speechless, but he quickly regained control of his voice. "What?" he spit.

"I don't like his friends. You know that," she said in an undertone.

"Now, now Hermione. No need to whisper. We're all friends here," Malfoy purposely antagonized Harry and Ron.

"Friends?" Harry laughed aloud. "The day we become anything more than tolerant of each other's presence will be a day to remember indeed."

"We are more than tolerant of each other's presence. I don't see anyone marking that down in history," Malfoy said.

"I'll never like you," Ron seethed. "You can kill me dead if I ever become friends with that pathetic excuse for a person."

Malfoy frowned at Ron. "You better watch your mouth Weasley. It'll come back and get you when you least expect it," he paused. "I'm outta here. Coming love?" he asked Hermione. She shrugged, but got up and followed Malfoy out into the hall.

"Damn he drives me crazy," Ron swore.

"Doesn't he drive us all crazy?" Harry said back to Ron.

"Good point," Ron said, and for a minute they just ate their food without conversation.

"Well, I'm full. I'm going to go to Herbology. Are you actually going to come to class today?" Ron saucily asked Harry.

"Yes mom," Harry answered and got up, slung his bag over his shoulder, and headed to Herbology.

============
Meanwhile...

"No Draco! Not here," Hermione pushed Draco off her.

"Why not? No one's around," he stuck his lower lip out.

"Are you kidding? Anyone could come down the corridor right now and see us. Plus we're missing class," Hermione added.

"Come on Hermione. No one is going to come. I swear," Draco kept persevering.

"No, no, no and a thousand more time no! Draco we have an agreement," Hermione reminded him and he squinted his eyes shut.

"Remind me of that one more time," he said and Hermione sighed.

"Nothing physical happens until night time when we're in your room, and no one can find us. Do you remember now?" Hermione asked.

"Vaguely," he lied. Of course he remembered the agreement. Hermione had forced it upon him. She said that she had other things to do other than get with him. Draco, however, hated this. He wanted to get his master's job done as soon as possible but Hermione just wasn't cooperating. She was so stubborn, and that was turning Draco off. He didn't find her as attractive anymore. Besides, she got boring after a while. Always off in some other world, thinking about Potter. Draco didn't like this. He didn't like this one bit.

"Well at least you remember somewhat," Hermione said. That was another thing that bothered him. How stupid she could be. He wanted the mother of his heir to be smart. Sure, Hermione was the smartest witch in the whole school but she could be daft. Really daft. Draco pitied Potter and Weasley for having to put up with her all the time. He gave them props on that.

"Yeah," he answered dimly. Hermione was always trying to show him up too. Actually, she tried to show up everyone. That peeved Draco also. He was just as smart as her. Maybe not education-wise, but he was cunning and sly. That made him smart.

"Are you all right?" her voice interrupted his thinking.

"Fine," he said. She may look hot, but she's not so hot when you get to know her. 'My God, what was I thinking when I chose her?' Draco thought to herself. 'Maybe I'd drank one too many butterbeers that day.'

"I'm going Herbology. See you tonight," she waved then left.

"Guess I've got to go to class," Draco murmured to his self and started walking down the corridor Hermione went down.

"Tonight," he proclaimed. "Tonight I'm going to make her a part of me," he secretly smiled. "I'll show Miss-Know-It-All. This should be fun."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N- I know, EXTREMELY short chapter. Almost the shortest yet. But remember, this whole story is just the exposition to the next story. Is that all right? It better be, because that's what going to happen! The next chapter in this is going to be a lot shorter (sorry!), and a bit more darker. Sound good?

Thank you to...

Cyropi- Thank you! A new and good chapter? This must be my lucky day! Yes poor Gabrielle is gone. And as we all know, in the world of Harry Potter you can't bring the dead back to life. Sucks for Godric! It really is too bad that you don't find out anything about the founders in this chapter...ain't it? But I bet you can't wait for next chapter then! (coughcoughforeshadowingcoughcough). I CANNOT BELIEVE YOUR FIC IS OVER! No!! I was so upset. It was a great story and fic. Make sure you write a sequel or new fic soon! Please? I asked nicely. Do it or else I'll set my...er...lion on you. I have one. Really.

Akuma Kanada no Tenchi- Sorry that you didn't get the last part w/Parvati. It's just a random spurt of what I like to call 'comedy.' (?) Anyway, the new chapter is up. Thanks for reviewing!

Beau Coeur- Wow long review. It's not as if mine aren't that long wither though...hehe. Woah. I gotta update sooner. You were still going out with Gabe and hadn't gone to Disney when you reviewed! Shoot...thanks for reviewing!

SnickleFritz- Thank you so much! I'm SO glad you're back! I was so upset when you stopped reviewing OTWT. But I figured it was my fault because I took too long to update. But I'm trying to fix that! Helga is a bit of an air-head I guess. But she's also only 8 (?). I forget how old she is. Yes! Ginny has a thing for Draco. It will develop into more though, rest assured. Wait until next chapter...ooOOoo hints. Remember, this story is only the little prequel ficlet thing to another story which will be put up after this ends. It'll be called ©To End All Pain. (My copyright)! Anyway, thank you so much for returning! I'm so happy you're here!

Alybaby- You'll just have to read and find out what Harry has to do. Thanks for the compliments!

DaNcInGqUeEn17- You like A League of our Own? I love that movie! I loved the phrases too. Thanks for reviewing and thanks for the compliments!

PLEASE PRESS THE PURPLE BUTTON AND WRITE NICE WORDS!!!!! You review mine, I'll review yours. That's me policy!