Chapter 1: The Intro.
The students had been back at Hogwarts for nearly three months. Nothing much had changed, well, there was one slight difference. No one had claimed the teaching job for Defense Against the Dark Arts. So instead of class, the students would return to their respective houses until dinner. There were many advantages to having this free time, however, to some students, they were considered...
"A waste!" Grumbled Ron Weasley to his best friends Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. "I thought this would be awesome! Instead, it's a total waste! There's nothing to do!"
"What do you mean 'nothing to do'?" Said Hermione without looking up from her arithmancy homework. You could be doing work you know. Or revising for that test we have in Transfiguration tomorrow."
Hermione, this is free time! How can I feel free if I'm doing work?"
"Whatever, Ron. Whatever." Hermione said shaking her head. She shot a look at Harry, who had looked up from an essay about Freezing Potions for Professor Snape, and grinned. Harry grinned back and rolled his eyes toward Ron. They had to turn away quick; the urge to laugh was too great. Ron had been ranting on about their spare time since Halloween. They were used to it by now.
"That's another thing...why are we working?!" Ron continued, completely oblivious to his friend who had started shake with silent laughter.
"They say this is "free time." Well, I call it more time for us to struggle through and stress about our homework. As if we didn't do that enough all ready! It's not "free time" it's "stress time!" Why don't they call it that eh?! And will you two SHUT UP!?"
Ron had finally noticed Harry and Hermione's suppressed giggles. Though instead of quieting down, they both burst out laughing.
"Oh c'mon, Ron" said Harry through his laughter. "You know there is only so much to do here. Doing our work is just a way to pass time."
"It's also nice to get it out of the way." Added Hermione, wiping the tears of laughter from her eyes. "I mean, you and Harry have Quidditch practice Saturday night. Wouldn't it be nice just to go straight to bed rather than doing your homework?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Ron muttered, causing Harry and Hermione to laugh again.
"Oh! Hermione, I need to ask you...what's the password to the prefect's bathroom? I tried both "Hot Lather" and "Squeaky Clean." Neither of them works," Harry said.
Hermione looked at him and said "They changed it again, but I'm not allowed to tell you."
"Why not? You let us in before," said Ron.
"As a prefect, I have to set examples. It's against the rules to tell passwords to ones that aren't allowed to know."
"Aaaaawwww, c'mon Hermione! Tomorrow's Quidditch. Why take a shower when I can take a nice relaxing bath?" Harry complained.
"Yeah, unless you want two smelly and dirty boys around you on Saturday," said Ron with a grin. "I'm only keeper and I'm usually dirtier than Fred and George. And they're the Beaters! They have the dirty jobs, and are usually cleaner than me!"
"You're disgusting," said Hermione, even though she was smiling. "Okay, okay, the password's 'Lemon Scented.'"
"Cool. Thanks Hermione. C'mon, it's nearly dinner, and I'm starving," said Harry, standing up.
So the three of them followed the other Gryffindors out of the common room and down to the Great Hall for dinner.