Sophie woke the next morning with a yawn. She smiled. She hadn't had that horrid dream. The sun made the lake outside sparkle. Hermione was already up, dressed and reading The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Seven.

"'Morning" Hermione said, looking up.

"Good morning." Sophie said. She hopped out of bed and pulled jeans and a tank top from her overnight bag. She found the note on her bedside table and the broom leaning up against the wall. It occurred to her that she hadn't come upstairs on her own. She had the robes she wore the night before on. Her eyes widened.

"Hermione? I didn't come upstairs. How did I get to bed?"

"Harry carried you. You fell asleep downstairs. I think he's waiting for you in the common room. Pretty much everyone else went to breakfast."

"Ron too?"

"No, I think he's with Harry."

"Well, you must come down with me too."

"Why?"

"Don't tell me you don't notice."

"Notice what?"

"You like Ron don't you?"

Hermione turned quite red. "I..I.."

Sophie laughed. "You do, I can see it."

"Yes." Hermione admitted. "I honestly don't know why, though. He's stubborn, opinionated and sweet." She ended with a dreamy sight. "But he doesn't like me, not like that. He loves to tease me about Victor, but the truth is, Victor and I broke up this summer."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not. I broke up with him."

"Oh!" Sophie laughed. "Ron likes you, you know."

"No he doesn't."

"Oh yes he does. Trust me. I see it. Harry sees it. Everyone sees it! Its obvious to everyone but you two!" Sophie giggled at the expression on Hermione's face. "Oh, don't look at me like that! It's not that bad! Look, will you trust me? I have a plan."

Hermione nodded hesitantly.

"Tell him how you feel."

"Oh, I cant!"

"Yes you can. Try to anyway. If you can't I'll step in."

"Well, okay."

Sophie dressed, brushed her hair and ran downstairs with Hermione. Ron and Harry were sitting by the fire. Harry smiled and Ron looked both pleased and surprised to see Hermione. She must have already told the boys she wasn't coming with them.

"I thought Hermione wasn't coming." Ron whispered to Harry.

"I think Sophie might have changed her mind for her." Harry whispered back.

"Umm..Harry, can I talk to you for a minute?" Sophie asked. Harry nodded. "Ron you and Hermione go on. We'll catch up." Hermione gave Sophie one last helpless look and walked with Ron out the portrait hole.

"What was that about?" Harry asked, looking after Hermione.

"She's fighting the inevitable." Sophie said very Hermione-ish. She sat down on a plump red couch and smiled up at Harry. "I hope you don't mind having breakfast even later."

Harry sat beside her. "Only if you tell me what the inevitable is."

"Oh well you'll have to be more specific. Inevitable for whom?"

"Hermione."

"Ohhhh, well don't tell me you've never noticed!"

"Noticed what?"

"Her and Ron."

"Oh, yeah. I've been wondering when they're going to get together. Its obvious that they both like each other."

"Well, that's the inevitable and I'm trying to get her to do something about it. If she wont, I suppose I must again become a matchmaker. You wouldn't think they'd suit."

"Why?"

"Well, because they bicker all the time." She giggled. "Much like an old married couple!"

Harry and Sophie came downstairs half an hour later. Hermione and Ron were no longer at the table. Ginny and Neville were however and happily informed the two that Ron and Hermione had left the Hall fifteen minutes ago for a walk.

Harry sat down to his delayed breakfast.

"Well, I suppose it's not really breakfast anymore. More like brunch." Harry looked over at Sophie's 'brunch'. All she had was a glass-or in this case goblet-of milk.

"Aren't you going to eat?"

"Oh, no! I never do. Just a glass of milk in the morning for me." Harry shrugged and finished his eggs.

"You wanna go for a walk around the lake?" Harry asked.

"Oh, yes please! I haven't gotten to see it yet."

Only, they didn't make it out the door. Alexander, Annette and her son Léopold were just stepping in the door. .