{A/N: I'm not quite sure whether my writing gets better or worse throughout this story. *Rolls eyes* But at any rate, I have a couple things I'd like to say before I get started. EmeraldDream: You gave me two of the best reviews I've ever gotten. When you update Réveil du Rêve, I'll be sure to return the favor. Again. : ) Rose Black: I think I might just take you up on that. Quite an interesting idea... Becky: I'm expecting great things of you! (well I'll prolly be supportive even if you suck LoL) And that's all the shout-outs. }

"So, am I a complete nutter, or is my essay actually longer than Hermione's?" Ron, Harry, and Hermione were on their way to Care of Magical Creatures, with Ron in quite the good mood. In fact, he hadn't shut up.

"I'm sorry that I was preoccupied with something else," Hermione interjected touchily, "It's not that easy being a prefect."

Ron rolled his eyes, muttering 'Percy', but Harry was surprised. He had forgotten Hermione was made a prefect. He stunned expression caught Hermione's attention.

"So you forgot, did you?"

"Erm...yeah. But what about all the rule-breaking we do?" Harry grinned.

Ron said in his best Hermione-style voice, "Well, as long as it's well- planned out..."

Hermione rolled her eyes but also found this amusing. "...and as long as we don't get caught." Her eyes twinkled mischievously.

The trio had reached class earlier than anyone else, they had come early to say hello to Hogwarts' former-gamekeeper, current Care of Magical Creatures Professor.

"Hullo, Hagrid!" Ron yelled reaching the hut.

"You three are early." The half-giant opened the door and smiled down at them benignly. "I've got a new creature for the seventh-years ya migh' find interestin'. It's a-"

"Hagrid!" Hermione yelled. "What is Ithat/I?"

"What?" Hagrid looked taken aback at the girl's sudden exclamation. He followed her gaze to the floor, where an large burlap sack was wriggling. "Oh. That's a bunch of little lobsters. They're fer th' Murtlaps yer class'll be studyin'."

"Why don't the tear through the fabric?" Harry asked.

"Magic," Ron answered, adding a condescending tone (that reminded Harry very much of Percy) to his voice. "Honestly, you'd think-"

"Hullo Hermione! Ron, Harry." Ernie MacMillian interrupted Ron's thought with an exuberant greeting. "Are we having fun yet?"

Ron rolled his eyes at the awful joke and mumbled, "Hardly." He turned to say something caustic to the overweight Hufflepuff. However, Hermione held him back saying 'Ron' quietly.

Harry had never seen this side of Ernie before. He seemed excited, nervous...and his eyes were shining at Hermione.

"Have you had a good year so far?" Ernie ignored Ron and Harry's nods looking expectantly (and solely) at Hermione.

"Why...yes, I have had a good year Ernie."

"That git-" Ron whispered into Harry's ear, "is practically wagging his tail at her. What is wrong with him? What a..."

Harry stopped listening, knowing that a slew of profanities were to follow. However, he still felt like he had missed something. What was making Ron so angry with Ernie? As the rest of the class trickled down the grounds, Harry slowly realized what the answer was.

***

After the lesson, Hermione and Ron quarreled over nothing in particular and Harry walked along in silence, until his more troublesome thoughts come pouring out.

"Usually," he reflected aloud, stopping the others' conversation, "it doesn't take me this long to find trouble."

Ron and Hermione both knew what he was talking about. However, it was Ron who spoke up first.

"I doubt He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is quiet just because he is trying too hard to kill you," Ron blurted, then his mouth clamped shut.

Hermione glared at Ron for a second and then told Harry, "I think what Ron Imeant/I is that you shouldn't worry about it."

"I won't... it's fine guys...I'm fine." Harry noticed their disbelief at that, so he changed the subject. "Ron, are you going to be trying out for the position of Keeper?"

Ron talked about Quidditch all the way up to the castle.