.:.:.:.:.

"This year is going to be wicked!" Ginny exclaimed. "I hear Lupin's going to be back!"

Hermione and Ron quickly glanced at Harry, hoping to verify the remark, but only received a shrug in return.

"No idea..." he said hopelessly, "But if he was back, I'm sure Siri--" Hermione shot him a warning glance, looking briefly over to Ginny, who was staring at them quizzically. Harry understood; even though he trusted Hermione and Ron not to tell anyone that he was the godson of an escaped convict, they couldn't be too sure about Ginny-- and the less people that knew, the better.

Hermione wondered if Ron or Mrs. Weasley had told Ginny about Sirius-- Mrs. Weasley had encountered Sirius at the end of their last school year, still believing him to be a dangerous killer on the loose. Ron had assured her that none of it was true. Would Mrs. Weasley have told her family that Sirius Black was innocent of the murders he had been accused of fourteen years before? That the real criminal was the man who was regarded as a hero, and had spent thirteen years living as a rat, while everyone believed him dead?

"No," thought Hermione with a smile, "even if Mr. Weasley believed her, Percy would have her shipped off to Mungo's straight away. Or," she thought, her smile fading, "he'd have us all send to Azkaban for harboring an escaped criminal. But which," she wondered, "would it be?"

"A penny for your thoughts, Hermione." Harry grinned. "You must've zoned out... Ron and I were just wondering how you haven't been made a prefect-- you're at the top of every class!"

Hermione blushed a bit, avoiding everyone's eyes. "Well... actually..." She reached into her robe, pulling out the shiny new badge. "I have."

Ron's jaw dropped, staring in horror at the badge. "You... you... accepted?" he sputtered.

"Of course!" Hermione said, holding her head up high. "Why wouldn't I? Of course," she added, "you'd have known if you'd thought to write me sometime this summer."

Ron's jaw still hung open as Neville Longbottom entered the cabin. "Why Ron!" he exclaimed, looking concerned, "What's wrong?"

Ron managed to close his jaw with difficulty, as Neville remarked "Its just that we're almost at the station... I thought you might like to know."