Disclaimer: Not mine.

A/N: Sorry it's been such a long, long time since I've posted! Been busy with finals and babysitting and all! Dude I have (well, had now) two stories that were both nine chapters and get this, they both had 43 reviews! I may not be a great writer, but at least I'm consistent! Oh and a big thanks to BeLanna Malfoy! All y'all reviewers and readers totally rock! (Though I am partial to the reviewers…)

Chapter Ten: The Confession (probably not what you're thinking!)

The train ride to Hogwarts was surprisingly uneventful. Hermione spent the entire trip reading her course books, insisting that she was very behind in her studies. As far as Ron and Harry could tell, being caught up with her studies would require reading the books three times over.

Ron and Harry spent their trip playing exploding snap and keeping an ever watchful eye out for Malfoy. Who failed to make his usual appearance the entire trip.

"Wait a second… How did he know…?" Hermione said quite suddenly, causing Ron and Harry to give her strange and worried looks.

"How did who know what?" Ron asked her with a raised eyebrow.

"Malfoy…" Hermione said as she sat her book to the side. "About my parents… How'd he know about my parents?"

"Well, I'm sure that news like that couldn't have been kept very quiet, right?" Harry reasoned.

"Harry, you know Fudge. No one knows about that attack except those that were directly involved… or almost directly involved. Fudge has kept this situation completely quiet." Ron said. "I bet you anything Malfoy was involved!"

"If he was…" Hermione muttered. "I swear I will kill him with my own two hands…" Ron and Harry both looked at her quite shocked. It wasn't like Hermione to make threats (unless they were made to Ron). The thing that shocked them the most however was the look of complete and utter seriousness on her face.

Suddenly the train screeched to stop and the three fifth year students grabbed their things and headed out of the train. Once outside of the train they met with Hagrid. He gave Hermione a sad, knowing smile and a fatherly hug before the three hopped into their own horseless carriage, which headed straight towards the castle.

The Great Hall was filled up with all second year students and up. Soon all the first years came marching in with wide eyes and rapidly beating hearts. The sorting went by quickly and the feast was just about to start when Dumbledore stood up. This gained an agonized groan from Ron, a chuckle from Harry, and an elbow from Hermione (which went straight into Ron's side).

Dumbledore cleared his throat and began his usual speech. Most of the students were tuning him out and staring off into space (or in certain Gryffindors' case, at other Gryffindors).The first years however were hanging on his every word. His usual speech took a turn though that grabbed nearly every student's attention, and that turn happened to deal with-

"Quidditch" Dumbledore said, Ron's eyes immediately jerked away from a certain brunette and onto the old wizard. "Yes, now that I have all of your attention." Dumbledore said with a grin and a twinkle in his eye. "Quidditch try outs will be held a week from this Saturday. The times will be different for each house so check with your Prefect or your house bulletin board for details. Now… let the feast begin!" Dumbledore then gave one last grin to his beloved students and sat down.

Ron, who had been grinning moments before, was now frowning while giving a sidelong glance at Hermione.

"What??" Hermione asked him.

"Well, I was just thinking, didn't you make Prefect this year? You haven't said anything about it… I just figured you'd be the first person on their list." Ron said with a slight blush.

"Oh… well… I did make Prefect… They sent me the letter about a week ago,-" Hermione said, before getting cut off by Ron.

"That's terrific Hermione!" Ron said jovially.

"But," Hermione continued. "I denied the position."

"What!?" Ron and Harry said in unison.

"But… but… Why??" Ron asked.

"Well… I just didn't feel qualified enough…" Hermione said as she looked down at the table.

"Not qualified?! Hermione, you're… you're… you're Hermione! You're the definition of qualified! Plus it's not like it's some sort of super high qualification Ministry job, it's just Prefect. Besides, don't you think that Dumbledore can tell if you're qualified or not?" Ron said.

"Just Prefect? JUST Prefect?" Hermione said looking up at Ron with a glare. "Making Prefect is an honor Ron. An honor I've been working to earn my entire Hogwarts career!"

"And you did earn it Hermione." Harry said. Hermione then turned her attention to Harry.

"No, I didn't Harry. I earned nothing." Hermione said. "The only reason I was picked was because he felt sorry for me."

"How can you say that?" Ron asked, now completely stumped.

"You two just don't get it!" Hermione exclaimed, standing up and walking out of the Great Hall.

"What was that all about?" Harry asked Ron, looking completely confused. Ron shook his head at a loss for words for a second before answering.

"I'm not to sure Harry, but I have a big feeling that it had something to do with her not being able to protect her parents." Ron said with a sigh.

Across the room a certain Slytherin happened to catch site of Hermione leaving the Hall. Standing up from the table, Malfoy left his two goons (Crabbe and Goyle) behind, (as they were stuffing their faces) and quietly followed Hermione out of the Hall.

Ron and Harry, who decided to give Hermione a bit of cool down time while they grabbed a bite to eat, saw the Slytherin make his exit.

"Is that Malfoy?" Ron asked with a mouthful of chicken.

"Yes, I believe so, why?" Harry said, also with a mouthful of… something.

"Isn't he going the same direction that Hermione went?" Ron asked.

"Yes, I think so." Harry said casually as the two continued to eat. Suddenly realization shot through the both of them. They looked quickly up from their food and at each other before standing up and running out of the Hall as fast as they could (which drew many looks from the students and teachers).

Harry and Ron turned left outside the Great Hall (as did Hermione and Malfoy previously) only to catch the end of an obviously very tense conversation between Malfoy and Hermione.

"So it was your fault the Death Eaters attacked my parents and me?!" Hermione said, voice full of anger.

"Very good Granger, took you long enough to figure it out. I thought you were the top of our class." Draco said coolly. Harry and Ron began to approach the two when they were stopped in their tracks by complete and utter shock. As Hermione had lunged at Malfoy's throat and slammed him against the wall; she presently had a death grip on his neck.

Before Ron and Harry could regain their sense of reality a couple of fast eaters began heading out of the Hall and happened to catch site of Hermione strangling Malfoy.

"FIGHT!" the students screamed at the top of their lungs, causing more students to spill out of the Hall faster than if someone had yelled "Fire" (or troll!). Soon a crowd was gathered around the two, one of which was now purple (hint: it wasn't Hermione).

"Get him Granger!" yelled a Hufflepuff.

"Hit the Mudblood!" yelled a Slytherin to Malfoy (who seemed unable to get out of Hermione's grasp). Ron and Harry had been pushed to the back of the crowd and were desperately trying to get through it so as to stop their best friend from killing their worst enemy. They were quite certain that wouldn't look good on her permanent record.

By the time they reached her, Malfoy looked like he was about to pass out. Ron and Harry started to pull Hermione off of Malfoy (which proved to be quite difficult) when a voice rang through the crowd.

"What is going on here?!" It was none other than Professor McGonagall. The crowd immediately fell silent and students quickly stepped aside as McGonagall walked towards the two fighters (or more correctly one fighter and one victim).

"Miss Granger!" McGonagall exclaimed. Hermione reluctantly released Malfoy's throat and he slipped down the wall into a sitting position, gasping like crazy and gripping at his neck. Hermione slowly turned to face McGonagall, face flushed, eyes red, tears seeping down her cheeks, and shaking unvoluntarily.

"Come with me Miss Granger and you to Mr. Malfoy." McGonagall said with a sharp look at the two as she turned around and headed towards her office.

"But Professor-" Ron started.

"Silence Mr. Weasley." McGonagall said as she continued her journey, the two aforementioned students following. Malfoy would have protested, but was still unable to speak. Ron and Harry gave Hermione a worried look as she wiped her eyes dry sullenly. The students, who were no longer entertained, went back to the Great Hall and their other various destinations.

A/N: I will try to post more often since its summer! Thanks for your patients! Dang, Fanfiction.net is screwin' up on me. It took me forever to be able to post this… sigh…