Hermione sat across from Ron and Harry, unable to wipe the grin off her face. They looked at her oddly.

"Mione, what ya so happy about?"

"Is it Kelly?"

"No. It is not Kelly. I just got accepted into the ice-skating World Championship."

"That's nice Mione." Harry turned back to his food. "Really happy for you."

"I should have known you wouldn't understand what a big deal this to me." She pushed away from the table and walked away.

"What's ice-skating?" Ron called after her. Harry attempted to explain it.

"Oh. What's so exciting about that?"

"Hermione?"

Hermione turned around to see Justin smiling at her. "Hi Justin." Justin fell into step beside her.

"I just wanted to let you know that Dumbledore wanted the Prefects to have a meeting. Cho and Roger, the Heads, will be there."

"Alright. Thanks Justin."

"No problem. See you in Herbology." Hermione nodded and Justin rushed off as Hermione continued walking.

"Ms. Granger?"

"Yes professor?"

"If you would please stay after class. We need to talk about your studies when you must be excused from classes for your events."

"Alright, professor." The class looked at Professor Sprout, confused. Hermione was occasionally going to be missing classes?

"Ok. Class. Now let's pair up. When I call your name, please come up and pick up the plant." Professor Sprout looked around the class and began calling names.

"Ms. Abbott. Mr. Weasley. Mr. Potter with Ms. Lovegood. Ms. Granger and Mr. Finch-Fletchley. Ms. Patil and Mr. Stevenson." Justin looked to Hermione, who had joined him up front.

"I'm glad we got partnered up. I was worried I'd get stuck with Lavender or Parvati who rather gossip than pay attention in class." He whispered. Hermione smiled at him and picked up the plant and the two of them sat down.

"Alright, so we are supposed to pick the not quite blossomed buds and then replant it?"

"Yeah; the buds provide a stimulant that helps in healing cuts and bruises." Justin nodded. He held the pot while Hermione gently eased it out.

"Whoa. Careful of the thorns there Hermione." Hermione smiled at him and lay it on the table. The two of them quietly ban searching and pulling out buds. Hermione lifted the jar that was provided and opened the lid and he two of them gently dropped them in."

"Ok. So we need to replant it"

"Yes." Hermione held the pot and Justin slowly lifted the plan and repotted it, making sure the soil was firm. "Um, Justin. That was sorta easy? What's Professor Sprout up to?" He shrugged.

"Alright class. You and your partner are going to write a 10 foot long research paper. I want to know properties of the plant and what each part is used for. What makes the bud useful in healing potions. When handling fullgrown Maxinger plants, what do you need to watch out for? These were babies; you will be handling full-grown next week and they can be very dangerous. I know this was really basic, but now we are going to spend the rest of the class discussing Spotted Ringers for you will be handling those and they are on your Newt exams. They are a very complicated plant." Justin and Hermione had their eyes front, quietly taking notes.

"Alright. I'll see you back in the common room. I know you have to see the Professor."

"Bye Justin." With a wave, he was off and Hermione slowly made her way up front, Harry and Ron lagging behind.

"You don't have to wait guys."

"But we wanna know what's up and then we thought we'd go to dinner together."

"It's just about my competition. Think of it like your Quidditch matches. That's how important it is to me. And the houseelves are sending food up to the Prefects Room as we are having a meeting."

"Oh. Alright. Congrats by the way." Hermione smiled at them lightly. They ran off.

"Professor?"

"Yes, Ms. Granger. Well, Congratulations, first of all. I think you will find that some of us know what an accomplishment this is, especially our muggleborn students."

"Thank you."

"Now about classes. I have gotten permission from the Ministry. The weeks you must leave for competition, you may owl your reports over. Those weeks, you will not be doing the hands-on activities. There will be a library at whatever location you are at. Due to the nature of the competition, you will have about a week rather than 1 or 2 days. Also, I am believing that you may benefit, even though you are very intelligent to have someone with whom you can send in your assignments with. They can look it over and send it back to you. You'll be pressured and missing classes, so they can almost be like a note-taker. Someone as high level as you and with whom you get along with."

"No Slytherin."

Professor Sprout laughed. "I thought as much. I will give them word when I have figured who is best compatible with your academic ability. In return, they will receive extra credit. Any questions?"

"Do you really think I can manage this?"

"I have no doubt in my mind, child."

"Thank you professor."

Professor Sprout bid her a good day and Hermione rushed back to the Prefect Common room.

"Well, well look who finally decides to show up!"

"Shove it Zambini!" Hermione glared at him and took a seat in between Dean and Justin. "Sorry Cho, Roger. I needed to talk to talk to Professor Sprout."

"No problem Hermione. We were just talking about the balls for the year and we want to have a few more activities. We've come up with a Halloween Ball and the Christmas Ball. We thought we'd have Prefects go together and represent all 4 houses. You guys can be completely in charge of it."

"What about some sort of talent show? Some people don't get the recognition."

"Great idea Hermione!" Roger smiled at her. "Around when?"

"Well, we don't have anything planned for November and that gives them about 1.5 months to practice."

"Alright. You want to lead it?"

"I'd love to, but I need some help, especially for the weeks I have to be away from Hogwarts due to my events."

"Alright. Who'd like to help? Who'd like to help with the Ball?"

"I'll help Hermione" Justin smiled.

"Me too." Dean said

"I'd like to pitch in with the Ball." Hannah and Natalie smiled.

"I'll help with the talent show." Padma smiled.

"I guess I'll do the ball." Terry shrugged.

"Ok. So that's Hermione, Padma, Justin, and Dean for the talent show and Hannah, Natalie, and Terry for the Ball. Blaise, I guess tat leaves you with the Ball so we even it out" Blaise growled.

"Fine!"

"Roger, you want to join Hermione's group? I'll oversee the Ball."

"Sounds good Cho."

"Alright. That's it then. Hermione, Terry. It's your time for rounds, so we'll let you go."

"Alright." Hermione grabbed her bag and shrank it, fitting it into her pocket.

"Why are you bringing your bag?" Terry asked her as they walked out.

"So I don't have to come back for it. Blaise is going to be a git tonight, I'm sure. He's bitter that a muggleborn Gryffindor is going to occasionally be missing class without repercussions."

Terry nodded. "Typical Slytherin"

They continued walking through the corridors. They reached the dungeons and heard a noise in an empty classroom.

"Oh. I don't even want to know. Points off Slytherin?"

"I think so." He knocked on the door. "Are you decent?"

"Go away, Boot!"

"I think not. Prefect duty. Are you decent or not?"

"Not."

"Than get you decent. Now! Before I call a teacher."

"Fine!" A few minutes later Pansy emerged. Her hair was mussed up. Terry walked in, seeing Malfoy. Malfoy growled. "50 points from Slytherin. Hermione, please take note that there was inappropriate behavior and to report such to the Slytherin Head."

"Duly noted." Hermione looked at Malfoy and Pansy in disgust. Smirking, she walked away with Terry.

After taking some points off from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin again in the Astromony Tower, Terry headed back to the dorm as Hermione went to the library. She went to the very back of the library and pulled out her bag. She pulled out her books and got to work. A rustling caused Hermione to look up. She met Hannah's eyes. Hermione smiled at her and made room.

"Thanks Hermione. Blaise is driving everyone up the wall."

Hermione sighed. "I can only imagine."

Hannah smiled and the two worked quietly.

"You know, Hermione, that was a really good idea you had. I think Justin and Dean in particular like it. I think it was pure genius."

"Thank you Hannah." Hannah smiled and handed her an envelope.

"This came while you were doing your rounds." Hermione took it and opened it. She blushed and then grinned. Hannah raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Who's it from, if you don't mind my asking?"

"Kelly, my boyfriend"

"You have a boyfriend?"

"Yes. Is that such a surprise."

"Well, no. not really. I mean you're a nice person. It's just- I never see you around guys besides Harry and Ron. And I guess it's a surprise since everyone believed you were dating Krum and Krum, well he doesn't have the best reputation."

"Kelly is a muggle. We've been dating just about two months." Hermione smiled. Hannah nodded and turned back to her Charms homework.

The door opened and closed. Students piled in and out. About an hour later, Hannah stretched. "I think I'm gonna take off ermione-finis this back in the dorm."

"Alright Hannah. See you." Hannah waved and walked out of the library. Hermione smiled and finished up her DADA essay. She quickly looked around and umped her books into her back and took off for the grounds. Looking around, she ran. Hearing footsteps, she blended into the trees.

"What the hell is Malfoy doing out here?" Shrugging, she ran for her clearing. Hermione put her bag down and quickly transfigured the lake. Smiling, she struggled into her skates. She set down her cd player. First she would warm up and then work on a routine. She glided onto the ice and free skated. Shutting her eyes, she felt the wind hitting her face and listened to the sound of her skates skidding across the ice. She jumped up into a triple axle and smoothly closed off her round. Nodding, she swished her wand and music came pouring out of her player. Hermione thought of Kelly and smiled. She jumped into her routine. Closing her eyes, se concentrated n the music and skated to the rhythm. She twirled, jumped into a double axle, skated on one blade for 30 seconds before gently bringing down her other foot. Nodding Hermione glided and slowly came to a stop. She snapped her fingers and a fast paced song burst out. Hermione skated fast, jumped into a triple axle, glided on one blade, jumped into a double and then single axle and landed smoothly. She skated around and then somersaulted into the air. Forward, back, forward, back, and up into the air she went landing smoothly on both blades, legs spread wide. She brought them together, not liking that last move. Spreading her legs wide looked bad. She scratched hat out of her routine. After skating for another hour, Hermione, quickly skated off the lake, retransformed the lake to a body of water, changed out of her skates, threw it in her bag, and rushed back to the castle. She was freezing. Se entered the common room, teeth chattering.

"Hermione!" Justin exclaimed. "You're freezing."

"I..I'm f-fine."

"You are not fine." He quickly cast a heating spell on Hermione. Hermione smiled at him gratefully. She thnksed him and was about to rush into her room when Justin stopped her.

"I don't know what you were doing outside in this cold, but next time please at least bundle up?" He looked at her, concerned.

"I promise." Hermione raced into her room. She sat down, scribbled a letter to Kelly, sent it off wit her owl, crawled into her bed, and slowly drifted off to sleep.