Hermione had been sitting in the Gryffindor common room all night, and was supposedly helping Neville with his transfiguration homework. Although, she seemed to have spent most of the time staring intently into the fire place. She didn't even seem to notice when he walked right past her to go to the kitchens to get a cup of hot chocolate.

She stood up suddenly, causing Neville, who had been sitting in front of her sipping a cup of hot chocolate, to drop the cup into his lap and yelp in pain as the steaming chocolate splattered all over his lap.

Harry and Ron, who had been on the sofa behind them, busy scribbling their latest divination Homework, heard Neville scream and turned around, only to see Hermione walk pointedly out of the Gryffindor common room.

"What happened to her?"

***

Forget it, she wasn't going to spend the whole night here 'tutoring' Neville, she thought as she walked out of the Gryffindor common room. It was not as if she was of any help to him like this. Better to get this all sorted out first. She'd go over there and 'resolve' things (meaning she would swear at him until her mood improved. It didn't matter that she usually didn't swear in public, he had already seen her swear that night anyway. Besides, he had caused her to lose an entire day, so technically he deserved it.)

The night before, after returning from the library she had spent the whole night and the early part of the morning in the Gryffindor common room doing research for Snape's essay, until she had fallen asleep. It would have been just another normal day, had she not bumped into Malfoy on the way to the dining hall.

Hermione woke to find that she had fallen asleep on top of the Potions Almanac she had been using to research for Snape's Assignment. She stretched her arms behind her head and yawned, feeling quite refreshed apart from a slight stiff neck from sleeping on the Almanac. That's odd, why is it so quiet?

Looking around the common room she suddenly realized that she was the only one left in the common room. Even Harry and Ron who were usually the last ones left in the Common room scribbling last minute homework seem to have left.  Good god, was she late for class? She stood up suddenly, and saw a small scrap of parchment flutter to the ground. It was a note from Harry and Ron.

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Morning Hermione,

You looked so content fast asleep on that book (you were drooling on in -Ron) that we decided not to wake you up. Anyway, if you get this while its still breakfast time, we've gone down to the dining hall first. We'll save you a seat.

If you don't make it in time, I'll try to save you some scones... if Ron doesn't finish them all on the way up. (Hey! I resent that!-Ron)

Love,

Harry & Ron

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After reading the note, she smiled and put it down on the table, carefully tucking yesterday's notes into the almanac and closing it.

***

She was about to reach the dining hall, when suddenly she felt icy fingers grab her hand. She felt his warm breath against her neck as he whispered, "Don't forget about tonight. I'll be waiting for you, at the usual place." Then just as suddenly as he had grabbed her, he let go, turned around and smirked at her, looking her up and down before he walked towards the Slytherin table.