Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

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Chapter 2: Ron?

Hermione opened her eyes, smiling. She remembered how Harry and Ron had tried to convince her to come on a prank with them last night. Surely they'd be back by now. She wondered whether or not they had been caught. Oh well, she'd know by breakfast. They said that they were going to make some changes to the Great Hall. She wandered over to the window, gazing absently at the forest. The sun was so pretty in the morning-

"Hermione!" Hermione spun around. That was Ron's voice! "Harry's-"

What? She thought wildly. Harry's what? She bolted across the room, threw open the door, and was greeted by the sight of Ron, halfway up the stairs, frozen in mid step, his mouth slightly open as though he had been saying something.

"Aauuggghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!"

Hermione shrieked at the top of her lungs. The other fifth year girls started appearing behind her.

"Hermione, what-"

They stopped, catching sight of Ron, still motionless, on the stairs. They all stood there for a moment, staring, before Lavender (who had fancied Ron since first year) fainted dead away on the floor. This snapped the others out of their trance. After reviving her with a quick Enervate the girls sunk down on their beds.

"How could this happen?"

"I don't know."

"Okay. You guys go see if anyone else is frozen."

"What about you?"

"I'm going to get out my books."