The black veil that covered Hermione's face flapped in the wind as she looked out the car window back on her life. She didn't smile; she didn't frown. There wasn't a trace of emotion upon her face. No tears of joy or of sorrow. Just a blank and pale glance. She reaches out a small hand and waves it back and forth slowly. Finally, something leaked from her eye. Not a tear, but at drop of blood, stained her cheek. The car tire went into a hole and splashed mud. Hermione slides back into the backseat without another look back.

            Ron watches absentmindedly. The wind sighs and calls his name over and over. It gets stronger and stronger and he feels himself swept away, farther away from the car that carried Hermione away.

            "Ronald!"

            Ron opens his eyes and focuses on a bunch of print. He had fallen asleep in a book again. He mumbles to himself and straightens up, still not fully aware of where he is. "Stupid girl, sometimes I just hate you."

            "Gosh, love you too, Ronald." Laurel says.

            Ron finally comes to his senses. He was in the library with Laurel and Harry. "Oh, I didn't mean you. I just had the stupidest dream."

            "You wouldn't have stupid dreams, if you didn't fall asleep." Laurel replies.

            "You got drool all over the page." Harry points out. Ron quickly wipes it off with his sleeve in embarrassment. "What was this stupid dream, then?"

            "Nothing too important." Ron mutters. "Just made me realize how ridiculous this is."

            Laurel laughs. "I love a man in denial."

            "Dare you to say that again." Ron said.

            Laurel narrows her eyes. "I love a man in denial."

            Ron stands and slams his hands on the tabletop. "What do you mean by that!?"

            "It's all too obvious, Ronald." Laurel just sits back and examines her fingernails and ignores Ron's fury. "It's not just you, but somehow you seem to show it more. You're putting it on yourself. Maybe you should just pray for Harry's conscience."

            "Laurel, don't test his temper." Harry whispers.

            "Oh, you just wait, Laurel. When we get Hermione back…" Ron starts.

            "You'll brag up that you did all the work in solving the mystery." Laurel finishes.

            Ron storms off and leaves the library.

            Laurel sighs heavily. "I'm sorry, Harry. Yell at me all you want, too, I don't care. I want to help you guys, but sometimes he's just so hard to stand."

            "He doesn't usually act that way." Harry comments. "He appreciates your help. At least I'm pretty sure."

            "Ah, Laurel!" A few girls coo as they approach.

            "Oh, uh, hi Rebecca, Emily…Jo." Laurel replies. The girls crowd around her and ask her a whole bunch of questions. Laurel, through the mess, motions for Harry to leave if he wanted to.

            Harry leaves the library and starts his way up to the Gryffindor common room. On his way, he spots Ron standing in front of a window with his elbows on the sill, resting his chin in his hands. Harry walks up and joins him.

            "What you thinking about?" He asks.

            Ron takes a while to reply. "How, if my mum knew what was going on, she'd compare this to some type of soap opera." He then laughs… and can't stop.

            "What?"

            "Oh, I was just remembering the time that Hermione slapped Malfoy across the face after he was mocking Hagrid and his case with Buckbeak."

            Harry laughs too. "The look on his face."

            "Yeah."

            "And remember when she was caught in the bathroom with that troll?"

            Ron moans. "Eh, don't remind me. It was cool, mind you, but it was sort of freaky. I thought Professor McGonnagal was going to have a stroke."

            Harry racks his memory. "The time when we had to get the Sorcerer's Stone, and she had to figure out which potion would let us through the fire and which ones were poison."

            "I would remember that. I was knocked out cold."

            "Oh yeah, Sorry." Harry adds. "I sure miss Hermione."

            "Girls are a horrible business." Ron says. "They don't know how addictive they can be. It's quite stupid, once you think about it. They think guys are tricky. Ha! We're not half as bad to get to as they are."

            "You're just saying that because you're a guy. You don't know what it's like from a girl's point of view." Harry says.

            "True."

            "We can always ask Laurel though." Harry suggests.

            Ron curls his nose. "I'm not sure I want to know."

            "I have to agree." Harry sighs. "But I just might have to ask… just for the fun of it, you know? But we have to make an oath, okay? Never to act this crazy over anything ever again."

            "Deal!" Ron says without hesitation and grabs Harry's hand with both of his and shakes it vigorously. "Now, are we done with homework?"

            "I guess."

            "I'm going to go get the Wizard Chess board and bring it down to the library." Ron explains. "I want to see if Laurel can beat me."

            "Don't reckon she can."

            "Good! Then I get to laugh at her more." Ron smiles and goes up to the common room.

            Harry makes his way back down to the library to see if Laurel's friends had finally gotten warded off. On his way, he bumps into yet another familiar face. Cho Chang. He feels his heart jump into his throat and his face go pink. He swallows hard and tries to walk past without a word, but she speaks first.

            "Hello, Harry."

            "Hi." He squeaks.

            She laughs a little and gives him a smile. "I have a small question for you."

            "Ask away."

            "I couldn't help but notice…that Hermione hasn't been hanging around you and that other boy for a long time. Is something wrong?" She asks.

            Harry lets out a big stream of air. "Well, …"

            "I'm sorry." Cho says in a hurry. "That must be personal. I shouldn't have asked."

            "No, that's okay." Harry quickly replies. "I can answer. She just…needed a break, I guess. You know, spend some time with her own kind. Own kind, that sounds stupid."

            Cho laughs. "I know what you mean. Well, I just was wondering. Sorry to be putting you on the spot."

            "That's okay." Harry stops for a second. "You were just…wondering?"

            Cho pauses. "Heh, I guess you could say that I was just looking out for you. I didn't want you to be heartbroken or anything."

            Harry's eyes go wide and tries to take it all in.

            Cho clears her throat. "I'll have to see you later, Harry. I have to get to my common room. I'm meeting a friend."

            "Oh…uh, okay." Harry stutters. "'Bye."

            "'Bye." Cho waves and leaves up the stairs.

            "She was … looking out for me?" Harry repeats to himself slowly. He starts his way to the library again, still looking behind him. He runs into about three sets of armor before completely getting his head back on his shoulders.

            Laurel laughs when she sees Harry's face after he sits down at the table once more. "You look so flabbergasted! I wish I had a camera." She takes her fingers and makes a small box with her pointer-fingers and thumbs. She focuses on Harry and continues to laugh.

            "Shut up."

            "Sorry." Laurel says. "I couldn't help myself. But I won't ask why, okay?"

            "Thanks."

            "Where is our little Gothic Casanova?" Laurel asks.

            "Getting the board for Wizard Chess."

            "Why?" Laurel ponders.

            "He wants to kick your ass." Harry stretches out.

            Laurel laughs hysterically and the librarian hisses at her. "I need a memo recorder too. I'll probably never hear you say that again."

            Harry laughs himself.

                                                            ***

            "Dang it." Ron groans.

            "Haha! You just lost your second knight." Laurel chants.

            "Shut up, already."

            Laurel continues to laugh as she clears the board of Ron's broken knight. "I'm gonna open a can of whoop-ass just for you."

            "What kind of saying is that?" Ron asks.

            "Don't ask me." Laurel replies. "I got it from my pen pal in America. So, how have those tutorials been coming along?"

            "I never felt so stupid." Harry says. "I already know the stuff she's trying to teach me."

            "Mostly the same with me." Ron continues. "But I am learning a thing or two."

            "Good, does she seem to trust you yet?"

            "A little." Harry replies.

            "Is the potion almost ready?" Ron asks.

            "A few more hours and we'll be all set. We'll have to test it after dinner and you can give it to her at lunch tomorrow." Laurel explains. "I kept that butterbeer bottle and we can put it in there."

            "I doubt it will taste like butterbeer." Harry said.

            "I doubt it will too." Laurel agrees. "But hopefully that lone peppermint will help some.'

            "Doubt that too." Ron mutters.

            "Fine." Laurel spats. "We'll hold her down, plug her nose, and force it to slither down her esophagus."

            Ron just sighs and calls out his next move.

            Later that night, the three head up to Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom to check on the potion. Laurel stirs it up with a ladle. It was a creamy orange color. The fog coming off it fogged up Harry's glasses. It didn't smell like much, so that must be a good sign that it didn't taste too bad.

            "At least it will resemble butterbeer…somewhat." Laurel hums.

            "Who's going to test it?" Ron asks.

            "Well, without the blood, the spell won't take effect, we're just testing for taste." Laurel replies. "It has to taste okay for us to get Hermione to drink sixteen ounces."

            "Got that right." Harry mumbles.

            Laurel takes a ladle-full and holds it out. "Stick your finger in, come on."

            "What about you?" Ron detests.

            "Don't worry, carrot-top, I'll have my share too." Laurel says.

            Harry dips his finger into the smooth liquid and so does Ron. Laurel takes some and puts the ladle back in the cauldron. She lifts her finger in cheers and slips the potion in her mouth. The boys follow. After they swallow, they look down at the simmering pot.

            "Well," Laurel says. "What did you think?"

            Ron licks his lips. "I tasted banana."

            "Banana?" Laurel exclaims. "What happened to the peppermint?"

            "Dunno."

            "Didn't taste like much to me." Harry said. "Reminded me of bread pudding, just not as sweet."

            Laurel sighs. "Guys are weird. I thought it tasted like plain buttermilk."

            "Won't the blood change the flavor?" Harry asks.

            "Shouldn't." Laurel says. "And if all else fails, tell her it's a special power drink from your little foreign country."

            Ron laughs; Harry sighs.

            "Alright." Laurel clears her throat. "Meet me up here after Charms Class and we'll add the blood. Then you can get the bottle right before lunch for your little lesson and stuff. Make sure Hermione drinks every drop. I won't be there to make sure she does. Don't be surprised if she curls her nose at it. Who knows what it tastes like after the blood. Don't give it away that it's not really a beverage."

            "Gotcha."

            "Okay. Good luck. I'm off to my own common room. You should too. Myrtle is starting to give us stares." Laurel comments.

            "Oh, that's nothing." Harry says. "We were in here a month last time."

            Laurel laughs. "Well, good night, Boys. See you tomorrow."

            "'Bye Laurel."

            They all went their separate ways to their common rooms for the night while the potion simmered for its last hours.