Chapter 8 (Red Headed Monster)

The prefect's meeting and lunch finally broke up and it was time to patrol the cars. As Head Girl, Hermione took extra time and special pains to introduce herself to every first year student she could find. After working her way to the back of the train, she found Neville, Luna, Ron, Harry and Ginny already sitting together in a closed and silenced compartment. She opened the door and joined them, making sure to close it behind her and make sure the silencing spell was still working. Ron and Luna were explaining to Neville that there really hadn't been any prefect initiation before this year. They trusted Harry to keep the secret. It was just something Hermione and Malfoy cooked up. Don't blame me! Hermione stated. This idea was all Malfoy's. I just went a long with it because it seemed harmless enough. If he had come up with something too off the wall, I wouldn't have let him get away with it.

You could have fooled me, Hermione. You seemed like you were involved from the beginning, Ron argued.

Ron, I just told you I wasn't. I was just ready to signal you to go along with it if it sounded fun, or I'd stand up to Malfoy if it didn't.

There's another thing. You kept calling him Draco at the meeting. Just how close have you gotten in the past two days? Ron asked jealously.

By this time, everyone in the compartment was staring at them. Even Ginny had climbed off of Harry's lap to sit down normally and pay attention. Sheese, Ron. He's the Head Boy and I'm the Head Girl. Publicly, we call each other by our first names. We need to have a united front as much as possible. In fact, if either of us ever gets caught referring to the other in public by anything but our given names, they'll be trouble. We had to ask for special permission to be rude to each other when we are in private!

Everyone but Ron laughed. Just how often do you plan on being alone with him, Hermione? Ron questioned.

Hermione was sure the emotion she felt was anger, but for a just a fraction of a second, her thoughts before she fell asleep the night before crossed her mind and it was enough to make her blush the tiniest bit.

Ron admonished.

Ginny interrupted, Ron, cut it out! Ginny smiled and looked at Harry for a moment. There's only room for one green-eyed monster in this car, and that's my Harry.

Luna, Neville and Ron looked completely puzzled by her comment. Harry was known for having Green eyes, but Ron's were blue. Hermione explained, It's kind of a muggle saying I told Ginny about. When someone is jealous they get called a green eyed monster.' I'm not sure where it comes from. Luna and Neville nodded in unison, but it had done nothing to calm Ron down.

Is Malfoy the one that taught you to kiss like that? Ron accused.

Hermione shook her head no.' Hermione stammered, um read it in a magazine somewhere

Neville jumped up, I think it's time to patrol the halls, what do you say, Ginny, Luna, Harry

Luna and Ginny also stood up quickly as Harry started to speak, But I'm not a

Ginny interrupted Harry and used leverage to pull him to his feet, Temporary field promotion. Walk, Harry.

Before anyone could leave, Ron made a demand of Hermione. Tell me you've never kissed him.

Like a car accident, Ginny, Neville, Luna and Harry had to look and find out the answer.

Hermione shook her head no' again.

Ron sighed with relief. Thank God. I don't know what I would have done if you had answered differently.

Ginny, Harry, Luna and Neville sat back down and they rode in silence for the next few miles. Luna, having grown up with a father who was the editor of the Quibbler, had a reporter's instinct and was the only one other than Hermione that understood what had just happened. Hermione hadn't denied kissing Draco Malfoy; she had done nothing but cleverly refused to answer the question. She knew Ron had fallen for it too. Luna tried to determine if Harry, Ginny or Neville had caught on by their expressions. She didn't think so. If there had been other Ravenclaws in that compartment, they would have picked it up in a heartbeat. Luna decided to try to take a nap. Group naked bubble baths, Hermione all but admitting she had kissed Draco Malfoy how could they possibly question the kinds of things her father published in the Quibbler? Their real life was far more outrageous. It was certainly shaping to be an interesting year.