Ok people, I've figured it out. You don't actually think I'm serious about the reviewing thing... well I am. I promise, you review for me, I'll review for you. C'mon... Two cookies? (::) (::)

Once Hermione had come down into the common room, McGonagall pointed them out into the hall. She said nothing, but marched determinedly towards her office. Ron and Hermione fell into step behind her. Hermione remained silent, but cast Ron a scathing look that clearly said "I told you so" and "I'msogoingtokillyouwhenwegetback" all at the same time.

Ron shuddered. He knew that there was no way on earth Hermione would ever forgive him for this. He sighed inwardly, knowing he had lost any chance of being with her, although for some reason it didn't strike him as odd that he should be thinking that particular thought when there were so much more serious things that he should be worrying about. Like the fact that setting off a firework of that magnitude in the middle of the night was just the sort of thing that could get a person expelled... especially since the two of them didn't exactly have the cleanest records when it came to rule breaking.

After what seemed like an eternity, they reached Professor McGonagall's office. She opened the door with quite a vengeance, Ron noticed with a slight shudder. McGonagall however, didn't seem to notice. She pointed with her wand through the open doorway.

"IN," she said, her voice still full of rage. Ron didn't think he had ever seen her so mad, not even first year when they were caught out of bed first year after seeing Norbert the dragon off with Ron's brother Charlie. Ron followed Hermione into the room, not daring to look her in the eye.

Once they were all in the room, McGonagall shut the door behind them. Ron gulped, knowing what was coming. He knew without looking at her that Hermione had tensed up and was now standing perfectly still and stiff as a board waiting to be screamed at. He felt bad for her. After all, it wasn't really her fault, and he knew how much she hated disappointing anyone, especially her professors.

Ron and Hermione stood, waiting. Any second now, McGonagall was going to start raging at them. They were in deep you-know-what, and they knew it. The pyrotechnics they were responsible for was going to seem like a mere sparkler compared to what was awaiting them. They were expecting it. So what happened next was a complete surprise.

"What, in the name of Merlin, were the two of you thinking?" she said slowly, her voice terrifyingly low, each word perfectly articulated. It was worse than being yelled at, Ron thought. At least that he knew how to deal with.

"What made you think you could actually get away with such and indiscreet act of, of recklessness and utter disregard of school rules? And from prefects! This is a serious infraction, one that simply cannot be overlooked."

Ron held his breath, he knew what was coming; she was going to expel them, he just knew it. What on earth was he going to do; there was no way to get out of it... and to think he had dragged Hermione along with him. Ron was sure his heart stopped beating momentarily before McGonagall uttered her next sentence. In the same terrifyingly low voice, she continued.

"After such a display, I am afraid I can no longer allow you to be prefects. Your badges, please," she said, holding out her hand. Ron wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. He couldn't believe they weren't being expelled. One look at Hermione's face, however, and any thought he had about laughing vanished instantly. She looked as if her best friend had died... and Ron was pretty sure the best friend was Harry, because there was no way she was ever going to talk to him again.

Ron pulled his pin from his robes and put it in McGonagall's outstretched hand, and so did Hermione, who looked like she was going to burst into tears any second. McGonagall was not done however.

"Furthermore," she continued, "fifty points each will be taken from Gryffindor, and you will each serve a week's detention. Now, shall I escort you back to the tower, or do the two of you think that you can manage to return to your dormitories without further incident? Go."

Knowing better than to say anything, Ron and Hermione left. Once they were a safe distance away, Ron turned to Hermione.

"Hermione, I-" Ron began, but was cut off as Hermione slapped him- hard- across the face. Tears were streaming down her face, and even in the dark, he could tell that her eyes were red and puffy.

"Don't talk to me. Ever." She spat at him. "I hope that you realize what you cost me Ron. Now I'll never be Head Girl. Are you happy now?!" She fairly screeched the last part, and without waiting for a reply, she took off running down the hall.

Ron stood rooted to his spot, his cheek burning where she had slapped him, but he hardly noticed. How could he have been so stupid, he asked himself. He really should have known better, should have listened to Hermione when she said lighting the firework was a bad idea. After all, she really did have a way of always being right about those things. And now she was never going to be Head Girl because of him. Never mind the fact that in about 5 seconds of sheer stupidity, he had just lost one of his best friends, and the girl he cared about most in the world.

"Ron Weasley, you great bloody git, now look what you've gone and done!" he said aloud to himself. He had to fix this. He didn't know how, but he had to fix this.

So ends another chapter, I hope you liked it. What will Ron do to fix things with Hermione? Will it work? Or will it backfire spectacularly? Read to find out!

A/N: I know it might seem like Hermione was being a bit selfish about the head girl thing, nut she really wasn't if you think about it. I mean really, wouldn't you feel the same way?

Loved it, hated it? Review it. Pretty please with sugar on top!