Onward to the next chapter...And I still own less than nothing... just so we're clear.

As a product of growing up with 5 older brothers, Ron had always been a firm believer of letting someone else take the blame, or at least share in it if possible. That was just the way it was, especially with Fred and George as brothers. So it was completely against his nature to voluntarily take the blame for something... anything. But there was still this nagging feeling in his head that in this case, it really was his fault, and that he should take the blame for it to spare Hermione. As soon as he thought this, he promptly discarded it. After all, the time for that had already come and gone; McGonagall had already passed down the punishment, so that was that.

What happened the next morning at breakfast didn't help his situation, either. It seemed as though the twins had bewitched the ill-fated explosive to alert them when it was set off. Needless to say, that were quite amused (and perhaps even proud) that Ron had set the thing off in the dead of night, waking the entire castle in the process, and they let Ron know in the loudest way possible- a howler. Not to mention the fact that they used the incident as a shameless opportunity to advertise their newest merchandise, "Weasley Wizard Wheezes Big Bang Fireworks™ - So big, you'll think the universe is being created all over again! (Not entirely intended for indoor use)."

Anyone who had somehow managed to sleep through the uproar the previous night now knew what had happened, and it wasn't long before the full story was spreading like wildfire (or Big Bang Fireworks™) through the school. While Ron did not find this amusing in the least bit, Hermione seemed to think he did, and became even angrier with him, if that was even possible. He doubted she would ever even look at him again, let alone speak to him.

And so it was with a great deal of trepidation that Ron approached Professor McGonagall after their Transfiguration lesson was over that morning. At first she didn't seem to notice him because she was riffling through her desk drawer, looking for something. After a moment, he cleared his throat preparing to speak.

"What is it, Mr. Weasley?" She asked, her voice unusually hard, although Ron couldn't say he really blamed her. "I hope you are not trying to worm your way out of detention, because such an act would only place you in further trouble."

"No," Ron said, his voice scratchy, as though he wasn't quite sure about what he was going to say next.

Looking back, Ron was never quite sure why he said what he said, although he was fairly certain it had something to do with either the look on Hermione's face when the enormity of what she had lost sunk in, knowing that he was the cause of it all, or the guilt he felt at causing Hermione so much pain. More likely, though, it was a sickening combination of all three.

"No, I haven't come to try to get out of detention..." he started, the next words getting stuck in his throat.

"But..." McGonagall supplied expectantly.

"But the punishment you set last night was unfair," he said, rather boldly. McGonagall looked flabbergasted (A/N: isn't that a fun word?), and Ron continued before she had a chance to say anything.

"Hermione didn't deserve to be punished, and she definitely didn't deserve to have her prefect privileges taken away. The only thing she did was stay too late in the library," he wasn't entirely sure that's where Hermione had been, but it seemed likely, and he didn't think McGonagall would doubt it. He paused for a moment, and then continued.

"I went to go find her, but when we got back, we couldn't get into the tower because the fat lady fell asleep and we couldn't wake her up. It was my idea to set off the fireworks. I though maybe it would wake the fat lady up so we could get back in. Hermione told me it was a bad idea, but I didn't listen to her. I had no idea the explosion would be so big, and I didn't mean to cause such a commotion, and I know that that's no excuse for me, but Hermione is completely innocent. Please, don't punish her for something I did, especially since she specifically told me not to light it," he finished in a rush.

Professor McGonagall said nothing for a moment, giving him a piercing stare, as if trying to decide whether he was telling the truth or not. After a moment, she turned away from him and opened her desk drawer. She pulled a small object out and held it in her hand for a moment.

"I assume I can trust you to return this to Miss Granger," she said, placing the object in his hand. "I hope you know, Mr. Weasley, that your punishment still stands, and I will be owling your mother this afternoon."

Ron gulped, but didn't say anything, knowing his mother would not be pleased with him at all, and that he could expect a real howler tomorrow morning. Instead, he just nodded.

"You may go," she said to him. Ron turned and walked across the room, pausing at the door.

"Thank you Professor," he said. She said nothing in reply, but gave him a small smile and waved him out the door. He left, holding Hermione's prefect badge in his hand. Now the only problem was getting her to listen to him long enough to give it to her.

Okay! Now it's your turn to tell me what you think. Should I leave it here, or write another chapter? Does Hermione forgive him, or does she hold a grudge? Do you want me to tell you, or do you just not care? I really want to do more, but if nobody likes it... But either way....

REVIEW! (please?)