The dance ended late, at around midnight. However it was a Saturday night so there were no curfews. On the way out, Malfoy made a snide comment that he wasn't aware that Mudbloods could dress something like that. I just ignored him. I had immediately bought another dress robe after I saw what Ginny had done to mine. It was made out of pink satin and to be honest it wasn't really as pretty as my first one but it had to do. After all, I was running out of money. I couldn't ask my parents for more money as I already asked them for money for the trip to America.

I was really tired when I got back because I had stayed back to help clean up. I walked into the common room and saw Ginny siting there, reading. Hoping she wouldn't see me, I tried to sneak past her. I really couldn't deal with talking to, knowing it would only ruin the night and I really wanted to sleep. But luck wasn't on my side. As I walked passed her, she shot fire at me from her eyes. Her eyes were flaming with hatred.

"So did you have fun, Hermione?" she asked,
I sighed "Yes I did," I replied.
"Well, you better enjoy that feeling because if I get my way it won't last long," she cautioned me.
I didn't feel like fighting with her so I just answered. "Yeah whatever Ginny, its truly sad you spent the whole night sitting here sulking like a baby,"
She got up to argue some more but I was already up halfway up the stairs. I ignored her shouts and threats. It wouldn't surprise me that she probably kept yelling after I shut the door.

I was so tired that I slept it late the next morning. I got up and went down to breakfast, only to find my two best friends not too happy with me.
"Morning," I greeted them as I took my usual place in between them. They did not reply, pointedly concentrating on their breakfast.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"Where were you?" asked Harry.
"Where was I when?" I asked Harry, feeling puzzled.
"You missed my first Quiddich game of the year!" he shot out, looking angry and hurt.
I groaned inwardly. I wanted to say "So what?" but instead I pretended I had forgotten. I faked a shocked expression "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I overslept and totally forgot! I'm really sorry, Harry," I said, looking at him with puppy dog eyes. Harry softened a bit, but I knew he was still miffed. "Its ok," he said. "No, I should have been up on time" I protested. From the corner of my eye I saw Ginny and some of her friends sitting in a corner, talking and playing exploding snap. She was watching us, not hiding her gleeful smile at Harry's anger towards me. She loved that, I bet.

A few days later, the four of us were back in Professor McGonagall's office again. The four of us being Harry, Ron, Draco and myself. However, this time Professor Dumbledore was there as well. We sat patiently, waiting for what they had to say to us.
"Mr Potter, Weasley, Malfoy and Ms Granger, you will be leaving in a week from today. Your mission is to convince the American wizards to be on our side before Voldemort gets to them. Do you have any questions?" said Dumbledore.
We shook our heads.
"Good. I'm glad to see that all of you seem to understand the seriousness of this matter. Now, Professor Snape and Ms Tonks will be your guides for this trip," said Dumbledore.
Who would be taking over Snape's class? I wondered. I wanted to ask but it didn't seem like as good idea to. We were then told when we were leaving and our means of transportation. We would be travelling by plane and it would take at least twelve hours to get there.

(A/N: I don't really know the flight time, so I'm just guessing)

Before the meeting ended, we were cautioned not to act or dress like wizards and witches in the presence of muggles. When the meeting was finally over, I waited for Harry and Ron to leave so I could talk to Malfoy. I grabbed him my the sleeve as he tried to leave.
"Wait a minute, I have to know a few things" I told him.
Malfoy turned around, his expression unreadable. "What is it?" he asked.
"Well, if you are really on our side, why did you call me a mudblood at the dance?" I asked.
He didn't answer immediately.
"Look," he said. "I was a cover for so that the other Slytherins who were around wouldn't get suspicious. Do you want anything else?" he asked.
I wasn't sure whether to believe him or not but maybe I should give him a change id he had really changed. As a matter of fact I did have another question but I was too afraid to ask because of what reaction I might get.
"Well, do you or not?" ask Malfoy, obviously getting annoyed.
Quickly, I blurted out "What did you do to prove that you were on our side?"
That wasn't how I planed to ask the question but it had to do for now.
"I just did, ok Granger. Why does it matter?" he replied.
I was getting mad now.
"Why does it matter?! Of course it matters! After all, how did I know you're not really a spy for you-know-who?" I said.
I had to know whether he was really on our side or not and I had to know why.
Malfoy didn't reply and walked off. I stood there, shocked. I wanted to run after him, demand an answer but I didn't. Instead I turned around and walked back to the Gryffindor tower.

I entered the common room and found them sitting in the arm chairs by the fire. I wanted to talk to them but not somewhere so public. I quietly told them to follow me to the Room of Requirement. They looked confused but followed me anyway.

"What's this about, Hermione?" asked Ron
. I sighed inwardly; he was being clueless as always. I pushed the mean thought away and concentrated at the matters at hand.
I told them how I felt about Malfoy and his loyalty to the Order.
"I've been thinking about that too," Harry admitted.
"However, Dumbledore trusts him and is letting him go with us," he added. Ron, ever the sidekick nodded in agreement.
We sat down for awhile, discussing the trip.
"Snape and Tonks. Hmm, that should be interesting," Harry commented. I nodded.
Ron looked bored and uninterested.
Did I really have to travel with him? I thought to myself.
Why am I getting annoyed with him? I asked myself.
I figured since he was related to Ginny and I was starting to hate her, I was starting to find problems with him.

After awhile we returned to the common room and worked on our homework.
What was the point of doing homework if we were leaving? I wondered and went up to my dorm room to check my trunk whether I had everything packed.
Once again I found Ginny sitting on Lavenders bed, talking to her and acting like she was Lavender's best friend. Lavender, on the other had nodded absently to everything she said and threw sorrowful looks at my direction. What kind of hold did Ginny have on her anyway? I made a mental note to ask her later. I sat on my bed and finished an essay for charms when I remembered I had left some of my notes I needed in the common room. I found them under then table with Harry and Ron's help and went back upstairs. To my worst luck, Ginny was just leaving the door room and was heading my direction.
"Great, just the person I wanted to talk to," she said, smiling evilly and giving me the chills.
"Umm, I need to go to bed. Can this wait?" I asked, vainly hoping she'd say yes.
"No, Hermione. I don't think so," she replied. I sighed, already expecting her answer.
She took a step closer towards me, that horrible smile still plastered on her face. A cold look came from her eyes.
"If you're such a dedicated girlfriend, why weren't you there the other day?" she asked.
"Well…oh well…"
I was confused at first. Then in dawned me. She was talking about the Quiddich match I had missed. I couldn't believe she was gloating over the fact that I had missed it.
"I would never miss a match" she said smugly.
"Well good for you then, Miss Priss" I fired back. This was really making me mad. I dropped my notes and stepped away from her, looking at her as if she was crazy.
"In that case, you should just break it off with Harry then. After all I am much prettier," she shot back.
"Yeah right, you're not exactly a beauty yourself," I replied sarcastically.
Ginny turned red. She was definitely mad now. She was shouting incoherently and crying. I almost felt sorry for her but then she took a step forward and before I knew it she shoved me backwards. My hands flailed, reaching for a banister but I couldn't find it. Before I knew, everything went black. The last thing I heard was Ginny screaming and shouting courses at me.

I wasn't sure how long I was unconscious. I woke up and found myself lying on a couch in the common room. Harry sitting down right next to me, looking concerned. Confused, I sat up and then I remember everything that had happened. The room started spinning around. I quickly lay back down, closing my eyes.
"Hermione?" Harry asked, his voice filled with concern.
"Hmm?" I mumbled. My whole body ached.
"What happened?" he asked.
I tried to tell him but every few words I spoke, a shot of pain passed through my body. So I spoke as quickly as I could, telling him everything.
"Ginny was mad with me because she's in love with you so she pushed me,"
I lay back, closing my eyes. The pain was almost unbearable.
"Harry, I need to go to the hospital wing. I…I…" I passed out before I could finish.

I woke up again later, feeling someone pouring potion down my throat. Then I fell back asleep.

I don't know how long I slept but I was woken up again by shouts. I looked around as noticed I was still in the common room couch. I saw Professor McGonagall leading Ginny out of the room. I heard her yell "It's all her fault! She's so stupid! I hate her! I wish she'd die!" she screamed.
"Miss Weasley! Please lower your voice before you wake up the whole castle," Professor McGonagall warned her as they left through the portrait hole.
I fell asleep again. I think Harry was somewhere nearby.

The next morning, I found Madam Pomfrey waiting for me with a tray of breakfast and some potions for me to drink.
"You'll heal in no time. Fighting over a boy, silly girls" she chided me gently.
She fussed over me as I ate some toast and cereal. I wasn't in as much pain as I was before but it still prevented me from moving about.
"Now lay there and don't try going anywhere because you'll only hurt yourself more," Madam Pomfrey advised me. I told her I feel like sneaking out. To be honest I was more curious what had happened to Ginny, so I asked her. She shook her head, telling me to my disappointment that she couldn't tell me.

Later during lunch, Lavender dropped by to see me.
"Hermione, can we talk?" she asked.
"Sure," I replied.
"Look, I only agree with everything Ginny says because she found out how bad my marks were in Transfiguration and she kept saying that she would tell everyone if I didn't do what so said," she said, looking guilty.
"Its ok. I thought in the beginning you were on her side. I'm glad to know now that you're not," I replied.
Lavender looked relieved. "Thank you. So, well I'll see you later then" she said.
"No wait. What happened to Ginny?" I asked.
"Oh hasn't anyone told you yet?" she replied, looking astonished.
"No, not yet" I said.
"Well, she's been expelled for trying to kill you twice. I told Professor McGonagall what she had done before with your robes when she asked us girls if we knew of anything else she had done to you," she explained.
"Oh ok. Well, thanks for telling me" I replied.
"Well I'll see you later then," said Lavender and she left to go to her next class.
When Harry and Ron returned that evening, it was obvious Ron was ignoring me. He blamed everything on me of course. Harry was caught in the middle and he didn't want us to get mad at him for taking side. To be honest, I was secretly glad that Ginny was gone and I had to admit to myself that it didn't really matter if Ron and I were still friends.