Author's Note: Ah! Summer vaction is finally here! Yes, my first day of freedom and I am already bored. Meh.
Yesterday I got an award for my writing and being an "Outstanding English Student" I got this plaque and fifty dollars. It made me really happy and shocked, I've never won anything before. And I'm glad I won something for my writing especially, because I really want to take my writing into a serious career. That's my little dream right there. I also found out yesterday that I poem I had submitted to this contest is going to the semi-finals. So, I have a pretty good chance of winning something for that, too. My sister read the poem and said I was an amazing poet... and I had never thought anything of my poetry at all. Man, all of this is coming at me like crazy. I just hope I can continue this and become a decent author when I get out of college and stuff. But that's quite a way off, so, all I can do for now is build my writing skills.
Thanks for all of the reviews and support! Here's chapter five!

He had stayed up til nearly 12:30 A.M., Harry still hadn't come back to the room. Ron was waiting while the others slowly drifted off into sleep. What could he be doing? Oh right, probably talking to his dear Hermione. Someone who wasn't so "naive" and stupid. Before he knew it, sleep was tugging at his eyes. He fought to keep them open, but his exhaustion won in the end.

The darkness was filled with an echoing laughter. It was haunting, and he couldn't find where it was coming from. It continued on. Ron wanted to find the source, punch it, and roll back to sleep. But no matter how hard he tried to find it, the darkness got blacker and blacker. He finally opened his eyes and let out a little squeal. A small figure was lurking around on the floor, laughing a strange laugh. The same laugh from his dream. There was a large stack of something on it's head and it looked rather bizarre considering how small the creature was. Obviously Ron had fallen asleep without pulling his bed hangings around him. He squinted at the creature as it came closer to him, it started to pull the hangings around his bed and realized who is was.

"Dobby?" He asked in a raspy voice. It was the elf's turn to squeak. It jumped slightly and quickly went into a bow, causing the stack of hats on his head to sway, threatening to topple off his head.

"Master Harry Potter's friend, sir!" Dobby replied in his small voice. "Are you in need of anything? Anything at all, sir?"

"No, you just sort of gave me a start there," Ron paused. "Actually, do you know the time? I've lost my wrist watch."

"Aye! It's just past two o'clock, sir!" Dobby informed him happily.

"Uh, thanks," Ron mumbled, getting up. He then realized how hungry he was, his stomach acid was probably eating away at his stomach by now. He remembered his plan just as Dobby had scurried out of the room. He started to walk over to Harry's bed to ask for the invisibility cloak, but then thought better of it. He turned away from Harry's bed and crept out of the dormitories, trying to be as silent as he could. Dobby and the other house elves must have just finished cleaning, because the common room was looking much better. The only form of life in the room now was Crookshanks, whom was sleeping peacefully on one of the puffy chairs. Ron tiptoed past Crookshanks and made for the entrance. Once he got out into the corridor, the Fat Lady started to hiss warnings at him.

"What are you doing out of bed? I should go tell a teacher about this, you know. Oh, and if it isn't the little rude one, yes, giving awareness to a teacher would be most satisfactory," She threatened him.

"Oh, can it, I'm hungry," Ron shot back at her.

"Well, aren't you so needy. I suppose everyone should take pity on you because you didn't eat enough supper and let you break the rules," She huffed. "You should be in bed, sleeping, like I was."

"Well, I guess you aren't now," Ron said and walked off. I guess everyone is going to be angry with me now, aren't they? Ron thought as he walked through the dark hallways, mentally directing himself to the kitchens. At least he wouldn't be busted by Filch, he had taken an unfortunate trip down a very long case of stairs, and had crashed into a knight of armor. This had landed him with a broken leg and he had absolutely refused Mrs. Pomfrey to help him mend it. So, he was healing it the old fashion way: cast and crutches. He still had Mrs. Norris on the lookout, but he was never fast enough on those crutches to get to the scene of the crime and catch the student. Most of the pranksters in school were having a heyday. As long as Ron wasn't caught by a teacher, he was going to be fine.

He finally reached the painting with the bowl of fruit and tickled the pear. It giggled and turned into the usual small, green door. He stepped in and was greeted by the warmth of the dozens of ovens. The room was filled with house elves that had finished their cleaning duties for the night, some of them had even started on making the morning's breakfast. The fresh smell of food made Ron's mouth water. A few elves spotted him and hurried over.

"Anything we can get you, good sir?" A girl elf squeaked, sweeping into a bow. He though for a moment.

"Any chance of a few turkey sandwiches, potatoes, and pumpkin juice?"

"Coming, sir, coming!" Another elf said, they all rushed off to gather his food. He was lead to a long wooden by another elf. He sat down and watched the elves work with interest. After about two minutes, the group of elves came back supporting his order of food. They set it on the table in front of him, bowed, and hurried back off to continue their work. Ron took a huge bite of his first sandwich gratefully, stuffing some potatoes in afterwards. He heard the kitchen door open and he looked over to it to see Professor McGonagall walk in. He choked and tried to duck under the table, but she had already seen him.

"Weasley," She said casually walking over. She was in her night gown and bath robe, her hair in a much looser bun. She whispered to an elf as she walked over and then sat down by Ron.

"P-Professor..." He said weakly.

"Is there a reason you are out of bed?" She asked, eyeing his plate of food. She didn't wait for his answer. "You know that it is forbidden for a student to be out of bed this late. But I'll go easy on you, I know most of us cannot resist getting an early morning snack. So, ten points from Gryffindor and a week of detention should serve this crime justice."

"That's going easy on me?" Ron said, gaping at her.

"I can always take away more points..." She said, raising an eyebrow.

"No, no, that's okay," Ron said quickly. "Besides, what are you doing down here so late."

"I think you already know the answer to that, Weasley. I am doing the same thing as you. Serving my early morning cravings," She replied. "Besides, I am a teacher, unlike you, I can be out this late if I wish." Just as she finished, a few elves came to her side and gave her a cup of tea and an eclair. "Thank you, Tibby, Chibs." She nodded to them and took a sip of her tea, adding a few lumps of sugar. They stayed silent for awhile, both eating their food. "Having girlfriend problems, Weasley?" She said out of the blue.

"Huh?" Ron let out, surprised she had just said that.

"Normally I do not meddle with my student's affairs, but if I am not mistaken, you and Granger have not been so... connected lately. Am I right?"

"Well... it's just... there are exams and we've been studying a lot..." Ron muttered, ears going crimson. This was the most awkward situation he's even been in; talking to a teacher about his love life at about three a.m.

"Mmmmhmmm..." Professor McGonagall took a bit of her eclair. She didn't sound convinced. "Has a new boyfriend, does she?" Man, how did she know so much?

"Well, yeah, but we've never really been... you know..."

"An item?" She offered.

"Yeah... look, this is sort of weird..." Ron said, shifting in his place. She chuckled.

"I suppose. Alright, Weasley, I'll let you be," She said with amusement in her voice. She got up and looked ready to leave. But she turned around again. "Don't forget, detention. My office at seven o'clock tomorrow night." She said and left the kitchens.

"Now even my teachers are getting concerned about my love life..." Ron groaned, putting his head on the table.