Disclaimer: Not mine. Nothing is mine . . . That thought is kinda depressing.

Story Talk: IMPORTANT! Everybody must read! I wasn't going to even start the next chapter until Friday because that is when my stuff is due. However I was reading through reviews and I found that one of my reviewers writes one of my favorite stories. So I said that if she updated I would. So everybody be sure to thank Prose for the update and I highly suggest And if I Could Never Find You. I'm am sorry to tell you that it won't be very long though but don't worry because you should get a long one before the end of next week . . . Maybe.

Authoress Ramble: Friday I decided that I didn't want to go to school so I didn't and I ended up going to Columbia with my aunt to meet my mom for lunch. I got hot wings and they were really good. I thought I would mention that because I am really excited because you can rarely find really good hot wings but I did.

ALSO IMPORTANT: My friend dyed my hair for me and got the dye all over her hands so her hands are now black. Well mostly. If anyone has any suggestions as to how to get it off please tell me.

Chapter 18

Hermione Being Hermione

"So tell me again why you have your own room." Hermione asked as they ate dinner.

"Dumbledore said something about me being in danger because everyone knows where I am. So basically Voldemort fucking up my life again." Harry answered around a mouthful of food.

"Why now though? I mean everyone has always known where you've and it has yet to be a problem." Hermione asked with narrowed eyes. Harry groped for an answer and was about to panic when Ginny answered for him.

"Well think about this Hermione. He-who-mu . . ."

"Honestly you guys just say his name." Harry said exasperated. Ginny rolled her eyes and turned back to Hermione.

"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has been discovered and everyone knows and so far his attacks have been more . . . well less discrete. A lot of his followers children reside in this school; Harry isn't safe."

"I guess. I just- I still think it's weird."

"So mate when are we going to be able to visit you?" Ron asked as he shoved a chicken drummy into his mouth.

"Er . . . Well you can't. Dumbledore says." He added the last at their hurt looks.

"That's ridiculous." Ron protested as the wheels in Hermione's head continued to turn.

"I know." Harry replied simply. He looked across the hall to where Draco was sitting. He was surprised to see that Draco was looking right back at him. Draco cocked his head to the door. Harry, picking up on the message nodded.

"Who are you looking at?" Hermione asked turning around to look where Harry was staring. There were three heads turned their way: Draco Malfoy, Padma Patil, and Cho Chang.

"No one." Harry answered as Draco stood to leave. "Well I am going to go. I need to get my room set up, you know."

"See ya Harry." Ron said. Ginny gave him a knowing smile and Dean gave him a nod. Hermione was too busy trying to puzzle things together to say anything. She finally noticed when Harry stood up. She watched him follow Malfoy out the door and she knew. However she was confused again when Cho followed Harry.

One down one to go.

Dean and Ginny saw Hermione watching. They studied her face; trying to decide if she had figured anything out and then shared a look. They hoped she hadn't. Only bad things could come from her and Ron knowing.

When Harry got out the doors Draco was waiting for him. The blonde started to make his way toward Harry, but Harry shook his head. He fixed a glare on his face just before the doors opened and Cho walked out. She looked back and forth between the two before she rolled her eyes.

"God get over your childish rivalry. You'd think you were first years or something." She said condescendingly. Then she added, "Just go fuck already God knows you're both gay."

"And guess who turned me?" Harry called after her. Cho threw a glare over her shoulder then walked off haughtily. As soon as she was out of ear shot Harry turned to Draco.

"She and I don't really have the best relationship. She's bitter because she came crawling back at the beginning of the year and I said no."

"Really?" Draco replied raising an eyebrow. They started off to their room. "She tried to get me in bed too. I of course said no. She's an opponent. I can't fuck a rival seeker." Hermione missed Harry's raised eyebrow.

She walked out of the Great Hall when the two boys turned the corner.

So it isn't Malfoy and it isn't Cho. I need to talk to Padma. With that Hermione made her way back inside. Again she sat down by Ron.

"What did you do?" Ginny asked slightly nervous.

"Don't laugh, but I thought that Harry might have been having . . . an affair with Malfoy."

"Ewww." Ron said. "Don't talk about butt pirates while I'm eating." Dean tried his best not to glare at Ron as the redhead started muttering about disgusting homo's and what should be done to them. Ginny grabbed his hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.

"I can't believe you would think that Hermione. I thought you would know Harry better than that." Ginny's tone wasn't mean, but it was firm. She needed to get Hermione away from that idea.

"I know, but Harry's been distant and he's had to spend so much time with that arrogant git. I . . . I just wasn't sure."

"He would tell you if he was." Dean added. "He wouldn't keep it from you." Hermione nodded.

Ginny bit her lip as Dean spoke. Sure that was helping now, but in the long run it might not. Hopefully they wouldn't have to worry about that though.

Please don't let us have to worry about that.