On Saturday morning, Hermione sat talking excitedly with Ron and Harry in the Great Hall. Ron smiled widely and said, "It's about time we had a break from all this work." He shoveled food into his mouth in satisfaction.
"That's funny," Hermione said smirking. "I was unaware that you ever did any form of work. You mean to say that you actually do your homework without me breathing down your neck?"
Ron scowled but Harry said "We take turns." At Hermione's confused look, he said "We take turns being 'Hermione'. One day I'm 'Hermione' and then the next day, it's his turn to be the nag," he said with a mischievous grin. Hermione's mouth dropped open in indignation. Harry simply grinned at her. Hermione shook her and muttered something that sounded like "useless boys".
Suddenly, Ron remembered the confrontation with Malfoy the night before. He quickly related the details to Hermione. She frowned thoughtfully. "Harry reckons that something is going on or will be going on," Ron said quietly, his face looking doubtful. "I don't know about that. Why would he hint at it in front of us?"
"Because the little twit would love the chance to rub your faces in it," Hermione replied scathingly. "We'll just have to be careful around him." Having finished their breakfast, the three Gryffindors stood up to leave the Great Hall. Hermione looked at Ron said "So, what's up with Ginny? I don't see her much anymore." She led the way toward the door while she waited for his response.
"Oh she's been spending a lot of time with Neville," Ron replied shrugging. "It's sort of weird actually. They're an odd pair."
As Ron talked, Harry noticed a puddle of spilled pumpkin juice on the floor. Before Harry could warn him, Ron slipped on the puddle. His body lunged forward and knocked roughly into Hermione. Her body was propelled forward as well, but she was knocked backward when she hit something very solid. Hermione landed on her back with a thud, hitting her head on the floor. She squeezed her eyes shut with pain. Ron had managed to catch himself by grabbing a nearby table.
Hermione groaned and rubbed the back of her head. She reluctantly opened her eyes and looked up at the thing that had forced her onto the floor. To her dismay, she found herself looking up at the potions master. He was scowling down at her with a raised eyebrow. She swore softly, causing his brow to rise even more. To her surprise he reached out to her with his hand. Tentatively, she placed her hand in his and allowed him to help her stand back up. She swayed slightly, but sighed in relief as his strong hands grasped her shoulders to steady her. Hermione glanced up at the professor, surprised by his kindness. "Thank you," she said quietly.
"Forgotten how to walk, Miss Granger?" Professor Snape asked in his silky voice. He smirked at her embarrassed blush.
Harry, who had been watching the scene with his mouth hanging open in astonishment, spoke up. "Sir, it was Ron. He slipped on some pumpkin juice and rammed into Hermione." Ron glared at him, not pleased about being blamed.
Snape merely grunted in response. He turned and walked away from them in a swirl of robes.
"He seemed almost nice just then," Harry said with a slight frown. "That's a little scary actually."
"It's more than a little scary," Ron said in agreement. He turned an accusing glare at Harry. "You blamed me for her falling over."
"Well, it was kind of your fault," Harry said shrugging. "You ran into her."
"I slipped on pumpkin juice," Ron said, his ears turning red.
"Yes, well, if you didn't go stomping around like a dinosaur everywhere you went, you wouldn't have slipped," Hermione retorted.
Ron sputtered indignantly. "I don't stomp around like a dinosaur."
"You do, sort of, mate," Harry said with a small smile. Ron's lanky frame had filled out some and the extra muscle had brought out a new level of self assurance. The result was the red head holding his head higher and walking with confidence, but without much grace. Harry and Hermione joked that if he were any more 'confident', he'd put holes in the floor.
Ron flushed but said nothing more. Hermione grinned at him and patted his arm before leading them out of the Great Hall.
Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione arrived at the burrow that afternoon and rushed through the door to be greeted by an ecstatic Molly Weasley. "There you are!" she exclaimed dragging each of them into a crushing hug. "It's so lovely to have you here," she said kindly to Harry and Hermione. "You four go and put your things upstairs and we'll have dinner when you come back down."
Hermione was led up to Ginny's room to put her trunk away while Harry went to Ron's room. "This is going to be great," Ginny said dropping her robe onto her bed. She looked at Hermione curiously. "Are you going to see your parents for Christmas?"
Hermione sighed. "I don't know. They're going skiing again this year, but I'd like to see them for a little while. I just don't see how I'll be able to." She frowned sadly.
Ginny patted her shoulder with a sympathetically. "We'll try to think of something. Maybe my dad will have an idea. Or we could contact Dumbledore. He might have something up his sleeve." She grinned mischievously.
Hermione snorted with laughter. "When does Dumbledore not have something up his sleeve?" The girls laughed and walked out of the room. When they arrived back downstairs, they went into the dining room to find it empty. Hermione frowned. "Where's your family?" she asked Ginny.
"Probably outside," Ginny replied. "The weather is great and it's less crowded to eat out there. Let's go." She led the way outside where Mrs. Weasley had lined up several tables laden with delicious looking food.
"Nice to see you Hermione," George Weasley said walking up to her. His twin, Fred stood next to them and grinned. Harry and Ron were already outside, standing behind the twins.
"How's business," Harry asked
"Fantastic," Fred and George said together.
"Everyone come sit down," said Arthur Weasley, smiling widely. They quickly seated themselves around the table and helped themselves to the food. Molly beamed around at everyone, looking pleased that they all seemed to be enjoying the meal. Harry noticed that a few of the Weasleys were missing. No doubt, the oldest Weasley children, Bill and Charlie, were off working. Percy, unfortunately, had still not reconciled his differences with the rest of the family. He remained conspicuously absent from all occasions.
"I have some news," Arthur said clearing his throat. Everyone paused and looked at him expectantly. "We will be spending Christmas at headquarters, Grimmhauld Place. Dumbledore suggested it. Many of your friends from the order will also be there." He looked at Hermione. "Dumbledore also said that he would have someone escort you to visit your parents." He smiled at Hermione's look of excitement.
"When are we going?" Harry asked smiling widely.
"In a few days," Molly said with a smile on her round face. Ginny turned to look at Hermione who grinned. Christmas was going to be a lot of fun.
Dinner passed pleasantly and everyone sat outside and talked. Eventually, it began to get dark outside and Molly Weasley began cleaning everything up. Hermione and Ginny got up to help clean while Harry and Ron joined in on Fred and George's conversation about Quidditch.
Once everything was clean, Molly announced that they should all head off to bed. They all went inside and headed for the bedrooms. Hermione and Ginny wished the boys a good night and went into Ginny's room. The girls changed for bed and laid down silently. After a moment, Hermione broke the silence. "So, what's this about you and Neville?"
Ginny laughed softly. "You've obviously been talking to Ron," she said. "Neville's really nice. He's not as shy as he was and we get along so well."
Hermione smiled. "That's great Ginny," she said. "Neville's a good guy and it's about time he had the chance to be with someone like you. You'll be good for him." Ginny blushed.
"What about you Hermione?" Ginny asked slyly. "Anybody you'd like to pay special attention to?"
It was Hermione's turn to blush. "No," she said with a little sigh. "I'm far too busy for that sort of thing."
Ginny smiled wickedly. "You do spend a lot of time with Professor Snape," she said pointedly.
"What are you saying Ginny Weasley?" Hermione asked indignantly.
"Just that you being around Professor Snape would stop any guys your age from approaching you for fear of being turned to stone," Ginny said in a casual voice. Hermione giggled. "Maybe that's not so bad," Ginny added, smirking. "Perhaps you'll see him as the attractive, dark, mysterious type. Viktor Krum was moody and you seemed to like him."
Hermione shook her head. "You have a wild imagination," she said with a little laugh. "You can't really compare Viktor and Professor Snape. There's a big difference between the two."
"True," Ginny said nodding. "But, you've said yourself that Snape isn't all bad. He's got some very well hidden good qualities, apparently."
Hermione laughed and rolled her eyes good naturedly. "Go to sleep Ginny."
"Goodnight Hermione," Ginny replied with an impish grin. She turned out the light and fell silent. Hermione sighed quietly. It seemed that Ginny was going to be just about as "helpful" as the headmaster when it came to dealing with Professor Snape.
