Disclaimer: I didn't own HP two seconds ago and I don't own it now!...

Lock and Key

Chapter 3

Hermione arrived at breakfast the next morning before any of the others. She still had last night on her mind, which was bothering her. She had totally lost her cool and composure with Harry, and allegedly for no real reason. She had simply been upset about his leaving so soon, and that Parvati comment had sent her over the edge. Hermione realized, with disgust, she had acted as Cho had two years ago. Knowing that, she resolved to act her age. Rounds with Draco Malfoy was another story... a trying, painful story. He had insulted, smirked, and belittled her for three hours while she had yelled, argued, and snapped at him. Being Head Girl was going to be hell, if only by putting up with the Head Boy.

As Hermione helped herself to her second piece of toast, her friends walked into the Great Hall. Her eyes immediately went to Harry and her stomach churned.

"Pass the sausage Hermione," was the first thing out of Ron's mouth as he seated himself. She glared at him.

"Good morning to you too!" she crossly reported, forcefully sliding the plate down to him. Harry looked at her momentarily, apprehensively, then dropped his gaze. He dully noted she was still in a bad mood. For the first few minutes there was nothing but silence, seeing as how Ron was stuffing his face, Harry thought Hermione was still angry with him, and Hermione was hesitating. She knew she had to apologize to Harry but she was having difficulty finding words. As Ernie Macmillan and Justin Finch-Fletchley came to speak to Harry and Ron about something, she finally resolved on something. As the Hufflepuffs left, Hermione saw Parvati and Padma Patil enter; to her, it was a sign to speak up.

"Harry?" she started. He looked at her, relief and trepidation expressed on his face.

"I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to go off on you. I was tired. I'm not upset, just sorry," she stated. Well thank God, he thought, because you bloody sure had me confused!

"Last night?," wondered Ron, frowning slightly, "What happened last night? Where was I?"

"In the common room?" Hermione dryly suggested. He glowered at her.

"Hermione just showed me the Head Room, is all." Harry said, coming to the rescue.

"Well how come no one told me about it? I would have wanted to come." Ron sulked.

"Honestly Ron! You'll see it tonight, when you come to the prefect's meeting! We're discussing rounds, by the way," she told him, rolling her eyes. He said nothing and didn't appear very consoled in knowing he would view it that night. A minute later, Ron muttered something that sounded vaguely like 'principle of the matter' and uttered nothing more. When they finished breakfast they got up and headed to McGonagall's together.

Three quarters of the way there, after Hermione told off a fifth year couple for their PDA, they ran into Malfoy and his usual retinue.

"You'll probably be doing rounds tonight with Ron, you know, with Lavender. Wednesday is set for the Gryffindors," explained Hermione. But she quieted as soon as she saw the blonde Slytherin. He leered happily at the three.

"How's it going?," he asked them casually, "Start that essay yet Potty?" His friends snickered loudly. Harry, being reminded of the incident by the perpetrator himself, cracked. He gave Malfoy the finger. Hermione gave a small gasp while the Slytherins appeared outraged. Malfoy's eyes narrowed, though he seemed to remain maliciously content. With his arms folded, he said:

"Twenty points from Gryffindor, Potter. You offend the Head Boy again and I'll dock 100 points." Hermione had put her hand on Harry's arm without realizing it. Malfoy's eyes went to hers, daring her to contradict him. However, she only cared about keeping her best friend in line. Harry had his fists clenched tightly.

"You can't do that!" Ron argued, mad about the loss of points but proud of Harry's gesture.

"Of course I can, Weasel Man," sneered Malfoy, "I am Head Boy. You are a lowly prefect, and an abysmal one at that." His group laughed once more.

"Yeah?," remarked Ron, ears going red, "How's your dad? Still hiding out with what's his face? Did you visit him this weekend at the Dumb Lord's little flat? Drink some tea?" It was dead silent; no one could believe his or her ears. Hermione stared at Ron with fascination and horror while Harry looked on with pure admiration. Malfoy, on the other hand, was pissed off and humiliated. He whipped out his wand and pointed it at Ron's chest, fuming visibly. Hermione cried out.

"Don't you ever speak of that again, do you understand me?!" he snarled.

"Drop it." Harry flatly commanded, his wand pointed at Malfoy's face. The Slytherin glared hatefully at Harry while Ron groped for his own wand. Crabbe and Goyle moved to stop him (refusing to let Malfoy be outnumbered), but stopped at the sound of Hermione's voice.

"That is ENOUGH! Everyone just stop! Lower your wands!" she yelled. Pansy Parkinson then scoffed.

"Oh, why don't you—"she began.

"Ten points from Slytherin," Hermione snapped, cutting her off, "Shut up." Pansy appeared scandalized.

"Ron, Harry—don't do anything rash and lower your wands," she advised. When they didn't move, she repeated much more firmly, "Harry, Ron—now." They dropped their wands in a painfully slow fashion.

"Malfoy," she coldly stated.

"If you think I'm going to let you—"he heatedly began.

"And if you think you'll actually keep your badge by doing something this stupid, you have completely lost your mind," she loudly interrupted. She stared unbelievingly at her.

"Must I go to Professor Dumbledore?" Hermione asked. Malfoy swore and then stormed off, his small band following him.

"You'll pay." Blaise Zabini quietly growled as he left. Ron and Hermione both looked at each other in turn.

"Nice Hermione!," he exclaimed, "I guess you're Head Girl for a reason!"

"Ron, did you have to say that about his father?!" she half shouted, ignoring his comment.

"Yes," the boys replied in unison. Hermione glanced at Harry and saw the fierce determination in his green eyes. Her stomach rolled over.

"Does Malfoy have to be such an idiotic prat?" Ron questioned. She sighed heavily and they continued on their way.

"I can't believe there was almost... a rumble in the hallway, involving the Head Boy," she mumbled.

"Woulda been worth it; I got under ferret boy's skin," grinned Ron to Harry.

"...and she actually smiled at me, which threw me off 'cause I could have sworn she still thought I was the biggest twit in the world, due to that whole Yule Ball thing." Ron explained to Harry as they walked down the corridor. He was speaking of an earlier incident with Padma Patil and they were headed to eat dinner. Harry merely nodded.

"So, when's our first practice?" questioned Ron, changing the subject and catching his best friend's attention.

"I dunno yet. I've been thinking about it and I came up with next week, say Wednesday. I want to get us started quite early so we'll be that much better." Harry answered.

"Right. Think we could use Burnstone as the Quaffle?" Harry laughed and a moment later, they rounded the corner to see Hermione chatting with David Rice. Both boys stopped. They couldn't make out the precise words but they could definitely see the smiles on their faces, and could absolutely hear Hermione's laughter.

"Who in bloody Merlin's name is that?!" Ron demanded, pointing wildly. Harry's eyes had narrowed darkly.

"David Rice; Ravenclaw's Seeker," he grumbled, jealously beginning to consume him.

"Well why is talking to Hermione?! It can't possibly be about Quidditch!" They watched for a tad longer and then David walked off in another direction, waving to her before they left. Harry and Ron (well, more so Ron) then rapidly walked over to their friend.

"Chatting it up with Rice, huh?" Ron said as though he had known who it was all along.

"Oh, hi Harry, Ron," she remarked, startled, "What? Oh, yes—I was talking to David."

"Why?"

"Because I was being nice," she said, frowning.

"How long have you two been chummy?" Ron continued. Hermione scoffed.

"Not very. And we're not chummy!"

"Really? Because the way you were smiling—"

"You know what Ron? This conversation is over!" she told him, turning away and storming into the Great Hall. He waited a minute before muttering, "Yeah, well..." and following her steps. Harry slowly followed, now feeling somewhat shameful for feeling jealous. True, he hadn't (stupidly) gone off as Ron had, but still. He knew Hermione could speak to whomever she wanted freely, but she and David had looked rather chummy....

Harry sat next to Ron and went through a huffy meal. His friends were not speaking to one another so she took refuge in Neville. Instead, they decided to throw around silverware, dishes, and grumble loudly. When dinner was over, Hermione abruptly stood up and snapped at Ron to remember the meeting. She then walked off in a fluster. Ron walked back with Harry to Gryffindor Tower, venting about Hermione the entire way. Harry walked into their dorm with him, but only to retrieve his work; he felt no need to be in Ron's company.

"Where're you going?" he wondered.

"To do homework." Harry bluntly replied, leaving. He took a table by a window in the common room, sighing. He felt confused about things at the moment—Hermione, Ron, his feelings—but didn't know why. Harry took out some parchment and a quill, deciding to write to Lupin.

Ever since Sirius's death, he felt much closer to the man, though he didn't have to guess why: the absence of Sirius had hit them both hard. When Harry had finished the letter, which spoke of his becoming Quidditch captain and was rather lengthy, he began on his Charms homework. (He paid no attention to the other people in the common room with him). Halfway through it, and still about 60 minutes more worth, he sensed someone approach. Harry looked up to see Parvati.

"Hi Harry!" she warmly greeted. At that same moment he saw Ron walk by. They caught each other's eye and Ron questioningly raised his eyebrows. Was it time for the prefect meeting already? How long had he been down here?

"Uh, hi Parvati." Harry responded. (Ron was gone).

"I saw you sitting here alone and thought I'd stop by. Lavender left for her meeting, you know," she remarked.

"Yeah, Ron too." Parvati's mouth twitched and Harry had a sudden impulse to ask her something.

"Parvati, why do you still hate Ron?" he pondered, sounding slightly amused.

"Oh, I don't hate him!," she cried, falling into a chair, "It's just... I can't help but think about last year."

"But... that was quite a while ago, and they're both completely over it. Lavender's going out with Seamus! Besides, it's not like you went out with him." Harry explained.

"I know, I know! I'm wrong and it's in the past. I'll try harder with Ron," admitted Parvati. He smiled in return, "Hey, are you doing homework?"

"Yeah, Charms," Something he learned from Cho Chang then popped into his head, "D'you wanna do it with me? If you haven't already? I mean, we're in the same class and all..."

"Of course!" she grinned. She then took out her wand and closed her eyes for a moment.

"Accio Charms work!" she commanded. Moments later, her necessities landed roughly on the table.

"Nice," admired Harry.

"Yeah, all thanks to the DA." He felt a stab of guilt and remorse. The DA hadn't happened sixth year; Harry had spent too much time being pissed off at the world and hating everything. But it was a new year he felt considerately better. Who knew? Perhaps the DA would make a comeback. Voldemort was still out there....

According to Ron's reports, the meeting was unbearable. Hermione and Draco Malfoy were both still angry with him so he had to suffer their wrath. As it turned out, the Head Boy and Girl patrolled Monday nights & Fridays, after the Ravenclaws. Slytherin had Tuesday, Gryffindor had Wednesday, Hufflepuff had Thursday, and Ravenclaw (obviously) had Friday. (The Heads had the longest rounds, by far). Malfoy, forever the damned twit, so said Ron, refused to cooperate with Hermione while she tried desperately not to argue with him in public. Things worsened when Malfoy let 'Mudblood' slip. Ron and two others immediately jumped up, starting a hooplah. The night basically ended with everyone storming out of the Head Room and Hermione near tears. Hearing this, Harry was terribly relieved not to have a prefect badge, though, the thought of Hermione crying for any reason made him ache.

A/N: I posted like I said I would. I don't know, but seriously doubt, the Heads can take points from the Houses, but I don't care. They can and will in this story! Lol. Next chapter up... Saturday. Or Friday if I'm not feeling lazy. Til then!