Sorry for the delay, I just finished reading HBP on Saturday (finally!) and lost all drive for writing…This is the second time that J.K's made me depressed…first Sirius…now, well, I cried! I actually cried…a lot…sniff

Please forgive me, nothing in the HBP occurred in my story…but, that's what fan fiction is, isn't!

A big thanks to

Ham005, PsychoHaired, LegandaryRoxtar, Cally88, Allycat162, Morning Rose, Izzy, Snowdevil334, Oasis Blackmore, Ladyofthecelticland (whose comment I'm not sure if it was flaming my story that it sucks…or just something I don't get… . ) and last but not least, October tuscany (the self-indulgent know-it-all), who showed an array of ignorance and daftness.

And of course, to those who have previously reviewed my stories, Midnight Pixie, insanemarionette, Sparkle Weaver, summerxkiss2, fluffy-89, sio and Evil Incorporated

Also, FYI, this is a REALLY, really long chapter…there will never be another one like it…so enjoy!

Chapter 10

Tangled

Do not waste this evening, baby I'm begging you

Your big imaginations, playing its tricks on you

If you think my up and leaving, something's I'm gonna do

Fell my chest when I look at you

Baby, you, you've got my only heart

lllllll

Hogsmade was just around the corner. Hermione and Ron walked down to breakfast together to pass Lavender and Seamus snogging in the back of the corner room. Ron and Hermione looked at each other and picked up their pace.

'So much for 'I really like you'' she mocked and Ron gave a slight nervous laugh.

Hermione went back to her extensively curly brown hair and she no longer asked Lavender and Parvati for daily appointments. She liked her natural look, and apparently so did everyone else. Well, almost everyone, Parvati said that she liked the newer Hermione.

Hermione would rather not being ridiculed everytime she entered the Great Hall for looking pretty. It just wasn't Hermione to wear make-up and she was already pretty without it, or so she thought.

The October whether was typical. No snow yet, but cooling down to the temperature for definite snow in the next week or so. Hermione, Ron and Harry were wearing their scarves and thick robes to block out the cool breeze. Hermione was the only one wearing mittens, and for this Ron teased her.

'If you want cold fingers Ron, then be my guest! I'm not one who likes to be cold.' The three of them hustled into Three Broomsticks, where it was crowded with people, warmth and laughter. Pushing people aside slightly, Ron led the way to a free table in one of the corners. Harry had gone to get them all Butterbeers, leaving Hermione and Ron alone.

Hermione and Ron didn't really say anything. Hermione commented on the whether and Ron merely nodded at her revelations. Harry finally returned with their drinks and set them down in front of Ron and Hermione, who, in turn, thanked him eccentrically.

'You're welcome…' Harry said, slightly cautiously as he sat down at the table, wondering exactly what the two were talking about before his return.

'I find Professor Darling strange, don't you?' Harry asked, looking at the counter where she stood, talking to Madam Rosmerta. To Harry, it seemed that they were having quite an intriguing conversation.

'Why would you say that? She's wonderful, Harry. You've never really met her, only in classes. Besides, just because she isn't fawning over you-' Hermione was quickly interrupted with an irritated Harry.

'Hey! That's not fair. I don't this she's strange because she isn't, fawning, as you call it, over me.' He retorted, quite appalled and upset that Hermione would even say that. He thought that she knew him more then that.

'I just think- I don't know. She seems way too happy to teach us dark arts'

'Snape! He would be gleeful to teach us the dark arts, right down to how to use the unforgettable curses!' Ron butted in making Hermione and Harry stop their feuding over the teacher who was standing just a few feet away.

'Snape is charming' Hermione said indecently.

'Charming like, Lockheart?' Ron sniggered and Hermione gave him a dirty look.

'Can we drop it please?' Said Hermione, who was looking sternly at both Ron and Harry.

'So Harry, when is the first Quidditch match?' Hermione asked, while taking off her thick robe. Ron was sighing contently as he finished his Butterbeer.

'Next week, actually.' Harry still sounded upset. He glanced back over to the two girls who were deep in conversation. He had these feelings before about a teacher, especially about Snape, but no one believed him. Then again, she didn't look dangerous, she was just…way too happy to be teaching dark material.

'Harry!' Hermione snapped and brought Harry's trail of thought back to the table.

'What?' he asked, sipping his drink.

'How did it go, the practices?'

'Ok. I got a team assembled didn't I? I can shape them up in time too.'

'Yes, well, sorry we weren't able to make it… I mean she made our practices overlapping some because no one who plays Quidditch joined.' Hermione looked sympathetically at Ron, who she wanted him to help her explain.

'We watched from the window when we had the chance.' He said, 'looked pretty exciting.'

'It was quite entertaining. Are you going to go to the match?' Neither Hermione nor Ron said anything at this question. They were hoping that he wouldn't ask that, not today, not while they were in Hogsmade at least.

'Well, we're not sure right now, she may have made another practice for us…' Hermione wasn't looking at Harry and neither was Ron. They both gave each other remorseful looks. Of course they wanted to see Harry's first Quidditch match as captain but they didn't want to lose their spot in the play either.

'Like I told you, she's up to something. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw won't be too thrilled not being able to see their team play.'

'We know Harry, we really want to see you play.' Hermione said kindheartedly. 'But we both have big roles in this play, and it keeps Ron and I occupied, while you play…'

'She did it on purposes. I knew she had something against me. She doesn't make these games until I've made postings of my practices.'

'How is that possible, they are in Gryffindor tower. She can't possibly know when you are planning to make you practices. It's ridiculous.' Hermione said defiantly.

'You say that about a lot of things.' Ron said finally.

'So do you. You two, making accusations here and there like they mean nothing.' Hermione was slammed her cup down on the table, as she was about to take a drink but decided that she was too angry to.

'Alright, everyone is just getting upset for no reason' Harry said hot-headedly and then there was silence between the three. There was laughter all around them and people having fun. They were the only ones who were apparently arguing.

'Want to go to Honeydukes?' Ron suggested after many heated moments and they decided that it was good to get out of this stuff atmosphere. Once again they went out in the cold, where the wind had picked up.

There was a large gust of wind that picked up sand that was sprinkled across the roads. All three hid their faces from the sand and adverted their eyes from the direction of the wind as they headed to Honeydukes. Once again it was filled with many people wondering around the store excitedly, grabbing what they could afford.

Ron, Harry and Hermione, however went their separate ways in the store to take a breather. Harry ran into Dean and Seamus and seemed to be having an interesting conversation. Hermione went looking for Ron who was near the back looking at the assortment of 'every flavored beans'. Hermione tugged on the sleeve of his robe, causing him to turn at her, startled.

'What?' he asked.

'D'you think he's mad at us for having this stupid play?' she asked, looking up the shelves of beans.

'Probably. I wouldn't worry too much though, he'll get over it.'

'But-'

'Don't worry about it Hermione. I'm sure he's not that mad, it's only the first Quidditch match, we'll make it to the rest.'

'Why couldn't you say that before?' Hermione said, looking disappointed.

'Are you getting anything?' she asked.

'No, I haven't got that much money.' He frowned slightly.

'Want to wait outside then? I doubt I'm going to get anything' She looked around to see if she could find Harry but she couldn't.

'I'll find Harry first, and tell him. I'll meet you outside.' She said and then headed towards the front where she first saw him talking to Seamus and Dean. Thankfully he was still there so she at least didn't have to search all day, the sweets were getting to her.

'We'll just be outside.' She said to Harry, not looking as Seamus.

'I'll be out in Minute, ok.' Harry said briskly and then turned to back to the two boys and talked on again about Quidditch and how they will be missing the first tournament.

'It looks like it may rain, or snow if it's cold enough.' Ron and Hermione were leaning against the wall of Honeydukes; Ron spoke, trying to break the uncomfortable silence between them. It seemed that neither of them wanted to talk about what happened several days earlier and if it ever came up one was apt to change the course of the conversation.

'Not cold enough for snow yet, besides, its just an overcast. I doubt anything will come down.' Hermione was wondering why she was having small talk with Ron.

'Yeah.'

'So, how d'you like the play so far?'

'It's ok…very mushy.'

'Yes, I know. At least you don't have to kiss Seamus.' Hermione said bitterly. 'I'd rather kiss-' she stopped herself and blushed lightly. Ron looked in the opposite direction like he hadn't heard her, or for that matter, thought what she was going to say next.

Ron cleared his throat. 'Well, I thought that we could practice our lines…or something. You know, if you…want'

'Do you want to? Because I know great ways of memorizing lines that even you could do, not that I'm saying you're stupid or anything,' Hermione said quickly, and then put her scarf up around her mouth, as if to prevent herself from saying anything else.

'I've never memorized anything before…you seem to have memorizing down though. The entire library is in your head.' He didn't want Hermione to think that he was sucking up; he just wanted to spend some time with her. Ron blushed at his revelation and once again looked away from Hermione, towards Hogwarts.

'Well…when would you like to, to- learn your lines.' Hermione asked timidly. Ron and Hermione both knew how uncomfortable they were making each other and themselves by on-going this conversation.

'Friday?'

'Friday it is then.' She confirmed and then quickly added, 'now where is Harry?' They both pressed their faces against the windowpane and there was Harry, still talking to Seamus and Dean.

'Looking at what you can't buy?' Draco sneered from behind them. Hermione sighed and mumbled to Ron, 'Don't bother.'

'Just to let you know, I can buy anything I want in this store…actually in Hogsmade, but there isn't anything interesting here.' He finished and looked at his uninterested opponents.

'Still hanging out with the mudblood, I'd expect nothing less of you, the muggle-lover that you are.' Hermione felt her face flush with anger and saw Ron staring angrily at the window, his brows knitted together.

'Loss for words are you, well, that's a first isn't Mudblood.' He said the last word cynically.

'For your information, I'm not immature like you!' Hermione turned around and faced her challenger, quickly shrugging off Ron's arm trying to pull her back. 'I've grown over the last six years and I've learnt that silence is much more harsh then words.'

Hermione drew out her wand, but by the time Harry and opened the door and Ron shouted 'no', she had already muttered the incantation, and Malfoy's tongue was instantly glued to the roof of his mouth. He mumbled something incomprehensible and ran off toward Hogwarts, his cronies only looking frightfully at Hermione who, just now, lowered her wand.

Her eyes stung from not blinking them. She was scared of what was going to happen but he deserved it. She would probably receive two weeks detention, three is Snape is informed.

'Hermione!' Harry shouted at once, pulling her closer to the wall as not to attract her to on-lookers. 'What were you thinking. He's going to tell Snape-'

'He wont be telling Snape anything. Until he gets his little problem fixed, and besides, that's what he gets for jinxing me two years ago.' She laughed nervously.

'Well, it really wasn't aimed for you but,' Harry said and Hermione gave him a look of disapproval and acceptance.

'It doesn't matter, it'll sure keep him quite in the mean time.' Hermione tucked her wand away in her robes and looked at Ron and then Harry. 'Ready to go? I suppose once I'm in the school McGonagall will be there waiting to give me detention.' She started up the path and sighed, 'I swear, you two are a bad example.'

lllllll

Hermione didn't get detention until that night when they finally unglued Malfoy's tongue from the roof of his mouth, which, by the way, sounded painful. It was McGonagall who gave her detention and McGonagall who heard he part of the story. McGonagall had indeed given Hermione a detention, but only to keep Snape happy, however, she also gave Malfoy a detention for using such foul language to another student.

Ron and Harry were quite pleased at how well she was taking her detention. Harry thought that she would be complaining about her grades and how this may look, but she was just pleased that for once, Malfoy didn't get away. She was displeased about the fact that she would be having detention with Malfoy though.

'When exactly is your detention again?' Ron asked. They were sitting around the fire in comfortable, squishy chairs talking about what Hermione's punishment may be.

'Thursday, in the Transfiguration classroom, I don't know if Malfoy will be there, hopefully not, but he may be. I'm not sure what they have arranged. No doubt, Snape fixed it so he got detention with him, making him clean the tables or something absurd like that.'

Hermione was drooped over her Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook. They were supposed to write an essay on turning the Undead.

'Only great wizards can turn the undead, and a high level Auror, well hell, what's the point in reading this. If we can't do what we're writing about why not give us something useful?' Hermione said snapping the book closed. 'Fire works too, but turning the undead kills them instantly, if you're high enough in your magic.' She said as a side-note to herself and then scratched it down on the parchment beside her.

Ron and Harry, however, weren't doing anything. They were supposed to be doing their essays too, but they had long given that up. They all had finished their potions homework and felt that it was enough for tonight. Hermione didn't, she lectured them on how they should get a head start on all of their homework and that they were just getting behind by not starting their essay.

All of her complaining about the essay and how it doesn't really concern them right now was actually getting her further then Ron and Harry.

'I never thought I would hear you saying anything bad about what we were learning.' Ron said, putting his feet upon the table and ruffling Hermione's parchment. She pushed his feet, slightly annoyed and he lifted them.

'Well honestly! We should be learning something useful. Like,' Hermione yawned. 'Banishing spells! I guess this is something we'll have to know eventually, but none-the-less…' Hermione didn't really remember what she was rambling on about; she was staring at the spot where Ron had put his feet earlier.

'I believe that it's time for bed. I wont be able to focus in class tomorrow if I don't get a good sleep. Neither will you two.' She said matter-of-factly, and then trotted off to the girls' dormitory.

'Hermione, Hermione, Hermione…' Lavender was sitting on her bed leaning over a book when Hermione entered.

'I really thought that you, of all people, would put up a fight.'

'What are you talking about now, Lavender?'

'Don't you know it's all she's been talking about?' Parvati exclaimed, apparently annoyed at the constant talk between her and Lavender.

'And what would that be?' Hermione asked uninterested while drawing the curtains around her four-poster so that she could change with some privacy.

'Well, you know, how you shoved Seamus away.' Parvati said at once and Lavender shot her a dirty glance.

'What I mean is, we never knew you to give up so easily.'

Hermione hastily pulled back the curtains of her bed and gave curious looks to the both of them. 'To whom?'

'To me!' Lavender said.

'Oh for Heaven sakes Lavender…how many times do I have to tell you,' Hermione walked menacingly towards her. 'I do not like Seamus, just as a friend, well until quite recently when he insulted me. So think you've won, but there was no prize in it.' Hermione stalked back to her four-poster and then lay down to sleep, listening to Lavender and Parvati's hushed words.

'I didn't lose anything. There was nothing to be won… and I do not give up easily.' Hermione thought to herself. 'I wasn't exactly betting anything upon Seamus either. Lavender can have him…I have-' Hermione sighed and closed her eyes trying not to think about Ron.

She knew that the terms that they were on now would only last for so long until they start arguing about one thing or another. It was on this trail of thoughts that Hermione finally fell asleep.

lllllll

Snape's classroom was starting to get quite cold now entering the colder weather. God forbid that he let there be more then a little bit of heat in his classroom. The only people who didn't mind the cold were Snape and Malfoy.

Harry had forgotten his textbook and had to rush to get it as to prevent himself from getting detention, however, he got one for being late. He really had to go to the bathroom, but didn't have time to go because of his forgetfulness. Hermione had told him to just hold it until class was over and Ron said close to the same thing.

Hermione really didn't have time to bother with Harry's complaints about his bladder; she was too busy writing down jot notes about the 726 known valuable substances that are used in healing potions, curse potions, are revealing potions. Hermione knew that she was going to have to write some sort of paper on it, so she was making her jot notes, more like paragraphs.

Ron, on the other hand was simply writing down one or two words, and Harry was writing barley anything.

'Ground Unicorn Horn, quite rare and hard to get, yet very useful in anti-poison because of it's-' Snape was walking up and down the aisle and then stopped beside Harry's raised hand. 'Is there something you'd like to share with the class, Mr. Potter?'

'No, sir, but I was wondering if I may go to the lavatory?' Snape sighed at Harry's request.

'No, you don't see me leaving the classroom to pay timely visits to the lavatory. You can go after, the class ends.'

'But professor-' he started but was once again interrupted but Snape.

'Perhaps you will think twice and come before class.' Snape continued his lecture as is he hadn't been interrupted. 'It is useful because, as some of you know Unicorns are the purest creatures on the face of this- what now Potter?' He said angrily as Harry had once again raised his hand high in the air, now lowering it as everyone started at him.

'Please sir, I really need to use the bathroom.'

'If. You. Must! But don't take a scenic route.' He turned his back on Harry, who jumped out of his seat and out of the dungeon.

Relieved Harry headed back to the dungeon but on his way he heard talking behind a corner. He instantly wished he had his invisibility cloak. He walked carefully to the corner and tried to see around it, however, he had no such luck.

'You sure it's all here…because last time, well, you remember' someone said darkly.

'I'm sure you'll be pleased, I'm sure everyone will be pleased…this time.' A second voice said. Harry tried looking around the corner as much as he could without being seen, but the duo was too far back.

'I don't want to be made a fool again.' The voice was stern, yet pleasant at the same time.

'Honestly, look for yourself now! It's all there!'

'Like I'm going to empty it right here, right now, you fool.' The feminine voice said sounding irritated.

'Yes, sorry. My apologies.' The second voice said.

'Leave me before your seen.' There was shifting of feet and Harry started to walk around the corner to see who the two people were but he only saw one, Professor Darling.

'Harry! I didn't know you were there. Should you not be in class?' she asked skeptically.

'I had better go…to class.' He was looking at the box she was holding and wondered what inside could be so important. Harry couldn't wait to tell Hermione, 'I told you so.' He walked passed her towards Snape's classroom, but she called out his name.

Harry could have easily pretended that he had not heard her and carried on but he unwillingly turned around to face her.

'I was just wondering why you were out of class?' She didn't look like she used too, she was very serious sounded and seemed to be advancing on him.

'I had to use the Lavatory. I have to go before Snape gives me double detention.' Harry said quickly and avoided her picking up his pace as he walked down the hall, not looking back.

Harry received double detention for taking a 'scenic route', which he didn't, he had just gotten delayed and he couldn't wait to tell Hermione and Ron. Luckily they had DADA next class so he could possible show them just want he had seen, or not seen for that matter.

'I'm telling you Hermione, she's up to something.' Harry said to Hermione and Ron as they left the dungeon. 'I wouldn't be surprised if she was working for Voldemort.'

'You actually think that Dumbledore would let a death eater into the school? And be incredible close to someone like me? We all know how much they fancy muggle borns.' Hermione said darkly.

'Hermione, it could be plot!' Harry exaggerated with his free arm.

'He's right, you know. It happened once before.'

'Five years ago, and it hasn't happened since.' Hermione deprecatingly stated as she relieved her burden of books on to a desk near the back of class, accompanied by Harry and Ron.

'Well, did you forget the time when I thought I was almost killed by-' Ron stopped in mid sentence and all went quite between them. Hermione stood with her mouth slightly opened, staring at Ron, who was starting at Harry. 'I-er Harry…' Ron was at a loss of words. Hermione couldn't believe that he had just said something like that about Harry's Godfather, who was now dead.

'It's alright Ron.' Harry said sadly and took his seat. He sat with his chin on his one hand staring blankly in the opposite direction of a worried Hermione and a miserable Ron. He had been starting out the window when his eye caught the box, half hidden under the curtain for the windows.

'He'll be okay' Hermione was whispering when Harry turned around and pointed towards the box.

'There, that's what she was holding; I'll bet there is something dark in there. She was saying that there should be everything in there and that she didn't want to be made a fool of again. My guess is that she didn't have all the ingredients to something and it didn't happen correctly.' Harry seemed hesitant to forget about the remark Ron had let slipped but decided it was best not to sulk in front of his friends.

'If it was dark then why would she-' Hermione lowered her voice as the teacher entered the room and waited for her to pass them. 'Then why would she have it sitting there where everyone can look at it? It's just a box.'

'Exactly what she wants you to think isn't it!'

'Could we pay attention?' Darling asked from the front and instantly Hermione, Harry and Ron raised their heads to look at her, startled.

'All right, today we are going to be looking at the structure of the undead and the reasoning behind why certain spells do and don't work. I hope that everyone is doing well on their papers?' she said and looked towards Hermione, who smiled brightly, sitting more rigidly in her chair, as if to gain more poise.

Harry had written more notes in this class then every before. He knew that he had to get a good mark on this essay, which he hadn't even started. At least, that's what he kept telling himself. In the back of his mind Harry knew that the real reason behind his large amount of note taking was because he wanted to keep his mind off the box in the corner. He found himself looking over there quite often however.

lllllll

Thursday came too soon for Harry and Hermione. She had her detention for jinxing Malfoy and he had his detention for being late.

On Sunday, Hermione wasn't angry about her detention, she was now because she said it interfered with her schoolwork and that she didn't feel like she deserved detention. He turned out ok didn't he?

Hermione spent her evening with McGonagall and Malfoy cleaning out the extra animal cages in the Transfiguration classroom. Where Harry spent all night with Snape cleaning off the potion and ingredient spills in the cupboards and desks.

Just before the detentions were over, Hermione was so close to jinxing Draco again that she actually had to put her wand on McGonagall's desk to refrain herself from doing so. She kept reminding herself of all the things she needed to do the following week to pass the time and realized that she was practicing lines with Ron tomorrow.

She had most of her lines memorized, except for Act v. She knew that Ron would barley have the first act done, but this was why they were practicing their lines, so that they could get better at their lines.

Interrupting her thoughts was McGonagall, who was saying that her detention was over and that the two of them should go bed. With that, Malfoy and Hermione quickly left.

'I'll get you for this mudblood.' He whispered scathingly as they headed for their house common rooms.

'I'd like to see you try.' Hermione flicked her hair knowingly as she turned and headed up the stairs while Malfoy headed down towards the dungeons.

llllllll

Snow started to fall lightly across the grounds; it wouldn't last very long, seeing as how it was the first snowfall. It was, none-the-less quite pleasing to see the beautiful white powder decorate the school grounds.

Hermione was sitting in the common room staring at the big white flakes fall pleasantly to the ground, looking confident as if they would never melt. She had managed to finish all her homework, and wasn't really hungry for a big dinner. She was too worried about the practice she was having with Ron, who was supposed to be there any minute.

Harry was slightly upset that he had to practice in the premature snow, but it was something that they had to do no matter what the weather was like. She could see them far away. The looked like black snow floating around the pitch.

Hermione spun around in the chair she was sitting in and saw Seamus, Lavender, Parvati, Dean and Ron entering though the portrait hole.

'Sorry I'm late…got caught up in a game of chess.'

'You're not late.' Hermione said at once, making him sit down on the couch across from her. He looked up at the clock, which read five past seven.

'All right,' Ron looked shocked that she wasn't mad or that she didn't agree with him that he was late. 'Where's Harry?' Hermione nodded her head towards the window and Ron saw the familiar flying specks off in the distance.

'Where shall we start? The beginning of my lines or your lines… I think we should start with your lines first.'

'We can start with your lines first…probably get done faster and then we can spend more time on my lines.' He said looking down at his paper and his lines, which he didn't have memorized.

'Well, I think that would be better, yes. I have most of my lines memorized.' She gave Ron a slight smile and he smiled back. They both found where Hermione's lines started and then she began reciting her lines off the top of her head while Ron said every other line before hers.

They had gotten to the part where Hermione was at a loss and needed her paper. Ron was amazed that she had almost the entire play memorized in about two months. It was half past eleven and during their session, Harry's Quidditch team came in and sat around the common room. After that it was quite loud that Hermione and Ron had to shout their lines at each other just so they could hear.

At about ten the room pretty much cleared out, with better things to do on a Friday night. Harry said a few lines before heading to bed and by eleven the common room was once again empty.

Ron had to admit, even though he wasn't doing his lines, he was having fun imitating everyone else in the play. The pair was being so over dramatic that Ron even did Romeo's death scene, actions and everything. He had fallen limp on the couch with the paper held limply in his hand, leaving Hermione to say her last few lines before she too, killed herself.

'Go, get thee hence, for I will not away.' Hermione said sadly and quite loudly. She knelt down beside the couch and picked up Ron's hand, who flinched, looking at it skeptically in front of her face. 'What's here? A cup, closed in my true love's hand?
Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end: O churl! Drunk all, and left no friendly drop
To help me after? I will kiss thy lips; Haply some poison yet doth hang on them, to make die with a restorative.' Hermione stopped talking and let his hand fall. Just as Ron opened his eyes, Hermione leaned in and kissed Ron, where it says to kiss Romeo in the script.

Ron let go of the paper and pulled back out of the light kiss, and Hermione opened her eyes in surprise.

'Sorry.' She said nervously, adverting his eyes. 'I didn't mean to- I just thought-' Hermione was at a loss for words for her actions. Ron still didn't say anything, just stared at her in surprise.

'Say something.' Hermione pleaded.

'I have to go to bed…early start tomorrow.' Ron rushed off towards the boys' dormitory, nearly knocking Harry as he did so.

'Ron-what's going on?' He looked down at Hermione who was almost in tears.

'What do you want Harry?' she asked shakily.

'I was going to the bathroom…are you all right Hermione?' Harry asked looking at Hermione's watery eyes.

'Fine.' She scooped up her papers and ran towards the girls' dormitory, leaving Harry standing puzzled at the top of the stairs.

llllllll

For the next week, up until the beginning of November Ron avoided Hermione and neither of them decided to enlighten Harry why they were acting so odd towards each other.

Harry tried to sort out what was going on between them and was trying desperately to help Hermione corner Ron so that she could talk to him. She had tried to tell Harry what had happened, but she felt that this was something that she needed to do herself.

Hermione and Harry were walking to their next class when they saw Ron, who slipped into the lavatory.

'Ron,' Hermione said with a temper, banging on the wooden lavatory door. 'Ronald Weasley, don't think I won't come in there!' she said and the door opened, however, some third year came out giving Hermione the dirtiest look. Hermione stuck her tongue out at the boy once he was down the hall.

'Go in there and make sure he's alone.' Hermione ordered but Harry just stood there. 'Now!'

'I'm not going in there until you tell me what's going on. I've been standing in the dark while you two avoid each other for the past two weeks now.'

'Harry please?'

'We're going to be late, just leave it.' Hermione gave one last look at the door and then sighed heavily, leaving with Harry.

llllllll

Okay there you go… please Review…seeing as how you've already read… uh yeah, don't be expecting another chapter as long as this…wow...15 pages…I'm lame…I've worked like, 40 something hours, managed to write a chapter and finish HBP, AND I GET TO SEE CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY TOMORROW! AFTER SHOPPING! I LOVE TO SHOP…. actually, I love shopping for CDs…and shoes…and cloths…I'm not a maniac shopper…no…

Anyway

Thanks for reading the chapter

Yours Truly

Sweet Roses