No more books could be checked out of the main library on the subject. Harry had all of them. Okay, that just means that tomorrow I will have to get a teacher's signature to go into the restricted section, no problem. He knew it would be a problem though. No teacher would willingly give him permission if they knew what he was up too. Too bad Lockhart was gone…
Hermione was not in the library. She was sitting at the desk in the common room finishing her essay when Harry and Ron returned.
"Oh, there you are Hermione," said Harry distantly. "I'm going up to read for a bit…" he trailed off as he turned towards the stairs.
"What? He – Hermione! We have been looking all over for you! We checked the library then the dining hall, and Hagrid's, and then we came back and you weren't here so we went back to the library! Where've you been? And why did Harry go upstairs? He was with me, why isn't he mad at you? What did he have to go read, and WHERE WERE YOU?
Hermione looked up from her scroll. "Ron, you don't have to be so dramatic! You're not my mum; I don't need to tell you every place I go! Harry can do what he wants, and I need to finish this essay, so leave me alone! Speaking of the essay, you need to do yours too!" For a second the room was silent. Ron didn't know what to say.
"Sorry if it bothers you that I wanted to make sure you hadn't been kidnapped; I won't bother looking for you the next time you're gone all afternoon! Oh, and by the way, I've already finished my essay." Ron turned away from her and headed towards the stairs. He was halfway there when he remembered that Harry would be reading, and he didn't really want to go to sleep just yet. Instead he threw open the portrait of the fat lady, hoping to sneak into the kitchens for some cake.
He didn't understand what had gotten into Harry and Hermione. Harry was always studying and Hermione was always out. It was completely out of character. Harry had even seemed distracted at Quidditch the other day, missing four snitches in a row and ending early. Ron had even noticed a paper that Hermione got back that was only six out of ten in charms the other day. Ron walked down the corridors to the underground kitchens deep in thought about his two best friends.
"Oh, hey Ron." It was Lavender. Ron looked at her apprehensively. What kind of mood was she in today? He couldn't remember if they were together or not. She was coming out of the prefect bathroom. Lavender wasn't a prefect, but since she was friend's with Ginny she knew the password and used it frequently. She came up to Ron and snaked her arm around his back.
"Where are you going?" Lavender asked coyly. I guess we're not mad at each other, thought Ron, optimistically.
"Kitchens. You want to come?" He didn't really care if she came or not, but he supposed it would be in the best interest of their relationship to ask.
"Sure, I'm kind of hungry," Ron put his arm across Lavender's back and they walked towards the kitchens.