Paved with good intentions.
The occupants of the Gryffindor common room looked up in surprise as the portrait door burst open and several people rushed in.
"That was the single worst thing I have ever seen."
"Oh come on Ron it couldn't have been that bad."
Ron whirled around at Harry. "You think so? You didn't see it all, next time we walk in on them I hope you're the one that has to see Neville's pasty white arse bouncing up and down."
"No thanks mate it was bad enough hearing them."
Seamus's brogue broke into the heated discussion "What I want to know is why did I think I heard Luna humming Weasley is our King right as we got the bloody hell out of there."
Ron went completely pale "Don't even joke about that you prat."
"I'm not joking; I swear on my grand mum's grave I think I heard it."
This was all it took to send Harry right over the edge into hysterical laughter.
Ron turned and glared at him "Keep it up and you'll be the boy who didn't live long enough to get out of school."
Harry tried to reply but one look at Ron's expression and he went right back into gales of laughter. Soon Seamus had joined him in a damn fine laugh at Ron's expense.
Ron walked past the both of them and flopped down of the couch.
"Having a bad day love?"
Ron smiled at Hermione "You have no idea, it started badly in Transfiguration and just went down hill from there. Speaking of which can you help me with my Transfiguration after dinner tonight?"
Hermione shook her head "I'm sorry Ron but Harry and I have to do some more research."
"Ok how about tomorrow night then?"
Hermione frowned and shook her head again "We will still be researching tomorrow I'm afraid."
Ron looked at her for a long moment "Ok I'll see if I can't figure it out then. I'm going to take a shower before dinner then. I'll see you guys in a bit."
As soon as Ron had gone up the stairs Ginny moved from her chair to sit beside Hermione "Hermione have you suddenly gone stupid?"
"What are you talking about Ginny?" Hermione replied defensively.
"I'm talking about you ignoring my brother. Since we've gotten back from the holidays you can't seem to make time for him."
"Well Ginny I'm very busy working with Harry and keeping my grades up. Not to mention my prefect duties. I just haven't had the time to wa …I mean spend on non-school related issues."
Ginny's face hardened into a mask "If you think that spending time with my brother is a waste you aren't the person I thought you were. I know how important your school work is too you Hermione but if you aren't careful you are going to end up the smartest heartbroken girl in school."
Hermione sighed "You know I don't think spending time with Ron is a waste. I'm just under a lot of pressure and I think you are blowing the whole thing a bit out of proportion."
"I may be Hermione but if I'm right it won't be my boyfriend that's going out with someone else. People have already noticed that you guys are only together during meals and classes lately."
"Ginny you know how gossip gets around here."
"If you don't believe me go ask Lavender, she heard several of the Hufflepuff's talking about how it was only a matter of time before Ron got tired of being ignored."
"I think you aren't giving Ron enough credit, sure the last two or three weeks I have barely seen him but he knows when I have finished with this project I will have a lot more time."
"Ok Hermione I've done my part as a friend if you don't want to listen then it's your decision."
At that point Ron came downstairs "You guys ready to go to dinner?"
The other three nodded and they headed down to the Great Hall. Harry, Ron and Ginny started talking about England's chances in their next Quidditch game while Hermione seemed lost in thought. They arrived just as dinner was starting and for once everyone seemed to be as hungry as Ron so conversation was at a minimum for a while.
When everyone had sated their hunger the conversation turned to their Defense against the Dark Arts classes and how much they all like Professor Leonidas.
"I still can't believe the two of you blew a hole in the wall of his class during your duel."
"Don't blame me" Harry laughed "that was all Ron."
"The best part was the rubble landed on Zacharias Smith." Ron chuckled.
"Ron that's not very nice." Hermione huffed.
"Oh come on 'Mione that guy was a great git all year during the DA meetings."
"Still, he had to go to the hospital wing."
"He should have gotten out of the way, Harry did."
Both Harry and Ginny laughed receiving a frown from Hermione.
"One of these days though Harry I'm going to beat you in our Friday duels."
"In your dreams Weasley." Harry teased.
Everyone at the table laughed and Ron had opened his mouth for a retort when another voice interrupted them.
"Getting tired of coming in second place to St. Potter yet Weasley?"
Everyone at the Gryffindor table turned to look at the thoroughly unwelcome face of Draco Malfoy.
"Malfoy don't you have some other people to make unhappy?" Ginny smirked.
Maloy smirked back but ignored her "So the rumor around school is that Granger dumped you for Scarhead."
"Only you would be idiot enough to believe that Malfoy." Hermione retorted.
'Well I guess you will know soon enough eh Weasley? After all it is snog night."
The sixth years had taken to calling Friday night snog night as it had become quite popular for students to try and blow off a bit of steam built up from the previous week's classes.
With that Malfoy turned to leave "Well enjoy yourself Weasly." Malfoy said over his shoulder as he strolled away.
Everyone was silent for a few minutes then Hermione spoke up. "Ron I'm sorry but Harry and I have to go get started."
"Yeah I know, I'm going to stay here a bit more and then try and get some work done. I have to go work on my special project tomorrow."
They had started referring to their work for their Orders as their special projects. I was a way they could tell basically what they were doing without betraying their Orders rules.
Harry and Hermione got up and started out of the Great Hall. As they left they heard Malfoy's voice carry out over the Hall. "Better luck next time Weasley."
Ron had just ignored it, if he flattened Malfoy Hermione would just get mad and it would make it look like he believed the stupid rumors as well.
"Well Ginny I don't suppose you could help me with Transfiguration?"
"Sorry brother of mine but I am barely keeping my head above water in Transfiguration as it is. No to mention you are a year ahead of me."
Ron nodded and was about to get up when a voice to his left spoke up.
"If you really need help I could give you some help tomorrow night."
Ron turned to look at the speaker, who was a very small girl with blond hair that he didn't seem to recognize.
"Well I could sure use the help, do I know you?"
The girl laughed "Well we have been in the same classes for almost six years now but I guess you mostly stick to Gryffindor's don't you?"
It was only then that Ron noticed she was wearing the green and silver robes of Slytherin House. "No offense but why would you want to help me?"
"Well I was coming over here to tell you to ignore Malfoy. He is normally a great big prat but lately he has been an enormous pain in the arse. That's when I heard you talking about Transfiguration and I thought talk is cheap but helping would show I meant it. If you would rather not learn from a Slytherin I can deal with that."
"Are you in my Transfiguration class?"
"Yes and have been for years."
"How can I not have known you?"
'Well most Gryffindor's only pay attention to the Slytherins who cause them problems. The rest of us are just sort of a nameless, faceless evil." The sting of the words was softened a great bit by the smile she gave him.
Ron laughed in spite of himself, she had a wicked sense of humor no matter what house she was in. "Ok it's a deal, by the way I'm Ron Weasley."
"I know who you are, everybody in Hogwarts does." she smirked.
Ron looked embarrassed for a moment "Well I'm sorry to say I don't know your name."
She laughed out loud once again "The names Daphne Greengrass, pleased to meet you." she stuck her hand out and Ron shook it.
"Now that we have that out of the way would you like to meet me here tomorrow and we can go practice in the Transfiguration classroom?"
"Sounds like a plan to me. I take it you are good at Transfiguration?"
"Well I'm no Hermione Granger but I got O's in it and I would be tops in it if it weren't for the brilliant Miss Granger."
Ron laughed "Yeah she has a way off staying on top of things."
Daphne gave him a very pointed look "Oh does she?"
Ron felt his face go very red and he blurted "..ummm I err….thats not what I meant."
Daphne grabbed both of her side as she almost fell over laughing. Ron could her Ginny howling from her seat just across from him.
"I know what you meant Weasley, so I'll see you here tomorrow then?"
"Right well until then Greengrass have a good night."
She turned over her shoulder "I will if I can find a good snog in this place."