Disclaimer: I do not own anything such as characters of Harry Potter these and everything else being the property of J.K Rowling.

"Hermioneeee" whined Ron annoyingly. The girl grimaced speeding up her pace hoping she might be able to tire him out. But the tall red head could match her strides effortlessly. "Come on, you can't keep a secret from us, we're your best friends. Right Harry?"

The green eyed wizard smiled "That's right" he affirmed amused at the irritated sigh that escaped the witches lips.

"Listen there is no secret, so there's nothing to tell Ron" she said exasperated.

"You are such a bloody liar, and you're the one always on about honesty and all that between friends," Ron complained.

Harry joined in "Come on Herms its been five days whatever Dumbledore told you couldn't of just been something to do with being a mentor for troubled students, even I know that's a lie, we were told that at the start of the year." Hermione lifted her chin defiantly, her arms wrapped around her books in a death grip trying to outdistance them again. Although she knew it was a waste of time.

"Yeah Hermione you haven't been yourself for the past week" Ron piped in.

She sighed, slightly relieved as she turned into their potions class 'finally now at least they have to shut up.' The two boys groaned as they realised she got out of answering yet again. She picked a set of desks near the centre of the room sitting down, smiling slightly as she saw Ron slump down next to her dejectedly.

"Cheer up Ron, Hermione will have to tell us eventually" Harry said grinning as she rolled her eyes. Ron seemed to perk up at his words and leant half onto her desk trying to put a pleading expression onto his face. Before Hermione could tell him in one way or another to shove off an arrogant voice interrupted her train of thought.

"Oh look who it is, Potter Weasel and Mudblood"

She stiffened a feeling of dread washing over her 'Oh why, was someone already trying to make her life more miserable'. Looking up she was met with no other than Draco Malfoy himself, with his loyal bodyguards Crabbe and Goyle beside him. Ron straightened instantly a scowl set in place, while even Harry who tended to remain calm showed his distaste ever slightly with the small frown that appeared between his brows.

"What do you want Malfoy" Ron spat glaring up at the blonde Slytherin.

The boy snorted, "Obviously nothing that you'd be able to give me Weaslby, your families the biggest stain on the pureblood name even a lowly muggle could give me more." he taunted mockingly.

Hermione winced at the words 'oh just wonderful, Ron had always been touchy about his family's money situation, and Malfoy just managed to shove it in his face every chance he got.' She looked over at Ron watching in apprehension as the blood begun to flood his face in a mixture of embarrassment and rage. Normally in such a situation she'd tell the little white brat where he could go, but now… she had no idea what she should do. The chair scrapped the stoned floor as Ron got to his feet, his fists balled enraged. 'Merlin' she inwardly groaned.

"It's better than getting money from being a kiss up to You Know Who." he snarled furious. Everything went dead quiet at the words every ear in the room tuned to the accusation.

"Ron!" Harry hissed alarmed tugging his friends cloak to encourage him to sit, Ron was going to be in deep if he didn't shut up.

Unfazed Draco smirked slowly leaning forward so his face was within ten centimetres of the teen. "Prove it" he hissed his voice challenging him to try. Unable to come up with anything, Ron stood there glowering at him. Malfoy straightened, smirk firmly in place "Thought so, next time you try to accuse people of something make sure its true, follow my example for once." He ended disdainfully.

Ron's mouth dropped in outrage at the underlying jibe, "Y..you.." he spluttered,

Malfoy snickered at his loss for words. 'Pathetic' he mouthed to Crabbe and Goyle. Hermione realised at that moment Malfoy had gone too far, Harry had come to the same conclusion and he jumped up just in time to restrain Ron as he lunged over the desk for the pureblood, the two tumbling over the top to lay in a struggling heap at the Slytherin's feet. Draco raised a brow amused,

Still furious Ron fought with Harry to get up, making the pair look like a squabbling set of three year olds. Hermione huffed angrily "Harry Ron stop it NOW!" she yelled angrily. The two stopped their wrestling startled, to look up at the annoyed witch glaring down at them. Harry sheepishly stood up his hair tousled from the fray, lending a hand to tug Ron to his feet.

Malfoy sneered, "Leave it up to some ugly low class mud blood to get you in line."

Hermione froze, 'That little bastard, how dare he after her and Harry probably stopped him from getting a black eye, and who knows what else Ron could've done.' Her temper boiled and she opened her mouth to spew forth the insults he deserved, and then stopped clamping her mouth shut. 'Bloody hell, she couldn't even insult the prat.'

"Hurry up Harry, Ron, before Snape arrives." She managed to grate out. The guys eyes widened in disbelief while the only look that registered on Draco's face was a flicker of surprise before quickly being wiped away.

"And what do we have here?" A voice questioned coldly.

'Crap,' was all she could think.

"Oh Potter and Weasley were having a wrestling match of some sort, we just came over here to tell them to get over themselves. I mean honestly who acts like that in a potions room" intercepted Malfoy charmingly, before she had a chance to make up something.

'He was so going to pay.'

"Thankyou Mr Malfoy," Snape replied, his dark eyes glaring at the two boys in disapprovement. "Disgraceful Mr Potter, 50 points from Gryffindor"

Ron spluttered "But.."

"10 more points." He added causing Ron to shut his mouth. "Now everyone to your desks now and open your books to page 143, writing out a 9 inch parchment on the 5 rarest plants found in the Forbidden forest." He continued addressing the class.

Malfoy sent a gleeful grin over his shoulder at the trio, and Hermione glared back. Her mind wondering hopelessly, 'how is this ever going to work?'

A bushy haired girl slowly made her way up the stone corridor, hefting a worn shoulder bag occasionally to relieve some of the weight of the large collection of text books she carried. The day had been long and tiresome and Hermione Granger just couldn't wait to get to her common room and drop into bed after a light bit of studying. The stress of worrying about Malfoy and having her two best friends pestering her all day had taken its toll on the teenager and her head thumped reminding her yet again of the prophesy. 'I don't know why the girl had to be me, I bet who ever created the stupid thing thinks it's a marvellous joke.' she grumbled inwardly. Stopping at the portrait she gave the password so she could pass. Today would have to be the most stressful she'd had this week and she didn't even want to think of how tomorrow would go. 'I can only keep Harry and Ron in the dark for so long.'

Stepping through she gave a soft sigh, just being in the room seemed to relax her, the fire light licking across the walls of the common room. Tired she dumped her bag next to the doorway 'I can get it in the morning' she thought carelessly, on a normal day such a thought wouldn't even register but today definitely had not been normal and a little laziness could be allowed. Stretching she walked over to the couches a small smile turning her lips as she came across her familiar Crookshanks curled up on the cushion of one of the velvety seats. Sensing her presence the orange cat woke pushing its front paws out to claw its resting place before arching for some attention. Dutifully Hermione stroked the feline wondering absently where Harry was, it was 11:00 at night and the last year's curfew was in place by now. 'Knowing Harry he's out with his invisibility cloak,' she shrugged 'oh well as long as Filch doesn't catch him.' Not that she minded he was out truth be told she'd been trying to avoid him and Ron most of the day. She grimaced not that she'd been very successful. She glanced at Harry's bedroom door the dead give away that he was out. He always kept his door open a sort of reassurance she guessed after all those years of being locked in closets and rooms it made him feel safer to have it open. She walked over to the closed door opening it quietly to double check. 'Nope he's out, just like I thought.' Shrugging she turned pulling out her hair as she headed to her bedroom. 'Maybe I should skip the study, my head is hurting so bad I'll hardly be able to concentrate.' She placed her hand on the knob 'Then again, doing a little Herbology might relax me a little bit.' With a soft push she opened her door, taking three steps in her eyes widened, gasping in surprise. "Ron? Harry? What are you… I mean." She stammered startled totally unprepared for what met her eyes. Her two best friends were sitting on her large bed with the most determined expressions on their faces. Ron crossed his arms while Harry lifted his hand to give a quick wave of his wand. And she spun around as her bedroom door slammed shut and locked. She looked back at the pair in disbelief.

"We need to talk," Her dark haired friend said coolly, causing her insides to grow cold.

'This can't be good.' she thought weakly.

"Ok…" she mumbled nervously. "But I don't see why you two have to lock me in my room, I mean come on." She added a little sullen.

Ron threw up his hands "I told you Harry, didn't I? Just ask to talk to her and she gets grumpy, bloody brilliant isn't it?

"Well how do you expect me to act," she snapped. "You've locked me in my own bedroom in the middle of the night to do what talk? How happy do you think I am?"

Her eyes flashed in annoyance, causing a frustrated sigh to escape Harry. "What do you expect us to do Mione, you barely have talked to us in the past week, I just had to walk into the room and you'd take off running in the other direction."

"Same here," Ron complained bitterly, "It's as if we have some deadly disease or something."

Hermione felt a wave of guilt sweep over her. "Well I erm…" She started before having to stop at a loss at what she should say. It wasn't as if she was meaning to hurt or neglect her friends. She was just scared of telling them everything to do with the prophesy and Malfoy in particular. "I…well its nothing to do with you guys I just needed some time to myself this week no big thing you know. Girls do that sometimes."

Harry's eyes narrowed while Ron could only look indignant, "We weren't born yesterday Hermione, you expect us to believe that shit." Harry said a hint of anger in his voice.

"It's true." She responded hurriedly "You know girls are like that."

"Not our girl, our Hermione" Ron said stressing the 'our' in each part, his eyes locked on her to see her response.

She licked her dry lips nervously, every part of her brain screaming for her to get out the room. Although she knew it was very unlikely she'd be able to get away this time. 'Merlin I'm not up to this.' she thought pained, her headache had now increased to near unbearable and she had the feeling she wasn't going to get to rest for a while, by the way her two friends were watching her. She closed her eyes in defeat she was going to have to tell them something maybe with luck they wouldn't get too close to the truth. If only she wasn't such a bad liar. Straightening she forced herself to meet their searching looks. "What do you want to know?" She asked unable to stop her voice shuddering a little at asking such a question.

Harry's answer shot back with no hesitation. "What really happened when Dumbledore asked to see you?" Her lips parted, and he raised a hand in silence. "And don't even think about giving me that crap about troubled students ok we're not in the mood."

Hermione bit her lip staring at a far wall, 'Well this is going well' she thought sarcastically "Harry always has had a talent to get straight to the point.'

"Ok. The truth is…"

'Do I lie?' She thought uncertain. She saw the anticipation in her friend's eyes causing her to grow even more anxious. "The truth is Professor Dumbledore, wanted to see me about something rather personal and I didn't really want to share it with you guys." She said in a rush. The boys eyes widened in hurt and she winced 'that definitely came out wrong.'

"I see." Harry said quietly.

Ron was devastated "Too personal for even us Hermione?" He queried. "Don't you trust us?"

"Of course I do." She responded earnestly. "It's just…" She looked around floundering for answers. "I… um… feel it's rather embarrassing, you know." She ended her cheeks turning a nice shade of pale pink.

Harry's emerald eyes studied her quizzically "You mean you're too embarrassed to tell us?" He asked surprised. Hermione nodded. He smiled, "But we wouldn't laugh Herms truly, you're like my sister, you can tell me and Ron anything, you know that."

"Yeah that's right Hermione, you can trust us." Ron said backing Harry up.

The girl fidgeted under their gaze before groaning. "Fine you win I'll tell you ok, but you're not going to like it."

Ron released a whoop and Harry grinned "Way to go Hermione." he said as he stood giving her a hug. "Come on, sit down k, we're all ears." Reluctantly she sat between her two best friends her eyes locked onto her lap so she didn't have to see their expressions when she told them.

"Ok the real reason Dumbledore wanted to see me was concerning a prophesy."

"A prophesy? That's great isn't it, the headmaster wanted your opinion on it did he? Or to help in some way." Harry said pleased.

She grimaced "Well you're sort of right but the thing is that I'm in the prophesy.

She felt them both start "You!" they said as one.

"Yes me" she grumbled.

"Well that's a surprise." Harry mumbled.

"What are you meant to do in it Herms?" Ron asked curious.

She dropped her head in her hands allowing her hair to cover her face. "Do I have to tell?" Came the muffled moan "It's horrible."

"It can't be that bad" Harry comforted.

"Oh it is don't worry about that." she complained.

"Do you have to kill someone or something?" Ron asked.

"No."

"Hurt someone, break a rule, stop school for a while?" Harry continued.

"No, no ,no."

"Come on Hermione, tell us pleeease." Ron wined. She sighed,

"Fine," she muttered from behind her hands. "I have to make someone fall in love with me ok." There was dead silence. The two guys looked at each other in disbelief.

After some time Ron broke the silence "Are you serious or is this some form of a muggle joke."

"Of course not," Hermione exploded from her position, still not ready to look up just yet.

"Um… Ok.." Harry said weakly. "Ah… can you tell us who it is."

"I'd prefer not" she huffed.

Harry rubbed her back softly. "Hey it's alright, he can't be that bad."

Ron laughed "Yeah it's not like its Malfoy or something." he joked. She inwardly groaned, but stayed quiet.

"Hey spill, tell us who's the lucky guy." Harry teased.

She winced. "I can't do this. I'm sorry" she apologised. She got to her feet quickly only to be pulled back down by two pairs of arms. Both her friend's faces showing concern.

"You're going no where, Mione." Harry said softly.

"Yeah, we'll know eventually anyway." Ron added.

"Alright it's Malfoy, you happy now, it's fucking slimy Malfoy." She hissed angrily. The boys had gone rigid, Ron mouth looking like it was going to hit the floor.

"Merlin just get out," she spat frustrated. Her head felt like it was in a vice and having two shell shocked guys in her room wasn't helping. Harry managed to shake himself out of it a little.

"Don't you want to talk…I… um…are you sure it was Malfoy?" he asked feebly. Hermione's eyes narrowed.

"That's it I've had enough, just get out, it's the ferret. My worst nightmare come true ok."

"But…"

"NOW," she snarled.

Harry stepped away from her bed in apprehension. "Ok, but we need to talk soon."

"Harry." she warned.

"Ok, Ok" he mumbled, "come on Ron." He ordered yanking the motionless teenager to his feet as they managed to exit the room. "Goodnight." Harry said softly before closing the door. Hermione sighed in relief dropping back onto the bed. They were gone and now she was definitely getting some well deserved sleep.

A/N: Well decided to put out my next chapter and may I say a very heart felt thank you to my first ever three reviewers. Riley Black, hyperblushfairy and sexy she-devil. Your reviews meant a lot to me I've been writing for years but this is the first time I decided to ever put out one of my stories. So thanks again lol you're my first reviewers ever!

Well please review, it's the only way I can improve also its gives me a good idea if people are enjoying my fic, which makes writing much more worthwhile.