"I told you we should've looked in the library first!"

Hermione dimly recognised the distinctive voice of Harry

"No, I did, you wanted to wait in the common room" and sure enough the voice of Ron followed.

By now the pair we're close enough for Hermione and Harry to share a look.

"Fine Ron, if you say so"

They plonked themselves down at the table Hermione had been using while she attempted to discern the language of the book she had been given, Harry tried to see what she was reading, and Ron went straight into interrogation mode.

"Where were you yesterday? You wouldn't believe the kind of questions people have been asking... as if anyone would snog you!"

Hermione couldn't help but feel hurt by this, he made it sound as if she were repulsive. Her feeling were obviously reflected in her expression, for Harry immediately interjected

"Ah, what Ron meant was that we don't believe the rumours," Ron nodded at this

"But we would like to know where you were yesterday, it's a little hard to convince someone that the rumours are false, if we have to finish by saying that we don't actually know where you were, or what you were doing at the time..." he laughed nervously.

Hermione sighed. She didn't quite know what to tell her two friends. "Harry, Ron, I. Well, that is to say, I can't tell you where I was yesterday"

Harry looked hurt, Ron, angry.

"Since when do we keep secrets from each other? You have to tell us! People are making you out to be a scarlet woman," Hermione had to crack a smile at this, which was probably the wrong move, as it flared Ron's temper "It's not funny Hermione, I should think that you of all people would be concerned about this!"

He was right about that, and she was suddenly struck by just how blasé she was acting about the whole thing...

"Ron, that's not what I meant. I mean... I don't quite know how to tell you"

Harry leaned forward and placed his hand on hers 'Its alright Hermione, you can tell us anything, we're you're friends" he was gazing at her so earnestly, and she heard, herself very tactlessly blurting out "The thing is, I don't remember a single thing about yesterday... It's a complete blank"

She knew the minute she said it that it was a mistake. Harry looked troubled by the news, a faint furrowing of his brow was his only response. Ron however, flew off the handle

"What, what do you mean 'you don't remember anything'!" He leapt out of his seat, and it fell to the floor with an almighty crash. Madame Pince would be here any minute.

"It must have been a spell!"

To her amazement Harry nodded at this

"He's right Hermione, perhaps it was a spell that acts in the same manner as the date rape drug, victims of that quite often can't remember what happened to them..."

A look of confusion flickered briefly over Ron's face before disappearing, he was on a war path and nothing was to derail him from it.

"We should go to Dumbledore" Harry said.

That was the final straw "You're both being ridiculous! It's just a silly rumour, which will no doubt die out within a day!"

"Hermione," Harry said "Yes the rumour is bad, but that's not what I'm worried about, you say you don't remember yesterday- a whole day... we're living in dangerous times and you especially are a target"

She saw his line of thought "You, you think V," she took a deep breath "Voldemort has something to do with this?"

Harry looked gravely at her "What if he does?" he asked her softly, then vehemently said "I won't lose anyone else close to me to that bastard" she knew he was thinking of Sirius and his parents.

"Harry," she said softly "this is the first and only time its happened, and I doubt it will happen again, it's probably nothing"

Suddenly, Ron spoke up "Alright then, if its nothing, then why can't you remember?"

"I've been studying very hard, maybe... maybe I've been working myself too hard" and even to her own ears it sounded lame, they both looked at her incredulously.

She sighed "All right, if anything like this happens again I'll go to Dumbledore, but until, if ever, it happens, we just drop it o.k?"

Ron looked sullen, and Harry more than reluctant, but both nodded.

"Good" She picked her books and belongings up "Anyway, I'm off to do some fact finding" and with those words she left the two.

It never occurred to either boy that 'fact finding' generally takes place in the library. As for Hermione however, 'fact finding' meant asking Ernie Macmillan exactly what it was he saw the previous day. Surely when confronted with her actions, her memory would return.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey guys, I can't begin to express how sorry I am for the unbelievably long hiatus, I hope you will forgive me! I want to thank all of you for your wonderful reviews, they mean so much to me, and re-reading them the other day convinced me that I had to make time to finish this story (and who said feedback never achieved anything!).

I apologise if Ernie Macmillan seems OC- the HP books never gave me a strong enough impression of his character, so I'm not sure that I've captured him correctly…

Incidentally, for those of you who have read HBP, you will be aware that this fic is completely incompatible- I hope however that that won't make it completely indigestible!

Anyway, happy readings and please review!

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Many hurtful things had been said about Hermione Granger.

Insufferable. Know-it-all. Bookworm. Mudblood. Goody-goody. Uptight. Control Freak.

Insults ricocheted around her mind, some almost forgotten, others still fresh and painful. But whatever had been said, as hurtful as the insults could be, Hermione acknowledged that they did contain a certain degree of undeniable truth.

She was a control freak. She was a know-it-all. And, as tasteless and vulgar as the language may be, she was a mudblood (or muggleborn as she preferred to think of it).

She could forgive those insults, could ignore them.

There was however, one thing that Hermione deemed untouchable- her reputation. Whatever could be said about her personality or her classroom habits, it was her opinion that her conduct was unblemished and irreproachable. Now Ernie Macmillan had called that reputation into question- it was not to be borne.

Hermione walked away from the library with purpose. She would find Macmillan and make him confess his callous lie to the school. He would break-down under her fury and admit that it had all be slander.

But what if he was telling the truth? A tiny voice questioned in the back of her mind.

"Nonsense, I would never behave in such a manner" Hermione declared, earning a few questioning glances from other students who were also walking the corridors.

But how can you be so sure? You don't remember anything that happened yesterday. The little voice persisted. Hermione scowled. She hated it when there were flaws in her logic- that seemed to be happening a lot lately.

Hermione was hit by a blast of freezing air, bringing her back to the reality of her surroundings. She had walked outside, and she was freezing.

I need to calm down. Anger clouds the mind and prevents focus. I need to think. Where would Ernie be?

She glanced at her watch. It was nearly dinner time. Hufflepuffs usually arrive early for the feast- perhaps she would find him there.

Re-entering the castle, she was enveloped in warmth. Resolutely Hermione set a course for the Great Hall. Her strides were purposeful, but she forced herself to walk at a calm and leisurely pace.

Entering the Great Hall, Hermione almost sighed aloud with relief. Ernie Macmillan was there, talking earnestly with Hannah Abott and Justin Finch-Fletchley. As if he felt her gaze, Ernie turned to look at her, abruptly ending his conversation. He said something to them, then stood up and walked towards Hermione. The two Hufflepuffs remained seated, but gazed at Hermione with open curiosity.

'Granger' Ernie said by way of greeting. 'I think I know why you're here'

Despite herself, Hermione felt her ire rise. He was acting guilty; obviously he had lied and was now ashamed.

'I'm sorry for what I did' he began 'I've been feeling retched all day'

Aha. It was exactly as she had expected. She knew she would nev- her line of though froze midsentence. Ernie was still talking

'You're a good egg, but I mean, we all know you need to loosen up, and the one time you decide to live a little, I go and blab to everyone. It really isn't any of my business if you decide to kiss someone. I mean, I should've just kept out of it- I know that now and I just wanted to say that I'm sorry' He looked at her earnestly.

Hermione felt her stomach drop. 'Do you mean to tell me that you actually stand by your ludicrous claim that you saw me kissing someone?'

Ernie looked confused. 'ludicrous? I did see you.'

He wasn't lying- he wasn't a talented enough actor to pretend to be so honestly confused. The best she could hope for was that he had been mistaken.

'Perhaps it was someone else you saw,' Hermione put forward tentatively. 'and you simply mistook them for me'

Ernie stared at her. 'I don't see why you're denying it to me- to others I could perhaps comprehend, but you and I both know what I saw.' He lifted his chin and pronounced with determination 'It was you I saw. Not someone else. You even spoke to me- bid me good night you did.'

Hermione felt sick. He spoke with such conviction that he couldn't be lying. But still she could remember nothing. She couldn't possibly have behaved in such a manner-it was completely out of character. He simply must be lying, there was no other answer.

'For goodness sake Ernie' she spoke with force, 'This is a reprehensible prank to be played and if you don't desist in… pandering about these completely unfounded accusations I will simply report you to your head of house, where you will face serious consequences for your actions.'

'Unfounded accusations! Bloody hell Granger, where do you get off? Go ahead, report me to my head of house- I'll ask them to give me veritaserum or perform legilimency or anything Professor Sprout wants- I have nothing to hide, I'm telling the truth' he glared at her.

'I admit I acted like a right git telling everyone- I admit it. I can be a git. But I'm not a liar and for you to call me one, when you know perfectly well that I'm telling the truth… well, it's a right bloody snaky thing to do'. He looked at her reproachfully then stormed back to the Hufflepuff table.

By now the majority of the student body had begun filtering into the Great Hall, but Hermione heard nothing, saw nothing. Something Ernie had said trigger a recollection. One word: Snaky.

…Snaky, snaky… snake.

…burning blue eyes, scorching lips, drowning...

Ernie had been telling the truth.

Viperidae, Viperinae, Crotalinae…

Slytherin

Oh god, it had something to do with Slytherin.