Alright! I know that the whole "there's a ball" thing have been used too often, but I couldn't help it. It was so then I can put Zacharias Smith in the story... ha...

Anyways, here's the next chapter! It's a bit crudely done, I know, but the chapter after this will reveal who the writer of those nasty Zabini-Granger Times. Unfortunately, it's not Cho Chang. It's someone else, who in my point of view, have shiny hair as well.

Suddenly, Dumbledore stepped forward, and said, 'I have a very important notice to make.'

Every face in the hall faced him.

'In a month's time, we are going to have a week off studying! However, fifth and seventh years are recommended not to attend and study instead…'

'Well, we're not taking that suggestion…' Blaise muttered.

'Blaise, you need to study if you're gonna get your OWLs!' Hermione said.

'Are you gonna study and let this opportunity pass?'

Hermione flushed, and mumbled, 'No… But I will make it up by studying double the next week.'

'What if you forgot?'

They spent the next few moments arguing, until Dumbledore finally said, 'The list of the schedule for the Free Week is on your Common Room's notice board.'

Blaise, for some reason Hermione could not fathom, was in the Gryffindor Common Room, looking over her shoulder at the schedule.

'Monday… Do whatever you like for the whole day… Tuesday… Prefects have to attend a meeting… Normal people get to do what they want again… Wednesday… Plays performance? Romeo and Juliet as a finale… Man, Snape was serious, then… Thursday, House Relationship Programs… all MUST attend! And Friday, a… what?'

'What? Let me see…' Hermione said. 'A BALL? AGAIN!'

'Hey, Granger, check this out, staff members aren't allowed to take students, and vice versa, poor Viktor,' Blaise whispered, then grinned. 'Plus, it's almost the same as the Yule Ball, there's nothing to be worked up about. There won't be ickle first-years in the way, then.'

'But I can't wear the same dress robes… That'll be too boring…'

'I'll buy you one, then,' Blaise said absent-mindedly.

'What?' Hermione said. 'What did you say?'

'Never you mind…'

'No, I heard you the first time. Why?'

'Eh… I don't know, I said it subconsciously…' Blaise crazily made up. 'I was probably possessed!'

'Ha ha, Zabini, it's NOT funny, now tell me why,' Hermione pushed.

'I… well… Mother said that I should be nice to lowly people…'

Hermione ran out of the common room, scoffing.

'What did I do wrong now? Why is it always me?' Blaise said to no one in particular. Then Theo dragged him into the Gryffindor boys dormitory.

'There's no one here,' Blaise pointed out.

'Wrong, there's Seamus! And we're going to point out the things you did wrong!'

Seamus shivered, but smiled nervously. 'Well, firstly, you referred to her as a "lowly person", and that's a big no-no to say to girls.'

'I don't remember doing that. I only offered to buy her some dress robes,' Blaise said.

'WRONG AGAIN! You said, "Mother said that I should be nice to lowly people", which is once more, WRONG! WRONG!' Theodore shouted out.

'Secondly, I think she would've liked it if you said you want to buy her dress robes not subconsciously. Don't tell her it's because you're crazed out, either,' Seamus said, gaining confidence.

'Plus, I'd like to point out, you should treat your girlfriend better than that,' Theodore commented.

'She's not my… erm… I mean, what I'm saying is… uh… Our relationship's not going very well lately,' Blaise made up.

'Hermione! Why did you run out of the common room?' Parvati said, chasing her up.

'Well, it was that stupid, worthless jerk's idea of charity, calling me a "lowly person"!' Hermione scoffed.

'Well… guys make mistakes…What else did your boyfriend say to you, anyway?' Parvati asked.

'He's not my… erm… I mean, what I'm saying is… uh… Our relationship's not going very well lately,' Hermione commented.

The next day, everyone was ignoring Hermione, for some reason she was unaware of.

It was too bad that she woke up late.

'Harry, what's going on?' Hermione asked the only Gryffindor (apart from Lavender) who would talk to her.

'Uh… well… looks like whoever's writing these articles are gonna be the next Rita Skeeter…' he said, and passed a copy of the Zabini-Granger Times.

'Again?' Hermione asked. Harry nodded.

'It just gets worse…' he commented.

Hermione scanned through the part of the article underlined by Harry, and then she finally understood why everyone seemed angry with her.

THE ZABINI-GRANGER TIMES

IS SHE A TWO-TIMER?

It is suspected that Hermione Granger has formed an intimate relationship with a new member of the staff, Viktor Krum, Seeker of the Bulgarian Quidditch Team, right under Blaise's nose. Trusty sources have informed us that Viktor went with the couple to Hogsmeade, on Hermione's request.

While we couldn't really blame her for being tempted, as Viktor is older and famous, and no doubt rich, we find her behaviour disgusting, as we believe that couples should stay faithful together. We just hope that Blaise would see through Hermione's so-called "perfect" demeanor.

'What rubbish is this? When was this published?' Hermione said, trying to keep her voice calm.

'This morning, and everyone I know is well-informed of this,' Harry replied.

Hermione stared at him. 'Does Bla- er, Zabini know about this?'

'Well, speak of the devil,' Harry commented, as both Blaise and Malfoy entered the Gryffindor Common Room.

'Still with the red-and-gold look, Malfoy?' an anonymous Gryffindor called out.

'Disgusting,' Malfoy muttered. 'I never imagined that there'd be a day when I'd step into the Gryffindor area...'

Ignoring the Gryffindor (and a few Slytherin) stares, the two Slytherin boys went towards Hermione.

'It's time,' Malfoy said.

'For what?' Hermione asked.

'Duh, for you to find out who's been making those newspapers, since I bet you're more pissed off than Zabini.'

'I forgot! Who is it! Who is the bloody-'

'Chill, Granger, watch your blood pressure. Now follow me,' Malfoy commanded, and Hermione followed grudgingly.

They came across the entrance of the Ravenclaw Common Room.

'Any guess on who it is?' Malfoy asked.

'Morag McDougal,' Blaise said. 'I saw him give me a shifty look yesterday… Actually, I'm just taking a wild guess.'

Hermione thought for a while. 'Cho Chang.'

'Why?' Blaise asked.

'Harry said she got jealous because I hang around him all the time,' Hermione explained.

There was a pause. 'Umm, can I change my guess to that one too?' Blaise asked.

'Unfortunately, you're both wrong. Now, why don't we find out who's still in the Common Room right now?'

'Wouldn't there be other Ravenclaws?' Hermione asked.

'I made sure there wouldn't be others, just for this occasion, so you should thank me for thinking so much about you two…'

'Antidisestablishmentarianism,' Malfoy said to whatever was in front of them. There was a mirror, a suit of armor, and possibly, the wall.

'Long password,' Blaise commented. 'That's Ravenclaws for you. One of the Ravenclaw passwords I know was "Quinquagesima", and I don't even know what the hell that means…'

'It's the Sunday before Lent, idiot,' Hermione answered.

'What's Lent?' he asked. 'Some Muggle celebration?'

'Never mind…' Hermione said.

'You're discovered, editor!' Malfoy announced maliciously.

'Traitor,' the editor of Zabini-Granger Times said. 'You promised not to tell anyone!'

'Well, you shouldn't have trusted a Malfoy…'

Hermione and Blaise took a look at the perpetrator (to them, anyway, as it sounds more evil).

'You?' Hermione said, shocked that the editor would do such a thing.