Disclaimer: See Previous ones, except I own the first name of the Fat Lady.

A/N: I'm sorry this took so long to get out….I had whoa writer's block. This is not the greatest or longest chapter, it's more of a transition chapter. Also – I'm upping the rating.

Lunch was fairly uneventful, unless you count Ron's reaction over Harry's remark about how Professor Snape never had any chance for hugs as a child because his nose was so huge no one could wrap their arms around him. When Harry said this, Ron had been taking a swig of pumpkin juice, and ended up spraying the entire table with it. Thankfully, everyone who had gotten sprayed had heard the remark and found it just as funny, so there were no awkward questions.

Hermione spent the rest of the day in the common room, watching Marta explore every nook and cranny down there, too. Crookshanks was no where in sight. He was probably out on the grounds chasing one of the gnomes that Professor Sprout had planted over the Summer. Even though she used to love him, Professor Sprout was really starting to hate Crookshanks – it was becoming a custom for her to arrive in a greenhouse and find at least one terrified gnome.

The time was for Christmas dinner was approaching. Hermione scooted Marta up to the dorm, and then joined Ron and Harry on their way to the Great Hall. Christmas Dinner, like usual, was incredible. Anything everyone could have wanted was there. For the past couple of years, Hermione had had a tinge of guilt about eating a meal that must have taken several days for hundreds of House Elves to prepare, but that feeling usually left her after she dug in. It was mainly because she forgot, but it was also partly because she left them candy treats of their own in the kitchen. Besides, why shouldn't everyone celebrate Christmas?

"Hermione, what are you doing?" Ron asked suspiciously as she scraped food into a napkin.

"I'm stealing food to send to Viktor so he'll fatten up a bit, what's it look like?" She answered innocently as she scraped some more roast beef into her napkin. Harry snorted into his pumpkin juice. Ron looked mortified.

"You're still talking to him?" He asked.

"Actually, I'm taking some food to my brother and my little girl. It's a holiday – why shouldn't everyone celebrate it?"

"Your brother and little girl? How did Crookshanks all of a sudden become you're brother? That seems a bit strange to me. And you're stealing them the best beef there is! They don't understand Christmas! And I notice that you haven't had Marta for a full day yet and she's already wounded you." Ron looked very confused, but slightly proud of himself. It was rare he could make an argument this good. Hermione sighed.

"I took Crookshanks to a Muggle veterinarian over the summer, and even though he had trouble identifying the breed, as Crookshanks is half Kneazle, he did a bone marrow test, and Crookshanks and I are very close in age. Therefore, my father started making jokes about the cat and I being twins, and it stuck within our family. It's like a family joke now. Marta – she's only five weeks old, so I'll be raising her from basically the beginning, making her my baby. And cats are generally smarter than they appear – hang around Crookshanks long enough and you'll see what I mean. And just because they're not human does not mean that they do not deserve the best! They know something's going on, they're very perceptive to my feelings. As for the scratch, she doesn't know her own sharpness." She stole a glance at the meat.

"And this isn't even good meat – it's not the fine quality stuff they usually serve. So technically, it is not the best beef there is."

Ron shrugged and continued on his pork chops. Hermione, with a satisfied air about her, continued to swipe food into her napkin. As she finished, Dumbledore stood up from his chair.

"It has come to my attention that students have been stealing food from the kitchens by drugging the house elves with butter beer and then taking some large amount of food. As some of you may have noticed, the Christmas roast is not as spectacular as most of our Christmas roasts are. We ask whoever is doing this to please desist immediately. Our house elves are a vital part of our lives here. Without them, a good portion of our day would consist of cleaning this extensive castle, and they deserve the respect of every one of us."

He sat down and the meal continued. There had been a tone to his voice that not many students had heard. Harry, with his connection to Voldemort had heard it, and since Ron and Hermione went with him nearly everywhere, they had heard it too. Now, after the speech, the feeling in the air was one of nervousness. Hermione shot Ron and Harry a seething look.

"What? We didn't do it! Do you really think Dobby would have left me presents otherwise?" Harry argued quickly.

Hermione shrugged. Harry had a point.

The rest of dinner was very enjoyable. By the end, everyone had forgotten about Dumbledore's serious tone. Indeed, Dumbledore himself seemed to forget, as he created a marvelous display of fireworks with his wand.

"I really wish I knew who was drugging the house elves" Hermione wondered ruefully as they made their way to the Common Room later.

"What would you do? Hex them into telling Madam Rosmerta to disguise a sock and put it in the bottles?" Ron sneered.

"I wasn't planning on freeing the house elves. I think that if they have to work brainwashed with those unfair terms, they should be left in peace. "

"You weren't planning on freeing them? Wow, this is new."

"Freedom comes later. Right now – "

"I know, I know, educate and love. Like that would really – "

"Will you two cut it out? It's Christmas for Merlin's sake!" Harry butt in. "Honestly, can't you two leave it alone for just one day?"

"No" Ron and Hermione answered simultaneously.

"Fine then. I'm going to bed." Harry turned to look at the Fat Lady, who looked quite frazzled. Her dress was rumpled, and her usually pristinely in-place hair was loose and falling out of the pins that held it there. She also had a dazed look about her, like she had had too much mulled mead.

"Pa-password?" She managed.

"Cadogan" Harry snapped.

"Who calls me forth with such anger in his voice? Eudora, if these bilfering knaves have called me forward, why was there any reason for me to hide?" Sir Cadogan, wearing only a tunic, emerged from underneath a blanket thrown behind the Fat Lady. He too, looked drunk. Ron had a hard time suppressing a snicker.

"Cadogan, dear? That's the p-password" The Fat Lady stammered. "I t-told you to h-hide because I didn't want the G-Gryffindors to see us."

"Oh…" Sir Cadogan blushed.

"Just open the door, please!" Harry snapped louder. "And get a room!"

The Far Lady shrugged while and swung the portrait hole open.

When Hermione stepped into the Common Room, she was met with an unusual sight. Crookshanks was running down the dorm stairs, clearly in fright, and as he rounded the corner, Hermione could see why. Marta had latched herself to his tail – she had it in her teeth and wouldn't let go for anything. Crookshanks was waving her around in the air as he ran, but the kitten wouldn't let go for anything. As he ran by the staring trio, he stopped, gave his tail one final swing, and whacked her into Ron's leg. With the impact, Marta let go, but then she attempted to climb up Ron's robes.

"Is this cat going to be more of a terrorist than The Monster?" Ron asked dryly, prying the kitten off his robes. Marta took this opportunity to bite him.

"Ow, Hermione, how come you keep getting cats who hate me and my pets?" Ron whined.

"Don't hold her like that, she needs support beneath her!" Hermione shrieked, grabbing the kitten.

"Oh really? Are you going to yell at Crookshanks now, for not supporting her butt? Or are you just yelling at me because it's fun?"

With this last remark, Hermione turned red with rage.

"Crookshanks has had an additude – he feels replaced! She brought it upon herself, biting his tail like that! You, however, have no reason to hate my pets. All they have done is save your butt from Peter Pettigrew and bite you! She's in a new place! Crookshanks isn't helping! I'm going to bed!"

And with that she stomped off to the girl's dorm, kitten in tow.

Ron turned to Harry.

"It hasn't even been one day, and that cat is all she thinks about. What'll it be like in a week?"

"I think she has a point, Ron," Harry said quietly. And this was where Ron lost it.

"A POINT? HOW COULD OWNING A MONSTER – NO, TWO MONSTERS – AND BLAMING EVERYTHING THEY DO ON SOMEONE ELSE HAVE A POINT?" Ron was spitting at this point. Over his redheaded friends shoulder, Harry could see Colin Creevey adding a point to Ron's side of the board, making it thirty three to four. Well, at least it was progress.

"The point wasn't that her pets beat you up, giving her right to yell at you. I agree with you on that one" Harry added quickly to Ron's opening mouth. "The point is that even though we sometimes forget, she is s girl, and has maternal instincts. She is going to be protective of that cat for a while, and will be prone to lash out a little bit."

"So you're telling me to stay out of her way because of some caveman instinct?"

"Ron – when you were a small child, did your mother ever lash out at your father because he wasn't raising the seven of you the way she wanted to?"

"She still yells at him for it! You should know it too, after the flying car!"

"It's the same with Hermione – she wants to make sure Marta grows up right. And you never know, it may also be that time of month – "

"Ew, Harry! Didn't need to think about that! Please not again, I get enough of that at home from Ginny!"

"Sorry to break it to you, but that's the way things are. Think about it."

As she lay in bed that night, Hermione had a panic attack. She had pulled Marta close to her, but she was worried that she would roll over on her. Ginny, whom Hermione was allowing to sleep in Parvati's bed, scuffed.

"Hermione, you're not going to roll over on her"

"Ginny, it's me we're talking about here! Me, who stresses over everything! What if I have a nightmare?"

"You won't."

"How do you know that for sure? Have you ganged up on me with Professor Trelawney?"

"I hate the old bat as much as you do – but when you yelled at Ron earlier, you sounded like Mum. Believe me, with maternal instincts like those, you won't hurt her."

Crookshanks jumped on Hermione's bed, like he did every night. Tonight, however, she was in for a surprise. Marta awoke suddenly, jumped up swatted him, and laid back down. Crookshanks flicked his tail at Hermione, and went to sleep with Ginny.

Marta stretched in her sleep, using Hermione's extended arm as a pillow.

Ginny laughed.

"See? She agrees with me. She trusts you enough, or she wouldn't stay there." Ginny yawned.

"Are you ready to sleep yet? I'm bloody tired." And with that, she fell asleep. Hermione followed two minutes later, Marta's head still on her arm.

When Ginny woke up the next morning, she stole a look to Hermione's bed and smiled. Neither cat nor human had moved.