Disclaimer: I own nothing.

"Hermione, that little monster is never sleeping in our dorm again."

Hermione sighed. It was enough that Parvarti and Lavender were continually hinting that Ron have Marta over for a sleepover every night, but now Neville wouldn't allow the cat to stay in his dorm either. Crookshanks, at least, was more willing to tolerate her. The only other person who would have anything to do with Marta and distrupt Hermione's homework with phrases such as "Get this monster out of this common room!" was Ron, who couldn't seem to get enough of her.

At the same moment when Neville was complaining to Hermione about "El Diablo", Ron was over in the corner of the common room playing peek-a-boo with her. Marta really didn't understand the game, but she was having the time of her life smacking his hands when he pulled them away from his face. Her feathery tail was swishing in playful agitation.

Hermione dropped her quill and placed her head in her hands, pulling herself together. Finally, she sat up and looked Neville in the eye.

"I'm not giving her up, Neville."

"I didn't say you had to. I'm just saying she's not sleeping in our dorm again."

"Then she won't. I don't even think I'm going to confine her to the dorms anymore, either. She can climb stairs now. I think I'm going to give her free roam, now, as long as it's inside."

Neville stared at her.

"Hermione, that cat is a menace. You can't give her free roam."

"Well, I can't very well keep her locked in the girl's dorm all the time, either."

"You either put that cat outside, or keep her in your dorm. She is NOT, and I repeat, NOT spending another night in the same room I sleep in."

At this very moment, Hedwig flew in through the common room window. Marta's attention was instantly swayed from Ron as she watched the white bird soar over head and land in front of Harry, a letter tied to her leg. Ron, knowing something might happen if action was not taken, picked up Marta and held her close to him. Hedwig eyed Marta beadily with her amber eyes, not entirely sure that she trusted Ron's grip. Harry, sensing the tension between the two animals, quickly removed the letter from Hedwig's leg.

Hermione and Neville watched this scene with interest.

"That is why I currently cannot allow Marta to roam the grounds freely, Neville."

"Than keep her in your dorm, Hermione. She's banned from ours. Our dorm still smells and my foot hurts."

"What spell did you use to clean it up? It should not have been a problem to clean up. As for your foot – wait a minute, what happened to your foot?"

"Ron didn't tell you?" Hermione looked across the common room again, where Ron was snuggling Marta to the point where she was growling at him.

"No, he didn't. Enlighten me."

"Right before she finally fell asleep, Marta did laps around the room –"

"Let me guess – she used your foot as the lap mark?"

"Yes." Neville pulled off his shoe and pulled down sock to reveal many tiny puncture wounds on the back of his foot.

"Neville, I'm sorry about that. Did you see Madam Pomfrey about that?"

"No. I figured it could be healed normally."

"Suit yourself, then." Hermione yawned, stretched, and leaned over to grab a book out of her bag. But as she rustled through it's contents, her eyes widened in horror.

"Crap! I left my Arithmancy book in the library."

"Curfew isn't for another twenty minutes," Neville said, trying to help. "You can make it if you run." Hermione checked her watch. Neville did have a point.

"I'll be back soon." And with that, Hermione grabbed her cloak and exited the portrait hole.

The stone corridors were cold as Hermione made her way down them. The low lighting gave them an eerie feel which made Hermione slightly nervous. Harry had always had a thing for the dark and mysterious – is this why he made regular trips outside the common room after hours? Hermione felt that she was breaking some big school rule, even though she kept reminding herself she was still technically allowed to be out of the common room. Nevertheless, she wanted to hurry.

She had just reached the table with her Arithmancy book on it when she heard the voices of Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore. Thoroughly scared now that her chances for Head Girl were jeopardized, Hermione grabbed the book and ran in the other direction, unable to block out the conversation she wanted no part of.

"…house elves are getting angry…"

Until then.

Hermione weighed her choices. She had five minutes to make it back the common room unscathed, but it was not at all far and as a sixth year, close companion of the Weasley Twins' younger brother, and Harry Potter, she was confident that she could make it. And she was a prefect. Sure, she wasn't supposed to be on duty tonight, but she could fake that she got the schedule mixed up.

But then again, what kind of Head Girl mixed up schedules?

But the House Elves were angry, and that settled things right there.

"I know that. Every faculty member on the staff knows that. But we've been watching our students closely. You know that."

"Nevertheless, Severus, someone is continuing to take food from the kitchens by means of butterbeer. If the culprit is not found within the next month, I will begin investigating the staff."

"Albus, you can't be serious."

"For once in my life over something besides the Dark Lord, Severus, I'm not."

Hermione knew this was her cue to head back to the common room. If Dumbledore was warning Snape, then McGonagall had to be watching her students as well.

Hermione made it back into the common room two minutes past nine without any indication that there would be consequences. In the ten minutes she had been gone, the common room had somewhat cleared out. Ron had resumed playing peek-a-boo with Marta, even though it was clear her attention was wandering. Crookshanks was sitting under the table Ron was sitting at, not worried at all about being kicked. Harry was draped over his favorite squashy armchair in front of the fire with his legs hanging over one of the arms, absorbed in Qudditch Through The Ages.

Nonchalantly, Hermione sat in the other armchair and began to read her Arithmancy book.

Harry ever so slyly peeked around the corner of his book.

"Don't you ever get tired of that stuff?"

"Never," answered Hermione without looking up. "I find memorizing this relaxing."

"Mental," Harry shook his head.

"What is?"

"You."

"Me?"

"Yes you."

"Oh right. This is the conversation we've had every year."

"You bet it is."

"Then why are you starting it?"

"What?"

"Why are you starting a conversation we've already had ten times?"

"You haven't memorized it yet?"

"Of course I have. You say 'Mental'. I say 'What is?' You say 'You.' I say, 'Me?' You say, 'Yes, you.' I say 'Why am I mental?' You say 'That stuff usually stresses people out. For you it works as a sedative. Ironic, isn't it?' And that's when I start yelling at you, because you usually bring this up when I'm all worked up about something."

Harry was impressed.

"God, you're good."

"And while we're on the topic of subjects we consider dead, I need to talk to you about the House Elves."

"Not again," Harry groaned.

"Yes, again. Do you want that rant again?"

"Fine. What about the House Elves now?"

"They're still being drugged. When S.P.E.W. has enough funding, this is going to be one of the first topics we tackle."

"How are we going to tackle this one? It seems that as soon as you figure out who did it, you'll hex them."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that especially when it comes to your house-elves, when you're angry you're not the most clearheaded person in the world."

He had a point, Hermione thought to herself.

"Harry, it's just that now Dumbledore is getting really upset. The doors to all the common rooms are being watched constantly now. Don't attempt to go anywhere after curfew, okay? This is not being treated lightly."

Harry was taken aback.

"How do you know this?"

"When I snuck into the library to retrieve my Arithmancy book. Dumbledore was somewhat threatening Snape that unless the culprit is not found within the month, the staff are going to be questioned. With your reputation and your bloodline, Harry, you could be a prime suspect at this point. Be careful, okay?"

Harry nodded.

"Note taken. Unless I have a very good reason for sneaking out, I won't. I've made it to sixth year, don't need to be thrown out because I snuck to explore."

Harry readjusted his legs so he could get comfortable again and Hermione attempted to reread her Arithmancy book. But somehow, she couldn't. The numbers just didn't hold the awe for her that they usually did.

She was just so bothered by the whole ideal with the House Elves. Who could do such a thing? The House Elves did nothing but work, work, work for the students and staff of Hogwarts, and someone was greedy enough to drug them into unconsciousness so they could steal food and make the House Elves job harder.

It was probably Malfoy or one of the other Slytherins. Only they could stoop so low as to take advantage of those who could not defend themselves.

But if it happened more than once, why were the House Elves falling for it every time?

It was useless. She could not concentrate any longer on Arithmancy.

Her eyes began to wander. Seamus was attempting a new spell and it looked like he had paid Neville some good cash to be his lab rat. Neville now had antlers growing out of his head and looked slightly dazed.

Pavarti and Lavender were finishing a letter to some handsome new celebrity and couldn't seem to stop giggling or whispering to each other.

Girls, thought Hermione, we're so weird.

Her eyes finally landed on Ron and Marta. Marta had totally lost interest in what Ron was doing and Ron didn't notice that Marta wasn't paying attention anymore. Marta was now watching Hedwig, who was just flying in. Harry and Hagrid were sending each other notes back and forth. Hermione didn't know what they were talking about, but Harry seemed to be enjoying it.

As Hedwig flew over the table, Marta jumped up and attacked her. It was a playful attack, but it was enough. Hedwig screeched and took Marta in her talons.

"HEDWIG, DROP HER NOW!" Harry hollered, but Hedwig ignored him. Hermione was paralyzed with fright. Ron jumped on the table to try and grab them, but Hedwig was too quick for him.

Before anyone could realize what was happening, Crookshanks's jumped out from underneath the table and using a pile of books Ron had been ignoring as a launch pad, Crookshanks leapt at Hedwig and was able to knock her to the floor. Surprised by the blow, Hedwig dropped the terrified Marta who was scooped up by Ron and brought to Hermione.

Hedwig, now at floor level, took a swipe at Crookshanks with her talon. The tabby easily swatted it away before pouncing on her.

"Crookshanks, don't hurt her!" Hermione cried. What would happen if her cat, the one who only three years earlier had basically killed Ron's rat, took out her other best friend's owl?

Crookshanks pinned Hedwig to the ground and the room watched in horror was he took her neck in his mouth. But instead of breaking the fragile bones, he picked her up and carried her to the window, where he deposited her. Miffed, Hedwig flew back to the Owlery.

The room was silent was Crookshanks, with brush bottle tail high in the air, strutted past Hermione and out one of his cat holes.

"That's what I meant," Hermione said softly. "We're a family. Crookshanks just accepted you, Marta. I think you're officially one of us now."

Marta only licked Hermione's fingers.