Ron, Hermione and Harry all waited for Sirius to finish talking to Malfoy. Ron knew Harry had a lot of questions and he was pacing the classroom in front of the chalkboard.
Brad was hanging back away from the group by the door, waiting for them. As Malfoy passed him he curtly said, "Out of my way, Gryffindor."
"Watch it!" Ron yelled after him.
"Why did I come back," Sirius repeated, sitting on his desk as the three gathered around him, "I suppose because I knew Harry would need me," he suddenly smiled, "And I could haunt his aunt and uncle if they were being unpleasant."
Harry smiled, "Brilliant," was all he said.
"What was that thing you went through, anyway?" Hermione asked.
Typical Hermione, Ron thought.
"It was an archway to the world of the dead," his eyes traveled back to Harry, "I saw your parents there, Harry. I spent a little time with them before I came back here."
"You can go between worlds?" Harry asked, a hint of hope in his voice.
"Some do, some don't. Those who choose to usually reside in the world of the living only have so much time in the world of the dead at one given time where as those who choose to reside in the world of the dead only have so much time in the world of the living at one given time. Does that make sense to you?"
"How much time would you have to visit in the world of the dead?" Harry asked.
"Oh, a few hours at a time I think. I'm not quite clear on the rules yet," he frowned, "I'm sure there's some spell that can counter that, though."
Ron grinned, And typical Sirius, always finding a way to get around things.
"So my mum and dad could visit me?" Harry asked, wide-eyed.
Sirius brows furrowed, "I'm not sure. I think it's only the people who have entered the world of the dead through the archway. But I'll be sure to ask."
"Not to put you down or anything, Harry," Hermione tenderly said, "But I'm sure that if there was a way to visit you, your parents would have already done so."
Harry looked down, seeming disappointed, "Yeah, I'm sure they would've."
There was an ominous silence which Sirius finally broke, "Well, you four will be late to class, so off you go," he said.
"Oh yippee, double potions," Ron sarcastically muttered.
A few minutes later they entered the dark dungeon of Professor Snape and quietly sat down.
"You three," Snape greasily said, "Why are you late?"
"Pardon me, Professor, but we had to stay after class. Professor Black wanted to speak with us," Hermione politely replied.
Snape hesitated, "Be aware that I will not allow this sort of thing to go on all school year," he said, glaring at Harry.
Ron noticed that Harry glared back, some unspoken meaning flying between them.
"Five points from Gryffindor each, for being late," he replied as Malfoy snickered.
Snape looked disapprovingly over at Malfoy, but didn't say anything to him which enraged Ron, but Hermione, obviously sensing this, laid a hand on his arm.
"It's ok, just don't give him anymore reason to take points away from us," she whispered.
Ron froze. She had touched him. She had actually touched him. Ron sat in a daze as Snape went on explaining how to make some kind of drought in which he couldn't remember the name.
"Mr. Weasley," he suddenly said as Ron snapped out of his trance, "Tell me, what are the effects of this thinking drought?" he asked, clearly under the impression that Ron hadn't been listening.
He hesitated, "Well, obviously it helps you think," he said, making a few Gryffindors giggle, but made Hermione huff.
Snape had assigned all the Gryffindors extra homework due at the end of the week, the next time they had double Potions, but hadn't given the Slytherins barely any.
"Thanks a lot, Weasley," Seamus spit at him on their way out.
"Yeah, thanks a lot, Weasel King," Malfoy happily said, laughing. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle all broke out into their song of "Weasley is Our King" as they made their way down the corridor.
"If I ever get half a chance to blow him to smither…" he started.
"Ron, don't even joke about that. You have no idea how much trouble you can get into for even jokingly suggesting it," Hermione seriously said.
To Ron's greatest displeasure, the three of them met up with Brad and headed down to the Great Hall for lunch.
"So, does this mean you two are on speaking terms again?" Harry asked.
Ron carefully looked at Hermione who seemed very interested in getting something off of her bags that wasn't even there.
"I reckon…" Ron began, looking at Harry.
"Only if he behaves himself," said Hermione, sitting down at the Gryffindor table.
"I've been behaving myself!" he exclaimed, sitting between Harry and Ginny.
She looked at him and rolled her eyes, then put mashed potatoes onto her plate.
He looked at Ginny, "Haven't I?" he asked her.
She only shrugged and looked down at her plate.
Ron finally looked over at Harry, who also shrugged, "I dunno, Ron. You seem really offensive late…" he began.
Ron felt anger course through him, "Offensive? I'm offensive? I have not been offensive! If Hermione would quit batting lashes with Smith then maybe I'd be in a better mood!" he slipped. Ginny, Harry, Hermione and Brad all looked at him as his face heated up. He knew he was turning red.
"I…I mean," he stuttered, looking at Hermione who looked shocked.
"You should have told me that upset you, Ronald," she said.
"Well, maybe if you hadn't acted like I was the dirtiest thing in this world I would've!" he yelled, trying to make an excuse.
"Ron, don't be ridiculous," she said, continuing to put food on her plate, "you aren't the dirtiest thing in the world. Well, maybe you could wash up a little more often…"
"I wash every night!" he exclaimed, very offended at her comment, "Just because I don't have the money that your family does doesn't mean I can't wash every night!" he crossly told her.
Hermione rolled her eyes yet again. Ron wondered whether or not that was the newest fashion for girls, "I didn't imply that at all…"
"Oh yeah, I'm so sure Hermione. You know, ever since you started hanging out with Smith, you've been nothing but moody and rude!" he told her.
Brad suddenly stood up, "I'll see you in Muggle Studies, Hermione," he said and basically ran out of the Great Hall.
Hermione started after him for a moment, then turned to Ron, "See what you've done? You just made Brad so uncomfortable that he doesn't even want to be around me anymore!"
"I can relate to how he feels!" Ron loudly retorted, "Because I don't want to be around you either!" he finished, "Harry, I'll see you in Divination," he said and stomped out of the Great Hall.
He was wondering around on the third floor when he had heard it. Draco Malfoy's drawling voice echoing through the hall.
"Don't let anyone know. She'll be taken by sheer surprise…" his voice cut off and Ron saw him walk around the corner with Crabbe, Goyle, and new boy Ron had never seen before.
Ron and Malfoy glared at each other for a moment before Ron decided to glare at the other three in turn.
"What do you want, Weasel?" Malfoy rudely asked.
"Nothing to do with you," Ron told him, throwing him a dirty expression.
"Good, I thought you might be asking for money," he said, walking up to him, "Because I wouldn't give you any. I enjoy watching you wallow in that Leaning Tower of Pizza," he said.
Ron was shocked, how did Malfoy know what his house looked like?
Malfoy smirked, "Yeah, that's right, Weaselby, I know where your house is at. It's a pity, though, since it's surrounded with pigs," the three others let out a few snickers as Malfoy walked around Ron, the other three following in his wake.
What was Malfoy planning to do? Surely not a practical joke. Any jokes Malfoy played were not practical at all.
Ron shrugged and continued down the corridor. He felt pity for whoever Malfoy decided to prank on.
