Chapter Three:

A blanket of snow covered every everything that lay between the Forbidden Forest and the Eastern Mountains. Hermione was spending more and more time with the Harry and Ron. She would even let them talk her into a massive snowball fight. That was the first time Hermione met all the Weasley boys.

"Over her!" She heard a voice boom

Ron and Harry led her over to the stables. Charlie and Bill were laughing up a storm when they caught sight of Hermione. They beckoned them over as the Weasley twins trotted over to them.

"Charlie Weasley." Charlie said extending his large hand

"I'm Hermione Granger. It's a pleasure to meet you." Hermione said shaking his hand

"You won't be saying that when he hits you with a snowball." Bill called over suppressed laughter

Charlie bent over and made a snowball. He made it larger and larger until it was bigger than Hermione. He picked it and sat it on his broad shoulders. There was a wicked grin on his freckled face. He took the massive ball of snow (I think you'll agree that it was way too big to be just a snowball anymore) and hurled it a Bill. Bill attempted to dodge it, but it caught him around his midriff. Charlie was nearly on tears from laughing so hard. Bill had struggled to his feet and threw a snowball at Charlie. Charlie ducked and it hit Hermione. Hermione stood there, stunned, for only a moment. She whipped out her wand and gave it a small flick. Snowballs immediately shot up from the nearest snow bank. She gave her wand another flick and the snowballs attacked the boys. It was Hermione's turn to giggle. Charlie collapsed onto the ground, panting softly. Bill nudged him gently on the stomach and Charlie rolled over to face Hermione.

"That was wicked." Charlie breathed

"Wicked." The twins repeated

"Thank you." Hermione said grinning

James, Sirius, and Remus piled into the carriage going to Hogsmeade. James was eager to see the new barmaid again.

"You do realize she doesn't like you." Remus said softly

"What do you mean?" James said looking slightly surprised

"She hates your guts." Sirius said a he bit down on a cauldron cake

"How do you know this?" James said indignantly

"She told us." Remus muttered

"Is she allowed to hate me? Is she allowed to hate the king?" James asked

"Yeah. She's just not allowed to tell it to your face." Remus said after he finished his pumpkin pasty

James sighed.

"Sirius, have the driver let us out here.' James said bitterly

Sirius leaned out the window and shouted at the driver. The carriage stopped outside the Three Broomsticks. Lily was out front sweeping. She looked up and spotted Remus and smiled.

"Would you mind if we impose upon your hospitality for another day, Madam?" Remus said bowing slightly

"Not at all, Remus." Lily said smiling at the warlock

James gave a jealous sort of sniff. Lily rolled her emerald green eyes. James always had to be the center of attention no matter where he was. He simply had to be the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral. Lily tossed her dark red hair behind her shoulder and walked inside. Sirius snickered softly and James threw him a bitter look.

"So, Lily we're having a masquerade ball tomorrow night. I was wondering if I could have the honor of escorting you." James said nervously

Lily gave a look of mock temptation.

"I'd rather eat clean the goblets at Hogshead with my tongue." Lily hissed

The Hogshead as famous for the filthy glasses and grimy goblets. Lily stalked away.

Ginny sat down on a sofa on a bench in the Gryffindor Tower. She stared at the dancing flames as she massaged her aching feet. The portrait hole swung open and a awkward looking teenage boy trudged in. He was sweating and his dark hair clung to his face. He gave a Ginny a lope-sided grin which she couldn't help, but return it.

"Evening, Neville."

Neville collapsed onto the sofa next to her. He looked up at her wearily smiling.

"Evening." Neville panted. "Will you do me a favor and murder me?"

"No, but you should go to bed. Remember how protective my brothers are."

Neville groaned and slumped even lower in the sofa. The portrait opened again and Harry and Ron clambered in. Neville jumped up and went straight to the boys dormitory. Ron collapsed onto his bed and sighed with relief.

"Training with Sirius is brutal, but never, under any circumstances are you to challenge Hermione to a snowball fight. That is, unless you have a psychotic death wish." Ron said in a bemused sort of way

Harry nodded fervently in agreement before slumping onto his on bed. He buried his face in his pillow and tried desperately to shake the image of Hermione smiling at him. He rolled over and stared at the dark ceiling, allowing his tiredness to consume him.

Nymphadora was up late that night crying. She couldn't help it. All she did was cry lately. Well, at least since Charlie and Sirius had gotten into that sword fight and she felt torn into. There was a soft knock at hr door. It opened and Sirius peeked in shyly. Nymphadora looked up and tried tell him to go away, but the words became caught in her mouth and couldn't quite be made into sounds.

"Can I speak to you?" Sirius asked softly

"You can speak but don't expect an answer." Nymphadora managed

Her voice was hoarse and strangled. She turned her back to him.

"Look I'm so sorry if I offend you..." Sirius said unsurely

"You don't get, do you?" Nymphadora said angrily. "You shouldn't apologize to me. If you want to make things better go tell Charlie your 'I'm sorry's and mean it."

Nymphadora shoved him out the door and slammed it in his face. Sirius stood there and thought about what she had just said. He, the royal captain, apologize to a pathetic stable hand? Not likely to happen. Sirius stalked down the dark corridor with a scowl on his face. He stopped in front of Charlie's bedroom and raised his fist to knock. He hesitated. He couldn't do it. If he spoke to Charlie now it wouldn't be nearly as sincere as he would have wanted it. Footsteps came echoing down the hallway towards Sirius. He looked up and saw Hermione coming out of the darkness. She wore a dreamy expression on her face. She had early ran into him before she realized he was there.

"Oh! I'm sorry." Hermione said before running around him

"Hermione?" Sirius called after her

"Yes?" Hermione said coming to and abrupt halt

"You shouldn't wander the castle at night. Who knows what you might find." Sirius warned

Hermione nodded. A wolf howled off in the distance and Hermione jumped. She mentally shook herself and ran straight to her room without stopping.