Hey peeps, sorry it's been a while since I updated - for my standard anyway! - but I got carried away writing chapters towards the end, will be great when I get to post them! Got about seven so far. This one's a bit on the short side but there was a natural break in the story line.Chapter 16 is in progress, so hopefully it won't be too long 'til it's finished. Please R&R ;)

Step XxXxX ;)

Chapter 15

It was Friday morning and Hermione was brought back to the land of the conscious by her alarm clock having remembered to set it the night before. It was the last morning for a week she would have to get up early, as next week her group started work at eleven like Harry's group had this week. She switched off the clock, a lot more gracefully than the last time she had tried, and swung her legs out of bed so she was sat up. As she walked out of the bedroom door she tripped over Crookshanks as he tried to get in.

'Crookshanks, it's a beautiful day, why are you inside? You like the sun!'

She carried on through to the bathroom and went through her morning routine, toilet, teeth and shower. When she emerged from the shower and returned to her bedroom she saw why Crookshanks had been so eager to get in. He had brought her a present. A dead mouse. Before she went to Hogwarts the sight of a mouse, dead or alive would have sent her screaming into her father's arms. Now however, after years of using parts of animals she had never heard of before to make potions she would then have to drink, the small mouse on the floor didn't really bother her. Although she did feel a little bit sorry for the helpless creature.

'Wow, thanks Crookshanks, that was really thoughtful of you.'

She scratched behind the ears to show her appreciation, the cat meowed happily.

'Now why don't you go and show Uncle Harry what you've caught? He'd love to see it!' An evil grin spread across her face, 'come on!'

The cat picked up the mouse in its mouth and followed Hermione out of the room. She opened Harry's door and then put it to after Crookshanks had trotted happily in, then hurried back to her room. As she was pulling her T-shirt on and straightened out over her jeans she heard Harry's first vocal contribution to the day.

'Eeeeuuuurrrgh! Crookshanks that's gross! Hermione do something about your cat and what it's killed!'

Hermione laughed and walked through to Harry's room trying to replace the smile on her face with a look of innocence and not having a clue what Harry was talking about. When she walked into his room, she had to laugh; Harry was sat up in bed, a look of disgust on his face with Crookshanks sat proudly next to Harry's pillow.

Harry's facial expression became apparent when Hermione spotted where the cat had deposited the mouse. The dent Harry's head had made in the pillow came to an end no more than an inch from the dead creature. Hermione straightened her face as he turned towards her.

'How did the cat get in here?' Harry demanded.

'Well I presume he walked through the open door Harry, that's generally how people and cats get into rooms!'

'Yes, I'm well aware of how a door works Hermione, but how did the cat, your cat I might add, get through the door when I shut it before I went to bed last night?'

'I have no idea Harry, you mustn't have shut it properly!'

'I think you'll find I did!'

'Well you can't have, because Crookshanks, clever as he is can't quite open a door – although I don't reckon it'll be long before he figures it out - and he certainly can't walk through solid wood either. So the only logical explanation is that you left the door open last night!'

Harry surveyed the witch stood before him.

'What?' she asked.

'I'm going to have to watch you, you're getting far too good at lying.'

'Harry I'm offended you would think I'm a liar!' she said in a mock shocked tone.

'Well I have proof you are a liar because I know for a fact that I shut that door last night, so the only way the cat would have got in was through you letting him in and then, knowing you, you ran off back to your room so I wouldn't see you!'

Damn! She thought, I'm going to have to talk to the twins to learn how to become more diverse with practical jokes!

'I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about, and besides, you haven't thanked Crookshanks for your present. He's going to get offended if you don't thank him soon.'

It was true, the cat was glaring at Harry.

'Hmm,' he said reaching to stroke the cat, 'well I suppose it's the thought that counts.'

Crookshanks meowed, stood up, took the mouse in his jaws and stalked out of the room.

'Oh good, it's left a nice little bloodstain on my pillow! Now I have to change my bed!'

'Harry, when was the last time you actually did change your bed?'

He looked at her whilst he tried to remember.

'That's not the point. What if I'd have only changed it yesterday?'

'But you didn't, in fact I'm guessing it's at least three weeks since you did, I wouldn't care but I offered to do yours when I did mine on Sunday!'

'Yeah well it's only me that has to sleep in it.'

'Well for my sanity will you please at least wash it now?'

'Looks like I'm going to have to now doesn't it?'

'Good. Well I can't stand here talking to you all day. Have fun at work,' she turned to walk back to her room but stopped as she thought of something to ask Harry, 'oh, what time are we getting to the Weasley's tonight.'

'Well dinner is for seven give or take half an hour! And they aren't going to mind us being early are they? How about we get there for about quarter past six?'

'That sounds good. I'll let my parents know I'll be at home ready to take them at ten past.'

'Want me to come with you?' Harry asked.

'Yeah if you want, we can't take a parent each!'

'Ok then, see you later.'

Hermione walked through to her room and finished getting ready for work. When she walked past Harry's room she saw he was fast asleep. At least, she thought he's taken his pillowcase off first!