Hermione and Ron were walking side by side down the streets of Hogsmeade. They had a wonderful lunch together, both talking about the past. It brought back many memories, feelings, and laughter that used to be forgotten. "Hey, Mione?" asked Ron, tightening his scarf around his neck.

"Yes, Ron?" She was equally cold as he was, except she had on a thin jacket, her gloves already soaked.

"Remember the time we snogged each other senseless in the broom closet and Snape caught us?" he asked gaily.

Hermione gasped. "Ronald! We promised each other we would never ever bring that up!" she scolded, taking a handful of snow and rolling it into a ball. "For that, Ronald .. You shall pay."

Sticking his hands in front of him, hoping to block the snowball, Ron pleaded, "Mione, no! Please .. I beg you! It's so cold .. Please?"

Smirking a smirk that would put Draco's to shame, Hermione lunged the ice ball at Ron. It swirled forward, hitting Ron square in the head.

"Bloody hell, Mione!" he yelled, rubbing the red and icy spot on his forehead. "Don't think that you're getting off easy, Granger!" Seeing Hermione run away, Ron scooped up a pile of snow, squishing it into a perfect sized ball. "Get back here!"

Ron ran after her, still holding the snowball in the palm of his hand. "Hermione Granger!"

She was jogging around frantically trying to find a place to hide, enjoying her and Ron's little game. "You'll never get me, Ronald Weasely!" she said merrily, dodging huge rocks on the floor and making sure not to hit anyone. She passed the Three Broomsticks, saying quick hellos to her friends that passed by. She then spotted Neville and Lavender, hand in hand. "Nev, Lav! Help me!" she begged, hiding behind the couple. Little did she know that two certain Slytherins were already there, watching her every move.

"Why are you hiding, Hermione?" asked Neville and Lavender in unison.

Hermione caught her breath. "Ron's going to throw a snowball at me!" she hissed, hoping they would shut up.

"What? Why?" asked a perplexed Lavender.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I threw one at him because he mentioned something he should have never mentioned!"

Neville chuckled. "You mean the time you guys snogged each other in the broom closet and Snape found you guys?"

Hermione's eyes widened. "Neville Longbottom! Ron told you?!" she asked fiercely.

"He told me, Seamus, Dean, and Colin." exclaimed Neville, earning a very heated glare from Hermione.

"That little prick." she muttered, ducking from people who passed by, thinking they were the red headed boy.

Blaise stared at her from the bench he was sitting on, Draco by his side. "Hey .. Are Granger and Weasely together?" he asked Draco.

Draco knew nothing of Blaise and Hermione's secret relationship. "I heard they broke it off, but by the looks of it .. They are on the verge of getting back together."

Blaise hoped he was wrong.

Hermione stood on her tip toes, searching through the crowd for Ron. Feeling someone tap on her shoulder, she slowly turned around, her eyes shut. "Looking for me, are you?" asked an amused voice.

She knew she was caught. "Ron .. I beg you .. Don't throw that-" She pointed to the snowball he was bouncing up and down on his hand. "-Snowball at me."

Ron grinned. "You mean .. Like this?" With that last statement, he chucked the object at her face, making Hermione squeal in terror.

"Ronald Billius Weasely!" she shrieked, wiping the excess snow off her face. "What is the matter with you?!"

Ron laughed, holding his stomach, almost falling over. "You .. Your face was so funny .. Ha .. I can't .. I should do that again!"

Hermione gritted her teeth and screeched. Jumping forward and tackling Ron, she shoved tons and tons of snow on his face, turning him redder than his hair. "That's what you get!" she snapped, straddling him.

Ron looked up, a smile plastered on his face. "That's all you got, Granger?"

Hermione smirked. "I've got so much more, Weasely." Taking out her wand, she muttered a spell, causing balls and balls of snow to fling towards Ron. She was still sitting on top of him, enjoying the look on his terrified face.

"Mione!" he roared threw the snowballs. "Make it stop!"

Chuckling to herself, Hermione rolled her eyes and said the counter curse. Everything then became still, small snowflakes now falling from the sky. "Cross me again, Weasely .. And you'll get even worse." she said playfully.

Before they could utter another word, Blaise and Draco strode forward. "Having fun with your little Mudblood whore, are we now, Weasely?" sneered Draco.

Ron clenched his fists and made a move to get up. "Ron, no! No fighting." Hermione said softly, pushing him back onto the ground. "Leave us be, Malfoy. You annoying git!"

Draco rolled his eyes. "That's all you got, Mudblood? She's getting soft on us .. Isn't she, Blaise?"

Blaise smirked. "Just a bit, Draco. Maybe if she got more from Weasely she'd be off the wall!"

Draco laughed a hollow laugh. "Tsk .. Tsk .. Granger and Weasely, back together again." Scoffing, he continued, "Pitiful."

Hermione's eyes began to well up in tears. She gazed at Blaise, who was snarling at her. "You heard me, Malfoy .. Leave us be." she whispered, her voice cracking.

"I'm not the only one here, now am I Granger? I believe Blaise is right next to me. So, do your heart some good and acknowledge him." spat Draco.

Ron had enough. Grasping Hermione by the hips he gently lifted her off him, Ron getting up in the process. He pulled out his wand and aimed it at Draco's nose. "Sod off, Malfoy. You're just pissed because you couldn't get any. How long has it been since you haven't had a girlfriend? A month? Maybe even two?"

He shifted his wand towards Blaise. "You're nothing but Malfoy's shadow, always following him wherever he goes. You're just a Crabbe and Goyle substitute!"

Feeling a sudden warmth down her cheeks, Hermione touched her face. She was crying. Her whole head was so numb, she didn't even notice. Placing her hand on Ron's shoulder she gave him a grateful smile. "Come on, Ron. We should go. Olly and Ginny are probably looking for me."

Draco winced at the sound of Ginny's name. "Aright, Mione." Ron withdrew his wand. "See you, Malfoy .. Zabini."

Draco scowled. "Bye-bye Weasel .. See you, Mudblood."

Blaise said nothing. He just watched the love of his life walk away, Ron's arm over her shoulders. He wanted to kill Ron for what he was doing, but wanted to comfort and apologize to Hermione.

There really is no winning in the game of love.

Colin and Dean pulled apart, Colin's lips a bit swollen. Dean looked the same way.

Smiling smugly, Dean placed his hand on Colin's cheek. "You should know who it is by now. And if not .. Then you're pretty stupid!"

Colin blushed. "You should know .. That .. I .. Uh .. I fancy you, too." he said sheepishly.

Dean pulled Colin's face closer. "I kind of got that hint when you kissed me back."

"Right." Leaning in further, Colin now captured Dean's lips in his, savoring his flavor. He tempted in his tongue, tasting the butterbeer that Dean drank just before in his mouth. Dean groaned, pushing Colin's head nearer, deepening the kiss even more. It was then that someone cleared their throat and the two broke apart embarrassed.

"Having fun, are we Colin?" asked a very amused Ginny. "You're lucky I told Olly to close her eyes before she got here!"

Dean's cheeks tinged a color pink. "Hey, Gin." he said guiltily.

"Hey, Dean! I see you and Colin have gotten a bit close .." Colin turned away, very discomfited. "I never thought I'd catch you guys snogging each other this fast!"

Colin looked over to Olivia, who was covering her eyes with her tiny hands. "Hey, Olly. You can open your eyes now. Come over here." Colin opened up his arms, inviting Olivia over.

Taking her hands away, Olivia squealed. "Colin!" she yelled, jumping into his arms and squeezing him silly. "How was your day?" she asked, her eyes naturally wide and innocent." Colin couldn't help but smile.

"It was great, little one. How was your day?"

"It was perfect!" she exclaimed. "Ginny and I went to a book store! I forgot what it was called though .."

"Flourish and Botts?" suggested Ginny.

"Yes! Flourish and Botts! We went there and we saw Lushie, Cissy and Drakie! It was the best! I loved it! You should of came, Colin!" Olivia kept babbling on about how Lucius, Narcissa and Draco all had blonde hair. "And Lushie was so nice! He said that maybe if I stay a good girl, I can get my own unicorn!"

Colin grinned. "That's grand, Olly!"

Ginny shook her head. "This is how we talked the whole way we came here. She just kept jabbering on and on .." Dean guffawed.

"She's adorable. That's Hermione's little sister, right?" he asked.

"Yep, she got her a day or two ago. She'll be staying with us for a while. Won't you, baby?" cooed Ginny.

"Yes, Ginny. I like living in Hoggy-Warts than back at home! It's much more interesting here! I like that ghost .. Uh .. Nearly headless Nicky!" She nodded her head vigorously. "He's funny, but his head is almost gone!"

The three older kids laughed. "Hey, Ginny?" asked Colin.

"Yeah, Col?"

"Who's Lushie, Cissy and Drakie?" he asked, both his eyebrows raised. Dean shifted closer to them, also wanting to know.

Ginny paused, her mouth open to say something. "Well .. Uh .. We met them at Flourish and Botts .. And .. Yeah .." she said uneasily. She shot a glance at Olivia, urging her to go along with it.

"Ginny is right, Colin! We met them .. They are so nice. Lushie said that if I get older I can be a witch, too!" Olivia exclaimed.

Colin chuckled. "Alright .. You'll probably be just like your sister. Bushy hair and all."

Olivia pouted. "Hey! I don't have bushy hair!"

Dean rolled his eyes. "Great .. My boyfriend is actually arguing with a six year old.

Colin stopped what he was doing. ".. B-Boyfriend?"

Dean smiled. "Of course. I don't go around and snog guys senseless and than leave them! You think I'm some kind of man-whore?"

"Of course not." replied Colin, bending over and pecking Dean on the lips. "Hey, Ginny .. Olly .. Can you leave me and Dean alone for a second? I need to talk to him."

"Sure!" Ginny grabbed Olivia by the hand, both of them saying goodbye to the boys. The snow was beginning to fall lightly, the pure white quintessence making the lake look even more beautiful.

"Dean .." Colin started. ".. I like you .. a lot .. But, it is alright if we keep this relationship low .. I just .. I'm not ready to .. Well .. 'come out'."

Dean sighed. "I was hoping you wouldn't say that. I like you a lot, too. I want to show the world how much I care about you, Colin. But .. If you want to keep this a secret .. Than I guess it's alright. As long as I'm with you."

The two teenage boys looked at each other, happiness written all over their faces. Both leaning forward, they met in a gentle, passionate kiss; portraying the feelings they had for each other.

Ginny and Olly left Dean and Colin to talk about whatever they needed to discuss. "Ginny, where are we going?" asked Olivia, her nose turning red from the cold.

"Well, honey, maybe you want to go and grab some food. Maybe I'll be nice enough to let you take a sip of my butterbeer." suggested Ginny, walking towards The Three Broomsticks, her hand around Olivia's.

"Yay!" yelled the girl, jumping up and down; almost looking like a frog.

They entered the place, immediately welcomed with warmth. Choosing a booth over to the far side of the restaurant, Ginny let Olivia slide in first. "So, baby, what do you want?"

Olivia placed a finger on her chin, deep in thought. "Uh .. Can I have a cheeseburger?"

Ginny looked puzzled. "What in Merlin's name is a cheeseburger?"

"Forget it." she said sulkily. "I want mashed potatoes with bits of chicken, please!"

"To drink?" asked Ginny.

"Uh .. Pumpkin juice!" squealed the little girl.

The waitress came and took their orders, Olivia ordering the mashed potatoes and Ginny getting a piece of pumpkin pie. "Can I really drink some of your butterbeer?" asked Olivia, widening her eyes for affect.

"Maybe!" said Ginny, grinning at Olivia's pouting face.

"Please, Ginny? Please."

Rolling her eyes, Ginny nodded. "Fine .. Olly .. Fine!"

"Yay!"

The two began to talk happily, mostly about unicorns and owls. Olivia's topics of course! It was when Olivia asked about love, Ginny refused to answer.

"Why won't you tell me?" Olivia asked inquisitively.

Ginny sighed. "Honey .. It's not something you really want learn about right now. Believe me .. When you find out .. You find out. Now .. Can we please change the subject?"

"Alright." droned Olivia. "Do you think I'll be able to see a unicorn?"

That's how their conversation was for a whole ten minutes; Olivia blabbering on about how animals were her favorite thing in the world and Ginny laughing and nodding at the girl's excitement. They ate as they spoke. In the middle of the talk, two people arrived at their table.

"Mione!" yelled Olivia, running over to her big sister and enveloping her in an embrace. "I've missed you!"

Hermione smiled. "I missed you too, little one!"

Ronald slid in the booth, gesturing for the sisters to slide in too. "Hey, Gin. What have you been up to?"

"Well, I went to Flourish and Botts .. Bought some novels .. And then had a little chat with Colin and Dean .. Then came here!"

Ron rolled his eyes. "You've had such an exciting day!" he said sardonically.

"What did you do?" Ginny countered.

Hermione butt in, already in her seat, Olivia in her lap. "We were having a monster snowball fight! It was brilliant! You should of seen Ron's face .. He was practically bawling like a baby!"

Ron gasped. "I was not!" he retorted. "It was cold! I was numb! My whole body was red! I wasn't crying!"

"He's lying .." stated Hermione.

"It was great .. Until Malfoy and Zabini showed up." explained Ron.

Ginny's head snapped up at the sound of Draco's last name. "What?"

"They threw a few insults .. They .. They made Mione cry." said Ron sadly.

"Oh Merlin." Ginny whispered, wondering what Hermione's boyfriend would say to her. Hermione told her about them making up, but this .. This could ruin it all. "What happened, Mione?"

"They said .." Hermione's voice was quiet. "They said I was Ron's whore."

Olivia's eyes widened. "Mione! That's a bad word!" exclaimed the girl. "Who said that?!"

"I don't want you saying that word, okay baby?" asked Hermione.

"I know! But .. Who said that?!"

Ron cut in. "Malfoy said that. He and Zabini kept on insulting us .. It was pretty predictable, but hurt Mione nonetheless."

"Malfoy?" Olivia said to herself. Her eyes widened even wider when she realized where she heard that name. "Lushie and Cissy! Drakie, too!" she yelled.

Ginny swallowed. "Olly .. Remember what we talked about?" said Ginny through her teeth. The red head made Olivia promise never to tell anyone of what happened during their visit to Flourish and Botts right after they talked to Colin and Dean.

"Oh .. Sorry." apologized Olivia. "Mione .. Why did he say that?"

"He hates me, Olivia. He hates me .. He hates our parents .. He hates you .. He hates all Muggle borns!" said Hermione harshly. "Thinks he's so high and mighty. Along with his friend .. Zabini."

Ginny placed her hand over Hermione's. "Mione .. We need to talk later." Hermione nodded. "Do you guys want to go? We've already eaten."

"Sure." said Ron, picking Olivia up and carrying her. "Come on, Olly. Let's go and play in the snow!" Olivia squealed in delight, giggling while Ron ran out the door and to the outside.

"Oh Merlin .. Mione are you okay?!" Hermione broke into sobs, getting closer to Ginny and leaning on her shoulder.

"It was horrible, Ginny! He backed up Malfoy as if he was right! He .. He said he loved me! And he goes and says all this! What do I do, Ginny?! What the bloody hell do I do?!" wept the girl.

Ginny stroked Hermione's hair. "Hey .. It's alright. You'll get through this. You've got me, Colin, Neville, Ron, Harry, and Olivia. We're here for you, love. Everything will be just fine. If you want to stay with him .. Stay with him. But, if you feel that you can no longer take all this .. Then leave him, Mione." Ginny said soothingly. "This is your decision and yours alone."

"I-I love him."

"I know, Hon. I know."

This reminded her so much of the night Draco kicked her out. It was so much like that night.

Blaise was hanging out with Draco and the rest of the Slytherins just outside of The Three Broomsticks. They just arrived there at that very second. Draco was in the middle of telling one of his favorite stories, when Blaise spotted Ronald Weasely, a small girl in his arms, laughing and running into a huge patch of snow. Giggles were heard from their distance, the little girl running around and Ron chasing her.

"Aw, look." stated Draco. "It's the littlest Mudblood and Weasel .. Having some fun in the snow. She'll be his sister in law soon."

Blaise clenched his fists. "Shut it, Draco." he growled.

Everyone of the Slytherins looked his way. "Excuse me, Blaise?"

"I said to bloody shut it." sneered Blaise. "Do you always have to be a git? Are you really this sour? I've been friends with you for your whole life and only in school do you act like this.

"You're cold and a bastard around these so called 'friends' of yours. Do you not take any pride in yourself? In your mother? Your father? Do you not want to make them proud? No wonder you're bloody incapable of loving!" Blaise stalked away, leaving a puzzled Draco and pissed off Slytherins behind.

Olivia and Ron were making snow angels in the snow, when a tall figure blocked Olivia's view of the sky. "Excuse me, Sir." she said politely, staring into a pool of dark blue eyes. "You're in my way of the clouds."

Snow was falling on her face, her cheeks now a crimson color. "Are you Olivia?" asked Blaise.

Ron was too busy staring at someone to even notice Blaise standing there. "Why do you ask?" asked Olivia.

"Well .. I was wondering if you can take me to your sister."

"You mean Mione? She's in the Three Broomsticks with Ginny. She's sad. Someone named Zagbeeny said something very mean to her!" explained Olivia, having no blue to who this boy was.

Blaise looked downwards, ashamed. "Is she mad at 'Zagbeeny'?"

Olivia shook her head. "No, she's just sad. His friend called her a bad word."

"You think you can lead me to her?"

Twisting her lips together, Olivia thought for a while. "Hhmm .. Okay!" She tumbled forward, getting up.

Ron saw this movement and got up also, brushing off any snow on his jacket. He looked up. "What the hell are you doing here, Zabini?" he snarled.

Olivia clamped a hand over her mouth. "You're Zagbeeny!"

"I need to speak to Hermione." said Blaise softly, not meeting Ron's evil glare. "I want to .. I want to apologize for what I said."

Ron scoffed. "It's too bloody late for that. Why would you say sorry anyways? Aren't all Muggle borns and Weasely scum?" he spat at him.

"No." replied Blaise quietly. "I never said, nor did I ever think, that Muggle borns and Weasely's were scum."

Olivia grasped his hand. "I'll take you to Mione."

Ron looked back and forth at the two, the pair already walking away. "Hey!" he trudged behind them, glaring a hole in the back of Blaise's head. "You're bloody lucky I love Olly." he said to Blaise callously.

"You're bloody lucky I love Hermione." he whispered to himself, entering the Three Broomsticks, with Ron behind him and Olivia.

They walked forward and found a rather large gathering of people in the back of the place. They all had green emblems on their robes.

Slytherins.

Surrounding Ginny and Hermione's table.

"This is not good." stated Olivia, letting go of Blaise's hand and crouching down; crawling on the floor underneath all the boys and girls, hoping to get through to Hermione and Ginny.

"Olivia! What are you doing on the floor?!" yelled a voice.

"Did I say you could talk, Granger?" drawled another.

(A/N:) so lovies .. what did you think? you like? this is a very long chapter .. well .. lol .. to me! anyways .. i hope you all review .. the next chapter is all about what happens in the Three Broomsticks .. and how Ginny knew about Colin's sexuality .. and what happens with Ginny and Draco. Lot of cursing .. i think .. and more of Olivia! (she's my favorite .. such a peach)

thanks for the reviews guys! as always - fawning over cheese,
chalk & gatorade :)