And everything was ok, for the time being anyway. The first week of Ron, Hermione, and Harry's new sixth year classes sped by in a blur of blinding colors. Harry had his first private lesson with Dumbledore that night and both Ron and Hermione had to patrol the corridors for an hour before they could return to the common room to finish their homework.
"What do you suppose Dumbledore is going to teach Harry?" Ron asked quietly to Hermione.
"Knowing Dumbledore… well… I have no clue," Hermione grinned. "Who knows what is important in Dumbledore's mind."
"True," Ron said in agreement. "You know what I don't get?"
"What?" asked Hermione.
"I don't get why we have to patrol the corridors anymore. I mean think about it, who in their right mind would be walking around in the middle of the night when Voldemort could be anywhere?"
"Honestly, Ron," Hermione sighed. "Do you think that everyone is going to stay out of his way? There are tons of stupid people in this world. I bet many students are going to take this as a challenge, to see if they can not get caught wandering the halls after hours."
"Maybe if we didn't have so many thick people in this world, we would actually be winning this war," Ron said.
Hermione let out a small laugh, "If only it were that simple."
The two prefects rounded the corner making their way back to the Fat Lady's portrait and saw a small first year girl standing near the Room of Requirement holding a scale. She turned abruptly to face them and dropped the scale.
Hermione rushed to the little girl's aid and cooed, "It's ok. Why don't you go back to your common room?" She nodded her blonde head and pelted in the opposite direction.
"Why didn't you give her a detention or something? You do to everyone else…" Ron said incredulously.
"Did you see the look on her face? She looked utterly mortified. We aren't that intimidating are we?" Hermione asked concerned. She turned around to look at the small first year rushing around the corner.
"She'll be fine Hermione, come on let's go, we still have that essay for Principles of Rematerialization to finish," Ron said trying to tear her mind from the little first year girl.
"You mean you still have that essay on the Principles of Rematerialization to finish," Hermione grinned up at her gangly friend.
"You've already finished it? But I saw you writing it when Harry left for-"
"Yes, you saw me put the last sentence on that essay before I took it away from your cheating eyes," Hermione completed his sentence.
"Alright, what about Slughorn's ten inch essay on Amortentia?" Ron asked victoriously.
"Finished," Hermione said airily and smiled, yet again, at the sight of Ron's gaping mouth. "Although I should check it over for grammar mistakes…"
"Bloody hell Hermione, where do you find the time?" Ron asked skeptically and glanced at her neckline.
"Ron, I don't have a time turner," Hermione said rolling her eyes in the process. "We destroyed the cabinet last year at the Ministry remember?"
"Oh yeah," Ron muttered sheepishly. Their watch was over and they both silently made their way to the warm Gryffindor common room.
When they reached the Gryffindor common room Hermione piped up, "You don't suppose Harry is back yet, do you? We said that we would be waiting for him…"
"I doubt it," Ron said as they walked through the portrait hole. Not wanting a fiasco like the last time they tried to walk through a doorway, Ron stepped to one side and let her through first. She blushed as she climbed through the portrait hole, and then walked toward the plush sofa next to the crackling fire.
Ron sighed heavily as he dropped onto the couch next to Hermione. She looked at him over her essay for Slughorn and saw his eyelids begin to droop. "You know Ron," Hermione began, startling him. "Just because it is Saturday doesn't mean you should save all of your work until tomorrow night at midnight."
Ron rolled his eyes and grinned crookedly, "I am a procrastinator, what can I say?"
"Of course," Hermione said nodding her head in total agreement. "After six years of knowing you, I shouldn't have even bothered to tell you that."
Ron smiled again, pulled out his essay, and began to write more nonsense. Hermione shook her head and continued to check her Potion's essay for grammar mistakes.
"Of all the potions in the wizarding world, Amortentia is one that is commonly recognized and used by many. Amortentia is the strongest love potion in the world, and it can be recognized by its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen, its spiraling steam, and of course the potion smells differently to each of us depending on what attracts us. For me in particular, it smelled strongly of freshly mown grass, new parchment, and a fresh soapy clean smell. The only smell that I can't seem to put a finger on is the fresh, clean smell, I am sure that it does attract me but I don't know where it comes from…"
Where does it come from? Hermione thought. It was absolutely killing her that she had no clue where she had smelled that scent before. It was so familiar, yet so hard to place.
Hermione and Ron heard the portrait door open and saw Harry striding through it looking exhausted. He collapsed onto the small chair next to the couch where Ron and Hermione were seated and sighed deeply.
Both Ron and Hermione looked at him expectantly. "What did Dumbledore teach you?" Ron said quietly, not wanting to interrupt Harry's thoughts.
Harry remained quiet, still staring blankly into the fire embers, his brow furrowed. "Harry?" Hermione whispered cautiously.
Harry blinked and shook his head vigorously, "Sorry," he apologized quickly. "Dumbledore just gave me a lot to think over."
"Like what?" Ron asked excitedly.
Harry explained everything that had occurred that night in the pensieve and his talks with Dumbledore about Tom Riddle.
"So he still hasn't told you what the ring was for and how he injured his hand?" Ron asked.
"No, but I am hoping maybe he will next lesson," Harry said stifling a huge yawn.
"Harry, you should really get some rest," Hermione insisted.
"Yeah, I suppose you are right," Harry said rising from his chair, Ron and Hermione followed suit. "You always are. See up there in a few minutes Ron?"
"Yeah, I'll be up there in a minute, I just have to ask Hermione a quick question," He said turning to Hermione. "Did I get all of the characteristics of Amortentia right? I wasn't really paying attention to what you were saying in class…"
Hermione skimmed what he had written so far and said, "Yes, you just have to write about the distinctive steam spirals and you will be set to go."
"Thanks Hermione," Ron said appreciatively. He sat back down and began to write what Hermione had just told him.
As he sat down, Hermione smelled the distinctive fresh, clean smell she had smelled early in Slughorn's office. Her eyes widened.
Ron stood back up and said, "Thanks again Hermione, see you tomorrow!" She watched him rush up to the boys dormitories, skipping every other step.
It was Ron. That scent she had smelled from the Amortentia was something that came off of Ron. It had to be his shampoo or something. Hermione ran a hand through her bushy brown hair in disbelief.
It's not like it is a surprise, her mind argued. What did you think it was going to be? A special cleaning product?
She stared into the dieing embers for a time, until finally she warily got up and made it up to her dormitory. I told myself that I wasn't waiting for him anymore. This doesn't change anything…
Does it?