"I can not wait for Christmas!" Kylie Carragan said to Harry. They were walking toward the Gryffindor common room, which was now filled with students. Harry said the password, strawberry jam, and ran through the door. Ron was sitting with Riley laughing loudly. Harry went over to join them, and looked over at Hermione. She was sitting by the fire looking through a book. He got up and walked over to her. For the last two weeks nobody had spoken to Hermione, besides Riley. Ron and Harry hadn't completely forgiven her and Ron hadn't said a word to her. She didn't even look up as he walked over to her table.

"Um, Hermione," Harry said, "Do you want to come over and sit down with me?" Hermione looked up, shocked.

"Really?" she asked, whispering. Harry nodded and she smiled. They got up and walked over to the couch where Riley and Ron were still laughing at jokes. Riley looked up, but Ron would not look at Hermione. After fifteen minutes nobody had anything to say, then Lina Black came over.

"Hi Ron," she said and waved. Then she walked up to the dormitories. Hermione looked disgusted and followed her up. Neither Riley, Harry, or Ron wanted to talk, except one thing.

"You know what," Harry told them, "I think I like Lina." When Harry walked out he heard Ron say "What is with all this Romance? And why isn't any of it coming my way?"

The news that Harry Potter liked Lina Black spread through the Gryffindors, and then through the whole school. Lina seemed to like it and sat next to Harry at lunch everyday. Hermione hated what was going on. She also hated Lina Black and didn't trust her. Harry started talking to Hermione again, but Hermione didn't want to talk to him, especially when Harry announced that Lina and he were going out. Harry knew how Hermione felt but really liked Lina. He was also surprised that he got over Cho Chang so quickly. Ron seemed to be taking it very well. Everything seemed to be going very well, except for Ron and Hermione's fight, when something happened that made everyone curious about Harry and Hermione.

On December fifteenth Hermione was talking to JoAnna Gregory in the hallway. All the houses were waiting to go out to the Qudditch field, when JoAnna yelled.

"You like Harry Potter as more than a friend!" Everyone turned toward Hermione who had gone as pale as a ghost. Harry couldn't believe what he had just heard. Lina was standing right next to him obviously enraged. Ron also looked shocked and confused. Hermione looked at Harry, then at Lina. When she looked at Ron she ran out of the hall to the Gryffindor tower. Lina ran after her. Ron turned to Harry and told him he had to go to the bathroom. Riley ran to the tower, while everyone came over to Harry asking what was going on. He tried to look over the crowd, but was unsucceful.

Professor McGonnagal walked over and told everyone to follow her. Harry turned to follow, when Draco Malfoy ran up to him.

"Okay Potter, I need some help," he said regretfully. Harry was so confused that he just asked what Malfoy wanted.

"I want to know what to get Riley for Christmas, I mean she deserves something really special."

"Well Malfoy, I have to ask you something." Harry said to him.

"What?" Malfoy answered.

"You do know that Riley is muggle-born?"

"Yeah."

"And you still want to go out with her?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, okay." Harry couldn't believe that Malfoy didn't care. It was like he had changed overnight, just because of Riley. Malfoy stood there waiting for Harry to say something, but Harry didn't know what to say.

"Why don't you get her a… cat," Harry blurted. Malfoy smiled at this and nodded his head approvingly.

"She told me she loves cats, especially kittens," Harry continued.

"You know Potter I have a feeling Riley and you are both not telling me something," Malfoy said smirking, "What is it? I think since you two are friends, that we need to have a truce. But I am not being your friend." After Harry didn't answer, Malfoy started to leave.

"I will find out Potter." He yelled over his shoulder, walking towards Crabbe and Goyle. Harry suddenly had a feeling that Malfoy was right. Draco Malfoy got whatever he wanted. He would find out that they were cousins.

Meanwhile in the Gryffindor Common room Hermione was sitting in a chair, feeling embarrassed and confused. Ron ran in followed by Riley. Riley sat down next to Hermione, and Ron glared at her.

"You like Harry, well what a surprise. I'm sure you will give him a great Christmas present that will make up for mine because I just don't have enough to buy anyone a present this year," Ron yelled as he walked down the hall. Riley got up and followed him, leaving Hermione sitting on the couch burying her face in her hands.

"What is with you?" Riley screamed to Ron. He turned around, his face full o anger. Riley stepped back.

"Nothing," Ron murmured.

"Oh I believe there is more to this then you are letting on. You haven't spoken to Hermione for nearly a month, I think it is about time you two made up."

"There is nothing Riley, I just…" Ron started then stopped. Girls screaming reached their ears and they ran back to the Common room.

"He's mine!" they heard Lina Black screaming at Hermione.

"I-I don't…" Hermione was saying.

"You don't what? Care what I think?"

"I don't like him like that Lina."

"I can tell when someone is lying, either back off or I will have to get serious."

"What? No please," Hermione was sobbing. Just then Lina kicked Hermione in the shins and she collapsed. Ron ran over to Hermione, as Lina was about to kick her again. He got in front of Lina and blocked Hermione from the kick and the punch that was coming towards him. He fell to the ground, his nose bleeding and hit his head on the edge of the table.

"Ron!" Hermione screamed trying to help him, but he was not moving. Riley took Hermione and ran up to their room before Lina tried anything else.

"Are you all right Hermione?" Riley asked, panting from running up the stairs.

"I'm fine but Ron isn't! Go help him and get Lina out!" Hermione screamed heading for the door. They heard a scream and realized that Kylie Carragan had come into the Common room.

"Lina, what did you do to him? He's not moving!" Kylie screamed.

"I didn't mean to hit him! I meant to get Granger, he must've blocked her." Lina answered back sounding mortified.

"Hit Hermione Granger? Why?"

"She was going to take my boyfriend!"

"She doesn't like Harry like that! I know!" At that moment Hermione and Riley ran into the Common room.

"Ron! He isn't dead is he?" Hermione yelled, panicking. Riley and Lina ran out of the room, while Kylie was observing Ron.

"I don't think he's…" Kylie broke off. Hermione sat next to Ron wishing she hadn't said he was poor.

"Help! Someone help! Ron Weasley is…" Riley was screaming for Professor McGonagall, as she ran down toward the large group of people near the door. Harry heard her and ran out of the group followed by Professor McGonagall, Snape, and Dumbledore.

"What is it Riley?" Professor Dumbledore asked calmly.

"R-Ron Weasley is in the Gryffindor Common room. I think he is unconscious. Lina Black and Hermione Granger were fighting and she kicked Hermione.

"Then she went to kick her again, but Ron blocked her and got kicked instead, and Lina also punched him and he fell backward and hit his head on the corner of the table. He isn't moving, we need to help him!" Riley finished gasping for breath.

"Omigoodness!" Professor McGonagall yelled already half way down the hall. Snape, Hary, Riley, and Dumbledore followed her. They burst through the fat lady door and heading over to Ron. McGonagall fell to Ron's side and checked his pulse. Professor McGonagall nodded, which made Harry breath in deep, and Dumbledore started barking out orders.

"He's still breathing, but I think he got a pretty big hit to the head. Kylie and Lina go get Madam Pomfrey, Snape keep everyone from entering the Common room, and Minerva go send all the other students to the Great Hall for dinner, it is time to eat. Also, Minerva go get Fred, George, and Ginny Weasley and send them in here." Everyone did as they were told. Ron was taken up to the nurse as the three Weasleys walked in. Ginny started to cry and ran over to Harry.

"What happened?" she cried. Fred and George ran over to him too with worried faces. Hermione came over and told them the whole story. Riley was standing there looking like she wasn't worried at all.

"What if he dies?" Ginny cried, screaming about her big brother. Riley walked over to her.

"He will be fine. He won't die I mean he only got punched, even though it was pretty hard, and I just know he will be fine. Might have a bit of a memory disorder though." She said patting Ginny on the back. Nobody spoke as they left to go to dinner. There was nothing to say.

When they walked into the Great Hall all the whispers stopped, and everyone looked up. Professor McGonagall was sitting in her chair looking worried. After about ten minutes Dumbledore and Snape walked in, followed by Kylie and Lina. Kylie sat at the table and didn't say a word. Lina walked up to the table to receive her punishment. She came down and sat at the table as well, looking very scared. Just then Dumbledore stood up and motioned for everyone to be quiet.

"Well tonight has been rather exciting. We just came down from the hospital wing where Ronald Weasley is injured. There has been a fight between two of the students, who I shall not name," he looked over at the Gryffindor table.

" Mr. Weasley had tried to block the one student from a punch and got a blow to the head and a bruised ankle. Mr. Weasley is still not unconscious, but he is fine. But he will probably, since he got hit pretty hard, suffer from some short term memory loss for the next week or two. So everyone will have to acknoledge that and this should teach you all a lesson. Not to fight! Now you all can go back to eating with this in mind. Mr. Weasley will only have certain visitors. I will read their names. All teachers, Fred, George, and Ginny Weasley, since they are family. Also, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Riley Evans, and, as a request from himself, Draco Malfoy." He sat down and began to eat. Everyone looked at Harry and Draco, assuming they had started the fight. Dumbledore, obviously realizing this, stood up.

"I will only tell you that Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy had no part of this fight, which means they weren't fighting. So please go on eating and don't stare." He sat down again. Harry looked over at the Slytherin table, where Malfoy was staring right back at him. Why would Malfoy want to come see Ron, Harry thought to himself. At the other end of the hall Draco Malfoy was thinking, I didn't request to see Weasley. What is going on? Confused and tired, Harry picked through his food.

The next day was a Saturday and almost everyone went to Hogsmeade except Harry, Hermione, Riley, and Ron. Harry, Hermione, and Riley didn't leave Ron's side all day. Ron still hadn't woken up and Harry could tell Hermione was getting more worried by the moment. Riley still didn't seem too concerned which puzzled Harry more than everything, besides Malfoy. She kept reassuring them that Ron was going to be fine, and that he would get out of the hospital wing by lunch on Monday. Harry knew Riley wasn't telling him something. He was going to find out, and when he did he was sure he would be shocked.