Chapter 3

It just made her heart ache when she thought of Ron and the circumstances of their break-up. With all that had happened recently, she had not even had time to properly grieve his loss. She supposed she was still hoping that one day he would understand and approve of what she was trying to do. She hoped, further, that he would get his head on straight and join her. But after hearing what Malfoy had to say about Ron's activities … Now she felt there was no hope at all. Ron was stubborn, but this was beyond the pale. How could Ron turn into a thug? How could he be running around deliberately hurting people? He wasn't even being discriminating, apparently. The message he was sending was 'all Slytherins are bad and deserve to be punished'. It was ridiculous!

And, she felt that he, by organising like this, was trying to deliberately undermine her own efforts at bringing everyone together. She could feel his vengefulness. She hoped she was just being oversensitive. But she didn't really think she was at all.

Hermione felt her tears begin to come. 'Oh, Ron. You are acting the fool, and I don't know what will make you change course.' Her tears flowed more freely now. 'Better to get it over,' she said in a quavering voice.

After a good cry, Hermione felt exhausted. Suddenly, her plan seemed almost inconsequential against her own pain. She did not fight her apathy, but only drug herself back to Gryffindor tower and to bed. She needed sleep. It was all she could think of to even come close to soothing her aching heart. Tomorrow would be another big day.

The next morning, Hermione awoke early with a headache and a revelation… 'Why didn't I think of this before?' she whispered to the silent room. Her roommates were asleep, still. It was still dark. But she reached to her nightstand for a parchment and quill. She pulled a large book into her lap as a makeshift writing desk and cast Lumos on the parchment. Wand in one hand, quill in the other, she began to write.

'Dear Mrs Weasley…'

She wrote furiously, detailing first her plan and then Ron's opposition. Then she dropped the bomb…

'Because of all this, Ron has broken things off with me and rumour has it that he and some other students of like mind with him are now terrorizing the Slytherins every chance they get. They are, in fact, organized. It is like systematic persecution.

I know Ron is really hurting over Fred's death. And I know he needs someone to blame. And, yes, the Slytherins played a large role in the terrible things that happened before and after the war. But if we don't change the prevailing attitude in our world concerning the Slytherins we will only reap more of the same. Of that I am certain…'

As soon as Hermione had written the last line, she rolled up her parchment, dressed hurriedly, and rushed off to the school owlery. She wanted to send this letter as soon as possible. She just KNEW Mrs Weasley would deal with Ron more effectively than anyone else at this point. In fact, she was counting on it.

Hermione went to breakfast feeling considerably lighter than she had in days. She managed a smile at Harry as she sat down and reached for the platter of scrambled eggs. She noted that Ron and some of his cohorts were sitting at the other end of the table. Judging from Ron's face, he had noticed her, too. She only smiled again. 'You are in for a big surprise, Ron Weasley,' she said loud enough for Harry to hear.

'What surprise is Ron in for, Hermione?' Harry's expression was quizzical. Half smile, half frown.

'I wrote to Mrs Weasley this morning about what we are trying to do and Ron's reaction,' she said lightly as she plucked a piece of toast up and begun buttering it.

'You what?' Harry expostulated. But he was smiling, too. 'Ron will be pissed!' he laughed. 'You've just upped the game, Hermione. You know that, don't you?'

Hermione's smile broadened. 'But, Harry, Ron will listen to his Mum. She won't have it any other way. You must know that.'

Suddenly, Harry was very serious. 'I don't know, Hermione. Ron has changed. I mean REALLY changed. I don't know if at this point he'll listen to anyone.' Harry took a sip of his tea and seemed to be ruminating. Hermione watched him for awhile and then remembered she had a bone to pick with Harry.

'And what's the big idea not telling me about Ron's little gang, Harry Potter?' she said in an angry whisper. 'Why would you keep something like that from me?'

Harry looked instantly guilty. 'Hermione,' he began. 'Truthfully, I thought I could talk to Ron and help him see reason. I thought I could spare you having to know what he has become, because I didn't think it would be too late to bring him back. But I was wrong.' Hermione sensed Harry was still hiding something from him.

'What is it, Harry?' she asked, placing her hand on his. 'Just tell me.'

Harry looked at her for a few seconds, searching her face. 'I think Ron is never coming back, Hermione,' he said finally. 'He is just so full of hatred. I know it comes from his grief at losing Fred … and the many others.' Harry's eyes clouded. 'But it's as if he is almost deranged now. He's bent on taking his pound of flesh. He can't be reasoned with anymore. I tried. I really tried. He just won't listen!' Harry looked heartbroken.

'Good god,' Hermione breathed. Suddenly, eating was out of the question. 'What does Ginny say?' Hermione searched Harry's face. Certainly Ginny saw things for what they were…

'Ginny and Ron had it out yesterday in the courtyard. It got really ugly. She is a stubborn girl.' Harry chuckled mirthlessly. 'She totally decried him. Told him she would have nothing to do with him if he didn't stop terrorizing people. He responded by turning his back on her and saying he didn't know what she was talking about.' Harry was shaking his head. 'I just don't know how this could be happening.'

Hermione sagged down into her seat. 'Merlin,' she whimpered. 'He really is far gone.'

'Yes,' Harry said simply.

Hermione looked at her hands. Then she straightened up abruptly. 'Well, that's it then,' she said forcefully.

Harry looked up at her. 'What do you mean?'

'I mean we can't worry about getting Ron back anymore. We have a mission and he has to become to us a mere obstacle that we must overcome.' Hermione was acting more confident than she felt.

Harry looked confused for a moment, but then his face cleared. 'You're right. What do we do?'

'Well, we go to the N.E. class. That's where all the older students will begin being examples of tolerance and forgiveness.' She paused. 'Harry, I spoke to Malfoy last night.'

Harry gaped at her. 'Why?' he asked, obviously flabbergasted.

Hermione filled him in on the conversation excitedly. And ended with… 'So you see why we have to do our best to stop Ron and his gang?' It was half statement, half question. 'We don't want the Slytherins to get too frustrated and try to retaliate. One way or another we have to stop Ron.'

Harry nodded. 'I'll work on that,' he said darkly. 'You focus on keeping peace in the ranks. You do what you're good at and I'll do what I can as per Ron.' Hermione felt uneasy about treating Ron as merely an issue to be resolved, but she knew there was no other way. 'Ok,' she said. 'We had better get to class.'

The N.E. class was in a formerly empty classroom on third floor. When Hermione and Harry entered, the room was already half full. And Snape was at his desk, shuffling through what Hermione could only presume were his notes. He did not look up at her at all … not that she expected him to after their last conversation. She just hoped he would not make the class unbearable for her. She tried not to let her heart sink at that thought.

Hermione scanned the room to see who was already there. She immediately saw the typical lay out of Slytherins keeping tightly to themselves, while the rest of the room was occupied by the other houses.

iThat is the first thing to do./i She thought determinedly. iI can't believe I didn't think of it before. Time to step things up a bit./i And she walked straight over to the comparatively smaller group. Malfoy looked up at her, eyes wide. He had apparently not seen this aggressive move coming.

'Good morning, Malfoy,' Hermione said pleasantly. Malfoy looked momentarily non plussed. The other Slytherins around him were watching closely.

'Good morning, Granger,' he replied smoothly. Then he waited to see what she would do.

'Is this seat taken?' she asked, pointing to the desk near his. Malfoy didn't even flinch, to his credit.

'No, it's free,' he said simply. Hermione sat down and gestured for Harry to take the seat next to hers. Harry did so with a smileless nod to Malfoy. Malfoy's return nod was just as expressionless. Hermione smiled.

iAnd we're off to the races./i She thought.

The reaction in the room was palpable. The other students were openly gaping and whispering. Some … those who were with Hermione on her crusade … were smiling and moving a little closer to the tight knit group of Slytherins. Others were hanging back. Apparently wishing to stay on the fringes and observe.

When Hermione looked up at the teacher's desk, she found that Snape's eyes were hard upon her. He did not look angry, but he did not look convinced. She smiled at him and then bent to her bag to remove some of her books. This was just the beginning…

Just then, Ron and his group entered the room. Ron's eyes swept over the now full class of students. And they narrowed when he saw where Hermione and Harry were seated. Hermione stared right back at him and refused to back down. He sneered and swaggered to his usual place at the back of the room, henchmen in tow.

As soon as Snape stood to begin the class, Hermione was made aware once again that he had not changed his teaching methods at all. He was still abrupt and contentious. The group in the back of the room made everyone aware that they were not impressed. They whispered and shot spit wads at the backs of the Slytherin's heads. The Slytherins remained silent. They did not even turn around, but kept their angry eyes straight ahead. It was clear that Malfoy was wielding his control over them. But he kept shooting looks at Hermione. And she looked loads of apologies back to him. She wished she could tell him that Harry was going to try to handle it. Though she was not sure what good that would do.

Snape, on the other hand, DID end up handling it. Hermione could not understand why he was letting the group get away with such antics. And then halfway through the class he slammed his book down on the desk and boomed, 'Mr Weasley, you and your cohorts are now awarded 1 month of detention with me for your general disruption of this class. If you keep it up, I will not hesitate to expel you from the class and you will have to get along without your N.E.! Now, desist your disruptive ways this instant!'

Ron stood abruptly. Hermione gasped. Was Ron really so far gone he would confront a teacher? Would he really speak his mind to Snape? Snape did not back down, but took three steps toward the group and patted the wand in his robe pocket. His eyes were hard as coal. His jaw set.

'Try it, Mr Weasley. Just try it,' he said in low, menacing tones.

Ron eyed Snape for a few more seconds and then spat, 'It's not worth it!' He sat back down, obviously seething. Hermione's heart was racing as she breathed a sigh of relief. The Slytherins, to their credit, had not uttered one word amongst them. Malfoy looked tense, but satisfied. Harry was shaking his head in disbelief.

Snape continued the class. But Hermione noticed he was more alert than usual. His eyes kept scanning the back of the room for any trouble. Ron and his gang did nothing more that could be called disruptive, but their belligerent energy was definitely directed at the Slytherins the whole time.

After two hours of instruction and reading, it was time for a break. Snape dismissed them all for a bathroom trip or just to stretch. There would be another hour, then lunch, and one more hour after that. Hermione and Harry stood to pull some the knots out of their muscle and then Hermione headed to the door to find the bathroom. Waiting just outside the door was Ron, his eyes hard and cold. She felt he was blocking her way. And when she tried to push past him, he would not move. She looked up at him, half expectation, half anger.

'What do you want, Ron?' she asked exasperatedly. His eyes narrowed, but she did not back down.

'So I see you are sitting with the Slytherins now, Hermione,' he said, his voice low. 'What … is Malfoy your new boyfriend?' He was taunting her.

'No. He is not. And it wouldn't be any of your business if he was,' Hermione countered. 'Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go to the ladies.' And she tried to push past him again. But he was unmovable.

'Oh, how the mighty have fallen,' he said, feigning dismay. 'You are pathetic, Hermione. Do you really think you can befriend the Slytherins. They are going along with you because they see that you and your cockamamie idea are their only salvation. That, and nothing more. You'll never truly win them. They're all bad to the bone. And they'll turn on you if it suits them. You're acting like a fool!' His voice was raised now.

'Leave me alone, Ron,' Hermione said evenly. 'I have no reason to explain myself to you.' And she pushed at him again in an attempt to get free. He only grabbed her arm and held her in place.

'I'm not done yet,' he growled. His eyes were flashing.

'Yes, you are, Mr Weasley,' came Snape's even but forbidding tones. 'Unhand Ms Granger at once.' Ron dropped her arm with a sneer.

'This is a private conversation … Professor!' Ron spat the word as though it tasted bad. 'You've no right to interfere.'

'I have every right to interfere when I see one student attempting to hold another student against her will. Now, I will say it only once more… Let. Her. Go!' Ron stared him down for a few seconds more and then moved aside. Hermione didn't look back. She was shaking with rage and fear. Ron had truly looked deranged.

She ran to the bathroom and immediately splashed water on her face in order to get in some kind of control. What was becoming of Ron?

It took all of ten minutes for her to calm down enough to actually use the bathroom and then she hurried back to the class room. She wondered what Snape would say to her being late. She entered the room without a word and hurried to her seat. Snape looked up at her, but said nothing. Nothing at all. She wondered if he would detain her after class.

The next hour was quiet. The only voice in the room was Snape's and that of the occasional student answering a question. Harry looked concerned at Hermione's countenance. Even Malfoy shot her looks of questioning now and then. But it was all Hermione could do to keep herself together in class.

When lunch time came, Harry touched her arm. 'Are you alright?' Malfoy leaned in to hear her answer, but Snape interrupted.

'Ms Granger, I would like to see you before you go to lunch.' He did not look up from his work as he spoke. Hermione felt her stomach drop to her shoes. She didn't think she could take another unpleasant incident. Harry looked volumes of sympathy before he got up to leave, and then the room was empty except for Hermione and Snape. She walked to his desk with her heart in her shoes.

'Professor Snape,' she said. 'You wished to see me?' Snape looked up and his expression gave nothing away.

'Yes. I merely wished to know if you are alright after your confrontation with Mr Weasley in the hall.' His tones were even and she did not sense animosity.

'Yes, I'm fine.' There was little conviction in her voice. But what else was there to say? It had happened and she had dealt with it.

Snape laid aside his quill and folded the parchment before him on his desk. His full attention was on her now. 'Ms Granger, I will make a suggestion. I hope you will be intelligent enough to take it.' He sat back in his chair. She waited. 'I do not think you should wander about the castle alone from now on.' Hermione's eyes widened.

'Why ever not?' Her voice squeaked a little.

'Because I do not think you are entirely safe. What you have chosen to do concerning the Slytherins has made you a target. And I think Ron Weasley could be a danger to you now.' He was observing her and the effect his words were having on her now.

'What?' She felt confusion rise up in her. 'No… Professor, Ron is a little off here, but he is not a danger to me! I mean, he would never really hurt me, sir. I am sure of it.'

Snape leaned forward in his chair. 'Ms Granger, you forget I was in the hall when he accosted you. I have seen men who are in a dangerous mood. I have been one myself. He was quite serious, I assure you.' Hermione began to protest again, but Snape stopped her with a hand gesture. 'No, now I am quite earnest, Ms Granger. I do not know what happened to Mr Weasley to make him go so far off, but I assure you he shows all the signs of being unsafe… especially to your person. He is jealous and very angry. He sees your work as in direct opposition to him. He sees what you are doing as a betrayal. He is not thinking clearly. I tell you, you must take precautions.' Snape's voice and face were now fully engaged. He was definitely serious. Hermione felt terrified. 'Ms Granger,'

Snape's voice softened. 'A lot of strange and sad things can happen after a war, Ms Granger. People change. People you would never imagine can and do go all wrong, because the pressure is just too much. I believe the Muggles call it post traumatic stress syndrome. Have you heard that term before?' Hermione nodded. She felt numb. 'You have to consider that Ron Weasley might be suffering some sort of psychosis. He was never really very strong, Ms Granger. You and Potter have pretty much propped him up for years. I think he may have just snapped after the war. I think you must prepare yourself for very bad things to happen with him. I hope you will heed me and not go about the castle without Potter or someone else with you at all times. I have given you fair warning…'

Hermione stood dumbly before the professor. She knew him to be a bastard, but also to be a great spy. He had skills she knew could only be of help to him in assessing Ron's case. She knew she had to take his words seriously.

'Alright, Professor,' she said plaintively. 'I will speak to Harry about staying with me when I am out of Gryffindor tower.' Snape nodded his approval. But he stopped her again. 'Ms Granger, however misguided I think your actions are just now, I now believe you are sincere in them. I have been watching all of this unfold for the last few days. And I know you have even met with Mr Malfoy.' He paused and looked down at his desk for a moment, and then looked back up again. 'I wish you luck in your quest.'

'Thank you, Professor Snape,' Hermione said sincerely. 'That means a lot.' Then she smiled and turned to go.

She did not see him following her with his eyes. For once he was not unreadable.

When Hermione got to lunch, Harry was there asking all kinds of questions. She shared with him what had occurred between her and Ron and then what Snape had said. Harry had been quicker to take Snape's warning seriously. He agreed that Hermione was not to wander about unattended.

At some point, Hermione noticed that Malfoy was watching her and Harry converse, with a definite curious look on his face. She debated for a few minutes whether or not to walk over and fill him in, but decided that would be too much too soon. The school was abuzz, no doubt, with all that had occurred in the N.E. class. Let them chew on that for awhile. It might be too much for their fellow classmates to see Malfoy and Hermione rubbing shoulders in the Great Hall. Slow and steady was the key here, she felt.

Several times, while Hermione was eating her lunch she noted Ron staring at her, a malicious look in his eyes. It made her stomach twist to see it. And to see the growing number of boys, and even some girls, that were apparently aligning themselves with him. Ron and his 'gang' now took up a whole table in the hall. Hermione felt amazed that none of the teachers were doing anything about it. But then, Malfoy had said that attacks were very covert and the gang left no evidence of their antics. None of the Slytherins had apparently reported the ill treatment they were enduring. Hermione imagined they were being threatened with more of the same if they did.

As if Harry was reading her mind, he spoke to her along the lines of her thoughts now. 'Ron is really starting to worry me, Hermione,' he said soto voce. He did not even look up from his plate. 'Look at him! He's like some kind of kingpin with all his followers. And if you could hear the stories I'm hearing…' He let out a whistle through his teeth and shook his head gravely.

'What IS going on, Harry? I mean, how bad is it?' She cringed as she asked. She wasn't sure she really wanted to know.

'Pretty bad,' Harry answered. 'They're even picking on the 1st through 3rd years. I guess they mean to teach them their place early. They use magic and physical means to beat up on people. And I have heard Ron and Seamus bragging about it amongst their followers. No one says anything to the teachers, though, because they don't want to be treated even worse.'

'That's ridiculous, Harry! We have to report what we know, don't we? It is the best thing to do.' Her eyes were wide.

'Well, look at it this way, Hermione. We report it and the culprits and victims both deny it… then what? No, I don't think that's the answer.' Hermione hadn't thought of this.

'Then what do we do? I can't just sit here while Ron and his thugs beat up on 1st years!'

Harry thought a moment. 'Well, I guess you could tell Snape. He might be able to think of something. It is his house, after all. Maybe he could get them to fess up and implicate the gang.'

Hermione smiled a little. 'Yes, that may be the thing. Hmmmmm. Ok. I will talk to him after class if at all possible. I am sure he would want to know in any case.' She felt better knowing at least one teacher would know what was happening.

'Good,' Harry said. 'I guess we had better get back to class.'

'Yes, I guess so.' Hermione had barely eaten once again. But at least the heaviness in her chest was gone.

The final hour of N.E. class was fairly uneventful. She felt Ron's eyes upon her every time she spoke to Draco or one of the other Slytherins. This made her uneasy, but she also felt pretty good about how things were going. The Slytherins were still guarded but at least they spoke to her. None of them mentioned what was happening. It was just as though they were all in agreement and that was all that was necessary. Malfoy was peaceable, even a little congenial. But she could not tell if it was an act or the real thing. She supposed it didn't matter, really. So long as the rest of the school got the right impression.

After class, Hermione tentatively approached Snape as Harry had suggested. She watched as he continued to write notes on parchment and ignore her completely. Finally she spoke. 'Sir, I need to talk to you, please. It's about the Slytherins.'

Snape slowly put his quill down and folded his hands on the desk top. He did not speak, so Hermione took the liberty. 'Ron has gotten together a group of students and has been regularly persecuting the Slytherins. Harry says they are using magic and physical means. No one is reporting it because they don't want more of the same…

'I know…' Snape interrupted.

Hermione looked shocked. 'You know?'

'Of course.' Snape said this without mockery, which shocked Hermione even more.

'Well, what do you think we should do about it, sir?' she asked, figuring it was a logical question.

Snape stood abruptly. 'YOU will do nothing. Leave this to me, Ms Granger,' he growled.

'But, sir…'

'I said, leave this to me!' He punctuated each word sharply. 'I am watching and I will catch the culprits soon. Then no Slytherin needs to tell anyone what is happening, thus avoiding backlash. And believe me, I will see to it that the culprits are properly handled.' Snapes eyes were like black tourmaline. And his mouth took on a hard line that made his lips nearly invisible.

'Ok,' Hermione said uncertainly.

'And do not forget to keep yourself safe,' Snape continued. 'No lonesome wandering.'

'No, sir.' Hermione agreed.