A/N: Thank you to Irritable-Grizzly69, Excel Go Boom, and SALIGIA-the seven deadly sins for the reviews.

Chapter 12

Hermione mad her way to the head mistress's office. She walked slowly knowing that Snape was waiting for her and hoping to pay him back for scaring her. Hermione hummed to herself as she walked and stopped abruptly when she found herself face to face with McGonagall.

"Miss Granger" McGonagall said.

"Professor" Hermione replied trying to collect herself, this is the second time she had been frightened half to death in the last ten minutes.

"I wish to speak with you Miss Granger, do you have a minute"

"Well errr….. someone is waiting for me" Hermione replied.

"Very well I will be brief, come with me to my office" McGonagall said then turned and whispered a password to the gargoyle and started up the stairs. Hermione followed, McGonagall was seated behind her desk when Hermione entered the room.

"Sit" McGonagall motioned to the chair in front of her desk. Hermione took the seat and held out the roll of parchment containing all the names of students with permission to be in Hogsmead today.

"Thank you" McGonagall said taking the scroll. "Now I have been meaning to ask you about Mr. Weasley's odd behavior lately."

"I'm sorry" Hermione replied stunned, odd behavior, what odd behavior.

"The company Mr. Weasley has been keeping is beginning to worry me."

"What is wrong with Harry and Ginny?"

"Well that is the problem. You see, like you Mr. Weasley has abandoned Mr. Potter and Ms. Weasley." McGonagall said calmly. This bothered Hermione.

"I haven't abandoned them" Hermione said shyly because she knew that she had indeed abandoned them.

"Well whatever you call it, Mr. Weasley has followed suit and his current, shall I say girlfriend is quite a concern."

"Ron has a girlfriend." Hermione said barely covering a laugh.

"Yes, and I think it would bee less funny if you knew who she was." McGonagall said quite seriously.

"Well it's not like he is dating a Slyth….." Hermione broke off seeing the look on McGonagall's face "He is dating a Slytherin?" Hermione said stunned.

"Yes, he is, one Ms. Toshi-Lilit Parkinson."

Hermione sat stunned for a moment "I will speak with him" She said getting up and walking from McGonagall's office without a backward glance.

~*~

Hermione made her way back to the hidden hallway where she had left Snape.

"There you are" Snape said putting a hand out to Hermione. She looked from his hand to his face with a disturbed look on her face.

"What is wrong?" Snape asked.

"Do you know who Ron is dating these days" Hermione said trying to sound casual and return her expression to a normal one.

"Err no I can't say that I do." Snape said confused.

"Toshi-Lilit Parkinson" Hermione said.

"Why is that your concern?"

"Because Ron is an idiot and he is not with her because he likes her but to forget me. It is my fault he is with her and he is going to ruin all his other friendships."

"He is old enough to make his own decisions Hermione." Snape said.

"No he is not, he doesn't have the first idea of how to make decisions for himself." Hermione snapped back.

"He is not your problem anymore, you do not need to care for him. He is nearly 19, he doesn't need you to tell him how to behave." Snape said.

This stunned Hermione, she knew that he was not her charge any more but yet she still felt responsible for his stupidity. He has always been like her little pet project, her child, but now he was grown-up and she had to let go.

"Yea you are right. Let's go." Hermione said then took Snape's hand and headed towards his rooms.

Snape followed with a lighter heart knowing that one less thing was standing between them. If only removing the rest would be as easy.

A/N: There you go guy's hot off the presses, I got your reviews and set to work. More will follow shortly. I have graduated and will have a lot more time on my hands. Enjoy!