(A/N: Sorry about the delay on this. Ave and i had some technical difficulties.)

Chapter Three

The art of subtlety.

Hermione slid the mug across the table as Ginny sat down. "Where have you been all day?"

Ginny sipped the warm drink and shrugged. "Here and there. You?"

"Here."

Here was the side room of the kitchens. At any one point in time, there were no less than six elves, hovering around, ready to help however they could. Hermione was itching to start spouting the Emancipation Proclamation and throw socks every which way, but she valued this place. It was a reasonably quiet place to study and Ron had yet to find her here.

Ginny, of course, always seemed to know where to find her.

"What cha been up to?"

Ginny shrugged. Hermione knew her friend well enough to know that this was something she didn't want to talk about. So Hermione decided not to press it. She'd been in the room when Ron tried to push it with his baby sister. It hadn't been pretty.

"What about you?"

Hermione returned her roommate's shrug. "Reading." She hefted the volume. The Diamond Throne by David Eddings.

Ginny gasped in mock shock. "Not reading a book for classes? What is the world coming to?"

Hermione stuck her tongue out and was suprised to see Ginny tense. Then she noticed the direction of her friend's gaze. She turned in her seat and saw Draco Malfoy helping a drunk looking Blaise Zabini into the booth a few rows back. She turned back to Ginny and slowly counted to one hundred. Then she muttered a spell.

Just in time. The bucket of water tipped its contents on her head. Or would have. Ginny's sour expression at seeing Blaise melted away as the water ran off an invisible umbrella. A grin spread over Ginny's freckled face as Draco scowled.

"Nicely done, Hermione."

"Thanks." She replied as she motioned an elf over.

"Rufo, be a dear and do me a favor..." Hermione whispered into the elf's ear for a moment.

Rufo shook his head. "I can't be doing that!"

Hermione sighed. "I won't leave hats down here til after christmas."

The elf's eyes widened as he weighed the choices. Finally he nodded.

He disappeared a moment, to return with a kettle of tea. Ginny watched in fascination as the elf neared the two Slytherins. Suddenly Draco leapt up, swearing. His entire lap was soaked.

Ginny doubled over in silent laughter as Hermione sipped her tea with a small smile.

Draco noticed them. He stalked over.

"Granger..." He began.

Hermione looked over at Draco's wet lap. "Oh, was that water cold?"

Draco looked confused. "No!"

Hermione returned to her tea. "Well then I hate to think that's your natural size. No wonder only Parkinson sleeps with you."

Draco turned bright red and stormed off to gather the enebriated Blaise.

(A/N: hope you liked.

To Jaeger- I talked with Ave and she says she fixed it. Chapter three of hers should be up soon. and my email isn't working so I apologized.

To Melissa- glad you liked!