Harry and Ron walked together to the D.A. meeting that night, complaining about Umbridge while Hermione trailed behind them. Every time Ron looked back at her to include her in the conversation, he noticed her smirking at him slightly.

"What is it?" he finally asked, irritated when they reached the Room of Requirements.

"Oh, I just happen to know that somebody has a little crush on you."

Ron looked panic-stricken. It's not Eloise Midgen, is it?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "No, it's not Eloise Midgen."

"Er, c'mon you guys, concentrate so we can get into the room," said Harry, but his two friends didn't hear him.

"It's one of those Muggle girls who are visiting from the American school," Hermione continued. "Stacey McGill. She told Lavender, Parvati, and me last night. Apparently she wants to ask you out." Hermione started laughing like this was the funniest thing in the world.

"Wait, which one is she?" Ron asked furrowing his brow.

"Oh, the blonde, trendy, sophisticated New Yorker battling diabetes who was staring at you during Snape's class?" Harry now joined in the conversation.

Hermione nodded. "She's the one. I thought eye pupils were going to turn into hearts."

"Some of those American Muggles are a bit strange, don't you think?" Harry lowered his voice just in case any of said American Muggles happened to be nearby. "Did you see that girl - Claudia, I think her name was - giving Snape goo-goo eyes all through potions? I thought I was going to vomit."

"Oh, I know." Hermione shuddered. "How anyone can find Snape attractive is beyond me."

Ron looked absolutely horrified at the thought.

"Hey, you guys, what are you talking about?" They turned and saw Ginny and Luna approaching the room. "And why are we standing in front of the RoR?" Ginny asked.

They all concentrated until a door appeared and they went inside.

"We were talking about the Muggle students visiting us," Ron told his sister and Luna.

"I think some of them are a bit loony," Ginny replied. She glanced guiltily at Luna, but the other girl was examining orbs of different sizes on a shelf. "I was talking to one of the younger Muggle girls earlier this afternoon and she was asking about the Forbidden Forest, wondering if any Ents lived there."

"Ents?" repeated Hermione.

"Yeah, talking trees or something. She knows one named Treebeard, I guess."

"She asked me if I was from Mirkwood and knew somebody named Legolas," Luna said. She had walked over back to the group. "However, I told her I have never heard of such a place or of such a name."

Hermione smiled. "Sounds like she's a Lord of the Rings fan. I heard somebody say "Gandalf" when Dumbledore greeted them. I bet that was her. Anyway, not all the Muggle students don't seem too bad. That one girl, Dawn, agreed to be a member of S.P.E.W." She ignored Harry and Ron looking at each, no doubt rolling their eyes.

"Wasn't Dawn sorted into Slytherin?" asked Ron.

"Yes, but she seems alright."

Ron snorted. "Well, there must be a reason why the Sorting Hat put a Muggle into Slytherin. She must be a down-right bitch or something!"

"Ronald!" Hermione exclaimed. "If your mother were here, she'd send you a Howler in an instant!"

"But she isn't here," Ron snapped back. "You need to be more careful with who you hang out with, Hermione. You keep fraternizing with the enemy."

"Oh, you are not going to bring up the Yule Ball again!" Hermione exclaimed, hands on her hip. "That was a year ago!"

"Yes, but you're still chummy pen pals with Vicky."

To Harry's relief, more students started streaming in and soon another meeting of D.A. was in session.