Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Author's Greeting: Hi everyone! I've had some difficulty with motivation.
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The next morning Hermione was outside walking near the greenhouses. The weather was starting to change from autumn to early winter. She wanted to savor the last few days before the bitter chill of winter started.
Ron was conveniently sleeping.
As Hermione was walking back to the castle, she saw the Ravenclaw boy who Harry and Ron said acted funny around them.
"Are you feeling better?" Hermione asked the boy.
The boy looked suspiciously at her and walked quickly by.
Hermione stared after him wondering what that was all about. He certainly was acting strange.
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A week later Hermione decided it was time to see if "Viridis" still worked on the Slytherin common room door.
Ever since she had successfully snuck in and out of her dormitory a few weeks ago, she had noticed that her fear of Ron had lessened. A few months ago and she would never have considered sneaking out to meet a boy.
Suddenly Hermione focused in on what she was thinking. Meet a boy. She was dating Ron and meeting a boy on the side. Hermione frowned. This hadn't really struck her before. She knew when she kissed Draco that she was being unfaithful to Ron but she had been so mooned over with Draco that she hadn't given it much thought.
Hermione tried but she couldn't justify it.
Loathe Ron she did. Regret for dating him in the first place she felt. But she shouldn't be cheating on him. She should break up with him first. Hermione had no love for Ron but she would not cheat on him anymore. That would make her no better than him.
But she was still attracted to Draco. She wanted to break into the Slytherin common room.
Hermione had an idea. Maybe she would break into the common room but she wouldn't go see Draco. The idea alone of thwarting Ron's control was intoxicating. It was the thrill of freedom.
Hermione thought this out. Breaking into the common room would actually help her; if it didn't go wrong. By sneaking out successfully, she would bolster her own confidence in herself. She would start to build herself up again. If she got strong enough, she could finally break up with Ron without fear.
She would be free. Free to start over. Free for Draco.
Hermione started to plan.
She would go that night after midnight when the common room would hopefully be empty. Then she would sneak through the castle and down to the dungeons. She would find the stone wall and try the password.
She would definitely take Crookshanks with her. He would be a great help. She just hoped she wouldn't be caught. What if there was someone in the Slytherin common room? She couldn't explain that one away.
She would have Crookshanks help her there. He would know if they were in danger.
The whole idea was ridiculous and risky but Hermione wanted to try it anyway. So it was set.