Another side chapter going into the part of the brightest muggleborn witch in Hogwarts Hermione Jane Granger. It's a short one, but only because I'm warming up in the cases for time skips to come in the next chapter but not too forward.

This just visits Hermione's point in this little scam going on, that and a little hint at the end where her real thoughts are hidden.

I don't own Harry Potter.

Enjoy!

Hogwarts, Gryffindor Tower girl's dormitory:

Ever since the dinner at the Burrow Hermione had been under a lot of pressure, not just from Dumbledore but from Ron, Molly, and Percy to figure out anything or anywhere Harry and Ginny could have gone. She had been up late three nights straight, hardly any sleep, barely eating it was a wonder her grades didn't slip under.

She had been all over every square inch of the 'Restricted Section' in the library and nothing, not one blasted book or article showed anything on the Potters or Snapes, not even the Prince family. She was running out of ideas, and out of time because if she went to Dumbledore empty-handed again no doubt he would punish her severely, and she'd already had three strikes against her. Not to mention Ron wasn't helping at all, he just sat back and acted like a lazy fool while she broke her back over everything else.

"Hermione?" she was looking over a book when someone called her name. She turned around and saw it was Lavender Brown. "Are you alright? You're spacing out again…" just as Lavender walked closer Hermione quickly closed the book and put it in her bag.

"Y-Yes I'm fine…what's going on?" Lavender raised an eyebrow but let it go.

"Professor McGonagall wants to see you, says it's important." Hermione nodded and grabbed her bag. She left out of the common room and out of the tower, down the spiral staircase and straight to Professor McGonagall's office.

"Professor?" McGonagall looked up from her stack of papers and fiddled with her glasses a bit.

"Ah yes Ms. Granger, please sit down." Hermione closed the office door and took a seat in front of McGonagall's desk. "Now…first of all I want you to know that you're not in any trouble. Are we clear?"

"Y-Yes ma'am." She didn't even look up.

"Good, now I've been watching you a good deal Ms. Granger and I've noticed that you've…well you've lost a good deal of weight lately, and you look like you haven't slept in days. Is anything wrong?"

"No…I've just been studying more. N.E.W.T. exams are coming up soon so I wanted to…improve my study skills." She heard McGonagall's heels walking around, coming closer to her.

"I understand that, but you're the brightest witch in your year I'm sure that even if you didn't study so hard you would still do well for yourself."

"I like to be extra prepared."

"I suppose so, most students in your position would love the extra opportunity…to study in the 'Restricted Section'?" Hermione's body jolted slightly. "Mr. Filch said he caught you there, but you had a pass from Headmaster Dumbledore is that correct?"

"Yes…he let me look in there."

"For which subject?" Hermione's fingers fidgeted.

"D-Defense against the Dark Arts…"

"Is that the only one?" Hermione shook her head. "Then what others are there?"

"Um…astronomy, a-and Muggle Studies."

"Really? Because I seem to recall there are no books in the Restricted Section on Muggle studies." Great now she couldn't think straight, and her sentences were off. "Ms. Granger, I'm giving you a chance to tell the truth and if you don't say the truth then I can't help you with whatever is going on."

"There's nothing going on."

"Hermione…you haven't looked me in the eye since you came in my office. I'm asking you one more time, what is going on?" that time Hermione looked up, and this time straight into her teacher's eyes.

"There is nothing going on Professor, nothing at all." McGonagall sighed, and then walked back to her desk.

"Very well then, you can go." Hermione nodded and made to leave. "But just so you know Hermione, I am very disappointed in you for all you may have done against Potter. You know he considered you a sister, and can you imagine the hurt he must have felt when you betrayed him?" Hermione stopped for a brief minute, but kept going and then she went down the hall seeing Ron coming her way.

"Hey, what'd McGonagall want?" Hermione shook her head.

"Nothing, just making sure I wasn't doing anything suspicious in the library." His eyes widened a little. "Filch caught me, but I had the pass."

"And he reported you to McGonagall?" she nodded and he grabbed her wrist, pulling her into a nearby corridor. "What the bloody hell is wrong with you?"

"Ron what…?"

"Do you realize how much is at stake here? If we don't find out where Harry and Ginny are and get them married then you and I have a dirt poor future ahead of us. You want to be with me don't you Hermione?"

"Yes I…"

"And you want to earn your keeps from the war don't you?"

"Yes Ron I do but…"

"Then stop lazing around! Get your arse into action and find something or you'll be punished!" Hermione looked at Ron with shock, and then glared.

"I haven't been lazing around Ronald, I have been busting my back looking up information everywhere in the library. I haven't slept right in days, I haven't been eating right, and I haven't been able to focus on my N.E.W.T.'s I'm losing focus here!" Ron made a shushing sound and put a finger to her lips.

"Hermione you know Dumbledore will give you a good recommendation right? Even if you don't do outstanding on the exams he'll still help you."

"Yes I realize that, but I would like to feel good about it." His hands went into her hair, and his mouth went to her ear.

"You'll feel a lot better, when my family gets their fair share of the Potter fortune. Think, no picture it Hermione…a house in the country, a nice piece of land, you with a high class spot in the Ministry, me a top Auror, and our children…our many children running around with your brains and my good looks." Hermione pulled away slightly.

"Ron please let's be realistic here."

"I am being realistic love, I'm imagining our life together after we graduate. That's what you want isn't it?"

"Ron you know I want my career first."

"You'll have plenty of time for that, just picture it though…we'll be married soon and we'll have the life we've always dreamed of." He kissed her cheek. "So don't mess this up." His hold on her hair tightened. "If we lose that money then it'll be hell paying back every cent to Potter."

"Ron…Ron you're hurting me." he let go.

"Oh and that reminds me, Dumbledore wants to see us tonight in his office. Eight o'clock sharp." He patted her cheek and walked away, leaving Hermione alone to regain herself.

What in the Hell had she gotten herself into?

Later that night:

Hermione and Ron made their way up to the gargoyle guarding the entrance to the headmaster's office, it was nearly eight o'clock and they weren't going to be late.

"Lemon drops." The gargoyle moved aside and they climbed the staircase. When they reached the door they tapped on it and it opened.

"Come in." they did so and stood directly in front of the desk, with Dumbledore's back to them. "Good evening Ronald, Hermione."

"Good evening headmaster." They said together and he turned to them.

"I trust you've been thorough in your research Hermione?" she nodded. "And what have you found this time?" Hermione took a deep breath.

"U-Unfortunately sir, I haven't found anything else. I've looked over every book in that library and I have found nothing other than what I've already seen."

"I find that hard to believe." He moved towards her. "I thought you of all people would know Ms. Granger that I don't like disappointments." She looked down.

"I know sir…but I've looked harder and harder each day and I can't find anything. I swear…I've tried all I can think of and I just can't…" a large sting hit her cheek and a full force knocked Hermione to the floor. Her left side of her face felt hot, and it stung. Then a kick to her back made her squeal, and another kick to her legs made her scream.

"P-Please…." She begged.

"Do not give me that, I expected better from you. A mere muggleborn, yet the brightest of your years would be more than willing to find some measly information on ancient families." Hermione felt tears come into her eyes.

"Don't start Hermione, don't start crying." Ron growled at her.

"I am very, very, very disappointed in you Ms. Granger. Do not do so again, or I'll be forced to take drastic measures. Do you understand?" Hermione looked up and held her tears back, then nodded.

"Y-Yes sir…"

"Leave, return to your tower and don't come back empty-handed again." Hermione nodded and ran out of the office, and before she realized where she was going she ran down the corridors and smack-dab into her head of house.

"Ms. Granger what on earth…" she stopped when she saw Hermione's face, a large bruise appearing on her cheek, and her knees buckled from the early blows.

"H-Help me…" she sobbed into her hands and McGonagall helped her stand.

"Come with me to my office, we'll talk there." She led her away, and Hermione right now was willing to do anything to escape the abuse.

Hermione's been abused by Ron, and used as a tool against Harry? Where do her true loyalties lie? As of right now she can't think straight so she can't pin her thoughts on what's really best for Harry and Ginny.

Please give your opinions of this in a review.

So R&R.

Later!