Hermione, Ron and Harry decided to spend their morning under a large tree by the lake. It was the same morning as the ribbon incident, and thus Ron and Harry were eyeing the bouquet by Hermione's legs both curiously, and suspiciously.

After a long while of contemplation, Harry finally spoke. "Ron, I think your first theory was right." He shot Harry a confused expression. "You said it was from a secret admirer, remember?"

"I also said it was a love letter," Ron added, rolling his eyes. "Who would write you a love letter?"

"Not for me, Ron. For Hermione," he stated.

Meanwhile, Hermione was practicing a charm and paying the outside world no attention. The roses dangled at the edge of her knees poking at both Ron's and her robes. However, she barely noticed them unlike Ron and Harry. "Hermione, aren't you at least curious about what Harry is saying? Or about the roses in general?" Ron asked.

She shook her head. "It's probably some silly joke like the ones I got last year."

Ron and Harry exchanged uncertain looks. They knew Hermione was no longer paying penance for Rita Skeeters articles, however if she wasn't preoccupied then the worst must have passed. Yet, Harry still hoped it was affiliated with the Order in some way, and Ron was retracing Hermione's actions the last few months that may have caused her worthy of a magical bouquet.

Hermione looked up in time to catch Ron and Harry's lip biting countenances. She scoffed. "If only you two could think this hard with your homework," she said, putting down her wand. "If you really think it's something other than a silly prank then let's see it." Hermione reached out to grab the flowers but Ron caught her arm before she had the chance.

"It might do something awful to your hand again. Except, worse and violent," Ron declared. Hermione pulled her hand back and cast him an annoyed glare, her face drowning in disbelief, forcing Ron to submit. She grabbed the roses and waited.

Nothing happened.

"Maybe, you have to wave at the ribbon again?" Harry suggested. Rolling her eyes, Hermione gave a cynical wave. The ribbon remained motionless. Her pride smiled at Harry, who kept his thinking face on.

"Try tapping it," he said.

Reluctantly, she softly tapped the tip of the magenta coil before it began to loosen its grip on the roses, causing Hermione to recoil backward. The ribbon subtly fell looser and was silently touching her robes, but for some reason, Hermione felt excited. She tried to hide her smile, telling herself that she still had shame left and would not give in so easily.

"Harry," she began. "Didn't you read a note on it before?" Harry nodded.

"But it was just a joke. Taunting me, like when Snape tried to read the-"

"Marauders map?" Hermione suggested. "That's what I was thinking too. It only gave ridiculous remarks to Snape, who didn't have the password."

"He wasn't the proper owner, you mean?" Ron added, recalling the original note.

"Then it has to be from Remus or Sirius. Maybe they need you to do research in the library ,or something similar. Maybe they're hinting that they need the map but couldn't-"

"Harry, slow down," Hermione begged. "We don't know anything yet, so try not to jump to conclusions. You'll only get your hopes up."

"It's too obvious of a coincidence, Hermione."

"They're not the only one's who knows of the map. Fred and George do too, even Snape himself does."

"Okay, sure. But why would Snape want to give you flowers? Don't even let Fred or George be a suspect here," Ron added. Hermione shrugged, a small tinge of red creeping up her cheeks. However, she did want an answer. Who would want to send me flowers? She wondered.

"Snape is part of the order, too. Maybe Umbridge-"

"Okay, just stop!" Hermione scolded. "Both of you! It could be something, and it could be nothing. Stop getting your hopes up and remember that it was for me, obviously the cleverer of the three. We can't make assumptions when we haven't even confirmed our first, wild theory!" She boldly finished. Ron and Harry let out raspy breaths before sitting back with dismal faces and crossed arms. They shot their eyes downward in disappointment and shame. Hermione sighed a thank you and reminded herself that she has only a few years left with these two.

She placed the flowers atop her thighs and started to undo the loose knot. As soon as she started to untie the bow, the ribbon let out a soprano giggle that lasted until the task was finished. The trio glanced at each other before Ron said, "I guess it's your turn to tickle it."

Hermione held up the undone ribbon for the boys to see, but nothing happened. Groaning, Harry and Ron finally gave up and decided to head back to the castle but Hermione forced them to stay awhile longer. She was determined to outsmart a small, playful ribbon. She let out a deep breath and clasped the ribbon into her left palm. She began to wrap it around the entirety of her hand until the last of the length was tucked quietly into itself.

"Hermione, are you sure you should-"

"What if its a letter from the Order, Harry?" Hermione challenged.

So, they waited.

Ron soon raised an eyebrow when nothing happened, but Hermione paid him no attention. Suddenly, she realized the ribbon wasn't motionless. The deep, royal magenta was beginning to grow a sunny shade of stormy red. Hermione peered closer to make sure her mind wasn't playing tricks.

"It's differently changing," Harry said, realizing what she was doing. "But not all of it." True to his word, splotches of magenta remained unchanged until a number could be recognized.

"119?" Ron asked. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"The 1 in the middle is a slash mark. It says, one out of nine," she said.

"Oh."

"There's more," Harry said. Finally, the subtle color change had finished and a broad overtone of magenta was layering a fiery and pleasant shade of red. Hermione held up her palm to read the magenta lettering.

"1/9. Here are but clues to the truth behind my existence. Perhaps the brightest witch I may ever know can guess my name at this instance, but I hope she would save me the shame by reveling in this fantastic game. Sincerely, an honor," Hermione read.

"1-out-of-9? There's more?" Ron asked.

"Game? It's a game?" Harry disappointingly said.

"Who signs a note with 'honor'?" Hermione wondered aimlessly.

"The brightest witch I may ever know?" Ron repeated. "Blimey, Hermione. You have a lot to live up to," Ron said, rising no sound of humor from either of his friends.

"I think you were right, Ron," Harry said, helping Hermione to remove the ribbon from her hand. "I think this is all one big love letter." Ron and Hermione looked up, bewildered by his comment. Before he could justify his claim, the ribbon uncoiled itself from Hermione's palm and Harry's fingers and flew into the air. It made a taunting noise that Hermione swore was a raspberry if it only had a tongue and mouth, then spat a large amount of water at Harry.

"Forgot about that," Harry murmured, bending down to dry his face. The ribbon flew back into Hermiones hand.

"It said all the clues were here," she said, admiring the ribbons sleeping form. "But exactly what do we have?" She wondered.

"A bouquet white roses, and a ribbon," Ron suggested.

"Let me see the roses," she asked. She retrieved the roses and roamed her fingers around the soft tips before looking up once more.

"No. We have eight thornless white roses that were once daisies, and a moody, color-changing ribbon that really adores my hand," Hermione said. "I might actually enjoy this."

Ron and Harry looked at her then. "The ribbon is more than moody. It's an outright bully," Ron added. "What's the purpose behind eight roses anyways?"

"I have no idea. I thought there would be nine," Hermione said, slow to hide her disappointment.

"How can you possibly be enjoying this?" Harry asked in amazement.

Hermione loved puzzles. It was what saved her and Harry in their first year. She especially loved ones that she could solve. Looking at the clues, she knew she wasn't far from the answer once she had some ink and parchment. She decided to revel in the game, much like John Watson would do alongside Sherlock. She smiled at her inner muggle reference.

"What do you guys think?"

"I think it's a Gryffindor," Harry said.

"Well done, Harry. Only a brave fool would send something like this to the people raving about You-Know-Who," Ron said, proud of his understanding.

Harry shook his head. "No, Ron. The ribbon is red. Like Gryffindor," he said.

Hermione laughed. "That could be one interpretation."

"What do you think?" Ron asked. "It's your love letter anyways."

"I think I was right the first time. It's a joke and not a silly form of a love letter. A good amount of clues are here in this one delivery, and could easily lead us to the sender if we put our mind to it. Therefore, someone is looking for fun. Not a Hogsmeade date," she decided.

"If it can so easily lead us to the person, then why haven't you told us who you think it is?"

"Isn't it obvious?" She asked.

Harry and Ron shook their heads.

Hermione scoffed. "You two are daft, sometimes." She began to gather her books and delicately aligned the sleeping ribbon around her tie. "I'll leave the roses in your care, but we should head somewhere else. The sun is making me tired," she stated before walking away without checking to see if they were following her.

Ron and Harry glanced at each other for a short, anxious moment, before sighing in submission and gathering the white roses. Harry refused to touch them, tasking Ron to play the brave knight. Nothing happened.

"We're coming!" they shouted.

Can you connect the clues?