The Thought Of It All

On Monday morning-a week after the incident, Hermione made her way down to the Great Hall for breakfast, Harry and Ron were already waiting for her. Ginny was there also, sitting beside her short-time boyfriend Dean Thomas.

'Ugh, I am so exhausted, this week has been horrible.' Hermione mumbled. She turned around and faced the Slytherin table, in time to see Malfoy say an outrageous joke- that made everyone crack up like hooligans- He looked up and she glared at him. Something he cruelly deserved.

The week in generally was hectic, ducking Malfoy in hallways, ducking him in classes, ducking him in the library. And all because he wanted her to rip up the parchment, something she will never do. Not until she saw Malfoy begged. Too bad Malfoy wasn't the groveling type.

Hopefully in the near future.

'Why? What happened that made your week so terrible?' Ginny asked.

She tried to think- a reason that wouldn't seen so practiced. So forced. Hermione felt bad that she didn't tell her three closet friends what Malfoy did to her. They would a reason to hex him, something they have been wanting to do since they met the Ferret.

And for some strange reason, keeping the information to herself, was exciting. Dealing with Malfoy, making Malfoy pay, was worth it. And she would tell her friends eventually.

'I didn't get an O on that last Transfiguration test we had, remember?' she asked Harry and Ron, seeing how Ginny was a grade below us.

'Yes, but you got the next best thing.' Ron said, flushing. He had gotten a T, his labeling of potions was that horrid.

Hermione shrugged and changed the subject. 'Are you looking forward to our Potions test today?' knowing they weren't and had probably forgotten.

'What we have a test today? Again?' Harry exclaimed.

'We had one on Friday in Transfiguration. What Rubbish.' Ron screeched.

Laughing was heard behind them. Harry looked up first and his gaze narrowed, that could only mean one thing; Malfoy. Hermione whirled around and saw Malfoy crackling with his friends. They were making there way towards them, and by them, she meant his cronies and his pug-faced girlfriend.

'Well, Potter, it'll be fun kicking your arse in Sundays game. Hopefully you won't be too mad. Weasel, I am not worrying about you.' Malfoy snickered.

He looked at Hermione and blanched. She grinned and raised a brow, asking him to say a word against her. And obviously she wasn't disappointed.

'Are you going to be there, Granger? Or will your abnormally large nose be stuffed in a book in the corner of the library?'

After saying this, he grimaced, then rubbed his chest. She could just make out the green blotch from on top of his tie. She smiled evilly and Malfoy glared, and stormed out of the Great Hall, with his fan party trailing after him, sniggering and such.

'Stupid prat.' Ron muttered, before digging in to his scrambled eggs and bacon.

Hermione decided to eat as well, she didn't want her to get cold just because Malfoy was- indeed being a complete prat. She dug in, and the food was extraordinary, filling up her grumbling stomach. She relucantly got up and said, 'Come on, let's go to Potions.'

Both boys sighed and followed her. Hermione looked out the window and saw that it was a beautiful if not cold morning. The best day for taking a test, right?

~

That night, she put away all her books away and made her way out of the Portrait hole. Monday was her night to patrol, first, second and third floors. Another prefect that was also helping her patrol was Ron, but she hadn't seen him in the Common Room.

The hallways were dark, the only light was illuminating by torches that were few and several feet apart. She got out her wand and murmured, 'Lumos.' It was raining outside, shaking the castle, and sending shivers down her spine.

Hermione scolded herself and moved down another corridor. Where the Bloody Hell was Ron? Normally Monday night's were fun, with him joking and being so Ron-ish. But this was the second Monday that she patrolled alone, and normally she would ask Ron about it, but she kept forgetting.

It wasn't exactly a very good week, what with Malfoy and all.

She went up the stairs and it somehow got worse, the sounds of banging came from the end of the hall, she went running, expecting to catch the person in the act. She didn't expect Peeves to be throwing quills at the window.

'Peeves, get out of here right now, otherwise I'll send the Bloody Baron on you.' she nearly yelled.

'You're no fun.' he said, sticking his transparent tongue out at her.

He giggled and flew away. She shuddered, then said, 'Wingardium Leviosa.' the quills flew up and trailed behind her. She sat them beside a classroom, a teacher would see and pick them up.

'Stupid ghost.' she muttered, and continued her way up the hallway.

There was nothing on the second floor, and she still had another one to go. Then she would be done. And tomorrow she will definitely talk to Ron about where he has been. This was Prefect's duties, if he don't do it, then don't bother becoming one. Walking up another set of stairs, she didnt see anything at first, but when she went further down the hallway, the door to a classroom was ajar.

Those sounds..... moaning?

'Nox.' she murmured and threw the door open. Her loud gasp penetrated the room. The sight was her undoing, silent tears streamed down her face.

Ron was locked in a passionate embrace with Lavender Brown. He was startled when the door flew open and the moonlight shining in through the windows, silhouetted a broken- hearted Hermione. He pulled himself away, but the damage was already done. Lavender looked stricken and Ron just looked pathetic.

Hermione turned and ran, forgetting to patrol the end of the hallway. She ran up the stairs and bumped into something hard. The breath was knocked right out of her, moving her tangled hair from her face, she looked up and saw a devious- looking Malfoy.