Hermione's initial excitement at the idea of the planned party in the common room and the arrival of the guest of honor had worn off when her mind drifted to the first through fourth-year Gryffindors that surrounded her. The idea of their eyes staring at her as she more than likely drank decidedly un-Prefect like drinks and tried to seduce the love of her life sent shudders through her skin. She pulled Ron aside and braced for his response as she prepared to tell him the bad news that the festivities would have to be cancelled.
"Ron, I hate to tell you this but I think we need to call off this party. We can't have eleven and twelve year olds running around while the students they are supposed to look up to as examples get smashed and do Merlin knows what else."
Instead of anger Hermione saw a knowing grin appear on Ron's face.
"Honestly, Hermione for someone so smart sometimes you can be incredibly thick. Are you a bloody Prefect or not? Do your best impersonation of Percy and send them to their rooms."
Ron was right. Sometimes she couldn't see the forest for the trees.
Hermione had not had to really enforce too much discipline since her tenure as a Prefect had begun at the beginning of the school term. She suspected the perception others had of her being a miniature version of Professor McGonagall had kept most in line and having Harry Potter as your best friend didn't hurt either. She felt somewhat guilty for what she was about to do but it was fleeting as her mind drifted back to those green eyes she would be seeing soon. She gathered herself as she prepared her most Percy Weasley-like tone and began to speak.
"Attention everyone, attention. I want all first through fourth years in their dormitories in the next five minutes for the night…no exceptions."
As expected a collective groan broke out in the common room. Unexpectedly one of the unfortunate victims of the decree had the courage to voice their protest.
"Why do we have to go to bed while you get to enjoy yourselves?"
Hermione glanced over to Ron before she arched an eyebrow of disgusted surprise at her confronter and shot back.
"Because I'm a bloody Prefect and I said so. But I thank you for forcing me to reconsider my decision. Upon further reflection I've allowed you far too much time down here. You now have two minutes to get to your dormitories."
As the defeated masses trudged up the stairs Ron bounded over to Hermione's side. She looked at him hesitantly awaiting his reaction.
"So how was that?"
His face beamed as he began to speak. "Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. To be honest you had me so scared I started to head to my room."
"You better keep yourself in line tonight Weasley or I just might be sending you up there as well."
"I do believe you would, Granger…I do believe you would."
As the conversation ended Seamus and Dean returned from their excursion. "That was an awfully quick trip to Hogsmeade," Hermione thought to herself as the two bounded in with proud looks on their faces. Ron looked down to their arms, finding only food and none of the beverages he had expected.
"What the hell is that?"
Seamus shot Dean a confused look as he began to speak. "Well we thought Harry might be hungry so we went to get some food."
Seamus placed the food on the table, put an arm around Ron's shoulder and hunched over as if ready to tell him an extraordinary secret. He began to speak in a whisper.
"You're not going to believe this but earlier in the year we found a secret passage to the kitchens. But keep this between us. We don't want anyone to know"
Hermione smiled to herself at Seamus' pride, reveling in the discovery she and Ron had known about for several years. "So you found the pear then?"
"You know about the pear?" Seamus replied while staring in shock at Hermione.
At this point Ron took over the further education of Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas.
"Boys, we've known about that passage for quite awhile now. We thought you would be bringing something back a little bit…stronger…shall we say…"
Seamus' confused stare drifted from Hermione to Ron. "But we would have to know about a passage to Hogsmeade to get that."
Ron turned to Hermione and a question was asked without any words being spoken. After she nodded her approval Ron turned to his two new pupils.
"You two wait here, I'll be right back."
Dean, equally as confused as Seamus, turned to Hermione to speak. "What's he up to?"
Hermione patted Dean on the shoulder and spoke. "Let's just say after what you're about to see you owe us."
While her words started to sink in Ron bounded down the stairs, Marauders Map in hand. He headed to the portrait hole and motioned Dean and Seamus to join him. "Boys, your childhood innocence is about to end. Are you ready to take your first step into manhood?"
After seeing two excited nods Ron continued. "Then follow me."
As the portrait door closed she could faintly hear the phrase that she had heard uttered, in her opinion, far too often.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good…"
***
The trio had been gone for about ninety minutes when Hermione noticed the portratit door begin to swing open.
"Well it's about time. Did you forget the way?"
To Hermione's utter horror she was not greeted by the three boys as expected. She instead came face to face with Minerva McGonagall.
"I'm sorry, Miss Granger. I didn't know you were expecting me."
"Professor McGonagall! I thought that you were…that is to say…did you need to speak to someone?"
"Professor Dumbledore has sent me to bring you along with Mr. Weasley to his office. Harry has arrived and he thought you two would like to greet him first."
Hermione's heart soared with the news that Harry had indeed arrived back at Hogwarts. Her joy was short-lived however as she realized that Ron was not there and, although she was very smart, she had not learned of a spell that could produce an insufferable red-headed sixteen year old boy out of thin air.
"Umm, Ron is…well…he's sick…and he went straight to bed saying he didn't want to be disturbed." Hermione cringed at her lie as she silently tallied all the rules she had broken already that evening.
"Mmm…sounds serious, Miss Granger. Perhaps we should conjure a stretcher and take him to the hospital wing."
"No! I mean he fell asleep straightaway when we got back and we probably shouldn't disturb him."
McGonagall shot a suspicious glare at Hermione. "Well in that case I suppose I should rely on your expert medical opinion and let him be. Follow me, Miss Granger"
They walked to Professor Dumbledore's office in silence. Hermione prayed no more questions about Ron's illness would be asked as she had always been a horrible liar. She was amazed that McGonagall had bought her explanation in the first place. As the entrance to Dumbledore's office came into view she silently let out a sigh of relief.
"I have a few things to take care of so you can see your way up. The password is Fizzly Wiggle".
As Professor McGonagall began to walk away she turned back, taking a book out of her robe and handing it to Hermione. "I almost forgot, Professor Dumbledore asked me to give this to you. He thought it might be of some use tonight, page 67 in particular."
Hermione scanned the book's title as it was handed to her, Practical Parenting Spells, and quickly turned to page 67. It was an age restriction spell, similar to the one used on the Goblet of Fire in their fourth year. Hermione looked up at Professor McGonagall, not understanding what the spell was for.
"Professor, why do I need this tonight?"
"The Headmaster seems to think you will need a spell to help discourage those lower than sixth years from drinking certain…liquids. Fairly simple really…a witch of your intelligence shouldn't have any problem."
Hermione felt her jaw drop to the floor as she realized that, as usual, Dumbledore knew exactly what they were planning.
McGonagall continued her speech as Hermione still recovered from the prior revelation. "I also was told to inform you that the entire Hogwarts faculty has been afflicted with a deafness charm."
"A deafness charm?"
"Yes, curious thing really. No member of the faculty will be able to hear anything that happens inside the Gryffindor common room once you and Harry arrive safely back inside. Have no fear though, our condition should have cleared up by the morning."
Hermione could see a grin sliding up on McGonagall's face as she turned to walk away.
"Good evening, Miss Granger. Please tell Mr. Weasley I do hope he feels better."
"Th…thank you…I will."
McGonagall's words had temporarily caused Hermione to forget why she was standing in front of Dumbledore's office in the first place. It was only a matter of seconds before that hair and those eyes drifted back into her consciousness.
"Here we go!" she said, letting out a giggle as she turned to the entrance of the office.
"Fizzly Wiggle"