Unofficial Portkey Archive

Author's Note: "Where the HELL have you been?" you might be asking me. My only defense is, you try getting a book published and doing ANYTHING else in your spare time. It's impossible! But now the process is almost over. I think my book will be out in February. I still have some finishing touches to work out with the publishers but hopefully we can get it done quickly. Wish me luck. In the mean time, back to my fan fiction. I'm sorry this chapter is so short, I'll do better next time. Also if you want to find out about my book, visit www.mendala.com, you can read the first 7 chapters online for free and as soon as I know when the book is out, I'll post it on my site.

Chapter Summary: This covers the train trip to Hogwarts from Hermione's point of view (isn't that funny, considering the whole story is from her POV). What did she do when she found out that Harry and Ron were missing? Also after the excitement, little Ginny has something to ask of Hermione. Will this crazy day ever end?

"Hermione, is it just me or is this trunk heavier than it was last year?" Mr. Granger said as he struggled to lift the trunk into the car.

"Well, you always say not to take my education lightly," Hermione quipped.

"Very funny," her father said, clearly not amused. "Still, I would think an up and coming witch, like yourself, could do something about making this a bit lighter."

"Sorry Dad, no magic outside of school. Believe me if I could I would. I had to leave my copy of 'Hogwarts: A History' behind; just not enough room."

"How sad," her mother said with a mocking smile. "Now you won't get to read it for the four-hundredth time."

Hermione gave her a stunned look. "Isn't there some law that says you're supposed to love me no matter what?"

"I do; teasing you is just part of the perks."

"I can't believe you people are my family," Hermione sighed as she climbed into the backseat of the car.

Mrs. Granger took her place in the passenger seat. "You people? Is that what we've been reduced to?"

"I tell you, all this magic's just gone to her head," Mr. Granger added as he started the car.

Hermione rolled her eyes. Her parents seemed to believe that it was their God-given right to harass her as much as possible before sending her off to Hogwarts. It had been the same scene the year before and she feared this sort of abuse would become a permanent family tradition.

Her father started the car down the street. "So you never told me what your professor said about all the work you did this summer. Any extra credit involved?"

"Most likely that and more," Hermione said. "But she won't grade it until after terms starts; that way she can officially give house points for all my work."

"Good show; now all you have to do is keep up the momentum throughout the year."

"Haven't you lectured her enough about her grades, dear?" Hermione's mother said with a sigh.

"It's not lecturing," Mr. Granger countered. "If I don't encourage her; who will? We have to be the ones to remind her that studies are important. Her friend's certainly won't."

Hermione zoned out, staring out the back seat window. This was a conversation she could safely be a bystander to. She began to think about what the new school year would bring. The prospect of another year at Hogwarts was both exciting and frightening all at the same time. Harry's story about the house elf, Dobby, and the vision that she'd had all seemed to be pointing towards some sort of inevitable danger. Unfortunately, she was no closer to discovering the truth. There just wasn't enough information to go on. She didn't even really know what a house elf was. Despite all that she had learned over the past year, there was still a lot she didn't know about the magical world. It was just going to take time.

Before she knew it, they were pulling into Kings Cross Station and her father was lugging the huge trunk onto a trolley. It took Hermione a while to get control of the trolley. It really was significantly heavier than the last time she packed for school. As they walked towards platform 9 ¾, Hermione recalled how nervous she had been the previous summer. She'd dressed in her wizard's robes before she'd even gotten to the station. This year, she was still in regular muggle clothing and brought her robes with her to change on the train. She didn't have to worry about ending up in a compartment with Pansy Parkinson or someone equally hideous, because this year she had friends, Ron and Harry, who she could sit with. All and all, she knew this would be a much better trip.

"Well here we are dear," her mother announced as they reached the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. Hermione quickly hugged both her parents and turned the cart so that it was directed at the barrier.

"Send us an owl when you arrive," her father said.

"I will," Hermione assured him before pushing the trolley with all her might towards the barrier. Anyone who was paying attention would have probably thought the young girl had lost her mind, but Hermione, of course, knew better. She was magical and that meant the moment she hit the barrier, she'd be instantly transported to the hidden wizarding platform where the large scarlet engine, the Hogwarts Express, was waiting.

Almost immediately an attendant came and took her trolley, leaving her free to search for her friends. There were lots of familiar faces milling around the platform but she didn't see Harry or the Weasleys in the crowd. The clock on the wall showed that the train would be leaving in a few minutes. She wondered where they could be. Harry and Ron had promised to meet her on the platform. Maybe they were on the train already, holding a compartment. Hermione was about to head for the train when she heard a familiar voice.

"Oy, Hermione, hold up a bit." It was Fred Weasley. He had his brother, George, and his younger sister, Ginny, in tow. "Blimey, we almost didn't make it here in time. Ginny here forgot her diary." He rolled his eyes. Ginny looked cross.

"We're all going to share a cabin, with you, Harry and Ronnikins," George explained.

Hermione wasn't sure she liked the idea of sharing a compartment with the two biggest pranksters in Hogwarts, but she nodded anyway. "What about Percy?"

The three Weasleys all groaned at once. "Perfect Percy rides with the prefects," Fred said in a sing-song voice.

Mrs. Weasley came up behind them. "Knock that off. Hurry up and get on the train." She kissed all three of them quickly. "Now you have a wonderful first year Ginny. Where are Harry and Ron?"

Fred shrugged. "How should we know?"

"Yeah, we're not our brother's keeper," George added.

"I swear you two are impossible." She hurried off to find them herself.

Fred started towards the train. "Come on let's go and get a spot before their all taken."

"Shouldn't we wait for Harry and Ron?" Hermione asked nervously. She tried peering through the crowd to spot her friends but it was far too congested.

Fred was trying to push through the sea of people. "This is a mess. We'll find them on the train. They're probably already there."

Hermione followed the Weasleys to the Hogwarts Express but she had a nagging feeling that something was very wrong. Still, she didn't have much time to debate. The train was getting ready to pull off. With one last furtive look at the platform entrance, Hermione climbed the stairs and followed the Weasley twins inside the locomotive.

"Hi Hermione," Mandy Brocklehurst said as Hermione slid the door open to the compartment that she and three other girls were sharing.

"Hi Mandy," Hermione said quickly. "You haven't seen Harry or Ron have you?"

"No I haven't. Haven't you?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and left the cabinet. She'd been up and down the entire train and hadn't found her two friends. She returned dejectedly to the compartment that she was sharing with the Weasleys.
"They're not on the train anywhere," she said in a strained voice.

"Maybe they didn't make it through the barrier in time," Ginny offered. She was the only one who seemed concerned.

The twins on the other hand, were playing a game and didn't seem the least bit worried. "I'm sure wherever little Ronnie is, he'll be alright." Fred assured her.

Hermione wasn't comforted by these words. She was sure that something had happened to Harry and Ron. After everything Harry had told her in Diagon Alley, it couldn't be a coincidence that they didn't make it on the train. Someone didn't' want Harry Potter at Hogwarts. Could they have been kidnapped? Could they be hurt somewhere? What if Voldemort somehow got to them? The thought of Harry in danger while she was stuck on this train was infuriating.

Ginny tried to look on the bright side. "Don't worry Hermione. This is Harry we're talking about. I'm sure wherever he is; he can take care of himself."

Hermione sighed, "That girl is so naive. She's almost as bad as Ron. She thinks the 'famous Harry Potter' is immune to all danger." She knew Ginny had a crush on Harry, but it seemed like the same kind of crush her roommates Parvati and Padma had. They only saw Harry as a famous wizard, not as a real person. It drove her insane.

There had to be something she could do to figure out where Harry and Ron were; but what? Hermione stood. "I'm going to go look again."

"Wait," George called before she could leave the compartment. "If you're that concerned about Harry, then I have an idea."

Fred looked up at him. "George!"

"What? We can do this just once for her. I mean after all, she did help us with some of those essays last year." George reasoned.

"Oh alright, but just this once." Fred agreed. "And only because it's to help Harry." He turned from his twin to the confused bushy-haired girl at the door. "You'll have to wait until we get to school, but if Harry and Ron haven't showed up by then, we'll be able to find them for you. Chances are they're probably hiding out somewhere. Up to something I'll wager."

Hermione thought about this for a moment. They could be hiding under the invisibility cloak. "Well, how are you going to find them if they're hiding."

"None of your business, nosey git," Fred said quickly. "Just trust us."

Hermione gave him a quizzical look. She knew plenty of good reasons not to trust the twins. Still, they seemed pretty serious and after the way they pulled off Ron's late night birthday party the previous year, she knew Hogwarts was their domain. If they said they could locate Harry and Ron, then they probably could.

She plopped down in the seat again. "You better not be messing with me," she warned.

George held up his hand sincerely. "Twins' honor."

Last year, Hermione had to ride across the lake to reach a lower entrance to Hogwarts castle. Then she was shoved into a small hallway with her classmates where she waited almost breathlessly for the sorting ceremony. But last year, Hermione was a first year at Hogwarts. This year was altogether different.

She joined Parvati, Padma, and Lavender in one of the horseless carriages that took them through the front gates of the Hogwarts grounds. These "horseless carriages" weren't cars though. They were actual carriages that should have been pulled by horses, but none could be seen. After all she'd seen in the magical world over the past year, self-steering carriages didn't faze Hermione.

"I'm so glad I'm not a first year anymore." Padma said as she stuck her hair out the window.

"Me too," Lavender agreed. "Bottom of the food chain."

"Hey Hermione, where's Harry?" Parvati asked the silent passenger.

Hermione had been staring out the window. "Uh, he and Ron are… doing something."

"Doing something?" Lavender repeated. "What could they possibly…" Hermione glared at her and she immediately shut up. "Nevermind, don't want to know."

Soon they were disembarking at the castle's main entrance. Hermione looked up at the familiar structure with its turrets and towers and realized that she was truly home. Ever since she'd come to Hogwarts last year, her world had changed. The life she knew before she'd found out about her magical heritage barely seemed real anymore. She still loved her parents, but all during the summer she felt like there was a piece of her life missing. She'd felt listless and restless. Now, standing there in front of the stone haven for young wizards and witches, she felt like she was were she truly belonged. Her world felt complete again.

She had just breathed a relaxing sigh when a hand clamped down on her shoulder "Hermione." It was Fred and he had an uncharacteristically worried look on his face. "Harry and Ron aren't here."

"What?" Hermione asked confused.

"They're nowhere on the grounds; we just checked."

"But how do you…"

"Trust me," Fred said in exasperation. "Wherever Harry and Ron are, they're not at Hogwarts.

"I've got to find them," Hermione turned on her heals, determined to search the whole grounds and even Hogsmeade if she had to.

"Ms. Granger?" came a voice from the castle entrance.

Hermione didn't need to turn around to recognize the voice. It was Professor McGonagall. "I thought she'd be with the first years by now," she said silently.

"Where are you going?" McGonagall asked.

"Uh…" Hermione thought fast. "I left something on the train."

"Not to worry. Whatever you had on the train has already been brought to your room. Now come along; you don't want to miss the feast."

"But…"

"Come along, Ms. Granger," the teacher said more sternly this time.

Hermione turned around with an angry sulk and followed her teacher back inside. "What I wouldn't give for Harry's invisibility cloak right now."

The Great Hall was buzzing with excitement as the returning students took their seats at the four house tables. The sorting ceremony would be beginning soon and this was especially exciting for the second years, who would finally have a chance to witness the sorting, as opposed to being a part of it. Parvati and Lavender sat beside Hermione chatting and giggling hysterically but Hermione barely heard any of what they were saying. All she could think of was getting out of the Great Hall as quickly as possible to try and find Harry but this seemed impossible.

Hermione gazed absentmindedly at the staff table. She noticed the absence of not only Hagrid and McGonagall, both presumably working with the first years, but also Snape. Where could he be? Also noticeably absent was Gilderoy Lockhart. Perhaps he had been delayed somehow. After all, he was a world renowned wizard. He probably had some prior obligation.

After what seemed an eternity, a door opened and the first years, looking scared and anxious, marched in, followed by professor McGonagall carrying a stool and a tattered-looking pointed hat. The entire hall fell silent as McGonagall silently placed stool and hat in front of the line of confused-looking first-year students. All eyes fell on the relic. Even Hermione, whose mind was completely distracted by her present dilemma, was mildly curious at the processions now. For this was no ordinary hat; it was the Hogwarts sorting hat.

According to "Hogwarts: A History" the sorting hat once belonged to Godric Gryffindor, one of the school's founders. He endowed the hat with intelligence, so that it could sort the incoming students into the four houses long after the founders were gone. Apparently, he also gave it a superb singing voice and aptitude for lyric writing, because at that moment, a tear at the top of the hat opened wide like a mouth, and the whole hall was filled with singing.

"Now listen up; I'll tell a tale

Of magic folks of fame.

Two witches and two wizards great

And you should know their names

First Slytherin, a pure-blood

Who valued those like he.

Then Ravenclaw, a clever witch

As wise as she could be.

Fare Hufflepuff who wanted

All with magic to unite

And Gryffindor who sought out those

Who were as brave as knights.

Now they are gone but I am here.

I know there minds so well.

So when you place me on your head,

The house you're in I'll tell.

Only I can sort you out.

Only I can know.

So now that I have sung my song,

Let's get on with the show."

Everyone applauded, except for the still confused-looking first years. McGonagall had unrolled a long parchment and had just cleared her throat when, without warning, the large doors to the great hall burst open. There, standing in robes of stunning aqua-marine, a huge smile on his face, was Gilderoy Lockhart.

"So sorry I'm late," he said loudly. "There was a huge reception at the Hogsmeade station and I just can't say no to my fans."

Everyone in the great hall turned. For a moment, there was a deafening silence. Then there was a great clatter of chairs as half the students, including many of the previously petrified first years went rushing towards Lockhart with loud cheers and whoops.

"Please, please!" Lockhart said loudly, "One at a time, one at a time. Plenty of autographs for everyone."

Hermione was one of the few Gryffindor girls still at the table. Having already gotten an autograph from Lockhart in Diagon Alley, she was not pressed to try to reach her idol through the throng of screaming Hogwarts students. McGonagall, positively livid with rage, went storming past her, obviously intent on restoring decorum to the sacred processions about to commence.

Hermione turned her attention to the staff table and saw other teachers rising to help the deputy head mistress, others were whispering among themselves, but Dumbledore looked mildly amused by the whole thing. He sat, with his fingertips together staring serenely at the bewitched ceiling.

This gave Hermione an idea. All the staff, students, and even the resident ghosts were completely distracted by Lockhart's abrupt entrance. This would be the perfect chance for her to escape and go Harry hunting. All she needed was a way out of the Great Hall. Fred and George were still sitting across from her looking positively bored. They were clearly unimpressed with any distraction that they themselves did not cause.

"Fred, George," she hissed.

The twins turned to her.

"I'm going to go look for Harry and Ron."

"Hermione, we've already told you they're not…"

She cut George off. "I don't care! I'll search the whole grounds and Hogsmeade if I have to. I'm going to find them. But um…"

Fred grinned. "But you need a way to get out of the Great Hall without being noticed while everyone's distracted by that git over there."

"Uh… yeah." Hermione nodded, not bothering to snap at Fred for insulting their newest professor.

George pointed casually behind him with his thumb. "See that statue of Gregory the Smarmy over there."

Hermione leaned around to look. There, looking very smug indeed, was a tall statue with the unmistakable likeness of the famous wizard.

"Just shake his hand; a passage to the grounds will open up in the floor behind him." Fred informed her. "Lots of people know about it, but hardly anyone uses it, especially since it's here in the Great Hall."

"Thanks," Hermione said jumping to her feet.

"No problem," Fred called to her as she rushed off towards the statue. "But this is the last time. After this our debt to you is over."

Hermione gave them one fleeting puzzled look. It had been the second time since she'd known the twins that they had reminded her of members of some wizard's mafia. Dismissing this, she slipped quickly towards the statue of Gregory the Smarmy. She remembered that Gregory was famous for creating a potion that made the drinker think you were their best friend. It was only appropriate to see that the statue depicted him with a huge grin on his face and his hand extended as if he was offering it to someone.

Hermione took another quick look around to make sure the appropriate persons were still distracted, and then took Smarmy's hand. To her mild surprise, the statue's arm moved easily. She heard the sound of stone moving behind the base and rushed around to find that part of the floor had moved aside to reveal a passage leading down. She ran down the dark sloping stairs, around a tight corner and up another set of stairs and pushed her way up to the middle of the Hogwarts grounds.

She looked around, trying to get her bearings. It finally occurred to her that in her zeal to go hunting for her friends, she hadn't really done any planning. She thought for a moment. If Harry and Ron hadn't made it on the train, then maybe they had to find another way to get to Hogwarts. There couldn't be but so many ways to get to the magical school. If Harry had to get to Hogwarts, it would probably be by broom. Then of course there was the option that Harry and Ron were just hiding, thinking it'd be a thrill to skip the feast and do something mischievous, most likely Ron's idea. If they were roaming about the grounds, the most likely place they'd be was the quidditch pitch, flying around on Harry's Nimbus 2000. The chance of them being spotted while everyone was in the Great Hall was pretty slim. Either way, the odds of Harry being in the air seemed pretty high, and if that really was the case, then there was definitely one place she'd be sure to spot him.

Hermione kicked the large statue in the shin and a small passageway opened behind it. She was only a stones throw away from the hallway that would have taken her to Gryffindor Tower, but of course, this wasn't where she was headed. She ducked down and crawled through the passage. A few minutes later she found herself standing on one of the high ramparts of Hogwarts staring down across the grounds. Hermione had spent many days up there the previous years, usually to watch Harry practice Quidditch.

This was the first place she decided to focus on, the Quidditch pitch, but there was no sign of anything in the air over the still grass. Her eyes fell on the forbidden forest. Though she knew if Harry and Ron were actually in the forest she'd never be able to tell from that height, she thought perhaps if they were flying to Hogwarts, she'd be able to spot them. Still, there was no sign of anything in the air around the school. Finally she scanned the grounds, walking around the edge of the ramparts to get a good view all around the castle.

An odd sight caught her eyes; one of the solitary trees on the grounds seemed to be deformed. She recognized it from "Hogwarts: A History." It was called the Whomping Willow. She didn't remember it looking like that last year and wondered what had happened to it.

The wind was beginning to pick up and she knew that the feast was probably letting out. Disheartened, she descended the stairs to the Hogwarts corridors.

"Hermione, where've you been?" The unmistakable voice of Parvati Patil sounded behind Hermione as she stepped into the Gryffindor Tower corridor.

"Uh, I got sick, I had to run to the restroom," Hermione lied quickly.

"You're not going to believe this," Lavender was just behind her. "Parvati heard from her sister who heard from that Hufflepuff boy, Wayne, who overheard from a Slytherin girl, that Harry and Ron are getting expelled for driving a flying car to school! Crashed it right into the Whomping Willow."

"What? Hermione tried to process the fast speech, but even after she went over it in her head twice, it still made no sense. "Parvati, I think you're sources have gotten the message garbled."

"Well, they're supposed to be down in Snape's office if you want to say good-bye to them. I'll tell you one thing, if they don't get expelled, it'll be the greatest stunt ever pulled at Hogwarts," and with that the two retreated to the portrait of the fat lady. Hermione heard Lavender shout out "wattlebird" to the fat lady and they disappeared into the common room.

Hermione didn't want to believe it, it was impossible, it was unfathomable, it was… "Ron," she muttered bitterly. If there was any truth to this story, any at all, then it had to be the doing of that king of all idiotic ideas: Ronald Weasley. There was only one way to find out. She took off down a flight of stairs.

Ron and Harry weren't in Snape's office, but Hermione didn't know whether this was a good or bad thing. Obviously, the rumors weren't true, but then, where were they?

"This is ridiculous." She thought angrily to herself. "I'm running all over school, worried sick, and Harry and Ron are probably having the time of their lives. Fine, I'll just go to the common room. Forget this." Her stomach growled audibly. "I really wish I hadn't skipped dinner."

Hermione made her way out of the dungeon level and proceeded up the many flights of stairs that would lead her back to Gryffindor Tower. As she ascended to the final landing, Hermione began trying to remember what the new password was when she heard the distant cry of the fat lady call "Password."

The moment she looked up, two things registered immediately: first, the new password was "wattlebird," and second, there were two boys standing in front of the portrait of the fat lady, and one was tall with flaming red hair… it was Harry and Ron. Without preamble, Hermione took off towards them.

"There you are!" she cried as she reached them. "Where have you been? The most ridiculous rumors: someone said you'd been expelled for crashing a flying car."

Harry looked as weary as Hermione felt. "Well, we haven't been expelled…"

Something in his tone made Hermione ask, "You're not telling me you did fly here?" This came out harsher than she intended as it always did when she was this tired and frazzled.

"Skip the lecture and tell us the new password," Ron snapped.

Hermione felt like giving him a hearty slap, but decided against this course of action. "It's wattlebird," she said hastily and at the sound of the correct password, the portrait automatically began to swing open. She hoped Ron would leave so she could talk to Harry alone. She turned to him. "But that's not the point…"

But to Hermione's complete surprise and chagrin, Ron didn't leave, in fact, their conversation was interrupted by the whole of Gryffindor, all of whom were apparently wide awake and waiting for Ron and Harry, or at least that's what it seemed like. Several hands reached out to pull the two boys in.

Hermione was furious as she climbed awkwardly in behind them. Everyone was raving about Harry and Ron's "daring" stunt, as if it were the grandest scheme in the world. "What do they know?" she thought angrily. This was typical. As long as they didn't get the house in serious trouble, nobody cared if Harry did something fool hearted or reckless or almost got killed. They just lived vicariously for the thrill of it all.

"And to think, I was worried about them." She scowled at the thought.

Hermione had just started her internal debate as to how she was going to weather the celebration of Harry and Ron's arrival until she could finally have a chance to talk to Harry alone, when she heard his voice call out, "Night!" to him. Harry and Ron were already heading towards their dormitories. Disheartened, hungry, and furious, Hermione started resolutely for hers as well.

She pushed the door open to her dormitory and was met with a mild surprise. Ginny Weasley was sitting on her bed. She jumped a little as Hermione entered.

"Ginny… what are you…. you're not in this dormitory… are you?"

"Oh no," Ginny grinned nervously. "Of course not, I just, uh… wanted to talk to you about something; I mean… that is if you're okay with that."

"Oh," Hermione's frustration seemed to disappear as she tried to discern what the first year Weasley girl wanted. Her stomach growled again, this time so audibly that Ginny heard it.

"Oh, are you still hungry?" Ginny asked revealing a small bundled. She unwrapped two large pieces of pie. "I snuck these out from the feast in case I wanted a late night snack, but you can have them."

Hermione was vaguely reminded of Ron, but dismissed this and gladly accepted the food Ginny offered as she sat down on the bed beside her.

"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Hermione asked after swallowing a large chunk of pie. She reached over to her nightstand, where a large clear picture of water always sat with a small goblet beside it, and poured herself some water.

"Well it's just," Ginny's face went almost as red as her head. "This is so embarrassing but... oh I'll just be out with it. I've got a huge crush on Harry!"

"Duh," Hermione thought to herself as she downed another piece of the first slice of pie.

"I've never not been able to talk to anyone but when I get around Harry it's like my mind goes completely blank. I don't know what to do about it."

Hermione felt a pang of irritation but didn't dare show it in her face.

"I mean, he spent weeks at our house and I still never g6t up the nerve to talk to him. That's so unlike me. I mean, he's famous; what do you say to Harry Potter? Hermione, you're one of his best friend's, right? You're a girl; can't you help me?"

Hermione almost choked as she took another gulp of water. "Help you? Help you what?" she sputtered.

"Help me get Harry to notice me," she said almost pleadingly.

Hermione set the goblet and second, untouched, piece of pie on the nightstand. "Ginny, I'm sure Harry already notices you. I mean you're Ron's younger sister, that's hard to miss."

"But I don't want him to think of me as just 'Ron's younger sister,'" Ginny said.

"Well then, just talk to him," Hermione said, trying to reason with her.

Ginny gave her an exasperated look. "Don't you think I tried? It's just so hard."

Hermione matched her exasperation. "Ginny, it's just Harry. He's just a normal wizard, like us. He doesn't want to be famous. It's not like he's Gilderoy Lockhart. Harry just wants to be treated like everyone else. If you do that, then you'll be fine."

Ginny thought about this for a moment, then seemed to switch gears mentally. "Does he… you know… like anyone here? I mean, I already know he's not into you or anything. Ron told me."

Hermione was fully taken aback by this statement. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Ginny seemed to register this look of shock. "Oh… does that mean that…"

Hermione waved her hands wildly. "No no no, it's just that Harry and I… we just have a different friendship than he has with Ron." She was glad to see that Ginny didn't really understand what this meant. "Trust me, you can't fully rely on what Ron tells you about everything when it comes down to Harry."

"See this is why I need you," Ginny continued excitedly. "I bet with your help, I could plan something that would really make Harry noticed me," and to Hermione's surprise, Ginny had a look in her eyes that reminded her of the twins.

"Oh no!" Hermione said, waving her hands wildly again. "I don't think so. If you want to try to impress Harry, you're going to have to do it on your own. I'm staying out of this."

"But Hermione!" Ginny squealed. "You're Harry's best friend…"

"Which is exactly why I don't want to get involved. I want to stay Harry's best friend, and I don't think he'd appreciate this."

Ginny pouted. "I don't get it. I thought you'd want to help. I mean, when I told Ron, he said that I might have a chance to get Harry to fancy me this year if I just got up the nerve."

"Ron said that?" Hermione eyed her suspiciously. "Why would Ron encourage Ginny's crush?"

"Yeah, well he said maybe, but he did act like he thought it was a good idea for me to try. He seemed happy at the thought, and he knows Harry real well too, so I thought maybe he figured Harry would like me too, ya know?"

Hermione sighed. She would have to let the young redhead down gently. "Ginny, it's just… You shouldn't go getting your hopes up. I've seen… other girls try what you're thinking, and it's never worked out. The best thing to do around Harry is just be yourself and maybe try to be his friend. I don't think you can really hope for anything more."

Ginny was still frowning. "I see… I guess I should've figured… you just want to keep Harry all to yourself," she said in a small voice.

Hermione almost chocked again, although this time she wasn't aided by the presence of any food or drink in her mouth. "What? Ginny, it's not that at all. Harry and I are just…"

"I heard those girls… I think they're your roommates… talking about how close you and Harry are and how it's almost impossible for Harry to notice any other girls. I don't blame you, if it were me; I'd do the same thing. But if Harry doesn't like you that way, that doesn't mean you shouldn't let any other girls have a chance Hermione. It's not fair. If you're his friend, you won't stop him from being happy."

Hermione opened her mouth to retort, but not for the first time, a small voice in her head that sounded distinctly like her mother, told her to choose her words carefully. After all, Ginny was in Gryffindor, which meant she'd be seeing a lot of the young redhead, not to mention she was Ron's younger sister. She didn't want to be on bad terms with her.

Hermione sighed. "I do want Harry to be happy," she said truthfully. "And you're right, other girls probably are less willing to… approach Harry when they see me with him, but I wouldn't push someone away from Harry just because I wanted him all to myself or anything like that." "If that were the case I would've gotten rid of Ron ages ago," she added mentally. "It's just that Harry chooses his friends carefully. There's nothing I can do about that. So like I said before, if you want to be Harry's friend, just be yourself."

Ginny stood and Hermione was glad to see she wasn't glaring at her. "Well… alright. I guess I'll figure out something if you won't help. But… could you… what I mean is… I don't want Harry to…"

Hermione grinned. "I won't say a word, I promise."

Ginny returned the smile. "Thank you," she said as she started towards the door. "Enjoy the pie."

Hermione collapsed on her bed as Ginny shut the door behind her. "Just great," she sighed. "Just what I need, another member of the 'We Love Harry Potter' fan club."

She wondered what Ginny would try to do to win Harry's affection. She also wondered what Parvati, Padma, and Lavender would think if they were to find out about Ginny's crush. Would they even see the first year girl as a real threat? Probably so. After all, she was Ron's younger sister. In their mind, that would give her the advantage.

Another thought took up residence in her head; what was Ron thinking? Why would he encourage Ginny to make a fool of herself in front of Harry? Did he think her crush was funny or was it something else? Could it be that Ron was plotting? Did he want Harry to fall in love with his younger sister in the hopes that some day Harry might really be a part of his family? It seemed beyond far fetched, but then… Harry had told her that he felt like a surrogate son, living at the Weasleys all that time during the summer. He hadn't had a real family before, and the Weasley's treated him like he was one of their own. He seemed so happy.

Hermione rolled over on her side, staring at her nightstand. "Would Harry just naturally get closer to Ginny after spending all that time with the Weasleys over the summer? I mean, they are almost the same age, and Harry does really like their whole family. It would kind of make sense. Maybe Ron wasn't that far off when he told Ginny to give it a shot. I mean, I never did actually ask Harry about the whole thing. How would I know if he likes her or not? Maybe I'm the one who's got it all wrong." It was then that she finally noticed how much this really bothered her. Was she… jealous?

"No! Harry and I are just friends!" she admonished herself.

"But is that all you really wanted?" another part of her brain asked.

"It's more than enough," she answered herself.

"Is it really?" the first part pressed.

"Yes it is!" she answered forcefully. "I'm not going to fall into this trap again. Harry and I are friends. That's all I could ever ask for and it's great, and he's wonderful to me and I'm not going to muck that all up by throwing myself at him like some dewy-eyed schoolgirl."

Having resolved this inner conflict for now, Hermione got up and changed for bed, hoping she could fall asleep before Lavender arrived. If there was one thing she didn't need to hear that night, it was Lavender's bear-like snores.