A/N: Hello everyone, I'm really sorry about the update delay, my PC decided to contract a virus and has been useless for almost three weeks! A big thank you to all the people who've given wonderful reviews! It's true that great reviews = happy writer, happy writer = better work. And of course, to my magnificent, marvellous, amazing beta, merci! Alors, on with the story…
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Saturday
Hermione woke up at 8 o'clock and scolded herself for sleeping in. She washed up, quickly changed into jeans and a tee and headed down to the Common Room where she found Harry waiting.
"Morning!" he said with a bright smile. She smiled back.
"Hey, sorry. Oversleeping is fast becoming a habit."
Harry laughed. "It's the weekend. And besides, if there's anyone who has the right to oversleep, it's you. Now come on, we're going to miss breakfast." He got up and ushered Hermione through the portrait hole. "So, what are you doing on this beautiful Saturday? Ron and I are going to Hogsmeade, maybe drop by Hagrid's, or do any of the random crazy things that pop into our heads. The objective is to spend the entire day outside. Want to tag along?" He said this with such enthusiasm that Hermione felt really bad when she said, "that sounds really great Harry, but I have to be catching up with my lessons today."
"Oh... Ok..." Harry's voice was sad, disappointed.
Hermione put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. You guys go have fun without me."
"But it's no fun without you," Harry said in the same disappointed voice. "You never hang out with us anymore. You're always cooped up in your room or in the Library. It's even rare that I see you at meal times. Sometimes I think you don't even eat at all. You're making me-- us worry."
"I thought worrying was my job," Hermione said with a small smile.
They entered the Great Hall and took their seats at the Gryffindor table, across from Ron, who was in the middle of his stack of pancakes. "Hey Hermione, hey Harry." Pieces of pancake and Merlin knows what else went flying from his mouth. Hermione grimaced slightly at this and Harry chuckled lightly.
"Morning, Ron." said Harry as he reached across the table for some bacon.
"Morning, Ron." said Hermione. She smiled and went for the pancakes.
"So, has Harry told you about our little agenda for today?"
"Yeah, about that, I'm sorry, Ron. I won't be tagging along today. I have a lot of stuff to work on."
"That was the excuse you used two weeks ago."
"It's not an excuse, and it's still valid."
"It's a Saturday, Hermione!"
"Exactly. No classes equals more time, more time equals actual progression."
"You're hopeless, not to mention no fun."
"Are you sure you don't want to come along?" asked Harry.
"No Harry, and that's final."
Hermione finished up her pancakes and pumpkin juice lightning fast. "I'm going back up to the common room you guys, I'll see you later."
"What? That was breakfa-- THAT was BREAKFAST? TWO PANCAKES!?" Ron looked incredulously at her, genuinely shocked at how little she'd ingested.
"Yes Ron, two pancakes." And with that, she strode off to the Heads' Dorm. Ron stared after Hermione, mouth agape.
Harry was staring too. "This is not healthy man, something has to be done."
"Yeah, but what? Any brilliant ideas?"
"Change the dorm password and lock her out?"
"Nope, the Library would still be open."
"Oh, right..."
"How 'bout a few Unbreakable Locks on her books?"
"Nah, she's too smart for that. She'll pop 'em open in three seconds."
Harry and Ron seriously contemplated other ways to keep Hermione away from her books today. Ron even suggested that they kidnap her, tie her up, strap her to a wagon of sorts and drag her along with them. But that would only make her grumpier, so they scrapped that thought. Just as they were running out of bright ideas, they saw Filch exit the Great Hall, Mrs. Norris on his heels.
Harry followed them with his eyes, and then smiled. Ron noticed this and turned to see what Harry was so happy about, and it dawned on him too.
"Ron, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"I think I am, mate."
"You think it'll work?"
"Well it's a lot better than having a raving Hermione strapped to a wagon."
"Alright then, let's do this." With a high five, they left the table and went up to the Heads' Dorm, putting together a meticulous plan to set Hermione 'free'.
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