Doing what Hermione does best

[Hermione Granger]

Hermione sat in the library surrounded by a large pile of books. The school year had just started and already she was busy, trying to learn new spells and information that could help them out this year. The only time she took a break from studying this day was to work on a letter to Victor, whom she had been keeping in touch with over the past year.

The table where she sat was towards the back and to the left, giving her sufficient privacy and quiet. She didn't want any bumbling second years to come in here and giggle about some new gossip. Or Lavender and Parvati for that matter. She just wanted to study. And that is what she did.

[Ron Weasley]

"Hermione." Ron said, appearing beside her. "I can't believe you're studying already!" He exclaimed this last remark while plunking himself into a seat across from her. "We haven't even had classes yet! Have you been studying all day?" Ron grinned at her lopsidedly. It was really good to see his friends again.

[Hermione Granger]

"No," Hermione replied curtly, throwing some of her books in her bag. "I had to get up and eat at some point, Ronald," she carefully left out the part about writing to Viktor, as that was still a rather sore subject for Ron.

[Ron Weasley]

"So you've, in essence, been studying here all day?" Ron shook his head. "I can't believe you, 'Mione."

He glanced at her papers and then back up at her face. "What are you even studying? There's no homework!"

[Hermione Granger]

"It's just that I want to be prepared, Ron," Hermione sighed and glanced at the boy. "And yes, in essence. Is there a problem with that?" She glared at Ron, daring him to say otherwise.

[Ron Weasley]

"Prepared for what?" Ron asked incredously. "You really think there's going to be a quiz on the first day?" Ron shook his head. "Honestly. Some people." Ron decided that talking about school was making him sick. Since he was still slightly miffed at Hermione for her antics in the Great Hall earlier, he decided to pose a rather annoying question. "How's your pen pal?" He asked.

[Hermione Granger]

"Anything," she said shortly. "And they might quiz us to get a look at what we remembered over the summer." Then Ron posed an interesting question. Hermione's face dropped and she glanced at him, blinking a few times. How did he know? Thinking for a few moments, Hermione decided to play dumb for once in her life.

"I don't know what you mean," she said innocently, hoping she hadn't given away her position right after he asked the question. He could always be bluffing and pretending, trying to get Hermione to say something she didn't want to admit. Or maybe she was just over-analysising... again...

[Ron Weasley]

"Yes you do, 'Mione." Ron was miffed. He couldn't believe that she was still writing to him. "By denying it, you're showing me that you know exactly what I'm talking about. Which means that you're still keeping in touch with Vicky." Ron was getting angrier and angrier at Hermione. "What do you even see in him?"

[Hermione Granger]

Bloody plan, foiled again, Hermione thought bitterly. "Ron, calm down. Victor's just my friend, haven't we been over this already?" She hated when Ron got on her case about Victor. "Apparently, I'm not allowed to have any other friends other than you and Harry, and Ginny, correct?"

A mischevious smile flashed on Hermione's face, but only for a second. She could say it, if she really wanted to. But then Ron would probably want to kill her. Making up her mind, Hermione planned on keeping it in reserve, incase she really need it.

[Ron Weasley]

Ron glared at her, but softened his look after a few moments. "Fine." He said, wishing he had something better to say. "Fine, okay? Just.... Krum wanted to be more than just friends." Ron said this last sentance as if he was concerned for Hermione's health.

Noting her smile as it flashed across her face, Ron glared at her again. "Come off it, tell me." Ron again felt the benifit of being good friend with this girl for five years.

[Hermione Granger]

Hermione glanced at Ron, who had sounded concerned. "Maybe we are more than friends, ever thought of it that way?" Lying through her teeth, Hermione pretty much was. She didn't lie that much, unless she could see some sort of benefit from it.

"And," she said, pausing for a moment and teturning a glare back at Ron, "I'm not going to tell you. I see no benefit in telling you at the moment, so I'm going to refrain from making a witty comment that would obviously send you into a jealous rage. So, no, I don't think I will." Hermione smiled and pulled the last of her books into her bag, but pausing and looking at her letter to Victor before she placed it not in her bag, but in a pocket on her robes. Serves Ron right.

[Ron Weasley]

"Hermione Granger!" Ron all but shouted. "Jealous? Of him. Well... of all the wrong ideas." Ron, too, lied. He was rather jealous of "Vicky." Not only was he an all-star Quidditch player, but he also managed to get the girl. Not that Ron liked Hermione or anything... or so he told himself.

"'Mione. Please. You're contradicting yourself. First he's just your penpal, now you're 'more than just friends.' I..." Ron didn't feel the need to finish his sentance, but he did anyway. "I can't belive you."

[Hermione Granger]

"I've given you no reason to believe me! Honestly, Ronald Weasley! Do I look like the type of person who'd go around with Viktor's type? He's 20 years old for crying out loud!" Hermione stood up and looked angrily at Ron.

"Did it ever occure to you I was lying to get you off my case? What a brilliant idea it was, now, looking back on it. Ron, face up to it, you're jealous. If it's not over one thing, it's over another," come to think of it, Ron was generally jealous of Harry a bit too. Hermione continued on, "And certainly over the fact he is an international Quidditch star and you can barley catch the blood quaffle to save your life!" Now she had gotten it off of her chest, Hermione felt releaved and slightly bad. Now Ron was going to hate her. Not for the first time in her life.

[Ron Weasley]

"You are horrible, Hermione Granger." Ron couldn't believe what she had said. She had actually told him that he was bad at Quidditch? Of couse, he knew he wasn't all-star material, but Quidditch was pratcically his life. "And I'm not jealous!" Ron pushed his chair back, knocking it over, and sent her a death glare. Hermione had gone too far this time. Ron's face was turning a rather shade of red that was so deep it could have been purple. Without another word, he stormed out of the library and into the hallway.

[Hermione Granger]

It wasn't untill a few seconds after Ron had stormed out Hermione realized what had just happened. She stood up quickly, calling after him, "RONALD! Wait!" Hermione grabbed her things and tore off after him, hoping to catch up with him. Ron was thick, but Hermione had gone too far, and she realized that now.

[Ron Weasley]

As much as he really didn't want to hear what Hermione had to say, Ron knew she was coming to apologize. He turned to face her as she ran up to him. As she was nearly sprinting, and Ron was huffing along rather slowly, it hadn't taken her long to catch him. "What do you want?" He asked rather gruffly, although he knew the answer. Hermione wouldn't have run after him to pick a fight. She was definatly sorry.

[Hermione Granger]

Stopping, Hermione looked at Ron softly.
"I'm an idiot," she said slowly, biting her lip. "I went too far. I should've just held my tongue and not said anything. I don't really know anything about Quidditch, so you can't take my word for it, now can you?" She swollowed, "For all I know, you could be the best keeper in the world and I would have no clue. I don't want you and Harry mad at me. But I'm not too sure Harry's mad at me, I don't know with him. He's beyond me right now. And I'm worried about him." Hermione ended with a sad note, looking up at Ron, who was much taller than her by a good bit. She smiled weakly, hoping Ron would understand and stop being thick.

[Ron Weasley]

"Apology accepted." Ron stated, rather curtly for someone who was accepting another's apology. He lightened up a bit. "And I never thought Hermione Granger would admit to not knowing something. I should post a notice in the common room!" Ron grinned at her. He didn't want to fight, either.

Lowering his voice, Ron glanced around. "I'm worried about Harry, too. Ever since Sirius died..." Ron gulped. "I don't know what to do about him."

[Hermione Granger]

Hermione looked at Ron sternly. "You do," she paused for empathses, "and you'll find yourself un-able to get on broom for weeks." Even though she was taken aback slightly by Ron's curtness, she continued.

"I agree," Hermione nodded, lowering her voice to Ron's pitch. "He's... different. I told him at dinner I was worried about him and he flew off the handle. It's either stress... or something else. I'm willing to bet it's something else."

[Ron Weasley]

Ron glanced down at his pants and his eyes went wide. "You wouldn't." Actually, she probably would, which was exactly why Ron wasn't going to post a notice in the Common Room. Yet.

"It's definatley not stress. He wasn't this antsy before." Ron lowered his voice to a whisper. "Sirius or... or You-Know-Who. Or both. Either he's still depressed because he lost the one man he ever really thought of as a father, or he doesn't know what he's going to do about Voldemort. I mean, everyone expects him to do something again."