Disclaimer: Consider the chapter disclaimed. A/N: Wow! I got lots of reviews that time! You guys are terrific! I have had this written for days, because of ff.net I couldn't post! (so don't yell at me!!) Don't worry Tanja, it's no flame, I apologize for the y'all's, I am from the south in the U.S. I try to catch them but I usually just look over it, sorry! I am very honored that you are writing a story inspired by mine ittybittytreefrog! I will e-mail you whenever I update libertygrl413 and I would be happy to do that for anybody else who would like me to, just tell me and leave me your e-mail addy! It was a long walk to McGonagall's office. Much longer than Hermione ever remembered it being. She kept her eyes focused on the ground the entire trip, to ashamed to look at McGonagall and to angry to look at Malfoy. When they finally reached McGonagall's office, the Professor took her seat behind her desk. The two students silently took their seats in front of the desk. McGonagall looked appraisingly at the two students, before speaking up in a very serious tone. "Let me just begin by saying that I am very disappointed in the both of you." McGonagall said, causing tears to leak down Hermione's down turned face and Malfoy to fume with anger. "But Professor," Malfoy started. "I didn't do anything! Granger just attacked me out of no where!" Hermione gave him a death glare at this blatant lie, but waited politely for McGonagall to give her permission to speak. "Is this true Miss Granger?" McGonagall asked. "Not exactly Professor." Hermione said, shifting her gaze to McGonagall. "Malfoy." Hermione paused for a second to take a deep breath. "Malfoy said that he persuaded his father to attack my family." Hermione explained weakly, feeling that there was no way that McGonagall would believe her explanation. Luicius Malfoy had presently been forgiven for all of his Dark deeds and was not known as Death Eater. "And did you attack Mr. Malfoy?" McGonagall asked with a sigh. Hermione looked back down at her feet and nodded. "Now, I understand what you must be going through right now Miss Granger and I'm very sorry about what happened to your parents. However, the rules insist that anyone who starts a fight must be punished accordingly. Thus I am taking 25 points from Gryffindor and from Slytherin." Malfoy's mouth dropped open. "But Professor, SHE attacked ME." He said. McGonagall gave him a sharp look. "It seems to me," McGonagall said, "that you provoked it." Malfoy gaped at her in shock, but didn't' say another word. "Now, I must warn you both that fighting is a very serious offense at Hogwarts and despite your mild punishments, the two of you must not let anything like this happen again. Or else I fear you will face a much more serious punishment. Do you understand?" McGonagall said, looking at each of them in turn. "Yes, Professor." Hermione and Malfoy said in unison. "Good, you can leave now, you may still be able to catch the end of the feast. " McGonagall said. The two students got up from their seats and walked out. As soon as the students left and shut the door behind them, McGonagall took off her glasses and massaged the bridge of her nose. "This is going to be a long year." she said to herself. As soon at Hermione and Malfoy had gotten a fair distance from McGonagall's office, Malfoy turned on Hermione. "What are you trying to pull Granger?" Malfoy asked her with a smirk. Hermione, eyes red from tears and still trembling slightly turned to face him. "What are you talking about Malfoy?" Hermione said with anger. "No one is going to believe you Granger. My father was pardoned from all of his supposed Death Eater crimes. No one will believe that my father had anything to do with the attack." Malfoy said in an annoying in-your-face tone. "If it wasn't for you none of this would have happened. My parents wouldn't be dying, I would be prefect, and I most certainly would not be talking to you right now. Now I can't even let out any frustration without getting into trouble. So just don't talk to me anymore Malfoy unless you want to go walking around with a permanent bloody nose!" Hermione ranted before turning on her heal and marching off towards the Gryffindor common room, leaving a dumbstruck Malfoy behind. As soon as Hermione got to the portrait hole she realized that she had no idea what the password was. For a minute or two Hermione paced outside of the portrait like a tiger in a cage, every once in a while shouting random remarks of hatred. (The Fat Lady watching on in worry) Until everything that had happened to her that day finally came rushing through to the surface, the portrait hole not opening merely being the breaking point no matter how trivial it was. Hermione dropped to her knees in the middle of the hall and went from anger and rage to hysterical crying in a flash. She wasn't quite sure why she was crying and she certainly couldn't stop herself from doing so. She just felt like everything was happening so fast and she was so helpless to stop any of it. She just had to cry and let everything out before it destroyed her from the inside. The fat lady looked on sadly and with concern, but all her tries at helping went by unnoticed. After about five minutes the Portrait hole swung open and out stepped Ron. "I know Harry, but I forgot that she didn't know the password!" Ron was shouting as he climbed out of the hole backwards. "Otherwise we would have waited like you suggested! I'm going to lo-" Ron was saying before his foot caught on Hermione's causing him to stumble backwards and land on his back. Rubbing the back of his head, Ron looked up only to find the person he was looking for. "Hermione?" Ron asked. "What. what's the matter? Are you alright?" Ron asked in a hurry as he scrambled to his knees facing her. "I-I..." Hermione stuttered meekly. "I didn't know the password." Hermione explained weakly as she wiped at her eyes with her robe sleeve. Ron couldn't help but let out a small chuckle before pulling Hermione to her feet. "So I deduced, come on, you need some rest." Ron said as he led her to the portrait hole. Hermione however disagreed and she told him so. "What makes you think that I need rest? I'm not a child Ron." Hermione said as she shrugged his arm away. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself thanks." Ron sighed and turned to face her. "Hermione, you were crying your eyes out because you didn't know the password to get into the common room! I know you are capable of taking care of yourself, but I also think that you need to listen to those who care about you, because sometimes they can see things that you don't want to." "Ron, I really need to study!" Hermione complained rather childishly. "Hermione, look, tomorrow is a Saturday. Get plenty of sleep tonight and you still have all day to study tomorrow. Okay? You really worry me sometimes Hermione. Please, get some sleep, for me?" Ron pleaded. Suddenly Hermione realized how very close Ron was standing and perhaps she was hallucinating, but Ron was getting closer by the second. Hermione started breathing quickly, it was all too much to handle. Yes she cared greatly for Ron and yes she wanted to be more than just friends with him, but with all that was going on, she just didn't know if she could handle a steady boyfriend. Her emotions were already spread thin enough as it was. Plus what if Ron was just doing all of this because he felt sorry for her? Of course he cared about her, they were best friends, but maybe part of it was pity? And what if he didn't love her the same way she loved him? She couldn't handle being rejected. And she desperately needed her friends for support right now, if Ron didn't feel the same way, he would start avoiding her and she didn't want that. Hermione's mind was racing and Ron was discretely drawing nearer. Quickly she pulled him into a hug. "Goodnight Ron!" Hermione said before turning to the portrait hole. "Oh, um, what was that password?" Hermione asked, cheeks glowing red from embarrassment. Ron grinned at her, but she could still see the disappointment in his eyes. Ron walked up beside her and looked at the Portrait. "Mascara." Ron said, gaining a quizzical look from Hermione as the portrait swung open. "Lavender is the new fifth year Prefect." Ron explained and to his surprise Hermione let out a small laugh. Once inside the common room, Hermione went up to her room as instructed for some much needed sleep. Ron however went to the table occupied solely by Harry. "Where was she?" Harry asked. "Outside the Portrait crying her eyes out." Ron said as he sat down. "Was she alright? Was her punishment that bad?" Harry asked concerned. "She said she was crying because she didn't know the password." Ron said as he shook his head. "I'm not sure what her punishment was, but I don't reckon it could be that bad considering the circumstances. Hermione is McGonagall's favorite student whether she'll admit it or not." Ron said. Moments of silence passed by, the only thing breaking the silence being Ron's sigh. "What's the matter Ron?" Harry asked. "I. I almost kissed her Harry. I was this close!" Ron said as he held up his fingers, showing just how close he was. Harry immediately looked up from the Quidditch book he was reading. "You what??" Harry asked. "You heard me!" Ron said with a glare. "Well, what happened exactly?" Harry asked. "I was trying to talk her into resting and then for some reason I just started leaning closer and closer to her and then, when I was just about to kiss her she sort of ducked out of the way and hugged me instead." Ron said, with a look of utter confusion on his face. Harry gave his best friend an encouraging smile. "Ron, don't worry about it. She is going through a lot emotional stuff right now. Maybe with everything that's been happening she just feels overwhelmed and can't handle the emotional stress that you kissing her might cause." Harry said. "Just give her time to sort things out, you know she likes you, she just can't handle such a commitment." "Are you saying I need to just back off?" Ron asked with a edge of fear in his voice. "Ron, don't be a git!" Ginny shouted as she sat down next to him. Ron raised an eyebrow at her. "I overheard your conversation." Ginny explained. "Oh great." Ron muttered into his arms. "I think its great Ron. You and Hermione are perfect for each other!" Ginny said with a grin. "Then why did you call me a git?" Ron asked as he threw his hands into the air. "Are you saying I need to just back off?" Ginny mimicked in a dopey voice. "Ron! You can be so dense sometimes, so listen closely. Yes, Hermione is having a rough time and no you shouldn't be pushing her into a relationship before she is ready, but by no means do you need to back off." Ron groaned and buried his head in his arms. "Look Ron," Ginny continued, "Just keep doing what you've been doing, just be there for her whenever she needs you and when she's sorted everything out and she's ready for a relationship she'll let you know. I'm just saying, be there for her and let her know how you feel, just let her make the first move. Hermione really likes you, Ron. She just needs time." Ron let out a sigh. "How do you know she likes me, did she tell you?" Ron asked hopefully. "Ron, Ron, Ron." Ginny said shaking her head. "She doesn't have to tell me, I can just tell! Plus I overheard you two talking at breakfast about a week ago and she said that you 'really mean a lot to her' and then she blushed! I mean, how much more proof do you need?" Ron looked at his sister as a slight smile began to grow on his face. "You know what Ginny? Maybe your right." Ron said as he got up and gave his sister a hug. "Thanks Ginny, you're the best!" Ron said before half running, half skipping to his dormitories. A/N: I tried really hard and made this chapter a little bit longer than the last one! I'm doing my best! All your reviews are great! Y'all made me so happy that it only took me a less than a week to get this chapter written! Y'all are the best! Feel free to review as much as you feel necessary! Question, Comments, Concerns and Constructive Criticism is more than welcome!