(Y/N)'s POV

"So, who do you reckon Katie was supposed to give the necklace to?" asked Ron, as we climbed the stairs to the common room. "Goodness only knows," said Hermione. "But whoever it was has had a narrow escape. No one could have opened that package without touching the necklace."

"It could've been meant for loads of people," said Harry. "Dumbledore, the Death Eaters would love to get rid of him, he must be one of their top targets. Or Slughorn, Dumbledore reckons Voldemort really wanted him and they can't be pleased that he's sided with Dumbledore. Or —"

"Or you," said Hermione, looking troubled. "Couldn't have been," said Harry, "or Katie would've just turned around in the lane and given it to me, wouldn't she? I was behind her all the way out of the Three Broomsticks."

I nodded, "Maybe she just didn't see you" I offered, wanting to drop the subject, "Guess we'll never know" I walked a bit faster, not wanting to get involved any further, "I just hope Katie is ok"

He ignored me, "I wonder why Malfoy told her to take it into the castle?" "Harry, Malfoy wasn't in Hogsmeade!" said Hermione, actually stamping her foot in frustration. "He must have used an accomplice, then," said Harry.

He went on another tirade about Malfoy. I looked to the others and shrugged, we exchanged looks that plainly said, 'There's no point arguing with him.'

"Dilligrout," said Hermione firmly as we reached the Fat Lady. The portrait swung open to admit them to the common room. It was quite full and smelled of damp clothing; many people seemed to have returned from Hogsmeade early because of the bad weather.

There was no buzz of fear or speculation, however: Clearly, the news of Katie's fate had not yet spread. "It wasn't a very slick attack, really, when you stop and think about it," said Ron, I nodded, sitting down at a table to do some research on 'Protego Diabolica.'

"You're right," said Hermione as we sat down, "It wasn't very well thought-out at all." "But since when has Malfoy been one of the world's great thinkers?" asked Harry. Neither Ron nor Hermione answered him. I groaned and slammed my head to the table in frustration.

Katie was removed to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries the following day, by which time the news that she had been cursed had spread all over the school. "Oh, and Malfoy knows, of course," said Harry.

I lobbed a quill at his head, absolutely fed up with his constant ravings about Malfoy, it was even worse then his obsession with that book "Nobody cares about your crush Harry!" he frowned at me, "We get it, you think he's super clever and evil, now shut up! We don't need you to tell us for the hundredth time."

He spoke to me in hushed anger, "Oh I'm sorry, I just don't want Death Eaters invading the school" I sighed. "If he even is one!" "He is! You agreed with me" I sighed, "Yeah, but right now, that doesn't concern me in the slightest, what's he gonna do, recruit the Slytherin Quidditch team?"

"If Voldemort's got a Death Eater in Hogwarts-" he began to argue but I spoke over him, "-it wouldn't be the first time and probably won't be the last, and how'd that work out for Barty? Do you think he enjoyed his time left in Azkaban? Or do you think he was too busy trying not to overwork his last remaining brain cells and choke on his own drool?"

"If Voldemort himself has made Malfoy a Death Eater-" "Then he's more pathetic then I thought, you heard McGonagall, he wasn't in Hogsmeade, and he can't even do Transfiguration homework, let alone plan assassination attempts."

Harry was in a terrible mood after that and stormed off to his ever-enlightening lessons with Dumbledore. We had Herbology first thing the following morning. Harry filled us in on his meeting with Dumbledore on the way.

"Wow, scary thought, the boy You-Know-Who," said Ron quietly in awe. "Been there, punched that." I yawned, remembering the smarmy schoolboy Tom Riddle and his cute pet at the bottom of the lake.

We took our places around one of the gnarled Snargaluff stumps that formed this terms project, and began pulling on protective gloves. I shrugged, "From my experience, he was just a posh smarmy git."

"But I still don't get why Dumbledore's showing you all this. I mean, it's really interesting and everything, but what's the point?" "Dunno," said Harry, inserting a gum shield. "But he says it's all important and it'll help me survive."

"I think it's fascinating," said Hermione earnestly. "It makes absolute sense to know as much about Voldemort as possible. How else will you find out his weaknesses?" "If it bleeds, we can kill it" I smirked, nobody got it and just looked at me strangely.

"So how was Slughorn's latest party?" Harry asked her, changing the subject. "Oh, it was quite fun, really," said Hermione, now putting on protective goggles.

"I mean, he drones on about famous exploits a bit, and he absolutely fawns on McLaggen because he's so well connected, but he gave us some really nice food and he introduced us to Gwenog Jones."

"Gwenog Jones?" said Ron, his eyes widening under his own goggles. "The Gwenog Jones? Captain of the Holyhead Harpies?" "That's right," said Hermione. "She was nice, gave us flying tips, but she did get a bit rowdy near the end"

I pulled something out my pocket, passing it to Ron, "I got this for you, I was going to give you it for Christmas but I'd probably lose it by then knowing my luck."

It was a signed autograph of Gwenog Jones that she was handing out at the time, signed for Ron personally, he stared at it for a second and did a double take, he beamed at me and looked stunned.

"She was a very nice lady, talked to me for ages" I said, Hermione huffed, "Personally, I thought she was a bit full of herself, but —" "Quite enough chat over here!" said Professor Sprout briskly, bustling over and looking stern.

After a fierce battle with a potted plant we got back on track, and Professor Sprout didn't even yell at us again, "Anyway," said Hermione, continuing their interrupted conversation as though a lump of wood had not just attacked us.

"Slughorn's going to have a Christmas party, Harry, and there's no way you'll be able to wriggle out of this one because he actually asked me to check your free evenings, so he could be sure to have it on a night you can come." "I tried to talk her out of it mate, sorry" I apologised.

Harry groaned. Meanwhile, Ron said angrily, "And this is another party just for Slughorn's favourites, is it?" "Just for the Slug Club, yes," said Hermione.

He did not look very impressed, Hermione was saying. "Maybe if you do well at Quidditch he'll let you join if you ask" I offered, I thought it would cheer him up but he just looked even more upset

"Look, I didn't make up the name 'Slug Club' —" "'Slug Club,'" repeated Ron with a sneer worthy of Malfoy. "It's pathetic. Well, I hope you enjoy your party. Why don't you try snogging in the middle of the party, then Slughorn can make you King and Queen Slug —"

I was getting annoyed at his tone, "If you want to see pathetic, find a mirror, I've told you a few times before, jealousy isn't a good look on you" I said, frowning behind my goggles.

Then to lighten the mood I added, "Also, I'm pretty sure Harry's King Slug, no matter who I snog. Might make Queen though." I winked to Harry and blew him a kiss, he just rolled his eyes.

Ron snapped at me, "I'm not jealous..." he demanded, trailing off in frustration. "We're allowed to bring guests," said Hermione, who seemed focused on her work,

"I was going to ask you to come, but if you think it's that stupid then I won't bother!" "You were going to ask me?" asked Ron, in a completely different voice. "Yes," said Hermione angrily.

"YOU WERE GOING TO ASK HIM!" I shouted in disbelief, ignoring the scolding I got from Sprout, the fear I'd had since the try outs bubbling up again, Hermione turned to me and sighed "Oh, not like that!" "You were going to ask him before too" she snapped, I frowned, "Yeah, but that's different"

"How?" she asked, her eyebrow raised, I sighed and bit my tongue, only saying, "It just is" instead of 'because he's in love with you!' like I wanted to.

She looked confused and shrugged "I just thought he might like it, and since you're invited anyway..." she turned back to Ron. "But obviously if you'd rather not go..."

There was a pause, Ron looked torn, as if he didn't want to accept charity, but really wanted to go, he eventually went scarlet and came to a conclusion "No, I wouldn't," he said in a very quiet voice. I let out an internal sigh of relief. A voice in the back of my head saying "Yeah, you better not."

I was nervous about Ron of all people escorting her to the Christmas Party, knowing how she had felt about him in the past and how he still felt for her. The cynical voice in the back of my head nagging at me, poking and prodding. Admittedly, I may have felt the sting of the green-eyed monster.

I'm perceptive enough to emotions to realise why I caught Ron constantly staring at Hermione, even if she hadn't noticed herself. That's why I made a point of steering him towards Lavender Brown. I don't blame him, but I wasn't giving her up so easily.

I was in a very bad mood after that lesson, taking most of my aggression out on the plants, which fortunately meant I did pretty well that lesson. Sprout was singing mine and Neville's praises all morning.

I got to the common room in a very bad mood, spending it mostly just sulking around. The rest of the day passed without further mention of Slughorn's party.

Luckily I had a new hobby to take my frustration on, most people called it Quidditch, I called it doing laps of the pitch and using my bat to launch 'practice bludgers' at the teams heads.

I had a lot of frustration that week, so much so Harry told me to stop in case I gave anyone a concussion...again. Poor Demelza, she couldn't dodge them all.

"I played like a sack of dragon dung," said Ron in a hollow voice when the door had swung shut behind Ginny. "No, you didn't," said Harry firmly. "You're the best Keeper I tried out, Ron. Your only problem is nerves."

"Yeah, you did great last year, you just need more practice" I agreed, by the time we reached the second floor, Ron was looking marginally more cheerful.

That was until we found Dean and Ginny in the middle of the hallway, they were locked in a close embrace and kissing fiercely as though glued together. "Gross" I cringed, then I heard Ron's voice as though from a great distance away.

"Oi!" Dean and Ginny broke apart and looked around. "What?" said Ginny. "I don't want to find my own sister snogging people in public!" "This was a deserted corridor till you came butting in!" said Ginny.

Dean was looking embarrassed. I shrugged and nodded, "Fair enough, but have you ever heard of the phrase 'get a room', next time do that, more polite."

"I recommend the Room of Requirement," I pointed a finger behind me "Or there's a prefects bathroom just down the..." I started before both Ron and Harry glared at me and I promptly shut up.

"Er...c'mon, Ginny," said Dean, "let's go back to the common room..." "You go!" said Ginny. "I want a word with my dear brother!" Dean left, looking as though he was not sorry to depart the scene.

"Take me with you..." I whispered after him, eager to avoid this awkwardness, but loyalty to Ron kept me here. "Right," said Ginny, tossing her long red hair out of her face and glaring at Ron, "let's get this straight once and for all. It is none of your business who I go out with or what I do with them, Ron —"

"Yeah, it is!" said Ron, just as angrily. "D' you think I want people saying my sister's a —" "A what?" shouted Ginny, drawing her wand. "A what, exactly?" "He doesn't mean anything, Ginny —" said Harry automatically.

"Oh yes he does!" she said, flaring up at Harry. "Just because he's never snogged anyone in his life, just because the best kiss he's ever had is from our Auntie Muriel —" "Shut your mouth!" bellowed Ron, bypassing red and turning maroon. "No, I will not!" yelled Ginny, beside herself.

"I've seen you with Phlegm, hoping she'll kiss you on the cheek every time you see her, it's pathetic! If you went out and got a bit of snogging done yourself, you wouldn't mind so much that everyone else does it!" Ron had pulled out his wand too; Harry stepped swiftly between them.

Following his lead, I did too. "No wands you two," I said, pointing between them, in unison, they both said "You stay out of this!" "You don't know what you're talking about!" Ron roared.

He was trying to get a clear shot at Ginny around Harry, who was now standing in front of her with his arms outstretched. "Just because I don't do it in public —!" Ginny screamed with derisive laughter, trying to push Harry out of the way.

"Been kissing Pigwidgeon, have you? Or have you got a picture of Auntie Muriel stashed under your pillow?" "You —" Normally, I'd find this funny, but not when it was like this, me and Ron have been teasing each other back and forth for years. Well to be fair, I do it more than he does it back, but I knew when it was funny and when it wasn't.

The tears that were pricking his eyes meant it was not funny now. So much so, a streak of orange light flew from Ron's wand and missed Ginny by inches; Harry pushed Ron up against the wall. "Don't be stupid —" I stayed firmly planted in front of Ginny, trying to calm her down, but she was getting increasingly more upset.

"Harry's snogged Cho Chang!" shouted Ginny, who sounded close to tears now. "And Hermione snogged Viktor Krum and (Y/N)! It's only you who acts like it's something disgusting, Ron, and that's because you've got about as much experience as a twelve-year-old!"

My brain took a second for the words to hit, all the anger and adrenaline around me dying down. My heart nearly stopped at that those words, "wait...what?" I said in the closest thing to a voice my body could muster. I was in shock, blinking more times then I had to. She paused momentarily to look at me, her eyes widening in realisation.

"Wait. I thought you... I'm sorry I didn't mean..." she trailed off, realising her mistake, looking at the situation around her, Ron in no position to argue, Harry restraining him, and me in horror, she didn't seem to be able to bear it, she burst into tears, turned on her heel and stormed away.

Harry quickly let go of Ron; the look on his face was murderous. "C'mon," said Harry, we hurried up the stairs and along a seventh-floor corridor.

"Oi, out of the way!" Ron barked at a small girl who jumped in fright and dropped a bottle of toadspawn. Just to distract myself, I bent down to help her, but I felt like my body was on autopilot.

I think It was good that I did, it gave me more time to process what I was told, thinking it over, it wasn't that big of an issue in the grand scheme of things.

Unless she said otherwise, I assume this was before we were together, and if that was the case it was nothing to worry about. If it was more recent...that was a different story, like a "I have to go to Bulgaria to kill someone" story.

Harry and Ron where chatting as I caught them near the Fat Lady, "D'you think Hermione did snog Krum?" Ron asked absentmindedly, obviously not taking note of my return. Harry seemed to have not been paying attention "What?" he said confusedly. "Oh...er..."

I answered for him as I caught up "Nah...nose'd get in the way wouldn't it? Seriously, if he turns his head you have to duck or risk losing an eye" Harry scoffed.

Ron turned to me and looked very scared, as If I was going to hit him for even mentioning it, but I shrugged and said the password to reassure him "Dilligrout," and motioned him inside. "If Ginny's warned her, bet you ten sickles she's pacing" I said as he shuffled past me...she was.

"Afternoon" I said as Hermione quickly stopped pacing as she saw me and darted forward, talking a mile a minute. I blinked in surprise, not expecting her to be this upset, I asked her to calm down, she took a breath, but I could tell she was still exceptionally flustered.

I don't know why but the first thing out of my mouth was "So...kissed any celebrities lately?" She was stunned into silence, as were the others. Harry and Ron both retreating to a nearby couch to eavesdrop.

I guess I was a little annoyed even if I tried not to be. Her face dropped and she stuttered, her eyes almost welling up, it was this, paired with the unwanted spectators, that made me realise this was not the time or place to have this argument.

During the awkward silence that followed neither of us was sure if we were meant to speak first so I relayed this thought to Hermione in her head, she nodded softly and wiped some tears. Anyone else would say we were putting the bulk of the argument off, and I would agree with them, but I didn't want to have a screaming match with an audience.

"But seriously though, I am going to kill Krum" I explained, "As soon as I learn to Apparate long distances or get my hands on some floo powder he's done for" Ron smiled widely at this and said "Mum would let you use some at the Burrow."

"Sorted, now I just have to learn the Killing Curse before then and we're golden, he's going to have a very unfortunate Christmas, it fits the theme and everything" I smirked evilly, throughout this conversation Hermione's face was being drained of colour and she was getting progressively more shaky.

I decided it was time to put her out of her misery before she fainted, "Kidding...mostly" Hermione looked like she had just been slapped in the face, as did Ron, they both said "What?" but while Hermione's was barely a whisper, Ron's was a startled shout.

"What? You think I'm that petty 'Mione?" Ron rolled his eyes, "Yes" he said instantly. He was right, I really was that petty, probably not to the point of murder, but I wasn't ruling it out entirely.

I didn't want to put Hermione, or myself, through the embarrassment of having this argument in the common room, mostly because I think it will end with us both in tears. But also because I didn't think arguments of this magnitude should have spectators. I had learnt a lot since fourth year.

As Ron basically pouted, clearly hoping for a relationship ending fight, I scowled at him and swore at him, turning back to Hermione, "I really don't care, wait, no, I do care a lot, but, he's a nice enough bloke." Ron scoffed and Hermione seemed to snap out of it at the noise.

"You don't?" she said quietly. I shook my head, "He kissed you once, I get to kiss you forever" Harry and Ron both motioned throwing up. Lavender and Pavarti, who had clearly sensed gossip in the making, let out a few squeals and scurried off to chatter.

She sighed, as if she was torn about something "I'm sorry I didn't tell you...I didn't want you to get upset and risk losing..." she trailed off, "Awww. That's adorable. But sorry Granger. I don't get jealous-" I lied, she scoffed, "Yes you do!" I shrugged, "Maybe back then, but not now. Im older, more mature."

"Fred and George told me you threw a fit because you weren't a prefect last year" said Ron sulkily. "Those little rats!" I turned to him, "Well, that's all in the past" As he scoffed, Harry piped up, looking like he was enjoying this immensely.

"So (Y/N), have you ever kissed anyone else? It's only fair for you to tell" "How did we get to this?" I asked the room. They all grilled me for an answer. "Fleur's kissed me on the cheek a few times" I said, faking a blush and batting my eyes at Ron, who went crimson again.

Hermione gave a derisive snort and said "You know what he means" I thought on it as they harassed me but shook my head. "Really, Nobody? I always thought you used to be a playboy" said Harry.

"Since when? Have you ever heard me talk? Nobody but Hermione, who has the patience of a saint, could stand me...plus, the whole playboy thing was more my Brothers MO. I tried my best to avoid it when I came to Hogwarts. It's just not me."

"So, you've never kissed, say...Lavender Brown" said Ron, I shook my head, "Luna?" said Hermione, in an oddly interrogation like voice, "No...that would be weird" "Gabrielle?" "NO, she's like...ten!"

"What about Marietta Edgecombe, you seemed to like her" I gave her my most confused face, "I didn't want her scarred permanently, that doesn't mean we've been canoodling each other" I said, pleasing myself with my use of the word.

"Does on the cheek count?" I asked Hermione, she shrugged, "While I'm in confessional I must admit...Winky kissed me on the cheek last year" I said as if It was a scandal. Then a thought came to mind and I cleared my throat. Then once instance did occur to me.

"Well, there was this one girl, I've known her longer then Hermione, she lives near my house-" "What!" Hermione said angrily. "WHO?" she demanded. I smiled, picking her up. Bones mewled in triumph and for extra flair, she blepped at Hermione.

"When I said near, I meant in. She kisses me all the time" I had to duck after that because Hermione launched several books at me one of which caught me in the nose. "That is not funny!" Hermione said angrily, tears welling up.

"No, but it's true" I said, kissing and snuggling into the cat who had basically become a purring puddle of fluff and was enjoying this far too much. Me and Hermione didn't talk for the rest of the afternoon, waiting for the right time to let out our feelings, this was interrupted by Ron, who seemed to get impatient and stormed off to bed.

This went on for the rest of the week, Ron was not only cold-shouldering Ginny and Dean, but also treating me, and even worse, a hurt and bewildered Hermione with an icy, sneering indifference after our argument. What was more, Ron seemed to have become, overnight, as touchy and ready to lash out as the average Blast-Ended Skrewt.

I told Harry to keep him away from me if he could, his attitude was grating on me and I was not in a good mood as of late anyway. Meaning I was very likely to escalate the situation with an offhanded comment or a snarky remark, which could end badly, and I didn't want to risk that.

I didn't go to the Quidditch practices anymore, I figured all the built up testosterone might cause some issues, so me and Hermione spent more time in the library then normal, we barely spoke, fearing any uttered word might spark the argument we had promised, I could tell she was trying to distract herself from being upset. But that was how she wanted to cope and that's fine.

I wanted to have this argument, I wasn't hiding from my problems, but to be honest, It was eating at me a lot. I kept putting it off because, If It went well, there would be no hard feelings and I could stop worrying about stupid stuff, but if it went poorly, it could potentially ruin my life. So, no pressure.

It only got worse as the weeks progressed, Ron got more and more distant to us and lashed out at everyone around him, to the point where me and Hermione spent mealtimes and free periods either in the library or taking walks around the castle in silence, which was probably not healthy. Yet again I had the strange feeling of Deja Vu from a few years back.

The day Hermione finally caved was the day of Gryffindor's Quidditch match against Slytherin, which I'm sure was just a coincidence. The first thing I clearly heard through all the chatter of the great hall was of course Lavender Brown.

"Cheer up, Ron!" she called. "I know you'll be brilliant!" Ron smiled feebly, then looked down into his plate like he was about to start sobbing, If he wasn't being such a prat, I'd feel sorry for him.

Hermione was staring daggers at him the whole walk up to the table, but her expression faltered when we got there, she must have had the same thought as me when she saw how pitiful he looked.

We approached the table with an awkward wave, Harry gestured us over. The tension was broken by Hermione, "How are you both feeling?" she asked tentatively, Ron spoke shakily, not even answering her.

"I told you Harry, I'm resigning. After today's match. McLaggen can have my spot." I had a thought on that, "Oh god, I'm gonna have to get Dezmelda to kill him if he does, he's unbearable now. I can't imagine if he was ever given what he wanted."

Harry didn't seem to have even heard him and was ignoring my rant, He had just stopped fiddling with the vial in his pocket. "Have it your way...Juice?" He said casually. "Sure..." He accepted the cup bleakly.

As Harry poured, Luna arrived at the table wearing a magnificent hat that was in the shape of a Gryffindor lion. As I marvelled at it, she greeted everyone, "Hello, everyone." "Picking favourites Luna?" I smirked, motioning to her glorious headpiece. "Yes" she said plainly. "You look dreadful, Ron."

Then she said something, and it all clicked, "Is that why you just put something in his cup. Is it a tonic? For the nerves?" After pondering It for a second I placed where I had seen that vial before I shot a smirk to Harry, sure it was technically illegal, but who cares, its only illegal if you get caught.

"You're seeing things Luna. I'm sure it was just a trick of the light" She frowned at me, "Drink it" It's just pumpkin juice," I tried to play it off to Ron. Looking over and now I could clearly see the tiny vial of Felix Felicis in Harry's palm.

"Don't drink that, Ron!" Scolded Hermione. But Ron was frozen mid-sip. Ron looked at Harry's palm too, he quickly gulped down the rest. "You could be expelled for that." She protested again, "Look who's talking," Harry whispered back. "Confunded anyone lately?" I snickered and she shot me a glare.

She looked to me, "We have to stop them!" I shrugged, "Well, too late now, and besides, we're accomplices now, so we are in a pickle...If someone goes to a teacher, we all get in trouble." I said cheekily to Hermione

Harry pocketed the vial, winked at Luna. Then stood up confidently, Ron rose too, his voice was newly invigorated. "C'mon, Harry. We've got a game to win." "I've never been so proud" I wiped a fake tear from my eye as they walked off in high spirits.

Hermione was not in a very good mood after that exchange, she was twisting her Gryffindor scarf in her hands and looked upset but determined. "He could be expelled!" she said as we marched to the pitch, I chuckled and she glared at me.

"So could I, but you don't see me worrying about it" I smiled. "Well, that's because you're..." she trailed off, so I finished for her "...Awesome."