Beauty and the Beast

Hippogrifs and Red-Heads

It was around lunch time that Hermione made it back to Hogwarts. After Annie and Hermione had discussed their favourite colours, Annie had drifted off to sleep. Having no other option but to carry the little girl up the stairs, Hermione was worn out by the time she had tucked the red-head to bed.

Cautious of anyone coming past Hermione took some secret passages to cut of time and limiting her chances of getting caught. Opening the portrait door to the corridor next to the kitchens, Hermione crept across the hallway quietly and quickly.

Tickling the pear the door swung open. Taking in a deep breath Hermione wondered into the smell of the Orange and brown room. It was like a different version of Ron's room if he was allowed to keep food in it. Much less a kitchen.

Elves hurried themselves around, already starting to prepare dinner for everyone in Hogwarts. As much as Hermione hated to disturb the creatures she couldn't stop the rumble coming from her stomach.

"Miss Granger hungry? Need Ivene help?" Asked a little elf with massive round, blue eyes, pink beanie and a white dress on. Hermione smiled at the little elf and nodded, "yes please, Ivene. It would be very much appreciated."

Ivene lead Hermione over to a little table and chair and with a snap of her fingers a tray appeared with a red apple, peanut butter sandwiches and a drink of pumpkin juice. "Thank you, Ivene." Hermione said immediately digging into her meal.

"If Miss Granger needs any more food, she shall just need to ring little bell." And with that Ivene left a small golden bell attached to a white ribbon on the table and disappeared. Hermione smiled down at the little bell. How sweet.

Devouring the food in less than no time, Hermione quickly scribbled a note of thank you for Ivene and left to get her bag for class. She wouldn't miss another subject that day for she wasn't the type to do that.

Yet, Hermione wasn't the type to run out of class, then floo to Australia to meet her amnesiac parents and their adoptive child, who is also her sister for undercover babysitting. That was not Hermione. But time does change people. And war, too.

As she ran down the hall, she did not register the other person running down the hallway. Turning a corner, Hermione collided with none other than Ronald Weasley. Hermione feel to the ground with a squeal.

Ron looked angry for a second, "watch where your going-" he stopped his anger, "Hermione?" He said in shock, looking down at his girlfriend who was gathering herself up. "What are you doing?" He asked, confused. Hermione never missed class, why was she here now?

"Well right now I'm waiting for a hand up." She retorted. Why the hell was Ron out of class? He definitely wasn't sick and he didn't have Harry behind him cursing like a fool because they've been chased by something deadly.

Ron lifted Hermione of the ground with a tug of her hand. Hermione brushed herself off before looking at Ron with a frown. "What are you doing out of class? If my thoughts are correct, you are to be in The Dungeons right now, learning potions. As is needed for the perfect grade if you want to be an auror." She informed, her hands placed bossily on her hips.

Ron rolled his eyes, "I needed to get madam Pomfrey. Neville has blown up his Lightning Juice potion."

Hermione shook her head, "Neville doesn't take potions, Ronald. He should be in Herbology right now. And anyway your running the wrong way." This was getting stupid. Ron opened his mouth to answer but Hermione told him to be quiet.

"Don't worry about it. I need to get up to my common room and get my bag for class. I don't want to be late for another class"

Ron furrowed his eyebrows, "didn't Parkinson say you were sick? What are you doing all the way down here if your sick? And just a question, why did Pansy Parkinson report you were sick? Why couldn't you have told me or Harry?"

"I, uh. I was sick after Transifiguration and went straight to my dorm. And it's Pansy, Ron. She's my friend and I told her because she was the one to run after me. Is that okay with you?" Hermione asked rhetorically.

"No. It's not. Hermione they are Slytherins. War or not, they aren't going to change! And you still haven't answered my question. Why are you down here if your sick? As your boyfriend I demand you to tell me" Ron ordered defensively, his ears turning red.

Hermione took a couple of steps back. Order? No one orders Hermione Granger around. Especially her friend. Especially her boyfriend. "Excuse you, Ronald Bilious Weasley, you can not order me around. So, yes, I'm your girlfriend. You have no right to order me around. Being my boyfriend gives you no power to do that. And how dare you say that about people. Pansy, Theodore, Blaise and Astoria are changed people. They have been through much pain, just like we have!

You do not have the right to say that. At all. Now head off to class. Right. Now. Or so help me I'll conjure up some Hippogriffs to escort you to class. Maybe even chase you."

Ron was furious. His face was red and he was about to raise his hand when Hermione waved her wand. Two beautiful Hippogriffs flew out and charged toward Ron. He turned and ran down the hall, screaming and cussing like a lunatic.

Hermione stared after Ron with mix emotions. Furious about what he had said to her, conflicted about if she wanted to still commit to being Ron's girlfriend and shocked to think he would raise a hand to maybe even slap her.

But Ron's screams made her feel accomplished. She had shown him not to mess with her. Tears had started down her cheeks. Maybe she was even sad too. Then the waterworks started. Yep, she was sad.

Hermione took deep breaths as she sunk to the ground, wiping the tears from underneath her eyes. Her makeup was most likely smudged. With a wave of her wand she felt the wetness of her cheeks cleared up and her eyes being repaired to how they were.

Walking down the hall, shoulders back to her dorm. Heads poked out of door ways watching the screaming Ron be chased by Hippogriffs.

"There would only be one person to be able to do that"

"Hermione Granger?"

"Why would she want to do that to her own boyfriend?"

"Who knows. It could be Ron that shook her up"

"I thought she was sick?"

"Class! Back to work!"

Hermione smiled as she heard the comments. The news that Ronald Weasley was chased by Hippogriffs down the hallway was going to spread like wildfire. She didn't mind though. He deserved it.