Strange magic. (Dramione)

Hermione Granger stormed out of the Gryffindor common rooms feeling more furious that she ever remembered feeling before. She couldn't believe Ronald! The nerve of him to have cheated on her with Lavender Brown for two whole months and then try to pin the blame on her!

"Listen, 'Mione, I get that you want to wait, but I'm a man. I need to fulfill my desires somewhere!" he had said to her. As if that would justify it!

And if that wasn't enough, then that bitch Lavender had actually had the nerve to storm into the Gryffindor common rooms, which she shouldn't even have been in, and start yelling at her.

Well that was it. No more. She was done with the pair of them. They could just go die for all she cared. It was so not her problem any more. If Ronald wanted to go off and marry Lavender and have seventeen ginger, stupid little children then she wouldn't even send a card.

Hermione snickered slightly at the thought of what Lavender Brown would look like if she had seventeen kids, but the sound was quickly replaced with a groan as she realized that each of them would probably end up with a combination of their father's cluelessness and their mother's superficiality.

"Are you quite alright, Hermione?"

Hermione turned around to see Nearly-Headless Nick floating her way.

"Hi, Nick."

She couldn't keep the sadness out of her voice.

"Somebody's feeling bluue," Nick sang comfortingly. "Want to tell me what's wrong?"

Hermione found herself telling Nick everything, and was surprised to hear a chuckle escape his lips when she told him how she had gotten a little worked up and ended up slapping Lavender and punching Ronald in the face.

"Honestly, 'Mione, the boy had it coming. He should never have lied to you like that."

A giggle left Hermione's lips at these words and she felt lucky to have him to talk to right now. Ron was probably getting an earful from both Harry and Ginny right now. There was no way her friends would let this one slide.

"I can pop my head up through his food at breakfast if you'd like? That always gives Him a fright!"

She laughed out loud at this, the sound filling the empty corridor that they were walking down. Several of the portraits were awoken by the sound looking very ticked off.

"You know what, Nick? That would be lovely." She said, still giggling like a schoolgirl.

"Then so it shall be, Hermione." He replied with a smile. "Now, alas, I must leave. Dumbledore has asked all of the ghosts to his office early tomorrow for a little chat about who has been convincing the first years that Professor Sprout is an animagus!"

"Aww, okay, Nick. See you tomorrow!"

"Bye, Hermione!"

Nick floated away with a cheery wave leaving Hermione alone again. She started to walk back towards the Gryffindor common rooms, not actually knowing what time it was or how long she had been out for. It had been after hours when she had stormed out, but she had been so mad at Ronald she couldn't stand being in the same room as him, never mind his prissy little 'girlfriend' as she called herself. They were sure to be in bed by now though, so she would be safe.

As she neared the Common rooms she felt herself grow sleepier. She took a glance at one of the grandfather clocks that dotted the corridor. It was nearly one o'clock! She must have been talking to Nick for longer than she thought! No wonder she was tired. It was a well known fact in Gryffindor that Hermione Granger never went to bed late, since sleep was so important to learning.

She rounded a corner and soon the last moving staircase was in sight. Just a few more steps until bed! Bliss!

'Fortuna Major.' she mumbled, stifling a yawn.

Nothing happened.

'Fortuna Major' she repeated, a little more forcefully this time.

Still nothing.

She looked up annoyed only to find that, to her horror, the Fat Lady wasn't there.

She stared at the empty portrait for what seemed like a lifetime before snapping out of her trance. How could she be so stupid! Everyone in Gryffindor knew that after midnight the Fat Lady always went down to the second floor for singing lessons with the portrait of an opera singer. No one knew her name, but that was just because she was too busy singing to give it out.

Well now she was rightly and truly screwed. She had no way to get into the Gryffindor common room, or any other common room for that matter. There would be no one else out this late, so she couldn't ask for help. Her pleas to the surrounding paintings fell on deaf ears when they told her to 'stop that racket' because they were trying to sleep.

She saw no other option but to wander around hoping to find someone until her tiredness overwhelmed her.

She set off walking, but had absolutely no luck whatsoever and she was growing steadily more exhausted.

After a few more minutes she gave in and slid down into the tiny gap between two suits of armor. She shut her eyes and was asleep within seconds.