Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and am making no money from this.

Hermione

When I first came to the magical world it was one of the best moments of my life. I've always loved learning, and here was a whole new reality beyond anything I'd ever dreamed of. It's a strange world with odd rules that sometimes seem almost random (29 Knuts to the Sickle and 17 Sickles to the Galleon? Who thought that made sense?), but it's one I loved for years.

But this summer, in between my fourth and fifth years at Hogwarts I've started to see another side of the wizarding world; it's a close minded bigoted hateful place. I learned quickly enough that things like that existed in this world (it didn't take me long to first be called a Mudblood after all), but it didn't really bother me at first. After all, every place has some of that somewhere or other, doesn't it?

I see now that it isn't just in the fringe though; it isn't just a few insults thrown around by people like Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson. It's mainstream; it's institutionalized; it's being woven into the very fabric of wizarding society.

I know Harry and Ron didn't much care for my whole house elf liberation thing, and didn't even humor me very far in it, but I just couldn't believe that a society could have an entire slave race and see no problem at all. Those two kept saying it wasn't so bad, the elves enjoyed it (and odd as it sounds I'll admit some seem to, though I'd never say that out loud) but it isn't just house elves. Veela, centaurs, giants, werewolves, vampires, the list just seems endless. One race after another, whole races that are marginalized, enslaved or outright exterminated when found.

Maybe it's because I'm Muggle born, maybe it's because I grew up in a different world, but I just can't get past this. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like everywhere I look now I just see more and more wrong.

When Harry told us that Voldermort was back I thought it was good news in an odd sort of way. Oh, he's terrible of course, a murderous inhuman monster, but this time he was at a disadvantage; we knew he was back, he had few followers, and no matter how powerful he might be, he's just one man, so we could stop him before he became a threat to everyone. What an idiot I was.

Fudge, the moron Minster of Magic refused to believe it. Instead he's indulging in a concerted effort to discredit Harry and Dumbledore, running a campaign in the paper against them. It's exactly what Voldermort needs. With constant denials of his return it's got to be easy for him to infiltrate everywhere, put his people in the right positions, blackmail and control others, building the exact sort of network I hoped we could prevent.

The effort against Voldermort isn't something that's impressed me either, frankly. Dumbledore has his Order of the Phoenix, but, well… It's more like a club of wizards left over from the last war meeting in a truly dreadful old house than a serious fighting force. Certainly people come and go enough, at all hours, and they have plenty of secret meetings (though with so little happening I can't imagine what there is to meet about so much) but I see very little progress to speak of.

What's more, they refuse to let Harry, Ron or I in on anything. I understand we're children, but we've gone against Voldermort more than anyone. No one in the Order besides Dumbledore is anyone Voldermort might fear, so why are they allowed in but we're locked out of everything?

They weren't there to stop Voldermort from taking the Sorcerer's Stone and becoming immortal, they didn't solve the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets, they didn't save Sirius Black, and they didn't confront Voldermort in that graveyard. We did. Granted, Harry more than Ron or I, but still. It's simply insulting.

Now I know Dumbledore is a wise and brilliant man, I know Voldermort feared him, even at the height of his power and Dumbledore was there for the previous Dark Lord as well, but I'm damned frustrated with that man right now. Why is he shutting us out when it seems like we're the only ones getting things done? Why is everyone else so entitled to know everything but we're at the kids' table. How are we supposed to keep trusting him if all we get is the silent treatment?

The worst part is I can't say any of this to anyone. Harry and Ron are, well, they're reckless. If I wasn't the voice of reason they'd run off trying to get themselves killed twice daily. So I have to the be the responsible one, the know-it-all, the annoying bossy one; anything but the one who feels unappreciated and marginalized.

The only other real friend I have (and the only female friend) is Ginny, Ron's little sister. I think I'd go insane if I didn't have her. I love Ron and Harry, I really do. They're family, they're my brothers basically, but if I don't get away from them sometimes I want to just scream. A girl can only stand being around guys for so long,especially when they start going on about Quidditch. I'll never understand the fascination with that sport.

Molly Weasley, Ron's mother is another sore point for me. I know she means well, and she really is a nice woman, but it seems like this summer in the Order's headquarters everything she says and does just gets on my nerves. She just can't seem to get it through her heads that we're not children. All right, we are young, fifteen, but that doesn't mean she has to infantilize us! I think she feels like if she keeps us kids then trouble won't find us. Seems rather naive to me; trouble found us in first year when we were all only eleven years old.

She also has the same sort of prejudices that it seems like every pure blood family has. Oh, it's nicer and cuddlier in her, she's no Malfoy, but it's still there. I suppose I can't blame her for it, she grew up with it and that's just how wizards are, but in a summer where it feels like every little thing grates, I notice.

The start of school can't come fast enough; it feels like it's taking more and more effort to not snap at everyone I talk to. I need classes, homework and research to take my mind off things. I know those things, they're familiar, I can do them and feel like I don't have to worry about the rest. Ron and Harry make fun of me for going to the library so much, but I really do feel better when I can lose myself there.

Sadly, school wasn't getting off to a good start. In fact right from the train ride things didn't go how I would have liked. Ron and I had to ride up front in the Prefect car (I still have no idea how he could be a Prefect). Of course Malfoy and that cow Parkinson were the Slytherin prefects; two of my least favorite people in the world. To be fair Harry is Malfoy's main target, I'm just collateral damage. Pansy Parkinson though? We hate each other just fine without needing anyone else around.

The witch is dressed in this tight little skirt, a silk blouse and heels. Of course her makeup is perfect and not a hair out of place. Seriously, what does she think this is, some office party? As soon as she sees me she gives me that damned smirk of hers and I can't wait to be anywhere else but here.

The Sorting isn't any better. The Sorting Hat's song is a warning (never a good thing when a piece of outer wear has to caution you.) And then there is the speech from that Umbridge woman. It might have sailed right over Ron's head (perhaps because he was too busy stuffing his face with food?) but I heard her loud and clear. She's here on behalf of the Ministry to interfere.

When Harry's trial ended in an acquittal everyone sighed in relief and just moved on, but of course, I couldn't. They just saw an oddly large affair that had ended and that's it. It wasn't just an aberration though. They had Harry on trial in front of the entire Wizengamot because they wanted to be rid of him; Fudge meant to send him to Azkaban.

The whole thing was set up as a show trial. Harry and Ron might not have seen them in the wizarding world, but I knew what they were from the Muggle one. It was the whole big assembly, with Fudge and his pet toad Umbridge to see one of Fudge's biggest enemies destroyed. Dumbledore stopped them there, but the toad's here now and I've got a bad feeling about how much she plans to do.

The disgusting woman demanded that we respond to her like a bunch of kindergarten kids. Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge. Yes, Processor Umbridge. No Professor Umbridge. All together like a bunch of blood five year olds.

And then there was her wonderful pronouncement that her class would be theory only; she expects us to just read and regurgitate the stupid textbook. I can do that at home! I come to Hogwarts to learn, for actual instruction.

It's the first time I can ever remember not wanting to read. Ever since I was a little girl I loved reading, but now it just feels like an insult. This class is useless for anything but Ministry indoctrination.

As upset as I am, Harry's worse: he winds up in a shouting match with the toad. All his talk about Voldermort and how Cedric Diggory died was just dismissed as lies and met with detention. At first I thought he was going to attack her. I tried holding Harry back, but it didn't come to a fight, which is good because I'm not sure how hard I would have really tried to stop him if it came to that. Instead Harry was just sent to Professor McGonagall's office.

So yeah, miserable summer, miserable start to the year.

Ron

This is the hardest bloody year of my life. I'm a Prefect now (though I still think someone spelled Harry's name wrong when they gave out Prefect badges), and I even got a new broom because of that. Mum was so proud; I can't remember seeing her look like that because of me. It's always been someone else that got those looks, but for once it was me. Fred and George really made fun of me for the badge, but even they couldn't ruin this.

Seamus sure took a shot at ruining my year though, what with all his crap about not believing Dumbledore and Harry; he as good as called them liars right to Harry's face. I thought he was our friend too.

It turned out it wasn't just him either; it seems like half the school is buying into that crap from the Daily Prophet. Everywhere we go with Harry, crowds of people walk the other way when they stop us, conversations stop and suspicious glances follow us all over the place.

And then there's the bloody homework. Merlin is there ever homework. I know there's these big important OWL tests at the end of the year, but what's the point of preparing us for them if they kill us first? Hours of homework per night per class. Just how are we supposed to keep up? Think about our future they say. All I want in my future is a break! I want a few days with no potions, no transfiguration, no charms and for Merlin's sake no divination.

I don't need to use my inner eye to know that won't happen though. Hmm, maybe I can write that down in that stupid dream journal though… Yeah, I dreamed of getting a good night's sleep and having no homework. That's good; I've got to use that one.

I guess homework would be easier if Hermione was helping us, but that doesn't happen too much lately. It seems like all three of us are in a bad mood this year. I'm buried in homework, Harry's, well… he has Harry's life and Hermione is, well, I don't know. Upset about her stupid house elves still or something, I don't know. That girl makes no sense sometimes.

Whatever's wrong with her she's been like that ever since we all met up over the summer. All moody and stuff, upset over her stupid elves. And then to make it worse she'd read books about things like Veela and werewolves and vampires and stuff and it'd all just make her even grumpier. Seriously, if books make you that upset to read, you stop reading them. It's simple, right?

Apparently not for Hermione. She'd just keep reading and now and then mutter about injustice or something like that when she thought no one was around. I swear she even gave my mum some dirty looks. The woman's practically a saint; she put up with Fred and George for years. I just don't see how anyone can think bad of her. At least she got a bit better when we got to school and she had homework and could go live in the library and stuff.

I tried out for the House Quidditch Team (which also ticked off Hermione, since it takes time away from homework.) I was going for keeper, and I played ok too. I don't think I was the best to be honest, even with my new broom, but I made the team anyway.

Harry started helping me practice (Yes, Hermione was annoyed by this even more) and I did pretty good. I actually started to think I could pull it off. And then our first full team practice happened. It was the absolute worst day I've ever had on a broom. I was everywhere except where I needed to be, everything got past me and the entire time those stupid Slytherins in the stands laughing at me. If I wasn't so depressed about being such a failure I'd want to beat the crap out of Malfoy.

Of course, since life can't resist kicking a Weasley when he's down, there was more bad news. This time my absolute ass of a brother, Percy was the one to pile on. He sent this long, crap letter all about how great the Ministry is, how great Umbridge is and how terrible Harry is, how dangerous he is and how I need to disassociate myself from him. Oh, and how deluded my Mum and Dad are and how they owe him an apology. A load of crap, all of it. All it did is make my bad mood even worse.

Maybe things will turn around though. Sirius contacted us through the fire that same night (I've got to learn that spell!) and even though he didn't know much about Hagrid, he did tell us what the Ministry's thinking. They're worried about us forming some army here. What rubbish! An army? At Hogwarts? Of what, us kids? Seriously, this is why Umbridge is here? If this is what they're scared of it should take her about a week to figure out there's nothing to worry about here.

The next day there's this big thing in the Prophet about how Umbridge is some High Inquisitor now, which best as I can figure means she'll get to poke around other teachers' classes. Yeah, if she wants to pester McGonagall good luck to her. We'll be rid of her in a day.

Hermione

I have decidedly mixed feelings about nightly patrols. They're part of our Prefect duties, and I do enjoy walking around the castle at night, it's pleasant in its solitude, but the patrols take several hours a night, which I feel could be spent more productively on other matters.

Still, being a Prefect is a privilege and privilege comes with responsibilities, so I dutifully do my patrols every night. We all have areas to cover, but they're very general and we're encouraged to go outside our areas and change up our routes so there won't be set patterns for anyone to take advantage of.

I'm wandering down a hallway (honestly I'm not sure which. I rather let my mind wander and lost track of where I am a little bit.) when I come across a student sitting on a bench reading a book. I can respect the urge, but not out of bounds after hours.

"You can't be here at this time." I announce.

The student looks up and I see it's a girl, a Slytherin in my year. I think she's one of the twits that follow Parkinson around, Tracey um… Sheffield I think. Something like that. To be honest I never bothered to learn all of their names; one of Parkinson's followers is as good as the next as far as I'm concerned.

"Oh, I'm sorry, is it after hours? I must have lost all track of time." When will Slytherins learn that the innocent act is a loser for them?

"Of course you did. But that'll be five points from Slytherin just the same. Now get back to your dormitory, please."

The girl gets up without protest. Good, I hate it when they argue. I turn to go back to my patrol when I hear it behind me. "Imperio" and then everything goes fuzzy.

Hmm, I must have spaced out there. Odd. I tend to let my mind wander when I'm out on patrol, but never that bad. It's a good thing no was here to see it.

Well, back to normal patrolling for me, and just in time to hear someone walking just ahead. I round a corner and see who it is. Wonderful, just who I didn't want it to be: Pansy Parkinson. I turn around and go back the way I came, ducking into the first classroom I can. If I'm lucky she'll walk right past and I can be spared a confrontation. Maybe it's childish to run, but I just don't have the patience for her tonight.

But of course I won't be getting lucky tonight. Parkinson walks into my classroom hiding place, closing and locking the door behind her.

"Awe, is know-it-all Granger scared of little ol' me?" she smiles sweetly.

"You know that won't stop me." I gesture to the lock.

"No, but it'll slow you down, and it'll keep anyone else from coming in."

"All this just to annoy me?"

"Five points for Gryffindor." she smirks at me.

Hiding was a mistake, one I'll correct right now. I walk to the door, taking out my wand. One simple spell and I'll be gone.

"Hmpf, I knew it; you are scared of me."

I turn around, glaring at her. "I'm not scared of you, Parkinson."

"Oh, the Mudblood has guts, does she?"

"You do know that word doesn't mean a thing to me, don't you? The first time Malfoy called me that I had to ask Ron what it was."

"It means I'm better than you. I was since the day I was born and I will be until the day I die. My family can trace the pure magic in our blood back for centuries, where as you're just a freak; an accident; a random mistake of nature." God I hate the arrogance in those cold, pale blue eyes.

"If you're so much better than me then why do I get better grades than you?"

She laughs at me. The stuck up girl is actually laughing at me! "You think I give a damn about school? What, I need good grades or I'll have a bad future? Come on, Granger, how stupid are you?"

Stupid? How dare she? I'm way smarter than this piece of wannabe Malfoy arm candy.

"You see, that's just another difference between us. You have to work and study and stress and struggle all just to try and get good grades so you can scrape out some sort of a future. But me? Not even close. The Parkinson name opens doors all across the country. All you'll earn in your life is just a drop in the bucket compared to the Parkinson family fortune. So you see, I could fail every single class in the school and my future is still just , not just fine; better than yours."

God! If anyone ever needed proof the wizarding world is messed up, here it is: Pansy Parkinson. Stuck up bitch, lazy, mean and guaranteed a perfect little life. "You know what, Parkinson? You're everything that's wrong with this world. You may have all your money and all that, but it just proves how miserable wizarding society is. You just have everything handed to you for free, you don't have to work for anything, you just live off of what others have done; like a parasite. You get to sit there and be a bitch and nothing bad happens. No wonder Voldermort has so many pure blood supporters. You people are disgusting."

"Oh, disgusting are we? I think I look quite a bit better than disgusting, thank you very much. But let's look at the other side, shall we? You say pure bloods are terrible people and lump us in with the Dark Lord? What about your side then? Oh so brave and virtuous and just, struggling valiantly against him. The legendary armies of light. Oh wait, no, I haven't seen an army. I haven't even seen a soldier."

Parkinson leans in close. She's a few inches taller than me, and no matter how much I don't want it to, it's still affect me being so close to her. "Your great forces of light consist of a fifteen year old boy. That's all you've had to put up against the Dark Lord. You look down on us, all high and mighty, but take a look in the mirror, Granger. I don't see a lot of pure blood adults sending a child off to do their work for them. Why don't you think about that and then tell me who's the moral one here."

Now she's questioning Dumbledore and how he's fighting Voldermort. And the worst part is, the damned bitch has a point too. I liked it better when I could just writer her off as some stupid bimbo. "I'd rather be on the side that depends on kids to do their work than be with a miserable hate filled Death Eater like you!" God that sounded lame.

Parkinson rolls up her sleeves, showing me both her forearms. Of course they're pale and perfect, just like the rest of her skin. You'd think for someone so ugly on the inside there could be a blemish somewhere on her.

"You see a Dark Mark, Granger? I know it's easy to assume every Slytherin is a Death Eater wannabe, but I thought you might put in at least a little effort to make sure before you go tossing around accusations, all lumping people in together just because it's easier. But I guess you're just one of those sorts that looks at a girl's blood and thinks you know everything about her."

I want to hit her; I want to hit her so bad. She's just grinning at me (she has perfect teeth, of course.) and this smug grin. She thinks she outsmarted me? We'll see who gets one over on whom.

I give up on self control and reach out, grabbing her robes right below her collar and pull her close, close enough to smell her perfume. Her eyes widen in surprise. It's just a little bit before she gets control again, but I saw it. I've finally got the advantage. Now she'll see what this Mudblood can do when she's pushed too far.

This is the time to hit her, ram my fist right into those luscious red lips of hers. But I won't. I'm a Prefect, I won't throw that away for one punch, no matter how satisfying. (Yes, I know I hit Malfoy once, but he wouldn't tell on me, he'd have to admit he was beat up by a girl. I have no idea what Parkinson would do.) No, I scared her, I got one over on her, that's good enough. It's time to walk away.

I mean to let go, but my body refuses to listen to me. "The next time you see Pansy Parkinson and argue with her instead of walking away at the end you will make out with her and try seducing her on the spot." a voice inside my head orders as everything gets all fuzzy and sort of floaty. I know I should be concerned, but it actually feels kind of good.

I pull her in close and kiss her. Parkinson's shocked, but after a moment starts returning the kiss. Good, that'll make it easier to seduce her.

Wait, something about that sounds wrong. Seduce Pansy Parkinson? Why would I want to do that? I don't even like her. "Now seduce her." that same voice orders again. It's really insistent, too. Kissing Pansy Parkinson might feel good, but something about this is wrong; very wrong.

With a mighty effort I force the haze from my mind and push away from Parkinson. She looks at me with her trademark smirk. Oh my god, did I really just do what I think I did? I don't wait for whatever comment Parkinson's about to make; I let go of her and run for my life.

Author's Notes:

So here it is, a fun little side project that I came up with after reading a few other fanfics. I hope everyone enjoys it and likes where it's going to go. thanks to that-fan for his help in editing and development (and especially for helping me through the discarded drafts and ending concepts that led up to this one.) I'd love to hear from readers, whether you like it, don't like it or just have some comments to make. Thanks.