Hermione was sitting in her room that she shared with Ginny in the Gryffindor girls' tower. She was reading over the next chapter in her Charms book. It seems like the only thing she does these days is read. Now that Harry is too busy trying to help Dumbledore and Ron can't stop snogging Lavender. She still couldn't believe Ron. How can he do this to her? Doesn't he understand that she's mad for him?

"Hermione! It's your birthday! Why on earth are you sitting in our bedroom reading your charms book?" Ginny's been doing her best to get Hermione out of her slump, but there is only one person who could. And that person isn't Ginny.

"I guess you're right. Where's Harry? I figured you'd be with him."

"He said he had to go talk to Slughorn about some potion he didn't understand. Weird way to spend a Saturday, huh? " Ginny still didn't know about Harry's "assignment" from Dumbledore.

"Oh. Well would you go for a walk with me? I guess that would be fun for a birthday." Hermione had never really been big on birthdays before, but now she really didn't feel like celebrating anything. It's just another year of her life that Ron didn't take any notice of her.

"Great! Let's go." Hermione got up off her bed and started walking toward the door. As soon as Ginny turned into the hallway, she stopped. Slowly, she back into the room and looked at Hermione. "I don't know what's wrong, but Lavender looks like she wants to kill someone. She's storming down the hallway."

Hermione just stayed where she was at. She had no interest in seeing her, especially if she was angry. That girl was unpredictable and there's no telling what she would do. "Let's just stay right here until we hear her door slam. Then it should be safe." Lavender had the room next to Hermione's and Ginny's.

Instead of Lavender stopping at her room, she marched right on. She turned into the door of Hermione's room, practically shoving Ginny out her way. Out of no where, she marched up to Hermione and slapped her.

For a second, Hermione just stood there in stunned silence. Then she realized what had happened. She put all of her anger into her right hand and slapped Lavender right across the face. Lavender looked as if she didn't expect it.

At that point, Parvati decided to step in. She grabbed Lavender and stopped her from hitting Hermione again. Hermione was happy about this, but didn't show it. She knew how crazy girls fight, and she knew she would probably lose.

Lavender took a deep breath and looked at Hermione. Parvati slowly released her. Ginny was standing in the corner, still in shock. Lavender stuck her nose up in the air and looked at Hermione and said "I don't want you anywhere near my Won-Won again. He doesn't like you anyways. He's just too nice to say it."

"That's a lie. The only person my brother is too nice to tell to get lost is you freak!" Ginny had clearly caught up to what was going on, but she still looked shocked. She turned to Hermione and looked at her as if saying tell her now!

Hermione wasn't going to yell back at Lavender. That's what she wanted. Instead she calmly asked her "So Lavender, what are your plans for the summer?"

Lavender looked confused, but then she regained her composure and said "Why? Are you trying to stalk me or something?"

"No, I was just wondering. Would you like to hear mine?"

"I-"

"Great. I'll probably spend a little bit of time at home. See my friends, spend time with family. That sort of stuff." Lavender looked completely lost on what Hermione was up to. "I also have to take time to write back to Harry and Ron. Harry normally writes me about once a month, just to check in. But last summer, Ron wrote me once or twice a week. He's so sweet. I understand why you like. Anyways, I'll also be going to stay with Ron and his family for about two weeks. Maybe three. They all love me. His mom says that I'm such a good influence on him and that she isn't supposed to tell me, but he normally can't wait until I get there.

"And this year, I imagine Harry will be spending most of his time with Ginny, so it will just be me and Ron. So Lavender, did Ron invite you over too?" Hermione ended this with a friendly smile. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Ginny. She was grinning from ear to ear.

"No he- he hasn't. B-but I'm su-sure he meant to." Lavender looked defeated.

"Oh, I'm sure he did, too. I mean you're the one he wants to spend time with. Not me." With this, Lavender stormed out of the room. She heard Lavender's door slam and Parvati open it and follow her in.

"I bloody love you Hermione," said Ginny. "Aren't you having a great birthday?" She asked sarcastically.

"If you'll excuse me Ginny, I think I'm going to pass on the walk."

"Where are you going?"

"To talk to your brother. This is going to end, once and for all."