Hermione was pleased to see how many followers they'd amassed at the next meeting. There was Lavender, Parvati and Ginny from Gryffindor, Sue Li and Anthony Goldstein were along for their first meeting from Ravenclaw, and Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott turned up from Hufflepuff, expectant and unsurprisingly eager. Blaise had also coerced one more Slytherin – Malcolm Baddock.

"So," said Ernie, rubbing his hands together, "let's get started! What are we learning? Hermione?"

Hermione began to speak. "Well, we've decided to expand on more than just Potions, as there are now some of us that don't do Potions here currently." She glanced at Parvati, Lavender and Hannah. "I thought we could incorporate all subjects. Most of us did a lot of DADA last year so maybe we don't need to start with that..." She tailed off as she saw Daphne's red face. "Yes, Daphne?"

"Some of us," she said pointedly, "did not do as much DADA as everybody else," she gestured round at her fellow Slytherins, "and so I feel at a disadvantage."

"I'm sure you learnt far more curses than us as a child," Marcus Belby said pompously, fixing Daphne with an unsettling glare.

"Sort it outside, guys," Padma exclaimed. "Honestly, this is why we need to resolve our differences."

"Yeah!" Said Lavender. "What she said."

Draco gave Hermione a look, which said, continue.

"As I was saying, we don't particularly need to start with DADA," Hermione started when she left off, "but we can always study that if there is a particular concern we need to address. I_"

At that moment, someone knocked on the door and they all froze.

"Do we need to hide?" Whispered Lavender, already beginning to edge over to a cupboard.

"Of course not," Hermione hissed. "We're not past curfew."

"I am," Ginny said nervously.

"Well, you are with almost all the sixth-year Prefects," Draco pointed out drily, "with the exception of Pug-Face and Weaselbee."

Nobody was sure whether to laugh at this or not. Laughing could be a fatal mistake when near the Malfoy heir. The door opened - it was Harry.

"Hermione! I've been looking for you everywhere!" Harry burst out, then noticed everybody else in the room.

"It looks like it," Blaise drawled, eyeing up Harry's dishevelled state.

"I've been listening to Ron ranting about you and Ginny all evening," Harry told Hermione, ignoring Blaise.

"I hope you haven't brought my idiot brother along," threatened Ginny fiercely.

Harry gulped. "Of course not," he protested. "He made me want to strangle him."

"Well, why didn't you?" Questioned Draco, leaning casually against a pillar. "Would've done us all a favour."

"Definitely," mumbled Lavender, nudging Parvati. She wouldn't forget about Ron's 'infidelity' any time soon.

"Anyway, should we continue?" Ernie asked.

"Yes," said Hermione. "Harry, are you staying?"

"What're you studying?"

"Herbology," Hermione replied, "which you really need some work on."

Hannah and Ernie nodded commiseratingly. "It's true," added Ernie.

"Fine," Harry answered, scowling at Ernie, Hannah and Hermione. "I'm staying."

*****

A.N. Harry joins the study group! It was first, obviously, supposed to be Potions but then I looked through the Half-Blood Prince and realised I've got more people than the twelve mentioned as getting through to their Potions NEWT.

The nicknames 'Pug-Face' and 'Weaselbee' are Pansy and Ron, the remaining Prefects, and Ron's 'infidelity' refers to Lavender thinking that Ron was too obsessed with Hermione.

Thank you for reading and please comment! If you comment, you will get a chapter dedicated to you! This one is dedicated to @piece_ of_ parchment for his/her obsession with Dramione!