The rest of the day passed in a blur. Hermione was so distracted at Spanish club after school that she spoke to one of the members in French instead. Needless to say, she went home early.

Except she didn't go home. She didn't want to face her parents, didn't want them to see a chink in her perfect daughter armor.

She tried to call Harry, but he didn't pick up. Checking the clock, she realized he was at basketball practice.

Hermione didn't know who else to talk to. She drove aimlessly, and somehow found herself at the Weasley house. She was suddenly gripped with a fervent need to see Ron. She thought maybe he'd make it okay. So she got out her car, and walked to ring to doorbell.

This behavior was not like Hermione. It was impulsive and reckless. Ron had a girlfriend to take care of.

Waiting for someone to answer the door supplied Hermione with enough sense to walk away. But just as she was turning, the door opened. Hermione took a breath and armed herself with excuses and fake smiles.

But Ron wasn't standing at the door. Ginny was, with her chihuahua, Pigwidgeon. And all of Hermione's excuses and masks fell to the floor.

A tear leaked out. Then another. "Can we talk?" Hermione asked. And then she dissolved into a puddle.

❀ DYHAP ❀

Hermione wasn't sure how long she cried. She didn't usually cry. In fact, she never did, not since that day...

She never allowed herself to lose control in this way. She had to be perfect, every second of everyday. It's all she had left.

But one glance into Ginny's warm, brown eyes just melted her. And she just didn't want to keep it in anymore. She thought that maybe she could trust Ginny with her imperfections.

Hermione opened her eyes. She was sitting on Ginny's bed. Ginny's room was covered in posters, but it wasn't girly. Hermione guessed growing up with six brothers had some effect on her.

Ginny was on the floor in front of her, her legs crossed. She had a small smile on her face, and her eyes asked a question. Do you want to talk about it?

Hermione took a deep breath. "Malfoy isn't getting expelled." she said bitterly.

Ginny's eyebrows raised, but she didn't speak.

"McGonagall said he needed a 'change in scenery'. She..." Here, Hermione hesitated. Most people, Ron and Harry included, liked to tease her about her seriousness when it came to hall monitoring. But it really did mean a lot to her.

Looking at Ginny, she somehow knew the redhead wouldn't judge her.

"She... well, he's now my co-head hall monitor."

"What?" Ginny said incredulously. "That makes no sense!"

Hermione shook her head solemnly, trying not to cry again.

"Can't you talk to her? She has to understand! You worked your butt off these last three years, and she can't just force some delinquent onto you! That is not your responsibility, you aren't a babysitter!"

Hermione was slightly touched that Ginny was so upset on her behalf. She smiled sadly. "I tried. But McGonagall basically accused me of being selfish and judgmental."

"This is... this is ridiculous. Honestly, Hermione, you should just quit. See how our school fares without you, with Malfoy in charge. That will have to show McGonagall some kind of sense."

Hermione met Ginny's eyes, and her heart swelled. Ginny was so kind, so good. Hermione wondered why they were never really friends before now.

"I couldn't do that. I have a responsibility... I gave my word to the school. And if no one else cares, at least I do." Hermione thought about it. "Besides, quitting... that would mean Dr... Malfoy wins, even indirectly. And I can't have that."

Ginny took Hermione's hand, squeezing encouragingly. "You're really amazing, Hermione. I don't know how you do it."

Hermione laughed weakly. "Neither do I."

❀ DYHAP ❀

It was late when Hermione came home. It was days like this she was glad she was ahead on most of her assignments. But still, there was some work to be done, and that was a priority.

Hermione tried to sneak past her parents. She still wasn't up for facing them. She closed the front door quietly and slowly crept up the stairs. She was almost home free, too, but she forgot about the stair that creaked at the top.

"Hermione? Is that you?" Hermione's mom called.

Hermione sighed, putting her perfect daughter face on as she descended the stairs. She walked into the dining room, where her parents were eating dinner. Meatloaf. Gross.

"How was school, love?" Hermione's mother asked, smiling at her daughter.

"Wonderful. But I do have a lot of work to do, if you don't mind..."

"Not so fast, Herm Worm. Where have you been?" Hermione's father's voice wasn't suspicious. Only curious. Her parents trusted her.

"At the Weasley house," Hermione said impatiently.

"Oh?" Hermione's mother looked up, exchanging a glance with her husband. "Are you and Ron...?"

"Oh, gosh no! He has a girlfriend, you know that! I was just... talking with Ginny. I mean, tutoring. She wanted help with homework." Hermione's stomach clenched at the little lie, but she wanted the third degree to be over.

"Harry's girlfriend, Ginny?" her father asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What other Ginny's do I know, Dad?"

"Oh... so are you guys friends?"

"I guess. Yes, we are. Can I go now?"

"You don't want to hear the story about the little boy who almost bit my finger off?" Hermione's parents were dentists.

"Not today. I really, really have to do my homework." Hermione's foot began to tap softly.

Hermione's parents exchanged a glance they rarely shared, a glance that said 'teenagers.'

"Alright," Mrs. Granger said, smiling. "I made a salad for you, if you're hungry. It's in the kitchen."

"Thanks," Hermione said, hugging her mother and kissing her father on the cheek on her way to the kitchen. She hoped they would let it go.

Hermione gratefully grabbed her plate of greens and a fork and started upstairs. She actually was hungry, and she couldn't eat the meatloaf; she had been a vegetarian since the eighth grade, when she read a graphic book about animal mistreatment at farms. She actually tried to start an organization to stop animal abuse, but... well, it just never caught on.

Hermione climbed into bed, turned on some music, and started on her homework.

It was nice to get her mind off things.

❀ DYHAP ❀

The next morning, Hermione felt considerably better. She had a hall monitor meeting that morning, and as she got ready, she became more and more convinced that Draco wouldn't even show up. Maybe he'd ditch, and really get expelled.

What a happy thought.

Hermione cheerfully drove to school. She was the first to arrive at the meeting, which she preferred. She set everything up, having picked up muffins for everyone, like she generally did.

Within a half hour, everyone had arrived, and Hermione started the meeting.

Mostly they just went over shifts. The underclassmen couldn't miss the same class everyday, so they rotated which class period they would monitor and which hall. Hermione was in charge of all that, and she created personalized weekly schedules for each person. It took a lot of time, but she enjoyed organizing and planning.

The meetings were mostly to trade shifts and classes, in case someone had a test or presentation in a class they were missing. That was why they held meetings on Mondays and Fridays. Today was for tweaking, which Hermione took careful notes on, and Monday they would get their official schedule for the week. It was all very effective, if Hermione did say so herself.

This was why hall monitoring wasn't just for everyone. You had to be a great student, and be able to stay caught up in your classes, even when missing class. Hermione didn't have to worry about that. Because she took online classes and summer school, Hermione had enough credits to have a free period, even as a junior. So she took that time to guard the school.

Hermione's mood had increased significantly by the end of the meeting. "Help yourselves to muffins," she said, chatting with some freshmen. Draco was nowhere in sight.

With seven minutes left of the meeting, she was feeling quite optimistic indeed.

Up until the doors flew open.

"Sorry, I'm late." said a disheveled Malfoy. "I kinda slept in."

He ran his fingers through his hair, unperturbed by the silence that greeted him. Everyone, Hermione included, was gaping at him in shock.

Draco looked around. "Ooh, muffins." He stalked over to the table, plucking a blueberry one, and taking a bite. He chewed carefully and swallowed. "So, what'd I miss?"