ProFifthYear5

Friday mornings were spent in the library doing preparatory work for the OWL exams; but most found it a most relaxing time to socialize between the houses.

�It�s a brilliant plan,� remarked Ron.

�Shhh�� Hermione tried to concentrate at a table nearby. Scoring well on the OWL exams was very important to her, more so than her duties as a prefect.

�Here.� Harry pulled out a small parcel from his pocket revealing the toffees.

�Ohhh, thanks.� Neville helped himself to one, but Harry quickly slapped his hand.

�No, these aren�t for you.�

�Oh, those are the Ton Tongue Toffees.�

�Neville, you must remember not to eat them.� Draco Malfoy and his sidekicks, Crabbe and Goyle, entered the library. Harry and Ron began snickering.

�Shhhh! Some people are trying to work here!� Hermione exclaimed.

�I just hope I can do this.� Neville whispered.

�You don�t have to do anything but sit there�really.�

�Will I get in trouble?�

�No way.�

�Not at all. Since Malfoy�s got a bad habit of taking what doesn�t belong to him�he�ll be the last person to place blame!� Ron opened the parcel and spilled the wrapped toffees onto the tabletop.

�Ok, here he comes.�

�See you, Neville.� Ron and Harry took their piles of books and disappeared behind some tall book shelves.

�Lookie, lookie what Neville has here!� Malfoy and his goons moved in closer.

�A parcel from you Gran? Why don�t you share?� Crabbe grabbed at the toffee.

�No, don�t touch them!� Neville played at trying to protect his sweets.

�It will ruin your dinner and you wouldn�t want to do that, would you?� Malfoy sneered.

�Go scratch!� Neville snapped as he tried to hard his toffees from the greedy eyes of the three. Ron and Harry peered at goings-on from behind a stack of books.

�What are you two up to?� Hermione asked.

�Nothing,� Ron beamed.

�I know you�re lying.�

�Shhh�quiet.� Harry whispered�he grabbed Ron and pointed at Malfoy seizing a handful of the toffees.

�You guys are going to get into a lot of trouble.�

�Say�s who?� Ron retorted. Crabbe, Goyle and Malfoy chomped greedily on the delectables. Neville nervously, pushed his seat from the table, grabbed his things and left the library. �See ya.�

Seconds later��What the�� Crabbe exclaimed. Before he could say another word his tongue grew to an enormous size before their eyes.

�I see Fred and George have been busy at work all summer�I�m going to get Professor McGonagall.� Hermione stated. Ron grabbed her arm.

�Why would you do that?�

�It�s my job as Prefect.�

�It�s your job as prefect.� Ron mimicked her. �Ever since you got that dratted job, you�ve been so uptight�what�s wrong with you? Where�s your sense of humor? What ever happened to the Hermione we knew and loved?� Hermione ripped away from Ron and disappeared. Ron rolled his eyes at Harry who was rolling on the floor laughing at the sight of Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle who looked so helpless as the other students enjoyed the spectacle as well.

�What�s her problem?� Ron muttered.

Harry shrugged.

�We�d better get out of here.� Harry and Ron snuck unnoticed out of the library into the corridor. The laughter echoed in the hallway. Harry stared at another notice for �Visiting Day.�

�Are your parent coming?�

�I believe they are. I think Bill is too. You know, I think there�s something major happening, non-Hogwarts related, on that weekend.�

�What do you mean?�

�Dad said something about lots of ministry people are worried about �Visiting Day�. Cornelius Fudge spreading some rumors most likely to discredit Dumbledore.�

�Order of the Phoenix?� A wide-eyed Harry turned towards Ron. �Shhh..did you hear something?�

�What?� Harry noticed that the laughter from the library was no longer. �It�s too quiet.�

�Ahem.� Professor McGonagall with her wand in hand stood at the entrance to the library. They both wondered how the professor managed to slip past them without them knowing.

�You, boys and your shenanigans�detention for both of you and ten points from Gryffindor�you will go to your rooms where you will be having dinner. Misters Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle are not pleased with your antics, nor am I frankly.�

�What did we do?� Ron asked.

�Don�t try my patience,� Professor McGonagall answered as Hermione appeared at her side. Hermione, will you please help untangle Mr. Crabbe from Mr. Malfoy. Mr. Goyle, please get away from Miss Patil.�

Hermione and the Professor stepped back into the library.

Continued in Chapter Six...