One thing she could be thankful for was Ginny. The redhead had not once pressured Hermione for information regarding what she may have seen or overheard the prior weekend. Instead, she had offered a distraction, asking Hermione to help with preparation for the upcoming Halloween Ball, which she was now mentally referring to as "McGonagall’s unity pet project’. An announcement had been made that prior Monday during dinner and students would be allowed an additional Hogsmeade trip the third weekend of the month to make any necessary preparations. Hermione, as a personal rule, hated dances. After the Yule Ball fiasco in 4th year, she’d sworn off dancing in general. She shared a stilted dance with Ron at Bill and Fleur’s wedding, and one fear and angst filled spin with Harry in the tent while on the run, but beyond that had been abstinent from the act. 