This story is a sequel, but it is not wholly necessary to read the prequel, "Someone Different", to understand it.
Author's notes: For those who read my first Cormac/Hermione story, you've probably been waiting a long time for the promised sequel to actually come into existence. I promised it only because I had every intention of delivering it: and this prologue is the proof.
This story has gone through many drafts, most of which are hidden in old school books. It's gone through many a writer's block.
It was, probably quite obviously, the release of the HBP movie that has motivated me to write more. I loved the movie, had a great flood of reviews on "Someone Different" and finally, had to listen to my friends insult Cormac!
So, it is that lovely combination of things that you have to thank for me finally getting off my backside and doing some writing.
I hope you all enjoy this!
Hannah
Implausible infatuation
Prologue
Hermione glanced at her watch for the thousandth time.
Harry noticed…again. He couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something wrong with her. "Hermione," he began, "are you alri-"
"I'm going to the library," she said abruptly, standing up.
"Oh," said Harry dumbly. "Well…I'll come with you then."
"No, I want peace, I need to research for my Ancient Runes' essay," she discouraged frantically.
"Okay then," Harry replied warily. "Just…be careful."
Hermione stared at him in disbelief for a moment, and then laughed. "I'm not going to get attacked in the library, Harry. I'll be fine. See you later." And with that she hurried out of the room.
Harry decided not to ponder why Hermione was acting so oddly, and instead reached into his bag to surreptitiously pull the Marauder's Map. He didn't understand girls, and he found Hermione more complex than most, so he'd rather set his mind to a mystery he thought within his grasp: the mystery of Draco Malfoy.
"Harry, there you are," called Ron's voice. Harry took his hand out of the bag, leaving the map where it was. Neither Ron nor Hermione liked Harry's obsession with Malfoy's supposed sinister plans. "I've been looking for you all over, mate."
"Where's Lavender?" asked Harry by way of conversation. Sometimes, asking that would make Ron get up and go search for his girlfriend. Secretly, Harry half hoped it would this time.
"With Parvati in the library, I think. I tell you, Harry, girls are a nightmare. Speaking of which, where's Hermione?"
"Where Hermione always is," said Harry simply.
"Is she still mad at me?"
"I think so. More upset than mad."
"Well good!" Ron said, raising his voice a little. "It serves her right, for thinking she knows what I should do."
"She's been acting oddly," continued Harry offhandedly, unwilling to enter the conflict but somewhat sick of Ron's insensitive attitude towards Hermione.
"She's always acting oddly." Ron calmed down a little, and relaxed into his chair. "She'll get over it. She's got McLaggen anyway."
Harry smiled grimly. "They've not spoken since before Christmas. I think he tried to kiss her."
Unexpectedly, Ron fumed. "He did WHAT?"
"Tried to kiss her," Harry repeated. "They've not spoken since."
Ron relaxed again, taking deep breaths. "Well, that's good. As long as she's not going to let him near her again then…good…that's good…" Ron subsided into a nonsense muttering, and picked up a book to hide behind.
Harry could see his ears; they were red.
Turning back to his homework Harry couldn't help but agree. It didn't really matter what McLaggen had tried to do, as long as Hermione kept a safe distance from him from now on. Hermione was smart, and brave, and Harry was sure she'd learnt her lesson about trying to make Ron jealous.
She'd stay safely away from boys like Cormac McLaggen, he was sure.
Hermione didn't go to the library.
Hermione didn't spend any great deal of time alone.
Hermione met Cormac McLaggen just outside the common room, and the two of them headed towards the entrance hall together. It was a clear spring day and Cormac had suggested sometime in the early hours of the morning, before breakfast was served, that the two of them should make the most of the sunshine while it lasted.
McLaggen was a Quidditch player who was known for being not quite good enough to make the team. He was known to be arrogant and something of a ladies' man, and the company he kept had proved to be the same, even more so than him.
But recently, a revelation had changed Cormac and his ways completely.
Blonde haired, big chested, makeup laden airheads just didn't do it for Cormac McLaggen these days. Pretty trophy girls just weren't good enough for him any more. No, recently, he'd had his eyes set on one girl, and one girl only, and she was quite unlike all his previous girlfriends.
And somehow, miraculously, she'd actually decided to give him a chance.
So here he was, not one month on, walking down the corridor hand in hand with Hermione Granger. He cradled her hand in his gently, allowing every chance for her to pull away, and revelling in every moment that she didn't.
Cormac and Hermione had been almost dating for several weeks now. Cormac wouldn't tell himself they were dating, because strictly speaking, they weren't.
No one knew that they were a couple, and they hadn't really been anywhere, except to the library and around the lake, and once or twice they'd sat in the common room early in the morning, when it was devoid of anyone else. They didn't do anything Cormac had previously associated with dating either, like kissing. They just talked.
In fact, the only indication there was that there was anything more than friendship between them was that they often held hands, but only when nobody was nearby.
"How are things going in your lessons?" Cormac asked by way of conversation.
"The same as normal," Hermione said, and Cormac convinced himself that he imagined the bitterness in her tone: that meant full marks for Hermione.
"So all that intense studying at Christmas worked wonders in keeping your grades…exactly where they were," he drawled.
She glared at him.
"I'm just teasing, Hermione." He smiles at her broadly. "I know it's not possible to do better than being top in everything."
Hermione frowned. "Almost everything," she corrected. "Harry is still beating me in potions."
Cormac, thinking of the most none intrusive method of affection he could, reached across and ruffled Hermione's constantly unruly hair. "Don't worry," he reassured. "You'll be restored to glory soon, and if not you're still the best student in your year. Actually you're probably the best student in the whole school. After all you are top in almost everything," he finished by emphasizing the correction.
Hermione didn't argue further.
On their way to the Entrance Hall the almost couple passed very few beings. A few first years with more free time than they knew what to do with loitered in the corridors, and one ghost drifted lazily past.
None of these people, be they dead or alive, were of any importance to either of them. So it irritated Cormac more than a little that every time somebody approached Hermione silently withdrew her hand from his and took a step away from him. When they had passed, she would of course take his hand again.
Even though he was used to this by now, Cormac had trouble controlling his frustration every time it happened. Whilst some things grew easier with practise (Quidditch, for example) this seemed to be harder.
Nevertheless Cormac put on a brave face and showed no sign of the frustration he felt at his sort-of-girlfriend's unwillingness to acknowledge him in public.
Hermione had given him just one last chance, and he did not intend to throw that away by getting angry about something petty.
At least you can hold her hand; his inner voice consoled him as they walked out into the sunlight.
Author's Notes: Reviews of all types are very much appreciated.
