Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters in the story. Thanks, JK Rowling.
Summary: Hermione borrows Harry's Transfiguration book because she left hers at Hagrid's while there on an afternoon tea visit. (now does that sound like the Hermione that YOU know?) But what she finds in Harry's transfiguration book while borrowing it could change her relationship with one of her very best friends.
Passing Notes
By happythoughts
"Can I be hearing this? Hermione Granger, the Hermione Granger, forgot one of her books somewhere? This can't be happening! HELP! The world's coming to and end! HELP!" exclaimed Ron, apparently exaggerating his disbelief that Hermione forgot her transfiguration book at Hagrid's.
Harry snickered as he searched his bag for his book to lend to Hermione. Hermione snapped, "Oh shutup, Ron, I do make mistakes sometimes. No one's perfect."
"Yeah, you were until now," he replied under his breath. Then, he stopped. He just thought of how that just sounded. "I mean, … er … well you know what I mean!"
Hermione looked at Ron in disbelief and sat down next to Harry at the table. She ignored the boys for the rest of the evening that they sat there studying in the common room. Instead of studying, she looked around the room for sometime, noticing the littlest things. Ginny and Colin were in a game of exploding snap. Fred and George were in their usual group, joking away, and over in the corner, Seamus and Lavender were cuddling together, talking to each other like each of them had a secret to share.
Unexpectedly, a pang of jealousy swept through Hermione's body. She looked at Harry and Ron, hoping that none of them had seen her flinch. After one more glance at the pair, she went back to her work.
"ARGH! I just don't get this crap. Harry, what are you doing for your chart in Divination?" asked Ron in frusteration, with piles of crunched up parchment growing next to him.
"What we always do, Ron, making everything up," said Harry, like it was the most obvious thing to do.
Hermione pursed her lips, knowing that that was definitely not the right thing to do. But she kept quiet. She knew that if she said something about Divination, Ron would say to keep out of it because she had walked out of the class 2 years ago. Trying to concentrate hard on her studies, she went back to reading 2 more lessons ahead in the transfiguration book than they were supposed to. (What else did you expect of Hermione?)
But somehow her eyes wandered over to Lavender and Seamus again, who this time were pecking at each other playfully. Another pang of jealousy hit Hermione. How she wished she could be that relaxed around the one that she liked … or even loved. But she knew that that person would never have the same feelings about her, it was evident. Hermione could not concentrate anymore. She excused herself from the boys and went up to her dormitory to study instead.
Hermione washed her face as she got ready for bed. When she looked up at the mirror to glance at her reflection, she saw a girl with bags under her eyes, bushy brown, annoying hair, and eyes that were clouded. Trying to see what it would be like to be like Parvarti or Lavender, she imagined herself with makeup and slick, perfect hair. "Oh this is impossible," she said allowed to herself. With that, she walked to her bed and slipped on her most comfortable pajamas.
She opened Harry's book once more to find the lesson that she had been studying, but one thing that she saw caught her eye. She had opened to a blank page of the book, at the very back. She saw Harry's and Ron's handwriting. Her eyes longed to read what they had written, but she knew that it was their private business and she had no right to read it. But the bad side of Hermione won over the good side and she read the notes eagerly.
Ron, it's completely obvious. Why don't you just tell her? I think everyone knows except her.
You're wrong, I know you are. And why don't you try telling a girl that you like her? Hmm? What about Cho? NOW do you see my side of this?
Hey, where have you been? I'm completely over her. Anyway, this is not about me, it's about you. I don't know Ron, just tell her! What's the worse that could happen?
That she wouldn't feel the same way about me, that's what could happen.
And that was the last little note that Ron had written. Hermione sat in her bed in shock. *So Ron DID like someone! I KNEW it! Why didn't he just tell me who it was? It's not like I am a blabbermouth like Parvarti* Hermione thought to herself.
All night Hermione tossed and turned, thinking about what she had just read in Harry's book. She thought of who the lucky girl (Wait did I just say lucky? No, no, I meant unfortunate. She thought) could be that Ron liked. By the time that Hermione woke up, she still couldn't figure out who it could be.
At breakfast, Harry noticed Hermione was off in another world. He tried to get her to snap back into reality. "So, Hermione, me and Ron were thinking of visiting Hagrid after school, since we're off from afternoon classes. That way you can get your Transfiguration book, too. Feel like coming along?"
After Hermione still did not answer, Ron tried it. "So Hermione, we heard that you've got a bun in the oven (for those of you who don't know what that phrase means, it means that you are pregnant) … what happened on your trip to Bulgaria again?"
That got Hermione back into reality. She was shocked and exclaimed, "Ron Weasley! What gave you that ridiculous idea? And you have no business knowing what I did at Bulgaria this summer, that is my personal business!"
Ron was taken back. "Woah, calm down, I was just trying to get you to come back into our world, you know what I mean?"
Harry sniggered into his bowl of cereal. 5 minutes later, it was time to go to charms class. They were learning about something that Hermione had already read about and experimented with, so she was caught daydreaming and doodling in her notebook. "Mrs. Granger, what is the command used to attract one thing to another?" Professor Flitwick asked.
Like she had been paying attention all the time, Hermione answered, "Attractio Lucio."
"Still on top of everything, isn't she?" Professor Flitwick said proudly. And then he went back to teaching the class, while Hermione went back to doodling and daydreaming.
It wasn't until a couple minutes later than Hermione realized that she had been drawing a picture of two stick figures holding hands with a heart around them. She gazed at the picture in wonder, and then was startled to see Ron was staring at the picture also. He found her looking at him with her startled eyes, and they looked at each other for some time. Finally, Hermione smiled at him slightly and scribbled away the picture, acting as if it were no big deal.
During Divination, while Hermione was at Arithmacy, Harry and Ron were having a quiet conversation about her. Harry whispered, "Hey, do you know what's wrong with Hermione? She's kind of been out of it today."
"Yeah I know …" Ron trailed off, seeing that Professor Trelawney was coming their way.
"But now Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley have extremely interesting events that should be coming to them this week. On Ron's chart, it says that on Tuesday, he shall be getting a good mark in Potions class."
The whole class sniggered. Everyone knew that that would never ever happen to Gryffindor, unless Snape was feeling extremely, extremely, extremely, extremely good day. But fortunately, Professor Trewlawney did not catch on. She walked away and left Harry and Ron back to their conversation.
"Yeah I know what you mean, I got her doodling a picture in her book during Charms this morning," whispered Ron.
"Yeah but she always goes off in her own world during classes, she's always reads the lesson ahead of what we are actually doing," explained Harry.
"No, you didn't see the picture. It was a picture of two stick figures holding hands with a heart around them," whispered Ron.
"WHAT? Why would she be drawing something like that? Hermione never ever thinks about romance or any kind of that stuff," hissed Harry. They stopped their conversation, Harry had caused some heads to turn around and look at them when he exclaimed in surprise. Harry motioned them to turn back to Professor.
"I don't know, it was kind of weird, do you think she has something to tell us or something?" asked Ron in wonder.
"Like what? Tell you what, I'll ask her during dinner, maybe then she'll tell us." And that ended their conversation for the time being.
Hermione sighed as she sat down at the table in the Great Hall; obviously something was bothering her. Everyone had seemed to notice. Her arithmacy teacher had scolded her for not paying attention, she had done poorly on her History of Magic test, and she had snapped at Neville when he interrupted her when she was daydreaming. All in all, it was not Hermione's best day.
"Hey, Hermione, what's up?" asked Ginny.
"Hmmm? Oh, nothing, just been having a bad day," replied Hermione.
Ginny got the point that Hermione did not feel like talking, so she let her be. She went off to talk to her fourth year friends. Hermione saw Harry and Ron coming back from Divination. They greeted her and sat down were Ginny had been sitting. One look at their faces, she knew that something was up. "What do you want?" she asked ungratefully.
Harry and Ron gave each other knowing looks, and Harry began to talk. "Listen, Hermione, we've noticed that you have been off in your own world today, and we know that something's up."
"What WE want to know … is … that …" trailed off Ron, looking at Harry like he had forgotten what to say. Hermione suddenly caught on. "Oh, I see! So, you two have been going behind my back, talking about me, just because I have been having a bad day! Well, for your information, you two are the reason that I have been having the worst day ever! Take a look at your transfiguration book, Harry, and maybe you'll understand!" said Hermione, throwing the book in Harry's face, and stomping out of the Great Hall, leaving Harry and Ron bewildered completely.
They sat there in shock for about a total of 2 minutes until they finally began talking again. "Woah, what's up with her?" asked Harry, still puzzled completely.
"Who cares what's wrong? Didn't you hear her? Open that transfiguration book now!" demanded Ron.
Harry picked the book up and flipped through the pages, one by one, examining every single page as he passed it. "Oh give me that, you prat! You're taking too long," said Ron, grabbing the book out of his hands.
Harry muttered, "You obviously have no patience."
But Ron didn't hear. His mouth opened in horror as he flipped to the very last page of Harry's book. His eyes scanned the notes that they had written to each other only about a week ago. He looked up at Harry, his eyes shooting daggers at him. "Why did you give her your book, you fool?! Now she knows!"
But all Harry could say was, "Oops?"
Ron sat through a trance the rest of the dinner, not believing that Hermione had read their note. Harry sat guiltily, playing with his mash potatoes until they turned cold. "Oh, cheer up Ron. I don't think she knows that who it is that we're talking about. There's nothing to worry about," Harry tried.
Ron didn't say anything. All he was thinking in his head now was that Hermione knew his secret, and that he would never be able to face her again, unless it was a matter of life and death, that is.
The two boys walked up to the Gryffindor Common Room, where they found everyone having little conversations hear and there, excited that it was almost time for Christmas break to begin. Eager to get out of Ron's way, Harry found a chair near Fred, George, and Ginny, and joined in right away in their conversation. Ron noticed that Ginny had turned bright red, but nothing could bring him out of his horror right now.
He went upstairs to his dormitory room and flopped into bed. Staring at the canopy, he thought, "I can't believe that she knows. All this time, I've kept it a secret, and now she knows. No wonder she had been making that picture in Charms … it all explains it now. Do you think those two stick figures represented two certain people? Should I say anything to her? How about, 'So … you know now, feel like going to Hogsmeade soon?' NO! That sounds so dumb … Ron, get a hold of yourself…" After awhile, Ron fell asleep.
Two days later, Hermione had seemed to notice a change in Ron's attitude towards her. They hadn't been in their daily bickering fight. He seemed to have lost touch in his many insults he gave to her. But surprisingly, Hermione missed them. Not only had he been not his normal self, but Ron had not talked to her for the past two days.
Hermione had tried to talk to Ron, trying to start up conversations during breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but nothing seemed to work. She even confronted Harry about Ron's unusual behavior.
"Harry, what's wrong with Ron? Why won't he talk to me?"
Harry didn't seem to look at Hermione in the face when he said this. "What? I hadn't noticed … maybe he's just having a bad day or something."
Hermione definitely did not believe Harry when he said this, and she kept badgering him about it. But Harry simply would not budge one bit. Fine, if they are going to be like this, I'll just ignore them too! Hermione thought. She began hanging around with Ginny, instead of them two, where she could talk about more things with her. She even tried asking Ginny who Ron liked, insinuating it slightly.
"Ginny, if you swore not to tell anyone else, and I mean it, would you?" asked Hermione.
"Of course I would, Hermione, have I ever broken a promise or secret?" asked Ginny.
"Well, okay. I borrowed Harry's transfiguration book once because I left mine at Hagrid's one day, right? And I was flipping around the pages, and I saw a note that Harry and Ron had written."
"Oooh! And you read it, didn't you!" squealed Ginny.
"No! Well … yes … I did. Well what would you have done!?" said Hermione, seeing the devilish grin that Ginny had formed. "Anyway, so I read it. And in it, Harry was saying how Ron should tell this girl that he liked her, and Ron was denying it, and silly things like that. Isn't that horribly funny? Ron actually likes someone!" said Hermione excitedly.
Ginny's smile faltered. She looked away from Hermione, and began fidgeting with her robe. "Ginny? Ginny? What's wrong? Do you know who the girl is?" asked Hermione with hope.
"I-uh, well…" stuttered Ginny. Hermione grabbed Ginny and ordered her to tell her who the girl was. "Ginny! Tell me! Tell me! I must know, don't you realize that I could have the time of my life making fun of Ron instead of he making fun of me? Please! Come on, tell me, what's it to you? Is it really that big of a deal?" said Hermione all at once.
"Hermione—you're—choking me!" gasped Ginny.
Hermione let go and embarrassly apologized. "Sorry," she muttered. After Ginny regained her breath, she looked up at Hermione and said, "If it isn't a big deal, why do I have to tell you then?"
This made Hermione shut up. She was right. Why was she making a big deal about it? Who cared that Ron liked someone? Who cared that Harry knew and that she didn't? Who cared that Ginny knew and she didn't? Who cared that—
"Ginny TELL ME! TELL ME! TELL ME!" exclaimed Hermione.
"Obviously it is a big deal to you. Okay, but you must PROMISE not to say anything! Even if Ron starts making fun of you again, and you know who he likes, you have to promise not to breath a word. Promise," said Ginny, holding out her pinky figure for Hermione to shake.
They pinky promised and Ginny opened her mouth to speak. She knew that if Ron ever found out she told Hermione who he liked she would die a painful death. Ginny opened her mouth and revealed who the girl was.
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Well? What do you think? Don't worry it's only the 1st chapter. Please review! And if you want, you can give me some ideas, send them to me at Swishmish20@aol.com
Thanks!