Chapter One – Couples
School had just begun, and Draco was acting very odd. He didn't hang around with his usual crew - Pansy, Crabbe, Goyle or any of his other friends as much. He mostly kept to himself. In the Slytherin common room, he could be found writing in a journal by himself, in a corner. Everyone knew about the journal, but no one knew what he wrote about in it. No one knew about the changes that were taking place with his beliefs or his thoughts of his father. No one knew another powerful secret he had written about, for if they did, he would certainly be the laughing stalk of Slytherin house!
Meanwhile, Hermione had barely changed. Yes, she did wear more makeup, and used a spell on her hair to make it lie flat, but in terms of her beliefs and actions, they hadn't changed at all. Her opinions of people hadn't changed much either. She still believed that Harry, Ron, Ginny, and all of her other friends were very decent, kind people, and that some people would always be the same way they had always been - cruel, mean, and horrible to her just because she was a muggle-born. Some people, like Draco Malfoy would always call her a 'mudblood' and tease her, no matter how nice she looked. She had noticed a change in Draco, though. He seemed to have gained a tiny bit of decency over the summer, as he was no longer calling her a mudblood. He was still being very rude to her other friends, however, so she figured he hadn't changed that much.
Hermione was now writing in her journal that she had started over the summer. She wrote in it a lot, now that Harry and Ron both spent most of their time with their girlfriends. No one knew who Hermione liked, but if they read her journal they would find out. It was someone they would never expect her to like. Someone who would never like her back! Or so she thought...
It was 10:00 in the morning on a Saturday, and Hermione had just woken up. She decided to go take a bath in the prefects' bathroom. While she was walking through the common room she said hi to Harry and Ginny, who were sitting on the couch by the fireplace with their arms around each other.
They are so cute together! thought Hermione, smiling.
"What are you smiling about?" asked Harry teasingly.
"Nothing," responded Hermione, innocently.
"She's thinking about her crush, whoever it is!" Ginny said.
"I don't have a crush on anyone!" Hermione responded a little too quickly.
"Yeah right! Who is it, Hermione? It better not be my boyfriend!" said Ginny.
"Harry! Ha! For your information, I happen to be very happy for you and Harry!" retorted Hermione.
"So then, who is it?" enquired Harry, happy that it wasn't him, for he didn't like her in that way.
"No one, and even if I did have a crush on someone, I wouldn't tell you!" replied Hermione.
"Why? Is it a Slytherin?" asked Harry.
"Maybe," replied Hermione rather nastily, as she stormed off through the portrait hole.
A couple of minutes later, Hermione ran into Ron and Aries Riddle, who were laughing and giggling.
Ugg... thought Hermione, I don't like the look of this! Hermione had always disliked Aries, not only for the fact that she was a Slytherin, but that name! She had said very adamantly that she had no relation to Tom Marvelo Riddle (Voldemort), and that she would kill herself if she was, but still one had to wonder. She was in Slytherin which almost every dark wizard came out of! Still, Hermione was thankful for one thing. Aries was in her 7th year at Hogwarts, so she would be leaving at the end of the year.
"Hello, Hermione!" said Aries in a friendly way.
"Hi, Aries," said Hermione, trying not to show her dislike for Aries. "What have you two been up to?"
"Nothing much. I was bored after breakfast, and decided to take a walk on the grounds. Aries, apparently decided the same thing, and we met by the Quidditch pitch." explained Ron.
"Oh," said Hermione.
"Where were you at breakfast, anyways?" Ron asked.
"Asleep," said Hermione. "Bye."
"Where are you going?" Aries and Ron asked, noticing the bag she was carrying.
"I am taking a bath," responded Hermione.
"Well, bye then!" said Aries, as Hermione walked towards the prefects' bathroom.
Finally, Hermione reached a golden door - the door to the prefects' bathroom, and said the password.
"Finally, I can relax," said Hermione quietly as she put down her bag, and took out her towel, soap, and change of clothes, and turned on the light.
Little did she know there was someone in the corner of the room...