AN: This was delayed a few days, thanks to an unexpected visit by Mr. Pneumonia. He totally outstayed his welcome, but I've shown him the door.


SEERiously Part II

When Hermione woke up the next morning, she could tell right away that something was different. The air in her and Ginny's room was full with something more than the first rays of sunlight. A wonderful blend of fragrances perfumed the air. Rolling on her back, she stretched her arms out and yawned. Then she jerked back when one of her arms touched something.

"Ginny! Ginny, look!" she yelled. Sitting up, Hermione saw that by her bed was vase after vase of flowers. Roses, lilies, gardenias, flowers of every color and size filled the floor beside her.

Ginny peeked her head out of their bathroom. "Yeah? What's wrong?" she asked.

Hermione gave her an incredulous look. "Are you kidding me? Where did these come from?"

Ginny grinned. "Someone got the elves to leave them. I imagine it came from a secret admirer."

Hermione frowned. "I don't have those, Ginny. You know that."

"The flowers say otherwise. Anyhow, don't knock it. I get to enjoy them, too. And you've got to admit, our room has never smelled better."

"They must have cost a fortune," Hermione murmured as she reached out to touch a velvet petal on one of the roses.

"I suppose….or maybe they were pilfered from Professor Sprout's hothouse."

Hermione looked up at her roommate's teasing face. "Gosh….I hope that's not the case."

"No kidding. Sprout's an equal opportunity punisher. She'll give everyone detention."

"Neville would be the only one who wouldn't mind," Hermione said with a chuckle.

"Neville's sweet but don't be fooled by that," said Ginny sagely. "Anyone who likes dirt as much as he does probably has a freaky side."

"Ginny!"

"What?" she asked. "You know what they say. You've got to watch the quiet ones."

Hermione shook her head at her silly friend. "Neville would die if he heard you say that. Can you imagine how embarrassed he'd be?"

Ginny gave Hermione a devilish look. "There's more to Neville than plants and being afraid of Professor Snape. Just ask Luna."

"Luna?"

"Yep. Luna. And if that doesn't prove he has a freaky side, I don't know what does."

Hermione rolled her eyes at that comment. "You're horrible! You shouldn't imply that about poor Luna."

"Poor Luna? More like perv Luna. She's probably blibbered his humdinger."

"Ack…..Ginny!" In spite of the crassness of her friend's overactive imagination, Hermione began to laugh; mostly because of the gleeful expression of mischief on Ginny's face.

"Yep. She crumpled his horn but good. By the time she was through with it, I bet it was completely snorkacked."

Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes that her laughter had produced. "You've been waiting a long time just to be able to work all that into a conversation haven't you?"

Ginny grinned impishly. "Five galleons says Luna's infested him with nargles."

Ginny watched in triumph as her strait-laced friend shook in helpless mirth.


"This is your fault, Ginny," whispered Hermione while they were seated at breakfast.

"What have I done now?"

"I can't even look at Neville normally anymore," she grumbled.

"So don't look at him. Besides, you've got more important matters to attend to."

"Such as?"

Ginny gave Hermione a 'duh' look. "If I were you, I would try to find out who sent me those flowers."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"Easy. Just find the wizard who's staring at you."

Hermione looked up from her bowl of oatmeal. She first gazed shyly at the Gryffindor boys seated at her table. Nope. None of them were looking at her. Then her gaze took her to the Ravenclaw table. Nothing. Hufflepuff? Zilch.

"I don't see anyone so far," she whispered to Ginny.

"Don't give up," encouraged her friend. "Have you looked everywhere?"

"All but for the Slytherins. I'd have more success finding someone at the head table than there, though."

Ginny chortled. "Maybe Snape fancies you."

"Ugh. That would be my luck."

"Overgrown bats not your type?" asked Ginny while theatrically wiggling her eyebrows.

"Not particularly. Neither are hook-nosed, middle-aged men who pick on insufferable know-it-alls and have an obvious phobia about washing their hair."

"Ugh. Yeah. Well, I was kidding. Just keep looking."

Feeling disappointed, Hermione let her eyes rove over to the Slytherin table, mainly because she was nothing if not thorough. She watched as Goyle took the last pancake from a platter. Beside him, Theo Nott drank from a dainty tea cup while appearing to argue with Blaise Zabini about something or another. Marcus Flint was attempting to whisper in Pansy Parkinson's ear, much to her disgust, and beside her…

…...Bingo. Draco Malfoy was watching Hermione as she watched his house at breakfast. She kept staring, waiting for his signature sneer to appear. But that didn't happen. Instead, she saw Draco's face gentle; then a hopeful half-smile graced his lips. Hermione's mouth fell open in shock. Beside her, Ginny saw the change in her expression.

"Who do you see? What's happening?"

Hermione saw Draco wink at her. "Uh…..uh…."

"What's the matter? Who is it? Is he hypnotizing you? Talk to me, girl!" To get her attention, Ginny pinched Hermione's leg.

"Ouch!" she squealed, breaking eye contact with the Slytherin. "Ginny...that hurt!"

"Quit ignoring me! For the last time, who is it?"

But Hermione didn't get a chance to tell her friend. Right then a voice behind them said, "Ready to go to our first class?"

They both turned around to see that while they'd been arguing, Draco Malfoy had walked over to their table. Picking up Hermione's satchel, he adjusted the strap on his shoulder and paused before asking, "Hermione? Are you done?"

"Uh…..yeah. Okay. See you later, Gin," she mumbled as she got up off the bench to follow Draco out of the hall.

"Merlin's pants," breathed Ginny. With a seer's innate knowing, she realized who had sent the strange voice apparition. She now knew who had called forth a new reality.

Thinking back to the night before and the power the calling forth had produced, she whispered, "Draco Malfoy…..what have you done?"


I'm actually walking beside a Slytherin….why am I not questioning this? Hermione asked herself as she trudged down the hall with Draco.

"So….I was thinking…." he began to say.

Hermione glanced at his face. Draco did seem to be deep in thought.

"The Valentine's dance is coming up. Do you want to go?"

Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "I guess. Most girls do. But I'll have to wait and see."

"Wait and see….? I don't understand."

Hermione stopped walking. 'To see if someone asks me, of course." Seeing his incredulous expression, she explained. "Boys can get away with going stag, but if a girl does that? That's just pathetic. Besides, I don't want to give Ron ammunition to tease me any more than he already does."

"You daft witch! I was asking you if you wanted to go with me!"

Once again, Hermione's jaw fell open. Draco looked at her with an expression that was half frustration, half amusement but underlying it all was desire.

"But you….you hate…" Hermione paused. What was she going to say? Her thoughts suddenly became fuzzy.

"Broccoli, I know. But I doubt they'll be serving that at the dance," he replied with a twinkle in his eye.

Hermione blinked. Something felt….different, but she couldn't place it. Looking down, Draco's tie clasp caught her eye. It was the one piece of jewelry that Hermione had always noticed. In the past, she recalled the silver snake with the emerald eyes that had been part of Draco's daily wardrobe, but now…

Draco looked down to see what had caught Hermione's attention. "It's new. Do you like it?" he asked softly.

She hesitantly raised her hand to touch it. It was in the shape of a lioness figure with her paw raised. Underneath it, supporting the paw was a short column, made of….books.

Hermione was no fool. She knew his clasp had something to do with her.

"Mal….uh...Draco…" why does it feel odd to call him that? "this is about me….isn't it?

He nodded as he covered her hand that was touching his clasp with one of his own. "I designed it, you know. It's goblin-made. I wanted this because...it's the piece of jewelry that's closest to my heart."

Hermione looked up into his eyes. In spite of his tender words and the adoring look she saw in his face, her inner Ginny surfaced. "You do realize that's the sappiest thing I've ever heard you say?"

Draco laughed. "Just for that, you have to come with me to the dance."

Hermione happily sighed. "As you wish."

"I do," he averred as he cupped her cheek. "I wish it."


At that moment, far above the astronomy tower, a streak of lightning flashed in an otherwise azure sky. A deep rumble of thunder could be heard immediately following it. And in the Great Hall of Hogwarts a solitary seer spoke forth another prophecy.

The harvest is come
The reaping at hand
The gatherer, the sifted
His chaff first beaten, now blown
The fruit he seeks
He yields for another.


AN2: The "as you wish" Hermione says to Draco is my nod to the Princess Bride. What? You didn't know that? Inconceivable!