It all happened with a muggle book
chapter 2. weird
As always, Hermione woke up early, and to no one's surprise, was dressed, and was ready to go. She always helped wake up other students too-which was also not a big surprise. Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown, her dorm mates, were just about to get ready when they noticed Hermione looking a little odd.
Sure, Hermione looked like she was ready for everything (even the NEWTs) but something about her was a little different.
"Sweet Merlin, Hermione you didn't sleep well last night!" Lavender exclaimed, looking at Hermione with a surprised look. "What happened?"
Parvati nodded. "Yeah, Hermione, what's wrong?"
Hermione stared at her two friends. She sighed. She must have looked very tired.
"It's really nothing, guys. It's…, you know the Transfiguration essay. It's driving me nuts!" Hermione quickly lied.
Parvati and Lavender nodded slowly, their expression showing that they didn't understand her at all.
"Oh, I forgot about that essay, thanks Hermione." Lavender said, smiling.
Hermione nodded. "Well, see you down the hall." she said, as she headed for the door.
When Hermione was out of the Gryffindor common room, she couldn't help but sigh out loud. The truth was, she didn't have time to think about her essay. She was troubled all night because of a certain blonde.
It was really nothing if the person who asked for was not Draco Malfoy.
His acting seemed more strange because of what Harry had been telling her since last week: 'Draco Malfoy's a death eater'
Hermione shook her head. She should get these thoughts out of her.
'I don't have to think about him anymore after 9 today. Oh merlin, I don't even know the exact time! How could he be so stupid not to mention it to me?'
Now she had to meet him again to ask him about the exact time. Or she could just not go...but she hated breaking promises.
She was still thinking about '9a.m./9p.m.' thing when someone poked her arm.
Hermione immediately turned around and found her two best friends.
"Oh, don't scare me like that!" Hermione exclaimed. She couldn't help but think about Draco Malfoy grabbing her arm when Harry poked her.
"Hey, we called you but you didn't listen." Harry said, backing a little. "Hey, you didn't sleep well last night, right?" he asked, showing concern.
Hermione sighed. "Harry, it's nothing." she said, trying to look refreshed.
"Well, if it is nothing, let's go and eat." Ron said, yawning. "I'm starving."
"Oh when were you not?" Hermione said, shaking her head as she smiled.
"So, what's up with you and Goldstein?" Ron asked, as they sat down at the Gryffindor table. "You're meeting him this weekend, right?"
Hermione looked up at Ron, and nodded. "Yes, I already told you yesterday."
Harry shrugged. "We were just wondering why the sudden change of mind, Hermione." he said. "You said you didn't want a serious relationship with anyone since it's the NEWTs year."
Hermione nodded. "I know, but Anthony's really nice, and I don't think having few dates will ruin my studying. Actually, since I'm meeting him this Sunday, I've been working on my essays and other stuff harder than ever." she said, digging some mash potatoes.
"Oh, you already finished McGonagall's essay, right?" Harry said, smiling.
Hermione smiled back. "Yes, I finished it last night. Then I went to the library-" she stopped for a moment. Maybe she could ask Harry and Ron about the 9a.m./9p.m. dilemma she was having.
"Um, guys, if someone asked you to meet at 9, does it mean the morning, or noon?" she asked, cautiously. Both Harry and Ron looked at each other for a moment. Then Harry answered: "It depends on what timeline did that someone asked you, I guess."
Ron nodded. "Yeah, I think Harry's right. But why do you ask?"
Hermione hesitated. "Um, I kind of promised someone to meet at 9, but that someone didn't tell me if it's morning, or noon."
Harry frowned. "But Hermione, you could just ask this someone." he said.
Ron nodded. "Yeah, it's so unlike you."
Hermione sighed. "Well, I'm not exactly friendly with this person-you see, this person hates me."
Harry's frown got deeper. "Why would you meet a person who hates you?"
"Yeah, don't meet this person! Why do you have to meet him anyway?" Ron said, stuffing himself with toast.
"Well…. I still promised him, so-" Hermione started, but she soon noticed her mistake. And it seemed clear that Harry and Ron did, too.
"Him? It's a he?" Ron exclaimed a bit loudly. "Why?"
Harry shook his head. "Don't overreact, Ron. Hermione must have a reasonable reason to meet this...guy who hates her."
"Of course I do! I don't like him. He's just asking me for help, and I didn't exactly refuse." she said quickly.
Ron didn't erased his frown though. "Who is this guy that hates you?" he asked.
Hermione lost for words. Should she tell them that it was the 'Draco Malfoy'?
Luckily, Ginny sat down next to her before she could say anything.
"Ron, you didn't bother Dean for dating me last night, did you?" she asked dangerously. Ron puffed. "What? I don't even talk to him that much since he's…."
"Oh, shut up. I have right to date anyone I want, Ron. And I know you two have been good friends and talk to each other a lot. So please stop being a baby." she said, and left without a backward glance.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh. "Oh Ron, she's one year younger than you. Stop acting like her father." she said. "Harry, would you mind if you have a little sister going out with someone who's friends with you?"
"Well, I wouldn't approve that much-" Harry started, looking a bit grumpy.
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione said, shaking her head. "You're just like Ron sometimes."
Ron rolled his eyes. "Well, still I think Ginny could meet up with someone way better." he said.
"That's Ginny's decision, not yours." Hermione said sharply. "Both of you have a free period today, right?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Yes, the first period's free." said Ron. "Maybe we can practice quidditch!"
Harry looked at Hermione. "Do you want to watch us practice?" he asked.
"It's fine. I have other things to do." said Hermione smiling. "But thanks for asking."
After they all ate, Hermione quickly scurried out from the great hall. She didn't want Ron or Harry to ask about 'someone' who was Draco Malfoy.
That led Hermione think about the date this weekend.
'Maybe helping a someone who's a guy is wrong? But Everyone in the whole school knows we don't like each other.' she thought to herself.
She kept walking till she bumped into someone.
'Why do I keep crashing into someone, I should think less!' she thought to herself as she looked up to apologize. But instead of a surprise, all it came out of her was: "Oh,"
It was Draco Malfoy, which didn't surprise her that much.
"Where are you going?" he asked, before Hermione could say something.
Hermione frowned. "What? Hey, um, about the promise last night…."
"What about that promise?" Draco asked immediately before Hermione could finish her sentence.
"Nothing except you didn't pick a specific time." she said, rolling her eyes.
"Well it doesn't matter anyway. You look free. I can help you now."
Malfoy shook his head. "No, I have...things to do. Sorry. Let's meet at 9p.m." he said, glancing at his wristwatch.
"Oh, okay." said Hermione, having nothing to say except that.
"Yeah, see you then." said Malfoy, and he walked away slowly.
Hermione was just watching him go, when he turned around and headed back to her.
"What?" she asked, as he approached her.
"Just have something to ask you." he said, looking down at her.
Hermione narrowed her eyes. Now what?
"So…." Malfoy started. "You and Goldstein, huh?"
Hermione's eyes widened. "What?" she asked.
"So it's true." he said. He looked a little awkward. Well, he must be because he usually didn't have this kind of conversation with her...ever.
"How do you know?" Hermione asked, trying to keep her voice steady. She knew gossip went around Hogwarts quite easily and fast, but she decided to go out with him yesterday, and she only told Harry, Ron, and Ginny.
Draco shrugged. "You know, it gets around." he said. "So, how's it going?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "We've just decided to go out, and anyway, why do I have to tell you?"
"I was just curious." said Malfoy. "Curious about what you see in him…."
Hermione could notice that his expression brightened a little. 'He's mocking me!' she thought to herself.
"Well, I don't see a reason for you to care what I see in him." she said, looking away.
"That's true." he agreed, most to her surprise. "Well, see you tonight…." then he really left.
Hermione just stood in a hallway, feeling a little strange.
He didn't call her a 'mudblood' or those kind of words…at all.
"Weird…." she said to herself, then she headed for the library.
