Falling for You

By Ayisha

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 2: The Effect

"Professor Granger?"

Hermione did not reply.

"Professor Granger?"

She was still oblivious of the person who was calling her.

"PROFESSOR GRANGER!"

Hermione yelped. She felt something nipping her hand. It was Hedwig, waiting a reply to Harry's letter. Harry had apparently told his owl not to stop following Hermione until she answered his letter.

Professor McGonagall looked at her curiously. "Are you all right? I've called your name thrice and you've yet to answer me."

Hermione blushed. "I'm sorry. My mind was somewhere else." Hedwig continued her nipping. "Hedwig!" she admonished, grabbing her hand. It was now a deep red, very much like how her face was turning into. "Why were you calling me?"

"I was wondering if you're finished with your breakfast." Professor McGonagall motioned at Hermione's untouched plate. "Classes would start in a few minutes."

"Oh." She glanced at her food, realizing that she had been staring into space for almost half an hour. "I'm not hungry."

Professor McGonagall touched Hermione's forehead, checking if she was ill. "I'm fine, Professor." Hermione insisted. "I've just had a shock, that's all."

"A shock?"

"It's...a long story." Thankfully, Professor McGonagall had no time to interrogate her more for the students were already exiting the Great Hall, going to their classes.

Hermione grabbed a piece of toast, put it in her mouth then drank her orange juice all in one gulp. "I have to get ready for class." Before Professor McGonagall could even say a word, she was gone, Hedwig following her out of the Great Hall.

"And she said she wasn't hungry."

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It has been two hours, fifty-seven minutes and sixty seconds since she had received Harry's letter. Hedwig kept following her around, waiting for her reply. It did not matter that she had classes to handle and students to teach; Hedwig was still there, patiently waiting. "The goblin rebellion of 1654 led by Vladimir IV signified the-"

Someone raised his hand.

"Yes, Dmitri?"

"I thought it was the goblin rebellion of 1664."

"You must be mistaken," Hermione told him. "It was 1654."

"But I've finished reading the History of Magic and I clearly remember it saying that it was 1664."

Hermione was starting to get annoyed. "It's 1654. If you turn to page 150, you will know that I'm…" she stopped at the said page and saw her mistake. "…wrong," she finished lamely. "It was 1664."

Dmitri beamed proudly. Hermione sighed. Dmitri Keller was a know-it-all. He was the one who always asked questions and recited in class. He reminded Hermione so much of herself. It wasn't the first time he had corrected her, either, but it was the first time she had gotten irritated at him.

Damn Harry Potter and his news.

An explosion disrupted the class. "What in the…" Hermione faltered. Her History of Magic students all had goo from head to toe. "Winnie and Lizzie Madsen!"

"Yes, Professor Granger?" The twins approached her cautiously.

Hermione had her arms across her chest. "What did you do?"

Lizzie looked at her, blue eyes filled with innocence. "Nothing, Professor Granger."

"Nothing?" Hermione motioned to the rest of the class. "Your classmates are all filled with goo and you didn't do anything?"

Winnie was offended. "Now, Professor, you can't blame everything that happens to us. Just because we do a couple of harmless pranks-" Hermione snorted. "Once in a while doesn't mean we did the latest one."

"When did you manage to steal all their books and cast the spell?" Hermione asked.

Lizzie grinned. "Ah, but a Master never reveal their secrets."

Hermione sighed. She really did not want to argue right now. This must be how all the other professors felt when Fred and George Weasley disrupted their classes because of their infamous pranks. "Class, you are all dismissed early. Change your robes, fix your hair and wipe your faces to get rid of that goo. And you," she turned to the mischievous Madsen twins. "Are going to serve detention with Filch after dinner."

"But professor…" Winnie whined.

"No buts." Hermione said crisply. "There is a time and place for playing pranks, Winnie and Lizzie, and my class isn't one of them." She took a deep breath. "Now, move along before I truly get mad at the two of you."

The minute she was all alone, Hermione uttered a Silencing Charm around the room. "Silencio!" Making sure that no one could hear her, she let out a loud scream.

"AHHHH!"

Very unusual for level-headed Hermione but then the rest of her day was anything but normal. And it was all because of Harry's letter.

Hermione started pacing, with Hedwig speeding after her. "Won't you leave me alone?" she glowered. The owl just hooted. "Why is Harry so adamant to get a reply anyway?" she ranted. "Can't he wait until I'm ready to answer the damn letter? Can't he see that I'm shocked about the news? The last time I saw him, he was still single and available and hiding from women. When did he start dating anyway? And when did he finally realize that whoever he was dating was finally The One?" She paused. "I was supposed to be The One." Hermione finished softly.

She did not know how it started or when. All she knew was that she had been harboring feelings for Harry Potter as long as she could remember. It came naturally after all the times she had spent with Harry. And she had always thought that Harry felt the same way about her. Harry had always treated her differently than any other woman. Not only as a friend but as something more. It had always been an unspoken understanding between the two of them. Hermione never dated because she was just waiting for Harry to make whatever it is they had official. For him to announce that she, Hermione Granger, is truly the woman who captured Harry Potter's heart, for her to be Mrs. Harry Potter. Hermione had always liked the sound of that.

Apparently, she was waiting for nothing. And it hurt her more than she cared to admit out loud.

Hedwig hooted loudly. Hermione looked at the owl who was still waiting for a reply. "All right." She moved behind her desk, grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill and started writing.

Dear Harry,

Your news certainly came as a shock. The last time I saw you, you were still allergic to women. Are you sure this is what you want?

Who's the lucky girl anyway?

Love,

Hermione

After tying the parchment on Hedwig, Hermione released the room from the Silencing Charm and students started pouring in. Hedwig nipped her hand and hooted before finally flying away.

Hermione continued to act as if nothing happened, teaching her students and telling them all about the History of Magic, without any mistakes this time.

Inside, her heart continued breaking.