Chapter 2
Gregory Goyle. Her mind savoured his name, as fantasies danced through her head. She hurried to take her place, and she brushed his arm as she sat down. Sparks danced their way all through her body. When the class had started attempting to conjure birds, she greeted Goyle.
'Hi, umm, Greg…' she didn't know what to call him. Even Malfoy called him Goyle.
'Do you need some, err, help…?' she offered as she saw Goyle struggle to pronounce avis properly.
'Here, let me try... Avis.' birds filled the air, gracefully zooming and diving. The rest of the class were still struggling, and looked up in awe as Hermione's rainbow-coloured birds fluttered and chirped. Hermione thought she saw a trace of a smile on Gregory's face, and proceeded to take his wand-arm in her hand. She could easily help him here, but she was really awkward around boys when she wasn't in a classroom.
'Ok then, you say avis, like this, ok? And I'll move your arm?' Goyle nodded.
'When you're ready, umm, Greg… You don't mind if I call you that do you?' Hermione asked. He nodded once more, and Hermione took his wand-arm so it was poised, ready to cast the spell.
'Avis,' murmured Goyle. His voice was so beautiful, noted Hermione. I could listen to him all day. If only Malfoy wasn't holding him back, putting him down as a worthless servant.
As Gregory spoke the incantation, Hermione guided his hand. Scruffy brown birds shot out of the end of his wand and hit the window on the other side of the classroom. Hermione giggled.
'I think we need to try again. See if you can do it yourself this time. Look how I'm moving my hand…' she watched as Goyle practiced the arm stroke, giving him tips until she deemed it good enough.
'Ok then, off you go,' she encouraged.
'Avis,' Goyle pronounced it perfectly this time, as well as doing the correct arm movement. A flock of pale blue and turquoise birds circled round his head. Hermione gasped. They were beautiful.
'Well done, Greg!' she congratulated him. 'You're getting so much better at this!'
'Err… thanks, Hermi- I mean, Granger… Hermione?' Goyle stumbled over his words as if he'd never spoken to a girl before. He probably hadn't, thought Hermione, feeling sorry for him.
The rest of the class were amazed that Goyle had conjured birds before any of the other skilled people. As they were walking back to the Gryffindor Tower, Ron was in a mood – as usual.
'Why can't you sit next to me, still?' he grumbled. Hermione ignored him and asked to be excused.
'I'll see you guys later!' she called over her shoulder. As she hurried down the corridor, she got out the Marauder's Map – she'd nicked it from Harry's trunk that morning. She also got out a small fairy cake, and in a deserted Transfiguration classroom, tipped the contents of the crystal bottle onto the cake. It reminded her of when she put a Sleeping Draught in two cakes for Crabbe and Goyle, in her second year. Then she located Gregory on the Map, and walked briskly in his direction.
Hermione rounded the corner and immediately leaped back, hiding. Since she'd last checked the Marauder's Map, Malfoy and Crabbe had caught up with Goyle. She had to take drastic action.
'Wingardium Leviosa,' she whispered and left the cake where Goyle would find it.
'Avis,' she murmured twice, and then, 'Oppugno'. The birds that she'd conjured suddenly flocked together in a giant arrow formation. She ran down the corridor and into a broom cupboard. Malfoy and Crabbe's screams echoed down the corridor, and a vivid image of birds tearing at their hair, clothes and face came into her mind. She winced at the thought, but soon the screams faded into the distance as her two victims ran to the Hospital Wing. Hermione peeked round the edge of the door, just as Goyle took a large bite of the cake. He hadn't learned from his first experience with floating cakes, Hermione thought with a grin. When she saw a vacant expression pass over his face, she stepped out of her hiding place.
'H-H-H-Hermione…' Goyle spoke her name as if it could be destroyed just by saying it too loudly. No one had ever said her name in that way before. It felt amazing. Then Hermione started to feel guilty. Gregory didn't truly love her, but if he just talked to her and spent some time with her, she hoped he would fall in love with her. That was what the Love Potion was for – he wouldn't talk to her unless under the influence of some kind of potion or drug – and Hermione hadn't wanted to use Gillyweed.
'Gregory…' she breathed his name. 'I-'
But Goyle cut her off, by hugging her so tightly she almost couldn't breathe. He loosened his grip and she wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his chest and breathing in his smell – it was all outdoorsy, like freshly cut grass and wood. They moved into the broom cupboard, closing the door behind them. Glow-worms lit up the sudden darkness, bringing a warm romantic atmosphere to the cupboard. Greg's hands moved up from her waist, over her boobs and started stroking her face. He was so tender, Hermione almost fainted. She looked up into his gorgeous chocolate-brown eyes and their lips came together for a kiss. She brought her hands up and entwined them in his hair, pulling him closer to her.
The kiss seemed to last forever, but they stopped when their lips were red and swollen. Hermione took Greg's hand and sat him down on a box next to her.
'I was really proud when you managed to conjure those birds. Actually they were my favourite colour…' she realised with shock that this was true.
'Oh, were they?' murmured Greg.
'Yes! Greg, I love you…' Hermione finally admitted it – to Greg, and herself.
'I love you too, Hermione…'