Chapter Two

Melinda wasn't yet completely used to the change in time zones. Which is why she was up at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning. It felt weird to be up so early when she was accustomed to sleeping in late on the week end.

But she sat in the Gryphindor common room anyway, reading and waiting for other people to get up. It was one of the reason she hated being up this early. No one to talk to. Sure being on your own could be fun at times. She loved being alone when she was drawing or writing. It helped her to focus on just what she was doing. Being up before other people was different, it wasn't a choice to be alone when you were the only one awake.

A sound brought her attention away from her book. People had started to come down to the common room. Chatting began to fill the silence. Returning to her book she hoped it wouldn't be too long before the others came down. Waiting was not something she liked to do.

It wasn't that long at all before Hermione, Harry, and Ron came down. Hermione spotted the other girl curled up by the fire. She made her way over knowing the boys would follow her on their own. "Sleep well?" The brunette smiled placing a book mark in the book. "Very well thanks." She placed the book in her bag hefting it onto her shoulder. "You guys ready for breakfast?"

Harry smiled. "I'm ready. Ron is always ready to eat."

Hermione wrinkled her nose. "He eats like a pig."

"Oi!" Ron yelled.

Locking arms with Hermione she ignored the other girls blush and looked at Harry. "Lead on." The group made its way out of the Gryphindor common room. "So... Why does this Voldemort person thingy seem to think he can out bad Darth Vader? Vader has much more scare factor."

Harry and Hermione laughed. She was right. In the grand scheme of things Darth Vader was more frightening. He at least had some sort of body after his transformation. Old snake face hadn't even kept that. Harry was there when he had gotten his 'body' back .

"Whose Darth Vader? Ron asked.

Melinda grinned. "He's the arch villain in a muggle movie. He loses his body in a in accident. The loss of his body symbolizes the loss of his very soul. He becomes a evil sterile being. He's eventually defeated by his son."

"One of my aunts magic proofed my electronics, remind me to show you later."

Hermione perked up. "Did you bring any movies?"

"I have a section one of my aunts added dedicated to books and movies in my trunk She didn't put a limit on how many I could store though. Maybe me , you guys, and Draco will watch a movie later." She saw the look on the boys faces. Hermione looked open but skeptic. "Don't worry, he wont do anything."

She leaned in to whisper in Hermione's ear. "Lets just say that I know all of his weaknesses."

The Gryphindor girl did something Harry hadn't heard her do much. She giggled. Harry shook his head at them. It was strange to see Hermione flirting, with a girl no less. He hadn't known she swung that way. She and Ron had dated for a bit last year, but they never told him why it didn't work out. He never really thought to ask. Why would he? It was their business what they did.

Listening to the two girls try to explain movies to was amusing. The red head would just nod, and they would keep on explaining the smallest details of films. "You know that there are different places around the world famous for movie making? You would not believe how many different genres of film there are." And when he seemed to of wandered off into his own thoughts? "Are you listening? You aren't, I can tell. You need to listen!

It was like that the entire walk to the great hall. Harry was surprised how alike the two girls seemed already. Some of the things he had learned about his own best friend was surprising. He never knew that Hermione was such a movie buff. She probably wouldn't stop talking about them until some body forced her to change the topic.

That was something he had learned about her over the years. Once she took up a topic with such passion she would talk about it non-stop. Every one around her could be sleeping and she would wake some one up just to continue talking about it.

He loved her but, some times he wished she came with an off button.

The Great Hall was still sparsely filled. Most people slept in longer then he got to. It was times like these that he cursed being friends with an early riser.

He spotted Malfoy heading towards them. The blond looked between the two entwined arms of the Gryphindor girls and rolled his eyes. Harry's blood boiled at the site. Who did Malfoy think he was, the queen mother. Harry snorted, maybe that was taking it too far. But the thought of Malfoy in a regal old fashioned gown was funny.

The blond sat next to them when they sat at the Gryphindor table. Harry tried his best to ignore him, he really had, but the blond just pissed him off beyond measure. He wanted to strangle him, smack him, kiss him senseless.

He shook his head trying to convince himself he didn't mean the last one. Why would he want to kiss Malfoy. The ferret had all the personality of a sheet of parchment, and acted like a viper. Being attracted to some one like him was just something that didn't happen. At least not for him. If any one found out that he felt any thing for the blond Slytherin, they would roast him alive over an open fire. A very hot open fire.

He decided that he wasn't going to pay attention to the blond. If he didn't give him any attention then no one would suspect anything. The longer no one thought of it then the longer he could avoid trouble because of it.

Harry didn't notice the person watching him. He would of thought it weird. In fact he would of thought it a very Slytherin thing to do.

Melinda was plotting. Plotting how to get her dear Draco with the apparent object of his desire. Sure the blond quailed when it was mentioned, but their rivalry had the distinct air of a school yard crush. She was in fact sure that that is what it was. Even when little Draco was fascinated by the legend of Harry Potter.

She looked at him. The blond Slytherin was seated closer to the Gryphindor then was strictly necessary. Said Gryphindor was trying to steadfastly ignore the blond. It looked like her work wouldn't be all that hard. The seed of attraction were already planted in both, all she would need to do is encourage them. Yes, it would be a fairly simple task.

Smiling she held back a laugh. Hermione was now in a heated debate with Draco and surprisingly Ron about possible muggle contributions to magical society. The fire in the girls eyes was intense. She wouldn't give up until they did. Melinda had the distinct feeling she wouldn't give up even then.

"They have technology that allows you to talk to people over long distances. To actually talk to them, hear their voice. Cell phones are very useful you to."

Draco smirked, " don't see how they are useful."

"They are! You don't even have to owl some one to talk to them. Tell me instantly being able to talk to who ever you need to isn't useful."

Ron rolled his eyes. "It doesn't matter anyway, the magic messes with it."

"Only because no-one has tried."

Melinda cleared her throat. When they didn't stop she glared and smacked Draco upside the head. Smiling she twirled curl around a finger. "I believe, she said sweetly, that I said one of my Wicca aunts magic proofed my electronics earlier. But I could be wrong. I mean, why would I know what I said not even half an hour ago?"

Hermione looked smug, and the boys looked decidedly sheepish.

"Were watching a movie after lunch." Draco looked like he was going to jump for joy, she could see the happiness shinning in his eyes.

She sighed and shook her head indulgently. "I brought my movie collection, you can choose if you want Draco." The blond just about jumped for joy , and began eating faster then any one had ever seen him eat.

Shaking her head Melinda continued her meal at the same pace she had before. He would hurry them up when he got too impatient for every one else to be done so he could go and watch the movie. She had an idea of what he would pick, he always picked from a short list of his top ten movies. Some time he would expand it to his top twenty, but he was too fond of the other ten to do that often.

Her attention turned to Hermione, the girl really was amazing. Smart, beautiful, funny, opinionated, ambitious, and passionate. She was everything that she could ever hope to find and more. Hermione had that intangable quality that she just couldn't put her finger on.

Slipping a hand under the table she placed it gently on the other girls knee, and smiled when the other girl looked at her. She seemed a bit hesitant, but Melinda was sure she could win her heart. Coaxing her out of her shell wouldn't be that hard. Her eyes widened when the other entwined their hands. No it wouldn't be hard at all.

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