CHAPTER 3: Hesitations
"Look Herms," Ron tried again, "There is no need for you to afraid about it."
"I'm not afraid Ron. It's just that…" she sighed and looked up from the book that was placed on the table in front of her. She, Ron and Harry were sitting in the library in there free period which they had together every week. She had told them that she was still thinking about giving her name to McGonagall. She wasn't sure that she wanted to go and waste her time rather than studying but the two boys weren't giving up.
"Look," she looked straight in Ron's eyes, "I am having these feelings that something will go wrong so I have to be cautious."
"Oh come on," Ron laughed humorlessly, "What's the worst that can happen?"
"He's right Hermione, Dumbledore has it all planed." Harry pointed out, "He'll be there for us. Nothing can go wrong."
"What's so wrong with me not giving my name?" Hermione was getting irritated by them. Why were they pushing her so hard on giving her stupid name for some stupid travelling with some stupid partner?
Ron and Harry shared a look and Hermione would have been blind if she hadn't noticed the gleam of worry reflect in Ron's eyes. Harry on the other hand had started drumming his fingers on the wooden table, looking around trying to find something of his interest. Hermione sensed the tension growing between the two of them.
"There is nothing wrong with you not giving your name but…" Harry started but stopped. He shouldn't be the one to tell her that. No, not when it was all Ron's plan.
"But what Harry?" Hermione asked impatiently. She looked at the grandfather clock hanging on the wall opposite to where they were sitting. The free period was about to end in fifteen minutes.
"Look, we just want you to have some fun. Just let us know if you decide to give your name." Ron stood up and gestured Harry to do the same. "Keep in mind that they will not accept the names after today so, please." With that Ron started walking towards the exit. Harry however took his time to place his homework book back in his bag.
He looked at Hermione apologetically, "It's just that after the transfiguration period when you said that you'll give your name, Ron became too excited and," he stopped to look at her expressions. She wasn't looking at him but at the book in front of her. However, Harry was quite sure that she was listening to him attentively so he went on, "Well, after you left for your class, Ron pulled me back in McGonagall's office and told her that the three of us were going to giver her names."
Hermione looked up at him, surprised, "What?"
Harry nodded, "Yeah, he gave her your name."
"Ronald Weasely." Hermione hissed, "What's wrong with him?" She placed her head in her hands. Harry walked up to her side and patted her back, trying to comfort her. "No wonder I was having bad feelings about It." she moaned.
"He was just too sure that you had made up your mind." Harry said in defense to his other friend.
"She said there was no going back. How am I going to give the exams now?" She looked up at his face. "I don't want to go."
"Hermione please." Harry pleaded, "You can always go to McGonagall and tell her what happened, you are not selected yet. But," He placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it a little. "But first consider it. If not for me, not for own yourself but please for Ron. He was just too excited."
"But…"
"See you in the common room, Hermione." And with that he turned around and left her.
Hermione moaned, she didn't want to go on research and she also didn't want Ron to get hurt. Were her studies more important to her or her friendship with Ron?
She placed her head on the table, the book open in front of her. She knew that she was the best in her year and would get any job she wanted without giving the NEWT exams but that didn't matter, she wanted to give them.
Someone cleared their throat, "I never thought you'd sleep reading a book…"
Hermione groaned and sat up straight. She knew that voice perfectly well and the person the voice belonged to was the last man she wanted to see right now.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Hermione hissed looking into his grey eyes.
He just shrugged and sat on the chair in front of her, his one elbow resting on the back of chair as he stared back in her amber brown eyes, "It's not like you own the library mudblood even though you've read all the books around here." He raised an eyebrow when Hermione showed no response other than narrowing eyebrows.
"Tell me, is that book that boring that you slept?" Malfoy asked, "You should thank me."
"And why is that?" Hermione asked sarcastically and rolled her eyes. She should thank him for making her life a living hell and always showing up on bad times and ruining her mood.
"If I didn't arrive, the book would have drowned with your drooling." He smiled self satisfied when Hermione moaned at his sick joke. "You know, I never thought that you snored that loudly."
"I wasn't sleeping Malfoy."
"Yeah whatever." Malfoy didn't seem much interested in the topic anymore. He leaned closer and rested both of his elbows on the table. His face serious now, "Tell me, Is Potter going to give his name for the research?"
"What's it to you?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"I'm gonna beat that Potter." Malfoy spoke Harry's last name grudgingly, "I'm gonna get selected, not him." He gave a small chuckle.
"I'm not gonna give that information to you." Hermione looked at him with a small smile. She knew that Malfoy would get pissed off if she didn't tell him and a pissed off Malfoy was better than the sarcastic one.
"If Potter is giving his name that means that the Weasely is too." He ignored her, "Are you?"
Hermione eyebrows pulled together as her expressions changed thoughtful. She wasn't sure yet.
"I always knew you were the jolting one. You're not tough, that's the problem." Malfoy shook his head lightly, "But that's fine. If I was right about you, I might be right about Potter."
He stood up from the seat in one swift movement and looked at her, "See you later scaredy cat." He chuckled. "Cat, that's funny." He said to himself before turning around and leaving Hermione.
Is he right? Am I really not that tough to go on a small research? Am I scared? Hermione shook her head. She knew better than to think about Malfoy's comments. He was always like that, wrong. That's what he was. He was wrong and Hermione knew that. I'll show him who the scared one is.
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A/N: Yeah so it took me a while to update. I hope that you guys liked the chapter. I'll try to update soon. Any suggestions, remarks or comments about the story so far?? Feel free to review, everyone. And thanks for reading and staying with me so far.
