Disclaimer: I do not own anything except for this wonderful plot. The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to J.K. Rowling. I am not making any money for the publishing or writing of this story. No copyright infringement is intended.

Warning & A/N: This is my first Oliver/Hermione story and all I have to say is that I did my best to keep them in character. The dialogue for this chapter is from own imagination and creation except for any dialogue I use from the movie, and there will be dialogue from the movie in this section.

Keep in mind that flames will be laughed at and will only serve to increase my amusement. Although, I do accept constructive criticism because I know it will help me out in the long run.

Chapter 3: The Decision

Later that night Hermione was in the girls' dormitory, getting ready to go to bed. She had already washed herself, brushed her teeth, and changed into her nice, but simple spaghetti strap nightgown. It was a light pink color; it flowed past her ankles, stopping just before it touched the floor. She threw back the covers, getting into bed. She pulled the blankets over herself, save for only her head, shifting onto her left side. She closed her eyes, attempting to fall asleep.

However, after some time, she opened her eyes. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't fall asleep. She kept on thinking of the days' recent events, especially what she had read and saw that was written on the wall in the hallway earlier that night. However, not only what was written on the wall, but also what had happened to Mr. Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris. She started to remember what had occurred this past evening.

Mrs. Norris had been petrified. Mr. Filch had been devastated and angry. Hermione had been struck dumb with horror when she had seen Mr. Filch's cat hanging upside down, looking almost like she were dead. The haunting and cryptic words also had terrified her, especially because the words had been written in blood. On the wall and written in blood, the message had stated:

'The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir... beware.'

She could barely stand looking at the ghastly sight that was before her. She had wanted to scream, cry out, run, or to just simply go back to her dormitory, but nevertheless she couldn't. No sound came out of her mouth and never would as much as she willed herself to do it. She couldn't run either for it seemed as if her feet were glued to the floor and wouldn't let her move an inch. She could only just stand there in utter shock, staring at the wall with terror in her eyes.

Though Harry and Ron had been with her, she couldn't stop herself from feeling purely and simply horrified. Her appearance hadn't shown that she was, but on the inside it was a whole different matter. She had been grateful when Professor Dumbledore finally dismissed the three of them, allowing them to go back to their dormitories. She had been glad to be rid of the awful sight she had witnessed.

Oh, the horror and mystery of it all, Hermione thought now as she laid on her bed, her thoughts centering on the horrific and recent event. Yes, indeed it was a mystery for no one yet knew who the culprit was behind this disturbance. Though she was scared stiff out of her wits, she willed herself to be brave and face this new danger that had befallen on herself, Harry, Ron, and the rest of the school.

I have to be brave and strong. I can't break down now and I certainly can't cower in the face of danger. Harry, Ron, and I need each other. I will face this new fear head on no matter what, Hermione thought while promising this to herself. She also made a promise that no matter what they were going to face, she was going to continue to fight beside them for as long as there was evil to vanquish.

As soon as Hermione made this vow, she tried to go back to sleep again. However, her mind was swarming with so many thoughts that it was impossible to even try to close her eyes, let alone fall asleep. So, she let her thoughts shift towards less gruesome issues. She started to reminisce about other events that had happened to her earlier that day. Her mind started to wander to the scene where one Draco Malfoy had insulted her, and also remembering the word he had called her.

She couldn't believe he had called her that name. It had cut straight into her heart, hurting her very deeply. It was hurting her even now while she was lying on her bed. She couldn't stop thinking about it, feeling the tears threatening to escape again. This time, however, she wasn't going to stop them. She allowed them to escape from her eyes, letting them fall onto her cheeks.

She buried her face onto her pillow, crying as silently as she could; for she shared her dormitory with Lavender Brown and Pavarti Patil; she didn't want to disturb them from their peaceful slumber. She cried for a few more minutes, trying to let the tears come out of her in one shot. Then, feeling as if she had cried enough, she wiped the last of her tears on the side of the pillow she had not cried on while slowly sitting up in bed.

She wondered what time it was so she looked at the clock that was on the nightstand, which was next to her bed. The clock read: 12:30. It's half past midnight. I know I'll never fall asleep now; at least not for awhile, Hermione thought, feeling a little bit irritated that she couldn't seem to go to bed.

Suddenly, an idea came to her. I could go to the common room and read a book. Reading always helps me forget about my problems. I could certainly use a good read right about now, Hermione thought this, all the while feeling slightly happier than she had just a few moments ago.

However, her happiness was short lived when she realized the book she wanted to read, which was Hogwarts: A History, was in Harry and Ron's dormitory. Harry had wanted to borrow the book to learn more about Hogwarts, so she had lent it to him. This was only two days ago; she didn't get it back yet. Plus, she couldn't search for her other books unless she wanted to suffer the wrath of two angry girls being awakened from their sleep; and going to the library was entirely out of the question as well.

Firstly, it was too late. Secondly, if she wasn't careful enough, she could be caught by Mr. Filch indefinitely. Lastly, because of what had happened to Mrs. Norris, Filch will no doubt show her no mercy--not that he showed mercy anyway, mind you; but unless she wanted to grant her own death wish early, she preferred to stay in the common room and in her dormitory where it was safe.

With that being thought out and having made her decision, Hermione decided to go downstairs. She really couldn't fall asleep. Plus, she didn't want to stay in the darkness of her dormitory any longer. Not that she was afraid of the dark—on the contrary. So, having made the decision to stay awake, she pulled the covers back, getting out of the bed. She stood up while feeling with her feet for her slippers.

Once she had them on, she tiptoed silently, quietly, and as swiftly as she could to the door; all the while trying not to make any sound whatsoever. She turned the doorknob slowly, gently pulling the door slowly open. She pulled it just far enough so she could hurriedly slip out without lingering for more than was needed. She slipped out, quietly shutting the door behind her. She let go of the knob, leaning on the door for a moment.

She released a sigh of relief; glad she didn't wake her roommates from their beauty sleep. She turned to head downstairs. However, she didn't know that something wonderful was about to happen in just a few minutes. She didn't know that going to the common room was going to be a lot more than she had bargained for. And she certainly didn't know that someone, whom she would never have suspected, would keep her company for tonight and for the days to come.

Meanwhile, Oliver was lying on his back on his bed. He had his arms underneath is head; he was wide awake. He was wearing gray loose sweat pants and a white wife-beater, which showed off his lean, well-toned muscles of his arms, chest, and abdomen. He had already showered and brushed his teeth. Now all he wanted to do was to go to sleep, but for the life of him he couldn't.

The causes of his insomnia were his thoughts. Of course, since he was absorbed with anything and everything that had to with Quidditch, and not to mention he was in fact the keeper and the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, his thoughts were centered on the popular wizard sport. He thought of the many strategies he could be able to use during Gryffindor's upcoming game with Slytherin this Saturday.

Oliver devised so many new plays and strategies for the team it wasn't even funny; and it certainly wasn't funny, least of all to him. He was very passionate and serious about the sport. He knew this was the only thing that really mattered to him after his parents and friends, of course. School was a whole different story, however. Sure he studied, went to all his classes, and paid attention to what the professors were saying, most of the time anyway, but he didn't put his all into it as much as he put his all into the sport he loved.

Oliver loved the sport as much as he loved his parents and friends. His father had taught him how to play the sport at the tender age of four; had also taught him how to respect and love the game. He was grateful for his father for teaching him the sport and also for teaching him how to devise new plays and strategies for it. His father was his inspiration; furthermore, he always looked to him for help on devising new plays for the team.

Oliver also loved flying because where would Quidditch be if it weren't for the need to fly? (There wouldn't be any Quidditch at all). He loved the thrill and excitement of being in the air. He loved feeling the wind on his face, hair, and everywhere else. He just loved flying and Quidditch period. These two things were what kept him from going insane in his other classes; for this reason, he knew he wanted to be a professional Quidditch player for a professional Quidditch team in the near future. He decided long ago that he was going to make Quidditch his career; he wasn't going to back out from his plan.

Well, as much as Oliver loved the wizard sport, even he had his limits on how much he thought about the game. He let his mind wander to what had happened earlier that day in the courtyard. He thought of how Draco Malfoy had insulted Hermione by calling her that awful name. He didn't want to even say that name in his mind because that's how horrible and cruel the word was and still is.

How could anyone call dear and sweet Hermione that terrible word? She doesn't deserve to be called that, Oliver thought inwardly, his anger toward Draco resurfacing once more.

He had no right to call her that, he thought venomously. Suddenly, his eyes grew wide, his heart started to beat a little faster, and he forgot about puny little Draco.

Dear and sweet Hermione? Since when have I thought of Hermione as being dear and sweet? Of course, I was angry Draco insulted her and I felt like I wanted to punch him, but that's all. I don't like her, do I? I mean, I hardly know her except that she's Weasley and Potter's best friend, a second year, and one of the smartest students in Hogwarts. She's a second year, for crying out loud. I can't like her or can I? Oliver babbled in his head, becoming more confused by the minute.

He started to think of how she had looked when she stood up to Draco with her hair being in a half pony tail, her black robes on, and her eyes staring angrily at him. She looked so pretty, sweet, and innocent, Oliver thought dreamily of Hermione. His logical thoughts snapped him back towards reality, however.

Stop it, Oliver. You can't think romantic thoughts about Hermione. She's a second year and you're a sixth year. You can't like her no matter how much you want to. You have to put her out of your mind and think of her as only a friend, he reprimanded himself.

He tried to clear his mind from thinking about her. He didn't know why he felt the way he felt towards her, but he knew he had to stop thinking about her in a romantic way. She was too young for him and he was too old for her. Not that he was old; it was just that their age difference was four years apart and she hadn't fully developed yet.

His cheeks reddened a little at that fact; he snapped back down to earth. Why am I thinking about Hermione all of a sudden, he asked himself a question that he really couldn't answer.

He just shook his head, deciding to head downstairs to the common room. He really needed to get control of his emotions and to sort out his feelings thoroughly.

He wondered what time it was so he looked at the clock that was next to his bed. The clock read: 12:30.

Ah, it's half past midnight. Too late, but not too early, he thought.

He got up from bed and stood up. He wanted to put on a shirt just in case someone was downstairs as well, but his shirt was in his drawer. He didn't want to wake Percy Weasley or the other boys from their slumber by looking for his shirt.

He shrugged his shoulders. Like anyone is going to be in the common room at this time of night. Yeah, right, he thought sarcastically, shaking his head nonchalantly.

He quietly and swiftly made his way to the door. He turned the door knob, opening the door as silently as he could. He opened it with just enough space for him to slip out; he closed it quickly behind him. After he closed the door, he let go of the knob then turned to go downstairs.

However, he didn't know that something unexpected was going to happen in just a few minutes. He didn't know that going to the common room was going to be much more than he had bargained for. Moreover, he certainly didn't know that a certain someone was downstairs as well.

Thank you to all my lovely reviewers:

i cant find the snitch, Flippy4ever, SEXYLIMABEAN, lateBloomer04, Faith and Grace, grahamcrackers, s.s. harry, and Milou.

Special thanks to:

Flippy4ever and grahamcrackers for reviewing twice.

A/N: That's all for now folks. I'll be working on chapter four now. I'm sorry there was no Oliver/Hermione interaction, but it's worth the wait right, lol. The next chapter will have Oliver/Hermione dialogue for sure. Well, I had a blast writing this chapter; I hope that it's better than the last.

Anyway, all comments, concerns, suggestions, questions, and statements are definitely and highly appreciated. Well, I hope all of you enjoyed reading this chapter so please don't forget to read and review. I love you all; later, everyone.