Okay, guys! Things are going to begin getting really interesting from here! I'm even getting myself really excited here with all my ideas! And please, remember to R&R!

Chapter 3

The next morning at breakfast, I sat across from Ron, laughing amusedly while he shoveled food into his mouth by the handful.

"Ron!" Ginny exclaimed. "You're eating like a barbarian!"

Harry and I laughed at her comment. Ginny was always first to comment on how much she was disgusted by Ron's table manners- or lack there of.

"At least eat a little less so you have the ability to close your mouth while chewing!" she pleaded.

Ron mumbled something incoherent and sprayed the rest of us with chewed up egg and bacon. Ginny and I jumped out of our seats, appalled and feeling absolutely gross! Harry, however, laughed harder at this, but then receiving a smack from Ginny, he stopped immediately.

"Harry!" she scoleded.

"Oh, right. Sorry, Gin." he apologized. "Ron! That's gross. You should really try to lighten the load before spitting it out at people."

This comment from Harry made Ron's reddened face twist up most unfortunate looking. Then with positively no warning at all, his mouth spilled open and all the remaining food, flooded out of his mouth as he began to laugh uncontrollably.

"EWW!" Ginny and I squealed, getting sprayed on even more now.

We heard the entire great hall howl in laughter at this, our faces (including Ron and Harry) turning a bright shade of red. I glanced around to look for at least one person not laughing at us but had no luck. Then regretfully, l spun my head around at the Slytherin table, not sure what to expect, to see everybody dying of laughter- everybody that is, except Malfoy. No, he was just smirking at me. It wasn't his usual smirk though. This one looked more playful. We made eye contact for not even two seconds before he broke it and I felt somebody shaking my shoulders.

"Hermoine!" I heard Ginny say my name frusterated.

"Sorry, Ginny. What?"

"I said, we have to go and shower now, quickly before class begins!"

"How much longer is that?" I asked, suddenly worried I may be late for class on the very first day!

"In 35 minutes! Come on!" she said as she pulled my hand and led me out of the Great Hall.

I turned my head back to see if Malfoy was still in his seat, smirking at me, but he wasn't; as a matter of fact, he wasn't even in his seat! Where was he though?

No. Why do I care where he is? It's not like a I want to know. As long as he leaves me alone, that's all that matters.

Ginny and I turned a corner and were about to go up the stairs where the girls showers were when somebody popped up in front of us out of nowhere. He was tall, lean, pale, blonde, and had very piercing silver eyes; eyes that looked like they could look into your soul and know everything about you without actually knowing you. But does he? Does he know me? Why is he looking at me like that? Wait! Why is he even here?!

"Malfoy," Ginny snarled. "What are you doing here?"

"In case you've forgotten, Weaslett, I go to school here," he said while looking down at his nails, as if he were admiring them.

"You know what she meant," I said, not in the mood to play games with Malfoy, not when my tardiness depended on it!

"Oh, fine, Granger. I simply wanted to go on a mere stroll around the halls before I was stuck in class all day long."

"Then why don't you go along and continue your walk?" I asked, ignoring my irritation that flared up the way he talked about class. He made it sound like it was more of a burden!

"That is a good question," Malfoy replied, meeting me eyes.

I broke quickly broke eye contact as I was struck with joy. But I couldn't help but allow a small smile to appear on my face. Wait, did he just complement me? My smile instantly turned into a frown as I began to wonder why Draco Malfoy would give me, Hermoine Granger a compliment.

Draco's POV:

"There's a reason why they call her the brightest witch of our age," the Weaslett said proudly. "Now stop blocking our path. We need to go and shower before class starts!"

"Oh! Shower! Am I invited?" I asked, wiggling my eye brows. I looked over to Granger and gave her a wink. I really needed her to pull me aside so I can talk to her alone. But she didn't. She just blushed cutely insanely at what I said. Wait, cutely? No. She just blushed and her hair, if possible grew bushier. The Weaslett on the other hand scowled at me.

Soon enough, Granger found her words and said, "Malfoy! Ginny has a boyfriend!"

"Yes, yes, yes. And you have Weasley. The entire bloody wizarding world knows. It was just a joke. Lighten up, Granger," I rolled my eyes.

She gasped at this and said, "Ginny, I'll meet you there, ok?"

Ginny looked at her cautiously and then glared at me, but nevertheless nodded and continued walking. Thank Merlin, Granger! Took you long enough to get rid of her! I smirked at her and she returned it with a scowl.

"Listen here, Malfoy. Ron and I are not together, nor will we ever be together" A leap of joy filtered through me for some reason when she said that. It was probably because it's nice knowing the little Weaselbee will be all alone forever. "but he is still one of my best friends and if you ever mock him and make any jokes about he and I being together again, I'll hex you 'til the end of the world and so help me, I will make you wish you were as fortunate as a muggle, do you hear me?" she said quiet and slow, yet very menacing.

I was very surprised at this new Granger in front of me. She's never stood up to me like this (unless you count third year) and the way she did, it was almost attractive, I can't deny that.

"Yes, Granger, I understand" I said, a pretend yawn slipping out of my mouth. "But listen. I was serious on the train. I need to talk to you."

"About what, Malfoy? What is it that's so important you need to talk to me about?!"

"I can't say it now!"

"Why not?"

"Just listen to me, Granger," I gritted through my teeth. Why did she always make things so hard? "I'll send you an owl with a place and time for you to meet me."

And with that, I left her just like I had on the train.

Hermoine was back in the common room late the following night with Ron and Harry after everybody else had gone to bed. They were sitting on the couches in front of the roaring fire. It may still be summer, but the castle has been very cold lately and all the common rooms have been using thier fireplaces.

"Oh, Ron," Hermoine started. "Please don't tell me that's dessert you brought back with you from dinner?"

"What?" Ron replied innocently. "I knew I'd get hungry again, so I brought back a snack. I was being prepared, Hermoine. You should be proud of me," he said, smiling to himself for thinking ahead.

A laugh escaped Hermoine's mouth as she said, "Very true, Ron! I'm quite proud of you."

"However, it's not hard to predict," Harry said. "You're always hungry, mate."

"Oh, shut up, Harry!"

All three of them broke out in laughter untill a little tapping sound echoed around. Ron, Harry, and Hermoine looked around to find the source of the noise. They got up and began wondering around the room. Hermoine was examining a bookshelf in the corner and Harry was just glancing everything over as he walked in circles around the common room.

Ron- who went by the window- said, "Look, Hermoine! There's an owl here for you."

"An owl?" Hermoine asked, curiously.

"Who would send you an owl at this hour of night?" Harry asked, just as curious as Hermoine.

"I don't know," Hermoine answered truthfully.

"Wait a second!" Ron interjected. "Why wouldn't they just send the post to you this morning at breakfast, like everybody else?"

"Ron, I think the question is why didn't the owl come until now," Harry said suspiciously.

"Oh! Come off it, guys!" Hermoine said. "It's just an owl! Sure it may be curious, but it doesn't mean there's a motive behind this all."

Hermoine made her way over to Ron, as did Harry, who was holding the owl. It was only when she was standing right next to him, did she recognize something; the owl. It was the same one that deleivered the last threatening message to her. And it was back.

Okay, stay calm, Hermoine, She told herself. The owl probably is just another one that resembles the last one to extreme measures. It's just a coincidence.

"Hermoine," Harry said. "Are you alright?"

"What? Yeah! Sorry.. I was just..err... thinking about something!" Hermoine responded, realizing she held a sour looking face.

"Ha!" Ron laughed out loud. "How rare!"

Harry and Hermoine giggled; Harry for the humor of Ron's joke but Hermoine out of nervousness.

"Here's the letter," Ron said to Hermoine, handing her the letter before letting go of the owl.

Hermoine took it. Holding her breath, she opened it and read:

Hermoine Jean Mudblood Granger,

We see you have returned to Hogwarts, ignoring our previous letter. Huge mistake- on your part. But don't worry. You are going to make it up to us before you finally listen to our warnings. You see, Mudblood, we have eyes and ears everywhere. We know who you are, where you are, who you're with, and who you care about. You should do well to remember that, you filthy piece of trash. We do not give out very many warnings- especially without consequences. Just wait, Mudblood...And be prepared.

-Your Surperior.

Hermoine, folded the letter and tucked it in her robes, hands trembling and looked up at Ron and Harry.

"What is it?" they asked.

"N- nothing. Just Professor McGonagal. S- she needs to see me. I guess it u- urgent," Hermoine stuttered.

"Well," Harry said suspiciously, "I suppose you better go find her." He gestured to the door.

Hermoine nodded, still trembling as she ran out the common room door; but not to Professor McGonagal's office, but to library; the only place she could think. And now, she had to think. Who could be doing this to her?