Monday seemed to drag on with the speed of one of the snails that lived in Hagrid's garden. Hermione did her best to act normal around Harry and Ron. She kept up with conversation, and even joined in when they complained about Snape and his increasingly difficult Defense Against The Dark Arts lessons. It was true that the former potions master was relishing in torturing all of her Hogwarts students, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw alike. When the final bell of the day rang, sending waves of sound throughout the castle, Hermione dumped her books in her dormitory and scurried down the lavish marble staircase for dinner. Even though she had a class load of unfinished DADA homework, she refused to think about it now.

"Hermione, you've hardly touched your plate. I haven't seen you eat more than a tea cake in days. What is going on with you?" George Weasley who was sitting next to her, nudged her with his elbow.

"Oh, it's nothing. Excuse me George, I need to use the loo." She stood and hurried out of the Great Hall. Shocked, the Weasley twin turned to his brother.

"Blimey. She sure is acting weird. Have you noticed?" Fred shrugged in response and took a huge bite of his steaming cornish pasty.

Hermione would be lying if she said she wasn't looking for Draco as she walked through the room. She could see the Slytherins sitting scattered out over their house table. Draco sat at his usual spot, wedged between Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. They looked to be in as awkward of a silence as her own. Something was off though. Pansy, a brash Slytherin sixth year usually sat next to Malfoy, but today she was on the far side of a concerned looking Blaise Zambini with her head buried in her folded arms. Blaise patted her back, speaking in a low voice.

•••

Hermionie sat upright in bed, hidden behind the curtains of her four-poster. She had already borrowed the invisibility cloak per Draco's request from Harry, under the guise of going to the library for some late night reading. Time seemed to have halted. It was only around eleven, but she couldn't wait any longer. Even if she did not go to the meeting spot right away, she could at least stop by the library. That way she wouldn't actually be lying to Harry. The library is her favorite spot, so it came as no surprise that that's where she'd end up.

As quietly as she could, Hermionie climbed out of bed, and draped the cloak over her arm. The common room was quiet, save for the crackling of the fire that had no doubt been tended to by one of the many Hogwarts House-elves. As she crept across the warm common area, she saw George laying on the couch in front of the fireplace getting a little adventurous with his snogging with Leah Hart, a fellow Gryffindoor of the same year.

Hermionie wondered to herself if anyone would ever kiss her like that. Would anyone ever let their hands danced across her skin, as she pulled them closer to her body? Despite what anyone thought, including Ron, she had never been kissed. No hand holding, no kissing and definitely no passionate embraces with open shirted boys. She found herself wondering what Gerorge's bare skin would feel like. Would he be soft and warm, or would he be more hard angles and rough calloused hands? What would Malfoy feel like under her dainty fingers? What would it be like to cave into his chest, and taste his lips? The girl shook her head and covered herself in the cloak as she pushed open the portrait of the fat lady and made her way down the corridor and down many sets of stairs to the harbor under the school.