Chapter 6: Into the Night
Draco groaned and pulled his pillow over his head as the sun poured in through the dormitory window. "Morning already?" He rolled out of his bed stretching his stiff arms, he hadn't slept very well. After dressing in his best Sunday clothes he decided to head down for breakfast even though he wasn't remotely hungry.
"Morning Draco!" Pansy cooed as he slid into his usual spot at the Slytherin table. He nodded absentmindedly at her attempts to get his attention. He had found another source of entertainment.
Hermione was telling Lavender and Ginny about Hogsmeade yesterday. He strained his ears to hear them better.
"…and when I got there all I found was a letter and a rose. It was very thoughtful and flattering but had I known he wasn't going to show up I would have gone to the book store instead. There's a book I have been dying to get."
"Do you think he will ever show up to meet you?" Lavender giggled. She appeared to be unnaturally into the idea of Hermione having a secret admirer.
"I don't know really. But, I do hope so," Hermione replied as she twirled the rose in her hand as if it were a prized possession, even though its petals were starting to droop from the lack of water. She obviously hadn't put it down since she had gotten it.
Draco found him self wondering what book Hermione wanted, he thought it would be a nice gift to get her when he sent her his next letter. He leaned closer towards the Gryffindor table. Realizing Pansy's eyes flickered with confusion he rested his chin on his hands to give the appearance that he was tired. She asked him something, he nodded in automatic response not really caring what she had asked.
"What book could you have possibly not read a thousand times already Hermione?" Ginny teased.
"Oh there are many books I haven't read. The one I really want to get is called, Into the Night by Dexter Chinsforth. It's a romance novel."
"I didn't know you liked romance novels!" Lavender squealed, "I have a trunk full of them up in the common room! You can borrow them any time!"
"Thank you, Lav, I think I will head to the library. I have an essay due tomorrow for Muggle Studies."
Hermione got up and left the Great Hall. Draco couldn't help but grin, so his crush liked romance. He could defiantly use this knowledge to his advantage. "Now all I have to do is send for that book she wants." He jumped up from the table and rushed out of the Great Hall before Pansy could protest to him not responding to her annoying pleas for his attention.
Draco wasn't sure how he would be able to convince Professor Lungusto to allow him to return to Hogsmeade for the book but he had to try.
"Professor?" Draco called as he stepped inside Minaro Lungusto's dungeon office. Draco was surprised to see that it wasn't as gloomy as it had been when Snape occupied it. There were actually lights hanging from the ceiling.
Glancing briefly up at Draco from a pile of essays, "What is it Draco?"
"I was wondering if I could have a pass to leave grounds for Hogsmeade. I forgot something I needed yesterday."
"I don't normally do things like this on such short notice but if you keep your mouth shut about it I can give you a pass. But it will expire one hour after I sign it," Lungusto snarled as he pulled out the necessary slip for Draco's Hogsmeade visit.
"Thanks Professor," Draco said as he took the parchment and ran out of the room. He knew it would take most of the time to find the book so he had to get there quickly.
Reaching Hogsmeade he glanced briefly at the store names as he ran down the street. Finally finding the bookstore he rushed in, nearly knocking over the store keeper in his rush.
Panting he said, "Ma'am I need to find a book."
"Well my dear you have come to the right store. Can I interest you in a book to help you with your studies?"
"No thank you. I am here to get a book for a friend of mine. Do you have a novel called Into the Night, by Dexter Chinsforth?" Draco asked as he continued trying to catch his breathe.
"I might have a copy in stock. Let me check the back." She slowly turned towards the back of the store. Draco groaned, he didn't have much time left. If his pass expired before he was able to buy the book he would get detention.
Tapping his foot impatiently he stared at his pass as the writing on it began to fade. Just as he was about to give up and make a run for the school grounds the book keeper emerged from the back with a book in her hands.
"How much?" Draco asked impatiently.
"Twenty-six sickles and five knuts, please."
Draco threw a pouch of money onto the counter and said, "Keep the change." He grabbed the book and ran from the store. He knew he had given her way more than she had asked but he didn't have time to count out what he owed.
Once inside Hogwarts grounds Draco slowed his pace to a jog. Curious as to what this book was about he read a few sentences.
"Tabitha looked up into Darien's eyes as he bent down to kiss her lips. She felt a jolt of electricity pulse through her body as his lips met hers-"
Appalled he quickly slammed it shut he grunted in disgust. "Ugh, how can girls read this junk?"
As he made his way down the stairs to go to the common room Pansy caught up to him, "Draco where did you run off to this morning? Were you even listening to anything I was telling you at breakfast? What's that book? I didn't know you liked reading. Are you listening to me? Hello? Draco, are you deaf?"
Draco glanced at her and shook his head as he pushed past her into the common room. Once he was in the safety of his own dorm room he pulled a piece of parchment out of his bag, then he grabbed his ink and a quill.
"There that should do it," He said as he put the finishing touches on his newest letter to Hermione. He tucked the letter inside the cover of the book and wrapped it in parchment.
He tucked the package safely into his robes and headed out of the common room to the owlery. Hearing the clock chime noon he knew he had to hurry if he wanted it to get to her for the daily mail delivery.
Quickly putting the package in an owls waiting beak, then turning on his heels he ran to the great hall.
"Mails here," Hermione said as she turned her gaze upwards waiting for her Daily Prophet to fall in front of her.
She grew puzzled when a package landed in front of her along with her daily prophet. "Ginny did your Mum send early Christmas presents?"
"No, I don't think so," Ginny answered in the same puzzled tone Hermione had expressed while she stared at the package in Hermione's hands.
"It doesn't have a return address. Who do you think it's from Ginny?" Hermione exclaimed turning the package over in her hands hoping to find some indication as to whom it might be from.
"No point in trying to figure it out! I say lets open it and see what's inside!" Ginny grinned as her curiosity began to get the best of her.
Hermione nodded, as she began to untie the twine wrapped around the parchment. "Okay, here goes," Hermione whispered as she removed the parchment from the package.
She gasped in astonishment when the book she had been talking about just the day before lay in her hands. "Oh, my goodness Ginny! You and Lavender are the only people I talked to about this book who on earth could have known I wanted it?"
Ginny simply shook her head in shock.
Hermione grinned as she opened the book ready to dive head first into her new book a piece of parchment fell into her lap. Curious she opened it and smiled at that familiar handwriting. "Ginny, it's another letter from him. How could he have known about the book?"
"No clue, Hermione, what does the letter say?"
"My beautiful Hermione,
I must admit I over heard you and your friends talking about this book the other night and couldn't resist getting you a copy! I know how much you love to read, so I took the necessary measures to get a pass to Hogsmeade late last night to get it for you! As you are reading this I am quite possibly watching you from my houses table. No need to try to find me looking, you wouldn't know it was me even if you looked straight at me.
Anyways my love, I hope you enjoy this book just as much as I surely am enjoying watching you read this letter. If you wish to begin replying to my letters you can put them under the loose floor board just to the left of the owlery door.
Also, I want you to know I am still not ready to reveal my identity to you. But, please don't fret about it. In time you will know. Right now just isn't the right time for it!
I look forward to receiving a letter from you!
Forever and secretly yours,
Anonymous"
Hermione looked up from the letter, sneaking a peak around the great hall hoping to catch someone staring at her, with a smile or indication of who her secret admirer was. They only people she noticed looking at her were Ron and Draco. Neither of them had the compassion to be as romantic as her secret admirer did. Sighing heavily, she gathered her things, bid Ginny farewell and headed off to the library to read her book.
Draco sat with his arms folded across his chest as he leaned back against the wall; he knew Hermione would try to find him in the sea of students. He had tried not to smirk at her when her eyes passed right over his gazing eyes.
He watched her as she left the Great Hall with her nose buried in her new book. So, cute reading her book, such a bookworm. He thought to himself. Just as he was about to get up and leave the great hall himself Pansy's annoying pleas for his attention finally pushed him over board.
"Pansy, Get off! I don't like you. When are you going to realize that? Isn't my obvious ignoring your stupid comments enough to get the point across or do I have to humiliate you in front of our whole house?" Draco shouted as he shoved her hand off of his arm and stormed out of the Great Hall leaving her to sulk in her embarrassment and humiliation.
He wasn't exactly sure where he was going to go. He didn't have any homework this weekend. He wandered the corridors and ended up at the library doors. He peered inside and found Hermione curled up in a chair with her nose buried in her book. Seizing the opportunity to poke a little fun at her he walked up to her chair and knocked her book out of her hands.
"Ugh Malfoy! What was the point of that? Seriously grow up!" Hermione scoffed as she picked her book up off the floor and brushed off some invisible dirt.
Draco chuckled, he knew it was a childish thing to do but for some reason her getting angry was extremely cute to him. "Oh poor Granger, did you drop you stupid little book? What are you reading this time? Is it I'm an Annoying Mudblood 101?" Draco laughed.
Hermione glared at him as she stuffed her book into her bag and stormed out of the library.
Draco grinned as she stormed off. He knew there really was no point to tormenting her so much but it really was the only way he could interact with her right now. He slumped into the chair that had just been occupied by Hermione absentmindedly be inhaled, her scent still lurked on the chair. As he placed his arm on the arm rest he found a piece of parchment folded neatly in the shape of a heart. Curious he glanced around to make sure no one was looking at him he opened it to see what it was.
"To my secret admirer,
I look forward to more letters, but not nearly as much as I hope to finally see who you are. I have been going crazy trying to guess who you could possibly be.
Please, let me know how much longer I will have to wait. I don't know how much more of this I can take. I have hurt a dear friend because of your letters. I know he will soon get over it but it just kills me knowing how badly I am hurting him.
Maybe, things will be different between my friend and I once I find out who you are. He just doesn't understand how it is possible for me to be falling for someone whose face I have never seen. But, to me it's like a romance novel full of mystery. Who would have thought that I Hermione Granger would ever have an admirer?
Anyways, write back soon. I have to go; I am dying to read the book you gave me! Thank you so much for getting it for me! It must have cost a fortune! Once I meet you face to face I will pay you back no matter how much it is!
Sincerely,
Hermione"
Draco folded the parchment up and stuffed it into his pocket. He smiled at the thought of meeting Hermione face to face. He wasn't sure why but he suddenly found himself feeling bad for coming between Hermione and Ron's friendship. He never put thought into it hurting Hermione too.
Reaching into his bag he pulled out a roll of parchment and his quill and began writing her a response to her letter, taking extra precautions not to give himself away since he had been the only other student in the library with her when he knocked her book out of her hands.
Once in the owlery he selected an owl and instructed it to go to her immediately with it. Then realizing the clock was chiming 10'o clock he raced to his room to get some sleep.
Hermione lay curled up in her bed reading when a tapping noise came from her window. She placed the book down on her nightstand and opened the latch to find an owl perched on the sill. It extended its leg to her.
She unrolled the parchment, and patted the owls head to thank it and shut the window as she began to read.
Hermione,
I found your letter on a chair in the library. It must have fallen out of your bag when you left. I am so glad to hear that you are enjoying the book!
As far as your friendship goes, I am sorry to hear that he is being so difficult about you and I's situation. But, no worries love we will soon meet! I don't plan to keep this a secret much longer. I plan on letting you know who I am just before Christmas break.
Speaking of Christmas break, are you going home for the Holidays or are you staying at school? I looked into it and no other students will be staying behind besides me. So, I was thinking that maybe we could spend the break together in the school.
Let me know if you would like to do that! I know it's getting late but please send the owl back with your response!
Forever yours,
Anonymous
This was finally her chance to meet him! Christmas break was just days away, but she had already written her parents telling them she would be arriving home for the holidays. Torn between the two options she finally decided to tell her parents that she wished to stay at school over the break to get some research for a class done.
After writing her letter to her parents and her response to her secret admirer she tip toed over to the boys' dorm, since the owl had long since left for the owlery, knocked softly and whispered, "Harry!"
The door swung open and Harry stood there shocked to see Hermione standing in front of him, "What's up Hermione?" he said groggily.
"I need to borrow your invisibility cloak. I have some letters to send out."
"Okay, one sec." Harry said as he shut the door. A few minutes later he returned with the cloak and said, "Just keep it tonight and give it back in the morning, night Hermione."
"Night Harry!" She said as she threw the cloak over her head and headed for the owlery.
Draco nearly fell out of his bed when he heard tapping on the window next to his bed. "What the bloody hell?" He muttered as he threw off his covers and shuffled over to the window. He was surprised to see an owl extending its leg to him with a piece of parchment tied to its leg. After untying the letter he shooed the owl away.
I would love to spend Christmas Break with you!
-Hermione
"Well, that was short and simple." Draco whispered to himself as he tucked the letter into his nightstand drawer. He the collapsed back onto his bed, he lay there with a smile stretched across his face. He was suddenly very glad that as head boy he had the privilege of having his own quarters. He didn't have to worry about other Slytherin's seeing his stupid smile.
