THE LEGEND OF THE 12 LETTERS

A/N: Another chapter!

Disclaimer: Nothing's mine, just the plot.

CHAPTER NINE: The Sixth Letter

Hermione Granger walked briskly towards the Common Room door and shouted the password, not caring whether the strict-looking man on the portrait felt bad. It was not like he wasn't rude to her in the first place. She could still remember the first time she met this portrait and was pranked by it. Said that the password would be given by the Head Master so she had to go back to Dumbledore's office only to be told that the portrait alone could give her the password because him alone knew it.

Damn, she felt like an idiot and she could still remember it like it was yesterday. So, he actually deserved such cold treatment from her.

"DRACO DORMIENS NUNQUAM TITILLANDOS!" she bellowed the long password in the portrait's face. "And don't argue with me, just open the damn door cuz I'm not in the mood to deal with you!" she added when she noticed the strict-man open his mouth to retort back.

Immediately, the portrait swung open and she admitted herself in. She knew she acted really rude to him, and disrespectful. She was the Head Girl and she shouldn't be doing that to him. She sighed heavily before turning back to the portrait and muttered a whispered 'sorry' to which the strict-man just huffed.

She walked to the Common Room and slumped herself on the soft couch in front of the empty fireplace. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Today was a very exhausting day. Not only did she levitate a bunch of Decorations all the way from Hogsmeade to McGonagall's office alone, but she also had number of rows with the devil who happened to be his Common Roommate.

She sighed in frustration and opened her eyes. She stared for a while at the ceiling before taking out the crumpled paper from her pocket. 'Another problem to add the growing list...'

She straightened the paper and read the letter. It was kind of longer than the usual letters so she read it with slight interest.

Dear Hermione,

I know you might not like receiving my letters, but all I really want is to tell you how much I appreciate you and so far, the best way I can show it is by these letters. I really do care about you but I am too scared to tell you face-to-face.

Hermione stared at the paper for quite a long time. She felt sudden guilt and something else inside her. Guilt because finally, it was clear to her that the letter and its sender were sincere to her but she had thought of something bad about him. Kind of flattered, because someone out there appreciated and cared about her. Hesitating, because she don't know how to give back the sincerity.

'At least, I've got one problem solved... I won't stay up all night cursing whoever sent me the letters. Now, my only problem is Malfoy.' she thought angrily. 'I don't know why, but he's just the hardest person to cope with. He can be pleasant at times, but he chooses to be a prat. He does know how to smile, but he keeps on having the infamous smirk. He definitely knows how to laugh, but he prefers the scowls and sneers. He can be a human but why does he continue to be the evil son of Hades? He perfectly knows how to be Draco, but why does he have to act like Malfoy? And he can really be frustrating at times...'

She sighed again. She touched her head that was starting to get painful. 'Damn little git, he perfectly knows how to give headache.'

Then suddenly, she heard a knock outside the portrait. She rolled her eyes as if it was the silliest thing ever. "Malfoy, you know the password, it has your bloody name on it!" she yelled.

"Thanks for the brilliant information, Mudblood. But as I am not my boyfriend, I still won't figure out the password." a high-pitched voice she knew so much, answered.

She stood up from her seat and walked heavily to the door. Of all, it had to be Pansy Parkinson, just her luck.

She opened the door revealing a pug-faced Slytherin, "What do you want, Parkinson?" she said bitterly.

Pansy crossed her arms, "Where's my boyfriend?" she asked smugly.

"Oh, I didn't know you have one." Hermione answered without interest at all. She knew Pansy and Draco don't have that kind of relationship so she don't have to worry. Pansy was the only one head over heels to him.

"He will be, anyway!" Pansy snapped angrily. "So, where is he?" she repeated the question.

"Do I look like a Lost and Found Section personnel to you? I'm the Head Girl, not Malfoy's keeper so don't ask me." she replied with annoyance.

She huffed at her rudeness, "What a Head Bitch, you are. I'll just go find my boyfriend..." she said and then turned her back from Hermione to leave.

"Wait," Hermione stopped her. Pansy looked back at her, raising her brows high.

Hermione stared at her and examined her face for a while. Then, her eyes travelled all over her body. Pansy felt her eyes wander around her form and she immediately felt conscious. She followed Hermione's gaze, trying to spot if there was anything wrong with her appearance. She looked up at her with confusion when she found nothing to laugh at herself. "What are you looking at, mudblood?" she splattered angrily.

Hermione slowly raised her head to face Pansy and smirked the same kind of smirk that Malfoy usually displayed. Pansy wrinkled her brows in confusion and annoyance. "What?!" she bellowed when Hermione didn't talk for a whole minute.

"You don't look smart at all..." Hermione remarked matter-of-factly.

Pansy was taken aback and shocked by her commentary. She was also right then insulted even if that was true.

"What the hell...?" she said in surprise.

Hermione crossed her arms, "I wonder how he even considered the idea of you writing witty letters to him possible. I mean, from your looks alone I can tell."

Pansy had many more question marks appearing in front of her face. She had no idea what she was talking about. It was either Hermione was not having sense or she was just slow in absorbing what she meant.

"You're losing me, mudblood." she said.

"Never mind, Parkinson. You can get lost completely now." then without another word, slammed the door closed on her face.

Later that night, Hermione heard the Common Room door open. 'Must be Malfoy...' she thought. She was sitting in front of the fireplace, on the couch and reading a book. She heard footsteps nearing but didn't raise her head, pretending not to notice anything at all.

She thought of their argument earlier and was feeling embarrassed for the way she acted and the words she told him. 'He might be mad at me...' she thought again.

He didn't stop to greet her good evening, instead, he went straight upstairs also pretending not to notice the girl sitting in the couch. Hermione, with creasing forehead, finally raised her head but was too late because his door already slammed close.

She sighed, "So he's mad..." she said to herself silently. She faced back to the fireplace and frowned, "So what if he's mad? I don't care!" she hissed silently. She forced her attention back to her book but when she couldn't understand anything anymore, closed the book harshly and cursed under her breath.

She groaned and stomped all the way to her room. She slammed her door and threw herself on her soft bed. 'I really don't care if he stops talking to me. It will be a lot better if we just continue ignoring each other's existence, anyway!' she yelled inside her head.

She rolled to her side and came face-to-face with a green piece of clothing she neatly rested on her pillow when she arrived earlier. It was the handkerchief Malfoy offered her. She groaned again, and closed her eyes tightly. 'I still won't care he exists anymore!' she screamed.

'But the handkerchief?' her conscience asked.

"I'll burn it!" she said aloud.

'That will be mean...he offered it nicely.'

"SO?" she snapped.

'So return it nicely as well, duh?'

"I'm not talking to that demon again!"

'You can't do that...'

"Wha-of course I can! How dare you contradict me! Who do you think you are?" she yelled to herself.

'Your conscience. Which means we are one person.' her conscience replied dryly.

"DAMN YOU!"

'You're cursing yourself...'

"DAMN ME!"

'Am I really the brightest witch? Arguing with my own conscience is just stupid.'

"I am stupid..." Hermione opened her eyes and talked to the handkerchief. "If you can't be nice for so long, just never be nice for a second. Getting your hopes up then watching it fall back is not a very pleasing scene to watch. So you," she pointed at the poor handkerchief, lying silently on her bed. "You will be the last thing that will connect me to Malfoy. Nothing more...I'm not even going to continue..." she trailed off then sighed. She dropped her hand hopelessly and stared at the handkerchief again.

"Okay, maybe I can't do that just yet... But I shouldn't worry, 6 more days and he's gone from my life."

With a final sigh, she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.

The following morning, Sunday, after getting ready for breakfast, she gathered all her courage to knock on Malfoy's room. She was bringing the handkerchief and was planning to return it to its owner. As usual, he didn't answer when she knocked the first time. She knew he wouldn't so she knocked again.

She knocked several times but he wasn't answering. She wondered maybe he wasn't there anymore. But she didn't notice him leave either. 'He's just being stubborn, that's all.' she told herself.

"Malfoy, please open up, I'm not going to start a row, I just want to return something." she said, trying to convince him.

"Malfoy..." she called him again.

She did this for three more minutes and when she decided to give up because he really was a hopeless prat, she heard a low growl inside. She curiously stuck her ear to his door and listened carefully. She heard it again, a low growl but not of anger...it was more like a groan of pain. She listened for more and then his groan changed to moan... but still of pain.

He was in pain!

She immediately took out her wand and charmed the door to open. She hurried inside and found a very sweaty Malfoy, curled in his bed, covered with his green blankets.

She instantly fled to the side of his bed, "Malfoy, what's wrong with you? Oh my god, you're all sweaty! Hold on..." she ran to the bathroom and searched for a dry towel. She opened his drawers and didn't care if he yelled at her later for doing so. She immediately found a clean, green towel and hurriedly sprinted out of the bathroom.

She sat on the side of his bed and wiped his sweaty body. He was half-naked so she didn't have hard time wiping him. Although she had to control her mind from thinking of different things as her hand brushed with his soft, pale skin. But one thing she couldn't control was her blush... Despite the situation she couldn't help but feel something else other than worry. And damned her hormones for that!

Draco groaned in pain again, his face frowning. "Go-Go away...Go..." he muttered.

She ignored him and continued wiping him. She brushed away strands of his hair sticking in his face and wiped his face carefully.

"I said...go-go away..."

"No, Malfoy. I'm going to bring you to the infirmary...Madam Pomfrey will know what to do with you...By the way, what's painful, Malfoy?"

"I-I don't n-need you..."

"Don't be stubborn!" she scolded. "You know you need me. You can't do anything with your state now. So for once, forget your pride, or die drowning in it!"

He opened his eyes and stared at her for a moment. She stared back with determination. Finally he spoke, "M-My tummy's aching..." he murmured silently.

She smiled at him before frowning again. She slapped his shoulder and he flinched, "W-What the hell was t-that for?!" he yelled weakly.

"Why won't your tummy ache when you rarely even feed it, you mongrel!"

"W-Why are you yelling at me! I-I thought you are h-helping me..."

"It's because you don't eat your meals, that's why! You keep on skipping them and I don't have the slightest idea why!" Hermione yelled again.

"J-Just...help me...Do you k-know any s-spell that can take the p-pain away?" he asked in between gasps of pain.

Hermione thought for a moment before standing up, raising her wand and muttering a soft spell. White sparks came from her wand straight to the nude stomach of the curled git. Slowly, he felt the effect of the spell, his tummy was beginning to feel fine.

"How is it now?" She asked softly, forgetting her annoyance at him suddenly.

He breathed repeatedly before nodding slowly, "I-It's gone..." he raised his head and looked at her eye-to-eye, "T-Thanks..." he muttered awkwardly.

She nodded and crossed her arms, "Now, skip more meals and I'm going to punch you hard on your tummy. I swear, the taste of my fist on the muscles of your stomach is much more unbearable than not eating for a whole friggin month!"

He sat on his bed and looked at her, perplexed. "Why do you even care if I don't eat my meals?"

"Because...Because I'm going to be affected by it!"

"Like how?"

"Like...Like now! You disturbed my peaceful conscience. I can just leave you curling in pain mainly because I hate you and you are supposed to be my enemy but I can't. I don't want to be guilty. If you had died, it would've been my burden, it would look like my indirect murder of you."

He frowned, "Refresh your memories, you bug head, I did ask you to leave me alone, didn't I? But you stayed. I didn't even let you into my room, but you forced your entry. And now if you're regretting you shared your little helping hand to me, I'm fucking sorry." he hissed. "And don't worry, the next time I need help and you are the only person there who can help me, I'd rather consider drowning in my pride than ask for your help you only give coz of the power of no choice."

Draco stood up from the bed and pointed at his open door, "Leave..." he said forcefully.

"Malfoy..." she started, taken aback.

"I said, leave, Granger." he said in a scary,, slow way.

She looked at his eyes and was suddenly guilty by what she said. She didn't mean anything...she just couldn't tell him she was scared for him...DAMN she didn't even realize she was SCARED until now that she thought of it.

"I'm sorry..." she said honestly. "I didn't mean what I said..." she whispered and looked at him sincerely.

He scoffed coldly, "Out, Granger... Whatever you say, I still want you out of my hell-hole!"

She stared at him for a moment before walking away in defeat. Upon reaching his door, she turned around and said, "I really am sorry..."

He looked away to the object covered with cloth (the same object Hermione almost touched if not just caught right before doing so). "Close the door," he replied.

With a final glance at the mysterious object, and a light squeeze at the handkerchief in her pocket, she closed the door and left.

Hermione's mind was still unfocused until dinner. She kept thinking about the scene in their Common Room. She remembered the pained state of the professional bully of Hogwarts, and she couldn't help but feel scared all over again although she knew he was fine already.

It may always happen again... She raised her head and looked at the Slytherin table. She sighed, 'He skipped his meal again...what did I tell him? What a stubborn son of a witch.' she thought.

'Oh, let him suffer then! It's completely his fault anyway.'

She continued frowning at the empty spot of Malfoy and didn't notice -or care- what her friends were gossiping about that evening.

"Hermione?"

She snapped back to reality when she felt Ginny's hand grasping her wrist. She looked at her and then to Harry, Ron and Lavender. She cleared her throat, "Y-Yeah?"

"what are you thinking about?" Ginny asked.

She shook her head rapidly, "No...n-nothing...Why?"

"Well, coz we basically are speaking to you -and about you- but you're not even listening."

"Oh," was her small reply. "Sorry...I, uh, I was just...thinking about the coming Graduation..." she lied.

"I understand Hermione..." Ron suddenly said. All heads turned to him and he explained. "Well, who can blame her for glaring at the Slytherin table," (Hermione's eyes widened 'he knew I was glaring there?' she thought nervously) "when she's forced to work with the Head git? I mean, Professor McGonagall should know better than ask both of them to do this preparation thing, she alone can do it...and even better and faster coz she has nobody interfering. Right, Hermione?" Ron asked.

"Uh..." she stammered then nodded stupidly. "Y-yeah...that's right, Ron. You're right..."

"See?"

"So, what were you talking about anyway?" she asked, shifting the topic.

"You..." they answered altogether.

"Me...What about me?"

"Hey, Hermione, what do you think of Justin Finch-Fletchly?" Lavender asked.

Hermione frowned, "Justin Finch-the Hufflepuff?" she asked.

"Yeah, the one petrified on second year, d'you remember?" Ron added.

"Of course," she nodded. "I remember about that. And he's our classmate, for heaven's sake."

"What do you think of him, 'Mione?" Lavender repeated her question.

"What do you mean?" she asked, perplexed.

"Like, is he sort of...attractive to you? Or, is he just a pathetic dude who loves Herbology just like Neville? Or, is he just a dork in Hufflepuff?" Ginny said with matching hand waves.

"What? Well, he's nice. He's...he's-why are you asking me this?"

"Because, it looks like he's attracted to you." Harry said straight to the point.

Hermione was surprised and choked on her own saliva. "What?" she asked incredulously.

"Yeah, we all think he's attracted to you." Lavender supported.

Hermione laughed hard as of it was the most ridiculous thing in the world. "What are you talking about? Are you all pranking me? That's hilarious, guys, very hilarious!" then she laughed again ignoring their annoyed faces.

"Hermione, we're serious." Ginny said seriously.

She stopped laughing and looked at them, finding them truly serious. "Come on, what are you guys up to? He's not attracted to me..." she said, refusing to accept it.

"He is." they said in unison.

Hermione stared at them in disbelief, hoping to see one of them break into laughter to cut their joke up. But nobody did...what good actors and actresses they were.

She looked at the Hufflepuff table and caught Justin looking at her. She was taken aback when she saw he blushed and smiled at her shyly. 'Oh my Freakin' god...' she thought.

She smiled back fakely and turned to her friends who were raising their eyeborws and crossing their arms saying, "We told you..."

"But...What if...What if he just-he just-you know..." she stammered.

"We always catch him staring at you, we just never brought up the topic until tonight." Ginny said.

She was in pure shock for a couple of minutes and was speechless. Then, "So, what if he's-he's attracted to me? I like him too, I mean, in a friendly way. We're not even close!"

Ron and Harry nodded.

Lavender's face brightened up, "Have you been receiving letters, Hermione?"

She froze for a couple of seconds before gaining back her senses and gulped before speaking, "W-What letters?"

"Letters...you know, like love letters?" Ron said.

"We actually caught him writing up something on a piece of parchment once and he was constantly raising his head from his work to glance at you then he would smile and go back writing. Sometimes we even followed him and we found out, he sent his letters via Hogwarts owl at different times of the day. Sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon, and one time late at night." Harry added.

Hermione's head went blank...

'He...Justin can't be the one sending me the mystery letters, can he?' she thought after a long moment of blankness.

"So, are you or are you not receiving anything this past few days?" Ginny asked slowly.

She felt something inside her...was it disappointment? Why would she feel disappointed anyway, didn't she want to know who was sending her sweet notes?

'I thought it was...' her mind trailed off when someone behind her tapped her shoulder softly.

She tilted her head and found a blushing Justin Finch-Fletchly standing behind her.

"H-Hi..." he started shyly, unable to look at her eyes.

"H-Hello..." she stammered.

"Uh, I just want to say..." he paused then looked at her sincerely. She stared back, surpised. He smiled, "I just want to say I'm glad to meet you, 'Mione. You are brave and courageous and you definitely belong to Gryffindor. For me, you are the one and only pride of your House -no offense Ron, Harry, Ginny, Lavender- you are not only brains too, but...b-beauty as well." he blushed at his last three words and cut the eye contact to look away shyly.

She was speechless all over again. Things were going a bit off the line... It was crazy.

He looked up again and smiled. "That's everything, Hermione. Thanks for listening..."

She nodded absently, "Welcum..." she muttered.

"Okay, bye." he slowly turned away and went back to his own table.

All five were quiet for the rest of the meal. They didn't pursue the topic since their point was obviously proven by the subject himself. Hermione, still dazed, walked to her Common Room slowly. She contemplated hard...

'Justin? He's sending me the letters? Why?'

She knew her question was not 'why he was sending her letters' it was more like, 'why does it have to be him when it could be...?'.

She sighed and mumbled the password. The strict man in the portrait looked at her with confusion and even though he didn't totally hear the password, he opened the portrait and admitted her in.

She climbed through the hole weakly and walked to the couch like a zombie. She slumped down and sighed in frustration and stared at the fireplace. She really shouldn't feel disappointed and frustrated right now, she was finally facing the light! From the way Justin acted in front of her, there was nothing but a 1% doubt left in her.

In the middle of her contemplation and sighing-scene, an owl hooted inside the room through the open window. It dropped a letter on her lap and left as quickly as it came.

She stared at the letter on her lap, unsure if she would open it. She now knew its sender but it actually gave her another reason not to read it. But it would seem really rude of her if she denied opening it, so with a heavy heart, she read it.

Dear Hermione,

You are the most wonderful person. I totally enjoy it when you entertain me.

Her heart didn't race...instead, it slowed down. Yup, Justin is her letter-sender. She entertained him this evening and he seemed very delighted about it.

He was a good man...kind and he was in Hufflepuff which meant he couldn't hurt a fly.

'But still...why does it have to be him when it could be someone else?'

'I was better off when I had no idea who sent me these letters. Atleast my guesses were much satisfying...'

She looked at the closed door of the Head Boy's room.

"Draco Malfoy, you asshole, why do you always have to raise my hopes up? Why did I even think it was you?"

She scoffed, "Of course, the blame really should be directed at me. If I wasn't just stupid, to think, to hope, and to wish it was you then I wouldn't be feeling like this at all."

She stood up and went to her bed and didn't really know why, but started crying as soon as her eyes landed on the cloth and inhaled the scent of the green handkerchief lying neatly on her bed.

Please REVIEW and tell me if you like it or not. I'm so sorry for my mistakes.