Chapter 9 – Fatal Attraction
On the second day of October, the Heads called for another meeting in their common room. Malfoy barely spoke up during meetings, which Hermione hated, but he was excellent in taking down notes. They discussed the Quidditch match that would be held the following Saturday and the safety precautions that needed to be taken while the game was taking place.
"The Quidditch pitch has less protection than the castle itself. That means we need all the security, skill and magic that we can get," Hermione announced. "For those who are very talented in Charms, you could help us put protective spells around the school. And speaking of security, we also have to put in mind the Hogsmeade weekend that is scheduled two weeks from now. The Headmistress would like to request all Prefects to stay with their Houses at all times. And yes, we limited the time in Hogsmeade to only three hours. So that's from lunchtime until three in the afternoon. Please be back at the village square on time. The Heads will then escort everyone back to the school."
"Granger, everyone knows how things go during Hogsmeade weekend already," Draco whined, with everyone else nodding their heads in agreement.
"Well, it doesn't hurt to go back on the procedure," Hermione snapped. "So, if we're done there, we can now discuss the Halloween Ball. Does anyone have suggestions on what we should do?"
"Can we stick with the old masquerade?" someone asked.
"All right. Er, Malfoy, can you please take note of that? Thanks," Hermione turned back to the Prefects. "What about entertainment?"
"Maybe we should stick with tradition," a Ravenclaw Prefect said. "Everyone's used to it anyway. Do you think we could still book the Weird Sisters?"
"They've always performed at Hogwarts anyway. I'm sure they'd be glad to come again," said Blaise, who was the Slytherin Prefect. The other Slytherin Prefect, a blonde girl with rosy cheeks, sat beside him, taking notes vigorously.
"And we could ask Mr. Filch where he stored the old decorations from last year. We could still keep them, and we could use some Charms to make them look better," Luna Lovegood suggested.
"Great!" Hermione said. "Professor Flitwick might agree to help us with that. But if we're going to keep everything the same, maybe we should do something special. A surprise for everyone, something they wouldn't expect. Come on, you guys, help us think on it!"
Everyone in the room went to think of something wonderful for the ball. Hermione eyed everyone as they sat in silence. She saw Ginny and Harry, the Gryffindor Prefects, both occupying one of the loveseats, but staying as far from each other as possible. Ginny's face was still pale and sad, but as she was thinking, her expression got brighter, and Hermione knew that Ginny had just the perfect idea.
"Have you thought of something, Ginny? Care to share it with us?" Hermione asked, breaking the silence.
"Oh, me?" Ginny squeaked. She swallowed hard, "Well, I was thinking…since we have to do something special, maybe…the Heads could sing together?"
Hermione and Draco exchanged quick glances, and stared back at Ginny with wide eyes.
"Yes!" Blaise agreed. "Our dear Head Boy's wonderful on the piano! I guess those piano lessons your mother paid for did have a special purpose. And you said they were useless and impractical." Blaise nudged Draco's arm, and Draco scowled at him.
"But I'm not sure that –" Hermione started, but she was cut off by Ginny.
"Well, that's why I suggested it. I knew you had a beautiful voice. I've heard you," she pointed out. "And there's no doubt Malfoy has talent also."
Draco smirked when Ginny complimented him, but turned to face Blaise again to glare at him.
"So you could sing together! My, that would be just marvelous! Everyone would enjoy it," Luna said dreamily.
Hermione looked at everyone. The girls were giggling, and the boys were chuckling - except for Harry, who had a look of shock on his face. He seemed to have had the same feelings as Hermione had for Ginny's suggestion.
The buzz around the common room was getting louder. Draco rubbed his temples and spoke, "No, absolutely not. It wouldn't be fit for a Halloween Ball."
"Yes, I agree with Draco," Hermione said. "It's a Halloween Ball. If it were a Valentines' Day Ball, we could sing, but it's not, and it might not be fitting."
"Oh, come on, Granger, don't ruin it!" Blaise exclaimed. "It doesn't matter if it's fitting or not. We don't have to be so strict. As long as everyone enjoys."
"Honestly, it'll be fine with me to sing. I just don't know with Malfoy, and I don't even know what song we'll…er, perform," Hermiones stated.
Everyone's eyes turned to Draco, to wait for his decision.
"It's fine with me," Draco said. "But as she said, it's hard to decide what kind of song would be fitting."
"Who cares, Draco?" Blaise sighed. "Sing a love song, for all we care."
"No, I don't think a love song would do," Harry suddenly said.
"All right, fine, Potter. Suggestions, please!" Blaise announced.
"How about Out of this World?"
"Cry?"
"Oh, I know!" Ginny exclaimed. "Do You Believe In Magic!"
"Of course we do, Weasley," Draco sneered.
"No! She's referring to a song. It's perfectly adaptable on the piano, and I'm familiar with the song. We just need to practice it together," Hermione said.
"Would we have time to practice together?"
"Yeah, sure," Hermione said. "So, you up for it?" The whole room ceased all noise.
"I am if you are," Draco said.
"Yes, okay."
"It's settled then! Our dear Heady Boy and Head Girl will sing for us during the Halloween Ball," Blaise said triumphantly. "Listen, don't tell anyone about it. It's supposed to be a surprise."
"So I guess we're done?" Hermione said. "We can discuss more about the Ball next week. Please meet us over at the Quidditch pitch on Monday after classes so we could get started on the enchantments! That's all. Thanks for coming."
As everyone filed out of the room, Ginny separated from Harry and scurried off. Hermione called her just in time before she had the chance to flee.
"Ginny! May I please speak with you?" Hermione had been meaning to talk to Ginny ever since the first day of classes, when Hermione saw her peculiar behavior. Now that she witnessed how Ginny stayed as far from Harry as possibl during the meeting, she had more reason to find out what was causing Ginny's distress.
Ginny sighed and walked back towards Hermione, who was gesturing for Ginny to sit in front of her by the fire. It was a cold day, but Ginny felt colder than she ever had in her life. Even dementors couldn't send this kind of chill down her spine. She just wasn't sure if she was ready to spill.
"Come on, Ginny, sit down! I know that's Malfoy's favorite spot in this entire room, but it's not infected," Hermione said, talkignt about the comfy loveseat in front of her, which was where Draco sat when he was reading, resting, doing homework, etc.
"What? Oh. Okay," Ginny stammered.
"Okay, Ginevra, I know…we know...there's something wrong with you these days, and I pretty much have an idea of what's causing it. You just have to confirm it," Hermione said. She narrowed her eyes at Ginny, and in a murderous tone, said, "Spill it."
"Expecto Patronum!" Ginny yelled, pointing her wand to the space between the two of them. She figured that it would be the best way to let Hermione know what was bothering her. Ginny tried with all her might to keep her wand steady and her arm strong, while thinking of the happiest thought that she could summon. It was very hard, especially since her mind and her heart were fogged with nothing but sadness.
But nothing came out. The silver weasel that usually came bursting out of her wand did not come. Her happiness was gone, and you couldn't conjure a Patronus without it.
The Head Girl moved to Ginny's seat, and hugged her, her hand stroking the wild mess of red hair. As part of Ginny's depression, she didn't' even bother to fix herself up anymore. Sleek hair was now replaced by a bushy mass, reminding Hermione of how her hair looked like when they were younger. It wasn't nice.
"It's alright, Ginny. Just cry it out. You have every right to," Hermione whispered. She held Ginny's reddened face in her hands and wiped away the tears. "It wasn't good for him to leave you, but he did what he thought was right."
"Well, sometimes the right thing turns out to be wrong! Extremely wrong!" Ginny cried.
"He left you because he loves you," Hermione pointed out.
"If he does, then why did ever dump me?"
"He doesn't want you to put your life in danger just because of him. He loves you too much to let you die for him," Hermione replied.
"He should have understood that I love him as much that I'm willing to give my life for him!" Ginny exclaimed.
"We'll leave that out for further discussion. Now, when did you learn that you lost your Patronus?" Hermione asked.
"This summer. I-I was taking a jog around the hills near the Burrow, and it was a hot day, but it got cold," Ginny told. "As it got colder, I noticed the flowers were dying, and there was frost around me."
"Dementors."
"Yes. They were coming nearer. And then I saw them. I yelled the incantation, summoning up everything I had, but…it didn't come," Ginny's voice faltered, and she started sobbing.
"What did you do?"
"I…I ran. I ran back to the Burrow. And I had a slight fever, but I didn't tell anyone. I just stayed in bed. And then when we went to Diagon Alley, I found a book about the Patronus Charm, and I bought it, and I started studying it. But no, I wasn't happy, and that was the last thing that I needed at the moment. And I was all perky and stuff when we were on the Hogwarts Express, but when you left and when Harry and Ron came in, I went cold and clammy again, and I thought there was a dementor. So I went out to the hallway and tried to conjure my Patronus, but it didn't work. And I figured there wasn't a dementor. It was just…him."
"Him?"
"Harry."
"Oh. Well, um…Ginny, I know that you love him, but after what he did, would you still like to get back with him?" Hermione asked.
"Yes! And the desire to do so ruins me! I want to get back with Harry now, but I just can't! What if he doesn't want me? What if he had another motive to why he dumped me? Or what if after we broke up, he found someone else?" Ginny demanded.
"He does want to get back with you. He didn't have another motive. And he will never find anyone who could compare to you," Hermione said calmly. "Ginny, you should know that he cried. He didn't let it show, but I'm sure he did. He suffered the guilt, the sadness, and the pain of losing you. He wrote me, and he wished he never did it, but he had to."
Ginny remained quiet, her head in her hands.
"I can help you," Hermione whispered.
"of course you can, Hermione. I can always count on you."
"Yeah. Um, I could help you with your Patronus. I know that I'm not the best at conjuring one, but Luna can! She's excellent! Her Patronus is super powerful," Hermione said. "To tell you the truth, I'm also having a much harder time to prduce my Patronus than before. It's the only charm that I have problems with, but it's more difficult for me to do so lately. There's some unexplained feeling going on within me."
"I'm glad you can relate," Ginny said, giving a small smile.
"So would you be okay if I told Luna about it and asked her to help?"
Ginny looked down, "Well…I guess. Luna's a good friend of ours, anyways."
"Great. Come here again tomorrow and Luna and I will wait for you."
"Okay. Uh, Hermione…what about Harry?"
"Just stick to your original plan and stay away from him at times, but don't avoid friendly conversation. If he starts talking about the two of you, leave," Hermione ordered.
"What if I can't?" Ginny whispered.
Hermione felt deep pity for her friend. It was difficult to turn away from love, she knew, but it had to be done. It was for Ginny's safety, and Harry's victory. When Hermione looked at the situation carefully, she saw no point of doing it, but she knew that even if she couldn't find it, there was a good reason for Ginny and Harry's breakup. All she knew was that it had something to do with the fact that if you love someone, you'd do anything to keep them safe.
Same reason why I shouldn't feel anything for Draco, Hermione thought and her eyes widened. Did I just think that?
"Hermione, what's wrong?"
"What? Oh. Nothing."
"You seem…dazed."
"Me? Maybe the stress is just getting to me," Hermione replied.
Ginny sighed. "Well, don't let the Head Girl thing overwork you."
"And don't let the Harry thing get you down."
"Yes. Okay. So, can I leave now? I have loads of homework."
"yeah, sure. I have to head down to the library, too. I'll see you later at dinner."
Hermione heard the portrait hole close as Ginny exited. When Ginny was gone, Draco stepped out of his room, where he had been waiting for the redhead to leave.
"What were you talking about?" Draco asked.
"Nothing. It's just…girl things."
"Girl things that made Weaselette cry?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow at Draco, and Draco corrected himself.
"Fine. Ginny."
"Thank you, Draco. And why, don't you share your feelings with your friends?" Hermione asked. "Like how you felt about the last girl you shagged?"
"Sorry. I don't kiss and tell. And it's no use talking to the other guys. They listen because they see me as high authority, and they wouldn't dare contradict me," Draco replied. "You, however, are the exception."
"Oh, so now I'm your new best friend?" Hermione inquired.
"You could be, if you weren't a girl. Blaise would make fun of me if I told him that his spot as my best mate was already taken over by you," Draco said.
"So? Don't think about me as a girl, although I wouldn't want you not to respect me like one. Think of me as a person you could talk to," Hermione said. "Kind of like…a girl best friend."
"That seems like a girlfriend, and sounds like you want to be mine. I've always known you wanted me, Granger," Draco laughed.
"Shut up, Draco!" Hermione giggled. "There's nothing not to like, though, except for that temper of yours."
"Temper? What about last night when you snapped at me just because I asked you a question?" Draco pointed out.
"I snapped at you because I was doing a 2-foot long Transfiguration essay that McGonagall handed out last wekk, and you found the quest for your lucky boxers important enough to disturb me!" Hermione exclaimed.
"They are important! They're lucky! The Quidditch match is in a week and I don't feel confident enough for a game unless I wear them!" Draco protested.
"Lucky? How are they so lucky? You've never beaten Harry out for the Snitch before, so that means they're not as much of a good luck charm as you think they are," Hermione said, not realizing the error of her words. She laughed out loud, not noticing the look of hurt on Draco's face.
"Oh, yeah, Hermione, that hurt a lot."
"What? Oh, Draco, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it that way! It's just that I don't believe in those kidns of thins. Luck is just as phony as Divination. To me, that is," Hermione apologized.
Draco kept the sad look on his face, then smirked suddenly.
"Well, if that's the way you think, it's time I changed your mind!" he lunged at her, and started tickling every inch of her. Hermione laughed and squealed uncontrollably.
Her laugh is just magnificent. It's so joyous and carefree, Draco thought.
"I bet you that Slytherin is going to win the match next week!" Draco announced.
"I bet you that Gryffindor will win!" Hermione said, over fits of laughter.
"If Slytherin wins, you'd have to kiss me. You'd have to kiss me the second that Slytherin is declared winner, at the Quidditch pitch, in front of everybody, on my broom," Draco said firmly, with a hint of humor in his voice.
Hermione gasped. "But I'm terrified of riding brooms!"
"You're just like Pansy! The only reason she does it is because she likes having a tight grip on me!" Draco exclaimed.
"Fine. I'll do it. But if Gryffindor wins, I don't have to kiss you, and you'll have to start acting like a Head Boy should," Hermione wagered.
Well, don't I act like a proper Head Boy?" he questioned.
"You have your ups and downs," she replied.
"Care to shake hands on it?"
"Of course."
"It's a done deal," Draco said, as he grasped Hermione's hand.
"Then stop crushing my fingers!" Hermione winced.
"Oh, sorry. I don't normally make bets with girls, so I'm used to death-gripping the hand of the person I'm betting with," Draco told.
"That explains it," Hermione scowled, shaking her hand to bring back the circulation. "Will you and Harry keep the tradition and crush each other's hands when Madam Hooch tells you to shake?"
"Depends on the dirty look that Potter throws at me," Draco replied. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go over to the Slytherin dungeons to tell Blaise to put us in his betting book."
"I'll see you later," Hermione said, curling onto the loveseat as Draco left, a smile appearing on her face at the thought of the fun that she and Draco just had.
I want to kiss him. I wish Slytheirn would beat Gryffindor.
What am I saying? I can't wish for a Slytherin victory! Harry and Ron would be curshed, and what would everyone say when I kiss Draco Malfoy?
Her mind was saying no, but her heart had already persuaded her to go for it.
Who am I kidding? There's no girl on this earth who wouldn't want to be kissed by the dashing Slytherin Prince, especially considering the fact that he's perfect.
"Blaise!" Draco yelled. "Come down here this instant!"
The first years lounging in the Slytherin common room scrambled to leave Malfoy and Zabini alone. Blaise descended from the stairs, running a hand through his dark hair.
"Relax, Malfoy. I'm here," he said calmly. "What's the hullabaloo about?"
Draco looked around to see if anyone else was there to overhear the conversation.
"I made a bet with her."
"A bet with a girl? I didn't know you made business deals with ladies," Blaise said. "What was it about?"
"If Slytherin wins, she'd have to kiss me. But if Gryffindor wins, I'd have to act like, and I quote, 'the way a proper Head Boy should'," Draco replied. "Do you have an idea of who she is now?"
"Granger."
"Yes."
"Well, it's against you, but I understand why you want Gryffindor to win," Blaise sighed. "I always thought that you were loyal to your House, but given the circumstances, I think it's okay for you to want a Slytherin defeat. Granger's changed physically, but it would still be a crime for you to kiss her."
"That's just the thing, Blaise," Draco whispered. "I still want Slytherin to win. I want to win the bet. I want to kiss her."
"My, my, Mr. Malfoy. Are you actually developing feelings for our little Mudblood?" Blaise drawled.
"Shut up, Blaise, and don't use that word," Draco ordered. "My true intention is to see the look on Pothead and Weasel's faces when I kiss their best friend. It's just a friendly bet, anyway."
"Friend? Or are you feeling something more serious for the beautiful Miss Granger?"
"If you mean lust, then I'd have to say that sometimes I do feel that way for her," Draco said. "There's no man on earth who wouldn't want her. But if you mean love, then I'll say that I just like her as a friend."
"Whatever you say, Draco. Shall I write your little bet down on my book?" Blaise asked.
"Of course. I don't want Hermione denying that she made any bet with me, although she doesn't seem like the kind of person who would break her word."
"Hermione, eh? All right then," Blaise said, smirking mischievously.
"Don't tell anyone about it. I don't want anyone else to bet on us," Draco sneered. "Swear on it, Zabini."
"Fine, Draco, I swear."
Malfoy smirked. "Good. Now all I have to do is see the team, and make them know that they'll suffer if Slytherin doesn't get their well-deserved victory."
"Oh, I know you!" Luna gasped as she, Lavender, Parvati and Ginny walked up to the entrance of the Heads' Twoer. "You're Galatea Merrythought. You taught Quirrell's class before he came along."
"Luna," the other girls warned.
"Oh, I'm glad that you recognized me! Not so many people do, you know," Merrythought beamed with delight. "You're here to see the head Girl, aren't you? Yes, she told me that a few of her friends would come by and visit. Step in, ladies!"
Ginny sulkily walked to one of the loveseats, while the three gaped at Hermione's new living quarters.
"Hi, girls!" called Hermione, who walked in with a tray of snacks.
"hello, Hermione," Luna said.
Parvati grabbed a glass of pumpkin juice and after taking a sip, said, "Why don't we have Harry here? After all, he was the one who taught us how to produce Patronuses during fifth year. I'm sure he'd be glad to help out now."
Ginny cringed at the sound of Harry's name. Hermione's eyes flew wide open. Lavender nudged Parvati.
"Hermione intended this to be a bonding activity for us girls, right? So if Harry were here, then wouldn't be a girls' night. It would be a girls-plus-Harry night," Luna pointed out, breaking the silence.
"Yeah. Yeah, Luna, that's right," Hermione breathed. "So. Shall we get started?"
Everyone sat in a circle on the floor and took their wands out.
"The first thing we need to do to produce strong Patronuses is think happy thoughts," Hermione said.
"Oh! That's easy!" Lavender exclaimed. "My happy thought is from yesterday, during Potions class. I'm so glad Professor Slughorn paired me with Blaise."
"You're lucky! I'm stuck with Parkinson!" Parvati complained. "But at least we don't have too much homework yet. That's one thing to be happy about."
"I saw a Snorkack yesterday!" Luna chimed in. "What about you, Ginny?"
"I'll pass for now," Ginny sighed. "Try Hermione."
Hermione gulped.
Come on, Granger, just tell them your happy thought.
I can't. The happiest thought, or rather, thoughts I have are of me and Malfoy together. I can't tell them about that! It would seem funny…peculiar…stupid.
Then what do you suppose you can do?
I have other different thoughts than Draco! I'll think about those instead.
"Dumbledore's Army!" Hermione finally blurted out. She turned to Ginny, "What's yours?"
"The happiest I can think of right now is…me and my brothers, playing Quidditch, last summer. Har – he was there. We were against each other, Seekers, you know. And…my team won. Ron was furious! It was wonderful to see him redden, and…Harry," Ginny paused after she said Harry's name. Hermione noticed this and smiled, "Go on, Gin."
"Harry hugged me. He hugged me real tight," Ginny smiled.
"Well, I guess we're all okay now. Wands out, girls," Hermione commanded. "Just relax and think about your happiest thoughts. We'll do it at the count of three. One…two…three!"
"Expecto Patronum!"
Lavender, Parvati and Luna beamed proudly as their Patronuses burst out and leapt about the room. They looked towards Hermione and Ginny, but the two best friends weren't so happy with themselves. They exchanged bewildered glances.
"What happened?" Hermione demanded.
"I don't know! I was feeling extremely happy when I yelled the incantation! But nothing came out!" Ginny explained. "What happened to you?"
"I felt the same way you did! But, nothing," Hermione gasped. "I was thinking about one of the happiest memories I had in the DA. The one when I knocked Ron off his feet during our duel. I was always happy about that."
"Maybe it didn't work because it had Ron in it!" Parvati teased. Lavender huffed at her angrily.
Maybe…Hermione thought. Maybe it was because…because…that really wasn't the happiest memory I have.
Just that moment, Draco walked in. He had finished his talk with Blaise and was ready to take a long nap.
"Hello, ladies."
"Draco, come here!" Hermione beckoned. Draco obeyed and sat down on a seat behind Hermione.
"Can you produce a Patronus?" she asked. He nodded.
"Will you please do it for us now? Ginny and I…we're having a problem with it."
Draco took his wand out. "Expecto Patronum!" A shining, silver dragon pranced around the room and flew around Hermione. She closed her eyes for a while as she felt the heat and comfort coming from the Patronus.
Hermione's eyes flew wide open as she heard Draco speak.
"Ginny, why don't you show me yours? Afterwards, we can work out what you're probably doing wrong," Draco offered with a smile.
Ginny was bedazzled by Draco's smile. For once, she didn't see his hateful smirk as he looked at her.
"I…can't do it."
"Oh, come on. Give it your best shot," he said.
"Expecto Patronum!" Ginny said once again, and again, no Patronus came out.
"Hmm," Draco contemplated. "Are you positive that you're thinking your happiest thoughts?"
"Yeah. I'm absolutely positive."
Draco rubbed his hands together.
"Ginny, something's keeping you from focusing on your happy thoughts. It's either that, or your Patronus is changing its form, that's why it doesn't want to come just yet. I read before that strong emotions can make Patronuses change."
"Like what happened to Tonks," Hermione recalled. "When she fell in love with Remus! Ginny, the same thing must be happening to you."
Ginny's face eased up a bit. "What do you think I could do about it?"
"This might work," Hermione leaned in to whisper into Ginny's ear. "Ginny, instead of thinking happy thoughts, try thinking about…your love for Harry. Think about how much you love him, and how much you don't want him to get hurt. Think about how much you want him to be happy. Try picturing Harry surrounded by dementors, and you're the only one who can help him. I'm sure you'd give your all to help him out."
Draco and the other girls didn't know what Hermione was telling Ginny, but Ginny had started nodding. She even gave a small smile.
Hermione now spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. "So, you ready, Gin?"
Ginny breathed in deeply and started thinking about the situationg Hermione gave her. She held he rwand out. "Expecto Patronum!"
A beautiful silver doe joined the other Patronuses. The warmth inside the room increased.
"A doe?" Ginny gasped.
"Potter's mother's Patronus was a doe, wasn't it?" Draco asked. "I know it is. Snape's is the same. Ginny, your Patronus changed form because a doe reminds Potter of his mother, and it makes him happy to think of his parents. It makes you happy to see him happy."
"Well done, Ginny," Luna placed a hand on Ginny's shoulder. Lavender and Parvati smiled warmly at her.
Hermione glanced at the clock on the wall.
"Wow. The time passed by so quickly. It's almost dinnertime."
"We better get back to our dormitories," Parvati said, getting to her feet. "Thanks for having us, Hermione!"
"Yeah, we'll see you at the Great Hall later," Lavender called as they stepped out of the portrait hole.
Ginny gave Hermione a wide smile and hugged her.
"Thanks a lot, Hermione," and she turned to Draco, "You too, Draco. Thank you so much."
"My pleasure," Draco smiled back.
When Ginny was out of the portrait hole, Draco headed to his room.
"Draco, wait. Um…thanks for helping Ginny out. With her Patronus, I mean."
"Like I said, it was my pleasure, Granger," Draco said. "Just stay here for a while. I'll get something from my room, then we can go down to dinner together."
Hermione nodded.
Dinner. Together.
"What about you, Miss Know-It-All?"
"Huh?" Hermione looked up. The Heads had just began to walk from their tower to the Great Hall.
"Are you having any trouble with the Patronus Charm?"
She furrowed her eyebrows and gazed at Draco's dazzling silver eyes. They reminded her of Patronuses, and she felt the warmth that Patronuses produced as she looked at him.
"Oh. To tell you the truth, yes," she admitted.
"You might have the same problem as Little Red," Draco suggested.
"I might. Or not. I don't really fell that same kind of way for anyone else."
Draco frowned.
"You…don't? I mean, what about Weasley?"
"Ron? Ha!" Hermione laughed. "No. Don't be silly. Ron's my friend, like a brother to me. I never loved him that way."
Draco didn't know if he was relieved or still troubled by her answer.
"You don't feel anything special for anyone? Not even a tiny little bit of anything special?"
Damn it, Malfoy! Why do you even care? Does it matter to you that she doesn't feel anything special for you?
"No…not at the moment. We'll see."
We'll see, Draco smirked. I'll count on that.
Hermione sat in bed. She held her wand tight. She was preparing to do the Patronus Charm.
Think, Hermione. Think happy thoughts.
She said the incantation for every happy thought that came to her mind. None of them would make her Patronus come out.
It was getting colder. She was already wrapped up in her robe and her blanket. She wished that she could produce a Patronus fast, so that she could have some warmth.
Warmth. That's how I felt. What I felt when I looked…when I looked into Draco's eyes. They were…silver. The same color of a Patronus.
And absentmindedly, she yelled the incantation, and to her surprise, a dragon, very much like Draco's flew from her wand and filled her room with warmth. It was not the usual otter that she had been expecting.
No way. We…have the same Patronus. That must mean… No. No. Definitely not, it can't be, I can't feel anything for him.
The warmth of the Patronus started to make her feel sleepy, and her eyelids were already drooping. Sleep took over her.
But it's too late. I've already…fallen for him.
