It was a crisp summer afternoon in July, and Hermione was upstairs in her room exploring the new machine she had been given by her favorite uncle. She read aloud from the manual for the hunk of metal call a computer. "Connect the USB cable to the outlet pictured in figure 14" she read. "These muggle things are absolutely amazing!" Within absolutely no time at all, she had the computer up and running and was surfing the Internet with ease. "Brilliant! I never dreamed a muggle artifact could be so fascinating- -" She clicked the mouse in random places trying to get a feel for this new toy. "A homework help chat room! Bloody brilliant!" Without giving it a second thought she entered the academically associated chat room.

hit_tha_books: Wow, who are all you people?

sk84life: asl?

hit_tha_books: Excuse me, what is "asl"?

sk84life: age, sex, location-?

hit_tha_books: Oh! I do not know if I wish to give out that information to a stranger...

(greenIdmistry has just entered the room)

hit_tha_books: Hello.

greenIdmistry: hey does anybody in here know how an "ecklitral outlet" works?

sk84life: dude, how dumm can u get?

sk84life: less ur like--7 yeers old or sumtin

hit_tha_books: I'm sure there's an expository website on the Internet that will explain it.

greenIdmistry: o ya good idea

sk84life: is ne1 else out there stil on?

dreamcatchr14: ya just sitting here.

hit_tha_books: Well, I'm going to go if nobody has anything fascinating to giscuss!

greenIdmistry: ok, bye.

Hermione signed out of the chatroom but continued dawdling away time on her computer. Suddenly a message popped up on her screen:

greenIdmistry: hey, you seem really smart, is there a chance you culd help me with something?

hit_tha_books: Sure, what is it?

greenIdmistry: what is the function of a rubber duck?

hit_tha_books: Oh, that's simple. Go here and I'm sure it'll help: www.rubberducky.com

greenIdmistry: thanx...so....whatsup

hit_tha_books: just learning about my new computer.

greenIdmistry: you wouldn't happen to know anything about...girls, would you?

hit_tha_books: I might.

greenIdmistry: well, I really need help, I really like this one girl at my school, and she's sort of caught up in another guy...I don't know what to do.

hit_tha_books: Maybe you should just go simple and try winning her heart through showing that you care.

greenIdmistry: ya, i dunno. tha guy is really, well, good looking from what the girls say. I'm just average...i've liked her forever and I don't know what to do.

hit_tha_books: Well, maybe you could go mysterious. Try showing her that you love her more than the other guy.

greenIdmistry: Ok, i'll try it i guess.

hit_tha_books: Well I hate to go but I've got an appointment in town.

greenIdmistry: ok thanx. bye.

Hermione signed off and got up from her seat to look in her closet. She was due to have lunch with Draco, her boyfriend, and had to change into something besides her pajamas. She opened her closet and grabbed a patched jean skirt with a white tank top under a green capri sleeve blouse. She knew Draco loved green. She threw on a pair of hemp- woven sandles, grabbed her purse, and headed out the door on her way to De'jeuner Cafe. Hermione arrived in the parking lot and carefully stepped out, checking her curly hair in the mirror before entering the restaurant.

Draco was sitting in the lobby wearing a blue shirt and pipes. His hair was spiked in assorted directions and he immediately stood up upon her arrival. "Hey gorgeous," he called. Hermione looked over at him and blushed. "Draco, how wonderful to see you after so many weeks." He smiled. "Hermy, how many times do I have to tell you, you don't have to act all proper around me." He grabbed her hand, "Ready to eat?" Hermione giggled. "Sure, you've no idea how long I've been waiting to see you."