Hey!  Hmmm…. What to say, what to say!  I am bored for one thing…. I have knots in my stomach for another reason.    I don't EXACTALY know why though!  Go Bobithy!! You finally got AOL!!  I can talk to her now!! I know you guys don't care but it means a lot to me, and that makes me happy, and happy people just tend to write more!! Actually though… o never mind!  Here's chapter three!! E-mail me if you have any suggestions… I don't bite I swear!! Boycrazie548@aol.com  !  ~Jess~

                                                                                                            Chapter Three

                                                                                                     Tomorrow will be better

         The first night she disappeared I thought really nothing of it. 

         She just left around seven out the portrait hole.  She hadn't been really speaking to Ron and I, instead sitting with Ginny playing a game of chess.  We would have watched and thinking now, I'm sure we should have, but we took the time to discuss Hermione's newfound look.  She bought new robes.  That really doesn't say much because everyone has to wear black any way, but they fit her different.  Or did she even buy new robes?  Maybe I was just noticing HOW they looked for the first time, yeah that was it.  She was always Hermione our friend, or Hermione the stuck-up snob before we met her.  She was never Hermione—and actual girl.  Well, maybe that time with Ron, but they got over it right quick. 

         Hermione had her hair different.  Where it was still rather full, the general bushiness had gone away.  Was she—no she couldn't, yes she was—wearing make-up! Even if only the slightest… her lips seemed to shine mo—oh my god.  I'm noticing her lips.  I thought I was going insane.  But I wasn't insane; I was falling for my best friend. 

                                                                                                                         *~*

         It was the first night I had to go "tutor" Malfoy. 

         I avoided them that night by playing chess with Ginny.  Thank goodness they didn't come over and watch.  Ginny, like her brother, was a very skillful chess player, if Harry had come over I doubt that either of us (If Ginny still had a crush on Harry that is… lets assume yeah but only a little umm k?)  could have been very focused on the game.  The game ended in the nick of time, Ginny won, and I had to leave.  Why was he looking at me like that?  I dismissed the thought and left the room.

         We were meeting in an empty classroom off of the fourth floor corridor.  I hurried out of the common room cause I was late.  I didn't want to hear shit from Malfoy about it.   Even though I hurried to the classroom I was a good ten minutes late. 

         " Your late."  Was of course the first thing Malfoy said.  He was lounging in a comfy chair (how'd that get there?)  sitting with one leg on the other (that guy style I can't explain).  He looked--well he looked sexy—I wont lie about that.  But this was business and he was Malfoy.  Actually this was black mail but I really didn't want Harry to find out I had feelings from him from Draco Malfoy.  I couldn't see it going to well! 

         " Oh shove it, I'm doing this for you." 

         " Yes, that's true, so sit and teach me."  He was so arrogant.  Why I stuck with that deal I have no idea.  Over the next two hours we went over one hour of each of his subjects.  At the end I asked,

         " So, are there any of the other subjects you need help in."

         " No, miss Queen-of-Everything.  I'm fine and just as well off as you in anything else!"  I raised my eyebrows at him to say he was being utterly ridiculous. 

                                                                                                                     *~*

         After about a week of lessons with Draco, we began to warm up to each other.

  At least while we were in our empty classroom that is.  We never acted as if the other one was alive let alone in the room with one another outside of those two hours, five nights a week.  If he made a joke I managed to laugh at it, rather than roll my eyes or just stay silent.  I hated to think of what would happen if our secret came out that I was tutoring Draco Malfoy.  People might get the wrong idea, I mean It was black mail yes, but he wasn't hurting me or touching me at all in fact.  So although I saw nothing wrong, I can't see Harry (*sigh*) or Ron looking past the fact that it was Malfoy for any reason except maybe if I was dying and he was the only way I could live. 

Malfoy would pay surprisingly rapt attention!  It was amazing—he really wanted to learn this stuff. I supposed he had his reasons, and one night I asked him. 

" Ma—Draco (he said he refused to answer to 'Malfoy') why do you care so much about this?"

" Why don't you want Harry knowing you like him?"  He retorted.

" I asked you first!"

" I asked you second!" He was so irritating!!

" Fine! Because—because I don't want it ruining our friendship.  And I value that more than anything else in the world."

" Wow, Granger that was—um touching! Very—Gryffindor! He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm," you like him too much to live like this.  I can tell.  You fail to stay calm every time you talk to him.  You think he doesn't notice something is wrong by now?"

" I don't need YOU to tell me why, and how I should handle this."  I spat at him.  It was rude and un called for.  But oh well, I didn't care I got up and walked out turning around in the door way, " I'll see you tomorrow at Decoration."  And I left. 

                                                                                                   The Next Day – Decoration—9:00 p.m.

" Whoopee, and let the fun begin!"  Melissa noted sarcastically as we walked together through the halls to the great hall to discuss what they were going to do to it for the dance.  I was quite glad we were all good in charms, probably why we were chosen to do this. 

When we walked in I didn't see anyone at first.  Then Malfoy came out of one corner, while Harry came out form the opposite one—as far from Malfoy as possible. 

" Awww… did you guys get put in the corner?"  Melissa cooed to them.  She was so boldly sarcastic it was funny.  Quite the match for Malfoy actually, he had fun insulting her just to fight her comebacks. 

" Didn't your mother teach you not to tease the little kids Ravenclaw?"

" Didn't your mother teach you not to leave the house or you might get," Qutos Prickus, " hurt?"  She finished smoothly as Malfoy twitched in pain after he was pricked in the stomach but Melissa's spell. 

" That was good Moon, that was good."  He replied surrendering.   They all looked as I was stifling a giggle.

" Um--- no don't mind me" giggle, " Please continue! That was great!"  And I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing.  Then Melissa did too.  Harry and Malfoy just stood there looking at us like we were insane, but I don't really remember anything important until we calmed down enough to sit down and start to plan. 

Malfoy, wow from the audience, had conjured a book from somewhere, or did he just bring it?  Never mind, anyway we sat there discussing this for way to long.  It got immensely boring so I'll spare you all that part of the tale.  That and I couldn't help getting a whole lot of knots in my stomach sitting so close to Harry.  I had avoided it since last week.  I tried like crazy just to throw myself into the planning so I didn't think too much about it.  It didn't exactly work too well. 

When it ended,  Malfoy walked out of the hall and,

" Hermione could I talk to you for a second?"  It was Harry.  I told Melissa to go on ahead. 

" Hey, Harry what – what did you want to talk about?" I faltered a bit but stayed strong!! ( Yeah, right from the people in the back!)

"I'm just going to come out and say this—why have you been avoiding Ron?"  SHOCK.  I would have burst out laughing and I almost did, and I sputtered a bit I could tell, I thought that was hilarious!! I had spent the two weeks after the Yule Ball avoiding him, I didn't really want to be with him I had realized.  I was over him way to quick.   I had to set him straight I didn't want to Ron to get the wrong idea, and have him come after me or something that'd be just to freaky!! So I mumbled it really fast…

" ItsnotRonitsyou." 

" Come again." 

" Its—not---Ron."  I said – very forcefully, through my gritted teeth.     

" Oh."  He said.

" OH?!?"  I said in disbelief.  " Oh, is all you have to say?" 

" Actually, oh WOW might work too, but my point is to—never mind!! So why have you been avoiding ME then?"

" I'd think that would be rather obvious Harry, I can read you like any other book… can't you read me?"  I started to gather my things. 

" You mean—"  I stood up and looked at him square in the eye—for the first time since I realized it, because I knew if I had before he might have found out, we're best friends for a reason.  I can do it with Ron too. 

" I have to go," I said timidly," see you later."  And I fled the room. 

                                                                                                   *~*

I lay there awake for a very long time. 

I was TRYING to sleep, making an actual effort but it was no go.  I hadn't caught up with her in the halls, because I stood for so long slightly stunned in the Great Hall.   By the time I reached the common room she was already in her room.  Or maybe she hadn't come here. 

Oh shit.  

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