Chapter 2

She woke up again well before the alarm clock. She couldn't close her eyes for fear the dream would return. Hermione was fed up with her dream turning into erotic fantasies about a certain Slytherin every night. Tonight was even worse. The brunette still felt the taste of his mouth as she fell asleep yesterday evening.

- This is probably why I dreamed of him again. - She whispered, trying to convince herself that it was different from what her mind and body were telling her. - Damn it.

The witch turned on her side and waited in silence for the hour she usually got up. She hoped that even if she did not manage to fall asleep again, she would be able to think about her next steps in silence.

xxx

- Don't fidget like that. - Zabini snapped, irritated by the unusual behavior of his roommate. He knew rumors had been circulating about Draco's affiliation with the Dark Lord. He himself, despite his doubts about the value of Muggle-borns in the wizarding world, had no one over him to force him to join to Deatheaters. His mother was more interested in getting more hisbands than in the purity of blood. - It's still early. Go to sleep.

- I can't. - He saw that the blonde is more frustrated than usual. - I keep seeing the same thing when I close my eyes. But today it was something different …

The black-skinned boy looked at his friend. It took a while, but he finally remembered the last time he saw that confused expression on his face. - What happened to Granger? - he asked, being sure it was all about her.

- Why do you think it's about her? - Draco asked pretending he didn't know what was going on.

Blaise rolled his eyes in irritation. He knew that this gesture was unnatural, but it was also a clear signal of what he thought about this situation. - You forget that I've been living in the same room with you for five years. We have known each other for over a decade. Say what's going on.

- She kissed me. - Draco ran his fingers through his hair. - She surprised me, and instead of pushing her away, I kissed her back.

- Do you feel guilty? - Zabini knew better than Malfoy how he felt about this girl. However, he had never in his wildest dreams thought that a kiss could occur between them.

The boy sighed and before he answered, he sat down to meet Blaise's eyes. - Well, I don't regret it. On the contrary. I want more.

- It remains for me to do nothing other than wish you good luck. Perhaps she will make you believe that you will survive the coming war.

xxx

Hermione was sitting at the table in the Great Hall. She paid no attention to either Lavender cuddling up to Ron or Harry who was trying to start a conversation with her. Her eyes wandered to the slytherin table. She watched Draco-ferret-Malfoy talking to Pansy Parkinson with a smile on his face. Like Draco-pale-as-snow-Malfoy doesn't react when the raven haired girl strokes his arm. Subconsciously she tightened her fingers on the knife she was holding.

- Hermione, where did you go yesterday? - Ginny Weasley's voice interrupted her thoughts. - We didn't finish conversation.

- Conversations? - She couldn't remember what she meant. - From what I remember, you were comforting me in a situation that didn't exist and you wanted to convince me of feelings that didn't exist.

- What do you mean? - Harry Potter snapped. - I hate being overlooked.

- Such are women's matters. - A deep flush appeared on Ginny's face - Misunderstanding. I wanted to clarify the matter to the end. Mione, I didn't want to upset you.

- Nothing happened.

The awkward silence that followed after a short conversation quickly ended and the Gryffindors returned to their usual buzzing noise. Hermione, however, was drifting away to the dream she was having today.

He ran his fingers over her exposed skin. He was at the same time insecure and relentless in discovering what was hidden under her robes. It was cute but she needed more

- You're shivering - he whispered - I like it. - After these words, he leaned over her and bit her lip. Firmly, but not so hard as to puncture her epidermis with her teeth.

She growled in excitement. - How am I not to tremble in this situation? You do your best to get me ready and then you don't really do anything to satisfy me. - She was losing patience. She wanted him inside her.

The blonde ran his fingertips from her neck, through the hollow between her breasts, through the belly to the lace panties she was wearing today.

- Let me see if you're ready. - his hand …

She took her bag and, ignoring anyone, she left the Great Hall.

xxx

Draco stared at his plate. Lack of appetite was something he was slowly getting used to. He didn't eat much, but his non-appearance to the Great Hall attracted unnecessary attention from his godfather. Severus Snape, despite his dark appearance, was an extremely protective man. Due to the fact that he did not have children of his own, he devoted all his time and attention to him. It was endearing and suffocating at the same time.

- Trouble in Paradise? Theodore Nott chuckled under his breath, drawing the attention of young Malfoy.

The blond immediately raised his head and looked at one of his roommates. He tried not to comment on his increasing absence from their dormitory. - What do you mean, Theo?

- Look at the Gryffindor table. - Draco received an answer from Daphne Greengrass sitting nearby. - In my opinion, it's not yet the trouble in paradise, but somehow Hermione Granger's annoyance coincided with rumors that Weasel has finally found a girlfriend.

A characteristic smirk appeared on his face that did not escape his friends' notice. A plan was born in the boy's head.

- What's on your mind? - Blaise asked.

- When the plan is formed, I will tell you about it. For now, I am in the process of shaping the idea.

He was going to get closer to the bookworm that had gotten under his skin. However, he was concerned that his sudden change of behavior might be too suspicious. His friends will find it easier to accept a slow change of heart than a complete reversal of what he advocated before.

- I'm going now. - Seeing the leaving girl, he started to pack his things. - I have something else to check in the library before we start class.

xxx

Leaving the Great Hall, she had no plan where to go. She couldn't sit where she was sitting. She would try to come to the meal earlier one more time, just to avoid having to see Draco Malfoy smug. Unlike the last time, he looked completely relaxed, so she began to fear that what he told her yesterday was just a figment of her drunken mind.

Her subconscious sent her to the library.

xxx

He entered the history of magic section. Due to the rather unpopular field of science, the table standing right under the window was usually empty. This time he miscalculated. Coming from behind the bookcase, he saw Granger sitting on a chair. It was evident that she was tired. Nervously, she tossed her bag on the table top and started looking for something. He momentarily watched the light reflect in her hair. He didn't want to risk being angry with him, so he went over and took the book he liked to read when he wanted to forget what was bothering him. It stopped working for a long time, but he still had a fondness for it.

- "Witch trials in 16th century Poland"? This is quite a peculiar choice of reading, even for a bigot.

- Granger ... This time it's not about my ... Let's say the prejudice against Muggles. I like this book because it reminds me of what a man can do when he craves what is not his. I am not a historian, but looking at the accounts of those times, it can be concluded that the accusations were usually due to unrequited love, jealousy over property or not understanding that a woman could also be intelligent.

The brunette looked at him and smiled. Not one of those smiles that are reserved for strangers or extremely annoying people with whom we have to and do not want to contact. - Now we should go to potions. I hope we can continue this conversation tonight. Well, unless you don't come.

- I'll come. - he smiled. He was afraid she didn't remember yesterday evening.

She smiled with relief. She was afraid he was ashamed of last night.

xxx

This day didn't start well for Harry Potter. As he was packing up for his class, he noticed the lack of a textbook that Professor Slugthorn had given him on Potions. He tried to talk to his roommates about it, but they ignored his fears. They were outraged by his suspicions.

- Mr. Potter, after yesterday's class, I thought you inherited your talent from your mother. What happened that today you can't prepare a regular pepper potion?

Harry felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment. He decided to tell the truth before he sank even deeper. - I made yesterday's elixir using the handwritten directions in the textbook you gave me. This textbook is gone.

- And you didn't thought, Mr. Potter, that the directions might have been incorrect? - the professor shook his head in disappointment. - Do you remember if this textbook was signed?

- Yes it was. It was owned by the Half-Blood Prince.

- I have to report this to Professor Snape. I hope he will know who this book was.

xxx

Neville Longbottom felt all his muscles tighten. He felt remorse for what he had done, but felt he had no choice. Harry would never give up something which gave him a distinct advantage over the others. He was an incredibly good guy, but he just seemed selfish at times. He also ignored the safety of others. Until now, he remembered how, despite assurances about Sirius' safety, Harry had organized an expedition to the Ministry. He remembered how, instead of trusting that the Philosopher's Stone was safe at school, he had decided to protect it himself. How, instead of calling for help from a competent wizard, he practically rushed to Ginny's help. Now he found an item with notes from an unknown source, and what? He kept it to himself.

- Hermione, do you have it hidden? - he whispered to his partner in Potions.

The girl smiled and said - Yes. And even accio won't work. The guys will be at training tonight so I can hand it over to the professor unnoticed.

The boy was immediately relieved at the news that his secret was safe for the time being. Neville didn't want to be passive. He had enough of everyone treating him as if he couldn't do anything. Grandma still treated him like a squib. She loved him but for her he wasn't magical enough. That's why he practiced. He spent a lot of time practicing. He lived in a magical area with an extremely powerful witch. Her magic obscured all his actions, which is why he hadn't yet been targeted by the Ministry. He knew he couldn't use the wand very often. They were monitored. Wandless magic no.

xxx

The students immediately knew who entered the potions room. They didn't even have to turn to sense the dark aura of the current Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Severus Snape confidently walked over to his former caretaker of the house and only after he stopped in front of him asked - Horace, why did you call me? Only out of respect for you, I'm here. You know, I have classes myself now.

- Severus. Mr. Potter had an excellent performance in class yesterday. I thought he inherited Lily's talent. It turned out that it was not a talent, but a diligent follow-up of the instructions from the book belonging to the Half-Blood Prince. - The old man saw the cracks in the facade on the normally unmoved face of the man he had known since his first year at Hogwarts. - Do I guess right?

- Of course. - The black-haired man growled, then turned to Harry Potter. - Where is this book?

The boy-who-lived said nothing.

- Of course. Our celebrity, after what happened to Miss Weasley, didn't even come up with the idea of returning a book containing notes of unknown origin. After all, why would he have to give up something that doesn't belong to him and which might give him an advantage. I don't know what your professor will decide, but I think returning yesterday's prize will be an appropriate penalty for cheating during the contest.

xxx

Hermione felt guilty, but knew that Harry should earn his skills. If he had figured out what was written in this book himself, she wouldn't have minded having a better result than her. Her mother always told her one thing "if you get to the point where you think you know everything, you must remember that there will always be someone smarter than you".

- It will be fine. - Neville squeezed her hand. She knew the boy was upset. She had to show him he had done the right thing.

xxx

I want Neville to have a bigger share of the defeat of Voldemort. I haven't got him in relationships yet, because I can't decide who to pair him with. I know that he would not have to be with anyone, but I think that he deserves the chance to have a family in which he will be supported. I hesitate between Theodor, Luna and Hannah. Regards - katie-krum