A/N: I apologize to ProwlingKitKat. I realize how disturbing Ron and
Hermione pairings can be for some people and I PROMISE there will be H/D action in the future. In the meantime, thank you all for your reviews. Please keep on reviewing!
An hour before Ron and Hermione's cozy little get-together, another meeting had taken place; one that was much less romantic and much more sinister.
A boy stood behind one of the many columns that supported the archways
lining the breezeway that banked the courtyard. It was pitch black and the boy's face was covered in shadow except for his eyes which glimmered with impatience.
A girl approached him, small and nervous. The boy regarded her slowly,
wondering if his decision had been right. She was only a fourth year, and he knew barely anything about her. Was she dependable? Was she
trustworthy? He considered his options... there weren't many. She would have to do.
"How exactly-" started the girl, but she was cut off as the boy raised his hand to silence her.
"This is how it works: I give the orders and you report back to me. You say nothing to no one. You tell me everything I want to know. And IF I am satisfied, then we can talk about your part of the deal."
The girl gulped. To her, this didn't seem to fair. But the boy was taller, stronger, and older than she was and she didn't have the courage to stand up to him. Even to her, it was evident that he knew that, which accounted for his overly-cocky nature... unless that was just the kind of person that he was.
"Now, this is what you must do: For the next few days, all I want you to do is spy on them, apart or together. Report back to me anything I might find interesting. This would include any apparent interest in each other whether when they are together or when they are on their own, perhaps confiding to a
friend and such," the boy looked to the girl for reassurance that she
understood.
The girl nodded.
"On Thursday, I want you to report back to me on any information you have required. That is, unless there is an emergency first."
"What kind of emergency," the girl inquired timidly.
"If they begin to get... intimate with each other," responded the boy,
unsure how to phrase his concerns to the younger girl, "Do you understand what that entails?"
"Yes," replied the girl, blushing slightly as what she might witness within the next few days.
"Good. Anymore questions?"
"No."
"If any such emergency occurs, get in touch with me through owl mail and I will set up a meeting place. Other than that, meet me here. Midnight on Thursday," said the boy with a finality to his tone.
The girl nodded once more and the boy took off, never taking a second glance behind him.
*****
On Tuesday morning, Harry was enjoying breakfast with his friends, relating to them yet another story of Dudley's continual ignorance, when he became fully aware that neither were listening.
They were too engrossed in each other.
Harry watched in silence as Ron and Hermione gazed dreamily at one another over their plates between each bite. He didn't know whether to be touched or nauseated. These were his two best friends. He had known for two years now Ron's feelings for Hermione. But Hermione liking Ron? He had suspected it before but... was it really true?
Harry decided not to say anything about it. Best to avoid the subject as long as possible. If anything more... serious happened between the two, he would be the first to know. Wouldn't he?
*****
Back in her room that night, Hermione paused while brushing her hair.
Pavarti and Lavender were squealing over a picture of Lavender's new
boyfriend. He was a seventh year and, as far as Hermione could tell but the ooh's and aah's of Pavarti, "a complete dream."
Hermione chuckled silently to herself. She often marveled at the frivolity of her sex. She was sure that Lavender's boyfriend wasn't doing anything of the like in his own room with his friends.
How could someone be so infatuated like that? Hermione swore to herself that she would never end up like that. No matter what man had captured her heart, she wouldn't lose her sense of self simply because someone of the male sex had actually paid attention to the fact that she did indeed have two X chromosomes.
She would never do the whole clumsy, forgetful, giddy act. She just
wouldn't.
Hermione lay back on her bed. If she ever acted like that, she would be sure to have a real reason. Something significant.
Drawing the curtain around her bed, Hermione snuggled under the covers. She hated the actual act of falling asleep. Lately, this usually enjoyable occupation had caused her much distress. This was the time that she would reflect on how many more mishaps she had had that day. Needless to say, she wasn't sleeping well.
What could explain her recent clumsiness? She was constantly tripping over herself lately. She hadn't grown that much over the summer, vertically at least. Her body was well-proportioned, and she wasn't predisposed to awkwardness.
What could explain her recent forgetfullness? Just today, she had showed up at Potions and had found herself lacking a quill. Fortunately, Harry had been able to lend her one. But, in the past, she had never forgotten school supplies.
What could explain her recent giddiness? Besides her show at The Burrow, since she had been at Hogwarts, she had twice found herself laughing uncontrollably for no apparent reason.
What could account for these changes?
Hermione's eyes flew open. But it couldn't be-
She checked them off mentally: clumsy, forgetful, and giddy.
No.... she couldn't be.
But who?
The realization hit her like a brick wall.
She was falling for Ron!
A/N: I know, I know, Ron!!! Trust me! Draco is on his way! I just don't want to rush it. I gave you a taste of Draco and Hermione action in the third chapter to prove that there was going to be D/H action in the future. Now, I'm slowing the story down a bit so it's actually a story. Never fear Draco fans, I'm staying loyal to him!
Hermione pairings can be for some people and I PROMISE there will be H/D action in the future. In the meantime, thank you all for your reviews. Please keep on reviewing!
An hour before Ron and Hermione's cozy little get-together, another meeting had taken place; one that was much less romantic and much more sinister.
A boy stood behind one of the many columns that supported the archways
lining the breezeway that banked the courtyard. It was pitch black and the boy's face was covered in shadow except for his eyes which glimmered with impatience.
A girl approached him, small and nervous. The boy regarded her slowly,
wondering if his decision had been right. She was only a fourth year, and he knew barely anything about her. Was she dependable? Was she
trustworthy? He considered his options... there weren't many. She would have to do.
"How exactly-" started the girl, but she was cut off as the boy raised his hand to silence her.
"This is how it works: I give the orders and you report back to me. You say nothing to no one. You tell me everything I want to know. And IF I am satisfied, then we can talk about your part of the deal."
The girl gulped. To her, this didn't seem to fair. But the boy was taller, stronger, and older than she was and she didn't have the courage to stand up to him. Even to her, it was evident that he knew that, which accounted for his overly-cocky nature... unless that was just the kind of person that he was.
"Now, this is what you must do: For the next few days, all I want you to do is spy on them, apart or together. Report back to me anything I might find interesting. This would include any apparent interest in each other whether when they are together or when they are on their own, perhaps confiding to a
friend and such," the boy looked to the girl for reassurance that she
understood.
The girl nodded.
"On Thursday, I want you to report back to me on any information you have required. That is, unless there is an emergency first."
"What kind of emergency," the girl inquired timidly.
"If they begin to get... intimate with each other," responded the boy,
unsure how to phrase his concerns to the younger girl, "Do you understand what that entails?"
"Yes," replied the girl, blushing slightly as what she might witness within the next few days.
"Good. Anymore questions?"
"No."
"If any such emergency occurs, get in touch with me through owl mail and I will set up a meeting place. Other than that, meet me here. Midnight on Thursday," said the boy with a finality to his tone.
The girl nodded once more and the boy took off, never taking a second glance behind him.
*****
On Tuesday morning, Harry was enjoying breakfast with his friends, relating to them yet another story of Dudley's continual ignorance, when he became fully aware that neither were listening.
They were too engrossed in each other.
Harry watched in silence as Ron and Hermione gazed dreamily at one another over their plates between each bite. He didn't know whether to be touched or nauseated. These were his two best friends. He had known for two years now Ron's feelings for Hermione. But Hermione liking Ron? He had suspected it before but... was it really true?
Harry decided not to say anything about it. Best to avoid the subject as long as possible. If anything more... serious happened between the two, he would be the first to know. Wouldn't he?
*****
Back in her room that night, Hermione paused while brushing her hair.
Pavarti and Lavender were squealing over a picture of Lavender's new
boyfriend. He was a seventh year and, as far as Hermione could tell but the ooh's and aah's of Pavarti, "a complete dream."
Hermione chuckled silently to herself. She often marveled at the frivolity of her sex. She was sure that Lavender's boyfriend wasn't doing anything of the like in his own room with his friends.
How could someone be so infatuated like that? Hermione swore to herself that she would never end up like that. No matter what man had captured her heart, she wouldn't lose her sense of self simply because someone of the male sex had actually paid attention to the fact that she did indeed have two X chromosomes.
She would never do the whole clumsy, forgetful, giddy act. She just
wouldn't.
Hermione lay back on her bed. If she ever acted like that, she would be sure to have a real reason. Something significant.
Drawing the curtain around her bed, Hermione snuggled under the covers. She hated the actual act of falling asleep. Lately, this usually enjoyable occupation had caused her much distress. This was the time that she would reflect on how many more mishaps she had had that day. Needless to say, she wasn't sleeping well.
What could explain her recent clumsiness? She was constantly tripping over herself lately. She hadn't grown that much over the summer, vertically at least. Her body was well-proportioned, and she wasn't predisposed to awkwardness.
What could explain her recent forgetfullness? Just today, she had showed up at Potions and had found herself lacking a quill. Fortunately, Harry had been able to lend her one. But, in the past, she had never forgotten school supplies.
What could explain her recent giddiness? Besides her show at The Burrow, since she had been at Hogwarts, she had twice found herself laughing uncontrollably for no apparent reason.
What could account for these changes?
Hermione's eyes flew open. But it couldn't be-
She checked them off mentally: clumsy, forgetful, and giddy.
No.... she couldn't be.
But who?
The realization hit her like a brick wall.
She was falling for Ron!
A/N: I know, I know, Ron!!! Trust me! Draco is on his way! I just don't want to rush it. I gave you a taste of Draco and Hermione action in the third chapter to prove that there was going to be D/H action in the future. Now, I'm slowing the story down a bit so it's actually a story. Never fear Draco fans, I'm staying loyal to him!