Chapter Five

Hermione stared down at all the teachers as they stood gazing at Professor Darinsta. It must be the Veela part, she thought. Harry was up flying, and as he looked down he began to wonder how she got her hair so beautiful, and yet, so dark and mysterious. As of thinking this, he nearly ran into the stands.

Ron was glancing at Hermione, and every time she looked to him he acted as if he was watching the players just behind her shoulder. He did indeed like her; he just couldn't find the courage to tell anyone.

"Ron!" Hermione was shaking him and he sat up in a fast movement. He shook his head and looked around. He was on the stands, the practice still in play, but there were many people hovering around him.

"Wh-What happened?" He asked, dazed by all the people who were in the least bit concerned about him. Harry, Hermione, and other people were in the crowd, muttering things like "get him some water!"

"The snitch..It hit you in the head! It was hilarious! You were in a baffled trance and then it hit you and you fell.." Harry was laughing so hard he fell down and began crying because of the 'hilarious' inncident. Malfoy was laughing quite uncontrollably in the nearby stands, and, for once, was not inclined to throw an insult at all to anyone in particular.

Hermione was the only one who thought it wasn't quite funny, poor Ron, his head getting hit by a snitch at a very high velocity. He stood up, a giant red gash directly in the center of his forehead, and Hermione helped him limp down the stands, across the humongous green patch of grass leading the way to Hogwarts.

As they entered the castle, a strong wind blew up from behind them. A coldness seeped deep into their souls and they stopped in the utmost horror. Ron knew what it was, for Darinsta had appeared beside them. Hermione felt a sense of terror she had never came upon spread through her usually calm body. Darinsta looked both of them hard in the face with a stare that was rather shocking. She had narrowed her eyes into slits that were wavy, in fact, that looked quite like a snake. Before she could say anything, Hermione and Ron screamed and ran to the nurse's wing of the castle, to indeed see Madam Pomfrey in her chair with a somewhat aghast look upon her countenance.

"Now really, what is the problem? Dear boy!" at this she turned to Ron. "What has happened to your face? Rather shocking, that is! Now, now, come here, I will have that healed within a minute!" She ushered forward and applied some sort of ointment, and at the end, Ron looked as good as ever.

Ron and Hermione decided to take a gander to the Gryffindor Common Room. As they entered it, they both plopped down onto separate armchairs near the sparkling fire which was throwing flames out at them.

Crookshanks, Hermione's ginger cat, had wandered down the stairs. Hermione smiled and stood up to greet her cat, as Ron rolled his eyes. Suddenly, however, Crookshanks took a turn for the worse. He lost his footing, and slipped down the stairs. There was a horrible *clunk* and he fell to the floor. Hermione let out a silent scream and bent down to him.

"Ron! Go fetch Madam Pomfrey! He's hurt..! Poor Crookshanks! Hurry Ron!" Hermione uttered, her voice in tatters, as Ron stood up and tripped to the door, ran out and started towards the nurse's wing.

Madam Pomfrey arrived with her animal medical kit, and kneeled beside Crookshanks as a muggle veterinarian would do. She performed what Hermione suspected was CPR and Crookshanks suddenly jerked. Madam Pomfrey sat back a foot, and miraculously he jumped to life and tackled Ron.

"Ooh Goodie! He's okay!" Hermione screamed and ran and hugged Crookshanks, who was on Ron, which ended up with Hermione hugging Ron. Madam Pomfrey slowly scooted out of the common room, and Crookshanks wandered back up the spiral staircase to the girls' dormitory.

Ron and Hermione, however, acted as if they were still there. They suddenly realized they were both still hugging for no apparent reason, and separated from eachother. They stood up, and in mutual agreement, decided that was the worst possible thing to ever do. Hermione let out a childish scream and ran away screaming "Eww! I got Weasley Cooties!"

While doing that insane act of child immaturity, Hermione ran into Professor ( if he could be considered one ) Snape. Hermione practically bounced off of her, yet she stayed standing.

"How dare you! Granger, stand up! Immediately." Snape said in his cold voice, but soon to be dreared out by the many voices of students coming down the hall. They were screaming, apparently, "joy to the king of quidditch" and holding Harry up above them. The Slytherins followed far behind, scowling at the joyous faces of everyone.

Snape slowly scooted off to the side of the hallway, with Darinsta close behind him just as Dumbledore walked in. He had upon his face, a quite disapproving look and motioned to McGonagall to move to his chamber.

A loud *clunk* could be heard from the hallway, and Harry had been set down and had now dropped his broom. Cho had walked in, again hand in hand with Alexander. Harry slowly stepped behind a suit of armor and hid himself. Hermione, however, felt inclined to actually meet who she thought was the love of her life.

Without hesitation, she stepped out in front of them and acted as if she had dropped her books. Cho and Alexander stopped and looked at each other.

"Oh dear, I've dropped my books again!" Hermione said, and glanced up to Harry as Cho and Alexander were 'looking into each other's eyes'. Harry looked at Hermione and grinned, and decided to walk out to.

"Hermione, do you need help?" Harry said, coming up behind Cho. She jumped and squeeze Alexander's hand tighter, which made him wince. Harry bent down and helped Hermione pick up her books.

"Hermione, act like I'm flirting with you!" Harry whispered into her ear, and she suddenly giggled, adding effect to the situation and nudged him.

"Harry, not in front of them--!" She said, and they walked back to Gryffindor Common Room, leaving Cho and Alexander in a state of confusion.