Midnight Wanderer- Part 4

Transfiguration class went be so slowly, Hermione thought it would never end. McGonagall was teaching them how to turn a rosebud into a fully bloomed rose. And of course, Neville being the klutz he is, pricked his finger with a thorn. And besides that, his rose was a brownish hue instead of red.


Hermione was grateful when class was dismissed and headed to the library. Ron caught up with her and said, "Hey, Herm? Where are you off to?"

"Library."

"Oh. Okay. Just wondering." He had a sly grin on his freckled face. He turned to leave.

"What? Tell me why you're smiling," Hermione demanded, a slight frown upon her face.

"Um, well, you weren't supposed to know this but...well, Harry has a gift for you and wanted to give it to you. It will just take a minute. Then you can go the library."

"Okay," she sighed, and followed Ron back up to the common room. Harry was sitting comfortably on a pouf, watching the flames in the fireplace. He was startled when he heard Ron call his name, and flushed pink. He handed her a rose. Not like the ones in Transfiguration, but...how could it's simple yet elegant beauty be described? It was perfect. Full, lush scarlet petals, with a green stem. It's graceful aroma surrounded her, and she smiled.

"Oh Harry! It's beautiful! I love it!" Hermione exclaimed, as she stood on her tip-toes and lightly kissed his cheek. She ran up to her dorm to put it in a vase. Harry was so thoughtful.

Hermione skipped back downstairs, and went to the library. She was in awe of how many books that lined the shelves. She wished she could have time to read them all. The only way to fulfill that dream is to start at the basics. She reached up above her head to grab a small, leather-bound book that said, "Dragons and Unicorns: What are they good for?" on the binding. It seemed interesting enough. She removed it from its neighbors, and tucked it under her arm. An unmistakable pair of silver-gray eyes peered back at her from the other side of the shelf.

"Draco, what are you doing here?" Hermione whispered through the little peep hole where her book had been. He looked mischievous, like he was up to something no good.

He smiled slyly, "Nothin'." He stared at her, waiting for her to reply.

"Malfoy! Tell what the hell you're doing here! Are you spying on me? Huh? Is that it? Look, I am going to help you tonight, okay? But this time, we're meeting at the library. I don't want any funny business."

"No, not really. Maybe I-I this you are pretty and just maybe I wanted to watch you. Is that a crime Miss Granger?" Draco stated simply, in his usual drawling voice.

Hermione sighed, and left, accidentally leaving her book behind. "Ugh. The thought of him repulses me, yet it doesn't. This is a riddle I must find the answer to, no matter what it takes."
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The rose Harry gave Hermione was finally started to wilt away. Its soft petals gave off no more intoxicatingly sweet fumes. Hermione was sad. It was kind of like her love with Harry, still all in one piece, but slowly wilting away. Hermione touched one of the fallen velet petals. Goosebumps rose on her bare arms. A silent tear streamed down her soft, ivory face. Draco's handsome face creeped into her mind, over-taking it. It was a powerful sensation. She began to wonder... was Draco meant for her? Ooohhh, she had an idea. It would reveal the truth, if she was brave enough to know...
Hermione hurriedly sprinted to Professor Flitwick's office.

"Professor Flitwick, sir. Um, I need to do some, uh, background information on, er, Pillercaters. And, um, I need a pass to the Restricted Section in the library," Hermione blurted out. The old man fell for it, and signed a pass for her. She gratefully grabbed it, and ran back to the library.

"Love Brews, perfect!" Hermione exclaimed, as she pulled a thick book off of one of the lower shelves. She flipped through the index. "How to find your true love, yes! That's it!"

TRUE LOVE:
Ingredients-
Firefly wings, 3 spider eyes, and 12 newt tails

Stir all of these ingredients into a cauldron full of water. Then say, "Love is blind, but let me find, the person that is my true love!"
Side effects: You may become a tri-winged bat if you don't do the correct procedure.

"This is going to take a while, but it's worth it." Hermione sighed, and left. She made her way down the deserted hall, and outside. It was dusk, and her favorite part of the day. The orange sun's rays grabbed onto the sky, as if pleading to stay up longer and not fall into the night's lair. When the last of the sun finally subsided into a starry night sky, Hermione went inside. She decided to skip her nightly meeting with Draco and headed towards the dungeon. She smiled to herself, thinking of Professor Snape when he noticed that some of his ingredients were gone from his office.

The hinges creaked as she slowly and quietly slipped into the chilly room. She opened the cabinet, and took a bag of newt tails, firefly wings, and spider eyes. That was easier than she thought.

Once, she almost got caught by Filch, but Peeves had made a terrible racket somewhere else so she had a good escape. She raced up the staircase to her dormitory. But, then again, it was better to do this privately. So she dashed up to the 4th floor, and into the girl's bathroom, better known as Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. She locked the stall door behind her and pulled out her wand. "It says to just mix them up in a cauldron...got that," Hermione muttered. She had also taken a cauldron for Snape's office, he wouldn't miss it. She filled it half-way with water and poured the ingredients into it. They landed with a 'PLOP!' and she stirred the greenish potion with her wand. After about a few minutes, she muttered the spell and gulped down the disgusting potion. It was horrible, not as bad as the Polyjuice Potion though.

Suddenly, a swirling mist swooped down from the ceiling, floating right in front of her. It showed a blonde, slender boy. He was resting his chin on his fists. Something was troubling him. He turned around. That oh so familiar face flooded her mind. Draco.

"Draco?!?!?!" Hermione shouted. She felt queasy. Her stomach turned over and over.

A/N: so how do yall like it? Sorry I haven't written in a while. R/R!