A/N: I realize I've made many spelling errors in my previous chapters and beg those of you have are so picky about that to forgive my sin of, "Tail, instead of tale." Oh, and, did I have my comma in the correct place? Thank you for all your wonderful reviews and your time. Without further ado, chapter 11…
What She Thinks: Chapter 11: Who Knew He Was Poetic?
Cho Chang, her face alight with happiness, was fighting towards them through sea of swarming students.
"Cho," Harry said with relief, "How are you?"
"I'm fine, thank you," She smiled, taking Harry's arm.
Hermione grimaced.
"Oh," said Harry, turning to look at his two best friends and acting as though he'd never seen anything quite like them before, "This is Ron."
"How do you do?" Ron said politely, shaking her hand.
"And Hermione."
The two boys stared uncertainly at her, probably because of the stiff was in which she aid "Hello."
They began to herd toward the doors, Hermione thinking bitterly of how much she wished Cho would say something to insult her. Hermione wasn't keen on looking like the bad guy and felt if she broke the ice and said something rude, when a fight broke out the fingers would be pointed at her.
Her glance lingered on Harry. Not for long however, she found his open mouth and the transfixed way he was staring at Cho most revolting.
The hall was decked with shadows from the candles hovering above a hundred or so small circular tables. It cast a romantic glow helped along by the soft melodies of a piano from the far corner of the hall.
Hermione felt her stomach give an engrossed squirm as Cho let out a giggle of excitement to her right. Hermione cocked her head back to stare at the enchanted ceiling.
The sky looked crisp and new, a sense of forbidding hung in the air, as though it knew something they didn't. The clouds half covered the moon and the stars danced across the sky, clearly visible from the lack of bright light in the hall.
Ron shifted uncomfortably next to her. Quickly snapping out of her "trance" Hermione looked at him.
"Would you--er--" Ron stuttered.
Hermione looked sideways at Harry and Cho gliding across the floor, arms around eachother.
"I thought you'd never ask." She said swiftly, dragging Ron out to the dance floor in a quick step and restlessly watching Harry and Cho.
Hermione knew Cho wouldn't do anything harmful, but Hermione felt that serial killers often looked kind and decent also. She wasn't going to let them out of her sight. If Cho kissed Harry then Hermione wouldn't have a chance.
Knocking into people, Hermione tried desperately not to lose them and look natural as though she was enjoying herself at the same time.
Ron looked utterly bewildered as she led him in the weirdest step of the century.
Catching his eye she said quickly, "It's called the--er--Chase. Yah, the chase."
Ron nodded faintly, his look clearly told her he thought she had lost it. However, Hermione didn't care at the moment what Ron, or anyone else for that matter, thought of her peculiar behavior.
To her (And Ron's) relief Harry and Cho finally took a table in the back. Hermione forced Ron into a chair on the other side of the Hall and focused on Harry. Once he got up…That's all she wanted…
Hermione half wished she wouldn't have the chance to slip the note under his napkin and half did. Hermione watched Harry leave the table and Cho before heading to the punch bowl.
"Ron," Hermione said suddenly, "would you run and get us some punch?"
Ron shrugged and disappeared into the crowed.
Her heart thumping hard against her ribs Hermione stood up, took a deep breath, and began to stride to where Cho sat, staring the wall to her left.
Reaching her, Hermione cleared her throat loudly.
Cho jerked back to reality and her face broke into a smile.
"Hermione," She said sweetly, "Where's Ron?"
"Oh, he went to go get some punch." She said quickly.
"Would you like to sit down?"
Hermione sat purposely down in Harry's vacant seat. There was an uneasy silence.
"So, er, Harry talks about you a lot." Cho said, giving Hermione a kind smile, Hermione desperately holding back the urge to spit. Sure she liked what Cho had said but was rather reluctant to return her smile.
Cho began to fiddle with her fingernails, which gave Hermione the opportunity to slip her note out from under her watch.
"He talks about like he's known you his whole life," Cho finished, and Hermione swore she had heard a pinch of bitterness, or jealousy in her voice.
"You--You really like him don't you?" Hermione said with difficulty.
Cho sighed. "I miss Cedric." She said solemnly. And a tear ran down her cheek.
A surge of guilt hit Hermione hard in the chest. All she felt were bad wishes toward Cho. And now, she realized her life had had its fill of devastation.
"I'm sorry," Hermione whispered, earning another teary smile from Cho.
"Well," She said quickly, whipping the tears off her face, "No use crying about it."
"I--" Hermione began but stopped, Harry was heading back towards the table.
Quickly slipping the note under Harry napkin so that it was just visible Hermione stood up.
Giving Cho her first and true smile she said, "Have a good time, okay? I'll see you later." Cho nodded. Hermione left the table quickly as possible. She met Ron half way to the table and grinned. Pulling the two classes of punch out of Ron's hands and set them down at the nearest table. Dragging him out to the dance floor they began to dance. Hermione felt she need not worry about Cho. Someone who had lost someone so close to them and still be so sweet was not going to move so quickly as to kiss anyone on their first date. She was so nice, and so excepting. With a new respect for Cho Hermione allowed her worries to take flight and enjoy the melody.
Hermione felt her feet begin to ache an hour later and beckoned Ron to sit with her for a while. They found a table near Harry and Cho's table only to realize they were out on the dance floor. Hermione rested her arm on the table to pick up her drink and heard a crumpling noise from under her wrist. Lifting her arm quickly her face fell. Harry hadn't gotten his letter. There, sticking out from under the corner of her napkin was a piece of folded parchment. She looked quickly at Ron.
"Wasn't harry sitting over there?" She asked, pointing to the table next to them.
Ron shrugged.
'No,' She told herself, 'He just didn't find the letter…'
With a heavy heat Hermione made her way up to the Girl's dorms that night, the note still clutched tight in her hand.
Slipping into bed she stared longingly at the note, a green glow cast through the paper. She laid back, miserable, then, her eyes wide, sat up again. Green glow? GREEN glow? Her ink wasn't green! Quickly unfolding the letter in green ink she saw an untidy scroll which she felt she knew and read:
I know you think
You've found the one,
But when it's all over,
And when it's all done,
I'll be there waiting
For you and for me,
We'll be together,
You wait and see,
'Cause I know you'll find
Your peace of mind
In me.
But who was it from? And who said it was for her? Turning it over with baited breath she made out two, very welcome words…
A/N: I'm stopping here with hope of many wonderful reviews! If I don't get
10, I don't go on. I think it's the 15 chapter that is really good. So, keep reading and keep reviewing!
~Gabbi D.