Summary:  Ginny has already found the mysterious note in her bookbag.  Now it's time for Hermione, Ron, and Harry to find them.  See how each of them tries to hide it from each other. 

Disclaimer:  All characters belong to JK Rowling, except Angela.  Yes, yes, hard to believe … I, Melissa, actually made up a character …

Chapter 3

Who in the World?

By happythoughts

            "Ugh … Harry get up … it's Monday …" moaned a very tired Ron. 

            Harry tossed in his sheets.  "What? Did we just completely skip over Sunday or something?"

            "No, we spent the whole day trying to finish up our project for Snape, remember?" said Ron, who was now fully dressed, performing the spell that spiked his hair everyday.

            Harry walked to the bathroom and washed his face.  He didn't even bother with his hair … no use anyway.  He walked back into the dorm and threw his robes on.  He and Ron walked down to the common room and waited for Hermione.  She ran down the steps 5 minutes later, throwing her hair up in a messy ponytail.  "Sorry, overslept," muttered Hermione. 

            They walked down towards the Great Hall.  Hardly any of them were talking, probably still half asleep.  "What do we have first today? I can't think, I forget," said Ron wearily. 

            Hermione fished through her bookbag.  She found her schedule … along with another piece of parchment.  She threw the schedule towards Ron and looked at the piece of parchment. 

Dearest Hermione,

                        Meet me at the Three Broomsticks on your next visit to Hogsmeade at 7 o'clock.  I'll be the one wearing the keavy black coat with silver fastenings and will most probably have a bag from Zonko's. 

            It was only after Hermione had read the note 10 times that she realized that both Harry and Ron were staring at her.  "Hermione? Are you okay?" Harry asked cautiously.

            "Yeah, you've been staring at that piece of parchment for 5 minutes.  Give it here," said Ron, grabbing for it.

            "No! I mean … no … it's nothing.  It's a notice for an overdue library book.  I just can't believe that I forgot to return it!" said Hermione hastily.  She looked at Ron and Harry. They're faces were skeptical, but they seemed to have believed her because they returned to their normal conversation.  She stuffed the note inside her robes safely and tried to listen to Harry and Ron, but her mind kept slipping back to who could have possibly sent her that note. 

            For the rest of the day, Hermione was out of it.  She was lucky that she had already learned what they were learning in all of her classes, or else she would be completely behind.  Her mind was wandering off to the mysterious note.  She immediately had scratched off Ron and Harry, knowing that they would never ever play a cruel joke on her like that.  But who was left?  Seamus most definitely was with Angela, Pavarti with Dean … and the only boy left from Gryffindor was … Neville?!  Hermione's eyes turned sharply toward Neville during Potions, who was quivering under Snape's large head. 

            "How many times do I have to tell you that you do not add the sleeping draught until your potion has turned the color of red?" barked Snape.

            "I- I … I didn't m-mean to …" stuttered Neville.

            "You don't mean to do a lot of things, Mr. Longbottom. I suggest you start over again.  I'm surprised that with a head as big as yours, it only has a brain the size of an ant," said Snape coldly, disposing Neville's potion while at it.

            The Gryffindors all gave Snape very dirty looks when his back was turned, especially Ron and Harry.  Usually Hermione would join in with them, but this time her mind was somewhere else.  Could it possibly be Neville?  After all, he had asked her to go to the Yule Ball last year, and he always did ask her for help in all of their classes.  Hermione felt sick to her stomach, imagining Neville writing that note to her and sticking it in her own bookbag.  For the rest of the day, Hermione tried avoiding Neville.

           
            "Hey, Hermione, what's up?" asked Angela as she sat down next to Ginny during dinner. 

            "Not much, how were your classes?" Hermione asked both of them between bites.

            "Eh …" they said in unison.  They laughed.  "What's that in your hand?" asked Ginny.

            Hermione's hand was clasped around a small piece of parchment, it had been with her the whole day,  ever since she found it.  "What? Oh, this?" she asked, holding up her hand.  "Nothing, just an overdue library slip."

            Angela examined the parchment slowly.  Then, her eyes began to mist over.  So she had found the parchment already! No wonder she was asking weird the whole day.  And come to think of it, Ginny had been acting weird also.  Could she have possibly found the note too?  Angela tried to hide her glee as she edged into the next Hogsmeade trip.

            "So, when's the next trip to Hogsmeade? I need some of those flossing mint things, I've run out," she said.

            Hermione and Ginny both tensed up.  "Uhh … er … well?" they both stuttered.

            "Don't know? Okay, that's fine.  I was just wondering because me and Seamus are planning to go together. We haven't been able to spend some time alone … if you know what I mean," said Angela slyly. 

            Hermione and Ginny giggled.  "Are you guys still planning on wearing those outfits you got that one time?" she asked.

            "Yeah, the one with the silver bow and purple scarf, yes, I'm still planning to wear that," said Hermione.

            "Me too," said Ginny. 

            Angela's hopes were filled again.  "Great … great …"

            Awhile into dinner, Hermione shot a furtive glance at Neville.  He was listening intently into Dean's conversation about something.  She thought about him, possibly being the one to have sent her the note.  She thought, Well, he's not too bad.  But what will people think if they see us together?  What will Ron think … WAIT a minute! WHY am I thinking of Ron, of all people?  It's not like he would care anyway.  He never has …

            "Well, I'm tired, I'm going to go up now, get some homework done, see you up there," said Ginny.

            "Wait for me, I'm about to go up too," said Hermione, taking a last sip of her drink.

            They excused themselves and left Angela sitting alone.  Her heart lept when she saw Seamus coming towards her. 

            "Hey," said Seamus, giving her a quick hug.  He sat down next to her and whispered, "Have any of them found them yet?"

            "Yup, Hermione had it in her hand, and she acted like it was an overdue library book," whispered Angela back, hiding a laugh.  "And Ginny was acting really weird, so I think she might've find hers too."

            "Oh okay, I'm not sure if Harry and Ron have yet.  I haven't talked to them … Well! Speak of the devil! Here they come now," said Seamus, pointing to Harry and Ron, who were running towards them. 

            "Hey guys, what's up?" Seamus asked them as they sat down.

            Harry and Ron didn't answer, they were piling piles and piles of food onto their plates.  "Quidditch practice rough today, boys?" asked Angela.

            They nodded quickly and went back to eating.  Angela gave Seamus a knowing look and he spoke.  "So guys, are you planning to go to the next Hogsmeade trip?"

            "Yeah, we have to load up on s'more dungbombs … I'm all out," said Ron.  Harry nodded agreeingly. 

            Angelina grinned.  Everything was going perfect.  Hermione and Ginny were still wearing their same outfits, and Ron and Harry were both going to have to go to Zonko's … meaning they would both have Zonko bags.  "I am good …"  Angelina thought to herself. 

            Hermione and Ginny walked into the Gryffindor common room after dinner hurriedly, not talking to each other.  Ginny went up to her dorm to retrieve her book to read, and Hermione sat down at her usual table to do some extra homework.  Just as she was walking towards it, she stopped in her tracks.  Neville was sitting at it, doing his own homework. 

            "No! What is he doing at my table?  Trying to get another way for me to go out with him?  No, absolutely not.  I'm just going to politely tell him that I don't feel the same way and possibly he will find another special someone in his life," Hermione thought to herself. 

            She held her head up high and started walking towards the table.  She cleared her throat.  "Oh, hi, Hermione, I'm just doing some homework," piped up Neville.

            Hermione just merely nodded and sat down next to him.  She took a deep breath and said, "Neville, we need to talk."

            Neville looked up at Hermione puzzled.  "About what?"

            "I think we both know what," answered Hermione. 

            Neville's face showed confusion.  "I don't know what you're talking about Hermione."

            Hermione sighed and took Neville's hands into hers.  He looked even more confused.  "Neville, all of these hints your giving me …"  she began.

            "Hints?" questioned Neville.

            "… I think I've caught on … and not to be rude or anything, but, I just don't feel the same way," finished Hermione.

            Neville sputtered.  "W-what are you t-talking about, Hermione?  Don't feel the same way? What?"

            "I know you're taking this very hard … but, I just want you to understand that it has nothing to do with you.  It's just that … I'm with someone else."

            "With someone else? Who?"  asked Neville again, still rather confused.

            "It's a secret relationship and I'd rather not talk about it with you just yet.  I know that you will find someone else that you love in your life," said Hermione.  And with that, she walked away up to her dormitory, leaving Neville in very confused thoughts. 

A/N:  WOW, if I were Hermione, I would definitely feel quite dumb right now.  And boy, do I feel sorry for Neville …