CHAPTER THREE
"Dragons are now endangered," said Lupin, pointing to a picture of a Hungarian Horntail. "It's illegal nowadays to have dragons as pets." Lupin smiled. "Not that anyone of you would want a dangerous animal in your homes."
"I would!" exclaimed Seamus Finnigan, one of the Gryffindors.
Neville Longbottom, another Gryffindor, shuddered at the thought. "I sure wouldn't!"
The Gryffindors were having Defense Against the Dark Arts with the Hufflepuffs. Their teacher, Professor Remus Lupin was considered by many the coolest teacher in the history of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hermione Granger always looked forward to this subject --- but not today.
Hermione couldn't help looking at Harry's empty seat to her right every now and then. She couldn't figure out why, but it seemed that the class was very lonesome without Harry (though Professor Lupin was there).
Damn you, Oliver! Hermione said to herself. Quidditch could've waited, you know!
"Miss Granger?" Lupin called. "Are you all right?"
Hermione felt her face turn into a color of deep crimson. "Um. yes sir, I'm fine," she lied.
Lupin shrugged his shoulders. "As I was saying, it's illegal to have dragons as pets nowadays. But if you really want to see a dragon, you can go to Romania." Lupin winked at Ron. He knew that Ron's brother, Charlie, works in Romania with the dragons.
"Dragons are very dangerous. They are very hard to tame." Lupin continued with his lecture while some of the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were busy taking down notes.
What the hell is wrong with me??? Hermione wondered to herself. Harry's been gone before --- he's been unconscious for about a week in the hospital wing --- he didn't take any classes --- and I didn't act this way! Goddamn it! I. I. I think I'm starting to miss him.
No! This is not happening! Stop it, Hermione, stop it! Get a grip! Get a hold on yourself!
"Hermione!" Ron yelled, grabbing Hermione's arm. "Come on! Lupin's class is over. We have to go to the Great Hall. It's lunch time."
Hermione grabbed her bookbag and stuffed all her books, her parchment, her quill and her bottle of ink in it. Then she and Ron walked together towards the Great Hall.
In the Great Hall.
Hermione kept gazing at Harry's empty seat. Harry usually sat next to Ron, and she was used to seeing his face there. But now the seat was empty, and Hermione found herself staring into the air.
"Hey Herm," Ron called. "Don't you want to eat?" It was only then Hermione realized that she hadn't touched a single bit of her now-getting-cold food. She halfheartedly picked up her knife and fork and gingerly cut the fried chicken into small pieces, then picked them up with her fork and started to eat. Everyone was eating heavily and chatting about the Quidditch match that was to occur after the meal.
Hermione took a quick glance at the Slytherin House table. Draco Malfoy's seat was also empty, along with Marcus Flint's (Slytherin team captain), and the other Slytherin Quidditch team players.
Hermione heaved a sigh. Last night she had thought about Harry endlessly. She even dreamt about him these past few days. Whenever he was around, she started feeling. different. something she had never felt before. a new wave of emotion.
Is it possible, Hermione asked herself, for me to be falling in love?
And of all people, with Harry Potter?
"Dragons are now endangered," said Lupin, pointing to a picture of a Hungarian Horntail. "It's illegal nowadays to have dragons as pets." Lupin smiled. "Not that anyone of you would want a dangerous animal in your homes."
"I would!" exclaimed Seamus Finnigan, one of the Gryffindors.
Neville Longbottom, another Gryffindor, shuddered at the thought. "I sure wouldn't!"
The Gryffindors were having Defense Against the Dark Arts with the Hufflepuffs. Their teacher, Professor Remus Lupin was considered by many the coolest teacher in the history of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hermione Granger always looked forward to this subject --- but not today.
Hermione couldn't help looking at Harry's empty seat to her right every now and then. She couldn't figure out why, but it seemed that the class was very lonesome without Harry (though Professor Lupin was there).
Damn you, Oliver! Hermione said to herself. Quidditch could've waited, you know!
"Miss Granger?" Lupin called. "Are you all right?"
Hermione felt her face turn into a color of deep crimson. "Um. yes sir, I'm fine," she lied.
Lupin shrugged his shoulders. "As I was saying, it's illegal to have dragons as pets nowadays. But if you really want to see a dragon, you can go to Romania." Lupin winked at Ron. He knew that Ron's brother, Charlie, works in Romania with the dragons.
"Dragons are very dangerous. They are very hard to tame." Lupin continued with his lecture while some of the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were busy taking down notes.
What the hell is wrong with me??? Hermione wondered to herself. Harry's been gone before --- he's been unconscious for about a week in the hospital wing --- he didn't take any classes --- and I didn't act this way! Goddamn it! I. I. I think I'm starting to miss him.
No! This is not happening! Stop it, Hermione, stop it! Get a grip! Get a hold on yourself!
"Hermione!" Ron yelled, grabbing Hermione's arm. "Come on! Lupin's class is over. We have to go to the Great Hall. It's lunch time."
Hermione grabbed her bookbag and stuffed all her books, her parchment, her quill and her bottle of ink in it. Then she and Ron walked together towards the Great Hall.
In the Great Hall.
Hermione kept gazing at Harry's empty seat. Harry usually sat next to Ron, and she was used to seeing his face there. But now the seat was empty, and Hermione found herself staring into the air.
"Hey Herm," Ron called. "Don't you want to eat?" It was only then Hermione realized that she hadn't touched a single bit of her now-getting-cold food. She halfheartedly picked up her knife and fork and gingerly cut the fried chicken into small pieces, then picked them up with her fork and started to eat. Everyone was eating heavily and chatting about the Quidditch match that was to occur after the meal.
Hermione took a quick glance at the Slytherin House table. Draco Malfoy's seat was also empty, along with Marcus Flint's (Slytherin team captain), and the other Slytherin Quidditch team players.
Hermione heaved a sigh. Last night she had thought about Harry endlessly. She even dreamt about him these past few days. Whenever he was around, she started feeling. different. something she had never felt before. a new wave of emotion.
Is it possible, Hermione asked herself, for me to be falling in love?
And of all people, with Harry Potter?
