-Chapter Seven-
Enemies, or Not?
After their little meeting with Neville Longbottom, Harry, Ron and Hermione hurried down the corridors, as quickly, but as soundlessly, as possible.
'See you guys tomorrow, then,' Hermione said. 'Good-night!'
'Yeah, g'night, Hermione,' Harry and Ron said together. Hermione hurried to her Head dormitory-she was very surprised to find that Draco wasn't back from his detention yet.
'I hope Filch wasn't too hard on him...' Hermione thought. She didn't bother keeping awake until he came. She was much too tired, so she went straight to bed. She was awoken, however, by tapping at her door. Hermione looked at the clock, rubbing her eyes. 'What? 4 o'clock in the morning? Ohh...Come in.'
'Herm, it's me,' Draco whispered. 'Sorry for being so late-er, sorry! Were you asleep?'
'Yes, I was asleep!' Hermione whispered loudly. 'Sheesh! Go to bed! Do you have the slightest idea of what time it is?'
'Er-no, actually...' Draco sighed. 'Why? What time is it?'
'Four in the morning,' Hermione yawned. 'Go away...'
'Fine, fine, good-night,' he said, shutting the door quietly. At 5 o'clock in the morning, Hermione arose with yet another tap at the door.
'Wha...?' Hermione said lazily. 'Leave me alone, Draco! I told you to go away!' But it was Ron, not Draco. 'Huh? What're you doing here?'
'Harry's acting weird...' Ron whispered, panic-stricken. 'Please come! I don't know what's wrong!'
'Fine, fine! Don't get your knickers in a knot,' Hermione snapped. 'Sheesh! Second time tonight I've been awaken!'
'Just hurry!' Ron called pleadingly. Hermione sleepily stepped into the Head common room. The door to Draco's room opened.
'What's going on? I heard footsteps and-' Draco looked at the situation. 'Er-what is Ron doing here?'
'Don't worry about it, go back to bed,' Hermione ordered. 'Something's wrong with Harry. We'll be fine!'
They stepped over to the portrait of the Fat Lady, who was snoring, drool sliding down the side of her chin.
'Blooberworm,' Ron muttered to the Fat Lady, who woke with a start.
'Same to you, too!' she grumbled, and she swung open for them to enter. Harry seemed to be asleep.
'So...? What's the problem? He's asleep,' Hermione whispered.
'Wait, look-' Ron said, but was cut off, as Harry sat up.
'You! What do you think you're doing, sneaking around at night? No doubt serving bad deeds to Voldemort!' Harry snapped.
'What?' Hermione asked. 'Harry, it's us!' But he showed no sign of being able to hear them-everything he said was incoherant.
'And you! You should know better than to serve Voldemort (Ron flinched at the name) after what Sirius told you! I should knock you from here to-' he started snoring, his head crashing against the pillow.
'Um...that was-er-odd?' Hermione whispered. She started tip-toeing towards Harry's bed, but he sat up again.
'Stay away!' he shouted. 'One more step, and I'll blast your brains!' He took a quill off the desk, mistaking it for his wand, and pointed it at Hermione. 'Go on! Back away! Slowly now...no one needs to get hurt...that's it...yep...' and Harry fell back asleep again.
'Oh, dear..' Hermione said. 'Perhaps we should get Dumbledore?'
'Yeah,' Ron agreed. The halls were empty; Ron and Hermione's footsteps echoed everywhere. They reached a stone Gargoyle, and from what Harry had told them before, this was the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's room.
'What do you reckon the password is?' Hermione asked.
'I dunno!' Ron said. 'Umm...Filibuster Fireworks?' Nothing happened. 'Jabbergrass? Chocolate Frog? Fat Lady? Hooting Owl?' Bingo! The Gargoyle opened up, a passage behind it, leading to a large oak door. Ron knocked quietly on it.
'He's probably asleep,' Hermione whispered. But sure enough, Dumbledore answered the door, his bright blue eyes shining down at them.
'Come in, then,' he smiled. 'Please do. Would you like some tea?'
'Oh, uh, that's OK,' Hermione answered. 'Listen, sorry for waking you.'
'Not at all!' Dumbledore beamed. 'Now,' he said, as Fawkes (his Pheonix) swooped down onto Ron's lap, 'what seems to be the matter?'
'It's Harry!' Ron said urgently. 'He's acting all weird! He keeps waking up and saying things, like we're serving You-Know-Who.'
'I see...' Dumbledore said calmly. 'Lead the way.'
'Pardon?' Ron said.
'Lead the way to Harry. I shall do my best to help,' Dumbledore smiled. 'That is, of course, what you wanted?'
'Oh...yeah,' Hermione said. Her, Ron and Professor Dumbledore creeped into the boys dormitory. Harry was asleep, at the moment, at least.
Ron began inching close to Harry. 'Hey, you scallywag! Get away from me!' Harry said. 'If you don't stop serving Voldemort right now, I'll put the Cruciatus curse on you!' Dumbledore stared at Harry, then at Ron and Hermione.
'I see...' he whispered, his eyes twinkling in the moonlight. 'Harry, can you hear me?' Harry just sat there, his eagle-feather quill pointing at him. Then all of a sudden, Harry opened his eyes wide.
'Wha...? Hello, Professor Dumbledore,' Harry said in his usual tone of voice. 'What are you doing here? Is something wrong?'
'Mr Potter, I'm afraid someone had slipped you a nightmare potion, unless I'm much mistaken,' Dumbledore said. 'Do you know what you have been saying in your sleep?' Harry stared at him.
'No...' he said. 'Why would I be talking in my sleep?'
'Harry, you've been saying things about the Dark Lord!' Hermione whispered loudly. 'You didn't even notice yourself doing it?'
'Nope, not at all,' Harry answered. 'Sorry.'
'Quite all right, I'm sure,' Dumbledore said politely. 'You may return to your dormitory, Miss Granger. Good-night to you all.'
Hermione opened the door into the Head common room, where Draco was on the couch, nervously staring at the door.
'Finally! You're back!' Draco sighed with relief. 'I was afraid something terrible had happened.'
'No, no, I'm fine,' Hermione yawned. 'Everyone is.'
'You have no idea how worried I've been,' Draco whispered. 'Normally, things that aren't dangerous don't take too long. Anyway, it's late, so go to bed.' He kissed her on the forehead.
'I know, Draco,' Hermione replied; she yawned right afterwards. 'Good-night, then. Sleep well.'
'You, too.'
*
The next morning, Hermione went down to the Great Hall. Harry seemed to be very upset about something, that he was almost too shocked to cry.
'Harry! What's wrong?' Hermione asked, concerned. Harry shoved a copy of the Daily Prophet at her. It said:
Harry Potter a snob?
Rita Skeeter reports that one Harry Potter has turned
Into a self-centered snob. 'Oh, yeah! He's always telling
Everyone to go away and "leave him his private space"!'
Pansy Parkinson, a fifth-year student from Slytherin says.
'Well, please, don't be upset,' Hermione said soothingly. 'You know it's not true.'
'I suppose so,' Harry groaned. 'Anyway, sorry about my behavior last night, what with talking in my sleep and all,' he added. 'Also, Hermione, would you be so kind as to have a word with me in Gryffindor common room?'
'Yeah, sure...' Hermione hesitated. Harry took her by the hand, and they went into the deserted common room. 'What's up?' Tears were forming in Harry's eyes.
'Rita Skeeter...she....she said some awful things about m-my parents,' Harry sobbed. Tears were streaming down his face.
'Oh, Harry...' she said, lost for words. She pulled him into a hug. 'I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?'
'No, not really,' Harry said, wiping the tears on his sleeve. Hermione couldn't stand to see him this way. She sat down on one of the beds, and Harry laid his head down in her lap. 'She said some really horrible things...some of them were about you.'
'Oh...' Hermione whispered. 'Harry, are you positive there's nothing I can do?'
'Unless you'd be willing to break up with your boyfriend to be with me, well...no, there isn't,' Harry murmered, while trying to unfog his glasses.
'Here, let me...' she took the glasses from his hands. 'Shinairo.' The glasses looked as good as new. 'Here you go.' He sat up, and put them on, staring at Hermione with those big green eyes. She knew what he was going to do...but she didn't give him the chance, for she stood up quickly.
'Hermione, don't go...' Harry pleaded.
'I can't stay here and let you kiss me,' Hermione said flatly. 'I-well, it wouldn't be right...it'd make Dr-er-my boyfriend really upset.'
'I understand,' Harry replied. 'Thanks for...you know...being the one that I can talk to in situations like these.'
'You're welcome, Harry,' Hermione answered quietly. 'Just call me if you need anything. I'll try to help.' She gave him a smile, then crawled through the portrait hole back into the corridors.
At the Gryffindor table, Ron was looking puzzled, because there was a note where Hermione sat.
'A note for you...Dunno who it's from,' Ron said. 'I was talking to Fred...must've been then that, whoever it was, dropped it.'
Hermione opened it up. It was from Draco.
Hermione-
Meet me tonight in the Astronomy
Tower, at 9 o'clock.
--Draco
'Well?' Ron asked. 'Who's it from, then?' Hermione stashed it in her pocket, and sat back down across from Ron.
'Oh, uh...Neville,' Hermione said. 'Dang! Why couldn't I have come up with a better line than that?!' Hermione thought to herself.
'Say, everything all right with Harry?' Ron questioned. 'Don't tell me that Skeeter woman got to him.'
'Oh, it's nothing. I promised I wouldn't tell,' Hermione said thoughtfully. 'Ron, have you got the time?'
'Oh, yeah...' he took out a pocket watch. 'It's quarter to nine. We have Magical History in fifteen minutes, with Professor Binns.'
'I better get going!' Hermione said abruptly. 'I still have all of my books in my Head dorm! See you.'
Hermione got up and left, and headed out into the halls, where all was still, except for Sir Cadogan and the odd teacher.
'Oh! Miss Granger!' said a tiny voice from behind her. It was Professor Flitwick. 'Care to meet me after school to learn the spell to light up the Halloween pumpkins?'
'Sure, what time, Professor?' Hermione asked.
'Four thirty, if you don't mind?' Professor Flitwick said. 'I have to go prepare my class for the Slytherins and Hufflepuffs....an answer, please?'
'Oh, yes, four thirty is fine,' Hermione replied. 'I'm kind of in a hurry, too. I'll see you after school. Good-bye!' And the two of them went off in the opposite direction of each other. 'Twiffle-sleeve,' she muttered to the portrait. It opened up for her, and she quickly got her Arithmancy, Transfiguration, and History books.
*
'Good day, class,' said Professor Binns. Everyone began to laugh, as he had entered the room through the wall. Professor Binns was the only ghost teacher in Hogwarts. Apparently, he didn't even know he was dead! 'Please open your books to page 1097...'
There was a soft rippling sound, as all of the students opened their books to the same page. The time passed by very quickly. Of course, it always did, once you had fallen into your regular sleeping routine. That's right. Professor Binns' classes were utmost boring; nauseably boring, perhaps...
*
9 o'clock at night....
Hermione tip-toed up to the Astronomy Tower. Draco was already there, leaning against one of the stone walls, his arms crossed.
'Hermione, you came,' he said in a surprised voice.
'Of course...why wouldn't I?' Hermione asked coolly. 'Anyway, what is it?'
'I just wanted to see you alone...away from prying eyes,' Draco purred softly. 'So...I am gratified that you came.'
'Oh, really?' Hermione asked, eye-brows raised. 'Well, whatever your heart desires, is my desire, too.'
He walked over, and put an arm around her. 'Harry Potter...Hermione Granger...said to be wed in July...' Draco shot a glance at her. 'Of course, I don't believe it. But why would Rita Skeeter write that?'
'Because she's always loved making Harry and I annoyed,' Hermione sighed. 'She seems to do a good job, if you ask me.' Draco laughed, and raised her chin to give her a kiss. 'Anything else?'
'Not really...just wanted you to come enjoy the full moon with me from a good view,' Draco replied. 'Isn't it beautiful?'
'Yes, it is,' she said, 'absolutely lovely. Its shininess reflects off your beautiful grey eyes, leaving a trail of what someone would mistake to be glitter.' They grinned at each other.
'Hermione, I love you,' Draco whispered softly.
'I love you, too,' she answered.
*
It was about twelve thirty before they got back to the Head dormitory, where Hermione decided to go and sleep in the Gryffindor dormitories instead.
She crawled through the portrait of the Fat Lady, and into the girls' dormitory. Lavender and Parvati were still awake.
'Hermione!' they squealed. 'We haven't seen you in ages! We've got some questions for you.'
'Oh?' Hermione said. 'Like what? Ask away.' Both Lavender and Parvati raised their eyebrows, and grinned. 'Oh, great...'
'Well...' Lavender began, 'have you seen Draco naked yet??'
'WHAT?! No!' Hermione shrieked.
'C'mon, have you at least seen him without a shirt?' Parvati asked. 'You've been around in the same room for ages and you haven't seen him naked?'
'Why would I want to?!' Hermione asked, disgusted at them. 'But yes, I admit, I've seen him without a shirt on.'
'Oooh! Is he muscular?? Huh? Well, is he??' Parvati asked in a high-pitched voice. 'I bet he has a six pack! Have you seen him in just his boxers???'
'Well...gotta admit, playing on the Quidditch team sure has toned him up with muscles...' Hermione whispered, 'and yes, I've seen him with just boxers on; that's the way he sleeps at night! Now I'm shutting up! I won't tell you anything else, perverts.'
'Fine, fine,' sighed Lavender. 'See you in the morning.' But Harry the girls' dormitory, and since boys usually weren't allowed in there, all of the girls were shocked.
'Harry!' Hermione yelled. 'Get out!'
'Not until you've told me something,' Harry replied sternly. 'Walk with me.'
'But-' Harry merely grabbed her forcefully by the arm, and dragged her out in front of the fire in the common room.
'What were you doing with Malfoy?' Harry asked seriously. 'No one stays with Malfoy for three whole hours without a darn good reason, so I have a right to know everything.'
'What?' Hermione said. But then she remembered-the Marauder's Map! It was a map of the entire school. It had dots to show where certain people were, and it could see through invisibility cloaks. 'I was...we had to...it was just....really, now, Harry....honestly, I don't know what you mean...was a mistake...must've been someone else...'
'It showed you and Malfoy, rather close together, I might add, inside the Astronomy opened the door to Tower for three full hours,' Harry replied, his bright green eyes frowning at Hermione.
'Project?' Hermione stammered, but Harry saw right through it. He crossed his arms, closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.
'Tell me the truth, Herm,' Harry said. 'I'm serious!'
'Professor McGonagall needed a meeting with us at night, and afterwords, since we both like looking at a full moon, we went to the Astronomy Tower to get a better view, OK?' Hermione squealed.
'I suppose that's believable...' he said, still eyeing her suspiciously. 'Fine, go to bed.'
*
The next day, Hermione and Draco were cut from classes to decorate the Great Hall, which would surprisingly take up most of their time.
'Now, remember what I said, Miss Granger,' Professor Flitwick said. 'Raise the pumpkin with wingardium leviosar, and then light it with lumos topalis. Got that?'
'Yes, Professor,' she sighed. 'Wingardium Leviosar!' Hermione pointed her wand at all of the pumpkins, then said 'Lumos Topalis!' which miraculously lit all of the pumpkins with green flame.
All of the first-years looked excited whenever they came into the Great Hall for meals, making their little "ooh's" and "awe's." Draco wasn't having much fun, though.
'What a drag...' he grimaced. 'This is taking so long! My arms are getting tired from placing the candles everywhere.'
There were about six-hundred and fifty-thousand candles total. Some of them floating, others on the house tables. It was a long, tiring day, but they got to relax in their dormitories afterwards. Harry and Ron kept bugging Hermione to take them to see the Head rooms. Hermione was rather reluctant to do so.
'Wow! You two get your own private bedrooms and washrooms? Crikey!' Ron said when he stepped inside, making himself comfortable on the velour couch.
'Get your feet off the furniture!' Hermione snapped. 'That's not cheap, you know! It costs a fortune to get the fabric clean!'
'Jeez, soooo-ry,' Ron said sarcastically. 'Hey, Draco, what colour's your room?'
'Green, if you must know, Ron,' he sighed.
'And yours, 'Mione?' Ron asked.
'Red, of course,' Hermione said. 'Harry, are you OK? You're not talking much.' Harry snapped out of his daydream, and looked at Hermione.
'What? Oh, yeah. I'm fine, why?' Harry asked. 'I just didn't get much sleep last night...'
'Oh...well, OK, if you say so,' Hermione replied.
The rest of the evening went by very quickly, and then it was time for the Halloween feast, in the Great Hall.
Enemies, or Not?
After their little meeting with Neville Longbottom, Harry, Ron and Hermione hurried down the corridors, as quickly, but as soundlessly, as possible.
'See you guys tomorrow, then,' Hermione said. 'Good-night!'
'Yeah, g'night, Hermione,' Harry and Ron said together. Hermione hurried to her Head dormitory-she was very surprised to find that Draco wasn't back from his detention yet.
'I hope Filch wasn't too hard on him...' Hermione thought. She didn't bother keeping awake until he came. She was much too tired, so she went straight to bed. She was awoken, however, by tapping at her door. Hermione looked at the clock, rubbing her eyes. 'What? 4 o'clock in the morning? Ohh...Come in.'
'Herm, it's me,' Draco whispered. 'Sorry for being so late-er, sorry! Were you asleep?'
'Yes, I was asleep!' Hermione whispered loudly. 'Sheesh! Go to bed! Do you have the slightest idea of what time it is?'
'Er-no, actually...' Draco sighed. 'Why? What time is it?'
'Four in the morning,' Hermione yawned. 'Go away...'
'Fine, fine, good-night,' he said, shutting the door quietly. At 5 o'clock in the morning, Hermione arose with yet another tap at the door.
'Wha...?' Hermione said lazily. 'Leave me alone, Draco! I told you to go away!' But it was Ron, not Draco. 'Huh? What're you doing here?'
'Harry's acting weird...' Ron whispered, panic-stricken. 'Please come! I don't know what's wrong!'
'Fine, fine! Don't get your knickers in a knot,' Hermione snapped. 'Sheesh! Second time tonight I've been awaken!'
'Just hurry!' Ron called pleadingly. Hermione sleepily stepped into the Head common room. The door to Draco's room opened.
'What's going on? I heard footsteps and-' Draco looked at the situation. 'Er-what is Ron doing here?'
'Don't worry about it, go back to bed,' Hermione ordered. 'Something's wrong with Harry. We'll be fine!'
They stepped over to the portrait of the Fat Lady, who was snoring, drool sliding down the side of her chin.
'Blooberworm,' Ron muttered to the Fat Lady, who woke with a start.
'Same to you, too!' she grumbled, and she swung open for them to enter. Harry seemed to be asleep.
'So...? What's the problem? He's asleep,' Hermione whispered.
'Wait, look-' Ron said, but was cut off, as Harry sat up.
'You! What do you think you're doing, sneaking around at night? No doubt serving bad deeds to Voldemort!' Harry snapped.
'What?' Hermione asked. 'Harry, it's us!' But he showed no sign of being able to hear them-everything he said was incoherant.
'And you! You should know better than to serve Voldemort (Ron flinched at the name) after what Sirius told you! I should knock you from here to-' he started snoring, his head crashing against the pillow.
'Um...that was-er-odd?' Hermione whispered. She started tip-toeing towards Harry's bed, but he sat up again.
'Stay away!' he shouted. 'One more step, and I'll blast your brains!' He took a quill off the desk, mistaking it for his wand, and pointed it at Hermione. 'Go on! Back away! Slowly now...no one needs to get hurt...that's it...yep...' and Harry fell back asleep again.
'Oh, dear..' Hermione said. 'Perhaps we should get Dumbledore?'
'Yeah,' Ron agreed. The halls were empty; Ron and Hermione's footsteps echoed everywhere. They reached a stone Gargoyle, and from what Harry had told them before, this was the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's room.
'What do you reckon the password is?' Hermione asked.
'I dunno!' Ron said. 'Umm...Filibuster Fireworks?' Nothing happened. 'Jabbergrass? Chocolate Frog? Fat Lady? Hooting Owl?' Bingo! The Gargoyle opened up, a passage behind it, leading to a large oak door. Ron knocked quietly on it.
'He's probably asleep,' Hermione whispered. But sure enough, Dumbledore answered the door, his bright blue eyes shining down at them.
'Come in, then,' he smiled. 'Please do. Would you like some tea?'
'Oh, uh, that's OK,' Hermione answered. 'Listen, sorry for waking you.'
'Not at all!' Dumbledore beamed. 'Now,' he said, as Fawkes (his Pheonix) swooped down onto Ron's lap, 'what seems to be the matter?'
'It's Harry!' Ron said urgently. 'He's acting all weird! He keeps waking up and saying things, like we're serving You-Know-Who.'
'I see...' Dumbledore said calmly. 'Lead the way.'
'Pardon?' Ron said.
'Lead the way to Harry. I shall do my best to help,' Dumbledore smiled. 'That is, of course, what you wanted?'
'Oh...yeah,' Hermione said. Her, Ron and Professor Dumbledore creeped into the boys dormitory. Harry was asleep, at the moment, at least.
Ron began inching close to Harry. 'Hey, you scallywag! Get away from me!' Harry said. 'If you don't stop serving Voldemort right now, I'll put the Cruciatus curse on you!' Dumbledore stared at Harry, then at Ron and Hermione.
'I see...' he whispered, his eyes twinkling in the moonlight. 'Harry, can you hear me?' Harry just sat there, his eagle-feather quill pointing at him. Then all of a sudden, Harry opened his eyes wide.
'Wha...? Hello, Professor Dumbledore,' Harry said in his usual tone of voice. 'What are you doing here? Is something wrong?'
'Mr Potter, I'm afraid someone had slipped you a nightmare potion, unless I'm much mistaken,' Dumbledore said. 'Do you know what you have been saying in your sleep?' Harry stared at him.
'No...' he said. 'Why would I be talking in my sleep?'
'Harry, you've been saying things about the Dark Lord!' Hermione whispered loudly. 'You didn't even notice yourself doing it?'
'Nope, not at all,' Harry answered. 'Sorry.'
'Quite all right, I'm sure,' Dumbledore said politely. 'You may return to your dormitory, Miss Granger. Good-night to you all.'
Hermione opened the door into the Head common room, where Draco was on the couch, nervously staring at the door.
'Finally! You're back!' Draco sighed with relief. 'I was afraid something terrible had happened.'
'No, no, I'm fine,' Hermione yawned. 'Everyone is.'
'You have no idea how worried I've been,' Draco whispered. 'Normally, things that aren't dangerous don't take too long. Anyway, it's late, so go to bed.' He kissed her on the forehead.
'I know, Draco,' Hermione replied; she yawned right afterwards. 'Good-night, then. Sleep well.'
'You, too.'
*
The next morning, Hermione went down to the Great Hall. Harry seemed to be very upset about something, that he was almost too shocked to cry.
'Harry! What's wrong?' Hermione asked, concerned. Harry shoved a copy of the Daily Prophet at her. It said:
Harry Potter a snob?
Rita Skeeter reports that one Harry Potter has turned
Into a self-centered snob. 'Oh, yeah! He's always telling
Everyone to go away and "leave him his private space"!'
Pansy Parkinson, a fifth-year student from Slytherin says.
'Well, please, don't be upset,' Hermione said soothingly. 'You know it's not true.'
'I suppose so,' Harry groaned. 'Anyway, sorry about my behavior last night, what with talking in my sleep and all,' he added. 'Also, Hermione, would you be so kind as to have a word with me in Gryffindor common room?'
'Yeah, sure...' Hermione hesitated. Harry took her by the hand, and they went into the deserted common room. 'What's up?' Tears were forming in Harry's eyes.
'Rita Skeeter...she....she said some awful things about m-my parents,' Harry sobbed. Tears were streaming down his face.
'Oh, Harry...' she said, lost for words. She pulled him into a hug. 'I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?'
'No, not really,' Harry said, wiping the tears on his sleeve. Hermione couldn't stand to see him this way. She sat down on one of the beds, and Harry laid his head down in her lap. 'She said some really horrible things...some of them were about you.'
'Oh...' Hermione whispered. 'Harry, are you positive there's nothing I can do?'
'Unless you'd be willing to break up with your boyfriend to be with me, well...no, there isn't,' Harry murmered, while trying to unfog his glasses.
'Here, let me...' she took the glasses from his hands. 'Shinairo.' The glasses looked as good as new. 'Here you go.' He sat up, and put them on, staring at Hermione with those big green eyes. She knew what he was going to do...but she didn't give him the chance, for she stood up quickly.
'Hermione, don't go...' Harry pleaded.
'I can't stay here and let you kiss me,' Hermione said flatly. 'I-well, it wouldn't be right...it'd make Dr-er-my boyfriend really upset.'
'I understand,' Harry replied. 'Thanks for...you know...being the one that I can talk to in situations like these.'
'You're welcome, Harry,' Hermione answered quietly. 'Just call me if you need anything. I'll try to help.' She gave him a smile, then crawled through the portrait hole back into the corridors.
At the Gryffindor table, Ron was looking puzzled, because there was a note where Hermione sat.
'A note for you...Dunno who it's from,' Ron said. 'I was talking to Fred...must've been then that, whoever it was, dropped it.'
Hermione opened it up. It was from Draco.
Hermione-
Meet me tonight in the Astronomy
Tower, at 9 o'clock.
--Draco
'Well?' Ron asked. 'Who's it from, then?' Hermione stashed it in her pocket, and sat back down across from Ron.
'Oh, uh...Neville,' Hermione said. 'Dang! Why couldn't I have come up with a better line than that?!' Hermione thought to herself.
'Say, everything all right with Harry?' Ron questioned. 'Don't tell me that Skeeter woman got to him.'
'Oh, it's nothing. I promised I wouldn't tell,' Hermione said thoughtfully. 'Ron, have you got the time?'
'Oh, yeah...' he took out a pocket watch. 'It's quarter to nine. We have Magical History in fifteen minutes, with Professor Binns.'
'I better get going!' Hermione said abruptly. 'I still have all of my books in my Head dorm! See you.'
Hermione got up and left, and headed out into the halls, where all was still, except for Sir Cadogan and the odd teacher.
'Oh! Miss Granger!' said a tiny voice from behind her. It was Professor Flitwick. 'Care to meet me after school to learn the spell to light up the Halloween pumpkins?'
'Sure, what time, Professor?' Hermione asked.
'Four thirty, if you don't mind?' Professor Flitwick said. 'I have to go prepare my class for the Slytherins and Hufflepuffs....an answer, please?'
'Oh, yes, four thirty is fine,' Hermione replied. 'I'm kind of in a hurry, too. I'll see you after school. Good-bye!' And the two of them went off in the opposite direction of each other. 'Twiffle-sleeve,' she muttered to the portrait. It opened up for her, and she quickly got her Arithmancy, Transfiguration, and History books.
*
'Good day, class,' said Professor Binns. Everyone began to laugh, as he had entered the room through the wall. Professor Binns was the only ghost teacher in Hogwarts. Apparently, he didn't even know he was dead! 'Please open your books to page 1097...'
There was a soft rippling sound, as all of the students opened their books to the same page. The time passed by very quickly. Of course, it always did, once you had fallen into your regular sleeping routine. That's right. Professor Binns' classes were utmost boring; nauseably boring, perhaps...
*
9 o'clock at night....
Hermione tip-toed up to the Astronomy Tower. Draco was already there, leaning against one of the stone walls, his arms crossed.
'Hermione, you came,' he said in a surprised voice.
'Of course...why wouldn't I?' Hermione asked coolly. 'Anyway, what is it?'
'I just wanted to see you alone...away from prying eyes,' Draco purred softly. 'So...I am gratified that you came.'
'Oh, really?' Hermione asked, eye-brows raised. 'Well, whatever your heart desires, is my desire, too.'
He walked over, and put an arm around her. 'Harry Potter...Hermione Granger...said to be wed in July...' Draco shot a glance at her. 'Of course, I don't believe it. But why would Rita Skeeter write that?'
'Because she's always loved making Harry and I annoyed,' Hermione sighed. 'She seems to do a good job, if you ask me.' Draco laughed, and raised her chin to give her a kiss. 'Anything else?'
'Not really...just wanted you to come enjoy the full moon with me from a good view,' Draco replied. 'Isn't it beautiful?'
'Yes, it is,' she said, 'absolutely lovely. Its shininess reflects off your beautiful grey eyes, leaving a trail of what someone would mistake to be glitter.' They grinned at each other.
'Hermione, I love you,' Draco whispered softly.
'I love you, too,' she answered.
*
It was about twelve thirty before they got back to the Head dormitory, where Hermione decided to go and sleep in the Gryffindor dormitories instead.
She crawled through the portrait of the Fat Lady, and into the girls' dormitory. Lavender and Parvati were still awake.
'Hermione!' they squealed. 'We haven't seen you in ages! We've got some questions for you.'
'Oh?' Hermione said. 'Like what? Ask away.' Both Lavender and Parvati raised their eyebrows, and grinned. 'Oh, great...'
'Well...' Lavender began, 'have you seen Draco naked yet??'
'WHAT?! No!' Hermione shrieked.
'C'mon, have you at least seen him without a shirt?' Parvati asked. 'You've been around in the same room for ages and you haven't seen him naked?'
'Why would I want to?!' Hermione asked, disgusted at them. 'But yes, I admit, I've seen him without a shirt on.'
'Oooh! Is he muscular?? Huh? Well, is he??' Parvati asked in a high-pitched voice. 'I bet he has a six pack! Have you seen him in just his boxers???'
'Well...gotta admit, playing on the Quidditch team sure has toned him up with muscles...' Hermione whispered, 'and yes, I've seen him with just boxers on; that's the way he sleeps at night! Now I'm shutting up! I won't tell you anything else, perverts.'
'Fine, fine,' sighed Lavender. 'See you in the morning.' But Harry the girls' dormitory, and since boys usually weren't allowed in there, all of the girls were shocked.
'Harry!' Hermione yelled. 'Get out!'
'Not until you've told me something,' Harry replied sternly. 'Walk with me.'
'But-' Harry merely grabbed her forcefully by the arm, and dragged her out in front of the fire in the common room.
'What were you doing with Malfoy?' Harry asked seriously. 'No one stays with Malfoy for three whole hours without a darn good reason, so I have a right to know everything.'
'What?' Hermione said. But then she remembered-the Marauder's Map! It was a map of the entire school. It had dots to show where certain people were, and it could see through invisibility cloaks. 'I was...we had to...it was just....really, now, Harry....honestly, I don't know what you mean...was a mistake...must've been someone else...'
'It showed you and Malfoy, rather close together, I might add, inside the Astronomy opened the door to Tower for three full hours,' Harry replied, his bright green eyes frowning at Hermione.
'Project?' Hermione stammered, but Harry saw right through it. He crossed his arms, closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.
'Tell me the truth, Herm,' Harry said. 'I'm serious!'
'Professor McGonagall needed a meeting with us at night, and afterwords, since we both like looking at a full moon, we went to the Astronomy Tower to get a better view, OK?' Hermione squealed.
'I suppose that's believable...' he said, still eyeing her suspiciously. 'Fine, go to bed.'
*
The next day, Hermione and Draco were cut from classes to decorate the Great Hall, which would surprisingly take up most of their time.
'Now, remember what I said, Miss Granger,' Professor Flitwick said. 'Raise the pumpkin with wingardium leviosar, and then light it with lumos topalis. Got that?'
'Yes, Professor,' she sighed. 'Wingardium Leviosar!' Hermione pointed her wand at all of the pumpkins, then said 'Lumos Topalis!' which miraculously lit all of the pumpkins with green flame.
All of the first-years looked excited whenever they came into the Great Hall for meals, making their little "ooh's" and "awe's." Draco wasn't having much fun, though.
'What a drag...' he grimaced. 'This is taking so long! My arms are getting tired from placing the candles everywhere.'
There were about six-hundred and fifty-thousand candles total. Some of them floating, others on the house tables. It was a long, tiring day, but they got to relax in their dormitories afterwards. Harry and Ron kept bugging Hermione to take them to see the Head rooms. Hermione was rather reluctant to do so.
'Wow! You two get your own private bedrooms and washrooms? Crikey!' Ron said when he stepped inside, making himself comfortable on the velour couch.
'Get your feet off the furniture!' Hermione snapped. 'That's not cheap, you know! It costs a fortune to get the fabric clean!'
'Jeez, soooo-ry,' Ron said sarcastically. 'Hey, Draco, what colour's your room?'
'Green, if you must know, Ron,' he sighed.
'And yours, 'Mione?' Ron asked.
'Red, of course,' Hermione said. 'Harry, are you OK? You're not talking much.' Harry snapped out of his daydream, and looked at Hermione.
'What? Oh, yeah. I'm fine, why?' Harry asked. 'I just didn't get much sleep last night...'
'Oh...well, OK, if you say so,' Hermione replied.
The rest of the evening went by very quickly, and then it was time for the Halloween feast, in the Great Hall.