Chapter 3: Late night reading
The next morning Harry was startled at the sound of some one walking through the halls outside the rooms. He slid out of bed and slightly opened the door. He caught a sight of a brunette head. He looked back into his room and looked out the window. No light shown through, it must still be in the early hours of the morning. He didn't want to wake Ron, so he grabbed his robe and glasses and followed the person to the common room. A light just lit down stairs dimly shown in the stairwell. Harry climbed down and peeked around the corner and saw a girl sitting by the low fire, reading. Harry knew who it was at first sight, 'What is Hermione doing out here?' Her hair was in one braid that was slung over her shoulder. She was in a red tank top and some yellow pants that seemed almost too big for her.
She was absorbed in a book that her mother gave her before she left, just for some 'very light' reading. Her mother used to read it when she was her age, and it was very interesting . . . for a 'muggle' book. The three hundred page, romance novel was entrapping, and she couldn't put it down. She finished the tenth chapter, sighed and finally put the book down on her lap. She stared into the fire that seemed to dance in front of her. She closed her eyes and imagined her and Harry as the characters in the book.
After Harry was sure that she didn't see him he started to walk toward her. He found that her eyes were closed and thought that maybe she fell asleep again. "Herm?" Harry walked toward her chair using his nickname for her and she shot open her eyes. "Harry!" She hid the book under the cushion of the chair, "What are you doing out here? It's nearly three am!"
"Yeah, I know. I heard some one outside my room in the halls. I followed you down here. What were you reading?"
"What?"
"What were you reading?" Harry repeated. Hermione knew that he wouldn't be fooled and brought the book back out. "I was reading a book that my mother gave me for some very light reading. I woke up, and couldn't get back to sleep and thought that I should just as well read it. I couldn't read it in my dorm since Lavender was snoring so loudly." Harry took the book from her hands and sat down on the couch on the other side of her. "This would usually take me at least a week to read completely. When did you start it?"
"Only about an hour ago."
"An hour ago?! What page are you on?"
"212."
"212!"
"And your point. . ."
"I should have known. Actually I should think that you would be further into it by now." He handed the book back to Hermione and leaned back on the couch. "So now that you know that I'm not anyone to worry about, are you going back to bed?"
"Well, now that I'm up, why not stay?" He looked up at her, "Why? Did you want to get rid of me?" he gave her a puppy dog stare. She smiled at him, "You want to talk?" He sat back up, "Sure, what about?" Hermione thought to herself, 'Alright, this could be your chance. Don't choke.' She just shrugged, 'Great conversation starter,' she mocked herself. He thought, but couldn't think of anything either. She got off of the chair and sat next to him on the couch. He sat there, 'Ok Potter. The girl you are absolutely gaga over is sitting right next to you, it now or never.' He took a deep breath, "So . . . (come on, you can do it) what is that book about?" 'Bravo. * Clap * * clap *'
Hermione looked at the cover of the book that had the shadows of a young girl and young guy on the bench, watching a sunset. "It's about a young girl that searches for a guy that will like her for her. She is a complete bookworm, doesn't have the best looks, and doesn't have many friends. She kept searching until one day; a boy comes up to her and asks her to go with him to a party. He was the most popular guy in school, so of course she said yes. She soon finds out he was only using her, and cheated on her that night. She was going to confront him, but caught him in the arms of another girl at the party. She ran all the way home, crying and thinking that no one could ever like her for who she is. The next day her best friend knew there was something wrong, came up to her and comforted her. She looked into his eyes-"
"His eyes?"
"Yeah, her best friend is a guy. Anyway, she found out that she loved him, and didn't realize until that moment. I think it is really cute," she looked up and saw only Harry's eyes staring straight back at her. "How does it end?" Harry asked as he leaned closer to her, leaning on his arm on the back of the couch. "I haven't . . ." Hermione felt herself leaning toward him, "haven't . . . read the whole . . .book . . ." Her eyes closed and just as their lips were going to meet . . . "Harry! Where are you?!" Harry fell off the couch, leaving his feet in the air and Hermione looked over the back of the couch. "Hermione! Where did you go?!" Harry got up next to her and looked over the back as well. Ron and Lavender where up and looking for their roommates. "Leave it to Ron to miss up the mood," Hermione looked over at Harry with a questioning look on her face. "What mood would that be, Harry Potter?" Harry got up and rubbed the back on his head like he was guilty of something. "Heh, heh. Um, nothing. Ron! I'm over here," he ran over to his best friend.
Lavender came over to Hermione and dragged her back to their room. "Just what do you think you were doing with Harry Potter, hmm?" Hermione rolled her eyes and lit a candle by her bed, "Nothing that is any of your business, Lavender."
"So, something did happen? Spill it Herm. You've been waiting, and complaining about these 'feelings' for a while," she closed the heavy door of the room.
"And if it ever does happen, I'll tell you. But until that time, it's none of your business. And don't go telling Parvati about it."
"You very well know that Parvati and I are in the middle of a fight, and are not talking."
"So for once, my secrets are safe?"
"Well, I don't know about that. That cutie, Ron-"
"Wait a minute, you fancy Ron?"
"I didn't say I fancied him. I just said he was a cutie. Anyway, he has been asking me what you thought about our dear Mr. Potter."
"Just great."
"But don't worry about it. Your secret is safe for now."
"Thanks," Hermione settled back into bed, "When you said 'for now' you really gave me a boost of assurance." She took another twenty minutes to finish her book, and finally fell back to sleep.