This chapter is dedicated to S-Star and hedwig-owlgirl.. thanks for putting me in your faves!
Chapter 6: Bogus Message
"Professor Dumbledore, I need to talk to you." Hermione said when she saw the headmaster walking toward the great hall.
"Yes Miss Granger?" Dumbledore said as he stopped.
"It's about the Wizards' Night." Hermione said. "Are we still going to have it?"
"Of course we are." Dumbledore said merrily.
"There are no problems then? Is there a band?" Hermione asked.
"No problems whatsoever. The band is already booked." Dumbledore said.
"Oh.." Hermione said, confused. /Then why am I talking to you?/
"Jeremy booked the band just yesterday. I'm not sure who they are but I trust his judgment." Dumbledore said with a pleased smile. "Jeremy is always dependable."
"Well, thanks Professor." Hermione forced a smile.
She was about to leave when Dumbledore asked her something.
"Are you alright Miss Granger? You look a bit down." Dumbledore asked with concern in his tone.
"Nothing's wrong. Everything's fine." Hermione forced an even bigger smile.
"Is Ron alright?" Dumbledore asked. "Harry told me he's getting out tomorrow."
"Yes, he's fine. He's conscious and, umm, talking." Hermione said.
"The curse that Malfoy did on him. Do you know where he learned that?" Dumbledore asked.
Hermione remained silent. She remembered the black book again.
"You don't have to tell me Miss Granger, I have a copy of one myself." Dumbledore said nicely.
"I'm really sorry Professor. A friend lent one to me, I thought it would be, uh, educational to see if I can make counter curses or something." Hermione said.
"There's really nothing to be sorry about. You have good intentions. Just don't temporarily blind the other eye of Mr. Malfoy. His father will be absolutely hysterical." Dumbledore laughed as he remembered his talk with Malfoy's dad.
"I won't." Hermione said. "He might freeze Ron's brain again." Then she suddenly turned pale. It was the first time she mentioned Ron's name since she heard him in the hospital wing. Her eyes became all watery.
"Empedocles said that a force called love causes the elements to come together as compounds, and that a force called strife causes the compounds to break up." Dumbledore paused, heaved a sigh, and then continued, "Ms. Granger, remember that it has nothing to do with dissimilarity. It has everything to do with understanding." Dumbledore walked away without another sound.
/He.. knows? It's not possible.. Did Harry? Whatever../
----------
Hermione entered the great hall. She was in deep thought.
"Hey Hermione!" Harry said trying to conceal his gloomy tone.
"Hey!" She said with the same tone.
"So.. what's up?" Harry asked sounding a little bit happier.
"The sky.." Hermione answered.
Harry chuckled then asked concernedly, "Why didn't you go to the hospital wing?"
"I had to straighten out a few things." Hermione said.
"Did Malfoy give you a hard time or something? You look a bit sad." Harry asked.
"Malfoy always gives me a hard time." Hermione said. She looked around. She wanted to talk to Jeremy about the Wizards' Night.
"Hermione, what are you looking for?" Harry asked when he noticed his friend's worried face.
"I need to talk to Jeremy.. Oh there he is!" Hermione said. She quickly got up and walked over to where Jeremy was eating.
Harry watched his friend go over to the head boy. He felt sorry for her. /Ron is wrong. They're perfect for each other./ Harry suddenly remembered their conversation in the hospital wing..
"Ron! I said what does HE have to do with it?" Harry asked again.
Ron still didn't reply.
"RON!" Harry yelled.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Fine I'll tell you." He cleared his throat. "Malfoy and Hermione have something going on."
"Duh!" Harry said indifferently. "I can name lots of stuff that are going on between them: hatred, anger, detestation, abhorrence, revulsion, disgust, odium.. did I forget to mention hatred?"
"Harry, you know what I mean." Ron said in a sad tone.
Harry suddenly remembered Malfoy's weird smile in the train, Hermione's smile at Malfoy in the great hall.. /It CAN'T be!/ Harry thought. /They're wide of the mark./
Ron interrupted Harry's thoughts. "Last summer, I saw them in the mall. They were eating - together."
/Wait a damn minute!/ Harry thought. /I didn't know anything about that! Malfoy and Hermione.. eating together? The very thought of it makes me throw up!/ Then he spit out all the possibilities. "Maybe they had something to settle. Maybe they had an arrangement or something. Maybe it was totally different from what you think. Maybe.."
Ron cut in Harry's talking. "Maybe.. maybe.. maybe.. How about 'what if'? WHAT IF they are together?"
"Ron, if you want to break up with her, your basis should be something DEFINITE!"
"It is definite Harry." Ron said with disdain.
"OK. Look: Hermione and Malfoy were NOT, are NOT and NEVER will be together. Ron can't you see how impossible that is?" Harry yelled.
"Yes. But still.."
"Ron you have no clear proof to attest that she and Malfoy are together. Don't break up with her because of something you are not sure of. You will regret it when you discover the truth." Harry said.
There was a long soundless pause. Ron sighed.. "Harry I know that, but.."
Harry frowned. /I am so tired of this! What do I have to do so you could get what I've been trying to say?/ Harry raised his voice, "Ron could you just get back to reality? You love Hermione and she loves you. She would never ever do that. And if she did, it wouldn't be with that bas.. "
"Mr. Potter! I could hear your voice from the other end of the hall! Please leave now. Mr. Weasley needs more rest." Madam Pomfrey said as she rushed in the room.
As Harry committed this to memory, he felt very apprehensive. He did not want his two best friends to split up. /They're far too perfect for each other./
----------
"Jeremy!" Hermione said as she tapped him on the shoulder.
"Yeah?" Jeremy responded smilingly. He was a responsible, cheerful and smart guy. He was kinda like a cooler version of Percy.
"The band. Wizards' Night. Do we have a band?" Hermione asked, stressing every word.
"Yeah we do. 'Hex Girls.' I booked them yesterday." Jeremy said.
"Hex Girls?" Hermione said in a confused voice.
"You haven't heard of them? Their songs are great. And they're extremely hot!" Jeremy said in tremendous eagerness.
"Whatever you say." Hermione said, rolling her eyes. /Hot? Men and their lingo!/
"Why'd you have to ask me? I thought I've passed the message to every prefect." He said in his serious voice.
"Well, Malfoy said that.." Hermione was suddenly interrupted.
"Yeah. I told Malfoy to notify you."
"Well, your notifier notified me wrongly." Hermione said. /Great! Another one of Malfoy's pointless tricks./
"What the hell did he say?" Jeremy stood up. He was clearly getting aggravated.
"He just said it was gonna get cancelled. No big deal." She tried to calm him down.
"No big deal? Hermione he's passing false information. Who knows how many times he's done that!" His voice was getting a tad louder. Other Gryffindors started to look at them. Hermione pushed him down to his seat.
She stared at him and said in a low voice. "Calm down ok? It's not like he caused the end of the world."
He stared at her - for a long time. He finally said, "Fine. No big deal. I won't send him next time." Jeremy said as he grinned at Hermione.
"Jeremy, next time, just send a rat to deliver the message." Hermione said sarcastically.
"I thought I just did?" Jeremy said with the same sarcastic-ness.
Hermione forced a smile and went back to her seat. /If Malfoy's intention was to annoy me, then he succeeded!/
Next chapter: Ron gets out of the hospital wing. What do you want to happen?
Chapter 6: Bogus Message
"Professor Dumbledore, I need to talk to you." Hermione said when she saw the headmaster walking toward the great hall.
"Yes Miss Granger?" Dumbledore said as he stopped.
"It's about the Wizards' Night." Hermione said. "Are we still going to have it?"
"Of course we are." Dumbledore said merrily.
"There are no problems then? Is there a band?" Hermione asked.
"No problems whatsoever. The band is already booked." Dumbledore said.
"Oh.." Hermione said, confused. /Then why am I talking to you?/
"Jeremy booked the band just yesterday. I'm not sure who they are but I trust his judgment." Dumbledore said with a pleased smile. "Jeremy is always dependable."
"Well, thanks Professor." Hermione forced a smile.
She was about to leave when Dumbledore asked her something.
"Are you alright Miss Granger? You look a bit down." Dumbledore asked with concern in his tone.
"Nothing's wrong. Everything's fine." Hermione forced an even bigger smile.
"Is Ron alright?" Dumbledore asked. "Harry told me he's getting out tomorrow."
"Yes, he's fine. He's conscious and, umm, talking." Hermione said.
"The curse that Malfoy did on him. Do you know where he learned that?" Dumbledore asked.
Hermione remained silent. She remembered the black book again.
"You don't have to tell me Miss Granger, I have a copy of one myself." Dumbledore said nicely.
"I'm really sorry Professor. A friend lent one to me, I thought it would be, uh, educational to see if I can make counter curses or something." Hermione said.
"There's really nothing to be sorry about. You have good intentions. Just don't temporarily blind the other eye of Mr. Malfoy. His father will be absolutely hysterical." Dumbledore laughed as he remembered his talk with Malfoy's dad.
"I won't." Hermione said. "He might freeze Ron's brain again." Then she suddenly turned pale. It was the first time she mentioned Ron's name since she heard him in the hospital wing. Her eyes became all watery.
"Empedocles said that a force called love causes the elements to come together as compounds, and that a force called strife causes the compounds to break up." Dumbledore paused, heaved a sigh, and then continued, "Ms. Granger, remember that it has nothing to do with dissimilarity. It has everything to do with understanding." Dumbledore walked away without another sound.
/He.. knows? It's not possible.. Did Harry? Whatever../
----------
Hermione entered the great hall. She was in deep thought.
"Hey Hermione!" Harry said trying to conceal his gloomy tone.
"Hey!" She said with the same tone.
"So.. what's up?" Harry asked sounding a little bit happier.
"The sky.." Hermione answered.
Harry chuckled then asked concernedly, "Why didn't you go to the hospital wing?"
"I had to straighten out a few things." Hermione said.
"Did Malfoy give you a hard time or something? You look a bit sad." Harry asked.
"Malfoy always gives me a hard time." Hermione said. She looked around. She wanted to talk to Jeremy about the Wizards' Night.
"Hermione, what are you looking for?" Harry asked when he noticed his friend's worried face.
"I need to talk to Jeremy.. Oh there he is!" Hermione said. She quickly got up and walked over to where Jeremy was eating.
Harry watched his friend go over to the head boy. He felt sorry for her. /Ron is wrong. They're perfect for each other./ Harry suddenly remembered their conversation in the hospital wing..
"Ron! I said what does HE have to do with it?" Harry asked again.
Ron still didn't reply.
"RON!" Harry yelled.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Fine I'll tell you." He cleared his throat. "Malfoy and Hermione have something going on."
"Duh!" Harry said indifferently. "I can name lots of stuff that are going on between them: hatred, anger, detestation, abhorrence, revulsion, disgust, odium.. did I forget to mention hatred?"
"Harry, you know what I mean." Ron said in a sad tone.
Harry suddenly remembered Malfoy's weird smile in the train, Hermione's smile at Malfoy in the great hall.. /It CAN'T be!/ Harry thought. /They're wide of the mark./
Ron interrupted Harry's thoughts. "Last summer, I saw them in the mall. They were eating - together."
/Wait a damn minute!/ Harry thought. /I didn't know anything about that! Malfoy and Hermione.. eating together? The very thought of it makes me throw up!/ Then he spit out all the possibilities. "Maybe they had something to settle. Maybe they had an arrangement or something. Maybe it was totally different from what you think. Maybe.."
Ron cut in Harry's talking. "Maybe.. maybe.. maybe.. How about 'what if'? WHAT IF they are together?"
"Ron, if you want to break up with her, your basis should be something DEFINITE!"
"It is definite Harry." Ron said with disdain.
"OK. Look: Hermione and Malfoy were NOT, are NOT and NEVER will be together. Ron can't you see how impossible that is?" Harry yelled.
"Yes. But still.."
"Ron you have no clear proof to attest that she and Malfoy are together. Don't break up with her because of something you are not sure of. You will regret it when you discover the truth." Harry said.
There was a long soundless pause. Ron sighed.. "Harry I know that, but.."
Harry frowned. /I am so tired of this! What do I have to do so you could get what I've been trying to say?/ Harry raised his voice, "Ron could you just get back to reality? You love Hermione and she loves you. She would never ever do that. And if she did, it wouldn't be with that bas.. "
"Mr. Potter! I could hear your voice from the other end of the hall! Please leave now. Mr. Weasley needs more rest." Madam Pomfrey said as she rushed in the room.
As Harry committed this to memory, he felt very apprehensive. He did not want his two best friends to split up. /They're far too perfect for each other./
----------
"Jeremy!" Hermione said as she tapped him on the shoulder.
"Yeah?" Jeremy responded smilingly. He was a responsible, cheerful and smart guy. He was kinda like a cooler version of Percy.
"The band. Wizards' Night. Do we have a band?" Hermione asked, stressing every word.
"Yeah we do. 'Hex Girls.' I booked them yesterday." Jeremy said.
"Hex Girls?" Hermione said in a confused voice.
"You haven't heard of them? Their songs are great. And they're extremely hot!" Jeremy said in tremendous eagerness.
"Whatever you say." Hermione said, rolling her eyes. /Hot? Men and their lingo!/
"Why'd you have to ask me? I thought I've passed the message to every prefect." He said in his serious voice.
"Well, Malfoy said that.." Hermione was suddenly interrupted.
"Yeah. I told Malfoy to notify you."
"Well, your notifier notified me wrongly." Hermione said. /Great! Another one of Malfoy's pointless tricks./
"What the hell did he say?" Jeremy stood up. He was clearly getting aggravated.
"He just said it was gonna get cancelled. No big deal." She tried to calm him down.
"No big deal? Hermione he's passing false information. Who knows how many times he's done that!" His voice was getting a tad louder. Other Gryffindors started to look at them. Hermione pushed him down to his seat.
She stared at him and said in a low voice. "Calm down ok? It's not like he caused the end of the world."
He stared at her - for a long time. He finally said, "Fine. No big deal. I won't send him next time." Jeremy said as he grinned at Hermione.
"Jeremy, next time, just send a rat to deliver the message." Hermione said sarcastically.
"I thought I just did?" Jeremy said with the same sarcastic-ness.
Hermione forced a smile and went back to her seat. /If Malfoy's intention was to annoy me, then he succeeded!/
Next chapter: Ron gets out of the hospital wing. What do you want to happen?