Chapter 5
Somehow after the Ball Hermione couldn't think of Draco quite the same way
again. They still fought every time they met, but she found she couldn't hate him
completely, now that she understood him somewhat.
After Christmas holidays they returned to the normal routine of life in the castle.
Hermione started studying for her O.W.Ls, they were only a few months away, and Harry
was training hard for the Quidditch Cup. Ron didn't take the O.W.Ls seriously yet, but
Hermione knew he would be going crazy over them in a few months' time.
"Ron," Hermione said one day. "Where did you and Pansy disappear to on the
Christmas Ball?"
Ron grinned. "So you noticed we were gone? We went with Fred, George,
Angelina and Alicia to Hogsmeade, through one of the secret passages out of Hogwarts.
It was more fun than sitting in the stuffy Great Hall and dancing. Sorry I didn't ask you to
come, but Fred and George told me not to because they didn't want Malfoy coming
along."
"Oh," Hermione sighed. She felt a tad angry, thinking of how she'd looked all
over for them.
More time went by. They snow dripped off the roof in great pools of slush, and
the path to the Herbology greenhouses was more of a river. Classes with Hagrid were
also guaranteed to make you muddy all over; they were learning about the different kinds
of magical birds and had to slog all over the ground with binoculars. The only good thing
was that Draco had quit harassing her as much, probably afraid she'd tell everyone what
he'd told her if he annoyed her too much. He was just as nasty to the other Gryffindors,
however.
There was another weekend in Hogsmeade, where Hermione finally got a chance
to hang out with Harry and Ron without Pansy. Pansy had had to finish off some work for
Professor Flitwick, and Hermione felt eternally grateful to him. They went to Zonko's
and bought No-heat Fireworks to throw at each other.
One day as Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean and Hermione were playing Gobstones
Katie Bell came in and told Harry Dumbledore wanted to see him. Harry shot her a
quizzical look but followed her out.
They had played about three games of Gobstones when Harry came back.
"What did the Headmaster want?" Dean asked.
Harry shrugged and looked at them.
"He warned me to be careful," he said. "He's not sure what Voldemort is up to.
He just wanted me to – to be on my guard, I guess."
Later Harry told Hermione and Ron Dumbledore had thought Voldemort was
getting restless.
"He hasn't tried anything really for a while," he said. "And killing might be next.
I mean, he might kill for the fun of it, or for a stupid reason. And then he'll go after me,
perhaps."
Hermione and Ron looked at each other.
"Does he really think someone will be killed?" Ron asked. "Maybe he doesn't
trust some of his followers. Wow, I wonder who Dumbledore thinks is in danger."
"Me," Harry sighed, running a hand over his messy black hair.
Hermione wasn't so sure.
Okay, a really short chapter this time. I'm trying to get all of this story up before the fifth
book comes out and tells me this is way off track. So be patient, it'll all be up soon.
-La Apricot
Somehow after the Ball Hermione couldn't think of Draco quite the same way
again. They still fought every time they met, but she found she couldn't hate him
completely, now that she understood him somewhat.
After Christmas holidays they returned to the normal routine of life in the castle.
Hermione started studying for her O.W.Ls, they were only a few months away, and Harry
was training hard for the Quidditch Cup. Ron didn't take the O.W.Ls seriously yet, but
Hermione knew he would be going crazy over them in a few months' time.
"Ron," Hermione said one day. "Where did you and Pansy disappear to on the
Christmas Ball?"
Ron grinned. "So you noticed we were gone? We went with Fred, George,
Angelina and Alicia to Hogsmeade, through one of the secret passages out of Hogwarts.
It was more fun than sitting in the stuffy Great Hall and dancing. Sorry I didn't ask you to
come, but Fred and George told me not to because they didn't want Malfoy coming
along."
"Oh," Hermione sighed. She felt a tad angry, thinking of how she'd looked all
over for them.
More time went by. They snow dripped off the roof in great pools of slush, and
the path to the Herbology greenhouses was more of a river. Classes with Hagrid were
also guaranteed to make you muddy all over; they were learning about the different kinds
of magical birds and had to slog all over the ground with binoculars. The only good thing
was that Draco had quit harassing her as much, probably afraid she'd tell everyone what
he'd told her if he annoyed her too much. He was just as nasty to the other Gryffindors,
however.
There was another weekend in Hogsmeade, where Hermione finally got a chance
to hang out with Harry and Ron without Pansy. Pansy had had to finish off some work for
Professor Flitwick, and Hermione felt eternally grateful to him. They went to Zonko's
and bought No-heat Fireworks to throw at each other.
One day as Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean and Hermione were playing Gobstones
Katie Bell came in and told Harry Dumbledore wanted to see him. Harry shot her a
quizzical look but followed her out.
They had played about three games of Gobstones when Harry came back.
"What did the Headmaster want?" Dean asked.
Harry shrugged and looked at them.
"He warned me to be careful," he said. "He's not sure what Voldemort is up to.
He just wanted me to – to be on my guard, I guess."
Later Harry told Hermione and Ron Dumbledore had thought Voldemort was
getting restless.
"He hasn't tried anything really for a while," he said. "And killing might be next.
I mean, he might kill for the fun of it, or for a stupid reason. And then he'll go after me,
perhaps."
Hermione and Ron looked at each other.
"Does he really think someone will be killed?" Ron asked. "Maybe he doesn't
trust some of his followers. Wow, I wonder who Dumbledore thinks is in danger."
"Me," Harry sighed, running a hand over his messy black hair.
Hermione wasn't so sure.
Okay, a really short chapter this time. I'm trying to get all of this story up before the fifth
book comes out and tells me this is way off track. So be patient, it'll all be up soon.
-La Apricot