As I promised, here are my BIG, BIG, BIG, THANK YOUs! To *deep breath*...
Obsessed, S_Star, Psychopeanut (though you didn't EXACTLY review... LOL),
Nessie, Kris10michelle, Ariel, Illusen, Lauren, 'Chloe E Zephyr' (Who is
really my sister, but she reviewed while I was logged in... Forgot to log
out, see?), S.E.A., Coeur-de-ma-vie (Whoa!), Jen Drake, Kylie (Minouge?),
Eriol's Bear (sounds cute and fuzzy!), Kelpiemonkey, HELLO (Hi?), ::JAC::
(P3iYi... You copy =^-_-^=!!), Angelcat221 (Meow!), MelissaAdams, Jase,
Hedwig7up, Ann, bcflirt4eva02, Haleigh, Destiny, Arime Setta (Yup, okay,
I'll e-mail you... No prob!), and M-X (I'll try to hurry along as best as I
can!) ... Phew! That was pretty long! Anyway, thanks to ALL of you! You've
been REALLY fantastic reviewers! Thanks! Here's the next chapter!
Chapter 23
At breakfast the next day, Hermione tried to concentrate on what she was doing. When she was asked questions on homework, and other minor stuff, she just managed to give vague answers. The world was just a blur. Like a fast- forward gone wrong. The only one, who stood out like clear water, was Draco. His blond hair, neatly slicked back, his orderly uniform, and his calm, expressionless face, was a picture of perfection to Hermione, who glanced up from time to time to gaze listlessly at him, not really caring if anyone saw her or not.
"What's your first class, Hermione?" Said Ron, shoveling a spoonful of scrambled eggs into his mouth. "Hermione?"
"Huh? What?" Said Hermione jerking unpleasantly out of her reverie. She gave Ron a bewildered look.
"I said," said Ron, his impatience clear in his voice, "what is your first class?" He deliberately spoke slowly as though she was dumb. "Is it Transfiguration with us?"
"Yeah," said Hermione, looking down at her plate, without her usual 'can't you remember? It's already the second week of school?'
Ron, annoyed, shrugged, at Harry and Ginny, and went back to observing what others were doing.
Ginny leant forward. "Hermione? Is anything the matter?"
Hermione stared blankly at Ginny. "Anything the matter? What do you - Oh, no, nothing, Ginny. Everything's - fine. Just fine."
Harry and Ginny exchanged worried glances. What was wrong with Hermione?
"Hermione, have you done the write up on the different species of trolls for our Care of Magical Creatures class? Hagrid told us to do that, remember?" Said Harry, making another stab at conversation.
"Uh, I suppose I did. I remember doing research after lunch yesterday..." Hermione trailed off. "I guess I'll see you in Transfiguration, okay? I - I want to get something from my room," said Hermione, though all she wanted to do was lie down, and perhaps take a short nap. There was no way she'd pay attention in class in this state. She stood up, and gathered her books.
Fortunately, Harry and Ron's backs were to the Slytherin table, and did not see Draco rise, along with Hermione. Ginny noticed, but decided not to comment. However, she wondered if his leaving the Great Hall had anything to do with Hermione, who was a few paces ahead of him before the doors closed behind them.
Outside, Hermione knew Draco was behind her. He was the only one who's presence she could somehow differentiate. She stopped and turned around.
"Out with it," she said, taking in his familiar features.
"Out with what?" Said Draco, deciding to play innocent.
"You followed me, and you know it. Tell me," she demanded, feeling a little giddy.
Draco knew he couldn't run or hide. "Sorry," he said, looking at the floor in between them.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"I know, you thick-skulled ferret. I meant 'what' as in, for what? Sorry for what?"
"Yesterday," Draco answered, bolding looking into her eyes with his piercing stare, which made almost everyone, cower. Especially Neville.
Hermione didn't say anything. She felt the world begin to spin. She fell to the floor. In an instant, Draco swooped down, and gently gripped her shoulders, just in case she fainted, as she seemed dazed-looking to him, and not her usual, alert look.
"Are you okay?" he said in an urgent voice.
"I'm... Okay. Just a little... Tired," she whispered, her eyes closing slowly.
"Hermione!" Draco whispered, though he wasn't sure why, as he gently shook her shoulders.
Hermione's eyes fluttered open. "Draco. Draco, please take me to my room. I - I feel... Awful. Please. Help me..."
Then, to Draco's horror, her head fell onto his shoulder. Her eyes closed, and her body, which was leaning in onto him, went limp.
Chapter 23
At breakfast the next day, Hermione tried to concentrate on what she was doing. When she was asked questions on homework, and other minor stuff, she just managed to give vague answers. The world was just a blur. Like a fast- forward gone wrong. The only one, who stood out like clear water, was Draco. His blond hair, neatly slicked back, his orderly uniform, and his calm, expressionless face, was a picture of perfection to Hermione, who glanced up from time to time to gaze listlessly at him, not really caring if anyone saw her or not.
"What's your first class, Hermione?" Said Ron, shoveling a spoonful of scrambled eggs into his mouth. "Hermione?"
"Huh? What?" Said Hermione jerking unpleasantly out of her reverie. She gave Ron a bewildered look.
"I said," said Ron, his impatience clear in his voice, "what is your first class?" He deliberately spoke slowly as though she was dumb. "Is it Transfiguration with us?"
"Yeah," said Hermione, looking down at her plate, without her usual 'can't you remember? It's already the second week of school?'
Ron, annoyed, shrugged, at Harry and Ginny, and went back to observing what others were doing.
Ginny leant forward. "Hermione? Is anything the matter?"
Hermione stared blankly at Ginny. "Anything the matter? What do you - Oh, no, nothing, Ginny. Everything's - fine. Just fine."
Harry and Ginny exchanged worried glances. What was wrong with Hermione?
"Hermione, have you done the write up on the different species of trolls for our Care of Magical Creatures class? Hagrid told us to do that, remember?" Said Harry, making another stab at conversation.
"Uh, I suppose I did. I remember doing research after lunch yesterday..." Hermione trailed off. "I guess I'll see you in Transfiguration, okay? I - I want to get something from my room," said Hermione, though all she wanted to do was lie down, and perhaps take a short nap. There was no way she'd pay attention in class in this state. She stood up, and gathered her books.
Fortunately, Harry and Ron's backs were to the Slytherin table, and did not see Draco rise, along with Hermione. Ginny noticed, but decided not to comment. However, she wondered if his leaving the Great Hall had anything to do with Hermione, who was a few paces ahead of him before the doors closed behind them.
Outside, Hermione knew Draco was behind her. He was the only one who's presence she could somehow differentiate. She stopped and turned around.
"Out with it," she said, taking in his familiar features.
"Out with what?" Said Draco, deciding to play innocent.
"You followed me, and you know it. Tell me," she demanded, feeling a little giddy.
Draco knew he couldn't run or hide. "Sorry," he said, looking at the floor in between them.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"I know, you thick-skulled ferret. I meant 'what' as in, for what? Sorry for what?"
"Yesterday," Draco answered, bolding looking into her eyes with his piercing stare, which made almost everyone, cower. Especially Neville.
Hermione didn't say anything. She felt the world begin to spin. She fell to the floor. In an instant, Draco swooped down, and gently gripped her shoulders, just in case she fainted, as she seemed dazed-looking to him, and not her usual, alert look.
"Are you okay?" he said in an urgent voice.
"I'm... Okay. Just a little... Tired," she whispered, her eyes closing slowly.
"Hermione!" Draco whispered, though he wasn't sure why, as he gently shook her shoulders.
Hermione's eyes fluttered open. "Draco. Draco, please take me to my room. I - I feel... Awful. Please. Help me..."
Then, to Draco's horror, her head fell onto his shoulder. Her eyes closed, and her body, which was leaning in onto him, went limp.