Chapter Three

The Dance and the Mirror

I was sitting in the common room doing homework when Harry came and sat down in his favorite chair by the fire. He looked nervous, almost afraid like. He kept staring at me and sighing.
"What's wrong?" I asked him. All the sighing was starting to annoy me.
Harry sighed again. "Well I'm just trying to get up the nerve to ask you something."
I put down my book I'd been reading. "So, ask. I won't bite."
"Do you want to go to the Valentines Day Dance with me?"
I looked at him. Had I heard him right? Had he just asked me out? "Yes," I answered quickly. "I would love to go to the dance with you."
"Good," Harry said. He looked relieved.
"Harry you don't have to be afraid to ask me things," I pointed out. "You're my best friend. And I hope more," I added quietly to myself.
"Well I'd better get to my homework," Harry said and retreated to his room.
Smiling to myself I went back to reading to my book. Now I had something to look forward to. I was going on a date with the boy I'd liked from the moment I'd met him. I hadn't told anyone it was my secret.
Suddenly Maria leaped up and walked from the room.
"Maria!" I called. I put the book down and followed Maria out of the tower. She walked down the stairs and around a corridor. I tried to keep up with her but in the end I lost her. Sighing, I made my way back to the common room. Suddenly I noticed a mirror. Curious, I walked over to it and looked at myself. My face was pale and my hair hung in strings around my shoulders. Guess I hadn't brushed it in a while. Suddenly I saw Maria in the mirror. Jerking my head around I looked to see if she was behind me. She wasn't. Confused I looked again. The image was gone. Panicking, I ran back to the common room. I found Harry with Ron by the fire. "Harry," I said breathlessly.
"What's wrong Hermione?" Harry asked. He jumped to his feet.
"I saw.I saw.." I couldn't get the words out.
Harry gripped me by the shoulders. "Hermione calm down and tell me what's wrong."
"I saw Maria in the mirror in the hallway and then I turned around and she wasn't there."
"Hermione I don't see what the big deal is," Harry said.
"Yeah, Hermione," Ron spoke up. "I think you've had too much pumpkin juice."
I rolled my eyes. "This is serious," I protested. I seized Harry's arm and dragged him out of the tower. I took him down the stairs to the mirror. I pointed. "There. She was right there and then when I turned around she was gone."
"Hermione it's a big deal. What's going on with you? You're normally not this.. this.."
"Over-reactive?" I finished for him.
Harry nodded.
"I know what I saw," I snapped. I folded my arms across my chest. "If you don't believe me then I'm going to Dumbledore." I stomped off toward Dumbledore's office. I could hear Harry yelling at me not to but I ignored him. Something had to be done about the mysterious things that had been happening and something had to be done soon.

When I got to Dumbledore's office I explained the situation. After a few minutes I finally showed him where I'd seen Maria in the mirror.
"Nothing to worry about Miss Granger," he'd said. He'd placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "You're getting yourself worked up over nothing."
Now I watched as he walked back toward his office. Sighing I headed back toward the Gryffondor tower, mumbling to myself. Maybe I have had to much pumpkin juice. I thought as I told the fat lady the password. I walked in and heard Maria and Harry talking.
"it was only a pity date," Harry was saying. "Nothing more. I only wanted to make her feel better."
I couldn't believe him. How could he? How could he do this to me? Anger boiled up inside me. I walked toward them.
"How did it go?" Harry asked when he saw me.
"How could you!" I screamed. "How could you do this to me Harry Potter?"
"Do what?" Harry asked me playing innocent.
"For asking me out on a pity date," I screamed. I was furious. "I can't believe you Harry, you of all people, I just can't believe you." I ran from the room, tears working their way down my cheeks. I slammed the door to the girl's dormitory and leaned against it, breathing hard. I was going to get revenge on Maria somehow, someway if it was the last thing I did.