Chapter 3
Several days went by and Malfoy stayed away from Hermione. All she got from him was a few glares. Although, she did catch him staring at her more than once in potions. Luckily, Ron and Harry had no idea what had happened on the first day of school. Totally oblivious like they always were. They probably thought she was just in the library that night. She was very grateful they didn't go looking for her.
About a week and a half later, on a beautiful Thursday afternoon, Hermione was wandering toward the library. She was supposed to meet Harry and Ron there, for a study session.
"That wasn't very nice Granger," Said someone in the shadows behind her. She froze on the spot. Her stomach tensed. Being around Malfoy made her feel things she shouldn't, no, *couldn't * be feeling. 'Oh God,' She thought to herself. She took a deep steadying breath and turned around.
"What wasn't nice Malfoy?" She hissed, crossing her arms. Malfoy stepped from the shadows from which she first heard his voice.
"That lock jaw curse of yours," He said, taking another step toward her.
"You wouldn't leave me alone or shut up. I had to do it," Her raised her eyebrows at him again. He was silent. "Tell me Malfoy, were you just acting like an arse to me because your friends were with you, or was it because I walked out on you?" She stared him down.
"Both," He said simply.
"Huh?" Hermione said, giving him a quizzical look. This boy has the ability to confuse her, unlike Ron and Harry.
"I was frustrated Granger, and Crabbe and Goyle just happened to follow me to the great hall."
"Why were you frustrated?"
"Because you keep walking away from me." Said Malfoy.
"Well, like I've said before, I don't belong around you. People would talk Malfoy," she lowered her arms. He took another step toward her, and gabbed one of her hands. This seemed to be a hobby of his.
"People wouldn't have to know Hermione," he whispered. He took her other hand. She just stared into his eyes. For a second she forgot he was in Slytherin, the most evil house of the four.
"But I called you names, yet you still treat me like this, why?" She asked.
"I don't know. I like you Hermione." He kissed her knuckles. She ripped her hands from his.
"No!" She yelled.
"What's the matter?" His crystal blue eyes locked on hers.
She rubbed the heal of her hand on her forehead. This was confusing. Malfoy being nice.it was just too much. Breathing deeply, and looking back at him she said, "This should happen like this. I'm suppose to hate you . . . *hate * you."
"You don't have to," He said. He hadn't taken a step since she ripped her hands from his and strode backwards from him.
"What about Harry and Ron? They'd suspect Malfoy."
"You're smart, lie to them."
"I don't lie to my best friends." She said defiantly, appalled at the idea.
"I don't know what to tell you Hermione," said Malfoy, "But all I want to know is if you like me."
"Of coarse not!" She said. Rubbing her eyes, she thought, 'Do I like him? That's not good if I do . . . It could ruin all. My friendships, my reputation.' She stopped rubbing her eyes and looked at him. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded."
"Yeah . . ." he said. He decided he was going to try one more time, "Think you could meet me somewhere tonight?"
"School night Malfoy, plus breaking rules-"
"Will you just listen please!" He shouted, "I'll ask you again, will you meet me somewhere tonight?"
She argued with herself if she should risk it or not. Harry and Ron wouldn't notice she'd gone. "Fine," she answered finally, "Where?"
"In the Entrance Hall, behind the main staircase."
"Okay what time?" She asked.
"Around eleven?" She was starting to like the idea less and less.
"Fine see you then." And she started to turn and leave.
"Wait!" he said, but she didn't stop walking. She heard footsteps behind her.
"What?" She asked impatiently.
"Aren't you going to ask me why I want to meet you?" He was walking next to her. She looked around; making sure no one was watching them.
"I didn't think you needed a reason Malfoy," Hermione answered without looking at him.
"You know me better than you think," At this she turned to look at him. He winked at her once with a great smile, and then headed down the nearest staircase to the dungeons.
"Psh, you don't know what you're talking about," She said to herself, "I hardly know him. The only thing I know is that he's a stupid evil git," Hermione said it, but somewhere in her mind she knew she didn't mean it.
Hermione took another staircase up to the library. She flung open the door a few minutes later and sat down next to Harry with a loud, "Hmph!"
"What's wrong with you?" Ron asked from Harry's other side. The two of them had already picked out a few books, and they were spread around the table.
"Nothing," Hermione answered, pulling a book toward her.
"Where've you been?" Ron asked.
"Since when do I get the third degree just because I'm a few minutes late? I was nowhere all right? Let's just concentrate on the Transfiguration essay due tomorrow." Ron and Harry stared at each other and shrugged. "Harry did you bring my stuff for me like I asked?"
"Erm . . ." Harry said. "You never asked me to." Hermione let out a frustrated growl.
"Then can I borrow a quill and some parchment for notes? God knows you two won't take them." Harry handed her the things she's asked for. "Thank you." And then she was silent. Ron and Harry were afraid to ask any other questions. They just worked quietly, trying not to set off Hermione's temper again.
Harry finally spoke and hour and 2 feet of parchment later. "Um, Hermione?"
"What Harry?" She seemed to have calmed down a little.
"I'm erm, finished. How about we go back to the Tower and relax in front of the fire huh?" Harry said, putting his things in his bag.
"Sounds fine." And she gave Harry his quill back. "Lets go."
A few minutes later Hermione was contently sitting in front of the fire lost in 'Standard Book of Spells Grade 5'. Harry and Ron were playing chess. After a long while someone interrupted Hermione from her peacefulness.
"Hermione?" it was Lavender.
"Yes?"
"This was in front of the Portrait when I came in," Lavender handed Hermione an envelope with her name neatly written in emerald ink on the front.
"Thank you Lavender," Hermione said, taking the note cautiously. Lavender smiled and nodded, then went over to her other friend giggling madly.
"Who's it from 'Mionie?" Harry asked.
"I don't know," She forgot to correct him, and just stared at the envelope in puzzlement.
"Well, open it. What's it say?" Ron asked. Hermione didn't know whom this was from, or who even knew where the Gryffindor common room was. Puzzled still, the jammed it into her robe's pocket and went back to her book.
"Hermione?"
"What?" She asked from behind her book.
"Aren't you going to open it?"
"No," she answered, "Not yet."
"Why not?"
"It's my business, I'll deal with it later." And with that she snapped her book shut. "It's late. I'm going to bed." "But it's only half past ten!" cried Ron, after looking at his watch.
"So what?" She threw back at him, standing. "You two should go to bed too you know. Lessons tomorrow." And she stomped up the stairs.
"What's *with* her?" Ron asked Harry.
"Girl thing probably," Harry said, taking his turn in chess.
"Oooh," Ron said, watching one of Harry's pieces destroy his own.
~*~
Hermione slid into the girls' dorms and flopped onto her bed. Ron was right, it was still a little early, but the eagerness to open the letter had gotten the better of her. She placed her book on her nightstand and carefully ripped open the note. It was written in the same emerald ink.
Don't forget.
Was that it? She turned the paper over as if looking for more writing. Nothing was there either. She stared at the words in bewilderment. Who was telling her not to forget, and not to forget *what*? She folded the note back up and placed it back in the envelope. Then she slid open the drawer in her nightstand and placed it inside. She sat on the edge of her bed thinking to herself. She was supposed to meet Malfoy tonight, so maybe it was from him. 'Yes,' she thought, 'That would make sense.' She closed the drawer gently.
"Ten forty-five," She said to herself, "I better get ready." She didn't know why she was being so fussy about getting ready. It was only Malfoy after all. She brushed her hair, splashed some cold water on her face and then patted it dry. She looked at herself in the mirror above the nightstand. Her hair was now smooth, and she was also very beautiful. A few months away from school had definitely changed her. Sighing she said, "Why am I doing this?" And she answered herself, and that scared her. 'Because you're curious,' she thought. It was nearly eleven, and it was a little journey to get down to the main hall. Without Harry's invisibility cloak, it was going to be difficult, but she took that chance anyway. Tucking her hair behind her ears, she left the mirror, and exited the dorm.
Several days went by and Malfoy stayed away from Hermione. All she got from him was a few glares. Although, she did catch him staring at her more than once in potions. Luckily, Ron and Harry had no idea what had happened on the first day of school. Totally oblivious like they always were. They probably thought she was just in the library that night. She was very grateful they didn't go looking for her.
About a week and a half later, on a beautiful Thursday afternoon, Hermione was wandering toward the library. She was supposed to meet Harry and Ron there, for a study session.
"That wasn't very nice Granger," Said someone in the shadows behind her. She froze on the spot. Her stomach tensed. Being around Malfoy made her feel things she shouldn't, no, *couldn't * be feeling. 'Oh God,' She thought to herself. She took a deep steadying breath and turned around.
"What wasn't nice Malfoy?" She hissed, crossing her arms. Malfoy stepped from the shadows from which she first heard his voice.
"That lock jaw curse of yours," He said, taking another step toward her.
"You wouldn't leave me alone or shut up. I had to do it," Her raised her eyebrows at him again. He was silent. "Tell me Malfoy, were you just acting like an arse to me because your friends were with you, or was it because I walked out on you?" She stared him down.
"Both," He said simply.
"Huh?" Hermione said, giving him a quizzical look. This boy has the ability to confuse her, unlike Ron and Harry.
"I was frustrated Granger, and Crabbe and Goyle just happened to follow me to the great hall."
"Why were you frustrated?"
"Because you keep walking away from me." Said Malfoy.
"Well, like I've said before, I don't belong around you. People would talk Malfoy," she lowered her arms. He took another step toward her, and gabbed one of her hands. This seemed to be a hobby of his.
"People wouldn't have to know Hermione," he whispered. He took her other hand. She just stared into his eyes. For a second she forgot he was in Slytherin, the most evil house of the four.
"But I called you names, yet you still treat me like this, why?" She asked.
"I don't know. I like you Hermione." He kissed her knuckles. She ripped her hands from his.
"No!" She yelled.
"What's the matter?" His crystal blue eyes locked on hers.
She rubbed the heal of her hand on her forehead. This was confusing. Malfoy being nice.it was just too much. Breathing deeply, and looking back at him she said, "This should happen like this. I'm suppose to hate you . . . *hate * you."
"You don't have to," He said. He hadn't taken a step since she ripped her hands from his and strode backwards from him.
"What about Harry and Ron? They'd suspect Malfoy."
"You're smart, lie to them."
"I don't lie to my best friends." She said defiantly, appalled at the idea.
"I don't know what to tell you Hermione," said Malfoy, "But all I want to know is if you like me."
"Of coarse not!" She said. Rubbing her eyes, she thought, 'Do I like him? That's not good if I do . . . It could ruin all. My friendships, my reputation.' She stopped rubbing her eyes and looked at him. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded."
"Yeah . . ." he said. He decided he was going to try one more time, "Think you could meet me somewhere tonight?"
"School night Malfoy, plus breaking rules-"
"Will you just listen please!" He shouted, "I'll ask you again, will you meet me somewhere tonight?"
She argued with herself if she should risk it or not. Harry and Ron wouldn't notice she'd gone. "Fine," she answered finally, "Where?"
"In the Entrance Hall, behind the main staircase."
"Okay what time?" She asked.
"Around eleven?" She was starting to like the idea less and less.
"Fine see you then." And she started to turn and leave.
"Wait!" he said, but she didn't stop walking. She heard footsteps behind her.
"What?" She asked impatiently.
"Aren't you going to ask me why I want to meet you?" He was walking next to her. She looked around; making sure no one was watching them.
"I didn't think you needed a reason Malfoy," Hermione answered without looking at him.
"You know me better than you think," At this she turned to look at him. He winked at her once with a great smile, and then headed down the nearest staircase to the dungeons.
"Psh, you don't know what you're talking about," She said to herself, "I hardly know him. The only thing I know is that he's a stupid evil git," Hermione said it, but somewhere in her mind she knew she didn't mean it.
Hermione took another staircase up to the library. She flung open the door a few minutes later and sat down next to Harry with a loud, "Hmph!"
"What's wrong with you?" Ron asked from Harry's other side. The two of them had already picked out a few books, and they were spread around the table.
"Nothing," Hermione answered, pulling a book toward her.
"Where've you been?" Ron asked.
"Since when do I get the third degree just because I'm a few minutes late? I was nowhere all right? Let's just concentrate on the Transfiguration essay due tomorrow." Ron and Harry stared at each other and shrugged. "Harry did you bring my stuff for me like I asked?"
"Erm . . ." Harry said. "You never asked me to." Hermione let out a frustrated growl.
"Then can I borrow a quill and some parchment for notes? God knows you two won't take them." Harry handed her the things she's asked for. "Thank you." And then she was silent. Ron and Harry were afraid to ask any other questions. They just worked quietly, trying not to set off Hermione's temper again.
Harry finally spoke and hour and 2 feet of parchment later. "Um, Hermione?"
"What Harry?" She seemed to have calmed down a little.
"I'm erm, finished. How about we go back to the Tower and relax in front of the fire huh?" Harry said, putting his things in his bag.
"Sounds fine." And she gave Harry his quill back. "Lets go."
A few minutes later Hermione was contently sitting in front of the fire lost in 'Standard Book of Spells Grade 5'. Harry and Ron were playing chess. After a long while someone interrupted Hermione from her peacefulness.
"Hermione?" it was Lavender.
"Yes?"
"This was in front of the Portrait when I came in," Lavender handed Hermione an envelope with her name neatly written in emerald ink on the front.
"Thank you Lavender," Hermione said, taking the note cautiously. Lavender smiled and nodded, then went over to her other friend giggling madly.
"Who's it from 'Mionie?" Harry asked.
"I don't know," She forgot to correct him, and just stared at the envelope in puzzlement.
"Well, open it. What's it say?" Ron asked. Hermione didn't know whom this was from, or who even knew where the Gryffindor common room was. Puzzled still, the jammed it into her robe's pocket and went back to her book.
"Hermione?"
"What?" She asked from behind her book.
"Aren't you going to open it?"
"No," she answered, "Not yet."
"Why not?"
"It's my business, I'll deal with it later." And with that she snapped her book shut. "It's late. I'm going to bed." "But it's only half past ten!" cried Ron, after looking at his watch.
"So what?" She threw back at him, standing. "You two should go to bed too you know. Lessons tomorrow." And she stomped up the stairs.
"What's *with* her?" Ron asked Harry.
"Girl thing probably," Harry said, taking his turn in chess.
"Oooh," Ron said, watching one of Harry's pieces destroy his own.
~*~
Hermione slid into the girls' dorms and flopped onto her bed. Ron was right, it was still a little early, but the eagerness to open the letter had gotten the better of her. She placed her book on her nightstand and carefully ripped open the note. It was written in the same emerald ink.
Don't forget.
Was that it? She turned the paper over as if looking for more writing. Nothing was there either. She stared at the words in bewilderment. Who was telling her not to forget, and not to forget *what*? She folded the note back up and placed it back in the envelope. Then she slid open the drawer in her nightstand and placed it inside. She sat on the edge of her bed thinking to herself. She was supposed to meet Malfoy tonight, so maybe it was from him. 'Yes,' she thought, 'That would make sense.' She closed the drawer gently.
"Ten forty-five," She said to herself, "I better get ready." She didn't know why she was being so fussy about getting ready. It was only Malfoy after all. She brushed her hair, splashed some cold water on her face and then patted it dry. She looked at herself in the mirror above the nightstand. Her hair was now smooth, and she was also very beautiful. A few months away from school had definitely changed her. Sighing she said, "Why am I doing this?" And she answered herself, and that scared her. 'Because you're curious,' she thought. It was nearly eleven, and it was a little journey to get down to the main hall. Without Harry's invisibility cloak, it was going to be difficult, but she took that chance anyway. Tucking her hair behind her ears, she left the mirror, and exited the dorm.