Chapter 5
Gryffindor Common Room
September 2, 12:04 a.m.
"I'm just saying, Hermione, you really should watch out for this guy." Ron and Hermione were facing the common room fire. Everyone else had retired.
"Ron, stop being ridiculous. I honestly hate your criticism sometimes- sometimes I get the impression that you're jealous."
Ron's laughter seemed a bit forced.
"Hey," said a rather oddly accented voice. "Ronny, isn't it past your bedtime?"
"Speak of the devil," muttered the redhead. "I'm leaving." Ron disappeared up the stairs leading to the boys' dormitories.
Todd sat down beside Hermione on the squashy couch. They had both abandoned their school robes in favor of sleeping garments: Hermione, a red tee shirt and red plaid pajama bottoms, and Todd an undershirt with his boxers. "Todd, did you honestly have to do the hair thing at dinner? It made me uncomfortable," murmured Hermione.
Todd leaned back. "While it was happening, or after, how everyone tormented you about your boyfriend?"
"Point conceded," sighed she.
"Do you mind if I ask what's going on between you two?" Todd ventured. "You and Krum? Do you genuinely have feelings for him, or is it his fame?"
Hermione stood abruptly. "I can't believe you'd say such a thing."
Todd laughed. "You may think that we're different, Hermione, but we're really not." He stood up to face her. "I know what it's like to prove yourself repeatedly but always live in the shadow." Hermione flinched at his words. "I know what it's like to work so hard and always be known as someone's friend. It hurts."
"Stop," she whispered. "You've got it all wrong."
"Really?" Todd smirked, the fire shadows dancing on his face and making him look almost malicious. "Well, 'night, dear Hermione. I'll see you in Arithmancy." Turning, Todd went up the stairway to the boys' dormitories, and Hermione just stared blankly after him. For the first time in her life, Hermione had difficulty absorbing what someone had said.
She slumped down to the carpet and ran her fingers through the plush redness and stared into the flames, dying now that most people were in bed.
'Perhaps I should change,' she thought. 'Take things in a different stride. Be more laid back. Wait- what am I thinking? I'm Hermione Granger, for Christ's sake! I'm the school perfectionist, the school role model- what everyone expects me to be.'
'I don't want to be what everyone expects. Maybe- maybe I could try something new. If not for me, for Victor. If what Todd said is true... then what I'm doing really is not fair to him.'
Hermione's mind was spent wandering, thinking about things an attached person should not be thinking of, namely starting with a T and ending with an odd. When she finally snapped back in, she stood and brushed off her pants.
"I believe in you," she murmured, and began to sing as she trekked up the stairs to her dormitory. "I'll give up everything just to find you. I have to be with you to live, to breathe; you're taking over me."
***
I was going to post just the other 2 chapters today, but last night I thought to myself... "Why don't I do chapter 5? It's almost done..." Anyway, I know you people are probably bored to death with my setting up the plot, so I have words that are wonderful to hear: we're going to start with the rising action next chapter. I have it all planned out, and I think it should be pretty cool. ;-). Please r/r!!! I love you guys.
Oh, yeah- if you noticed my little Adam note on chappie 3, then you know how old these chapters are. LOL.
Gryffindor Common Room
September 2, 12:04 a.m.
"I'm just saying, Hermione, you really should watch out for this guy." Ron and Hermione were facing the common room fire. Everyone else had retired.
"Ron, stop being ridiculous. I honestly hate your criticism sometimes- sometimes I get the impression that you're jealous."
Ron's laughter seemed a bit forced.
"Hey," said a rather oddly accented voice. "Ronny, isn't it past your bedtime?"
"Speak of the devil," muttered the redhead. "I'm leaving." Ron disappeared up the stairs leading to the boys' dormitories.
Todd sat down beside Hermione on the squashy couch. They had both abandoned their school robes in favor of sleeping garments: Hermione, a red tee shirt and red plaid pajama bottoms, and Todd an undershirt with his boxers. "Todd, did you honestly have to do the hair thing at dinner? It made me uncomfortable," murmured Hermione.
Todd leaned back. "While it was happening, or after, how everyone tormented you about your boyfriend?"
"Point conceded," sighed she.
"Do you mind if I ask what's going on between you two?" Todd ventured. "You and Krum? Do you genuinely have feelings for him, or is it his fame?"
Hermione stood abruptly. "I can't believe you'd say such a thing."
Todd laughed. "You may think that we're different, Hermione, but we're really not." He stood up to face her. "I know what it's like to prove yourself repeatedly but always live in the shadow." Hermione flinched at his words. "I know what it's like to work so hard and always be known as someone's friend. It hurts."
"Stop," she whispered. "You've got it all wrong."
"Really?" Todd smirked, the fire shadows dancing on his face and making him look almost malicious. "Well, 'night, dear Hermione. I'll see you in Arithmancy." Turning, Todd went up the stairway to the boys' dormitories, and Hermione just stared blankly after him. For the first time in her life, Hermione had difficulty absorbing what someone had said.
She slumped down to the carpet and ran her fingers through the plush redness and stared into the flames, dying now that most people were in bed.
'Perhaps I should change,' she thought. 'Take things in a different stride. Be more laid back. Wait- what am I thinking? I'm Hermione Granger, for Christ's sake! I'm the school perfectionist, the school role model- what everyone expects me to be.'
'I don't want to be what everyone expects. Maybe- maybe I could try something new. If not for me, for Victor. If what Todd said is true... then what I'm doing really is not fair to him.'
Hermione's mind was spent wandering, thinking about things an attached person should not be thinking of, namely starting with a T and ending with an odd. When she finally snapped back in, she stood and brushed off her pants.
"I believe in you," she murmured, and began to sing as she trekked up the stairs to her dormitory. "I'll give up everything just to find you. I have to be with you to live, to breathe; you're taking over me."
***
I was going to post just the other 2 chapters today, but last night I thought to myself... "Why don't I do chapter 5? It's almost done..." Anyway, I know you people are probably bored to death with my setting up the plot, so I have words that are wonderful to hear: we're going to start with the rising action next chapter. I have it all planned out, and I think it should be pretty cool. ;-). Please r/r!!! I love you guys.
Oh, yeah- if you noticed my little Adam note on chappie 3, then you know how old these chapters are. LOL.