Disclaimer: All characters and places in the Harry Potter series are owned
by J.K. Rowling. I have created a few characters and places of my own in
relation to this story. But everything else is owned by Rowling.
Chapter 5: "At the Hallway"
Harry's day has never been faster. After two more classes, he found himself sitting by the fireplace inside the Gryffindor common room, discussing matters with Ron. Suddenly, he had wished the hands of the clock he was staring at would fast forward themselves and place him in bedtime.
"Harry, hey, Harry! Are you still listening to me?" Ron said, waving his hand in front of Harry's expressionless face.
"Oh," Harry muttered, awakening from yet another daydream. "What were you saying?"
"I was saying you should give Hermione some time," Ron answered, fumbling into his pockets and drawing two pieces of butterbeer candy. "You want some?"
Harry just waved his hand. "But I can't wait any longer. We have to settle this issue once and for all."
"That's just it, Harry. There is no issue," Ron replied, chewing loudly.
"What do mean there's no issue? My love life is at stake here!" Harry exclaimed.
"Calm down," Ron said, pushing a piece of candy into Harry chest. "Try this. It'll help you."
"I can't calm down, Ron. No, I can't," Harry said while trying to unwrap the candy.
"You're making a big deal out of this," Ron replied.
"It is a big deal."
"No it's not. Look, Hermione needs some time. Okay, a lot of time, to sort things out. She needs your patience, now more than ever."
"But isn't it enough that I tell her how much I love her?" Harry responded. "Hey, this stuff is good."
"Got it from Ginny," Ron said. "Anyway, as I was saying, maybe she just needs to think things over. Give her some space. This whole popularity thing is getting into her nerves. She's not used to this - the lifestyles of the rich and famous, if that's how you'll call it."
"But it's inevitable, right? I mean, if we're going to be together, then she's destined to be as popular as I am, right?" Harry said, screwing up his face.
"Right. But she doesn't want that," Ron said plainly.
"Then what does she want?"
"A quiet life with you," Ron answered. "And if you can't give her that, mate, then you might as well drop this whole relationship thing."
***
"Where are you taking me?" Draco asked, oblivious as to where he was. "I can't believe I'm being pushed by an 11-year old, not to mention blindfolded."
"I said I have a surprise for you," Dylan answered as they rounded up a corner by the seventh floor."
"Well, it not sounding as good as it was five minutes ago."
"Just relax. We're almost there."
"Almost where?"
"Shush. Take of your blindfold and prepare to thank me."
Draco did as Dylan had said. But what he saw next made him run back to the corner and hide behind the statue of Merlin.
"I thought you'd be happy to see her," Dylan said, arms crossed over his shoulders.
"I am happy to see her."
"Oh really? Hidden behind that statue, you don't look so happy."
"Well, let's just say I'm nervous. What do I say to her?"
"I can't believe I'm helping a person this naïve."
"Excuse me?" Draco said, emerging from behind the statue.
"That's better," Dylan answered, smiling. "Look, she's upset. And I brought you here to comfort her, and not hide behind a worn out statue, speaking of which." Dylan drew out his wand from his pocket and waved it at one swift motion to the statue. At first, Draco didn't notice anything. Then, he saw what looked liked an X burn marked on the right cheek of Merlin.
"What did you do that for? And how did you do that?" Draco asked in amazement.
"Standard charm. I just figured I would mark the spot of your first step to Hermione Granger's heart," Dylan answered proudly.
"You call that standard? You gotta teach me that stuff! Hey wait, mark my first step? You're keeping a record?"
"Standard operating procedure."
Draco looked at him all puzzled.
"My mom's obsessive-compulsive. I guess I got her genes."
"Oh, so you're mom gave you your powers."
"Actually, both my parents are magic folks. And both of them are good at magic."
Draco was smiling in amazement. He'd never seen a person more similar to him. Both in lineage and personality. "It sounds like you came from a very noble magic family. What's your surname again?"
There was a slight pause. "Watson."
"I've never heard that before."
"We're a very respectable, but very discrete family. We do not like people meddling in our affairs," Dylan answered.
Draco surveyed him carefully.
"Unlike the Malfoys, who enjoy publicity alongside power, fame and fortune," Dylan added.
"I'd take that as a compliment," Draco said.
"You should."
Their conversation was suddenly broken by a very distinct sob.
"She's crying," Dylan said, turning around to watch Hermione. She was seated on the topmost step of the staircase, face buried on her hands.
"I can't believe she never heard us here. Maybe she did and she just didn't care," Draco said, watching her from behind Dylan.
"She couldn't possibly hear us. Silencing charm," Dylan answered.
"How on Earth." But before Draco could finish his sentence, Dylan had pushed him towards Hermione's direction that he was only a few feet from her.
Looking back at Dylan, Draco took one deep breath. "Here goes nothing."
"You know, crying won't really help you solve your problems," he said over Hermione's shoulders.
Hermione flinched but she didn't raise her head. "Get away from me, Malfoy."
"Well, hello to you too, Hermione."
"Just leave me alone."
"I can't very well leave a sobbing girl in the middle of this hallway. Especially after Myrtle. People might get scared."
Hermione suddenly stood up, turned around and lunged forward. Within seconds, the two of them were on the floor, Hermione on top of Draco.
"I didn't know you were that strong. Hey, maybe you could try out as Beater in your Quidditch Team," Draco said, not moving an inch.
Hermione, who was embarrassed by her position tried to move away as fast as she could. But before she could help herself up, someone behind her had cleared his throat and made her realize that she and Draco were not the only people in that hallway.
"Kinda hot isn't it?" A guy's voice said. Hermione was too embarrassed to look. If it were a Gyrffindor, she might still be able to take it, but if it were a Slytherin, chances are, she's going to regret this moment for the rest of her life.
"That's why I couldn't imagine couples cuddling up like you have done. Then again, it's a cold marble floor," the person added.
"I'm outta here," Hermione said, suddenly standing up and not looking at the person who was interrogating him. But she felt an arm suddenly move forward and in an instant it had grabbed her. Hermione couldn't move.
"Look up," the person said. "I said look up."
Hermione tried to get her wand but the grip was too tight that she was in terrible pain. Gulping, she moved her head upward. Shocked, she saw a face about five years younger than hers, looking down on her, but wearing a sneer very similar to Draco's. "Hello, Ms. Granger. We finally meet."
"Who are you?" Hermione said. She could see Draco standing up and brushing his robes from behind the guy who had grabbed her. Apparently, Draco hadn't seen any of the commotion. Because the two of them were hidden beneath the shadows of the other hallway.
"Dylan Watson, at you service, Ma'am."
"Watson? Do I know you?" Hermione asked. She also noticed that Dylan was slowly losing his strong grip. He was carefully letting her go.
"Not yet, you don't," Dylan answered.
Hermione was looking straight into Dylan's eyes searching for some clues. There was something in there that she recognizes but can't quite distinguish.
Her stare was suddenly broken by Draco's voice.
"Hey, let go of her!" Draco shouted at Dylan. Hermione turned to look at him with an expression of gratitude and fury.
"I already have," she heard Dylan speak. But when she turned around, he was gone. Hermione moved away from the shadows and stared forcefully at the empty space. There was no one there.
"Hey, where did he go?" Draco said, being in level with Hermione.
"I have no idea," Hermione answered.
Chapter 5: "At the Hallway"
Harry's day has never been faster. After two more classes, he found himself sitting by the fireplace inside the Gryffindor common room, discussing matters with Ron. Suddenly, he had wished the hands of the clock he was staring at would fast forward themselves and place him in bedtime.
"Harry, hey, Harry! Are you still listening to me?" Ron said, waving his hand in front of Harry's expressionless face.
"Oh," Harry muttered, awakening from yet another daydream. "What were you saying?"
"I was saying you should give Hermione some time," Ron answered, fumbling into his pockets and drawing two pieces of butterbeer candy. "You want some?"
Harry just waved his hand. "But I can't wait any longer. We have to settle this issue once and for all."
"That's just it, Harry. There is no issue," Ron replied, chewing loudly.
"What do mean there's no issue? My love life is at stake here!" Harry exclaimed.
"Calm down," Ron said, pushing a piece of candy into Harry chest. "Try this. It'll help you."
"I can't calm down, Ron. No, I can't," Harry said while trying to unwrap the candy.
"You're making a big deal out of this," Ron replied.
"It is a big deal."
"No it's not. Look, Hermione needs some time. Okay, a lot of time, to sort things out. She needs your patience, now more than ever."
"But isn't it enough that I tell her how much I love her?" Harry responded. "Hey, this stuff is good."
"Got it from Ginny," Ron said. "Anyway, as I was saying, maybe she just needs to think things over. Give her some space. This whole popularity thing is getting into her nerves. She's not used to this - the lifestyles of the rich and famous, if that's how you'll call it."
"But it's inevitable, right? I mean, if we're going to be together, then she's destined to be as popular as I am, right?" Harry said, screwing up his face.
"Right. But she doesn't want that," Ron said plainly.
"Then what does she want?"
"A quiet life with you," Ron answered. "And if you can't give her that, mate, then you might as well drop this whole relationship thing."
***
"Where are you taking me?" Draco asked, oblivious as to where he was. "I can't believe I'm being pushed by an 11-year old, not to mention blindfolded."
"I said I have a surprise for you," Dylan answered as they rounded up a corner by the seventh floor."
"Well, it not sounding as good as it was five minutes ago."
"Just relax. We're almost there."
"Almost where?"
"Shush. Take of your blindfold and prepare to thank me."
Draco did as Dylan had said. But what he saw next made him run back to the corner and hide behind the statue of Merlin.
"I thought you'd be happy to see her," Dylan said, arms crossed over his shoulders.
"I am happy to see her."
"Oh really? Hidden behind that statue, you don't look so happy."
"Well, let's just say I'm nervous. What do I say to her?"
"I can't believe I'm helping a person this naïve."
"Excuse me?" Draco said, emerging from behind the statue.
"That's better," Dylan answered, smiling. "Look, she's upset. And I brought you here to comfort her, and not hide behind a worn out statue, speaking of which." Dylan drew out his wand from his pocket and waved it at one swift motion to the statue. At first, Draco didn't notice anything. Then, he saw what looked liked an X burn marked on the right cheek of Merlin.
"What did you do that for? And how did you do that?" Draco asked in amazement.
"Standard charm. I just figured I would mark the spot of your first step to Hermione Granger's heart," Dylan answered proudly.
"You call that standard? You gotta teach me that stuff! Hey wait, mark my first step? You're keeping a record?"
"Standard operating procedure."
Draco looked at him all puzzled.
"My mom's obsessive-compulsive. I guess I got her genes."
"Oh, so you're mom gave you your powers."
"Actually, both my parents are magic folks. And both of them are good at magic."
Draco was smiling in amazement. He'd never seen a person more similar to him. Both in lineage and personality. "It sounds like you came from a very noble magic family. What's your surname again?"
There was a slight pause. "Watson."
"I've never heard that before."
"We're a very respectable, but very discrete family. We do not like people meddling in our affairs," Dylan answered.
Draco surveyed him carefully.
"Unlike the Malfoys, who enjoy publicity alongside power, fame and fortune," Dylan added.
"I'd take that as a compliment," Draco said.
"You should."
Their conversation was suddenly broken by a very distinct sob.
"She's crying," Dylan said, turning around to watch Hermione. She was seated on the topmost step of the staircase, face buried on her hands.
"I can't believe she never heard us here. Maybe she did and she just didn't care," Draco said, watching her from behind Dylan.
"She couldn't possibly hear us. Silencing charm," Dylan answered.
"How on Earth." But before Draco could finish his sentence, Dylan had pushed him towards Hermione's direction that he was only a few feet from her.
Looking back at Dylan, Draco took one deep breath. "Here goes nothing."
"You know, crying won't really help you solve your problems," he said over Hermione's shoulders.
Hermione flinched but she didn't raise her head. "Get away from me, Malfoy."
"Well, hello to you too, Hermione."
"Just leave me alone."
"I can't very well leave a sobbing girl in the middle of this hallway. Especially after Myrtle. People might get scared."
Hermione suddenly stood up, turned around and lunged forward. Within seconds, the two of them were on the floor, Hermione on top of Draco.
"I didn't know you were that strong. Hey, maybe you could try out as Beater in your Quidditch Team," Draco said, not moving an inch.
Hermione, who was embarrassed by her position tried to move away as fast as she could. But before she could help herself up, someone behind her had cleared his throat and made her realize that she and Draco were not the only people in that hallway.
"Kinda hot isn't it?" A guy's voice said. Hermione was too embarrassed to look. If it were a Gyrffindor, she might still be able to take it, but if it were a Slytherin, chances are, she's going to regret this moment for the rest of her life.
"That's why I couldn't imagine couples cuddling up like you have done. Then again, it's a cold marble floor," the person added.
"I'm outta here," Hermione said, suddenly standing up and not looking at the person who was interrogating him. But she felt an arm suddenly move forward and in an instant it had grabbed her. Hermione couldn't move.
"Look up," the person said. "I said look up."
Hermione tried to get her wand but the grip was too tight that she was in terrible pain. Gulping, she moved her head upward. Shocked, she saw a face about five years younger than hers, looking down on her, but wearing a sneer very similar to Draco's. "Hello, Ms. Granger. We finally meet."
"Who are you?" Hermione said. She could see Draco standing up and brushing his robes from behind the guy who had grabbed her. Apparently, Draco hadn't seen any of the commotion. Because the two of them were hidden beneath the shadows of the other hallway.
"Dylan Watson, at you service, Ma'am."
"Watson? Do I know you?" Hermione asked. She also noticed that Dylan was slowly losing his strong grip. He was carefully letting her go.
"Not yet, you don't," Dylan answered.
Hermione was looking straight into Dylan's eyes searching for some clues. There was something in there that she recognizes but can't quite distinguish.
Her stare was suddenly broken by Draco's voice.
"Hey, let go of her!" Draco shouted at Dylan. Hermione turned to look at him with an expression of gratitude and fury.
"I already have," she heard Dylan speak. But when she turned around, he was gone. Hermione moved away from the shadows and stared forcefully at the empty space. There was no one there.
"Hey, where did he go?" Draco said, being in level with Hermione.
"I have no idea," Hermione answered.