The Secret Admirer

Part 4

Author: Cornette

Disclaimer: Not me, not me, its JK!

                   Hermione just sat there with train of thoughts. So, if it's really Malfoy, should she come? Hermione wanted to talk to him above everything. She just wanted to know…why? Maybe with his answer she could forget it and things will be normal again.

                   But her woman ego told her not to go. After all, it was Draco Malfoy who kissed her, and wanted to talk to her. Look at this note, a word with you… Just like that, he could be more polite, couldn't he? Maybe he must add `please` or…` need`. Yes, thought Hermione mockly, it would be a lot better if he used `need`. I need to talk to you. Ha! As if that arrogant Malfoy would use it, Hermione bet that he never beg someone.

                   In spite of her curious mind she decided it. She wont let him won this. Not again…Hermione lift that note in such way so Harry and Ron and Snape couldn't saw it, but surely, Draco could. She glanced to make sure that Malfoy was still watching her. Hermione must control herself from smiling as she took her wand from her pocket. She pointed her wand to that cursed little note and after checking carefully around her, she muttered something under her breath.

                   In second, the paper turned into bright, hot flames and second later fell into the ground as sparkling ashes. She simply wished Malfoy would saw her victorious smile.

                   "What's that, Hermione?" asked Harry, surprised. Run watched Hermione wordlessly with shocked look. Obviously they saw it burnt.

                   "Y-you burn something, do you?" asked Ron, still shocked.

                   "Its nothing, I'm just bored and want to do something. It's just a piece of paper." Said Hermione in a low voice; worried that Snape will hear the noise they make.

                   "But don't do thing like that!" protested Ron angrily.

                   Fortunately the bell rang and they started to pack their stuff. Hermione looked at Malfoy casually and fascinated by what she saw.

                   He was still sat in the corner back alone, watching her with blank look. It was the look that Hermione liked. It was like Malfoy didn't believe what he saw. He was stunned. And when he realized Hermione was looking at him, he frowns deeply to her. His head snapped back proudly as usual. Something Hermione noticed, he was flushed with anger and humiliation. Well, he looks cute with that pink face. It was rather boyish, but really cute.

                   Hermione suddenly aware that Malfoy was sending icy looks. His deep silvery gray ice makes a silent warning to her. She didn't know why but it makes her scared a bit.

                   "Hermione, come on!" said Ron and Harry from dungeon's door. Quickly Hermione grabbed her bag and went to her friend's, tried to avoid Malfoy`s cold stare.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

                   If Hermione didn't feel to good after Malfoy kissed her in first two weeks, it was nothing compared to now. She was like living in hell. Hermione never felt this bad before.

It's all back to Draco Malfoy, the main problem.

                   He didn't play the cat-and-mouse game with her anymore. Instead of it, he completely ignored Hermione. Hermione knew she supposed to be very happy. She was free and alone without Malfoy on her tail. But she's not, absolutely not.

                   Unfortunately, Hermione founded that she couldn't help to watch him. Draco Malfoy. She knew quite a bit about him now. She just liked to watch his perfect handsome face, and his nice, tall form. Hermione now knew exactly how Malfoy smiled, he had very nice smile, but rarely reached his deep gray eyes. And the way his blond hair will fell to his brow after he ran his hand through his hair automatically. Hermione really like his classy style, the way he dressed. And she even liked his aura, although it was an arrogant aura.

                   But deep down in her heart she was angry. She had a tons of homework, You-Know-Who lurking; he is still after Harry and her Perfect status, she seriously have a lot to do and to think about. And why, for Merlin's sake, she thought about him? But she just can't resist him. She felt this attraction and terrified. This feeling was…well, you know. Restless sleep, hungry but couldn't eat, not concentrated in everything…

                   She can't be attracted to Draco Malfoy, she must not! Maybe he already forgot about her just like many other girls. Probably he kissed her because he was bored that day, just for fun. So what's the purpose of thinking about him? She didn't want to be one of his `victims`. Other girl can be, but she is Hermione Granger, Gryffindor`s best student. She set that kind of thought firmly in night, but tomorrow, she'll find it shattered. Just because she saw him! Saw that cursed devil -a handsome and charming devil- in not longer than 30 minutes. Oh, God, how could this happened to her!

                   Draco Malfoy certainly didn't help. He make her felt worse, accidentally or not. Malfoy will popped here and there in a curios place, where he usually didn't go. Hermione was a bit frustrated by his act. He pay no attention to Hermione, Instead of it, he can be founded in the center of so many girls. Pretty girls, of course. Hermione felt a slice of pain in her heart every time she saw Malfoy flirting with a very pretty girl. Hermione even wondered if Malfoy remembered her, because he didn't teased and insulted her. Draco Malfoy still had a bickering with Harry and Ron, but he ignored her, act as if Hermione wasn't there.              

                   Of course nobody know what she felt. Hermione never tell this to anybody and kept her feelings alone. Malfoy certainly didn't know too. But Harry and Ron seemed a bit worried about her, because now she was hard to concentrate  (especially when Malfoy`s around). They say Hermione looks odd. But they never find out why, for Hermione`s relief. Imagine it, what'll Ron and Harry say and what'll they do to Malfoy after that. Maybe Ron and Harry will put a very nasty hex, or just kill him with bare hand.

                   That's her condition's now, terrible and sad. Hermione tried to study but no use. She tried to busying herself in Perfect programme, no use too. She was half frustrated, and felt hopeless. But she acted normally and spend all of her times have fun with her friends.

* * *

                   Hermione was playing a very nice round of Exploding Snap in the Common Room with Lavender and Parvati when Ginny came and told her that Proff McGonagall called her.

                   "Why?"asked Hermione, confused.

                   "I don't know, Hermione. But you better hurry."said Ginny, looking as blank as her.

                   So Hermione said goodbye to her friends and climbed through the potrait hole. She walked alone in the empty corridor, wondered why McGonagall called her. Maybe it was something about Perfect`s job. It was almost winter and the weather was very cool for now. T She looked through the big window to the Quidditch Pitch, and smiled. She could see seven players in scarlet robes flying,evidently two of them were Harry and Ron.

                   They were very serious if it was anything about Quidditch, Quidditch and Quidditch, thought Hermione curiously but none the less she found it funny. Look at them! Didn`t mind about the weather and season, they trained hard without protested. But in the dungeon, when the Potion class, they will moaned every 5 minutes about how cold is the dungeon.

                   Hermione passed other corridors peacefully and here she was, in front of Proff McGonagall`s office. She knocked it softly twice, waiting for an answer. No sound from inside and she just thought about going to staff room when Proff McGonagall`s voice answered.

                   "Come in, please."

                   Hermione opened the door carefully and stepped in. When she was inside the door closed automatically with a soft click. She let her eyes travel around the room. It was a   tidy and cozy room, reminded Hermione a lot of Prof McGonagall herself. Her office was not very big but still nice. The room was neatly arranged, covered with white carpet, a wooden book shelf full of books in one corner, several cozy looking arm chair, and a long office table with some books and parchament on it where she sat now.

                   "You called me, Professor?" asked Hermione politely.

                   "Yes, Ms Granger. Please sit down." Answered Prof McGonagall with her usual calm tone. Hermione sat in front of her in a small wooden chair. She could feel it was not a pleased business, for McGonagall`s expression was gloomy. Hermione felt nervous now, whats wrong with her?

                   "Miss Granger, I called you to speak to you. "asked Proff McGonagall with severe tone.

                   "Yes, Professor."said Hermione, gulping. Oh no, here it comes. She watched as Proff McGonagall frowned and cleared her throat.

                   "Are you having a serious problem, Miss Granger?"asked her, made Hermione surprised. She never imagine her Prof will asked something like this. But McGonagall`s expression made her  knew she was serious.

                   "Problem, Professor? I..uh…" said Hermione, not sure what to say.

                   Draco Malfoy, that`s her problem for now. She knew it exactly but…she cant just say it to her teacher, right? Not even her friend`s knew.

                   "No, I`m not, Professor." Lied Hermione, tried to make her voices sounded sure.

                   Prof McGonagall not saying anything and looked at her doubtfully, Hermione wished Prof McGonagall would believe what she said. At last Prof McGonagall  let a long sigh and take a very big book from the desk.

                   "As Gryffindor`s Head I have a responsible about you, Miss Granger. I really don't know what happen to you, but I founded you act strangely in my class for this last weeks. The other teacher say the same about you but I thought it was what an ordinary teenage do. Until is saw this…You may see it."said Prof McGonagall, she opened the book and put it in the table where Hermione could see it clearly.

                   What`s in the book make Hermione petrified. It was the list of her marks in every subject. Is it really her marks? It was all very bad! Hermione couldn`t believe what she saw. She could failed if it`s still like this. What`ll her parents said if they knew? And Harry and Ron? Hermione`s head was suddenly spinning very fast.      

                   "You see, Miss Granger…Your mark was falling fastly. You even failed in some test and my last Transfiguration test. Me and the other Professor feel that you cant concentrated well these days. I believe you are in healthy condition so I thought you are worried about something. Is it true, Miss Granger?" asked Prof McGonagall after a hurting speech.

                   "No, it is not."said Hermione, very aware that she almost crying and her voice shaken.

                   "Well, Miss Granger, you must try to study better. And I don't know what`s been bothering you, but don't worry too much. You can go now."said Prof McGonagall in a soft tone.

                   Hermione mumbled her thanks and went out. At the time she was out Hermione run as fast as she could. Her eyes were watering and her throat sore.  She failed in some test……how could she be so fool? She played, played and played to get rid of Malfoy fr5om her mind. Now, her marks were very bad! She didn't know what to do anymore. Her marks were ruined as her world too. When Hermione was far away from McGonagall`s office she stopped. She couldn`t cry, her heart was too hurt to cry. Why, she was hopeless now. She couldn`t stop thinking about Malfoy for this last weeks and looked at she now, failed in test and very miserable. Damn you, Malfoy!

                   Hermione strolled around with crazy thing`s in her head about ten reason to suicide. She felt not ready to see her friend`s, she would cry at the moment she saw them. So Hermione strolled nowhere alone in the corridor in a terrible state. Suddenly a voice made her stopped .                                                                                                                   

                   "Hi, Hermione!"                                                                                               

                   She turned stiffly and felt a great relieved in her chest when she saw who it is. It was the little Colin Creevey. He was not little anymore, of course, but for Hermione, he was still the same Colin Creevey.

                   "What are you doing here? Where`s Harry? Why he is not with you?"Asked Colin fastly. Hermione was glad he didn`t see that her eyes were red and her face bad. All Colin thought was his favourite, Harry.

                   "I don't know Colin. I think he was still in the Quidditch Pitch, training."answered Hermione flatly. Colin was inhaled a breath to his next long talk when a boy came over them.

                   "Are you Hermione Granger?"asked the boy, Hermione remembered her as a Slytherin first year. 

                   "Yes, I am." Answered Hermione, still in a flat tone. 

                   "Oh, Harry Potter give me a mesagge; said he is waiting for you now in the lake."said the boy.

                   "Harry…? Where?"asked Hermione, her brains seems to be working very slowly.                                                                                                               

                   "On the far side from Hagrid`s Hut, he is waiting on the big single stone near the woods."explained the boy. Is it just Hermione`s imagination? The boy looked uneasy and fidgety.              

                   "Mmhh…alright, I`ll go there. Thanks." Said Hermione, toneless. The boy then ran very fast towards the Great Hall. Hermione let her mind wondered before she noticed that Colin was still standing there. His expression made Hermione suspicios, it was the kind of expression that show he knew something. Colin`s eyes was simply beaming and he had that curious lopsided grin.

                   "Harry want to talk to you in the lake. It means just the two of you. Now that`s really something. I knew it!" babbled Colin excitedly.

                   Now Hermione remembered Colin was one of the people who thought Hermione and Harry were in love. Hermione didn`t mind because she knew Harry and her will always be a best friend, not more. But sometimes like this, it felt annoying.

                   "Bye than, Colin."said Hermione hurriedly and went away before Colin could say anything. 

* * *

                   When Hermione walked out from the Front Hall alone, she stopped and looked around her. It was around 6 o`clock. The sun is already low, the sky was cloudy and the mixture of orange, pink and red. The sun cast a long shadow in everything, made Hermione shivered.

                    Harry was waiting for her, and she must go there. As Hermione walked towards the lake cool wind blew her face, played with her hair. Hermione tried to ignore the creepy feeling that crept in her. It maybe because of the sound of wind blowing the tall grass, or the cool weather or the already dark lake. Hermione saw the woods, dark and unwelcome, she shivered again. Felt she couldn't go on if she still like this, Hermione tightened her scarf and walked faster towards `the meeting place`.

                   Hermione wondered why Harry wanted to meet her in the cool ground, not in the warm Common Room. It's very unlike Harry, called her alone to the lake when it's almost night. Maybe Harry know? What should she tell him? But Hermione shook her head fastly. Harry was not the most sensitive and caring person; his category was `oblivious`.

                   Hermione reached the big stone and puzzled when she found that no one's there. Where's Harry? Hermione looked up, twenty or thirty minutes again it would be dark.

Now the sky was dark orange. She sat in the stone.

                   "Harry? Harry? I'm here!" called Hermione loudly.

                   Suddenly Hermione heard something from behind, it sound's like someone's walking on the grass. Hermione gave a relieved smile and turned

                   "Harr-"

                   Hermione stopped dead when the tall form stepped out from the wood's shadow. It's not Harry.

                   "You!" gasped Hermione 

                   She recognize very well who he is. The sunlight made his blonde hair glistening turned its color into bright oranges. He smirked coldly as he walked towards Hermione.

To be continued….

Yayy! Another chapter finished! I'm so happy! Tell me what you are thinking about this chapter, okay? I really need review to go on. The next chapter is in my head, one review and I'll write it. Oh, yeah, I've got 10 reviews!!!! Thank you all, read this one too! And…well, about my Grammar, I know its bad, hiks, hiks. But I try very hard, so don't be angry with me, please. In 15 Nov is Harry Potter 2nd movie premier isn't it? Lucky you who can watch! In my city it will be in 4 December. Nook!!!! I really want to watch it. Can you tell me is after you watch it? Heehee. Okay than, I guess that's all, See you!