Chapter 7 ~ Falling Again
"I keep on fallin' in and out of love with you,
Sometimes I love ya, sometimes ya make me blue.
Sometimes I feel good, at times I feel used.
Lovin' you darlin', makes me so confused.
I keep on fallin', in and out of love with you,
I never loved someone the way that I love you."
- "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys
Hermione woke up with a start. She opened her eyes, which squinted slightly because of all the sunlight filled inside the common room. Her cheek was stuck to a piece of parchment, and when she got it off, she felt immense pain. She rubbed her eyes and felt bags underneath her eyes. Even though she had stayed up late anyway, she had much trouble falling asleep. She had heard odd noises, and thought it was…well, she didn't even want to think about that. She sighed deeply. "This is how it used to be," she told herself, looking down upon her essay for Care of Magical Creatures and frowning. She was frowning because:
1. She had been sleeping in the common room, obviously falling asleep while writing the essay. And:
2. She was very shocked that Hagrid had given them an essay for Care of Magical Creatures class, but he said that he, "Jus' want to understan' what my students kno' so far, Hermione."
It was now four weeks after the accident, and yet the rumours still flew. Three days after the accident in the Quidditch pitch, a piece was released in the Daily Prophet by Kylie Skeeter (Rita Skeeter's younger sister). She also was very nosy and tended to change words about, and had posted an article about Quidditch safety (but not only about that).
"Quidditch is a highly popular wizard sport, but at times we may find ourselves asking, 'Is it really that safe?' A perfect example is at Hogwarts School, where a Quidditch league goes on, writes Kylie Skeeter. Quidditch practices are held at least 3 times a week, and only a few days ago, an accident occurred which almost resulted in death. The Gryffindor Team, which has one of the league 2 times in a row last year and the year before that, and also 4 years ago, held a practice, carefully watched by Appleby Arrows' player Oliver Wood. He teaches as a professor for Broomstick classes, and was closely inspecting. He wasn't inspecting close enough, however; a speeding bludger hit him in the face and he almost died. 'It was really horrifying,' commented Parvati Patil, a Gryffindor player. 'All you could see was him getting hit and tumbling.' It wasn't until fellow Gryffindor Hermione Granger saved the day – performing a hovering charm, keeping him alive. However, Hermione Granger also got into an accident (reasons unknown). Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin, commented by saying, 'Hermione's always had the hots for Oliver, as soon as he came onto the train arriving at Hogwarts. She probably put a spell on herself to make her unconscious, just so she could be close with her Oliver.' Is love brewing in the air?
But with love brewing or not, two Quidditch accidents occurred at the Hogwarts grounds and we may find ourselves wondering if Quidditch is really such a great sport to play after all."
Ron was shocked after reading the article. "That, that-" Ron said, saying something really bad afterwards that made Hermione gasp. "How could she write something like that? I swear, she's a Rita Skeeter clone."
"Well, they are related," Harry agreed. "I just hope she's not an Animagi as well, that would be horrifying."
"Look out for beetles," Hermione joked, but it was no laughing matter, since Draco made it his every intention to mock Oliver and Hermione about being a couple.
Hermione walked over to the window, where the first signs of autumn showed. They were dawning upon the first few days of October, and already the leaves began to change colours of meriwinkle gold, and copper.
She hurried back to her table, hearing footsteps, but found it was only Crookshanks, her beloved cat. "Come here, Crookshanks," she commanded, although in a very sweet and polite voice. Crookshanks leaped into her arms, and purred gently. Then, realizing she was very hungry, she put Crookshanks down and went off to the Great Hall.
When she arrived, the Great Hall was empty except for a few Hufflepuffs who also appeared to not have slept well. She sat down at the empty Gryffindor table, feeling somewhat of a loner, and wondering when the food was going to appear, as there was nothing on the plates so far.
She sighed deeply yet again and twiddled her thumbs, but nothing seemed to get rid of the feeling that she was so bored. She began to hum out loud, but at the sight of the Hufflepuffs, who looked strangely upon her, she stopped almost immediately.
"Bored, are you?" a voice said behind her. She gasped and twirled around, and Oliver grinned. "I'm bored too. Didn't get much sleep last night."
"Me…me either," she responded, her difficulties from the accident getting to her. Oliver didn't seem to notice it, however, and sat down beside her.
"I miss this," he told her, looking around the Gryffindor table. "Up there," he continued, pointing up at the staff table, "it isn't as much fun. The only professors I've made friends with are Professor Musetta, McGonagull, Flitwick, Sprout, and Dumbledore. The rest…well let's just say they're not that friendly."
"Or they're really boring," she said, referring to Professor Binns.
"What are you doing down here without Potter and Weasley?" Oliver asked curiously.
"Please…you're beginning to sound like Snape," she replied, smiling nervously. "'What are you doing here without your boyfriends Potter and Weasley?' He's so…so…"
"Annoying?" Oliver finished suggestively.
"Yeah," she agreed, looking down upon her plate. "Ugh…I'm really…really hungry!"
Suddenly, she heard noises below her plate, and a loud squeaky voice cried, "You is friend of Harry Potter, Miss! Dobby make good food for you – then Miss is not hungry! Miss will be happy!"
"Dobby?" she asked, crying to her plate again.
"Yes, miss!" the squeaky voice replied. "Dobby is hearing everything. Dobby knows that Professor Wood is speaking to Miss. Is Professor Wood wanting something to eat?"
Oliver cocked an eyebrow, making him look like "The Rock" (although both of them didn't know who that was). "Uh, yeah, sure," he cried back.
"That's Dobby," Hermione explained. "He's a house-elf. House-elfs make…make food here at Hogwarts. Scrub the beds; make the fires…" she continued, grumbling. She still wanted house-elfs to strike back, but Dobby was the only one who seemed to agree with her. She gave up hopes on her S.P.E.W rebellion, but often complained all the same.
"Dobby is making food! Miss and Mr will eat food soon!" Dobby told them, and soon enough large stacks of pancakes and bacon appeared on their plates, and their goblets were full to the brim with juice.
"So, are you enjoying my classes so far?" Oliver asked thickly (he had just started on a pancake with a large amount of syrup).
"Oh, yeah, they're really great!" Hermione exclaimed, taking a swig from her goblet. "I really enjoyed the class on keepers, you did…did really well at demonstrating."
"Thanks," Oliver replied, blushing a tiny bit.
"Aren't you scared at all?" Hermione asked, starting on some bacon.
"Of what?" Oliver questioned.
"Well, you know, of Quidditch. After that accident I probably would never want to play Quidditch again!"
"Of course not! On my first game I got hit with a bludger two minutes in, woke up in the hospital a week later. But did that stop me? No!" he replied, banging his fist on the table. "I got on my broomstick again and was confident that I would avoid any round objects except for the Quaffle, which I had to catch – so I'm not afraid of accidents. Plus, now that I've got my new Firebolt, I'll probably never get into an accident again!"
Hermione smiled and continued her breakfast with Oliver. Soon many more students arrived in the great hall with great bags under their eyes. None of them seemed to have slept well. Harry and Ron arrived about 10 minutes after Oliver and Hermione had finished breakfast, and Ron looked very furious and jealous.
"Why did you wake up so early?" Ron scolded, sitting down beside her and starting on some pancakes. "We were looking all over for you, but Lavender told us you weren't even in the girls' dormitories all night!"
"Sorry," Hermione apologized, glancing at Oliver, who was now heading to the staff table. She managed a small bye and continued. "I was working on my Care of Magical Creatures essay…I didn't sleep well and I woke up early."
"So you just wind up coming down to eat and have a chat with some bloke?" Ron asked furiously, putting his goblet down angrily, putting juice all over the place.
"He's a…he's a professor, Ron! Don't get so furious!" Hermione cried. "Don't you agree, Harry? He's just a professor!" But Harry didn't reply; at that moment the post had arrived, and Hedwig had delivered a letter to him.
"It's from Cho," he said quietly, ripping the envelope open. He read quietly to himself, aroused in the letter.
"Dear Harry,
I'm sorry that I haven't written to you for a while. I've been searching around for teams to play on for Quidditch; finally, the Chudley Cannons have given me a home. I hope that all is going well at school, and that Professor Snape is getting on your nerves too much.
I really miss you, and it's strange to think I haven't seen you for a month and a half. I hope that Hermione is all right, and Ron as well. Please say hello to Professor Dumbledore for me.
I don't really know what else to write. I guess we talked ourselves out during the holidays, didn't we? But I want you to know I still love you, and I spend every waking and sleeping moment thinking about you.
Please tell me the next Hogsmeade date. Maybe we could meet at The Three Broomsticks and share a Butterbeer and a conversation together.
Please respond quickly.
Love, Cho."
Harry reread the letter to Hermione and Ron. Hermione told him the first Hogsmeade date was October 27th, but Ron was paying more attention to the news about Cho on the Chudley Cannons. Ron was so excited that he lifted his goblet into the air and yelled, "Hip, hip, HOORAY!" Unfortunately, for him, Snape had been passing by on the way to the dungeons, and all the juice splashed onto Snape's face, soaking him all over.
Harry sniggered while chewing his bacon; he choked but laughed some more. Hermione bit her bottom lip nervously, twitching, but she was really trying to avoid bursting out in laughter. Ron giggled and laughed some more, and soon, the whole Gryffindor table erupted with laughters.
"You think that's funny, do you?" Snape snarled, the laughter ceasing at once. Juice dripped from his hair, making it look more greasy than ever. "Maybe you should hold your excitement from now Weasley; and instead of throwing juice in a persons face you could wet your pants; either way everybody gets a good laugh. 20 points from Gryffindor, and be grateful it isn't more." He stalked away miserably, snapping at anyone who got in his way.
"Man, it was just an accident," Ron said madly, catching Malfoy's eye. Malfoy was laughing away merrily, pointing at Ron and then pointing at Snape. "He'd make it as though I did it on purpose."
"Ignore him, Ron," Harry suggested, reading the line about Snape on Cho's letter. "He's just a twit."
But Ron didn't ignore him; his grumpy mood continued all day. He was so grumpy that during Herbology class he had squeezed his Byuster too tightly – poison went flying and landed on Justin Finch-Fletchey's face; he was sent to the infirmary with red blotches all over his face.
At dinner, Ron's mood had finally improved – he had done well on the mini- test in Defence Against the Dark Arts on hexes – Professor Musetta had awarded 30 points to Gryffindor on his behalf. He was boasting and bragging about the way he had avoided the last hex, but Hermione and Harry paid no attention to him. Harry was daydreaming about Cho, and Hermione daydreamed about Oliver, which she seemed to do ever other minute.
"And then, I was like avoiding it while it went BAM! but it didn't hit me, it hit the wall," Ron told them, grinning proudly. " I narrowly missed it; I could feel it skidding my neck. But then the last hex, I completely avoided that with my spell, and I felt so proud when she gave me 30 points. Shame it couldn't have been a bit more but – guys? GUYS?!"
It finally dawned on Ron that Hermione and Harry hadn't been paying attention to a word he was saying. He sighed disappointingly and continued eating his dinner.
Hermione went to bed with dreams of sugarplums and Oliver Wood, hoping that this would help her rest easier; but it didn't help. The odd noises continued throughout the night, and it sounded strangely like hissing. Hermione only hoped…no, it couldn't be a snake, not now when Harry was getting so happy…it couldn't be a snake, it's probably just normal people talking, she kept telling herself as she lay on the bed, wide awake. But, as it continued for nights on end, people were getting worried…and not to mention, cranky.
"I can barely understand what the Professors are saying because I'm so tired," Dean explained one time during lunch. "Then they assign so much homework that I'm up 'til the wee hours of the morning. But then my homework's delayed for an hour because of Quidditch practice, and then I can't even get any sleep because of odd noises!"
"HEAR, HEAR!" Ron shouted, careful not to touch his goblet and bang it on the table like the rest, as though afraid Snape might scold him at any moment.
During October, which went by swiftly, Hermione had several encounters with Oliver, each more enjoyable than the last. Unfortunately, they had one encounter the day before the Hogsmeade trip, and Hermione had to agree that it was the worst yet.
Because Hermione (or anybody for that matter) had gotten any sleep, Hermione had made herself a sleeping potion. However, because she was so tired she accidentally added a few more durvey shells (which decided how long you fall asleep for). She woke up at 9:02 am to a very rainy day, two minutes after her Potions class started, and after quickly getting dressed and brushing her teeth (she didn't have time to put on makeup or brush her hair), she picked up her bag and rushed downstairs, deciding to grab a bit of toast before running towards the dungeons. Hermione had to run through the entrance hall to get to the Great Hall, and unfortunately for her, Hagrid had been through there, his boots very muddy and wet.
Her feet slipped on the wet and muddy floor, and her books went flying through the air. She felt gravity pulling her towards the ground, and she knew that very soon she'd be suffering a very large injury. She cried for help, but it was more of a choke or sob. She knew she couldn't stop herself from falling – she wanted to reach for her wand but it was on top of her stack of books, which was now flying through the air like her. She closed her eyes, prepared for the worst injury her brain would ever suffer (next to a hit on the head with a club) when suddenly she was swept off her feet (literally), and pulled into the Great Hall. She looked up, and saw Oliver running, looking very scared.
"Are you all right, Hermione?" he panted, setting her down on the table and checking that she was all right.
"Uh…yeah…yeah" she responded, confused. "How did you know that I was there?"
"Heard your little 'cry'," he replied, his brow moving furiously as he talked. He looked very worried. "Are you sure you're all right?"
"Yeah…I'm fine, thanks…yet again…" Hermione assured him, but still stunned at the event that just occurred. Oliver ran to get her things while she thought "I fell again. Why do I keep falling? And why does Oliver just 'happen to be there' every time I fall? Is he always going to be there catch me?"
Oliver walked back slowly to the table where Hermione was sitting, struggling against all the weight of the books. "Here…here you go," he panted again, stacking the books neatly on the table. "You know, you shouldn't run through the entrance hall…on a rainy day. You could break your neck."
"Sorry," Hermione said, frustrated, "But I realised that I'm late for class and so I thought I'd grab a bit of toast before Potions class, which is…" She checked her watch, "…already half-way done."
"Don't go," Oliver suggested, sitting beside her and yelling "TOAST PLEASE!" at the plate. Automatically, toast appeared and he handed it to Hermione, who smiled gratefully. "Happened to me in my 7th year as well," Oliver indicated. "Couldn't fall asleep – kept thinking about the Quidditch match on Saturday, 2 days away. Woke up really late on Friday – Potions happened to be my first class. I didn't go…better than being embarrassed in front of the whole entire class."
"What did Snape do?" Hermione asked.
"Well, afterwards I got 20 points taken away from Gryffindor, and Snape threatened to give me detention, but luckily Professor Dumbledore was there." Oliver replied. "He knew about my obsessions with Quidditch, gave me a warning, and that's it. Maybe it'll happen with you to."
"Hopefully," Hermione said, smiling weakly. "Thanks for saving me again…"
"GRANGER!" Snape barked, running into the Great Hall, his face full of angriness.
"Y-yes?" Hermione replied, feeling a great lump in her throat that was very hard to swallow.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?!" Snape screamed. "HAVE YOU NOT FORGOTTEN THAT THERE IS A POTIONS CLASS IN THE DUNGEONS RIGHT NOW?! Oh, yes I have forgotten about your little ACCIDENT! I thought by now, MISS GRANGER, you would REMEMBER!""
"Please, Professor Snape, let her explain," Wood interrupted, standing between the cowering Hermione and the frustrated Snape.
"Why should I allow her to explain why she is here in the great hall conversing with her boyfriend instead of in class?" Snape snarled, spit flying from his mouth.
That did it. Oliver snapped. Turning very red he responded, "If you would LIKE to know, Professor Snape, Miss Granger suffered a very bad fall while running towards your class – almost breaking her neck. I helped her before she fell. But since you're OBVIOUSLY not going for facts, it's strange that you're going to be JUMPING to conclusions! It's very shocking to find that you're convicting me of having a RELATIONSHIP with Miss Granger! Miss Granger is a very good student and a very nice girl but unless you're plotting some way for us to go together, the idea of us having a relationship other than friends is PREPOSTEROUS!"
Hermione gulped some more. She had never seen Oliver this angry. He was very defensive; that she could see. But she never saw a young person or professor get this angry at Professor Snape, especially since Professor Snape wasn't a person that you could yell at. She was bit surprised at Oliver's words as well – he considered her a friend. He said that she was a very good student and a very nice girl. She wanted to blush, but at the sight of Snape, his face twisted with fury, she decided it was better not to do that.
Snape opened his mouth, looking like he was about to scream his head off. But he was interrupted suddenly, but a soft-voiced person who twinkling eyes. "Severus," Professor Dumbledore spoke, very calmly. "Obviously Miss Granger is dealing with a trauma of sleeping in. I did that occasionally during my school years," he continued, his eyes twinkling. "But I'm surprised, Miss Granger. How can you fall asleep with that continuing noise…which we are definitely investigating as we speak, of course. How did you manage to fall into a peaceful slumber?"
"I made…made a sleeping potion," Hermione responded, while biting her bottom lip. She didn't want to get in trouble now, especially by Professor Snape.
"See, Severus!" Dumbledore exclaimed, smiling. "She was taking a recipe from your class, and trying to do it herself! What made you sleep so late?"
"Hmm…" Hermione said, tapping her forehead. She didn't really know what had caused her to wake up so lately in the morning. "Maybe…maybe because I made it so late."
"Perhaps," Dumbledore said, glancing at Hermione thoughtfully. "Or perhaps you added a few more durvey shells. That could always be it."
"Yeah, probably," Hermione agreed, and for the first time that morning she smiled. She wasn't going to get in trouble…hopefully. "I was probably too tired to notice how many shells I was putting it…it was an accident though, honestly."
Snape muttered words under his breath, which sounded much like "detention for a week" and "50 points from Gryffindor". He was smiling. Dumbledore was, however. "Well, under the circumstances, I don't think that Hermione should have a detention or 50 points. This has never happened before, Severus. We'll let her off easy…this time," Dumbledore resolved, his eyes shining and twinkling as he spoke.
"But, Dumbledore," Snape snarled, spit flying from his mouth. "She has done several things throughout this year. I myself caught her wandering the halls in the middle of the night…Apparently, she had been talking with HIM," he added, glancing at Oliver with hatred.
Dumbledore eyed him carefully. "What happened that night?" he inquired.
"Uh…I was exiting the Great Hall, but then I forgot my glasses," Hermione explained. "Then I realised I didn't have any glasses and then…" She didn't want to mention Malfoy. If she got him in trouble, he would make her life miserable. But she couldn't of any other excuse of why she was talking to Oliver in the office (she was going to use the old 'helping Oliver clean the broomsticks' ploy, but she herself knew that 5 hours of cleaning broomsticks was unconvincing). So she said, "Malfoy was talking to me, and he made me upset by…by calling me a Mudblood."
Snape nodded his head, as though agreeing with Malfoy. Dumbledore turned his head slightly, and said, "What a very rude thing to do, indeed. Continue, Miss Granger."
"Well…" Hermione started, looking at Oliver. He nodded confidentially, as though willing her to speak the truth. "I was walking through the halls, upset, and then I walked into a room with a chair, and I collapsed onto it, exhausting. It happened to be Oli- I mean, Professor Wood's office, and I was talking to him for a bit." She didn't want to use a first-name basis, for Snape would certainly be convinced that they were having a relationship if she did.
"Indeed," Dumbledore said again. "Well, I will have a little chat with Mr Malfoy. For your little accident, Miss Granger, I will have to take off 10 points from Gryffindor for being late, but that is all. Please be more careful when making a sleeping potion. The first time I tried to attempt it, I added no fewer than 75 durvey shells. I wound up asleep for 19 days. Missed quite a lot. And I found that I woke up very hungry and with a very full bladder."
Hermione and Oliver laughed. Snape cursed under his breath that Hermione hadn't gotten in trouble, but as another warning, told her, "You've missed quite a lot in these two days, Miss Granger. If it happens again, I will use a poison on you – test your antidotes. Good day to you, Dumbledore." He spun around, his robes flying violently behind him.
"Well, I hope you have a good day…" Professor Dumbledore told them.
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," Hermione said, before he walked away.
"There's no need to thank me, Miss Granger," Dumbledore replied, his back facing them. "I always believe in second chances, sometimes even third. I've even been known to give quadruple chances, if I'm in a surprisingly good mood. But, I believe that you deserve 1 hundred."
"Why, sir?" Oliver asked for Hermione.
"She hasn't done anything wrong – she's the top student in Hogwarts," Dumbledore explained. "In fact, I think she's the top student in the history of Hogwarts." He nodded, smiling, and said, "Good day." And walked away.
"Told you everything would be all right!" Oliver exclaimed, smiling.
Hermione smiled back, but couldn't help wondering if everything would truly be all right. And, unfortunately, Hermione didn't believe so, no matter how much she wanted to agree with Oliver.
**********************************************************
Horrible ending to this chapter, I know. But I wanted to think of a way to finish it – it was getting REALLY long! Thanks to all the reviewers (I'm going to thank them individually, as I would if I had received an Oscar for Best Actress):
G*Ness – I agree with you! I love India.Arie – especially her song "Ready for Love". I'm going to try and use that song in another chapter…Even though I think Malfoy is *pretty cool* I wanted to make fun of him somehow. And, since Hermione got her head injury, I wanted her to make a really big mistake…but Oliver obviously didn't take it into account (too obsessed with Quidditch to notice, I think)…Thanks and I'll be sure to read your stories as well!
Juvenus – I love Oliver Wood sooooo much! We got a big thing in common! Lol You did make me blush, it's true…! You are a good writer, believe me when I say it! (Maybe I'll make you blush too…lol) Thanks for waiting for Chapter 7 – here it is!
"I keep on fallin' in and out of love with you,
Sometimes I love ya, sometimes ya make me blue.
Sometimes I feel good, at times I feel used.
Lovin' you darlin', makes me so confused.
I keep on fallin', in and out of love with you,
I never loved someone the way that I love you."
- "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys
Hermione woke up with a start. She opened her eyes, which squinted slightly because of all the sunlight filled inside the common room. Her cheek was stuck to a piece of parchment, and when she got it off, she felt immense pain. She rubbed her eyes and felt bags underneath her eyes. Even though she had stayed up late anyway, she had much trouble falling asleep. She had heard odd noises, and thought it was…well, she didn't even want to think about that. She sighed deeply. "This is how it used to be," she told herself, looking down upon her essay for Care of Magical Creatures and frowning. She was frowning because:
1. She had been sleeping in the common room, obviously falling asleep while writing the essay. And:
2. She was very shocked that Hagrid had given them an essay for Care of Magical Creatures class, but he said that he, "Jus' want to understan' what my students kno' so far, Hermione."
It was now four weeks after the accident, and yet the rumours still flew. Three days after the accident in the Quidditch pitch, a piece was released in the Daily Prophet by Kylie Skeeter (Rita Skeeter's younger sister). She also was very nosy and tended to change words about, and had posted an article about Quidditch safety (but not only about that).
"Quidditch is a highly popular wizard sport, but at times we may find ourselves asking, 'Is it really that safe?' A perfect example is at Hogwarts School, where a Quidditch league goes on, writes Kylie Skeeter. Quidditch practices are held at least 3 times a week, and only a few days ago, an accident occurred which almost resulted in death. The Gryffindor Team, which has one of the league 2 times in a row last year and the year before that, and also 4 years ago, held a practice, carefully watched by Appleby Arrows' player Oliver Wood. He teaches as a professor for Broomstick classes, and was closely inspecting. He wasn't inspecting close enough, however; a speeding bludger hit him in the face and he almost died. 'It was really horrifying,' commented Parvati Patil, a Gryffindor player. 'All you could see was him getting hit and tumbling.' It wasn't until fellow Gryffindor Hermione Granger saved the day – performing a hovering charm, keeping him alive. However, Hermione Granger also got into an accident (reasons unknown). Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin, commented by saying, 'Hermione's always had the hots for Oliver, as soon as he came onto the train arriving at Hogwarts. She probably put a spell on herself to make her unconscious, just so she could be close with her Oliver.' Is love brewing in the air?
But with love brewing or not, two Quidditch accidents occurred at the Hogwarts grounds and we may find ourselves wondering if Quidditch is really such a great sport to play after all."
Ron was shocked after reading the article. "That, that-" Ron said, saying something really bad afterwards that made Hermione gasp. "How could she write something like that? I swear, she's a Rita Skeeter clone."
"Well, they are related," Harry agreed. "I just hope she's not an Animagi as well, that would be horrifying."
"Look out for beetles," Hermione joked, but it was no laughing matter, since Draco made it his every intention to mock Oliver and Hermione about being a couple.
Hermione walked over to the window, where the first signs of autumn showed. They were dawning upon the first few days of October, and already the leaves began to change colours of meriwinkle gold, and copper.
She hurried back to her table, hearing footsteps, but found it was only Crookshanks, her beloved cat. "Come here, Crookshanks," she commanded, although in a very sweet and polite voice. Crookshanks leaped into her arms, and purred gently. Then, realizing she was very hungry, she put Crookshanks down and went off to the Great Hall.
When she arrived, the Great Hall was empty except for a few Hufflepuffs who also appeared to not have slept well. She sat down at the empty Gryffindor table, feeling somewhat of a loner, and wondering when the food was going to appear, as there was nothing on the plates so far.
She sighed deeply yet again and twiddled her thumbs, but nothing seemed to get rid of the feeling that she was so bored. She began to hum out loud, but at the sight of the Hufflepuffs, who looked strangely upon her, she stopped almost immediately.
"Bored, are you?" a voice said behind her. She gasped and twirled around, and Oliver grinned. "I'm bored too. Didn't get much sleep last night."
"Me…me either," she responded, her difficulties from the accident getting to her. Oliver didn't seem to notice it, however, and sat down beside her.
"I miss this," he told her, looking around the Gryffindor table. "Up there," he continued, pointing up at the staff table, "it isn't as much fun. The only professors I've made friends with are Professor Musetta, McGonagull, Flitwick, Sprout, and Dumbledore. The rest…well let's just say they're not that friendly."
"Or they're really boring," she said, referring to Professor Binns.
"What are you doing down here without Potter and Weasley?" Oliver asked curiously.
"Please…you're beginning to sound like Snape," she replied, smiling nervously. "'What are you doing here without your boyfriends Potter and Weasley?' He's so…so…"
"Annoying?" Oliver finished suggestively.
"Yeah," she agreed, looking down upon her plate. "Ugh…I'm really…really hungry!"
Suddenly, she heard noises below her plate, and a loud squeaky voice cried, "You is friend of Harry Potter, Miss! Dobby make good food for you – then Miss is not hungry! Miss will be happy!"
"Dobby?" she asked, crying to her plate again.
"Yes, miss!" the squeaky voice replied. "Dobby is hearing everything. Dobby knows that Professor Wood is speaking to Miss. Is Professor Wood wanting something to eat?"
Oliver cocked an eyebrow, making him look like "The Rock" (although both of them didn't know who that was). "Uh, yeah, sure," he cried back.
"That's Dobby," Hermione explained. "He's a house-elf. House-elfs make…make food here at Hogwarts. Scrub the beds; make the fires…" she continued, grumbling. She still wanted house-elfs to strike back, but Dobby was the only one who seemed to agree with her. She gave up hopes on her S.P.E.W rebellion, but often complained all the same.
"Dobby is making food! Miss and Mr will eat food soon!" Dobby told them, and soon enough large stacks of pancakes and bacon appeared on their plates, and their goblets were full to the brim with juice.
"So, are you enjoying my classes so far?" Oliver asked thickly (he had just started on a pancake with a large amount of syrup).
"Oh, yeah, they're really great!" Hermione exclaimed, taking a swig from her goblet. "I really enjoyed the class on keepers, you did…did really well at demonstrating."
"Thanks," Oliver replied, blushing a tiny bit.
"Aren't you scared at all?" Hermione asked, starting on some bacon.
"Of what?" Oliver questioned.
"Well, you know, of Quidditch. After that accident I probably would never want to play Quidditch again!"
"Of course not! On my first game I got hit with a bludger two minutes in, woke up in the hospital a week later. But did that stop me? No!" he replied, banging his fist on the table. "I got on my broomstick again and was confident that I would avoid any round objects except for the Quaffle, which I had to catch – so I'm not afraid of accidents. Plus, now that I've got my new Firebolt, I'll probably never get into an accident again!"
Hermione smiled and continued her breakfast with Oliver. Soon many more students arrived in the great hall with great bags under their eyes. None of them seemed to have slept well. Harry and Ron arrived about 10 minutes after Oliver and Hermione had finished breakfast, and Ron looked very furious and jealous.
"Why did you wake up so early?" Ron scolded, sitting down beside her and starting on some pancakes. "We were looking all over for you, but Lavender told us you weren't even in the girls' dormitories all night!"
"Sorry," Hermione apologized, glancing at Oliver, who was now heading to the staff table. She managed a small bye and continued. "I was working on my Care of Magical Creatures essay…I didn't sleep well and I woke up early."
"So you just wind up coming down to eat and have a chat with some bloke?" Ron asked furiously, putting his goblet down angrily, putting juice all over the place.
"He's a…he's a professor, Ron! Don't get so furious!" Hermione cried. "Don't you agree, Harry? He's just a professor!" But Harry didn't reply; at that moment the post had arrived, and Hedwig had delivered a letter to him.
"It's from Cho," he said quietly, ripping the envelope open. He read quietly to himself, aroused in the letter.
"Dear Harry,
I'm sorry that I haven't written to you for a while. I've been searching around for teams to play on for Quidditch; finally, the Chudley Cannons have given me a home. I hope that all is going well at school, and that Professor Snape is getting on your nerves too much.
I really miss you, and it's strange to think I haven't seen you for a month and a half. I hope that Hermione is all right, and Ron as well. Please say hello to Professor Dumbledore for me.
I don't really know what else to write. I guess we talked ourselves out during the holidays, didn't we? But I want you to know I still love you, and I spend every waking and sleeping moment thinking about you.
Please tell me the next Hogsmeade date. Maybe we could meet at The Three Broomsticks and share a Butterbeer and a conversation together.
Please respond quickly.
Love, Cho."
Harry reread the letter to Hermione and Ron. Hermione told him the first Hogsmeade date was October 27th, but Ron was paying more attention to the news about Cho on the Chudley Cannons. Ron was so excited that he lifted his goblet into the air and yelled, "Hip, hip, HOORAY!" Unfortunately, for him, Snape had been passing by on the way to the dungeons, and all the juice splashed onto Snape's face, soaking him all over.
Harry sniggered while chewing his bacon; he choked but laughed some more. Hermione bit her bottom lip nervously, twitching, but she was really trying to avoid bursting out in laughter. Ron giggled and laughed some more, and soon, the whole Gryffindor table erupted with laughters.
"You think that's funny, do you?" Snape snarled, the laughter ceasing at once. Juice dripped from his hair, making it look more greasy than ever. "Maybe you should hold your excitement from now Weasley; and instead of throwing juice in a persons face you could wet your pants; either way everybody gets a good laugh. 20 points from Gryffindor, and be grateful it isn't more." He stalked away miserably, snapping at anyone who got in his way.
"Man, it was just an accident," Ron said madly, catching Malfoy's eye. Malfoy was laughing away merrily, pointing at Ron and then pointing at Snape. "He'd make it as though I did it on purpose."
"Ignore him, Ron," Harry suggested, reading the line about Snape on Cho's letter. "He's just a twit."
But Ron didn't ignore him; his grumpy mood continued all day. He was so grumpy that during Herbology class he had squeezed his Byuster too tightly – poison went flying and landed on Justin Finch-Fletchey's face; he was sent to the infirmary with red blotches all over his face.
At dinner, Ron's mood had finally improved – he had done well on the mini- test in Defence Against the Dark Arts on hexes – Professor Musetta had awarded 30 points to Gryffindor on his behalf. He was boasting and bragging about the way he had avoided the last hex, but Hermione and Harry paid no attention to him. Harry was daydreaming about Cho, and Hermione daydreamed about Oliver, which she seemed to do ever other minute.
"And then, I was like avoiding it while it went BAM! but it didn't hit me, it hit the wall," Ron told them, grinning proudly. " I narrowly missed it; I could feel it skidding my neck. But then the last hex, I completely avoided that with my spell, and I felt so proud when she gave me 30 points. Shame it couldn't have been a bit more but – guys? GUYS?!"
It finally dawned on Ron that Hermione and Harry hadn't been paying attention to a word he was saying. He sighed disappointingly and continued eating his dinner.
Hermione went to bed with dreams of sugarplums and Oliver Wood, hoping that this would help her rest easier; but it didn't help. The odd noises continued throughout the night, and it sounded strangely like hissing. Hermione only hoped…no, it couldn't be a snake, not now when Harry was getting so happy…it couldn't be a snake, it's probably just normal people talking, she kept telling herself as she lay on the bed, wide awake. But, as it continued for nights on end, people were getting worried…and not to mention, cranky.
"I can barely understand what the Professors are saying because I'm so tired," Dean explained one time during lunch. "Then they assign so much homework that I'm up 'til the wee hours of the morning. But then my homework's delayed for an hour because of Quidditch practice, and then I can't even get any sleep because of odd noises!"
"HEAR, HEAR!" Ron shouted, careful not to touch his goblet and bang it on the table like the rest, as though afraid Snape might scold him at any moment.
During October, which went by swiftly, Hermione had several encounters with Oliver, each more enjoyable than the last. Unfortunately, they had one encounter the day before the Hogsmeade trip, and Hermione had to agree that it was the worst yet.
Because Hermione (or anybody for that matter) had gotten any sleep, Hermione had made herself a sleeping potion. However, because she was so tired she accidentally added a few more durvey shells (which decided how long you fall asleep for). She woke up at 9:02 am to a very rainy day, two minutes after her Potions class started, and after quickly getting dressed and brushing her teeth (she didn't have time to put on makeup or brush her hair), she picked up her bag and rushed downstairs, deciding to grab a bit of toast before running towards the dungeons. Hermione had to run through the entrance hall to get to the Great Hall, and unfortunately for her, Hagrid had been through there, his boots very muddy and wet.
Her feet slipped on the wet and muddy floor, and her books went flying through the air. She felt gravity pulling her towards the ground, and she knew that very soon she'd be suffering a very large injury. She cried for help, but it was more of a choke or sob. She knew she couldn't stop herself from falling – she wanted to reach for her wand but it was on top of her stack of books, which was now flying through the air like her. She closed her eyes, prepared for the worst injury her brain would ever suffer (next to a hit on the head with a club) when suddenly she was swept off her feet (literally), and pulled into the Great Hall. She looked up, and saw Oliver running, looking very scared.
"Are you all right, Hermione?" he panted, setting her down on the table and checking that she was all right.
"Uh…yeah…yeah" she responded, confused. "How did you know that I was there?"
"Heard your little 'cry'," he replied, his brow moving furiously as he talked. He looked very worried. "Are you sure you're all right?"
"Yeah…I'm fine, thanks…yet again…" Hermione assured him, but still stunned at the event that just occurred. Oliver ran to get her things while she thought "I fell again. Why do I keep falling? And why does Oliver just 'happen to be there' every time I fall? Is he always going to be there catch me?"
Oliver walked back slowly to the table where Hermione was sitting, struggling against all the weight of the books. "Here…here you go," he panted again, stacking the books neatly on the table. "You know, you shouldn't run through the entrance hall…on a rainy day. You could break your neck."
"Sorry," Hermione said, frustrated, "But I realised that I'm late for class and so I thought I'd grab a bit of toast before Potions class, which is…" She checked her watch, "…already half-way done."
"Don't go," Oliver suggested, sitting beside her and yelling "TOAST PLEASE!" at the plate. Automatically, toast appeared and he handed it to Hermione, who smiled gratefully. "Happened to me in my 7th year as well," Oliver indicated. "Couldn't fall asleep – kept thinking about the Quidditch match on Saturday, 2 days away. Woke up really late on Friday – Potions happened to be my first class. I didn't go…better than being embarrassed in front of the whole entire class."
"What did Snape do?" Hermione asked.
"Well, afterwards I got 20 points taken away from Gryffindor, and Snape threatened to give me detention, but luckily Professor Dumbledore was there." Oliver replied. "He knew about my obsessions with Quidditch, gave me a warning, and that's it. Maybe it'll happen with you to."
"Hopefully," Hermione said, smiling weakly. "Thanks for saving me again…"
"GRANGER!" Snape barked, running into the Great Hall, his face full of angriness.
"Y-yes?" Hermione replied, feeling a great lump in her throat that was very hard to swallow.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?!" Snape screamed. "HAVE YOU NOT FORGOTTEN THAT THERE IS A POTIONS CLASS IN THE DUNGEONS RIGHT NOW?! Oh, yes I have forgotten about your little ACCIDENT! I thought by now, MISS GRANGER, you would REMEMBER!""
"Please, Professor Snape, let her explain," Wood interrupted, standing between the cowering Hermione and the frustrated Snape.
"Why should I allow her to explain why she is here in the great hall conversing with her boyfriend instead of in class?" Snape snarled, spit flying from his mouth.
That did it. Oliver snapped. Turning very red he responded, "If you would LIKE to know, Professor Snape, Miss Granger suffered a very bad fall while running towards your class – almost breaking her neck. I helped her before she fell. But since you're OBVIOUSLY not going for facts, it's strange that you're going to be JUMPING to conclusions! It's very shocking to find that you're convicting me of having a RELATIONSHIP with Miss Granger! Miss Granger is a very good student and a very nice girl but unless you're plotting some way for us to go together, the idea of us having a relationship other than friends is PREPOSTEROUS!"
Hermione gulped some more. She had never seen Oliver this angry. He was very defensive; that she could see. But she never saw a young person or professor get this angry at Professor Snape, especially since Professor Snape wasn't a person that you could yell at. She was bit surprised at Oliver's words as well – he considered her a friend. He said that she was a very good student and a very nice girl. She wanted to blush, but at the sight of Snape, his face twisted with fury, she decided it was better not to do that.
Snape opened his mouth, looking like he was about to scream his head off. But he was interrupted suddenly, but a soft-voiced person who twinkling eyes. "Severus," Professor Dumbledore spoke, very calmly. "Obviously Miss Granger is dealing with a trauma of sleeping in. I did that occasionally during my school years," he continued, his eyes twinkling. "But I'm surprised, Miss Granger. How can you fall asleep with that continuing noise…which we are definitely investigating as we speak, of course. How did you manage to fall into a peaceful slumber?"
"I made…made a sleeping potion," Hermione responded, while biting her bottom lip. She didn't want to get in trouble now, especially by Professor Snape.
"See, Severus!" Dumbledore exclaimed, smiling. "She was taking a recipe from your class, and trying to do it herself! What made you sleep so late?"
"Hmm…" Hermione said, tapping her forehead. She didn't really know what had caused her to wake up so lately in the morning. "Maybe…maybe because I made it so late."
"Perhaps," Dumbledore said, glancing at Hermione thoughtfully. "Or perhaps you added a few more durvey shells. That could always be it."
"Yeah, probably," Hermione agreed, and for the first time that morning she smiled. She wasn't going to get in trouble…hopefully. "I was probably too tired to notice how many shells I was putting it…it was an accident though, honestly."
Snape muttered words under his breath, which sounded much like "detention for a week" and "50 points from Gryffindor". He was smiling. Dumbledore was, however. "Well, under the circumstances, I don't think that Hermione should have a detention or 50 points. This has never happened before, Severus. We'll let her off easy…this time," Dumbledore resolved, his eyes shining and twinkling as he spoke.
"But, Dumbledore," Snape snarled, spit flying from his mouth. "She has done several things throughout this year. I myself caught her wandering the halls in the middle of the night…Apparently, she had been talking with HIM," he added, glancing at Oliver with hatred.
Dumbledore eyed him carefully. "What happened that night?" he inquired.
"Uh…I was exiting the Great Hall, but then I forgot my glasses," Hermione explained. "Then I realised I didn't have any glasses and then…" She didn't want to mention Malfoy. If she got him in trouble, he would make her life miserable. But she couldn't of any other excuse of why she was talking to Oliver in the office (she was going to use the old 'helping Oliver clean the broomsticks' ploy, but she herself knew that 5 hours of cleaning broomsticks was unconvincing). So she said, "Malfoy was talking to me, and he made me upset by…by calling me a Mudblood."
Snape nodded his head, as though agreeing with Malfoy. Dumbledore turned his head slightly, and said, "What a very rude thing to do, indeed. Continue, Miss Granger."
"Well…" Hermione started, looking at Oliver. He nodded confidentially, as though willing her to speak the truth. "I was walking through the halls, upset, and then I walked into a room with a chair, and I collapsed onto it, exhausting. It happened to be Oli- I mean, Professor Wood's office, and I was talking to him for a bit." She didn't want to use a first-name basis, for Snape would certainly be convinced that they were having a relationship if she did.
"Indeed," Dumbledore said again. "Well, I will have a little chat with Mr Malfoy. For your little accident, Miss Granger, I will have to take off 10 points from Gryffindor for being late, but that is all. Please be more careful when making a sleeping potion. The first time I tried to attempt it, I added no fewer than 75 durvey shells. I wound up asleep for 19 days. Missed quite a lot. And I found that I woke up very hungry and with a very full bladder."
Hermione and Oliver laughed. Snape cursed under his breath that Hermione hadn't gotten in trouble, but as another warning, told her, "You've missed quite a lot in these two days, Miss Granger. If it happens again, I will use a poison on you – test your antidotes. Good day to you, Dumbledore." He spun around, his robes flying violently behind him.
"Well, I hope you have a good day…" Professor Dumbledore told them.
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," Hermione said, before he walked away.
"There's no need to thank me, Miss Granger," Dumbledore replied, his back facing them. "I always believe in second chances, sometimes even third. I've even been known to give quadruple chances, if I'm in a surprisingly good mood. But, I believe that you deserve 1 hundred."
"Why, sir?" Oliver asked for Hermione.
"She hasn't done anything wrong – she's the top student in Hogwarts," Dumbledore explained. "In fact, I think she's the top student in the history of Hogwarts." He nodded, smiling, and said, "Good day." And walked away.
"Told you everything would be all right!" Oliver exclaimed, smiling.
Hermione smiled back, but couldn't help wondering if everything would truly be all right. And, unfortunately, Hermione didn't believe so, no matter how much she wanted to agree with Oliver.
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Horrible ending to this chapter, I know. But I wanted to think of a way to finish it – it was getting REALLY long! Thanks to all the reviewers (I'm going to thank them individually, as I would if I had received an Oscar for Best Actress):
G*Ness – I agree with you! I love India.Arie – especially her song "Ready for Love". I'm going to try and use that song in another chapter…Even though I think Malfoy is *pretty cool* I wanted to make fun of him somehow. And, since Hermione got her head injury, I wanted her to make a really big mistake…but Oliver obviously didn't take it into account (too obsessed with Quidditch to notice, I think)…Thanks and I'll be sure to read your stories as well!
Juvenus – I love Oliver Wood sooooo much! We got a big thing in common! Lol You did make me blush, it's true…! You are a good writer, believe me when I say it! (Maybe I'll make you blush too…lol) Thanks for waiting for Chapter 7 – here it is!