Author's Note: I apologise deeply if I have made you wait impatiently for this chapter. I have had a bad case of lack of inspiration to write, and there was the load of schoolwork, yadda yadda yadda… you get what I mean.
Thanks to all of those who've reviewed! I'm so glad I got so much for one chapter… but sadly, I'm sure that, since this chapter took SO SO long, I might not get as much as before…
Anyway, here's chapter eight! Hope you enjoy!
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CHAPTER EIGHT
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A single white rose petal lay gently on her desk. Just one petal, fluttering as the wind blew, but never flying from atop the desk. Hermione dropped her bag on her chair and picked it up. She examined it carefully, placing it on the palm of her hand.
It was the second time this week that she found a rose petal either tucked or placed among her things. She wondered if it was some silly romantic plan of Ron's to flatter her and successfully take her out to dinner at Hogsmeade, but she knew that her boyfriend would never think of such a thing… For one thing, he already flattered her enough with his affections every single day, and for another, though Hermione hated to admit it, it would take Ron a year to earn enough money to take her out on a fancy dinner.
Hermione plopped down on her chair and sighed. This is getting annoying, she thought, First, the letter, and now, this.
"What's that?" Hermione whipped her head around and there stood Ron and Harry, looking very tall and curious. She quickly closed the palm of her hand and stuffed the petal inside the pocket of her bag.
Ron sat down on her left, and Harry on her right. "What were you holding just a second ago?" Ron asked again, turning to face her.
"Oh—that." Hermione replied. She waved her hand carelessly. "Just trash, that's all."
"Oh, okay." Ron shrugged and started rummaging through his bag. Hermione watched him as he did so, and after a while, he pulled some sort of brochure out. He handed it to her.
"What's this, Ron?" Hermione asked, scanning through it. It seemed to be advertising some kind of special event.
"Well, you see, there's this fair coming up at Hogsmeade."
"And…?"
"It only comes every eight years or so, and this year, it's going to be held next weekend. That's our next visit to the village." He explained. "It's going to be held the whole weekend, from morning to midnight, and since Dumbledore's allowed all sixth years and seventh years to stay there til night, I thought you'd want to go with me."
Hermione looked up and smiled. "Of course, Ron." She took his hand and squeezed it tightly.
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Draco fingered a petal quietly. He was sitting somewhere in the dark corners of the Slytherin Dungeons, where no one else took any notice of him and how strange he was acting. Here he was, a reputed cold-blooded Slytherin, caring so much for a small useless petal that he would later give to a Gryffindor who neither loved him nor took any notice of him.
He sighed sadly, remembering that occasion with Pansy. His heart wrenched with pain and hurt when she uttered the words he dreaded, and though it had happened weeks ago, he shuddered whenever he recalled the event. He didn't dare believe anything she told him, because, he knew that there was still hope.
He still had a chance for Hermione to love him back.
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"Hermione!"
Hermione turned around and saw young Ginny Weasley running after her through the mass of students. She grinned as she watched the redhead stop right in front of her and grope on the wall for support. "What're you doing here, Ginny?" she asked. "Your class isn't in this corridor."
"You've—got—a—package," she sputtered, catching her breath.
"What?"
"Here." Ginny took something out of her bag and handed it to Hermione. "I found it in the Common Room."
Hermione stared down at it, blinking numerous times. It was a rose. A white rose. It was the same color as the hundreds of petals she received over the past few weeks and had stored inside her bedside drawer.
There was a note attached to it. Hermione, her hand giddy with excitement to finally find out who her secret admirer was, trembled as she opened it.
A rose for a rose who's more beautiful than this one.
That was all it said. Nothing more.
Hermione looked at Ginny, her expression more confused than ever. "Who is it from?" she asked.
Ginny shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. "I don't know." She replied, "Isn't it from Ron?"
Hermione blushed and clutched the rose tightly. "I don't think your brother can be this romantic."
"Why not? He did plan your birthday rather romantically."
"No… He can't have written this note."
"Ask him yourself then. Or ask Harry."
Hermione smiled. "Alright, I will." She reached for her bag and adjusted it on her shoulder. "Thanks, anyway, Gin."
"Anytime."
And with that, they turned round and went on their separate ways.
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Her mind was now more perplexed than ever. A rose for a rose who's more beautiful than this one… Who, in his right mind, would consider her, Hermione Granger, a class-A grade-conscious bookworm more beautiful than a rose?
She looked at the rose in her hand, and sighed in defeat. She walked up to the Gryffindor Tower slowly and once reaching the entrance to the Common Room, she stopped.
The portrait of the Fat Lady looked down at her concernedly. "What's the matter, dear?" she asked.
Hermione looked up and smiled sadly. "Oh, nothing."
"Is that a rose from young Weasley?"
Hermione hid the rose even more behind her back. "I'd better go in—Poppycock."
And the portrait swung aside to reveal the Hole leading to the Common Room. Hermione thanked the Fat Lady and cautiously climbed in. She knew that Ron would just be there inside, sitting in front of a crackling fire with Harry. Then he'd see her climb in with a rose in her hand… she shuddered when she thought of his reaction when he would see her holding it. She knew he'd blow up.
When she reached the end of the Hole, Hermione stopped and took a deep breath. Well, here goes, she thought, her heart racing, One, two, three—
And she stepped inside the Common Room. Hermione looked up and pulled an apologetic look on her face and said, "Ron, I—"
And she gasped in shock. Her hands covered her mouth as her bag and the rose fell to the ground. Her eyes grew wide, and tears filled her eyes and threatened to fall.
She suddenly felt light-headed… and her mind fell into utmost confusion… because, right in front of the fireplace, in the middle of the empty Common Room, were Ron and Lavender.
Ron and Lavender.
In each other's arms.
Kissing.
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Author's Note: Okay, that didn't turn out that well… sorry if it wasn't that nice… but I did leave a cliffhanger this time… Worry not, my good readers, because I promise you that the next chapter will be nicer, and will be uploaded more quickly. Much more quickly. =)
Just remember to review! Thanks a bunch!
