Don't hit me for the chapter title. I couldn't help myself! It is 11:30 and I have worked on English papers and resumes for five hours now. Pity me [and review!!].
Long lost Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, I don't own any of his friends or the wonderful places, and I don't own a toothbrush [hey wait a tick that's not right…]
Chapter three : Cryptic confessions and party proclamations
Hermione turned around and was surprised at who she saw. Seamus was standing there looking pleased with himself for giving Hermione such a scare. "Oh," she started, "It's just you."
"Just me," he exclaimed quickly, a shocked expression passing over his face, "I had hoped you thought better of me."
"Quit trying to play smart with me," Hermione said smiling, "You're not very good at it."
Seamus plunged his hand towards his heart, with an invisible dagger. "So, where are you off to now?" Seamus asked, assuming that the laborious Head Girl was off to the library.
"To Dumbledore's office," she said, starting down the hall, thinking that she shouldn't keep the Headmaster waiting much longer, "He has to tell me something. Snape assumed it had something to do with my Head Girl duties."
"Ah, and what did our dear Potions Master have to say?"
"Ten points from Gryffindor, a detention, nothing new." She said.
"I fear what our world would be like if every teacher discouraged those who only want to learn and try to do their best. Honestly, I hope that one of these days that - that --"
"Bastard?" Hermione interjected, a smile forming on her face.
"Exactly," Seamus agreed, "I hope that bastard gets what is coming to him."
"Oh, come on," Hermione began, "He may be a jerk, but surely you don't wish actual harm to come to him?"
"I don't know about that," he said, " but it would be nice to slip him a few of those Weasly treats one of these days."
"Yes," Hermione said, thinking fondly of a Snape transfigured into a toad, "By the way, what were you waiting for?"
"For you of course."
"I assure you I am no damsel in distress," Hermione said, shifting her bag on her shoulder, "I can handle myself."
"I'm sure you can," Seamus said. He remembered too well that time in sixth year when Ron had told her that if she kept studying as she did, she would die an old maid. When Hermione had had enough time to let that comment sink in, she cursed him with something Seamus hadn't recognized. Poor Ron fell to the ground so fast, grasping, well… he'd rather not try to think of what that curse had done.
"I just wanted to walk with you," Seamus said, suddenly unable to look Hermione in the face, "Is that so surprising?"
"No, but I mean," she started, suddenly unsure of how to take this mysterious change in him, "I'm not sure when Hogsmeade trips are yet, and while Harry and Ron talk about Qudditch all the time, I don't really know that much about our team."
"Hermione I'm on the team."
"Oh," she said, mentally slapping herself, "I forgot." She then realized that they had reached the gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office. "Well I need to go up now, but maybe we could talk about whatever it was that you wanted to discuss later?"
"Sure," Seamus said, and looking around nervously he leaned in to give Hermione a quick kiss on her cheek. Not wanting to risk saying something he would regret later, Seamus capered down the hallway away from Hermione, leaving her to her thoughts.
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It was odd for Hermione, because she hadn't really been kissed by a boy since Krum. Sure Harry and Ron kissed Hermione on her cheeks, but she felt Seamus wanted something more than friendship by that little kiss. She turned in a sort of daze towards the gargoyle and said the password to make it move.
Hermione ascended the stairs, and upon reaching the headmaster's door, she knocked. There was no answer, but the door opened to admit her, as if it knew she was coming. "Hello?" Hermione called, looking for Dumbledore, "Are you here sir?"
A pure white ferret scrambled around Dumbledore's desk, and with a POP, it turned into the headmaster. "Hello Miss Granger!" Dumbledore said enthusiastically.
"Hello headmaster," Hermione said, setting down her bag near a plush, red and gold chair that she had seated herself in, "I suppose this is where the password came from?"
"Indeed, I find myself rather fond of the Weasly's creations," Dumbledore said, taking his own seat behind his oversized desk, "much to Filch's dismay I might add." He reached over and picked up a pile of papers. How he could find anything in that mess Hermione would never know. "But, that is not quite why I have brought you here."
"I assumed," Hermione said, taking the papers Dumbledore handed her, "What are these for?"
"They are papers for your Head girl duties, I trust you will pass them along to the other prefects and the Head Boy."
"Of course sir." Hermione said beginning to shuffle through the papers. Hall monitor duties, passwords, Hogsmeade trips, a few other necessary documents, nothing surprising until… Reaching the last paper in the pile she saw a list of dances. "Sir what is this for?" she asked.
"I believe that circumstances being what they are, this school needs a little to look forward to." He said with an look in his eyes. And no doubt he wants to keep as many students at Hogwarts as possible, what with Voldemort and his supporters ever terrorizing the world [muggle and wizarding alike] Hermione thought.
"So any plans for the --" she paused looking at the list in her hands, "Halloween dance yet?"
"Well, I believe that all years should be part of the Halloween celebration, but perhaps the dance should be limited to the older years, say fourth year and up." Dumbledore said, fading back into his usual happy demeanor.
"And what of the decorations, songs, food, that sort of thing?"
"We can have an early dinner," he began, "And then the older years may return to their dorms to prepare for the dance. The Prefects and Heads can decide on any specifics, but I think the dance should be in the Great Hall, with a muggle style haunted house on the grounds, by the spinney that is near the Whomping Willow."
"Splendid idea Headmaster," Hermione said enthusiastically, "The prefects, Head Boy, and I will begin work right away." She stood up preparing to head to Gryffindor Tower to share the news with Harry and Ron, when the Headmaster motioned for her to stay for a second more.
"If you ever feel the need to discuss anything, like the, uh," he said trying to word this as best he could, "situation regarding the new law, feel free to drop by."
"Thank you sir." Hermione said, feeling good that she had somebody to talk to somebody who was as well informed as Dumbledore, should the time come. She gathered up her things preparing to leave for the second time that day.
"Before you go," Dumbledore started, holding out a little tin with candies in it, "Would you like a lemon drop?" Smiling, she took one, and after thanking Dumbledore, she gamboled off towards Gryffindor Tower. She had a lot to think about, and for the first time that day, it was a good thing.