Underneath it All

A/N : Here's another chapter for y'all! I hope you enjoy it too. =) I'm really starting to like this story. It just feels so real to me. All of my other stories (with the exception of Second Thoughts, which is sort of connected to this in a strange way I just noticed…) are humor and parody. They're nice to write, but I like this one better, lolz. So, don't forget to leave a review! All I ask for, are 5 reviews, and I'll post the next chapter. More would be nice, but, hey, beggars can't be choosers, lolz.

DISCLAIMER : All characters and places are brought to you by JK Rowling – not me.

Reviews-

            Thanks…

                             BBLLPMLover (my first reviewer!)

                                    Amandaliini

                                    Jenie (Yup, O's -Outstanding- are the highest score you can get. It's in OoTP somewhere… I can find it if you really want me to, lolz.)

                                    counter() (I have no idea what you mean by counting 14 romances on that one page and asking if it were one of many. But if you don't like it, don't read it or give me reviews that don't make sense. =P)

                                    Physotic()

Now we begin...

September 4th,

Well, it seems Lavender and Parvati DID notice my early sleep last night. I'm quite surprised actually. Although, it WAS nice to be missed…

I asked Lavender to do whatever she did to my hair again and she did. She said it was about time I got rid of that frizz and that my new look looks nice on me. She suggested straightening the curls and making it straight… Perhaps some other time – I'm still getting used to this!

Lavender also managed to persuade me to put on some make-up – not too much though. It was only some clear lip gloss, a very light eye shadow and some mascara. She kept wanting to put on more, but, I don't want to look like a clown or anything… Parvati said I looked nice with it on too.

I swear, boys can be so dense sometimes! Or at least Ron can! At least HARRY noticed my new look today. He said that he loved the hair and make-up but that he also said I looked fine before. I suppose he's just saying that to make up for yesterday. Ron, however, just ran past me for the Great Hall shouting a hello!

We had double Potions today with the Slytherins. Honestly, it's always with them! We made a Sleeping Draught this class. It was fairly simple… Poor Neville though! The potion was supposed to be a clear blue; his was bright red! Snape didn't help much either, but then again, it's not like he was expected to.

I could swear that Malfoy kept shooting looks at me during class! I have almost all of my classes with him, and in each class I caught him glancing at me at least twice! It's quite awkward, really, and I wish I knew why… At first I thought it was pure coincidence or that I was imagining things, but I'm sure I'm not!

But I'm really getting worried now. Yesterday, I was having trouble with casting spells; I just thought it was from lack of sleep. But, today in Charms we were simply practicing 'Reparo,' and I couldn't do it! Well, I could, but it took me much longer than usual. I've always done that spell for Harry's glasses, yet I couldn't do it for the longest while. Harry got it before me and he's only done it several times. I wonder, if there something wrong with me or with my wand? I practiced a few other basic spells we learned back in first year, and I had trouble with those as well! I wish I knew what was happening…

September 5th,

My wand has to be malfunctioning! I had trouble again today! It's too late to get a new one though, and mum and daddy can't go get it for me. Oh, what am I going to do?! I need a new wand if I want to keep up with my lessons… I suppose I could talk to Dumbledore, he might let me to go Diagon Alley. But, he's already worried about so much – Voldemort may attack any minute!

I let Lavender straighten my curls for today; she kept on asking to do it. Besides, it's not like it's hurting anyone. And I let her put on a TOUCH more make-up on me than yesterday. I don't know what she did, but I couldn't believe that that was my reflection in the mirror.

Lavender and Parvati spent most of the day in the North Tower with Professor Trelawny, so, I just spent the afternoon on the grounds with Ron and Harry. It honestly feels like we're growing apart most of the time. But then when we're together, it seems as if we're just picking up from where we left off.

Honestly though, Ron is the thickest person! When he first noticed I was a girl right before the Yule Ball back in Fourth Year, I thought that was the lowest he could go. Though I was excited that he had asked me, I just couldn't believe under what circumstances it happened! Ginny teased me most dreadfully after that.

Then, today, Ron goes and asks the stupidest question! We were just chatting about our Defense Against the Dark Arts class – one of the only ones that we have together – and he goes and… ARGH!! "There's something different about you Hermione. Did you grow taller over the summer?" I felt like Avada Kedavra-ing him on the spot! Lucky Harry was there to stop me. And Ron STILL doesn't know what he did! I just stormed off to the Library.

It was the strangest thing though. I burst into the Library and headed for the far back of it; there's a large window sill there that I like to sit on. When the time is right, and the sun is setting or rising, the light beams down and lights it up. I just love to curl up ad read there. (A/N : I stole this part from my other story – Second Thoughts – where it's Draco at his house that does this. Hee hee, lolz.) It's my escape from everything, really. Whenever Ron decides to be an insufferable part, or he and Harry decide to ignore me, I just go there.

Although, when I was heading to it, I saw Malfoy, of all people, MALFOY, leaving there! I didn't notice him until I bumped into him. We both fell to the floor and hit our heads. I was going to apologize, but he just looked at me – a bit surprised at my new look, I suppose – and then rushed past me. It was as if he was embarrassed to be seen by me. Then there's also the fact that he didn't say a word to me; not even to call me a mudblood or to say some sarcastic remark. I didn't get much reading done; I have so much on my mind!

I stayed up so late with Lavender and Parvati! Right now, they're sound asleep in their beds. It's nearly 3 in the morning! But I can't sleep. We talked all night long about Ron and Harry. That is to say, I talked all night long about Ron and Harry while they listened and told me what prats they were. It was quite nice to be able to vent my feelings about them to someone instead of just heading for a good book…

I'm really quite tired now, and I should get getting some more sleep tonight. My wand may be malfunctioning, but I still need to be awake. I have Arithmancy, Runes, Herbology, and History of Magic tomorrow! Luckily I don't need my wand.

September 6th,

After all of my classes were over, I went straight to Dumbledore's office. Unfortunately, he wasn't there. I suppose he had some business for the Order to deal with. So, I just went to Professor McGonnagal.

I don't know what I would do without Professor McGonnagal. She's been such a help to me over the years. She's been like my mother at Hogwarts; and it's no secret that I'm her favourite – everyone says so. I always go to her if I have a problem with schoolwork or a question.

When I told her, she asked me to do some spells to show her what I meant. At first, I thought she wouldn't do anything about it; she said all I needed was a new wand – which I already knew! I wish she had been able to tell me that I could be able to get it soon, but, all she said was that I would have to put up with it until the weekend oh Halloween; which was when the first Hogsmeade weekend would be.

I just know that I can't last until Halloween. That's nearly two months away! So, I'm going to go to Hogsmeade myself. I'll just have to sneak out, I suppose. I'm going to work on arrangements tomorrow. We finally got some homework tonight. We have to write 1 roll of parchment on the Goblin Rebellion of 1247 and its causes. Then there were the usual Runes translations and Arithmancy homework.

I decided to get as much of that work done as possible, so I headed straight for the Library again. It was deserted except for a few other students; including Malfoy. He was watching me again! I can't say I'm not surprised, after all, I should be used to it by now. But, I keep thinking that he's planning something. Why else would he keep watching me? What is it that I have that he doesn't? I wish I knew… I did manage to finish up all of my homework though.

I'm so tired right now. I didn't say good-night to anybody and I just went upstairs to get ready…