AN: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I FINALLY SAW THE THIRD MOVIE!!!!!!! Let it be known that on Friday, June 4th, at 7:30 in the evening, SpicySugar saw Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban! BOOYA BABY!!!! After a year of waiting I finally saw it!!!!!!!! Now I have to wait until November 2005 to see the fifth one. Darn.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I know that. You know that. My mom knows that. My cats know that. Heck, even my birds know that!
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Hermione walked back up to her room in a daze. She was just going to check up with Ginny before heading back to work. She collected Amanda and led her back to Draco, who was waiting patiently in the courtyard. But even as she headed back up to her room again, one phrase kept repeating in her head, and she had a feeling that she wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything that afternoon because of it: 'I kissed Draco Malfoy. I kissed Draco Malfoy. I kissed Draco Malfoy.' Of course, there's nothing wrong with just a peck on the cheek, right? But, what if it was more than a 'peck on the cheek' next time? Nothing Hermione did could possibly rid her brain of these thoughts. Even talking to Ginny about it for a minute didn't help. Hermione simply sighed, kissed Emily, and headed back to Flourish and Blotts at 12:58.
As suspected, she couldn't keep her mind off a certain blonde. She kept giving people the wrong directions to find their books and putting books on the wrong shelves. Five times her boss had to correct her. She knew he was being soft with her, since she was new. If a long-time employee had been acting as abysmally as she was today, they'd have been fired straight away. She somehow made it to 8:00 without completely destroying Flourish and Blotts' reputation, and gratefully collapsed onto her bed in the Leaky Cauldron.
"Ginny, I can't get Draco off my mind," she said as she stared at the ceiling.
"Maybe you just need to sleep it off," suggested Ginny as she packed up her things.
"Maybe. But what if this is, well, serious? Then I'll never stop thinking about him," said Hermione.
"No, it's the exact opposite. If it is serious, then you'll learn to work around your thoughts of him. But, if it isn't serious and you simply have a puppy love crush on him, you really will never stop thinking about him, and it'll be impossible to do anything civilly. Trust me, I know," said Ginny. Hermione knew where she was coming from. She couldn't imagine Ginny getting much done when she was constantly admiring Harry for three years straight.
"Well, Gin, I'll see how I feel about it in the morning," said Hermione.
"Good. I'll see you on Monday, 'Mione," said Ginny as she walked out of the room.
0o0
Throughout her second week of work, Hermione found that Ginny was right. She learned to work around her thoughts of Draco and concentrate on more important things. Draco had surprised her on Tuesday with showing up at Flourish and Blotts with a bouquet of half a dozen roses. They were now in a vase in her room in the Leaky Cauldron. Unless Hermione was very much mistaken, Draco wanted their relationship to be serious. Hermione was having trouble deciding which way she wanted it to go. Sometimes, she started having fantasies about Draco, and she thought she wanted it to be serious. Then, other times, her brain reminded her of all the insults he had thrown at her, and how he had even gone so far as to make her smack him (AN: or, if your going by the movie, punch his lights out). Surely she didn't want to be in a relationship with the piece of vermin that was so cruel to her in school? And yet . . . Hermione gave her head a little shake and continued to put books on the shelves of Flourish and Blotts. Not five minutes into this, her boss came and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Hermione? It's 7:00. You requested to be off at this time today, you know," he said.
"Oh my! I'm going to be late! Thanks for reminding me!" she said as she ran out the door and towards the Leaky Cauldron. She got there, breathless, two minutes later, to find Draco waiting.
"I'm so – so sorry," said Hermione, panting.
"Sorry? Whatever for?" asked Draco.
"I'm late!" she said, as if it were punishable by law.
"Only by two minutes! It's not a crime, you know," said Draco laughingly.
"Right," said Hermione. "So, where are we going tonight?"
"I thought we'd go somewhere a little more casual, just to kind of reminisce a little," said Draco.
"Well, we can't go too far, it's starting to snow," said Hermione, pointing out the window. Sure enough, little white snowflakes were drifting towards the ground.
"Apparating works no matter what weather you're in," said Draco.
"But, I never got my license!" said Hermione.
"That's all right. Hold my hand, and when I apparate, you will go with me," said Draco simply.
"Right," said Hermione, taking his outstretched hand. A second later, she was in a whirl of color and then, a second after that, she and Draco landed right outside the entrance to . . .
"Hogwarts Castle!" said Hermione, unbelieving. "But, but how--?" she stuttered.
"It's the two year reunion!" said Draco. "There is a reunion dinner every year for previous Hogwarts students. You missed last year's because, well, you know . . ." he trailed off.
"Right," said Hermione. "So, everyone from our seventh year will be here?" asked Hermione, changing the subject.
"Well, anyone who wanted to come," said Draco. "I believe the entire Weasley clan will be here," said Draco.
"Well then, why didn't Ginny mention it?" asked Hermione.
"I asked her to keep it a secret," said Draco. "I wanted to surprise you."
"Well, it certainly was a surprise! Thank you very much, Draco!" she said, hugging him.
"You very welcome," he said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. When Hermione finally let Draco out of her death grip, they walked inside, hand in hand.
"Draco, what about the students?" said Hermione curiously. "I mean, they're here too! How can we dine with them in the Great Hall?"
"Dumbledore creates a duplicate Great Hall every year, and we eat in there," replied Draco, pointing to two pairs of oak doors. One, Hermione knew lead to the original Great Hall, the other must lead to the duplicate.
"But, wouldn't the students wonder what the other doors were there for? I never remember seeing them," said Hermione.
"That's because Dumbledore charms them to make them look like a part of the wall," said Draco. He opened one of the doors to the duplicate Hall and lead Hermione inside. There were already many people there, but Hermione could tell that not everyone was there yet. She saw a flash of flaming red hair and ran over to it. She knew it must be one of the Weasley's. When she got there, she saw none other that one of the Weasley twins.
"Why, hello Hermione! Glad you could make it!" he said. "I'm Fred," he said, in answer to the confused look on Hermione's face.
"Oh, right. It's just so hard to tell the difference between the two of you, you know," said Hermione. "Where is your other half, by the way?" she asked jokingly.
"Oh, George is over there, trying to sell some trick wands and headless hats," said Fred, pointing over his shoulder.
"Where are the rest of the Weasley's? I'm eager to see them," said Hermione. After all, she hadn't seen Ron for almost two weeks, although they had kept in contact, and the rest of the Weasley clan she hadn't seen for years, besides Ginny.
"Oh, here, there, and everywhere. Just look for the trademark hair," answered Fred, pointing to his own red hair.
"Right," sad Hermione with a laugh, and went off in search for Ron. It didn't take too long to find him. He was a few yards away, chatting with Seamus.
"Hey Ron!" said Hermione, walking up to him and Seamus.
"Hey Hermione!" said Ron and Seamus together.
"Oh, hello Seamus, good to see you!" said Hermione, turning to him.
"So, Hermione, I suspect Ginny kept her promise to ferret boy and didn't tell you about this?" asked Ron.
"Oh, yes, I was quite surprised when Draco brought me here," said Hermione.
"Hermione, can we talk for a minute? Alone?" he said. "Sorry Seamus, but I have something I want to discuss with 'Mione," he said to Seamus.
"Not a problem. I think Neville is around here somewhere, I'll go find him," said Seamus. Ron then led Hermione over to the "Gryffindor" table to a deserted end.
"Hermione, from what Ginny tells me, you and Malfoy aren't just friends," said Ron.
"Well, I guess you could say that we're dating, I mean, we've really only gone on one official date," said Hermione uneasily.
"Look Hermione, I know he's raising a little girl expertly, from what Gin tells me, but I still would be on your guard around him, if I were you," said Ron.
"Ron, I must say, you're taking this much better than I expected," said Hermione. After all, she had expected him to be in a towering temper if he found out.
"Well, you should have seen me when Gin first told me. I was madder than a bucking bronco. But, I've thought it over, and I know that you can choose your boyfriends for yourself. Just, be careful, okay?" he said. Hermione was rather flattered at his concern.
"Ron, I appreciate your concern, and I am being as careful as I can," she said, looking him straight in the eyes. His beautiful, blue, eyes . . . Hermione snapped out of her slight fantasy. 'No, no, no, Hermione,' she told herself sternly. 'He's your best friend, and you're in a relationship with Draco already.' Wasn't she?
"All right Hermione, I trust your judgment," said Ron, getting up from the table.
"That went well," said Hermione to no one. She got up as well and went in search of Ginny.
0o0
Once all of the greeting had been done and dinner had been served and eaten (students ate at their own house tables), Hermione got up and walked over to the Slytherin table to Draco.
"Draco, I can't get over how much of a surprise this was. Thank you so much," she said to him.
"No problem, Hermione," said Draco, standing up. "Are you ready to leave?" he asked her.
"Well, just let me go around and say good bye to everyone," said Hermione.
After she had said farewell to all her old friends, she and Draco walked out of the giant oak front doors and down the pathway that led to the main gates of Hogwarts. All the way there, both of them talked about how great it was to be back at the castle for an evening. When they were just outside the gates about 10 minutes later, they both stopped, and Draco took both of Hermione's hands in his.
"Hermione, I know this may seem like a little much at the moment, and you may think I'm crazy and would want to ditch me, but something is telling me to say this. Hermione, I love you," he said quietly. Hermione, at first, was at a loss for words. She searched throughout her conscience for the right words, and what she was feeling at the moment. Finally, after a long pause, Hermione looked straight into his stunning silver eyes, and replied:
"Draco, I love you, too. Yes, this does seem a little fast, but none can deny the power of true love," said Hermione. She couldn't believe she just said that, but deep down in her heart, she knew those words were true.
"Really?" said Draco.
"Really," answered Hermione. He needn't say anything else.
He simply leaned down, and touched his lips to hers.
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AN: No, that's not a glitch; I meant to leave it off there. DON'T KILL ME!!!!! It just seemed like the very perfect place to end! Now, I know I'm gonna get a lot of reviews for this anyway because of the cliffhanger, but I'm setting a goal anyway: No update until I have over 300 reviews! Okay? Okay. But, I'm not going to update THE VERY SECOND that I get 300 reviews. I'll just update when I've written the next chapter, okay? Now, you know what to do: REVIEW! All flames will be used to cook Sweet Lebanon Bologna!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I know that. You know that. My mom knows that. My cats know that. Heck, even my birds know that!
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Hermione walked back up to her room in a daze. She was just going to check up with Ginny before heading back to work. She collected Amanda and led her back to Draco, who was waiting patiently in the courtyard. But even as she headed back up to her room again, one phrase kept repeating in her head, and she had a feeling that she wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything that afternoon because of it: 'I kissed Draco Malfoy. I kissed Draco Malfoy. I kissed Draco Malfoy.' Of course, there's nothing wrong with just a peck on the cheek, right? But, what if it was more than a 'peck on the cheek' next time? Nothing Hermione did could possibly rid her brain of these thoughts. Even talking to Ginny about it for a minute didn't help. Hermione simply sighed, kissed Emily, and headed back to Flourish and Blotts at 12:58.
As suspected, she couldn't keep her mind off a certain blonde. She kept giving people the wrong directions to find their books and putting books on the wrong shelves. Five times her boss had to correct her. She knew he was being soft with her, since she was new. If a long-time employee had been acting as abysmally as she was today, they'd have been fired straight away. She somehow made it to 8:00 without completely destroying Flourish and Blotts' reputation, and gratefully collapsed onto her bed in the Leaky Cauldron.
"Ginny, I can't get Draco off my mind," she said as she stared at the ceiling.
"Maybe you just need to sleep it off," suggested Ginny as she packed up her things.
"Maybe. But what if this is, well, serious? Then I'll never stop thinking about him," said Hermione.
"No, it's the exact opposite. If it is serious, then you'll learn to work around your thoughts of him. But, if it isn't serious and you simply have a puppy love crush on him, you really will never stop thinking about him, and it'll be impossible to do anything civilly. Trust me, I know," said Ginny. Hermione knew where she was coming from. She couldn't imagine Ginny getting much done when she was constantly admiring Harry for three years straight.
"Well, Gin, I'll see how I feel about it in the morning," said Hermione.
"Good. I'll see you on Monday, 'Mione," said Ginny as she walked out of the room.
0o0
Throughout her second week of work, Hermione found that Ginny was right. She learned to work around her thoughts of Draco and concentrate on more important things. Draco had surprised her on Tuesday with showing up at Flourish and Blotts with a bouquet of half a dozen roses. They were now in a vase in her room in the Leaky Cauldron. Unless Hermione was very much mistaken, Draco wanted their relationship to be serious. Hermione was having trouble deciding which way she wanted it to go. Sometimes, she started having fantasies about Draco, and she thought she wanted it to be serious. Then, other times, her brain reminded her of all the insults he had thrown at her, and how he had even gone so far as to make her smack him (AN: or, if your going by the movie, punch his lights out). Surely she didn't want to be in a relationship with the piece of vermin that was so cruel to her in school? And yet . . . Hermione gave her head a little shake and continued to put books on the shelves of Flourish and Blotts. Not five minutes into this, her boss came and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Hermione? It's 7:00. You requested to be off at this time today, you know," he said.
"Oh my! I'm going to be late! Thanks for reminding me!" she said as she ran out the door and towards the Leaky Cauldron. She got there, breathless, two minutes later, to find Draco waiting.
"I'm so – so sorry," said Hermione, panting.
"Sorry? Whatever for?" asked Draco.
"I'm late!" she said, as if it were punishable by law.
"Only by two minutes! It's not a crime, you know," said Draco laughingly.
"Right," said Hermione. "So, where are we going tonight?"
"I thought we'd go somewhere a little more casual, just to kind of reminisce a little," said Draco.
"Well, we can't go too far, it's starting to snow," said Hermione, pointing out the window. Sure enough, little white snowflakes were drifting towards the ground.
"Apparating works no matter what weather you're in," said Draco.
"But, I never got my license!" said Hermione.
"That's all right. Hold my hand, and when I apparate, you will go with me," said Draco simply.
"Right," said Hermione, taking his outstretched hand. A second later, she was in a whirl of color and then, a second after that, she and Draco landed right outside the entrance to . . .
"Hogwarts Castle!" said Hermione, unbelieving. "But, but how--?" she stuttered.
"It's the two year reunion!" said Draco. "There is a reunion dinner every year for previous Hogwarts students. You missed last year's because, well, you know . . ." he trailed off.
"Right," said Hermione. "So, everyone from our seventh year will be here?" asked Hermione, changing the subject.
"Well, anyone who wanted to come," said Draco. "I believe the entire Weasley clan will be here," said Draco.
"Well then, why didn't Ginny mention it?" asked Hermione.
"I asked her to keep it a secret," said Draco. "I wanted to surprise you."
"Well, it certainly was a surprise! Thank you very much, Draco!" she said, hugging him.
"You very welcome," he said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. When Hermione finally let Draco out of her death grip, they walked inside, hand in hand.
"Draco, what about the students?" said Hermione curiously. "I mean, they're here too! How can we dine with them in the Great Hall?"
"Dumbledore creates a duplicate Great Hall every year, and we eat in there," replied Draco, pointing to two pairs of oak doors. One, Hermione knew lead to the original Great Hall, the other must lead to the duplicate.
"But, wouldn't the students wonder what the other doors were there for? I never remember seeing them," said Hermione.
"That's because Dumbledore charms them to make them look like a part of the wall," said Draco. He opened one of the doors to the duplicate Hall and lead Hermione inside. There were already many people there, but Hermione could tell that not everyone was there yet. She saw a flash of flaming red hair and ran over to it. She knew it must be one of the Weasley's. When she got there, she saw none other that one of the Weasley twins.
"Why, hello Hermione! Glad you could make it!" he said. "I'm Fred," he said, in answer to the confused look on Hermione's face.
"Oh, right. It's just so hard to tell the difference between the two of you, you know," said Hermione. "Where is your other half, by the way?" she asked jokingly.
"Oh, George is over there, trying to sell some trick wands and headless hats," said Fred, pointing over his shoulder.
"Where are the rest of the Weasley's? I'm eager to see them," said Hermione. After all, she hadn't seen Ron for almost two weeks, although they had kept in contact, and the rest of the Weasley clan she hadn't seen for years, besides Ginny.
"Oh, here, there, and everywhere. Just look for the trademark hair," answered Fred, pointing to his own red hair.
"Right," sad Hermione with a laugh, and went off in search for Ron. It didn't take too long to find him. He was a few yards away, chatting with Seamus.
"Hey Ron!" said Hermione, walking up to him and Seamus.
"Hey Hermione!" said Ron and Seamus together.
"Oh, hello Seamus, good to see you!" said Hermione, turning to him.
"So, Hermione, I suspect Ginny kept her promise to ferret boy and didn't tell you about this?" asked Ron.
"Oh, yes, I was quite surprised when Draco brought me here," said Hermione.
"Hermione, can we talk for a minute? Alone?" he said. "Sorry Seamus, but I have something I want to discuss with 'Mione," he said to Seamus.
"Not a problem. I think Neville is around here somewhere, I'll go find him," said Seamus. Ron then led Hermione over to the "Gryffindor" table to a deserted end.
"Hermione, from what Ginny tells me, you and Malfoy aren't just friends," said Ron.
"Well, I guess you could say that we're dating, I mean, we've really only gone on one official date," said Hermione uneasily.
"Look Hermione, I know he's raising a little girl expertly, from what Gin tells me, but I still would be on your guard around him, if I were you," said Ron.
"Ron, I must say, you're taking this much better than I expected," said Hermione. After all, she had expected him to be in a towering temper if he found out.
"Well, you should have seen me when Gin first told me. I was madder than a bucking bronco. But, I've thought it over, and I know that you can choose your boyfriends for yourself. Just, be careful, okay?" he said. Hermione was rather flattered at his concern.
"Ron, I appreciate your concern, and I am being as careful as I can," she said, looking him straight in the eyes. His beautiful, blue, eyes . . . Hermione snapped out of her slight fantasy. 'No, no, no, Hermione,' she told herself sternly. 'He's your best friend, and you're in a relationship with Draco already.' Wasn't she?
"All right Hermione, I trust your judgment," said Ron, getting up from the table.
"That went well," said Hermione to no one. She got up as well and went in search of Ginny.
0o0
Once all of the greeting had been done and dinner had been served and eaten (students ate at their own house tables), Hermione got up and walked over to the Slytherin table to Draco.
"Draco, I can't get over how much of a surprise this was. Thank you so much," she said to him.
"No problem, Hermione," said Draco, standing up. "Are you ready to leave?" he asked her.
"Well, just let me go around and say good bye to everyone," said Hermione.
After she had said farewell to all her old friends, she and Draco walked out of the giant oak front doors and down the pathway that led to the main gates of Hogwarts. All the way there, both of them talked about how great it was to be back at the castle for an evening. When they were just outside the gates about 10 minutes later, they both stopped, and Draco took both of Hermione's hands in his.
"Hermione, I know this may seem like a little much at the moment, and you may think I'm crazy and would want to ditch me, but something is telling me to say this. Hermione, I love you," he said quietly. Hermione, at first, was at a loss for words. She searched throughout her conscience for the right words, and what she was feeling at the moment. Finally, after a long pause, Hermione looked straight into his stunning silver eyes, and replied:
"Draco, I love you, too. Yes, this does seem a little fast, but none can deny the power of true love," said Hermione. She couldn't believe she just said that, but deep down in her heart, she knew those words were true.
"Really?" said Draco.
"Really," answered Hermione. He needn't say anything else.
He simply leaned down, and touched his lips to hers.
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AN: No, that's not a glitch; I meant to leave it off there. DON'T KILL ME!!!!! It just seemed like the very perfect place to end! Now, I know I'm gonna get a lot of reviews for this anyway because of the cliffhanger, but I'm setting a goal anyway: No update until I have over 300 reviews! Okay? Okay. But, I'm not going to update THE VERY SECOND that I get 300 reviews. I'll just update when I've written the next chapter, okay? Now, you know what to do: REVIEW! All flames will be used to cook Sweet Lebanon Bologna!