Chapter Two: Disaster leading to Realization
That afternoon, Professor Moody, (the REAL Professor Moody,) who was filling in as Defense against the Dark Arts teacher until Dumbledore found another one, had arranged a special 'treat' for them. "You'll be fighting several wild creatures I hunted down recently," he growled, "I'll be up on the balcony watching. If you need help for any reason, send up green sparks and I'll come get you. Understand?" The class nodded, and exchanged apprehensive looks. Hermione was frantically thinking of spells that would help. "I am going to release the creatures from the doors on either side of the classroom and from the three wardrobes up front." She gripped her wand, noticing for the first time that the wardrobe handles were rattling. "Wands at the ready!" Moody roared. She raised her wand, smiling as she remembered some of the spells she had learned in the D.A. "...NOW!" Moody roared, and several people screamed as a Dementor, a Mummy, and a Vampire emerged from the wardrobes. Hermione aimed a stunning spell at a Red Cap that came barreling out of the room in front of her. A crack like a whip sounded and she turned to see the Mummy turn into a Hag. a Boggart! She thought, and aimed her wand at the Vampire. Before she could utter the spell though, a cloud of pixies descended on her. She shrieked and closed her eyes as she felt their sharp pointy teeth sink into her skin. She heard her wand clatter to the floor, when suddenly; she felt a powerful stream of air. She opened her eyes, and saw Harry grinning; he had blown the pixies off her. "Thanks Harry!" She said, and realizing she was blushing, turned away. Why am I blushing? Why do I feel so...embarrassed when I look at him? She wondered. She looked around and saw Parvati Patil backed up against the wall, a pair of kappas advancing on her. She conjured up a blue fireball, which she threw at the kappa to her left. It fell to the floor and began rolling around frantically while the other one turned to watch. "STUPEFY!" Ron bellowed, hitting both kappas with one spell. Hermione looked around again, and saw a heap of Red Caps and kappas lying nearby. Pixies were scattered about the floor, looking like electric blue dragonflies. The hag/boggart was trapped in a giant upside down water glass, while the vampire was sneezing uncontrollably. The dementor was nowhere to be seen. Hermione heard a strange clicking sound and turned to see six of the strangest creatures she had ever seen charging towards her and Harry. They had heads like crocodiles while they scuttled forward on three front legs (one facing forward) resembling crab legs, and two back legs that appeared to be panther legs. She raised her wand and muttered a few well-chosen words; the nearest one was hit with a blue bolt of power and toppled, tripping the creature behind it. She aimed at the next one, and heard Harry start an incantation, but too late; the creatures were on them. One of them rammed into her, knocking her off her feet. She heard Harry yell something, but couldn't make it out. She rolled to her left and gripped her wand - her wand! It was gone! How could i be so stupid? She thought, looking frantically for it. I dropped it when i fell! A crablike foot landed inches away from her head. She shrieked and closed her eyes. "Hermio - aagghh!" She heard Harry yell. She opened her eyes and rolled back to her right not a moment too soon, for another crab-foot landed right where her head had been a moment before. She heard a confused tangle of sounds, then Moody bellowing, and then everything went black.
Hermione awoke to a throbbing headache. She groaned and opened her eyes. "Oh good, you're awake." Said a voice. "Ron? What happened? Is Harry alright?" She asked. "He's still out cold, that thing stabbed him through the shoulder." "What?! Will he be all right? Oh this is all my fault!" She stifled a sob. "Madam Pomfrey says he'll be fine, and how could any of this be your fault?" He asked. "I dropped my wand! I could have stopped it if I hadn't dropped my wand!" She sobbed. "Hermione, everyone drops their wand, and besides, the way that thing rammed you it's a miracle you didn't break a rib!" Ron said, patting her awkwardly on the shoulder. "Besides, it's not like he's...dead or anything, Madam Pomfrey will fix him up in no time." Hermione nodded, but she still felt terrible. Ron went to get something for them to eat from the great hall, while Hermione lay on her side, thinking about Harry. She sat up to look at him, thinking how much she'd like to see his brilliantly beautiful green eyes. She gasped, causing Madam Pomfrey to walk over and ask what was wrong. After assuring her that she was fine, Hermione lay back down, thinking about everything that had happened recently. Oh Harry, she thought, I think I'm falling in love with you!