Chapter 10
Hermione observed as Harry lifted the seal on the letter. She sat up, trying her best to look alert. Her heart was pounding a million miles a minute and she was sure that Harry could hear it. She was assured that he didn't when he began to read the letter out loud:
Dear Harry,
I wish I could tell you about me, but then you would know automatically who it was. All I can say is that you'll have to wait until the Ball. I'll meet you on the balcony at nine o'clock. I'll be wearing pale purple dress robes with silver trim. You'll meet me soon.
Love,
Anonymous
Hermione sighed with relief when he grinned and said, "I'll be there!" to no one in particular. She immediately felt more awake and energetic and Ron smiled a small smile in her direction. Now, the only thing she had to be bothered about was Harry's reaction when he saw her on the balcony in about two weeks time. She was absolutely sure that he wasn't thinking that it would be her. She saw him scanning Ginny's sixth year friends regularly, trying to figure out which girl it was.
There was a Hogsmeade trip coming up next weekend and Hermione really wanted to go as it would be one of her last ones with Hogwarts. "Are we all going to Hogsmeade on Saturday?" Hermione asked. There were nods and a grunt from Ron that she assumed was a yes. They finished up their breakfasts and Hermione noticed Harry staring at her unusually. "Harry? Are you okay? Is there something on my face?" Hermione said, unconsciously wiping at her face. "Huh? What? Oh sorry, Hermione, there's nothing there," Harry said, in a daze. Hermione raised an eyebrow as she walked away. He probably was just lost in thought or something.
Little did she know that Harry's thoughts were on her. Harry walked ahead of the rest of the group, who fell back behind him. God, did she just transform overnight or something? She looks so...different. Not in a bad way, either...I wish I could take her to the Ball, but I'm 'taking' the mystery girl! Harry scolded himself for asking some girl he didn't know. I reacted too soon. This Ball could end up like the Yule Ball, way back in fourth year. I got desperate for a date and sitting around at the Ball was what I got. Argh! Harry mentally beat himself up. OH NO! Do I like Hermione in that way? She's your best friend, Harry! Control yourself! Harry scolded himself all the way to Defense against the Dark Arts. He nearly bumped into Professor Lupin, who was back teaching since Dumbledore was unable to find anyone else. "Harry? Is there something on your mind?" Lupin asked. As the last of the Marauders and now also like a godfather, Lupin felt that it was his duty to make sure Harry was as safe as he could possibly be, with Voldemort on his trail. Harry nodded and said, "It's just girl problems, Remus," Harry felt that Lupin was almost like the older brother he never had. Well, he had Sirius, but he had been taken away from him unfairly and too soon. Harry sighed and Remus chuckled a bit, "Who is it this time?" Suddenly, a group of students came bustling into the class. Harry said over their heads to Lupin, "I'll talk to you after class,"
A few minutes later, the entire group of students was there. Class had begun and Harry only listened to parts of the lesson. His mind was too preoccupied with this new-found knowledge of his small infatuation with Hermione. Her hair had changed a lot from the wild mop that was her hair in their earlier years at Hogwarts. Her hair was still curly, but the curls had relaxed a little and fell in waves around her shoulders. She had also begun to pay more attention to her appearance. She developed a small liking for makeup, but she put it on sparingly so her natural beauty still shone through. Harry smiled.
Ah! She's your best friend! She probably doesn't like you in that way! Harry reprimanded himself all through the lesson, missing all the important parts. It doesn't matter anyway, I can get the notes off Hermione... it would give me an excuse to talk to her... GAH! I didn't even feel this way about Cho...what is it about Hermione that's different? She's beautiful in her own way. Cho was attractive because of her appearance, but Hermione was as gorgeous inside as on the outside...
"Harry?" Lupin was prodding Harry's shoulder, "Harry, class is over," Lupin said. Harry looked up and saw his professor at his side.
"So, who is it?" Professor Lupin asked as soon as Harry had completely woken from his reverie.
"It's... it's... H-H-Hermione," Harry confessed, "I just saw her in a different light this morning. She's beautiful. Have you seen her new haircut? It's brilliant..." Harry trailed on, mentioning various things that he liked about Hermione. Remus just sat there, smiling a knowing smile, when he broke in, "Harry, her hair has been cut like that since last summer," Harry looked up, a little surprised, "If you ask me, I think you were too blinded by Cho. You didn't notice the perfect girl who was right under your nose," Harry was rendered speechless. "Now, you better go to your next class. Professor Snape will have your head if you're late, you'll be joining the Headless Hunt before you know it,"
Harry thought about what Remus had just said as he gathered his things and walked down the almost empty corridors towards the dungeons. I'm going to tell Ron. If I can trust any three people on this earth right now, it's Remus, Dumbledore, and Ron. I'm probably not going to tell Dumbledore, and I'm pretty sure Remus is going to report this to him unless he knows this already, which he probably does. Dumbledore had his ways of knowing everything that was going on in the heads' of his students AND of all of the snogging sessions in the corridors, behind tapestries and in broom closets. It was creepy, but it did make everyone in the castle feel protected. Harry went straight to the dungeons, but thankfully he wasn't late. He took his normal seat beside Ron and whispered, "Mate, I need to talk to you. It's important. Around 8 okay with you?" Ron nodded and Snape began teaching. Harry's mind was distracted by thoughts of Hermione. By the end of the lesson, he lost fifty points for daydreaming, not paying attention, and not working efficiently or up to standard. And then there were the usual "You're breathing too loud, Potter. Ten points from Gryffindor," that he went through every lesson.
The rest of the day basically went the same way. Harry thought about Hermione constantly and little did he know, she was thinking about him as well.
A/N: Hello! Yep... the next chapter! I hope you like it as much as my last ones! It would have come sooner, but I was working out a few kinks here and there during a small case of writer's block, sorry if it's not that great. But yeah, Harry likes her! Woo! And he's going to tell Ron. And since we all know that Ron can have sudden bouts of brainpower, what's he going to say? Thanks for all your reviews on my last chapter! I think Hermione's note sucked, but yeah... see you at chapter 11 buddie! -azias
Hermione observed as Harry lifted the seal on the letter. She sat up, trying her best to look alert. Her heart was pounding a million miles a minute and she was sure that Harry could hear it. She was assured that he didn't when he began to read the letter out loud:
Dear Harry,
I wish I could tell you about me, but then you would know automatically who it was. All I can say is that you'll have to wait until the Ball. I'll meet you on the balcony at nine o'clock. I'll be wearing pale purple dress robes with silver trim. You'll meet me soon.
Love,
Anonymous
Hermione sighed with relief when he grinned and said, "I'll be there!" to no one in particular. She immediately felt more awake and energetic and Ron smiled a small smile in her direction. Now, the only thing she had to be bothered about was Harry's reaction when he saw her on the balcony in about two weeks time. She was absolutely sure that he wasn't thinking that it would be her. She saw him scanning Ginny's sixth year friends regularly, trying to figure out which girl it was.
There was a Hogsmeade trip coming up next weekend and Hermione really wanted to go as it would be one of her last ones with Hogwarts. "Are we all going to Hogsmeade on Saturday?" Hermione asked. There were nods and a grunt from Ron that she assumed was a yes. They finished up their breakfasts and Hermione noticed Harry staring at her unusually. "Harry? Are you okay? Is there something on my face?" Hermione said, unconsciously wiping at her face. "Huh? What? Oh sorry, Hermione, there's nothing there," Harry said, in a daze. Hermione raised an eyebrow as she walked away. He probably was just lost in thought or something.
Little did she know that Harry's thoughts were on her. Harry walked ahead of the rest of the group, who fell back behind him. God, did she just transform overnight or something? She looks so...different. Not in a bad way, either...I wish I could take her to the Ball, but I'm 'taking' the mystery girl! Harry scolded himself for asking some girl he didn't know. I reacted too soon. This Ball could end up like the Yule Ball, way back in fourth year. I got desperate for a date and sitting around at the Ball was what I got. Argh! Harry mentally beat himself up. OH NO! Do I like Hermione in that way? She's your best friend, Harry! Control yourself! Harry scolded himself all the way to Defense against the Dark Arts. He nearly bumped into Professor Lupin, who was back teaching since Dumbledore was unable to find anyone else. "Harry? Is there something on your mind?" Lupin asked. As the last of the Marauders and now also like a godfather, Lupin felt that it was his duty to make sure Harry was as safe as he could possibly be, with Voldemort on his trail. Harry nodded and said, "It's just girl problems, Remus," Harry felt that Lupin was almost like the older brother he never had. Well, he had Sirius, but he had been taken away from him unfairly and too soon. Harry sighed and Remus chuckled a bit, "Who is it this time?" Suddenly, a group of students came bustling into the class. Harry said over their heads to Lupin, "I'll talk to you after class,"
A few minutes later, the entire group of students was there. Class had begun and Harry only listened to parts of the lesson. His mind was too preoccupied with this new-found knowledge of his small infatuation with Hermione. Her hair had changed a lot from the wild mop that was her hair in their earlier years at Hogwarts. Her hair was still curly, but the curls had relaxed a little and fell in waves around her shoulders. She had also begun to pay more attention to her appearance. She developed a small liking for makeup, but she put it on sparingly so her natural beauty still shone through. Harry smiled.
Ah! She's your best friend! She probably doesn't like you in that way! Harry reprimanded himself all through the lesson, missing all the important parts. It doesn't matter anyway, I can get the notes off Hermione... it would give me an excuse to talk to her... GAH! I didn't even feel this way about Cho...what is it about Hermione that's different? She's beautiful in her own way. Cho was attractive because of her appearance, but Hermione was as gorgeous inside as on the outside...
"Harry?" Lupin was prodding Harry's shoulder, "Harry, class is over," Lupin said. Harry looked up and saw his professor at his side.
"So, who is it?" Professor Lupin asked as soon as Harry had completely woken from his reverie.
"It's... it's... H-H-Hermione," Harry confessed, "I just saw her in a different light this morning. She's beautiful. Have you seen her new haircut? It's brilliant..." Harry trailed on, mentioning various things that he liked about Hermione. Remus just sat there, smiling a knowing smile, when he broke in, "Harry, her hair has been cut like that since last summer," Harry looked up, a little surprised, "If you ask me, I think you were too blinded by Cho. You didn't notice the perfect girl who was right under your nose," Harry was rendered speechless. "Now, you better go to your next class. Professor Snape will have your head if you're late, you'll be joining the Headless Hunt before you know it,"
Harry thought about what Remus had just said as he gathered his things and walked down the almost empty corridors towards the dungeons. I'm going to tell Ron. If I can trust any three people on this earth right now, it's Remus, Dumbledore, and Ron. I'm probably not going to tell Dumbledore, and I'm pretty sure Remus is going to report this to him unless he knows this already, which he probably does. Dumbledore had his ways of knowing everything that was going on in the heads' of his students AND of all of the snogging sessions in the corridors, behind tapestries and in broom closets. It was creepy, but it did make everyone in the castle feel protected. Harry went straight to the dungeons, but thankfully he wasn't late. He took his normal seat beside Ron and whispered, "Mate, I need to talk to you. It's important. Around 8 okay with you?" Ron nodded and Snape began teaching. Harry's mind was distracted by thoughts of Hermione. By the end of the lesson, he lost fifty points for daydreaming, not paying attention, and not working efficiently or up to standard. And then there were the usual "You're breathing too loud, Potter. Ten points from Gryffindor," that he went through every lesson.
The rest of the day basically went the same way. Harry thought about Hermione constantly and little did he know, she was thinking about him as well.
A/N: Hello! Yep... the next chapter! I hope you like it as much as my last ones! It would have come sooner, but I was working out a few kinks here and there during a small case of writer's block, sorry if it's not that great. But yeah, Harry likes her! Woo! And he's going to tell Ron. And since we all know that Ron can have sudden bouts of brainpower, what's he going to say? Thanks for all your reviews on my last chapter! I think Hermione's note sucked, but yeah... see you at chapter 11 buddie! -azias