"…and then they asked me to be the president of the Oliver Wood Fan Club…" I finished, waiting for his reaction to my story.
Oliver threw back his head and laughed long and hard. "That's fantastic! Oh, I wish I could have been there to see their faces… to see your face…"
I laughed with him, wishing that he were here with me. All I could see was his head and shoulders. Just this year, Hogwarts had put in another room with fireplaces with which you could call other wizards around the world – your family, friends. Oliver was traveling with Puddlemere but had yet to play when he called on me. "So have they told you when you're to play?" I asked, trying to sound upbeat.
"If I ever play…" he replied moodily.
"You'll play," I replied positively. "I know you'll play. Your team is doing fantastic, by the way. You're almost top in the league."
"No thanks to me… I'm just a benchwarmer…" He was so down that I didn't know what to say to him. He was just being negative.
"Oliver, you're a fantastic Keeper. You're just young. It's impressive all the same that you're even on the team. You're just a rookie. There's so much more that you can do…"
He smiled wryly. "I know. It's just depressing right now. I warm up with them then all I get to do is watch them all play while I sit it out."
I wanted to hug him. He looked about ready to give up and come home. "Just give it time… you'll play."
His smile grew. "Oh, Hermione, what would I do without you and your ever positive attitude?"
I shrugged. "Who knows… you'd have to resort to the love of your fan club to get you through your hard times…"
He laughed. "Never!" Then he turned his head. Someone was speaking to him. "Sorry Hermione, I've got to go… we have curfew so I'll talk to you later. I'll send you an owl soon."
I leaned forward and kissed him quickly. "See you."
He left and I went back towards the common room, feeling half joyous at being able to speak to him and half depressed that I wouldn't see him until at least Christmas…
¤ ¤ ¤
"Oy, Hermione! Wait up!"
I turned my head and saw Malfoy making his way towards me. "What do you want, Malfoy?" I couldn't help myself from sniping.
He fell into step with me, taken aback at my tone, and then shrugged. "Alright, I suppose I deserve that for the way I treated you in the past years…"
I stared at him. He sounded so sophisticated, so suave, almost gentlemanly. "Pardon?"
He smiled, a natural smile. "I've been an ass to you ever since I met you, Hermione… and I'm sorry. I should not have treated you so."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "What do you want, Malfoy?"
"Draco please, Hermione… And I was wondering if you'd gotten a partner for Potions yet?"
I shook my head. "No, but…" I was at loss for words.
"But what?"
"But you're Slytherin…"
"And you're Gryffindor. So what?"
"You hate me."
"Do not."
"Do too."
"Do-" He caught himself. "Let's not quarrel, Hermione. Come on. Who would you rather? Me or Pavarti Patil?"
I studied him as I decided. Malfoy, er, Draco, the last person I'd ever think of as a partner, or the girl who had almost ruined my life last year. "What's the catch?"
He spread his hands. "No catch, Hermione. I would just rather someone who actually knew what they were doing as my partner this year than some oaf such as Crabbe or Goyle… Wouldn't you?"
I nodded. "Alright, but any funny business and I'm finding another."
He nodded. "That's just. Alright, see you in Potions, Miss Granger, and thank you." He gave me a mock bow then strode off.
I shook my head and continued on back to my room. People these days.
"First fame, and now you're going after power?"
I spun around. Ron was lounging against a statue. "What?"
"Tired of the celebrity boyfriend so now you're moving up?" he said, curling his lip at me.
"Are you tired of stalking people yet?" I shot back. "And my life is none of your business."
He shrugged, pushing off. "I bet Oliver would love to know that you're cheating on him with a Slytherin."
I started. "I am not cheating on him. Draco and I are just partners for Potions, that's all. And I don't see why I have to explain myself to you."
"See, you're already on a first name basis…"
I wanted to cry. No, I wanted to hit him. I clenched my fists at my side. "What is your problem, Ronald Weasly?" I cried. "If you're not happy then no one else can be? Why are you being such an ass? Especially to me! We've been friends for the past six years until you decided that I was lower than dirt in your opinion. I liked you last year and you decided that you wanted someone else and then when I gave up on you, you go evil on me and refuse to speak to me. And now that I'm happy, you decide that you want to take that away from me too? Well, forget it. Until you learn to act like a grown-up, don't bother speaking to me because I don't want to hear it." I stormed off, fuming. Why were boys so stupid?
