Chapter 3

"We're going to be late!" Hermione shrieked. The four of them were sprinting down the hall at full speed. Amazingly, all of them had overslept and they were about to be late to their first class: Potions.

"We won't be late!" Harry yelled.

"Snape's going to ..." Ron shuddered, but kept running. All of a sudden, Harry skidded to a stop and turned to face a suit of armor that was standing in an alcove in the wall. "Harry!"

Mattie turned to him questioningly, but her eyes immediately lit up. "That's it! Come on!" Mattie grabbed Ron and Hermione's hands as Harry slipped behind the suit of armor. Mattie slipped in, following Harry. Hermione looked as if she was going to kill them all, but Ron grabbed her hand and dragged her behind him. Blushing, Hermione reluctantly followed Ron. However, Harry and Mattie where no longer standing behind the suit of armor. Just as Ron and Hermione were about to go back into the hallway, two hands reached out of the wall and grabbed them by their robes, pulling them into the wall.

"What the –" Ron looked around, they were in a dark hallway and Harry and Mattie were standing in front of them, grinning. Harry blushed as he looked down and realized he was still holding Mattie's hand from when he led her into the hallway.

"Come on, we don't have to run now. Snape's classroom is only 2 minutes from here, not the usual 15 it takes to walk through all the hallways." Mattie smiled and, releasing Harry's hand, started down the hallway. Ron's mouth was still hanging open; Hermione put her hand under his chin to close it.

"It's just a simple charm, Ron. I heard rumors about the old tunnels, but I thought Dumbledore had sealed them all up." Ron nodded; Harry was already running after Mattie. "Come on, Ron." Hermione grabbed Ron's arm and trudged after Harry and Mattie.

They emerged a minute or so later just outside the door to Snape's classroom. Mattie was chatting jovially with Harry and Ron and Hermione were following. Ron glanced at Hermione and immediately averted his eyes when she looked at him. Harry stumbled over his words, and had decided it was better to just nod, smile, and attempt not to turn bright red every time Mattie's hand brushed his.

"And what do we have here?" Draco Malfoy was standing just outside Snape's classroom. His henchmen, Crabbe and Goyle, weren't in this Potions class; Malfoy had been talking to some Slitherin girls.

Mattie stopped talking to Harry and looked at Malfoy. "You're the boy from the train! It's nice to see you again." She smiled warmly as Malfoy's ears turned red. Hermione giggled and immediately put her hand over her mouth to stifle it. Ron and Harry both smiled.

"I heard you were new this year. Snape's class can be hard ... if you don't know what to expect. If you need any help ... I'd be happy to." Malfoy stumbled over his words, blushing more every time he messed up.

"Well I appreciate the offer, but I've been studying Potions for a while now ... I don't think I'll have a problem." Mattie smiled again. "In Divination, however, I'm a little bit more rocky. I've never been taught anything about Divination."

Malfoy smiled maliciously at Harry and said, "I'd be happy to help you. Why don't we meet in the Library right after dinner tonight?"

"Okay, I'll see you then!" Mattie smiled and happily walked into Snape's classroom. Harry glared at Malfoy before following her; Ron and Hermione went it as well, stifling their laughs.

"Sit down." Everyone filed into the classroom as Snape glared at them. "You will begin by reading page 256 in your text. I will expect a vial containing this potion and an essay regarding its uses on my desk Thursday morning. The essay will be 3 feet long." The class groaned. "Quiet! I gave you two days, that's plenty of time to make the potion! Now, read!"

"Where are you going?"

"To the Library, of course." Mattie smiled as Harry's face got red thinking of Malfoy and Mattie alone in the dark Library. "I don't expect to be there too long, but nonetheless if I don't see you, goodnight!" Mattie waved to them and walked quickly out of the Great Hall. Harry stared after her.

"I'm going for a walk." Harry, without a backward glance at Ron or Hermione, stormed out of the Great Hall.

"He's gone bloody insane." Ron shook his head and Hermione laughed.

"He likes Mattie, that's all. But apparently, Malfoy does too." Ron looked at Hermione, who was still staring after Harry. He hoped she couldn't hear his thoughts like Mattie had heard Bruce's.

I dunno what Harry sees in Mattie, Ron thought.

"Ron ... Ron!" Hermione's voice brought Ron back to reality.

"Oh, what?"

"Let's go ... ummm up to the Common Room." Ron's heart sank; there were a lot of people in the Common Room. "Come on." Hermione grabbed Ron's arm and led him out of the Great Hall. As Ron caught up with Hermione, her hand slid down and slipped into his. Hermione glanced at it, startled, and pulled her hand away, blushing. Ron felt disappointed; he had hoped she had done it on purpose. Maybe she had and she was just trying to cover it up ... probably not, he thought.

As they reached the portrait hole, Ron looked reluctantly at it. "There are so many people in there, let's ... umm go to ... the clock tower." Hermione eyed Ron questioningly, but shrugged and nodded.

A few minutes later, they had arrived in the clock tower; Hermione sat down on the floor just in front of the huge clock face. Ron sat down next to her; it was almost completely dark outside, the last rays of sunlight were just disappearing over the horizon.

"Hermione ... I ..." Hermione looked at Ron and his stomach did a flip. She looks so beautiful ... just sitting there. What am I thinking? Hermione's my friend ... could I be ... no!

"What? Is something wrong, Ron?"

"Umm ... no ... no, nothings wrong." Hermione looked back at the horizon and pulled her Potions book out of her bag. "It's just that ... I was wondering if ..."

"What is it, Ron?"

Ron's mind was racing, what was he going to say to her? He could think of a million things he wanted to say, but none that he could say. "I need some help on my Potions essay," he blurted out.

"Of course." Hermione smiled and opened her Potions book.

They returned to the Common Room just before curfew. They were both smiling and laughing; although Ron was still blushing, slightly. After Hermione helped him with his essay, they just sat there talking and joking around. Despite the fact that it was not at all what Ron had in mind when he suggested the clock tower, at least they had been alone. Harry sat up in his chair and turned around to look at them.

"Oh, hello Harry!" Ron said smiling, Hermione was still laughing. She was holding onto his arm, making his heart race.

Between giggles Hermione managed to say, "Hi, Harry."

"What are you two so happy about?" Harry scowled and turned back to the fire. Hermione immediately stopped laughing and looked at him worriedly.

"Harry, what's wrong?" She and Ron walked over to Harry's chair and sat down in front of him. Ron stumbled a little, sitting down very close to Hermione. He definitely didn't mind and she didn't seem to either, so he stayed there, blushing.

"Mattie's not back yet." Harry sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"Harry, do you honestly believe that Mattie could like a person like Malfoy?" Hermione shook her head.

"She went to the Library with him, didn't she?"

"Oh, Harry! You worry too much. Mattie doesn't like Malfoy, she's just trying to keep from pissing anyone off. And why make enemies?" Harry continued to scowl. "Fine! I'm going to bed, we have early classes tomorrow and I don't particularly want to be almost late for Potions again." Hermione got up, gently tousling Ron's hair as she walked past. Ron beamed and blushed at the same time. He watched Hermione walk up the stairs to her dormitory.

"Come on, Harry. We ought to go to bed too." Ron got up, reluctantly and started for the boy's dormitories. Harry followed slowly.

"Psst! Harry!" Ron whispered loudly. "Are you sleeping?"

"Not anymore you git!" Harry parted the hangings on his bed and glared angrily at Ron. It was god-knows-what-time and they both had to get up early in the morning for classes.

"Sorry!" Ron resumed a normal tone; their two roommates could sleep through the end of the world so there was no need to whisper. "I know you're having your problems with Mattie and everything, but I need to talk to you." Harry nodded slowly, giving Ron a questioning look. "Well, Hermione and I ... we were in the clock tower, you know ... and ... oh what the bloody hell am I talking about?" Ron said angrily, lying back down.

"Wait, Ron you're not saying ... you are saying! Wow! Finally ... I never thought you would realize it ... now we just need to get Hermione to realize it." Harry's voice trailed off and he rubbed his chin, thoughtfully.

"What the bloody hell are you going on about now?" Harry smiled as Ron sat back up.

"You and Hermione! I thought you would never admit to yourself that you liked her!"

"Not so loud!!"

"So what are you going to do about it?" Ron looked at Harry blankly.

"I have no idea. We were sitting there today and I was thinking ... about how she looked ... and it struck me. I still can't believe that I'm ... with Hermione ... I mean she's my friend ... the worst part is I know that she doesn't feel the same way." Ron sighed sadly.

"Of course she does!" Ron's eyes lit up.

"You think so?" Harry nodded and they both laughed.

"We only have a couple classes tomorrow, because of the faculty meeting ... why don't you and Hermione ... go for a walk." Harry winked at Ron before closing his bed hangings and going back to sleep. Ron smiled and lay back down. He went to bed with thoughts of Hermione ... and him ... together!