*****Hermione*****
I opened an eye. Snow was falling outside my window. I sat up slowly. Last night was amazing! Come to think of it, the past month had been like a dream! Long walks around the lake, late night strolls in the corridors, midnight visits to the gazebo, picnics in the Forbidden Forest. Draco really is a sweet guy once you get to know him. He smiles at me, he comforts me, he touches me so gently, and he puts his arms around me.
I don't really know what to think, though. Do I really love him? Or do I just feel a friendship between us? I'm not really sure if were friends or not, but I really think kissing isn't a sign of 'just friends'. Since that kiss on Halloween night, we've been a lot closer. TOO close. I'm beginning to worry that Harry and Ron are suspecting those nights I've been absent in the Gryffindor tower. One time, I almost forgot to do my homework because Draco and I had taken a walk around the school. I had to stay up all night to finish it. But I was right to doubt that the guys won't be talking to me about it.
But things had been so wonderful; I didn't want to tell them. I didn't want to tell anybody. All I cared about was Draco and me. But, I'm afraid I've been neglecting my job as a Prefect for a while. I was the most inactive Prefect; at least that's what Professor McGonagall said. That had really upset me. But, from out of the blue, there came Draco, touching me gently and hugging me.
It was the day before Christmas Eve, and it seems that only Harry, Ron and I were the only ones left in the Gryffindor Tower. I went out of bed and changed into my robes. I went downstairs to find Harry and Ron sitting quietly in front of the fire. I went closer to find that they were both sleeping. I quickly shook them awake.
"Guys, wake up!" I said, as I shook each of their shoulders. Harry woke up with a start. "Wha-?" he said, and slowly stood up. Ron only yawned. "What are you guys doing here?" I asked. Ron opened his eyes but didn't answer. Harry slowly sat up. "Sirius" he answered wearily, pointing at the flames. "So? What did he say?" I asked, sitting next to him. "He said something about You-Know Who making his way towards Hogwarts" Ron replied, though his eyes were closed again. I was surprised that they weren't worried about it.
"What?! Then why didn't you say so? Why didn't you wake me up? Why aren't you the least bit worried?" I asked them. Ron suddenly sat up. "Because, he's going to be hard to take on by ourselves, since Sirius said You-Know-Who has two spies in Hogwarts. We're going to tell Dumbledore later on," he said. Harry stood up. "And because you weren't here last night" he said suspiciously, looking at me. Uh oh. They noticed!
"What are you talking about? I told you I was in the library!" I said, but my voice sounded a lot different. "We checked. You weren't there. We've heard you haven't been paying attention to your duties as Prefect either. What's wrong, Hermione?" Ron asked, also standing up. "Yeah. You're keeping something from us. We know you are. Is it that important that you can keep it from your friends?" Harry added, looking me straight in the eye.
Then something happened. Something came in from the window, which the guys had left open. I looked closer and saw that it was.Hedwig. She came during breakfast the day the other students left for the holidays. It turns out she lost her voice a bit longer than expected, and she was carrying a letter around her legs. Harry took it and opened it. "It's from Sirius. 'Voldemort is getting closer. I can feel him. Be alert. Sirius'" he read, frowning in thought. "We HAVE to tell Dumbledore. NOW" Ron said urgently. Harry nodded. Then he went out the portrait hole without another word.
Ron shook his head. "Hermione, stop worrying the poor guy. He's had enough memories in him to last him a lifetime. He doesn't mean to be like that, he's just worried about you. We're both worried about you. Ever since that incident about the mirror, he felt that both of us were responsible because we weren't there for you. He's REALLY beating himself up. So, please, tell us the truth. The pain of losing a friend is really hard for Harry to accept, since he's already lost his parents. Think about it" he said, then followed Harry out.
Wow. I didn't think Harry would be so upset. But, what am I thinking? What if they kept something from me? I'd feel upset too. Then, I suddenly felt what Harry felt. I'm such an idiot. They're my friends! I have to tell them. But first, I have to talk to Draco about this. So I went out of the portrait hole and walked along the corridors, looking for Draco.
After about a few minutes, when I was on the fourth floor, I heard voices coming from an unused classroom beside a tall suit of armor. I wanted to listen, but then that would be eavesdropping so I decided to leave whoever it is in there alone. But then, I'd be ignoring my Prefect duties again, so I decided to look in and find out who's somewhere they shouldn't be in.
But, as I reached for the doorknob, I heard a voice I strongly recognized. Draco! What was he doing in an unused classroom in the early morning? What was he up to? Out of curiosity, I listened in. "Look, I don't want-"Draco said, but another voice interrupted. "Sorry for the delay Draco, but these two jerks-"the voice, which sounded like a girl, paused, as if shooting the 'two jerks' an annoyed glance, "had to save up money by bullying first years." she finished. "Hey! When you made that bet we were broke! And besides, I didn't think Malfoy here could even get close to Granger!" Yet another voice broke in.
As I heard my name, my curiosity took over. I stood by the door, waiting for someone to speak. "But Draco, I gotta hand it to you, you're such a charmer to make that stupid Mudblood fall in love with you. I mean, Granger? And you? Puh-lease. I've seen a better couple in the zoo" a voice I knew was Jacob Flint, a boy I once gave detention, said.
"Yeah. It's like joining an apple and an orange" the girl remarked. "But, really, Draco, how the hell did you do it? Making Granger fall in love with you? How'd you manage to win the bet?" the other boy said. I couldn't take it any longer. My heart was filled with pain, and my knees suddenly felt weak and gave in. I collapsed and fell beside the suit of armor. But my fall made the weapon the suit of armor was holding rattle.
Silence fell inside the classroom. "Who's out there?" Jacob asked. "I'll go check," Draco said. As I heard the doorknob turning, I quickly tried to stand up. The door opened, and out came Draco. He was staring at me in horror. I quickly stood up and backed away from him. "Hermione-!" he said, but I interrupted him.
"You.you.used.me.you tricked me." I said, tears streaming down my cheeks. His face was suddenly filled with alarm. "No.Hermione.I didn't.let me explain." he said, but I didn't want to listen. "How could you?" I whispered, and ran away with all the energy I could muster.
I sat at the railing of the gazebo. The sun was setting, and the wind was blowing gently. Tears stained my robes, but I didn't care. I was playing with an orchid I had taken from the ceiling. Tears filled my eyes again as I remembered that this was the spot where Draco and I had kissed. I looked up as the sun disappeared and bright colors filled the sky. And then, I realized that my dream was turning into a horrible nightmare.
I opened an eye. Snow was falling outside my window. I sat up slowly. Last night was amazing! Come to think of it, the past month had been like a dream! Long walks around the lake, late night strolls in the corridors, midnight visits to the gazebo, picnics in the Forbidden Forest. Draco really is a sweet guy once you get to know him. He smiles at me, he comforts me, he touches me so gently, and he puts his arms around me.
I don't really know what to think, though. Do I really love him? Or do I just feel a friendship between us? I'm not really sure if were friends or not, but I really think kissing isn't a sign of 'just friends'. Since that kiss on Halloween night, we've been a lot closer. TOO close. I'm beginning to worry that Harry and Ron are suspecting those nights I've been absent in the Gryffindor tower. One time, I almost forgot to do my homework because Draco and I had taken a walk around the school. I had to stay up all night to finish it. But I was right to doubt that the guys won't be talking to me about it.
But things had been so wonderful; I didn't want to tell them. I didn't want to tell anybody. All I cared about was Draco and me. But, I'm afraid I've been neglecting my job as a Prefect for a while. I was the most inactive Prefect; at least that's what Professor McGonagall said. That had really upset me. But, from out of the blue, there came Draco, touching me gently and hugging me.
It was the day before Christmas Eve, and it seems that only Harry, Ron and I were the only ones left in the Gryffindor Tower. I went out of bed and changed into my robes. I went downstairs to find Harry and Ron sitting quietly in front of the fire. I went closer to find that they were both sleeping. I quickly shook them awake.
"Guys, wake up!" I said, as I shook each of their shoulders. Harry woke up with a start. "Wha-?" he said, and slowly stood up. Ron only yawned. "What are you guys doing here?" I asked. Ron opened his eyes but didn't answer. Harry slowly sat up. "Sirius" he answered wearily, pointing at the flames. "So? What did he say?" I asked, sitting next to him. "He said something about You-Know Who making his way towards Hogwarts" Ron replied, though his eyes were closed again. I was surprised that they weren't worried about it.
"What?! Then why didn't you say so? Why didn't you wake me up? Why aren't you the least bit worried?" I asked them. Ron suddenly sat up. "Because, he's going to be hard to take on by ourselves, since Sirius said You-Know-Who has two spies in Hogwarts. We're going to tell Dumbledore later on," he said. Harry stood up. "And because you weren't here last night" he said suspiciously, looking at me. Uh oh. They noticed!
"What are you talking about? I told you I was in the library!" I said, but my voice sounded a lot different. "We checked. You weren't there. We've heard you haven't been paying attention to your duties as Prefect either. What's wrong, Hermione?" Ron asked, also standing up. "Yeah. You're keeping something from us. We know you are. Is it that important that you can keep it from your friends?" Harry added, looking me straight in the eye.
Then something happened. Something came in from the window, which the guys had left open. I looked closer and saw that it was.Hedwig. She came during breakfast the day the other students left for the holidays. It turns out she lost her voice a bit longer than expected, and she was carrying a letter around her legs. Harry took it and opened it. "It's from Sirius. 'Voldemort is getting closer. I can feel him. Be alert. Sirius'" he read, frowning in thought. "We HAVE to tell Dumbledore. NOW" Ron said urgently. Harry nodded. Then he went out the portrait hole without another word.
Ron shook his head. "Hermione, stop worrying the poor guy. He's had enough memories in him to last him a lifetime. He doesn't mean to be like that, he's just worried about you. We're both worried about you. Ever since that incident about the mirror, he felt that both of us were responsible because we weren't there for you. He's REALLY beating himself up. So, please, tell us the truth. The pain of losing a friend is really hard for Harry to accept, since he's already lost his parents. Think about it" he said, then followed Harry out.
Wow. I didn't think Harry would be so upset. But, what am I thinking? What if they kept something from me? I'd feel upset too. Then, I suddenly felt what Harry felt. I'm such an idiot. They're my friends! I have to tell them. But first, I have to talk to Draco about this. So I went out of the portrait hole and walked along the corridors, looking for Draco.
After about a few minutes, when I was on the fourth floor, I heard voices coming from an unused classroom beside a tall suit of armor. I wanted to listen, but then that would be eavesdropping so I decided to leave whoever it is in there alone. But then, I'd be ignoring my Prefect duties again, so I decided to look in and find out who's somewhere they shouldn't be in.
But, as I reached for the doorknob, I heard a voice I strongly recognized. Draco! What was he doing in an unused classroom in the early morning? What was he up to? Out of curiosity, I listened in. "Look, I don't want-"Draco said, but another voice interrupted. "Sorry for the delay Draco, but these two jerks-"the voice, which sounded like a girl, paused, as if shooting the 'two jerks' an annoyed glance, "had to save up money by bullying first years." she finished. "Hey! When you made that bet we were broke! And besides, I didn't think Malfoy here could even get close to Granger!" Yet another voice broke in.
As I heard my name, my curiosity took over. I stood by the door, waiting for someone to speak. "But Draco, I gotta hand it to you, you're such a charmer to make that stupid Mudblood fall in love with you. I mean, Granger? And you? Puh-lease. I've seen a better couple in the zoo" a voice I knew was Jacob Flint, a boy I once gave detention, said.
"Yeah. It's like joining an apple and an orange" the girl remarked. "But, really, Draco, how the hell did you do it? Making Granger fall in love with you? How'd you manage to win the bet?" the other boy said. I couldn't take it any longer. My heart was filled with pain, and my knees suddenly felt weak and gave in. I collapsed and fell beside the suit of armor. But my fall made the weapon the suit of armor was holding rattle.
Silence fell inside the classroom. "Who's out there?" Jacob asked. "I'll go check," Draco said. As I heard the doorknob turning, I quickly tried to stand up. The door opened, and out came Draco. He was staring at me in horror. I quickly stood up and backed away from him. "Hermione-!" he said, but I interrupted him.
"You.you.used.me.you tricked me." I said, tears streaming down my cheeks. His face was suddenly filled with alarm. "No.Hermione.I didn't.let me explain." he said, but I didn't want to listen. "How could you?" I whispered, and ran away with all the energy I could muster.
I sat at the railing of the gazebo. The sun was setting, and the wind was blowing gently. Tears stained my robes, but I didn't care. I was playing with an orchid I had taken from the ceiling. Tears filled my eyes again as I remembered that this was the spot where Draco and I had kissed. I looked up as the sun disappeared and bright colors filled the sky. And then, I realized that my dream was turning into a horrible nightmare.