AN: Review, review, review

Hermione's mind was racing. She could see into people's thoughts! There was so much she wanted to know. . .but where to begin?

She went back upstairs, and was just getting into her bed when Parvati and Lavender walked in, giggling uncontrollably.

". . .and his muscles, have you seen them?" Lavender said to Parvati.

"Ooh, yes, and those eyes. . .so intense. . ."

"Who are you two going on about? Harry, I suppose?" Hermione asked. They had spent the majority of last year talking about how handsome Harry had gotten.

"Oh no. . .Hermione, don't tell me you haven't seen him," Lavender said in false exasperation.

"Who?" asked Hermione.

"Draco Malfoy," she replied.

"Yeah, sure. Draco Malfoy. Ferret boy, handsome?"

"Fine, don't believe us. Tomorrow in Potions you'll see for yourself."

"Sure. 'Night," Hermione said, crawling under her covers. Draco Malfoy? Good-looking? She had never heard something more ridiculous in her life. Parvati and Lavender thought everybody was good-looking.

She drifted off to sleep and awoke the next morning to the sound of laughter.

"What is so funny?" she said crossly, standing up.

"We've just been down at breakfast and Padma's tried to charm her hair lighter but it turned out bright red," Parvati explained.

She pretended to laugh, but was thinking, 'This is why most of my best friends are boys.'

"It looks positively dreadful.  She could pass for a Weasley." They burst into more fits of laughter.

Hermione didn't appreciate this joke, and started to pull on her school uniform. She was fairly late for breakfast, and hurried down to the Great Hall. Harry and Ron were just leaving as she walked in.

"Where have you been?" asked Ron.

"Overslept," she replied. "Is everybody done in there?" She gestured to the Great Hall.

"No. Ginny's still in there, and a few others."

"Okay. See you in potions," she said, and hurried into the hall.

"Morning, Ginny," she said, sitting down by her.

"Hi, Hermione. Little late, aren't we?" said Ginny, smiling.

"Yes. . . hard to get to sleep, what with Lavender and Parvati giggling about boys and things."
     "The girls in my year are the same way. They even talk about how cute Ron and Harry are. Right in front of me. I mean, I can see why they think Harry. . .," Ginny's voice trailed off. She was blushing.

Hermione laughed. Ginny was definitely her best friend that was a girl. . .maybe she should tell her about the book. It would be great to get the news of her discovery off her chest, and besides, when would she ever need to read Ginny's mind?

"Ginny, there's something I've got to tell you. But you have to swear you won't breath a word of it to anybody. Not a soul," Hermione said quietly.

"I promise," Ginny replied.

"Okay. Well, yesterday I was in the restricted section of the library, checking something out for Transfiguration, when a book sort of just. . .fell onto the floor beside me. From the top shelf, I suppose. It was called Ancient Mind Penetration."

Ginny gasped. "Mind penetration? Like. . .what? Seeing people's thoughts?" She paused with a forkful of egg suspended in the air inches from her mouth.

"Yeah," Hermione whispered. "There's an incantation I can use to see into people's thoughts."

"Wow. You're joking."

"No. It's true. Unbelievable, isn't it?"

"Yeah," she said uncertainly. Hermione could see she wasn't convinced.

"Okay. I'll prove it. Think about something, anything at all."

"Alright," said Ginny, closing her eyes.

Hermione pulled out her wand and said the incantation, looking at Ginny all the while.

'Professor Snape is a slimy git.'

"Cease Penetro," Hermione whispered. Ginny opened her eyes and looked expectantly at Hermione.

"Professor Snape is a slimy git," Hermione said proudly.

"Wow," breathed Ginny. "You've got to teach me how to do it."

"And I will. But right now," she said, hastily checking her wristwatch, "I've got class with the slimy git. See you later." She raced out of the Great Hall. She had five minutes to get to Potions.

Hermione had nearly made it to the dungeons when she heard footsteps behind her. She looked over to see Malfoy, walking alone along the corridor. This was rare. He usually had his minions, Crabbe and Goyle, thundering along beside him.

"Hey, Granger," he said, catching up to her. "Have a nice holiday with your Muggle parents?"

"Yes, I did," she said, looking up at him. 'Parvati and Lavender were right,' she thought. 'He does have nice eyes.' She realized what she was thinking, and shook her head to rid herself of the thought.

"Miss your dear father? Did you visit him in Azkaban?" she said derisively. 

"Shut your mouth, Mudblood," he said furiously. "Well, it's been such a pleasure talking to you, but I, unfortunately, have better things to do. Say hi to Potty and Weasel for me, won't you?"

"Surely," she said in a cold voice and he quickened his pace, getting ahead of her. She couldn't help but agree with Parvati and Lavender. . .his looks had certainly improved from last year. His hair was no longer slicked back, and his originally scrawny arms seemed to have filled out. She shook her head again. . .how could she be thinking such thoughts? His father was a Death Eater, and she wouldn't be surprised if Draco was already following in his footsteps. He had been nothing but awful to her since their first year at Hogwarts.

She looked up to see Malfoy was still in sight. She quietly darted up so she had a better view of him and pulled out her wand.   

"Adverto Penetro, Adverto Penetro, Adverto Penetro," she said as quietly as she could, looking intently at the back of his head.

'. . .much cuter than any Slytherin girl. . .damn it! Father would kill me if he knew. . .stupid Mudblood. . .'

"Cease Penetro."

A rush went through Hermione's body. He thought she was cute? That was what he said. . .wasn't it? Draco turned into the Potions classroom, and she waited a moment and followed.