Chapter6
After she had listed all the girls she slipped it through Draco's door. She headed back to her room to change. She wanted to get breakfast and you can't do that in pajama pants and a large shirt.
Once she had worn her favorite ensemble, she headed down to the great hall. She sat down next to Ginny and started to talk about Seamus and Ginny's relationship. Ginny was so in love. Surprisingly Ron didn't object. Seamus got on his good side and now trusted him to take care of Ginny.
"Oh Hermione! I'm so happy were together! Seamus is such a gentleman." Ginny said dreamily.
Hermione could remember what had happened during 6th year. Seamus used to be a ladies man. He was with at least 2 girls at once. That all changed when he spent time with Ginny when she helped him study for the exams since she was rating a 'Hermione grade point average'. Seamus had dropped all his 'girls' and began courting Ginny. Ginny liked him a lot. She liked him ever since Harry and Cho got together at the middle of 6th year. A dangerous time for the golden trio. She could still remember the broken hearts, cries and hurt pride that year caused.
Harry and Cho were still together, just in a long-distance relationship. They wrote each other every night. She could still remember the 'royal treatment' Seamus gave Ron. He did his homework, helped him study for tests, and helped him practice quidditch. At the end of the year, Ron finally gave in and agreed for Ginny to see Seamus. That was a very productive year on the friendship department for Hermione because she kept switching who she went with. She hung out with Lavander and Pravati, some Huflepuffs, a few Ravenclaws, and surprisingly, some slytherins. She now had a lot of friends. Only... no boy-friend.
Suddenly Hermione felt someone staring at her. She looked around the hall and saw a pair of icy blue eyes staring at her, the weird part was that he looked...well, happy. She noticed her piece of parchment next to him. She had compiled a list of at least 50 girls, 5th years and above but she didn't dare write her own name.
She smiled at him. And he smiled back. Obviously he was glad of her 'help'.
'Phase one initiated.' She thought and went back to Ginny.
The next few days Hermione and Draco worked together searching. Draco was actually getting to be great company and now they were friends. Truthfully! Not the just-so-you-could-help-me-I've-decided-to-act-civil kind of friendship but the-I'm-glad-of-your-help-and-I'm-having-a-great-time-with-you-as-always-and-I'm-very-happy-were-friends kind of friendship.
Draco was a very good listener and helped out any time he could with Hermione's studies because she was pre-occupied with searching. (Not that she needed help)
Hermione and Draco kept on searching for his mystery girl until late the next week. Hermione lay down on a couch. She was so tired. She went to 5 other girls today. 1 from Gryffindor, 2 from Ravenclaw, and 2 from Hufflepuff. She had walked around the castle 3 times looking for the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw common rooms. And let me tell you... the castle is HUGE!
"So how was it?" Draco asked. Since he was a slytherin and was hated by all houses he couldn't just walk up to their common rooms.
"No luck. Whoever she was, she is a good hider. So far, she's not any girl on the list I compiled. I'll check again tomorrow. Maybe I forgot someone." Hermione laid down on one of the couches completely exhausted.
"Oh..." he looked sad. He sat down to the couch near Hermione.
"Well, if you gave me more descriptions, I could eliminate some of them." She suggested, fighting hard not to fall asleep.
"That's all I know." He said quietly.
"Okay, but can I ask you one thing?" this was something that bothered her for quite some time now.
"Sure."
"Why are you so keen to find her?"
"Well, truth be told, I don't know. I just felt like we had some sort of connection, you know? And she was the only person I knew who actually listened and understood me. Ive never felt loved when I was a child. Only hate, and sacrifice. My father raised me that way. When I was with her, I could talk about anything. We could be talking for hours and it only felt like seconds. She is different from all the other girls I know. She is special and that's why I want to find her... Look at me raving mad like this... you must think I'm crazy." He said. She could see a tear form in his eye but he quickly wiped it away.
Hermione lay there, speechless.
'I didn't know. I didn't know he went through so much pain. I feel sorry for him. Wait! You're sorry! For a Malfoy! Hello? Earth to Hermione? You do know what you're thinking right?' Hermione just laid there and closed her eyes thinking about the information Draco just enclosed to her. Suddenly she felt her drowsiness catching up with her and fell into a light sleep.
Draco POV
After his little speech he looked over to Hermione and saw she had fallen asleep.
He laughed quietly and came closer to her. He carried her up to her room and laid her on her bed. He tucked her in and was about to leave when he heard her mumbling in her sleep. He turned to look at her and was surprised.
'She is so beautiful...why haven't I seen this before? She kind of reminds me of someone.' Draco looked at her face bathed in moonlight and a small smile formed on her lips. Suddenly he remembered the girl from the ball and he was more determined to find her more then ever. He turned to the door and heard a low mumble.
"Goodnight Draco."
"Goodnight Hermione." And he left.
FLASHBACK!
'I didn't know. I didn't know he went through so much pain. I feel sorry for him. Wait! You're sorry! For a Malfoy! Hello? Earth to Hermione? You do know what you're thinking right?' Hermione just laid there and closed her eyes thinking about the information Draco just enclosed to her. Suddenly she felt her drowsiness catching up with her and fell into a light sleep.
Hermione POV
She suddenly felt a pair of strong arms carry her. She cuddled closer to whoever it was. The fire had just gone out. She felt like she knew this warmth. It was the warmth of whoever carried her before, the warmth of her loved stranger, the warmth of man who was slowly making his way to her heart. Somehow, she knew who it was but was too tired to let her brain process the information. Subconsciously, a second before she fell into a deep sleep, she mumbled the two words to reassure him that her heart knew.
"Goodnight Draco."
"Goodnight Hermione." And he left. Leaving her to the coldness of her surroundings.
The next morning Hermione woke up and was surprised to be in her room. She shrugged it off and headed to the bathroom. When she was done, she headed to her room to prepare for class. She met up with Harry and Ron and headed to potions class.
"Now class, this term, I will pair you up. Once you have a partner, you two have to research a potion for me. Each group will have a different potion. When you are finished researching, you are to brew that potion and test it. If you get it wrong, you will surely be poisoned but if you get it right, which I doubt, you will receive full marks and will be excused from my N.E.W.T.'s. May I remind you, this is 20 of your grade."
Snape went around putting everyone in partners. Harry got Pravati, while Ron got Lavender. Snape was being unusually nice, until...
"So, Ms. Granger. It seems there are no Gryffindors left. So why don't you be with Mr. Goy-"
"Excuse me sir, but Goyle already has a partner." Draco cut in.
"Well, how about miss Parkinson."
"She is partnered with Crabbe sir."
"Who is your partner Draco?"
"None yet sir."
"Fine. Ms granger! Move next to Mr. Malfoy." Snape barked.
Hermione collected her things and headed to the slytherin side of the dungeon, receiving pitiful looks from the Gryffindors. She sat beside Draco.
"Thanks for saving me back there." She whispered, pretending to fix her things.
"No problem. I didn't have a partner anyway and none of the Slytherins would work. They'd just leave me to it."
"I know what you mean. When Harry or Ron are my partners, they presume ill do everything and not move a muscle."
They were interrupted by Snape.
"The potion that I am going to have you look up is the revealing potion. There are two kinds. You and your partner would have to make both. Now stand up. The rest of the lesson will be done in the library." Snape told Hermione and Draco.
The class gathered their things and headed out.
Once they got there, Hermione wasted no time and headed to the bookshelves. Not a minute later she headed to Draco's table with a really thick book.
"Whoa. You already found it?"
"Yeah. Ive already memorized it. I just wanted to see if I forgot anything. Now let's see, the revealing potion. The first kind is a potion that allows the drinker to go back to its memory of an encounter with someone they love. If the drinker does not know who it is the 'mask' or any reason for them not knowing will disappear. Thus letting them know who the person is. The second one is a potion that lets one person see the love one of another. If the feeling is strong they will appear very clear but if it is not, they will only see a blurry image." Hermione said recounting her well memorized words.
"Wow. Talk about bookworm." Said Draco reading the book to find Hermione had memorized every single word.
Hermione punched Draco playfully on the arm.
"Ouch. I was joking." Said Draco rubbing his arm in 'pain'.
They spent the rest of the class researching the ingredients of both potions. It was the easiest assignment Hermione ever made. Maybe because she already knew what to write or maybe because Draco was top 2 and he gave her some extra details since his favorite subject was potions or maybe, she just enjoyed the company.
After classes Draco met Hermione in their common room.
"Hermione?" he asked thoughtfully.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think the potion can help me?"
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked confused.
"The revealing potion. I can find out who she is. Were going to have to test it anyway." Draco said determinedly.
"Maybe. But then ill have to test the 2nd one. I don't have a love. I wouldn't know what would appear."
"Ill tell you. Ill have to see it anyway. By the way, why is it called the same thing if it does two different things and aren't really alike?"
"That's coz the ingredients are all the same except for the strand of hair in my potion."
"Oh. So anyway, do you want a test batch? We can make it now. It's the full moon tonight. I have all the ingredients for my potion."
Hermione POV
'Oh no! If he finds out im his mystery girl my whole plan will be ruined! I have to wait a little longer!'