The next morning, I woke up and went down to breakfast to find Ron and Harry sitting at the table. They ignored me pointedly as I picked up and read a note saying Tonk, Snape and the Goodman's' had left early for more meetings. I knew that later we would be meeting more people our age groups like Nadia. Unlike the others, I was still taking classes from some of the professors who were aware of the Order. I had been mailing my schoolwork to them through an owl I had borrowed from the Hogwarts.
I sat down at the table, burying my head in my hands. My headache hadn't lessened much and I was disappointed with myself for going to the rave. As soon as I sat down, Ron stood up and left the room. I looked after him, feeling hurt. Why couldn't he just get over it already? Harry stayed back, looking like he wanted to say something. To be honest I really didn't feel like talking to him but I waited patiently for him to say what he had to say.
"Hermione, when I said what I said about Nadia, I didn't mean…" He started.
I cut in, "It doesn't matter. Its over. Ok?"
He nodded. I wasn't feeling like having a fight now. After all, I already knew Nadia had no interest in him whatsoever.
"Where were you and Malfoy last night?" asked Harry.
"I was at a rave club with Nadia. You have to ask Malfoy why he stayed out all night looking for me after I didn't turn up to meet him," I replied while buttering a piece of toast and spreading some jam on it.
"You went to a club?" Harry said, astonished.
"Yeah. Is that ok with you or am I supposed to ask your permission first?" I replied sarcastically.
"No, no. Why would you need to ask me first?" Harry asked, looking puzzled.
"I don't. Look, I don't feel like having this conversation now. See you later," I replied and I walked out of the kitchen, taking my toast and pumpkin juice up to my room. I shut the door and looked with a charm so no one would barge in. I started working on a chapter for Muggle Studies and soon enough I had finished writing my report on the chapter.
By then it was already 12:00 so I decided to go downstairs to grab some lunch and a drink. When I went in the kitchen, I found the Goodman's house elf mending some robes. She got up immediately when she saw me.
"What can I get misses?" she asked.
"Oh, it's alright. I'm just getting pumpkin juice. I can get it myself." I replied, and made my way to the pantry.
"No,no. I must serve you," she insisted, blocking my way.
"Oh alright," I sighed, and waited while she (I couldn't remember her name) poured me a glass and handed it me. I thanked her and walked out to the living room where I found Malfoy reading a book.
"Hi. Where's Harry and Ron?" I asked.
"Outside flying on their brooms," he replied stonily.
"Look. I'm sorry about last night," I apologized.
"Well, the next time you don't show up, I'm not going to come looking for you," he said.
"Fine," I answered, rolling my eyes.
"Oh yeah, Tonks it back. She wants to see you," he said.
"Now you tell me. Did she ask you about last night?" I asked worriedly. I knew I was probably in big trouble.
"Yes, she did. I told her we got lost and didn't get back till late," he replied.
"Well, I better stick to that story then," I replied, feeling relieved.
"Yeah, you'd better. You owe me for covering up for you," he said, smirking.
I wanted to tell him that once again he had done something that I hadn't asked him to but I felt grateful he took the trouble to cover up for me.
"What do I owe you then?" I asked.
"We'll see. I'll let you know when the time comes," he replied.
"Ok then. Now where's Tonks?" I asked, eager to get this over and done with.
"She's in her room, writing or something," he replied and went back to reading his book.
"Thanks. See you later," I said and went up to her room.
After knocking, she let me in. Tonks didn't look mad so I figured she wasn't going to ask about what happened last night.
"Good, you're here. Hermione, I need to talk to you," she said.
"Oh…ok," I replied slowly, feeling curious.
"Well, we're having some meetings later today," she started. I groaned at the thought of more meeting. I still had heaps of schoolwork to do. I opened my mouth, wanting to protest.
"Wait, don't say anything yet. I wanted to ask you if you wanted to get out of those meeting today. I'm sure Harry, Ron and Draco can handle them," she said, knowing what I was going to say.
"Thank you. I'm still waiting for the owl to return with some new assignments, so I can still help out if you want," I offered.
"Good. We need all the help we can get. To be honest, I think things are slowly getting better. Some of those who wanted to join the dark side have changed their minds," she said, looking happier than the last time we had talked.
"Really? That's wonderful. Well then, I should go start on my work," I replied, turning to go out.
She stopped me just as I was about to open the door.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the Goodman's are having a birthday party for one of their granddaughters tonight and since we don't need to be here, we've decided to let you guys stay out till 12," she said.
I wondered what I would do with all that time. Then I suddenly realised that Snape wasn't around.
"Where's Professor Snape?" I asked, feeling curious.
"I'm sorry, I cant tell you. Its secret Order business," she replied.
Why do they ask us to help out with the order if they're still keeping things from us? I frowned but I didn't want to anymore just yet and bade Tonks goodbye. I did not go straight back to my room. Instead I went looking for Harry, wanting to clear things up between us so we would be so tense around each other anymore. I found Ron and him outside. They had just finished flying.
"Harry, I need to talk you," I announced. I knew I didn't have to worry about Ron because he left immediately. I figured I would talk to him later. After all, he was acting like a git over what had happed to Ginny.
"What do you want to about?" asked Harry, looking puzzled.
I rolled my eyes and sighed. Boys can be so clueless sometimes.
"I just want to finish the conversation we had this morning," I said.
"Oh ok," Harry said, waiting for me to continues.
"Look, lets just go back to being friends. Its easier and I…" I clamped my quickly. I did not want to say that I kind of liked Malfoy now. No wait…I did?!
I hadn't thought about it but now I realised that I did kind of like him. After all, it was him that had come looking for me, not Harry.
"And what?" asked Harry, puzzled at the look on my face.
I turned away, so he couldn't tell if I was lying.
"Its nothing, lets just stay friends. Ok?" I said.
"Alright. I don't really believe that its nothing but if that's what you say then," he said.
"It is," I replied, still not looking at him.
I felt confused. I couldn't decide whether I still like him or if I liked Draco now or did I like both? I frowned, since when did I call Malfoy, Draco? Thinking about all this was starting to make my head ache worse.
"Hey, I'll talk to you later ok? I have schoolwork to do," I said, wanting to get back to my room.
"School work? Now?" Harry asked incredulously.
Then for some crazy reason, we both burst out laughing. It felt good not worrying about the state of our friendship anymore. I had like Harry more than a friend and it had been fun but some things aren't meant to be.
"Did Tonks tell you about the party tonight?" I asked.
"Yeah. I don't think I want to hang around here. What are you going to do?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure yet. You want to do something later?" I asked him.
"Yeah definitely. How about we leave around 7 because the party starts sometime after that," he offered.
"Yeah sure. Great then, I'll see you later," I replied and went back inside.
I returned to my room to work on an essay for Herbiology. I was soon lost in a book I was reading, that I was startled when I heard my door knock sometime later.
"Hi!" Nadia breezed in, looking a lot better than she had last night.
"Look, about last night. I don't get that wild…most of the time," she explained, looking apologetic.
"Its alright, I've done it a few times myself and I'm not proud of it," I said.
She laughed. "Yeah, its not something to be proud of," she replied.
"So, what are you planning to do later?" she asked.
I told her about the plans Harry and I made for tonight.
"Is it alright if I tag along with you guys?" she asked, looking hopeful.
"Yeah sure, I don't mind," I answered.
"But I thought…" she stopped herself.
"Its alright. We broke up and decided to stay best friends," I said, reassuring her.
"Alright then. We'll I've got to go home now but I'll come back later. Are you sure its alright?" she asked again.
"Yes Nadia. I don't mind. Though I don't really know what we're planning on doing yet," I said.
"Its alright, I've got some ideas. I'll show you guys some fun stuff to do," she said.
"Not another rave, ok?" I said.
She laughed. "Ha-ha, ok. Not another rave but you have to admit, it was kinda fun, wasn't it?"
"Yes it was. That iced coffee was good. I'd like to get another one before I go home," replied.
"Ok, I'll show you some other places where you get good ice coffee," she promised and left.
I went downstairs sometime later and found the boys playing god stones. Now that was a fith I thought I'd never see. Ron, Harry and Malfoy playing a game together and not fighting. I smiled to myself. I then remember that I had to talk to Ron.
"Oi Ron, can I see you in the kitchen?" I called as I walked into the kitchen.
He didn't look to happy about it but followed me anyway.
"What is this about?" he asked.
"Look, I know you're mad with me about what happened to Ginny," I said.
"Well it your fault she got expelled," he retorted, turning red.
I knew he was starting to get angry.
"No its not. I didn't tell her to push me down the stair or kill me twice. Its not my fault she's obsessed with Harry!" I shot back, angry at him for not understanding.
"Well if you didn't tell her to do those things, you shouldn't have told on her, " he snapped.
Now I was really made.
"I shouldn't have told on her?! What did you want me to do? Let her keep trying to kill me?!" I yelled incredulously.
We glared at each other, both of us close to tears.
"Fine. You did the right thing and Ginny was wrong," he said, sighing.
"Thank you," I said and left the kitchen.
At 7:00, Harry and I met up with Nadia outside the house.
"Come, I have to whole thing planned," she said, motioning us to follow her.
I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not but I went along anyway.
It turned out Nadia wanted to show us some haunted places in the wizarding world. It wasn't anything like the shrieking shack. There were some interesting place like a house where no one lived in but ever night, the ghost of a black cat howled and it could be heard even from the surrounding woods.
"No one could live here because that howling cat kept them awake all night," Nadia informed.
"Why does it howl? Does anyone know?" asked Harry.
"Nope," she answered.
Later, she took us to a coffee shop and after that she showed us some other fun things to do. Legally of course. If only we'd known what was waiting for us when we got back home.