Chapter Three

A Tale of A Forbidden Love

Harry Potter

~starjade~

Searching for the

Truth

Hermione wrapped her arms around her knees as she stared at Ginny who was talking animatedly about Harry. She really did not need this , especially this early in the morning.

It was Sunday and Ginny had wanted some 'Girl Talk' with Hermione. Talking about how handsome one of her best friends ( not to mention the boy she had a crush on for the past year) was isn't exactly her idea of fun.

Or interesting.

It was rather painful...

" I love the way he touches me , it makes me feel all tingly and warm and..." Ginny sighed , giggling happily. She had a bright glow in her face and Hermione felt guilty.

Why was it that she had to fall in love with Harry?

Ginny finally noticed Hermione's sad expression and gently touched her arm. " Hermione?"

Hermione jumped and looked at Ginny , startled. " Yes?"

Ginny smiled kindly. " Is something wrong?"

Hermione said distractedly , " Why would there be something wrong?"

Ginny grinned " Because when I was talking about Harry , you went all spacey on me....are you sure something's not up?"

As Hermione was shaking her head , Ginny smiled slyly. " I know! Your probably thinking of a special someone!"

Hermione flushed before she could stop herself. " Of course not , Ginny!"

Ginny laughed. " Your cheeks are all red! That's enough proof for me! Come on , Hermione! Tell me , who is it?"

Hermione exhaled. This conversation was treading on dangerous grounds....she peered at Ginny and thought about the different ways she could approach this situation. Finally , she rose an eyebrow at Ginny.

" What rubbish are you talking about , Ginny? Any boy that I may have my eyes set on , I would tell you immediately. Yet every boy here does not seem to realise the importance of school work and this repels me greatly!" She sniffed and held her head high.

Ginny stared at her. " That means every guy in this school is out of the question..."

Hermione could not help the smile that crept onto her face. " Exactly!"

Ginny laughed. " Wow , Hermione. It's going to be hard finding a guy for you!"

Instantly , those emerald eyes flashed by her , followed closely by silver ones....Hermione jumped. Silver eyes?

What was she thinking?

Hermione shook her head and grinned. " How about we go down for breakfast , alright?

Ginny nodded and walked out the door. Hermione' shoulders sagged. No more Girl Talks for her! Yet as Hermione walked out the door , she felt the need to spill all this out. All her feelings , all her doubts all her pains and secrets...

Hermione smiled sadly. If only she could find someone...

~~~~~~~****~~~~

It was a fine Monday and the birds twittered peacefully as the sun's rays filtered down like proof that happiness exists in the world.

Until of course , this perfect picture was ruined by two very angry voices.

" God , Malfoy , not all dragons have poisonous claws!" Hermione retorted.

Malfoy yelled , " Did I say all dragons?"

Hermione nodded. " Uh huh. You specifically said , ' All dragons.'"

Malfoy sneered back , " Fine , Granger. Tell me all you know about Dragons!"

Hermione held her head high and said regally , " Dragons are uusually depicted as a large reptilian animal with scales, four legs, wings, 5 claws or talons on each foot, and a tail; represented as having the ability to fly and breathe fire and associated with-"

Malfoy leaned back and yawned. " And what sorts of things make them angry?"

Hermione frowned. " We don't need to know that!"

Malfoy smirked. " Oh yeah , we do , mudblood!"

Hermione glared. " Fine! I'll tell you since your soo insistent. Dragons get angry by , well , humans , of course-"

Malfoy sneered , " Wrong! Humans don't make dragon's angry , if that was the case than every animal on this world would make dragons angry. It's the actions that someone does that makes them angry. Say if they had filthy blood , for example.."

He rose his eyebrows at her and Hermione felt like slapping him just one more time for good measure. Just as her hand was rising and itching to land on that stupid pale cheek, a whimper at Hermione's side stopped her.

" Can we get something done? I really don't like arguing!" Neville said to Hermione , trying to ignore Malfoy's death glare.

" Who asked you to talk , Longbottom!" Malfoy sneered.

Neville trembled and Hermione opened her mouth to reprimand Malfoy , all the while cursing inside of herself that she was stuck with such an imbecile when she spotted Harry shaking their heads at her. She tried to calm herself and nearly giggled as she saw Ron trying to break out of Harry's grip as he glared ferociously at Malfoy. It cheered her up so much ( the thought of Malfoy's head bashed in can make anyone's day) that when she turned back to Malfoy , she was smiling full time.

Malfoy stared at her. Mood change...

Suddenly, Hagrid who was walking around checking over people called out , " Ye project outline is due tomorrow!"

Malfoy and Hermione both looked at each other and gasped. Tomorrow! They had absolutely nothing done!

Malfoy growled through gritted teeth , " This is all your fault!"

Hermione gasped. " My fault? When has it been MY fault?"

Malfoy snapped, " Everything is your fault! I knew I'd fail if you were in my group and this bumbling idiot..."

As he continued to swear , Hermione was thinking. She finally reached a decision. This decision she would never have made in real circumstances , but in the risk of getting a bad grade...

Hermione quickly muttered , " Malfoy , lets have a truce. We have to get this done , so no insulting and no arguing until the project is done. Alright?"

Malfoy stared at her outstretched hand and opened his mouth to insult her but decided against it.

" Agreed , mud- I mean , Granger."

~~~~~~****~~~~

It was after dinner and she had just said her goodnights to Harry and Ron. She stared out at the window , at the lake that shimmered with the moonlight's rays and felt a shudder run through her.

Was there really a dragon , she mused to herself. Of course there couldn't be! But those grass stains all over her robes meant something!

She had a feeling , deep down in her chest that made her peer through the cluster of trees of the forbidden forest. She wanted to go out there again , just to check whether or not there actually was a large best with a tail and four feet and wings...

Finally , she made up her mind. Grabbing her cloak , she pulled the hood over her head and made her way down the dormitory stairs. No one was in the common room, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She made her way through the portrait and was thankful once more that the lady was asleep , her snores echoing in the hallway.

Dread filled her as she made her way down the castle stairs as she could feel the darkness envelope her. She stifled a shriek as a ghost made their way through one of the corridors and she had to calm her beating heart by standing still for a minute.

Finally , she went through one of the secret corridors , a passageway they had discovered from the Weasley Twins that was a shortcut to the forest.

Finally , she felt the brisk wind bite at her face as she stood on the Hogwarts grounds , staring out at the dark , haunting forest.

Determination filled her. She was going to find that dragon ,no matter what!

She entered the forest , walking briskly over the logs and through the misty air that hung around her ankles. The pathway was familiar...

She could hear the calls of werewolves and she shuddered. This wasn't good...

The pathway was more and more familiar as she walked on , picking her way through the forest. There was a cluster of bushes in front of her and without knowing it , she ran right into it. The twigs picked at her hair and her cloak and she stifled a shriek as she fought through the bush , stumbling out into the open.

She was in a clearing...

And a big dragon rested in front of her.

She stumbled back ,falling down to the mossy ground.

No...no....there was a dragon! Everything was true! It wasn't just a dream...

The dragon looked peaceful. It was smaller than a normal dragon and it's silver scales flashed in the moonlight. It was curled up and snorts of air told her that this dragon was sleeping.

She crept up towards it and stared. The dragon had wings...it was folded up against his back and with eyes wide with horror , curiosity and fear , she slowly began to circle the sleeping dragon.

" Your beautiful..." she whispered in awe as she made her way to his face. She remembered the way the large thing smirked at her , sneered at her...

Slowly , she kneeled down and looked at the scaly face. A brush of hot air whistled out of his nostrils nearly making her fall back.

She reached out with her hand and slowly touched it's face. It was smooth , like glass...she stroked the dragon's face , her heart thumping fast at the danger that hung in the air.

And then the dragon's eyes opened.

Hermione screeched and fell backwards as the dragon rose to it's knees , a thunderous roar echoing in the forest as it outstretched it's wings.

" WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" It yelled.

Hermione trembled. Oh my god...she thought , her eyes wide with fear. I'm dead....I am right now as dead as road kill.

" I-I-I-I'm sorry , I n-never meant t-to-" Hermione started out , shaking.

The dragon shook his head. " Why did you come BACK? Go back to the castle, GRANGER!"
Hermione shivered. How did it know her name? Oh yeah , she had told him...

Hermione stared at the large dragon , who was glaring at her and knew that it could kill her in two seconds. Yet for some reason , she knew that this abnormal dragon wouldn't...it wouldn't kill her.

" I'll go away....but I won't until you answer my questions," Hermione said bravely.

The dragon lurched , a huge clawed hand ready to swing at her. Hermione shrank back , foolishly remembering Malfoy insistency that dragons have poisonous claws...She closed her eyes in fear.

Yet the claws never came.

She opened her eyes fearfully. The dragon had settled back into a crouch and was looking at the moonlight , almost confusedly.

" Ask away.."

~~~~~~~****~~~~~

" Ron? What are you doing awake?" Harry asked , blurrily as he jerked out of his sleep from Ron's foots steps. The world came into focus as he shoved his glasses on his nose and he slowly got out of his bed.

Ron was standing up , his red hair fluffed up from the pillow. His eyes were wide and Harry yawned.

" What is it?" Harry asked , his voice tired.

Ron shook his head , confusedly " You know what? I think that I just saw Hermione go into the forest..."

Harry snorted. " Ron , get back to sleep. It's just your fanciful imagination.."

Ron grinned. " Probably...."

Yet his eyes strayed to the window , confusedly. He knew he saw a figure walk into the forest , and that bushy cinnamon coloured hair reminded him of a bookish best friend of his...

Ron yawned and rubbed his eyes. Harry was probably right , Ron thought as he climbed into his bed once more. It probably is my fanciful imagination...

a/n: Thankies to all ma reviewers: Dreaming One , A17, nycgrl, Star , andshefalls , allee kat , Draco'sGal13 , Spika , Angel Slayer , Lady Moonsword , snowqueen/yukichan, The *Spangled*Pandemonium, blue-angel45. Luv you soooo much!

And please review for dis chappie , alright!?!