Chapter 3: Secrets of the Heart

"Silver winged Hippogriff," said Hermione. Gatsby nodded at her and swung the portrait open. Hermione walked through the portrait hole and into the common room; the fireplace had been already lit. Hermione sat herself down on a sofa beside the fireplace, enjoying its warmth and opened up her potions textbook. Grabbing a parchment and a quill she began to write her essay on Polyjuice Potion while munching on Cauldron Cakes.

Advanced Potion Making:

Polyjuice Potion

Ingredients: Fluxweed, Horn of bicorn, Knotgrass, Lacewing flies, Leeches and Skin of boomslang.

This potion allows the drinker to assume the appearance of another person. The effect lasts for an hour and then the user will change back to his/her original form. In addition to the standard ingredients listed, this potion also requires a part of the person you want to assume the appearance of, preferably a strand of hair. The part of the person is added once the potion has finished brewing. The fluxweed has to be picked at full moon, and the lacewing flies stewed for 21 days before the potion is made.

Hermione was on her fourth parchment when a familiar Slytherin crept through the portrait hole. She hadn't noticed his presence. Draco silently gazed at her as she worked non-stop. Hermione had her hair clipped up and her legs were curled together. Finally he found the nerve to speak to her.

"Hi Granger," he said indifferently. Hermione looked up at the figure who was speaking to her. Once realizing it was Draco, Hermione discovered that her stomach seemed flipped upside-down and her body trembled. Shocked at herself, Hermione straightened out her behavior.

"Hey Malfoy," she replied. Hermione placed her work on the coffee table and walked up to the Slytherin. "How was your day?"

"Fine," he paused. "Why are you being so nice to me, Granger?"

She looked at him furiously before replying. All the previous butterflies and nervousness was replaced by anger. "Well, Malfoy this is what friends do. They are nice. Then I suppose you don't understand how it works. I mean your goons are the pigheaded gits of Slytherin. Neither of them resembles anything near cunning or intelligent, just idiotically clumsy. Not to mention if you show them a bit of food, they come running after you like Clauricorns after gold. You only know how to boss those two around. The only person close to being a so-called friend of yours is Blaise. And if he wasn't a Slytherin, I'd find him pleasant to be around." At this point, Hermione's voice was raised and she was shouting. With that, Hermione nodded at Draco and stormed up to her dormitory.

Draco stood there, dumbfounded and completely confused. How the hell was he supposed to know that asking that question would infuriate her? Draco could never figure out girls. He had always used them for a good snog and left the relationship ending there. The nearest thing he had that resembled a relationship was with Pansy and he certainly did not want to remember any sort of detail from that. As he stood there contemplating the whole reasoning behind Hermione's rant, he stopped. "Blaise? Pleasant?" he thought. "Could Hermione have feelings for Blaise?" The thought made him seethe in anger and jealousy. He never lost to Blaise and he wasn't about to now. Why couldn't he control his feelings towards Hermione? Why was she so appealing to him? Most importantly, why couldn't he control the feelings he tried to hard to subdue all his life? Draco stormed into his dormitory very upset and slammed the door.

--

The next day Hermione woke up in a pleasant mood. She ran down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Harry and Ron were already at the table discussing Quidditch tryouts.

"Harry, when are you going to hold'em?" Ron pleaded. Ginny agreed with Ron.

"Probably soon. Next week or so," Harry shrugged. "Oh, hey 'Mione."

"Hi Harry," she greeted him and smiled. Hermione sat down next to Ginny and grabbed a plate of sausages, eggs and bacon and a glass of juice. Hermione was pleasantly eating her breakfast until a very familiar and annoying voice squealed.

"Ron, sweetheart!" Lavender chimed and threw her arms around his neck before placing a kiss on his cheek. Hermione looked up and her mouth dropped as did the rest of the Gryffindors who sat near them. "You promised me that you'd sit by me and Parvati today."

Ron blankly looked at her before a realization came over his face. "Oh right. I was on my way, just talking to Harry about Quidditch."

"Well Quidditch can always wait," she said smugly as she pulled Ron to the other end of the Gryffindor table. Seamus and Dean chuckled at Ron while Hermione and Harry sat there in horror. It was impossible that those two were back together. Harry couldn't believe it. Ron was back with Lavender.

"Ron is going to put Hermione through all of that again? Ron is going out with Lavender again? And where did Ron's feelings go for Hermione… did they disappear?" Although Harry was worried sick, he let out a sigh of relief. For some reason, he didn't want Ron to be with Hermione. He wanted to be with Hermione.

"Great. The filthy hypocrite is going to blind us all with his horrendous snogging again," Ginny said sarcastically. "Don't forget to carry a blindfold guys," Ginny remarked then returned to her eggs. The table erupted in laughter. Hermione stifled a small giggle. The thought of those two together only made Hermione laugh. She couldn't care less. All her effort now was put forth into her studies and N.E.W.T. exams. Then Ginny turned to Hermione.

"Hey 'Mione. You told me a few days ago that you had something to tell me."

"Oh that's right Ginny. I'll tell you when the boys aren't around," she said as she jerked her head towards Harry and Ron. Ginny understood and nodded. After breakfast Ginny headed to Potions while the infamous trio headed to Transfiguration.

Headmistress McGonagall walked in the room. She had taken Professor Dumbledore's place as Headmistress after his death the year before. Although she was quite busy with all her new responsibilities, Professor McGonagall could never give up Transfigurations. The trio sat themselves down up front. Lavender and Parvati came in a minute later giggling and quite loudly too.

"Ronny. Come sit over here!" she ordered. Ron mouthed a cry of help to Harry which he plainly ignored. Reluctantly, Ron rose up and sat next to Lavender who threw her arms around him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"I will have no snogging in this class, Lavender," Professor McGonagall sternly said to the girl as she walked in. "Mr. Weasley, I would preferably have you sit next to Mr. Potter and Miss Granger from now on to prevent any snogging cases in the future. We don't need a rerun of last year now do we? Quickly now Mr. Weasley." Lavender sank in her chair and glared at the Professor. Ron got up again and sat next to Harry, his cheeks flaming red in embarrassment.

--

Transfigurations ended quite like normal. Ron was still flushed red when he walked out of class with Harry and Hermione, closely holding his books to his chest hoping to go unnoticed by Lavender.

"Ronny," Hermione teased as Ron glared at her angrily before being pulled away by someone's hand.

"Ronny. Can you believe that she won't let us sit next to each other?" Lavender whined. Harry and Hermione both looked at each other before bursting out in laughter. Lavender looked at the pair quizzically before returning to her conversation with Ron. "Come. Let's go to Herbology together," she told Ron as though he had a choice because she forcefully pulled on his robe indicating for him to follow.

Harry and Hermione finally regained composure.

"You'd think he'd learn by now," sighed Hermione. It was their free period now and they pair decided to head to the Gryffindor common room. "Have you started studying for your N.E.W.T.s yet Harry?"

"No. Hermione for god's sake it's the first month of school. And I suppose you have?"

Hermione looked down before forcing out a yes. The rest of the way to the portrait hole they remained silent. Finally Hermione said, "Hey Harry. How about you join me in my common room? It's a lot less crowded there. It should only be us."

Harry looked and Hermione and nodded. They whizzed around and started heading the opposite direction, towards the Head's dorms.

"Silver winged Hippogriff," Hermione stated. Gatsby looked up from his newspaper and opened up the portrait hole. Harry followed closely behind Hermione into the common room. The common room was much more elegant than the Gryffindor's common room. They walked in and found a place near the fireplace.

"So Harry I was walking around the castle and decided to visit Hagrid."

"Oh? How is he?"

"He's fine. Anyways, he was telling me that some of the Ministry folks…"

--

Draco sat in his dormitory. He had skipped his first class today. He was still heavily upset from the night before. Why couldn't he be smug and arrogant around Hermione anymore and why did he find her attractive? Draco lay on his bed contemplating these questions until he heard murmurs from the common room. Curiosity got the best of Draco as he peered into the room.

"…Harry I just don't know what to do. I feel so useless and weak," Hermione cried. Harry held Hermione in his arms, hugging her tightly against his chest. Hermione had tears streaming down her cheeks. Although she was forcing a smile, she still tugged on Harry.

Draco watched the pair from a crack from his door.

"Harry, I don't know anymore. I just don't know. I feel as if…" Hermione paused to wipe the tears from her face. "I need you here now Harry – more than ever."

Draco felt a pang of jealousy spring out of nowhere. He watched as the Gryffindor caressed Hermione – so full of love and care. Draco never had that; he was always cold and arrogant. He wanted to turn away because he couldn't bear to look at them. But his body wouldn't move; it pitted him there forcing his eyes to watch the pair. The room fell silent as Hermione's breath calmed. She laid her head against his chest so she can hear him breathing. It was calming to her. Hermione's eyes suddenly felt heavy and she closed them long enough for her to drift in slumber.

Harry watched the Gryffindor sleep in his arms and gently placed a kiss on her forehead. He held Hermione close to him and he didn't want to let go. All these new feelings and sensations formed inside of him. Shaking them off, he glanced at the clock to check the time – their free period was almost over. Harry gently shook Hermione awake.

"Hey 'Moine. It's almost time for Advanced Potions," he whispered in her ear.

"Huh? Oh. Harry? I must've fallen asleep," she replied and sat up straight again. "Thanks for staying with me," she said and hugged him tightly. The pair gathered their material and headed out the portrait hole.

Draco was still standing at the door. What was Hermione crying about? Harry always got to know everyone and everything. He was still the star – Mr. Wonder Boy. Draco slammed his fist into the wall; he would not lose this year, not this time. He, too, had Advanced Potions with them. Gathering up his things, he hurried down to the dungeon to class.

--

A young lady walked into the dungeon, Professor Kalaeni. She is a very young witch but her knowledge in potions was extraordinary, maybe even better than Snape and definitely better than Slughorn. However, she differed in the fact that her heart was warm and cheerful instead of cold-hearted. Not to mention, Harry didn't find her as annoying as Slughorn.

"Damn, she hot," drooled Dean. Seamus slapped his buddy flat in his face. Hermione turned around to face Dean and gave him a stern look. Harry and Hermione sat down next to each other. They looked at the empty seat next to them that was normally Ron's chair and frowned.

"Where's Ron?" Harry asked.

"And you suppose that I know?" Hermione rolled her eyes and opened up her potion's textbook.

"Since I had already said that we would not be making Polyjuice Potion in class, seeing how it takes awhile to brew, I assigned an essay on it. I do hope all of you finished it." Just then, a blonde boy hurried into the classroom.

"Mr. Malfoy, you're late," Professor Kalaeni smiled. "I'm sorry but I'm going to have to deduct house points – 10 points from Slytherin." Draco groaned and without even knowing why, he took the empty seat next to Hermione. Both Harry and Hermione stared at him.

"Why are you sitting here?" Hermione fiercely whispered.

"Can't I sit next to a friend?" Draco replied. Hermione rolled her eyes and returned her attention to the Professor.

"Now for the next week we will be concentrating our efforts on the Wolfsbane Potion. This potion is a very new and complex potion. Can anyone tell me what it does?"

Hermione's hand was first in the air, like always.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"The Wolfsbane Potion relieves the symptoms of lycanthropy. It doesn't cure it though. The drinker takes it at the full moon and will change into a normal wolf rather than a bloodthirsty werewolf," Hermione said. She remembered this from her third year when Snape had brewed it for Professor Lupin.

The lesson went on with a boring lecture that explained how to brew it correctly and all the necessary ingredients. Although smart and beautiful, Professor Kalaeni happened to be the dullest teacher. Draco had already lost interest in the class from the beginning and focused his attention on Hermione.

Hermione felt Draco's eyes on her. Why was he staring at her? Hermione felt dreadfully uncomfortable and shifted her eyes in his direction. Her gaze met his and they looked intently at one another, unable to pull apart.

--

A/N – If you did not really get the big picture of this chapter because sometimes I can be very vague…

Ron and Lavender are an item again. Harry is starting to develop feelings for Hermione. Draco is too, but he refuses to acknowledge it. His excuse is trying to beat Harry. Hagrid told Hermione something she wasn't supposed to know and now the trio will be getting themselves into something again. ) Also a love triangle is developing. And don't worry, Hermione will indeed tell Ginny soon.