It will be a short while before I can update again, so I wanted to post a short something to you lovely people out there. It's not great, actually it's not even that good at all. But the message is clear I hope.
And yes, Hermione just might have a plan.
Everything will be revealed in due time my dears)
And as of the next update I will spend extra time correcting my spelling. I promise.

Enjoy, and please review! I love to hear what you think!

Love from Jellicos
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Chapter Four: The plan

They'd spent every free hour in the library the past few days, searching for an answer to Nevilles growing problem. Hermione even spent her lunch hour helping him for which he was grateful to the point of tears. She didn't have the heart to tell him that she had other reasons for skipping lunch. Breakfast had been hard enough, seeing her professor at the head table chatting with her colleagues and never noticing the desperate glances from Hermione.
Neville was buried in huge piles of books that Hermione had picked out for him to scan through for any information. Thankfully that gave her some time to think. Something she'd been trying to avoid for some time now.

Her last tutoring session with McGonagall had been a disaster. The transfiguration part had gone quite well actually and she'd had to master every muscle in her body not to confess everything as McGonagall had patted her shoulder.
"Your work has improved immensely. You will not be needing my help much longer." She'd said with what had looked like a proud smile. But Hermione wasn't sure. There was always something hiding in the back, behind that brick wall she kept up in front of her. Something that made Hermione feel that aching desire and love, but also a pain filled sadness that pierced through her heart every time. She didn't know what that could be, what her beloved professor was so desperate to hide from her, but she was determined to find out. At any cost. Well... almost.

She looked over at Neville, who sighed in frustration. But as he saw her looking, he quickly gave her the most grateful smile and dove into the book in front of him.
It was strange, so very strange.
Why hadn't the ministry intervened?
How could they not know?
Or maybe they did know?
But that did not make sense either. If they did know, they must have known about the spell backfiring and the effects it would have.
They would at least have reversed the spell, wouldn't they?
None of it made any sense at all.
And worse yet was that they'd been through almost half the spell books in the library without coming any closer.

She had managed to cover when Neville had a fit in Professor Sprouts herbology class.
It was clear these side effects where getting stronger. Neville had to use every effort to stay conscious. Much to the joy of the Slytherin students who thought the Gryffindors sudden lack of leg control had to do with the flesh-eating slugs they where assigned to remove. Needless to say there was nothing further from the truth. After Hagrid had placed them in the greenhouse in their second year to protect the Mandrake root they needed, Neville had helped in taking care of them. But now they where too many and the seventh graders got the privilege to try and capture the biting slugs.

"Hermione, where have you been?" She was pulled out of her thoughts when a voice echoed in her ear. Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, both seventh year Gryffindors and Hermiones dorm mates, where suddenly sitting by her side. She saw Neville blush a little at their sudden company, but he kept on reading
"I've been studying with Neville. What's going on?" She looked at the excited girls with obvious suspicion, knowing full well that whatever would get these girls so excited, would hardly bring her much joy.
"The seniors autumn ball!" The girls almost yelled, causing Hermione to hush them down as she looked over her shoulder.
"Sorry," Parvati said.
"They just announced it! It's going to be in three weeks. Oh, this is the most important night ever!" Hermione tried hard not to frown at Lavenders giddiness about a stupid ball.
"Well, next after the graduation ball that is." She continued, and as the topic came to include boys, dress robes, dates and make-up, Hermione stopped listening. Unless Minerva McGonagall asked her to the ball there was not much about the subject that didn't depress her. And that dream was never to come true. But she had to find out what lay hidden in the eyes of her lovely professor. She had to know what-
"Hermione?" The irritated voice of Lavender Brown rang through her thoughts and brought her back to the library.
"Hmm?" She looked at her with dreamy eyes that seemed to light a spark in Lavenders eyes.
"Who is he then?" She demanded to know.
"Who?" Hermione looked witch confusion at her.
"Oh, don't give us that!" Parvati joined in. "Who's the bloke you're going to the ball with?"
"Yeah, the one who puts that dreamy expression on your face."
Hermione blushed which just put more fuel on the Gryffindor girls' fire.
"No, there's no- I mean, I haven't got a date for the ball." As the girls beside her frowned she decided logic would be the easy way out. "Besides, didn't they just announce the ball today?"
Lavender and Parvati exchanged looks as if they'd been defeated in battle.
"Fair enough." Lavender said. "But we know that look Hermione, and we're going to find out who he is." She smiled and looked as if she'd just entered a treasure hunt. "Come on, Parvati."
"Talk to you later." Parvati said to Hermione as both girls walked out of the library, heads together as if planning in secret.
Hermione sighed deeply. That was all she needed right now, Lavender and Parvati lurking about, trying to find out who had stolen her heart. Wouldn't they be surprised if they found out. A miscevous grin played a moment on her lips.

"It's Ron, isn't it?" Neville looked at her with a sort of giddy expression that she never remembered seeing on his face before.
"No, it's not Ron." She said dryly. "I don't have the energy to think about boys this year. Frankly, I think this ball is a big waste of time."
"But you are going aren't you? I mean you sort of have to, being a prefect and all." Neville looked up from his books as if this subject meant more to him than the spell.
"I suppose." She hadn't really thought about it, but yes, she was probably expected to go. McGonagall would be there and- Oh, stop it! She cursed herself quietly. Although...
"Well, I just thought.. I mean if you don't have someone in mind that is.." He had a hard time finding the words that suddenly seemed to big to fit into his mouth. "I just thought that.. well.. maybe we could go. You know, as friends that is." Neville blushed so hard that no one but Hermione could have missed it.
"Actually, that doesn't sound bad at all. Let's do it." She said, as a plan was starting to form in her head. No, that wasn't a bad idea at all.
Hermione interprited Nevilles relief at her acceptance as gratitude that he would not have to go to the ball alone. She didn't even contumplate that the plan forming in Nevilles head was very much like her own. They would be the perfect pair. Both acting as a cover for the other.
They shared a secret glance. Hermione felt no guilt what so ever, as Neville had confessed his love for someone else to her earlier that day. This way they could both persue what they wanted without anyone else getting hurt. Yes, this was definatly the way to go about it.
"You know Neville." She said in a soft voice. "I think this autumn ball will be the best ever."