Disclaimer: As I have said, I don't own anything in this fic. Except for the plot.
Hope you'll like this. I know I said I'll update Saturday or Sunday. Sorry for just posting now. I've been busy and tired. Hope you still like this. Read on!
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-Chapter 13:My Little Baby-
"Why?"
"We did loads of stuff on the first day! I...I just wanna I don't know..."
Harry smiled faintly.
"Hermione, can I ask you something?"
"Hmm?" Hermione said not turning to look at him.
"Will you forgive me?"
"Why?"
"Erm...do I need to have a reason for that?"
"Of course"
"Look, I understand that it was sort of my fault when I followed you. It was wrong...it's just that, I'm just afraid something might happen to you especially because you're with Malfoy"
Hermione sighed at this. She was glad Harry was so softhearted. If he were like Ron, they wouldn't go back as friend until a month or even a year.
"I-I'm sorry too Harry. I shouldn't have over reacted about what you did. I mean, your intentions were good and...ugh! Point is, I'm sorry too," she said as she turned to look at him.
Harry smiled at this, and it was kindly returned by Hermione just the same.
"How 'bout Ron?"
"What do you mean?"
"Is he still mad?"
"Uhuh...but I think, he likes you 'Mione" Harry said carelessly.
"Huh?" Hermione gave him a confused and shocked look.
"I-I mean..." Harry stuttered, he didn't mean to say that aloud even if it was true "I think t-that he likes to be friends again with you too"
Hermione smiled weakly and turned back to look at the lake.
Harry reached into his pocket, searching for something. Moment later he pulled out a white orb.
"Is that your L.P. clue?" Hermione asked still looking at the lake.
"L.P. clue?"
"Love potion clue...the words are just too long to say" Harry snickered and twisted the orb.
The black hair burned into flames and turned red. Harry sighed at this.
"What's wrong?"
"I didn't know it was gonna be her"
"Her? Her who?"
"Oh, don't kid me Hermione, it's obvious that my clue is pointing me to Ginny"
Hermione turned to look at him then down to his clue. There was a red hair lying inside it.
"So what? Don't you like her? She's a really nice girl, and she has grown a lot...totally different from before"
Harry sighed yet again.
"I do like her...not love her. This err...'L.P. clue' is supposed to lead you to your true love. But I don't love her"
"...yet" Hermione added. Harry sent her a questioning look.
"Oh don't be daft Harry...this clue is showing the truth. Ginny or another fire-red haired girl – which is impossible – is and will be your true love. But of course not know we're sixteen they don't expect us to fall for the person right now. We would still develop our feelings for them as we grow. Just give it time"
Harry considered this and then grinned at her.
"You never cease to amaze me Hermione"
"Of course, that's why I'm here" she grinned.
"C'mon, we gotta go. We have Care of Magical Creatures next and our break is almost over" Harry said as he got up and dusted the dirt of his robes.
He stretched out a hand for Hermione to grab. Hermione took it gratefully as she hoisted herself up with the help of her best friend. Both grinned at each other and started back towards the Hagrid's cabin.
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"Hello there Harry," Hagrid who was sitting on the steps of his cabin shouted as he nodded towards Harry's direction "Hermione" he said as he nodded at Hermione.
Both grinned and waved back, then walked faster towards him. They were the only ones there.
"Where's Ron?"
"Err...getting his stuff" Harry lied. He had no idea where Ron was.
Hagrid nodded and picked up a huge box from behind him.
"What's in there Hagrid?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Here Hermione," he started, tapping his huge hand on the box "is yer lesson, and yer project for the rest of the term" she nodded.
She tiptoed and leaned forward to at least have a peek of what's inside.
"Oh no, it's a surprise" Hagrid said with a smile as he slowly stood up.
Hermione stopped and moved back. No need of bothering to peek now. Hagrid was the same height as the tree beside the steps of his cabin...and Hermione was only half it's height.
"Ok you lot, hurry now" he called out and waved at the rest of the group.
Harry turned around to at least spot Ron. Instead, his jaw dropped.
"Hagrid, are you sure that's the house we're going to work with today?" Harry asked, hoping it wasn't.
"Yup, why?" Harry groaned and crossed his arms.
"Ugh!" Pansy said aloud when she saw Harry and Hermione as they neared the cabin "Why are we always paired up with the Gryffindors? This is totally unfair!"
The Slytherins were nearing them, following behind them were the rest of the Gryffindors.
"As if we want to be with you," Seamus said to her as he walked past the Slytherins towards the front of the group.
Pansy glared at his back as the rest of the Slytherins settled at the back of the group. The Gryffindors stopped near Harry and Hermione, Ron now standing next to Harry.
"I thought you and 'Mione are on a fight" Ron whispered to Harry, as he shrugged in return.
Hagrid cleared his throat as the students stopped and stood waiting. A few – like Neville – were starting to tremble as to what dangerous creature he has brought for them for the period.
"Starting now, and the rest of the year" he started as he walked down the steps, still carrying the huge bow "you will be assigned ter a project. You shall be taking care of a magical creature"
"Taking care of one of your monstrous beasts? Are you kidding me?" Millicent said, with a nodding Pansy beside her.
"No, I am not kidding. But yer wrong, this time it's different. It's not dangerous...they're err...cute"
The Slytherins snorted at this, so did some of the Gryffindors. Hagrid never even considered the Blast-Ended Skrewts dangerous, he even thought dragons are adorable.
"In this box are Bupers"
"Bupers? Doesn't sound dangerous right?" Parvati whispered to Dean.
Dean shrugged.
"Are ball-like furry creatures...they come in various colors, Bupers. Size of a normal egg and once it grows it comes to a size of a dragon egg" He placed his other hand on the lid of the box.
A few of the Gryffindors who were in front moved back.
Hagrid pulled the lid revealing its contents. Most of the girls held their breaths and started smiling, then started slowly moving forward.
"That's right, it won't harm you...come closer now"
The rest of the students started moving forward as well.
"Aww...it's so cute!" Lavender squealed as she took one of the Bupers.
The furry thing rolled around on both of Lavender's palms, then abruptly stopped and looked at her. It was colored a sky blue, with its cute round eyes, staring into hers fixedly. It had small feet and hands, which looked merely looked, like small balls attached to its fur.
Lavender looked dreamy, her face starting to relax. The other students saw this and started moving away from her.
"W-what's wrong with her?" Neville stuttered out sounding worried.
"Well, I forgot ter mention. Bupers have lots of amazing powers it has. It can read a person's mind and emotion...they also are like dementors" at this news all the students – except Lavender who still looked dreamy, staring at the Buper – moved a few steps back "No, no. They act like dementors but are the opposite. They can relive yer happy memory instead of the sad one. Oh, I must warn you though. They have this strange power in line with relationships. That's why wizards and witches avoid getting into contact with them during valentine's day. They interfere with relationships, they do. People end up with the wrong person, but soon enough they find out that they aren't acting by their own free will"
The class sent a sigh of relief. Most of them started going forward to retrieve one of their own from the box, but Hagrid pulled the box away from their reach.
"Firs' I have ter assign you lot to yer partners"
"Awww...do I have to share it?" Lavender said, awoken by her trance, after being shaken by Parvati.
Hagrid smiled at her and nodded. She pouted.
"Okay, this will be a boy-girl partner project. Each of you must take care of yer Buper until the end of the year. I prefer the Buper spend more time with girls for they prefer them"
The girls looked smug as the boys rolled their eyes at them.
"Because girls have more problems, remember, their main purpose is ter bring happiness to you. More problems you have makes them more happy. Girls usually are the ones troubled, so I prefer these little guys with them"
The guys smirked and the girls glared at them.
"Okay, you lot. Since this project will last 'till the end of the year. I'll let you choose yer partners"
All the faces lit up at this piece of news.
"Okay, find yer partners now and..." Hagrid's voice could barely be heard as the class started walking around the ground looking for partners.
Harry was about to tell Hermione that she should be his partner until...
"Harry!" Parvati shouted over the shuffling of the rest of the class.
"Huh?!"
"Harry, you have to be my partner, c'mon...I already got us a Buper" Parvati said holding up the ball of fluff from her hands.
"Err...Hermione, you don't mind. Do you?"
Hermione just smiled at him and shook her head.
"Thanks" Harry said with a tone of sadness in his voice as he walked towards the excited looking girl.
'Great, who'll be my partner now?' Hermione thought, looking around for any other Gryffindor left without a partner.
Seamus already had a partner as he was already holding a Buper and Neville was next to him also holding one, meaning they already had their partners. Dean was standing next to Lisa. Ron was standing next to a dreamy looking Lavender...not that she would want to be partners with Ron.
Hermione sighed, there were no Gryffindor boys left. She looked around at the end of the class, the Slytherins were still finding their partners.
"Granger?" a voice asked her from behind.
'Of course! Draco!' her thoughts exclaimed. She smiled in delight and turned to see...someone else.
She stared at him...again.
"Zabini?" he nodded at her.
"Wanna be my partner?" he asked rather dully as he ran a hand through his hair.
"Hermione!" another voice called out from her side.
Draco was jogging towards her, closely followed by an annoyed Pansy.
"Would you mind being my partner?" Draco asked in a hushed voice as he tried to loose Pansy on his way to Hermione.
"Drakey! Will you be my partner or not?" she – obviously – didn't hear his question.
Hermione glanced back at Blaise then at Draco.
"Sorry, Blaise here asked me first" she said indicating to the smug looking Slytherin in front of her.
Draco glared at him, as Pansy was now beside Draco.
"Besides, Parkinson really wants to be your partner Malfoy" Blaise added with a smirk.
Draco glared even harder at Blaise and muttered a soft "Fine" under his breath. He trudged back to the back of the class as Pansy walked to the front to get a Buper.
Hermione looked at Blaise and raised an eyebrow.
"That was a bit harsh"
"It was?" Blaise said in mock surprise.
Hermione rolled her eyes and walked to the front of the class. She peered into the box to fin only two left. She took one of the Bupers – which was a light pink color – and headed back to Blaise. She sat down on the ground, cradling the Buper in her arms.
"Why did have to get a pink one?" Blaise said, nose wrinkled "It looks too girlish"
"Would you rather one colored like Dragon dung?" she asked continuing to cradle the Buper.
"Point taken" he said, as he looked over to the last pair to approach the box.
Millicent and Goyle. Millicent looked rather put out and disgusted by the dung colored Buper. Blaise smirked.
"Hagrid?" Hermione started, interrupting Blaise's thoughts "What are we supposed to be feeding these things?"
"Oh yeah, almost forgot about that...they only eat sweets"
"Pardon?" asked Ron.
"Sweets, meaning candies or chocolates...or anything else high in sugar" the class nodded at this "and as what I tried saying before. You can name your Bupers anythin' you want. Okay, anymore questions?"
No body raised their hands. Most of them are too bust cooing over their Bupers.
"Okay then, class dismissed"
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The rest of the day went through so slow, you'd think you would never grow old. Professor Flitwick – fortunately – had pity on the students and decided not to assign any homework, same goes for Professor McGonagall. But they did do a lot of practical work done.
Hermione walked into her room and dropped her bag at the foot of her bed and flopped on the bed herself.
She placed Cruddles – her and Blaise's Buper – on top of her night stabd. It just stared at her, almost looking distressingly at Hermione.
"Ugh! I want to die!" she shouted to one of her crimson pillows.
"That could be arranged," said a rather sly voice from the door.
Hermione's body sat bolt right up at this. She didn't expect anyone to here her or even anyone to be there. She turned to the door and started to lie back down.
"What are you doing here?"
"This is my room?" Draco said with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh right...sorry"
Draco didn't reply instead walked towards her bed in her part of the room and sat on it. Completely ignoring the Buper's efforts of bouncing up and down and rolling around to get his attention as he passed the nightstand.
"What's wrong?" he asked rather nicely
"Nothing" Hermione said, not bothering to look up to face him.
"You're lying"
"I'm not"
"You're a really bad liar," Draco said as he took one of the crimson pillows and played with a loose thread.
"So?"
"You have to tell me"
"Why do I have to do that?" she asked still not looking up.
"Because I care..."
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What do you think? Oh and thanks for the reviews!! Again, I don't have time to reply to each of it, but thanks for all of the reviews anyway!
Hope you guys liked this chapter. Took me a long time to post, I know. Busy at school and since yesterday night...I seem to have felt really depressed. I dunno why but I seem to be interested on talking about death lately. Ugh! I hope this is nothing bad. Anyway, thanks for the reviews!! I really appreciate it. Bye now and please R & R!!
-DragonPrincessRhean-