Chapter Four: Beneath the Couch.

Chapter Dedication: BrokenxxDreams.

Disclaimer:Must I always repeat myself? Haven't you read anything? Harry Potter is always J.K. Rowling's works… and this fan fiction is the only thing I own…

Author's Note: About fifteen minutes left until my time is up on this, so I hope I get to typing… Instead of giving you a speech here, I will… well, lemme just get to the fan fiction. I bet you care more about that than what I put down in the Author's Note…I realized I forgot to add the description of the nook in the previous chapter, as I have down on paper, so it's a little late to add it now. However, just over a few paragraphs, you'll find a small snippet of the nook's description.

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"Where you off to in such a rush?"

"The library." Hermione answered Harry.

"You said you've got all your assignments done!"

"Ron, there are other things you can do in the library instead of homework," Hermione stated. "I've got some research to do."

As soon as she said this, she left the two boys (Harry and Ron) to glare at each other and finish their meal in silence. Hermione, however, had finished her breakfast at a quick pace, before hurrying to the library at top speed. How long were they going to keep at this? Hermione shook her head, once entering the library, muttering 'boys' under her breath.

As she lead herself to her favorite nook, the only nook in the entire library, Hermione thought of Cedric. What if he occupied the spot? She found relief when no one appeared to be there. She found comfort in this portion of the library, with windows as high to the ceiling in a cathedral manifestation in stained glass. Copper colored curtains were pushed aside, which happened to match the couch. Despite how old it looked, it wasn't right to judge a book by its cover. Actually, the couch (which happened to be a loveseat) was far more comfortable and pleasant than what most would assume. Beside the couch had been a small side-table, made of mahogany wood, with a candle-holder that held many scarlet-toned candles.

Actually, Hermione preferred reading in this spot by seven at night, seeing that the candles were lit at that hour, making the scene even more magnificent than it seemed, but it was time that Hermione began her research on House-Elves by analyzing each page in the book she held. At the moment she reached to grab a notebook from her bag, her hand felt a crumpled bit of parchment, before curiosity took over. She picked up the bit of parchment, before smoothing it out on her lap, and read its contents.

Is this love? Is this what I feel?

I can't stop thinking about her.

Her smile stops my heart from beating.

My body is overthrown with feeling numb.

Is this the girl that's right for me?

Nothing else was written, however it seemed that it gave the owner of this note much difficulty to write what he felt. There were a few cross-outs, some splotched ink, and places where he, or she (but she assumed the owner of the note was a male by the messy handwriting and that he was referring to a girl) happened to be lost on what to say.

However, her opinion on this note seemed to be: "Obviously, yes."

Of course the narrator of that note seemed to be in love, Hermione pointed out to herself. Why else would he write down what was on his thought? She thought most males were secretive of this feeling, before realizing that the girl loved him back… then they were all open. If the girl in the note made him feel different, and by the note it made it seem he loves her, then he definitely was having a bit of trouble with finding the true meaning of love. The girl must really make him blind.

Hermione made to pick up her book, tossing the parchment into the wastebasket beside the couch, and dragged the straps over her shoulders. She headed to the front of the library, before realizing that she was stuck in a situation that she couldn't turn back from. Cedric Diggory was attempting to work on whatever he was writing down in a notebook full of parchment sheets, but was distracted from a random Ravenclaw student. Hermione had no clue who she was, but Cedric obviously did.

"Kylie, how many times do I have to say this to you? I have to finish this…"

"Cedric, if you don't go to her, she'll be very upset!"

"I told you," Cedric made to mutter in an annoyed tone, "Cho can wait. Snape is expecting this at any moment. I've only got five minutes until the start of class."

"You just don't abandon your girlfriend over a homework assignment!" Kylie snapped.

Cedric stared at her. "Oh, is that right? What have you been doing recently to Nathan?"

"That doesn't count." Kylie responded. "Nathan's always trying to get me away from my studies… You, however, have been acting differently in the past few days."

"How so?"

"Well, you're spending more time on yourself than with Cho." Kylie answered, though she appeared to be a little nervous around his presence. She was most likely afraid of his reactions.

Cedric shook his head as he glanced down at his notebook. "Tell her… I'll see her after Potions… Tell her… to meet me down by the lake for lunch." By the way that he sounded, it was more of a reluctance than giving in.

Kylie shrugged her shoulders, raising her eyebrows just a slight bit, but left without another word. Hermione had just realized she had been standing there, watching the situation in front of her. Cedric had snapped her out of her frozen state. "Did you see everything?"

Hermione didn't feel like giving a straight answer. For some reason, she felt more on the spot, more embarrassed than she ever had been, as if she had just done something horrible. Then again, she pried on a conversation that wasn't intended for her entertainment. (She actually qualified this as a Muggle soap opera, but…) Instead, seeing that she didn't figure whether she stepped in halfway through the conversation or just when it began, she said, "I'm sorry." With that, she left shortly after Kylie.

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a/n: Yeah, another short chapter, but I'm working against time here. I'm afraid this may be my final chapter for the night, seeing that I only have… two minutes left, and there's no point. Trust me, my brother has to get on now, and… he's quite ugly when he's angry. XD Anyway, I'm going to check to see if there's any reviews… (insert few seconds of wasted time here) Well, no reviews at the moment, seeing that it may take time to read through the updated chapters, but I'll be sure to dedicate this chapter to… BrokenxxDreams, for being a faithful friend in my life. (And at school and AIM and… yeah…)