Mabuhay! Thank you for the reviews once again! So here's the reason why that dazzling blonde they call Draco Malfoy woke up being hugged by Hermione. I think this one's a bit mushier… anyway, start reading on please.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter…all I own is a private island and a yacht (ahihihi…).

CHAPTER 3

REASONS

"Here already, Albus – rather, Professor Dumbledore? Take my seat.", McGonagall stood up from her chair and offered Dumbledore the seat.

Dumbledore simply smiled and sat in the empty chair opposite Hermione's.

"Thank you very much Professor, but I'd rather sit here than to bother you. As courteous as always, I say."

Unexpectedly, loud sounds of crashing furniture and what seems like firecrackers were heard from above. McGonagall grimaced and rolled her sleeves.

"Peeves. I can't believe he'll be bothering people at this time of the night…excuse me for a moment.", she abruptly left the room, leaving Dumbledore and Hermione alone.

Hermione gulped. She's always overwhelmed with bashfulness whenever she comes face-to-face with the greatest headmaster Hogwarts has ever had and the most powerful wizard she knew – Albus Dumbledore.

Dumbledore flicked his wand and conjured two glass of what looks like pumpkin juice from thin air. He drank from one glass, flicked his wand again and the other glass suspended in midair went towards Hermione's side.

"Pumpkin juice, Miss Granger?"

Hermione blushed. "No, thank you, Professor."

"So I said I wanted to discuss something with you, didn't I, Miss Granger? You see, I believe you had been quite astonished with what you saw when you woke up a while ago, correct?"

Hermione was stunned. How could he possibly know that? That girls couldn't have told him… in the first place, he couldn't have known about it that fast…oh yeah, this is Albus Dumbledore she's talking about . No trick escapes his eyes. If you think about fooling him or any of the sort, jump from a cliff first.

"Professor, I really didn't know how Draco ended up in my bed! I didn't do anything to get him inside our room – "

"Well, Miss Granger, actually you did. "

Hermione's jaw dropped.

Hermione POV

Not Dumbledore too? All right! I'm getting all fed up! I thought he's very sensible – I thought of all the people he will believe me but I'm bloody wrong! I can't believe he also believed all that gobbledygook! This is all getting so WRONG!

"Miss Granger – er – would you mind if I call you Hermione?"

"No, sir.", she almost choked the words out.

"Hermione, allow me to explain. You are a close friend of Harry, I suppose? Did he say anything- anything at all – about his mother?"

Hermione thought for a moment, trekking her memory.

"No…oh yeah, yeah, he said something about – about the love of his mom protecting him from You-Know-Who – "

"Correct. It was nothing but his mother's love that protected him. It's that love that provided Harry the protection from the Dark Lord. Can you remember your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher when you were still in first year?"

"Well, uhm…yeah…Professor Quirrel…but – "

"Professor Quirrel. Right. I trust Harry had told you about his encounter with Professor Quirrel when he tried to get hold of the Sorcerer's Stone?"

"Yes, sir. I recall he said something about Quirrel – I mean Professor Quirrel – not being able to touch him and all that."

"Exactly. Did he tell you the reason why that is so?"

"No, I guess he didn't…"

"Again, the reason was the same as before. Lily Potter provided his son protection that is even stronger than the most potent magic existing – love. Now tell me, is there a spell or a charm that does that?"

Hermione went silent again.

Hermione POV

Hmmm…,Magic that somehow uses the love felt by a person to create invulnerable protection… is there even such? I can't think of anything… but there must be something…Ferventus Spell? no…couldn't be…Miamasvina Charm? nope, not that one also...maybe there really isn't one…but what if there is? I can't say "No Professor, there isn't" and then he goes off saying "Actually, there is a spell that performs yada, yada,yada". That would be so embarrassing! To think, I'm at the top of her year –I'm the brightest student in the batch…I knew that by heart… and I will have a stupid mistake like that? If there really is such a spell, I should know about it! but – but –

"I think there isn't, Professor – or maybe I didn't know about it – "

"Precisely! There's no such magic! There's no magical explanation for that. It's the enigma of genuine love."

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. Got out of that one safely…phew…

"Now, do you understand how you woke up hugging Draco Malfoy in your bed?"

For the second time around, Dumbledore left Hermione astounded again.

Hermione POV

Oh yeah… remarkable…now I understand… Dumbledore is actually telling me that, without meaning it, I somehow got Draco transported in my bed! my pillow… I didn't see it after Draco appeared… oh yeah! my pillow – my pillow – I was hugging it tight before I sleep and, and…somehow, if I'm correct, I was able to interchange Draco and the pillow! He must've found it on his bed by now…and this all happened because…because of my longing for him! I longed for him so much that unconsciously, I was capable of getting him inside the dormitory, in my bed…beside me! Yeah ,it all fits! That's why he told me about the love of Harry's mom protecting him…the concept is the same…

"If you are wondering, Hermione, I haven't told anyone about it.", Dumbledore said with a wink.

Hermione POV

God…he really is the best thing that ever happened to Hogwarts…Albus Dumbledore…that's why he let Draco go off without any interrogation or any of the kind before speaking to me… he knew I would die once Draco discovers how I feel for him. He knows I have to understand what happened this evening…he certainly is a very sensible man…

Hermione laughed weakly and turned to Dumbledore.

"Thank you very much, Professor. I understand. Thank you for everything…"

"That is okay, Hermione. However, I advise you to occupy yourself with other things and don't long for him too much. Just imagine what he will do if it's you whom he woke up hugging the next time?"

Hermione can't help but giggle at what the headmaster said.

"Comforting thought? "

"Definitely."

"I know it will be very comforting for you. Anyway. I believe it's getting quite late. We can now use some rest, can't we? So that is all, Hermione. Thank you for the company."

"Oh… thank you, Professor. I'll go off now…good night."

"Good night."

Hermione stood up and sped off to the door. She hesitated upon arriving on the doorway, turned around and said,

"Oh yeah, Professor. I think it's taking Professor McGonagall too long to take care of Peeves – and she still didn't know what really happened…"

Dumbledore smiled again and answered,

"I just asked Peeves a while ago to make some noise –"

Hermione's eyes widened. "Oh Professor! You actually asked him to make some noise to hold Professor McGonagall off for some time – so – so that she will not be able to hear about – about that secret! Thank you so much! Thank you! I didn't know how to thank you! You are so good!"

The headmaster winked again at her and said, "Peeves is really doing a good job, isn't he? So run along now and get some sleep."

Hermione started walking to the Gryffindor Tower. Her heart is beating nonstop in delight and admiration for Dumbledore. She didn't have any worries whether her name had been cleared in McGonagall or not – Dumbledore will undoubtedly make a way to do that. And she just knew – she knew perfectly well – he will do that without having to slip off her tiny little secret.

So that's it! What do you think? For the next chapter, I'll give you a sneak preview…

"…Draco lifted the "foreign object" and scrutinized it. It was a red and satin pillow with flowers all over it. He looked at it intently to see if there's something familiar on it…and…and…

NOW WHY THE HECK IS HIS NAME SEWED ON THIS DISGUSTING ENTITY?"

That's all…ahihihi…anyway, I think we all know whose pillow is that, don't we? Before the next chapter, reviews please! Thank you!