Chapter 11

(Rewritten July 06)

"Hermione, wait," Ginny exclaimed to Hermione's retreating back. Hermione paused and turned.

"Yes," she asked.

"What did it say," Ginny begged.

"What did what say?"

"The note?"

"Oh, that," Hermione sighed, "It wasn't from him. It was just from my parents."

"Really," Ginny asked suspiciously. "Then why did you leave so quicky?"

Hermione blushed and looked down at her feet. Why was she lying? She didn't know.

"Because, it explained how my dog had just died and I don't really want to talk about it. We've had him for years and just, you know, it's hard."

Ginny nodded. 'Doubt it,' she thought.

"Okay, then," she breathed, "I just wanted to see if your other admirer had sent you another note."

"Nope," Hermione replied. "But I have to go now. Sorry, Ginny."

"Yeah, bye," Ginny answered in disappointment.

'Shit,' Hermione thought, 'What the hell is wrong with me?'

Once Hermione arrived in her common room after a day of classes, she slumped down in one of the oversized arm chairs.

"What the hell should I do," she asked.

'Just go,' her intuition replied, 'You've never had this much attention in your life. Don't miss the opportunity and just think of it this way: if you don't like the other boy, just tell him and it's the end of it.'

'And what if Draco finds out,' Hermione thought.

'But he won't.'

'He has ways. This might just be one big scam to see if I'd cheat on him.'

'Doubt it,' her intuition said.

'But if I hurt him, I'd dead.'

'Just go.'

"Fine, I'll go," Hermione announced.

"Go where," Draco asked as he emerged from the portrait hole.

Hermione smiled. "I'm going to go finish my homework." Draco scrunched his eyebrows.

"Please, you told me you've already finished this week's homework."

"Yes, I have. But there's always more to do," Hermione pointed out.

"Right," he replied. "But if you ever need a distraction, I'm free." Hermione grinned.

"Don't worry. I'll let you know. Now you should go do yours."

Draco scoffed in her direction. "I would if we did it together." He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

"Nice try, Draco, but not now," Hermione retorted and ascended to her room.

With nothing else to do but to sit on her bed, Hermione decided to take a bath and then get ready. She might as well meet this other guy. Hopefully it wouldn't jeopardize her relationship with Draco. But who was she kidding? Of course it would, especially if he found out.

An hour later she decided that it was time to get ready for tonight. She dressed casually, stuck the note in her pocket and when she was ready to exit the common room Draco stopped her.

"Woah, where are you going," he asked.

"Oh, to the Gryffindor common room," she explained.

"Okay," he nodded. She smiled and left.

"Ha! Ha! I just beat you again, Harry! Fifth time, baby. Do you feel it? Can you feel the defeat? I am swelling with pride right now," Ron exclaimed as Hermione entered the Gryffindor common room. Harry shook his head in disappointment at the game he had just completed with Ron.

"Damn it," he muttered. Ron grinned.

"Play again?"

"No, I can't," Harry groaned, "I still have loads of homework to do." Ron's face fell as well.

"Shit, so do I," he moaned. He then noticed Hermione walking towards them. "Hermione! Oh, Hermione. You're our saving grace."

"What, how," she questioned.

"You need to help us with our homework," Ron begged. Harry stood next to her and began to pout. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"This is why you're supposed to do it the night you get it," she complained.

"Please," Harry rolled his eyes, "Since when have we ever done that?"

"Okay, you have a point. Let's hurry up then."

For a while, Hermione helped her two hopeless friends complete their homework.

"We've been doing this forever. It's ten of ten," Ron groaned. Hermione jumped.

"Is it that late! I need to go," Hermione yelped and in a tizzy left the common room.

"What was that about," Ron asked Harry.

"No idea," he responded. "Wait. What is this," he inquired as he picked up a piece of folded parchment up from beneath the chair Hermione was seated in.

"What it say?"

Harry read it aloud. Ginny who was passing by heard it and snatched it from him.

"Oh, shit," she groaned.

"What," the boys yelled in unison.

"I need to go," she explained. "I can't tell you what's going on right now."

"Fine, we're coming then," Ron insisted.

"Fine, just hurry up," Ginny demanded as she rushed out the common room door.