Chapter 16

(Rewritten July 06)

Hermione skimmed through the pages of Masquerade Potions: The Simple Art Behind Them, until she found what she was looking for.

"Finally," she whispered as she took notes about covering bruises. Once the information was copied, Hermione made an arrow pointing to 'rape', just so she knew where to find the article if she needed to look again.

But, the sound of footsteps suddenly echoed from behind her. Hermione turned to see if anyone was there as she tried not to panic. To her relief, there wasn't anyone. As the footsteps faded, Hermione took the opportunity to fold a piece of old parchment and bookmark the dusty page. Just another way to find the directions later.

"Mm, okay," Hermione muttered. She gathered her notes and placed the book on the shelf.

Hermione smiled. She was walking through the rows of bookshelves in which she had spent so much time reading. That made her a classified 'nerd' but she didn't mind, not one bit because that's who she was. Books made her. And as she made her way out of the library she waved to Madame Prince who was placing returned books on their respected shelves.

"Have you found everything you need Miss Granger," she asked. She was quite charming for a librarian who many kids found too demanding but she was only doing her job.

"Oh, yes, Madame Prince." Hermione replied smiling.

"I'm glad. I haven't seen you in here that much this year. Is everything okay?"

Hermione paused and glanced at the librarian whose wrinkled face was weathered from old age, yet, she still looked astonishingly respectable, just like the old books she was holding. As if to complete the cliche 'librarian' look, her glasses hung over her dark blue blouse which stopped above her pin-stripped pants. Her Hogwarts Robes were all that were separating her from the muggle librarian idea of perfection. Ironic, hm?. But, even so, Hermione could tell that Madame Prince had once been the apple of many young men's eye, even though her once chocolate brown hair was turning a slight shade of grey.

"Everything is fine," Hermione assured. "I just haven't had the time to come down as often with classes and Head Girl duties and all." Hermione felt slightly ashamed but it wasn't like she was telling a complete lie.

The librarian smiled softly. "Well, I won't hold you any longer. Just don't be too feisty." Hermione laughed as she winked.

"Don't you worry, I won't be."

Hermione's trip to the head dorms was taken with as much caution as possible. Before every corner, she'd pause and check quickly. She didn't want anymore surprises. She had managed to successfully make it up to the Head corridor and since the dorm was only a corner away she turned without checking. This was her first mistake.

Hermione harshly collided with another person and fell to the ground. Everything she was carrying flew in every direction. She wasn't able to see who it was since his body was covering her face.

"Just the person I wanted to see," they said. Hermione's stomach jumped. It was him.

Ron practically ran to the Gryffindor common room. He was scolding himself for forgetting the Potion's essay. How could he have been so stupid?

"Shit, shit," he muttered. "I can't finish this bloody essay in an hour. Shit."

When he entered the common room, he was far from pleased. It was noisy and the few people who were occupying it, mostly seventh years, were enjoying themselves.

"Bloody hell."

Ron, pissed as hell, slammed his parchment on a nearby table and set off to work. He was cursing the world, himself and Hermione for being bloody right about not waiting until the last minute to finish work, especially potions.

Someone tapped Ron on the shoulder. He spun around, completely livid. It was Lavender.

"Er," she stammered. Ron's expression was quite a shock. "Is something the matter? I noticed you were quite, er, flustered over here..."

Ron's jaw unclenched. He laughed nervously and ran his hands through his hair.

"Yeah, actually. I have a major problem. I have potions in an hour and I don't have the bloody assignment and I don't think I can complete it by then. I'm so fucked."

Lavender rolled her eyes. "Ron," she groaned. "Why didn't you say something earlier? I would have let you copy." She walked towards the couch and removed a scroll of parchment from her bag. "Here. Just don't copy it word for word or else, Snape will realize what we've done."

Ron smiled in thanks. Lavender smiled too and returned to the couch, reached for her book and continued reading. Ron, who should have turned to begin copying her essay, couldn't help but to stare at her. She was...amazing. Her hair, her features, her innocent complection. Just everything.

Lavender glanced up and caught his eyes. Ron turned red.

"Do you have a question about something on my essay?"

"Oh, er, no," Ron replied sheepishly. "Well, actually, I do. I need help..."

Lavender smiled.

"Alright."

Ron, needless to say, wasn't exactly concentrating on his essay while Lavender sat next to him which resulted in her doing the majority of the work. Ron's eyes were too busy admiring her body.

"Thanks again," he nodded in gratitude. There were only ten minutes more until potions.

"You're welcome. If you ever need any help, just ask me. I don't mind."

"Oh, and same here."

"Great," Lavender grinned. "I have to go now. See you around, Ron."

"Yeah, bye."

Ron was astonished. She was beautiful...

The sound was loud but not loud enough as a book came crashing along the side of Harry's head. He instantly fell to the floor unconscious.

"This should teach you Potter," the attacker growled, "To not meddle in other people's business ever again." The man smirked and wrapped himself in an invisibility cloak. His exit was unnoticeable and so was the damage that had just been inflicted upon the Boy Who Lived.

Lavender and Parvarti made their way to their next class together. It was what they've been doing since first year.

"So, what's up," Parvarti asked to simply start conversation.

"Oh, nothing really," Lavender replied joyously. "I just helped Ron with his potion's essay. That boy completely forgot about the assignment. Could you imagine how angry Snape would have been?"

Parvarti's eyes widened.

"Merlin, Parvarti, I didn't think Snape's anger would have been that much of a shock."

Parvarti shook her head. "No, it's not that," she began, "It's the fact that you just helped Ron on his essay. We both know that you only help boys if you like them. So," she pushed with a raise of her eyebrows. "Do you like him?"

Lavender blushed and rolled her eyes. "I don't know."

"Yes! Yes you do!"

"Oh, shush, maybe I do," Lavender admitted. "But, it doesn't make a difference."

"Yes it does."

"Well, just keep this quiet and between us, okay?"

"Definitely," Parvarti agreed. Lavender couldn't help but smiling.

Ron decided immediately after Lavender exited the common room that he liked her a lot. He assumed these strong feelings had been latent but now they were coming full force. As he walked down to potions, he weighed his options.

If he decided to, possibly, ask Lavender on a date, he'd be setting himself up for an evening of, well, just perfection. She was beautiful, intelligent and seemingly nice.

Or, she could just reject him. But she wouldn't do that, would she?

"Oh, fuck it. I'll ask Harry for advice. He's good at these things."

"This is bloody ridiculous," Parvarti groaned as she exited her class. "I can't believe he just assigned us another three foot essay. I'm pissed."

Lavender sighed. "I know and you'd think they would lighten the work load seeing as N.E.W.T.s are this year."

"Yeah. Merlin, this is going to take forever."

"Well, actually. I remember Hermione telling me about loads of helpful books near her favorite table in the back of the library. I bet one could help us on this essay. Should we go look?"

Parvarti nodded in relief. "Yeah, why not."

On there way, Parvarti insisted on discussing Lavender's small infatuation with Ron, much to Lavender's dismay. This conversation initially led to Parvarti tripping on a book in the library.

"Oh, shit," she moaned as she picked herself from the ground. Lavender kneeled and placed the book on the shelf and helped to reclaim all of her friends thrown belongings.

"Do you have everything," Lavender asked.

"Um," Parvarti checked. "No, my quill. I think it's behind that bookcase."

Lavender stood to check and what she found sent a blood curdling scream past her lips.

"What is it," Parvarti screamed and joined her side. What she saw caused her to scream again.

Madame Prince ran over to scold the girls for their obnoxious behavior but when she saw the object of their fear, she almost fainted.

"Severus," she screeched. She had just seen him enter the library. The hooked nose professor quickly responded to her call. He looked down as well.

"Excuse me," he ordered. "But I must bring this boy to the infirmary."

With as much distaste as he had for the boy, Snape knew better than to leave a student bleeding upon the floor, which was just the case with Harry Potter.

"Get those girls to Dumbledore. He'll want to know the story," Snape demanded. He left in a flurry of robes and blood.

"Who the hell are you," Hermione growled.

"Who else do you think it would be," the man asked.

"I - I don't know."

Whoever it was above her lifted himself from her body. It was Draco. Hermione's relief was apparent in her eyes.

"Wow," he smirked. "Don't look so happy to see me Granger." Draco spat her name with the same distaste he had carried with it over the past seven years.

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Not really but I would appreciate it if you would stop pushing me to the ground."

Draco smirked once more as Hermione rose to her feet. He approached her until they were only inches apart and her back was against the corridor.

"Don't tell me you don't like it. I know you do...," he whispered. His lips hovered centimeters from hers now.

Hermione was mesmerized. She was trying as hard as she could not to fall in love with those eyes once more.

But he was just so close...

His lips were moving in for the catch. His breath was on hers...

"Hermione! Hermione!"

Hermione pushed Draco away from her. It sounded like Ron but it was a third year boy instead.

"Hermione," he called breathlessly. "Harry, he's hurt. Come. He's in the infirmary. I'll show you."

Hermione glanced at Draco and the boy in horror and then at her notes on the floor. Draco bent to pick them up.

"I'll bring them back to the common room, I guess," he stated stiffly. "Just go."

Hermione ran to the Infirmary. When she arrived, she collapsed to her knees next to Harry's bed.

"What happened," she begged Ron for an answer who was standing next to her. He shrugged.

"They don't know. He hasn't woken yet."

"Oh, Harry," Hermione moaned. Her eyes watered and she brushed the tears away with the back of her hand. In her hand, Hermione felt Harry's pulse weaken. "Oh no. Nurse! Someone help, please!"

Ron grabbed her in alarm as a group of nurses who had been just called in for assistance, rushed over.

"Move, please," they insisted.

Ron and Hermione stepped back from the scene. His arms were around her and Hermione was crying into his chest.

"Don't leave us, Harry," she begged. "Please don't."