Encounter 2 ½

I know I've been incredibly lazy, duckies, but I do have other things to do. But I will work hard to make these stories at least a little bit interesting...

Hermione walked through Hogsmeade with Harry, clutching her cloak close to her. Ron had left them to visit Fred and George's joke shop that they had finally set up. He had said once in the summer that Fred had told him that they were getting orders from all over the United Kingdom and even some from America.

Harry suggested that they go into the Three Broomsticks for some butterbeer. Once inside both of them looked around, it wasn't that crowded, just some of the Hogwarts students smart enough to stay inside and some of the regulars.

"Hold on Herms, I just need to go buy something really quick but I'll be right back. Will you get a table?" Harry asked heading back to the door.

Hermione nodded and went to get a table. She sat down sipping her butterbeer.

"Granger. Alone are we?" A drawling voice said behind her.

"Go away Malfoy." Hermione replied automatically.

Draco sat down in an empty seat smirking. He leaned back casually and folded his arms across his chest.

"No I won't."

"What do you want?" Hermione asked glaring at him.

"To tell you that there is going to be a Yule Ball this year. Dumbledore didn't mention it at the feast because it wasn't final, but now he made the arrangements. So the Yule Ball will be held on December 18th."

"Are you serious?" Hermione asked her hand trembling slightly.

"Yeah, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are coming to the ball, like in 4th year, but just without the Triwizard Tournament." Draco said watching her reaction of her eyes widening quickly.

At this news, Hermione's glass slipped from her hand and spilled all over the table. She looked around to see Madame Rosmerta giving her a frown from the bar before Hermione cleaned up the mess with her wand.

"Malfoy what are you doing here?" Harry questioned walking up to the table.

"Head business Potter. Just informing Granger here on one of Dumbledore's announcements." Draco said sneering at Harry and then he left.

"You okay?" Harry asked concernedly.

"Yeah...what'd you buy?" Hermione turned to face him.

"Oh umm...something to cheer you up." Harry replied fumbling with the bag he was holding. He drew out a thin velvety box.

She took it slowly and opened it. It was a thin gold necklace that held an intricately designed ruby Griffin as a pendant.

"Oh Harry, it's absolutely gorgeous! Thank you!" She exclaimed as she threw her arms around his neck and gave him a peck on the cheek.

Harry smiled and helped her put it on.

"It suits you Herm." Harry said warmly.

Hermione was so elated that she didn't hear an angry fist hitting a nearby table.

It was time for bed as Hermione wearily trudged up the stairs to reach the portrait. Mumbling the password she climbed through and made her way to her room. Tomorrow was Sunday and she planned to relax. She put on her pajamas and climbed into her big fluffy bed. Quickly she fell asleep thinking of wandering thoughts that were dancing across her mind in fragments.

To be continued...

No, I'm kidding, just keep reading. In case you were wondering, that was Draco's angry fist hitting the table in the bar...ok I'll shut up so you can continue.

Hermione woke up and got up from her bed. She walked over to the balcony and looked out at the sky. The sun had not even risen yet.

She decided to take a shower now that she was awake. Walking into the bathroom, she locked Malfoy's side of the bathroom and turned on the water. She took off her Griffin necklace and placed it on the sink counter. A few minutes later she got in and turned up the heat until it was close to searing hot. Steam made its way around the bathroom until nothing could be seen clearly. It was some time before she stepped out of the shower; she grabbed a towel and walked to her room. She wrapped it around her and then she sat on her bed, thinking. There was a knock on her door. Opening it slowly, it revealed the face of a very annoyed Malfoy.

"What?" She snapped icily.

"You locked the bloody bathroom Granger, and what in the name of Lancelot's knickers are you doing up at five in the morning?" He questioned, raising one very perfect eyebrow.

"Couldn't sleep. Hold on." She went to unlock the door of the bathroom and came back making sure that her towel was secure.

"That all?" She asked, the question obviously being rhetorical as she made a move to close the door.

He blocked it and gave her a stern look. She looked at him strangely as he was just staring into her eyes before he turned on his heel and strolled away to his room.

"That was weird." She said as she closed the door.

She got dressed into a pair of blue jeans and a black turtleneck. After putting on her shoes, she left her room and left out through the portrait. It was still pretty early, but she walked over to the Gryffindor tower and entered the common room.

"Still the same..." She muttered to herself as she looked for the dormitory that Harry had.

She found it and opened the door quietly. Walking through, careful to not wake any of the other boys, but it didn't seem possible. Most of them were snoring quite loudly except Ron, who sounded like elephants on steroids. She reached Harry's bed and it looked like he was having a very bad dream. His face was covered in sweat and the color had drained out of his face. Hermione hurried to Harry's side and she began to shake him awake.

"Harry! Harry! It's only a nightmare. Wake up!" She whispered urgently.

His hand grabbed her arm and pulled. She fell on top of him. That woke him up right quick it did. He opened his eyes and reached for his glasses on his nightstand. After putting them he saw a very shocked Hermione lying on top of him.

"Hermione..." He said not quite processing the situation.

When he had, he asked concernedly, "What's wrong?"

She rolled off of him and sat up on the edge of his four-poster.

"Nothing's wrong, I just needed some company that's all. What was your dream about?" She asked looking at him.

"What? Oh that...I dunno really, it was all like a blur and all I felt was fear. I think Voldemort's scared of something. Something more powerful than him and it wasn't Dumbledore. It was someone else." He replied running his hand through his hair.

"That's a good thing though, right? That he's afraid of someone other than Dumbledore." Hermione replied with a hint of doubt in her voice.

"I don't know if that other someone is on our side." Harry said sitting up.

"Well, at least we know he's afraid of something more." She scooted over closer and lay down next to him. She looked up at the stone ceiling through the red and gold canopy. Harry stayed silent as she breathed out a sigh.

"Harry , thank you for everything you're a really good friend. You've listened to my pathetic sob stories and even gave me that really gorgeous necklace..." She stopped suddenly because she remembered that she left it on the counter in the bathroom.

"Herm, I have a question for you."

"What?"

"Will you go out with me?"

Whoa ho ho! Look what I've gone and done! Harry asked her out...but what will she say...ooh I love suspense, it's so wonderful...well not when I have to wait. Review my lovelies and tell me what you all think.