Chapter fourteen is here. Hope you like this and continue reading the story. Enjoy:)
Have I mentioned recently that I don't own Harry Potter?
The Affair
Hermione woke up rather late the next day and barely managed to get dressed and gather her things before she had to leave for class. She was so late she had skipped breakfast and met Harry and Ron in front of the Transfiguration classroom moments before the bell rang.
"Morning!" she said breathlessly.
"Good morning" Harry and Ron greeted, looking at her uncertainly.
"Er – are you sick or something?" the redhead asked cautiously.
"No, why?" Hermione returned the question.
"You're just-"
"Late" Harry finished for his best friend.
"Which you've never done before."
"Oh, boys, it happens to everyone to sleep in." Hermione waved a hand dismissively and saw Professor McGonagall turn around the corner. "Whoops, time to go inside" she quickly dashed through the door before Harry and Ron could continue questioning her. She chose her usual seat at the front which was free despite the full classroom.
"Did I just see you come in after the bell?" a voice spoke in her ear. Hermione had forgotten Ginny sat behind her.
"Hey, Gin. Yeah. Slept in today."
"You? Sleeping in? Excuse me if I don't take your word for that."
Hermione chuckled nervously then thanked Professor McGonagall silently for appearing when she needed her.
"Alright, quiet already, everyone, class has begun. I want to see your essays on the corner of your desks by the time I'm done writing today's topic on the board."
Unfortunately, the teacher turned away and the noise of everyone reaching inside their bags allowed Ginny to whisper to her.
"So, what really made you late for class?"
"I really slept in, Ginny" Hermione said, trying to end the conversation.
"And I'm a sworn hater of Quidditch. Come on Mione, tell me what's really going on."
Ginny could be persistent, but McGonagall turned around and every noise suddenly stopped, leaving the room too silent for Ginny to continue her friendly interrogation.
"Books open on page twenty, please, let's practice the wand movements pictured there."
Hermione had had quite a normal day after the first class. Harry, Ron and Ginny had given up on trying to find out what had caused the unusual change in her sleep schedule and Hermione was only too happy to forget about it. She was currently in the library, working on the essay Slughorn had given them in their last class today, so she could concentrate on practicing for Transfiguration after dinner. Hermione stood up to stretch and go return a book to its shelf. At the turn into the next aisle, however, she almost collided into someone.
"I'm sorry" she said, not immediately realizing who it was.
"It's fine, Mione, just us."
The brunette looked up and saw Ron smiling at her. Harry and Ginny were behind him, holding hands but looking at her too.
"Hey guys" she said slowly. They were supposed to be in the Great Hall for dinner and Hermione couldn't imagine either of them skipping meals voluntarily to go to the library. "What are you doing here?"
"Just thought we'd come see you" Ginny said, taking the book from her hands. "I'll go and return that, you can show the boys where you're sitting. I'll find you in a second."
"Oh, we know where you like to sit, all right" Ron said, moving past her and into the quiet corner she had come to think of as her own. Harry followed him, conjuring up three more chairs so that everyone had where to sit.
"So," Ginny said, reappearing beside her boyfriend, "is this where you're meeting your secret love?"
It was a good thing Hermione had sat down because she was sure that had she heard that while standing, her knees would have given away.
"I beg your pardon?" she squeaked. Damn her voice, did it have to play her right now?
"Don't worry, Mione" Ron said seriously. "I know we didn't work out and I don't expect you to stay alone forever. It would've simply been nice to tell us, you know."
"Yeah, after all, shouldn't me and Ron go up to the bloke and threaten him or something?" Harry grinned.
"Tell him you'll make him vomit slugs" Ginny suggested. "And hope he wasn't sticking around you three back in your second year."
Hermione was so puzzled now, she wanted to laugh out loud.
"Okay, sorry to spoil the fun but you won't have anyone to do these things to. Seeing as I don't have 'a love' let alone a secret one."
"Hermione, Hermione," Ginny sighed dramatically, "you like to make things difficult for yourself, don't you? We have proof, right here" the redhead took out a piece of parchment from her pocket and placed it on the table.
"We couldn't work out who B.B. was though" Ron said as Hermione picked up the note. His next words didn't register with her because of the wave of panic that washed over her when she read the note.
Hermione,
I don't usually do this but thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have hope again that things can get better.
B.B.
This was obviously a note from Bellatrix. She had probably sent her raven last night and in all her hurry this morning Hermione hadn't seen the note. And now her friends thought she had a secret lover? She couldn't decide which would be easier to explain.
"This seems a little dramatic for simply helping someone with homework but who am I to judge love?" Ginny snickered.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Ron asked lightly.
"I think it's because he's from Slytherin" Harry said. "I mean, the first sentence makes that pretty obvious."
"Guys, I-"
"Don't think about denying it, Mione" Harry's voice had become rather stern. "I do notice when one of my possessions disappears you know."
Hermione could have facepalmed then and there.
"Listen. I know what this looks like but it's not like that at all." Ginny scoffed but Hermione pressed on, whispering now. "It's actually a lot more complicated than having a secret affair or whatever you thought I was doing."
This had grabbed their attention.
"What do you mean more complicated, Mione?" Harry leaned forward in his chair.
"I'm not explaining that in a library" Hermione whispered back and stood up. "Meet me in the Transfiguration classroom in ten minutes."