Another day, another owl. Draco Malfoy had visited the Owlery again, hooting softly at his favored bird - dull brown, just like all the others, but with a bent tailfeather. Just enough for him to know which it was. In all likelihood, he thought, he wouldn't be using this bird again. Still, he behaved as if it was every other day, and sent the owl (now be-laden with missive) winging off towards the Great Hall.

Hours later, Hermione Granger opened her letter -the boys had tried to snatch it twice, the third time trying the excuse that they thought it might have been cursed. Which might have worked, had they tried it the first week. Now she knew they were just curious who it was. She had told them primly that the author never signs his name (and then they had a field day saying it must be a boy, and trying to spitball 'who it was' from that scrap, before she calmly corrected them (with an irritated stomp of her foot to get their attention) that he was a generic usage good for when you don't know which gender you're talking about.

Unmentioned, Hermione privately thought, was the idea that the person seemed... a bit too possessive to be a girl. Also less into flowers and girly things. Hermione supposed having a lady admirer wouldn't be nearly as bad, if she'd only wear trousers like a sensible lass. Still, Hermione herself liked looking at boys, moreso than covertly ogling her roommates. Not that she'd ever admit to covertly ogling Ron or Harry, but it never hurt to look, did it?

When the witching hours come -

In the darkness you cannot plumb

There I dwell, there I lurk

When the times seem bleak

I know you won't be meek.

As I fade into the mirk

I lurk so well, people never did see

never got figured what it's like to be me.

Odd, Hermione thought, he speaks of himself, but in the elipsis, in the lacunae - the holes that are there, that tease. So many words in praise of me, weeks worth, in fact - and yet, here, he speaks of himself. Forgotten, alone, quiet, subtle, hidden.

[a/n: running out the door, write me a review and I'll write more when I get back].