A/N: A bit of a shorter chapter this time, but I didn't want to add toooo much..the next chapter will probably be a bigger one :)
Days passed without any contact with Hermione. It felt like months. I tried not to look at her, and I don't think she looked at me. Not like that part was any different, but a small piece inside of me was hoping that she would strike up a conversation with me. Wasn't she curious why I acted so strange? Or was it so blatantly obvious that I wanted her? Hermione was a very bright girl, but I didn't know how she fared when it came to deciphering people. I just wanted everything to go back to normal, before I royally botched things up, so I could resume admiring her from a distance. I was tortured before, sure, but it beat this constant state of unease.
And then one day, a Tuesday, everything changed. When the owls came in during breakfast that morning, I got my usual Daily Prophet, along with a small tan envelope bearing my name, neatly written in a cursive script. I pocked the envelope quickly before any of the others saw it, because it seemed like it should be opened in private. What little patience I usually had was completely gone as curiosity took over. I excused myself quickly from the table, commenting on how the eggs must have been bad because I was about to be sick. Everyone got out of my way, and fast. It was quite nice, to be perfectly honest.
I threw open the door to my room and immediately threw it closed again as I collapsed stomach-first onto my bed. Hands trembling, I carefully opened the letter. Could it be from…her?
"Millicent, the letter read, I'm sorry I was so rude to you the other day. I know you have problems in Charms and it felt like I was rubbing that in your face. You did seem sincere. I'm very sorry. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you just because you are friends with Pansy. If I can make it up to you (you mentioned you needed extra credit in Astronomy – I could help. Or Charms, for that matter), just tell me how. Sincerely, Hermione."
My heart wouldn't stop pounding as I read the letter over and over again, my eyes lingering on the "If I can make it up to you" phrase. This was too good to be true. It was better than I ever could have dreamed. I could finally have a chance to get to know Hermione up close and personal, and it was all because of what I then thought was a mistake on my part.
I took a few minutes to think about which of the two classes I wanted help in, and decided to go with the one I was better at, Astronomy. It may seem counterintuitive, but I didn't want to appear completely incapable in front of Hermione, and that's what I would be if I asked her to help me with Charms. I wrote, Hermione, I accept your apology. I would love help – I crumpled up the parchment and threw it away. I didn't like the idea of using the l-word in a letter to Hermione. Hermione, I started anew, I accept your apology. It would be nice to have some help in Astronomy. Can you start by helping me study for our quiz on Friday? Millicent."
I waited hours before sending the letter off. I didn't want to seem…overeager, even though "overeager" was definitely an understatement. Her reply came quickly. She obviously didn't worry about the same things that I did.
It was a quick scrawl. 7:30 tomorrow night library was all it said. I was disappointed that she didn't want to meet tonight, but I could wait. I've been waiting years to get this close to her, and another night wouldn't hurt. Too badly.
The next day passed uneventfully. Hermione didn't catch my eye in Potions (not that I was expecting it, or anything), and I tried my best not to look at her. But I couldn't stop myself. She was so beautiful, and she didn't even realize it. Her skin looked so soft and pure, even more so close up; her body, slender and toned. It drove me crazy to think about running my hands along her body. What I wouldn't give, for one night with that girl…she must know how attractive she is. Didn't she notice year by year as the boys started to give her more attention? Or does she think of herself as the same bushy-haired bookworm she's always been? I knew her best friend, the Weasley, was interested in her, but it didn't look as if she was interested in him. Was she interested in boys at all? …Was she interested in girls?
That was hoping too much, I knew, and I tried not to think about it anymore. Even if she was interested in girls, there was a very slim chance she would be interested in someone like me. I had accepted this a year ago, but the fact seemed to hit harder now for some reason. Despite all of this, I was still looking forward to tonight. Very much so.