"Harry Potter…did you know…to get over a lost love, you must to find a new, true love…" Professor Trelawney's voice drifted mystically around the room, as Harry hid his face in his book. He didn't need Professor Trelawney, of all people, to tell him that.
"She's right…for once." said Hermione gently.
- - - - - - - - - -
All day, that all Harry could think about; 'To get over a lost love, you must find a new, true love.' Harry had a lost love…but how could he fall in love with someone else? Truly in love? Sure he had crushes, but that's it.
- - - - - - - - - -
"Hey Harry, what's up?" asked Ginny chirpily.
"Woah, I didn't see you there, when did you come?" asked Harry.
"Um, its lunch, and no one is sitting beside you. Do you not want me here? Am I bothersome?" asked Ginny.
"Oh no! No!" laughed Harry, "Ginny Weasley, unwanted?!"
"First time I've heard you laugh in a while!" said Ron as he plunked himself beside Harry.
"How's the Lavender quest?" asked Harry, suddenly, and oddly, in a good mood.
"Not very good…I haven't talked to her since the pick-up line day." sighed Ron.
"Well, here's your chance because she's right there!" said Ginny pointing at a space which, indeed, occupied Lavender. Ron smiled and left the table.
Harry and Ginny watched as Ron went over to Lavender's table and started talking to her. Lavender laughed and responded to whatever Ron said. He then sat down beside Lavender and they started talking. Harry laughed as he saw Dean Thomas glare at Ron, staring darts into his back.
"Hey, Ginny, where's Hermy?" Harry asked, realizing Hermione's absence. Ginny simply shrugged.
- - - - - - - - - -
Get out of it! That's not what you think! It was just a one time thin, Hermione thought to herself as she splashed cold water in her face. She was in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, trying to wash away what she thought were dirty thoughts.
"What's wrong…?" asked Moaning Myrtle.
"Ugh! I just thought Draco Malfoy, my ultimate nemesis, was cute! I can't think that…he's…he's…he's…a death eater! I have no idea why! It just…popped into my head! And later on today, in Transfiguration, I caught myself staring at him! Ugh!!" said Hermione, clearly disgusted at her thoughts.
"It's love…" Moaning Myrtle moaned.
"It had better not be! Hermione, stay away from my boyfriend!" shrieked Pansy Parkinson, as she opened the door of a nearby stall. Hermione gasped…she didn't know Draco's girlfriend Pansy was in the washroom. Pansy would definitely kill her.
"Haha…it was just a joke! I was fooling around with Moaning Myrtle!" Hermione lied, "Don't tell Draco though…okay?"
"As if I would! Darling Draco doesn't bother himself with filthy, unworthy Mudbloods like you. And don't go around calling him Draco. It doesn't suit Gryffindors." Pansy said with a last disdainful look. Hermione kicked herself for accidentally calling Malfoy by his first name.
- - - - - - - - - -
Harry looked up as Hermione and Pansy walked into the dining hall, glaring at each other. Hermione sighed as she sat down in Ron's old spot.
"Where's Ron?" she asked. Harry pointed at Ron and Lavender, as Hermione nodded, understanding. "Well we better get going. Charms is about to start." she said.
- - - - - - - - - -
Later that night, Hermione wondered if Moaning Myrtle was right, and if Hermione was developing an unrequited love for the Slytherin. Hermione always fell for the bad boys. As she drifted off to sleep, she convinced herself that it was just an observation…it wasn't really love. Yes…that's right…it's not really…love. Hermione thought.
- - - - - - - - - -
The next morning, Hermione wondered what to do with her hair, as she stared at the bushy mass in the mirror. She didn't know why she wanted a change, but she did. She had an idea. She wanted it a more sophisticated, toned down curl. With the flick of her wand, her tangled messy hair turned into neat even locks of shiny brown hair. And as a finishing touch, she brushed on a layer of mascara on both the bottom and top lashes. She blew a kiss to the mirror, and walked away.
- - - - - - - - - -
As Harry was sitting in DADA, listening to the new professor (a boring one whose name Harry couldn't remember…Professor Something-Albury) drone on about some weird beast, he just couldn't concentrate. His eyes wandered around the room, and rested on his arch enemy, Malfoy. Like Harry, Malfoy was tuned out of the lecture, and was staring at something behind Harry. Harry turned around to see what Malfoy was staring at Hermione. Malfoy seemed to have seen Harry noticing, and quickly turned away. The second he turned away, Hermione stared at Malfoy with a soft expression. What was this? Hermione was staring at Malfoy? Did she like him? Come to mention it, Hermione did look prettier today…did she do it for Malfoy? All these questions were running through Harry's head. Harry's stomach jolted as he remembered when he and Luna would stare hopelessly at each other at meals, until Harry finally had the guts to ask her out. Harry, saddened, turned around and focused on Professor Something-Albury.
- - - - - - - - - -
Harry and Hermione were sitting around in the Common Room as Ron came up and announced there was a Hogsmeade trip the next day. Harry didn't exactly feel like going, as all his and Luna's dates took place at Hogsmeade, but Hermione and Ron convinced him to at least go with them and get a Butterbeer from the Three Broomsticks.
Harry finished up his work and headed upstairs to sleep, still not quite looking forward to the Hogsmeade trip.
- - - - - - - - - -
Harry awoke to the sound of Ron jumping up and down screaming 'It's here! It's here!'
"Damnit, Ron, what's here?" Harry said grumpily, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
"Snow! Snow came early! Isn't it wonderful? The first Hogsmeade trip and it's snowing! Maybe I'll invite Lavender for a butterbeer…not as a date, obviously." Ron said quickly.
Harry rolled his eyes and got ready for Hogsmeade. He put his warm jacket on, as well as a toque and mittens. He and Ron met Hermione in the Common Room, and the trio went downstairs to meet everyone else who was leaving for Hogsmeade. When they got there, it was so chilly, the three friends quickly ran to the packed bar, The Three Broomsticks. Ron had invited Lavender and Parvati to join them, so they met up at the bar. Harry went to the bartender, Rosmerta and ordered 5 butterbeers. Soon enough, five steaming bottles were brought to they table, and a light conversation began.
"Can I join you?" asked Ginny, holding a sixth steaming bottle.
"Sure!" said Harry strangely enthusiastic. Ginny thanked him as he made room for her.
"I'll be right back, okay? I just have to get something from a shop…I'll be right back." Hermione said. Ron and Ginny waved as Hermione left the bar.
Hermione walked down the cobbled road leading to a quaint shop. Hermione wanted to buy some chocolate to send to her muggle friends back home. Hermione was careful to buy chocolate that didn't do anything magical. Her friends did not yet know that she was a witch.
As Hermione left the store and was walking back to her friends in the bar, she accidentally tripped on a large stray stick. She fell with a thump, and all her chocolate went flying around her. As she lifted her face, she saw 6 boots in front of her. She groaned as she realized who they belonged to.
"Well, if it isn't the filthy mudblood, who thought she was big enough to dump me!" spat Crabbe at Hermione, who was still on the ground. Crabbe, Goyle and Malfoy were standing in front of her jeering and sneering.
"Shut up you guys! Leave." surprisingly, it wasn't Hermione who uttered those words, it was Draco. Draco Malfoy. Crabbe and Goyle instantly obeyed and stalked away.
A thin, pale hand was then lowered in front of Hermione's face.
"Come on, I'll help you up. Don't mind those neanderthals." Draco said in a surprisingly kind voice, as he offered his hand.