Hi...! Here's Chapter VII. What do you think? Thanks agains for reading, reviewing and all, especially for CheshireCat23 and NessaWayMalfoy who don't seem to get tired of reviewing. Still looking forward to your comments, guys, and of others of course. Happy reading! :D
CHAPTER VII
"Hermione! You can't be serious! You don't just say you can't go to Hogsmeade this weekend so you can study more for NEWTs. Everyone needs refreshing, you know, and you've studied more than anyone here so you definitely need too!" Ron whined. Indeed he sounded very much like whining, although was always upset when she pointed that out.
"Well, can't be in that bad need for refreshing, can it? I mean, it was like not more than two months ago we had a summer break," Hermione replied, her eyes never left the page of the book she was reading, although she had read the same paragraph over and over now that her two bestfriends were paying her a visit to the library and refused to go until she agreed on their demand.
To be honest, she was rather irritated with those two's interrupting of her solitary moment, especially because it was aimed at dragging her to the village. Not that she did not want to go, it indeed sounded quite refreshing. She just hated the feeling to be a fifth wheel now that her boys each had a girlfriend as a date -Harry had Ginny and Ron had Lavender- while she had no one to go to as a pair with.
"Yes, Hermione. We always went to Hogsmeade together. Well, excepting at those first few times when I was not allowed to go," now it was Harry speaking. "But, anyway after that we always went together. And this is our final year. You can't possibly let go of this last chance for us to visit Hogsmeade together for … for books! It was always all the three of us, Hermione. Why couldn't this time? You can read the books any other times."
Harry made a good point there, one she could not argue (although it would be no longer just the three of them; it would be five and she would be the fifth! But, she couldn't possibly mention it, could she?). Besides, she couldn't help but feeling touched with her boys' efforts and attention although, as mentioned earlier, each had his own girlfriend now. They could easily leave her alone for their dates, but they obviously did not. She wanted to appreciate that, appreciate their friendship, which she cherished. So, after inhaling some breath, she reluctantly answered,
"Okay … I'll go."
"Now that's our Hermione!" Harry said, and he and Ron beamed before crushing her between them.
They then told her about the arrangement, what time they would meet and all, which she nodded to and smiled at, although inside she still dreaded it.
Her boys then each gave her a quick peck on the cheek, and bid her farewell before they headed to the Quidditch pitch to practice Quidditch. They actually already had their Quidditch uniforms on.
Hermione sighed and dropped her head on the table as they disappeared from her sight.
Now, what was she gonna do? She really didn't like the feeling of being a fifth wheel. Maybe she could feign an illness when the day came? Just a light one, perhaps like headache or stomachache, so they wouldn't be too worried over her but still let her stay in the castle. Or maybe she could just avoid them all day and pretend later on that she completely forgot about their appointment. Geez, how pathetic could she be? And how could she do such thing as tricking her bestfriends just because she didn't like being a fifth wheel?
Hermione was so busy with her dreadful thoughts she did not realize someone was standing across the table until he drew the chair on the opposite side and greeted her.
"Hello, Hermione," Ernie MacMillan smiled rather sheepishly at her.
"Hey, Ernie," she returned the smile, and waiting for the Head Boy to continue, which appeared to be quite some time as he suddenly looked too nervous and fidgety to talk.
"What is it?" she was getting impatient.
Her impatient tone snapped the Hufflepuff out of his nervousness and made him curse himself inwardly for being nervous and all. 'Come on, Ernie… Ask her, ask her. Now, or never!' he said inwardly before bracing himself to do just as he had been planning.
"Hermione, wouldyougotoHogsmeadewithme?" he said it very quickly Hermione couldn't catch his words.
"Pardon?"
He inhaled deeply and said, after slowly releasing his breath,
"I just thought, ugh… because as Heads the teachers would surely want us to look after the students on Hogsmeade trip this weekend, I wonder if … if perhaps we should just … come together?"
Is he asking me out as in a date? Hermione thought. But, why is he using the Heads excuse then? It's kind of making things blur.
"It's okay if you already have a date. I'm just asking, who knows …"
Hermione thought quickly. She could actually make use of this situation for her own benefit. By saying yes she would not exactly get Ernie the wrong idea that she agreed that they go together as a pair, what with him also not exactly making it sound like it was a date, and she would also be saved from being a fifth wheel! This was perfect. Hermione beamed.
"Why, Ernie, I think that'll be great! But, I have promised Harry and Ron that I would go with them, maybe you can just join us. What do you think?"
He looked crestfallen, but quickly gathered himself and thought although this was not exactly going as he had expected, it was still better than nothing at all. So, he smiled (still rather sheepishly) and said,
"That's okay, I suppose. So, uhm… we'll meet before going with the carriage?"
"Yes …" and Hermione informed him about the appointment time and all.
The Hufflepuff beamed as he left the table where the Head Girl was still sitting.
He cursed himself for using the wrong words to ask her, resulting in her misunderstanding of his original intention and they ended up would only go together as Heads, not as dates. But, this was at least a step forward, he told himself. Who knew perhaps he could make it seem like a real date and try to win her heart slowly but surely starting from this … 'Heads date'.
Crystabelle watched amazed as she saw the clumsy Head Boy left the table where the Head Girl was still sitting at with wide grin on his face.
She had heard part of the conversation between the two Heads, and so she knew they had agreed to go to Hogsmeade together. So this is the person who is a real threat for Draco? she thought, and somehow found the idea to be … rather disappointing.
The Head Boy and the Head Girl? That was too lame, she thought. No drama at all. Besides, the Hufflepuff just seemed too clumsy and Hermione deserved someone better, someone with better self-assurance. Crystabelle did not know where exactly the idea came from, but thought it seemed most reasonable. Hermione was intelligent and confident and all, so she deserved someone who was her equal, not a clumsy, shy Hufflepuff eventhough he might be the Head Boy.
Crystabelle went straight to the elder Gryffindor and questioned her on the issue; forgot that the latter might then find out of her eavesdropping.
"Hermione! You're going out with Ernie MacMillan?" Her eyes wide, her expression amazed, that Hermione thought only about how cute and funny it was seeing the little girl's concern of her love life (or lack thereof).
To be honest, the muggleborn witch had grown to be quite, if not very, fond of the youngest Malfoy. Not only that she didn't act like a Malfoy at all, she also appeared to be evidently smart, awfully curious, carefree and seemed to be completely innocent. Hermione liked the way the blonde wasn't being prejudiced at all, despite her being raised as a Malfoy, and how she acted like she had no care in the world, although it was obvious many of her first-year peers were still rather apprehensive at her, and thus why only a few regarded her friendly, as far as Hermione had observed. She also liked the way Crystabelle seemed to be very fond of her as well, and couldn't help but wondering what if her brother and parents knew about that. But, then again, the little blonde didn't seem to care at all about what her family might think of her or what she did.
Hermione laughed at the younger girl's blatant curiosity, but decided to give her the true answer,
"I am going out with Ernie, but, really, only going out as in the two Heads have to look out for the students together in this weekend's Hogsmeade trip. Not as you seem to think."
"Oh, but then why does he seem so happy? And why you must go together anyway? What if each of you have a date? Do you still have to go together and abandon your dates?"
Crystabelle's eyes never left Hermione's as she showered her with those questions, and even with her hands busy drawing the chair Ernie had just sat on before she sat there herself, eagerly waiting for Hermione's answers.
Still amused by the younger girl's too eager gestures, Hermione forgot to feel upset her reading in the library had just actually been interrupted for the third time. Instead, she amusedly replied,
"Well, I don't know what he's being happy about. You should probably ask him about that. And, no, we're not obliged to go together, if that's what you ask. But, it happens that the two of us don't have a date, so why not just go together to simplify matters and smoothen our Heads duty?" she shrugged.
"Why don't you have a date then? I'm sure boys are lining to go with you."
Hermione couldn't help but laughing again at the blatant inquiry before replying,
"So, you think so? Boys are lining to be my date?"
"It's so obvious, Hermione!"
"Well, it could be that I have a boyfriend outside this school and I want to be faithful to him…"
"You mean you have a muggle boyfriend or something?" Crystabelle's eyes widened.
"Why not? That could be the case, although that so-called boyfriend of mine could also be a wizard who was homeschooled or going to a different wizarding school, or he probably already graduated from said school and is now working somewhere."
"Hermione…! Which one is the truth?" Crystabelle now whined in desperation, which made Hermione laugh again.
"Well, if you're so curious, I'll let you know, but this is just between you and me, okay?" the brunnete lowered her tone here to a half whisper, which made the blonde nod eagerly, excited about an interesting secret the Head Girl might share exclusively with her! (It had to be exclusive. The schoolwould have known Hermione already had a boyfriend if she hadn't kept it a secret!)
So Crystabelle drew her chair even closer to the table, her upper body leaning toward the Head Girl.
"The truth is … I am now perfectly single but unavailable."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Crystabelle narrowed her eyes, feeling disappointed as she sank back on her chair. The glint of excitement in her eyes slowly disappeared.
"Crystabelle, NEWTs is coming. I'm too busy to be involved in a relationship and all. I don't want that sort of stuff to disrupt my study. Besides, it's not like I'm being interested in anyone."
"You're not? At all?"
Hermione shook her head.
"Of so many boys at school, you're not fancying anyone?"
She again shook her head.
"Are you … err … into girls or something?"
She laughed, and again shook her head, "No. No…!"
"Well, then … why aren't you interested in anyone? Please don't hide it from me, Hermione. I won't ask you who he is, I swear! I just can't believe you being fancied by many boys and all, but no one interests you the slightest. Poor boys them all!"
Hermione laughed again here. "And why a little girl like you is being very curious of my love life? Don't you have better things to do? Why the sudden interest?"
"Oh, well, err.. just inspired by the conversation between you and the Head Boy."
"Were you eavesdropping or something?" Hermione asked with mock resentment.
"No, of course not, Hermione! I was going to come to you to ask you about this book, but then I saw you and the Head Boy, and I couldn't possibly interrupt you both, could I? It could be a very important Heads' business. So I waited just behind that bookshelf," Crystabelle replied sheepishly.
"Okay, okay, I trust you … So what were you going to ask me about?" Hermione decided even if the little girl had eavesdropped, there was really nothing to worry about with that anyway. Nevertheless, it was best to really change the topic of their conversation because it had gone too personal and made her feel uncomfortable.
Lucky for Crystabelle she indeed had that talked-about sharpness, so she easily made up inquiry about said book, and that seemed to be quite a success since the Head Girl did not seem suspicious at all.