CHAPTER 2: A CHANGE OF HEART

As the two boys had their discussion upstairs, their bushy haired friend found herself enjoying the company of Severus Snape. She found herself debating on the importance of the Polyjuice potion with him. And the professor didn't exactly hate it, either. She did present many strong points, many he could not counter, which was a first, as many of his students' knowledge stooped to the level he found to be less than satisfactory.

The two were just about to finish on the point of how this particular potion could help obtain useful information when they found they were not alone. In fact, none other than Ginny Weasley, the youngest child of Molly and Arthur, also their only daughter, had joined them. She cleared her throat and Severus was the first to look up from the conversation. He then hinted to Hermione to do the same.

Once Ginny finally had their attention, she spoke. "Harry told me to tell you that Ron said that he has somewhat of a crush on you and would very much appreciate it if you would join him at the Quidditch match this weekend," she finished, taking a breath, as she had run down the stairs to deliver this message. Hermione smiled, she wasn't so much annoyed now, it was amusing, his persistence. She in fact found it to be quite funny that he just would not give up so she sighed and closed her eyes momentarily.

As she opened her eyes seconds later, she rubbed her forehead slightly, she was beginning to get a slight headache from the excitement of that day, and said, "Well, if it isn't much trouble for you, you may tell Ron that I'm not sure if I return this feeling of his but I would surely love to join him at the match," and a small smile appeared on the girl's lips. Ginny nodded and trotted back up the stairs to deliver the newest message to her brother.

Severus had been watching it all take place from where he sat. He, who had come to speak to Harry, figured that tonight wouldn't be the best time for a chat, as there was a lot going on, so he rose from his chair and nodded ever so slightly in Hermione's direction, apparently his way of saying goodbye. "I suppose we can continue this discussion another day, am I right, Miss Granger?" he said as he stopped just outside the door, turning his head over his shoulder so that she could hear him. He then continued walking, then Apparated off.

Hermione, who had since risen from her own chair, smiled and said somewhat to herself, "Of course, Professor," and chuckled as Ron's whooping and Harry's ridiculous laughter could be heard, emanating from the Weasley boy's bedroom. She giggled herself, it was funny he was so into it, and covered her mouth with her hand, as if to hold back a burst of laughter.

Back upstairs, Ron was beside himself with joy. He wouldn't stop babbling, he was continuously thinking about Hermione, most likely planning that Friday out in his mind as he tripped over his own words in an attempt to tell Harry exactly how happy he was. For what seemed like the fiftieth time, he asked, "Ginny, are you absolutely sure that's what she said?" and seemed to giggle as Ginny rolled her eyes and replied in a slightly annoyed tone with the answer she had given him many times before.

And, just when they thought it would come to no end, Draco glided into the room, stopping beside his boyfriend, slipping an arm around his waist and pecking him on the cheek. Harry, of course, returned it with a small kiss on the lips. "If you'll excuse us," he said curtly to the two Weasleys they were about to abandon. "Got some catching up to do," he said with a wink in his lover's direction.

Ginny sat down on the end of the bed, patting a spot next to her, indicating for Ron to join her, which he did shortly after. She thought this privacy would be the perfect opportunity to fully inform her seemingly oblivious brother to the full extent of a certain girl's boundaries, expectations, and emotional limits, which she of course saved for last as it would take the longest.

She cleared her throat once more and started off with a slight smirk, "There are…….certain…things about Hermione that you may need to know ahead of time, before you go bounding around her at this match." She turned her head to look at him, he was already off into space. But, as she started off and then got into how Hermione, like most girls, liked to feel special every once in a while, he decided he would make an exception to his own rule and at least seem like he gave a rat's hairy arse.

This speech must have lasted at least two hours, a time that the subject of that conversation found useful to go outside and think about the summer that had seemingly passed before her eyes. She thought about the events of the summer, and also remembered that the upcoming term would not only end her last free summer, but also signify her last term at the school she had grown to love.

She sighed, pumpkin juice untouched, reminiscing about her three weeks as Harry's girlfriend. She remembered every kiss, each small glance that was exchanged, every time he held her hands in his own, and most of all, the chills that sped down her spine every single time they touched. She also thought about the conversation she had with Severus, not once had her friends' names been mentioned in vain. There was something new about the professor that peaked her interest, something she couldn't quite figure out.

Whatever it was that had changed, she told herself, it was too late to think about it now. She walked back into the Burrow with a small smile as the dramatic 'ugh'-like sigh of Ronald Weasley signaled the end of the nice little discussion he had with his sister. She herself sighed as she placed her glass on the counter and made her way up the stairs, heading to the room she had stayed in for the past two months. And as she lay down in her bed, she smiled and closed her eyes, soon drifting off into a deep sleep.

A sleep, unfortunately, that did not come so easily for Draco. He had been lying awake for too long, he was running out of ideas. He eventually resorted to just watching Harry as he slept, which seemed a bit psycho but it was somewhat soothing for the blonde. As he watched his brown-haired boyfriend in a slumber, he was relaxed enough so that he could close his own eyes. He, too, after an hour or so of this strange behavior, found himself tired and drifted off into a deep and much needed slumber of his own.

And now the entire house was fast asleep. The dishes that washed themselves during the day were still, the knitting that managed to finish itself lay on the couch in the sitting room, and all of the hands of the clock, which indicated the state of all current residents, all pointed to one spot: Bed. Which, at such a late hour of the night, was the best place for them all to be.