A/N: First off, I would like to thank my reviewers for the lovely reviews! They have inspired me to continue writing:
Secondly, I would've posted this on Friday, but my internet wasn't working very well so I couldn't post it. Then the fanfiction document uploader wasn't working so I couldn't post it over the weekend:
Well, the story is here now, so enjoy!
Hermione woke up the next morning with a feeling of dread. Knowing that she would have to confront Colin wasn't making her day any easier. It wasn't the actual discussion that was making her nervous, it was the way he would react. Although he was a bit of a pest, the last thing she wanted to do was to hurt his feelings.
She entered the Great Hall and scanned the Gryffindor table. Colin was nowhere to be seen. A little relieved, she took a seat next to Ginny, who was chatting with a sixth year.
"Hey Gin." She said as as she sat down.
"Good morning Hermione," Ginny replied, her voice sounding a bit sweeter than usual. Hermione reached for the juice jug. "So anything inter-" Ginny was cut off by the owls swooping in the hall to deliver mail. Hermione received her copy of the Daily Prophet, and began reading. After a few minutes, Ginny noisily interrupted.
"Well, aren't you going to tell me anything?" She looked annoyed.
"Tell you what?" Hermione asked, taken aback by Ginny's tone.
"Why was Colin acting all chummy with you?"
"Oh. About that..." Hermione proceeded to tell Ginny what had happened on the train and last night.
"-and I was so worried last night when Malfoy gave me the note- I mean what if he had read it? He would tell everybody in school! Then Colin would hear about it, and he'll think I like him back too!"
"Do you?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Of course not! Are you mad?" Hermione snapped.
"Just wondering," Ginny shrugged.
"I just hope it doesn't get any worse than this..." Hermione groaned as she put her face in her hands.
Ginny patted her back sympathetically.
"Are you going to tall Harry and Ron?"
Hermione pondered over what she had said for a moment.
"No. Not now, I mean," she added after seeing the look on Ginny's face. "If it gets any worse (which I doubt it will), I'll ask them for a helping hand." She grabbed a piece of toast. "And besides, its not like I can't deal with him. I mean, what can he do?"
"What can who do Hermione?" Ron asked as he and Harry took seats across from her.
"Er- what can-" Hermione hadn't seen them enter the Great Hall.
"-what can Hagrid do for his next lesson!" Ginny said in a hasty rush. "I had him yesterday, and he didn't know what to do for his next lesson."
"Oh," said Harry, "Just tell him to do a lesson with Nifflers. Those where fun..." he trailed off with a reminiscent gleam in his eye.
"OK, I'll be sure to tell him that."
"Speaking of Hagrid," Hermione said, changing the subject, "we should visit him soon."
Harry and Ron nodded in agreement.
The next day, Hermione didn't find Colin. In fact, she didn't see him the rest of the week. She was slightly cheerful that she didn't come across him, and that she hadn't received any more notes, but she was a bit suspicious.
What could be keeping him from annoying me? Not that I should care... I mean, my week is going pretty well... the last thing I need is a boy following me around.
But the thing that was really troubling Hermione was that she hadn't heard one peep out of Malfoy about the letter. If he had read the letter, (which she was most certain that he did), why wasn't he telling as many people as he could about it?
Come to think of it, Malfoy hasn't been harassing me nearly as much as he used to. He only makes the occasional snide comment when hes near other Slytherins, but other than that, he hasn't really argued about anything... And he's actually cooperating with me when we make patrol schedules.
What is wrong with him???
Hermione woke up on Saturday, and savored the fact that it was the weekend. She got out of bed and looked out her window. She had a very good view of the Quidditch pitch from her room. She could make out the tiny green-and-silver figures flying on broomsticks. The Slytherins were having Quidditch try-outs.
Hermione entered the Great Hall for breakfast. Ginny was talking with Lavender, and Harry and Ron were eating. Lavender got up and went to sit next to Parvati. Hermione took Lavender's seat.
"Ey Er-my-nee" Ron said through a mouthful of food, "wvhy you up sovlate?"
Hermione spared him a look of disgust.
"I was triple-checking my homework last night." Her statement caused Ron to choke. She smirked.
That will teach him to have manners when he eats.
"I have some interesting news." Ginny announced.
"Hm?" Hermione responded, her eyebrows raised.
"Turns out Colin was lurking around the Quidditch pitch during tryouts today. He got hit in the head with a bludger."
Hermione was surprised.
What on earth would he be doing on the Quidditch pitch right now? Especially when the Slytherins were there?
"And theres more," Ginny continued. "He's in the Hospital Wing right now. After he wakes up, he has detention with Madame Hooch."
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"When she found him, he had a broom in his hand. He was probably trying to nick it."
A broom?? What does he need with a broom??
"Serves him right, the prick." Ron piped up. "Probably trying to learn some moves so he can get on the Gryffindor Quidditch team."
Harry snorted. "Like that would ever happen. The day he gets on the Quidditch team is the day Snape gives me house points for being The Chosen One." Everybody laughed. Harry and Ron then began talking about Quidditch strategies.
Hermione turned to Ginny. "How did you find out about all that?"
"Sometimes Lavender's big mouth comes in handy." She smiled half-heartedly, then continued eating. Hermione knew why she did that. Last year, Lavender spread a rumor that Ginny and Harry were going out. The sad part was that Ginny actually had feelings for Harry, but since he avoided her, he confirmed not liking her in that way.
The Slytherin Quidditch team then entered the Great Hall. Hermione spotted Malfoy's blond head at the front, leading he rest of the team. He looked - different. His hair wasn't slicked back as usual. Instead, it fell on his face, and it was still wet from his shower. It made his face look a lot less pointy. He was laughing about something with the rest of the team.
With out that sneer on his face... Malfoy is actually decent looking...
"Hermione?" Ginny asked looking in the direction of Hermione's gaze. She raised her eyebrows. Hermione blushed, and looked away. Ginny didn't say anything, but she had a knowing look on her face.
Since Colin was in the Hospital wing for a few weeks, Hermione had a lot more time to relax, and concentrate. She was a lot more in touch with her thoughts as well. Ever since Ginny had caught her staring at Malfoy, she felt differently about him. She would no longer think of him as a spoiled brat, but as a normal person. Whenever she would see him talking to other girls, a tiny part of her would burn with jealousy. The strange thing was, he was always talking to girls. She had never really studied Malfoy closely before, but she had discovered that Ginny was right. Malfoy was a total hottie.
Hermione was in the Gryffindor common room on Friday night, watching Harry and Ron play chess. After Ron had defeated Harry four times, she decided to go back to her dorm room.
As she walked past a statue of an old warlock, someone jumped out at her.
She screamed and covered her face protectively. The person who had jumped out laughed.
"Really Granger, sometimes you're just too wound up. You need to have some fun." Malfoy grinned cheekily.
"What the hell Malfoy?" Hermione snapped. "I thought someone was attacking me!" He stopped laughing.
"Who would want to attack you?" He asked curiously.
"Colin Cree -" She couldn't stop the words from coming out. She looked at the floor.
"Speaking of that oaf," Malfoy said, putting his hand in the pocket of his robe, "You have another letter." He handed her another rolled up piece of parchment.
"So you know he wrote me the other one?" She asked weakly as she took the letter. "Did you read it?"
"Naturally," He shrugged. She opened the piece of parchment. It said:
Dear Hermione,
Thank you for visiting me in the Hospital Wing when I was injured.
I know I couldn't see or hear you, but just knowing you were there
made me feel better. I will see you at breakfast tomorrow.
Colin
Hermione took several deep breaths of air.
What the hell caused him to think I was visiting him? Did Malfoy tell him?...
She looked up at Malfoy. "Did you read this one as well?"
"If I read the first one, then why wouldn't-"
"OK, OK." She sighed. "Has he been giving these to you in person?"
"Yes," He said in an amused voice. "You have no idea how funny it was when that little boy cam up to me. He was shaking like mad."
Hermione didn't understand. "Why is he giving them to you? I mean, you might not have given them to me at all."
"Do you want to know what I think?" He asked. "I that was the whole point. He's giving the letters to me because he knows I'll read them. He knows I couldn't resist blabbing out that Granger has a secret love affair."
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "And why didn't you tell everybody about this?"
"Because, that git thought he could use me. Use me to advertise your 'relationship'. But I proved him wrong. And besides, I know very well that you do not return any of the feelings he shared for you."
Hermione looked at him with her mouth agape. She was speechless. Had Malfoy helped her? Why was he being so... considerate?
"Shut you mouth Granger, you look like a dying fish." He smirked, then walked back to their dorms. Hermione stood there for a while, everything sinking in.
Although Colin is a pain in the arse, I have to give him props. Giving the letters to Malfoy were a good idea. But I really don't think Malfoy was the one who told him that I had supposedly visited him when he was hurt... maybe his brain suffered some extensive damage.
Hermione was sitting under a tree with Harry and Ron near the lake the next day. Harry and Ron were complaining about Snape and the homework he had assigned over the weekend. Hermione had already finished the assignment, so she was reading a book.
"Look who's coming over," Ron said in an undertone to Harry. Harry groaned. Hermione looked up. To her intense embarrassment, Colin Creevy was walking over to the three, a goofy smile on his face.
"Hey Hermione! I've missed you!" he yelled, waving enthusiastically. Several people in the vicinity turned their attention to Hermione. Harry and Ron looked at her. She groaned, her face red,and hid behind the book she was reading.
"Hermione," Harry asked, looking very confused, "Is there something you're not telling us?"