Chapter 5 - Of Gifts, Notes and Agreements
Two days later, Hermione was able to leave the Hospital Wing, leaving Draco behind and going back to her ordinary odd little life of Harry, Ron and Neville.
Hermione had went back to the Gryffindor common room to find Crookshanks sitting in the armchair in front of the fire, looking as fat and fluffy as ever.
Thank goodness someone had remembered to feed him, Hermione sighed to herself.
"Hello, boy," She smiled, picking him up with difficulty and sliding into the chair.
Something crunched under her and Hermione jumped, dropping Crookshanks in the process.
The cat hissed and ran towards the stairs with its tail in the air.
With a sigh, Hermione turned back to the chair.
A box sat there, white and square.
Curious, she opened it to find a quill.
Just like the one she had broken in front of Neville the day after Draco had first attacked her.
That, and a note.
Hermione picked it up and scanned the messy handwriting that slanted down the page.
Hermione, if you are reading this, you are out of the Hospital Wing. Your gift has been sitting on this very chair since I bought it so hopefully no one will have stolen it... I was thinking about putting it under the tree by the lake that you always sit under and read but then it would definitely get stolen... Or it might rain.
I didn't want to take that chance.
It's a quill... Just in case it has been stolen.
I can't wait to see you. I wanted to talk to you in Defence but then Malfoy attacked you again...
And I cursed him.
Ron and Harry have been very understanding so far and they agree that you should come out to lunch with me.
I've already booked a table in Madam Puddifoot's for Saturday at 11.30 when we are at Hogsmeade. I hope you'll come.
Well... I'll see you later. I hope.
Yours... Forever,
Neville.
Hermione didn't know whether to laugh or run.
He had high hopes.
Sure, he'd saved her life twice but she'd saved his life far more times!
And how did he know where she sat by the lake?
It wasn't that obvious... Was it?
And the cheek of him!
Booking a table at Madam Puddifoots!
And the nerve of Ron and Harry!
Supporting him!
Encouraging him!
Oh, she could strangle them both.
...But she did like that quill.
It was almost identical to the one she had broken, with a soft, green and blue peacock feather.
Lost in her thoughts, Hermione rose and went to her dorm, grabbing her school books for the day and heading down to breakfast.
Alone.
She wasn't sure if Harry, Ron or Neville knew if she was out of the Hospital Wing and time was getting on.
She didn't want to be late for her first class back.
Sitting down at the Gryffindor table, Hermione consulted her timetable while grabbing a bagel from the plate in front of her.
It was Friday and she had a couple of free periods.
The only classes she had that day were Potions, Charms and Study of Ancient Runes.
All fairly simple.
Today would be a breeze...
As long as no one attacks me today, Hermione frowned.
Draco was out of hospital.
Great.
"Hermione?" A dreamy voice sounded in her ear.
Hermione turned to find Luna Lovegood standing beside her, swaying slightly like a tree in a breeze.
"Umm, hi, Luna," Hermione said hesitantly, "What... What can I do for you?"
"Oh, nothing really. I didn't know you were out of hospital. Just thought I'd come say hello, seeing as your by yourself. Have you seen Ron and Harry lately?" Luna babbled.
"Yeah, they came to the Hospital Wing yesterday," Hermione shrugged.
"Well, that's good," Luna smiled, "I better be off. Before someone drinks my Pignified Plum Juice."
"Pignified Plum...?" Hermione repeated but Luna had gone back to the Ravenclaw table, leaving Hermione's eyebrows knitting together in confusion.
Hermione went back to her bagel only to notice a figure looming over the other side of the table.
She looked up.
It was Crabbe, one of Draco's cronies.
She'd heard they had been un-stupefied.
Hermione sighed dramatically, "And here I was, thinking that today was going to be peaceful."
"And what makes you think it won't?" Crabbe scowled.
"Well, you looming over someone is never a good start to any girls day," Hermione smirked in reply.
She just couldn't stand it anymore.
She'd been attacked. Twice.
She could take another one.
As long as she got a good couple of insults in before she got one.
"Look," Crabbe grunted, "I'm here to make a deal."
"What kind of deal?" Hermione demanded.
She didn't like making deals.
Especially with people she didn't trust.
"I... I need help with my Charms homeworks," Crabbe said slowly.
"And how is that a deal?" Hermione said, her eyes narrowing.
"I'll help you with whatever... You need help with..." Crabbe finished lamely.
"Not much of a deal."
"Well, it's the best I can do," Crabbe insisted, "I always have a big Charms essay for over the weekends and I need help. So are you in?"
"So if I help you with your homework... You'll do whatever I want...?"
"Yeah."
What are you up to? Even you aren't stupid enough not to be able to do Charms... But then again... You are a Crabbe, Hermione frowned internally.
"Good. I'm in," Hermione nodded, "I'll see you on Sunday morning. Ten am. Sharp. In the library. Every Sunday. OK?"
"OK," Crabbe agreed.
Crabbe turned and went back to the Slytherin table were he sat down beside Draco, well out of earshot of Hermione.
"How'd it go?" Draco muttered.
"Perfect. We're meeting every Sunday at ten in the library," Crabbe replied.
"Good," Draco sighed, "When you meet her, you report everything she says back to me. Her favourite animal. Her favourite colour. Her favourite spell. Her favourite potion. Her favourite Quidditch player. Everything. I need to know this girl inside out."
"Will do," Crabbe nodded.
"Perfect... And Goyle should have sent the owl so her gift will be here soon," Draco grinned, "Everything's going just as planned."
Hermione jumped as an owl swooped down on her with a package tied to its leg.
Curious again, she untied it and gave the owl a bit of her bagel before opening the package.
Inside was a braclet, silver with diamonds encrusted on it.
Hermione gasped and held it up.
It was beautiful.
Surely Neville wouldn't have gotten her something this expensive.
Even if he was kind of stalker-ish.
There was a note with the package too.
But not in Neville's messy scrawl.
This writing was curved and elegant as if the person who had wrote it had been schooled in its art since birth.
With growing awe, Hermione read the note.
I have watched you from afar for a while now.
You know me... But do not.
There is more to meets the eye. There is more to learn about me than you could possibly imagine.
I want you to know me... And I want to know you.
Meet me at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade at 11.30.
Please do not bring your friends. They would not approve of me... Of us.
I'll be waiting. Wait for me at the back table. There will be a drink waiting for you.
I wish to see you so badly.
Yours, unconditionally.
The letter was unsigned.
The whole thing intrigued Hermione so much that she actually wanted to go and meet this person.
But Neville wanted to meet her in Hogsmeade at exactly the same time.
But... She could always go to both...
She could explain that she would be late for her meeting with the unknown identity.
If he wanted to meet her would he mind waiting?
She'd just have to find out.
Pulling out her quill and ink, Hermione quickly scribbled a reply on the back of the note.
Saturday? That sounds good but not at 11.30. I have plans.
What's your name?
I'm intrigued.
Hermione.
Finishing her name with a flourish of her wrist, Hermione tied the note onto the owl and gave it the last of her bagel before letting it go and getting up herself.
Tomorrow was going to be interesting.
But not just for Hermione.