Hey guys!
Here is chapter 21!
The NEXT chapter will be the BIG TURNING point in this story with lots of action! So please review with your thoughts on this chapter, I hope you all get the idea of what's plaguing Hermione.
I'm so excited for chapter 22!
Thankyou to all my reviewers, it makes me so happy when I read each and every review. Also thankyou to anyone who has favourite or followed this story!
I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER
I swivelled my silver fork around my plate of winter berries, the red plump fruit tasted sweet at first but soon turned sour in my mouth. Much like my mood.
I had been in a sour mood all morning. After Madame Pomfrey had hesitantly released me I had to rush to a prefect meeting before breakfast where Mc Gonagall announced we were to begin preparations for a winter ball. It was going to be held in 10 days and we were to transform the prehistoric Great Hall into a glittering end of winter paradise. Ginny's going to drag me to all the dress shops in Hogsmeade.
I sigh and drop my fork, the heavy metal making a shrill clanging noise on the china. I had been becoming more and more stressed lately and it was all because of the young Malfoy. I'm always organised, I could handle my studies and prefect duties and friendships flawlessly before he came along. Now I have to have an awkward conversation with Harry and Ronald. I had been waiting for them to arrive for breakfast so I could explain the situation with Malfoy.
Oh Godric, What am I going to say?
Pulling my curly mess of hair away from my face, I tie it into a simple ponytail and throw my head into my hands. I can't concentrate! Right, Hermione what must you do today?
I squeeze my eyes shut tightly in the darkness of my palms.
First: speak to Harry and Ron.
Second: Begin studies for my potions essay.
I feel the cold silver of the bracelet on my wrist against my face and grind my teeth together in frustration.
Third: Stay away from Draco. At all costs.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
I rip my hands away from my face and glower at the owner of the voice. Draco leans against the Gryffindor table his pristine yet slightly more casual charcoal suit creasing at his stance. His face is paler than usual and he has dark circles around his eyes.
Maybe if I ignore him he'll go away. I turn back to my dish of berries and begin studiously eating them.
I hear a slight huff of exasperation from him, before a tea bag in dangled before my eyes; in fact it's the valerian tea bag I was given from Madame Pomfrey. Taken from my bag.
"Give it to me now, Malfoy, Or I will be obliged to take force" I threaten, however my voice wavers on the word force.
"Oh no, darling. I was only trying to remind you to take it." He smirks widely before dropping it into my teacup. "You look ravishing this morning, by the way" He dispenses a stream of hot water into my cup from his wand.
Feeling completely nauseated I stop mid-chew on a raspberry and quickly take a sip of the tea before regretting it. Now he'll think I'm grateful! Good one Hermione its only breakfast and you've already messed up number three on the list.
"I have class now, but I will see you later, Princess" His haunting voice lingers in my ears long after he's left the Great hall along with the sick feeling in my stomach.
I look around at my fellow Gryffindor students only to find they didn't pay us any attention, their bubbly conversations all centred around the upcoming ball.
Ron's red hair comes into view in the corner of my eye as he enters the Great hall, Harry trailing just behind him. When they spot me, Ronald storms over his cheeks pink with anger.
"Where were you? We went all the way to the hospital wing! But matron just said you were dismissed!" He blurts out as he slides in opposite me.
I bite my lip my eyes wide with worry.
"-and what's Malfoy doing touching you!?" Ron practically shouts gaining the attention of some students. Harry slides in next to him his glasses wonky in astonishment.
"We want answers, Mione" He says calmly though his eyes are frantic.
"I know" I mumble my voice sounds wrong to my own ears. "I'm sorry I haven't told you, I thought it would go away..." I gulp and muster all my courage as they look at me expectantly "Malfoy's been acting strangely...towards me. He's acting as if he's somewhat obsessed. When you found us in the library he was trying to allure me. I-I-I tried to tell you but-"
"Are you telling us Malfoy's infatuated with you?" Harry whispers, shock in his wide green eyes.
I nod frantically, my ponytail swinging with the force.
"That bloody slime! That snake! Lets sort him out Harry!" Ron thrusts himself from the table but is stopped by Harry.
"Calm down! Malfoy's dangerous, He's a deatheater" Harry lifts one eyebrow at me and carefully says "We'll protect you."
I fidget on the bench under their uncomfortable gazes. Did I want to be protected from Draco? Of course! But, he is gorgeous What!?. Oh perfect now I'm talking to myself.
"Thankyou," I say as contentedly as possible.
"But we are still going to hex him, right?" I hear Ron say to Harry his mouth full of bacon.
"I have to begin preparations for the winter ball, designs and ideas and so on." I push up from the table and pick up my tawny heavy library books. "See you at lunch, boys"
"Bye Mione," I hear Harry say as he flips through a copy of the Daily Prophet.
I pick up my pace as I stride through and out the great hall my cloak lifting in the slight breeze. What is going on with me! Thinking that insufferable arse is attractive! I go to the only place I feel a sense of tranquil my feet guiding me easily.
The library is usually empty this time of morning, but it seems there is some sort of third year exam going on so virtually the entire third year has filled the wooden desks of the large library. I sigh and make my way to the back and squeeze into a single desk. My mind feels cloudy as I try to focus on the music aspects for the ball; I clench my eyes shut and concentrate. We could have a band...or hire an orchestra... possibly a selection of singers...The clouds begin to fog my thoughts and though I push through a shape begins to form from the dark smoke...Draco?
I march briskly into the Slytherin common room the exact depiction of a man on a mission. My grey eyes explore the shadowy room hunting for a wavy headed brunette. They home in on his pale face almost immediately.
"Cassius! There you are!" I pat him on the back and drop myself onto the rickety armchair next to him.
"Malfoy? What do you want?" His dark eyebrow lifts quizzically and he moves a piece on the wizard chess board.
"Well, I was wondering if you could do me a favour...see I need you to keep an eye on Hermione during that winter ball for me" I move the black knight forward my eyes trained on his.
"Hermione. Well, why can't you?" Cassius runs a thin hand through his brown waves and moves a white wizard chess piece towards my king.
"I'm going to be a busy boy that night." I smirk at him as my knight tramples his king. "Don't deny your only friend a favour, Coldroy. All I need is for you to keep the princess in the tower."
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