Fatal Beauty

Chapter Five: "What's Left of Me"

A/N: Here's chapter five !! Hope you enjoy it. This story is rapidly approaching its end, but I have no idea how many more chapters there will be. Sorry for the late update, but I've been terribly busy :( Thanks for all your positive feedback !! Please continue to read and review.

Hermione banged her head on the thick resource book she was looking through in frustration. She had been in the library for five hours straight, trying to find out what exactly was going on with Autumn. Harry had been with her for some time, but he seemed to just distract her, so she had told him to go.

Hermione bit her lip and sighed in frustration. If she was as smart as everyone told her, why couldn't she figure this out? It was apparent there was something wrong with Autumn. Hermione was almost positive she was somehow involved with Voldemort… yet, Hermione didn't know how. Why was a girl fading? Unless, she was a hologram? Had she taken a potion?

"Hey."

Hermione turned around and smiled thinly as Harry approached her. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. Hermione bit her lip and gave Harry a sad, depressed sort of smile.

"What's wrong, Mione?" Harry asked, taking a seat next to her. He put his arm around her neck. Hermione sighed.

"I can't figure out what's going on," Hermione confessed. She gave Harry an apologetic look. Harry leaned in and kissed Hermione passionately. Hermione closed her eyes and enjoyed the sweetness of his lips.

"Hermione, are you sure you don't want any help?" Harry asked her softly, pulling away from her. Hermione shook her head.

"No offense, but you only seem to distract me." Hermione gave Harry a weak laugh. Harry kissed Hermione.

"I can relax you when you need a break," Harry suggested. He put his arms around her neck and trailed kisses towards her ear.

"Are you relaxed now?" he breathed into her ear huskily. Hermione smiled, closing her eyes.

"Excuse me, what do you two think you are doing?"

Hermione and Harry pulled away from each other, startled. They looked up to find Madam Pince hovering over them, a disapproving look plastered on her face. Hermione gulped.

"Have I ever said or done anything that implied that this sort of inappropriate behavior is acceptable in a library?"

"Sorry," Harry mumbled. Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. She had hardly ever gotten in trouble. Her cheeks were bright pink, and she couldn't remember when she had been more embarrassed.

"Granger, Potter… I would have never expected this from you two," Madam Prince went on, shaking her head, "Honestly! Displays of affection are not meant to be public."

Hermione gathered up her thick textbooks, her face still flushed. She bit her lip and stuck all of the textbooks in her bag. "Sorry, Madam Pince," Harry managed to say before scurrying out of the library. Harry gave Madam Pince an apologetic look before following Hermione out of the library. They walked in silence until they were inside of the Gryffindor common room. Hermione threw down her bag and spun around, facing Harry.

"I got in trouble!" Hermione exploded, "I've never gotten in trouble at the library. I'm usually such a good girl…" She continued to rant for a few moments, and the more she talked the wider Harry's smile got.

"What, you think it's funny?" Hermione demanded, "You've got some nerve, Harry James-" Harry crushed his lips into Hermione's, preventing her from saying anymore. A few moments later, he pulled away slowly. Hermione crossed her arms, smiling slightly.

"You only did that to shut me up, didn't you?" Hermione demanded. Harry shrugged, kissing her again.

"So what if I did?" Harry demanded, "It's not like you didn't enjoy it, Hermione Jane Granger." Hermione flushed a dark scarlet, and swatted Harry's arm. She glared at him, and then sat down on the couch. Harry sat down next to her and watched her pull out a thick book. She opened it in the middle and began to read it to herself, muttering softly under her breath.

"I love you," Harry told Hermione quietly, very aware that all eyes were on the two of them. Hermione kissed Harry's cheek and gave him a romantic hug.

"You know I do, too."

*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*

"Knight…"

Autumn turned around and found Draco Malfoy walking towards her, a small smirk on his face. She gave him a curt nod, self consciously touching her hair. She was getting lighter each day, and more and more people had started to notice. Silently, she prayed that Draco hadn't come over to point out how pale she had become.

"You're pale," Draco drawled, just as Autumn had suspected. She groaned and then glared at him.

"So what if I am?" she asked him defiantly, "It's better than being sunburned. You, being a guy, wouldn't understand that."

"I know what's going on," Draco told her quietly. "Don't think I'm clueless here. My father is his greatest follower." Autumn felt herself unable to breathe as she registered what Draco had said.

"Do you have a way to contact him?" Autumn asked Draco slowly. If she could reach Draco's father, maybe she'd be able to reach her master… she had to figure this out as soon as possible.

"I don't know if I want to contact him," Draco answered, the corners of his lips curving upwards slightly. Autumn glared at him.

"Malfoy…" she started dangerously, "I don't think you should go messing with me."

Draco smirked. "Why not? It's not as if you're real."

Autumn's angry face melted away and she suddenly looked offended. Her eyes were wide and her lower lip was out slightly. She blinked a few times and then lowered her glance. Draco's smirk faded immediately and he bit his lip.

"Sorry, Autumn… I didn't mean it." Autumn looked up at Draco and realized that he might actually be telling the truth. He looked sincerely sorry. She shrugged, and looked back at the floor.

"I have to go," she answered. Draco gave her an apologetic look, but Autumn just stalked off.

*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*

Harry trudged into the Great Hall and spotted Ron towards the end of the Gryffindor table. He had a dazed expression on his face, and for once, his plate was hardly touched. Harry followed Ron's dreamy expression and found that it was on Autumn. Somehow, Harry wasn't even surprised.

Harry stared at Autumn Knight, and surprisingly, he didn't feel even the slightest bit of attraction. She was beautiful, and Harry could give her that much, but he only felt lust towards her, not love. As Harry continued to stare at Autumn, she looked up from her plate of food. Her eyes met Harry's and for a moment, Harry could swear she looked sorry. A sad smile flickered over her delicate and faded face before she looked away from Harry's eyes.

Harry looked down and then took a seat next to Ron. He tapped Ron on the shoulder, interrupting whatever it was Ron was daydreaming about. "Ron…"

Ron turned around abruptly. "Huh? Harry? When'd u get here?"

"Just a minute ago," Harry told Ron impatiently, "Listen, Ron… does Autumn looked faded to you?" The dreamy look was back on Ron's face.

"She looked just as good as usual," Ron answered, grinning like an idiot. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Honestly, mate. Doesn't she look pale?"

"She could use a tan," Ron muttered thoughtfully. Harry buried his head in his arms in frustration.

"Ron, there's something really weird with Autumn," Harry told Ron seriously, "So please, just stay away from her." Ron straightened up and shot Harry a death glare.

"Has Hermione brainwashed you?" Ron burst out, "Just because you two have each other, does that mean I'm not allowed to have anyone? You always have to be better than me, don't you, Harry?" Harry's eyes widened in surprise and shock. Ron's cheeks were bright red and he was panting heavily. He stood up, turned around, and rushed out of the Great Hall.

Harry watched Ron leave, his mouth hanging open in shock. What had gotten Ron so worked up? He wasn't jealous was he? Harry turned back around and stared at Autumn again, thinking about how much he loved Hermione. As he did, he could swear that Autumn had gotten a shade lighter. Harry lowered his brow in frustration, blinking a few times. Had what he thought just happened?

Before Harry could ponder this any longer, someone tapped him on the shoulder. Harry turned around and found Hermione smiling at him. She took a seat next to him, and started eating mashed potatoes.

"Hey," Harry muttered, kissing Hermione's cheek in order to avoid getting mashed potatoes in his mouth. Hermione grinned slightly and swallowed her food.

"I've been doing some research," she muttered before kissing Harry. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry watched as Autumn faded ever so slightly again. He pulled away from Hermione, gasping.

"What?" Hermione asked worriedly, "Did I do something? Oh, I'm so sorry Harry! I'm such a prat." Harry shook his head distractedly.

"Hermione…" Harry muttered slowly, "I think I figured out what's going on with Autumn." A confused expression crossed Hermione's face.

"What?" she asked softly, glancing at Autumn. Harry bit his lip, unable to comprehend what was going on.

"Just keep your eye on Autumn," Harry whispered quietly, pressing his lips against Hermione's. Out of the corner of their eyes, Harry and Hermione watched Autumn get another shade lighter. They pulled away from each other, Hermione's eyes wide.

"Oh, Merlin."

A/N: And that's the end of chapter five =) Please remember to leave a review. Thanks.