Chapter 20: The Heart Can't Take Commands
"Crookshanks! What?" Hermione shouted at her cat, which was meowing while she was trying to read a book. Mind you, Crookshanks was not exactly what was keeping her from concentrating.
Her cat put what looked like an appalled look on his orange face, which made his owner feel sorry for her earlier remarks and take him in her arms, settling him on her lap.
"I'm sorry. None of this is your fault. You're such an idiot Hermione! To think Fleur warned me! Now I am cursed to watch him kiss Elizabeth for the rest of the year."
She sighed. She had told him how she felt in front of Ron. However, she knew that Harry would not believe it. She had already lied to him. Who was to say that he would ever believe her again? Moreover, she really doubted that he felt the same way.
She turned the page, and came right across a picture of a Snitch. She sighed once more, resting her face in her hand.
"Harry," she whispered, suddenly remembering the events that had taken place just last night, right here, in her room. His kisses had been so passionate… the way he had touched her, the way that he had made her feel his. "Stop it, damn it! she cursed herself, throwing the book to the floor and standing up.
Crookshanks jumped and headed for the door, scoffing in protest.
"He was never mine, and he never will be.
She glanced at Crookshanks, trying to open the door and meowing again.
"What is it boy? You want out?"
She went and opened the door for Crookshanks as she got out as well. She too needed some fresh air, so she sat down on the cold floor with her face cupped between her hands, drowning in her own thoughts.
However, the night was cold and breezy, and it did not help that she was only wearing her nightgown and robe, her feet covered in pink cat slippers. So she decided to get back into her room. It was time to go to bed anyway.
"Come on Crookshanks. Back inside." But her cat was looking elsewhere.
`Crookshanks? Come on." But to Hermione's surprise, her cat stood up and began to run, getting out of her sight in a flash. "Crookshanks!"
****
Hermione shouted her cat's name all through the hallway. How lucky for her that she was the school's Head Girl. That gave her permission to walk around the school at night. And that is just what she needed to do in order to find her cat. She tightened the knits of her robe and literally ran off after him.
She soon found herself in the Astronomy Tower. It was dark, with only a streak of moonlight illuminating her path.
"Crookshanks!" Hermione found her cat hiding behind a column. She took him in her arms.
But instead of walking back to her room, she could not stop herself from advancing to the window. The night was beautiful, despite the cold. The stars were shining gold, and she could feel the wind stroking her face. Finally, she felt a sense of peace inside her, although just for a tiny second, for her cat scoffed once more and brought her back to reality.
"Oh, what now?" She glanced at her cat, following his glance out the window. Her eyes opened wide at the sight of Hedwig heading towards her shoulder.
Hedwig screeched happily as she landed on the window's border, waiting for Hermione's attention. She was about to pet her when she heard some footsteps.
"Hedwig…oh."
Hermione closed her eyes briefly, sighing. It couldn't be.
"Harry." She glanced at her best friend, who was dressed in black pants, a hunter green sweater, and his cloak was covered with the cold night's dew, always a welcomed sight, although now she was not so sure that she welcomed his presence.
"Hermione."
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