A/N: Another freaking' chapter up! I'm so knackered to tell you, my fellow readers and human beings, that this chapter is really hard to type… But anyway, I still managed and finished another chapter for your so-called pleasure. Thank you very much to all those kind and loving people who have reviewed my humble fic. Please tell me what you think of the new chapter by reviewing it; I'll love you for doing so… Au revoir!
Disclaimer: I solemnly swear that I do not own anything, except for Matt… Other standard disclaimers apply.
Chapter 3: Inquisitive and Isolated
"What happened?" Harry inquired Hermione.
"Uhm… Nothing." Hermione quickly lied
"Really?" He asked her again not dropping down the question
"Honestly, Harry Potter! Why have you suddenly become a meddlesome prat?" Hermione retorted in mock sarcasm.
"Okay, you win again. You know, I can't answer back when you start saying the word "Honestly" in our conversations." Harry said with a smile playing on his lips
"You just gave me a wonderful idea!" Hermione grinned back.
"Well, shall we go now? My stomach starts to grumble." Harry said
"Such a wonderful impersonation of Ron, I'm impressed." Hermione reacted as the both of them started going down the flight of stairs.
"Speaking of the devil…" Harry said when he saw Ron approaching their direction.
"I was looking for the both of you!" Ron said, panting
"Why, did ickle Ronniekins miss his friends?" Hermione teased
"That's not funny." Ron remarked
"Why did you say you were looking for us?" Harry said
"No purpose, actually. Luna and I already separated since she ate at their table, and I don't want to be alone, so I decided to not pay attention first to grumbling tummy to find the both of you first." Ron replied
"So shall we proceed now to the Great Hall?" Hermione said
The Trio strode inside the Great Hall, silencing everyone inside and could feel the heads are turning everywhere they pass and numerous pairs of eyes are following their every move.
"No one can do this better than the Trio." Ron muttered under his breath
That's the truth. It's already been three months after the Final Battle, but still every time the illustrious Trio goes together, people can't help but observe them and whisper things about them.
"So, what's up with you and Luna?" Harry said as he drank pumpkin juice from his goblet.
"Oweregoingreallyfineijustaskedheroutforthenexthogsmeadetrip." Ron said as he continued to gobble up his food.
"What? I can't understand you." Harry replied
"Oh, sorry. I said we're going really fine. I just asked her out for the next Hogsmeade trip." Ron retorted
Harry just nodded in agreement.
"What about you Hermione, everything alright?" Ron questioned
Hermione didn't answered Ron's question right away as she was thinking about Matt, again. Simply put, she wasn't paying attention. And though it was very un-Hermione like, she was daydreaming with her eyes looking at no particular person or thing.
"Earth to Hermione?!" Ron said while waving his humongous hands at her face trying to grab her attention.
"Huh? What?" Hermione said as she was, for the 2nd time of the time, disturbed from her reverie.
"I said are you alright. But the way I see it, you look like you're not, I just caught you having a dreamy expression on your face." Ron answered
"Me! I do not have a dreamy expression on my face! Hermione retorted
"Yes, you have!" Ron said in defense
"Anyway, don't worry; I'm perfectly fine and in a nice condition." Hermione replied with a small smile of reassurance.
With that, Hermione grabbed her satchel and her extra schoolbooks and dashed outside the Great Hall like there was an upcoming test or something that she really needed to study.
"What's with her?" Ron asked Harry
"I don't bloody know. I tried to get it out of her when you caught up with us. I believe she's hiding something from us." Harry answered back.
"Okay. Don't worry she'll tell us eventually anyway. Remember the time she got hold of the animagus Rita Skeeter? She didn't tell us right away, but when she sensed that the time is right she told us about it." Ron said to Harry as a sign of guarantee.
Harry simply nodded as a sign of acquiesce.
"Well then, I better get going. I promised Luna I'd meet her by the beech tree near the lake. See you at Care of Magical Creatures class!" Ron said to Harry as he wiped his mouth with his serviette.
"Okay! Be careful snogging Luna!" Harry teased Ron
And there was Harry Potter -alone.
Who would have thought?! The most famous wizard of his generation was -alone! Abandoned by his dearest friends for a girl or whatever raison d'être it is.
"Good! Now, I'm here seated at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall all on my own, with nothing good to do. Oh! And I have 1 and a half hours to wait for my next class. What a good day!" Harry mused
For the first time in his life he felt alone. Alone amidst the jam-packed Great Hall. Alone inside. He felt emotionally abandoned. And he doesn't bloody know why. He felt left out, Ron had Luna for himself, and Hermione was up to something. He sensed that he lacks something.
"Oh! Shush. I won't let it bother me besides, before Ron and Hermione always thought about me and my safety. It's time for them to take care and mind their selves too, without me whining why all of a sudden I find myself alone." Harry continued to muse
With that statement, Harry shoved all those `why am I alone?' thoughts to the back of his brain. And just focused his mind on his unfinished plate.
Abruptly, he finished his meal and carefully wiped his mouth with his serviette. He stood up and decided to forget the conversation he just had with his very own wits.
"Hermione! You're actually 2 minutes earlier than our given time." Matt said with glee
"So are you. Did I keep you waiting?" Hermione retorted
"No, absolutely not. I just came here about 5 minutes before you arrived." Matt quickly replied.
Then, together they strode along the cold, stone halls towards the library.
At the library, Matt and Hermione talked endless, possibly about anything and everything.
Truth to be told, she actually find Matt endearing. Well, the very first time she met him, she was incredulously attracted to him, though she still denied it to herself.
"I could listen to him for days. No pressure, just good, clean fun when I'm with him. He's so easy to get comfortable with." Hermione thought
After a day or so, those library chats became daily habits for Hermione. For the past week and a half, not a day would pass that she and Matt wouldn't meet in the library and talk, just talk…
Talk about their own families, their career of choice (Hermione's was to be a Healer, while Matt thought of becoming an Unspeakable.
"They're just so, unspeakable…" Matt said, releasing a chuckle.
They also talked about their own sets of friends, their selves, their dreams, goals and wishes. Absolutely, everything.
Matt mostly do the talking, Hermione just talked when it comes to sharing her own point of view for the said matter. Hermione just sat there and listened conscientiously.
Hermione admired his eyes, his smile, and his whole personality, at peace.
"Arrgh! What's happening with me?! I'm not Hermione! Hermione does not `drool' over a guy!" She mused while fighting with the voice in her head.
"Uh-oh! Another trouble approaching…" She thought
Author's Notes: Did you like it? Tell me! Please review the fic; I'll love you for doing so! ^.^
By the way, thank you very much for all the reviews, comments, and support you've all been giving me. I'm very sorry for the long adjournment of Chapter 3. I have been really, really busy for the past weeks. I've been going out of town, had practices, attend a retreat and all that. I didn't have time to write this and the chance came only a few days before today so I decided to finish chapter 3 for you guys… Anyway, here's a link to what Matt might look like, though in anime: http://www.geocities.com/ccsdrawer/syaoran.html. Don't forget to review [again!] and I'm gonna be enthralled! See you all soon at Only Time can Tell's chapter 4! Cheers!
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