A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate them. I welcome any comments or ideas anyone would like to offer for this story! Hope everyone likes it so far and sorry again about the mix-up with Cho! I did change it though. I know Susan is probably out of character and I really didn't explain her to well, but I had no other choice because I didn't want to change it to Ginny. Everyone knows of Cho from the other books so I didn't really have to explain her so when I switched Cho with Susan I didn't realize that most people do not know much about her. But she is not really that important to the story, I just had to show how Hermione was being left out even by her best friends. Anyway, enough with my babbling, here is the next chapter! Hope you like!
Disclaimer: I own absolutely, positively, nothing related to Harry Potter! (Too Bad! *wink wink*)
Trying Times
Chapter Three
Hermione was completely confused about the turn of events. She had no idea what was wrong with Viktor when he came into the great hall that night.
It has been two weeks since Viktor's incident and no one had any idea what was wrong with him or Colin. They were both put into the infirmary. They had high fevers and kept mumbling about someone coming.
Madam Pomfrey had no idea how to cure them, for she didn't even know what was making them sick.
Professor Dumbledore was just as perplexed, so he kept an extra watchful eye on them. He had a feeling this had to do with Voldemort, but he didn't have any real proof. This was completely out of character for him.
Classes went on as usual and students finally began to talk less about the incident. Hermione tried to forget it, but it wouldn't go away that easily. She didn't know what to think. She spent a lot of time in the library trying to figure out what was wrong, but so far she didn't have any luck.
She was on her way back to the Gryffindor Common room after a long night in the library. It was almost curfew and she needed to get back.
She trudged through the empty corridor when suddenly she heard a voice that sent chills up her spine.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Malfoy's voice rang through the hall.
Hermione kept on walking trying to ignore him. She was not in the mood to deal with him today, plus she had no idea what he was going to do. He was quite rough last time and now she didn't have anyone around to help her. Malfoy could do anything.
"Oh, look, is the mudblood to scared to face the big bad Slytherin?" Malfoy taunted as he continued to walk behind her.
She stopped and turned to face him. She was not going to let him get the better of her this time. She had too much pride to back down.
"Oh and what is little ferret boy too ignorant then to tease other students?" Hermione said.
"Well now, what am I going to do with you? I can't have a mudblood talking to me like that and it looks like you don't have your precious Potty and Weasel here to help you!" Malfoy said as he began to walk closer to her.
She held her books a little tighter to her chest and was about to turn around when suddenly she felt a hand on her arm. She turned to see who it was that grabbed her and was completely shocked at who it was.
"Gregory?" Hermione asked.
"Listen Malfoy, why don't you just get your fifth out of this hall and leave her alone." Gregory shouted as he turned with Hermione and began to walk the other way.
To Hermione's surprise Malfoy didn't follow. They got in front of the portrait hole to the Gryffindor common room when Gregory finally spoke, breaking the silence.
"Are you ok? I hope he didn't hurt you," Gregory said as he pushed a piece of Hermione's hair behind her ear.
She felt a tinge of red fill her cheeks as she looked up to stare into his blue eyes. They were mesmerizing. They had a different feel then when she looked into Harry's, but she felt something from Gregory's, but she didn't exactly know what.
"Yes, I'm fine. Malfoy's just a stupid git!" Hermione said as she stared into his eyes.
"Yeah he is!" Gregory said with a smile. Hermione felt calmer while she stared at that smile. "Well I wanted to ask you something."
Hermione just listened as he put a hand to her cheek. She couldn't help but think that his hand was cold, but she didn't move from the touch. She was happy for once to be getting a little bit of attention.
"Hermione, would you please do me the pleasure of joining me for the next Hogsmeade trip?" Gregory asked.
Oh my god! Did he just ask me out! I can't believe this is happening! She wanted to jump up and down like a little kid, but she held her composure and slowly asked, "Like a date?"
Gregory nodded his head and Hermione couldn't help but smile. "Yes, I would love that!"
Gregory leaned down and gave her a small peck on the cheek. He sweetly muttered Goodbye before turning to head for his own common room.
Hermione was grinning from ear to ear as she stepped through the portrait hole. It was mostly deserted except for Ron, Harry and to her surprise Ginny and Lavender were there also. Ron and Lavender were sitting on the couch in conversation while Ginny and Harry were playing Wizard's chess. She walked over to them and sat down in the plush chair.
"Well what are you so happy about?" Ron asked Hermione, as she still had a huge grin on her face.
"Nothing in particular," Hermione answered, still smiling.
"Yeah, I know that face. Hermione's got a crush!" Lavender announced.
Hermione ignored her and turned to Ginny, "So Ginny, I haven't seen you at all hardly this year. Where have you been?"
Ginny smiled and said, "Well I have been spending a lot of time with Neville lately."
"Neville, really?' Hermione asked. She knew that there was always something there between them, but she never pressed the subject.
"Yeah, it looks like my little sis has herself a boyfriend!" Ron exclaimed.
"Oh, really! Well Ginny, that is great! Neville is a sweetheart!" Hermione said. She was so happy for them. She was also kind of glad because that meant that she couldn't be with Harry. She felt a little guilty for thinking that, but she couldn't help it.
"Yeah, he is great!" Ginny said with a wonderful smile on her face. She turned and smiled at everyone before saying, "Well, I think I am going to turn in,"
"Alright, night Ginny!" they all exclaimed.
"Alright, spill!" Lavender said to Hermione.
"I have no idea what you are talking about!" Hermione answered, but the lie was completely clear to her three friends.
"Yeah, uh-huh!" Ron said rolling his eyes. Hermione couldn't help but notice that Harry was completely silent. He just sat there listening to the conversation.
"Well alright, if you must know, Gregory Silverton just asked me on a date!" Hermione said with a huge grin. When she thought about it again she still couldn't believe it.
"Oh, our little Hermione's growing up!" Ron said sarcastically while pretending to wipe a fake tear from his eye.
"Oh shut it Ron!" Hermione said but couldn't help but laugh.
"Ok, girl talk!" Lavender said as she jumped up and grabbed Hermione's hand. They started for her bedroom and up the stairs. If Hermione would have looked back, maybe she would have caught the sad look that filled the face of her green-eyed best friend.
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Hermione woke up from a wonderful sleep. She couldn't get her mind off of Gregory. He was so charming, smart and not to mention handsome! A smile formed on her face as she swung her feet to the side and lazily walked to the bathroom.
She took a nice long shower, dressed and headed down to the common room. She was stunned to see that Harry and Ron were not their, because they usually waited for her so they could walk to breakfast together.
"They must be in the great hall!" she said aloud as she made her way down to breakfast.
She walked in and sat beside Harry and across from Ron.
"Why didn't you two wait for me?" Hermione asked while spreading some butter on her toast.
"Oh sorry, we must have forgotten!" Harry answered. He didn't look at Hermione while speaking; he continued to stare at his food. Well that's odd, why won't he look at me? She pushed the thoughts aside and said, "Oh, ok then,"
She had a hint that he was lying, but she didn't want to say anything. Why would he lie? He has no reason to. Maybe they are trying to slowly drift away from being my friend. Maybe they don't like being seen with a bookworm anymore. As she thought about this, tears began to form in her eyes, but she held her composure. She ate silently and excused herself from the table.
She made her way to Transfiguration and took a seat beside Ron. Harry still would not meet her gaze and she still didn't know why. He must really not want to be around me anymore. Oh, get a hold of yourself Hermione, this is Harry. He is not like that, he is your best friend. Yeah, but now he is so popular, even more so now that he has gotten so handsome, and all the girls throw themselves at him. He probably doesn't want anyone to think that we are linked romantically, which wouldn't be so bad. Oh, Harry will never like someone like you, you are just miss "plain Jane". Harry wouldn't like that, no he wants elegance and beauty, which is something I definitely do not have.
Hermione was ripped from her thoughts as she heard Professor McGonagall speak, "Alright class, today we are going to try and turn these books into plants."
The class went slow and finally they were dismissed. Hermione got up and left. She turned around to look for Harry and Ron, they usually walked together, but they were no where to be seen. Great, now they really don't want to be around me. What did I do? Why are they acting like this?
She walked out of the classroom to see Harry and Ron walking with Susan and Lavender. Her heart literally stopped. Look, they ditch me for two pretty girls, should have known. Hermione couldn't hold her composure this time. She walked passed and just as she did she caught Harry's gaze. There were tears in her eyes and she knew Harry saw.
"Hermione, wait!" Harry called, but Hermione didn't want to listen. She picked up her pace and drifted into the sea of students. She made her way down to Herbology and took a seat in the front beside Neville.
"Hermione, are you ok?" Neville asked. He saw Hermione had tears in her eyes, and this was definitely not like her.
"Yes, Neville. I'm fine, thanks," She said wiping her eyes and giving him a smile.
"Ok, but if you want to talk, I am here," Neville said.
Just ten Harry, Ron, Lavender and Susan walked into class. Lavender and Susan were both giggling at Ron, and Harry just stared right into Hermione's eyes. I know that look, it is the look of guilt, but I can't talk to him right now. Why are they acting like this? She turned her eyes from him, no longer able to stare into those green eyes. She faced the front and began listening to Professor Sprout.
At the end of class she bolted to the door, making sure to evade both Harry and Ron. She made it to the common room and up the stairs. It was a few hours till dinner and she didn't want to stay copped up in her room and she definitely didn't want to sit in the common room, because she knew Harry and Ron would be there eventually.
She made her way down the stairs and decided to go for a walk. She went to the lake and sat down. She always loved coming here, because it calmed her nerves and allowed her to think.
Why is he doing this? Why are they acting this way? Why does everything have to happen to me? I just want a guy to notice me. Why can't I be pretty and beautiful? Maybe if I were, people would notice me. Even my best friends don't notice me anymore; they act like they don't even want to be around me anymore. No Hermione, you are kidding yourself, you know they wouldn't want to hang around with the likes of you. No, Harry is not like that. I saw how he looked at me, he was sorry. He wouldn't be like that if he didn't want me around. Well then what is it?
Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder, "Oh Harry, I know you have come to apologize…." She started to say, but was interrupted.
"Harry?" the voice answered. She turned to see Gregory standing beside her with a look of confusion etched upon his face. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that it was Gregory and not Harry that was standing beside her, but she had no idea why. Here is a guy that likes me, or so he says, and actually wants to be around me, why do I want Harry to be here and not him when Harry clearly doesn't want to be around me?
"Oh Gregory," Hermione said as she pulled herself off the ground. "I'm sorry, I didn't…I mean you're not….but I was…." Hermione stumbled. She felt very embarrassed at that moment.
"Hermione, it's ok. Why did you think I was Harry?" Gregory asked. He pushed some hair behind her ear and gave her a smile.
"Well, me and Harry kind of got into a little fight and I was just waiting for him to apologize and I thought it was him beside me because no one else ever comes near me," Hermione answered as she lowered her head.
Gregory took his hand and lifted her chin up slowly, "Hermione, I want to come near you, because I like you."
Hermione couldn't help but blush. She stood staring into his eyes, mesmerized once again.
Slowly she saw his head coming closer to hers. No, he can't be about to kiss me! I, uh, what do I do? I have never really kissed before. Oh Hermione, just go with it. He wants to, you want to, just do it! Fine!
She felt his soft lips graze hers in a sweet, and caring kiss. He didn't push or make it last long, he just brushed them enough so she could get a taste of him. And now that she had one taste, she wanted another, but she couldn't do that.
She stared up at him in shock and happiness. He took her hand and they proceeded to walk toward the doors.
A few floors up, staring out the window with tears in his eyes, a young boy felt depressed and lonely. An utter look of horror and disgust filled his face. The girl he liked, or loved for that matter, was down there kissing another guy; a guy that definitely didn't seem to be as charming as he put off. "A wolf in sheep's clothing," the young man said to himself as he watched his love and that idiot walk inside the castle.
"I will find out what you are up to if it's the last thing I do!" the young man stated before he slammed his fist against the window and turned to leave for the common room.
A/N: Ok everyone hoped you liked this chapter. Sorry that it is a little shorter than the other's but I wanted to leave it like this. I also wanted to say that in the next chapters we will start to see things from Harry's point of view. So you know the drill, READ/REVIEW!