Grueling Efforts

CHAPTER ONE: HERMIONE´S SECRET ADMIRER

`Hi, Harry,´ greeted fifteen year old Hermione, sitting on the empty space on Ron´s right. `Hi Neville!´

Harry and Neville just smiled and then looked at Ron. He was pretending to be very busy with his Transfiguration textbook.

`Good day, isn´t it Ron?´ she said, beaming.

Ron didn´t look up from his book. `Yeah,´ he stammered. `Looks, er, like it to, er, me.´

She frowned and then looked at Harry. `Something wrong?´ she asked.

`Why, er, would you think that?´ said Ron, still not looking up from his book.

Harry could see Ron slightly cover his face with his right hand, pretending to run his hand through his hair.

`Well,´ she replied, looking very suspicious. `Fine. Keep your secrets.´ She reached for a slice of toast, looked at them all and then started reading her book as well.

A few minutes later, flapping wings of the owls began to be heard. Ron´s ears began to turn slightly pink as an owl began to drop a small basket of tulips and sweets in a heart-shaped case in front of Hermione.

`What---´ gasped Hermione, blushing furiously because of the teasing looks and sounds that she heard.

Dean and Seamus sniggered.

`Ohhhhh,´ teased Fred, squinting slightly at Ron. `Looks like little Hermione has a secret admirer.´

`I wonder whose it from,´ added Lee.

`I think that I have an idea,´ said George, before laughing like a maniac.

Ron began to blush like mad.

`Who would have---´ said Hermione. `It must be---´

`Read the card,´ suggested Ginny, grinning.

Hermione looked at them all before taking the attached heart-shaped card and reading it.

To the most beautiful girl on earth,

With every look and every smile

You make me want to jump up to the sky

When you are around, the sun shines brighter

The flowers smell extra fragrant and sweet

With you, my heart feels free and lighter

You always make everything better and pretty

Do you know what I love about you?

Everything, Hermione. Everything.

You are a very wonderful person and you are so special to me.

I love you,

Your Secret Admirer

`You make me want to jump up to the sky?!´ exclaimed George. `Bloody hell! Now that is something absobloodylutely traumatizing.´

`How corny can that prat get?´ added Lee, laughing with Fred and George like a lunatic.

Harry bit his lip to keep himself from laughing.

`You always make everything better and pretty,´ added Fred. `What a slime ball! Sounds like the mad knight, Sir Cadogan, to me. The bloke is a total nutter.´

Ron wanted to die that very moment. He couldn´t take one more word from Lee, Fred and George any longer. He slammed his book shut, which caught everyone´s attention. He looked up and then forced himself to join in the laughter.

`This is ridiculous,´ said Hermione, blushing and frowning.

Ron swallowed hard, after the laughter subsided, and then slowly bowed his head, opening his book once more.

`I´ve never seen you this committed to Transfiguration before,´ commented George. `So, Hermione, got any ideas on who S.A. may be?´

`I bet this is from you and Fred---´ continued Hermione dismissively, offering her housemates some chocolates before tossing one into her mouth.

`Why would Fred and George waste their time to send you one?´ said Lee.

`Hahaha, Lee,´ she said, a triumphant smile forming on her mouth. `Because that´s what they do. Defending your best friends, eh? Don´t worry. I will not hex them. I´m a good sport---´

The twins looked at each other and then grinned slyly.

`Do you really want to know who sent you that?´ whispered George which made Hermione lean closer so she can hear him.

Ron decided to lean closer as well, just like everyone else.

`It´s really not from us,´ said Fred, chewing on the chocolates. `But if you want to know who he is---´

His heart began to pound really hard. His lips began to tremble. He was certain that what his brothers were about to say would not be pleasing to his ears. A glass of water would help him in situations such as this...

`We can help you there,´ said the twins at the same time proudly. `We know this spell which---´

Suddenly, Ron choked. He began coughing and coughing, as if his life depended on it, while his face rapidly changed into a ripe tomato.

`Ron,´ said Hermione, looking very concerned as she rubbed his back. `You all right?´

He couldn´t stop coughing. `Yes I think I am,´ he responded. `I´ll be fine, thanks.´

`Are you sure?´

`Yes,´ he finally said, once he began to relax, clearing his throat.

The twins didn´t say a thing, but they just bit their lips to keep themselves from grinning.

`Well,´ interrupted Ginny, `whoever sent that to you must be a really sweet lad.´

`Yeah, I guess so,´ said Hermione dreamily. `It´s really sweet of him to send me my favourite flower and chocolates---´

Ron began to smile inwardly. She loved the presents. How can she not when it is her favourites.

`He must have pretty good connections,´ commented Fred.

`Oh yes,´ added George. `Imagine? He knows your favourites?´

Cold sweat began to form on Ron´s forehead. Why did they have to do that? Why did they have to make every single day of his life miserable? Why? He began to pant a little.

`You should thank him,´ said Ginny. `You should thank Viktor Krum.´

His face fell. `Viktor Krum?´ said Ron, not believing his ears. `Viktor Krum?´

`You think it is him, Ginny?´ asked Hermione.

`Viktor Krum?!´ said Ron, standing up and going a little hysterical. `Viktor Krum?´

`Ron, what´s with the attitude?´ spat Hermione.

`Why would you think that it is from him?´ he said disgustedly. `Krum?! Viktor Krum?´

`What the--- It´s just a bloody guess and it´s not even my guess!´

`But you do not think that it´s from him, do you? You can´t possibly---I have to go,´ he said hazily. `I am not feeling so well.´ He immediately marched out of the Great Hall.

`He looks jealous to me,´ commented Fred, which made Hermione look at him.

`And oh, Hermione,´ said Ginny, `I do not think that it is from Krum. The flowers look really fresh to me. He must be from around here---somewhere.´

`I´ll just check what´s going on,´ said Harry, standing up before raising his thumbs up. Fred, George and Ginny just winked at him.