The Amonrae Spell

Chapter 22: The Heart Can't Take Commands

"Do you know what's wrong wiz her?" Fleur asked to her boyfriend, who had her on top of his chest and wrapped in his arms.

He opened his eyes to the sound of her question and tightened his grip on her.

"Wrong with who?" he yawned.

" 'Ermione. She seemed kind of strange in ze 'allway," Fleur whispered in a concerned tone.

"No wonder. I'd be surprised if she didn't act this way."

"Why?" she started asking, but Oliver's look made her own eyes open wide. "Did she finally tell 'Arry 'ze truz? 'Ow did 'e react?" Fleur moved to her side of the bed.

"She did, after she slept with him. That's not all. Snape told him the truth first."

"What! No way!"

"When you saw her she had just fought with Ron because of well... you know."

"Ron? What did 'e do?"

"What didn't he do is more like it. So then Hermione decided to play by her own rules and kissed Harry after pulling the 'Accio' summon on him."

"To 'zink I missed 'zat! Damn! She told 'im 'zat she loved 'im?"

"I think she does. I've never seen her like this."

"I warned 'er as much."

"You knew about this in the first place?" Oliver's eyes displayed an incredulous look. Fleur just grinned maliciously.

"Who do you 'zink you're talking to Oliver? She doesn't call me best female friend

for nozing, you know." While saying this, Fleur couldn't help but notice that her boyfriend hadn't taken his eyes off her, "What?"

"Did I tell you how gorgeous you are?"

"Not today," she replied a silky seductive tone.

"Come here," he commanded and took her in his arms, kissing her passionately.

"What about 'Arry?" she asked once more, suddenly on top of his chest again.

"Oh, he loves her," Oliver answered without really paying much attention and moved his mouth to her neck, rolling on top of her.

****

"Crookshanks! What?" Hermione shouted at her cat, who was meowing while she was trying to read a book. Mind you, Crookshanks wasn't exactly what was keeping her from concentrating. Her cat put what looked like an appalled look and she took 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 turned the page, and came right across a picture of a Snitch. She sighed, resting her face in her hand.

"Harry," she whispered, 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 saw Crookshanks, trying to open the door and meowing again. "What is it boy? You want out?"

She glanced at her clock. It was 9:00 p.m. 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, her face cupped between her hands. Hermione sighed, drowning in her own thoughts.

The night was cold and breezy, and it didn't 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." 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's 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 couldn't stop herself from advancing to the window. The night was so beautiful. 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 sighed. But her eyes opened wide at the sight of Hedwig heading towards her shoulder.

Hedwig screeched happily and laid on the window's border, waiting for Hermione's attention. She was about to pet her when she heard some footsteps.

"Hedwig...oh."

Hermione was afraid to look back. It couldn't be.

"Harry." He was dressed in black pants, a hunter green sweater, and his cloak was covered with the cold night's dew.

"Hermione."