The Songfic Series: Rocky Road

Chapter 4 - Taking Over Me

It was a week after Hermione's "episode". The whole school was talking about her, and only dark looks from Harry and Ginny made them shut up when she was near. But she still heard them. The Great Hall sounded like a buzzing beehive of gossip and rumors. Hermione even found a copy of some club newspaper, with its headline being SMART GIRL CRACKS: THE HERMIONE GRANGER STORY. Hermione had destroyed the newspaper with several shredding charms, the tossed it into the fireplace.

The only time in Hermione's life when school had been like this was in her first year, when she and Harry and Neville had lost so many house points for Gryffindor, and many people stopped speaking to them. Only this time, people talked to Neville and Harry, and even here, though in small, meek, "Everything will be fine, don't worry" voices. Why did they have reason to do that? She was just a normal teenage girl, right?

"I'm just a normal teenage girl, right?" she asked Harry at breakfast one morning.

"Of course you are," replied Harry, too quickly for Hermione's comfort. Then again, could she really have suspected him to be honest on such a subject? Him and Ginny had been literally stalking Hermione ever since her...breakdown. She couldn't even shower or use the lavatory in piece; Ginny would always come in there too. It was as if they were afraid she would slit her wrists or something. But she wasn't suicidal. Right?

Hermione stirred her cereal slowly, knowing Harry and Ginny were watching the spoon intensely, when she suddenly heard a change in the tone of whispers. She felt the eyes leave her hunched shoulders. She looked up.

A tall, black haired boy was standing at the doors of the Great Hall. The had broad shoulder, muscles that could be seen through his robe sleeves, a small, thin nose, and deep, deep blue eyes, almost navy. He was unlike anyone Hermione had ever seen before. She could tell the rest of the girls in the Great Hall thought the same. She saw a flutter of movement to her left and saw Parvati Patil take out a little pad of parchment and start taking notes. No doubt she and Lavender would be on him in a week. The boy looked around and started to walk toward the right, away from Hermione. She saw as he turn a flash of green on his robes: he was a Slytherin. Hermione noticed that many Gryffindor girls' faces hardened and they turned back to their breakfast. But Hermione kept watching him. He slid into an empty seat and started talking to some 7^th year Slytherins Hermione didn't know. She saw his eyes scan the hall, and she saw most of the girls bow their heads, blushing, as he looked their way. His eyes drifted down the Gryffindor table, and suddenly met Hermione's gaze. He stared at for a few seconds and she him, before he turned back to his friends. "Who is that guy?" Hermione whispered.

"I dunno," said Ginny. "But I give him an A + + +." Harry looked at her in shock.

"You? Interested in guys?? Interested in Slytherin guys???" he in shock.

"Yes, and?" Ginny replied, slightly offended. "I am a girl. I have the right to be interested in other guys. I'm not going steady with anyone."

"Yeah, right. It just seems, weird," said Harry. Ginny let the conversation drop as the bell rang and breakfast disappeared from the plates. Ginny ran to the doors, so she could end up there at the same time as the mystery guy. That was her goal; also the goal of about the whole girl population of Hogwarts. Hermione ran to catch up with her, she had to meet this mystery guy.

"Hey, slow down!" shouted Harry. He was a bit far behind.

"I got to catch up with Ginny!" Hermione shouted back. A great excuse.

She finally caught Ginny, who had perfect timing. They both arrived there at the same time as the boy, who was surrounded by girls. "Hey," said an older Ravenclaw girl, twirling her hair and wiggling her eyebrows up and down. Ginny made a gagging noise and the boy turned around. He seemed to recognize Hermione.

"Hey," he said. He voice was perfectly mellowed out, flowing smoothly and not, now that Hermione thought about it, cracking like Harry's still did every now and then.

"Hey," said Hermione in her most Don't-recognize-that-I'm-trying-to-flirt-with-you voice. "What's your surname?" she asked, as if she was just asking for the time. Ginny was staring at the guy, and then at Hermione with her eyes wide and mouth open, looking very unattractive.

"Lenord," he said. "The name's Simon Lenord. And who might you be?"

"Granger. Hermione Granger," replied Hermione as she flashed a smile, silently saying a prayer of thanks that her teeth were not in braces.

"Well, after you, Miss Granger," said Simon, bowing.

"Hermione," she replied looking deep into his navy eyes.

"Right, Hermione," he said, bowing his head as she and Ginny, with Harry panting in tow, left the Hall.

****

"You talked to him!"

"She did WHAT?!"

"She talked to him!"

"She WHAT?!?!"

"Harry, how many times am I going to have to repeat myself? She. Talked. To. Simon."

"Oh, so mystery Tom-Riddle-Looking-Guy suddenly has a name. Simon. Very creative."

"He does not look like Tom Riddle! I would know! And, he told us his name was Simon, so there!"

Hermione didn't pay any attention to Harry and Ginny's bickering as they walked towards the common room. Simon's a pretty cool guy, she thought. I hope I can get to know him better...

Hold up Hermione, she said to herself. He's a Slytherin, I'm a Gryffindor. There's probably some ancient taboo that prevents that sort of thing. Besides, he's probably snobby, mean, handsome, sweet, kind generous...Hermione stopped walking in shock. She, Hermione Granger, have feelings for another guy? But her heart was totally shattered - yet devoted - to and by Ron.

"Hermione, are you OK?" asked Harry from behind her, and both him and Ginny gave her questioning looks.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I just remembered, don't you guys have Quidditch practice now, it's Saturday," Hermione answered.

"Cripes, I'd nearly forgot! Thanks Hermione! See ya later!" shouted Ginny as she and Harry tore in the other direction towards the grounds.

***

That night, Hermione lay in bed, staring at the canopy of her bed, and started to drift off to sleep, knowing she would dream about Ron. However, she had the most odd dream:

It started out as her and Ron, walking by the lake together, and then Ron turned to her to kiss her, and he was Simon!

Hermione sat up, panting for some odd reason. She did not just dream about Simon. Simon, with his sleek dark hair and his navy eyes, warm and soft, his skin...Wait, she thought, How do I know what his skin feels like? I must be going mad again... She got up to get herself a drink of water from the jug by the window, hoping it would clear her mind.

You don't remember me but I remember you

I lie awake and try so hard not to think of you

But who can decide what they dream

And dream I do

Hermione crawled back into bed and shut her eyes...and was once again plagued of Simon dreams. This time, she didn't try and wake herself up.

I believe in you

I'll give up everything just to find you

I have to be with you

To live

To breathe

You're taking over me

***

The next day, as Hermione headed down to the Great Hall, she decided that she was over Ron, and all on Simon. She stuck to that moral for about 2 minutes, until she saw Ron in the Great Hall...talking and laughing with Lavender.

Have you forgotten all I know, and all we had?

This made Hermione very mad. How can he flirt with other girls when it's on his conscious what he did to me? She asked herself. Her, Harry and Ginny passed them on their way to find seats. Hermione kept her head down, but then she heard something that made it snap up.

"Hey."

No. There was no possible way...no, no way, no way...or was it? She looked right back at Ron and said "Hey." Those were the first words they had spoken to each other since they split. As she followed Harry and Ginny, she thought He must still like me. He said "Hey" to me. That means he must still like me!

You saw me mourning my love for you

And touched my hand

I knew you loved me then

Well, if I could choose, Simon or Ron, whom would I have? Hermione asked herself. It was a more difficult question than she had thought it would be..

I believe in you

I'll give up everything just to find you

I have to be with you

To live

To breathe

You're taking over me

Hermione imagined what it might look like if she was in front of the Mirror of Erised. First, she saw herself with Ron, but then, like the picture was split, she saw herself with Simon. This only confused Hermione more.

I look in the mirror and see your face

If I look deep enough

So many things inside that are just like you

Are taking over

I believe in you

I'll give up anything just to find you

I have to be with you

To live

To breathe

You're taking over me

Oh boy, thought Hermione, as Simon caught her eye and gave her a wink. She was surprised when she lifted her hand and gave him a little wave, before sitting down, making sure her hair swung out to it's full potential and nearly whacking a few incoming Ravenclaws in the head. Simon likes me, Simon likes me, Hermione chanted in her head. Down the table, Lavender tossed her hair and Hermione looked up at the motion. But Ron likes me too.

I believe in you

I'll give up anything just to find you

I have to be with you

To live

To breathe

You're taking over me

What a mess I'm in.