The Way You Make Me Feel

Chapter 3

Hermione ran blindly up to Gryffindor Tower, her mind racing. What had she done? She knew the answer to that, but why? How could she have forgotten six years of hate? But I had a good time, Hermione thought wistfully. She shook her head, and tried to push those thoughts away.

"Abeo draco," Hermione said softly to the Fat Lady. The portrait hole swung open to reveal an angry looking Ron, and an anxious Harry.

"Where have you been?" Ron demanded shrilly, sounding dangerously close to his mother.

"Hermione! We expected some kind of word from you telling us where you were. You could've been captured for all we knew. We were just discussing whether to go after you or not," Harry rebuked a guilt-ridden Hermione. Ron looked as if he wanted to add some other comment, but couldn't get it out. Hermione was relieved that they hadn't asked who he was yet, but she felt guilty nonetheless.

"I'm sorry you guys. That was very wrong of me. I should have been more responsible than that," Hermione apologized with a pleading look towards her best friends. Harry's face relaxed as he saw the genuine guilt on Hermione's face, and looked over and gave Ron's beat-red face a reproving glance.

"It's alright Hermione," Ron said grudgingly, shifting his feet under Harry's gaze. "By the way, who's your mystery bloke anyway?"

Hermione didn't know what to say. She thought of lying; surely Seamus or Dean would cover for her. But what if Harry and Ron had hung out with them? There was no way for her to lie, so she said simply, "You'll find out."

Harry shrugged, but Ron said indignantly, "You blow us off for the whole afternoon, and all we get is an evasive 'you'll find out'?"

"I'll tell you in good time," Hermione said sweetly.

"Let's go down to dinner," Harry said, once again trying to break up the match between his best friends' eyes. "Maybe we'll find out Hermione's bloke during dinner. We have to go now," here he paused until both brown and blue were on him, "because we have Quidditch practice after."

The three filed out of Gryffindor tower and down to the Great Hall. Hermione unconsciously chose a seat facing the Slytherin table, Ron sitting next to her, and Harry across.

~*~

Draco stood outside a while longer, enjoying the brisk air on his flushed face. He glanced at his watch and realized that dinner would begin soon. With once last breath of the cool air, Draco made his way, not to the Great Hall, but to the Owlery. Ten minutes later, Draco strolled back to the Great Hall to sit across from his "friends" Crabbe and Goyle, coincidentally facing the Gryffindor' table. He glanced over to the latter mentioned table, only to make eye contact with the lady he had spent his afternoon with. The lady blushed under his gaze, not knowing why her stomach was doing somersaults; little did she know that Draco's was doing the same.

The Way You Make Me Feel
(The Way You Make Me Feel)
You Really Turn Me On
(You Really Turn Me On)
You Knock Me Off Of My Feet
(You Knock Me Off Of
My Feet)
My Lonely Days Are Gone
(My Lonely Days Are Gone)