Ron cuddled me, his arm squeezed tightly around my waist. My head was balanced inbetween his shoulder and the crook of his neck and I sat silently trying to wrap my head around Malfoy.
"What's up babydoll"? I heard him ask. I looked up and put on a smile.
"Just stressed, you know lessons and the whole diary thing. It's just complicated". He nodded and squeezed my hand.
"Do you wanna get some rest? Or do you wanna do something to take your mind off it? Or..oh shoot we have a lesson". He smiled sympathetically at me.
"Ron, that's so sweet. Thanks for looking after me, but yeah you're right, we should probably get to class".
"What do you have"? He stood up, his hand still in mine, pulling me up with him.
"Double Herbology". He smiles and we talk as we walk down to the greenhouses. Herbology wasn't Ron's forte, neither was it mine but I enjoyed it. Hope loves Herbology, it's her favourite subject. I brushed off thoughts of Hope as they only made me worry and just concentrated on what was happening right now.
Professor Sprout was handing out plantpots for us to plant our mandrakes in. I tugged on my earmuffs and watched as others around me copied. I stifled a giggle. Everyone copied the know-it-all. Last year people calling me that really would of offended me, but not anymore. I listened carefully to instruction and planted the mandrake. Neville passed out, but Professor Sprout either wasn't bothered or didn't really notice as she just carried on teaching. It was quit e a fun lesson and took my mind off things. The next lesson of Herbology was a wrriten up of the practical we had just done. Ron took to copying my work as he so often does in Herbology. I wrote diligently until class was dismissed. I handed in my work.
"Well Done Miss Granger. 10 points to Slytherin for such hard work this lesson, not that you don't work very hard in every single one of my lessons"! She beamed down at me. I thanked her and looked over to Ron and Harry who were walking over and walked inbetween them to the Great Hall for lunch.
I slipped into a seat at the Slytherin table next to Astoria. "Hello, how was Defence against the Dark arts"? She rolled her eyes.
"Awful, Lockhart may be one of the most handsome wizards of all time but he's also the worst teacher of all time"! I laughed maybe a little too loudly. Malfoy turned his head at looked at me comically, I brushed it off and turned back to Astoria. Her eyebrows were creased a little and she looked a little jealous. I decided not to bring it up, I couldn't be doing with another argument. Besides I have Ron and I'm happy. Sandwiches and pumpkin juice for lunch today, it was really tasty. It frustrates me that the house elves make it though, the poor little things. I scanned my eyes over the hall checking on Hope, she was smiling, chattering away to a girl in my year called Susan. I breathed a quiet sigh of relief that she was alright. My eyes met with Malfoy again and he mouthed something to me. I frowned in confusion and so he repeated himself accentuating more.
"MIDNIGHT"? His lips formed the one word. I knew what he meant, he wanted to meet at midnight in the common room to practice non-wand magic. I didn't know if this was such a great idea, but the idea of being able to perform such experienced magic thrilled me so I nodded and smiled.
I checked my timetable, I had Defence against the Dark Arts with the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs and then Charms with the Slytherins and Ravenclaws. Seemed as though it would be a rather pleasant afternoon.
I looked for Ron and Harry to walk with to Defence against the Dark arts but they were no where to be seen so I opted for walking with Neville. We discussed Herbology, he's amazing and he often studies with Hope as they are both in advanced Herbology after school. When we reached class, we took a seat together at the front. Ron and Harry slipped in one minute late but they were lucky as Professort Gilderoy wasn't here yet. Not very professional, perhaps Astoria was right? He showed up 5 minutes later, strolling down from his office above the classroom. He wasn't even in a meeting or anything? I pulled a disgusted look but tried to cover it up. I watched him descend the staircase, his gorgeous golden blonde hair, curly surrounding his perfect face. Don't judge a book by it's cover, I told myself. He's late to his own lesson, that's not good, I reminded myself. Neville looked at me a bit odly, I realised I must of been whispering to myself. Luckily Gilderoy didn't hear. He was talking about his awards and telling us about his book, trying to create a friendship between himself and Harry. This was paticualrly funny as I know for a fact Harry hates him.
When Gilderoy finally decided to start teaching the lesson, he pulled a sheet off a big cage dramatically making the class lean back in their seats. But then the laughter began to echo round the room. I heard Seamus shout from somewhere behind me.
"Cornish Pixies"! He burst into a hysterical fit of laughter along with Dean. Gilderoy's expression flashed with embarassment for a few seconds but he covered it up, putting on a brave act.
"Well let's see what you think of them when I do this"! He exclaimed, flinging open the cage door. My mouth dropped in shock and disgust at his teaching, this was appauling, a teacher was never supposed to let us perform a practical without teaching us a spell first. I stood up as Cornish Pixie landed on my desk and look deviously up at me. I looked around me and saw people screaming and standing on chairs, running around the classroom, swatting them with books. I looked to Ron and Harry as one clung on to my hair.
"Hold still"! Ron cried above the racous holding the clump of hair the pixie had tangled itself in. Harry hit the pixie away. I looked over to Gilderoy with a determind look upon my face, he saw this and decided it was time to try and sort out hte situation. He grabbed his wand fiercly from the pixie who had stolen it. I was beginning to admire him once again. He raised his wand and shouted.
"Pesky Pixie Pesternomi" he shouted. It failed to work and panic crossed his face and with that he ran up the stairs back to his office, locking the door behind him. My admiration was dimished. I sighed standing on a chair. I guess it was my job to sort this out.
"IMMOBULUS" I yelled at the top of my lungs, The pixies froze and floated around in the air and the class fell silent.
"Woah". Seamus said.
"Well Done Hermione". Dean complimented, I smiled and then realised there was someone hanging from the chandelier on the celing, my jaw dropped again.
"Neville" I gasped "Are you alright"? He didn't answer my question but with an exasperated tone of voice asked a simple question.
"Why is it always me"? I laughed and soon the whole class began to laugh along with me. Harry and Ron chuckiling went to go and fetch Flich and Dumbledore to advise how was best to get Neville down.
Charms was fun, a little less chaotic and passed quickly and so did dinner and pretty soon everyone was making their way up to bed. I hoped up the stairs tugging on some leggings and a baggy blue top with turned up sleeves. I slipped into bed and pulled out a muggle book, Aunt Betty had sent to me called The Fault in our Stars. Apparently it was a weeper and my cousins had all loved it. I turned the first page and began to read until the clock read midnight. I turned the corner of the page and put the book under my pillow. I grabbed my wand from the bedside table and snuck down the stairs trying not to slip on the stone steps in the dark. Malfoy was sat by the fire, half asleep. He must of dozed off. I placed my hand on his shoulder and shook him slightly. His eyes shot open and he jumped out of his seat about to scream but i shoved my hand over his mouth. His eyes focused on mine and he let out a long breath. I took my hand away so he could speak.
"My god Granger, you scared me". He whispered, I laughed quietly under my breath. He grinned, sitting back down facing the fire, patting the floor beside him. I sat down next to him and stared into the fire as he spoke.
"It's really not as difficult as you think. That's the thing, you have to focus on that one thing. Pretend you're a bit dumb and that you can only think of one thing at a time". I nodded smiling. " Give it a go, which spell do you want to try"? I thought carefully.
"Wingardium Leviosa" I said definetively.
"Right, imagine the object you want to to move, moving up and in the direction you want like it would do if you cast the spell normally, then say the spell and voila" He explained. I laughed nervously and turned my attention to the book on the table inbetween the sofas. I imagined it moving slowly forward and the upwards. I was about to speak the incantaton when the book moved, I squinted my eyes. It moved forwards and upwards and the harder I concentrated the faster it moved. It zoomed over and fell into Malfoy's lap. He stared astonished at the book and then at me.
"G..Granger. Please tell me you whispered that spell really, really quietly". His voice cracked. I shook my head. "Granger, Dumbledore is the only known wizard to be able to do that". I looked at him quizzicaly.
"Non-wand magic? But you can do it".
"No, you didn't even need the spell, you can move things with your mind".
"This sounds like Starwars" I laughed, he looked confused and I remembered he didn't know what that was. I was about to explain but he interrupted.
"That's amazing Granger, but that must be what my aunty wants from you.." Shocked, I stared at him and stood up slowly. I was that powerful and I didn't even know it. I'm the first witch to ever posess this power. That's incredible. My thoughts bounced around in my brain as Malfoy stood up and hugged me.
"I told you that you were talented Granger" He whispered in my ear. I smiled as he pulled out of the hug.
"Sorry, I didn't bring coffee" I said jokily.
"It's alright but now you owe me"! He threatened, laughing.
"Owe you what Malfoy"? I raised my eyebrows. He closed the space between us grabbing my hip.
"This" He whispered and shudders ran down my spine. He pushed his lips against mine and for as few seconds our lips collided. I smiled.
"Draco"? a hurt voice came from behind me.
Astoria.