Don't ~ T

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This could be a really bad fanfiction.. but I thought I'd give it a try. Pairings, plot.. it's all in there!! (This is a 'pretending HBP doesn't exist type of fic too.. :

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Don't

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It all started, on a frosty winters evening. Every sixth year it seemed, was in the library, their faces pressed into books, scribbling fiercely. Few looked as pre-occupied as Hermione - slumped over her books, staring into space, her fingers locked around her Quill.. as if holding it meant something to her.

Beside her, sat her two best friends. One Harry Potter and the other, a slightly frustrated Ron Weasley - or Roonil Wazlib as his Quill had misquoted. He muttered under his breath, half damnation, half an oath to get back at his twin brothers before Hermione passed her quill, picked up her books and left the library. Her head bowed.

Ron looked at Harry who did not meet her glance. For a very special red-head had just walked into the next section and he was hoping that he might be able to gaze at her, Ron's sister, whilst he pretended to study. Ron sighed and started to write, scratching out words and cursing at intervals, never once realising, that his friends eyes reflected upon his sisters every movement.

---

Hermione paced the corridors of Hogwarts, intent on trying to figure out her feelings. She was seventeen, yes she was old enough to know better, she told herself. But why is it that she couldn't get him out of her head? She gasped and ran behind a statue, then proceeded to watch the fine young man that she couldn't have, ascend the stairs towards the library.

Torn between wanting to follow him at a discrete distance and watch him in the library, or her other option of running away and slapping herself silly. Hermione decided on neither. She sighed and walked towards the Room of Requirement.

---

Harry was having similar troubles. He was certain Ron was about to catch him staring, and he was certain what the reaction was going to be. He must have grimaced slightly.
"What are you frowning about?" Ron asked quietly for Madam Pince was scolding noisy students a few tables away.
"McGonagalls assignment," Harry lied in a mutter.

That lie was useful as Ron started ranting and raving in a low murmur that almost suceeded in putting him to sleep... Or did it?

He was in a circular room, full of interesting objects... he wanted to touch one. He stepped towards it and then he was..

Falling.

"Harry," Ron said slightly loudly. Harry woke with a start. "I think you fell asleep." He chortled. "Come on, we'll finish up in the Common Room - I have to give Hermione's quill back."

"Yeah ok,"

---

Stay tuned for chapter two!!

{Edited by Admin 05/04/07 - 10 Sickles Awarded}

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None of them got to sleep that night.

Hermione spent the evening sitting by the window, looking out upon the Hogwarts Grounds, dreaming of a time where things didn't have to be this way.

Harry was hidden under his Invisibility Cloak in the Common Room, hurriedly finishing his Transfiguration Essay, he felt foolish for wasting his time in the library earlier.

Ron was having nightmares.. Hermione kissed Draco who turned into a spider that chased him before it transformed into the pale white ferret of their Fourth Year.

---

So it's needless to say that they were in awful moods by the morning. Harry had dozed off in the Common Room, and awoke with the early sun. Too proud to go upstairs, he cleaned himself off, performed a reviving spell to wake him and went down to an early breakfast.

Hermione joined him not long after.. She'd spent so many hours last night, pondering her situation. Eventually, she'd decided that what she needed was distance. She had a crush and as long as she saw it as no more than that, she would feel safe.

They sat together, chewing on their toast, watching the Great Hall slowly start to fill. They were silent about their early morning. Even more they were silently triumphant of their victories - for Harry a completed essay and Hermione, some control over her emotions.

Luna Lovegood, a pretty girl - although more renowned for being vague and strange, entered the Great Hall. Harry and Hermione both snorted into their porridge. She had what could only be described as cornstalks scattered through her hair. Harry was so surprised by what Hermione said next, that he soon became the centre of attention.

"I think Ron likes her,"

Harry let out what could only be a high pitched squeal - It just seemed so obvious. Both he and Hermione burst out laughing as every eye (and there were quite a few now) focused upon them.

But Hermione quietened when she saw a pair of heartbreakingly blue eyes focus on her. Harry noticed her silence and they held it until Ron showed.

But he was silent too.


{Edited by Admin 05/04/07 - 10 Sickles Awarded}

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Their day was dismal which led into another frosty evening in the library.

Ron was ranting and raving in an undertone, McGonagall had given them another long essay, due in half the time of the last one. Harry didn't mind, Ron's raving gave him time to think of Ginny. Hermione was writing intently, at recess, she'd resolved to sink further into school work, to remove him from her mind.

"Hey Guys," Ginny was across from them. Harry looked up, an arm was casually around her waist. His eyes rose to hers.

"Hey Ginny," He said quietly. She looked at Seamus' arm around her and pushed it away. Ron and Hermione greeted them both and Harry sat there, hollow, empty, crushed.

The second she left, Ron started ranting and raving about Seamus. Every time he mentioned Seamus' name, Harry inserted his and reminded himself that no matter how much he liked her. She was off limits and always would be.

Eventually it stopped, Hermione suggested an early night, seeing as they weren't getting anything done - indeed, Harry was slumped over his books, feeling dismal. Ron was swearing furiously at the ink he'd spilled on his book and Hermione had just noticed him enter the library.

Harry lingered in the Common Room, he enjoyed the warmth of the fire - he could hear Ginny's voice as she talked to her friends. Seamus thankfully was nowhere to be seen, he was lucky. Harry wanted to rip him limb from limb.

Hermione glided up towards him, just because she wasn't in control of her own emotions, didn't mean that she couldn't present as balanced and composed as normal.

"Harry, I know you like her,"

Harry shot her a tortured look.

"What am I going to do?" he asked in a pathetic whisper.

---

Harry felt better after talking to Hermione. She could be bossy and awful, but she really was a good friend.

Even though he heard Ron mutter 'Seamus' in his sleep, nothing could take away his dream of holding Ginny in his arms.


{Edited by Admin 05/04/07 - 10 Sickles Awarded}

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It was yet another sleepless night for Hermione - she spent the night reflecting on that smile. Feeling the warmth from it over and over again. It was true, he had smiled in her general direction during Transfiguration, whether it was at her, she did not know but she dared to dream that it was.

Harry slept, but dreamt of large rooms, a rough-ish looking fellow with a cutlass. He wanted to know where he was but his mind shut itself in sleep. He would know in time, he knew.

Ron lay restless, he dreamed of his sister with a man, he wanted to go and confront Seamus and tell him what he thought of him.

But when he reached Seamus it wasn't Seamus' face that he saw. It was Harry's.

---

He caught up with her just after potions. In the cold, wintery air, she felt his breath, warm against her cheek.
"Saw you staring at me in Potions," he challenged, "What is it? Have I got something in my teeth?" Hermione remained impassive. Why did she love such a jerk?
"So what is it? Has another fallen for the Malfoy charm?" Hermione turned to face him.
"You are kidding right?" she spat. "The best you'd get is the Giant Squid,"
Malfoy looked at her in mock-thought.
"Now there's a thought Granger," He speculated. "I guess that it's better looking than you are." He retorted. Hermione laughed and continued walking.

"Hermione," he called after her. "Study with me for a change. 8pm, the Library, be there,"

Hermione laughed. She smiled so that he wouldn't see and continued up the corridor. Oh she'd be there alright.



{Edited by Admin 05/04/07 - 10 Sickles Awarded}

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Hermione ran the comb through her hair. He'd called her Hermione! But she wasn't convinced, she knew that it wouldn't last. No matter what.

Meanwhile, Harry was having his own problems, the cold weather meant that Quidditch Training had started and it was to be their first match on Saturday - with him as captain.

Worse still, Ginny was still on the team. It hurt him just to look at her. Especially in the late afternoon sun, when her hair shone and her smile was infectious.

Ron frowned at Harry, it seemed as though he was smiling at his sister far too often for comfort. And he had no idea how he felt about that. Quidditch training was harder than ever, true, he could see some improvement, but improvement wasn't good enough. Gryffindor needed to win this match.

And it all came down to him.

---

It was nearly 8 pm, Hermione sat at a desk in the library, seemingly absorbed in a book. But her eyes darted nervously and the book was open to the index pages.

She looked pretty, so she wasn't the most attractive girl in the school, but she most definately wasn't the worst. Ginny had said she looked nice - it was unusual for Ginny to pay compliments whilst kissing a boy. Hermione would've thought it was impossible, but apparently not.

"Granger," He said slowly and deliberately. Hermione looked up.

---

Harry turned his broom in the air, it was very windy, so much so that he was buffeted almost off his broom. The new beaters were circling the pitch - practising manoeuvres, there was no way that Bludgers could be released in this weather. He watched their progress for a moment, before his eyes fell on Ginny.

She was gliding through the air, her arm wrapped around the large red Quaffle, soaring towards the goal posts where Ron was waiting.

He didn't see what happened exactly next, but the next thing, Ginny was falling towards the ground.

Harry didn't even have to think of what to do next, he dived down, his Firebolt shaking in the wind. Ginny's golden red hair was streaming behind her as she fell.

He pulled his wand out. "Immobulus," He yelled. The spell would slow her progress, but he didn't know anything that would stop her from falling.

He lined up his Firebolt, he was going to catch her. Both hands outstretched, he reached for her and caught her before swooping to the ground.

But Ginny didn't feel like Ginny, her lips were blue and her eyes were shut. He let out an anguished yelp and ran, holding her in his arms to the Hospital Wing.



{Edited by Admin 05/04/07 - 10 Sickles Awarded}

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Draco leaned against a bookshelf, watching her.

"Malfoy," Hermione said formally reaching back for her book. She was lucky, she knew that a Quidditch Training Session had been planned for tonight. She didn't want Ron and Harry to know that she was fraternising with the enemy. He took a seat next to her and looked over her shoulder.

"Advanced Transfiguration - Folio II" he murmured, his breath trailing down her neck. "Wise choice,"

And surprisingly - to Hermione at least. They studied.

Eventually, Hermione knew it was time for them to get back to their common rooms, but she wasn't going without information.

"Why?" she asked quietly. He looked at her, smirked and then shrugged.

"Well, we're the only two that are going to get decent marks," He said nonchalantly. "And you certainly beat studying with Crabbe and Goyle," Hermione thought for a second.

"You have a point," she said slowly. "But I thought with me being a Mudblood and all that.."

Malfoy wrinkled his nose.

"It was a problem, I must admit." but then he smiled. A true smile. "But I've worked through that,"

Hermione wasn't entirely convinced, but nor did she find she cared all too much. she gathered her books and left.

"Same time tomorrow," he called after her.

She turned back and smiled at him.

Unless she was very much mistaken, something funny was going on.

---

She arrived back to the Gryffindor Common Room, finding it in various stages of distress.

Colin Creevey shook and trembled, cried of hate, war, Ginny and Harry and love. She eventually realised that she was needed down at the Hospital Wing.

---

She arrived to an even worse type of distress, the quiet fear, shock and misery.

Ron was at one end of the bench, head in his hands, shaking, trembling.

Harry sat at the other end, next to the Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. They were talking inaudibly, but acknowledged her presence, Hermione felt that swift searching look as she sat down next to Ron.

She didn't ask Ron what had happened, but she so desperately wanted to break down the door and see Ginny. So much so that it hurt.

At length, Dumbledore stood, he sent Harry to his office and entered the Hospital Wing. Hermione watched Harry walk away.
"What happened?" she asked softly. She needed to know.
"She fell," Ron mumbled. "Harry caught her, but something happened,"
"What happened?" Hermione probed gently.
"She's ill, she won't wake."

[vagabond]

Nice cliff-hanger to end a chapter with! It looks really good, but I must say, I don't trust Malfoy. Interesting idea not to start it where the last book left-off as so many other people tend to do. The plot is thickening nicely, and looks like it's going in an interesting direction- I'm definately enthralled by the plot, especially as it seems to reflect some aspects of the sixth book, like Harry's love for Ginny and how that conflicts with Ron's feelings. I do think, however, that your writing isn't quite up to the same standard as the plot seems to be. I think you should do it more justice, and fatten out your paragraphs a bit. I do really like it though, it's only constructive critisism, please don't take it the wrong way.

{Edited by Admin - 11/04/07 - 10 Sickles Awarded}