Hermione trudged from the Great Hall to History of Magic in a complete stupor the following morning. People whispered as she passed, but she only caught one word here and there. She wasn't really listening. Her senses had become heightened the night before, enabling her to connect with herself more so than she ever had before.

She could feel the soft pounding of her heart. She could hear it thumping quietly under her robes. She could hear her steady breathing. But nothing else at that moment seemed to matter.

She hadn't cried much the night before, just been in a kind of daze, staring out into space. Her heart was broken and there really wasn't a reason it should be. There had never been anything but friendship between she and Oliver to begin with. Why did it bug her so much that there never would be?

Professor Binns was shuffling papers at his desk when Hermione entered the classroom. She took her seat next to Ron and put her head on the desk. Ron gave her a confused look which she didn't see. Harry just shrugged as he shifted in his seat, trying to see the chalk board.

Behind Professor Binns' ghostly figure was an announcement that read, "Homework - Compose essay on the Salem Witch Trials. Essay must include:

Statistics on all that died.

4 Spells enabling witches/wizards to live through burning, hanging, ect."

It went on to state that the essay should be turned in the following day and would count as one half of their grades. Professor Binns thought this was quite fair because they'd already covered the Witch Trials way back in 3rd year. The only reason he was doing this was because the Witch Trials would be part of the N.E.W.Ts which were coming up very soon.

As Harry copied all of this information down, soft snores were coming from Ron's other side. Hermione had fallen asleep. This wasn't a problem in History of Magic because Professor Binns hardly looked up from his notes and he never ventured further than his desk. He'd never know she was sleeping.

But still, something nagged at Harry's heart. He was really worried for his friend. Ron, it seemed, felt the same.

*

"What do you suggest we do, Headmaster?" Minerva McGonagall asked, sighing loudly. All of Hogwarts' teachers were squished together in the stuffy teacher's lounge. It was lunch time, but none of them were eating.

Albus Dumbledore echoed her sigh. "I don't know. It is a very hard situation to be in."

"Just let them be," snapped Severus Snape. "they are young adults. They can figure it out on their own."

"That's just it," said Poppy (aka Madame) Pomfrey, "they can't figure it out."

"I don't see what all the fuss is about," muttered Madame Pince.

"The 'fuss' is that a Professor and a student obviously have feelings for the other. Yet they cannot act upon them. We are trying to figure out what's best for them." Stated Professor Sprout reasonably.

"Miss Granger fell asleep in my class today," said Professor Binns loudly, trying to talk over the squeaking of the chairs as all the Professors turned to look at him.

"Been all out of it in mine," said Hagrid, shaking his head sadly.

"Why didn't you just let them be, Albus?" asked Professor Flitwick.

"How do you mean?" Dumbledore asked.

"I think he means, why did you even intervene in the beginning." Professor Trelawny whispered mystically. She had made the long haul from the North Tower to attend this meeting on Dumbledore's stern request.

"Because I didn't think they really had feelings for each other. I saw it simply as infatuation." Dumbledore sighed again.

"Miss Granger is a bright young lady," said Professor Lupin, "but this is just a school girl crush. It'll run it's course."

"I don't think so, Remus," replied Dumbledore, his voice very sad sounding.

"What of Oliver Wood?" asked Professor McGonagall. "His feelings cannot be considered a school boy crush, now can they, Remus?"

Lupin shook his head, "No, I suppose not, Minerva."

"Perhaps we should turn a blind eye where they are concerned. Let them speak to one another in a school situation. Let them get to know the other. Then, they...and we...will know for sure what is going on here."

"Are you sure that is a wise decision, Albus? There is no telling what they will do together." McGonagall said fretfully.

Dumbledore nodded obligingly, "It is the only decision, Minerva. There hasn't been an alternative. And they are young adults. They need to start making their own choices and acting responsibly."

*

Hermione picked at her food, sighing every couple seconds. Ron and Harry asked her repeatedly if she was all right, but all she did was mutter something incoherent in response.

"You know it's only a few days to October 31st," said Seamus Finnigan to the whole table.

"Yeah, so?" Ron asked, stuffing some ham sandwich into his mouth.

"The Halloween Feast is coming up. And there's going to be a dance afterwards. With music from a band I think." Seamus glanced at Hermione to see reaction to this news, but he got nothing.

Lavender and Parvati, however, were beside themselves with fits of giggles. They peeked through their fingers at Harry who sat unfazed across the table from them.

"Do you have a date, Hermione?" Seamus asked, leaning closer to her.

Hermione broke out of her daze, "Date?"

"Yes, that is when two people go out together," said Lavender patronizingly.

Hermione ignored her. "No, I don't have a date." Her eyes skirted away from Seamus and brushed the head table quickly. Oliver sat up there alone, looking around at them all. He noticed her eyes on him, but he looked down at his plate as quickly as possible.

"Do you want to go with me?" Seamus asked her hopefully.

Hermione didn't answer. Instead, she watched as Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick and Sprout approached Oliver. He dropped his fork looking very scared. They crowded around him and talked in hushed whispers. Hagrid walked into the hall, just then, diverting Hermione's attention. He smiled at her as he sat down at the head table. He smiled a smile that looked like he knew something she didn't.

Hermione didn't have time to think about it though. And she didn't get a chance to look at Oliver again because Seamus was waving a hand in front of her face and calling her name.

"Oh. Sorry, Seamus," said Hermione, blushing a little.

"That's all right. So, do you want to?"

"Want to what?"

"Hermione, are you okay?" He asked seriously. That was the first time in a while she'd heard him be serious.

"Yes, I'm fine." She nodded to show she meant it and then went back to her meal.

Seamus dropped his question. He wasn't sure if he wanted to go with her anymore anyway.

Hermione got asked to the Ball three times on her way out of the Great Hall and onto the grounds toward Herbology. She declined each one politely.

During Herbology, Justin Finch-Fletchley (having grown up quite a bit himself) came up to the plugglybug plant that Hermione was re-soiling.

"Hey Hermione," he said, looking rather nervous and pale.

"Hello, Justin," she replied with fake cheerfulness in her voice.

"I was wondering...do you have a date to the Ball?" Justin asked, pulling at the collar of his robes.

"Er---no."

Justin smiled, "Would you like to go with me?"

"Of course she wouldn't, Jus!" Ernie MacMillian shouted, clapping a large hand on Justin's back. Ernie MacMillian had filled out a bit too, but mostly round the middle. "She wants to go with me."

Hermione's face was on fire. She knew that the whole Herbology class was watching, including Professor Sprout.

"No thank you, Ernie," said Hermione, her voice shaking.

Justin beamed, but Ernie scooted away in a hurry looking very angry. Justin didn't push the subject further and for that, Hermione was glad. On the way out of the greenhouses toward Care of Magical Creatures, he pulled her aside.

"If you don't want to go with me, that's fine. But could I have one dance?" Justin asked her.

She smiled, "Of course I'll dance with you....and thanks for understanding."

Justin shrugged and ran to catch up with (no longer pig-tailed) Hannah Abbott.

The Slytherins were bunched together around Hagrid's cabin door when Hermione showed up. Harry and Ron were off to one side talking to him in low voices. Hermione stood by herself, watching.

"Hey Granger," said Draco, strolling up to her, goons in toe. She noticed the rest of the Slytherins were standing a few feet behind them.

"What, Malfoy?" replied Hermione, sounding very tired. She took a deep breath because she knew what was coming.

"Want to go to the Ball with------" he looked around with a big sneer on his face, "---Crabbe?"

Crabbe was kicking some dirt up with his monstrous feet. Hermione had never seen him look so....human.

"No, thanks," she said calmly.

"Goyle?" asked Draco, grinning at her.

Hermione glared at him, "No thank you, Malfoy."

"Wanna go to the dance with me?" asked Blaise Zabini, pushing his way in front of Draco. It looked like he'd been late coming from class, because she hadn't seen him standing there before.

Hermione didn't answer right away, but said calmly and coolly, "Drop dead, Blaise."

'Ooohs' and whistles could be heard scattered throughout the Slytherin group. Hermione noticed, through the corner of her eye, that all the Gryffindors and Hagrid were watching this display.

"She can't go with you, Blaise," said Draco laughing, "She's already going with me."

Hermione was about to protest when she noticed Draco giving her a 'shut up, I'm taking care of this' look. She didn't want to let him 'take care of it' but she also didn't want to deal with Blaise on her own.

Once again, her ears tuned out so she was just watching what was going on. She could see Draco's lips moving and Blaise's moving in response, but she couldn't hear their words. All she could hear was her steady breathing. She could hear her heart beating loudly in her ears.

"---you." Blaise said, sneering at Draco.

"Shut up, Blaise," retorted Draco angrily. "Just leave her alone." He shook his head at Blaise and walked away, toward Hagrid and the lesson that would start as soon as Hermione had collected herself and followed him.

Ron and Harry were headed back to the castle after the lesson, with Hermione trailing a little behind. Ron and Harry stopped when they realized she wasn't beside them.

"Come on, Hermione. We're going to be late for dinner."

Hermione glanced around and saw Draco walking behind them.

"Go on, I'll catch you up."

Harry and Ron exchanged quizzical looks but shrugged and walked off anyway.

Hermione grabbed Draco's arm and pulled him away from his classmates.

"What do you want?" He asked her angrily. "I'm hungry."

"Why'd you do that?"

"Do what?" asked Draco innocently.

"You told Blaise I was going to the Ball with you."

"Because I knew that you wouldn't want to go with him. And I figured you might be thankful that I stood up for you. I noticed that Potter and Weasley weren't."

Hermione was about to say something mean, but stopped. "No, they weren't, were they."

"No," replied Draco. "They weren't. You did me a favor...I'm returning it. End of story. Nothing in it for me, okay?"

Hermione sighed, "All right." She paused. "Thanks."

Draco shrugged, "Don't mention it. Seriously, don't mention it."

Hermione nodded and looked around them. The sky was getting darker and soon dinner would be over if she didn't hurry.

"I know what he did to you. He told me."

Hermione looked up at him sharply, her eyes glistening. "He told you?"

"Yeah, you know...he's a real jerk."

"Gee, really? I hadn't noticed." She rolled her eyes. "He's an ass."

"Yeah," agreed Draco. "I gotta go in and eat. I'm starved. You don't have to go to the Ball with me, Granger, but just so you know....he was going to ask you before you clocked him one....he wanted to get some."

Hermione nodded, "I figured. Thanks, though."

Draco shrugged again and started up the steps. Hermione followed him, but not closely. She didn't want to enter the Hall with him. For reasons that didn't become clear to her until the Ball.

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