One week later. Hermione was sitting in Potions when the large barn owl tapped its beak on the tiny dew filled window. Hermione looked up from her note taking curiously. She didn't have any idea who this owl was, nor who he belonged to.

"Three bats' wings," murmured Professor Snape, oblivious to the owl. He glanced back down at his Potions book. "You are to be in groups of four....the groups I assigned to you yesterday. That will be all. Please begin."

Hermione set her quill down quietly as her classmates bustled about putting desks together. Ron walked up to her desk, Goyle and Malfoy behind him.

"Ready Hermione?" Ron asked her.

She looked at him, "Er, what?"

Ron sighed, "Groups. Potions. Hello?"

Draco rolled his eyes, sneering at her. "Who's the owl?"

Hermione stood up and crossed over to the window, reached up and pushed it open. The window, being very small, would not emit the bulk of the owl, so he dropped the letter down to her and she closed the window again.

Hermione -

Just got an owl back from the Chudley Cannons. I depart for London this afternoon. If you have time, it would be nice if you would come and say good-bye. I'll be in my office until after lunch. Write a reply back with my owl, if you like.

-Oliver

"He's leaving?" she said aloud, hardly believing it. She shook her head and looked back up at the awaiting owl. She waved her hand at him and he took flight.

She'd never had any indication that he was really going to leave early. He'd never even mentioned that he had spoken with the team. She suddenly remembered that right after they'd collided the week before, he had said something about talking with Dumbledore about leaving.

Her heart sank and she felt it being covered in ice, freezing up completely.

"Granger, come and help us here," snarled Draco, shooting Ron an angry glare.

Hermione set the letter down on her notes with trembling hands. He's leaving.

"But it hasn't even been a year yet!" She whined, plopping down into her seat. Goyle gave her a bemused look, then turned back to Draco.

"They need him back," said Ron, knowing full well what she was talking about even if no one else did, "they're not doing very well without him. The team's not the same without his completely mad desire to win." Ron shrugged. He mumbled a 'sorry' and went to cut up some frog's legs.

Hermione sighed. She couldn't believe her luck. She didn't want him to leave because she hadn't yet told him her true feelings.

She had a sinking feeling in the very pit of her stomach that he would leave and she'd never see him again.

Hermione ran from the dungeons to his classroom at top speed. She was already late. She didn't want Oliver to leave thinking that she didn't care so she picked up her pace.

Hermione skidded to a halt outside his open door. She knocked before she went in.

Oliver swallowed hard when he saw her in the doorway. He took a deep breath, ready to do what he knew he needed to do.

He withdrew any emotions that shown on his face and smiled. "Got my owl, then?" Oliver asked her in a cheerful voice.

"Yes," she replied, her tone very neutral. "You're really leaving?"

Oliver shoved his hands in his robe pockets and bounced on the balls of his feet. "Yup, just after lunch." He exhaled deeply, "I can't wait to get back on the pitch." He shook his head with a dreamy expression on his face like he was recalling a wonderful memory. Oliver looked back at her, "Just wanted to say good-bye."

Hermione nodded slowly. "I er----good-bye then."

Oliver raised his eyebrows at her in question. "That's it?" He said this before he thought about it. He inwardly kicked himself.

"Well, yes," she replied, surprised at his reaction.

"Hermione, I know I've been giving you....well...mixed signals lately and well, I'm sorry." He smiled at her in an apologetic type of way. "Right from the start I should have just pulled away and not let you get too attached."

Hermione's mouth fell open instantly. There was a cracking sound and she felt sure her jaw had become unhinged.

"So," he said awkwardly. Oliver was trying to ignore her open mouth. "what are you going to do when you've finished school?"

She continued to stare at him in complete shock. "What?"

"I said---"

"I know what you said," she cut him off. "but I don't like that you said it."

Oliver looked baffled by her statement, "What do you mean?"

"Are we or are we not friends, Oliver?" Hermione asked him, her voice strong.

"Well, yes--"

"Then don't treat me like a little girl. Why didn't you tell me you were leaving?"

"I did," replied Oliver, sighing.

"Fine, but what did you mean by not letting me get too attached."

Oliver smiled slightly, "Oh come on, Hermione. I may seem oblivious to anything that doesn't start with a Q, but I can see you perfectly well. I know you have a crush on me, and I just didn't want you to fall for me."

Hermione's lips curled up at the ends in a malicious smile, "You're a jerk. You're just like every other guy on this planet. How dare you assume I would fall for you."

Oliver recoiled slightly, "Well, I just thought---"

"No, Oliver. It is clear that you did not THINK."

Oliver chuckled, "What's gotten into you?"

"Gotten into me?" replied Hermione, her hands on her hips. "Realization! I've finally come to my senses!"

"Hermione---"

"No---I'm through. Completely. I can't believe I was actually upset you were leaving."

Oliver's face hardened and he replied sadly, "Hermione."

"What?" she asked him coldly.

"I'm sorry."

Hermione shook her head in disgust. "It's too late for that. I thought we were friends and I thought we were heading to something more. Goodness knows, Oliver, I care about you! I do have a crush on you and I did fall for you.....much to my dismay, mind you. I can't believe what a stupid little girl I've been." She shook her head, angry at herself this time and not at Oliver.

She looked up at him, no trace of any emotion on her face. "Don't be sorry. You did nothing but be my friend. I was the one who took the plunge. I was the one who wanted to be your friend. I was the one who went weak at the knees when you spoke to me. I was the one that wanted you to kiss me. I was the one who fell yet again for someone who wouldn't return my feelings. I was the one that believed in love. I was the one who was stupid."

Hermione was about to turn around, but she felt a hand on her elbow, restraining her.

"Just let me go, Oliver. It's over. There was nothing here. It was all my imagination. Just let me get away with some of my dignity, please."

Oliver put a gentle hand on her chin and turned her head to face his. Before she knew what was going on, she had her arms around his neck, his arms around her waist. The last thing she saw before she closed her eyes were his lips moving towards her.

She felt his warm lips on hers seconds later and she leaned against him. Her mind screamed for her to pull back, to run away. Her heart wouldn't let her feet move.

The kiss was sweet, gentle and quick. It wasn't a friendship kiss, but it wasn't what Hermione would call passionate either. Although, with all of her being all she wanted was to be in his arms forever...and to kiss him over and over again.

Hermione's mind stopped ticking, her breathing slowed. She knew her heart was beating, but she couldn't feel it. Her head was dizzy, the ground was swirling around her. All she could feel was Oliver. His hands on her waist. His lips on hers.

Oliver pulled away, a smile on his lips. Hermione opened her eyes slowly and looked up at him. He pulled his arms from her, and pulled her arms from his neck.

As Hermione's arms fell to her sides, she wanted to snatch up his arms and have him hold her again. She leaned into him slightly, but she pulled back almost immediately.

Oliver picked up a large bag effortlessly that was lying to the side. Hermione knew it was magically light, but full of Oliver's possessions.

"You're not stupid," he said quietly. He smiled at her before brushing past her, out of the non cluttered room.

And out of her life.

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