The Erised Effect

No Noise Allowed

   Hermione woke alone on the morning of Draco's birthday. This provoked a mixture of feelings tostir inside of her; embarrassment, guilt and regret being just a few. They festered within her as shedressed, feeling that Malfoy had obviously deeply regretted last night enough to not want to wakeher up with him this morning. 

   Maybe there was something he didn't like? Or maybe he had decided that he just couldn't go therewith her? Was he trying not to mess up their strange friendship? Had he thought that he couldn'tpossibly try and have sex with her due to her petite size? 

   Her mind boggled and an uneasy feeling set into the pit of her stomach at the thought. The manwas a puzzle, and no matter what way she tried, she couldn't put his pieces together properly. 

   Up on entering the kitchen she found her friends sitting around reading the Saturday morningnewspaper, or making themselves breakfast, using Draco's kitchen casually, as if they lived therethemselves. 

   "Where's Malfoy?" Hermione pretended to ask casually, and all four pairs of eyes turned to pin herwith devilish stares and big, knowing smirks. 

   "He's gone for his morning jog." Pansy told her as she poured milk into her teacup. "He likes tojog... releases the tension..." 

   Harry smirked and put his head down. Hermione felt herself blush so furiously that she could havesworn she was turning a different colour. 

   "We've all signed a card for him and left a cake for later." Harry told her as he stood next to Pansy,mixing his cup of tea with a teaspoon. "We'll leave it for him to open when he gets back...not thathe'll appreciate it." He finished with s huff. 

   "I've actually brought him a card and present," she told Harry, and everyone looked at her againwith a smirk. "It's nothing much; Kendal Mint Cakes." She said defensively. "I know he likesspearmint sweets." 

   "...if I remember rightly, he's not the only one who likes spearmint." Harry gave her a knowinglook and Pansy looked at him gleefully. Those two were the worst meddling partners to ever teamup since Fred and George Weasley.

   Theo sighed woefully from the table. "I'm absolutely devastated that I didn't hear the screaminglast night, Granger." He told her from over his bowl of cornflakes. "Thought he would have at leastbeen able to get one yelp out of you." 

   Blaise hit him around the back of the head and Hermione didn't know where to put her face. So,they all must have known about the room swap... bloody Pansy. 

   "If it makes any difference Granger," Blaise told her as he sipped his coffee. "He's got it bad." 

   "Oh, absolutely." Theo confirmed. "Never seen him so controlled...surprised he hasn'tspontaneously combusted by now, if I'm honest." 

   Pansy gave her a look. "I told you so..." she sing-songed. 

   Hermione bit her lip and her heart lifted a little. But still... Draco wasn't there to give her the addedconfidence she needed to attest to the fact that her friends were correct. If they were right, then whywas he so quick to leave? 

   Why was he so quick to get away from her?

________________________________________________________________________________

   One Week Later:

   "Your turn." Pansy announced excitedly. 

   Harry shook his head and turned pale. Hermione knew he had been dreading this day. He knewwho he would be fantasising about, and now it was all about to laid out there for everyone to see.She could see the sweat appearing on his brow at the thought.