The Astronomy Tower < #wattys2016 >

A Not So Shocking Surprise

Tuesday, January 29th, 1996

Draco could hardly eat his supper he was so anxious. He would be seeing Hermione tonight frot he first time since they had seen each other in potions on Monday. Usually he saw her walking around the corridors, or looking through books in the library. But it was as if she had dropped off of the face of the earth. He hadn't even seen her at meal times anymore. He knew that she was perfectly alright. There would have been a panic days ago if she had gone missing, but where could she be? He pushed his food around his plate so it looked as if he had eaten, announced that he was full, and left the hall. Leaving a confused, crestfallen look on Pansy's face.

He decided to head down to the common room, and finish the homework he had not yet completed. As much as he had adored professor Snape in the past, he was currently doing a good job of thoroughly annoying Draco to no end. First, he had cornered Draco at Slughorn's party, and had the nerve to ask if he could handle his mission. Then, he wouldn't leave him alone for about a week after he got back. And now he was assigning a six foot essay on the most effective ways to arm yourself against unexpected jinxes. What was that even supposed to mean?

School was a killer, and Draco still had his stupid task to worry about on top of keeping his grades up to usual standards, to avoid suspicion from the teachers. Draco didn't even know what his next move would be. If he didn't find a way to kill the man before the beginning of may, Draco would have to resort to the stupid vanishing cabinet that someone had suggested at the beginning of the year, and kill the old man himself.

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Hermione woke softly that evening in her favourite chair by the fire, with a book open on her lap, and the common room empty.  She lifted her head up off of her arm sleepily. She had fallen asleep curled up, her arm resting on the arm of the chair, and her head resting on top of that. It was safe to stay that her neck was now killing her. She looked over at the clock; it read 7:00 pm. She cursed softly; she had slept through supper, again. Hermione had missed supper fro the past two nights now, and could seem to be able to keep her eyes open past four anymore. She wasn't sure why, it had just happened.

Hermione suddenly remembered that she was supposed to be meeting Draco that night, in one hour. She blushed, a warm feeling spread through her chest. With a sigh she heaved herself out of the chair. She arched her back in a sleepy stretch, and yawned widely. And she headed up to her dormitory to make herself look presentable.

After a half an hour of looking, she decided on her favourite pair of jeans, her green sweater, and her favourite pair sneakers. Muggle clothes, she didn't wear them often, but she didn't really feel like wearing her robes at the moment. Hermione rarely wore her muggle clothes due tot the fact that she had worn them for eleven years of her life. She decided on no makeup, since everyone told her that she looked better without, and she never wore it anyways. Hermione ahd never eally been one to throw herself out there. Well, when it came to the classroom she absolutely adored showing off, but when it came to her looks, she tried not to draw any attention.

She looked at herself in the mirror. Hermione had never really been one to care much about appearances like how the other girls did. And to be honest she had always been a little self conscious of her hair. She looked at her reflection once again. The matts would just have to do.

At 8:00 she headed up to the tower with butterflies in her stomach. Draco would be waiting for her. She didn't know of the thought excited her, or filled her with dread.

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 Draco had arrived at the tower at approximately 7:30. He definitely didn't want to miss Hermione. The day had been long, and tiresome, and Draco was just really looking forward to talking to someone who he found it so easy to relate with. Blaise was a good friend, don't get him wrong, but he was often out with other witches, and he didn't really have much depth to him, the same went for Pansy. But then again, compassion and good listening skills wasn't really what Slytherins were famous for, if kindness was what he wanted he should have ended up in bloody Hufflepuff.