Only Time can Tell Chapter 2

Title: Only Time can Tell
Author: afterglowmegami
Chapter Title: Chapter 2- Library Rendezvous
Pairings: Harry/Hermione
Book references: 1-5
Rating: PG
Disclaimer:I do not own anything, well, I own a character here (I made up a new character, but you’ll soon find out who it’ll be). Other than that, everything is owned by the virtuoso novelist herself; behold the queen, J.K. Rowling. Standard disclaimers also apply.

Summary: The story is set during their 7th year in Hogwarts, after the Final Battle. Hermione realizes her feelings for Harry. Harry, on the other hand, was perplexed. Until, Hermione meets another guy and creates more nuisances in the plot.

A/N: Another chapter up! I'm so sorry for the long delay. It's just I've been
pretty busy nowadays and weeks ago, O.W.L.s and journalism workshops at school…
and I have been too indolent to type it on the computer because it takes too
many time… I hope you'll like the chapter 2. I wish that my writing skill (which
I actually doubt if I have) meets your expectations… Anyway, kindly review, I'll
love you for doing so…

Disclaimer: I do not own anything, except for my OC.

Chapter 2: Library Rendezvous

“Potions are finally over.” Hermione thought. Every time she had that
particular class, she felt dreary, probably because Snape always tried to catch
Hermione off-guard and bombard her with arduous questions, and finally get the
chance to mortify her in front of the whole class.

“Hey, Hermione! Let's go down to the kitchens and find Dobby, I'm famished.”
Harry suggested to her as he came towards her.

“Hermione, calm down, calm down, relax, it's just Harry. Harry! Ohmygosh!
No, nothing can break my equanimity, nothing.” She ruminated and posted a
flimsy smile at him

“I'm really sorry but I can't. I have to go to the library; I promised Madam
Pince that I'll drop by to pick up some books today.” Hermione fibbed

“So I guess I'll have to come there alone. Meet you at lunch.” Harry said
glumly

“Why don't you try asking Ron anyway?”

“I can't find him since after Potions; probably he went out early to look for
Luna.” Harry promptly answered

That's the truth. Luna has always been pining for Ron since their
5^th year and just last year, Ron started noticing her and eventually
was besotted with her.

“Oh. Sure! I'll meet you at lunch.” Hermione said as Harry started walking
away from her, and then Harry looked back at her and gave her a simulated grin.

Both of them strode to where they were supposed to be going, Harry to the
kitchens, Hermione to the library.

Hermione if truth were told felt very bad on turning down Harry, but that is
what she was supposed to do, avoid Harry. How can she forget her sentiments for
Harry if she kept clinging to Harry wherever he went? Of course, a girl's got to
do what a girl's got to do.

“I hate doing that to Harry, he suffered all his life in rejection and always
neglected and all he wanted was some company coming for him and I couldn't even
give in to his favor. All because of my `I-love-Harry' syndrome! Now, I really
sound pathetic.” She muttered melodiously to herself.

Meanwhile…

“Since when she did she became a spoilsport!” Harry groaned

“Or maybe I'm just getting a little inconsiderate of her, probable something
is still perturbing her.” He whispered as he tickled the green pear at the
portrait leading to a door that shows the way to the kitchens.

~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hermione was indolently strolling through the numerous aisles in the Hogwarts
library and suddenly came across with an interesting book.

“Interesting!” She said enthusiastically as she pulled the book out of the
shelf. The book was entitled “Numerology: The Hidden Records”

As she was reading the book, her eyes completely on the book's pages, she
bumped herself with something solid or perhaps… someone.

Somebody in front of her fell flat on the floor, while she dropped the book
that she was holding.

“Ouch!” the unfamiliar voice bellowed, earning an abundant number of
“shhhhhs” from the people inside the library.

“Oh my gosh! I'm sorry!” Hermione said, extending one of her hands to help
the person stand up.

“I'm sorry, too. I wasn't looking.” Said the voice, then she realized that it
was a guy's voice.

Hermione began picking up the books that the guy was probably holding a
moment ago, at least that's what she thought.

Hermione stood up properly to get a glimpse of the guy and find out if he is
fine or he might need to be brought to the hospital wing.

But she stood there in awe.

The guy was a little taller than her. He isn't that lanky but not that burly
either, he was kind of lean yet muscled. His hair was in the shade of chestnut;
it was a bit unruly but could never rival Harry's.

Then, the guy hoisted his head, she was grateful because she wanted to see
the guy's visage entirely.

His skin was medium fair. It looked smooth and unblemished. His eyes were in
a breathtaking color of amber. He had a thin mouth and on that moment he wore a
nervous grin.

“He's so gorgeous!” She mused and giggled in her psyche.

“I'm really sorry, I wasn't looking either, and my thoughts were all consumed
by this book.” Said Hermione as she raised the book she was holding. “By the
way, I'm Hermione Granger, Gryffindor.” Hermione blurted out, suppressing her
mouth from producing a very wide grin.

“Are you really…” Matt responded

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, are you really Hermione Granger?”

“Why, yes I am.”

“It's just that you're one of the most eminent figures not just in school,
but also at the whole wizarding land.”

This was the truth. She helped defeat Voldemort, together with Ron and Harry,
thus propelling her into luminary status.

“Parenthetically, I'm sorry too. I'm Matthew Harris and I'm from Ravenclaw.
But please do call me Matt.” Said Matt with a sheepish grin on his awe-inspiring
face.

“A Ravenclaw. Hmmm…” Hermione thought as she made a mental note to herself.

“So are you a frequent student in the library?” Hermione interrogated him.

“Well, you can say that.” Matt replied as they paced towards the bookshelves
to return some of the books in Matt's arms.

“If that's the case, why don't you look familiar to me?” Hermione questioned

“Probably because we have different timetables, I'm in 6^th year.”

“That explains it!”

They both sat down at a nearby oak wood table and started chatting about
possibly anything.

“Have you read Perfect Presents for House Elves?” Matt asked

“The one written by Winkella Dobius?!” Hermione practically squealed in
delight.

“Yeah, that one!”

“I love learning about House Elves, about how to well, liberate them.”
Hermione said and finished her statement disconsolately.

“Why the sudden change of tone in your voice?”

“It's just because almost everybody here are totally against of the idea of
House Elf liberation.”

“I believe that they have every right to be free, and I'm not just saying it
to make you fell better.”

“Really?!” Hermione answered in disbelief

“Of course, but as you have said the idea was quite unpopular. When I mention
it, people think I'm insane.”

“I could get you to join SPEW!”

“What's that?”

“I formed this movement; SPEW stands for Society for the Promotion of Elvish
Welfare.”

“Really?!”

“My goal is to liberate them and make them ask for wages.”

Their animated chat went on for such a long time that I couldn't keep track
of it to write it down. Hermione knew Matt a little more, she discovered that
he's a half-blood, his father was a muggle and her mother was a pureblooded
witch. He already lost his father and was single-handedly raised by his mother.

Hermione saw a bizarre sparkle in Matt's eyes as they continued their
animated conversation.

Abruptly, Hermione got a glimpse of her enchanted timepiece and it read
11:35, only 25 minutes before lunch. She quickly got up to her feet.

“Matt, I'm really sorry, but I have to go, you know eat lunch.” Said Hermione

“Yeah, I thick we ought to be in the Great Hall by now, can I walk you
there?” Matt retorted as he also rose from his seat.

“Oh no. I am supposed to meet at the Gryffindor Common Room first before
going down to the Great Hall.”

“Okay. Anyway, thanks!”

“For what?” She asked him and gave him a puzzled look

“For keeping me company, I truly enjoyed spending time with you, even if I
just met you… I'm looking forward to meeting you again.” He retorted, his voice
low and gruff.

“I am too.”

“Really” He answered genially

Hermione nodded fervently

“So I guess I'll see you around then?” Matt said

“You bet!” said Hermione with glee in her intonation

Then they separated into the staircases that lead to their respective Common
Rooms.

When Hermione reached the Gryffindor Common Room, she saw Harry approaching
her.

“`Mione, what took you so long?” Harry inquired her.

But Hermione's mind was in reverie about Matt… and on her face was a vague
expression.

“`Mione. `Mione? `Mione!” Harry snapped at her

“What?!” Hermione yelped and got off her stupor

“What happened?” Harry asked her

“…”

A/N: What do you think of my new character? His looks are based from Card
captor Sakura's Li Shaoran. Anyway, was the story good? Tell me by reviewing the
fic… Also, I'd like to express my deepest gratitude to those who have reviewed
my fic, thank you, thank you, thank you so much! I love you all… ^_~

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Thea