A/N: After years of discontinuation, I finally got to translate the next chapter. In all honesty, I have to admit I am not sure wether my english is good enough to do this. I really get the feeling that I am doing a lot of mistakes. Any suggestions are welcome, please be hard on me! Also, keep in mind that this fanfiction was written in 2005 when I was still young and inexperienced!

~O~

Duel

~O~

It was already late at night, as a sudden knock disturbed Hermione in her homework - an owl fluttered in front of one of the windows of the Gryffindor commonroom. Who recieves mail this late?, she wondered annoyed while once again turning to her essay. Harry on the other hand got up to open the window as he would only be able to write his essay if he got to look at Hermiones finished one anyway. The owl flew once around his head to express it's thanks before landing directly in front of Hermione with an expectating look in it's eyes.

"It's for me?", Hermione wondered aloud while unbinding the little scroll from the tiny leg of the carrier: "Well then, let's see."

Harry, Ron and Ginny all gathered around Hermione to get to know who wrote to her, but they were surprised to find their friend blushing heavily while trying to hide the content.

"Sooo, Mione, is it from your beloved Viktor?", Ron asked with a fierce look upon his face.

"Jealous, Ron? What about Lavender?", Harry bantered him before turning to Hermione himself: "But really, Mione, who on earth could make you blush like that?"

"It really is of no importance, Harry, really, no importance at all ... I'll go upstairs now, I guess, to ... errr ... to finish my essay!", Hermione answered while hastily packing her books and parchments into her heavy bag.

"Mione?", Ginny interrupted her as she marched toward the girls dormitory: "Might at least I get to know who the author of that mysterious letter is?"

Hermione gave her a quick nod and like that the younger friend followed her up the stairs. As soon as they got to sit on Hermiones bed, she gave her the letter and waited impaitently for Ginny to give her opinion.

"Oh, really, Mione!", the girl finally laughed: "That is one silly love letter. Honestly, it does sound pretentious, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, exactly my thoughts. I'd love if it was sincere, really, I would ... but it does give an disingenuous impression, right? But what should I do now? Should I write back?"

Ginny agreed with a wild nod: "Of course! Confront this dubious letter writer with your disbelief and tell him to kindly bugger off if he is not serious about you."

oOoOoOo

The rustling of many wings was heard as the owls carried the post with them the next morning.

"Look up, Draco, there is the owl we sent to Granger yesterday!", Pansy giggled. Surprised Draco watched as the owl came fluttering toward him. Quickly he shot a glance at Hermione, worrying she might turn around and spot where this particular owl delivered it's message, but she did not seem to care too much for the arriving post. Relieved Draco took the letter from the owl, payed her a few knuckles and then attended to the few very neatly written lines:

Dear Anonymous,

I find myself puzzled: Never before has anyone payed me so many compliments. In fact, there has never before been anyone to notice me as a female human being at all. - "No surprise there, she does not behave very ladylike" - Still ...

Your words sound disingenuous. It's like you try to find any possible compliment for someone you would normally never even consider to think positively of. What is your plan? Do you try to spoof me? - "Well, obviously Granger has more brain than Pansy would give her!" - I don't want or need any of that!

If you feel offended by my words, if you actually meant what you wrote, then I am truely sorry.

Regards,

Hermione Granger

"Well, Draci? What's our dearest mudblood writing?", an annoying voice next to him asked, Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bullstrode and Blaise Zabini all watched eagerly at his reaction.

"Ah, that backfired actually. I'd say she has our numbers!" Draco retorted. Sceptically his friends read the letter themselves and as soon as she finished the last line, Bullstrode whispered: "You have to read between the lines, Draco! In my opinion she wants to believe you told her the truth, she desires an anonymous admirer. You just have to keep flattering her and soon she will give in and believe you!"

You really think so, Millicent? I personally don't think Granger is that stupid ... stopp! Stupid brain, it's Granger we are talking about, a mudblood! Those are naturally dumb!

"Perhaps you are right, I'll give it another try!", he finally consented: "But first I have to observe her, I need something to compliment her on after all."

"Okay, so, let's see, what is the next class we have together with the Gryffindors?", Blaise murmered deep in thought: "If I remember correctly it would be Care of Magical Creatures today?"

oOoOoOo

"Yeah, so, jus' step closer, ev'ryone, don' be afraid, those won' bite!", Hagrids voice rang out while he stood in front of a fence, which kept ...

"Demiguise!", cried Hermione in awe and stepped closer to the fence.

"Yeah, right, very right, Hermione! Tha' are Demiguise! Can anyone tell wha' is special abou' 'em?"

The cold, arrogant voice of Draco Malfoy carried from the back of the crowd: "Demiguise can make itself invisible if they feel threatened."

Surprised the whole class turned to look at Malfoy for it was a very rare occasion that he would actually pay attention during this class.

"Errr, right, Malfoy. Err ... five points to Slytherin!", Hagrid stammered just as baffled.

"The hair of the Demiguise is used to make invisibilty cloaks!", Hermione now told the class. The other students again turned their heads in wonder, because the normally so polite girl had sounded quiet angry.

"Yes, tha' is correct, my dear! Ten poin's to Gryffindor!", Hagrid announced proudly: "Well, then, let's ..."

"Demiguise", Draco interrupted from the back of the class: "are found in the Far East. They are classified as XXXX and as such are in fact not suited for school, because XXXX creatures are dangerous!"

Hagrids at first pleased look turned to an embarrassed one.

"XXXX? That's the second most dangerous class there is!", some students murmered under their breath while all of them stepped a few feet back. Draco to turned to Hermione with a smug grin on his lips - the victory in this battle was his.

Hermione however was unimpressed: "Demiguise are in no way dangerous. They are classified as XXXX, because they are hard to find as they can make themselves invisible at any given moment, and therefore they need an excellent keeper to take proper care of them. But I if anyone is fitted to take care of these creatures, it would be Hagrid, don't you think?"

After she finished her last words she look Draco firmly in the eyes. The class stood in awe as they watched the silent battle between these two rivals, but in the end it was Draco who cursed and lowered his glance first. Hagrid smiled and continued his instruction.

"Bloody mudblood!", Draco muttered heated, but his friends were excited: "Now you got something to compliment her on! That's great, good job!"

That I just lost a battle to that annoying know-it-all is just fine, huh? Great, I have the greatest friends!