A/N: Finally! The key chapter of my story, where you all will hate me! But I promise to update within the next few days or you can formally hex me. Reviews are greatly appreciated; once more, I answered them all. Thank you for your faith and support!
Love,
Caroline
Chapter 8: Merely Sparks?
"Done," Snape announced, displaying his newly made potion to the seventh year students. "This is called a Protective Potion. It protects you from any spell that may get thrown at you. Of course, this is the first time that I have made it in this class, so we'll have to test it. Any volunteers?"
The students lowered their heads in fear while he went from desk to desk.
" Miss Granger," he called, showing the bottle to Hermione, who looked puzzled.
" I beg your pardon Professor?"
"What do you think Miss Granger? Drink up," he barked, giving her the bottle.
"But Professor I..." she stammered, trying to give the bottle back to him. There was no way she would be all right with being Snape's guinea pig.
"Do not start with your bickering Miss Granger. You're Head Girl, so you drink up. And for goodness sake, don't start your crying."
"But Professor..."
"I said drink it! Or I'll make you drink it!" he shouted, grabbing her arm to stand her up. Needless to say, Hermione drank it in half a minute.
"Good girl," Snape said, suddenly taking his wand out.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked. By now, she was terrified. She knew that Snape had never been able to criticize her class work, so he would do anything to get back at her.
" Inmovimento!" Snape cried. As a reflex, Hermione ducked, avoiding the spell.
" Miss Granger, you're supposed to stay still!"
"What? Why? But..." Hermione stammered again.
"Because I say so! " he pointed his wand at her again.
"Professor..."
"Atare!" Snape shouted.
At this incantation, a rope came out of Snape's wand and directed itself at Hermione.
"Do not worry Miss Granger, I won't kill you. I don't think that Dumbledore would appreciate his students dying in class," he stated coolly.
"That's comforting," Hermione thought.
But to her surprise, the rope broke at contact with her robes; although she wasn't there to witness it, for she fainted.
****
" Miss Granger, wake up!" Snape shouted, shaking her.
"Harry?" she moaned.
"Do I look like Potter to you Miss Granger?! Snape shouted again, making her jump.
" I beg your pardon professor, I..."
"Oh, shut up. Once you start talking, you don't stop."
"Where is everybody?"
" The class was over ten minutes ago, but you fainted just as the potion took effect. Good news though, the potion worked. You're immune to any spell. I'd give you the antidote, but I think that the spell might come in handy. We don't want any…unfortunate accidents to occur, now do we? You may go." Hermione tried to say 'thanks', but Snape shut the door on her face.
****
Meanwhile Harry was practicing the Summoning Charm. He figured it might be useful for the Tournament, just as Hermione had hinted out. He had begun conjuring up small things and so far, it had worked out greatly. The only problem was, he had run out of things to conjure within the small classroom.
"Let's see. What else? Accio..." he began twirling his wand.
It was then that he saw Hermione passing by with her usual amount of books, and instantly remembered that she had fainted in Potions. He had tried to stay with her, but Snape hadn't allowed it; stating that he could survive a few minutes without the insufferable know it all he called his friend. He would've argue back, but before he knew it, he had been shooed out of the classroom.
" Hermione!" he called her, without remembering he had pronounced 'Accio' first.
"Harry, what? Whoa!"
As a result, his best friend literally went flying into his arms, dropping her books on the way. But in trying to catch her, Harry tripped and fell on top of her.
"Hermione, I'm so..." he proceeded to apologize immediately, but his voice left him as he really caught sight of the soft body underneath his. She looked so beautiful, so perfect, just like she always did. Hold it! Trespassing again! But he couldn't help it, and the way her body felt against his...her tempting lips just seemed begging him to kiss them….
"Harry? Would you get up?" Hermione yelled suddenly, snapping Harry back to reality.. He immediately got up and offered his hand to her. She took it and stood up, before yelling some more, "What were you doing? You're supposed to conjure up small things, not human beings!"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to It was an accident," now he apologized. She calmed down at seeing his embarrassed face.
"It's fine Harry, don't worry about it."
"How are you? You fainted and..."
"I noticed. So far, so good. Let's go. We can make good use of our free period in the common room. See how well you domain the Summoning Charm."
****
Harry and Hermione strolled down the hallway while having a pleasant conversation, about books. Hermione had made him drop the Potions subject and by now, she was talking and he just listened. Unfortunately, a not so pleasant person intercepted them.
"Potter and Mudblood. Oh, and here comes Weasel too, how nice," Draco smirked with a sarcasm that only he could pull off. But, it was true; Ron was coming their way.
"Hey," he greeted them.
"Hello yourself," Draco replied back.
"I wasn't talking to..."
"Ron, don't. Let's go," Hermione cut him off. Ron quieted at her request, still glaring at Malfoy, who was not quite finished yet.
"Oh, Weasel does what Mudblood says. What's the matter Weasel, not man enough? Or is it that you pity Mudblood here?"
"Leave her alone Malfoy!" Harry interrupted.
"Potty too, how nice. Big problem you got here Mudblood. Two admirers. How to pick one?"
"Go away Malfoy. If you don't want to display your abilities as a ferret one more time," Hermione answered coolly.
"You know Mudblood, I could do a spell that could help you decide. It makes you like your best friend, and quite a few things more. What do you say?" Draco sneered.
"You wouldn't dare," Ron said determinately, but Harry knew better than to mess with Draco.
"Ron, shut..."
"Amonrae!" Draco shouted. Sparks flew from his wand and crashed onto Hermione's body, who landed on the floor.
"Malfoy you..." Harry wanted to punch him, just knock the living daylights out of him, but Draco had other plans.
"Uh, uh, uh, I'd be worried about Mudblood if I were you Potter," Draco said, turning around and leaving while grinning triumphantly. This would undoubtedly be amusing.
"Hermione! Get away Ron! I mean, back up a little! Let her breathe!" Harry snapped desperately, settling himself at Hermione's left side and taking her hand while Ron went to the right side.
"Harry?" She looked at him, her eyes still a little lost from the abrupt fall.
"Hermione, are you all right?" Harry asked her with concern, getting her on her feet.
"I'm fine. I didn't feel a thing," she affirmed, "Don't worry."
"Are you sure? I'll take you to Madam Pomfrey," Harry offered, trying to lift her into his arms.
"Don't bother Harry, I'm fine."
"Are you really sure?"
"Yes! Let's go to the common room, " Hermione suggested.
"We can practice later. You go rest, just in case," Harry replied.
"You're sure?" Hermione asked. "I can still help you practice."
"Positive. You go rest. I'll take you if you want."
"No, I'll take you," Ron insisted.
"That's not necessary. I'll go myself. I'll see you." Hermione took off, unworried.
After all, Snape had given her a protection potion. But would it work? So far, she didn't feel a thing, but the real question would be: would she allow it to work?
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