Everybody Still Loves Hermione

Louielacious

Rating: PG13
Genres: Romance, Action & Adventure
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 4
Published: 13/02/2005
Last Updated: 10/03/2005
Status: completed

Love is never made easy - Harry and Hermione should know. In the wake of a love potion scandal, Harry's confronted with new feelings, Hermione's confused, Ron's caught in the middle and Malfoy...well, be wary of Malfoy. Some how this saga will lead to a kidnapping, a dragon in Greece, a whole lot of treasure, and Pixies with a fetish for hoarding human clothes.

Chapters

1. Author's Rant

2. Something Funny & Love Is Never Made Easy

3. The Boy, The Girl & The Other Boy

4. Harry's Crush & The Annual Drakon Hunt

5. Hermione's Test & Harry Still Loves Hermione?

6. Predictions & Krum Still Loves Hermione?

7. A Malfoy Mystery & Moment Of Truth?

8. The Problem With Ginny & Love Potion Relapse

9. Malfoy Still Loves Hermione? & Ron Still Loves Hermione?

10. Malfoy Malfoy Malfoy Malfoy & A Boy Apart

11. Stormy Weather Ahead & The Hogwarts Hunters

12. Harry's Revenge & Consequences

13. Chaos and Mayhem! & A Bit Of Aphrodite In Us All

14. The Hermione Hunt & Way To Salvation

15. The Return Of Krum & Snape's Secret Laboratory

16. The Hunt Is On! & What Percy Saw

17. A Wizard's Truce & The Drakon Wood

18. Found Out & Counter-Potion

19. The River Path & End Of Her Line

20. The Drakon's Lair & In Deep

21. Ron Learns To Fly & The Drakon

22. Up In Flames & The Reward

23. Return & The End Of The Relapsed Affair?

24. Dumbledore's Theory & Truth

25. The Ceremony & The 'After-Party'

26. Moonlit Broomstick Ride & Epilogue

1. Author's Rant

EVERYBODY STILL LOVES HERMIONE

~ Author's Rant ~

Hi! It's my first time posting fanfiction on Portkey, so I'm very excited. This story is actually a sequel to another story I wrote, brilliantly entitled Everybody Loves Hermione. I didn't post that here because, while it is officially a Harry/Hermione fic, it's chaotic with love potion and mismatching. Harry/Hermione, more or less, take off at the end. Feel free to read it though, it's over on fanfiction.net. Just look up stuffbylouie (see my webpage).

As for this story, it shouldn't be hard to pick up. I'll release three chapters on the outset and update regularly. You should be warned, however, this also contains love potion and mismatching - but the Harry/Hermione theme prevails! It's a complicated journey, but they'll make it. If you like stories that are fast paced and brimmed with romantic conflict, madness and Malfoy at his evil best, then you might enjoy this fic.

Thanks guys, have fun! And by the way, it's set in fifth year.

Disclaimer: I own fudge all! Except the Aphora Bewitching Potion, the volucris bovine, the Annual Drakon Hunt, and some other things not worth mentioning.

-->

2. Something Funny & Love Is Never Made Easy

PART I. HOGWARTS

'Harry?' she breathed into his neck, emitting a shiver down his spine.

Prologue:

~ Something Funny ~

Something funny was happening to Harry Potter.

Darkness shrouded the hospital wing. It was midnight, and Harry was in the process of being cured of a powerful love potion known as the 'Aphora Bewitching Potion'. Actually, he was already cured; Madame Pomfrey was just being pedantic, as usual. She resolved, though it was quite unnecessary, to keep Harry and the two other love potion recipients overnight.

Ginny Weasley was one recipient. She was down the other end of the ward, having been admitted earlier that afternoon. She'd taken love potion and, for some peculiar reason, fallen in love with her brother and Harry's best friend, Ron. Draco Malfoy, one of Harry's least favourite people, was the other recipient. He'd been admitted at the same time as Harry, and like Harry, the love potion he took made him fall in love with Harry's other best friend, Hermione Granger. Malfoy was currently snoring loudly in one of the bed's opposite. It was amusing to listen too...

'Can you believe Malfoy snores like that? You'd think he was choking on his own ego.'

Harry jerked upright in his bed, startled, and turned to the chair next to him. He couldn't see properly, so she handed him his glasses. Then he saw -

'Hermione!'

Hermione was sitting right there! Like magic, as if she'd apparated; but this would be impossible. For one, Hermione wasn't able to apparate; and two, no apparating could be done within Hogwarts. Hermione herself told Harry this on a number of occasions.

'You scared me half to death! What are you...' But Harry's words trailed off. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he noticed Hermione hadn't donned her robe, and was wearing a delicate, white night-dress. It was rather distracting; one reason being he'd felt he'd seen her in it some time before, but couldn't pin point when.

'What are you doing here?' Harry asked properly, picking up his words. 'How did you get in without being seen?'

These were perfectly reasonable questions, none of which Hermione answered. Since when did Hermione not answer questions? Instead, she preferred to observe Harry in silence for the moment. Harry found it most uncomfortable.

'Hermione?' he tried again. She sat silently a little longer and then, with steady grace, stood up.

'Sssh,' she hushed in a soft, long breath. Harry watched her, hypnotically, as she prowled towards him. Something very, very strange was going on! He had no idea what it was, and could certainly not have predicted what came next: Hermione lifted his covers, sheets and all, and climbed into bed with him! Harry almost tumbled out the other side in pure shock.

'Her...Herm...Hermio...Hermione! What are you - ' he panted incoherently, until Hermione clasped a hand over his mouth.

'Keep your voice down,' she whispered, and removed her hand. 'You don't want Malfoy to wake up.'

But Malfoy waking up couldn't have seemed less trivial to Harry at this time. Hermione Granger was in bed with him. Hermione Granger had wrapped her arm around his chest. Hermione Granger's feet were entwining with his. Hermione Granger's head was nestling into his neck!

'Harry, relax. I just want to hug you.' She said it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

'Can't...can't we hug later?' Harry managed to say; surprised he could talk at all. 'Like, when we're standing?' And more appropriately clothed he thought but didn't dare speak.

Hermione hushed softly again and snuggled closer. Harry lay there, pathetically motionless. He'd never been this intimate with a girl before; and this wasn't any girl - this was Hermione! He could feel his heart beating at a crazed pace. He could feel Hermione's heart beat against him, too. She was a lot calmer then he was.

'Harry?' she breathed into his neck, emitting a shiver down his spine.

'Er...yeah, Hermione?'

'If you want to kiss me, you can.'

He didn't hear that…

'Sorry?' he piped up, his voice slightly higher then usual.

Hermione propped herself up on her hands and knees, so that she was hovering above him in a crawl position. Harry gulped. Having her over him like that, shadowing his body and staring into his eyes, felt both terrifying and...exhilarating. 'If you want to kiss me, you can,' she said again, as clear as day.

It was official: Harry's entire being had turned to gillyweed. 'Wha...what do...kiss...huh?'

'You obviously want to kiss me, Harry. Otherwise, why would I be here?'

Why would she be here? Harry pondered this, when something in his brain suddenly went click. And then, like lightning, everything changed. Everything slowed down, particularly his heart rate. He was calm, he was clear, and he'd put his arms around her. She stared at him, and he stared right back, all previous feelings of nervousness and confusion flying away.

If you want to kiss her Harry, you can.

And he did.

Harry pulled Hermione against him and kissed her. He kissed her with a need he never knew possible. He kissed her and clung to her as if she were going to leave him. Any moment now, she'd be gone...

Malfoy's cold voice arose from the foot of the bed.

'You're going to pay for this, Potter!'

Light.

Harry opened his eyes. Light was shining all around him. Realising he was without his glasses, he reached for them on the bedside table and put them on. It was morning. The curtains were drawn, revealing a beautiful, sunny day outside.

What happened?

Malfoy wasn't at the foot of his bed. Hermione wasn't lying against him, nor was she in the chair by his side. Then, feeling very silly, Harry realised what was going on: it was a dream.

Before Harry could think any further on this, the matron Madame Pomfrey appeared with a breakfast tray.

'Good morning, Mr Potter. I trust you slept well?' she said cheerfully, placing the breakfast tray on his bedside table.

'Yes,' said Harry, rubbing his eyes underneath his glasses. 'I slept...fine, thank you'

'I'm surprised you slept at all, considering you had that on top of you all night.'

She was eyeing Hermione's open Potions book, laying face down on Harry's chest.

'Oh,' said Harry, peering down at it. 'That...'

Tutting, Madame Pomfrey removed the book at once and put it aside. 'I'd leave the studying for when you're out of the hospital, Mr Potter,' she advised him, and disappeared up the hallway to collect breakfast trays for Malfoy and Ginny. Once she was out of sight, Harry took back Hermione's Potions book. He figured he must have gone to sleep reading it. Opening it up again, he cast his mind back to the dream. Kissing Hermione. Since coming off the love potion, Harry had been feeling some very unusual feelings where Hermione was concerned. Like yesterday, when she'd kissed him on the cheek; or after dinner, when she came back to sneak him some treacle tart; or earlier, when he absentmindedly wrote...wait.

Harry was staring at the now familiar page in Hermione's Potions book - the one where he'd crossed out the words You're so beautiful and replaced them with You are incredibly beautiful. But he only remembered writing this once...except now, it appeared he'd written it down twice more:

You are incredibly beautiful

You are incredibly beautiful

You are incredibly beautiful

Something funny was happening to Harry Potter.

Later that morning, Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley were released from the hospital wing. They were announced cured and ready to return to their classes. Everything was to back to the way it was...totally and utterly normal. Apparently.

~ Love Is Never Made Easy ~

In late hours of the night, on the same day Harry and others were released from hospital, trouble was already brewing.

'Right this way Mr Filch, Professor Dumbledore gave it to me yesterday,' said Madame Pince, striding purposefully to the library.

'The sooner the better!' scowled Filch, marching alongside of her. 'Dumbledore wants that rotten book out of the library as soon as possible - and I couldn't agree more! That book is a hazard! Anything endorsing love potions is a form of black magic in my opinion.'

Madame Pince chuckled. 'Love potions? Black magic? I think you're overreacting, Mr Filch. Love potions are quite innocent compared to black magic.'

'Innocent?' Filch spat offensively. 'By Merlin, love potions are anything but! That Aphora Bewitching Potion, you saw what that did, didn't you? It was chaos and mayhem! One boy hit himself over the head with a chair, and two more tried to kill each other during the last Quidditch match! Not to mention a girl fell in love with her own brother, and another young man from Bulgaria flew - '

'All right, Mr Filch! You've made your point. Don't worry about the book, I put it in a safe place.'

They reached the library. Madame Pince led Filch into her office; a small, dingy room with piles upon piles of books hoarded about the place. To the back of this room was a desk, and behind the desk was a safe. Madame Pince took out her wand and whispered a password. The safe opened.

'Well?' said Filch, his patience dwindling.

'Oh my...' said Madame Pince faintly, sparking an irritated grunt from Filch.

'What do you mean "oh my", do you have the book or don't you?'

'This is impossible...quite impossible! I checked it only twenty minutes ago...'

'Madame Pince!'

'The book, A Wizard's and Witch's Guide to Love Made Easy. It's gone Mr Filch!'

-->

3. The Boy, The Girl & The Other Boy

'Or is it Harry?'

~ The Boy ~

It was midnight again, and Harry Potter was wide awake. He was sitting at his bedroom window, studying by candlelight. He'd started writing notes on the Major Arcana Tarot for Divination class, when somebody to his right spluttered awake. It was Ron. Harry caught sight of his slack, freckled face leering out from beneath his bed hangings.

'Harry,' he groaned sluggishly, 'you're not still studying, are you?'

Harry kept writing, and responded, 'no, Ron, I'm knitting a sweater.'

Ron made a funny face. 'Eh?'

'Of course I'm still bloody studying!' said Harry, stating the obvious. Ron yawned at him.

'Harry, for Merlin's sake! Give it a rest will you? Studying all night like this...it's like you're possessed by Hermione.'

Hermione. The very person Harry couldn't get out of his mind.

'Look, I can't sleep, so I may as well use the time to catch up on homework.'

'Listen to you?' Ron's voice was full of pity. 'You know what? I think you have been possessed by Hermione.'

Harry glared at him. Ron chuckled tiredly.

'Harry, do yourself a favour and quit while you're ahead! You'll turn into a real grump at this rate.'

'I am not a grump!' Harry snapped, grumpily of course. Ron gave him a look that said `oh yes you are', before closing his hangings and rolling back into bed.

'Suit yourself,' Harry heard him say. 'If you drop dead tomorrow from lack of sleep, don't blame me. Just make sure you do it in front of Professor Trewlawny. She'll think Christmas has come early.'

With Ron out of the way, Harry continued studying, but with little success. Truth be told, he didn't want to study. He was bloody tired, and would love nothing more then to flop onto his four-poster bed and drown in sleep. But he had to plough on! If he didn't, his mind would wonder off and he'd think about certain...people. Or worse, he'd fall asleep and have certain...dreams, about certain people. Abandoning Divination, he was about to move onto Herbology, but found himself picking up Hermione's Potions book instead. Despite himself, he opened it to the page he knew well and read through what he'd written; including the new bits he couldn't remember adding.

'I can't believe I...'

Harry rested his eyes. Great, just great he thought, annoyed with himself. He was thinking about the very person he wasn't supposed to be thinking about. Mentally exhausted, he sought solace in the moon, shining brilliantly in the night sky outside his window. Then, without reaslising it, his eyelids grew heavier, and heavier...she lingered in his thoughts...

~ The Girl ~

The girl in Harry's thoughts was also up that night, funnily enough. Hermione Granger, who hadn't completed much schoolwork in the past week due to love potions and other 'engagements', was doing the exact same thing as Harry: studying. She too sat by her bedroom window, accompanied by a lantern and a pile of schoolbooks, which were presently being moved and shuffled around in a frantic search.

'Where is it?' Hermione whispered temperamentally. 'Where's my Potions book?'

All the hustle and bustle woke one of Hermione's roommates, Lavender Brown. Protruding her head out from under her hangings, she peered over at Hermione with severe disbelief.

'Do you ever stop studying?' she asked in a reproachful sort of voice. Hermione, favouring not to indulge her, avoided answering.

'Lavender, go back to sleep! Sorry if I woke you.'

Lavender giggled.

'You wouldn't be trying to get your mind of your many boyfriends, would you?'

'Oh, please!' Hermione scoffed. 'Don't be ridiculous! I don't have any boyfriends, Lavender.'

'Yeah right,' she mocked. 'So you put all those guys on love potion for kicks then?'

As if Hermione wasn't frustrated enough.

'I did not mean to put anyone on love potion! You don't know what you're talking about Lavender, you really don't.'

But Lavender was persistent. Hermione and the story her torrid love potion was the hottest scandal around Hogwarts. As a result, Hermione had become everyone's favourite person to tease; and, needless to say, she wasn't enjoying the attention one bit.

'Are you still getting love letters from Krum? Or is Malfoy topping your list this week? Or perhaps Harry?'

Harry. And then it her!

'Harry!' Hermione said aloud, remembering. Lavender took it as a sign.

'Ooooh! So it's Harry you fancy then! I always thought so...'

'No!' said Hermione roughly. 'I meant Harry has my Potions book. I'll have to remember to ask for it tomorrow.'

'Why wait for tomorrow? Sneak over to the boy's dormitories now, hop into Harry's bed and - '

'Lavender! That's enough!'

'Hermione loves Harry! Harry loves Hermione! They're going to get married, have a million babies - '

Someone else had woken up by now. Parvati Patil stripped back her hangings, wearing a black, fluffy eye patch. 'Would you guys be quiet! Some people are trying to get their beauty sleep!' Lavender glared at her with amusement.

'Parvati, I can't believe you sleep with that thing on. It looks like a niffler's attached to your head!'

Hermione stifled a laugh.

'Sleep!' Parvati hissed, and yanked her curtain shut.

Lavender gave up on Hermione shortly after, falling asleep again. Hermione however, went on studying, though it wasn't progressing at all well. As the night wore on, her concentration diminished; and if Hermione couldn't concentrate, her mind would stumble onto Harry. Harry. Harry and the love potion. How she felt when he...

Don't even think about it Hermione disciplined herself, and resolved to call it a night. Leaving her schoolbooks in disarray, she picked up the lantern she'd been keeping and tiptoed to bed. Laying down, she turned the lantern out and curled up on her side, one hand under her head and the other under her pillow...

'Hmm?' she murmured curiously. Something was there, hidden under the pillow. Remembering what it was, she silently chided herself. How could she forget? It was the card Harry had left in her room, reading Love Harry, when he'd been on love potion. Resting on her back, Hermione held it over her head, gazing. He'd given her this before he...before he...

So much for not thinking about it Hermione thought bleakly, and tucked the card back in its original place.

~ The Other Boy ~

Another student was awake that night, only this one was on a mission. Draco Malfoy snuck back through the Slytherin portrait hole and up the stairs, concealing something under his green bed robe.

'Stupid Madame Pince,' he muttered slyly under his breath, treading carefully into his dormitory room. 'Knew I could to it.'

'Do what?'

Malfoy froze. It was Goyle, sitting up in his bed.

'Nothing,' said Malfoy, playing innocent. 'Go back to sleep, Goyle, you're even uglier in the middle of the night!'

'Where did you go?'

Malfoy pursed his lips in irritation.

'If you must know, the toilet. All right?'

'To do what?'

'To piss idiot!'

'Oh,' said Goyle dopily. 'Right, sorry Malfoy.'

Goyle turned over and went back to sleep. He could have sworn he heard Malfoy mutter something about Madame Pince, but how the school librarian and Malfoy taking a piss connected confused him profoundly for the rest of the night. Meanwhile, Malfoy uncovered what he'd been hiding. It was a large, red book called A Wizard's and Witch's Guide to Love Made Easy.

-->

4. Harry's Crush & The Annual Drakon Hunt

`Can' say I saw that comin'…'

`Neither did I,' said Harry, staring into space. 'It's like I found out overnight.'

~ Harry's Crush ~

It was six o'clock in the morning when Harry woke up, his head full of thoughts - thoughts of Hermione. Thoughts one should not be having about their best friend!

Without hesitation, Harry whipped out of bed and threw on his robe and slippers. Forget sleeping. Forget studying. Harry needed to talk to someone now. But who? He figured this was the kind of thing sons discussed with their fathers. Sirius wasn't readily available, so that left -

'Hagrid!' Harry called out, banging on Hagrid's front door from beneath his invisibility cloak.

A minute later, Harry heard a grunt from inside. The door opened slightly, and Hagrid's tired, beetle eyes poked out. Harry unveiled his invisibility cloak, giving Hagrid quite the shock.

'Harry!' he said gruffly, opening the door wide. He was wearing a pair of red and white striped pajamas, which Harry thought looked very misplaced on his enormous frame. 'What are yeh doin' here? What time is it?'

'Er, I think it's a few minutes after six in the morning,' said Harry sheepishly, realising how early this sounded. Hagrid staggered on the spot.

'Six in the mornin'! What are yeh doin' runin' round the school grounds at six in the mornin', Harry?'

'I haven't been running!' said Harry defensively. 'I was walking...fast.'

'Runnin', walkin', don' make any diff'rence! Yeh jus' outta hospital, Harry! Yeh should be gettin' yer rest and - '

'Hagrid! Enough!' Harry wasn't in the mood to have his health fussed over. Madame Pomfrey had taken care of that. 'I was only infected by love potion, it's not like the bones were removed from my arm or anything! I'm sorry to come here like this, but I really need to talk to someone.'

To Harry's relief, Hagrid smiled. 'Harry! Yeh know I'm always happy to talk to yeh.'

'Thanks, Hagrid,' said Harry appreciatively.

'But nex' time yeh want ter talk, could yeh wait 'till the sun fully rises at least?'

Laying a bulky arm around Harry's shoulder, Hagrid escorted them inside. Harry sunk down in one of Hagrid's oversized chairs, just as Fang ran over to give him the standard lick on the head. 'Down Fang, down!' said Hagrid, shooing him out the way. He handed Harry a cup of tea and sat down on the chair opposite. 'So, Harry, what's bin troublin' yeh?'

Harry stared forlornly at his tea. Now that he was here, ready to talk about her, he wasn't so sure how to go about it; not to mention the whole thing was just plain embarrassing!

`Yeh been thinkin' 'bout exams?' Hagrid prompted him.

`No,' said Harry dully.

'Yeh-know-who?'

'No.'

'Yeh parents?'

`A girl! I've been thinking about a girl,' Harry confessed suddenly, feeling very uncomfortable.

`Oh!' said Hagrid, sounding uncomfortable himself. `A girl. Righ' then! Ah, what of kind of girl?'

Harry looked at him questioningly. `The…usual kind. What do you mean?'

`Righ'! Sorry, Harry, stupid question.'

Plainly, Hagrid wasn't used to helping confused, pubescent boys with their girl problems. But Harry was desperate, and still willing to give him a shot. Besides, it's not like he had anyone else to turn too.

`This girl then,' Hagrid elaborated, after clearing his voice, `yeh like her I'm guessin'?'

`I don't know,' said Harry automatically, growing more embarrassed. `I mean, maybe…probably…I think so. I had this dream about her when I was in hospital last night. I've never had a dream like that before…'

`Oh, well!' said Hagrid rather suddenly, picking nervously at his beard. `That's perfectly normal, Harry. Teenage boys often have…er, dreams `bout girls. It's nothin' to worry `bout, it's - '

Harry, catching on to what Hagrid was trying to explain, laughed.

`Hagrid, I didn't have that kind of dream! Just a regular one.'

`Oh! Sorry, Harry,' he apologised, turning red. `I didn' mean ter...well, yeh know.'

`It's okay, Hagrid,' Harry assured him, smiling.

`So! Now that tha's cleared up,' he said, keen to change the subject. `Do I ge' ter know who the lucky girl is?'

Sipping tea, Hagrid waited for to Harry respond. After a long sigh, Harry forced himself to say it.

`It's Hermione.'

Hagrid coughed and spat his tea back into the cup.

`Hermione!' he choked in surprise. `Can' say I saw that comin'…'

`Neither did I,' said Harry, staring into space. 'It's like I found out overnight.'

'Are yer sure yeh haven' got any love potion left in yeh?' Harry shook his head.

'No, I've been cured. So why can't I stop thinking about her like this? It's weird...I feel really guilty.'

'Guilty? Why would yeh feel guilty, Harry?'

'Because we're supposed to be friends!' Harry expressed desperately. 'How could this happen, Hagrid? What if she finds out how I'm feeling and freaks out? What if I freak out? What if - '

'Harry, calm yerself!' said Hagrid firmly. 'Yeh got a crush. They always make yer feel a bit "freaked out" as yeh pu' it. Don' get yerself worked up 'bout it though. Hermione's not eleven any more after all. She's turnin' into a young woman.'

'Don't say that!' said Harry, panicking at the very thought.

'Well, it's true I'm afraid! Yeh'd be blind if yeh didn' notice her a more then yeh used too. Its nothin' to feel guilty 'bout, though.'

'So,' said Harry, more calmly, 'what do you think I should do?'

Hagrid mulled this over, taking another sip of tea. 'I'm no expert or nothin', Harry, but yer basically got two choices: yeh can tell her how yer feelin', or, don' tell her. If it's really botherin' yeh, maybe you should take yer chances and say somethin'. Yeh could end up regrettin' it if yeh don'.'

Maybe Hagrid was right, Harry thought. Perhaps he should say something; otherwise he could wind up going crazy - crazier then he already was, that it is. With newfound resolve, Harry placed his teacup on the table and stood up out of his chair.

'Thanks for listening to me, Hagird. I think I'll got back to school now.' Hagrid chuckled.

'Any time, Harry. But no' early in the mornin' like this, all righ'?'

~ The Annual Drakon Hunt ~

Breakfast was being served when Harry returned to the castle, so he quickly headed to his dormitory room to dress properly, before hurrying back downstairs to the Great Hall. He spotted Ron at the Gryffindor table with his brothers, Fred and George. They appeared to be sulking about something. And Hermione...well, she wasn't there.

'Where have you been?' said Ron, on seeing Harry.

'Good morning to you too,' said Harry flatly, sitting down and fixing himself a bowl of porridge.

'What's so good about it?' groaned Fred and George in unison. Harry raised his eyebrows.

'Fine. Forget I mentioned it.'

'Sorry, Harry,' said Fred apologetically. 'It's just...it's a real shame it is!'

'A damn shame!' said George, banging his spoon.

'A stupendous shame!' said Fred, banging a glass.

'A tremendous, gargantuan shame!' retorted George, banging the milk jug.

'A historically, monumental, GINORMOUS - '

'All right, all right!' said Ron, annoyed. 'That's enough! I think Harry gets the picture.'

But Harry didn't get the picture at all.

'What's such a shame?' he asked. George sighed heavily.

'Ever heard of something called the Annual Drakon Hunt, Harry?'

'Er...no,' said Harry, clueless. Despite attending Hogwarts for five years now, there were still some things about the magical world he had yet to learn.

'It's held at Mount Olympus in Greece,' Fred informed him. 'Every year, wizards from all over Europe come together to hunt for a type of dragon called the Drakon, who guards this big pile of treasure - '

'An enormous pile of treasure,' emphasised George.

'Massive,' concurred Fred.

'Immense!' relayed George.

'A monstrous, TITANIC - '

'GUYS!' yelled Ron, annoyed again. The twins laughed.

'Sorry!'

'Couldn't resist!'

'You're put into teams you see, Harry,' said Ron, taking it upon himself to explain the rest more sensibly. 'They have teams for anything - sports teams, family teams, you name it! Hogwarts always sends a group of teachers to compete. Sometimes even the Head Boy and Girl get to go. Anyway, each team is assigned a Guardian, who's an expert in dragons and stuff. Like Charlie, for instance. He's working as one this year. Guardians aren't supposed to do much, really. They're only there in case something goes wrong.'

'And if you find and get past the Drakon,' said George, 'you get your hands on the treasure!'

'And become rich beyond your wildest dreams!' said Fred, practically drooling at the thought.

'Wow,' said Harry, who felt much less confused. 'That sounds pretty all right. So are you guys entering?'

'That's the shame part,' said Fred, slouching. 'This years Hunt was originally scheduled for the school holidays, but they've changed it to next week! Dad promised we could go and form a "Weasley Family" team, but mum refuses to let us take time off school. Have to wait 'till bloody next year now.'

'And to top it off, we received a letter from perfect Percy, barking on about how he's been chosen to serve the elite Ministry of Magic team. Wouldn't think of being on his own family's team, oh no!' said George grimly. Fred was equally grim.

'If you ask me, they should start a "Wand Up The Ass" team and make Percy the divine leader.'

Ron and Harry burst into laughter, after which they all speculated who would join Percy on his team. Just as Ron suggested Lockhart, George became distracted by someone.

'Oi, Ginny! Why don't you come sit with us?'

Ginny was sitting by herself at the far end of the Gryffindor table, sipping milk. She appeared a little tense.

'I'm fine where I am!' she called back, snappish.

'What's with her?' said Ron, affronted. 'Why doesn't she want to sit with us?'

'Maybe she's rekindled her crush on Harry,' said Fred, giving Harry a wink. 'Either that or she's scared of Ron pursuing another incestuous relationship with her.'

Everyone (but Ron, of course) found this very amusing.

'That wasn't my fault, FRED!' said Ron harshly, punching his brother in the arm. 'It was a love potion! Don't be so disgusting, honestly!'

'It's only an ickle joke, Ronnikens!' said Fred in a cutesy voice. 'Why so sensitive? It's not your time of the month again, is it?'

'Oh, shut up!'

Idly stirring his porridge, Harry half-listened to twins as they proceeded to tease Ron. He couldn't help but think of Hermione. After they cooled down, he finally asked, in as normal a voice as he could manage:

`Ron, have you seen Hermione this morning?'

`No, she hasn't come down yet.'

`Oh,' said Harry, wondering why this could be.

`And I'm quite surprised, really,' Ron went on, taking a gulp of orange juice. `It's not like her to be late. She's usually the first person to wake up in the whole of Britain - AH!'

Someone bumped Ron hard in the back, causing him to spill orange juice down his front. When Ron turned to see who the culprit was, he wasn't shocked at who he found.

`Malfoy!' he grimaced.

`Oops, so sorry about that, Weasley,' said Malfoy, sarcastic as ever. `Next time I'm passing by, I suggest you get your big fat behind out of my way.'

`My big fat WHAT?' said Ron, rising out of his chair.

But before anything else could happen, Professor Snape, who'd been spying on this scene quietly from behind, made an appearance.

`Now boys,' he said, with a typical cold-blooded smile, `I hope there's no trouble here?'

`No sir,' said Malfoy, supposedly unfeigned.

`No sir,' repeated Ron, still grimacing.

Snape eyed Ron darkly.

`Then I suggest you sit down, Mr Weasley, and conduct the remainder of your breakfast in an orderly manner. Unless you want more points taken off Gryffindor?'

Lightening his grimace, Ron sat down without complaint.

`That's more like it,' said Snape, taking the opportunity to stare down his large nose at Harry and the twins, before stalking away.

`Professor Snape!' Malfoy called, approaching him. `I was wondering if I could talk you about an extra-credit Potions assignment I wanted to work on.'

`Certainly Draco, anything I can do to help,' was Snape's reply, sounding almost civil. He and Malfoy walked out of earshot, Malfoy sucking up to Snape in his usual manner.

` "Anything I can do to help",' imitated Fred, once it was safe. `Only a Slytherin would get treatment like that out of Snape! If I asked him for help, he'd toss me to the giant squid.'

`Definite Wand Up The Ass potential, the two of them,' said George approvingly. Ron in the mean time, wiping himself with a napkin, was still burnt over what Malfoy had said earlier.

`Can you believe what that slimy git said about my behind? I guess he hasn't had a good look at Crabbe and Goyle's behinds lately, which is funny 'cause it's not like they're hard to miss!'

-->

5. Hermione's Test & Harry Still Loves Hermione?

`Maybe Harry wouldn't mind taking you up on that moonlit broomstick ride, hmm?'

~ Hermione's Test ~

While the boys were at breakfast, Hermione had been cornered - against her will - in her dormitory room.

`I told you, Lavender! I don't want anything to do with it!'

`Pleeease, Hermione? Everyone else has done it!'

`It's really fun!'

Lavender and Parvati were doing their best to force Hermione into taking a love quiz from Esoteric Girl - a local beauty and fashion magazine geared at teenage witches. Hermione had been trying to dodge them ever since she woke up.

`How many times do I have to say it? I am not into this sort of thing! And if you say one word about love potion Lavender, I'll slam a book in your face I swear to - '

`Question one!' said Lavender with authority. `Would your perfect date with your perfect wizard be:

(a) A trip to Hogsmead and a Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks

(b) A Quidditch match

(c) A broomstick ride in the moonlight.'

`I don't - '

Lavender and Parvati gave Hermione a stern glare. It was clear they had no intention of letting her leave without answering the question. Reluctantly, Hermione surrendered.

`Oh, all right! This is utter nonsense though,' she said indignantly, thinking for a moment, and then answered, `C. I'm not fond of flying, but it's the most original answer there.'

Lavender, now wearing a satisfied grin Hermione found very irritating, marked this response down in her magazine with a quill.

`Question two: which is the best way out of the following that a wizard can show he cares about you:

(a) Send you a Valentine's dwarf who will recite poetry and love sonnets to you

(b) Perform the 'Floribunda' spell, by which conjuring up an array of flowers within a given space

or

(c) Get a tattoo featuring your name.'

Hermione stared at Lavender, gaping. Surely this was some kind of trick? Only last week did those three exact things happen to her! Krum sent her a dwarf, Harry grew flowers in her room, and Malfoy - most unfortunately - had her name tattooed on his back.

`Er…Lavender, did you make that last question up?'

`Nuh uh. It's written right here...see?'

Lavender showed Hermione the article. She was, indeed, telling the truth. This was the strangest coincidence ever! Hermione began re-thinking question, which consequently forced her to remember the past few weeks, and all the trouble the love potion had caused. Harry's spell was really quite nice...

'Hermione?'

'B! Sorry, B,' rushed Hermione, coming back to earth.

Lavender marked this response down, and was about to ask question three, when someone knocked on the door.

'I'll get it!' Parvati announced. It was Neville Longbottom.

'What are you doing here?' she asked rudely from the doorway. 'This is the girls dormitories!'

'Er,' was Neville's initial response. 'I just came to give Hermione her Potions book. I found it in my room. I think someone was borrowing it...I know she likes to study, she's really very smart and - '

'That's great Neville,' said Parvati before he could finish, and grabbed the book off him. 'We'll see you in class, okay?'

Without another word, Parvati shut the door on him.

'Who was that?' Lavender wanted to know. Parvati smirked.

'Oh, nobody! Just another one of Hermione's boyfriends.'

'What?' said Hermione, glaring at Parvati.

'It was Neville Longbottom. He was going on about how smart and brilliant you were! Are you sure you didn't feed him love potion as well?'

Hermione scoffed.

'Very hilarious, Parvati, really!'

Parvati snickered and flipped through Hermione's Potions book; she wanted to check if it really was Hermione's, and not some stunt of Neville's to get Hermione's attention. Evidently, it was Hermione's book - and something very interesting was written repetitively on a certain page. Parvati's eyes opened wide.

'Oh - my - GOD!'

'What's wrong with you? What book are you reading?' asked Hermione, furrowing her brow. Lavender was curious as well.

'Yeah, what are you reading, let me see!'

She seized the book from Parviti's hands and read it over. Seconds later, she'd burst into uncontrollable, girlish giggles. 'Oh - my - GOD!'

'Oh my GOD!' squealed Parvati, again. Hermione then recognised whose book they were referring to.

'Hey, that's mine! That's my Potion's book!'

But Lavender and Parvati ignored Hermione completely, conducting their own private conversation.

'Did Neville write it?'

'No, it's Harry's handwriting!'

'How do you know?'

'Because! I made everyone take that 'What Your Handwriting Says About You' test last month, remember? It's definitely Harry. And anyway, Hermione said last night he was borrowing this book!'

'You're joking!'

As if it were possible, the two girls giggled even harder. To make matter worse, they started jumping up and down. The whole display made Hermione's stomach turnover.

'OHMYGOD! OHMYGOD!' they repeated stupidly, over and over.

'Give me that!' Hermione ordered, snatching her book from Lavender. 'You two, for heaven's sake! The way you go on. I can't imagine what's so bloody fascinating about my Potions book, I mean - '

But Hermione couldn't say another word. She'd caught sight of Harry's 'accidental' message and her voice disappeared. Lavender couldn't help herself.

'Maybe Harry wouldn't mind taking you up on that moonlit broomstick ride, hmm?'

~ Harry Still Loves Hermione? ~

Hermione's first class that day was Arithmacy. She avoided breakfast in the Great Hall and headed straight there because, firstly, she needed to get as far away as possible from Parvati and Lavender (their giggling was becoming beyond ridiculous), and secondly...well, she was still recovering from the new addition to her Potions book.

You are incredibly beautiful

You are incredibly beautiful

You are incredibly beautiful

Hermione analysed these words while sitting alone in the back of Arithmacy.

'Harry could only have written this after he'd been cured of the potion,' she evaluated. 'Maybe he's playing some kind of trick? No, Harry's not like that...so then, he's serious?' Feeling very overcrowded in the head, Hermione buried her face in her hands and thought, with mounting desperation, what is going on!

It was then she remembered what Professor Dumbledore had said to her earlier in the week. After her faint...

'The Aphora Bewitching Potion doesn't always force a recipient to love against their will. Rather, in special cases, it makes the recipient realise they've been in love with the bounder already.'

This memory in turn sparked another - what Harry had said in her dormitory room, when he was infected by the Aphora Bewitching Potion...

'Hermione! This is no potion. I've loved you since last year, since the whole Rita Skeeter thing and the Yule ball!'

Could it be possible? Hermione, although somewhat doubtful, dared to think it could. Her stomach lightened considerably, reminding her of when she first set eyes on the Aphora Bewitching Potion in Ginny's room; except this time, there was no potion to be accounted for.

'Then,' she said aloud, with little concern for who might be listening, 'he really is serious!'

'Sshh!' hissed a student up in front, throwing her a steely glare.

'Oh go sshh yourself!' Hermione hissed back, determined not to let anything ruin her moment.

-->

6. Predictions & Krum Still Loves Hermione?

'I wanted to check if either of you were borrowing Hermione's Potions book?'

'Harry was, I think. Weren't you, Harry?'

Predictions

While Hermione was in Arithmacy, Harry and Ron endured Divination. Professor Trelawny was conducting the lesson in her usual, dramatic way...

'DEATH!'

Terror instantly swept through the class. Lavender and Parvati looked particularly concerned, and Neville nearly fell of his pouffe.

'The Death card, my children,' explained Professor Trewlawny, resuming her dreamy tone, and holding up an actual Death card from the Tarot. 'If you did the homework I assigned, you would know this card portends transformation! Endings and beginnings! The dawning of a new awakening!'

'Why didn't she say all that in the first place?' Ron whispered grumpily to Harry, fed up with Professor Trewlawny's dramatics.

'Now,' she proceeded, picking up a Tarot deck from her desk, 'take out your cards, we're going to make some predictions. Mr Longbottom!' she said suddenly, pointing a long finger at Neville. 'I foresaw you would forget your deck so I brought a spare.'

She handed her deck to Neville, who received it with a shaky hand.

'Everybody, shuffle your cards,' she instructed. 'Then, using your Inner Eye, pull out a card at random. It will reveal the very energy surrounding you at this time.'

'I wonder if there's a card for extreme boredom,' groaned Ron, lazily shuffling his cards. As told, he pulled out a card and observed his fortune. 'I got the Five of Swords, what does that mean?'

'I'll check,' said Harry, consulting his Divination book. 'Maybe you're going to be stabbed five times?'

'We can only hope,' said Ron, flicking his card down.

As Ron said this, Professor Trewlawny glided over to their table and nosed in.

'Ah, the Five of Swords!' she said profoundly, staring down at Ron's card through her magnified glasses. 'My dear, I sense you must be prepared to loose a battle. Accept defeat, or be plagued by feelings of bitterness and jealousy!'

'Sorry, Ron,' said Harry, smirking.

'Hey, it happens,' shrugged Ron. Professor Trewlawny was not impressed by such a cavalier response to what she considered a very significant warning.

'Dear boy, this card is not to be taken lightly! You must be aware when this battle takes place, for only then can you truly surrender and heal. Now,' she turned her attention to Harry, 'why don't you draw a card from your deck, Mr Potter?'

Harry gulped. He knew whatever card he picked, Professor Trewlawny would associate it with his ultimate demise. Taking the plunge, Harry shuffled his deck and pulled out a card.

Great he thought, hardly believing his luck.

'DEATH!' screeched Professor Trelawny.

'We - can - read!' Ron spelled-out sarcastically. All eyes in the class were now on Harry.

'My poor, poor boy!' Professer Trewlawy clutched her heart, as if the sorrow were too much to bear. 'I am not surprised you have been connected with the energies of the Death card! For only last night when I was gazing in my crystal ball...'

'Here we go,' mumbled Ron, rolling his eyes.

'...I foresaw danger coming to you, Mr Potter! Terrible, terrible danger. You will experience an intense, inner transformation! New feelings will emerge within you...yes. But hence, this change will lead towards suffering, pain and - '

Ron overrode her.

'Oh, would you look at the time? Class is finished, time for lunch. Damn, can you believe it? Come on Harry...'

Although it was actually two minutes until the end of class, everyone took Ron's announcement seriously and packed away their things, heading down the stairs and out into halls.

'Can you believe her? Honestly!' Ron complained, once they were in the clear. 'I swear, Harry, until you show up to class as a corpse, she's never going to lighten up.' Harry laughed.

'I know.'

'HARRY! RON!'

Harry and Ron spun around. It was Neville.

'Hey guys,' he said, catching up with them. 'I wanted to check if either of you were borrowing Hermione's Potions book?'

'Harry was, I think. Weren't you, Harry?' said Ron, looking in Harry's direction. Harry, after hearing the words borrowing Hermione's Potions book, was panic-stricken. How did Neville know that?

Er, yeah. Why?' he said sternly, staring Neville in the eye.

'I thought I'd let you know I found it in our room and returned it to Hermione this morning.'

'You did WHAT?' Harry blurted out, unable to stop himself. Neville was very thrown aback, as was Ron, by what seemed to be an unnecessarily anxious reaction.

'Well, Potions class is coming up and...and I thought she'll need it, that's all. I better be heading off now, though,' he said, backing steadily away from Harry. 'I'll see you guys later. I really hope you don't die, Harry. Bye!'

And he ran off, leaving Ron to question Harry.

'What's the matter? You didn't need that book any more, did you?'

Harry didn't answer. He was too busy trying to control a sudden urge to pull his hair out! Maybe I shouldn't jump to conclusions he told himself. Maybe she didn't see what I wrote?

But any strain of hope Harry had was quickly demolished when Lavender and Parvati passed by.

'It's such an incredibly beautiful day, don't you think, Parvati?'

'Yes, definitely incredibly beautiful, Lavender. I do hope tomorrow is as incredibly beautiful as it is today.'

Both girls gave Harry and knowing look as they walked away, giggling amongst themselves like a pair of hyenas. Harry wanted to sink into the ground and disappear.

'What the hell is wrong with those two?' said Ron, watching their departure with a revolted expression.

'I wish I was dead...' mumbled Harry under his breath.

'Huh?'

'Ah, I mean...I hope there's, er...bread! I hope there's bread at lunch.'

Harry cringed at this feeble attempt to cover up his last comment. Ron was giving him a very bizarre look.

'What do you mean you hope there's bread at lunch. There's always bread! And anyway, Harry, it's not time for lunch yet. We have Potions now. I was just kidding before.'

Harry's panic instantly resurfaced.

'Potions!' he exclaimed. Hermione was going to be in Potions. He wasn't ready for her yet!

'Yeah, Potions! Harry, what's wrong with you? Why are you acting like we have our O.W.L's in an hour?'

Forget the O.W.L's, Hermione knew! She knew what Harry had written her Potions book, before he had a chance to explain himself. And worse, Lavender and Parvati obviously knew as well! Maybe even Neville ...the whole school at this rate Harry thought, exaggerating. He needed to take action; or better yet, he needed to hide.

'Listen, Ron, tell Snape I'm...well, tell him something! Tell him I need to study. I can't come to class.'

'Well, wait a sec! Where are you going?'

'The library,' said Harry, already on his way. 'I'll talk to you later!'

Ron was totally baffled.

'The library?' he mouthed to himself.

Krum Still Loves Hermione?

'Where's Harry?'

This was the first thing Hermione said to Ron when he arrived at Potions class. She was already seated in their usual spot. Ron slumped into the seat next to her, dumping his school bag on the desk.

'Fairy land!' he replied huffily, as he pulled out his books. Hermione hadn't expected this response at all.

'What?' she said, crossing her eyebrows. Ron zipped up his school bag and turned towards her.

'See if you can understand this, Hermione: one minute Harry's talking about bread, and the next he's skipping class to go to the library!'

'He's skipping class? Why?'

'The hell if I know! To study, apparently. He's been acting a bit weird. Freaked out about something, I don't know.'

'He is?' This isn't about what he wrote in my Potions book? Hermione wondered frantically, not even knowing if this was the case.

'Today,' Professor Snape had begun from the front of the class, 'we will learn how to make a sleeping potion, similar to what our school nurse Madame Pomfrey uses on her patients, only more powerful...and Mr Weasley, if you do not stop talking you can be the official taste tester!'

Ron's mouth sealed shut.

'Because this particular sleeping potion is very strong, it can have an after-effect. But who here can tell me the proper term for this?'

Hermione's hand shot up in the air, scraping Ron by the ear.

'Watch it!' he grumbled. 'That arm's a weapon...'

'Anyone?' repeated Snape, purposely avoiding Hermione, who was stretching her hand so high she was almost standing on her seat.

'Yes, Draco Malfoy.'

Vanquished, Hermione's hand flopped back down.

'I believe,' said Malfoy, in a very pompous tone, 'that potion relapse is the proper term. Other terms include potion backsliding or potion regression. Potion relapse often occurs when a potion hasn't been sufficiently cleansed from a person's body.'

Snape nodded appraisingly.

`Excellent, Malfoy. Twenty points to Slytherin.'

`Twenty!' hissed Ron under his breath. `That's robbery!'

Malfoy, who was sitting at the table in front of Ron and Hermione, turned around to give the two of them and an arrogant glare. He even had the indecency to shoot Hermione a wink.

`Got something in your eye, Malfoy?' said Hermione, glaring back.

Malfoy snickered and turned back round. Snape was still discussing potion relapse.

`Potion relapse can be either insignificant or extreme, depending on the circumstances. The potions you find it most commonly associated with include switching potions, mood changing potions…and of course,' he looked specifically at Hermione, `love potions.'

The whole class, except for Ron, began to laugh. Hermione put on a dignified face, but was unable to fight the pink forming in her cheeks. Ron leant over to her and whispered, `don't listen to him, Hermione. He's probably made heaps of love potions in his day.'

`How do you figure?' Hermione whispered back. Ron sniggered.

`As if Snape could ever get a girl to go out with him! I mean for one, it looks like he hasn't washed his hair since leaving the womb...'

`I strongly advise you research potion relapse to the full extent,' Snape continued. `That, of course, means going to the library, though I'm sure most of you have forgotten what the library looks like.' Snape looked directly at Ron. `It's the big room with all the books in it.'

Ron's cheeks went a little pink themselves, when suddenly, something flew in and interrupted the class: it was an owl, and it carried a letter for Hermione. Everyone groaned. They had fond memories of Krum sending Hermione constant mail. Snape wasn't impressed either.

`Hurry up and read it, Miss Granger! And next time, save the excitement of your social life for after my class!'

Quickly, Hermione unrolled her letter, avoiding Snape's and everyone else's glares. Surely this was a message from her parents, checking up on her? But no, it wasn't. Oh, what could he possibly want now?

Dear Hermione,

Why didn't you say you were still interested in me? You must be, otherwise why would you send the love potion? Now that I'm cured, I realise I'm still interested in you as well. I would be honoured if you'd join me at the Annual Drakon Hunt next week in Greece. I know it's short notice, but please consider taking the time off school. I'd love to see you again.

Yours Sincerely,

Viktor Krum

Hermione couldn't work out was more absurd: the fact Krum thought she was still interested in him, or that she would ever take time of school!

`It's not from Krummy is it?' said Ron jokingly. `That would be a right cack!'

`Well of course it's not!' Hermione snapped, shoving the letter into her school bag. `Don't be ridiculous…'

-->

7. A Malfoy Mystery & Moment Of Truth?

`Harry,' she spoke up. Her voice had a faint quiver in it. `Did you...did you, mean it? Sincerely?'

`About what I wrote?'

~ A Malfoy Mystery ~

Before Potions class ended, Professor Snape took an unprecedented thirty points off Gryffindor. He knew quite well, as soon as he walked in the room, that Harry was absent. Crestfallen, Hermione and Ron trudged their way to the Great Hall for lunch - but Hermione had more important things on her mind then eating. They were only just sitting down at Gryffindor table, Ron reaching for the breadbasket, when Hermione stood up again.

`I'm going to the library to find Harry. Bye!'

`Wha - ' Ron objected, with half a bread roll hanging out of his mouth. He dislodged it before speaking again. `But, we just got here!'

`I said I'm going to find Harry, not you! You stay here and eat. I need to...' Hermione thought this over for a second `...er, well, I need to talk to Harry about something. Urgently.'

`About what?' Ron demanded, clearly sick of everybody's secretiveness. `Do you know what's wrong with him?'

`Don't be stupid! Why would I know? I only need to talk to him about...ah, school stuff! It's quite boring, really. You wouldn't be interested.'

Hermione went to turn and leave, but was suddenly confronted with Malfoy, taking his usual leave from the Slytherin table to taunt them.

`Good afternoon, Granger!' he said in a buoyant voice that was very unlike him, after which he sneered over at Ron - an action that was, alternatively, very like him. `Afternoon to you too, carrot top.'

`Greetings planet head!' said Ron with a salute. Malfoy stayed focused on Hermione.

`Miss me?'

`No!' she scoffed, raising an eyebrow. `Miss me?'

He shrugged. `A little.' Hermione scoffed again.

`Oh yes, I'm sure! How's the tattoo going?' She said this with a gratified smirk.

Predictably, Ron felt the urge to have a go at Malfoy himself. He stood up out of his chair and moved in front Hermione, shielding her from Malfoy.

`One word, Malfoy! One nasty word and I'll give you a crooked face!'

Malfoy wasn't threatened in the least. `Really, Weasley, no need for heroics. I'm only here to have a friendly chat.'

`Yeah right!' said Ron disbelievingly. `And Snape wants a new career as Harry's house elf!'

This, again, did little to thwart Malfoy's composure.

`Heard you can't go to the Annual Drakon Hunt this year, Weasley. Tragic isn't it? You could have made some money. You remember that word don't you? Money?'

`Why I oughta - '

Ron was set to charge at Malfoy; but Hermione, who still had her wits about her, pulled him back determinedly by the shirt.

`I of course,' Malfoy went on importantly, `will be taking time off school to go with my father. It's imperative I attend. The Malfoy's are, after all, one of the most respected Pureblood teams in the game.'

Hermione stepped out from behind Ron, glaring daggers at Malfoy.

`If you ask me, your lot are anything but pure!'

`No arguments there!' supported Ron, folding his arms. Malfoy ignored him and kept his attention on Hermione.

`Why don't you come with us, Granger? The Drakon could use some live bait.'

`Why don't you turn yourself into a bouncing ferret again, Malfoy, I'm sure that will be bait enough!'

Ron burst into laughter.

`Well!' said Malfoy, seemingly impressed. `Aren't we on the ball this morning? Can't talk any further I'm afraid, I must be going.'

`Darn! Do you have too?' said Ron, pretending to be upset.

`I'll see you soon, Granger,' he said, giving her another wink, and strode back to the Slytherin table. Hermione was left feeling slightly disconcerted.

`What was that all about?'

Ron, evidently, felt the same way.

`Just when you thought he couldn't become more of a git, he out does himself!'

Shaking this latest encounter of Malfoy's from her mind, Hermione resumed her previous endeavor.

`Anyway, I'll talk to you later Ron. I should go find Harry now.'

`Harry? But - '

`I'll see you later!' she cried, running off, before he had another chance to protest.

~ Moment Of Truth? ~

Harry sat by himself in the library, chewing his nails. It was a new habit. He developed it only ten minutes ago for relieving nerves. It didn't seem to be working…

`What am I going to do?' he exclaimed in agony.

`SSHH!' hissed Madame Pince, who was hanging around. `No talking to one's self in the library!'

`Sorry...'

Harry was in quite the predicament. His best friend knew he thought she was incredibly beautiful three times over - a fact he'd only become enlightened to recently himself. As a result, Harry's game plan had to change: he could either tell Hermione some made up story like `I must have been coming off the potion!'…or, he could tell the supposed truth.

`Harry?'

Oh god! Harry thought, sitting upright. She was standing right behind him! For how long, he didn't know. Steadily, he turned to face her. She smiled awkwardly. He smiled awkwardly. Both felt compelled to say something. Anything! For Harry's part, the bare sight of Hermione sent his mind into a frenzy. If you stop imagining her in that white nightie, Harry, you might manage to get some sound out of your mouth!

`I, ah,' Hermione finally spoke. `I noticed you weren't at lunch. Ron told me you'd come up here to study.'

Good one, Harry! he cursed himself, realising he was sitting at a table with no book to actually study from.

`Hermione…I…?'

`Can we talk, Harry?'

`Yes!' he breathed, a little too eagerly. `I mean, yeah sure...'

Harry gestured for Hermione to sit down. It was now or never!

`Thanks,' she said politely, swinging her bag to the floor and taking the seat next to him.

They both sat in silence for the moment, looking at anything but each other.

`So…' began Hermione.

`So...' echoed Harry.

They paused.

`Well, Harry. I really don't know where to begin.'

`I can start if you like.'

`That would be great.'

They paused again. Harry really didn't want to start!

`Er...' Harry mumbled, taking a moment to unbutton his top collar button. Why did it suddenly feel so hot? `I guess, you have your Potions book back.'

`Yes,' Hermione confirmed. `Neville gave it to me this morning.'

`Right,' said Harry, yanking the knot in his necktie down a touch. `I'm sorry I didn't return it to you earlier.'

`That's okay, Harry. I already took comprehensive notes on all the chapters in advance.'

`You did?'

`Ah…'

Hermione was suddenly upset with herself. Nice going, Hermione! Impress him by reaffirming you're the biggest book-head in the school! `Well, maybe not that comprehensive.'

`I studied your book all night and could only get notes on the first chapter.'

`You studied all last night too?'

`Yeah, I did…'

`Oh,' said Hermione, half-smiling. Harry picked up on her tone.

`I guess I wasn't alone then, huh?'

`Well,' she said nervously, biting her bottom lip, `you know me! Always studying.'

Harry glanced at her sideways. Did he know Hermione? Really? As Hagrid pointed out, Hermione wasn't the old eleven-year-old pal Harry had become use too - oh no. This new Hermione was the so-called `young woman' Hermione, and Harry found her frightfully uncomfortable, scary, and even a little...exciting? Why were the slightest details in her appearance suddenly so alluring? Her eyes, her skin, her hair, the way she bit her bottom lip like that…

`Hermione,' said Harry, forcing himself to stop stealing glances her way. `When you got your Potions book back…did you read what I think you did?'

Harry knew perfectly well she had, but wanted to ask anyway. Hermione took another bite at her lip.

`Yes, I did.'

Again, they paused, allowing this new information to sink in. Harry half expected Hermione to run away or tell him off. What were you thinking, Harry? Writing in a schoolbook! That's vandalism of school property, honestly! But she did neither. The fact she remained at all emboldened Harry somewhat.

`Harry,' she spoke up. Her voice had a faint quiver in it. `Did you...did you, mean it? Sincerely?'

`About what I wrote?'

`Yes?'

`Every word.'

There. He did it. He told the truth! A weighty silence followed the announcement. Fused with suspense, Harry permitted himself to look at Hermione directly for the first time since she'd sat down. Feeling his eyes on her, Hermione did the same. Harry was pleasantly surprised to find her smiling at him, and not puking with revulsion. Always a plus!

`You think…' she started, blushing, `…you think I'm beautiful?'

`I think the words were "incredibly beautiful", if I remember correctly.'

Hermione's smile broadened.

`Yes, I know. I believe you wrote it down three times.'

`Well then I really, really, really, mean it.'

They both laughed, Hermione's blush deepening. Harry was going a little red himself.

`So…' began Hermione.

`So…' echoed Harry.

`What happens now?'

`I don't know,' said Harry, contemplating this prospect. `Do you think I'm beautiful?'

They both broke into laughter again, trying to keep it down so Madame Pince wouldn't hear.

`Yes, but in a masculine way, Harry!' Hermione assured him, giggling. Harry now looked rather smug.

`Really? And how many times would you write it down?'

`Um...I'd say ten times.'

`Ten!'

`Ten is much better then three, don't you think?'

`Hey!' teased Harry, poking her arm.

`Hey yourself!' teased Hermione, pinching his ribs.

`Hey yourself times ten!'

`Hey yourself times infinity!'

`SSHH!' hissed Madame Pince, still hovering around like a bad smell.

`Sorry!' Harry and Hermione apologised together, struggling to curb their amusement.

Irritated, Madame Pince marched away, but not completely out of range. Hermione lowered her voice to Harry and said, `can you believe this is happening?'

`What do you mean?' said Harry, shifting his chair closer. `Madame Pince has never had a sense of humour.'

Hermione pinched him again. `Not her, Harry! I meant what's happening with us.'

`Oh! No...not really.'

'You know,' said Hermione, in an even more hushed voice, 'you said you had feelings for me when you were on the potion, but I didn't take it seriously. I didn't think it could be real.' Her voice was sad when she said this. 'Not that I didn't want it to be serious! I mean, well, I've been extremely confused. I've struggled with my feelings for you, Harry. I didn't want get carried away though, because I knew you were on love potion. I had to maintain control. I couldn't believe - '

Harry took her hand.

'It's okay, Hermione,' he whispered. 'I'm not on love potion any more.'

'I know,' she complied, peering down at his hand on hers.

'Do you still want it to be serious?' he asked, playing with her fingers.

Hermione knew what was coming, though she couldn't quite believe it. It was all so surreal. In response to Harry's question, she uttered, very simply: 'yes.'

There was no turning back. Though it remained unspoken, both knew the boundary they were about to cross could never be repaired; but even then, neither could comprehend the scale of it. How it would change everything - more then they could ever imagine. They locked eyes; Harry brought his attention to Hermione's lips, then to her eyes, then back to lips again. Hermione followed suit. Like magnets, their faces drew together. Closer and closer...until their noses brushed...until they could feel the warmth of each other's breath...so close! But then they heard him.

'Harry! Hermione! Where are you guys?'

Ron, feeling most left out of things, was hollering out for them. Madame Pince didn't appreciate his approach; they heard her close in and 'sshh!' him violently. He found them shortly after, completely unaware of what was going on. Harry and Hermione had no choice but to separate.

'There you are! You two should have come to lunch, the roast lamb was wicked!' he said spiritedly, and pulled a seat between them. He managed to notice the lack of books on the table. 'Weren't you supposed to be studying, Harry? Or do you only exclusively study at night now? You and Hermione better not be planning some kind of nocturnal study group.'

To make matters even more complicated, Fred and George entered the library.

'Ron!' they called, sending Madame Pince into another 'sshh!' fit. 'Sorry!' they muttered, bringing their voices down, and continued the search for their brother. Fred was the first to find him.

'Ron! Oh, hey Harry, hey Hermione. Listen, Ron! We're really worried about Ginny. She's been acting super weird!'

'Out of orbits more like it,' said George, coming to stand next to Fred. 'She's locked herself in the girl's toilets all day! You'd think the smell would be getting to her by now.'

'Professor McGonagall's been on our case non-stop, telling us to sort it out,' Fred continued. 'Ginny's been missing classes. We've tried talking to her but she's ignoring us!'

'I know, I know!' said Ron, agitated. 'She's been ignoring me too. She must have some kind of girl problem.'

'Good point, brother,' said Fred, stroking his chin intelligently. Then, making eye contact with Hermione, he was suddenly struck with a revelation. 'You're a girl!'

'Excuse me?' said Hermione, a tad insulted, as if Fred had only just made this discovery.

'And if girls have girl problems, they only want to talk to girls about them!' George carried on, triumphant.

'My analogy exactly! Let's go, Hermione,' said Fred, capturing her wrist and forcing her to her feet.

'Er, hold on!' she said, snatching her school bag on impulse. 'Can't this wait 'til later?'

'Nope,' said Fred, hauling her towards the exit. 'Got to get to the bottom of it now!'

'Can't have McGonagall hanging off us!' said George, grabbing hold of Hermione's other wrist. `How are we supposed to get up to our usual, good-humoured mischief with her always poking around?'

Stuck between two very adamant Weasley twins, Hermione had no choice but to go with them. She quickly waved goodbye to Ron and Harry, mouthing to Harry something along the lines of 'I'll see you later', and then she was gone.

'They're right you know, Harry,' said Ron, waving goodbye. 'Ginny really hasn't been herself. I wonder what's wrong with her?'

Harry couldn't help but not seem too interested. He let his head drop to the table like a weight.

'Harry, are you all right?' said Ron, concerned, and then joked, 'I didn't disturb your study session with Hermione did I?'

'No,' said Harry gloomily, looking up at Ron with a brave face. 'We weren't studying anyway.'

'Well, good then! You seem a bit frustrated, though.'

'Not at all!' said Harry, dropping his head to the table again. 'Not at all.'

-->

8. The Problem With Ginny & Love Potion Relapse

'Harry?'

'Don't forget about me!'

~ The Problem With Ginny ~

'Ginny, are you in here?'

Thanks to Fred and George, Hermione now found herself in the girl's bathroom on the ground floor. While she did genuinely want to help Ginny, it couldn't of come at a worse time! She desperately wanted to get back to Harry. Three minutes ago they'd almost kissed, and now she was surrounded by toilets? It wasn't right.

'Hello? Ginny?'

'Go away, Hermione!' Ginny snapped, concealed behind a cubical door. Hermione sighed impatiently.

'Ginny, what's wrong? You've got everyone really worried about you!' She added under her breath, 'we could all be doing more important things right now!'

Ginny didn't respond.

'Ginny, please! This is getting ridiculous. Can you come out already?'

Still no response. Hermione tried a more sensitive approach.

'Is it something embarrassing? Because if it is, you know you can - '

'No!' Ginny interrupted loudly, her voice reverberating off the bathroom walls. 'I'm just angry!'

Without warning, the cubical door Ginny was concealed behind flung open. She wasn't kidding when she said she was angry; coming towards Hermione, she looked ready to strangle someone. Hermione took a step back at the thought.

'Why, Hermione?' Ginny demanded nonsensically, throwing her arms in the air. 'Why would they lie to me?'

'Who? Who lied to you?' Hermione asked innocently, having no idea what Ginny was talking about.

'My entire family!' she cried, and began pacing up and down the bathroom like a caged tiger, gritting her teeth. 'I can't keep this in any longer…I have to say something...'

'Ginny, I'm afraid I don't quite understand - '

'I'm adopted, Hermione!'

Hermione could've laughed, but she checked herself. This had to be a joke. A joint effort between Ginny, Fred, George and Ron, perhaps? It had to be!

'Where on earth did you get that idea?'

'I found out,' said Ginny plainly. 'Well, I guess I figured it out more or less. I mean, it explains everything doesn't it?'

Hermione shook her head dismissively. 'I'm sorry, what does it explain?'

'Why I love Ron! It's because I'm adopted! It's the only way to explain it. You understand what I'm saying, don't you Hermione?'

Hermione had to laugh now. This was getting beyond a joke. Two days ago Ginny had accidentally fallen in love with Ron due to love potion. Hermione wasn't well informed on the details, but she knew Ginny had since been cured...right?

'Have you lost your mind? Ginny, Ron's your brother! That's...that's the most absurd thing I've ever heard!'

'He's not my brother! I'm adopted!' Ginny enforced. Hermione pursed her lips sternly, channeling Professor McGonagall.

'No! No you're not, Ginny!'

'Yes I am!'

'You're not adopted!'

'Yes I am!'

Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but then quickly thought against it. Ginny was clearly on the edge, and Hermione knew better then to push her off.

'I hoped you would at least understand, Hermione,' Ginny went on, staring at her reflection in the mirror over the sink. 'Don't you know what it's like to be in love with somebody?'

'I - ' Hermione found this question a little hard to answer. 'I think this is different!' Ginny slammed her hands on the sink and spun around.

'No, it's not different! It's love! Perhaps you're conspiring with my family too...' Ginny considered, now filled with suspicion.

'Ginny!' Hermione gasped, not knowing how much more insanity she could take - she'd had quite enough insanity for one year, thank you very much. 'I am not conspiring against you and neither is your family, I swear! You have to stop thinking such things! What you're saying doesn't make any sense. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were - that you were...'

'That I was what?' said Ginny expectantly.

Relapsing Hermione thought, but didn't say. That was it. Ginny had to be relapsing! How else could this all be explained?

'Er, Ginny,' said Hermione, adopting a more systematic tone of voice. 'How exactly were you cured of the Aphora Bewitching Potion?'

Ginny was confused.

'What does that have to do with anything?'

'Humour me!'

Thinking for a moment, Ginny then said, 'I was given the same herbal remedy as Harry and Malfoy. Why?'

Hermione recalled Ron telling her about a herbal remedy. She was annoyed at the time, seeing she'd previously believed the only way to truly cure an Aphora Bewitching Potion involved traveling to Greece and performing a ritual. It seemed there was some merit in this after all. Ginny had to be relapsing, but Hermione needed to be sure.

'Listen to me, Ginny,' said Hermione seriously. 'You're not well. You have to trust me. I think you may have something called potion relapse - '

'Potion recap?'

'No, relapse! Love potion relapse,' Hermione stated carefully. 'In the mean time, whatever you do,' Hermione's voice was extra grave, 'stay away from Ron! I don't think he'll take this very well.'

With this established, Hermione was set to leave and headed for the exit.

'Hang on!' said Ginny, still confused. 'Where are you going?'

'I'll explain later! Trust me!' Hermione called back, and without turning round, hurried out the door.

~ Love Potion Relapse ~

Hermione's point of destination was the library. On arriving, she saw Harry and Ron were no longer there, which was probably a good thing since Hermione needed to concentrate. Determined, she charged into the Potions section and began stripping it bare. She eventually came across the perfect book.

'The Most Common Effects of Potion Backsliding, Regression and Relapsing, excellent!'

Dropping herself and her bag to the floor, Hermione spread the book open, turned to the first page and ran her finger down the extensive index.

'Backsliding, regression and relapsing in love potions, page three hundred.'

Hermione turned to page three hundred. There was another list here, detailing a number of different love potions. Hermione scanned the list, until she saw the Aphora Bewitching Potion. This then led her to the following passage:

Love potion relapse for the Aphora Bewitching Potion

This type of relapse occurs when treatment for an Aphora Bewitching Potion has been inconclusive. The Aphora Bewitching Potion is a highly potent love formula, and is extremely difficult to stabilise once taken. Most treatments are temporary, lacking long-term results

Symptoms for love potion relapse include, in varying degrees: delusional behavior, increased anxiety and elaborate fantasising. Patients resume being 'in love' with the bounder of their Aphora Bewitching Potion. In most cases, patients will fabricate absurd reasons to justify their relapse. Famous witch Maureen Mole suffered relapse from the Aphora Bewitching Potion for ten years. She believed, most inaccurately, that fifteen-year-old Benjamin Youngblood, the best friend of her son, was the reincarnation of her dead husband Merrick Mole.

'Then, relapse evokes fantasies to explain attraction after one thinks they've been cured,' Hermione rationalised, thinking of Ginny. 'Like believing one is adopted.'

Hermione continued reading to the next paragraph.

It is strongly advised, when attempting to cure an Aphora Bewitching Potion, that the proper ritual be taken on Mount Olympus. Any other treatment runs risk of causing relapse.

Satisfied, Hermione shut the book and stared into space for a moment. An awful realisation was on the threshold of being revealed.

'If Ginny has love potion relapse,' she reasoned aloud, 'Krum probably has it too.' Hermione eyes flicked to her school bag, where she'd stuffed Krum's 'I'm still interested in you' letter. 'And if Krum has relapse, that means...' with a heavy heart, 'Harry?'

'Don't forget about me!'

Hermione was in the motion of turning around, but then the voice behind her said 'stupefy!', and everything went black.

-->

9. Malfoy Still Loves Hermione? & Ron Still Loves Hermione?

He ran a hand through his hair, messing it up. 'In vain I've tried to fight it, but it's consumed me. If you hadn't put me on that stupid love potion in the first place this wouldn't have to be done!'

~ Malfoy Still Loves Hermione? ~

It was still dark. Hermione could feel her head throbbing; she also felt a lucid, floating sensation throughout her entire body...

'Where...?' she murmured.

Slowly, she opened her eyes. Her vision was a little blurry at first...

'Ah, you're awake!' said a voice near by. 'Sorry about stunning you, but I need this to run smoothly.'

Hermione began to register her surroundings: she was in a potions lab, one she'd never seen before. There was a black door directly ahead, and large table in the centre of the stone-walled room, littered with potion bottles and ingredients. Flickering light emanated from the torches placed around the walls. What was odd, though, was Hermione felt she was seeing down on all this. Her feeling of floating became more and more apparent. Puzzled, Hermione lowered her eyes to her feet and gasped - she was floating!

'Hello sleepy head!' said the voice, belonging to -

'MALFOY!' Hermione yelled, struggling to get down, but it was no use. He'd cast a hovering charm on her. That indignant little ferret! 'I demand you put me down on the ground this instant and tell me where we are!'

'Quiet!' said Malfoy, working over a steaming cauldron in the corner. 'I'm trying to focus.'

Hermione decidely ignored his request.

'MALFOY!'

'All right already! If you insist on getting hysterical.'

With that, Malfoy abandoned his cauldron and explained, in a very matter-of-fact tone, 'we are in Professor Snape's secret underground laboratory. I told him I wanted to work on an extra credit Potions assignment, so the slime head let me borrow it. He buys anything I tell him these days.' Malfoy said this last part with a distinct note of malicious pride.

Hermione, feeling very angry and violated, continued struggling.

'You're breaking a trillion school rules here, Malfoy, I swear you'll - '

'Would you stop wriggling around like that? It's impossible for you to get down. My wand is aimed right you.'

Malfoy pointed to his wand, propped up against a book on the table. It was the source of the hovering charm. As long as it stayed in position, Hermione would remain stuck in mid-air.

'Come on, Hermione, relax! I'm almost finished here.'

'Relax!' Hermione said in outrage. 'You've unlawfully kidnapped me and stuck me to the roof of Snape's secret laboratory, I am far from RELAXED!

'I know my actions may seem a little unorthodox - '

'A LITTLE?'

'But it's all for the best! I am saving you, after all.'

'From what, GRAVITY?'

'No,' Malfoy laughed, shaking his head. 'From Harry Potter.'

Hermione froze. Saving me from Harry? What is he talking about?

'Potter has obviously bewitched you some how. It's the only way to explain it.'

'Explain what?' said Hermione. At her asking, Malfoy's grey eyes darkened, and his body shuddered with restrained anger.

'Why you fancy him instead of me!' he proclaimed furiously.

Then it dawned on her. Hermione knew exactly what was going on. Of course! Malfoy has love potion relapse as well!

'You had to be a bloody Mudblood, didn't you?' he said, with a sting in his voice, as he circled her floating form. 'I mean, there I was, lying in hospital when I find your name tattooed on my back! What do I do? Panic of course. Can you imagine if anyone saw? Think of my father! But I had to come to terms with it. I couldn't deny what was happening. I, Draco Malfoy, born to one of the most honoured Pureblood families in the wizarding world, was infatuated with Hermione Granger! The Mudblood!'

'Malfoy,' said Hermione, trying to remain calm, 'it's not really you! It's - '

'Love potion relapse! Trust me, I know,' he said before she could. 'Why do you think I knew so much about it in Potions this morning? I've been doing nothing but research on it for the past week!' He ran a hand through his hair, messing it up. 'In vain I've tried to fight it, but it's consumed me. If you hadn't put me on that stupid love potion in the first place this wouldn't have to be done!'

'Wh...what do you mean?' Hermione asked tremulously. `What has to be done?'

Ignoring her, Malfoy strode over to the table and picked up a dishevelled looking red rose, kissed it, and threw it into the cauldron. Instantly, the liquid within bubbled and sparked alight; burning a brilliant bright pink. Hermione's stomach sank as she witnessed Malfoy make his very own batch of the Aphora Bewitching Potion.

'I saw you and Potter in the library earlier,' Malfoy drawled. 'You were having quite the interlude, weren't you? Too bad he's got relapse as well.'

Hermione had realised this the split second before Malfoy knocked her out, so it never really sank in. Harry. Harry had relapse...Harry didn't really love her...

'What kind of spell did he use to make you suddenly fancy him I wonder?' said Malfoy, coming to stand beneath her feet. The glow from the cauldron, and Hermione's heart, began to drain.

'There is no spell on me, Malfoy. My feelings for Harry are real,' she said in a weak voice. Malfoy snorted.

'What do you mean your feelings for Harry are real? Hermione, how can you have feelings for someone who's only "pretending" to feel something for you?'

Sinking her head, Hermione eyes started watering. She felt completely at loss, in danger of breaking down; and yet, a fire was burning inside of her, threatening release.

'Whatever Harry's going through doesn't matter,' she said more firmly.

'Yeah, right!' Malfoy snickered. 'Whatever makes it easier for you, Hermione.'

'IT'S TRUE!' Hermione suddenly shouted, snapping her head up and freeing the fire. 'NOTHING CHANGES THE FACT I'M IN LOVE WITH HIM!'

Malfoy was struck dumb. He didn't move, he didn't even appear to breath. Hermione, on the other hand, was trying to fathom what she'd just declared. She didn't conciously mean to say it. It just...came out.

'In love with Potter?' Malfoy said in an icy voice. 'No...you don't know what you're saying!'

Keeping his eyes on Hermione, Malfoy unearthed a syringe from the pocket of his Slytherin robe.

'Malfoy,' Hermione said in a frightened voice, glaring at the syringe. `What do you think you're doing?'

He answered her by moving to the cauldron and dipping the needle in the awaiting potion, filling it to the brim.

'After I inject you with this,' he said clinically, tapping the needle twice for effect, 'you'll love me - and only me! None of this "in love with Potter" rubbish.'

'Inject me!' Hermione cried, distraught. 'You must be truly out of your mind if you think you're putting that in me!' Overcome with terror, Hermione screamed, at the top of lungs, 'SOMEBODY HELP, PLEASE!'

'No point in screaming, Hermione, nobody can hear you,' said Malfoy casually, standing beneath her feet again. 'We're a floor under the school! Now, hold still...' He pulled over a chair, kneeled on top of it, and attempted to grab Hermione by the leg. Hermione, however, was doing everything in her power to avoid holding still. 'Stop it!'

'NO!' she screamed. 'Stay away from me, Malfoy! Or you'll be sorry, I SWEAR!'

'Fine,' said Malfoy, putting the syringe down for a moment. 'Hermione, you have to be more realistic. Potter doesn't really love you, he has relapse! If he didn't, you'd be back to being his big-haired, boring friend that's pretty handy to suck up to around test time!'

'You're wrong,' said Hermione, her voice cracking.

'Oh, come off it! You know I'm not wrong. Why don't you save yourself the fuss and come with me? I may have relapse too, but once you've had my potion, who could care less? We can pretend to be in love together!'

'NO!' screamed Hermione again, loosing her temper completely. Lashing out, she managed to kick Malfoy hard into the table. The impact threw his wand off aim, breaking the hovering charm. Hermione fell to the ground with a shriek and a resounding 'thump' - but there was no time to sit around on the ground. Using the few precious seconds she had, Hermione jumped to her feet and bolted for the black door.

'GET BACK HERE, HERMIONE!' Malfoy ordered.

The door swung open to a dark, twirling stone staircase. Without a second to loose, Hermione hurled herself up the steps. She climbed and climbed, going round and round, gasping for breath. Despite stumbling on her robes numerous times, she kept going, hoping the stairs would lead to safety.

'CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?' she yelled, her voice echoing all around. 'ANYOBODY!'

In the depths below, Hermione could hear Malfoy's preying foorsteps. He was gaining on her. Ignoring a painful stitch developing in her side, Hermione kept running, as fast as she could - but Malfoy was too quick.

'GOT YA!' he shouted, seizing a handful of her robes.

'NO!' Hermione shrieked. Malfoy tugged her towards him and clasped his arms around her. On impulse, Hermione elbowed him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. He let go. Hermione ran.

'That HURT!' he complained, rubbing his stomach and chasing after her.

Hermione strained to keep her pace, to run faster, but the stairs wouldn't end. It was hopeless. Malfoy caught back up; and this time, he levelled her to the step, pinning her down with his weight.

'AAHH! GET OFF ME, MALFOY!' Hermione screamed, struggling more then ever.

'You leave me no choice, Hermione!' His grey eyes were wild, as raised the syringe high above his head like a knife. 'It's for your own good!'

In a last show of disgust, Hermione leant up and spat in Malfoy's face. Least to say, he was very displeased. Wiping the remnants off with his sleave, he gripped Hermione by the hair and slammed her head to the concrete. Hermione saw stars; it put her out of action long enough for him to find a vein in her arm. Hermione yelped painfully, flinching, as she felt the needle penetrate her skin. Malfoy was injecting her now. The potion swam into her blood stream like hot rapids, coursing through her entire body.

'You're going to forget you ever fancied stupid Harry Potter!'

'SHUT UP!' Hermione cried, tears cascading down her cheeks.

'You'll love me more then you ever loved him!'

'NEVER!'

And with that, Malfoy lifted the needle out. It was empty. Mission accomplished.

'See? That wasn't so bad now, was it? You can go now. I'll see you soon.'

Malfoy winked and stood up, letting her go. Hermione teetered to her feet, unable to believe what had happened. Malfoy's Aphora Bewitching Potion was inside her system, spreading like a disease. It wouldn't be long before she'd come running back to him, sick with love.

Clasping her pierced arm, Hermione violently thrust Malfoy out of her way and ran up the remaining stairs - she had, to her despair, been close to the top after all. At first it seemed like a dead end, faced with nothing but a stone wall; but then she traced the outline of an arched door and realised it was embedded into the rock. Haversting what energy she had left, Hermione heaved herself against it. It proved very heavy, and only opened a bit at a time. Voices became audible on the other side. Familiar voices...

'I'm telling you, Ron! I heard her screaming!'

'But, Harry, that's a statue of a Slytherin snake! Besides, Hermione's supposed to be with Ginny, isn't she?'

'I know it's crazy, but I swear I heard Hermione yell for help from behind this wall!'

'Maybe the snake ate her.'

'Shut up, Fred!'

`Well it is time for dinner…'

With one last, agonising push, the door flung open on its own accord. Hermione lost balance and fell out the other side. The door closed automatically, a looming snake statue in its place.

'Hermione!' Harry and Ron exclaimed together.

'Wicked!' said Fred and George, excited at the thought of another untapped, secret entrace to some where.

Hermione was now laying under the bright lights of the Great Hall. Harry, Ron, Fred and George closed in, as well as some other students, nosing in on the commotion.

'Hermione?' said Ron, gaping. 'How the hell did you wind up behind that snake statue?'

'Did he eat you?'

'GEORGE!'

'It's just a question!'

But as Hermione stood up, there were no more questions - for the moment, at least. Everyone could see she looked terribly upset; not to mention a little bruised.

'Hermione?' said Harry, going closer to her. 'What's happened? What were you doing behind that statue?'

There was no helping it. How could she? When Hermione saw Harry, all she could do was cry. She really believed he loved her...that it was nothing to do with a potion. She should say something about Malfoy, she thought vaguely, before it was too late; but she was too overwhelmed.

'Hermione?' said Harry again, very worried now.

Then, to everyone's complete and utter surprise, Hermione flung her arms around Harry and sobbed into his neck.

'Hermione, what's going on?' Harry asked, startled, putting a hand on her back.

'Well somebody better say what's going on!' said Ron, feeling very un-hugged.

Hermione lifted her head and looked into Harry's eyes...his 'relapsing' eyes, that only pretended to see something incredibly beautiful in her. With a pitiful smile and tears rolling down her face, she kissed him. This in turn caused Ron, Fred, George's eyes to almost pop out of their sockets and roll around the floor - not to mention Lavender and Parvati's eyes, which were positively engaged from the background. Unlocking her lips from Harry's, Hermione whispered, so only he could hear: 'I love you.'

And that was it. That was the last time Harry saw Hermione before everything changed. Hermione, unable to bear any more, tore past the crowd that had formed around them and escaped the Great Hall. Harry stayed behind, breathless, to endure a sudden explosion of wolf whistles and cry's like 'go Harry!' or 'score!' from the on-looking crowd. Ron on the other hand, did not show a trace of support.

~ Ron Still Loves Hermione? ~

Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan, Harry's roomates, were keeping Harry occupied by attacking him with a number of personal questions. The three of them had congregated to their dormitory room. Neville was there as well, but he'd gone to bed already.

'How long have the two of you liked each other, Harry?'

'Did you know she was going to kiss you?'

'Are you going to be boyfriend and girlfriend now?'

'Is she a good kisser, Harry?'

Dean chuckled. 'Why would you want to know that? Thinking of having a snog with her yourself?'

'No!' said Seamus, chucking a pillow at Dean's head. 'I was just curious. It's not every day a girl comes up to you in the Great Hall for a snog.'

Or to tell you she loves you Harry thought.

It seemed everyone was talking about Hermione snogging Harry. Professor McGonagall even made a point of telling Harry, after she'd found out what had happened, that he and Hermione should keep their business private, and not for the entire school to see. After dinner, Harry searched for Hermione, but with no luck. His mind was reeling with questions: why had she run off? Why was she crying? What was behind that wall? Why did she say...

`So, Harry,' interrupted Seamus' voice. `Are you going to ask Hermione out?'

`Course he is!' said Dean obviously. Seamus rolled his eyes.

`And what are you supposed to be, the expert?'

`That's right,' said Dean smugly. `Harry can take Hermione to the Three Broomsticks tomorrow when we're in Hogsmede and buy her a drink. That's what I - the expert - would do.'

`But I always take Hermione to the Three Broomsticks and buy her a drink,' said Harry pointlessly, speaking for the first time since he entered the room. `Ron too.'

`Oh,' said Dean. `Well, I'm sure you'll think of something.'

`Hey, Harry!' said Seamus, still brimming with questions. `Why was Hermione crying before?'

This was one of the things Harry had been thinking about too.

`I…I don't know.'

`Maybe she was overcome with happiness,' suggested Dean, after which he and Seamus burst into laughter. Harry paid little attention to them. He didn't mean to be rude, but he couldn't stop Hermione's voice reciting the words 'I love you' in his head! Everything was happening so fast; one minute Harry's at Hagrid's coping with puberty, and the next Hermione's in love with him?

`So tell us, Harry - are you, you know...' Dean fluttered his eyelashes like an idiot, `...in love?'

`What?' said Harry, turning as red as Ron's hair. `I don't know! Shut up, Dean.'

Dean winked at Seamus.

`I think that's a yes…'

`I didn't say yes!'

`Didn't say no either...'

`Yeah!' said Seamus, chuckling. `You should see your head, Harry, it's turning into a big red tomato!'

Now they'd all burst into laughter.

`Shut up!' said Harry, chuckling.

`No, seriously! Can we come to the wedding, Harry?'

`I said shut up!'

Harry threw a pillow at Seamus' head. This in turn started a massive pillow fight between the three boys. Two minutes into the fight, Ron came into the room, though he wasn't in the mood to join in.

`Hey Ron!' greeted Seamus.

`Hey Ron!' greeted Dean.

`Hey...' Ron said flatly, going straight to his bed without a glance at Harry. In fact, he seemed to be doing his best to ignore him completely.

`What's eating you, Ron?' asked Seamus. `Grab a pillow, we're going to cover Harry in feathers before he marries Hermione!'

Dean and Seamus expected Ron to laugh, but he didn't.

`Ah...Ron?' tried Harry, but Ron didn't reply. He simply got dressed in his pajamas and hopped into bed.

`I'm tired. Goodnight.'

Harry didn't feel like pillow fighting any more. He said his goodnights to Dean and Seamus and went to bed, laying awake for the longest time. He was pretty certain why Ron was acting so cold; he'd had an inkling of a similar feeling last year, just after the Yule Ball, when Ron was angry with Hermione for accepting Krum as her date. The subject had since become taboo - until now. Ron must, after all, have feelings for Hermione.

A/N: Updating like a crazy person! My computers still down, but I'm able to get these chapters up from ff.net. Kudos to you if you've been reading! I'll slow down with the updates after this, and go back to one at a time. Please, please review! I'd love to accumulate some more feedback.

Also, I realise this chapter was quite dark. I've had a mixed response with it, and was a little worried about releasing it on Portkey. All I can say is, it needed to be done. I actually love this chapter because it changes everything, and the story was much easier to write from this point on. Things will get worse before they get better, and I promise they'll get better.

-->

10. Malfoy Malfoy Malfoy Malfoy & A Boy Apart

`This is madness!'

~ Malfoy Malfoy Malfoy Malfoy ~

During dinner that night, before Harry and the other's went to their dormitory room…

Hermione ran and ran, until she was high in the school, until she could endure it no longer. The potion was taking hold; a wave of debilitating dizziness floored her to her knees.

`No!' she pleaded, crashing down. His name was in her head, pounding over and over.

MalfoyMalfoyMalfoyMalfoyMalfoyMalfoy

`NO!' she pleaded more forcefully, her hands pressing against her forehead. `It's not going to work, I won't let it work!'

MalfoyMalfoyMalfoyMalfoyMalfoyMalfoy

`I don't love Malfoy! I don't love Malfoy! I don't love Malfoy! I don't love Malfoy!'

MALFOYMALFOYMALFOYMALFOYMALFOYMALFOY

Hermione fought, as hard as she could. `IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK!'

Snap!

It stopped. Did she break it?

Staggering upright, Hermione suddenly felt…refreshed. Invigorated. Everything seemed brighter and immaculate with colour.

`I love him,' she told herself. `I really do.'

Regenerated, Hermione ran back the way she came. She was soon standing outside the Slytherin portrait hole, where he was waiting.

`What took you so long?' said Malfoy, open-armed.

~ A Boy Apart ~

It was now breakfast the following morning, and Harry sat alone. Ron sat at the far end of the table, pretending Harry didn't exist, while Hermione was still missing from yesterday. Care of Magical Creatures preceded breakfast with - groan - Slytherin. As the fifth-years made their way out into the grounds, Harry endeavored to catch up with Ron.

`Ron…Ron! Come on, talk to me!'

Ron marched willfully ahead, saying nothing.

`Ron!'

`What?' he said finally, wheeling around. Harry stopped. Now that he had Ron's attention, he didn't quite know what to say.

`I…' Harry futilely began, `…I don't want you to be like this.'

`And what would you like me to be like, Harry?' said Ron in a wounded voice. `All smiles and Christmas pudding like everyone else?'

`Well…'

`How long have you two been having an affair behind my back?' he accused Harry, ears burning with abandon. `No, wait! I don't want to know. In fact, spare me the details! You guys are only my best friends…'

Ron went to walk away, but Harry pushed in front of him.

`We're not having an affair, Ron! We're - ' Harry searched for the words. `I don't know what we're doing! Hermione and I…this whole thing started yesterday! I never meant for her to do what she did in the Great Hall. I was as shocked as you were!'

`You love her, don't you,' said Ron. It was more of a statement then a question.

`Huh?'

`You heard me.'

`Ron, I told you! This all happened in one day! I mean, I've been thinking I liked her but I never figured - ' Harry trailed off. Could it really be possible? `I didn't mean for you - '

`Answer the question, Harry!'

Harry knew he had to be honest - for his and Ron's sake.

`I think I'm starting to. Yes.'

Harry desperately wanted Ron to say or do something. Yell, wave his arms around - anything! But he didn't. His grim expression did not waver. Croakily, he said, `I hope you're really happy together.'

Ron walked on ahead. Harry didn't try and stop him this time, and followed unhappily a minute later. Class was about to start. Hagrid called for everyone to gather round. Harry was the last to walk over.

`Where's Hermione?' Hagrid asked, looking to Ron, and then Harry, who were standing apart.

`I don't know,' said Ron vacantly. Harry shrugged.

`Neither do…'

But then, Harry saw Hermione coming towards them in the distance - and she wasn't alone.

`Here she comes!' said Hagrid, spotting her for himself. The whole class turned to see.

Harry wanted to clean his glasses, to make sure he was seeing correctly. Surely he wasn't? Hermione was coming towards them while holding the hand of Draco Malfoy? He wasn't the only one amazed at this. It was, after all, common knowledge that Hermione and Malfoy hated each other's guts. Ron was having trouble blinking, Pansy Parkinson looked as though she'd swallowed a cat, and Neville couldn't close his gaping mouth.

`Ah…' said Hagrid wearily, surprised to see Hermione and Malfoy together himself, `…come along there now Hermione…Malfoy.' He glanced at Ron and Harry, trying to determine if they were making sense of this - they weren't. `Class is jus' startin'.'

Harry couldn't contain himself. He didn't want to disturb Hagrid's class, but this situation required some major explaining!

`Hermione?' he said, walking straight for her. `What…?'

Ron, who also couldn't contain himself, stormed over to Harry's side, clenching a fist.

`What in Merlin's name is going on here?' he demanded, glaring at Malfoy with the upmost accusation.

`Good morning Potter, Weasley,' said Malfoy, acting as if nothing unusual was happening. `Sorry we're late, but me and Hermione were very busy this morning.' He glanced at Hermione seductively, and she returned the favour. `I hope we didn't keep everyone waiting?'

Harry ignored Malfoy's dribble and addressed Hermione directly. `Hermione, what are you doing?'

It was impossible not to notice Hermione appeared a bit…well, not herself. She was very dreamy, like she wasn't quite all there.

`Accompanying Draco to class, Harry,' she answered passively.

`Draco?' Ron snapped, revolted.

`I don't know why you're all acting so shocked,' said Malfoy, relishing in every moment. `I mean, we are going out now. What's the big deal?'

`What!' said Harry and Ron, both flabbergasted.

Ron looked from Malfoy, to Hermione, to Malfoy again, as if he were watching a very fast Quidditch match. `But…that's just…Hermione wouldn't…you - '

Harry cut in.

`Hermione you can't be going out with Malfoy! I mean, for one, what about - ' He lowered his voice, `what about us?'

`What?' said Hermione coldly. `Us? You and me? You can't be serious, Harry!'

Harry visibly flinched at these words. `But, yesterday, you said - '

`Harry! Don't tell me you took what I said yesterday to heart? As if I'd ever have feelings for you, honestly! We're just friends.'

`Yes, just friends! Get real, Potter,' said Malfoy, bestowing him with a victory glare.

'It's strange,' Hermione went on. 'I know Draco and I fought all the time, but it must've been a facade. I love him now.'

`This is madness!' cried Ron, loosing it.

`By the way, Harry,' Hermione dug a hand into her robes, retrieving a folded piece of paper that was torn at the edge. `You can take this back. I don't fancy it.'

Loosing it completely, Ron lunged at Malfoy and gripped him by the collar. `This is all your doing, isn't it?' he snarled. `You putrid, stuck-up little GIT! ISN'T IT?'

`Ron, stop!' Hermione implored. `Let go of him!'

`Hey hey hey!' said Hagrid, intervening. `Thas' enough! No fightin' or I'll have to pu' yeh on detention. Easy does it, now,' he said, separating Ron from Malfoy.

`Yes, easy does it, Weasley,' said Malfoy arrogantly. `No need to be so offensive.' And then, he turned to Harry and said, in a low voice (but not low enough for Ron not to hear), `I'll let you know if she's good in bed, Potter.'

Naturally, Ron did not react favourably to this comment at all.

`THAT'S IT!'

Like a ball of unquenchable fire, Ron hurled Malfoy to the grass, punching senselessly.

`RON!' Hermione shrieked, mortified. `Don't! You're hurting him!'

`I HOPE SO!' was the extent of Ron's mercy.

As if this wasn't chaotic enough, a scorned Pansy Parkinson preyed on Hermione, grabbing and ripping at her hair.

`BOYFRIEND STEALER!' she screeched.

`AAHH!' Hermione wailed.

`Oh dear!' said Hagrid, striving to separate everyone.

Despite the upheaval, Harry had an explicit desire to be on his own. Clutching the paper Hermione had given him, he drifted over to the lake near by and sat at the water's edge. There, he opened Hermione's paper. It was the page from her Potions book, the one he'd written on. Harry bitterly tore it apart and tossed it in the water, the torn shreds floating slowly away on the current.

`Harry?' came Hagrid's voice, approaching Harry carefully from behind. `Yeh okay?'

Harry swallowed his breath, willing himself not to cry.

`It's okay if yeh miss class, Harry,' said Hagrid, laying a heavy hand on Harry's shoulder. `Yeh take as long as yeh want.'

Hagrid walked back to class, leaving Harry to himself.

-->

11. Stormy Weather Ahead & The Hogwarts Hunters

`Perhaps if I was to say, “the hunt is on”, you might be more the wiser?'

Stormy Weather Ahead

As Care of Magical Creatures finished, the sky became grey and dreary, succeeded by lightening and a sudden downfall of rain. The fifth-years packed together and charged for Hogwarts, shielding themselves under their books.

`Great!' said Dean, annoyed, coming into the Entrance Hall saturated. `I bet Hogsmeade will be called off now.'

`Yeah!' said Seamus, twisting water from his robes. `There goes Harry's date with Hermione!'

`Don't you mean Malfoy's date with Hermione?'

Close by, Lavender and Parvati were having a similar discussion.

`Hermione's obviously addicted to making love potions. She probably won't stop until all the boys in Slytherin are in love with her.'

`Ew!' said Parvati, whose mind had gone to Crabbe and Goyle. `You really think so?'

`Just you wait!' said Lavender knowingly. `Next will be Ravenclaw, then Hufflepuff, the remainder of Gryffindor...it's so selfish! If Hermione's going out with every boy in school, who are we supposed to date? Centaurs?'

This very intellectual conversation was suddenly cut short by the presence of Professor McGonagall.

`Attention! May I have - Lavender and Parvati, would you two stop talking please!'

Everyone in the Hall fell silent, particularly Lavender and Parvati.

`Professor Dumbledore has requested that all students attend the Great Hall for a surprise meeting. I suggest you dry yourselves off as best you can and move along.'

`What's the meeting for Professor?' asked Parvati.

`I'm afraid that would be going against the element of surprise I just mentioned, Miss Patil.'

`Oh, right...' said Parvati, embarrassed.

It wasn't long before word got round about Dumbledore's meeting. The Great Hall was soon abuzz with teachers and students. Everyone was in attendance - well, almost everyone.

Professor McGonagall, noticing a number of absences from her House, approached Seamus and Dean at the Gryffindor table. `Do either of you know where Ronald Weasley is?'

Seamus sniggered, until Dean nudged him in the ribs.

`Ron's in the hospital wing, Professor. He got into a fight during our Care of Magical Creatures class.'

`With whom?' Though she could already guess.

`Draco Malfoy, Professor.'

`Yeah, Ron hammered him! CAPOW!' said Seamus, throwing a fist in the air.

Professor McGonagall's eyes narrowed - she was clearly less amused then Seamus was.

`I mean,' said Seamus quickly, deflating under her gaze, `what Dean said Professor McGonagall, mam'.'

`And what of Hermione Granger and Harry Potter?'

`Hermione's in the hospital wing too, with Pansy Parkinson,' Dean explained. `They got into a fight as well.'

This news troubled Professor McGonagall very much. What on earth happened in Hagrid's class to cause two physical fights?

`And Harry Potter? Is he in the hospital wing too?'

`He…' Dean quickly glanced a Seamus, `…well, we don't know where Harry is, Professor.'

Dean and Seamus knew Harry had disappeared after class, to where they didn't know, after Hermione had openly rejected him for Malfoy.

`Very well then. Thank you, boys.'

Professor McGonagall headed swiftly to the teachers table, making a mental note to chat with Hagrid later. Once she was gone, Dean gawked at Seamus stupidly.

`Capow?'

`What?' said Seamus, shrugging. `I was in the moment.'

And then, rising from his chair at the front of the Hall, `may I have your attention!' Professor Dumbledore commanded, eliciting silence.

The Hogwarts Hunters

Harry slipped in quietly through the oak front doors, soaked to the bone. His hair hung over his face like a black, wet mop, and his hands were cemented in fists. He could hear Dumbledore's voice echoing out from the Great Hall. He peered in through main door, staying unnoticed…

`Due to the unexpected change in weather, I'm afraid today's trip to Hogsmeade will be cancelled until further notice.'

There was an immediate reponse of disappointed moans and groans.

`However!' said Professor Dumbledore, gesturing for silence. `However, due to the circumstances, I have decided to hold this meeting ahead of schedule. I'm sure you are all curious to know why you have to listen to me prattle on so early in the day.'

A murmur of laughter followed this, as Dumbledore continued.

`Perhaps if I was to say “the hunt is on”, you might be more the wiser?' He winked.

The effect of this announcement was instant. The Hall was suddenly clamorous with excited voices, Fred and George being notable among them.

`As of tomorrow, the Annual Drakon Hunt will be under way. After much consideration, I have decided on the members for this year's team.' Dumbledore consulted a roll of parchment. `This year's Hogwarts Hunters will include: Professor Severus Snape.'

Only the Slytherins cheered at the sound of Snape's name. Everyone else made a half effort to clap at the most.

`Accompanying Professor Snape will be Professor Filius Flipwick and Madame Pomona Sprout, as well as our very own Head Boy and Head Girl, Thomas Maverick of Ravenclaw and Holly Addison of Hufflepuff. I wish you all the best of luck. I'm sure you will make Hogwarts proud.'

Dumbledore spent the remainder of the meeting talking about the Hunt and how the school would be regularly updated on the team's progress. Harry began to tune out. There was something far more pressing on his mind. He headed up the grand staircase to the Gryffindor common room, passing the hospital wing on his way.

A/N: This is a short, `limbo' chapter, so I'll I put the next one up shortly. Thanks to those who are still reading and reviewing! I know things are nasty right now, but it'll be all right in the end - considering you stay around that long.

-->

12. Harry's Revenge & Consequences

'Well well well, Harry Potter,' he said in a quiet, dark voice. 'Everyone's favourite boy. Who knew he had it in him?'

~ Harry's Revenge ~

The door of the hospital wing was shut. Nevertheless, voices could be heard arguing nosily from within. Harry recognised them as belonging to Ron, Hermione, Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson.

'If you say one more thing about the colour of my hair Malfoy, I'll bandage your ugly FACE!'

'Ron, enough! Draco needs his rest...'

'Yes, mandarin head. Be more considerate.'

'WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL MY HEAD?'

'Get your hand off my boyfriend, you bushy-haired KNOW-IT-ALL!'

'Excuse me! Draco is my boyfriend, Pansy!'

'NO HE'S BLOODY NOT!'

'Yes he is, Ron!'

'I SWEAR I'M GONNA BE SICK!'

'Good thing we're in the hospital wing, huh mandarin head?'

'YOU - '

'SSSHHH!' Madame Pomfrey hissed above them all.

Harry didn't stay to listen for long. He kept on his way, until he reached the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. Standing in front of the Fat Lady, he muttered the password: 'Wood Pixies.'

The Fat Lady, who'd dozed off, suddenly awoke. She was curiously surprised to see Harry.

'Shouldn't you be in the Great Hall for Dumbledore's meeting?' she inquired

'I don't care about Dumbledore's meeting,' said Harry in a stony voice, and repeated, rather rudely, 'Wood Pixies!'

'Well!' cried the Fat Lady, slighted. 'It doesn't matter what I say, does it? I'm only paint on canvas after all…'

A very disgruntled Fat Lady let Harry pass, to which Harry did not say thank you.

He was glad to find the common room totally empty. Without a moment to lose, he set to work. Collecting a page of parchment, a quill and some ink, Harry sat himself down by the common-room fireplace. As the flames illuminated his eyes an eerie green, Harry wrote the following letter:

Dear Lucius Malfoy

Your son Draco Malfoy is currently having a relationship with the Muggle-born Gryffindor girl, Hermione Granger. Just thought you'd like to know.

From Anonymous

Approving of what he'd written, Harry pulled out his wand, tapped the letter and pronounced, 'Dissimulo', at which his handwriting style changed and was cryptically disguised. With a gratified smile, Harry rolled up the parchment and set a new course for the Owlery.

~ Consequences ~

The storm continued until the next morning. Once the day was in full swing, Hogwarts was struck with a serious case of 'Drakon Fever'. The Annual Drakon Hunt was all anyone could talk about. Well, this and Malfoy and Hermione's newly formed relationship (which was still a hot topic for Lavender and Parvati). Only Harry seemed unaffected by all the hype.

'Hey Harry! What's doin'?'

Harry had just sat down to breakfast when Fred and George joined him.

'Nothing much,' he replied to George, smiling as he buttered a slice of toast.

'And what are you looking so happy for?' Fred questioned, suspicious. Harry looked up at him, confused.

'What do you mean?'

'You're smiling at your toast, Harry,' George observed. 'Some how I don't think it's going to smile back.'

'Oh,' said Harry self-consciously, placing the butter knife down. 'Well, can't a guy be happy for no reason?'

'I suppose, but you're not allowed to be as happy as we are.'

'Absolutely not!' contended Fred.

'What do you mean?' said Harry, not knowing what they meant; though he had a distinct feeling they were up to something. When weren't they up to something?

Fred confirmed these thoughts of Harry's when he said, in hushed but thrilled voice: 'we found a way to go to the Annual Drakon Hunt!' Harry dropped his toast.

'What? How?'

'Each Hogwarts Hunter has a Portkey to get them to Greece,' George specified. 'I tried to bribe Maverick into telling me where his was, but he turned out to be a tight-assed prat.'

'Holly Addison didn't bite either,' Fred informed him. 'I think she thought I was coming on to her...' He chuckled. 'She wishes!'

'And then,' continued George, 'we accidentally, out of the blue, couldn't help if we tired - well, you know what I mean - stumbled across Professor Snape's Portkey! Can't wait to tell Ron. Can you imagine the look on Percy's face when we show up to the Hunt? He'll fart kittens!'

'Anyway, we'll see ya later, Harry,' said Fred. 'We've got planning to do!'

'Major planning!' nodded George.

The twins bounded off, devious as ever. A few minutes after they'd left, Ron entered the Hall. A very horrible sight followed: Draco Malfoy with his arm around an adoring Hermione Granger. Harry fists clenched automatically.

'Disgusting, isn't it?' said Ron, primed to vomit. 'It's right up there with coughing up slugs and Professor Snape's hair.' Ron had, quite unexpectedly, sat down in front of Harry. Harry noticed his left eye was tinged purple from yesterday's fight.

'So,' said Harry, folding his arms in an indifferent manner. 'You've decided to start talking to me again have you?'

'Oh, and I suppose you approve of this!' Ron pointed accusingly towards Hermione and Malfoy. 'She's eating breakfast with Slytherin's for wizard's sake! Next thing you know she'll be supporting their Quidditch team!'

'So what? It's not like you approved of us together,' said Harry crisply.

'Er...well...'

'Well what?'

Ron fidgeted uncomfortably, having trouble with what he wanted to say next.

'Better her with you then him.'

Harry realised this was Ron's effort at a reconciliation. There was a part of him that wanted to reconcile too, but Harry was still bitter. He was determined to forgive no one. Bide his time until Lucius received the letter...

'Better her with me, huh? Yeah, whatever Ron! Too bad you couldn't have come to that conclusion earlier.'

Bearing his grudge, Harry stood from the table. He walked to the main entrance, about to leave, when -

'DRACO!'

Harry couldn't believe it. Lucius Malfoy was here! Had the letter been delivered to him already? It must have, because he was angrier then Harry had ever seen him, having just caught sight of Muggle-born Hermione and his Pureblood son looking unnatrually cosy.

'The nerve...the disgrace...the HUMILIATION!' he spat viciously, charging for his son like a snake in pursuit of a withering ferret.

'Father! I - I can explain! NO!'

But Malfoy had no chance of explaining anything. Lucius furiously wrenched his son by the neck, yanked him an inch or so off the ground, and attempted to strangle the life out of him. The surrounding students were horrorstruck, afraid to move or speak. Malfoy squirmed pathetically in his father's clutches.

'Father!' he choked. 'PLEASE!'

'A Mudblood, Draco! A filthy, disgusting MUDBLOOD!'

'LUCIUS MALFOY!'

It was Professor McGonagall, accompanied by Hagrid. They'd closed in on Lucius; McGonagall, lips pursed white, had her wand firmly in her grasp.

'Unhand Draco at once, Lucius,' she said in a controlled voice, aiming her wand threateningly. 'I'm warning you.'

Lucius, his hands still gripped around Malfoy's neck, glanced over at Professor McGonagall and gritted his teeth; his usually manicured white blonde poney-tail coming slightly undone.

'Draco is my son, Minerva, I will do what I please with him!'

'Then I should remind you, Lucius, you are on Hogwarts grounds and have no such authority!'

'C'mon, Lucius,' said Hagrid, sounding more reasonable. 'No' like this. No' in fron' of the kids.'

At Hagrid's words, Lucius' eyes darted quickly around the Hall. He seemed to only just realise he had an audience. Regaining some composure, he lowered his son to the ground and let him go. Malfoy fell to the table, coughing and gasping for breath.

'Very well,' Lucius sneered. 'I shall handle this matter elsewhere. In the mean time, I suggest you keep that one,' he eyed Hermione venomously, 'away from my son. If she knows what's good for her. Come along, Draco.'

Lucius clasped a strong hand to Malfoy's wrist, and led him away from the Slytherin table. Stalking past Professor McGonagall and Hagrid with his chin high in the air, he was about to leave altogether, but then stopped when he saw Harry. He smirked.

'Well well well, Harry Potter,' he said in a quiet, dark voice. 'Everyone's favourite boy. Who knew he had it in him? I must say, I did enjoy reading my mail last night...'

He knows! Harry thought in alarm. He knows it was me who sent the letter! Malfoy got the hint as well. He glared at Harry with all the evil he could muster, before being dragged away by his father out of sight. Another person who got the hint was Hermione. She'd left the Slytherin table and followed Lucius on his way out, but was now standing still, glaring at Harry with unblinking eyes.

'You told Lucius about us, didn't you?' she grilled him.

Harry opened his mouth, but found he could hardly speak. 'I...'

'It was you!'

Enraged, Hermione propelled herself onto Harry, who did his best to block her strikes. Hagrid was quick on the case.

'HERMIONE!' he said, shocked, and peeled her off Harry. 'Stop it! What's got into yeh?'

Hermione screamed, for the whole Hall to hear, as she tried to wriggle her way from Hagrid's arms, 'I hate you, Harry Potter! I hate you!'

-->

13. Chaos and Mayhem! & A Bit Of Aphrodite In Us All

'Maybe we don't know Hermione as well as we think we do.'

'I won't accept it!' Ron protested hands down. 'It's not right. We've got to stop it!'

'You only want to stop it so you can be with her!'

~ Chaos and Mayhem! ~

After Lucius' impromptu visit to the Great Hall, Hermione was taken away by Hagrid to Professor McGonagall's office. Harry on other hand, feeling humiliated, anguished, guilt-ridden and angry all at once, made a speedy exit to his dormitory room, avoiding anyone who came in his path. However, he could not avoid Ron, who eventually cornered him.

'Harry, what is going on?' Ron exclaimed desperately, slamming the door shut. `Why is Hermione acting like such a git?'

Harry sat on his bed, his head weighed in his palms. The storm continued to rage outside; the wind howled, and buckets of wind-swept rain slapped relentlessly against their window.

'I don't know any more then you do, Ron,' said Harry palely, head down. Ron proceeded to express his outrage on the matter.

'This isn't normal behaviour! I mean, Hermione? In love with Malfoy?'

'I told you, I don't know!' said Harry, snapping his head up. 'Maybe we don't know Hermione as well as we think we do.'

'I won't accept it!' Ron protested hands down. 'It's not right. We've got to stop it!'

'You only want to stop it so you can be with her!'

'Harry, ENOUGH!'

Harry went quiet. Ron's entire head was turning a dangerous shade of scarlet.

'I have had it with you lot! One minute you're in love with Hermione, then she's in love with Malfoy, then she hates you, Malfoy loves her...do you know what this is doing to me? I'm beginning to fear for my mental health!'

There was so much on Harry's mind at this point that he too began to fear for his mental health. Prominent in his thoughts were Hermione's last words: 'I hate you, Harry Potter! I hate you!' He winced; they trampled his already injured heart.

'Harry?' said Ron more calmly. 'You all right?'

'Yeah,' said Harry unconvincingly, wiping his eyes.

It was around this time that Fred and George exploded into the room, without as much as a knock. Ron and Harry jumped in fright.

'Ron, brother!' said George, sounding very panicked and gripping Ron hard by the shoulders. 'Has she found you yet?'

'Who?' said Ron, totally bewildered. 'What are you two on about?'

'Ginny!' they affirmed.

'I haven't seen Ginny for ages, why?' he said, shoving George off him.

'Er...well, she's a little...'

'Mental!' Fred revealed.

'Insane!' bared George.

'Ludicrously insane!'

'Insanely insane!'

'Mad!'

'Completely...!'

'All right ALREADY!' Ron roared, at his wits' end.

'You don't understand, Ron! She - '

Speak of the devil, Ginny Weasley herself stood in the doorway. The discovery of her presence was accompanied by a flash and crack of lightning.

'Uh oh,' groaned Fred.

'Here we go,' lamented George, awaiting the worst.

`Ron!' said Ginny breathlessly. Sensing something very off, Ron took a step backwards.

'Er, Ginny? What's wrong? Why are Fred and - AAAHHH!'

Resembling what Hermione had done earlier to Harry in the Great Hall, Ginny sprang forward, flung herself onto Ron, and sent them both flying backwards on the floor.

'Oh, RON!' Ginny cried sorrowfully, sitting on top of him. 'I tried telling them I was adopted, by they wouldn't believe me!'

'What?' Ron spluttered, aghast. 'Adopted?'

'I understand it's a shock, but now you know! That's why I'm in love with you! Now we can be together! You don't have to be afraid!'

As Ginny leant in for a kiss, Ron clearly could not have been more afraid of anything in his life.

'AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!' he wailed, petrified, as she drew closer. 'GINNY, NO! YOU'RE MAD!'

George, going over to heave Ginny off her poor, defenseless brother, scoffed and uttered, 'what did we say?'

~ A Bit Of Aphrodite In Us All ~

Ginny had not been an easy problem to sustain. She blatantly, and quite violently, refused to be parted with Ron, and chased him maddeningly around the room, until Ron was driven completely insane with fear and had no choice but to hide and cower under his bed. During the mayhem, Fred popped out to pick up some `Sleep Easy-squeezy Slime' from his dormitory room.

`Our latest invention!' he said at the time, forcing a restrained Ginny to take a mouthful. `A potent cure for insomnia, and the occasional hangover. It's still in testing, but she should be sedated for a couple of hours or so before falling asleep.'

He proved right. Harry, Ron, Fred, George and Ginny were now in the common room, seated around the fireplace; Ginny, for her part, was curled up on the couch next to Harry, half-asleep.

`I don't understand,' said Ron, keeping a weary eye on Ginny. `She was cured of that love potion last week, right?'

`Re…cap…' Ginny purred distantly under her breath.

`What did she say?' said Ron, looking at Harry.

`Something about “recap”, I think,' said Harry, unsure.

`What's “recap”?'

`She means relapse,' George cleared up.

`Potion relapse,' said Fred, to be exact.

`And what's that then?'

`Don't you ever pay attention in Potions class, Ron?' said Fred, almost sounding like Hermione. Ron snickered.

`Of course I bloody don't. And neither do you two!'

`Yeah, we know,' said George, waving his hand. `We found out about this relapse thing earlier when Ginny started hassling us for your whereabouts.'

`She said Hermione told her she had something called “potion recap”. Of course, what she meant to say was potion relapse. Explain, George.'

`Don't mind if I do, Fred! Potion relapse is when a potion hasn't been properly cleansed from your body. Such a thing often occurs when treatment has been inconclusive.'

`Very intellectual, George!' praised Fred.

`Cheers, brother! Took all my brainpower that one did.'

`Let me get this straight,' said Ron, still confused. `Ginny has re-thingy meaning she still thinks she's in love with me? Is that what you're trying to say?'

`You're smarter then you look brother!' commended Fred, to which Ron frowned. `Potion relapse makes you loony basically.' He nodded at Ginny. `Makes you think up daft reasons for why you're suddenly infatuated with someone.'

`How do you guys know all this?' Ron asked, astounded. He wasn't used to the twins being so glaringly book-smart.

`Remember two days ago?' said George. `When Hermione came out from behind that statue of the Slytherin snake?

`Yeah…'

Harry's ears suddenly perked up.

`We found a way to get back there! Seems Professor Snape has built himself a state-of-the-art secret laboratory.'

`He should've known he can't keep anything secret from us!' said Fred proudly.

`Why would Hermione be in Snape's secret laboratory?' wondered Harry, breaking his silence. Fred shrugged.

`Dunno. But we found that potion book down there. The one the teachers have been looking for? A Wizards and Witches Guide to Love Made Easy. That's how we learnt about love potion relapse. Someone had taken notes and shoved them in the back. Here,' he said, and pulled out a folded bit of paper from his pocket.

`Can I see that?' Harry asked.

Fred passed the paper to Harry.

`What's Snape doing stealing a love potion book?' Ron questioned.

`Having problems with the ladies most likely,' resolved George. Ron rolled his eyes.

`Yeah, but still! I can't see Snape - '

`Of course!' Harry blurted out. Everyone turned to Harry in suspense.

`What is it, Harry?' said Ron.

Harry found himself thinking clearly for the first time in - well, what felt like ages. Finally, things were starting to make sense!

`Do you remember two days ago, when I met you all for breakfast and Malfoy came over to us?'

`Yes!' sniveled Ron, pouting. `He called my behind big! Lousy prat…'

`And do you remember what happened afterwards? Snape came over and Malfoy asked if he could get some help on an extra credit potions assignment?'

`So?'

`So, think about it!' Harry was standing now, pacing impressively up and down the fireplace. `If Ginny wasn't cured of the Aphora Bewitching Potion properly, then that means everyone else who took it wasn't either!'

`Of course!' said Fred, enlightened. `That means you…' he looked at Harry, `…and…'

`Malfoy!' Ron declared.

`Exactly!' said Harry. `Malfoy must still think he's in love with Hermione. Snape would've given Malfoy permission to use his laboratory, thinking he was working on some assignment...' Harry paused, processing his thoughts '...then, Malfoy must've some how lured Hermione down there, after she and I had been in the library. Just before she went away with you guys!' He gestured to Fred and George. 'So I didn't just imagine her yelling for help. That's why she was crying when we she came out from behind the snake statue...'

`So, then,' Ron went on, `Malfoy has done something to Hermione?' Harry nodded.

`This is Malfoy's handwriting,' he said, holding up the sheet of paper Fred had given him. `I can tell. I've received enough notes and drawings from Malfoy in class to know. He's used that book to put Hermione on the Aphora Bewitching Potion.'

`THAT GIT!' Ron yelled, outraged.

`By George, I think he's got it!' said Fred, bowing his head to Harry.

`Indeed!' applauded George. `Well done, Harry! Bloody brilliant!'

Unfortunately, this moment of triumph did not last long. Professor McGonagall had come in through the portrait hole, her countenance exceptionally grave.

`Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. Please come with me, I need to speak with you at once.'

A/N: Released two chapters because I didn't have the heart to leave you with the 'I hate you Harry' ending :)

-->

14. The Hermione Hunt & Way To Salvation

`I know everyone's figured it out ages ago,' he said at last, rain thundering in the distance. `Except me of course. I've been too much of a coward to admit it.'

~ The Hermione Hunt ~

Harry and Ron followed Professor McGonagall into her office. Harry could sense she was extremely concerned about something. She was reminding him of the time when Hermione was petrified by the Basilisk in second year.

`Please, sit down,' she said, gesturing to the two seats in front of her desk.

Harry swallowed loudly. Ron too, was nervous. On top of everything else that happened that day, what else could go wrong?

`What's the matter, Professor?' Harry had asked, just as Hagrid, very unexpectedly, charged in through the door behind them.

`No sign of her any where, Professor McGonagall! I searched high and low - '

Hagrid, who was soaking wet and talking abnormally fast, quickly stopped in mid-sentence when he saw Harry and Ron in the room. They were staring at him over the back of their chairs, wide-eyed.

`Oh,' Hagrid grunted, running a hand down his long, soggy beard. `Hello Harry, Ron…I'll come back later.'

Easing backwards, Hagrid left the room and gingerly closed the door. Harry and Ron immediately spun back to Professor McGonagall, sitting with her hands clasped on the desktop.

`I'll get straight to it,' she said, not wasting any time. `Lucius Malfoy's visit to Hogwarts earlier this morning has caused some trouble. For one, he's taken Draco without Dumbledore's permission, and two, is about Hermione.'

Harry and Ron sat on the edge of their seats.

`I tried to speak with Hermione after the incident with Lucius. However, she was quite inconsolable. She escaped Hagrid on the way to my office and ran out into the school grounds. She's been missing ever since.'

`Missing?' croaked Harry. Professor McGonagall nodded.

`I'm afraid the matter is quite serious. I've had the entire staff looking for her, including Hagrid, who's been searching the Forbidden Forest.'

`The Forbidden Forest?' said Ron timidly.

`Have either of you been in contact with Hermione since breakfast?' Professor McGonagall inquired. Both Harry and Ron shook their heads.

`Don't you have any leads as to where she could be, Professor?' pressed Harry.

`Possibly. I still have to talk to Dumbledore about Lucius…'

`He's probably kidnapped her!' Ron burst out abruptly, half out of his seat.

Harry expected Professor McGonagall to reprimand Ron for this sudden speculation, but she didn't.

`While we can't be certain at this stage,' she related, motioning for Ron to sit, `that is one possible explanation. I need to know, from both of you,' she eyed them sternly, `is there something wrong with Hermione Granger that I don't know about?'

Ron was about to open his mouth, but Harry got in before him.

`Not that we know of.'

~ Way To Salvation ~

When their meeting with Professor McGonagall concluded, Harry and Ron went outside to a courtyard for some air and, consequently, a spot of yelling. They made sure to stay under shelter, seeing it was still pouring with rain.

`What were you thinking, Harry!'

`I know what I was doing, Ron!'

`We should have said something!

`No, we shouldn't!'

`The hell we should! We should've told McGonagall about Malfoy and the love potion and - '

But Ron quit his yelling when he saw how upset Harry suddenly was. He'd withdrawn, leaning against the wall opposite with his head hanging low.

`What's the matter, Harry?'

Harry looked up. `It's all my fault,' he muttered.

`What's all your fault?'

`Lucius was right,' Harry chuckled sadly. `Who knew I had it in me?'

`Harry, make sense!' Ron begged, becoming confused again.

`I'm how Lucius found out about Hermione and Malfoy,' Harry confessed. `I sent him an anonymous letter telling him they were together. I used a charm to disguise my handwriting, but he must`ve dismantled it…'

Crossing to a near by bench, Harry flopped down, defeated. Ron, listening hard, sat next to him.

`I was jealous,' Harry continued. `I wanted Malfoy destroyed. But I swear,' he fought back his tears, `I swear I never meant for anything to happen to Hermione.'

`Wait a second, back up!' said Ron, doing his best to understand. `What if Lucius doesn't have anything to do with Hermione's disappearance?'

`I know he does, Ron. I can feel it. She probably caught up with him after she escaped Hagrid, trying to get to Malfoy. Remember what Lucius said in the Great Hall?'

Ron thought back. `Something about keeping Hermione away from him and his son, if she knows what's good for her?'

Harry gave Ron a minute to think this through.

`If she knows what's good for her…' Ron said again, pondering. And then, it hit him. In a doomed, panicked voice, he said, `oh know, that's a threat isn't it? Lucius has done something to Hermione! The GIT! Harry what are we going to do?'

`What am I going to do, you mean. It's my fault, I'll handle it.'

`Not without me you won't!'

`No, Ron,' said Harry solidly. `Just me. I won't be able to live with myself if anything happens to her.'

`And neither will I!'

`It's my problem not yours…'

`I don't care!'

`You don't understand!'

`Yes I do!'

`No, you don't!'

`Yes I DO!'

`NO - '

`I LOVE HER TOO!'

The silence following Ron's divulgence was a long and awkward one. Harry stared at Ron, stunned. He guessed Ron fancied Hermione, but never this.

`I know everyone's figured it out ages ago,' he said at last, rain thundering in the distance. `Except me of course. I've been too much of a coward to admit it. That's why Ginny's the way she is. I made an Aphora Bewitching Potion for Hermione to drink so she'd fancy me, but Ginny accidentally drank it instead. I couldn't stand the thought of Hermione with Krum, or Malfoy, or - well, anyone else...'

`I'm not in love with Hermione,' said Harry blankly.

`Huh?' said Ron, confounded. `Of course you are, you told me!'

`It's relapse, Ron. It's not real. It's why I've been acting so crazy, and why I fell for Hermione so fast. But you're not on a potion...you…' his voice collapsed slightly, `...you love her for real. You should tell her.'

Ron went a little pink.

`Er, I dunno,' he said clumsily, and changed the subject. `So tell me, how are we going to get Hermione back?'

`Lucius would be at the Annual Drakon Hunt by now,' Harry assessed. `I say that's where we start looking.'

`Go to Greece?' said Ron, sounding as if he were unsure of Harry's sanity. `How are we going to manage that?'

-->

15. The Return Of Krum & Snape's Secret Laboratory

Their hero is my cause

My cause, an enemy's legacy

~ The Return Of Krum ~

It was four-thirty the next morning, but not all of Hogwarts was asleep. Harry, Ron, Fred and George - equipped with wands and backpacks - were lurking in the darkness of the school grounds. The storm had soothed for now, though the ground was still wet, and there was a portentous electricity lingering in the air. Prior to setting off, Harry updated Ron about Fred and George finding Professor Snape's Portkey, and the secret laboratory. That's where they were heading now. Snape's Portkey was their only hope of making it to the Annual Drakon Hunt.

`This way, step lively!' called Fred from up front. `Should be almost half-past six in the morning at Mount Olympus.'

`I thought Snape's secret laboratory was inside, not outside!' said Ron grumpily. Although he was keen to conduct the mission like everyone else, he was not fond of having to wake up so early.

`It is, brother,' said George, picking up the rear. `But the proper entrance is on the outside. That Slytherin snake statue was only the exit. Ah ha! Here we are!'

They were now standing before an ordinary stone wall at the back of the castle. Harry and Ron looked dumfounded.

`This is it?' said Ron skeptically.

`Yep!' said George, nodding.

`Where's the door then?'

`Think, brother! Snape wouldn't be stupid enough to put a door here with a sign saying “Snape's secret laboratory, come one come all!”, would he?'

`I didn't say - '

`There's an inscription on the stone,' Fred identified, shutting Ron up. Harry walked over to where Fred was referring for a closer look.

`I don't see anything,' he said, squinting.

`Ingenious, is it not? Here, watch this.'

Plucking out his wand, Fred tapped the wall and pronounced: `aperio!'

To Harry's astonishment, words suddenly illuminated on the stone, shimmering like water and glowing bright green. It appeared to be riddle.

`Ta da!' said Fred, putting his wand away. `Instant inscription!'

Harry read it out loud:

Their hero is my cause

My cause, an enemy's legacy

`What's the answer then?' Ron asked, turning to Fred and George with anticipation. They shrugged.

`Dunno. Changes everyday.' Ron snorted.

`Great! Just when you need Hermione.'

`OI!' George suddenly yelled, pointing upwards. `What's that up in the sky?'

Everyone looked up and saw a dazzling orange light, falling from the night sky like a shooting star. As it ventured closer, Harry and the others could make out a flame and a large, bulky shape of some kind.

`It's coming right for us!' said Ron, panicked.

`Wicked!' said Fred and George, excited.

`DUCK!' cried Harry as, whatever it was, soared right over their heads, before landing a few metres away.

`Hey!' said Ron, un-ducking his head. `It's one of those Bulgarian vulicra bovine thingos!' And suddenly, realising what this could mean, `oh know, don't tell me!'

Ron's fears were confirmed. On top of the `vulicra bovine thingo' - or rather, the vulicrus bovine, also known as a flying ox - was Viktor Krum, bearing a torch of fire.

`Harry Potter!' he cried, dismounting the ox and rushing towards them.

`Er, hi Krum,' said Harry gawkily, still in shock. `What are you doing here?'

`The Viktor Krum?' said Fred, stepping in front of Harry.

`It is!' said George, also stepping out. `We've never been formally introduced Mr Krum, but I'm George Weasley! And that's my brother, Fred. This is such an honour!'

`A tremendous honour!' said Fred, shaking Krum's hand.

`Get out of it you two! Honestly!' said Ron, irritated, and pushing them aside. Fred scoffed.

`What's your problem? You were all over Krum like Malfoy on Snape's ass last year!'

`Shut up!'

`I have journeyed all day and all night,' said Krum, ignoring the Weasley's dispute. `I vote a letter to Hermowninny, asking her to the Annual Drakon Hunt, but she did not vite one back. So I come to Hogwarts, to see her in person and ask for her hand in marriage. Again.'

`Looks like this one's got love potion relapse, too,' George muttered to Harry.

Harry couldn't believe they had forgotten about Krum! Ginny, Malfoy and himself weren't the only ones who'd taken the Aphora Bewitching Potion. Krum had as well.

`Hermione isn't here, Krum,' said Harry.

`Yeah, go home!' said Ron, more rudely.

`Ron!' Fred nudged him.

`Vhere is she?' said Krum, looking to each of them seriously.

`We think she's in Greece, at the Annual Drakon Hunt,' Harry said straight out. On hearing this, Krum frowned.

`She vent vithout me?'

`She's been kidnapped, Mr Krum,' George cut in. `By the evil blonde duo: Lucius and Draco Malfoy.'

`Draco Malfoy?' Krum seemed to recall, crossing his thick, bushy eyebrows. `The one vith flat hair?'

Fred and George broke into laughter.

`Yeah,' said Harry. `That's him.'

`Then,' began Krum, puffing out his chest, `I vill go Greece and rescue her!'

`No you won't!' Ron objected. `We're going to Greece to rescue her. You're “going avay” back home to Bulgaria!'

`Then I vill go to Greece vith you then,' Krum settled.

`Sorry! Only those who can speak proper English are allowed to come.'

Krum glowered at Ron.

`You are very rude red-haired boy.'

`Sometimes we like call him Ronald,' said George affectionately, grinning.

`Ron-hold?' Krum tried to enunciate.

`Thank you!' Ron retorted sarcastically, glaring at George. `Now he's got another name he can't bloody pronounce!'

Krum remained firm on being recruited.

`How are ve getting to Greece then?'

`You're not coming!' blasted Ron.

`Oh, just bring him with us already!' said Fred, growing impatient. `Has anyone figured out the riddle yet?'

`Yeah,' Harry uttered.

`Really?' said George, impressed. `Bravo, Harry! What is it?'

`What else,' said Harry evidently. `Harry Potter.'

At Harry's words, the lawn under their feet disappeared, sending them tumbling down into a deep, black void.

~ Snape's Secret Laboratory ~

Harry opened his eyes. He was in a room with stone walls, and an extensive array of potion bottles and equipment, all the while squashed under a human heap of Ron, Fred, George and Krum. Despite this minor shortcoming, they seemed to have successfully infiltrated Snape's secret laboratory.

`We're supposed to levitate down, not fall,' noted Fred.

`That information might have been more useful earlier,' marked Ron, finding it difficult to breathe under Krum's weight.

Filing themselves in order, everyone stood up and dusted off.

`Good riddle solving, Harry,' Fred commented again. `Lucky you were the answer, huh?'

`C'mon guys, the Portkey's over here!' said George, without a moment to lose. He led them to a broom cupboard in the far corner of the room. Inside was, amazingly enough, a broom and a dustpan.

`The Portkey's the dustpan,' he defined.

`How do you know?' said Ron.

`As if Snape would ever use a real dustpan!'

`Right!' said Fred, looking at the others. `All we have to do is hold on to it, just like at the Quidditch Cup last year. Then we'll be transported to Greece. Everyone at the exact same time, all right?'

They all nodded, except Krum. He was looking politely confused, but did what he was told none the less.

`On the count of three! One - two - two and half - two three quarters - '

`Fred!'

`Sorry! Being daft - THREE!'

Harry closed his eyes. He had a familiar feeling of a hook pulling on his navel, and his feet lifting up off the ground…

-->

16. The Hunt Is On! & What Percy Saw

PART II. GREECE

`You do realise if you're found responsible for the death of Hermione Granger you will go to Azkaban!'

`I am above Azkaban!'

~ The Hunt Is On! ~

Harry's legs quaked as the soles of his feet slammed to the floor. The dustpan he'd been holding remained in his hand. Had they made it? Were they in Greece?

`Where the bloody hell are we?' came Ron's voice, echoing Harry's thoughts. Where ever they were, they were no longer in Snape's broom cupboard - that was for sure!

`We did it!' whispered George excitedly, standing to Harry's left. `We're in the Hogwarts Hunter's tent!'

`We're WHAT!' said Ron, causing the twins to hush him brusquely. Ron lowered his voice. `You let us pop up in the middle of the Hogwarts Hunter's tent? Are you mental?'

`Where did you think we were going to “pop up”? The Drakon's a-hole?' Fred suggested.

The inside of the Hogwarts Hunters tent had been bewitched into a spacious living room, complete with working fireplace. They appeared to be alone; the only sounds being the crackling of burning wood, and the regular ticking of a grandfather clock. Harry brought his attention to a round timber table by the fireplace, encircled by three plush couches; it was on the tabletop that he saw a series of strewn maps, all showing various trails to Mount Olympus.

`What if we landed on a teacher?' Ron continued to complain.

`Do you see a teacher?' said George, waving a hand flagrantly around the room. `I don't see - '

`Ah…' said Harry, tapping George on the shoulder. On cue, a humming Professor Flipwick entered through the tent flap. He stopped and gasped when he saw -

`Students!' he screeched, his tiny eyes popping out of his head, which then darted to the dustpan in Harry's hand. `What are you doing with Professor Snape's Portkey? You - '

`Prosificus Totalis!' Fred pronounced, directing his wand.

Professor Flipwick's body stiffened like a statue and tipped to floor. It reminded Harry of his first year at Hogwarts, when Hermione had done the exact same spell on Neville.

`Professor!' cried Ron, running to Professor Flipwick's body. `We've struck a teacher…' he muttered woefully, `…we are sooo dead!'

`On the contrary! I feel very much alive,' said Fred, grinning.

Krum went to join Ron, staring down at Professor Flipwick.

`He is a very small for a man.'

`Yeah, thanks Krum, really helpful!'

Suddenly, outside the tent, a set of arguing voices were drawing closer...

`This is highly uncalled for, Lucius!' reprimanded the first voice. Harry recognised it immediately.

`It's Snape!' he whispered, panicked.

`Crap!' said Ron, even more panicked.

`Everybody, hide!' said George, already in search of a hiding place.

`Ron!' said Fred, going to stand beside him and Professor Flipwick. `Help me put the Professor into one of the cupboards…'

Ron gaped at him.

`You can't put a Professor in a cup - '

`They're coming in, quick!' hissed Harry.

They split apart. Harry and Krum dived behind a set of drapes, Fred and George levitated themselves to the ceiling and Ron, most reluctantly, was forced to accompany Professor Flipwick in a cupboard. Taking a risk, Harry edged a gap in his drapes, allowing himself a view of the living room…

`Mark my words, Severus,' drawled Lucius, as Harry saw him sweep into the vicinity - like he owned the place. `I do not know where the little Mudblood girl is.'

`I have a witness who says otherwise,' said Snape flatly, stalking after him. Lucius smirked.

`Really? And who may that be?'

`Percy Weasley,' Snape testified. `He claims to have seen you arrive with your son, Narcissa and a young girl.'

`Nonsense!'

`This isn't a game Lucius!'

`Oh but it is, Severus! It's the Annual Drakon Hunt, remember?'

Lucius turned his back on him, chuckling coldly. This only angered Snape further.

`You do realise if you're found responsible for the death of Hermione Granger you will go to Azkaban!'

`I am above Azkaban!' Lucius threw back, spinning around. `What happened to you Severus? You use to have such potential. Now look at you? Working for an old crackpot and worried about the whereabouts of Mudbloods.'

From outside the tent, a distant sound of a trumpet began to blare.

`Ah, do you hear that?' said Lucius, a finger to his ear. `The Hunters Congregation is about to start. If you'd excuse me, I must return to my tent…'

`I know you're responsible for Hermione Granger's disappearance, Lucius,' said Snape, not permitting him to leave just yet. Lucius stared Snape threateningly in the eye.

`Prove it.'

To Lucius' amusement, Snape didn't say anything.

`Yes,' he chuckled, `that's what I thought.'

Harry watched Lucius walk out. A minute or so later, Snape did the same. After making sure the coast was clear, the five boys came out of hiding: Harry and Krum emerged from the drapes, Ron crawled from his cupboard, and the twins levitated to the ground. There was a mournful silence between them. Ron was the first to speak.

`The death of Hermione Granger?' he said quietly, repeating the very words that had chilled Harry's blood.

For a moment, Harry just stood there, transfixed. Then, with a strong note of resolve, he said `that's it. Lucius must have Hermione. We need to get out of here now!'

~ What Percy Saw ~

Harry and the others left the Hogwarts Hunters tent and outside into a clear, crisp day. They were right in the hub of the Annual Drakon Hunt. Much like the Quidditch Cup last year, rows of tents spread in every direction across the grassy plain, representing hunters from all over Europe. Wizards and witches were emerging from their tents and clustering together in large groups, heading towards the beckoning call of the trumpet.

`Here, Harry,' said Fred, passing Harry a red hooded cloak. `We found these in the Hogwarts tent. Thought they might help to make us blend into the crowd, `case someone recognises us.'

George donned his cloak and struck a pose. `How do I look?'

`Like a hooded git,' Ron assessed.

In step with the crowd, the five of them stayed close, blending in as best they could, though it didn't require much of an effort. The wizards and witches around them were far too preoccupied with talk of treasure and dragon-fighting tactics to question their presence. Harry though, was particularly weary of staying unnoticed. The last thing they needed was someone recognising the The-Boy-Who-Lived and raising a scandal.

`Where are we going?' Harry whispered to George, keeping his head low.

`Hunters Congregation,' he whispered back. `There's always one on the morning before the hunting.'

`So?' said Harry, who couldn't care less about some Hunters Congregation. `What does that have to do with anything? Shouldn't we be trying to find the Malfoy's tent? Hermione's in danger!'

`Remember what Snape said though? About Percy seeing Lucius arrive here with a young girl?'

`Indeed!' said Fred. `Good ol' Percy the prude might be useful for something. For once.'

Ron suddenly approached Harry.

`Are you thinking what I'm thinking?'

`About George being a hooded git?'

`No, I mean about Snape! Why would he care less if Hermione was missing?'

`I don't know,' said Harry, who hadn't thought about this. `Maybe he doesn't want Lucius to go to Azkaban?'

`Yeah, maybe,' Ron speculated, and added with a grin, `they're probably having a secret affair or something.'

Moving with the crowd, Harry soon saw a towering, circular stadium become visible up ahead. It was far before it's time, and made entirely of stone.

`That's the Amphitheatre,' said Fred, as though reading Harry's mind. `It was built by ancient Greek wizards. No Muggle has ever been able to see it of course; it's covered in Muggle-Repelling Charms…over here, this way!'

They were now proceeding through the main entrance of the Amphitheatre, Fred leading the way. As they entered, Harry quickly took it all in: the space around him was outstandingly large; like being inside a giant, multi-layered stone bowl. Tall banners showing the moving head of a growling, purple dragon with yellow eyes and sharp fangs were frequently hung on stone pillars. So that's the Drakon Harry thought with foreboding, preferring not to look for too long.

The seats were quickly being filled. The place was packed; there must have been over thirty thousand witches and wizards. Harry wondered how they were ever going to find Percy. Ron had an ingenious solution.

`Look for Fudge. Percy will be with Fudge!'

`Yeah,' agreed Fred. `Following him around like a lost puppy no doubt. Come on then, Fudge would be with the VIP's, down the bottom.'

Harry noticed a selection of VIP boxes encircling the base of Amphitheatre, which had been organised as the stage. Drawing closer down the steps, Harry could just make out a blatant head of red hair, sitting next to none other then Cornelius Fudge himself.

`There!' Harry pointed sharply. `That has to be him. Come on, let's go!'

Pushing past an enthusiastic group of wizards trying to sell Drakon souvenirs, Harry and the others quickly made their way down the stairs and towards the stage. On arrival, they sneaked, one by one, to the space behind the box where Percy was located. All Fred and George had to do was seize him at the precise moment…

`Tell me, Percy, is your family attending the Hunt this year?' they heard Fudge say.

`Not all of them, Mr. Fudge,' said Percy's voice, pompous as ever. `Only my father and eldest brother, Charlie. He's working as a Guardian this year. My younger brothers Fred, George and Ron are at school as we speak. The best place for them in my opinion. Trouble makers those three.'

`Indeed. Pardon me, Percy, I'll be back in a moment…' Fudge stood out of his seat.

`Anything I can help you with, Mr Fudge?' Percy groveled, also standing.

`No. I'm going to the lavatory, Percy.'

`Oh...right. Good timing sir!'

Once Fudge left, Fred and George had their chance.

`AAHH!' Percy yelped in fright, feeling a show of hands suddenly pull him backwards. He landed on the ground behind him with a `thump'. Dazed for a second, and lying on his back, he eventually looked up to see -

`FRED! GEORGE! RON! HARRY! Viktor Krum…? WHAT IN THE NAME OF - '

`That's enough from you dear brother!' sneered Fred, pointing his wand at Percy's head.

`Quite enough!' said George, also pointing his wand. `Yell like that again and we'll turn you into Fudge's toilet seat!'

`How dare you!' said Percy, sounding most harassed. `The nerve! This is an outrage of the highest order! I don't know how you've gotten away with this, but I can assure you - '

`Shut up!' said Fred and George in unison.

Percy closed his mouth, eyeing their wands with grave caution. Harry, thinking of Hermione, was anxious to move things along.

`Percy, did you see Lucius Malfoy arrive here with a young girl?'

`What?' said Percy, his eyes shooting to Harry. `Are you talking about Narcissa? Because she's hardly a young - '

`No, a girl!' Harry stressed. `Like our age?'

Percy looked him over, suspicious.

`How do you know I saw that?'

`We're asking the questions around here!' said Ron, getting in on the act. `Did you see Lucius with a young girl or not?

`Yes yes! I saw Lucius with a young girl! And may I kindly remind you all that skipping school is an offense of the highest - '

`Please, Percy,' Harry implored him. `This could be a matter of life and death. Was the girl you saw with Lucius Hermione Granger?'

`Hermione Granger? I don't know, it was late at night and frightfully dark! Can I please get up off the ground now…'

`Not yet!' said Fred, driving the tip of his wand into Percy's nose. `Is there anything else you can tell us about the night Lucius came?'

`I…well, no!' he said, going cross-eyed. `I mean, at the time I swore I saw Lucius towing the arm of what looked to be a young girl into his tent. I informed Mr Fudge on the matter, and a few other officials from the Ministry, but nobody seemed to think it important…what is this all about? You're hurting my nose!'

Fred removed his wand from Percy's nose, and turned to Harry. `I think this is all the help we're going to get. You, Ron and Krum go find the Malfoy's tent. We'll keep an eye on Percy the prude.'

Harry, Ron and Krum all nodded. Before they departed, George ushered Harry to the side. `Here, take these with you,' he said, promptly handing Harry a book and a cloth-covered bottle from his backpack. `It's that book, A Wizards and Witches Guide to Love Made Easy. I read up on the counter-potion for the Aphora Bewitching Potion before we left. I can't remember everything it said, but you'll need this,' he indicated to the bottle. `It's a sample of Malfoy's potion. He'd hidden it with the book.'

`How did you…?' said Harry, astounded. This was an impressive amount of information to take in.

`Never mind that now,' said George hastily. `Listen, I put some dragon's blood in Malfoy's potion, too. The instructions said the potion needed to be mixed with an anti-love ingredient. Hopefully when you find Hermione, you'll be able to cure her.'

`Careful, George,' said Harry teasingly. `You'll turn into a Potions scholar if you're not careful.'

`Oh, stop!' said George, pretending to blush. `Now get of here! Go save the girl.'

`Harry, come on! What's the hold up?' Ron whined, waiting impatiently.

Taking what George had given him and cramming into his backpack, Harry united with Ron and Krum and ascended stairs of the Amphitheatre.

-->

17. A Wizard's Truce & The Drakon Wood

`I'm the best chance you have!'

`I'm in,' said Harry at once, putting his hand on top of Malfoy's.

`Me too,' said Krum, putting his hand on Harry's.

`Oh!' Ron wrestled with a severe internal struggle. `I can't believe I'm doing this…'

~ A Wizard's Truce ~

With the directions Fred and George forced out of Percy, Harry, Ron and Krum located the Malfoy's tent on the far side of the Amphitheatre. It wasn't too hard to uncover, being the only tent that was all black.

`Cheery sort of place, huh?' said Ron, overlooking the tent uneasily.

`Is this where Hermowninny is?' said Krum, who hadn't said much all morning.

`I hope so,' said Harry. `We better hurry. We don't want to still be here when Lucius gets back.'

With his wand out and ready, Harry led the way in through the tent flap. The inside of the Malfoy's tent was made to look much like the Slytherin common room Harry thought, having seen the Slytherin common room himself in second year. The atmosphere was glacial and austere, with a focus on stone, black leather chairs, and a flickering green flame radiating from the fireplace. Unable to withhold her name any longer, Harry called, `Hermione!'

`Hermione, are you in here!' Ron called after him.

`Hermowninny!' Krum joined in.

There was a voice, barely audible…

`Hermione?' it murmured.

`Did you hear that?' said Ron, springing alert.

`Yeah, over here!'

Harry traced the sound to a room beyond the fireplace. It appeared to be a study; and in the middle of this study, he found…an oversized cage?

`Well!' said Ron, smiling broadly. `What do we have here?'

It was a dream come true - Draco Malfoy behind bars! Lucius had evidently locked him up to keep him out of trouble. Unfortunately, there was no sign of Hermione.

`That is flat hair boy!' said Krum, coming in last. Malfoy, upon seeing them all, lept to his feet.

`Harry! I'm so happy to see you!'

Harry never thought he'd ever hear Draco Malfoy say those words.

`Ah, pardon?'

`What?' spluttered Ron, unable to believe his ears either.

`Happy to see me?' Harry questioned.'The last time we saw each other Malfoy, you looked ready to kill me. Not to mention numerous other occasions…'

`Yes well, that was then wasn't it?' he said impatiently, gripping the bars. `I knew you'd come to rescue Hermione, and I can help you! I know where she is!'

`And why the hell would we trust you?' said Ron. `You're the one who kidnapped her!'

`My father kidnapped her, not me!' Malfoy imposed. `And only because four eyes here sent him a stupid letter!'

Harry sunk his head. He was still ashamed over what he'd done.

`Hermione chased us out the door as we were leaving Hogwarts,' Malfoy proceeded to explain. `When she ran into my father, he cast a hypnotic charm on her. After that, Hermione only obeyed his voice. He made her come with us. I'm telling the truth!'

`Where's Hermione now then?' Ron grilled.

`Let me out of this cage and I'll tell you.'

Ron laughed.

`Are you kidding? Do you know how long I've waited to see you locked up?'

`Look,' said Malfoy, sounding both logical and annoyed. `I don't like this situation either, but right now, I'm your only shot at finding out where Hermione is. I want her back as much as you do!'

`He's obviously not cured of love potion relapse yet,' Harry muttered to Ron, as they turned away from Malfoy.

`I don't trust him, Harry! What if he's making it all up?'

`And what if he's not? Remember, he still thinks he's in love with Hermione…'

`May I suggest a wizard's truce gentlemen?' Malfoy spoke up.

Harry and Ron turned back round, looked at each other apprehensively, then…

`Alohamora!'

Harry pointed his wand at the keyhole of Malfoy's cage, unlocking it.

`This is such a bad idea…' Ron moaned, remaining apprehensive.

Malfoy was free. Even so, Harry, Ron and Krum made sure to keep their wands aimed closely at his head.

`Easy!' he said, holding up his hands. `You're going to poke my eye out if you're not careful.'

`I'm failing to see why that would be a problem,' said Ron sharply.

`Vhere is Hermowninny?'

`Huh?' Malfoy uttered, glaring at Krum.

`He means Hermione,' Harry cleared up.

`We arrived last night,' Malfoy began to tell. `My father took my wand and locked me up as soon as we arrived. He figured I was on some kind of love potion. Hermione, too.'

Malfoy took them back to the previous night, when Lucius, Draco and Hermione first entered the Malfoy's tent…

`NO!' Malfoy howled.

Lucius carelessly chucked his son into the cage he'd prepared, and locked the door. `You'll stay in there until I have time to research a cure. I won't have you embarrassing our family at the Hunt, running around after some bloody Mudblood!'

`What are you going to do with Hermione?' Malfoy demanded, shaking the bars of his cage.

Lucius called out behind him, in a mock sweet voice, `Hermione? Can you come in her please.'

Obediently, a vacant Hermione came in and walked to Lucius' side. Then, with a quick sweep of his hand, he yanked a fistful of Hermione's hair, wrenching her head back, so he could see into her eyes. Hermione didn't even squirm.

`Hermione, my dear. Listen to me very, very carefully.'

`Father, no!' Malfoy beseeched him, shaking the bars more fervently. `What are you doing?'

`Enough!' Lucius commanded, aiming his wand at Draco's face. `Quiet or you'll never leave that cage. Clear?'

Malfoy silenced, for the moment at least. Lucius went back to Hermione.

`Hermione, as you obey me and only me, I order you to walk into the Drakon Wood, and to not stop walking until you reach the Drakon's lair. When you reach it, go inside…'

`No, she'll be KILLED!'

`SILENCE!'

Malfoy, again, reluctantly piped down.

`She will be killing herself, Draco,' said Lucius in a sinister, cunning tone. `Many who have been intoxicated by love potions in the past have been known to commit suicide, or other foolish acts. If anyone questions me, I'll say she followed us to Greece, I told her she was forbidden to see you, and in a fit of grief, she ended her life in the Drakon's jaws!' He chuckled menacingly, and looked back down into Hermione's eyes. `Do you understand what I've told you to do?'

Hermione responded, in a distant, robotic voice, `go into the Drakon Wood…go inside the Drakon's lair…'

`…and never come back.' Lucius prompted.

`And never come back.'

`Good girl. Off you go then!' He pushed her away.

As Lucius dictated, Hermione walked out of the tent, out into the darkness of night, and towards a dense rim of trees that marked the boundary of the Drakon Wood.

`And that's it,' Malfoy finished. `I haven't seen her since.'

Harry was gripping his wand so tightly his knuckles were turning white.

`So…' Ron stammered, `Hermione's gonna go walking up to the Drakon and…and…?' he couldn't bring himself to say anything else.

`Ve must go to the Drakon Vood immediately!' Krum interjected, to which Harry couldn't agree more.

`Malfoy, do you know how to get to the Drakon's lair?'

`Of course I know. The lair is beneath Mount Olympus. There are many passages into it. I've been studying the map since the beginning of the year, I can take you right there.'

Harry, easing his grip, sighed and was quiet for the moment. Every instinct in his body averted from trusting Malfoy - it was unthinkable. But Harry was weakened by the thought of Hermione, on her own in some foreign Drakon Wood, heading for a creature that would kill her on sight. He felt he didn't have a choice.

`We better make a start on that wizard's truce, then,' he said finally, narrowing his eyes at Malfoy.

`Very well,' said Malfoy, and put his hand out. `I promise to help you find Hermione, but only up until we find her.'

`What do you mean only up until we find her?' Ron suddenly interceded. `You're going to try and take her with you, aren't you? Harry, I told you we couldn't trust this git!'

`It's a double-edged sword, Weasley!' Malfoy overruled him. `I'm the fastest way to the Drakon's lair, and you don't have time on your side. Hermione's life is at stake.'

`I'm in,' said Harry at once, putting his hand on top of Malfoy's.

`Me too,' said Krum, putting his hand on Harry's.

`Oh!' Ron wrestled with a severe internal struggle. `I can't believe I'm doing this…'

Giving in, Ron slapped his hand on Krum's. The truce is made.

~ The Drakon Wood ~

`This way, through here!'

Malfoy, who'd adorned a green cloak, was leading the way into the Drakon Wood, situated to the right of his family's tent. From the outskirts, it reminded Harry of the Forbidden Forest back home, only there was a distinct, snow-capped mountain peak looming in the distance, rising high into the clouds - Mount Olympus.

'I must be mental to be doing this! Following Malfoy towards a man-eating dragon...' Ron grumbled, looking around him nervously. 'Do you think they have giant spiders here like they do back home?'

They were amongst the thick of the trees now, the tents from the Annual Drakon Hunt shrinking behind them. The surrounding forest was actually quite beautiful; rich with oak, beech, chestnut and plane trees. But Harry was hardly in the mood to be taking in the scenery.

'How long does it take to get to the Drakon's lair?' Harry asked Malfoy, pushing a tree branch from his face.

'If we hurry and don't sleep, we should make it by late tomorrow afternoon.'

Tomorrow afternoon! Harry thought painfully. It seemed a lifetime away.

'There's still something I don't understand,' Harry went on, addressing all of them. 'If it's so easy to find the Drakon's lair, why is this called the Drakon Hunt?'

'Because the Hunt begins when you're actually in the Drakon's lair, Harry,' said Ron, choosing to explain. 'Once you're inside, you start searching for the treasure. Charlie says it's pretty difficult to find, lots of secret passages and stuff. Only highly skilled wizards accompanied by a trained Guardian are allowed to enter. I mean, if anyone went walking in there on their own - '

Ron suddenly stopped talking and gulped, noticing the fearful look on Harry's face. Harry's worries were ever increasing, and he wasn't sure he'd be able to wait until tomorrow afternoon to know if Hermione was safe or not. On thinking this, another worry hit him.

'How are we going to make it to the Drakon's lair before Hermione anyway? She's been in the Wood way longer then we have.'

'Yes! Vot if she's already there?' Krum voiced up.

'Hermione's hypnotised,' said Malfoy from up ahead, climbing over a fallen log. 'She'll be walking at the pace of zombie. If we move fast, we might cut her off. Still, it's going to be tight.'

'Why didn't we bring broomsticks with us?' said Ron, clambering over the log Malfoy had passed. 'We could have flown straight there!'

'No!' said Krum suddenly, shooting Ron a panicked look. Ron was very taken aback. 'The Vood is charmed for the Hunt. Broomsticks are illegal. If you fly von, it vill explode!'

'He's right you know,' said Malfoy. Ron glared at Krum.

'Oh, so now you're full of useful information! How come you didn't know how to get to the Drakon's lair? Huh?'

'Come on!' Harry cut in, before a fight broke out. 'We have to quicken our pace.'

And then there were four - three in red, one in green. With Harry moving to the forefront, the boys hurried on, saying very little on their way. The forest was thickening as they went; their trail deepened with shadows, cast by the foliage hanging over their heads, blocking the sky and the sunlight. They traveled all day, Hermione firm in their sights; though it wasn't long before the sun began to set, and before night was upon them.

A/N: Updating fast (again), hope you can keep up with me :)

-->

18. Found Out & Counter-Potion

Mighty Aphrodite,

burn brightly no more.

Deny thy forged love,

bring forth the truth you tore!

~ Found Out ~

The Hunters Congregation had ended at noon. Madame Sprout arrived back at the Hogwarts Hunters tent with Professor Snape.

`Do you hear that?' she said, halting in the middle of the room.

There was a knocking sound, followed by a muffled scream. It seemed to be coming from a cupboard. Snape clasped his wand and aimed towards it. `Expositus!'

The cupboard door flung open, and the tiny body of Professor Flipwick flew across the room, flapping his arms.

`EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!'

`Professor Flipwick!' cried Madame Sprout, rushing to where he'd crash-landed. `How did you get locked in the cupboard? We've been looking for you every where!'

`Children! Students!' Professor Flipwick squealed, standing and straightening his robes. `Students locked me in the cupboard! Students are here at the Hunt without consent!'

`Who's here without consent?' Snape demanded, though he already had a funny feeling who it might be.

`Well let me think,' said Professor Flipwick thoughtfully, recounting who he'd seen. `There were the three Weasley boys, a tall dark fellow I can't recall, though he looked very familiar - oh! And Harry Potter. He was holding your Portkey, Professor Snape!'

`Was he now?' said Snape, in an intrigued but malevolent tone.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Amphitheatre, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy came home to their tent.

'Must we keep Draco locked up in that cage, darling?' said Narcissa tiresomely, an attractive but snooty woman with a intolerable, critical manner. She was the first to enter through the tent flap. 'He didn't stop yelling and clanking all night. I hardly had any beauty sleep.'

'My dear,' said Lucius, entering after her, and heading towards the study, 'it's only until I find a cure for his condition. Then he - '

Lucius stopped at the study doorway, staring straight ahead.

'Empty...' he murmured.

'Sorry darling, I didn't hear you,' called Narcissa from the next room. `Can you speak up?'

'EMPTY!' Lucius roared, up in arms. 'HE'S ESCAPED!'

~ Counter-Potion ~

Harry and the others walked hours on end, well into the depth of night. The air had chilled, and an opaque white mist layered the ground, swirling mysteriously at their feet. Sounds stirred all around them - howls, hoots, twigs snapping, a sudden rustle of leaves. Sometimes Harry fancied he was being watched, but this wasn't an unusual thing to think when one was wondering through a strange forest in the middle of the night. What concerned Harry more at this point was tiredness. Sleep threatened to engulf him, and the rest of the group were doing no better.

'Ron, get your head off my shoulder!' said Harry, shrugging Ron away.

'Sorry, Harry,' said Ron drowsily. 'It's just...I've never been so - so -' His words were stretched out in a tedious, extended yawn. 'Tired.'

'We're not tired! We're - we're - ' Despite himself, Harry caught Ron's yawn. 'Okay, so we're a little tired.'

Malfoy and Krum yawned instantaneously.

'Stop being tired!' Harry snapped, rounding on them. 'Hermione won't be sleeping, so we won't either!'

'I know, Harry. But at this rate we're all going to turn into hypnotised zombies!' Ron reasoned. 'Can't we nap for a bit?' Harry shook his head.

'If we fall asleep, we'll never wake up and it will be too late!'

'Potter's right,' said Malfoy drearily. 'As long as Hermione's hypnotised, she won't stop until she reaches the Drakon's lair.'

Krum came up with an idea.

'Vot if two of us sleep and two stay avake? Then ve svitch?' The corner of Ron's mouth turned up.

'I can't believe I'm going to agree with Krum, but that could work! What do you say, Harry?'

Harry, compromising his fervid determination to press on, agreed to Krum's suggestion. It was with great relief that Harry, Ron and Krum dropped their backpacks, which had grown tiresomely heavy, under the shelter of a tall, proud oak tree. Malfoy and Krum were the first to sleep, while Ron and Harry remained awake.

'Fifteen minutes and counting,' Ron calculated, consulting his watch. He stooped down next to Harry and rested his weight against the oak tree. 'Oh yeah!' he sighed, relaxing. 'I can't wait to get some shut-eye.'

'Don't get too rested just yet,' Harry forewarned him. 'You have to stay awake.'

'I am awake. See?' Ron proved this by showing Harry how wide he could open his eyes.

Harry chuckled. He was happy to be on good terms with Ron again. It comforted him immensely. For a while, the two of them sat in an easy silence, Harry checking Ron every now and then to make sure he wasn't drowsing off. And, of course, his mind would naturally drift to Hermione. Staring up at the moon shining against the canopy, he dared to believe she was still alive; that he'd find her and bring her home. He also wondered, with the emergence of Ron's feelings, and the confusion over his own, if the old trio would ever be the same. This thought in turn sprung another.

'Are they asleep yet?' Harry whispered to Ron, referring to Malfoy and Krum. They both peered around the other side of the oak tree to find out. Malfoy was sitting upright but with his head was lolling over, and Krum was spread out on the ground, drooling on his sleeve.

'Like babies,' Ron assented.

'Then quick, help me out here.'

Harry unzipped his backpack and retrieved A Wizards and Witches Guide to Love Made Easy.

'Blimey, Harry!' said Ron, on seeing the book. 'Why are you lugging that around with you? And where - '

'George gave it to me. Before we left,' Harry cleared up, flipping though the pages. 'We have to read up on the proper cure for the Aphora Bewitching Potion, otherwise Hermione will still be in love with Malfoy.'

`But how…' Ron was quite overwhelmed. Harry tried explaining things from another angle.

'Hermione's in love with Malfoy, right?'

'Right...'

'And when we reach her, she'll be hypnotised, right?'

'Right!'

'So, after we un-hypnotise her - '

'How are we going to do that?'

Harry hadn't thought about this yet.

'I - well, I don't know! Stay focused...aha! Here's what we're looking for.'

Harry quietly read the following passage to Ron:

Counter-Potion for the Aphora Bewitching Potion.

You will need at least a cup of an Aphora Bewitching Potion that is bounded to the bounder that originally infected you. Make sure the anti-love ingredient as been administered at this time.

'But we don't have Malfoy's Aphora Bewitching Potion!' Ron interrupted anxiously.

'Oh yes we do,' said Harry, holding up the cloth-covered flask. 'I think there's more then a cup's worth, too.'

'And the anti-love ingredient? We don't - '

'George took care of it,' Harry assured him.

'Wow,' said Ron, impressed. 'He thought of everything!'

Harry continued to read.

You are now ready to make counter-potion. Note that this will be a ritual counter-potion. To perform the ritual, stand a top the highest peak of Mount Olympus, and make a fire with wood and leaves drawn from the Drakon Wood. Heat the original potion over this fire, and repeat the following ten times:

Mighty Aphrodite,

burn brightly no more.

Deny thy forged love,

bring forth the truth you tore!

Keep your eye on the fire and concentrate on the words spoken. It's vital not to lose concentration. If the ritual is successful, your potion should no longer 'glow', and will instead turn to a pale, matte pink. The one you wish to cure must drink at least one drop of the counter-potion for it to be effective.

Harry finished reading, confident with what had to be done. Ron however, was not so self-assured.

'Well, this is perfect isn't it?' he said.

'I know!' said Harry. 'We're heading straight for Mount Olympus.'

'Yes but Harry, how do you suppose we're going to get on top of Mount Olympus?'

Again, Harry had not bothered to think this through.

'Er...we'll deal with that later!' he said in a hurry, pushing it aside. 'Wait! There's more written here.' Harry read on.

The counter-potion's ritual will only work when performed by someone who truly loves the one in need of curing. A blood relative would also be satisfactory.

Harry paused after reading these last words. Then, with a grim undertone, he shoved the book into Ron's hands and said, 'I guess you'll be doing the ritual then.'

'Me?' Ron rebutted, tossing the book back to Harry, as if it electrocuted him. 'But I suck at making potions! And I'm pretty sure I'd suck at making counter-potions, too!'

'Ron, you're the only one here who has "actual" feelings for Hermione. The book says someone who loves the one in need of curing has to do it. You love her, you do the ritual!' Harry shoved the book back to Ron more firmly. Ron took it, thought something over, and then stared at Harry with a change of face.

'Do you honestly believe that, Harry? That you've haven't got "actual" feelings for Hermione?'

Harry was slightly puzzled at this.

'As a friend I have feelings for her, but that doesn't count!' he said bluntly. `Anything else I'm feeling is fake, brought on by potion relapse.'

Ron appeared as though he hadn't believed a word Harry said - and he hadn't.

'You want to know what I think?'

`I know you suck at potions.'

Ron ignored this.

`I think you're fooling yourself, Harry. This relapse thing is suppose to make you crazy, right? But it's not like you've gone poisoning people with bewitching, Aphrodite spells or claiming you're adopted!'

'But I am crazy!' said Harry briskly, who suddenly felt like he had a lot to get of his chest. 'I brought us all to Greece. I'm taking us towards a ferocious dragon. I befriended Malfoy! And to top it off, I fell for Hermione overnight!'

'Harry, wake UP!'

'I am awa - '

'Everything you've done for Hermione so far is not crazy!' Ron spoke very heatedly now. `Under the circumstances, you would've acted exactly the same, with or without relapse! I've seen how you care for her Harry, even way before all this love potion rubbish! You did not fall for Hermione overnight because you've always had feelings for her! And I think you're acting like a right coward for not realising that.'

Harry gaped at Ron, utterly bewildered. Why was he saying all this? First he was mad at the prospect of he and Hermione ever being involved, which he'd come to more or less accept, and now what was he doing? Playing matchmaker?

'I'm a coward?' Harry repeated, more then slightly offended. 'You've loved Hermione for ages and only admitted to it yesterday! If anyone's the coward it's you!'

'It takes a coward to recognise his own kind!'

'Yeah WELL - '

For some reason, Harry couldn't match this comment. It didn't matter in the end, because a deep, languorous voice had interrupted them.

'Has it been fifteen minutes yet?' said Krum, half-asleep.

-->

19. The River Path & End Of Her Line

'And never come back.'

~ The River Path ~

Morning dawned, sprinkling the Drakon Wood with rays of warm sunlight. Despite having a mere one hours sleep between them, Harry and the others continued afoot, only Malfoy's navigation skills were proving to be a problem.

'I think if we keep walking north, we should - '

'North?' Ron butted in. `Ten minutes ago you wanted us to walk north-east!'

'Would you please keep your voice down, I can't think properly!'

'Didn't anyone bring a map?' Harry spoke over them. Krum shook his head sadly.

'No. Malfoy said he knew the vay.'

'Yes, Malfoy! You said you "knew the vay!" You're bloody hopeless! I knew you weren't to be trusted!'

Malfoy was thoroughly fed up with Ron's bickering, which he'd endured all morning. 'You just wait until our little truce is over, Weasley!'

'Is that a threat, Malfoy?' said Ron bitingly, glaring him in the face. 'If you're not careful, we'll send you back home to daddy Malfoy, so he can lock you up in your birdcage again like a giant budgie!'

'Enough you two!' Harry disciplined them. 'We'll never get any where like this. Remember, we're here to save Hermione.'

Ron and Malfoy held their tongues, but continued to exchange savage looks.

Harry's confidence was beginning to wane, considering the state of things. It was all so terribly disorganised. For one, they had no map, and Malfoy clearly didn't know the way to the Drakon's lair as well as he'd originally claimed, rendering him useless. Then there were the points Ron had raised, about Hermione being hypnotised, and the problem of finding a way to the top of Mount Olympus - no easy task. Harry blamed himself. He'd been so rushed and anxious to save Hermione, he hadn't thought anything through. This never would have happened if Hermione was in charge Harry thought, then realised the irony this entailed. Great! I need Hermione to save Hermione...

'Maybe one of us could climb a tree?' said Krum, running through ideas again. 'Vith the height, maybe ve could see the right vay?'

The moment Krum finished this sentence, a small army of voices sprouted from above.

'Not climbing in our tree they're not!' said the first voice.

'So rude!' said the second.

'So very, very rude!' said the third.

The boys looked up to a small flock of Wood Pixies, fluttering like Snitches; hovering in one place, and then zooming quickly to another. From what Harry could make out, there were two boys and a pretty girl Pixie. All of them were tree-green with elfish ears and chipmunk sounding voices. They didn't seem very happy.

'HUNTERS IN THE WOOD! HUNTERS IN THE WOOD!' one of the boy Pixies shrilled, sounding off like an alarm.

'WARN THE DRAKON!' said the girl.

'WARN THE DRAKON!' said the other.

'No no no!' Ron hollered, waving his arms. 'Don't warn the Drakon! Shut up!'

'Rude human!' said the first boy Pixie.

'Rude human most rude!' said the girl, and threw a chestnut at Ron's head.

'OUCH! Stop that!'

A smile appeared on Harry's face. These Pixies spoke of the Drakon; they may just be the break he was looking for. With this in mind, Harry attempted to speak with them more politely.

'Excuse me,' he began. 'We mean no harm, we're not here to hunt the Drakon. We're only here to search for our friend.'

'Yes, by any chance have you Pixies seen a young girl in the forest?' said Malfoy, catching Harry's drift.

The first boy Pixie zoomed down suddenly, popping up an inch from Harry's nose. Harry took a step back in shock.

'Not hunters?' he interrogated, his beady green eyes bulging with disbelief. 'Looking for a girl you say? Are you hearings this, Dew?'

'I hears it, Scat!' tweeted the brown-eyed girl Pixie named Dew. 'You hears it, Nut?'

'I hears it, Dew!' answered Nut, the last and smallest Pixie, who was as suspicious as the others.

'Yes, we're looking for a girl,' Harry reinforced. 'Please, have you seen her?'

'Why is this girl in the Wood?' chirped Dew. 'Is she a hunter?'

'No!' said Ron instantly. 'She's been hypnotised to go to the Drakon's lair against her will. It's very important we find her!'

'A likely story,' said Scat.

'Yes, likely,' said Dew.

'Likely, likely!' sang Nut.

'It's true!' Harry affirmed, keeping his anger in check. 'Have any of you seen her? Recently perhaps?'

Scat shook his green head. 'We have seen no girl, not a one! We suggest you leave this place, tis' not safe for young humans.'

'Then can you tell us the quickest way to the Drakon's lair?' Harry tried again, but this set them off.

'Drakon's lair? HUNTERS!'

'WARN THE DRAKON!'

'WARN THE DRAKON!'

'We're not HUNTERS!' yelled Ron, frustrated. 'We only want to stop our friend from going to the Drakon's lair!'

'Please help us,' said Harry, his desperation wearing thin. 'We'd be happy to do something for you in return.'

Harry must have said something right, because the Pixies had stopped their screeching. They were hovering steadily in the air, their pointy ears twitching with intrigue.

'Something in return?' said Dew.

Harry and the others nodded enthusiastically. The Pixies considered this wager, and then Scat said, 'quickest way to the lair of the Drakon? You are going to wrong way.'

Ron shot Malfoy a sharp look of contempt.

'Yes. You should follow the river path. It will take you to one of the lair's passages. We can show you the way, if...'

'If...what?' said Harry, hoping his offer to give the Pixies something in return didn't backfire.

'You give us your socks,' said Nut, eyeing their feet with a strange longing.

Ron, Malfoy and Krum looked at each other oddly and said, 'socks?' Harry laughed.

'What do you want our socks for?'

'Socks are warm!' said Scat.

'Very warm!' said Dew.

'Gets very cold at night...' said Nut, mocking a shiver.

'Of course!' said Ron all of sudden, turning to Harry. 'I remember Hermione telling me about Wood Pixies, and how they like to steal people's socks so they can use them as blankets during the night!'

'How foul,' scoffed Malfoy, turning up his nose.

'If you Pixies show us the way to this river path, I promise that you can have all of our socks,' said Harry.

'You swears it?' the three Pixies said together, quivering with glee.

'Cross my heart.'

They all squealed joyously, as the boys bent down to undo their shoelaces.

'Do you think they're related to Dobby by any chance?' said Ron, smiling at Harry.

With the guidance of the Wood Pixies, a sock-less Harry, Ron, Malfoy and Krum were shown the way to the river path. The Pixies left them here, assuring them as long as they followed the river, they'd make it. Heeding their advice, the boys trailed the river into the afternoon. They traveled into the twilight hours, never breaking a step, until they finally reached the bottom of Mount Olympus. All that stood between them and Hermione now was the black mouth of a cave.

'The Drakon's lair. We made it!' said Ron, collecting his breath.

'Do you think ve are too late?' said Krum, wiping perspiration from his brow.

'That's not an option,' said Harry flatly, his wand firm in his fist.

~ End Of Her Line ~

Hermione kept walking...and walking...and walking. All she could hear, see, or think about, was Lucius' words:

'I order you to walk into the Drakon Wood, and to not stop walking until you reach the Drakon's lair. When you reach it, go inside…and never come back.'

'And never come back,' Hermione repeated aloud, as if to convince herself why she should keep going. Somewhere, deep inside, she felt the urge to turn back; to run, for danger was about to strike. But, regretfully, Hermione couldn't hold onto this feeling. She couldn't make her body do what she wanted it to do.

'And never come back,' she said again, over and over.

A pair of yellow eyes watched her every move. Obscured in the shadows, the Drakon growled, incensed to see this intruder so carelessly wondering its territory. It let out a piercing, ancient roar that shook the very earth. Hermione tripped and fell, slamming her head against the ground. Lucius' words started to fade.

A/N: Thanks everyone! Had some great feedback this time round. Don't stop now, I've got lot's more on the way… :)

-->

20. The Drakon's Lair & In Deep

'She'll come running into my arms, not yours!'

~ The Drakon's Lair ~

'How do we know if she's in there, though?'

'Vot if she vent through von of the other passages?'

'I think she's in there!'

'But how can we be sure?'

'We're wasting time!'

The Drakon's roar, distant but powerful, rippled out from cave and into the forest, knocking Harry, Ron, Malfoy and Krum dead in their tracks. They stopped arguing.

'Do...do you think that was the Drakon?' said Ron, more then a little panicked.

'No, it vas the vind,' said Krum sarcastically.

'It's the Drakon, all right,' said Malfoy. 'And something's stirred it.' Ron gulped.

'Just our luck!'

Another sound echoed from within the cave; not as distinct as the Drakon, but it could be heard nonetheless. It was the sound of a girl screaming.

'HERMIONE!' Harry cried, his heart in his throat. 'That was Hermione! She's still alive!'

'And I vill rescue her!' Krum announced, charging gallantly into the cave. 'I AM COMING, HERMOWNINNY!'

'Truce is off, gentlemen!' said Malfoy, glowering wickedly at Harry and Ron. 'Hermione's MINE!'

Malfoy charged into the cave after Krum.

'Bloody hell!' said Ron despondently. 'It's the Aphora Bewitching Potion all over again! We better follow them, Harry!'

'Hang on! Take my backpack first.'

Harry unbridled his backpack and handed it Ron, who brutally shook his head.

'Harry, we don't have time - '

'You have to Ron! You have to find a way! The book and the flask are all in there.'

'Harry, NO! I can't do the ritual!'

'Yes you can, Ron! Hermione has to be cured, and you're the one to do it. If she stays in love with Malfoy, she'll go to him and he's not safe! He has relapse!'

'Oh, and you don't?' said Ron, raising an eyebrow questioningly.

'You know what I mean!' said Harry, annoyed. This wasn't the time or place to discuss the 'did-he-or-didn't-he-have-relapse' issue.

'But, Harry! How am I gonna…? How are you - HARRY!'

Unable to be at a standstill any longer, Harry spurted forth into the cave. There was no way he was going to allow Krum, or especially Malfoy, reach Hermione before he did.

'HOW AM I GONNA GET TO THE TOP OF MOUNT OLYMPUS, HARRY!' Ron bellowed to Harry's back. 'WE NEVER THOUGHT THAT THROUGH!'

'YOU'LL THINK OF SOMETHING, I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!' Harry yelled as he ran. 'I'LL BRING HER BACK!'

Ron clasped at his hair, fearing for his mental health yet again. Pacing the ground aimlessly, he peered up towards the unreachable peak of Mount Olympus, and couldn't remember ever feeling more futile in his life. 'What does he expect me to do? Levitate up?'

~ In Deep ~

Harry raced through the cave, as fast as he could. One thought drummed incessantly in his head; energising him, driving him faster: Hermione, Hermione, find Hermione! But the further he went, the darker his surroundings became. Daylight was far beyond him now. The ground was rocky and jagged beneath his feet, and Harry did his best not to crash and fall in the darkness. He could hear Malfoy and Krum's dogged footsteps booming up ahead. If only he could see...

'Lumos!'

Harry's wand sparked alight, but it was too dim. He could only see a foot ahead; beyond this, for all he knew, was nothing but a gaping, black hole. He may as well be blind. Hermione's alive, Hermione's alive he affirmed to himself. Taking a strong breath and stretching his arm out further, Harry picked up his run, taking his chances at being blind. Then -

Krum screamed.

Then Malfoy.

Harry didn't stop running.

Then -

'AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!'

It was like a rug had been pulled from under his feet. One minute the ground was there - then it wasn't! To his absolute horror, Harry was dropping helplessly into blackness, when - SPLASH!

He landed in cold water, sinking into it like a weight. Submerged, it took a moment to recollect himself, to realise he was underwater and therefore, unable to breath. On that note, Harry briskly kicked his legs and swum to the surface. Where was he now? He couldn't see. It was still too dark.

'Look what you've done you Bulgarian BONEHEAD! You led me right of the edge of a cliff!' resonated Malfoy's voice from some where to Harry's right.

'Vot did you call me?' he heard Krum say in spite, coming from the same area.

'Lumos!'

Harry re-lit his wand. Malfoy and Krum's heads shone into view, bobbing like corks in the water close by. Both looked thoroughly wet and disgruntled. Then, casting his wand over his head like a torch, Harry made out they were now enclosed in some kind of grotto.

'Well, if it isn't Potter!' scorned Malfoy, looming towards Harry like an oncoming shark fin. 'What's the point of you being here? She'll come running into my arms, not yours! She's still on my love potion, remember?'

'Nice to see you back to your old self, Malfoy,' Harry sneered.

'Lumos!'

Krum's wand lit up.

'Ve are trapped!' he said, paddling around in circles. 'The vater is too deep and there is no landing! Ve must get out of here or ve vill drown!'

'And anyway, Potter,' continued Malfoy, ignoring Krum. He'd been 'playing nice' with Harry for two days and now, with the truce over, was ready to speak his mind at last. 'You were the one who wrote that letter! Oh, and by the way, I forgot to give you this in return - SMACK!'

Malfoy swerved a punch, knocking Harry hard in the right cheekbone.

'That's for getting me locked in a cage!'

Scowling, and rubbing his now bruised cheek, Harry thrust his wand at Malfoy's face. 'Watch it, Malfoy!'

'Hermione's going to hate you more then ever now!' Malfoy spat mockingly. 'You're the reason she's here! If it weren't for you, my father wouldn't have kidnapped her!'

'Shut up!' Harry warned, his anger simmering.

'Some noble hero you turned out to be! If she dies, it's going to be all your fault! How will you live with yourself, Potter? May I suggest a good drowning?'

Harry reached boiling point.

'I SAID SHUT UP!'

Quickly saying 'Nox!', Harry shoved his un-lit wand into his pocket. He didn't want to use his wand to fight - he wanted to use his bare fists.

'GET OFF ME!' Malfoy shouted.

Burning with rage, Harry swum over to Malfoy and trapped him in a smothering head-lock.

'You're the one who put Hermione on a love potion to make her fall in love with you!'

'So?' Malfoy snapped, managing to bite Harry's arm. Harry wailed in pain and let go. 'You did the real damage! You got my father involved!'

Harry swum at Malfoy again, but this time, Malfoy got the better of him. He hiked himself on top of Harry's shoulders, forcing him underwater. Harry splashed and struggled in panic, until he struck an elbow to Malfoy's shin. Malfoy wrenched back. Harry sprung to the surface, flicking his wet hair, and locked his hands around Malfoy's neck.

'Going to kill me, are you?' said Malfoy in a strangled voice. 'Really, how noble of you. I'm sure Hermione would approve! Maybe you should take me up on that drowning suggestion, Potter? Killing yourself would make us all a lot happier!'

'Eat fist, Malfoy - SMACK!'

Harry chucked a successful blow, striking Malfoy in the nose.

'My nose!' Malfoy cried nasally, cupping his face.

Krum provided a momentary distraction.

'I found a vary out!'

'What?' said Harry.

'A way out?' said Malfoy, flaring his bloodied nostrils.

But it was too late for explanations. Krum disappeared beneath the water and didn't return. Malfoy gave Harry one last hit in the head, and dived in after him. He didn't return either. Harry, dazed for the minute, and nursing another bruised cheekbone, was left with no other option. He lit his wand again, sucked in a deep breath, and plummeted into the dark, mysterious waters below.

The hunt for Hermione was back on.

-->

21. Ron Learns To Fly & The Drakon

'I still hate you for what you did.'

'I hate me to for what I did too!'

~ Ron Learns To Fly ~

`Wingardium Leviosa!'

Meanwhile, Ron was still faced with the impossible task of reaching the top of Mount Olympus. Unfortunately, his attempt to levitate himself was not going according to plan, and he had a recurring problem of crash landing on his backside every time he rose a metre.

'This is so dumb!' he huffed, landing on his bum for what must have been the twentieth time. 'I'll never get to the top of this stupid mountain!'

Ron threw his wand down to the dirt in frustration, staring up hatefully at the mountain rising before him. He felt so incredibly dwarfed and insignificant beneath it. In fact, he couldn't even see the actual peak from his position. It was so high, it was veiled by cloud.

'Strange human!' said a voice.

'Strange, strange human!' said another.

'Very strange!' said a third. 'Humans are not meant to fly. If they were, they would have been born with wings. Silly human!'

'Silly, silly human!'

It was the Wood Pixies. They'd been watching Ron from a near by plane tree - and with much amusement.

'Do you three mind?' said Ron, spying them all perched neatly on a tree branch. 'I'm trying to concentrate here! And what you are doing following me, anyway? I haven't got any more socks!'

'We are curious, human. Why is it that you want to fly up Mount Olympus?' asked Scat.

'Because,' Ron started to explain, as though it were obvious, 'I need to perform a ritual to make counter-potion to save my friend from being in love with the world's largest prat, and the only way I can achieve any of this is from the top of this mountain! That's WHY!'

'Human is angry,' observed Scat.

'Human is very, very angry,' said Dew.

'Most angry indeed,' said Nut. 'Human was kind to give us his socks...'

'Yes, very kind...' agreed Dew.

'I told you!' said Ron, red in the face. 'I don't have any more socks! Two feet is all I have so shove off! I have to concentrate.'

Ron turned his back on them.

'Human will never fly to the top of this mountain,' said Scat with a sad sigh.

'Never ever,' said Dew, shaking her head. 'He could use our help.'

'Yes,' said Nut. 'All he has to do is ask.'

Upon hearing this, Ron turned back towards them.

'You guys can get me to the top?' he said, though not sure if they were completely trustworthy. 'How?'

'We can get you do the top,' said Dew. 'If...'

'If what?'

'You give us your underpants.'

'My...WHAT?'

'Underpants would keep awhole family of Wood Pixies warm!'

'And snug!' added Nut.

Ron cringed.

'So you're telling me, if I give you my...' he cringed even more, '…under-thingos...you'll get me to the top of this mountain?'

The Pixie's nodded greedily.

'And you swear you can get me to the top?'

Again, they nodded.

'Right then,' Ron resolved. He'd never been asked a stranger request, but knowing the nature of the Wood Pixies, he could see why underpants would be a step up from socks. 'You all better face the other way then.'

'Face the other way?' said Scat, confused. 'Why does human want us to face the other way?'

'I've got to take them off, don't I!' said Ron blatantly, at which pretty Dew burst into high-pitched giggles. Ron turned scarlet with embarrassment. 'And no peeking!' he warned, as the Pixies turned their winged backs on him. Double checking to make sure they couldn't see him, Ron began to undo his belt while muttering, 'they'll bloody want my shirt next! I'll end up performing the bloody ritual in the nud!'

After Ron removed what was necessary, he did up his trousers, signaled for the Pixies to turn back round, and throttled his two-day old underpants towards their tree. They caught the underpants and clung onto them like uncovered treasure. 'Oh, thank you good human!' said Scat rapturously. 'You are most charitable!'

'Very charitable!' said Nut, overwhelmed with joy.

'So?' said Ron with expectation, while feeling noticeably 'loose' down below. 'Let's get on with it then!'

The Pixies congregated together and flew over to Ron.

'Steady yourself, human,' said Scat. `We are going to be your wings!'

~ The Drakon ~

Harry dived underwater for what felt like an eternity. He couldn't see Krum or Malfoy any more. Had he missed them? Did they make a turn without Harry seeing? Harry figured he'd better to swim back. He couldn't hold his breath for much longer, and the water pressure was giving him a headache. But then, finally, Harry saw a way out. There was a small pothole in the rock-face just below, with a faint light emanating in from the other side. Plunging deeper, Harry dived and launched through the opening.

Light.

The space around Harry was no longer dark. He found himself swimming in what appeared to be an oval-shaped swimming pool. The ground and walls were patterned with brightly coloured tiles, and Harry fancied he'd glimpsed the image of a mosaic snake-like creature in the pool's centre, before kicking up to the surface.

'Guuuuh!' Harry gasped for air, filling his lungs. He'd never been so happy to breathe! Exhausted, he hauled himself out of the pool and laid flat on his back, panting. Then, pushing his sodden hair from his eyes, he staggered upright to survey where he was.

The pool led off to a cavernous, circular hall. Harry walked to the middle, his clothes making sloshing, wet sounds with each step. It was like being in a forgotten, underground Greek temple. Studying the area, Harry felt very minute under the hall's cathedral-high ceiling and towering marble pillars. Torches of purple fire lined the walls, as well as four enormous, open doors: one straight ahead, one behind him, and two others squaring off left and right. Looking down at his feet, Harry noticed a four-point compass gilded in the salmon marble floor. According to the compass, he was currently facing north.

The place was deserted. There were no signs of Malfoy or Krum. Then…Harry heard footsteps from afar, accompanied by shallow breathing. He had only just thought of her again when -

'HERMIONE!'

Harry's voice echoed loudly through the hall, so that he heard himself say `HERMIONE!' more then once, in ghostly, fading repetitions. She'd darted out from the western doorway, to Harry's left. Such a relief poured over him, to see her in the flesh after what felt like so long, that he weakened at the knees and almost stumbled sideways. Though, at the same time, his heart broke at the state of her. As she stared at him, Harry saw leaves tangled in her bushy hair, ripped holes in her robes, and dried blood on her knees and forehead. She was a sorry sight.

'What are you doing here?' she said, astonished and out of breath.

'Hermione, you're hurt!' said Harry, rushing towards her. 'Please...'

He reached out, wanting nothing more then to comfort her, but Hermione backed away, as if he were poisonous.

'Stay back, Harry,' she warned. 'I still hate you for what you did.'

'I hate me for what I did too!' said Harry, his heart swelling. He couldn't help it. The more he looked at Hermione, the more he was overcome with emotion; happiness that she was okay, sadness that he was still causing her pain; but most of all, as he told her, Harry felt hate. He felt hate towards himself for playing a hand in putting her in so much danger.

'Hermione, if I lost you I...I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry!'

Hermione didn't budge.

'Please trust me, Hermione,' Harry begged, until another thought struck him. 'Wait a minute, why aren't you hypnotised?'

'I fell over and hit my head,' Hermione replied frankly. 'It knocked me out of it.'

That was one problem out of the way at least, Harry thought, but another more serious problem remained.

'Are you still in love with Malfoy?' he asked with dread.

In the same frank voice, Hermione answered, 'yes.'

Harry could see Hermione shaking now, on the verge of eruption. She couldn't contain her own emotions any longer.

'Harry, how could you tell Lucius!' she cried suddenly, tears sparkling in her eyes. 'He forced me to come here! The Drakon almost burnt me to death! It's like a maze in this place, everything looks the same! I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE!'

'I'M SORRY!' cried Harry, nearing tears himself. 'And I'll spend the rest of my life saying sorry to you if that what it takes! But you're not alone any more. I'm going to help you out of here, right now!'

'NO! Stay away from me, Harry - AAHH!'

Harry seized Hermione from the fire in the nick of time. The Drakon had discovered them; Harry saw in horror as its purple lizard-like head reared in through the western door, blocking the passage. Sliding ever closer, it opened it jaws wide and hissed, revealing two sharp, glistening fangs. Harry grabbed Hermione by the arm.

'COME ON! WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!'

With Hermione in tow, Harry accelerated for the eastern doorway opposite and sprinted through what was turning into another cave. Hermione, despite the approaching danger, tried to tear herself from Harry grasp.

'What are you doing?' he said, halting and tugging her back. She was being completely irrational.

In the distance, the Drakon growled. It was coming through the door...

'I'm not going anywhere with you, Harry! Let me go of my arm!'

'Hermione, NO!'

Drawing closer, the Drakon let loose a deafening, ear-splitting roar. Harry and Hermione shrunk to the ground, covering their ears. It was too close now. They couldn't afford to waste any more time.

'Right, that's it!'

Gripping both her wrists, Harry whipped Hermione towards him, bent down and swung her over his shoulder. She was not impressed.

'PUT ME DOWN, HARRY!' she protested furiously, but Harry paid her little attention. He was running at high speed through the cave, although moving with Hermione on top of him tended to slow things up a bit.

'Stop kicking me! OUCH!' he complained, but kept running.

Harry hoped with all his being this cave led to an escape. Yes! he thought in triumph. Straight ahead was another huge door - a closed door, but there was a lever on the wall that looked handy. With Hermione balanced over his shoulder, Harry charged for it and, with all the arm strength he possessed, forced the lever down. There was a clank of metal chains as the door steadily descended like a drawbridge.

'Oh no!' came Hermione's scared voice.

Harry turned to see, but immediately wished he hadn't. The Drakon had arrived, growling and snorting angrily. It's yellow eyes leered and glowed; its jaws were opening again, its breath hot and steaming, ready to fire.

'GO GO GO!' Hermione demanded, clawing handfuls of Harry's red robe.

The heat from the fire was intense. Luckily, Harry escaped the flames by nimbly crossing through the half-open door, just in time to push the lever up on the other side, sealing it shut. They were safe - for now, at least. Harry then realised where they had ended up.

'Wow,' he said in awe.

They were in another round, high-ceilinged hall with marble pillars; but what was particularly distinct about this room however, was it contained mountains and mountains of treasure! Gold, silver, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, golden Greek statues and treasure chests bursting with all kinds of jewels, riches and coins. So this was the Drakon's famous treasure.

'OUCH!' said Harry to Hermione. She was still giving him problems. 'I said stop kicking!'

'AND I SAID PUT ME DOWN!'

Then, stirring from behind a pile of gold knuts, and wearing a jewel encrusted crown, 'Hermione? Is that you?'

'DRACO!' Hermione called out, forcing herself off Harry and dashing towards Malfoy with open arms.

'HERMIONE, NO!' Harry called after her. 'STAY AWAY FROM HIM!'

'Stay out of it, Potter!' said Malfoy, pushing Harry back as Hermione threw her arms around him.

'Oh, Draco!' she pined, hugging him. 'I knew you'd come for me!'

'I course I came for you! How about giving me a thank you kiss?' Malfoy winked proudly at Harry, who very much fancied giving him another punch in the nose.

'Wait,' said Hermione strangely, drawing back. 'What are you wearing that crown for? Have you been collecting treasure, Draco?'

'Absolutely!' said Malfoy, without a shred of remorse. 'I'd be a fool not too. I mean, look at all this!' He motioned around the room.

Harry's heart jumped as he noticed Hermione becoming angry. Perhaps there was some sense in her after all. 'I thought you came here to rescue me, but instead I find you filling your greedy pockets with gold?'

'Hermione!' said Malfoy, sounding a little worried now. 'I accidentally found this room. I was going to start looking for you as soon as I was done, I swear!'

'Gee Malfoy, even love potion relapse doesn't stop you from being a selfish git,' noted Harry. Malfoy glowered at him.

'Oh, shut up Pott - '

BANG…!

BANG…!

The noise thundered from behind the door.

BANG…!

BANG…!

Malfoy froze solid with fear. Harry moved closer to Hermione. 'Is that the - '

'It's breaking through - '

'GET DOWN!'

They dropped to the floor. The door shattered and flew apart in a mass of splintered wood. The Drakon spat and shot into the room, even more infuriated then before, finding meddlers amongst its guarded treasure. Slowly, it raised its head high, up to the ceiling, revealing the full extent of its uncoiled, serpent body. It was huge like this, much bigger then Harry had previously thought. They must have looked like insects sprawled on the ground.

'QUICK!' said Harry, on his feet. 'We have to move! Before it let's off another round!'

But the Drakon had the slit of its yellow eye fixed firmly on Malfoy - or rather, the crown he was wearing. Hissing, it veered towards him.

'AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!' Malfoy screamed in terror; and, without removing his crown or the knuts in his pockets, escaped through the shattered door with the Drakon hot on his tail.

'DRACO!' Hermione cried, loosing her senses again, and went to chase after him. Harry snatched her arm and hauled her back.

'Hermione, STOP! He's not worth it!'

'You heard what he said! He accidentally found this room! He did intend to rescue me!'

But even Hermione didn't sound as if she believed this; her common sense and the Aphora Bewitching Potion were at odds with each other. Determined to make her see reason, Harry spun her around; then, clasping the sides of shoulders, he stared deep in her eyes, searching for the old Hermione he knew was fighting to emerge - the common sense Hermione.

'Let it go, Hermione. You don't love Malfoy, it's all a potion!'

'Don't say that!' Hermione was tearful, battling with herself. 'He loves me, and I love him!'

'HARRY POTTER!'

A teeny voice called from above. Harry looked up, and was astounded to see the three Wood Pixies he'd met in the Drakon Wood. He was even more astounded to see one of them carrying a familiar looking flask...

'What are you doing here?' Harry called up, while keeping a hold of Hermione. 'And how do you know my name?'

'We were informed!' said Dew.

'Yes, much informed!' said Nut.

'We come with potion remedy!' said Scat, the one bearing the flask. 'From your human friend Don!'

Harry smiled. 'Er, you mean Ron, right?'

'Yes! Human friend Ron!'

Scat dropped the flask and Harry caught it in one hand. He was elated to find it was filled with a pale pink liquid. He did it! Harry thought joyously. Ron made the counter-potion!

'We must go now!' said Scat, flying higher.

'Yes,' said Nut, also flying higher. 'It is not wise to linger in the Drakon's lair. Goodbye, Harry Potter!'

The Pixies zoomed away, out of sight.

'Potion remedy?' said Hermione, eyeing the flask in Harry's hand with fear. Realising what this meant, Hermione struggled more fervently. 'I'M NOT DRINKING IT, HARRY!'

Harry wheeled himself behind her, binding his arms across her arms and waist.

'Oh yes you are!' he said strongly. 'Trust me, Hermione, you'll thank me later.' Harry managed to wrench the cork off the top of the flask with his teeth, before pushing it against Hermione's mouth. He hated being so rough with her, but it was the only way. One drop he told himself. One drop and she's cured! He tipped the flask, making her take a sip. She muffled a scream, but it worked. He got some in her mouth. Harry fastened his hand over her lips so she'd swallow, and hung onto her for a moment or two. Her struggling waned, little by little, until...

'Where...? Where am I? What's happening?'

Harry freed her from his arms. Hermione turned around, feeling light-headed, like waking from a long night's sleep.

'Hermione?' said Harry hopefully, looking at her as if it were for the first time. 'Is it really you?'

'I believe so,' said Hermione, rubbing her forehead, before saying in surprise, 'Harry, you're all wet! And how did you get those nasty bruises on your face?'

Harry laughed. It was Hermione all right! Feeling so happy that he might float up off the ground, Harry pulled her towards him in a hug - and this time, she didn't back away.

'I've missed you so much!' said Harry, hugging her tight and speaking into her hair. 'I'm so sorry for everything, Hermione! Can you ever forgive me?'

Hermione was very confused.

'Harry, what are talking about? Forgive you for what? You're not making - AH!' Hermione yelped as Harry lifted her up and started spinning her around. 'Harry!' she giggled.'What's gotten into you? And why are we surrounded by treasure?'

'We're at the Annual Drakon Hunt.'

'What!' said Hermione in shock. 'Why? How?'

'I'll explain later,' he said, resting her down. 'But first, you have to tell me something: are you in love with Malfoy?'

Hermione scrunched her nose, as if she'd smelt something horribly foul.

'Are you trying to be funny, Harry? I wouldn't love Malfoy if he were the last thing in existence! And besides, I love - '

Hermione instinctively cut herself off. Memories were flashing before her eyes, difficult to grasp. The first memory she could distinguish was Malfoy, and how he'd taken her into Snape's laboratory and injected her with his Aphora Bewitching Potion. The memory alone was enough to make her sick to the stomach. And then, before any of this had happened, how she'd fallen in love with the wet, green-eyed boy standing in front of her.

'I remember now,' said Hermione in a small voice, gathering more memories with each second. 'My Potions book. In the library that day...you told me I was beautiful. We nearly kissed.'

Harry gulped rather loudly.

'Then...you must feel the same way about me? As I feel about you?'

As Harry saw her face shine with anticipation, and her hands in prayer over her heart, he wanted nothing more then to say 'yes!'. To tell her felt exactly the same. To end this right here, right now. But he couldn't. He still didn't believe Ron. You have relapse, Harry. You can't lie to her!

'I - ' Harry attempted to say, but the words were stuck in his throat.

'Harry, I love you!'

'Hermione - '

'I don't know for how long. It feels like forever. But you need to know - '

'I don't love you, Hermione.'

His words seemed to physically wound her. Her body spasmed, and she took a step backwards. Harry could hardly believe what he was making himself say.

'I mean, even if I feel...even though I am feeling...I can't love you! I have love potion relapse. Do you know what that is?'

Hermione remembered even more. Like a scattered jigsaw puzzle, it was all beginning to piece together. She remembered Ginny. Ginny had love potion relapse, meaning she was still intoxicated by a previous Aphora Bewitching Potion. Harry had relapse as well, but from her Aphora Bewitching Potion. So did Malfoy. That's why he wanted her to fall in love with him. Hermione remembered running up the stairs of Snape's laboratory, before Malfoy's Potion took effect, and telling Harry she loved him in the Great Hall; even though she knew Harry couldn't possibly love her in return.

'Hermione?' said Harry, worried as he watched her recount her memories.

'I know, Harry,' said Hermione tonelessly. 'I know what love potion relapse is. I remember now...I already knew you had it. I told you I loved you in the Great Hall that day, because...' Hermione bit her lip, holding back her tears, '...because I knew I'd soon be in love with Malfoy. I wanted you to know before that happened.'

Harry's soul was crumbling. 'I'm so sorry, Hermione,' he whispered.

Hermione wiped her eyes and smiled weakly. 'It's fine, Harry! Really…'

'No, it's not fine!' said Harry at once, unable to hold back any longer. Even if it wasn't real, even if it was only relapse, he couldn't deny her. He didn't want to be the cause of any more pain. 'Hermione, I really, really feel like I'm in love with you!'

'Harry, please don't,' said Hermione in a fragile voice.

'Maybe I don't need to be cured?' he went on, finding it hard to control himself now. 'Why can't I live with this relapse thing?'

'No, Harry!' said Hermione severely. 'You can't, you'd be living a lie!'

'I don't care if it's lie!' Harry fumed. 'Hermione,' he edged closer to her, 'the way I feel about you...it's so real and I can't switch it off!'

'It's okay, Harry,' said Hermione, talking to him as though he were coming down with a fever. 'When we go back to Hogwarts, they'll be able to stop whatever you're feeling.'

'I don't want to stop it!' said Harry stubbornly, before admitting in a soft, tender voice, 'I like the way I feel.'

Harry and Hermione stared pleadingly into each other's eyes, torn between duel desires to pull back…or give in. Harry, drowning and enslaved to his feelings, gave up and gently kissed her. Hermione let their lips touch for a second, almost giving in herself, but then suddenly pulled away.

'Harry, no!' she sobbed. 'Please don't! I can't...I wo - won't help you lie to yourself! Or m - me. You'll be cured, Harry. You have to be - '

Hermione's eyes shot from Harry's face to behind his shoulder, horror-struck.

'HARRY, WATCH OUT!'

A/N: And so begins Harry and Hermione trying to be together…again! Plus my biggest cliffy yet. Very happy with this chapter, hope you guys enjoyed (and are in much suspense).

-->

22. Up In Flames & The Reward

'He...he did make it? Right?'

~ Up In Flames ~

It all happened so quickly.

The Drakon returned. On instinct, Harry and Hermione threw each other out of harms way. Then, landing on the floor, Hermione saw Harry from across the room, holding a piece of treasure over his head and leading the Drakon in the other direction - away from her. 'HARRY!' she called out. The Drakon was closing in on him…trapping him. Hermione screamed as Harry vanished behind a wall of flames. She called his name distraughtly, again and again, but there was no response. Standing, and about to run in search for his whereabouts, Hermione's path was blocked by a sudden WOOSH! of fire. She flung back. The Drakon advanced towards her. Hermione had no choice but to run the other way and out the door.

'HARRY!' she screamed shrilly, forced to run in the one direction she didn't want to be heading. She wanted to go back to Harry…she needed to know if he was okay. The Drakon breathed another wave of fire, driving her out. 'HARRY ANSWER ME!'

Hermione bolted out of the treasure room and back into the cave - the same way she and Harry had traveled through before. She was about to re-enter the previous hall with the four-point compass when she blindly rammed into someone.

'HERMIONE!' It was Charlie Weasley. 'Thank Merlin! Hurry, this way!'

Hermione was stunned. Seeing Charlie Weasley so unexpectedly, and in the midst of running for her life from a fire-breathing dragon…it felt like she was dreaming. With little time for the usual, polite `hello, how are you?', Charlie gripped hold of Hermione's hand and steared her into the hall where a group of five wizards and witches were waiting; none of which Hermione recognised, though all looked happy and relieved to see her.

'Thomas, Hilary, quick!' beckoned Charlie. The wizard and witch named Thomas and Hillary came over immediately. 'Take Hermione outside with the others.'

Coming back to reality, and realising Charlie had obviously come to rescue her and take her away, Hermione planted her feet firmly to the ground. She wasn't going to leave. She couldn't possibly. Her heart was back in the treasure room.

'HARRY!' she cried out desperately, on the edge of hysteria. 'HARRY! He - the Drakon - I HAVE TO GO! I HAVE TO HELP HIM!'

Hermione went to run the way they'd came, but Charlie wouldn't allow it.

'Calm down, calm down!' he said, though Hermione was anything but calm. 'Where did you see Harry last?'

'The treasure room! In there!' she pointed. 'Harry - he - ,' she could barely bring herself to say what had happened. 'HE - '

'It'll be all right, Hermione,' said Charlie consolingly, resting a hand on her shoulder. 'We'll find him, don't worry.'

'I...I have to go with you! I have to save Harry!'

'No!' Charlie affirmed. 'Hermione, you must go outside where it's safe. I'll save Harry, I promise.'

Hermione's watched helplessly as Charlie, armed with his wand, bolted into the cave and headed for the treasure room, followed by a selection of his comrades.

~ The Reward ~

The wizard and witch, Thomas and Hilary (who, like Charlie, were Guardians at the Hunt) escorted Hermione outside, taking her a different a route to what Harry and the others had taken when they arrived. It was nearing the evening; the sky was in a state of limbo between afternoon and night. What really grabbed Hermione's attention, however, was the appearance of so many people. Wizards and witches were busying themselves every where beneath the trees. Some were Mediwizards, others Drakon Hunt Officials. Then, without warning, a hoard of reporters, all yelling 'Miss Granger!', stampeded towards her, carrying notebooks and quills.

'Miss Granger!' said one reporter. 'How does it feel to be a missing person?'

'Miss Granger!' said another. 'Is the rumour true? Were you hypnotised and brought here against your will?'

'MISS GRANGER!' insisted a third. 'What compelled you to run away from Hogwarts in the first place?'

'MISS GRANGER!' attacked a fourth. 'Did you find any treasure while you were in there?'

Thomas and Hilary protected her, repeating the words 'no comment'. Then, to Hermione's complete surprise, someone she knew very well barged his way onto the scene.

'Get out of it! Go on, move! Let her through! Stop taking pictures! You're all GITS!'

Ron, who had a blanket wrapped around him, grabbed Hermione by her robes and pulled her to where the Mediwizards had congregated. Fortunately, the reporters were forbidden from this area.

'Ron?' said Hermione, who couldn't help smiling. 'I didn't know you - '

But before she could say another word, Ron smothered her in a hug! This was very unlike him. Hermione always hugged Ron but Ron never hugged her.

'You're alive!' he said, emotional. 'You're really alive!'

Then, letting her go, Ron proceeded to speak at an amazingly rapid pace. 'I knew it was Lucius! Professor McGonagall knew too! Harry figured out you were here! I helped of course, so did Fred and George! We used Snape's Portkey! Percy saw you come! We had to be friends with Malfoy! Trekked through the Drakon Wood all night, hardly any sleep! Pixies took my underpants!' He was having difficultly slowing down. 'You - you're - it - YOU'RE ALIVE!' And he hugged her tightly - again.

'Ron!' muffled Hermione, her face squashed against his chest. 'I'm happy to see you too but you're sort of hurting me...'

Ron immediately let go, and was suddenly rather embarrassed. 'Oh, sorry about that. Guess I got a bit carried away. You don't have any serious injuries do you?'

'No,' said Hermione, shaking her head. 'Only some cuts and a headache. Nothing that can't be fixed.'

'And you don't love Malfoy?'

Again, Hermione shook her head. 'Far from it.'

This news was so wonderful, Ron imposed her with another hug!

'Ron!'

'Sorry, sorry!' he said, and released her once more. 'So, where's Harry? They saved Malfoy.' He said this in a disgusted groan. 'They should've left him in there. Oh, and please tell me Harry was the first to find you, 'cause I couldn't stand it if Malfoy got the - '

Hermione burst into tears. She'd been so pleased to see Ron, but the very mention of Harry, and realising Ron didn't know, reignited her despair. Ron didn't need to ask why she was crying.

'He...he did make it? Right?'

'I don't know!' Hermione sniffed. 'Charlie's looking for him n - now. Harry saved me from the Drakon, but I lo - lost him after that! I had to run away! It's all m - my fault if he - '

'That's not true, Hermione!' Ron quickly intercepted, maintaining a brave face. 'And anyway, like you said, Charlie's looking for him. And if anyone can find Harry it's Charlie! He's a really good Guardian.'

While struggling with her concern, a very unwelcome voice stained the air. He was conversing with the reporters.

'So, Draco Malfoy. You claim you were the first person to find Hermione Granger?'

'That's right,' Malfoy confirmed, rapt in the attention. 'I was the first to discover her. In fact, Harry Potter and Viktor Krum were more concerned with finding the Drakon's treasure. I even caught Harry in the treasure room, taking treasure for his own use, while poor Hermione was - '

SMACK!

After listening to Malfoy's account of events, Hermione was so appalled she stomped over and punched him right between the eyes! Malfoy fell backwards on the impact.

'HOW DARE YOU!' Hermione roared, quivering with anger. 'You were the one taking treasure, Malfoy! Harry found me first!'

Photographers swarmed in on Hermione and Malfoy like hornets, hoping to snap some action shots.

'What's that, Miss Granger?' said a reporter with a notebook. 'You claim Harry Potter found you first?'

'Hermione!' spluttered Malfoy, gawking stupidly at her. 'What did you do that for?'

'Your potion has worn off, Malfoy. I'm back to finding you repulsive. And with good reason!'

'No!' said Malfoy unbelievingly, on his feet again. 'You can't - '

SMACK!

Before Malfoy could finish, Ron took a punch at him too! Right in the nose, where Harry had injured him from before. Malfoy wailed and fell backwards for a second time.

'YOU LYING SCUM!' blazed Ron. 'Trying to get your dirty hands on Harry's reward!'

Hermione looked at Ron quizzically. 'Reward?'

'WE GOT 'EM!'

Charlie Weasley was back, leading the other three Guardians outside, along with two levitating hospital stretchers. Hermione and Ron sprang over to see if -

'Viktor!' gasped Hermione, standing over the first stretcher. Krum peered up at her deliriously with glassy eyes.

'Her - Hermowninny?'

'Oh yeah, I forgot about Krum,' said Ron guiltily. Krum peered up at him as well.

'Ron-hold?'

'Er, yeah. Hi Krum.'

Krum looked back to Hermione. 'Hermowninny! I vas vondering...do you vant to go to the Annual Drakon Hunt vith me?'

'We are at the Hunt, you knob!' said Ron, and whispered to Hermione, 'I think he's lost his marbles.'

'And then,' Krum continued, 'get married?'

'Yep, gone mental,' Ron diagnosed.

'Move out of the way, kids!' bustled a Mediwizard. 'This one's got a bad head injury.' Ron chuckled.

'See? Told you!'

Then, in a tired voice from the stretcher behind them...

'Hermione? Ron?'

They spun around.

'HARRY!'

Harry was indeed, lying in the other stretcher. While he appeared very frail, he was, nevertheless, clearly alive and in one piece.

'How are you feeling, mate?' asked Ron, smiling from ear to ear.

'A few notches down from fine,' winced Harry, managing a small smile. 'You?'

'A few notches up for me, actually.'

Harry shifted his attention to Hermione. 'You got out,' he beamed. 'I was worried about you...'

'I was worried about you, too,' said Hermione, teary again, but this time with happiness.

A Mediwizard took charge of Harry's stretcher, and told Ron and Hermione they could see Harry later. Harry was then levitated to an ambulance near by.

'I knew Charlie would find Harry!' said Ron, still grinning. 'Now Harry can collect his reward!'

'What reward?' said Hermione, wiping the 'happy' tears from her face. 'What are you talking about, Ron?'

'Hermione, you're a missing person! I mean, you were a missing person. That means whoever finds you gets a thousand galleons!'

A/N: Next chappie, back to Hogwarts :)

-->

23. Return & The End Of The Relapsed Affair?

PART III. HOGWARTS

'Wait!'

~ Return ~

Shortly after Harry was rescued, Hermione was taken to a separate ambulance to be treated for her injuries. Then, by order of Albus Dumbledore, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Malfoy, Fred and George were to return to Hogwarts using a Portkey provided. Viktor Krum was also ordered to return to Bulgaria. Hermione now found herself in the Hogwarts hospital wing, sitting close to Harry's bedside - as she'd done in his dreams. Madame Pomfrey told her to stop on three occasions, insisting she go back to her own bed. But Hermione kept returning. Now Harry started to worry about her.

'Hermione, I'll be fine! Go get some rest. You don't have to watch over me.'

'I know I don't,' she said shrewdly, wearing a blue dressing gown. 'But as you can see, Harry, I'm still here. Besides, I'm not that injured. Madame Pomfrey's making too much of a fuss.'

'But you need sleep,' Harry told her with an urgent voice. 'You haven't had any for days.'

'Well, technically, being hypnotised has the same effect as sleep does. I feel thoroughly rested!'

Harry smiled at yet another 'Hermione knows everything' moment. 'I guess that's something. Is Malfoy still unconscious?'

'I'm pretty certain,' said Hermione. 'He's down the other end of the wing with his tongue lolling out. I think his confrontation with the Drakon and not receiving the reward has officially exhausted him.'

'Hope he stays like that 'til the end of term.'

'Me too.'

Harry and Hermione laughed for a moment, until they caught each other's gaze. Both set's of eyes spoke of longing and repressed feelings, for Harry had not yet been cured of love potion relapse.

'Harry,' said Hermione, in a somewhat sorrowful voice. 'I feel really awful about running away and leaving you in the Drakon's lair.'

'Hermione, don't you dare feel awful about that!' said Harry, glaring at her intently and sitting upright in his bed. 'I led the Drakon away from you so you could escape! If anyone should feel guilty it's me, for sending Lucius on you.'

Hermione remained solemn.

'But, Harry, you could've...'

'I know,' said Harry, sensing her thoughts. 'But I chose for you to get away. I'd give my life for yours any day, Hermione.'

Hermione went pink. 'You're only saying that because you have relapse...' she said shyly.

'No,' said Harry, absolutely serious. 'You and Ron. I could never let anything happen to either of you. Relapse or not.'

Hermione nodded, bearing a warm, grateful smile.

'So,' she said, changing the subject, 'how exactly did you escape the Drakon in the end?'

'I didn't, really,' Harry shrugged. 'When the Drakon fired at me, I threw myself behind a pile a treasure. I was all right, but my leg was burnt.'

On learning this, Hermione had an immediate 'are you okay?' look written on her face.

'It's fine, don't worry!' said Harry reassuringly. 'Madame Pomfrey fixed it easily. Anyway, that was the worst of it. I didn't have to dodge the Drakon for long because Charlie and the other Guardians showed up. They did some wicked spell work…stunned the Drakon into a stupor.'

'It was lucky they came when they did,' said Hermione gravely.

'I know,' agreed Harry. 'I'd almost passed out from all the smoke.'

They paused. What they really wanted to discuss was, of course, still unspoken. They'd done a good job of avoiding it so far; but the longer they left it, the more impossible it was to disregard.

'Harry, are you...? Do you still...? Oh, never mind!' Hermione blushed. 'Forget it.'

'Yes, I still think I'm in love with you,' said Harry, sensing her thoughts again.

Their eyes met once more, searching. Harry couldn't repress his feelings any longer.

'I can't stop thinking about kissing you.'

The words just tumbled out of his mouth. Hermione immediately unlocked her gaze and directed her eyes to her lap.

'Harry, don't say such things! You'll be taking the counter-potion soon.'

Harry sighed. 'It isn't fair.'

'I know,' said Hermione, sighing too. Harry leant towards her.

'Kiss me anyway.'

'Harry, NO!' Hermione reprimanded him, standing up. 'Don't you understand? I have to get over you! When they cure you of relapse, you're going to be fine. You'll be back to normal and none of this will mean anything! But I'll have all these feelings for you, Harry. You're not going to love me back so please, don't make this more difficult then it already is!'

'MISS GRANGER!' Hermione had accidentally alerted Madame Pomfrey. 'How many times have I told you, get back to bed! Mr Potter needs his rest too!'

'It's okay, Madame Pomfrey,' said Harry. 'Hermione - '

At that moment, an unexpected visitor entered the wing, looming down the hall towards them. It was Professor Snape, and he was carrying a small cauldron in hands.

'Madame Pomfrey. Here's the counter-potion you requested.' He handed her the cauldron.

'Oh yes, thank goodness,' she said, taking it off him, and then glared towards Harry and Hermione. 'Maybe this will promote some sleep around here!'

Mumbling to herself, Madame Pomfrey scuttled to her office, while Professor Snape stayed behind. He wanted a word with Harry and Hermione.

'Well, isn't this unexpected?' he said, giving them an extreme look of contempt. 'The whole school is thrown into chaos, and why? Because Mr Potter and his friends wanted to experiment with love potions! Not to mention the Annual Drakon Hunt has been cancelled.'

'Cancelled?' said Hermione in shock.

'Yes, Miss Granger. As you decided to get yourself missing!'

Harry rose to Hermione's defence.

'She was kidnapped! By Lucius Malfoy, you know that!'

'And how would you know I - ' Snape thought this over, before realising what Harry meant. 'Ah, of course. Not only does Mr Potter think it fit to break into other people's laboratories and use their Portkey, he also thinks its okay to spy in on their private conversations! And what does he get in return for all this good behaviour?' Snape's pallid face, if it were possible, was actually attaining some colour. 'A reward!'

'So that's why you were so interested in Hermione's disappearance,' said Harry, narrowing his eyes. 'You wanted to find her for yourself, didn't you? You knew if you caught Lucius red-handed, you would get the praise for it! And maybe even that Order of Merlin you missed out on.'

Harry's last words cut through Snape like a knife. Snape had missed out on an Order of Merlin in third year and was still nursing the rejection.

'How dare you assume to evaluate me!' he seethed. 'Dumbledore and I have been at the top of Mount Olympus all morning preparing that counter-potion for the likes of you!'

'What do you want, a medal?'

'YOU ARROGANT LITTLE - '

'PROFESSOR SNAPE!'

Madame Pomfrey came back from her office, holding a goblet of counter-potion.

'Professor Snape!' she said again, flustered. 'You cannot yell at the patients! I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave.'

With one last 'friendly' look at Harry and Hermione, Snape stalked back down the hall, his black robes billowing behind him.

'Back to bed with you, Miss Granger, on the double!' said Madame Pomfrey, putting the goblet on Harry's bedside table and shuffling Hermione from her seat. 'Let Mr Potter take his counter-potion in peace.'

~ The End Of The Relapsed Affair? ~

Midnight came, though Harry remained awake. The goblet of counter-potion for his love potion relapse sat on his bedside table. He couldn't bring himself to drink it.

Meanwhile, Hermione, not sleeping either, was skulking back to Harry's bed.

'Harry?' she whispered in the darkness. 'Are you asleep?'

'No,' Harry whispered back. 'Go to bed, Hermione. You'll get in trouble.'

'Have you drunk the counter-potion yet?'

Harry paused for a moment, knowing he was about to get an earful. 'No, not yet.'

'What!' she hissed, scrambling to his bedside. She spied the goblet, full and waiting, on his bedside table. 'Harry, you have to drink it!'

'I can't,' said Harry sourly. 'I mean, I don't want to drink it. Go back to bed!'

'Don't put me through this, Harry! Drink it!'

'What if nothing happens? What if - '

'Sshh!' breathed Hermione, closing a hand on Harry's mouth. 'I think I heard Madame Pomfrey...'

'Wmeneoumfmere!' Harry mumbled under hand.

'Pardon?'

Harry pushed her hand away. 'Let's get out of here, then. Come on, we'll go to the hospital bathroom.'

'The bathroom?' whispered Hermione, sounding unsure. 'I don't think that's a good idea, Harry.'

But Harry, dressed in a T-shirt and pyjama bottoms, was already out of bed and shoving his pillows under the covers, giving the impression of a sleeping body underneath. Hermione bit her lip, but as Harry caught her hand, she allowed him to sneak her around the back of the bed and into the hospital bathroom.

'Harry, what are we doing?'

'Sssh! Lower your voice. This place echoes.'

They were in a bathroom that looked similar to the one Moaning Myrtle haunted, only more compact. Moonlight was slipping in through the window, bathing them in a silvery glow.

'We shouldn't be in here, Harry!'

'And you shouldn't have been at my bed!' Harry tossed back. 'If Madame Pomfrey caught you again, you'd get detention. Did you really want - '

Harry suddenly noticed something in Hermione's other hand.

'What did you bring that for?'

'SSHH! Lower your voice, remember?'

Hermione was holding Harry's goblet of counter-potion.

'I don't want to drink it, Hermione!' Harry whispered loudly.

'I know, Harry. But you have to drink it anyway!'

Harry crossed his arms, refusing. Hermione tried another approach.

'Harry, you say you don't want to drink it now, but it will be for the best in the end. You'll see.'

'No I won't.'

'You can't live out a lie, Harry!' Hermione enforced. 'Please drink it. For me.'

Hermione held the goblet towards him. Harry unfolded his arms and reluctantly took it in his hand. He stared down at the pale pink liquid with the same look he'd give to a pile of uncle Vernon's birthday socks.

'Once I drink it...I'll forget everything straight away, right?'

'I'm not sure,' said Hermione, sounding sad again. 'I guess we'll find out.'

'You really want me to drink this, don't you?' said Harry, testing her for a final time. She didn't waver.

'It's for the best, Harry.'

It was so strange, like Harry was about to die. In the back of his mind, he could hear Professor Trewlawny screech 'DEATH!' This was it. This was the end. Harry took a deep breath, lifted the goblet to his mouth, tipped it up...

'Wait!'

Harry stopped in motion. Hermione had a desperate, starved expression on her face. He lowered the goblet.

'I thought you wanted me to - '

'Can you just...put the goblet down for a minute?'

Not knowing why she'd asked him to do this, Harry placed the goblet on the sink.

'Did you drink any?'

Harry found this question rather silly. 'You didn't give me a chance! Hermione, are you okay?'

'No,' said Hermione flat out. 'I'm not.'

'What's wrong?' asked Harry, perplexed. 'Do you still want me to drink the counter-potion?'

'Yes, of course! But - before you do...'

'What?'

There was a note of shame in her voice when she said it.

'Kiss me.'

Harry was aghast. 'Kiss you? But you just said - '

'Harry! I need you to ki - '

But Harry did not need telling twice. He'd been so tempted, all this time, since the moment he'd woken from her Aphora Bewitching Potion. And now...she'd dropped her guard. She was giving him permission. Overwhelmed, Harry briskly pulled Hermione's face to his and plunged into a heated, passionate kiss he didn't know he was capable of. Hermione met him with equal force, loosing herself. They were ravenous, kissing each other they like they would never - and may not - kiss again. It was as if time had stopped. There was no Aphora Bewitching Potion, or love potion relapse. There was only them, and love - whether real or unreal, it didn't matter.

Steadily, Hermione's conscious, always reliable, inched back into command.

'Harr - ah!' She gasped to speak between his urgent kisses. 'We - '

Stop this, Hermione! nagged her inner voice. You're using him! He doesn't love you!

'Stop!'

Hermione broke away, falling against the sink. Harry staggered against the bathroom wall. Standing apart, they were both very flushed and breathing very, very fast.

'Harry,' she panted. 'I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that.'

'No, you should,' panted Harry, his senses swimming. 'That was - '

'A mistake!' Hermione cut in. 'A dreadful mistake!'

That hurt. Harry looked to the floor, avoiding Hermione's eyes.

'A mistake, huh?'

Hermione felt terrible. 'Harry, I...'

'I think you better leave, Hermione. I'm going to drink the counter-potion now.'

A/N: Yay! I made it to my steamy chapter. Well, steamy by PG-13 standards :) Now review! We've almost reached 100.

-->

24. Dumbledore's Theory & Truth

'Drink the counter-potion, Harry, and you will know the truth.'

~ Dumbledore's Theory ~

Harry slept in late the next morning. On waking, he sat up, yawned, and mechanically reached for his glasses on the bedside table. After putting them on and blinking sleepily, he was given quite the fright when he saw Professor Dumbledore standing at the foot of his bed - definitely not something he expected to see first thing in the morning.

'Good morning Harry,' Dumbledore said in a pleasant voice. 'Sleep well?'

'Ah,' said Harry awkwardly, still adjusting to Dumbledore's presence, 'yes, thank you. Sir...'

'Very good. You've had a very hectic week, Harry. And look?' he gestured to Harry's bedside table. 'Madame Pomfrey has fixed you a delicious breakfast. And I see your counter-potion is still here.'

Harry suddenly felt worried. When Hermione left him last night, Harry still couldn't make himself drink the counter-potion. Was Dumbledore here to punish him? He must be. After all, Harry had broken a load of school rules lately: breaking into Snape's secret laboratory, going to Greece without consent, locking Professor Flipwick in a cupboard, snogging Hermione in the hospital bathroom...

'I've been trying to see you since your arrival last night, Harry, but Madame Pomfrey insisted I wait until morning. You and I need to have a little chat.'

Harry's worry increased.

'Professor Dumbledore, I can explain!'

'Harry, it's all right,' said Dumbledore soothingly. 'I'm not here to impart any more trouble on you.' He chuckled. 'In fact, my first order of business is to congratulate you.'

'It is?' said Harry, confused.

'You saved Hermione Granger's life, Harry. The Ministry of Magic is also impressed with your heroism. I should warn you in advance, they're officially rewarding you tonight in a special ceremony.'

'Ceremony?' This sounded exceedingly embarrassing.

'Yes, Harry. And that leads me to my second order of business - your love potion relapse.'

'I'm sorry, Professor,' said Harry, thinking he knew what Dumbledore meant. 'I'll drink the counter-potion with breakfast.'

'No need to be sorry, Harry,' said Dumbledore plainly. 'It probably wouldn't make any difference if you did.'

Harry was very confused now. 'Wouldn't...make a difference?' Dumbledore smiled.

'I remember, not too long ago, when I had the pleasure of greeting Miss Granger in my office after she'd fainted on the school grounds. Worn out by the prospect of having three husbands I imagine.'

Harry recalled Ron telling him about this. Harry had been on Hermione's Aphora Bewitching Potion when it happened, so he didn't remember. Ron informed him later, with much delight, that Harry, Malfoy and Krum all proposed to Hermione at the same time.

'I may be out of my depth with what I'm about to suggest, Harry,' said Dumbledore. 'Feel free to stop me if you like.'

Harry was silent, and looking at Dumbledore with intensifying curiosity.

'I have a theory,' he proceeded. 'A theory, that leads me to believe you're not suffering from love potion relapse at all.'

Had Dumbledore been speaking with Ron?

'How can that be, Professor?' Harry asked.

Dumbledore trailed off for the moment. 'You're so much like your father, Harry. I was not surprised you became friends with Miss Granger in your first year. She is remarkably like your mother, Lily.'

Harry listened to Dumbledore's words very intently, as if memorising them later. Where was all this going?

'When Miss Granger woke from her faint, I told her of a hidden power the Aphora Bewitching Potion can sometimes have. I believe I said that, in certain cases, the Aphora Bewitching Potion can make you realise you've loved your bounder previously, meaning love was true to begin with. Hence, love potion relapse is unable eventuate. I think this is what I said. Forgive me, Harry, I should have consulted the Penesive before coming here.'

Harry's heart beat a little faster.

'Are you saying, you think I was in love with Hermione before I'd taken the Aphora Bewitching Potion?' Dumbledore nodded reverently.

'Drink the counter-potion, Harry, and you will know the truth.'

Suddenly filled with suspense, Harry leant over to his bedside table and took hold of the goblet of counter-potion for what was to be the last time.

'I'll leave you now, Harry, and say no more,' said Dumbledore. `Good luck.'

With atwinkle in his eye, Professor Dumbledore exited the hospital wing. Now alone, Harry knew what he had to do. Without any reserve or hesitation, he drank and swallowed the entire counter-potion in one go.

Then he waited.

~ Truth ~

Soon after Harry's chat with Professor Dumbledore, Madame Pomfrey allowed him leave the hospital wing. Hermione and Malfoy had been released earlier when Harry was still asleep. Dressed back in his school uniform, Harry was happily met on the other side by the very person he wanted to see.

'Harry!'

It was Ron. He'd been waiting near the stairs and rushed over excitedly.

'Sorry I didn't come see you, Harry, but Madame Pomfrey was really strict about the `no visitors' thing. Fred and George tried persuading her but that only made things worse…'

Harry was eager to catch up on everything that had happened since the Annual Drakon Hunt. Ron gladly obliged and talked Harry's ear off as they headed for the Great Hall.

'Percy's grown into an even bigger git. He's telling anyone who'll listen how he was the one who first saw Hermione at the Hunt. He didn't even know it was her at the time! Fred and George are thinking of using him as Drakon bait for next year.'

It was a bit early for lunch, so there weren't many people in the Great Hall when they arrived. Harry and Ron sat themselves down at the Gryffindor table.

'What about Lucius?' asked Harry loathingly. 'Has he been charged yet?'

'Ah, well,' Ron looked sullen. 'No, actually. He's not being charged at all.'

'WHAT!' said Harry, too loudly.

'I know!' said Ron in full agreement. 'That's exactly how I reacted.'

'But - ' Harry's hands were balled in fists. 'He attempted to murder Hermione!'

'I know! But there isn't enough conclusive evidence against him. According to the Ministry, who he's probably bribed anyway, Hermione's held accountable for her own actions because she was infected with the Aphora Bewitching Potion.'

'That's CRAP!' Harry cussed. A few heads around the Hall turned Harry's way, looking offended.

'I KNOW!' said Ron, agreeing again. 'Not much we can do about it though.'

'How about Percy?' Harry suggested. 'Doesn't his story count for anything?' Ron scoffed.

'What, you mean Percy the prat's eye-witness report? It's too vague, Harry. Plus he keeps changing it. Each version makes him sound more involved and heroic.'

'Snape!' said Harry, desperate now. 'What about Snape? He suspected Lucius from the start! And Professor McGonagall!'

'Yeah, but they can't prove it! Malfoy's the only one who witnessed Lucius actually hypnotising Hermione, and he's not about to turn in his own dad.'

Harry slumped in defeat. 'There must be something I can do.'

'Afraid not,' said Ron drearily. 'The Ministry isn't going to listen to someone with love potion relapse, are they?' Ron then realised. 'Hey, that's right! Have you been cured yet?'

Before Harry could answer, Fred and George made their usual, badly timed entrance.

'Gentlemen! Partners in crime!' said Fred brightly. 'A wonderfully good morning to you both!'

'A most wonderful morning!' said George, with a rolled up newspaper under his arm.

'Simply dazzling!'

'Spectacular!'

'Oh great, not this again!' grumbled Ron.

'And congratulations to you, Harry!' said Fred, patting Harry on the back. 'A thousand galleons! Fabulous work.'

'Stupendous!' related George.

'Miraculously - '

'SHUT UP!' said Ron, very irritated.

Harry chuckled. He could always count on the twins for a good laugh.

'Don't mind, Ron,' said Fred from behind his hand, as if Ron couldn't hear him. 'He's just ticked at being shirtless in the Daily Prophet.'

'FRED!' Ron blared, his face heating up.

'Sorry?' said Harry, amused. 'What's this?'

'Take a look for yourself!'

George handed Harry the latest edition of the Daily Prophet he'd been carrying. Harry opened to a page with the following headline: 'Missing Hogwarts Student Found Alive at Annual Drakon Hunt.' This was made complete by a portrait of Hermione, smiling back at Harry politely. There were other photos too; a school picture of Harry himself ('Potter Ends The Search!'), a really cool moving photo of Hermione punching Malfoy in the face ('Granger Denies Malfoy's Claims!') and, funnily enough, a picture of Ron looking humiliated without a shirt ('Fellow Hogwarts Student Bargains With Wood Pixies!').

'It was those bloody Pixies, Harry!' said Ron, scandalised. 'After you went in the Drakon's lair, I caught them spying on me. Out for more clothing! They were the one's who got me to the top of Mount Olympus.'

'How?' said Harry. He'd been meaning to ask Ron this.

'They flew me! Held onto my two big fingers, said some magic Pixie word, and lifted me right to the top. Do you know what it's like at the top of Mount Olympus without a shirt?' he said, sounding harassed. 'There's bloody snow up there! Though I'll admit the flight was pretty wicked, but I had to give them my undies for it.'

Fred and George cackled with laughter.

'KNOCK IT OFF!' Ron interjected, flaming. George snickered.

'The Daily Prophet should write a new headline: 'Ronald Weasley Found Shirtless and Underless!'

'No, wait! I got one,' laughed Fred. 'Ronald Weasley: The Exposed Story!'

'ENOUGH!'

'Ron,' said Harry, keeping laughter his in check. 'How did you loose your shirt then?'

'Because! It was the only way those miniature clothing hoarders would take the counter-potion to you! They took my robe and my shirt. They wanted more, but I'd be daft to pass up my trousers.'

'Shame really,' said George, nudging Harry. 'It would've made a great photo.'

'We'd love to stay and chat, but we must be going!' said Fred. `Congratulations again, Harry! And Ron, keep your clothes on.'

The twins hurried off, leaving Harry and a furious Ron to themselves.

'Nutters! The two of them!' said Ron once they'd left. 'Still, I'll have them over Percy any day.'

Then, Ron suddenly remembered what he and Harry had been discussing before.

'So, Harry, you didn't tell me! Are you cured? Did you drink the counter-potion?'

Maintaining a poker face, Harry nodded.

'Oh,' said Ron, who seemed rather confused all of a sudden. 'Are you sure?'

'I drank it at breakfast,' Harry confirmed. Ron was still uncertain.

'How come you remember so much, then? About the Hunt, I mean. Ginny was cured a day ago and she hardly remembers anything - thank Merlin! The less she remembers the better.'

Harry shrugged nonchalantly, and said, with an evolving smile that Ron didn't notice, 'I remember everything.'

'That's weird,' he said, then brushed it aside. 'Oh well! I'm glad Ginny didn't react that way.'

Harry moved the conversation to a more delicate subject. 'You wouldn't know where Hermione is, would you?'

'Hermione?' said Ron, and rolled his eyes. 'Yeah, I sure do. She's hiding out in the library. Been in there since leaving the hospital, studying like a maniac. It's mad! The teachers told her she doesn't need to catch up. She's just afraid of facing the school. Hates the fact she's involved in another love potion scandal. And,' he paused, choosing his words cautiously, 'well, she's terrified of seeing you. You know, now that you don't like her "that way" any more.'

Harry's smile grew wider. Again, Ron ceased to notice.

'I better talk to her then,' said Harry.

'Yeah, I guess…but Harry!' said Ron, throwing him a pleading look. 'Go easy on her, okay? Hermione's been through a lot so if you're going to tell her you don't fancy her, make sure you - '

'Ron…'

'Seriously, Harry! She's been real upset, and I don't think - '

'Ron!' Harry stressed, cutting him short. 'It's okay. You were right.'

'I was?' said Ron, raising his eyebrows. 'And what was I right about exactly?'

-->

25. The Ceremony & The 'After-Party'

'Oh, and if you break her heart again, Harry, I'll have to beat you to a pulp.'

~ The Ceremony ~

Ron wasn't kidding when he said Hermione had gone into hiding. Cooped in the darkest corner of the library, Hermione sat at a desk concealed behind a thick wall of stacked books. But there was no studying taking place, at this point at least. How could she possibly study now? Any moment the library would close and she'd have to go to dinner and face the entire school! And Harry. Every time she thought of Harry it hurt…

'Hermione! Are you still behind there?'

Ron had entered the library. Hermione poked a book from her 'fort' and peered out.

'Hi, Ron,' she said in a sapped voice. 'Come to lure me away?'

'I was thinking about it,' said Ron, crossing his arms. 'Unless you have plans to stay behind there until the end of sixth year?'

'That's tempting.'

'Oh, come on, Hermione!' he griped. 'This is getting creepy now. Dinner's about to start!'

'Is he out?'

'He who?'

'Harry!'

'Yeah,' said Ron in a casual tone, deliberately not revealing too much. 'He's out.'

Hermione bit her bottom lip. 'Does...does he remember anything?'

'This and that,' Ron replied vaguely, annoying her.

'This and that what?'

'Would you come out already!'

Grudgingly, a jaded Hermione came out from hiding.

'What does Harry remember, Ron?'

'Come to dinner and ask him yourself!'

'But he must have said something to you, surely!'

'What am I? The bloody messenger? Come on! The food's getting cold...'

Too tired to argue, Hermione let Ron drag her out the library and down the grand staircase. As they neared the Great Hall, Hermione naturally went to turn back. Though it was always full, the Hall sounded particularly crowded to her at that moment.

'Oh no you don't!' said Ron, giving her a tug forward. 'Keep coming, it will be okay.'

Focusing on her breath, Hermione prepared to go in; ready for the quips and the scrutiny. But, as they entered the Hall, Hermione was welcomed with a sudden explosion of cheering and applause?

'See?' smiled Ron. 'I told you it would okay!'

Ron directed Hermione's attention to the Gryffindor table, where everyone held banners reading 'Welcome Back, Hermione'. Hagrid was standing there too, waving and looking tearful. And, sitting in front of him, was Harry, breaking into an ecstatic grin once he saw her. Hermione was in an extreme state of shock, loosing all ability to move or speak. Ron laughed.

'Well, go on! It's your welcome home party.'

'Wha...?' Hermione could hardly say.

Giving her a poke in the back, Ron guided - or rather, pushed Hermione towards the awaiting Gryffindors. She blushed and smiled as friendly faces bombarded her from every direction.

'Hermione!' It was Neville. 'I'm so happy they found you!'

'We missed you, Hermione!' said Parvati, glowing and giving her a hug, followed closely by Lavender.

'This is cool!' she heard Seamus say. 'I've never met a missing person before!'

'Yeah!' Dean said to him. 'Except she's not missing any more, you git!'

'Miss Granger!' It was Fred, taking her hand and shaking it enthusiastically. 'Splendid to see you!'

'Likewise!' said George, shaking the other.

'Hermione!' called Ginny, hugging her too. 'I was so worried! And guess what? I'm not in love with Ron any more!'

'Hermione!' cried Hagrid, smothering her in a monstrous hug that was more like a headlock. 'I'm so happy yer safe and back at Hogwarts!'

'Ha...gr...id!' strained Hermione, suffocating.

'Hagrid, let go!' said Ron, trying to wrench her out. 'You don't know your own strength!'

'Oh!' said Hagrid troublingly, loosening his arms. 'Sorry, Hermione! It's jus' I was so worried 'bout yeh and all.'

Hermione, whose hair was now even fluffier then usual, said, 'I'm glad to see you too, Hagrid.'

Finally, she reached him.

'Hi, Hermione,' said Harry simply, smiling.

'Hi, Harry,' said Hermione, mirroring him.

Hermione hadn't really known what to expect from Harry, now he was cured. Did he remember any of his feelings for her? And if he did, was he angry? Ashamed? Indifferent? Physically sick? What he was, however, made her uneasy: he was fine. Calm and normal, though smiling rather excessively.

'This welcome home thing was Harry's idea,' Ron butted in. 'But I organised the banners!'

'It...was?' she said, peering at Harry curiously and feeling warmer.

Dumbledore suddenly addressed the Hall. 'Silence please! No more talking.'

Slowly, the volume in the Hall turned down, until everyone was quiet. Hermione, still a bit stunned, sat nervously between Harry and Ron.

'Before dinner commences, there are a few things that must be brought about. Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic,' Dumbledore gestured to the man in a pin-striped suit and bowler hat to his left, 'is our special guest this evening. He brings with him a cheque, for one thousand galleons. Mr Fudge, if you please...'

Fudge took the stage, holding an oversized cheque made of parchment.

'Thank you, Professor Dumbledore,' he said genially, and then turned to look out at the sea of students. 'I'm sure you're all well aware of the happenings at this year's Annual Drakon Hunt, and the sudden unexpected hunt for Hogwarts student, Hermione Granger.'

At the sound of her name, Hermione reddened and sunk in her chair. She would have disappeared beneath the table all together if Ron hadn't hoisted her back up.

'I'm honoured to present this cheque to the person responsible for finding Miss Granger and returning her to safety. I thus call upon Mr Harry Potter!'

Everyone cheered, especially the Gryffindors. The only people who looked far from cheery were the sneering Slytherins students. Professor Snape, sitting at the far end of the teacher's table, was doing his fair share of sneering too.

'Mr Potter, you may come and collect your prize.'

Wild applause from the Gryffindor table followed Harry as he modestly stepped to the front. Ron started whistling and Hermione clapped her hands raw. Fudge handed the cheque to Harry, who found it surprisingly heavy.

'Before you go, Harry,' said Fudge, `there is something else.' Fudge looked back out at the Hall. 'May I also have Ronald, Fred and George Weasley up here?'

Ron's mouth fell open in shock, as did Hermione's. Fred and George turned at each other and shrugged. What was this all about? The three Weasley's stood and walked towards Fudge and Harry, Fred and George waving and winking at everyone as they went.

'Now boys,' said Fudge, smiling at the Weasley's as they approached. 'Your bravery in helping find Miss Granger has not gone unnoticed. I am pleased to announce that the Ministry has decided to award all of you, an honourary Order of Merlin, Third Class.'

Jaws dropped all around the Hall now. Professor Snape looked ready to kill someone, while Harry, Ron, Fred and George wanted to jump out of their skin! They couldn't believe it. A real Order of Merlin! Fudge went round to each of the boys and pinned a shiny gold medal to their robes, just as Dumbledore stood up again.

'Congratulations to Harry and the Weasley brothers,' he announced. 'You make Hogwarts very proud. And now,' he paused for effect, 'dinner is served!'

Bowls and plates appeared on the four House tables, crowning them with a delicious assortment of food. Harry, Ron, Fred and George returned to the ongoing cheers and praise of the Gryffindors. Hagrid hugged - and hence, suffocated - each of them as they came to sit down. Hermione congratulated them all graciously, and reddened even more when she came to Harry. Harry wanted to say something to her, but decided against it. This was neither the time nor the place. Hermione, for her part, felt Harry's eyes on her all through dinner. Overall, the ceremony was a complete success - especially for Gryffindor. Though the festivities were far from over...

'PARTY IN THE GRYFFINDOR COMMON ROOM!' Fred broadcasted.

The Gryffindor table cheered again and leapt from their seats in a single wave.

'Only until nine thirty and no later!' Professor McGonagall called out sternly.

Protests followed this, but Professor McGonagall remained firm. As the rest of the Great Hall moved out, Harry decided he couldn't wait to talk to Hermione any longer. He needed to find her and take her somewhere where they could be alone…

Unfortunately, she'd been swept with the crowd and disappeared from sight. With his oversized cheque tucked under one arm, Harry forced his way through the crowd and out into the Entrance Hall. He spotted her, about to walk up the staircase.

'Hermione! Hey, Hermione!' he called out, traversing towards her. Hermione stopped and turned to where he was calling. Harry hurried to the foot of the stairs. 'Can we - '

'Harry!'

It was Fudge, approaching him from behind.

'Just the man I wanted to see. Congratulations again!' he said, shaking Harry's free hand.

'Thank you, Mr Fudge,' said Harry, quickly glancing at Hermione. Fudge then noticed her as well.

'And Miss Granger!' he said happily. 'How are you feeling? Settled back at Hogwarts?'

'Yes, thank you, sir,' said Hermione, tearing her focus from Harry.

'Very good, very good,' said Fudge, satisfied, and then looked back at Harry. 'Listen, Harry, do you mind if I steal you away for a minute? A reporter wants to do an interview with you for the Daily Prophet. The Weasley's are already there, it shouldn't be too long. Here!' He took Harry's cheque. 'I'll have someone deliver this up to your room.'

Harry had no choice but to go with Fudge. He looked helplessly at Hermione, mouthing the words 'I'll meet you later', before being escorted away. Hermione was left with her mind racing; so much in fact, she accidentally bumped into the last person she wanted to see.

'Granger!' Malfoy growled, with a sinister glare.

'Good to know we're on a second name basis again, Malfoy,' said Hermione, staying poised. Malfoy scoffed.

'What are you bumping into me for? Trying to get your hands on me again?'

'Why, do you want another punch in the head?'

Hermione was delighted to see the bridge of Malfoy's nose was nice and bruised from their last encounter.

'A word of advice, Granger,' said Malfoy menacingly, a vein twitching in his temple. 'Stay the hell away from me! Keep the love potions between you and your boyfriends, Potter and Weasley, because if I catch you near me again, you'll be out of this school so fast it'll make your hair flat!'

'What, you mean plastered to my head like yours?' she smirked.

'You - ' but Malfoy was unable to think of witty comeback. 'Just…STAY AWAY FROM ME!'

Steaming, Malfoy stamped away up the stairs. Hermione then caught Pansy's eye, who courteously stuck her tongue out at her, before chasing after Malfoy; probably to mother and lavish him with affection.

Malfoy Hermione thought, contented with herself. Always so pleasant to run into.

~ The 'After-Party' ~

Harry and the Weasley's interview with the Daily Prophet went on longer then expected. When it was finally over, they eagerly raced to the Gryffindor common room, set on catching up with the party. After passing the Fat Lady, they were thrown to find the vicinity totally and utterly empty?

'It's a school night,' said Professor McGonagall, meeting them on the inside of the portrait hole.

'But you said we could stay up 'til nine thirty!' Fred reminded her, outraged. 'It's only eight forty-five!'

'I'm aware of the time, Mr Weasley,' she said shortly. 'I'm afraid the Slytherin's have filed a noise complaint.'

'They did WHAT?' shot Fred, his outrage peaking.

'Those GITS!' said George in fury. 'As if they can hear us! They're just jealous, Professor. None of they're stinking lot would ever get an Order of Merlin!'

'That will be all, thank you very much!' said Professor McGonagall, raising her voice slightly. 'Off to bed please, and congratulations to each of you.'

Once Professor McGonagall left via the portrait hole, Harry, Ron and the twins trudged up the stairs to the boy's dormitories.

'I can't believe we missed our own party!' Fred continued to harp on. George continued, too.

'Bloody Slytherin! Fred and I had some really fun ideas for that party, didn't we Fred?'

'Indeed, we did George! Canary Creams, Wild-Fire Wizbangs, Ton Tongue Toffees...'

'…Ron doing a naked table dance for the girls…'

'GEORGE!' Ron spat, on cue.

While the twins were clearly scorned, Harry and Ron were less torn up about missing the party. The excitement of receiving an Order of Merlin had by far been their highlight.

'C'mon guys, it's not all bad,' eased Ron. 'Just think! When we get home, we're going to be the only ones in the house with an Order of Merlin!'

'You're right brother!' said George, eyes glittering. 'We'll be mum's new favourites!'

'That's right!' said Fred, sharing his vision. 'We'll get first dibs on everything! And Percy, wait until we see him! And he thought he had it going on with the Head Boy badge...'

They all laughed their way up the remaining stairs. Fred and George bid their goodnights, and then separated, giving Ron a chance to talk to Harry.

'You gonna talk to her tomorrow then?'

'Guess I'll have to,' said Harry, wishing it could be sooner.

'I just - well, want to say,' Ron started, becoming somewhat tongue-tied, 'well, good luck when you do. And no hard feelings.'

Harry smiled appreciatively. He knew how difficult this must be for Ron.

'Are you sure?'

'Yeah! Really mate, like I said, better her with you then Malfoy. Oh, and if you break her heart again, Harry, I'll have to beat you to a pulp.'

Harry chuckled. 'Thanks, Ron. I suppose you were right all along.'

'Of course I was!' said Ron wittily. 'It was easy to tell you didn't have love potion relapse. It's no wonder Dumbledore saw through you. Why do you think the Ministry let you have the reward and an Order of Merlin?'

Harry shrugged innocently, mainly to tick Ron off.

'They wouldn't have given it to you if you were under a spell! That's why Krum missed out on the Order of Merlin. He genuinely had relapse. Doesn't count.'

When Harry and Ron came to their room, they were pleasantly surprised to see Neville, Dean and Seamus all awake.

'Where have you guys been?' asked Seamus from his bed, dressed in pajamas. 'You missed the party!'

'Yeah, we noticed,' said Ron obviously.

Nobody felt much like sleeping. Instead, they talked thrillingly into the night, Ron and Harry recounting their adventures at the Hunt. Seamus and Dean were laughing at Ron's stolen underpants story, when Neville whispered something to Harry.

'Hermione was really upset when you guys didn't come back.'

'She was?' said Harry, very disappointed he hadn't talked with Hermione as planned. He wanted to say everything to her now. She didn't deserve another night to go by without knowing the truth. `Did she say anything to you, Neville?' Harry asked.

`Not really,' Neville informed him lowly. `I heard from Lavender that she was waiting for you. She was one of the last people to leave the common room. Professor McGonagall had to kick her out.'

Harry smiled a touch. Hermione must have wanted to see him as much as he did her. `Thanks Neville.'

Eventually, an hour before midnight to be exact, the boys surrendered to their beds. Harry however, was purposely keeping himself awake, waiting patiently for everyone else to fall asleep. Once Neville's snoring kicked off, Harry prepared to leave. He quietly slipped on his bed robe and slippers, before bending down and collecting his Firebolt from beneath his bed.

A/N: Next up, fluff city ;) And this is the last chapter before the end so crank those reviews!

-->

26. Moonlit Broomstick Ride & Epilogue

'I thought you hated flying?'

'So did I!'

~ Moonlit Broomstick Ride ~

Hermione, lying in bed, was also far from falling asleep. Her eyes were wide open and her mind was still racing; a mass of unanswered questions. What did Harry want to say after dinner? He's obviously okay with me since having relapse. He initiated the welcome home party, right?

Meanwhile, outside Hermione's window, someone whispered -

'Alohamora!

The window creaked opened, but Hermione was too trenched in thought to notice. Why was he looking at me so much? What was he so happy about? Why does everything have to be so confusing all the time! Bloody Harry! I had to go and fall in lov -

'Psst!'

'What the...?' Hermione surfaced from her thoughts.

'Psst!'

The noise came from the window, which was now wide open. Hermione jerked up, turned, and found -

'Harry!'

Harry was outside hovering on his Firebolt! With her mouth stunned open, Hermione flung herself from bed and scurried to the window, gripping the ledge.

'Hermione!' Harry whispered urgently. 'I'm sorry to wake you, but we really need to talk.'

'Harry!' Hermione repeated, beyond all comprehensible shock. 'What - are - you - doing?' There were so many things wrong with what Harry was doing right now, Hermione didn't know where to begin. 'You're not supposed to be near the girl's dormitories! Or flying around - '

'Yeah, I picked up on that too,' Harry said over her, keen not to waste any time. 'We have to talk, Hermione. You know we do. Come on, let's go!'

'Go where?'

'Flying!'

'Flying?'

Then, a muffled voice spluttered to life from the back of the room.

'Hermione, stop talking to yourself!' It was Parvati, blinded by her 'niffler' eye patch. 'Some people are trying to sleep!'

'All right, Parvati!' Hermione hissed impatiently over her shoulder, then faced Harry again.

'Quick!' he stressed. 'Before the rest of your roommates wake up.'

Hermione knew Harry was right. They needed to talk. She was dying to hear what he had to say, but she didn't quite understand what flying around on his Firebolt in the late hours of the night was meant to achieve.

'Hermione, trust me. I know what I'm doing,' said Harry confidently, in response to her worried expression. 'Just balance on my shoulders and swing your leg over behind me.'

'I'm not sure, Harry,' she said, tentatively peeking down at the drop between them, and feeling her stomach clench. 'I don't know if I can.'

'We won't be flying for long. I'll take us straight up to the roof.'

'The roof?'

'Hermione!' winged Parvati, still blind. 'What is going on?'

The other girls in the room were beginning to stir.

'Quick!'

'Oh, all right!' Hermione surrendered. 'But no fancy Quidditch flying, Harry!'

Doing as Harry instructed, Hermione lifted her white night-dress slightly, put her hands on Harry's shoulders, and straddled the Firebolt behind him. Once seated, she immediately wrapped her arms around his waist. The experience was reminding her of Buckbeak. Then, before she could do or say anything, Harry leant forward and shot away from the window, aiming for the roof of the Gryffindor Tower.

'Oh god!' said Hermione into his neck, holding him tighter.

They soared into the night, higher and higher, the wind whipping against them as they flew. Hermione felt a rush of exhilaration. This was nothing like being on Buckbeak! The Firebolt was gentle, smooth, and glided effortlessly under Harry's control. Despite her past dislike for flying, Hermione had never felt safer or happier in the air in her life.

'Are you okay?' Harry called to her.

'Yes, fine!' said Hermione blissfully. 'This is - Harry, it's wonderful!'

Harry laughed in surprise.

'I thought you hated flying?'

'So did I!'

Harry slowed as they approached the roof. Then, he reared up, landing steadily on the battlements. Hermione slid of safely. Harry got off next, laying the Firebolt aside.

'Well!' she said breathlessly, smoothing her night-dress. 'That was most unexpected. You fly extremely well, Harry. I didn't know flying could be like that.'

'Thanks,' said Harry, whose black hair was more unruly then ever. 'I've never flown with a second person before. I'm glad it worked.'

They sat close to the roof's edge, looking out over the school grounds. The view was magical. The night sky stretched out above like a black sheet, pricked with a million stars. The moon winked at them through the clouds, coating the grounds in a sheen of pearly moonlight. Even with the serenity and beauty before her, Hermione's nerves were emerging; they'd momentarily been swept aside while flying the Firebolt. Now, here she was, sitting with Harry, on the roof of all places, and she still couldn't figure out...

'Harry?'

He turned to face her, his expression unreadable.

'What are we doing up here?' she asked. 'I mean, I'm guessing you didn't bring me up here for Astronomy homework. Although, that wouldn't be such a bad idea in the future considering our proximity to the sky up - '

But Hermione decided to drift out of that sentence, once she caught the strange look on Harry's face.

'Sorry, Harry.' Trust me to think of school at a time like this! ' Maybe you should talk now.'

Harry paused with suspense, then, 'Hermione, I brought you up here because - what I need to say can't wait 'til morning. I need to tell you about my potion relapse. I remember everything, and I - '

'Everything?' Hermione interrupted, looking horrified.

'Yes, but - '

Hermione couldn't withhold it; the words poured out of her mouth like an emotional waterfall.

'Oh, Harry, I know how you must feel! Now that you're cured. You must feel really frightened!'

'Frightened?' said Harry, amused. The last thing he was was frightened. 'No, actually - '

'And confused! And embarrassed! To think you felt something for me. I want you to know, whatever embarrassment you're experiencing, that - '

'Hermione! Shut up and let me talk for a second!'

Hermione's lips closed silent. She didn't mean to sound so crazed, but her nerves were eating her alive!

'I'm not confused, not embarrassed, and I'm definitely not frightened!' Harry established. 'What I am though, despite what you may think,' he gave himself a moment, more then ready to say the words, 'I'm in love with you.'

'You're WHAT?' Hermione's voice exploded, as she stood up furiously with her hands on her hips. 'Then you mustn't have drunk the counter-potion!'

'No, Hermione!' Harry tried to console her, standing too. 'That's not - '

'I don't believe this!' Hermione went on vehemently, jumping ahead of herself. 'I knew something funny was going on! First the welcome home party, then all that smiling and staring you did through dinner!'

'I did all that because I'm in love with you!'

'Nonsense! Harry, fly us back to Hogwarts at once! I'm taking you to the hospital wi - '

'I DRANK THE BLOODY COUTER-POTION!'

There was no other way to get it through to her. Harry had no idea telling Hermione he loved her - for real, this time - would be such a verbal workout!

'What?' said Hermione, lost. 'But, then how...?

Harry took a page from Ron at the Annual Drakon Hunt and charged into his side of things very, very fast.

'I didn't take the counter-potion at first because I still didn't want to but Dumbledore came to see me in the hospital and said I should but it probably wouldn't make a difference because you remind him of my mum and he thought I might have loved you already so I drank it but nothing happened and I remembered everything meaning I've actually loved you and thought you were beautiful all this time and probably a lot longer then you or I realise so stop being so INSANE!'

Silence descended upon them, though it seemed necessary after Harry's lengthy and rapid declaration. While he got his breath back, a dazed Hermione battled to absorb everything he'd said.

'Dumbledore said I remind him of Lily?'

'Yeah,' Harry gasped.

'And, you never had love potion relapse?'

'Yes!'

'And...you've been in love with me for ages?'

'Yes! I told you, I took the counter-potion and my feelings for you stayed the same!'

Hermione struggled with how to react to this, and came out with something between crying and laughter. 'This is so stupid!'

'Stupid?' said Harry, a little insulted. 'I just told you I loved you!'

'All this time...and you didn't even have relapse to begin with!' She was definitely crying now. 'This is the happiest night of my life!'

Before Harry could respond, Hermione dived and hugged the wind out of him, caving in his arms.

'Ah, Hermione?' Harry chuckled. 'I'm having trouble breathing...'

'Serves you right,' she sniffed, drawing her head up and staring into his eyes. 'You could've found out you didn't have potion relapse sooner. It would have saved us a lot of trouble.'

'Sorry, I'll remember that for next time,' Harry smiled, embracing her, and then remembered something else he was meant to do. 'Oh! One other thing, while I'm thinking of it.'

He fumbled a hand in the pocket of his bed robe, before retrieving what looked like...a ring case?

'Look familiar?' he teased, brandishing it in front of her face. Hermione gaped and began to laugh.

'Our fake engagement ring!' she cried in recognition. 'I didn't know you kept it?'

'I found it in my bedside draw,' he explained. 'I didn't know where it came from, then Ron reminded me I'd proposed to you. I figured you should keep it.'

'Are you sure? Don't you want to return it?'

'Nah, it's okay. Think of it as an early birthday present.'

Harry popped the ring out of the slit, returned the case to his pocket, signaled for Hermione to give him her hand, and slid the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit.

'It's beautiful,' she admired, the diamond sparkling in the moonlight. 'Thank you, Harry.'

It suddenly dawned on them, as innocent as they were, how this scene must have looked.

'Ah, this doesn't mean I'm asking you to marry me for real,' Harry added quickly.

'Oh no, of course not, Harry!' Hermione blushed. 'I didn't imagine you were.'

'I mean,' Harry went on, 'I figured we should date first.'

'Date?' said Hermione, as if she'd never heard the word before. 'You want to go on a date with me? Really?'

'Are you daft?' said Harry, laughing. 'Didn't you hear what I said? I'm in love with you, Hermione. Dating is the least I can do.' He opened his bed robe and draped it around her, forming a two-person cocoon. 'Actually, I was hoping I'd have permission to kiss you again.'

'Did you now?' Hermione smirked, leaning into his chest and moving her hands up his back.

'Unless you'd rather do something else?' he mocked. 'Like talk about Astronomy homewo...'

Harry's words melted to gibberish, and then faded out completely, when he felt her lips come into contact with his own. He eagerly welcomed the interruption, for he had no intention of discussing anything to do with Astronomy.

Epilogue:

~ The Aphora Bewitching Potion Strikes Back! ~

Three days later.

Harry, Hermione and Ron were sitting together by the common-room fire, as they usually did in the afternoon preceding classes. They were surrounded by library books and, unusually, Harry and Ron were both reading avidly while Hermione was persuading them to stop?

'Leave it, will you?' she insisted, prying Harry's book away from him. 'There's nothing we can do!'

'I won't leave it!' determined Harry, pulling away. 'Not until I find something we can use!'

Hermione made an impatient 'hmph!' and crossed her arms. Ron was amused, and smiled at Harry.

'I'd never thought I'd see the day when Hermione tried to stop us from reading.'

'It's not the act of reading that concerns me, it's what you're reading!' Hermione stated sharply. 'I've told you both time and time again, there's nothing we can do! Lucius isn't going to be prosecuted, the Ministry's made its decision.'

'Yeah, and what a top decision that was!' said Harry angrily. 'It makes me want to shove the Order of Merlin and the reward back in their face!'

'We have to accept it!'

'Accept it? Hermione, I don't understand you.' He gawked at her disbelievingly. 'How can you be so unaffected by all this? Lucius kidnapped you! And tried to murder you, and - '

'Harry, calm down! And I'm not unaffected! I appreciate what you're trying to do but please, give it away! And besides, I've already read through these books and there's nothing we can use.'

Ron's glared at her, astounded.

'All of them?'

Harry and Ron must have bought up twenty various books on magical law.

'I only read the parts that mattered,' said Hermione coolly, meeting Ron's glare.

'When?' he demanded.

'After the Hunt. What did you think I was doing in the library all that time?

'I don't know, hibernating?'

Ron slammed his book down, entitled 1001 Wizarding Laws You Should Know.

'You could have told us you read all these earlier, Hermione!'

'Neither of you were listening to me earlier!' she snapped. 'You were both way too defiant on your 'let's imprison Lucius in Azkaban' crusade!'

Harry, still reading his book, decided to follow Hermione's advice and gave it up.

'Fine,' he muttered, chucking down Proving Your Case The Magical Way on the table. 'I hate this! I hate Lucius getting off so easily. He could have - '

Harry stopped in mid sentence, giving Hermione a particularly painful look. They watched each other for a moment, until Ron felt the need to interrupt.

'How about we study then? May as well since we're in reading mode.'

'Ron? Did you just say the word study?' said Hermione in amazement. 'I didn't know it was part of you vocabulary.'

Hermione and Harry smiled at each other.

'Very funny!' said Ron. 'The OWL's will be on us before we know it. And unlike you, Hermione, Harry and I haven't been preparing for them since we were in nappies!'

Hermione snorted a laugh. 'Another suggestion like that, Ron, and I won't help you study. And yes I know that's where you wanted this conversation to lead!'

Ron opened his mouth to argue, but was cut off by Dean and Seamus. They'd come in through portrait hole, both infectiously smiley.

'Hey guys!' said Dean, standing behind the couch Harry and Hermione occupied. 'Do any of you want a drink?'

He gestured towards Seamus, who was struggling to hold a huge casket of Butterbeer.

'Blimey!' said Ron, ogling the casket. 'Where did you get all that Butterbeer?'

'I won it!' boasted Seamus. 'From the Three Broomsticks. They had a sweepstakes and gave out prizes to regular customers. It was just delivered to me now, you should have seen it! Had to be carried by ten owls!'

'A sweepstakes at the Three Broomsticks?' questioned Hermione, suspicious. 'I've never heard of that before.'

'Neither,' said Seamus. 'But who cares, I won!'

'I'll have glass!' said Ron, standing out of his chair.

'Come on up to our room then,' said Dean, 'before Seamus' knees buckle in. What about you two?' He looked down at Harry and Hermione.

'No thanks, you guys go ahead,' said Harry.

'I'll pass too,' Hermione concurred.

'Suit yourselves! Let's go, Ron.'

Dean, Seamus and Ron disappeared up the stairs and up to the boy's dormitories.

'Typical!' scoffed Hermione, watching them leave. 'Mention free Butterbeer and studying becomes completely irrelevant!'

Harry looked at her, but she wouldn't do the same.

'Are you upset with me?' he asked sensitively.

'No,' said Hermione at first, looking at him now. 'I mean - well, how can you think I'm not unaffected, Harry? I'm completely aware of what Lucius tried to do to me.'

'I know, I'm sorry,' said Harry truthfully. 'It was a stupid thing to say. Of course you're not unaffected.'

Hermione stared him deep in the eye. 'Harry, please promise you'll leave this be! I know it's unjust, but what if Lucius knew you were plotting against him?'

'He'd probably feed me to Voldermort's snake.'

Hermione's eye's watered at the sound of his name. Harry meant it as a passing joke, but Hermione did not find the idea of Harry being devoured by his snake very funny.

'Sorry, sorry!' he said, squeezing her hand. 'It slipped out. Come on.' He gave her playful nudge. 'I'll stop, okay? I'll stop plotting against Lucius.'

'You promise?'

'Promise. I don't want you upset with me. I hate it when you're upset with me.'

Hermione squeezed his hand back. 'Harry Potter, I'm hardly ever upset with you!'

They both relaxed after that, particularly Hermione. Then Harry noticed something.

'Hey,' he said, scanning the room, and then grinning. 'We're alone.'

He was quite right. The common room was completely empty. This was a very rare occasion. Harry and Hermione had shared little to no time alone since their eventful night on the roof, and this proved very frustrating. Neither felt comfortable being too affectionate in front Ron, or the rest of the school for that matter. But now, they were definitely alone. And on that thought, Harry shuffled closer to Hermione and propped his chin on her shoulder, a cheeky glint in his green eyes.

'Guess what I want to do?'

Hermione guessed instantly.

'Now?' she said, colouring a little. 'But, Harry, what if someone walks in?'

'We'll risk it,' he whispered, temptation overpowering him.

Hermione shivered as she felt Harry brush her hair aside, baring her neck. He leant into her, trailing kisses across her skin, all over her neck and over the bit of collarbone he spied.

'Okay!' she moaned, unable to resist any more. 'You win, you've got me! Come here.'

Smiling, Hermione drew Harry in, bringing her lips towards his. They blundered with which way to turn their heads for a second, causing some laughter. Eventually, they got it right, and eased into a kiss they'd been craving for the past three days. It was soft and slow going at first, but heated up with each passing minute…

And then came the inevitable interruption.

'Is that lip-smacking I hear?'

Harry and Hermione, tangled somewhere beneath the couch, immediately shot up.

'Aha! Sprung!'

It was Fred and George, of course. Harry and Hermione could not have been more embarrassed, or miffed. Harry clumsily straightened his glasses, while Hermione tucked her blouse back into her skirt.

'Yes?' she said, a little too sternly. 'What is it?

'Hey, don't look so cheesed off!' said George. 'It's not like we haven't heard snogging before. Besides, we could've been Professor McGonagall.'

'Yeah! And she's not a fan of common-room snog-a-thons. Me and Angelina would know,' said Fred with a wink.

'And speaking of McGonagall,' continued George, 'she's asked us to deliver a message to the Gryffindor's, pronto! Go ahead, Fred.'

'Thank you, George! Basically, everyone needs to keep their wits about them because the Aphora Bewitching Potion is being brewed in the school. Again.'

'What!' said Harry and Hermione in unison, wide-eyed. This news shook them right out of their embarrassment.

'I know, can you believe it?' said Fred, amused.

'But how?' said Hermione. 'Harry gave the book A Wizard and Witches Guide to Love Made Easy back to Madame Pince when we arrived from the Hunt!'

'The book isn't the issue,' George revealed. 'Some how, someone's made a copy of the recipe, and now it's spread through the whole school. It's an Aphora Bewitching Potion cook off!'

'Do yourselves a favour and be careful what you drink!' Fred advised. 'And pass the message on if you see anyone else. We'll be off now, must go deliver the good news to Ron. Continue snogging!'

'Yes, continue!'

Laughing to themselves, the twins headed off up the stairs to the boy's dormitories, in search of Ron.

'I don't believe it,' said Harry, sinking into his seat. 'The Aphora Bewitching Potion. Again! We better be careful. I don't fancy falling in love with anyone else this year.'

Be careful what you drink.

'Oh my gosh, Harry!' Hermione stood in panic. 'We have to check on Ron!'

'Check on Ron?' said Harry, sounding disappointed. No snogging could be done in front of Ron!

'I'm serious, Harry!' She wrenched him from his seat. 'We have to go see him, now!'

'Why?'

'Because - '

But Harry didn't require an answer. As if on cue, Ron came tottering down the stairs; a raving, eye-popping look strewn on his face.

'I -' he gurgled, staring from Hermione to Harry. 'I LOVE LAVENDER!'

'YOU DO NOT!' shouted Dean, plundering after him. 'I LOVE HER!'

'THE HELL YOU DO!' Ron yelled down Dean's throat.

Seamus came next. 'I LOVE HER MORE!'

'GET OUT OF IT!'

'Here's an idea, why don't you both GET OUT OF IT!'

'MAKE ME!'

The three of them started to wrestle, until Fred and George, who'd come sprinting down the stairs, pushed their way into the middle.

'That's enough!' Fred ordered, forcing Ron off Dean. 'Come brother, to the hospital wing with you!'

'You two as well!' said George, holding on to Dean and Seamus.

'Stay out of this, Fred! C'mon, let me go!' Ron struggled. 'I have to declare my undying love to Lavender!'

'You mean I have to go declare my undying love to Lavender!' quarreled Dean.

'No, I have to!' challenged Seamus.

'Some other time, all right?' said George. 'For now, it's the hospital wing for the lot of you!'

Harry approached the bust-up. 'Do you guy's need any help?'

'No no! We'll take care of this,' George assured him, labouring to keep a hold of Seamus, who was now trying to kick Dean in the shins.

'Yeah, we've got it covered!' said Fred, keeping a firm hold on Ron. 'Thanks anyway, Harry. Continue snogging!'

'Yes, continue!'

'LAVENDER!'

It couldn't have been worse timing: Lavender, Parvati and some other fifth year girls had come in through the portrait hold. Ron tore free of Fred, launching himself at Lavender.

'AH!' Lavender screeched, terrified.

Ron floored himself at Lavender's feet, binding his arms around her legs.

'Lavender!' he said, gazing at her dreamily. 'I have to declare my undying to you!'

But then Dean, clearly furious, escaped George and stormed over.

'Get out of it Ron, she's MINE!'

And then Seamus.

'Don't listen to them, Lavender! I love you the most!'

'SOD OFF, SEAMUS!'

'YOU SOD OFF!'

'Somebody,' Lavender whimpered, 'HELP ME!'

Fred, George and Parvati managed to unglue Lavender from her three admirers. However, they weren't giving up on her that easily. The whole thing ended with Lavender running out the portrait hole, screaming, with the three admirers chasing after her, calling constant `I love you's!'; Fred and George followed, shouting mild obscenities like `git's!' and `knobs!', while Harry and Hermione remained behind, stunned and amused.

'That didn't go too well,' said Harry, suppressing laughter.

'I sensed that Butterbeer was suspicious!' said Hermione perceptively. 'I hope Lavender's okay. The other's too...'

'They'll be needing more counter-potion in the hospital wing, that's for sure.' And, on another thought, 'I wonder who Lavender wanted to put on love potion?'

'Seamus, obviously,' Hermione worked out. 'He's the one the Butterbeer was sent to. I suppose Lavender didn't count on Ron and Dean drinking it as well...oh, no!'

Hermione was suddenly aware of how full the common room had become. Gryffindor's were streaming in, hungry for details on the Aphora Bewitching Potion outbreak. So much for being alone.

'Great! And someone just sat on our couch!' said Harry, glaring maliciously at the couch-stealer.

Hermione laughed at him, then purred in his ear, 'that was brilliant, earlier.'

Harry's stomach did a back flip.

'Don't make me think about it,' he sighed, leaning his forehead against hers. 'I'm going mad with anticipation.'

'Me too,' she said, sneaking him a kiss on the nose. 'We'll have to pick up where we left off.'

A/N: And here we are at the end! Writing this story, and Everybody Love Hermione, was such a wonderful journey for me and if anything it's been even more fulfilling this time round on Portkey. Infinite thankyous and good karma to all who reviewed and encouraged me along the way. The original plan was to write another sequel, but in the end I'm happier to leave everything how it is and focus on other projects.

-->