"Mrs Norris…was in heat."
"In what now?"
"Heat! That's why Crookshanks went after her."
"You mean it was mating season? That's positively adorable! Crookshanks wants to be a daddy!"
"It's not adorable anymore Ginny! Yesterday Filch caught Crookshanks with Mrs Norris and he tried to jinx Crookshanks or something, but it didn't work! It hit Mrs Norris and then bounced off to me- now I'm in Heat!!"
Ginny stood there with her mouth open and then started to laugh. "You have to be around Harry and Ron all day! Boy are you going to be sending mixed signals!"
"This isn't funny Ginny," a look of horror suddenly passed over Hermione face. " I'm going to Hogsmeade with them this weekend. It'll be a disaster," she said holding her face in her hands.
Ginny slowed her laughter and sat on the arm rest. " I wouldn't worry about it Hermione, I mean this thing can't last forever, can it? Filch is- or at least I thought he was- a squib, this whole thing could be gone by tomorrow."
It took a few more attempts to finally keep Crookshanks inside the common room. Ginny and Hermione made their way down to their respective class rooms, although at one point Ginny had to dig her heels into the ground to stop Hermione from chasing after Roger Davies.
"So what are you going to do if you sit beside them?" asked Ginny.
"I don't know, I guess I just won't look at them. I'll sit on my hands or something."
"Good plan, well I have to go- transfiguration is that way, remember, just stay focused and you should be fine- you're good at that."
"See you Ginny," said Hermione with a smile and carried on her way. She watched as the rest of the class file in to potions. Hermione stood outside, took a deep breath and walked in. Lifting her eyes briefly, she took her seat next to Harry and Ron.
"Where were you this morning?" whispered Harry.
"Just finishing something up," she said sitting on her hands and pulling her ear away. Harry's breath was tickling her. She closed her eyes to try to push the naughty thoughts out of head.
Hermione focused on her note book in front of her. Not once did she dare raise her hand in case it might wonder onto Harry's tie and pull him onto the table... she blew on her sweaty forehead, her body temperature was on the rise again.
"Hermione are you nervous?" asked Harry
"No why?" she said staring at the table.
"Well, can you please stop bouncing your leg? The table is shaking."
"Sorry."
She watched out of the corner of her eyes as Harry started taking notes. She heard the scratching of chalk against the black board. Any second now Snape was going to turn around and take 10 points from Gryffindor because she wasn't copying down notes. She had to risk it.
Steadying her breath she brought one hand out and took a quill from her bag. So far so good. She opened her book and began to scratch away. It seemed like hours had passed by. Hermione was feeling confident. She can beat this no problem.
"Hermione, do you have any extra ink? I'm completely dry," said Harry.
Hermione clenched her fist. Avoiding his eyes she reached down into her bag and handed a spare bottle too him.
"Thanks," he said taking the bottle and brushing his fingers against hers.
Uh Oh.
Her breathing had started to get heavy as she looked at him completely. He turned his face just in time before he saw Hermione making it look like she was about to nibble on his ear lobe.
Finally the bell rang and Hermione snapped her head forward. She heard Snape mumble something about an essay due next week as she rushed out of the classroom. Focus, Hermione she told herself.
This day was far from over.
"What is with her today?" said Ron walking out of potions.
"I don't know, she looked pretty uptight about something. She was sweating like crazy," said Harry watching Hermione in front of him.
"You don't think she has that flu going around do you?"
"Hermione?" Harry called out. She stopped dead in front of them and then kept walking.
"Hermione, wait a second!" called Harry jogging up beside her. He watched Hermione's face fall into a relaxed smile then go straight into a worried frown, "Hermione wait!" Harry grabbed onto her arm and spun her around. " That's it I'm taking you to Madam Pomfrey."
"You can take me anywhere you want," said Hermione with a lopsided grin.
"Sorry?"
"Er- no, I'm fine Harry," she said wrenching her arm free, "really I am."
"Are you sure? I have no problems taking you down."
"Oh God I hope not," Hermione shook her head. "I have to go to Arithmancy- I'll see you."
Hermione turned on her heel and ran, leaving Harry and Ron with a confused look on their face.
After Arithmancy, it was Ancient Runes, and after that- it was lunch. On the way down to the Hall she had nearly mauled Roger Davies again, if it had not been for Ginny grabbing on to Hermione 's book bag at the last minute.
"We have got to put an end to this somehow," said Ginny. "Do you have anymore classes today?"
"No I have the afternoon off," said Hermione loosening her tie and un-doing the first button.
"Ah, see? We can get through this."
And Hermione believed it. Up until Ron and Harry walked in in their Quidditch uniforms. The broad shoulders, piercing eyes…Hermione was leaving nail marks on the table as she clenched her fists tightly.
"I'll take care of them. Don't you dare move," Ginny added as she got up, "Hello boys!" said Ginny taking Ron and Harry by the arms, " Have you guys been on the pitch yet?"
"No why?" asked Ron eyeing his sister.
"Because…don't you want to test out the flying conditions?"
Harry and Ron looked at each other.
"I suppose we could," said Harry, "lunch will still be on by the time we get back."
"I can show you that new keepers move I've been talking about!"
Ginny watched them exit and turned around to see Hermione's seat empty. She heard cat- calls and whistles from the Ravenclaw table, where Hermione was sitting on Roger Davies' lap. Cho looked disgusted.
"Oh dear."
Ginny ran over and grabbed Hermione's robes and pulled her towards the entrance, leaving Roger quite flustered with his hair messed up.
"This is a lot worse than I expected. I mean you being in heat? It's insane."
"Hey Dean," Hermione purred as Dean Thomas walked by giving Hermione an arched eyebrow.
Ginny snapped her forward again. "Don't make me lock you in the closet!"
"I can't help it!" said Hermione desperately, "I never asked to be in heat did I?"
"I have this feeling it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better- Whizzbies," said Ginny as the portrait hole opened.
"I- I just have to keep my mind occupied," said Hermione as she cast a grin to a sixth year.
"How about numbing it with a cold shower?" said Ginny pushing her up the stairs.
"Good idea," said Hermione, the expression on her face changing rapidly.
Ginny waited patiently in her room dangling a piece of string in front of Crookshanks, as he swiped in playfully with his paw.
"That actually felt better," said Hermione drying her hair off with a towel, " although I doubt it's doing much for my hair," she added casting the towel aside and pulling her robes closer.
"Well I still have a few minutes before my next class, " said Ginny checking her watch, "The common room is definitely empty by now, I'll meet you down stairs, you can help me with my Transfiguration essay."
"Fair enough" said Hermione running a brush through her hair. Casting it on her bed she made her way down the stairs, as soon as she reached the bottom step, the portrait door swung open and Harry crawled through.
Hermione's eyes narrowed and watched him hop down, with his Quidditch Robes flowing around him, his black hair freshly tussled from the wind. Hermione's breathing was becoming rapid as she watched a drip of sweat travel down the side of his jaw.
Harry heard a rapid foot steps and a flash of brown hair before he was slammed against the wall, he braced himself as Hermione gently bit his bottom lip and fruriously ran her hand up the side of his head grabbing his hair.
"Hermione! What are you- OOF!"
Hermione jumped on him wrapping her legs around his waist, grabbing onto the front of his Quidditch robes, she kissed him hard.
There was a mad rush of footsteps and Harry saw a flash of red hair out of the corner of his eye.
"HERMIONE GET OFF!" yelled Ginny pulling Hermione by the back of her robes. She stumbled backwards, as if snapping out of her trance. Ginny turned to her, "You! Cold Shower! Now!"
Hermione looked very worried, "Okay," she said, and with another sideways glance at Harry, Ginny turned her around and pushed her towards the stairs.
Harry stood there like he had been stunned. His Quidditch robe was hanging off his shoulder, his hair, if it was possible, was messed up even more, and his glasses were slightly askew.
"What...the hell....was that?"
Ginny listened closely to hear Hermione's door shut before answering.
"Harry um....Hermione...is having some issues," she said playing with her fingers.
"Issues with what?" said Harry pushing himself away from the wall and straitening out his robe.
"Well it's - it's complicated, and er...maybe Hermione should be the one telling you...if she's not to busy forcing you into broom closet anytime soon," she added cooly.
"She's been acting strange all day," said Harry, " I mean she's constantly sweating, always looks nervous, and then- and then what just er, happened now," said Harry looking at the floor, his cheeks turning slightly pink.
Ginny gave him the side eye, "You enjoyed it!"
"That's stupid," said Harry straightening out, " Why would I enjoy it?"
"Well. you weren't exactly pushing her away were you?"
"Well she completely caught me off guard, she jumped on me for Merlin's sake!"
"You're right Harry," Ginny sighed, "we all know how hard it is to concentrate with someone's tongue down your throat."
"GINNY!"
"I'm just kidding!" said Ginny with her hands up in protest.
"What's up?" said Ron entering the common room with a flourish, "You okay?" he asked noticing Harry's flustered look.
"Oh, he's fine," said Ginny waving it away, " he just found out what happens when a squib tries to cast a spell."
"Oh…what?" said Ron suddenly looking confused.
"Never mind," said Harry quickly.
"Well, if you two will excuse me, I have to run and get my bag before the bell rings," said Ginny turning on her heels and running up the stairs.
"Who tried to cast a spell on you?" Ron asked as they continued up their own flight of stairs
"Er- no one." said Harry feeling his tender lips.
Ginny peeked in Hermione's room, where she watched Hermione's head bob up and down over the edge of her bed.
"I don't know how many more of these cold showers I can take, Ginny" said Hermione halfway through a push-up.
Ginny stood there with her hip jutted out, "Why don't you just go in the library and look up a counter curse or something…you're good at that."
Hermione pushed her self up. "Do you remember what happened the last time I went into the library by myself?"
"You're right, Pansy will do her nut if she sees you snogging the daylights out of Draco."
"Blegh" said Hermione with her tongue out, "no, I think all I need to do is keep my mind occupied," she grunted, straining herself for one last push up.
" So…what, you're just going to drop and do push-ups every time you get the um… urge?"
"Don't be silly," said Hermione straightening herself up, "I have homework I can do."
Ginny shrugged. "Well just the same I'll check in the library for you," she said swinging her bag over her shoulder. "By the way," she added pausing at the door,
"You left Harry quite flustered downstairs, I don't think he was capable of coherent thought for a few moments." Ginny left grinning broadly, while Hermione bit her lip and blushed furiously.
Hermione wildly whipped her hands up and down in the air exhaling heavily. If I can just get through this day, she thought to herself. She scooped up a purring Crookshanks and sat on the edge of her bed. A sudden horror struck her. How was she going to explain this to Harry? To Ron for that matter? Oh, by the way Harry I'm in heat so if you find me on top of you, I apologize ahead of time. Hermione rolled her eyes. It was to late for apologies now after what had happened in the common room. But she knew that Harry knew better. She wasn't that type of girl. He would understand if she told him. This was Filch's doing after all.
With a new feeling of confidence she had difficulties putting Crookshanks down on her bed (his claws had caught on her jumper), and grabbed a few books, and headed down the stairs.
Ron and Harry were sitting on the couch with the brooomstick servicing kit open in front of them.
"Hey Hermione," said Ron, "Wanna help us polish our broomsticks?"
The corner of Hermione's mouth twitched. Harry and Ron stared at her as Hermione dropped her books and started doing push-ups in the middle of the common room.