The Next Morning
Hermione had just awakened from a wonderful dream; Dumbledore had just come in and told her that it was Malfoy, not she, that would be participating in the chocolate challenge. Unfortunately, even at this early hour Hermione knew it was only a dream and in a matter of minutes she would be out on the Quidditch Pitch wrestling her two best friends and her ex for plates of enchanted chocolate in front of the entire student population of both Hogwarts and Durmstrang. Hermione muttered to herself as she got up
"Well we mustn't keep them waiting must we? Have to get up and make a fool of myself for other people's entertainment. This must be what politicians feel like before a speech."
She got out of bed and dressed slowly hoping to postpone the inevitable for as long as possible. She was just fastening her cloak when her two roommates Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil walked into the room. She wished that she had had some warning so that she could have hidden from them, but it seemed that this was just to be another part of her day. Dealing with the school's biggest mouths that never seemed to close.
Lavender giggled annoyingly at her,
"Well Hermione, I bet you just can't wait for this day to start. I mean you of all people chosen to muddy themselves for a little chocolate. Imagine."
Parvati shook her head.
"Yes, but remember Lavender, she is a "Mud"blood after all."
And with that the two of them went off giggling like hyenas sniffing nitrous oxide, leaving Hermione turning red and glaring at Parvati with a look that would have stopped a basilisk in its tracks. Suddenly small wisps of smoke started wafting up from the ends of Parvati's brown hair. She started shrieking just as Lavender doubled over in a severe coughing fit. Hermione was puzzled until she saw Ginny standing in the doorway lowering her wand with a spark of mischief in her eyes. Hermione looked back at her roommates and wondered at their behavior. Something was off about this but she couldn't for the life of her figure it out. Turning, Hermione followed Ginny out to the Quidditch pitch.
Down on the Quidditch field Harry stood waiting with his plate of chocolate sitting precariously balanced in his sweaty hands while Ron was trying desperately not to drop his on the ground as his knees began shaking uncontrollably. Viktor merely stood looking puzzled as though he had no idea what he was doing there in the first place. Harry was instantly alert when he saw Hermione and Ginny making their way towards them.
"Hello Hermione. How are you this morning?"
Hermione's answer was scathing.
"How am I? Oh I don't know Harry, how should I be? I'm about to essentially wrestle the three of you to the ground in order to get to that."
She pointed to the plate he was holding.
Harry smiled slightly.
"Come on 'Mione, it won't be that bad. Look at Ron, he's shaking like a jellyfish riding a jackhammer, but he's not eating the chocolate. And if he's not, it can't be too tempting can it? You should have no problem resisting it."
Hermione begins to look a little happier when a sudden flash of something pops into her mind.
"No Harry, you're wrong unfortunately. I remember I read last night that this chocolate is made with a little
essence from the person being tempted, so in a way it's like they are after a piece of themselves."
"Oh. I'm sorry 'Mione. I know this must be terribly embarrassing for you especially knowing that you're only going to lose in the end."
Hermione was about to reply when Dumbledore signaled the beginning of the challenge. Hermione was placed in front of Viktor first and she realized that there had been a barrier of some sort blocking the smell of the chocolate from her. As soon as she smelled it all of her other senses shut down and she was running on automatic. She leveled Viktor with a disarming spell and grabbed his plate of chocolate within seconds. She sat on the ground and began snarfing it down like a suffocating man would gulp in air. Harry saw a flash of blood as her teeth nicked one of her fingers in her haste. Ron was next on her hit list. Literally as Hermione propelled him off his feet and grabbed the second plate of chocolate. As Ron lay flat on his back and Hermione inhaled the spoils of her effort, Harry could hear the crowd cheering. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Hermione stalking towards him. He backed away quickly.
"Hermione, stop. There's no need for more violence."
Hermione is finally able to find her voice but it was to say what Harry was least expecting.
"There won't be if you hand over the chocolate."
Harry quickly put up a shield and was relieved when Hermione's spell was deflected. The relief was short-lived as Hermione advanced again. But to Harry's surprise she didn't attack she merely walked towards him. Harry instinctively raised the plate above his head and waited for her next move. He didn't have to wait long, for Hermione had reached one hand to try to meet his and wrapped the other around his waist to steady herself. Harry's breath caught as her body leaned into his as she stretched on her tiptoes trying to reach the last of her reward. Her hair brushed against his face and he was overtaken by the scent of vanilla and roses. He turned to look at her and saw her smiling at him temptingly. He thought a moment to himself.
'Hmm, the tempted doing the tempting. How ironic.'
He soon found his head swimming, his knees buckling and he was not all surprised to see that she had managed to relinquish his hold on the plate and had proceeded to rid it of its contents. In the aftermath of such close contact he couldn't even build up enough strength to care that he had lost the challenge. All he could think about was how strange he felt right now. What was that anyway? He didn't have too much time to ponder it as Hermione, left without anymore chocolate, apparently came back to her senses; saw that she'd won and by the cheers, whistles and catcalls figured she'd totally humiliated herself fled to Gryffindor Tower. Harry had no choice but to go after her.
TBC…