Disclaimer: I don't own HP or any HP characters.
A/N: written in response to the Hideaway drabble contest for August in which a love potion backfires. This is the one I opted not to use, but I thought it was worth posting somewhere since I wrote it.
"Just slip this into one of their drinks."
"Or both," Fred interrupted.
"And it'll do the trick," George said.
---
Hermione had forgotten about the potion in the rush of beginning a new school term. Only after cleaning her trunk did it resurface. It was fortunate timing. She felt more than ever that she needed it.
"Goodbye Dean. Hello Harry." She stuffed the vial in her robes and went to breakfast.
Harry was too engrossed in the Daily Prophet to notice her slip half the contents in his drink. Ron was sucking face with Lavender, so he was occupied.
"What are you doing?" Ginny said. "You slipped something in my drink." That caught Harry and Neville's attention. The latter had quietly been going about his breakfast. Harry gulped the contents of his cup as he turned to her, except his gaze passed straight over Hermione and landed on Ginny.
"It's nothing. Just something Fred and George gave me." They all knew she was a terrible liar so she told the truth.
"If it's not harmful, you drink it," Neville said. Harry was too busy staring to comment.
"Well?" Ginny said, shoving the cup across the table.
Hermione took it, saluted everyone and downed it as quickly as possible. She didn't feel different, just clearer.
Then Snape was behind them. "Miss Granger, I recommend more stealth on your part. Professor Dumbledore has requested I assess the situation so that Potter remains relatively unharmed."
Hermione turned to face him, a sheepish smile on her face. She gave him the vial.
Snape tore it from her hand, wafted the smell toward his nose then stoppered it. "You made this yourself?"
"Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Sir."
Ginny looked at Harry. "Stop staring at me."
Harry sighed, blinked a few times, and resumed staring. Hermione did likewise, except her gaze rested on Snape.
"Detention, Granger. We'll discuss your use of The One True Love, then. I'll expect you at eight sharp. If you're late, you will be punished." She was still looking at the door Snape left through as everyone else filed out for class.
Ginny managed to get Harry to stop staring long enough to collect his things. "Harry," she said as they were about to go their separate ways, "you are my one true love. I don't need a potion for that."
"So I can stop staring now?"
"You ... That was a ruse?!"
"Fred and George may have mentioned it."
"So that means Hermione and Snape?" Ginny said.
"Wouldn't want to be serving that detention," Harry said ending the discussion with a kiss.