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Ch. 2- Adoration and Hate

Harry could not find the strength to pry his eyes away from Narcissa. After a while, he gave up and lost himself in her intent gaze. He tried to speak and opened his mouth to do so, but he found that he could not find words to describe what he was feeling at the moment. Harry simply stood there, his mouth gaping. Luckily, Narcissa saved him from further embarrassment and spoke.

"Hello, Harry," she said smiling.

"Uh…er…hi, Mrs. Malfoy."

"Please, call me Narcissa," she replied. Harry had obviously caused her some pain by calling her Mrs. Malfoy. At her grief, Harry was forced to recall a night not too long ago…

Harry stumbled along holding his wounded left arm to his side. He knew Lucius was hiding somewhere close…. but where?

He finally came upon a clearing in the woods and there in front of him lye his victim, mortally wounded. Harry knew he could help him, if he chose to. As he gazed upon his enemy, he recalled all the pain, all the suffering that Lucius had caused him in the past year. He looked upon Lucius Malfoy with contempt. 'No one will care,' he thought. 'Everyone hates him, except maybe his wife and Draco. But I could get away with it…' His mind made up, Harry took a step back and yelled, 'Avada Kedarva!'

"I-I'm sorry about Lucius," stammered Harry uncertainly.

"It's okay…. you did what you had too…. It's funny…I never really loved him…It's more like I had to marry him…but I did grow somewhat attached to him over the years," she replied, her eyes unfocused.

"But…I didn't have to…I wasn't supposed to…"

"I know. I suppose Lucius made life difficult for you over the years, especially these pass few." Narcissa was interrupted by the approach of Lupin and Hermione.

"Harry! Good work! We'll turn her in immediately," said Lupin brightly.

"But she was under the Imperius Curse," said Harry quickly. He didn't know why he said it, but something inside of him was telling him to save Narcissa at all costs.

"What?" asked Hermione.

"She wasn't doing it of her own free will. When I caught her, I lifted the spell, and she had no idea where she was or anything."

"You lifted the Imperius Curse?" asked Hermione unbelievingly.

"Yes."

"Well, are you sure she wasn't faking it?" asked Lupin.

"Positive."

"Well, all right then. Perhaps you should escort Mrs. Malfoy home, Harry." Lupin turned and left. Hermione watched him leave and then she turned on Harry.

"I know what you're doing. She was never under the Imperius Curse. You're just trying to save her. Just wait…I'll prove she is a Death Eater." Hermione walked away, but not so far that she couldn't hear what Harry and Narcissa were saying.

"Harry, why did you do that?" asked Narcissa.

"I don't know… I just did."

"But after all those years of rivalry with Draco, and after all that Lucius did to you, you'd still save me?"

"I guess so."

"You must have a reason. Why did you save me?" Narcissa looked at Harry so intently that he felt as if he might crack if he didn't tell her.

"Because I think I love you!" he blurted out.

"Harry, I-I don't know what to say," replied a stunned Narcissa.

"Say you love me too! I don't think I can live with out you Narcissa. Do you love me?"

"I-I," Narcissa stammered. She looked right into Harry's brilliant green eyes and finally answered, "I think I love you too."

"No!" Hermione said between gritted teeth. "What am I going to do? Now he loves Her instead of me! And- Oh no!" she gasped. "What if somebody finds out that I'm the one that made the potion? I could get thrown in Azkaban! Love potions were made illegal who knows how long ago…" Hermione realized that she had been saying all this out loud and quickly clapped her hands over her mouth with a little squeak. She turned around to see Lupin standing open- mouthed behind her.

"Hermione! Did you really make a love potion?" asked Lupin shocked.

"Sorry about this Professor," said Hermione quickly before shouting 'Obliviate' and modifying his memory.

'It's times like this that make me glad I decided to become an Obliviator,' thought Hermione. 'What to do? What to do? I have to keep this secret and find a way to break Harry and Narcissa up and I'll have my revenge on that…woman if it's the last thing I do. I need a plan… a secret plan… a secret plan that's…secret.' Obviously the situation had made Hermione slightly stupid. 'First I'll have to get out of the city…possibly the country…' She quickly apparated to her flat and began packing her things as fast as magic would let her. She pondered where to go when a thought hit her. If she suddenly fled the country, right after Harry and Narcissa fell in love, it might look suspicious. She plopped back down on her couch and thought about the matter. Hermione finally came to the conclusion that she would have to simply go on as if everything was normal, that way everyone would think Harry and Narcissa fell in love of their own accord.

Suddenly, Hermione's phone rang. "I didn't do anything!" she screamed. The fact that her phone was ringing finally registered in her brain and she picked it up. "Hello?"

"Hey, Hermione! It's Ron."

"Oh…h-hi Ron… hem…"

"Is everything okay?"

"Of course it is! Nothing's wrong!" she said quickly.

"Okay… Anyway, I was wondering if you've seen Harry lately."

"Harry who?" asked Hermione.

"Harry Potter… the only Harry we know."

"Oh! Him! No, I haven't seen him in a few days… Why do you ask?"

"Because he hasn't been home for the past few hours and we were supposed to over to the Burrow. My mum was going to have a small celebration for his birthday."

"Oh."

"Well, I'll ask Ginny. Maybe she's seen him."

"Okay, you do that."

"Are you sure you're okay, Hermione? You're acting rather odd."

"Yeah… I'm perfectly fine…Never been better."

"Well, if you're sure… Bye then."

"B-bye." Hermione slouched in her seat. 'Smart one Hermione…Now Ron suspects something…Stupid!'

Ron hung the phone up and frowned. He really didn't like telephones, but had gotten one in order to impress Hermione, since she seemed to be so big on them and all. Though, he had to admit, it was nice to actually hear Hermione's voice. Ron thought about their conversation and his frown grew. He had wanted to say more to Hermione, something that would let her know how he feels. He shook his head at his own shyness. His thoughts then moved to Hermione's strange behavior. Ron pondered her behavior a while, but unable to make anything of it, pushed it from his mind and proceeded to owl Ginny.