Love Potion Number Nine

Chapter Two: Fight Fire with Fire

(Hey People. Please read and review. Mini "love" scene coming up :- )! Thank you!)


"So, what have you been up to?" Harry asked, smiling over the rim of his wine glass. Hermione grimaced. She noticed that it was only one in the afternoon and Harry decided to drink wine while eating a simple salad, whereas she stuck to a nice cool glass of lemonade. Harry's smile slightly wavered.

"Well, when I graduated from Hogwarts, I got many job offerings. People wanted me to become a writer for the Daily Prophet, a spy, a nurse," she laughed easily. "But then there was this one job…at the CCA, and a handsome man kept bugging me about the job, popping up at my parent's house, popping up when I went shopping, leaving long messages on my phone. Then, when I decided to have an interview with him, I fell in love with the work. The salary is amazing too, more than I need, really," she smiled and fiddled with the tomato on her plate. Harry gave her a dazzling smile.

"That's wonderful Herm," he said.

"What did you do after graduation?"

"I became a Quidditch player. I didn't have to do try outs, the English team knew they wanted me, actually, all the Quidditch teams wanted me, and they were all equally good teams. So, in the end, I just took the job that offered the most money, not that I even need that…" Harry said. She remembered that Harry was an extremely wealthy wizard, and that working was not a must in his life.

"But I guess I just wanted to be among people and not live like I was some damn king," he finished.

"Where do you live?" She asked.

"Well, I live right outside of Urban Diagon Alley. In a nice house, with a balcony, what I've always wanted. Five bedrooms, three baths…I have visitors over all the time, just to fill in the rooms. Molly and Arthur practically live there, since…their house fell," Harry said sadly. She gasped.

"When did this happen?" She asked eagerly.

"They were always having problems, since Arthur was put out of work, the whole family had to find jobs to keep the mortgage paid, and one day, before the Wizarding Committee came to scoop up straying Death Eater, they set the Weasley's home on fire. It was horrible. I happened to be there, and I rounded up the death eaters. They almost killed Ginny…we found her floating in a nearby stream, she was so messed up, and Ron was burnt severely, Molly also, and Arthur, he was tortured almost to the brink of insanity. Now of days he might space out, or have violent tantrums because of the affect the curse had on him," Harry said gravely. She wept and wiped the tears from her face as their meal came towards them.

"So, they're staying with you," It wasn't a question, "What happened to Ginny? She was just found there?" She cringed, knowing what the answer might be.

"She swore that nothing happened, just some tormenting and beating. But God Hermione…when we found her, her eyes were opened wide, and she had a horrible look, like she was waiting for death," Harry said.

"My God, how awful, hopefully she's better now?"

"Oh yes, she's living with me, just finished up at Hogwarts and needed a place to stay," Harry said happily. He seemed to not mine the people that dropped in and out of his house.

"Is you house far from here?" she asked, taking a sip from her soup.

"Um, no, not really, would you like to see it?" Harry asked, checking his watch. "No one is home though,"

"It's okay, I have almost an hour to get back to work, and well, I want to catch up with you," she said, smiling. Harry nodded.

"Well, when you left, I was so surprised Hermione, I thought you hated me, when I asked you to come with me Herm, I didn't mean to scare you," Harry said, reaching to touch the top of her hand lightly. She smiled sadly and held his hand.

"I'm sorry I left like that," she said. She would never tell him the real reason why she had gone.

After lunch they walked down the crowded and noisy streets of Diagon Alley. Harry held her hand and she leaned up against him. People stared at them, realizing that the famous Harry Potter was walking with the smartest witch known to wizarding kind. As they walked further, she realized the sudden change in environment. The streets became quieter, and houses had appeared. It was like a mini suburb.

"Blimey, Harry…your house is beautiful," she exclaimed, walking around in his living room. The carpets were scarlet, with golden plush couches and armchairs. He had pictures of them as children hanging on his walls, and on his mantel. She felt warm and loved in his house, like her presence had always been here, even though it was her first visit.

She flopped on the armchair and sighed, making noises to display her comfort.

"Oh Harry, this couch is making my back feel amazing," she purred.

"I know, it massages your back," he said quietly. She looked up to see him staring at her. She gave him a lopsided grin and he was on top of her.

"Harry, oh gods, what are you doing…" she gasped. Harry was slipping his tongue in her mouth.

"Do you want me to stop?" he mumbled.

"No…No…" she whispered, falling to the floor to sit on top of him. She unbuttoned her suit jacket and hiked up her navy blue pleated skirt. Harry had his hands resting on her hips and she moved wildly on top of him. He pulled her face down to his and slid his hands under her white shirt and bra to place them over her breasts.

"Harry, oh bloody hell, Harry…" Hermione cried out as Harry lightly squeezed her breasts. She had tears running down her face from pure pleasure. Harry turned her onto her back and began to pull down her knickers. In doing so, he pulled down his own pants and started to kiss her fully on the mouth.

"No! No…stop…we can't…we can't Harry…" Hermione yelped. Harry flinched and moved away from her.

"Why not?" he asked hurt.

"It's not right! I can't make love to a person I don't love…" she said hurriedly. Harry gaped at her from across the floor; his green eyes wide with shock.

"You don't love me?"

"Harry, I do, just not like that, I'm so sorry but I can't do it. I can't have sex with you. It feels so wrong," she trembled. Harry stood and buttoned his pants, and she started to fix her shirt and pull back on her knickers.

"Harry…" she started, but Harry put up his hand.

"Don't. I understand, you're not ready, I can wait," he said. She began to protest but he had pulled her into a tight hug. "I know you're confused, so am I. I know that we'll grow to love one another,"

"Harry…" she wept. He wouldn't understand her. He thinks that she's afraid to have a relationship with him, when she just wants to be his friend.


She entered her office feeling slow and harassed. Malfoy gave her a sickly smile as she sat behind her desk. She picked up her phone and pressed the answer machine button. Henry's voice came from the phone.

"Hermione, I can't wait to see you. I'm sorry about my attitude from earlier. Your secretary has told me to send you your fee by dropping by, so I will be at your office at four. I love you."

The message beeped. She sighed and her stomach fluttered as her eye darted to the large clock sitting on a desk near the door. It read 2:40pm.

"When are you going to lunch Malfoy?" Hermione asked through gritted teeth. Malfoy gave her the same smile.

"I already ate Granger, when you left here with Potty," he sneered.

"Grow up!" she snapped, wiping the smile from his face. "If you're going to work with me, we have to come to some agreement, okay?"

"Fine," he said willingly. He stood to walk over to her desk and perched his rear on it. She looked up at him angrily but he cut her off. She huffed out of anger, this was the second time someone had stopped her from speaking today.

"Listen Granger, I know I've been an ass to you for seven years, but since we're grown adults, and working together, I'll be civil to you, if you're civil to me…" he said sinisterly. She took in his appearance- his tall muscular frame, to his cold silver eyes, to his long blonde hair that hung to his ears childishly. She shivered when his eyes burned into hers.

"Deal, but if I hear you call me a mudblood, or some other filthy word I'll have you reported, and you'll be fired," she threatened. He laughed and stood from her desk, dropping her paper weights in the process, staring deeply at her. He came around her desk and turned her to him in her chair.

"What is that?" he asked, pointing to the side of her neck. She jumped at his cold touch. He tapped the spot repeatedly as she rambled in her desk drawer for a small mirror. Pulling one out, she stared at the red spot on her neck. A hickey!

"Fucking hell!" she screamed, dropping the mirror. Malfoy caught it before it fell to the floor.

"Looks like you and Potter had fun at lunch…were you his main course?" he said laughing mirthlessly. She rubbed at the mark on her neck and whimpered. Her mind began to race at what Henry might think.

"Oh gods, how am I going to get rid of this?" she cried. Malfoy sighed, rolling his eyes and lifted her chin so his eyes locked with hers. Placing his long, cold pale fingers around her neck a soft glow emitted from his hand. He inspected her neck and nodded.

"There Granger, a simple concealing charm, you of all people should know about them…" he said smirking. He still had his hand around her throat; she was staring into his eyes blankly.

"You're one hell of a woman Granger," he said, letting go of her roughly, starting to walk towards his desk. She yelled out and gripped her neck, to stop the pain that shot up her neck.

"Bastard!" she spat. Malfoy turned on his heel.

"Granger, did you already forget our deal?" he asked innocently.

"You almost took off my neck!" she bitched. Malfoy coyly batted his eyes.

"I thought I was being gentle…I mean, you did shiver under my touch," he said arrogantly. Hermione tossed her stapler in his direction and he dodged it, giving her a wild look.

"What the bloody hell Granger! That could have hit my head!"

"I don't care!" her hand dropped from her neck and stood to pick up her fallen paper weights.

"Prick…" she mumbled.

"You've always had a filthy little mouth Granger. You should stop that, just gives me more reasons to call you a mud—" he started but a rough knock came from the door. She shot Malfoy a dirty look.

"Come in!" she said sweetly. The door opened and Henry stood framed in the doorway. He was tall, with golden blonde hair. His sexy well trimmed beard looked scratchy but was incredibly soft, and his muscular body gave off an air of pure strength, but must of all, it was his crystal blue eyes that made her fall onto her knees and plead for pleasure.

"Henry—you're early…" She gasped. He walked into the room and sat in the chair in front of her desk.

"I couldn't wait. I needed to see you now," he said, his accent thick, curling his words. He slipped her a folded rectangular paper. She took it and opened it. Eyes shooting up she closed the paper once more and shook her head violently.

"I'm not taking this from you," She said with disbelief.

"You worked for a month Hermione, and cured a whole city, you deserve it," he said.

"One million galleons is a lot Henry. What will I do with such money?"

"Buy a house, get some new clothes, do anything you want," he said airily. He searched the room, and his gaze landed on Draco's half interested stare.

"Hullo, I'm Henry van der Tohn, what a pleasure to meet you," he said, standing to shake Malfoy's hand. Malfoy gave him an uninterested look and shook his hand halfheartedly.

"Yes, I know who you are; you're that famous researcher from Amsterdam," Draco said pumping the man's arm.

"Yes, I am, and you are?"

"Draco Malfoy, Miss. Granger's new partner," Draco replied. She gave him a pained expression, pleading with him that he's careful with his words.

"Oh, lovely, so you should know how dear Hermione works. Tell me boy, isn't she a doll?" Henry asked, grinning at Malfoy.

"Of course she is," he said, giving a strained chuckle. He sat back behind his desk and ignored him.

"Anyways love, what are you up to? You look sick...tired and stirred up," Henry said gently, taking a seat again.

"I've had a…very exciting day," she stammered. Henry laughed again and blew her a kiss. She blushed and returned the gesture. She could hear Malfoy snort.

"So, when do you get out of here?" Henry asked.

"I usually leave the office at eleven, but I guess I'll be leaving at six, I have a lot of work to do…" she lied. To be honest, she'd done all her work that was suppose to be turned in two weeks from now, she even had to ask herself why she showed up to work every day.

"Hermione dearest…" Henry begged. She raised an eyebrow at his pleading face and sighed.

"I'll need to go home and change Henry, I promise I'll come by as soon as I'm done and pick you up, okay?" she asked, giving him a sympathetic look. He nodded and stood to leave.

"I'll see you tonight then, love," Henry said shutting the door behind him. She picked up the check to stare at it once more and squealed in delight.


Six o' clock came and she felt extremely sick and tired. She had to sit and reread over five hundred pages of ingredients. Her face was pale and sweaty, and her eyes were sore. She stood wobbling to feet and collided into the desk.

"What's wrong with you Granger?" Draco asked, staring at her. He was wearing reading glasses, and flipping through a small black book.

"Must be…extremely exhausted from reading," she said weakly. She tripped and fell onto the floor. Malfoy stood his ground and watched her pick herself up.

"Where are you going?" he asked, putting down his book.

"I'm going home of course, so I can be with my boyfriend," she said triumphantly. She grabbed her spring coat and purse and dragged herself to the door. Malfoy turned off his computer and also grabbed his coat.

"C'mon Granger, I'll take you home," Malfoy said, taking hold of her elbow. She jerked her arm from him but leaned against him.

"I don't know what's come over me…I'm usually energetic after reading a five hundred page book in less than two hours," she said chuckling. Malfoy carried her outside into the hall, locking the office door behind them. He pulled her up and led her to the elevator. When they left the building, Malfoy held her firmly to him as they made their way down the darkening streets of Diagon Alley.

"Where do you live?" Malfoy asked in her ear. She pointed to a tall high-rise.

"You sure do know how to live large Granger," he drawled, leading her towards the building.

She leaned up against her door that read room 50A. The hallway was wide and furnished with chairs, tables, paintings and thick red carpet. She dug in her coat pocket for her keys and slid a single golden key into the lock. The door swung open and she stumbled forward. Her apartment was large, consisting of two stories, spiral stairs led to her second floor where her bedrooms were. But her living room, dining room and kitchen sparkled with love and care. She went down a hallway past her kitchen to a bathroom and slammed the door. Malfoy shrugged and hung his coat on the peg near her door.

"I can make something to make you feel better Granger!" Malfoy called from the living room. He started a fire in the fireplace with his wand. He walked past the dining room, climbed three steps and entered her eat in kitchen. He went over to her fridge and opened it.

"Why are you still here?" she asked, coming from out of the bathroom. She was dressed in a robe and her eyes were droopy and her throat rusty. His eyes fell down to the opening where the curves of her breasts showed. "Malfoy?"

"I said I could help you feel better. It seems that you've become ill due to a stress related issue. It happens a lot. I can make you a potion that'll make you feel all better before you go scoop up Prince Charming," he said, his eyes averted from her face.

"Why are you helping me?" she asked cautiously.

"Granger, you were stumbling around in our office. I did not want to feel responsible if you were harmed on your way home," Malfoy said frankly. She grimaced.

"Meh, like you would care. But if you want to help me, the ingredients to anything you're making are upstairs in my lab, so follow me, but if I fall, promise not to let me," she asked jokingly, but Malfoy nodded seriously.

She led him up her spiral stairs and into the second floor. She turned and stumbled into a room. Malfoy grabbed her about the waist to stop her from falling.

"Uh, thanks," she muttered, stepping away from him. She flicked on lights and a bright lit room came into focus. Malfoy's eyes went round as he took in the room. She dragged herself towards a cabinet and opened it, taking down a small cauldron, breakers, and stirring spoon. She sighed heavily and fell backwards onto her butt as Malfoy stepped towards the supplies.

"Stop falling your arse all over the place Granger, stay still," Malfoy growled, upset. His eyes wandered over her body as she sat up straighter, unaware of his gaze.

"Malfoy, this is my house, I'll do whatever the hell I want to do," she replied. He started to open her cabinets, finding out quickly that her ingredients were alphabetized. He mixed, stirred and tasted the potion he had created within seconds. Finally, he slipped in a handful of cinnamon and poured a glass into a beaker and handed it to her.

"You're not trying to poison me, are you?" she asked, her mouth smiling around the rim of the beaker.

"Now Granger, why would I do that?" Malfoy asked smugly, crossing his arms over his chest. She swallowed up the contents in one gulp. Rocking back and forth, she fell onto her back.

"What…why am I so tired?" she asked, dropping the beaker at her side.

"Don't worry mudblood, it'll pass," Malfoy's voice echoed. Her eyes sight left her, and so did her mind.

"Draco…?" she whispered, terrified, she slipped into darkness.


She awoke with a start, and immediately she felt alert. Her eyes fell onto the clock in her lab. She was on the floor and her lab coat was thrown on top of her. The clock ticked away as it notified her that it was six forty-three. She tossed the coat from off of her and searched the room for Malfoy. He was sitting in one of her armchairs, reading a large blue binder that held notes from her old assignments.

"Why are you still here? What the fuck did you do to me?" She asked her voice cracking. He gave her an amused look and closed her book.

"Granger, I gave you a simple pepper up potion and you fainted on me. I must have added too much cinnamon," Malfoy said, shrugging. "I had to see if you'd come out of it," he said.

"Get out of my house you filthy bastard!" she screamed, standing to her feet and pushing him from off the chair and into the hall. "You tried to kill me! Don't try to lie about it! You knew that a pepper up potion could go bad if you added too much ingredients! Why? Why would you try to kill me?" Hermione asked, pushing him down the stairs. Malfoy turned and grabbed her wrists and pulled her violently in front of him on the stairs. She easily flew and clung to him in order to keep her balance.

"How dare you accuse me of trying to kill you. I'll leave your home, but heed me mudblood…if I ever hear you bring this night up again, I will kill you," Malfoy yelled in her face. She bowed her head to hide her fearful tears. When she looked up finally, she gave him a disgusted look and spat in his face.

"Real attractive Granger," Malfoy said, letting go of her. She followed him down the stairs as he grabbed his coat from the peg and opened the door. She held the door for him, and he grabbed her about the waist and pulled her to him.

"You're not so bad Granger," Malfoy said softly. She froze under his touch. He released her and grinned and left her home, slamming the door behind him.

"Oh god…" she whimpered. She had to admit, she felt better, but the near death experience, again, by the hands of Malfoy shook her. Her mind raced at what he meant by "not being so bad".

Putting the horrid thoughts aside, she ran to her room to dress quickly, knowing that Henry would be waiting.


Thank you for reading. Please review!

-Amber