Hermione's POV:
"It should be a sunshine yellow colour, not the colour of shit, Granger." He sneered. I looked down at the bubbling cauldron to get a better view of the concoction, but just as soon as I leaned in, I found myself jerking back.
"Why does it smell like this?" I exclaimed as I plugged my nose in horror. I had never smelled something so putrid in my entire life!
"Because we're doing it wrong."
"Obviously." I snapped back at him. Professor Slughorn poked his head in between our shoulders and let out a small giggle.
"Well, well, well, I see we are having a bit of trouble in Table Five aren't we? What seems to be the problem?" he chirped.
"The only problem we have is that Granger refuses to listen to me. She insists on putting Ashwinder Eggs though I know for a fact it's wrong. Just look at that thing!" he pointed to the cauldron just as the potion began to ooze out of its corners.
"Oh my…" Professor Slughorn's eyebrows creased together.
"It really isn't as bad as it looks like." I tried wiping the liquid off the table with a napkin, but more seemed to be pouring out.
"Maybe you should listen to Mr. Malfoy tomorrow." Professor Slughorn gave a half-heartedly smile and walked off. I rifled through my bag, making sure that my notebook was in it so I could avoid another confrontation with him. I stalked off not turning back to look at Malfoy and gripped Harry's arm on the way out.
"Blimey Hermione, you're going to stop my circulation." He chuckled. I loosened my grip on him and gave him a soft smile.
"How's it going? Working with Malfoy?" Ron asked, catching up from behind us. I shrugged nonchalantly. If I told them how I was really feeling, how I dreaded every morning waking up and how I was scared for my life every time his arm accidently grazed mine, well, they would probably kill Malfoy just so I wouldn't have to be partners with him.
"If he tries to do anything to you…" Ron muttered through clenched teeth. I placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry Ron." I said, trying to comfort him. I couldn't help but smile at Ron's expression. He was so protective and I loved that about him. I always felt safe with Ronald around.
"Hermione!" a voice called from behind me. I spun around on my heels and saw Pansy Parkinson making her way towards me, waving. Pansy? I thought she hated me…
"Er…hi, Pansy." My voice wavered. What on earth could she possibly want? When she finally reached me, I noticed she was carrying a box.
"Thank goodness I found you! I've been looking all over the halls. These are for you." She shoves the box into my hands. I spin it around a couple of times and give it a good shake.
"Sorry but what is this?" I asked while I looked for some sort of label on it.
"They're from Draco."
I stopped moving and slowly moved my eyes up to meet hers.
"From…Draco?" I asked completely perplexed. She nodded and began to walk away.
"Pansy, wait! I was just with him in class… why didn't he give me this there?" maybe I was hallucinating, but I swore I saw a flicker of panic flash in her eyes…but whatever I saw vanished before I could question her.
"He didn't want to give it to you in front of all those people… you know Draco." She giggled and walked off. No, actually, I don't "know Draco."
"What do you think it is?" I leaped at the sound of Ron's voice. I had completely forgotten they were there.
"No idea…"
"Well, go on, open it up!" Harry poked my arm. I began to slowly rip off the wrapping paper. When I finally finished unwrapping it, I was left with a medium sized brown box. I pushed off the lid and inside laid a single flower.
"It's a daisy?" Ron's voice echoed from behind me.
"I love daisies…" I mumbled to nobody in particular.
"What game does he think he's playing?" Ron began to discuss with Harry all the possible reasons why Draco could have sent me it. I could see them standing there, but their voices seemed to be melting away. I was being drawn to the flower… I needed this flower… I drew the flower towards my face, and took one deep breath in…
Draco's POV:
What had I come in here for again? I stood in the middle of the Slytherin common room completely unaware of my intentions. With all the stress that was going on lately, I had seemed to be losing things, friendships, and most possibly my mind. Suddenly, I heard quick and loud footsteps coming from behind me and before I could turn around, I had crashed down onto the floor. Actually, somebody had thrown me to the ground and was lying on top of me.
"Draco." The person moaned my name into my ear. She began to kiss the back of my neck in a circular motion. For a second, I thought of just letting her continue and not bother checking who it was, but something inside me clicked. That voice…
I somehow managed to scoot my way from under her and stood up in one great leap. Lying on the floor with the dreamiest expression in her eyes was none other than Hermione Granger.
"Granger?" I croaked out. Was I dreaming? No… why would I be having a sexual dream about Granger, that would be absolutely absurd.
"Yes my pumpkin patch?" she giggled while twirling a lock of her curly hair in her finger. Pumpkin path?
"Okay, I'm going to need you to explain to me what the bloody hell is going on." I craned my neck to make sure nobody was coming. If anybody would walk in and see this…oh Merlin.
"What do you mean, Draco? You sent me that beaaaautiful flower, and I thought… oh my gosh… I love Draco! And he loves me! What should are babies be named?"
"Granger, I'm going to need you to listen to me carefully." I grabbed her shoulders firmly.
"What is it, dear?" she asked dabbing her eyelashes as if she had a nervous twitch.
"You don't love me. I don't love you. We're not having babies. I didn't give you a flower. And I have no bloody idea what is going on."
"What are you talking about? Pansy gave me the beautiful flower and-,"
"Pansy? Pansy gave you the – oh no." it all made sense now. She must have put some form of a love potion on the flower… Granger took a big whiff of it and now… this. There has to be something I can do…
I found myself basically dragging Hermione to the one place I knew I could find something to snap her back into reality. I reached the door I was looking for and knocked on it furiously. It swung open almost immediately.
"What the-,"
"No time to explain, Blaise. She's on some sort of love potion that Pansy gave her…just- just fix her." I shoved Hermione towards Blaise and she whined at the loss of contact.
"You sure you don't want to take advantage of this situation." Blaise winked and fiddled with the end of Hermione's skirt.
"No! No… no, I would never get with a mudblood." He shrugged and sat her down on the floor. He began to shove through jars on a cabinet until he finally pulled out a small vile containing a form of silver liquid.
"This should do it." I gripped the vile and with shaking hands, and poured it into her mouth. Her eyes went from dreamy to vacant, and for a moment my heart stopped. Had something gone wrong? Had it been the wrong potion? She collapsed onto the floor unconscious. I felt myself beginning to panic.
"What – what did you do?" I bellowed. Blaise chuckled with his arms crossed.
"Just wait…" he whispered, and suddenly her eyes fluttered open.
Hermione's POV:
My head hurts, was the first thought that popped into my mind as my vision cleared. Where was I? I looked around and let out a yelp as I saw Blaise and Malfoy standing in front of me. Blaise had a rather amused expression on his face and Malfoy…well… he looked petrified.
"What – what did you do to me?" I stuttered, scurrying off the floor.
"I think what you should be saying is thank you." Blaise patted me on the back and sulked off leaving me alone with Malfoy.
"You… what did you do?" I shoved him on the chest sending him crashing against the wall.
"I didn't do anything Hermione!" he yelled back at me. I held my breath. Hermione? Well, that was new.
"Look Granger… Pansy put a love potion in the flower she gave you and you…well…"
I suddenly felt my throat twist in a knot.
"I don't want to know." I muttered, feeling sick to my stomach. I rubbed my temples and sighed.
"I'll just be going now." I whispered and walked towards the door. Draco's arm reached out from next to me, blocking my exit. I peered over at him slowly and I couldn't help but notice a strange emotion in his eyes, one I had never seen before…concern.
"Are you…okay?" he asked, his breath staggered. I nodded, holding my breath. He removed his hand and gave a quick nod in return.
"Bye Malfoy." I whispered before running off.