Disclaimer: I don't own it, just borrowing from the lovely JK Rowling.
I want to thank all of you for reading and reviewing. It helps me to keep things moving.
Chapter 2:
She awoke early, having went to bed early. She washed her hair, applied a few spells to make it tame and flow in waves, and got dressed. She straightened up around her room, and decided it was late enough to head to breakfast without seeming over excited. But inside she was twisted in knots. She was literally terrified of who she would be matched with.
She got to the Great Hall, and was surpised to see Harry was up and already at breakfast.
"Morning Harry." She sat across from him, and tried her best to smile, but was sure it came out a grimace.
Harry chuckled, and shook his head, "Morning 'Mione, and stop worrying." When she opened her mouth to say something he kept talking. "Don't try to say you aren't, you are up earlier than usual, and instead of smiling at me, well nevermind. Just stop worrying. Whats the worst that could happen? You get paired with Crabbe or Goyle?"
With that Hermione had to laugh, Harry always knew how to make her feel better. And surprisingly she felt the tension she was feeling, subside just a bit.
"I suppose you're right. That's about the worst it could be." She replied to him.
And with that they enjoyed their breakfast. They were eventually joined by Ron and Ginny. Both liked sleeping in whenever possible.
Conversations were heard all over the Great Hall, everyone was aware they would be doing their potions either today or the next, and everyone was nervous and excited.
When it neared time for them to go to their first class, Advanced Potions, Hermione let them know.
"Sorry to ruin breakfast boys, but we need to be off. Potions will be starting soon." Both Ron and Harry groaned but dutifully got up and followed Hermione, down stairs to the dungeon. Which has surprisingly got more cheerful since the former teachers reign.
When everyone was seated and quiet Professor Slughorn spoke.
"As you all know today we will be brewing the potion to find your magical mate. Please ask for help if you so need it. Any mistakes and the potion will not work and you will have to start over. If you fail to brew it correctly after the repeat, I will be having tutorial instruction every night this week. It has to be brewed specifically by the person to be matched or it doesn't work. No one can brew it for you. Now let's set to work, when it is complete, let me know and I will give you the specific parchment for you to place five drops of the potion onto. After this the name of your betrothed will appear."
With a flick of his wand the potion instructions appeared on the blackboard.
Everyone set to work. The tension in the air was so thick you could slice through it with a knife. Hermione was of course working at a table with Harry and Ron. Ron was still complaining that he didn't like that the Ministry had taken it upon themselves to force them into a relationship with someone they possibly hated.
"Ronald will you stop it." Hermione exclaimed. It was more of a demand then a question. "This is something we have all got to do regardless of whether or not we want to. So stop whining and get to work. Maybe if you concentrate you won't need any help for Professor Slughorn."
"Blimey Hermione, I didn't realize I was irritating you. Sorry." Ron had the nerve to try to look apologetic. He didn't quite pull it off.
Harry just laughed quietly and went about his potion.
Everyone was working diligently, not many conversations were being held. Most everyone wanted to get the potion correct the first time. The faster they knew who they were matched with, the sooner they could decide what to do.
Hermione had completed the potion, as well as Harry. Ron was still working on his. Hermione feared he had messed it up. But she raised her hand and the Professor came over to be sure it was brewed correctly.
"Well Miss Granger, you have as always completed it correctly, and in good time too. No surprise there. I'll just check a few others and be back with the required parchment." He stopped examined Harry's and found his to be correct as well. Moving about a few others had completed theres. Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Millicent Bulstrode, and surprisingly Neville Longbottom. Everyone so far had brewed there's correctly.
Professor Slughorn drew attention back to him at the front of the class. "Excuse me for just a moment students. I told you at the start of class you would place five drops of potion onto the parchment I am about to give those of you who have finished. Along with the parchment I will give you each a special dropper. You will extract the potion from your couldren, and slowly one drop at a time put it on the parchment. As you will see when I give it to you, the parchment is specifically labeled where each drop should be. Please do not do it haphazardly. It makes all the difference, as anything to do with potions does."
With that he began passing out the items he explained.
When he reached Hermione and Harry, Ron had finished his potion and Slughorn decided that he had done it correctly. He gave all three of them the special parchment and droppers and walked away to finish rounds about class.
"Well I say we do it all together. That way when we each get our matches it will be at the same time." Hermione said smartly.
Both Ron and Harry nodded in agreement.
Harry said, "Well no use lollygagging about it. Let's get it over with."
And so they did.
Each extracting potion into the dropper, and slowly one drop at a time, putting a drop in each labeled section of parchment as directed.
They all three stopped and looked at each other before placing the fifth drop.
"This is nuts, just do it already." Said Ron. Surprising Hermione and Harry.
And they did.
They each watched their own piece of parchment nervously awaiting for something to happen.
Ron's was the first to show signs of change.
"What's this? I think mines working." Ron exclaimed.
Harry and Hermione were beginning to feel upset nothing had happened on their's yet.
They stood watching as letters began to form on Ron's parchment. First they were blurry and the letters were sporatically appearing in no definate order. Then they swirled around the page and the name very bold on the page.
"Pansy Parkinson"
"You've got to be kidding me right? Is this some sort of joke?" Ron was whining already. Harry and Hermione were shocked. At that moment Harry glanced down at his own parchment.
It was doing the same as Ron's had. First blurry and sporatic, then swirling. Then the name in bold lettering.
"Luna Lovegood"
Harry smiled. He knew deep down before he preformed the potion he would get matched well. And secretly he had been harboring feelings about the girl everyone considered loony. She was just different, much like Harry himself. And she never pointed out he was famous. She was his friend simply because she was a nice person. This worked well for him.
"Well isn't that great Harry gets someone he likes as a friend at least." Ron complained.
"Ronald shut it." Hermione said, she was really getting fed up with Ron's whining.
"Hermione, your parchment is doing it." This from Harry who seemed more relaxed then he had been for quite some time.
Hermione looked down very nervous now. Her two best friends had been matched. Who was she to be mated with?
The letters popped up more slowly than they had for Harry or Ron. Much in the same here and there manner but slowly. It was causing her to get more and more nervous. Finally as if all the letters were finally where they should be, they started swirling about the page.
Slowly at first and then picking up pace. Faster and faster until it looked like a tornado of letters. Then it abrumptly stopped and in bold letters Hermione's match appeared.
Hermione gasp as she saw the name in bold print, and then Harry had to catch her as she fell to the floor.
She was unconscious.
Ron looked over to see what could be so horrible as to cause Hermione to pass out. And he let out angry cry,"NO!"
There on her parchment in the same bold lettering... "Draco Malfoy"
Harry still not knowing what name had appeared looked at Ron like he had grown a third eye in the middle of his forehead. Ron didn't seemed to notice, his face had gone extremely red, and he was clenching his fists.
Professor Slughorn was there next to Hermione mumbling a spell to awaken her. When she opened her eyes she looked up at Harry and whispered one thing.
"Why does it have to be Malfoy?"
Harry gasp and looked over to where Draco was at his parchment.
And with that across the room Malfoy must have been getting his results, he gazed at his parchment with a smirk. He knew that as a Pureblood he would get matched with the like. Or so he thought.
When Hermione's name appeared on his parchment, he looked over to where Hermione was being helped up from the floor but Ron and Harry. A look of agony, terror, hatefulness on his face. Three emotions at once. And Malfoy's didn't show emotion.
Then he ran from the room. Not bothering to grab his bag or books. Nothing.
He just ran.
Ok ladies and gentlemen. Thats if for chapter 2. Please review and let me know what you think so far. Still not quite sure where this is going or how it will go. But keep faith, it should be a good ride. :-)
