Chapter Three

"The effects of a love potion are nearly instantaneous."

"Eugh… What is this?" Draco said; a rather disgusted look on his face. He glanced down at the coffee in his hand. "Is this supposed to be coffee?"

Blaise Zabini, who had been browsing through the Advanced Potions section, turned his head to look at Draco. "I'd imagine so. Isn't that what you normally have Pansy get you?"

"Yes, and normally she does a satisfactory job of it…" Draco replied, his eyes still fixed on the drink he was holding. "I think there's something wrong with this one though. Here, have this." He pushed the coffee towards Blaise.

"Excuse me?" Blaise glanced at the drink, his face holding a rather confused expression.

"Take it. I don't want it."

"I'm not taking your coffee. I don't even like coffee."

"Well, can you just taste it then? Tell me there's nothing wrong with it." His words were laced with sarcasm.

Blaise sighed. "I'm not tasting it. I told you I don't like coffee. I'm sure there's nothing wrong with it."

Draco didn't look convinced. "I don't believe you. Someone's probably trying to have me killed."

"If someone were trying to have you killed, I doubt they'd use a potion that you could actually taste. They wouldn't want you to know." Blaise replied as he continued to look though the books in front of him.

Draco seemed mildly appeased. "I suppose so… Besides, who would want me dead? I can't really think of anyone. Most people would die just to look like me."

Blaise snorted. "Naturally. Now would you help me here? We're supposed to have that potion finished by Tuesday. Snape loves us and all, but even he'll fail us is we don't finish our assignments."

"Oh, alright... Just let me toss this first would you?"

"I don't think so. I don't care if you're enjoying it or not. You're not tossing it." Blaise said, his eyes narrowed slightly.

"What is it with you and this stupid waste management of yours? Tossing a coffee isn't going to hurt anything." Draco muttered.

"Muggles waste everything. I don't want to be associated with muggles and they're nasty habits."

"Muggles? You're saying that I act like a muggle? That I have muggle-like habits?"

"I'm not saying that. It's just that needlessly wasting things is a habit that muggles have."

"Is it also a habit that you believe me to have?"

"… No." Blaise mumbled after a moment of silence.

Draco glared icily at Blaise. "Tch… I can't believe you. Me? Like a muggle. Disgusting." He took a step back from the trash bin. "Fine. I'll drink the disgusting coffee. Are you happy now?"

Blaise smirked. "Yes, actually."

"Ridiculous, you are." Draco lifted the cup to his mouth and paused. "You realize I've only had a sip, right? I still have to drink this entire thing."

"It isn't my problem."

"It's about to be. I'll be in a bad mood for the rest of this stupid day now."

"I'm sure you'll be fine. It's just a coffee."

Draco sighed. Apparently Blaise was going to make him drink the entire thing after all. He growled. "Fine. Like I really care anyway." He suddenly began chugging the coffee.

Blaise stared at him, his face reflecting his obvious surprise. "What are you doing? Isn't that hot?"

Draco didn't immediately answer. He waited until he had emptied the cup entirely. "Yes, as a matter of fact." He wiped his mouth with a sleeve. "But at least it's over with now."

"Ah, I suppose that's good then…" Blaise stated; his shocked expression still intact.

"Yes, actually it…" Draco suddenly stopped mid-sentence, as his face went blank.

Blaise's expression went from shocked to confused as he continued to stare at his friend. "Draco?" He took a few steps closer. "Draco? Are you alright?" There was no answer. "Draco? Hey, are you going to answer me or not?" There was still no reply. Blaise suddenly looked worried. "You're not dead are you? If you are… I'm not telling your father. Just so you know. He'll kill me. It's your fault. You shouldn't have had the entire thing in one gulp. That was incredibly stupid…"

"Why shouldn't I have? It was delicious." Draco chimed in, rather cheerfully.

"Huh…?" Blaise locked eyes with Draco. His face, once more, held confusion. Draco was confusing him quite a lot today. "Delicious? You said it was disgusting."

"Did I? How rude of me." Draco feigned a look of sadness. "It really wasn't though. It was very good. It tasted of ginger… or was it cinnamon? I'm sure I detected a hint of vanilla. And some chocolate… the milky kind. Milk chocolate, yes! Not white… I rather dislike that kind… I wonder if he likes that kind?"

"He…?" Blaise's look of confusion deepened. ""Who's he?"

"That would be depressing. But I'd be alright. I mean, yes, I would be put off at first. But there's definitely coming back from something as simple as that."

"Who are you…"

"After all, my feelings for him are much stronger than my feelings for chocolate. Granted I rather love chocolate, but…"

"Draco, who are you talk-"

"I love him so much more. I wonder if he tastes like chocolate…"

"Draco."

"Or would he taste like vanilla, I wonder?"

"Draco!"

"Or possibly cinnamon? Or ginger, perhaps?"

"DRACO!"

Draco looked at Blaise angrily. "You really shouldn't yell in the library, you know? It's rude."

"…" Blaise was silent for a moment. Was Draco going crazy? What was in that coffee?

"Well, did you want something or not? I was in the middle of something." Draco said, shaking Blaise out of his thoughts.

"Yes, actually." Blaise replied, looking thoroughly confused. Truthfully, he hadn't stopped looking confused since Draco had begun losing his mind. "You keep saying he… Who are you referring to exactly?"

"Honestly? You don't know? How can you not know?" Draco looked offended. "I talk about him constantly, don't I?"

"Potter?"

"What?" Draco shouted. "That's absurd! I never talk about Potter. He's a wanker."

"That's why you're always talking about him…"

"Agree to disagree." Draco crossed his arms. "Anyway, I'm clearly not talking about him. I'm not in love with him, now am I?"

"Wait, what? In love? You're in love? With who?"

Draco's eyes suddenly lit up. "You know him, you know? He's absolutely stunning. Tall… fabulously built… beautiful green eyes... lovely red hair, too…"

"Red hair…There's no way…"

"He plays Quidditch, you know? I suppose it's no wonder he's in such fantastic shape…" Draco continued, grinning widely.

"Draco, please tell me you're not talking about who I think you are."

"Fred Weasley? You're thinking of him, too?" Draco suddenly looked angry.

"Fred Weasley…?" Blaise, who didn't think it was possible to feel more shocked and confused than he already was, was now immensely more shocked and confused than he already was.

"I knew it!" Draco yelled as he pointed his finger at Blaise accusingly. "I knew you were thinking of him! It's no wonder why you haven't been supportive of my decision to love him! You love him to! How dare you! You're supposed to be my friend, you filthy, slimy, untrustworthy, git!"

Blaise continued to stare at Draco, his eyes wide. He was beginning to think that he was in a terrible dream. That wouldn't be a dream though, would it? It would be a nightmare. That was it. He was having a nightmare. And now everyone in the library (or everyone that hadn't left the library) was staring at the two of them, as Draco continued to fall further into his insanity.

"Draco… calm down, would you?"

But Draco wouldn't calm down. He was completely seething. "You're a monster! Using me like this... I don't even…" Draco suddenly began crying. "I can't… how could you? You used me. All to get closer to him! Awful…" He was now in complete hysterics… and on the floor.

"Mr. Zabini!"

Blaise whipped his head around, only to come face-to-face with the librarian. She didn't appear to be happy in the slightest. "If you would be so kind as to escort Mr. Malfoy out of the library… and perhaps even back to his room. I don't think he should be running around the castle in his current… condition." She grimaced notably and then turned away quickly. She clearly didn't want to associate with the two of them any more than she had to. Blaise couldn't say that he blamed her.

Blaise sighed and then knelt next to Draco, who hadn't calmed down by any means. "Draco… Relax, alright? It's fine. I'm not in love with… him." He couldn't allow himself to mention Fred's name; more for the fact that they were surrounded by an audience than anything else.

Draco looked up at Blaise, his eyes red and puffy… and full of hope. "Really? You're not?"

"No… I'm not. Honestly, I'm not interested in him in any way what-so-ever. He's not my type."

Draco sniffed. "That's good… I was worried that you would try to steal him from me."

"Trust me. That would never happen."

"Oh, I'm so happy!" Draco threw his arms around Blaise and hugged him tightly. "You're the best!" He pulled away slightly. "Well, I mean… you're an amazing friend. But Fr-"

"Yes, I know!" Blaise said, cutting Draco off. "But we should go, you know? We have a potion to brew for Snape's class. Remember?"

"Oh, yes! We should hurry. That way I can see Fr-" Draco was cut off yet again, as Blaise grabbed his arm and began pulling him along towards the exit.

"No worries. You can see him soon. How about Monday? That sounds good doesn't it?"

"But Monday's so far away…" Draco pouted.

"Unfortunately." Blaise was now pouting, too. After all, he was the one that had to put up with Draco's whining and sudden love-struck insanity all weekend. What the hell was in that coffee?