A/N: I just wanted to thank all my reviewers, here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy. might be my last for a few days, but I'll try to get one up in the next few days.
-Sises
"How is this possible Malfoy?" Hermione glanced up and noticed that Malfoy still had his back turned away from her, quickly she moved her make shift cover, up her chest before he answered her back.
"I do not know Granger…I thought your supposed to be the know it all, why don't you tell me?" Hermione actually thought about it for a second. Yes I am the know it all, I should know something I mean…the moon turns blood red, the stars…that flash of light, and our clothing is gone, and we now have this strange tattoo that wasn't their just minutes before…
"This can't be possible, even with magic…I mean, its still impossible to give someone a tattoo magical or not, without some feeling of pain!" her immediate answer was a snort from the refined Malfoy junior.
"I don't know about you, but I was in quite the amount of pain after that blinding flash that we were lucky enough to experience."
"Those were your eyes you blonde bimbo! The tattoo should cause our chests to hurt, not our eyes!" Malfoy turned around to face her with look of annoyance.
"I'm aware of that Granger, it was a joke! Of course this isn't possible, therefore I doubt we're going to be able to understand it so soon, and while half naked in the middle of a damned forest! So try to lighten up!"
Hermione blew out a puff of air in annoyance, turning around She tried to sit down against the nearest tree, but her bulky attire was making it difficult. "Come on you stupid…just work with me will you." she tried her best to ignore the muttered remarks and small laughs that she heard coming her way, but for now Hermione chose to ignore them. She bloody well wasn't going to leave the forest in nothing but a blanket that was for sure, and if she had to stand to be in the presents of the Slytherin king himself, then so be it.
"Granger why did you have conjure such a ridiculous sized comforter, when all you needed was a simple blanket?" Hermione just glared over at him.
"I wanted something that I was sure would cover me, and that would be a bit warm as well…so I didn't end up like you are right now!" She noticed Malfoy's eyes flashed a bit, his mask slipped for just the slightest. "What are you t-talking about?" Hermione smirked to herself, she knew he was trying to hide it in the darkness, but it was too obvious.
"Malfoy I'm not stupid…our fire went out quite awhile ago, and its almost one in the morning, and we're half naked, as you put it….Your cold." Malfoy muttered to himself a bit before responding. "I don't know what your t-talking about…I'm not c-cold." rolling her eyes in both disbelief and slight amusement Hermione couldn't think of anything better to do then play with this.
"Your n-not c-c-cold? you s-sound like it m-m-m-Malfoy- "
"-Shut up Granger!"
Hermione laughed a bit before picking up her wand and lighting the end of it. Suddenly the pale moon light that was their only source of light seemed to increase ten fold, as the small clearing was lit up with Hermione's wand. Now the two of them could see their clearing much better, as well as each other. Hermione smirked when she saw how Malfoy's arms were wrapped around his chest, slowly rubbing his arms.
" Why can't you just admit that your cold Malfoy? Its not a bad thing, its natural to be cold when you don't have any clothes on while outside at night."
"How w-would you know Granger, gone streaking lately?" Hermione sighed at his immaturity.
"Yep you got me there Malfoy, Harry, Ron and I do weekly streaking through Hogwarts out onto the grounds, we give each other points on who can scare who…its one hundred points if you manage to catch Snape off guard, one hundred and fifty if you can give Filch a heat attack." she heard the unmistakable sound of Malfoy laughing again, not his usual mocking laugh, but one of actual amusement this time…Hermione noticed again how different it sounded, how it almost sounded nice. Ok Hermione don't go thinking, just because the two of you have gotten along pretty good these last few hours, that Malfoy is now going to become your best friend, he's still a Slytherin and a Malfoy, a death eater, and don't forget that he saw you naked!
Course…I saw him naked too, and truthfully I can say, I think its an even trade off…him seeing me naked isn't anything too bad, his pureblood self is too proud to admit it to anyone, that he saw a mudblood naked, no matter how much his manly side must have enjoyed it…and I have no problem enjoying it…I mean he's so-
Hermione was surprised how fast her mind wandered past the situation at hand, and directly back where they had been minutes earlier, with Malfoy's naked body standing right in front of her. calm down Hermione, I mean sure he's really the only naked man you've ever actually seen in person, and yes he's quite the fine specimen…but you have to remember that he's Malfoy…maybe if he had a better personality you might think him alright, but as is, he's nothing more then just evil in a hot body.
"I know you must of enjoyed seeing me naked Granger, but do you have to loose yourself in fantasy so quickly?" Hermione snapped back to the present, and blushed a bit at being caught.
" You say that like you didn't fine me equally attractive Malfoy." Malfoy was apparently momentarily stunned when she didn't deny his claim, but hers seemed to draw a look of disgust to his face, or so it looked.
"Please don't make me sick Granger, your nothing but a mudblood, your body is so incompatible with mine, the thought is abhorred. Besides there are much better looking woman then you by far…"Draco looked to all the world as if he had lapsed into his own fantasy, but Hermione had to just laugh at him. He was a bad liar, especially against someone like Hermione Granger, who prided herself on knowing everything about almost everything.
"Please, your not talking about your precious Slytherin girls are you Malfoy? I mean Bulstrode looks more like a man, then anything else, most people say Greengrass is gay, and Pansy is no gem…she's duller then Neville, aren't Malfoy wives supposed to have as much wit as their husband's…surely a brain dead wife would be just as equally abhorred in society as a muggleborn one?" She had got him their, and she knew it…As much as Malfoy senior would love his son to marry a pureblood Slytherin girl, their was little choice for him to choose, either stupid and ugly, or stupid and stupid. With so few eligible girls in his house to choose from, Draco would either have to turn to the other houses, or pick from the younger years. A prospect Hermione was sure he hated just as much as she would of herself. No matter how unimportant age becomes in your later years, when your sixteen, seventeen, a few years of difference can mean the difference between just a very strange relationship, and being a pedophile.
"Doesn't matter what you say, no matter how…unique the girls in Slytherin are, they are more beautiful by default, because no matter what, it all comes down to blood…pure and dirty…" Hermione grit her teeth at him. How dare he keep his blasted pure blood bull shit…well lets just see how unattractive I am to the young Malfoy…
"Please Malfoy no matter how pureblood you are, your still a guy…and there is no straight guy in the world who can not admit that they get off at the sight of a naked girl standing in front of them." "Granger, the day I start lusting after that mess…you call a body is the day you admit you're a dyke and start dating Cho Change! And I admit I'm a poof and proclaim my love for Potter!" Hermione had to laugh at that one. As if I would ever fall in love with another girl! HA! "I hope you didn't swear that in blood Malfoy…"
"What are you talking about Gra-" Malfoy was stopped mid sentence when something Hermione had tossed over to him, had landed in his lap. He picked up the object and examined it for a minute, before realizing what it was.
"Shit! We still have to take this damn potion, don't we?" "That we do Malfoy, we both have to take it, and I would suggest taking it soon, because its late and I would like to get some sleep…so what was that about you admitting you're a poof and loving Harry?"
"Oh Fuck off Granger!" Hermione laughed out loud at him.
" Lets just take the potion and get all this over with…"
"Are you sure it's a good idea for us to take a lust potion, while we're both in this state of undress?" Hermione hesitated for a moment before shrugging.
"What's the worst that can happen Malfoy, you said yourself you would turn gay before you found yourself attracted to me, and I happen to know that I find your body just as attractive as you find mine..."
" Besides Malfoy we hate each other remember, just try to keep that in mind while your wanting to grope me alright?"
"Granger, just take the damn potion alright. Your giving me a headache."
Hermione nodded over to him, she picked up her second vial, she had made just a few minutes previous, and with a silent agreement, the two of them both tipped their vials back and let the liquid slid down their throats.
To Hermione it felt very much like flavored water, something like cherries, or sweet strawberries, definitely the best tasting potion I've had so far…A few seconds passed.
She expected their to be some sort of urge or intense feeling for her to rush over and otherwise maul the hell out of the blonde, but she didn't feel anything else for him then she had seconds before. Does it take some time to start? Confused Hermione sat up and crawled her way over to her potions book to check. "Well! What do you know Granger! I was right, my intense hate for you, has completely over ridden whatever effects this potion was supposed to leave me with, I don't feel a thing for you…" Draco then saw Hermione crawling away from her spot across the clearing.
"Oh please tell me your not having trouble fighting the urge to molest me Granger?" Hermione though wasn't paying any attention to the blonde, she was too busy looking through her potions book, to see if it said anything about a possibly waiting period.
"Malfoy did Snape say anything about Metoninosus having a period of wait before it takes effect?" Malfoy looked confused for a moment, he look around before coming back to her.
"No…why aren't you feeling anything?" Hermione just shook her head at him. "Are you feeling anything at all?" Malfoy for once didn't reply with a sarcastic remark, instead he just answered in the negative. Hermione sadly couldn't think of a reason to doubt him, when it came to grades, even Malfoy wasn't about to lie to get his passing mark.
"Granger this is getting really annoying, now where the hell are you going!" Hermione faster then Malfoy could react, had cleaned up their potion, and packed everything back up into her bag, before striding out of the forest like a bat out of hell, still wrapped in her huge comforter.
"Granger what in Merlin's name has gotten into you!" Hermione stopped for just a second to let the blonde catch up with her.
"We're not experiencing anything Malfoy, not a single flicker of attraction or lust, the whole blood moon thing, our missing clothes and our matching tattoo's…something is really wrong, and I'm not going to wait around in that damn forest one second longer to find out. Now I'm going to go get some sleep, and the first thing in the morning, I'm going to have a talk with Snape about what the hell just happened tonight!." Malfoy for once didn't seem he had anything to say, as he stood still, in the middle of the Hogwarts Grounds, watching Hermione move as fast as she could in her quilt as he shuffled up the lawns to Hogwarts.
Hermione was tired, frustrated, annoyed, and though she hated to admit it, a bit scared. She didn't like not know what was going on, and the things that had happened in the last three hours or so, were very high on her 'that's fucked up list' never in her dreams had she thought something, anything similar to that could happen, without their being some kind of explanation. I can't think right now is all, I'm tired an unnerved…I need sleep, and a good meal, then I can think it all over, and go talk to Professor Snape about it.
Hermione had made her way through Hogwarts, and up to Gryffindor tower faster then she thought she would have been able, seeing how she was currently dressed, even the stairs hadn't been as much of a challenge as she had thought they would have been. She had contemplated in the beginning of just ditching her quilt and making a run for it. But she really didn't want to risk anyone else seeing her naked ass on this particular night. I swear I am never going anywhere again without a change of clothes, or just a pair of undergarments for Merlin's sake…
Making her way through the halls, Hermione had finally gotten to the fat lady, not wasting time being polite she rapped her knuckles rather harshly against the canvas, waking the poor lady up quite abruptly.
"Dear me, why miss why are you up so late-…what are you wearing dear, where have you- oh well…never mind that, just say the password before anyone sees you" Hermione was beyond caring whatever the talkative portrait might be thinking, as she quickly said the password and made her way through into the common room. Great now in twenty four hours between her and violet the whole school is going to know that I came in late last night dressed in a blanket…Hermione thought that nothing else could possibly go wrong at this point in the morning, but of course the first thing she had to lay eyes on as she turned to head up to the girls dormitory made her stop dead in her tracks.
Ron. Ron was currently half naked, and heavily making out with another girl pressed up against the wall, said girl's hands were all over his back, and every once in a while one snuck down his pants. When the couple turned around Hermione saw that it was Lavender who was currently trying to remove Ron of his trousers. Hermione could only blink back in disbelief at what was going on before her very eyes. Ron's cheating on me with Lavender….Ron's cheating on me with Lavender…I don't know if I should be relieved because now I have a good reason to break up with him, angry because he's cheating on me, or what…
"Excuse me… could I, can I get through to my room please." Hermione wasn't sure why she was being so calm, she put it all up to shock, and being overwhelmed from everything that just happened. The couple turned around and broke apart, Ron's eyes going huge, while Lavender just blushed, a small smiles till on her face. "Oh hey Hermione-
"Hermione! Oh Merlin…I, oh please let me explain, you see…oh Bloody hell, I'm sorry its just-" "Ron…its really late, I've had one hell of a night, I just want to go to sleep. Lets just make this easy…I don't think things are working out between us, and apparently you think the same, so lets just say that we broke up earlier today, and you having a snog or two with lavender tonight, wasn't cheating on me. So goodnight you too, congratulations on hooking up." Hermione then proceeded to leave the two shocked couple alone as she ran up the stairs, with one motion she opened the door, slammed it shut, and all but dived for her bed. As soon as she removed the quilt from around herself, and snuggled into her own blankets, she was already half asleep.
Back down in the common room, Ron was still looking back and forth between the spot where Hermione had been, and the stairs she had just ran up.
"Bloody hell, she's more scary when she's calm then when she's hexing me…"
Sunlight drifted through the Gryffindor girls sixth year dormitory, the sun shined upon the floor, before moving up the floor until it came to the nearest bed. Inside the four poster, was a sleeping girl, her bushy brown hair was covering her face, her light snores was the only sound in the room. The warm light eventually started to warm her face, she opened her eyes and yawned, before clutching her pillow even tighter to her head, and trying to go back to sleep.
Seconds later Hermione's eyes flew open, she sat up in her bed, and moved her covers back to look at her naked chest. The star tattoo was still their, even more noticeable in the light of the morning, it covered most of the upper part of what used to be Hermione's spotless chest. Now theirs one big eye sore their, oh god…what the hell happened last night?
"I have to talk to Professor Snape!"
Down in the Slytherin dorms, Draco Malfoy had just woken up as well. With no windows down in the dungeon, it wasn't the sun that woke him, but his own internal clock. Taking a few moments to stretch, he sat up in bed, and noticed that he wasn't wearing anything. That's strange…since when do I sleep naked? the thought woke him up as he started to remember the events of last night. Looking down at his own chest, he noticed that the star design he had seen gracing Granger's chest, was on his just as much. So that wasn't just some freaky dream…Then the idea fully planted itself in his head, it wasn't just a dream. Draco ran about as quietly as he could, trying to get himself dressed and ready to go. He really didn't want to wake anyone, and risk them seeing the tattoo on his chest, at least not until he knew what it all meant. Searching for a pair of boxers, Draco ended up tripping over his own truck and falling to the floor. Damnit Granger! If I find out this is somehow all your fault, I will personally hex you to France and back!
Hermione had all but ran out of the common room as soon as she had gotten herself dressed and at least decent looking enough to face a professor so early on a Saturday morning. Oh God how am I going to even begin to explain all this, is he even going to believe me? I won't have to actually 'show' him the tattoo will I…oh eww, that's just ew…
Hermione had turned one corner, ran down a flight of stairs, bypassed the great hall completely, and finally made it into the dungeons, Slytherin territory. Making her way through the hallways, Hermione tried to remember exactly which way it was to Snape's office, she had rarely been their, it was usually Harry who had the honor to grace his greasiness's private domain. When Hermione was sure she had gotten their, she turned and saw a relatively looking oak door, with the words Severus Snape Potions Master on them in dark gold letters. Well I guess this is it…
Raising her hand to knock she realized that the door wasn't actually locked, in fact it wasn't even closed fully, it was just resting against its frame, taking a moment to ponder what would happen if she just entered unannounced Hermione thought that this qualified as an emergency as she just opened the door and walked in.
She stopped as soon as she had poked her head through, as she noticed that Snape wasn't alone. Which should have been obvious as his door wasn't shit… The Slytherin Head of House was apparently in a private conversation with none other then the Slytherin King himself, Draco Malfoy. Hermione took a few moments to think over what she was to do now, she hadn't expected that Malfoy would be their as well, but she figured it just made things that much easier. She wasn't given any time to say anything as Snape beat her to it.
"Ahh Miss Granger, do come in. I'm sure you're here to tell me about some cock and bull story that Mr. Malfoy just came up with? Something to do with the moon being red, disappearing clothing, and strange tattoo's that just appeared out of nowhere?" Hermione's voice caught in her throat, she didn't know what to say when he didn't believe Malfoy. If he can't convince Snape of something, what choice do I have. "I'm not lying Professor, ask Granger, it really did happen, the moon turned red, then all our clothes disappeared, and the lust potion didn't work, we felt the same towards one another!" Hermione had to admit, it did sound quite far fetched, almost as if it was an excuse for some other activity the might involve lust potions, and disappearing clothing.
"Mr. Malfoy I expected such a blatant lie from Mr. Potter, not you…now if the two of you do not want to admit that you might of done something, inappropriate while under the effects of Metoninosus then that is up to you, but do not think something like that would fool me for a moment." Hermione coughed a bit to hide a laugh at the very idea. Me and Malfoy having sex in the forest…not exactly romantic…
"Actually professor, as unbelievable as it is, that is what happened, the moon did turn a strange color, and after a blinding flash we were both completely bare, with a strange tattoo-"
"-Miss Granger, hold your tongue, I already said that I do not believe such a preposterous story, the least you two could of done is come up with something a bit more believe able, then matching tattoo's and red moon's." Draco apparently was tired of trying to convince the usually friendly professor, reaching up to his collar, he proceeded to unbutton his shirt, until he had enough slack to open it up, revealing his chest, and said Tattoo for the three of them to see. Snape glanced at the tattoo before looking back at the two teenagers, as if he expected something else to randomly happen.
"…Is this supposed to be proof?" Hermione felt like she would never be able to go through another day without something happening that she never thought would ever happen. First Malfoy sees me completely naked, now Snape gets to see a good part of my chest…what next…Snape apparently hadn't expected Hermione to mimic Malfoy's actions, as he seemed to take a step back when Hermione lowered her shirt just enough for the top of her star to be shown, giving both Malfoy and Snape a birds eye view of her cleavage.
"What do you make of that Professor?" Snape was silent for a moment, before he turned his gaze to her face, his features as calm as they ever were.
"Miss Granger please cover yourself, I have seen all I need to of your uncovered torso." Hermione did so gladly, raising an eyebrow when she noticed that Malfoy was still staring at her chest. "So all this proves is that the two of you have matching tattoo's hardly rare for loving couples to do, to express their want to be completely together." Both teenagers yelled out in shock at this, that Snape still didn't believe them, and at what he was insinuating. "Professor please believe us, yes its completely unbelievable, but you have to believe us! When have I ever lied to you!" Snape looked over at her with his usual sneer. "That is very true miss granger, you have rarely if ever as far as I know lied to any teacher…but before I believe you, can you tell me miss Granger, what do you know of boomslag skin, lacewing flies, ingredients in Polyjuice potion perhaps, familiar with said potion are you miss Granger?" Hermione couldn't say a word to him, he had her caught, but how he knew anything about their acts in second year she had no idea. Snape seemed patient, and was waiting for a response, but Malfoy is not known for her patience.
"Professor! Why are you being so stubborn, how could you easily believe that me and a mud-Granger would ever touch one another…"
"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger I am tired of this charade, now unless the two of you have any potion to give to me, as well as a list of effects you felt while under said potion then I must ask you to leave, and not return until class next Wednesday!"
"But the potion didn't work!" Malfoy argued
" Then you didn't brew it properly!" Snape barked back
"Here!" the two men turned to see Hermione taking out a few more vials of potion, the same crimson potion they had made just hours ago. She handed one to Draco, who took it in confusion, kept one to herself, and gave the rest to Snape.
"Is this, or is this not Metoninosus sir?" Snape only looked at the vial in his hands before answering.
"It appears to be, but without testing it, it is almost impossible to tell." Hermione wasted no time in drinking the potion, with Draco finally catching on, drank his as well. Snape alarmed stepped back as soon as they each finished their potion.
Seconds passed as no one dared move. Snape looked back and forth between the two of them, for sure expecting them to both jump one another any second.
" You see Professor, it doesn't effect either of us at all." Snape rolled his eyes, but he continued to look down at the vials in his hands. Taking one up for a closer look, he took the smallest of sips from it, before spitting it out onto the floor. Hermione and Malfoy were both shocked at this, but said nothing. "It appears that this is Metoninosus…at least it tastes like it." taking out his wand he waved it in Hermione's direction whispering the words
"Pererro"
A few blue dots came out of his wand and circle Hermione once or twice before disappearing. All of a sudden, strange symbols and things that resembled numbers of some kind appeared in the air next to her. Snape studied them for a minute before shaking his head, with a wave of his wand the numbers disappeared. Moving closer to her, he grabbed her chin with his hand, and moved her face up to look at his. Hermione was a bit unnerved by how closely he was looking at her, and his hand felt cold as ice to the touch.
"Well Miss Granger, it appears you are telling the truth, all signs point to you being under the effect of a lust potion, except for the fact that you are perfectly normal right now. Your heart rate hasn't increased, there is no blush to your cheeks, and your eyes are not dilated…it seems that this potion is as effective on you as water." Hermione only nodded at him, with Malfoy doing the same behind Snape's back.
"That's what we've been trying to tell you, now that you believe us, what do you think could of caused all of this." Snape removed his hand from Hermione's chin, for which she was very grateful. He walked back to his desk, and turned around to face the two teenagers.
" I truthfully have no idea Mr. Malfoy, but I am more inclined to believe the rest of your story now, those matching marks on your chest's are no lie, nor is the lack of effects the potion is having on the two of you." Snape paused for a moment, but neither Hermione or Draco could think of anything to say.
"Follow me, perhaps the headmaster will have an idea of what's going on." with that Snape strode from his office, not even waiting for them to catch up with him, as they were leaving the room Hermione muttered to herself.
"I'm sure he does, he always seems to know what's going on…"
