This chapter rewinds back to the morning of Valentine's Day.
Chapter 28: Amortentia (V-Day 2)
Hermione stood in the mirror frustrated with herself. Her uniform was immaculate as usual, no wrinkles, and everything was straight and creased where it was needed to me.
It was just her infuriating hair that was giving her trouble.
For as long as she could remember, Hermione Granger had always loathed her hair. It was very coarse, long, curly, and they seemed to have a mind of their own most days and go everywhere but where she wanted them to.
She usually kept her unmanageable mane up in a ponytail or used Speakeasy when she wanted to wear it down, but today, she wanted to be different.
True, her uniform reflected order, dedication, and pride in one's appearance, Hermione wanted to also show the side that Ron was slowly bringing out of her.
Wild, fun loving, and free.
Ron seemed to balance her out. He had always done this actually, although realization didn't hit until she started dating him.
Ron was always the one she would gravitate to when she felt her day was becoming overwhelming. When they were in their younger years, she could always find chocolate in his pocket, or he would annoy her until she felt she couldn't focus on work anymore, so she had no choice to do whatever silly thing he or both he and Harry had came up with. In 5th year, when she obsessed over studying for O.W.L's, Ron would always nag her about resting and eating. If he felt like she didn't get enough rest, he would force her to take a break. If he knew she hadn't eaten, he would bring her food, sometimes feeding her soup as she was too tired to lift the spoon
He would make her laugh and let loose. Make her feel like she was alive, like she was more than just books and cleverness.
Rashida had given her a set of oils for her hair, so she quickly put some in her palm and ran it through her dynamic locks. She tossuled it around, trying to make her curls fall into place. Into an order.
Not what she was going for.
"Okay Hermione, think! You can do this." she said to her mirrored self.
She added a bit more oil to her hair. Then she bent over, shook her head around, and stood back up fast.
Her hair flew wildly around, curls going any way they wanted to. Hermione looked in the mirror and couldn't help but admire her hair in its natural form for the first time.
'Looking good Mi." said Rashida, coming up behind her.
"Does it really?" asked Hermione, timidly.
"It really does. Its untamed, unapologetic, and completely yours. I'm glad you're starting to embrace your hair."
"I'm thinking of wearing it like this today."
Rashida nodded, impressed. "Certainly will be a change."
"Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?"
"I'd say a great thing, Hermione." encouraged Rashida. "It makes you look more relaxed, more outgoing. Confidence. I truly love it, you're radiating right now."
Hermione sighed happily. Rashida took another look at Hermione's hair inquisitively.
"Maybe put this piece here...ooh and this curl there...and have these bits of curls hanging in your face." said Rashida as she circled her friend, picking at her hair.
Hermione smiled once again at herself in the mirror, putting on a bit of lip gloss. She was starting to feel just as pretty as she looked.
"Thanks, Ra." she said, hugging her friend. "So, what are you and Blaise doing for Valentine's Day? Did you get him anything?"
"I got the prince a crown and scepter." laughed Rashida. "It's mainly a gag gift, but he will like it. Will more than likely wear it and carry it around. And he is meeting my parents today. They are coming briefly to speak to Dumbledore about my N.E.W.T.S. and if I can take then back at home."
"Sounds wonderful. I just got Ron a v-day box of special chocolate frogs. The man loves his frogs." said Hermione,, showing Rashida the box before she stuck it in her messenger bag.
With Ginny already gone it seemed, the girls made their way down the stairs to the common room. There they saw Harry, Ron, and Dean sitting in front of the fire.
Ron got up immediately when he saw Hermione. His eyes darted over her hair, something that he very much admired about her.
"You've been spotted. See you later." said Rashida, giving Hermione a small wave goodbye.
Ron walked over to Hermione and stopped. She looked when more beautiful close up. It almost felt like the first time he had seen her all dolled up for the Christmas party.
"You look amazing." said Ron, blush reaching his ears.
"It's just my uniform, Ron."
"Don't give me that, your hair is wonderful." said Ron, continuing to look at her head.
"Thank you. I decided to wear it down today." said Hermione, coyly taking a curl and twisting it around her finger. Ron couldn't help but become aroused by the innocence of the gesture. He didn't know something as simple as hair could be so appealing to him. It was downright sexy.
"You should wear it down more. I don't know why you don't." said Ron, shyly.
Hermione felt her insides flip, she was ecstatic.
"Maybe I will. Oh, I almost forgot." she said reaching into her messenger bag. She pulled out the box of frogs and handed it to Ron.
"Happy Valentine's Day." she said blushing.
"Brilliant! Thanks Hermione!" cheered Ron as he took the box and kissed her on the cheek.
He then went over to his own bag and got out a sweets box.
"For you, I know you like them and they had all red flavors for Valentine's Day." said Ron handing Hermione a box of special edition red sugar quills in the flavors of cherry, strawberry, watermelon, and fruit punch.
Hermione wasted no time in pulling a quill out and chewing on the top. "Thank you!" she said, kissing Ron on the lips, the sugary flavor of cherry lingered, giving Ron a bit of a delightful sugar rush.
"Anytime." said Ron, taking Hermione's hand. He picked up his messenger bag and headed out the portrait hole with Hermione in tow.
"So, is there anything you wanted to do today?" asked Ron as then slowly made their way to breakfast. "We can do whatever you like. We have to same free period. And there is also tonight."
Hermione blushed. "Just spending time is fine by me, Ron. It doesn't matter what we do."
"Yes it does. It's our first Valentine's Day after all."
"That is true." said Hermione, still not able to shake her increasing blush. "How about dinner and a video? We could do it in the Room Of Requirement. We can make anything happen there."
"Its sorted then. "said Ron, nodding. "Just as long as it isn't the one we saw on Christmas. I will never forgive her for letting that bloke die the way he did."
"Let it go, Ronald..."
"She fell asleep on him and he froze to death, Hermione!"
The two made their way to breakfast where saw a mix of uniform colors at the house tables. Couples were sitting with each other, handing out gifts, or simply admiring someone that they fancied. Even the teachers seemed in high spirits. Professor Snape even had a heart pin on his black robes if you could imagine that.
Their first class was Potions which they had with the Slytherins. N.E.W.T. level potions were taught by Slughorn. Ginny, Draco, Hermione, Pansy, and Ron all took that class. Rashida and Blaise had no interest in it, and Harry took regular potions with Snape.
"In the spirit of Valentine's Day, all of you will brew a love potion." said Slughorn cheerfully. "You will know when you have gotten it right when you smell the three things you are most attracted to. A word of caution: you are not to take a drop out of this room. The love potion you will brew is very much illegal for distribution. Most unlike the ones they sell at the Weasley twins joke shop. Directions will appear before you, and begin!"
The class started diligently working on their potions. Ron thought he had gotten a ingredient mixed up, but soon enough, he found himself intoxicated in waves as each scent engulfed his nostrils.
The first scent was apple pie. Specifically his mother's apple pie. His mouth watered as he smelled the cinnamon sugar, the vanilla, the baked apples, and he could almost feel the warmth of it.
The second he knew instantly was his quidditch gloves. He remembered when he got a new pair two Christmases ago from Fred and George. The smell of new leather and rubber excited him, making him wish he was on the field.
When the third smell hit him, he grinned shyly. Dove soap. He didn't know about Dove soap until he went to Hermione's over the holidays. His mother made the soap he used, and Dove was a muggle brand. He liked lying cuddled up beside her, smelling the scent of clean, purity, and simply Hermione. He remanded waking up and taking the scent in on Christmas with her laying beside him. He wanted to smell that for the rest of his life.
He quietly bottled up some of the potion and wrote his name on it to turn in. The others had done the same, and soon it was time to leave.
While the others were talking about the things they smelled on the way out, Pansy stayed quiet. Her mind was racing after smelling the potion. She thought at first that she had done it horribly wrong based on the last scent.
The first smell was lilies. The flowers that her mother would always put in her room and around the house. Her mother loved the natural scent the lilies gave off and Pansy couldn't help but love it as well.
The second was baby lotion. The kind that her mother would use on her siblings. Even though they were sometimes brats, especially Zinnia, she still adored them and loved it when they would pile into her bed and sleep with her sometimes. Baby lotion smelled like innocence, and they were innocent while sleeping.
The third smell is what confused her the most. It was like a combination of smells. Outdoors, the earth, the wind, and a broomstick. At first she thought that it meant Quidditch. All of the elements the smell was made up of seemed like it would be that. But as she thought more and note about it, she realized that the only time she would smell that scent was when Harry was around. Did it mean that Harry was deeper than she had wanted inside of her?
She had really hoped not. It was going to make her plans for the night a lot harder to do.
