Hermione Granger walked into the Hospital Wing of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in pain.
She was in pain because of a spell being cast at her by Draco Malfoy which impacted her in the chest, forcing her to crash into the stone walls that formed the corridors of the millennium-old school.
As she saw Poppy Pomfrey, the schools Medi-Healer, with a patient, she was surprised to see that it was Harry Potter being treated by the older woman.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, LOVE POTIONS?" Hermione heard harry shout. "WHO DID IT?"
"Well, I can't say who exactly gave you the dose," Madam Pomfrey told Harry, who was frowning, "but I can tell you that it was a weak form of one keyed to one specific witch"
It was then that Hermione realised that she was in big trouble. She had realised that she had to get out of the Hospital Wing, yet at the same time, she was in severe pain.
She had been dosing him for the past two years, ever since the First Task, ever since that hug in the tent prior to the start of the Task.
Hermione wanted Harry badly, and she had been desperate to get him. She knew that being a know-it-all and a Muggleborn would put her at the bottom of any Wizarding World employers list, but being the girlfriend, or even ultimately the wife of Harry Potter.
Marrying Harry Potter, although he was near enough a dead man walking because of Voldemort, was a much better option, Hermione had reasoned, than marrying a loser such as Ron Weasley or Seamus Finnigan, and that although Neville Longbottom was getting quite good looking, and a ferocious fighter, he was still subscribed to the traditions to the Wizarding Worlds, such as betrothals, whereas Harry... Harry was clueless about these things.
And that was what Hermione had liked about Harry. That and the fact that she had likened herself to his mother.
But Hermione was unaware of one thing. Harry Potter did know about betrothals, and it was all thanks to his godfather, Sirius Black.
it was then that Hermione saw the raven-haired teen come up to her, his face like thunder.
"Why Hermione?" he asked. "Why did you do it?"
"Because...because without you...I would be nothing," she replied, tears starting to fall. "I needed someone who could help me."
"Why not Ron, or Neville, or even any of the DA?"
"Because of you Harry. You would have had much more influence than Neville or Ron. Plus Ron is a loser who is obsessed with Lav-Lav. All I am to most of the Wizarding World is a jumped up Mud-"
"Don't say that Hermione. Even though we have had a few ups and downs, you were still my friend." Harry said, ruffling his hair, "But I wouldn't have been able to be with you anyway."
"No...the Great Harry Potter would rather go with Ginny Weasley instead." Hermione said sarcastically. "Because then it would be a mirror image of your parents."
"Ginny... you're joking aren't you. Ginny has only been covering for me whilst I have been away from you, seeing someone." Harry said, trying not to laugh. "Why would I date Ron's sister. Firstly she scares me with her Bat Bogey Hex, and secondly whoever does date her gets Fred and George as a pair of future brothers-in-law. I wouldn't even wish that on Malfoy."
"But..."
"Save it, Hermione. I know you've been dosing me since Forth Year, and thank goodness Susan suggested I got tested. I'll certainly say one thing... the Muggles were wrong when it comes to blonds."
"How..."
"Susan and I have been together since Christmas. Bill took me to Gringotts whilst we were at The Burrow as the Goblins had found one of Voldemorts Horcruxes whilst doing a routine search of the High-Security Vaults and they had traced one to me." Harry explained, knowing that he was going to have to testify against Hermione if Susan found out about the potions. "My scar."
"WHAT!"
"They had to kill me to get rid of it. Obviously, though, they charged my vault though for the service." Harry sighed. "Thinking about it, I should have just got Riddle to do me in for free!"
"Oh Harry." Hermione said, reaching for a hug, forgetting that he was annoyed with her. She stopped however, when she felt the soreness in her chest from the curse that Malfoy cast on her.
"Tell me one thing Hermione. Was it really worth it? Viktor, Ron, Neville, all those feelings hurt." He said, stepping back. "I'm sorry Hermione. Susan comes first. My honour as the last member of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter dictates it. I just cannot break the betrothal agreement. I won't"
As Harry left the Hospital Wing, he sighed, knowing that he needed to tell Susan everything.
Hermione sat on the bed in tears, knowing that she had lost her friendship, and lost her chance to be with the one who was her only friend.
"I'm sorry Harry. I'm sorry."
Pulling her wand out, she said the one word which she knew would make things better.
'Obliviate'