Love in Excess 5: The Very Witching Time of Night

Love in Excess 5: The Very Witching Time of Night

"How well do you know her, really?" Hermione asked Katie. They sat to the right of the common room fire, having pulled two chairs close together, shutting out anyone else but still allowing the warmth of the fire to reach them. All of the younger students had already gone up to bed, thinning out the crowded room somewhat.

Katie paused and considered. When Hermione put it to her like that, she had to admit she didn't know that much about Cho. "Well, we like the same Quidditch team."

"I meant what do you know about her, more personal stuff."

"Why? You need to know something about her to make the spell work?" Katie frowned at Hermione, worried about what would happen tonight. Cho had reluctantly agreed to meet them, and Katie was anxious everything go well.

"No, it's not that." Hermione looked towards the fire. Her voice low, she said, "If she was your girlfriend, why wouldn't you have realised her passion for you was probably the strongest?"

"She wasn't my girlfriend, exactly."

Now Hermione turned her attention from the flames back to Katie. "Really? Then what was she?"

Katie couldn't help blushing at Hermione's question, especially when she thought of what had passed between herself and Cho. "I don't know," she answered truthfully. "All I wanted to do was prove to her there was no one else."

"Well, no one can accuse you of doing things by half," observed Hermione with some amusement. Glancing at her watch, she stood up and Katie did the same. "Let's go."

The two girls walked quietly through the corridors of Hogwarts. Hermione had her bookbag slung over one shoulder, containing the spellbook she'd been studying. She had learned the spell off by heart, but it felt reassuring to have the book with her just in case.

The girls stopped outside Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, where they had agreed to meet. Hermione had suggested it, knowing from past experience nobody ever went in there.

Cho hurried up to them, looking agitated. "We have to go in here?" she asked, addressing herself to Hermione rather than Katie. "I thought this one was haunted by that whining ghost -"

"Shh!" Hermione stepped forwards. "Don't let her hear you say that or we won't be able to use the space. At least nobody will interrupt us here - we need complete privacy for this spell."

"Sorry." Cho turned worried eyes to the door, obviously not eager to step inside. Katie couldn't blame her. Nearly every girl at Hogwarts knew about Moaning Myrtle, a knowledge usually gained in the first or second year through an unfortunate encounter in the toilet.

Sighing impatiently, Hermione pushed ahead and held the door open for the others. The room was silent, save for the constant drip of water and an occasional sniffle.

"Myrtle?" asked Hermione tentatively. "We've come to pay you a visit."

Myrtle glided from the U-bend to where they were standing. "Three of you? And all girls?" She peered at Hermione through her thick, ghostly spectacles. "Where are those boys you usually bring here?"

Cho turned to Hermione, her eyes amused and intrigued. "Something you haven't been sharing with us?"

Hermione made an impatient motion. "She means Ron and Harry. Never mind." Turning once again to Myrtle she said, "We just need to use your, er, room for a little bit."

"What for?" Myrtle floated closer to Cho and Katie, bobbing around them curiously.

"To reverse an accidental romance repellant for these two." Hermione gestured to the two girls.

"These two?" Myrtle looked puzzled. "Where are the boys?"

"There aren't any."

"No boys…" Myrtle turned a final confused look at them all and glided back to her toilet to ponder this turn of events.

"Right then." Hermione focused once more on Cho, who was still staring after Myrtle's ghostly form. "Did Katie explain what I'm going to try and do?"

Cho nodded. "Do I have to do anything?"

"No. Just stand there." Hermione removed her book, opened it to the proper page and scanned the lines once more. She then raised her wand dramatically and began uttering the most complicated incantation Katie had ever heard. Most spells were just one or two words, but this was entire phrases. Vowing to pay more attention in Gobbledegook class, Katie watched in amazement as Hermione continued chanting the spell.

Both Cho and Katie appeared anxious throughout the whole process, not sure what to expect. When Hermione completed the spell, a haze of mist emerged from her wand and enveloped Cho. The mist shimmered around her for several moments, then formed into a funnel cloud and whirled away in a dramatic finish.

None of the girls moved for a moment. Katie held her breath, wanting very much to move towards Cho but afraid to touch her lest she disturb some unknown aspect of the spell.

Cho was the first to act. She looked around, moved her arms experimentally, then took a step over to where Hermione and Katie stood.

"Do you feel different?" asked Hermione; Katie remained speechless with worry.

A strange sort of smile crossed Cho's face. "Yeah. I do. Congratulations, Hermione. I think you counteracted the potion. Too bad Flitwick couldn't have witnessed it - that kind of charm work would have won you some points for Gryffindor."

"Are you sure you're alright?" Katie finally spoke, gasping with relief and lurching towards Cho.

"I'm fine."

Hermione had been watching both Katie and Cho, and now grabbed her spellbook and tucked away her wand. "I'll leave you two alone, then," she said, already edging towards the door. "I'm sure you have a lot to talk about."

"I can't believe it." Katie smiled at Cho and felt her eyes fill with tears. "I'm so sorry," she gasped. "I never meant for any of this to happen. I'm so glad you're okay." She moved forwards and put her arms around Cho.

Cho returned the hug stiffly.

Puzzled, Katie pulled back. "What's wrong? Do you need to sit down?"

"No." Cho had appeared a little dazed immediately after the spell but now looked more determined, more herself. "All my emotions are coming back to me," she explained.

"They are?" Katie felt her voice going squeaky with relief.

"Yeah. Let me show you." A languid smile crossed Cho's face, and she moved closer, until she was only inches away. Cho pinned Katie against the wall and began kissing her with an unaccustomed ferocity. Katie responded, but couldn't help feeling confused. Was this some side-effect of the spell? Cho had never kissed her like this, so hard it almost hurt. Previously, Katie had been astonished at the exquisite gentleness and skill of Cho's kisses. Now she was astonished at her fierceness, the way she pressed her mouth so aggressively against Katie's.

"Are you sure you're alright?' she finally asked, taking Cho's hands and holding her back a bit.

"Isn't this what you want from me?" demanded Cho.

"What do you mean? Cho, why are you acting so strange?"

"I'm acting strange now? That's rich, Katie." Cho laughed bitterly. "You're the one who made that stupid repellant to begin with. Do you have any idea what's it's like being under the effect of a potion, having your will altered like that?"

Katie said nothing, could only stare at Cho.

"Didn't think so. It's kind of like what I was just trying to show you. Nothing feels right and it's almost scary, because everything is familiar yet all wrong. Well, the potion's effects are definitely off now, I can feel things towards you again - and I don't think I've ever felt so angry," Cho said. She glared at Katie, then dashed for the door.

Katie stared after her, aghast. Moaning Myrtle reappeared, looking pleased.

"Oooh, that was quite a scene," she said, her approval evident from the delighted expression on her face. "So that's what women do together, is it?"

"No, it's not," Katie replied distractedly, eyes still on the door. She leaned against a sink, trying unsuccessfully to fight back tears. Resting her face in her hands, Katie broke down into muffled sobs.

"And she even made you cry!" Myrtle noted with glee. She zipped around the ceiling and bobbed back down by Katie. "This is much more exciting than the time that bushy-haired girl turned herself into a cat."

Katie stopped crying and stared at Myrtle, wondering what on earth she was talking about. "I've got to go," she said, and ran after Cho.

"Feel free to visit again!" sang out Myrtle, taking one more quick zip around the room in an unusual burst of high spirits.

**

Cho was nowhere to be seen, and Katie knew she had no chance of finding her again that evening. It was almost time for lights-out, anyway.

The common room was nearly empty when Katie arrived, but Hermione was waiting up for her.

"Where are Angelina and Alicia?" asked Katie.

"Fred and George convinced them to sneak down to the kitchens for a midnight snack," Hermione informed her. Looking more closely, she asked, "Are you okay?"

Katie shook her head and took a seat next to Hermione on the sofa. "Your spell worked. Only now Cho hates me."

Hermione looked alarmed. "Hates you? That's not supposed to be one of the effects," she said, reaching for her books.

"It's not the spell." Katie caught at Hermione's hand and pulled the bag out of her reach. "It's me. Now she can feel emotions towards me again, and she's furious."

"But you didn't mean to have the potion affect her."

"We didn't get that far in our conversation," Katie said. "It makes sense, I suppose. For weeks she's been living under the effects of that repellant. She couldn't exercise any of her own will where I was concerned, and now that it's off, all that frustration is coming back and she's angry."

"I should think she'd be relieved," Hermione said stoutly. When Katie stared at her, incredulous, she added hastily, "I still think it was a dangerous thing for you to do, but at least taking the risk showed how much you cared for her – doesn't she see it that way at all?"

"Maybe you should try explaining it to her," Katie suggested glumly. "She's sure not listening to me."

The two girls sat facing the fire, which had burned down to low embers. Looking at the coals, Hermione asked, "But you're still in love with her?"

"I don't know," sighed Katie, slouching down further against the lumpy sofa. "I thought she was the perfect girl for me, but as you pointed out, I don't really know her that well."

"I never said that," Hermione countered quickly, turning her brown eyes on Katie.

"Well, your questions made me realise it. I probably know more about you than I do about her."

"There's a lot you don't know about me, too," said Hermione. She stood up and looked towards the staircase. "We'd better get upstairs. It's late."

"You go on. I want to wait for Alicia and Angelina."

A few minutes later the portrait hole swung open and the foursome tumbled in.

"Careful! You're going to squash the cakes!" George cautioned his twin.

"I've got them," assured Fred, then broke into a grin as he saw Katie sitting alone. "Look what we've brought back - want some?"

Katie tried to look more cheerful. A moment ago she'd wanted nothing more than to talk with Alicia and Angelina, but seeing them now with the Weasleys, she didn't feel like being the killjoy of the group. "Sure."

They settled at one of the empty tables and munched on the array of food. Alicia leaned closer to Katie and whispered, "Did it work?"

Katie nodded and swallowed a last bite of cake. "Yes. Hermione's really incredible."

"What's this?" Fred perked up.

"Hermione was able to counteract the effects of the Indifference potion on Cho," Katie explained, surprised at how casual she could sound when inside she was still churning with anxiety. "She's really good with spells."

"Excellent." Fred held out another piece of cake to Katie, who shook her head. Shrugging, he popped it into his own mouth. "See? I knew there had to be a solution," he added after swallowing.

Alicia and Angelina had both been casting concerned looks her way, and now Alicia announced, "We'd all better get upstairs. And George, can you two clean up these crumbs?"

"No problem." George whipped out his wand and began tidying the table, while the three girls went upstairs.

"Is everything alright?" demanded Alicia once they were in their room.

Katie sighed heavily. "Not exactly." She quickly explained Cho's new attitude, but when her friends pressed for more detail and discussion, Katie insisted she didn't want to talk about it. "I'm too tired. I appreciate the concern, but I just can't think about it anymore tonight."

"Well you'd better think about it," said Angelina bracingly, walking over to her chest of drawers and pulling out her pyjamas. "This is what comes of trying to solve things with potions instead of being honest with the person."

"What's that supposed to mean?" snapped Katie.

Angelina pulled on her pyjamas and replied in a more kindly tone, "I just mean, next time try talking to people instead of trying to cook up some potions shortcut. You didn't come to either of us, you didn't even warn Cho."

Despite Angelina's reasonable tone, Katie remained defensive. "So now you're taking her side? Thanks a lot, Angelina."

"I'm not taking her side." Angelina sat down next to Katie and patted her on the shoulder. "But don't you see? You shut us out when you first got into this mess, and now we're trying to help you and you say you don't want to talk about it. Don't you trust us?"

Katie bit her lip and glanced from Angelina at her side to Alicia, seated on her own bed. It wasn't that she didn't trust them, she decided. She just wasn't convinced they could really understand. Despite - or perhaps because of - Alicia's increasing interest in George, Katie still felt awkward bringing up anything that might make her think back to their own short-lived relationship. And even though Angelina meant well, Katie wondered if she really could understand what it was like to be with another girl, instead of a boy. All the things Angelina took for granted - holding hands with Fred, dancing with him at last year's Yule Ball - Katie felt she'd have to do furtively with any girl she ever dated.

She knew she couldn't tell her friends any of these thoughts. Not only would it hurt their feelings, it might make them outright angry - and what Katie wanted more than anything right now was her friends' support.

"Of course I trust you," she said. "You're my best friends."

**

Katie returned to looking out for Cho between lessons, and noticed the other girl was taking care to avoid her. She was always one of the last to Herbology, making it impossible for Katie to talk to her then, and whenever Katie saw in her in the castle, a flock of Ravenclaw friends surrounded her.

Katie finally caught her leaving the Great Hall alone after dinner one evening. "Cho, don't you think we need to talk?" she asked, standing in front of her, blocking her way.

"About what?" Cho gave her a challenging stare, and even though Katie knew she was angry with her, something about the way Cho looked - so alluring and yet so remote - left Katie feeling she didn't know whether to kiss her or hit her with a hex.

"I just don't understand!" burst out Katie. "How could you feel so much for me before and now - now it's like you hate me," she concluded, voice low.

Cho's expression became more troubled. "I don't hate you," she admitted. "But whenever I see you, or even think of you, I remember how it felt to be affected by that potion. How could you do that to me, Katie?" she demanded, eyes flashing with anger and pain.

"I never intended for you to be affected, Cho," assured Katie, taking a step closer.

"But it was so stupid! So dangerous!" Cho's face crumpled and Katie could see her trying not to cry. "Didn't you stop to think of all the ways it could go wrong?"

Although pained by seeing Cho so upset, Katie also began to feel angry. "The only reason I even thought of doing such a thing was because you were acting so jealous about Laura!" she shouted back. "I told you there was nothing going on, you know what she's like - but no, you said you needed proof. That's all I was trying to do, prove to you how much I -"

"How much you what - liked me?" interrupted Cho. She rubbed at the corners of her eyes, then pushed back her hair impatiently. "That's a weird way of showing it, Katie."

"Hermione didn't think so. When I finally told her what happened and she offered to help, she said she thought you would be pleased I'd take a risk like that for your sake."

"Oh, Hermione thinks so, does she?" Cho placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You certainly didn't waste any time getting cosy with her!"

Katie stared at Cho in confusion. "What's that supposed to mean? I'm sure the whole thing was just some big magical experiment for her. The last girl you need to be jealous of is Hermione Granger."

At that moment Katie saw a familiar group of Gryffindors appear, attracted by the noise, no doubt. Ron and Harry, along with Hermione, had just walked into the empty Entrance Hall and seeing the look on Hermione's face, Katie wondered how much she'd heard. Right on their heels came Fred, George, Angelina and Alicia, who looked from Katie to Cho and paused.

Cho turned and glanced at them all before addressing herself quietly to Katie. "If you'd really cared about me, Katie, you would never have taken a risk making something like that Indifference potion. You had to have some idea it might have affected me." She spoke in an undertone, but Katie caught every word.

"I never thought it would. Please, you've got to believe me," Katie pleaded, her anger receding as she watched Cho.

"I don't know what to believe right now," Cho said. Her anger faded and was replaced by a look of confusion and worry. Glancing again at the other Gryffindors, she dashed away.

Katie turned her attention to her friends and first caught Hermione's eye, who promptly looked away. "Come on," she said to Ron and Harry, pulling them towards the Tower.

The four others stepped forward.

"I thought you said Hermione reversed the potion?" asked George in confusion.

"Yeah, I'm not exactly feeling the love here," agreed Fred, glancing around the Entrance Hall, then back at Katie. "What's going on?"

Clenching her jaw, Katie shook her head at the boys, pushed past them and grabbed her two best friends. Wordlessly, they put their arms across her back and the three of them retreated to their dormitory.

**

Katie didn't feel like facing anyone after her encounter with Cho earlier than evening, preferring to brood alone in her room, but knew she needed to say something to Hermione.

Although it was late Hermione was still working, Harry and Ron alongside her. Katie felt a little awkward approaching them; normally she didn't hang out with the fifth-years that much.

"Transfiguration essay due tomorrow?" she guessed, glancing down at Harry's parchment.

"Yup," he said, scribbling in a smaller script as he reached the bottom of his scroll. "And mine's done." He looked over at Ron, who scowled.

"I've got four inches left," he estimated. "Can I see your conclusion?"

Harry glanced over at Hermione, and they all expected to hear her object to such possible plagiarism. Instead she kept writing, ignoring them all. With a shrug, Harry gathered his things and he and Ron went upstairs, leaving Katie alone with Hermione.

"I think you might have walked in at the wrong moment tonight and misunderstood what was being said," she whispered.

"Oh, the part about how I'm the last girl anyone should be jealous of?" responded Hermione, still writing.

"Hermione, don't." Katie touched her elbow and Hermione stopped writing. "Don't be like that. That's not what I meant." She frowned and added, "That's not even what I said, exactly."

"It's really okay," said Hermione, rolling her eyes impatiently at Katie. "We don't have to talk about it."

"I just meant there wasn't anything going on between you and me. Cho is so jealous," sighed Katie. "I don't get it. You were the one who helped her. I don't understand why she thinks you would be any kind of threat."

Hermione swallowed quickly and picked up her quill. "I need to finish my essay."

"You're still mad at me, huh?" Katie rested her head on one hand, leaning against the table, watching Hermione write. She continued writing until the scroll was filled, then stopped and addressed Katie.

"I'm not mad at you," Hermione explained, her voice slightly strained.

"I appreciate what you did for Cho so much," Katie said earnestly. "It's not your fault she's angry with me now. I'm sorry if you misunderstood what I was saying to her."

"I told you - I understand." Hermione gathered up her parchment, books and quills and stood to go. "Sounds like you have a lot to work out with her."

"I suppose I do. Good night." Katie watched Hermione walk away. She'd always thought of her as a precocious, slightly awkward-looking girl but now realised with a start Hermione had changed. She seemed to be managing her hair better, and it was clear - even beneath the loose Hogwarts robes - that Hermione's hairstyle was not the only thing about her to have changed. The robes hung on her differently, and she moved beneath them differently. Katie began to feel a bit annoyed at Cho, realising she must have noticed Hermione's new attributes, and assumed Katie had as well. And she accuses me of noticing other girls too much, Katie thought to herself.

**

Katie didn't have much time to ponder either Hermione or Cho as the term drew quickly to a close in a flurry of exams and papers. She'd wanted to stay at school, but her mother insisted she come home on the grounds that this was the last year Katie would be living at home. "Who knows where you'll be next year?" demanded Mrs Bell, and Katie relented, although she did manage to wangle a few extra days at school.

But Cho had left on the first possible train out of Hogsmeade, Katie learned, eliminating any chance of their talking now classes were over. And Hermione, although friendly enough, remained a bit distant, spending most of her time with Harry, Ron and Ginny. Katie didn't push it, figuring Hermione was still upset over the comments she'd overheard Katie making to Cho about her. It was funny, though; only now did Katie realise how much she'd enjoyed hanging out with Hermione. She could be quite funny when she chose, and she was so different from either Angelina or Alicia, a different kind of friend.

Katie did venture out to a girls' Quidditch game, this time bringing along Angelina and Alicia. The usual group, already small, was even smaller due to the holidays.

Susan Bones was as friendly as she had been the first time Katie had joined them, welcoming Katie's friends and drawing Katie aside to say, "Don't worry, Laura's gone home. But even if she were here, I don't think you'd have to worry. Guess who she's with now?"

"No idea."

"Millicent Bulstrode," Susan reported. Satisfied with the shock this news produced in Katie she added, "I know, I couldn't believe it either. We'll see how long that lasts."

The two girls left the broomshed and began walking to the pitch. With a twinkle in her eye, Susan called out over her shoulder, "You'd better watch out, Katie. Keep breaking hearts like you do and pretty soon you'll get a reputation."

Katie smiled weakly and tried to laugh, wondering if Susan knew what had happened with Cho. But the other girl didn't seem malicious in her teasing, and Katie reminded herself Susan wasn't trying to make her feel bad. Still, she had succeeded in doing just that, and the Quidditch game felt flat and unexciting to Katie, and she didn't regret it when they left the chilly Quidditch pitch and returned to the warmth of the castle.

Even hanging out with Alicia and Angelina wasn't quite as much fun as Katie had anticipated, as both of them spent increasing amounts of time with Fred and George. The boys were her friends, too, and last year Katie wouldn't have thought twice about the five of them doing things together. But now everything was different, and she felt the odd one out when she was around that foursome too long.

They did have a good time enjoying the Great Hall and seeing it decorated for Christmas. But soon Katie found herself with Alicia on the train, heading home. There weren't many passengers, nearly all the students having left earlier. Katie and Alicia had no trouble finding a compartment to themselves, but each remained uncharacteristically silent for much of the journey, lost in her own thoughts.

Both girls lived near the Skipton station, one of the first stops the train made in its meandering journey southward. Katie saw their parents waiting for them on the platform, waving. Comforted by the fact that she'd have Alicia with her, as the two families traditionally spent Christmas day together, Katie waved back and clambered down the stairs to her waiting family.

Allardyce Spinnet, Alicia's older brother, reached them first and put an arm around each girl. "No Yule Balls to attend this year?" he asked with a smile. "I'm sure all the boys are after you two."

Alicia answered before Katie could say anything. "They didn't have the dance this year. I think the school is trying to forget everything associated with the Triwizard Tournament."

Katie's own mother hugged her next, engulfing Katie in a haze of perfume. Holding Katie back from her, Mrs Bell inspected her daughter and fretted, "Honestly, Katie, every time I see you you've cut your hair shorter." Her fingers brushed nervously at Katie's hair, which she'd just had buzzed before coming home. "This isn't a very feminine look."

Sighing, Katie picked up her bags and said, "That's kind of the idea, Mum."

"Now, leave her alone," instructed Katie' father, giving his daughter a rib-crunching hug that, while leaving Katie gasping, did feel more genuine than her mother's. "She looks terrific. Healthy, and just look at the colour in those cheeks. Had a good Quidditch season so far?"

Katie gave him a complete assessment of the team as they made their way out of the station.

"That's my girl," beamed Mr Bell on hearing of Gryffindor's season thus far. "It's good to have you home, Katie."

Glancing over at the Spinnet family, Katie caught Alicia's attention. The other girl rolled her eyes first at her brother, who was droning on about his work with Percy Weasley on Cauldron bottoms, and then at her parents who were listening to him with rapt attention, before shrugging and smiling at Katie.

In that smile, Katie saw a flash of Alicia as she'd always known her - her best friend since before they'd even started at Hogwarts - and thought back to Angelina's question: "Don't you trust us?" Katie felt a stab of guilt as she admitted to herself she hadn't really given Alicia much chance, had assumed she wouldn't be interested in talking about Katie's current problems. Alicia had said she wasn't jealous any more, and certainly she had been nothing but supportive these past few weeks. Katie returned her friend's smile and decided maybe Christmas would be okay after all.

****

Thanks to my beta, Wotan. A little homage here also to Asterix, mistress of hpfemmeslash discussions. And thanks to everyone who's been reading, for your patience and indulgence.

Stay tuned to see what sort of New Year's resolutions the girls make. Will Cho relent? Should she? And find out just how Hermione butters her bread these days.

Points to those who identify the Shakespeare play the subtitle comes from. Go on, take a guess…