Love Potion No. 9 3/4
Chapter 6: The Letter
Sango-sama

Author Notes: Alright. I'm just saying this for my own sanity. This WILL be a romance. WILL! I won't say who exactly, because, should all go to plan, there will be a few pairings. Unfortunately, there are a good number of plot elements to get out of the way first. I can't figure this story to have any less than about 15 chapters. . .so it will get there eventually, just please be patient! ^_- I'll try to crank these chapters out as soon as possible! Aside from that, thanks again to my reviewers. You guys rock!

Disclaimer: Just borrowing the HP cast…and bits from the song "Love Potion Number 9." Purely a product of being raised on oldies!

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The brisk mid-October winds swept across the moor, pounding and howling across the heavy glass windows of Hogwarts, a stark contrast to the brightness of the great dining hall. Halloween was fast approaching and the students, especially first year students were reminded rather quickly not to accept any candy that had suddenly appeared among their fellows possession.

A good number of First years burst into feathers. Spurts of yellow feathers, and then purples and greens flitted up into the air. The transformed students pecked at their food in vain.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione poked at their food suspiciously. The tall pile of chicken that sat before them was reduced to heap of bones, but the sweets had remained largely untouched. Seamus had been a bit daring and snatched a pasty; he was sitting in a pile of bright green and red feathers.

"Makes a bloke right proud." George sniffed, raising a hand up to his heart.

Fred winked at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "We've spent a bit of time improving the canary crèmes, and now we've got parrot pasties, swallow shortbreads, and finch fruit gums."

George was now beaming. "We're gonna give Zonko's a run for their money."

Ron's head sunk to the tables, pillowed on his crossed arms. "Bloody hell." He shook his head into his forearms, murmuring something that sounded like "as if being turned into a stupid twittering canary wasn't bad enough…"

Hermione smirked at Harry before turning to Ron . "You'll just need to get up earlier, Ron."

His head jerked up from the table, glaring across at her. He opened his mouth to say something, more than likely words that would start another of the infamous Granger-Weasley rows, but he was interrupted as the hoots and shrieks of nearly a hundred owls filling the great hall.

Packages of every size dropped down to the tables below, falling into the students waiting hands. Eager fingers were tearing open the envelopes or brown paper packaging.

A rather heavy package fell down into the waiting hands of Hermione, whose eyes were shining with an odd spark Ron was certain he hadn't seen before from her. He peered at the suspicious package, his eyes narrowing as he read the words "From Victor."

"Another package from Vicky?"

Hermione's jaw tightened as she glared back at him severely. "How many times have I told you not to call him 'Vicky,' Ron?" Her eyes drifted back to the package as she busied herself with untying the twine which had been wrapped tightly around the wrapping paper. Once she had loosened the letter, she opened it up and read to herself, as Ginny peered over her shoulder.

"You forgot something there this summer?" Ginny's eyes had widened.

Ron snickered darkly, sounding far more jovial than he looked. Harry gave him a warning look, sure that whatever Ron was about to say would set him in the middle of a fight that was sure to last for weeks, but Ron was too busy radiating pure hatred towards the package in her hands. "Hard to imagine you to forget anything…What is it then?" Ron taunted, tearing his eyes from the package to stare down Hermione. "A book? No, that's far too easy for you to remember…"

Her eyes flared with sparks of anger.

Ginny watched as Hermione's hands began to quake on her lap. She frowned, hissing in a low voice, "Ron, be quiet."

Ron made a point to ignore her, never backing away from Hermione's eyes. "Or maybe…" Ron's ears tinged red as he only mouthed the last word.
Harry and Ginny looked on in shock. Even George and Fred had the grace to sit gaping at their younger brother.

An open palm slapped across his face with a sudden, angry thwack. "How dare you, Ron Weasley!" Her fists were clenched tightly, the knuckles nearly white. "How dare you!" She stormed out of the room, a shimmer of tears beginning to well up in her eyes, her robe billowing out behind her as she broke into a run.

"Little spat with your little mudblood girlfriend, Weasley?" Draco and his goons had slithered up behind Ron, looked quite pleased with themselves.
Ron's jaw clenched, his teeth grinding sharply as his ears, purely out of reflex, turn a brillant shade of red. "Go back to your cage, Malfoy!" He grumbled, making chase after Hermione. "Bloody little ferret."

Ginny shook her head in disbelief, watching her brother race through the doors. "That idiot."

Harry, quite unable to find the words, simply nodded his head.

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Hermione sank to her knees in Myrtle's bathroom. Myrtle was suspiciously absent, but at the moment, Hermione didn't seem to mind.

She sat in the corner wiping angry tears from her eyes. "That twit. That absolute twit!"

A few tears had slipped past her hands, wetting the packing paper and causing the ink to the top to smudge.

She opened the package, carefully removing the contents, which had been carefully wrapped in one of Victor's old Quidditch robes. The robe was set aside as she picked up the shiny, metal ball and unfolded the small piece of parchment.

Dear Hermioninny,

She smiled. No matter what she had said, he still couldn't quite say or write her name.

It was nice having you and your parents come down this summer. I am hoping that your friend enjoys this.

Sophia, our new keeper, thanks you very much for the muggle books you gave to her. She has great interest in muggle items and knew they were quite rare. She wants to meet you sometimes to thank you for your gift.

Viktor

Sophia seemed to be all Viktor had spoken of lately. She was glad for him for finding someone who seemed so nice, simultaneously wishing she had found someone who could refrain from shoving his foot soundly in his mouth. Her frown renewed it force.

The heavy metal ball suddenly became light in her hands, causing her to let go of it. It's wings unfolded and showed that words had been scrawled onto its side. The penned name of 'Victor Krum' flitted before her eyes as she gasped.

It was the golden snitch from the World Cup Quidditch match.

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Well, I thought my snitch idea was fairly original, but I just came across Alanna Granger's "A Weasley Christmas" of the Sugar Quill and lo and behold, she has Hermione give Ron one of the Quaffles from the World Cup Championship game. Anyways...it's a great story, had me going "Awwww! That's so cute!" at the end. I'm only saying this because I didn't steal (Or borrow!) the idea, because I hadn't seen until after I read this. Any other elements that may resemble other fics...well, I guess that just depends on what I've read. I try to be original, but I'm not perfect! ^_^ 12-9-01