Chapter Two: By the Misty Lake

After breakfast Harry, Ron and Hermione had Potions with the Slytherins. As the trio made their way to the dark classroom, Hermione was quiet and concealed in thought. There was an unusual silence between them until Ron broke it.

"So Hermione do ya think Draco likes you, hope you don't like him either".

"What?? Ron, what the heck are you talking about? Draco.. likes me?? He was probably.. erm.. just making fun of me or something.. and how cou ld you ever think I like him, did you have too many Fizzing Whizzbies or something?" screamed Hermione as she chucked her Shadows and Souls book at the wall.

Ron looked extremely shocked at his own words and at Hermione's agressive reaction. He looked embarassed and was blushing. Why did he say that, he thought.

"Calm down Hermione, what's up with everyone today?" said Harry and picked up Hermione's book up shortly afterwards.

He began to open the dark leather bound book but Hermione snatched it off him.

"That's private Harry." she told him.

Ron was still in shock when they sat down at the back of the Potions classroom, and Harry was wondering why Hermione would say that a library book was "private". Snape was rambling on about something and then as a shock to the whole class came something unexpected.

"As much as I hate to say this.... but Granger has top marks in everything this year again, I don't like the thought of that, and I don't like the reality either, muggle born filth taking over everything..." Snape was carrying on without noticing what he was saying for a while but then he stopped, in no doubt realising what he had said and how prejudiced it sounded.

The Gryffindors gasped and looked shocked and the Slytherins were laughing their heads off and looking pleased.

"Umm.. err.. I mean.. err. sorr....err.... excuse me" he growled and looking as pale as someone possibly could he rushed out of the classroom.

"What the..?" Harry spoke in disbeleif.

"We can report him for that, he knows it. Nobody's gonna insult MY HERMIONE like that!!!!!!!" cried Ron.

"Umm.. Ron... what did you say? Did you just call me ..err...." spoke Hermione as she looked at the red headed boy, who's face had gone so red that his hair blended in with it.

Ron tried to say something, but the words didn't come, he hesitated and then raced out of the room. Harry realised that the whole class was turned to them, and was laughing and pointing.

"Just ignore them Harry" whispered Hermione and got back to chopping up her potion ingredients.

**************

The double lesson of Potions had ended and still neither Snape nor Ron returned. Finally later that day Hermione found Ron sitting by the misty lake (Harry had to rush to Quidditch practise). The red haired boy was dodging small stones into the water.

"Hi Ron... why didn't you come back to class" asked Hermione as she sat down next to him.

"Oh yeah like I'd really go back there after.."

"After that... why did you say it anyway?"

"Because I LOVE YOU and I don't want anyone being mean to you, except me" said Ron and then looked extremely surprised and embarassed at his own words again.

"Ron... you love me?? You do? I thought you were just plainly annoyed by me all the time.. the truth is...... that erm... I... uh.. have feelings for you... too...." said Hermione and fiddled uncomfortably with the bright green blades of grass.

Ron didn't really know how to react to this, he was happy, that's all he knew. Hermione liked HIM, not Draco, as he suspected earlier. Why he would have ever thought that Hermione might like Draco, he didn't know, he didn't think it out clearly, he just felt jealous without reason, and couldn't say anything to her. Why was he saying all this to her now? He didn't know that either. Why did Draco call Hermione stunning when she's one of his number one enemies? Draco didn't sound like he was being sarcastic... and it made Ron confused. Why was Hermione acting so strangely this morning after Draco told her that?!?! It seemed like she was thinking about Draco... as if she had a crush on him or something. But she couldn't have a crush on him, and she didn't, she liked Ron. And that's all he needed to know, that was the most important answer he needed out of the millions questions running through his mind.

"It's a strange day isn't it... why is everyone saying stupid things all of a sudden?" asked Ron after he stopped gazing at the bushy haired girl next to him and looked down at the grass, somewhat shyly.

"I have something to tell you.. Snape has asked me to marry him, and I said yes... I guess all this strangeness is because the laws of the universe have been broken by our engagement."

"What??!??!!?!? Are you serious?!??!?!"

"No, I'm just messing with your head" laughed Hermione. "Did you really beleive me?"

"Yes I did" answered Ron, looking annoyed now, because this was not the reply he wanted to give.

"Well anyway.. I do have something important to tell you... something really important.. and if this leaks out... I'm in big trouble!!"

Ron tried to say something sarcastic but couldn't get the words out.

"What is it?"

"Here it goes.. I found some notes of parchment inside the Shadows and Souls book, that's why I didn't want Harry to open it. Well in the notes it had some spells and things and one of them was a truth spell, I didn't know at the time but.. it's illegal, and if anyone finds out that I did the spell I might be expelled. And also... the person who casts the spell wont be affected. It takes some time to catch on but soon everyone will be affected and they wouldn't be able to resist saying anything.."

"So that's why everyone's acting so weird... including.. err... me. But anyway why did you cast the stupid spell?"

"You'll find it hard to beleive... but I didn't completely read the description of the spell.... I was tired.. and our dormitory smelled really bad... and the spell said it would perfume the room...." said Hermione and she burst into tears. "I'm so stupid!!"

"No you're not!! Well find a counter spell, won't we.. it'll be alright...." said Ron and took Hermione's hand.

"There is no counter spell, it has to run it's course... until the whole truth is out..."

And so they sat there, holding hands, by the misty lake.