"Hermione…" Harry sighed sadly. No, he couldn't let it end like this; he would find out what was wrong with her.

"Well…well…well…having a little girl trouble, Potter?"

Harry turned to see Malfoy leaning against a bookcase snickering, but his smile was different. It looked like a smile of accomplishment; then, it clicked.

"You!" Harry growled, "What did you do to Hermione?"

"Now, why would I do something to the Mudblood?"

"Because you hate her, and you hate me!"

"Come off it, Potter, what's your point?"

"You know that I care about Hermione, and if you do something to her, you know that I suffer twice as much."

"Quite true, but I must admit that it worked a lot faster than I thought."

Harry flew out of his seat and grabbed Malfoy by his robes.

"What did you do?" Draco brushed his hands away.

"Oh, nothing much, I just spiked her hot chocolate with an Eros potion."

"An Eros potion?" Malfoy sneered even more.

"Yes, it is quite ingenious. You see, it takes a person's sex drive and multiplies it by a factor of ten!"

"You bastard!" Harry grabbed him by his collar, "Tell me the antidote right now!"

"There isn't one, Potter, and by the time the potion wears off…" he began to laugh hysterically.

"…your best friend will be the premier tramp of the entire school! Of course, there is one thing that could cure her."

"Which is?" Harry demanded.

"The potion can be nullified if the Mudblood sleeps with the person who gave it to her – namely me."

"You piece of filth! You're not touching her – you hear me!" Harry roared.

"Oh please, I wouldn't bother with the ugly bookworm anyway, but I'm sure there are plenty of guys who wouldn't mind getting a piece of her ass. I hear she's still a virgin!" Malfoy snickered.

That was the last straw. Harry drew back and with every ounce of strength he had, plowed his fist right into Malfoy's face. Draco's head bounced off the bookcase, and Harry met him with another punch right between the eyes. The blonde haired, young man collapsed to the ground unconscious, and Harry bolted out of the library.

He had to find Hermione before the potion kicked in again, or she would hit on the first guy she saw.

Harry raced up to Gryffindor Tower. He hoped that Hermione's mind was still intact enough to where she would keep up with her normal routine, which meant she was heading back to the Common Room after studying. He was out of breath by the time he reached the Fat Lady's portrait.

"Excuse me, but has Hermione come through here yet?"

"Yes, she arrived a little while ago."

"Thanks a lot, would you open up please?"

"Password please?"

"Oh sorry, golden snitch!"

"Thank you, Mr. Potter."

The portrait swung open, and Harry raced inside.

'Please, let me find her in time.'

He could hear several people whistling as he ran into the Common Room, and he gasped at seeing why. Hermione was sashaying around the room, going from one guy to the next. She would sit down on his lap then stroke his chest with her fingers. The guys were enjoying it immensely as they'd never seen this side of her before, but the girls looked ready to burn her at the stake.

"Hermione!" he shouted.

Everyone turned to see Harry Potter staring directly at the source of their entertainment.

"Hey Harry, seems Hermione has a wild side to her," Seamus laughed as she wiggled in his lap. He pinched her rear end, and Harry went off.

"Get your hands off her!" he roared.

"What for? She wants this, don't you?"

"You know it, lover," Hermione cooed back at him.

"That's it! Accio Hermione!"

She was suddenly lurched off Seamus' lap and right into Harry's arms.

"Hey Harry, what in bloody hell doing you think you're doing?" Seamus said angrily.

"Back off, right now!" Harry growled and raised his wand. It began to glow, and a fireball appeared at the end of it.

"Okay…okay…no need to get violent," Seamus replied nervously.

"Oh Harry, you're so assertive," Hermione giggled and nuzzled his chest, "You wanted me all to yourself, huh?"

"I'm sorry about this, Hermione."

"What do you-"

"Immobulus!"

Her body froze then dropped against him. He cradled her in his arms and looked around the room.

"Listen to me, all of you, Hermione's been given a potion that makes her act very strangely. If anyone ever mentions what happened here tonight, they will answer to me, understood?" he said with a will of iron.

"Sure."

"Okay."

"Whatever you say."

"I kinda like her this way," Seamus laughed sarcastically. He suddenly found himself pressed against the far wall.

"What did you say?" Harry said angrily.

"All right, I won't say anything!"

"Good," and he was released.

Harry put away his wand and scooped Hermione up into his arms. He sighed in relief when he saw Ginny sit in the back corner.

"Ginny, would you come with me please?" Her eyebrows quirked up with curiosity.

"Sure Harry."

Harry carried Hermione upstairs to the girls' dormitory. Ginny was right behind him, and she began to understand why Harry had asked for her. For one, she was one of Hermione's roommates, and two, he trusted her.

After a few minutes, they reached the right door, and Ginny pushed it open for him. Harry brought his charge inside and laid her down on her bed.

"So, what happened to her?" Ginny inquired.

"Hermione was given an Eros Potion."

"What's that?"

"It essentially kicks your hormones into overdrive, if you know what I mean?" Harry answered.

"So that's why she was acting like that!"

"Exactly, she even tried to seduce me in the library."

"Did you go for it?" she laughed.

"Ginny, of course, I didn't. I wouldn't do that to Hermione; she's my best friend."

"Sure, she is, but you still have to hots for her."

"I do not!" Harry objected.

"Come off it, Harry, you've been in love with her for years – even when we were dating."

"Ginny…" he said softly.

"I could tell, Harry, you were always holding a part of yourself back. The only person you ever shared everything with was Hermione. That's when I knew that you were in love with her. You care about me, but your heart belongs to her."

"When did you become such a romantic?" Harry chuckled.

"Enough of that. Do you know how it happened?"

"Yes, Malfoy put it in her hot chocolate."

"Malfoy! I don't believe it! This is low – even for him."

"He knows how to hurt me, Ginny, and he picked the perfect target."

"Don't worry, Harry, we'll find an antidote."

"There isn't one, according to Malfoy."

"He may be lying. Why don't we go talk to Madam Pomfrey? I'm sure that she can come up with something to help Hermione."

"Good idea, let's go see her."

Harry tucked Hermione into her bed and kissed her forehead.

"Don't worry, Mione, you'll be fine."

Standing up, Harry took out his wand again; he had a few things to do. First, he shut and locked all the windows just in case Hermione went to extreme measures to get out, but he hoped his spell would last for a while.

"Petrificas Totales!"

Hermione's body seized and froze in its current position; that would keep her in stasis for the time being. Harry followed Ginny out into the hallway and shut the door. He then pointed his wand at the lock.

"Seal and do not open for anyone but Harry Potter!" he commanded. The lock glowed brightly for a moment then receded to a faint blue hue.

"Smart idea," Ginny stated.

"Part of me doesn't trust the letches downstairs," he groaned.

"Another good idea. We better go before Hermione wakes up."

"Yeah, let's go," and the pair headed off to the medical wing.

Harry raced through the corridors of Hogwarts. He nearly barged into the hospital wing, and Madam Pomfrey glared at him.

"Mr. Potter, this place is meant for people to heal in – not horse around!"

"I'm sorry, but I need your help," he said breathlessly.

"You look perfectly healthy to me!"

"He's telling the truth, ma'am," Ginny confirmed as she appeared in the doorway. It had taken her longer to get here because Harry's legs were longer than hers.

"Very well, what seems to be the problem with you, Mr. Potter?"

"Madam Pomfrey, it's Hermione, she's been given an Eros Potion."

The older woman's eyes widened in shock, and a worried expression crossed her features.

"Did you just say an Eros Potion?"

"Yes ma'am."

"How long ago?"

"Maybe a few hours," Harry answered.

"Both of you, come with me immediately!"

Madam Pomfrey grabbed her cloak and headed out the door with the pair right behind her.

It took Harry a few minutes, but he suddenly realized where they were heading – Dumbledore's office.

"Excuse me, ma'am, where are we going?" Ginny inquired.

"To see the headmaster, he must be informed at once!"

"Is there a way to help Hermione?" Harry nearly pleaded. The elder woman turned her head, and her face was sick with worry.

"Patience, Mr. Potter, let us see Professor Dumbledore first."

"I've never been to his office before, Harry," Ginny said almost happily.

A few more minutes and they were in front of the gargoyle statue.

"Chocolate frog!" Madam Pomfrey stated.

The gargoyle moved aside, and the trio headed up the hidden stairwell.

Albus Dumbledore looked up from the parchment he was writing as he heard footsteps heading up into his office. First was Madam Pomfrey, then Harry Potter, and last Ginny Weasley.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir, we have a most urgent matter."

"Yes, what has happened?" he asked and pushed his glasses up onto his nose.

"One of our students has been given an Eros Potion."

"Oh my goodness," he said worriedly, despite his unshaken demeanor. "Who was the victim?"

"It was Hermione!" Harry jumped in, "We were studying in the library, and someone put it in her hot chocolate."

"This is most serious. Where is Miss Granger now? We must find her at once. An Eros Potion is a most dangerous mixture. It…"

"…Increases a person's sexual drive by a factor of ten," Harry cut in again. "I know that, sir, Hermione's already tried to seduce me and half the guys in Gryffindor!"

"Oh dear, somehow we must restrain her."

"Well professor, Ginny and I already did. We locked her in her room, and I put a binding spell on her so she should stay put for time being."

"Smart thinking, Harry, that will buy us some time."

"Can you help her?" Ginny asked, looking at Professor Dumbledore. The older man's face fell slightly.

"Madam Pomfrey, perhaps you should answer that."

"Unfortunately, there is no known antidote for an Eros Potion. It is considered one of the most diabolical mixtures ever conceived. In previous cases, it was even thought of as a form of rape!"

"Of course," Harry gasped, "because the only way it will dissipate is if the victim sleeps with whoever gave it to him or her."

"How is it that you know all this, Mr. Potter? Most people have never heard of the Eros Potion, and it is never taught!" Madam Pomfrey asked suspiciously.

"The person who infected Hermione told me so."

"And who was that?" Dumbledore inquired.

"Draco Malfoy. He put it in her cup before I even showed up. When Hermione finished her hot chocolate, she became a completely different person; she nearly dragged me down on the floor. The effects wore off after a few minutes, and when she'd realized what happened, she bolted out of the library. After that, Malfoy showed up behind me, laughing about everything he'd done." Harry's knuckles were turning white as he spoke, and he was growling by the time he finished.

"If that is true, Harry, he will be punished most severely," Dumbledore said firmly.

"Right now though, we must help Miss Granger."

"As you say, Mr. Potter, the effects of the Eros Potion are not completely permanent, but every time it overcomes its host, the effects last longer and longer. If the 'sensations' are not quenched, the person will be driven mad and eventually become totally insane."

Ginny grimaced at Madam Pomfrey's explanation.

"So what are we supposed to do? Keep Hermione in a binding spell forever?" she gasped.

"There may be a chance, Miss Weasley, but it will require something."

"What is it, professor?" Harry asked emphatically.

"If you recall, Harry, when Voldemort tried to kill you, your mother's love protected you from his dark magic. Love is an ancient and powerful protection against evil. Its purity can counteract even the most nefarious of potions."

Harry began to see where Dumbledore was leading with this, and he gulped slightly.

"I see your point, Professor Dumbledore, but that would be asking a lot of both parties involved," Madam Pomfrey said worriedly.

"What exactly are you asking, Professor Dumbledore?" Ginny asked curiously.

"If Hermione were to sleep with someone who loves her, not as a friend but as a lover, the potion should become nullified. The variable in the equation is that she must love that person as well, and Miss Granger will not be very forthcoming with that I'm afraid."

"Bloody hell, that is a problem, but fortunately, we have the answer right here!" she said brightly and pointed at Harry.

"Ginny, what are you doing?"

"Come on, Harry, you know that you're in love with her – just tell her!"

"Ginny, even if I did love her, I can't just walk up to her and say 'Hermione, we have to have sex, or you'll become clinically insane!' That's utterly ridiculous!" he answered, not even realizing that he hadn't denied his feelings for Hermione.

"You're the best chance she has!" Ginny retorted.

"Calm down, you two," Madam Pomfrey ordered.

"Harry…you're the closest person in the world to Hermione. She trusts you implicitly; tell me she doesn't feel the same way about you."

"She doesn't, Ginny. Hermione's my best friend; that's all! She's never even showed an interest in me."

"All right, that's enough," Dumbledore interrupted, "I want the two of you to return to Gryffindor Tower and keep watch over Hermione. In the meantime, I will contact the Ministry of Magic's Alchemist division and see if they have anything we could use."

"Thank you, professor, I really appreciate it," Harry said thankfully.

"You two may go."