Hullo all! I didn't expect to update this fast but this just came to me so, well, you can't shun inspiration…
Love in a Bottle
Fic by MuseQ
Disclaimer: mmk
Chapter 2: Success! Or is it…
*
Ginny? Where are you?" Hermione paced the stalls, bending over hoping to see Ginny's worn sneakers dangling from a toilet. (she still is rather short for her age…)
"Oh, Hermione…" Ginny's head popped out of the furthest stall and she stumbled over to Hermione's outstretched arms. Her face was blotchy, her eyes red over her tear-streaked face.
"Ginny, what's the matter? I delivered the potion…" Hermione bit her lip. 'Well, indirectly… and I didn't necessarily watch him drink it… but I trust Remus enough,' "…so why are you so sad?"
Ginny hugged her tightly. "No, Hermione, I don't think he got it… he vomited all over Ron before he could… and stop laughing!"
Hermione suppressed her laughter, and let out a 'I-wish-I-could-have-been-there' sigh. "I'm not laughing at you." She turned Ginny to her so she could look hat her face. "I promise, Ginny, everything will work out just as we planned." Inwardly she felt like Hell, lying to her friend like this since she really didn't know for sure. She made a mental note to talk to Remus once they split.
Ginny allowed a small smile. "More like my plan, since I dragged you into this."
"Yeah, but I'm always keen at saying no."
The two girls laughed and after Ginny washed her face a little the two walked out of the bathroom.
"So, Ginny, what's the next move? How will the spell be completed?"
Ginny stopped suddenly, horrified. "Oh bugger! I completely forgot about the time!"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you remember what time it was when you gave him the drink?"
Hermione furrowed her brows, trying to get the best estimate of the time Remus could've delivered it…
"Uh… around 7:45, I believe…" She bit her lip again. Ginny grabbed Hermione's wrist and looked at her muggle light-up watch, which read 8:36.
"Oh, no! I've only got roughly ten more minutes before the potion has its effect!"
"Ten minutes?"
"Ginny sigh impatiently. "The particular potion I made is temporary, you know that already. Once consumed, it takes approximately an hour to take effect. Once it is, the potion will make the effected fall in love with the first person he or she has eye contact with… and I have no idea where Harry could be!"
Hermione's eyes lit up. "My money's on the Common room! After throwing his lunch, he'll defiantly want to lie down. And I don't think anyone else would be around, since everyone's having a blast in the Great Hall."
Ginny hugged her tightly and sped off up the staircase.
*
Remus leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. 'Next week's lessons are going to get to me.' He reviewed the complex layout he made for himself. He heard the familiar click of the Grandfather clock across the room, and this time looked up. 'Hmm…8:46, I'd better wrap this up.'
He began to get out of his chair, a collection of papers in his left hand, when it happened. He froze, an immense feeling of longing coursing through him ('No surprise there…' he thought grimly), but stronger than he had ever experienced. Suddenly his heart leapt, his stomach churned, his mind became hazy all at once, leaving him feeling like he need to touch someone, embrace… to be cared for… to love?
'Remus, are you needing some anti-depressants right about now?' He thought to himself. 'Poppy's got the best potion for that…
And through control, he suppressed his strange, sudden intensity of emotions, shrugging them off as just hitting a low in esteem, which he's all too used to.
He began to collect the papers again; a little more wary, a feeling in the back of his mind that someone he could love that deeply isn't that far away…
*
Ginny carefully opened the portrait hole and slid inside, and with a rush of relief, found two things: one was that Harry was on the couch furthest from the fireplace, fast asleep, and another that the common room was deserted.
She walked up beside him, and gasped quietly at his appearance. He was lying comfortly on his back, using one arm for a head rest, the other, closest to her, resting peacefully on his stomach. But it was his face that frightened her. His bangs were shagged over his face, wet from sweat, covering only a little of his scar, which even seemed to pale along with his sickly paled face. It somewhat made her feel better that his breathing was constant, since he looked very sick, even in the firelight.
"Harry…" She moaned, "you look terrible…" Feeling a rush of urgency, she fled upstairs the 6th year showers and wetted a cloth, which she carefully placed on his forehead. He moaned pleasantly, the heat in his head subsiding.
She continued patting his head for a minute before his eyes fluttered open. Ginny paused, wondering whether to hide. This thought left immediately as she remembered the potion, and her confidence rose.
"Harry, you'll be fine. Perhaps you had a little to much butterbeer tonight… you need your rest for tomorrow." She whispered sweetly, making sure she was looking him strait in the eyes the whole time. Harry gave her a small smile that made her heart melt.
"But… Ron… I puked…" Harry looked around as if to see his red headed friend nearby, despite how utterly pissed off Ron was.
Ginny' heart sank. 'Could he have…? No, not Ron…' The very thought made her squirm with disgust. "Ron's not here, Harry, just me."
Harry smiled. "I know. Like always."
*
Hermione made it to Remus' door, deciding at the last minute to get this over with, instead of tossing and turning about it all night. 'Besides', she thought to herself, 'he is such a wonderful friend. I really should visit him as often as Herry and Ron do between classes, but homework has been hell for me, so I han't had much time.'
She knocked politely, and opened the door after hearing a polite "Come in." from inside. He was still at his school desk, buried under papers and books to help his DADA classes.
"Hello, Remus. You're working pretty late on a Friday night."
"Hello, Hermione!" He said happily without looking up. "I'm just finishing lesson plans for next week, so hopefully I'll be able to relax this weekend. The week after is the full moon, you know."
Hermione laughed and leaned against a desk facing his, crossing her arms. "You sound like me, always wanting to be on top of things. I have to admit though, our seventh year curriculum is quite demanding, *professor*."
Remus chuckled and put down his quill. "I really don't think any teachers make their classes difficult on purpose… although Snape might be an exeption," he stacked his parchment in front of him and looked up at her, "and surely someone such as… you…" He trailed off, staring at her in a peculiar way, as if he'd never seen her before. 'Her eyes…' he thought suddenly, 'what an original shade of hazel…so lively…so…'
Hermione frowned. "Remus?"
He continued to stare, his expression dazed. His eyes traveled down from her eyes to her nose, taking in her creamy pale skin, and her lips… the color of a pink rose,' he noted dreamily…and before he could stop himself visions of taking this delicate flower into his arms flooded his mind and soul, making him shiver involuntarily and the take in of air more difficult. Thru is whole mind and body was her. Her scent, her shape, her being was burned into him.
"God, Hermione…" Her name rolled off his tongue so pleasantly, as if it were candy. 'She's so beautiful…'
Hermione, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, took a step forward, self-consciously wrapping her robes a little tighter around her. "Remus," she tested, "are you… feeling alright?"
They stared at one another until Remus regained the slightest bit of control. "Yes…" he managed awkwardly, "I was…just saying how someone such as…yourself… shouldn't have any problem with keeping up on grades…and such…"
"Yeah, well, every person has their limit," she replied pleasantly, still holding a worried expression, "I'm not saying I've reached mine, but it seems I'm getting close…"
"Close…" Remus repeated, and Hermione raised her eyebrows. "So…why did you stop by?"
"Oh, I just wanted to make sure you gave Harry his po-… his drink. That's all, really." Hermione was dumfounded at his unchanged expression. 'Really now, just how many butterbeers did he have tonight?'
"Oh, that…" Remus muttered, sounding almost disappointed. He leaned forward and rested his chin on his folded hands, his elbows on his desk. "You know, you actually seemed a little, far away I dare say, when I saw you earlier tonight. Anything particular you wish to talk about? You know I'm always here."
Hermione stared at the sheepish grin he gave in disbelief. '*Me* far away? What about *him*?'
'I could swim in those eyes…' he noted offhandedly.
Hermione cleared her throat uncomfortably. "There really is nothing I need to talk about (Remus' grin faded a little; was he almost pouting?) I just wanted to know if you gave Harry the goblet, because I know how thirsty he was…" She waited for his reaction, hoping he would buy her pitiful excuse for a lie…
Actually, he didn't seem to react at all.
"Well?"
Silence.
"Did you?"
"Mmm…" He mumbled distantly.
"You know, professor, I think I should come back another time." Hermione slipped out of Remus' line of vision-which remained the same, as if she didn't even leave- and headed for the door-
"Wait!" Remus jumped out of his desk and with only three long strides was in front of Hermione. He was very close to her, and his breath seemed labored, despite the small effort he gave. He lowered his voice, "Wouldn't you… like to stay?" He swallowed at this, amazed that he even dared to ask. 'She looks so nervous', he commented to himself, 'I must comfort her…'
'Holy Merlin what is he doing?!' Hermione ducked out from under his advancing lips
and held his shoulders at arm's length, which was somewhat difficult considering he was a good few inches taller than her.
"Remus," Hermione whispered, cheeks turning deep crimson, "I think you should see Madame Pomphrey."
He sighed as she left him to his thoughts, which were completely of her.
*
mmk more to come… yes, I know…very corny… what? You think so? Tell me to my face and review! HAHA I love you