Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing except for the plot.

A/N: Lalala! Yeah, finally over 100 reviews! *dances with invisible partner* Thanks to all of you! You guys ROCK! =)

For those on my mailing list: the email update was somewhat delayed because I am really busy. Sorry!

WARNING: This is like such a crappy chapter. I meant to refine it, but it was either this or no update at all. I figured that I owe you guys the update, so…yup yep. No flames…*runs out of sight*

The Magic of Love

By: Katrina

Chapter Nine

Astronomy Tower

"We must stop her now." Padma looked up. "Look, this note…she's figured this much already."

"And I believe she took out the library book." The hooded figure glared. "Weren't you supposed to be the one who's making sure that all these books-"

"How am I supposed to know that she figured this much already? I daresay she's going to Potter at this very moment."

"That cannot happen."

Padma nodded. "You know the spell to reawaken the counterpart?"

"Perfectly."

~*~

"Hermione!"

Hermione turned around. No! Somehow, Draco managed to catch up with her. He was staring at her with an awed expression on his face. "What's the hurry? To the Slytherin common room?"

Oh God. Go away! Hermione forced a smile. "I need to return a book to…er…Pansy."

"Can I come along?"

Hermione pursed her lips. "Girls' talk, Draco, girls' talk." She forced a giggle. "Um…you know…we want…um…privacy."

Draco smiled in amusement. "I guess I'm not welcome," he commented. "Well, see you at supper?"

Hermione nodded. "Right…see you at supper." Gosh, I would rather sit with Harry…argh, Hermione, how would you even know that Harry will…you're hopeless. She kept up a smile till Draco turned the corner, and started to run toward the Slytherin common room. She could still remember the way to the Slytherin common room vividly and-

Suddenly, Hermione stopped. She thought she felt an electric shock going through her. Frowning, she looked around. Nobody was in sight, besides Draco, who was staring open-mouthed at the corner, as a shadow swiftly disappeared…or did Hermione imagine it? She shuddered. I do hope Draco's all right, Hermione thought, but she decided that the Draco clone could wait. She needed to get to Harry first.

She was relieved to run into the stone wall. "Damn Hogwarts!" she shouted, and stormed into the common room. There were only a few Slytherins remaining in Hogwarts for Christmas, and every single one of them turned to look at her with a sneer on their face.

"Yo, Malfoy's girlfriend's here?"

"Whatcha gonna do?"

Hermione ignored them. She held out her wand threateningly. "I can hex every single one of you," she said in a cold voice. "Where is Harry?"

"Leave him alone, will ya?" It's that same girl who'd delivered that note to Hermione so long ago. When Harry and I are still best friends.

"I won't," said Hermione. "Go ahead. I'm waiting. Or would you like to grow feathers?" Fred and George had taught her that one.

"Left staircase, first room on the second landing," replied the same girl, but more subdued now.

"I thank you very much," Hermione said, running up the staircase to Harry's dorm. She made up her mind to threaten everyone out of the room if he wasn't alone.

Harry was, however, alone. She could tell, because even at the door she didn't hear anyone talking, and there was an eerie sort of silence. When she opened it a creak, she saw Harry reading a heavy book inside, facing her, his legs crossed. Taking a deep breath, Hermione slipped into the room and shut the door very quietly behind her.

Harry didn't look up, but she knew that he knew that she was there.

Hermione closed the distance between them and tapped him on the shoulder. "Harry," she said softly. "It's Hermione."

"Go away." The voice was icy.

Hermione bit her lips. "I really am sorry."

"Good. Go."

Hermione sighed and brandished the book. "Look," she said. "We're in danger." What a dumb thing to say, Hermione. "Um…gee, Harry, can't you just read the damn book?" She suddenly felt something overtaking her. Oh God, counterpart, go AWAY!

"No."

"You horrid, horrid creature!" shrieked Hermione so venomously that Harry looked up with a strange look in his green eyes. "You bastard! Who do you think you are? Sure, in the real world I can stand being ignored by you like this, being taken by granted by the boy who bloody lived, but here you are a nobody! Absolutely nobody!" Hermione was feeling angry, not at Harry, but at herself. Somehow she couldn't stop the words from pouring out. "You know what? It's fine if you never get out of this world. I'll be more than happy to see you trapped here forever. Perhaps there's something to thank Voldemort for after all, isn't it? Less people would've died if you'd died as a baby. Everyone will be happy without the Boy Who Fucking Lived!"

Hermione breathed. She had to get out of here before she said anything else. The look on Harry's face was devastating, a look of shock mingled with guilt and misery, but he didn't say anything. "I understand," he said softly. "I guess I should've known all along that you think I'm not worth it."

That killed Hermione more than anything. She tore out of the place like a madwoman, and all the Slytherins who'd heard just stared at her, too afraid to do anything.

It was only outside the common room that Hermione felt in control again, but she knew what the book had meant about disastrous results. I really screwed it this time, she thought grimly. If only Ron or Ginny are here! They can help me.

But they aren't. Hermione was all by herself.

She slumped against the hall, trying to keep the tears threatening to fall to herself. Everything seemed so hopeless.

Slowly, Hermione made her way back to the Gryffindor common room, her mind thankfully blank and devoid of emotions. It was only when she stopped at the Fat Lady's portrait that she realized she was at the wrong place. How embarrassing, Hermione thought, turning to go.

"Hermione, you all right?"

Hermione jumped at the voice. It was Padma, wearing a smile on her face. Wait…Gryffindor… Hermione felt vaguely relieved.

"Parvati? Is that you?"

The girl laughed. "Wrong again, Hermione. The second mistake you've made about my identity. I'm Parvati's twin sister."

Immediately, upon hearing this, Hermione backed away. "YOU!" she accused. "Did you…you don't belong here…you followed me here!"

The look on her face clearly confirmed her statement. "Did you enjoy your little bout with Potter?" she asked. "Your wonderful little counterpart did her job perfectly, didn't she? Judging from the look on your face."

"How do you know about it?" Hermione demanded.

Padma merely smiled.

"It was you all along, wasn't it? The pictures…Harry…and my counterpart."

Padma looked at the book in her arms. "Oh yes, Hermione, that was me all right. I'm rather proud to announce it."

"But-but why? What did Harry ever do to you?"

"It's not Harry I'm working against, although it is a nice bonus. It's you."

"Wh-" Hermione started to protest.

"Hermione, Hermione." Padma shook her head. "Hermione, imagine someone like me, who has only a beautiful face but otherwise nothing at all. Even my sister Parvati has far more than what I have. She's in Gryffindor. She's near the almighty Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley and…you, Hermione Granger, the brain of the school. Now, how should I feel toward you? Respect? Awe? Or envy."

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "I never did anything to you."

"Remember the Yule Ball? How Ron absolutely shunned me because he was so stunned by your…let me cough…beauty?"

Hermione bit her lips. She was about to answer when… "Yule Ball? This make-believe world…that's not possible." She shook her head. Everything was too confusing. "No, this is wrong. Absolutely wrong!" She pointed at her. "Ron…he's in Hufflepuff! I'm in Ravenclaw…he doesn't even know me…"

"Ron's in Gryffindor," corrected Padma quietly. "I thought you know that."

"But-" Hermione shook her head. "But…you are the one who said that all the Weasleys are in Hufflepuff…"

"Ron, you, and of course, our dear Potter, are all in Gryffindor, Hermione. This is a make-believe world, did you forget?"

Hermione gasped. "Then-"

"Oh yes, I'm transported from your world too. I'm a Death Eater, dear Hermione. And I'm proud to do this job assigned to me." Padma smirked. "Now, where were we? Oh, of course. Well, I actually thought I was pretty and enough to give quite a few boys erections…to pine after me, but no, the chipmunk Granger just had to grab his attention. I've hated you ever since then, Hermione. You and Ron-"

"But we aren't a couple!" Hermione shouted.

"You loved each other, and dated, didn't you? You don't even like Ron now, so how dare you-"

Hermione couldn't believe any of this. "Let me guess. This isn't about Ron at all."

"Right. Not all. I'm jealous of your perfect life. And now what? You smooching Potter? Am I glad he dumped you!"

"Is Harry…counterpart…?"

"No." Padma shook her head. "He's the real thing. You weren't supposed to be here, that's for sure. The counterpart you was supposed to love him and then destroy him, but with you, it's all the better, isn't it? You love Potter so much more than the counterpart could. Too bad I awoke the other Hermione at the right time. Now I think that either he hates you or thinks you're some counterpart. Either is applicable."

"You cast spell today, didn't you!"

"Actually, it wasn't me. It's my very best friend. Want to know who my friend is?"

Footsteps sounded behind Hermione before she could ask for the identity of that "very best friend". Good. A Gryffindor returning from the snowball fight. Maybe he or she can help. Both she and Padma looked apprehensively at the corner, and saw it was Draco who turned, grinning and covered with snow. When he saw Hermione and Padma, his gray eyes flickered. "What are you doing here?"

Hermione wasn't sure who he was addressing.

"Draco! Help! Padma…she's dangerous…you won't know, but she's dangerous…"

Both Draco and Padma started to laugh. "Hermione, not so smart now, are you?" Draco said. "Did you really fall for my cutie boy charming trick?"

"What?" This was too much.

Padma put an arm around Draco. "C'mon, Hermione, put two and two together. If I didn't do the spell to awake the counterpart, who did?"

"Draco did?" Hermione's mouth fell open. But it fit together. Draco met her…and when she turned to see who'd given her that electrical shock, there was Draco…Draco pretending he liked her so that Hermione won't ever suspect him…Draco popping in at all these times…Draco going to snowball fights when he's probably scheming the next move with Padma…Malfoy the bastard, the ferret, who hated her and her friends so… "Malfoy!" she spat the name with disgust. "Don't tell me. You…you're the same bastard I remember."

"That's right, Mudblood." Malfoy's eyes darkened. "Stupefy!"

~*~

"The final phase is done…" came a voice that seemed to drift from far off.

Hermione blinked and sat up with a start, her head throbbing. She looked around. She was in a very large chamber, made of solid material like marble on all four sides. She was lying in the corner with cords tied around her, and diagonally across the other room were Malfoy and Padma, talking in not-so-low voices. There was not a door in sight.

"All right, then. Give me the Portkey. I'll go and report this to the Lord."

"Excuse me? Shouldn't I get the Portkey?"

Padma was holding a strange looking object that seemed to be the Portkey they were fighting over. Maybe they're so preoccupied they won't notice if I escape, Hermione thought hopefully, reaching into the pocket of her robes for her wand. It wasn't there.

Hermione looked around carefully. Her wand had to be somewhere. And then she saw it, in Padma's hand, the same hand she was using to hold the Portkey. Breathlessly, Hermione watched, as Malfoy made a wild grab for the Portkey. Her wand clattered to the floor.

"I did most of the work here, Malfoy! You hardly did anything."

"What did you do? Take pictures? Please, I took some too! I did more than you! I'm the one who had to earn Mudblood's trust-"

"As if I didn't?"

Hermione knew that it was her chance to get her wand. She remembered that in her sixth year, when she, along with Harry and Ron, were picked for the Order of the Phoenix, they had taught them some simple wandless magic. Very simple, but it included the Summoning Charm. Hermione decided to try that, even though she hadn't used that for a while. She slowly turned, so that her palm was facing her wand, and concentrated. "Accio wand…"

"The Lord favors me, all right? My dad's his right hand man…"

"Get off it! I did all the work. Why else did he give the key to me?"

"How am I supposed to know?"

"Accio wand…"

The wand rolled a bit, and narrowly avoided being stepped on by Malfoy as he pinned Padma against the wall, finally getting the Portkey.

"YOU!" shouted Padma, whipping her wand out to point at Malfoy.

The wand started to come closer to Hermione.

"I'm a better dueler. Must I prove it to you? Stay here with Mudblood and soon enough, the Lord will take you back with him. He's here too, you know."

Voldemort is here? Hermione's wand flew into her hand. She breathed a sigh of relief and quickly muttered a charm to get the cords off of her. Malfoy and Padma were positively ready to duel for the Portkey, and Hermione had the feeling that the Portkey was a hoax. Firstly, a Portkey can be shared, and secondly, the book specifically said that there was no known way to get out of make believe worlds. "STUPEFY MAXIMUS!" she shouted, pointing her wand at Malfoy and Padma.

Both of them slumped over on the chamber's floor.

Hermione sighed with relief and started to look around the chamber, trying to find a way out. When she couldn't, she went over to Padma. "Imperio," she said. People could perform the Unforgivables on Death Eaters, and besides, nobody would know. "Enervate."

Padma sat up, her eyes blank. "Tell me the truth," Hermione said. Padma nodded. "How do I get out of here?"

"Tap the wall behind you three times. A door should appear."

Hermione was about to do that when she realized that she could get a lot of answers this way. Why not? "Why does Voldemort want Harry here?" she asked.

"Psychological trap. Harry is the disliked one in the school here, and sooner or later, complete with dark spells, he would be trapped within himself." Hermione's blood chilled. "If that happens, it's pretty much like a Dementor's Kiss. Usually there's no cure."

"Then…that's why we're in different houses?"

"Yes."

"Why fifth years, then? Isn't first years easier?"

"There's the Sorcerer's Stone in the first year, the diary in the second, Sirius Black in the third, and the Yule Ball in the fourth. The fifth is the next youngest."

"There isn't a way to break the spell?"

"The Lord has given me the Portkey."

Hermione looked skeptically at the Portkey. Forget it. You need to get Harry before Voldemort works out the spell. "Who is Voldemort in this world?" she asked. "Is he…in Hogwarts?"

"Not even I know that."

"Where is Harry?"

"Astronomy Tower."

"Why?"

"The tallest, so you can push his body off the tower."

"NO cure? You sure there's no cure for this curse?"

Padma shrugged. "Not that I know of."

Hermione jumped up. "How do I get to the Astronomy Tower from here?"

"Turn right three times, and keep on running."

"Gee, thanks." Hermione rolled her eyes. "STUPEFY!" Padma fell over again. Hermione pushed her and Malfoy together and tied them with cords. She would worry about them later. She tapped the wall behind her three times. A door appeared. Hermione yanked it open and ran blindly to the right, turning three times, and ran down the familiar corridor to the Astronomy Tower.

She passed the Astronomy classroom, and up to the tower. The window, where she and Harry had seen Norbert off. She saw Harry sitting there, as if looking out, reminiscing about the past. Hermione bit her lips. He didn't seem to be on the verge of jumping down, and Voldemort was nowhere in sight.

"Harry?"

There was no movement from Harry.

"It's…it's Hermione."

She would've expected some kind of movement, perhaps him whipping around to yell at her, but there was still no movement.

Hermione was starting to get a bad feeling about this. She lightly put her hands on his shoulders, steadying him so he wouldn't fall, and almost let go in surprise. They were so cold…giving her this feeling she got when she was around the dementors…

Oh gracious Merlin. He…he didn't…he isn't trapped within himself…! Hermione pulled Harry's body. It felt surprisingly light, as if it were just a hollow shell. She forced him to turn around, and nearly jumped back in surprise. This was not Harry Potter she was holding; it was a dummy.

"What…what on earth?" Hermione gasped. Then where the heck is Harry?

"Her…Hermione?"

Hermione turned around. She was afraid that it was a dummy again, but it was Harry, coming up the stairs with a perplexed look on his face. "Um, Hermione…I guess I should apologize-"

Hermione didn't give him a chance. She gave a squeal of delight, quite unlike her usual reserved self, and flung her arms around him. Harry stumbled back a few steps at the sudden impact, but he hugged her back as hard as Hermione was hugging him. When she let go, she saw that he had tears in his eyes. "Hermione…I'm really sorry…I was just mad…I didn't think…" He sighed. "I was reading a book on the make-believe worlds too…and that was when I thought…the counterpart?"

"I'm really sorry. I was a fool." Hermione looked down. "I mean…well, I didn't mean any of the things I said, okay? And I forgive you, for whatever you were apologizing for at first-"

"Oh. I guess I was being mean?'

Hermione shook her head. "Not at all, considering what…what Hermione did."

The spell wouldn't work now, would it? Harry smiled slightly, and Hermione hugged him again. And then, she raised her head and plastered her lips to his, of which time everything was forgotten. They had never kissed so hard and so passionately before. Harry's hand ran down her spine, giving Hermione shivers, as she ran her own hand through his hair, making them stand up messily even more. But before they could get any further, they both remembered something.

"Why did you come here?" they asked at the same time.

Harry held up a note. "Someone…someone told me to meet him here," he said. Hermione took the note and looked at it. Meet me at Astronomy Tower—T.R. "Why are you here?"

"Because…" and pointing at the dummy, Hermione told Harry the whole story. By the end, Harry's face was so pale that it made the snow outside gray by comparison.

"Voldemort…is here? The spell to trap me within myself?"

Hermione nodded. And then it struck her. "T.R.! Harry…Tom Riddle!"

"Then…oh Merlin…he must've wanted to put the spell…the curse…whatever it was…he must've wanted to finish me off here! But the dummy?"

"It was supposed to be a decoy, but a bad timing on my part."

The familiar cold voice of Voldemort made both Harry and Hermione jump. There was no question who the speaker was, for Harry had sank to his knees, his hand on his scar, struggling to stand up again. Hermione kneeled down beside him, taking his free hand, squeezing it reassuringly, and turned up to see…

Albus Dumbledore, his scarlet eyes blazing.

                                                           

A/N: Cliffhangers are fun, fun, fun! *gets pelted by tomatoes* I mean…they're…cough…er…evil. Yeah, that's right. Evil. I'm sorry. I just had to stop here or this chapter will go on forever. Forgive me, won't you? *puppy eyes*

There're only around two to three chapters left, and I promise, none of those endings are cliffies…. And as for Evil!Draco…I'm a D/G, and usually I would've made him a good guy, but I didn't want to develop any other canon characters or make up an OC, and I love Ron and Ginny too much, so I'm sorry, he's the evil one in this. I did plan a sequel in which he would be redeemed, but there's no time, so he stays evil! Ha! *hides form Draco lovers*

Drop a few reviews, please?

~Katrina

Thanks to all my incredibly wonderful reviewers!

FlowerBySea-the ending will be here in three chaps…unless I combine chapters again, which I think I'll have to.

Blackheart Syaoran-I know! Really sorry. I realized it after I posted the chapter, but I was in a hurry. As you can see, the document for chapter 8 is very messed up. Thanks for overlooking it! *blushes still at her mistake* Oh, I think there's an interview saying that Flitwick is the Ravenclaw house's head. But it makes sense, see? There are four main professors, and three of them are heads of the other three houses. Hmm…I read a Slytherin Hermione fic. I'll see if I can find any Ravenclaw Hermione fics.

Violet Princess-aww thanks!

hpdancer92-they probably won't get married in this fic, but yes, they'll get back. That'll happen…soon, I hope.

Mel-don't worry, they will, because I believe in happy endings.

Alexial-now you find out…Draco! How they'll get out? Wait for the next two chapters.

Brazilianfan-thanks very much.

ChristinaLupin01442-I'll be sure to check it out. The title sounds cool.

TaioraCrazedGirl-it's not really a cliffie…*shamed* see I updated! =)

Hien-Where I get my ideas…I really don't know. *ponders* Hmm…I think I get them from reading other fictions. I know I got this idea from reading a fic. Anyway, I bet you're a great writer, just undiscovered for now.

Cay-you're right! *confetti*

Sunny-aww thanks!

VMorticia-hope I'll see you again soon then! You follow this? Yeah! =) And you bookmarked it? Wow! *pleased and blushing*

NO NAME-ooh thanks!

andrea perez-that's okay. You reviewed anyway! =D Anyway, I promise lots of H/Hr in the last chapter, okay?

ear91-you happy now? =) I never liked D/Hr as much as H/Hr. The only reason why I made Draco so nice is…so you guys won't guess that he's evil!

hgnhp4ever-of course! Cool name!

SimpleeDazed-H/Hr together again…now let's just kick Voldemort off the set.

Hermione Alanna Granger-Time Turners confuse me, so I can't put that in here, but good idea. They'll return, I just haven't figured out a rational way yet. *chuckles at own stupidity*

Cherrymist-aww thanks! really flattered, I am!

Lily Rose Evans-here is your update!