I, ME, MY LOVE POTION EGGS!
by squidward
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've updated! Tnx again for reviewing:
heartsyhawk (whether it was your chocolate egg or this story I'm still thankful that you did hit that blue button^^)
BuckNC (tnx 4 reviewing and greeting me!)
Jesika-jesika (I think I'll update twice a week, is that fast enough? I'm also writing my other fic and doing extra things so I can't go faster than that… )
airhead14 (tnx 4 reviewing! Let's see if it will be R/H in the end…)
magic_sparkle_1 (here's the update! Tnx 4 reviewing!)
Lady Bevier (Congratulations! You're the first one to notice that! I'm waiting for someone to pinpoint that thing ever since! I know that boys were not allowed at girl's dormitory, I pointed that out in my first fic "Eccentricity". But since this is just a fanfic I violated that rule for a while.^^)
RussellGrl15 (I know there are many errors in the previous chap, I didn't double check it because I'm in a hurry to update the fic. Is your guess right? See this chapter…)
gummy bear (I'll try to fix them if I have time. Tnx 4 reviewing!)
sophie (*blinks and reads the review all over again* I write like JK Rowling?!?! *blush, blush* that's overstatement! I'm billion miles behind her!!! but I'm really pleased, it's the highest praise I got! Tnx!),
nightwish-sama (here's the update! Tnx 4 saying it's great!)
DISCLAIMER: The sad thing about this world is only one person owns Harry Potter. The sadder thing is it is so damn good and yet only a sole human being was given the right to own it. The saddest thing is I wasn't that person… *sobs* Why did it have to be JK Rowling?!?!
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I, ME, MY LOVE POTION EGGS!
Chapter VII: Little by Little
Ron went down to the Great Hall yawning and his two bestfriends were with him. He didn't get much sleep because he finished the assignment Professor McGonagall gave him. Harry slept earlier than him so he had to finish his essay alone in the common room. The essay had been very frustrating but to his luck Hermione decided to help him and corrected his work. He smiled when he remembered Hermione sitting close to him - her brows knitted as she scratched some parts and scribbled some things. She was really cute when she was concentrating…
"Hey, you're not even listening!" Hermione shouted, distracting Ron's thoughts.
"What?" he asked quizzically.
"I'm asking when will you pass your essay loads of times and you're still staring at the space dumbfounded!" she explained impatiently.
"Oh, sorry about that," Ron mumbled, his mind still at previous night's events. "Why are you asking anyway?"
Hermione sighed in exasperation before answering, "I think I'll come along because I want to talk to Professor McGonagall. So, when will you go?"
"Maybe after Care of Magical Creatures," Ron replied shortly.
"Wonder what'll Hagrid bring this time," Hermione said thoughtfully.
"If it's one of his 'cute pets' again then I hope they can tear Malfoy's head at least," Harry said wishfully, which he obviously blurted out of habit. But he stopped and caught Hermione's reproachful look and was reminded again of the love potion egg, which happen to slip out of his mind yesterday when Hermione acted more normal.
"Yeah, I hope it does," Ron agreed but he said it more to Hermione than to Harry. Hermione remained quiet and turned to her food. Harry was quite impressed at Hermione's control now. Ron grinned covertly when he spotted Hermione's reaction.
"She's doing better now," Harry whispered to Ron. Ron smiled.
"If she can keep that 'till our class with the Slytherins then it'll be loads better," Ron murmured.
But the test of Hermione's 'control' came earlier than expected when she, Harry, and Ron went out of the Great Hall. Malfoy and his hideous cronies greeted them.
"Good morning Potter, Weasley… and Granger," Malfoy sneered and Hermione noticed that he stressed the word 'Granger'. She blushed horribly and stared at her shoes, trying to avoid Malfoy's gaze that was landing on her.
"Morning will not be good with you around Malfoy!" Harry snapped. As he said this he stepped forward and covered Hermione from Malfoy's view. Malfoy saw this and he smirked.
"And so with you around Potter," Malfoy snarled. He, Crabbe and Goyle walked away, all of them laughing. Ron glared at them, his fist clenched.
"What's his business anyway?" Ron blurted, his eyes still glaring at Malfoy. "Annoy us first thing in the morning?"
"Don't mind it Ron, let's go," said Harry. He looked at Hermione who nodded and followed in tow. The three walked without talking to each other. Each was hesitant in starting a conversation so they just remained quiet. Harry had a sneaking suspicion that Malfoy was up to something. And pretty nasty for sure.
His body shivered when a thought struck him. Did Malfoy know what happened to Hermione? He flashbacked to the scene Malfoy greeted them. He can remember clearly that Malfoy prolonged Hermione's surname in his greeting. But how did he know? Professor Flitwick would not tell him and besides no one knew that Hermione fell for Malfoy apart from him, Ron and Ginny. Did he deduce it from Hermione's behavior? He had to be really thick to do that. Or it's just a coincidence and never really meant to give emphasis on Hermione's name? Harry wished it was really a coincidence. He turned at his side and panicked that Hermione was not there.
"Where's Hermione?!" Harry asked worriedly.
"She went to her Arithmancy class, have you forgotten? She even said 'see you later' to us," Ron replied and watched Harry with confusion.
"Oh, really. I- I didn't hear her," Harry said truthfully. He and Ron were already climbing the North Tower before he realized that they were already heading for Divination.
The room still had its drowsy aura and Professor Trelawney's usual terrible predictions made the environment even worse. Harry and Ron went to their usual seats and the instant they sat on their chairs Professor Trelawney shot Harry another one of her 'fearful looks'. Harry winced and Ron snorted when he saw Harry's reaction. "Here we go again," Ron chuckled.
~~~~~
Harry and Ron waited for Hermione at the castle front doors. When at last they spotted her, they all went to the forest for their Care of Magical Creatures class. They were all looking forward in seeing Hagrid, but the fact that they were with Slytherins at his class made Harry and Ron pissed. Hermione wasn't though, but she knew perfectly well that she too must avoid Malfoy, for her 'personal safety', as Ron put it. And my feelings for him were not genuine anyway…
"'Lo there, 'Arry!" Hagrid waved at them. Harry, Ron and Hermione beamed at their big friend.
"What do you have for us today?" asked Harry, crossing his fingers that it wasn't along the sorts of Blast-Ended Skrewts. But Hagrid's eyes glinted with joy and Harry was so sure it would be another 'exciting' Care of Magical Creatures class.
"We'll 'ave kamadans today," Hagrid replied happily. [a/n: I got these kamadans from the novel "Circus of Fear" by Rose Estes. I don't own them.] "They're lovely, I'm sure you'll like them!" Hagrid pointed at a large cage were little leopardlike creatures. Obviously these were still pups. They looked cute alright, Harry thought, but the claws were still frightening. But the cute image immediately vanished when Hermione gasped and the young kamadans turned around. About six or seven snakes were attached on its shoulders and writhed threateningly on them.
Hagrid saw Hermione's terrified look and he patted her on back, throwing her on the ground. Ron caught her waist just in time.
"Oh, sorry 'bout that," Hagrid muttered. "But yeh don't 'ave ter be scared of 'em, Hermione. It would be jus' like dealin' with a cat." Harry doubted that these kamadans were like Crookshanks but before Hagrid could tell them more about these creatures the Slytherins were already coming in so Harry, Ron and Hermione hurried back to the Gryffindors.
"'Kay class, we'll 'ave int'restin' creatures today," Hagrid began. He lifted the large case in a level everyone could see. Gasps of 'ah's' and 'oh's' were heard from the students. Lavender shrieked when the kamadans revealed its snakes. "It could have been cute without those slithering snakes!" Parvati muttered.
"These are kamadans," Hagrid explained. "They are fierce creatures but they can be loyal an' lovely pets when tamed."
"Pet? That monster can be a pet? Maybe it can after it tore you apart!" Malfoy scoffed loudly. Hagrid didn't hear it though.
"Yeh must treat 'em with respect, kamadans, if yeh don't want those claws get yeh," Hagrid pointed at the sharp, pointed claws of the kamadan. "These are still pups, so today yeh lot just have ter feed 'em. Now come closer 'ere."
Only Harry, Ron and Hermione came forward. They started feeding the kamadans and when the class saw that they were safe, they also came forward and started feeding them too. Harry and Ron moved closer to Hermione when they saw Malfoy approaching forward.
"It's like a combined form of Gryffindor and Slytherin, isn't it?" Hagrid whispered at Harry.
"Living proof that they can never get along, because putting them together will bring a horrible outcome," Ron commented and Harry nodded in agreement.
The class ended fairly well, unless you counted the bites and scratches some students got. But they weren't really that lethal so it was still fine. Harry, Ron and Hermione said goodbye to Hagrid before going back to the castle.
"Too bad you weren't swallowed by that monster, Weasley. It would save your parents one mouth to feed," Malfoy snorted. He was smirking maliciously at them and his sidekicks, Crabbe and Goyle, were sniggering at his back. Ron's face turned red in anger. "All right there, Granger?"
Hermione's face was as red as Ron's, though it wasn't in anger. She looked away from Malfoy's eyes and didn't answer.
"Mind your own business, Malfoy!" Harry snapped.
"I'm asking Granger here, Potter, so keep your filthy mouth shut!" Malfoy smirked.
"She'll be alright if you'll get out of our sight!" Ron fumed. He grabbed Hermione's hands and walked away from Malfoy. Harry ran after them. He could hear Ron cursing under his breath. They stopped when they reached the castle.
"That prat! I'll get him sometime!" Ron bellowed, his face still red. Hermione stayed quiet.
"I hope those kamadans eat him next time," Harry muttered.
"That's before he had a taste of my fist!" Ron roared.
"I-I think we should go back to the common room," Hermione broke. She was obviously having an internal struggle with the look she was having. Ron looked at her sympathetically.
"Er, it's almost lunch time," said Harry.
"But Ron has to get his essay in Transfiguration," Hermione replied.
"Yeah, I forgot about that," Ron said. So they all went to the Gryffindor common room. There were only few people when they came in.
"I'll be back in a minute," Ron mumbled as he ran to the boy's dormitory.
"Ron, wait!" Hermione called.
"What?"
"My hand, you're still holding it," Hermione pointed. Ron blushed when he realized this and let go of Hermione's hand immediately.
"I'll come with you Ron. I'll change, my clothes got pretty dirty while feeding those kamadans. I'll just wait for you and Hermione at the Great Hall," said Harry.
When Ron came back he and Hermione went to Professor McGonagall's office. Ron waited until McGonagall's and Hermione's talk were finished.
"Hermione, are you feeling well?" asked Ron when he and Hermione were on their way to the Great Hall.
"Yeah, I am," Hermione replied, but Ron felt that she was lying.
"I know it's hard for you, controlling your feelings. But you must remember that it's for your own good. And you're really doing a great job," Ron beamed at her. Hermione smiled back.
"I'm really confused Ron. I can't understand why I always see Draco in a different light. In our every encounter with him you and Harry would always get mad. But every time I see him I always feel delighted. Sometimes I feel I would burst because I'm torn between my feelings for him and my love for you and Harry," Hermione relayed, her eyes getting misty. Ron's cheeks turned pink. My love for you and Harry. Yeah right, of course it's platonic love. Do you expect more?
"Hermione, remember that I'm always here to support you. I know you will be cured soon," Ron assured her. Hermione smiled.
"Oh, I can see Professor Vector there. Ron, I think you should go ahead, I just need a quick word with her," said Hermione.
"But if it is quick I can wait," Ron told her.
"No Ron, you go ahead, Harry is waiting." Hermione waved at him and ran to Professor Vector. Ron went alone to the Great Hall.
~~~~~
After Hermione finished talking with Professor Vector, which took almost ten minutes, she hurried back to the Great Hall. But halfway her walk she heard somebody call her name.
"Granger!" It was Malfoy. Hermione stopped and looked at Draco as if he was one of Luna's creatures. She could feel her face growing hot. What am I going to do? I tried my best to avoid him and now he cornered me! Ron and Harry are not here, what will I do? Run? I will look stupid but I think it's the only way. If he could just stop staring at me then it will be a lot easier. Ron and Harry told me that it's for my best to avoid him and I trust them. But, Oh Merlin, I can't move my feet! What will I do?!
Malfoy smiled and approached her. "Could I have a word?" he asked politely.
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