Disclaimer: I do not own Harry or Hermione or anyone else. 

Lovely Illusion

Harry and Hermione swear that they are only friends. However, when Hermione becomes the victim of a love spell that causes every male at Hogwarts to fall in love with her, will Harry's jealously drive him to admit his feelings to himself…and to her?

"Quick! This way!" Hermione whispered, her thin frame racked with giggles. She grabbed a hold of Harry's hand and tugged him forward. The two friends were running quietly down the corridor, intent on sneaking out to the forest and back, in the black of the night. Now that Voldemort had been vanquished, there was no danger, except the wrath of the teachers if they were caught out of the common room after hours. She pulled him around a corner and they leaned back against the wall panting. They had heard voices behind them and so they had sprinted as fast as they could to get out of sight. Although it was probably other students off for a midnight snog, Hermione was, for once in her life, enjoying the rush of breaking the rules.

"That was a close one Harry!" She smiled, exhilarated by the thrill of almost getting caught---and not by the fact that Harry's hand still rested in hers, of course. It felt warm and rough and perfect, she realized, and nervous by the fact that it felt so wonderful, Hermione quickly pulled away. Harry didn't seem to notice.

"You've never struck me as the type to enjoy a risk like this Mione," He teased her. "Wouldn't want to get expelled, now would we?" She playfully slapped his arm and he grabbed it, moaning as if in pain. She laughed and stuck out her tongue. Seizing the opportunity, he grabbed that as well. Her eyes widened and Harry was struck by how big and brown they were. The thought fled his mind when she delivered a slap to his hand. He let go, and her eyes glinted mischievously. Suddenly, he was attacked by her fingers, as she jumped on him, tickling his sides mercilessly. Hermione had had quite a few tickle battles with Harry in the past, ever since she found out his weakness in third year. Unfortunately for her, she was also extremely ticklish, so their fights were never one sided.

Hands found ribs, fingers found necks and soon the pair had slid down the stones of the wall and were lying on the floor shrieking in laughter.

"Hermione Granger!" He gasped, when her hands finally left him. "I do believe your screaming is going to get us caught!"

"If I'm not mistaken, Harry, you were the one shrieking like a girl." She grinned maliciously. Harry gasped.

"You're going to pay for that one!"

"Not if you can't catch me, Potter!" She replied and jumped up, dashing off around the corner, towards the front doors of the castle. It took Harry a few moments to register what had happened, and then he raced off after her. He saw her fling open the double doors and run down the steps towards the lake. She turned around to face him, and started to run backwards, making faces.

"I would put your tongue back in your mouth Granger if you don't want me to grab it again!" She giggled and turned back around, dashing closer to the lake.

"You know you enjoyed touching it Potter!" she yelled over her shoulder.

Harry was gaining on her. He was, or course, a star seeker, and Hermione's speed was nothing compared with that of a snitch. When he reached her, he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her into his arms. She screamed and started flailing her limbs wildly. She sensed what he was about to do. She just knew him too well.

"Caught you!" He said, chuckling.

"Harry! Put me down!" She squealed. He did not reply, and just walked closer to the lake. The water was sparkling in the light of the moon, the surface barely rippling. It was late spring, so Harry knew it would be warm. Hermione struggled as he inched ever closer. Then without warning he answered, "Ok, Mione dear, I'll put you down" and with a splash, proceeded to drop her into the water. Hermione had a plan however, and when she landed, she hooked her foot around his leg, bringing him down with her. They landed, one on top of the other, with a great splash. Almost at the same moment, they both sprang up, dripping wet.

"Harry James Potter! I cannot believe you just threw me into the lake!" she gasped. He stood up out of the water, and Hermione felt herself choke. His white tee shirt was soaked all the way through, casting the appearance that he was bare chested. Quidditch had certainly done him well, Hermione thought. Then she shook her head. Harry was her best friend, for cripes sakes! She had no right to be thinking about his gorgeous body…or his mysterious eyes…or his adorable dimples. What had come over her? Sure, she knew Harry was attractive—she wasn't blind—but she wasn't supposed to be having these thoughts.

"Something wrong Mione?" He asked, eyes brimming with concern. That was just like Harry. He always knew when something was troubling her.

"It's nothing," she answered, turning away from his piercing gaze. She knew that he didn't buy her excuse, but she wasn't going to tell him that her heart was fluttering madly in her rib cage at that moment. He wouldn't understand. He was her best friend, and she didn't want to mess that up. "Come on; let's head back to the castle. We made it down here without getting caught, didn't we?"

"Ok…sure" he replied, slightly unsettled. He knew something was upsetting Hermione, but he didn't want to pry. Good friends didn't pry. And that's what they were. Good friends.

They trudged back up to the front door, neither one willing to acknowledge the thick awkwardness that had suddenly fallen between them like a fog.

Little did they know that a certain someone had been watching their entire exchange. And that someone had a plan.