Chapter Two

"Hermione, hurry up! We're going to be late for Care of Magical Creatures!" Harry called up the stairs to Hermione's closed door, from the common room they shared. Not surprisingly, Harry and Hermione had been made Head Students their final year, and shared a dormitory and a bathroom.

After a pause, the door opened, and Hermione emerged, looking rather unkempt. Her hair was thrown up into a messy bun on top of her head, and there were quite noticeable bags under her eyes.

"Morning Beautiful" Harry said when he saw her, crossing to her, to carry her books. He kissed her cheek as a greeting, and Hermione felt her heart flutter and her cheeks warm. She chose to ignore the feeling.

"Sorry Harry, I'm not used to running on no sleep. I'm afraid I'm going to be a bit slow today."

"It was fun though, wasn't it?"

"Yes," she responded smiling. "I'm quite amazed actually, that we didn't get caught, with all that racket we were making!" He laughed, and extended his arm for her to take.

"May I walk you to class Miss. Granger? Looks like we missed breakfast."

"Of course, Mr. Potter," she replied and looped her arm through his.

It was a lovely sunny day, with a slightly cool breeze. Harry and Hermione walked down to the Care of Magical Creatures hut, enjoying the scenery. Neither one acknowledged the fact that their arms were still entwined, as it felt so natural.

"Oy! Harry, Hermione! Where have you two been?" Ron yelled as he saw them approaching. "I didn't see you all morning!"

"Hey Ron," They greeted at the same time.

"You were off snogging and you lost sense of time, I suppose?" he joked, and they laughed, though their faces both tinged red.

Hagrid came out of his hut, and lumbered over to the students, grinning broadly.

"I've got a grea' lesson planned fer ye today," He told them smiling. "Now tha' exams are comin' soon, I though' I'd give ye the day off. This won' be on yer exams. So don' worry, Hermione." Everyone laughed. "Now, who can tell me what an Aphroditalope is?" To everyone's shock, Hermione Granger did not raise her hand. Her mind was too clouded with other matters to focus. She hadn't even heard the question.

"No one?" the class stared back at him with blank expressions. "Alrigh'. An Aphroditalope works in kinda the same way as a love potion. It's named after the Greek Goddess, Aphrodite."

Immediately, Hermione realized that Hagrid was talking, and her hand shot up.

"Exactly professor," She said, without being called upon. "The difference between this creature and a love potion however, is that a potion makes only one person fall in love with you, and vice versa. The effects of the Aphroditalope make any person of the opposite gender fall in love with the person affected as long as they are around the same age."

"Correc'. Ten points to Gryffindor." Hermione looked pleased with herself.

The class consisted of breaking into pairs, and taking care of a young Aphroditalope. Harry and Hermione automatically went off together leaving Ron behind to scout out Lavender as a partner.

"Jus' be careful," Hagrid warned as the class split up. "That ye don' stop paying attention to the creature. It loves attention. If ye don' give it, ye might become inflicted with its spell."

Harry sat on the grass, leaning back on his elbows, while Hermione lay between his legs, her back against his chest. She felt his hand start to absently twirl a lock of her hair. He poked her side.

"Stop!" she giggled, poking him back.

The Aphroditalope grazed a few feet before them, its sleek red coat glistening in the sun. The class was very relaxing, in that they didn't have to do anything. Aphroditalopes seemed very independent.

Harry leaned foreword, so that his lips almost grazed her ear. Then instead of delivering the possibility of a kiss, he blew into it instead. His breath sent a shudder through her.

"Harry! You did NOT just blow in my ear!" she turned so that she was now facing him, although still between his legs. He grinned mischievously at her.

"Of course not Hermione. Why would I blow in your ear?" He stared at her, his face plastered with fake innocence. She lunged foreward, knocking him off of his elbows and onto the ground, and lay herself on top of him so that she could reach his ear. Laughing, she began to blow all over his face, hoping to maybe get somewhere near his ear. He laughed as her breath tickled his lips, and he blew right back into her face.

The two best friends were too absorbed in each other, to notice that the Aphroditalope was not pleased. It had been completely ignored all class, and was now getting very annoyed.

Before Hermione knew what had happened, she had been thrown to the ground, by some mysterious force, and a cloudy pink gas was fogging her sight. It was all over before she could think. She started to cough, and then everything turned black.

"Oh I do hope she's alright!"

"Look how beautiful she is…"

"I'll never be able to live if she's hurt…"

The deep voices all floated together, echoing around her. Slowly, she opened her eyes. The entire class was crowded around her, faces wrought with concern. Immediately she looked for Harry, but he didn't appear to be there. Hagrid was just pushing his way through the students.

"Alrigh'. Move aside e'ryone, lemmie take a look a' er!" He bent down and examined her face. "'Arry! Come 'ere."

Harry broke through the crowd and bent down next to Hagrid. His eyes were dark and sad, and his face was wrinkled with concern. Hermione smiled when she saw him. He hadn't left after all!

"Is she alright, Hagrid?" He asked urgently, brushing some hair out of her face.

"'Arry, were ye and Hermione paying complete attention to th' Aphroditalope?" Harry bit his lip.

"Er…Possibly not?" He replied, slightly embarrassed.

"It seems tha' Hermione's been hit by the spell. Ye know wha' tha' means."

Hermione took the chance to answer the question herself, slowly and deliberately. "Everyone is going to fall in love with me…"

"Afraid so," Hagrid responded.

"Are there any counter curses? How long does it last?!" Harry asked.

"A week…" Hermione answered before she fainted.

Yay! That's it for chapter two! Please leave a review!