The next day, Hermione and Ron were in a small gift shop in Hogsmeade. Mrs. Wesley's birthday was coming up and Hermione promised Ron weeks ago that she would help him pick a present. Ron was strolling along the aisles while Hermione impatiently paced near the front of the store.
"Are you ready yet?" Hermione practically shouted.
"You know I'm no good at this!" Ron shouted back. "What are you in such a hurry for? You love coming here."
"Not today I don't." Hermione said with a worried look on her face. The volume of her voice rose with each word. "We shouldn't have left Harry alone! Honestly, what kind of friends would leave him alone in his condition? I mean, what if the school catches on fire! Or what if--"
"Hey, hey, hey." Ron interrupted her in a hushed tone. He walked up to her and placed a hand under her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. "Harry is fine." He said confidently and calmly. "He wanted to be alone, remember?"
"Yes and Harry's ability to think things through leaves much to be desired for." Ron snickered.
"I promise you, just this one stop and then we'll return to Hogwarts. You need this anyway, Hermione. You've been spending all your energies worrying about Harry- spend them on someone else for a change… Like yourself." Hermione shook her head at him.
"Ronald! You don't want me to focus my energies on me! You want me to focus my energies on you! That's why you asked me to come in the first place!"
"Yes! That is correct! Wow, you are smart!" Ron teased. Hermione laughed. "Now, on that note…" Ron continued, leading Hermione over to a display of scarves, "What do you think my mother would like for her birthday?" Hermione laughed again as she began to help Ron look for a present.
About fifteen minutes later, Ron and Hermione were done shopping.
"I'm going to run across the street and get us some candy before we head back." Hermione said. "I'll meet you out front." She gave Ron a kiss on the cheek and left him to pay for his mother's present. After he paid, he grabbed his bag and turn around quickly, knocking into the girl behind him.
"Cho Chang, I'm so sorry!" Ron said, he knelt down to pick up the items she dropped.
"No!" She protested quickly. She knelt down and collected them before he could. They both stood and she smiled awkwardly at him. "Thanks, but I got it."
"Ron?" Hermione poked her head through the door. Ron and Cho Chang turned towards the door at the sound of Hermione's voice. Cho Chang shot the girl a dirty look before brushing past Ron to pay for her things.
"Nice to see you too." Hermione sarcastically as she and Ron left the store.
It wasn't long before Ron and Hermione were back at Hogwarts. Naturally, Hermione immediately rushed to the Gryffindor Common room, convinced that something had happened to Harry.
"Really Hermione! I'm fine! Nothing happened." Harry reassured her when she storming in. He laughed at her worrying. It was cute. He only wished he could see the look on her face.
Meanwhile, in the girl's dormitories of Ravenclaw, Cho Chang emptied her bag. She unwrapped a small bottle and read the label the covered its side.
To use: mix in with tea or cider. After the first sip has been taken, the drinker will fall in love with the next person they touch.
"Perfect." She smiled.
The next day, Hermione and Harry were in the library, studying for a Potions Exam. In the middle of their session, Harry moved some of Hermione's books aside so he could stretch out his arms. As he was doing so, he noticed one particular book with bumps on it.
"Hermione, what is this?" Harry asked holding it up. "What class is it for?" Hermione looked at Harry dumbfounded.
"Oh that!" She exclaimed nervously. "That's not for a class, exactly. It's…for me." She squeaked out.
"Just for fun?" Harry played along.
"Yeah! You know me…the bookworm."
"The bookworm who learns brail just for fun?" He replied in an accusatory tone.
"Harry." Hermione said softly.
"You don't think I'm going to get better do you?"
"I never said that." She gently took the book from Harry.
"You don't think I'm strong enough to beat this."
"I certainly never said that! I'm simply hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. You can hardly blame me for that."
"Like how you didn't think I was strong enough to handle Malfoy the other day?" Harry continued, ignoring her previous comment.
"That's mad! You could take that git-"
"Blindfolded?" Harry cut it. "With both hands tied behind my back!" Hermione was speechless. When she bought the book, she hadn't expected Harry to get this mad.
"What good am I to you like this?" Harry spoke softly. "What good am I to anyone like this?"
"Don't say that!" Hermione said, chocking on her own tears. She reached out and lightly touched Harry's hand. He violently snapped it away.
"Subtle affection won't work this time, Hermione." He said in a low, bitter voice. "Now I know how you really feel."
"You can't seriously be thinking this."
"I can find my own way back to the common room. Maybe you should head back now… without me."
"Harry, I won't-"
"Go!" Hermione was taken aback by the sternness of his reply. He was really asking her to leave. She gathered her books and quickly exited the room.
"Hi Hermione." Cho Chang said, walking into the library. Hermione simply ignored her and proceeded to wipe the tears away from her eyes. Cho Chang smirked and sat so she could see Harry. He was angry.
"They must fighting." She mused to herself. "Isn't that too bad?" She continued, stirring the cup of tea in her hands. After a few moments, she got up and sat across from Harry.
"Hermione?" He asked immediately. A strong pang of jealous ran through Cho Chang's body. Instead on answering, she lifted her hand stroked the side of his face, the same way she had seen Hermione do it a few days before. Harry simply smiled, and leaned into it.
"Of course it's you." He said softly. "It's always been you." Cho Chang sighed heavily, trying hard to keep her cool. "Look…" Harry continued. "I'm sorry about what I said. I was being a--" Cho Chang stopped him by placing her fingers on his lips. She then placed his hand on the cup.
"What is this? Tea?" Harry asked. He lifted the cup to his mouth and prepared to drink...