'It's not getting to you is it?'

'Is what getting to me?'

'The potion!'

The Aphora Bewitching Potion

On arriving at the library, Hermione realised there would be no books on love potions in the regular sections. So, after managing to break into the restricted section with surprising ease, she soon found something that could help her. It was a heavy, red book entitled A Wizards and Witches Guide to Love Made Easy.

Lugging the book in her arms, Hermione moved to a near by table and set to work. It didn't take long for her to discover the potion Ginny used was called an 'Aphora Bewitching Potion'. Hermione wrote the following notes with her quill:

1. The Aphora Bewitching Potion has existed for centuries, apparently created by the goddess Aphrodite, who used the potion to enchant all of mankind into worshipping her.

Hermione smiled to herself. 'Sounds like a potion Malfoy wouldn't mind getting his hands on.'

2. Glowing pink in its pure form, the Aphora Bewitching Potion turns to the colour and texture of whatever other liquid it's mixed with. For example, if mixed with water it will turn clear, as well as taking on the taste and smell of water (as it would with any other drink).

3. The person you want to bewitch into loving you must drink something containing at least a teaspoon of the original potion.

4. Note: you must kiss a single red rose and mix it in with the original potion to 'bound' the potion to yourself alone. Also note: if someone else has already bounded themselves to an Aphora Bewitching Potion mixture, simply re-boil it and add your own kissed rose to make it yours.

5. Warning! The Aphora Bewitching Potion can be hazardous to your new admirer in the long term (especially if he or she is in competition with someone else for your affections). Potion relapse can often occur. Make a future note of the counter-potion (page 561).

6. Second Warning! Beware the one who bounds themselves to (or even looks at) the Aphora Bewitching Potion. Its powers can cause you to become desperate for love and romance at any cost - and from more then one person at a time.

Hermione read the last point over again. 'Well, that certainly won't to happen to me.'

But then, Hermione had a disturbing revelation…or two…

'Hang on…then, why am I researching this love potion when I should have disposed of it already? And what am I doing recklessly sneaking into the library after hours? This isn't me!'

Indeed, Hermione felt very little like Hermione all of a sudden. Ginny's potion was in front of her on the desk, glowing like a beacon. At least it came in handy as a reading light. Though, as Hermione stared at it, all she could think about was Krum.

'I must get Krum back...no wait, what am I saying?'

Seeing it was now close to midnight, Hermione resolved to end this unexpected trip to the library promptly. She hid the book A Wizards and Witches Guide to Love Made Easy somewhere where it could be easily retrieved again, while half-promising herself to dispose of the potion first thing tomorrow.


Krummed

Morning dawned. Hermione had hardly slept, and forced herself awake. All she thought of, for practically the entire night, was Krum: his surly face and thick eyebrows glowering at her every time she closed her eyes. True, Hermione was angry when Krum dumped her, but more so out of principal then anything. She'd never fancied him in the way he fancied her. Feeling very confused and drowsy, Hermione dressed and slumped her way down to breakfast in the Great Hall. Harry and Ron were already seated. Harry guessed something was wrong the moment she sat down.

'Hermione, are you okay?'

She didn't respond, so Ron waved his hand stupidly in her face.

'Hello? Is Hermione Granger home, or is her brain out for a walk in the grounds?'

Hermione refocused, slightly.

'Huh?'

Harry was looking at her, worried. Then Ron spoke again, raising his voice, as if she were going deaf, 'Harry asked if you're feeling okay. You look exhausted! You weren't up all night studying, were you?'

But Hermione was gone again, her mind racing…

'Krum…Krum…get Krum!'

'Krum…'

'What?' Harry and Ron said together.

Hermione shook her head, trying to focus.

'I mean…oh, crumbs! Yes I was studying all night when I should've been sleeping. You know me, always busy!'

'Krum…Krum…must get Krum!'

'Well, just don't do it again. You're acting kind of funny,' said Harry, sneaking Ron a concerned look. Ron chuckled.

'More like hilarious if you ask me!'

After breakfast, they were unavoidably cornered by Malfoy – again.

'Here they come!' Malfoy announced to the Hall. 'Somebody pull out a red carpet for Hogwarts' most famous love triangle!'

'Shut up, Malfoy!' said Harry and Ron automatically.

Meanwhile, Hermione…

'Krumkrumkrumkrumkrumkrum!'

'Krum…krum…'

'What are you muttering, Granger?' said Malfoy spitefully, squinting his eyes at her.

But Hermione was too preoccupied with 'Krum' to even notice Malfoy was there. Krum's name pounded louder and louder in her ears...her frustration climaxed…she couldn't take it anymore!

'KRUMKRUMKRUMKRUMKRUMKRUM!'

'JUST GET OUT OF MY HEAD ALREADY!' Hermione yelled, loosing all control.

Everyone leaving the Hall stopped to stare at Hermione in shock. She was just standing there, holding her head together, as if it were about to split open. Malfoy, who didn't know what was going on, found it amusing none the less.

'Get out of your head did you say? I know I'm good looking, but come off it Granger! I suggest you get over me fast because I wouldn't be caught dead with a rotten little Mudblood like you.'

'Watch your mouth, Malfoy!' warned Harry, stepping forward. Ron stepped forward too, scowling.

'Yeah! And what do you mean 'good looking?' Bloody hell Malfoy, if your head gets any bigger it will turn into a planet! We'll be able to study it in Astronomy.'

Harry and the surrounding Gryffindor's broke into laughter. Malfoy clenched a fist, looking as if nothing would give him more pleasure then to hit Ron square in the nose, but the teachers were too close by. Instead, he sufficed himself with giving Ron a death stare and pushed past them. Harry went to speak to Hermione, but she'd disappeared. She'd slipped away into the Entrance Hall, consumed in manic thoughts of 'Krum'. Her little outburst did little to cure her of him.

Then someone called her name…

'Hermione!'

It was Ginny.

'Did you get rid of it yet?'

Hermione suddenly thought with a panic, of course! I was supposed to get rid of the potion!

'Hermione?'

'Sorry? Oh, yes,' said Hermione, attempting to sound normal. 'I was just on my way to dispose of the potion now.'

'What?' said Ginny, clearly dismayed. 'But you said last night you were going to get rid of the potion immediately!'

'I was very tired Ginny, I had a lot on my mind! And it's called an Aphora Bewitching Potion, by the way. I did some research…'

'Research? Hermione, you're not supposed to do research on it!'

'I know, I know! I couldn't help myself. You know what I'm like.'

Skepticism twitched into Ginny's face. 'It's not getting to you is it?'

'Is what getting to me?'

'The potion!'

Hermione made an exasperated sound.

'Ginny, I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about! Honestly, I was going straight to my room now to dispose of it swiftly.'

'You promise?'

'Of course I promise!'

KRUMKRUMKRUMKRUMKRUMKRUM!


Hermione Makes Love

But Hermione couldn't do it.

Staring at the potion in her room, she couldn't bring herself to throw it away. In her hand was the one thing that would make Krum love her again! Of course, she didn't fully understand why she wanted him to love her again, but before that could be pondered on further, she found herself running up to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom with a miniature cauldron, the potion, her school bag and her wand. She also made a detour to the gardens to pick a single red rose.

Once in the bathroom, Hermione set to work in one of the cubicles.

'I'll just have to tell Professor Snape I felt ill,' Hermione mumbled to herself, knowing deep down Snape would hardly be forgiving. She was going to be late for class, Professor Snape would claim a hoard of points from Gryffindor…but for some reason, none of this could lure her away from what she was doing.

After re-boiling Ginny's potion, Hermione kissed the rose she'd brought and mixed it in. Then, she pulled a bottle of Butterbeer out from her school bag and added one teaspoon of the potion to it. She transported the rest of the potion from the cauldron to its original bottle, and wrote the following letter:

Dear Viktor,

Sorry to find out I couldn't stay with you in Bulgaria. It's perfectly understandable you met someone else, these things happen! I hope you visit Hogwarts some time soon, it would be wonderful to see you again. As a mark of my friendship, here's another Butterbeer. I hope you enjoy it.

Love from

Hermione

Before heading to Potions class, Hermione cut corners to the Owlery and posted Krum's letter with the bottle of Butterbeer securely attached. She figured getting rid of the rest of the love potion would be easy now. But...

'Well, I'll just hold onto it a little longer. Just in case...'

But in case of what exactly, Hermione didn't know.