'Did Krum really ask you to marry him?'

Krum Loves Hermione?

As the week passed, Hermione's 'love attack' grew steadily worse. She lost concentration in her studies, and was instead obsessed with waiting for Krum's reply. What if the potion didn't work? What if it wasn't strong enough? What if I didn't kiss the rose right, maybe he'll fall in love with Ginny!

Harry and Ron had been keeping check on Hermione's change in behaviour, and finally brought it up for discussion that weekend in the common room.

'Hermione, please tell us the truth: are you okay?' Ron pronounced, boring his eyes into her. They were all sitting in their favourite chairs by the fireplace.

'For the last time Ron, I am completely okay. Okay?' she replied, clawing her armchair.

'But you can't be okay!'

'Why bloody not?'

'Can't you see what's blatantly wrong here? Harry and me are doing homework and you're...well, you're not! You're just sitting around place, acting like someone's stunned you out of your wits!'

'And you haven't set foot in the library once this week,' added Harry, who'd stop writing an essay he'd been working on.

Hermione critically looked from one to the other. 'Is that all you two see me as, a bookworm?'

'No, it's just…' started Harry, but then Ron interrupted.

'Pretty much actually.'

Hermione glared at him, until an unexpected visitor waddled in through the portrait hole. Harry's stomach sank - it was one of those awful dwarves who recite love telegrams. He'd received one from Ginny three years ago for Valentine's Day. The experience had not been pretty.

'Who's Hermione Granger?' the dwarf grunted, searching around the room.

Hermione pointed to herself. The dwarf waddled towards her and rolled out a pink scroll, before reciting the following:

'Oh Hermione, you're so fine,

You're so fine you blow my mind.

Please forgive me for being a swine,

It is you and only you who can blow my mind,

Cause you're so fine, you're so fine,

Hermione. '

Love your Krummy

The dwarf rolled up the scroll, handed it to Hermione, and exited as quick as he came. Ron looked ready to vomit slugs.

'Krummy?' he said scornfully, glowering at her.

But Hermione didn't pay him any attention. She was too busy being happy.

'Yes, it worked!' she squeaked to herself.

'What worked?' asked Harry, narrowing his eyebrows.

'Ah...my letter worked. I sent Viktor a letter to win him back,' she answered, flushing a little. Ron could hardly contain himself.

'Win him back! But, but, but - ' he repeated, until managing to extend his vocabulary, 'but I thought you were over him!'

'So did I. Oh well, one must always leave room for change!'

'Well fine then!' Ron spat, his voice steadily rising. 'But you are aware that the git can't even say your name properly?'

'Oh Ron, grow up!'

Ron crossed his arms sulkily and turned away, muttering things under his breath to the fireplace. Harry however, kept watching Hermione with mounting concern.


All Krummed Out

More letters arrived from Krum over the next few days. Owls constantly interrupted Hermione in class, just as dwarves tripped her up in the halls. Here are some extracts from Krum's many writings:

Hermione, I can't stop thinking about you. Ever since I drank the Butterbeer, you're all I can think about.

Hermione, you're never out of my mind. I see you everywhere, I hear you in every voice!

Hermione, I can't explain it. Everything's falling apart without you. I'm failing Quidditch! I'm failing everything! Yesterday, I tried to catch the Bludger instead of the Snitch. I've gone mad!

Hermione, I think I love you. This must be love! Please forgive me for letting you go.

Hermione! You have to marry me! If you don't, I shall not live!

HERMIONE! Where would you like to have the wedding?

While Hermione originally believed this is what she wanted, letter after letter after letter was starting to drive her mad! Why wasn't she satisfied any more? In fact, she was growing quite sick of Viktor Krum. Ron was thoroughly sick too - even more so then Hermione.

'Hasn't your dearest Krummy stopped sending you letters yet? He's wasting a lot of parchment, you know.'

Harry, Hermione and Ron were sitting in the back of Potions class when another owl had flown in for Hermione. She didn't bother to open the letter it dropped off.

'Aren't you going to read that?' Harry asked her, gesturing to the letter.

'Absolutely not! He's only going to ask me to marry him again.'

'What!' spluttered Ron, nearly choking. 'Marry him! Are you serious?'

'Don't fret, Ron. I didn't say yes. And to be perfectly honest, I'd appreciate it if I never heard from him again.'

Ron was very pleased to hear this, and instantly brightened up.

'Well! It's good to see you've finally come to your senses at last!'

Harry on the other hand, remained suspicious.

'Hermione,' he said, lowering his voice to her, 'did Krum really ask you to marry him?'

'Yes. Why? Is it really hard to believe someone would want to marry me?'

Hermione felt a tad guilty in saying that. She did drug him, after all.

'No, I just meant it's kind of sudden...don't you think?'

'I suppose. But who cares why he asked, I'm not saying yes anyway. I'm fifteen for crying out loud.'

'Exactly!' said Ron in hearty agreement. 'Who needs Krummy anyway? I know I don't.'

But Harry continued to overlook Hermione with suspicion. He was making her feel uneasy in doing so, and also making her feel a little strange...she stared up at him, and without knowing it, found herself irresistibly drawn to his deep, green eyes. Her mind blurred… Harry's eyes, I love Harry's eyes...

Hermione's gazing caused Harry to feel a little uneasy himself.

'Ah…Hermione? Do I have something on my face?'

'I'm sorry?' she replied quickly, coming out of her trance.

'You're looking at me funny, is there a mark on my face? Besides my scar that is.'

'Oh, yeah on your cheek, just there,' she lied, feeling embarrassed. What on earth was that?

Harry rubbed the invisible mark off his cheek, just as Snape swooped in on them.

'You three have been talking throughout my entire class! Don't think I haven't noticed. I would have stopped you, but I figured the more you talked the more points I could erase from Gryffindor.' He smirked with gratification. 'I think ten points each should do the trick?'

Harry, Hermione and Ron were mortified but said nothing. Malfoy gave a snicker from across the room. Shortly after class, he took the opportunity to make yet another well timed intrusion.

'Hey, Granger! Do you think you can ask your boyfriends, Potter and Weasley, to give you their love letters outside of class? The constant arrival of post is disturbing my concentration.'

Hermione rounded on him.

'Your concentration? Well - '

Nimble witted, Hermione was never one to back down from a good comeback. However, she suddenly couldn't stop thinking how handsome Malfoy was? His slick blonde hair, his blue-grey eyes…his… That's it! I've completely lost it! I'm actually thinking Malfoy is handsome!

'Ah, gotta go…' she muffled, and scanted away.

Malfoy watched her retreat, feeling quite confused. He expected a comeback as much as the next person did.


Harry? Malfoy? Harry? Malfoy?

Hermione paced up and down her dormitory room, her mind bouncing from one boy to the other at a relentless pace…

'Harry…Malfoy…Harry…Malfoy!'

'Of course!' she blurted aloud.

Hermione suddenly remembered something, and went to retrieve her notes on the Aphora Bewitching Potion. She re-read point six:

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.

'Malfoy…Harry…Malfoy…Harry!'

It was resolved. Hermione had to get rid of the potion, before doing something she'd deeply regret. Commanding her strength, she gathered the potion out from under her bed and looked at it for what she hoped was the last time.

'This potion's caused me nothing but distress. I should throw it into the Forbidden Forest, where it belongs!'

On that note, as if in response to her threat, the potion did something very unexpected. It began to swirl around in the bottle like a whirlpool, spinning faster and faster. Then, to Hermione's complete surprise, it changed from pink to green - a deep, beautiful green...like Harry's eyes. Hermione blinked hard, thinking she must be seeing things, but the potion was spinning again. This time, it changed from green to a cold grey. Malfoy's eyes.

Hermione could feel herself falling again...