'I haven't thought this clearly for a very long time.'

Then Comes Malfoy

But there were more surprises in store for Hermione after Potions class. Harry didn't try anything else, and as soon as they could leave, Hermione fled away from him and Ron down the halls. She couldn't stand Harry's gazing any more, it was making her feel so guilty! And she didn't want Ron to notice anything, either. As she walked, she'd unfortunately forgot about avoiding Malfoy. He caught up to her from behind, gripped her by the arm, forced her into an empty classroom and shut the door.

'Malfoy!' Hermione gasped in astonishment. 'Just what do you think you're doing dragging me in here?'

Malfoy didn't speak. He stood against the door, staring at her.

Great, not him too!

He kept staring. Hermione began to feel uncomfortable; she couldn't quite place his disposition. He looked angry...fierce, even.

'Er...Malf - AH!'

He charged her in one swift move, pinning her to the stone wall. It was cold and hard against her back.

'Hermione...' he said hungrily, feeding into her eyes. It was the first time Hermione had ever heard him say her name. 'I want you so bad, it's driving me crazy. You have no idea!'

Hermione was shocked beyond all possible comprehension. She'd never been in this position with a guy before; not even Krum. She just couldn't believe it was Malfoy!

This is wrong! This so, so WRONG!

'Malfoy, enough!' Hermione said firmly, attempting to wriggle out from under him. Malfoy wouldn't allow it. 'Stop this immediately! Listen to me, you're not in control of yourself, you're !'

'Sssh...' he hissed softly, brushing a finger against her mouth. 'Such sweet lips. I must kiss them...'

'Malfoy, NO! Don't !'

But there was no stopping him. Brutishly, he kissed her, and moved his hands to places where they definitely had no right to be. Hermione struggled until she hauled him off. Before Malfoy could protest, she scrambled out the door and ran for it, wanting to get as far away from him as possible.


Harry Loves Hermione?

Hermione's next class was Arithmacy, and she was thankful neither Malfoy nor Harry took it because, quite frankly, she needed a little breathing space! She couldn't believe Malfoy, of all people, was her first kiss (discounting the neck kiss she'd received earlier from Harry). It was insane! And the way he'd groped her, like he was some kind of lewd octopus! She felt dirty, and deeply ashamed of herself. When Arithmacy finished, Hermione skipped lunch and headed straight for her dormitory room, needing time alone. But that wasn't to be the case...

The sight of her room was enough to send her toppling backwards for the second time that day: it was full of flowers! Roses, lilies, violets, marigolds, everything! Flowers growing up the walls, out of the wardrobe, from beneath the beds; two butterflies's encircled the ceiling, and a bright yellow canary whistled cheerfully from the top of her bedpost. The window was open; a ray of sunlight casting her attention to a note on her pillow. Hermione picked it up. It simply read:

Love Harry

Then, there he was, stepping out from a bush of blue periwinkles. And, to Hermione's distress, he was still looking at her the same way he'd done in Potions class. If anything, he looked more 'in love' then ever.

'Harry, you shouldn't be here!' she said hastily, clutching his note. 'Why aren't you at lunch?'

'I don't care about lunch,' he replied calmly. 'Besides, I wanted to finish this flower spell before you came up. I didn't think you'd walk in on me, but seeing as you're here...'

'Harry, this is all...it's just lovely,' she said truthfully, scanning the room in awe. 'But I don't deserve it...I !'

'Yes you do.'

Hermione shook her head. 'No, I don't, believe me Harry!'

'Hermione, I have to tell you something...'

Uh oh...

'NO! Harry, please try to understand! You're not yourself! You're not thinking clearly!'

'You're wrong,' he said, walking steadily towards her. 'I haven't thought this clearly for a very long time.'

Harry walked until he and Hermione stood face to face. He lifted the back of his hand to her cheek, caressing it.

'Harry, please don't!' she said, practically begging him.

'...I love you, Hermione,' he said in the softest voice. Hermione wanted to cry. The guilt was killing her!

'No, Harry, you don't! Look, remember how Professor McGonagall said someone was using a love potion? I used it, Harry, and you drank some in detention last night! That's why you're like this! That's why you think you're in love with me! That's why you've grown spring in my room!'

But Harry was not deterred by this news at all, and laughed it off.

'Hermione! This is no potion. I've loved you since last year, since the whole Rita Skeeter thing and the Yule ball!'

That threw her. He'd loved her since last year? But the potion had only been in him a day! Did the Aphora Bewitching Potion have truth telling powers? No... she reasoned with herself. No, it must be playing tricks with his mind. Harry would never...

'Harry, that's not possible!' But Harry continued.

'I guess, in a way, I've always known it's you,' he said, placing his hands on either side of her face, and breaking into a brilliant smile. 'God,' he said, admiring her. 'You really are beautiful.'

Hermione's couldn't fight her tears. Harry gently wiped them away with his thumbs, before easing towards her. Hermione swallowed. She should've pulled back, if only she could register some feeling in her legs; or any other part her body, for that matter. She was absently aware of Harry's note still clutched in her hand, but that was all.

'I...' she tried, but the words faded to nothing. Harry kissed his best friend, causing her usually sharp brain to effectively fly out the open window. The experience was nothing like Malfoy. Harry was slower, softer…cleansing. Hermione's eyes relaxed shut, forgetting everything, allowing it to wash over her, until a familiar voice dragged her back to surface...

'Hermione! Why aren't you at lun...!'

It was Ron, accompanied by Ginny. He'd rudely flung the door open, completely unannounced. Harry and Hermione separated, but it was too late. Ron saw. Ginny saw. Ron was stuck in mid-sentence, while Ginny's jaw appeared to be locked open.

'For heavens sake, Ron! Don't you knock?' Hermione snapped. Why, WHY couldn't he knock?

There was an awkward silence, until Ron found his voice again - and with full force.

'And just what the bloody hell is going on here!' he demanded, glaring from Harry to Hermione, ears flaming.

'Ron, it's not what it looks like!' started Hermione, but then Harry cut it.

'Yes it is...' he said, taking Hermione's hand in his. 'Ron, Ginny...I'm in love with Hermione.'

'Since WHEN?'

'Since last year.'

Ginny's remained open-mouthed. Ron however, looked ready to throw something - something that would do a lot of damage, preferably.

'What are you talking about, Harry? You don't love Hermione you're...you're just friends! I've never heard such rubbish in all my life! And why in the name of Merlin does it look like a garden in HERE!' he said angrily, brushing the pair of butterfly's from his face.

'Ron, calm down!' said Hermione harshly. 'I'll explain everything to you later!'

Ron didn't pick up on this, but Ginny did. She correctly sensed a love potion in the midst.

'No need to explain, I understand fully!' said Ron hotly. 'Harry just woke up this morning, cleaned his teeth, ate breakfast, and decided he's in love with you! Makes perfect sense if you ask me! Come on, Ginny.'

Ron stormed out of the room, raging, with Ginny tagging behind. Hermione quickly turned to Harry.

'Harry! Listen to me very, very carefully,' she said, having a little trouble with what she was about to say next: 'do you love me?'

'More then anything...' he said, making to kiss her again. Hermione had to stop him.

'Then promise me you'll leave me alone for a few days.' Harry frowned.

'Are you trying to torture me?'

'Please, Harry, just for a few days! I need to sort something out. Try and concentrate on your Quidditch match. You have Quidditch practice now, right?'

'Yeah,' he sighed, unable to conceal his disappointment. 'Okay, I'll go. Just, whatever you need to sort out, make it sooner then later.'

Once Harry departed, Hermione slipped his note under her pillow, retrieved her wand and magicked his spell away before her roommates caught sight of it. Then, from beneath her bed, Hermione checked her notes on the Aphora Bewitching Potion and made a dash for the library.


Malfoy Knows

Ginny chased Ron all the way down the grand staircase, trying to reason with him. It wasn't working.

'Ron, if you'd just listen! You're overacting!'

'I will not listen! I am not overreacting!'

'You big git! There's something you don't know...Ron!'

'Best friends...kissing in broad daylight...friggen flowers all over the place...madness!'

Ron blazed a trail back to the Great Hall, Ginny pestering him all the while. Malfoy caught up with them on way.

'Have you seen Hermione?'

Ron, who was too angry to detect Malfoy's uncharacteristic civility (and that he called Hermione 'Hermione' instead of the usual 'Granger' or 'Mudblood'), replied, 'yes, I have. But I don't think she'll be coming down to lunch, she's already got her mouth full!'

'Huh?' uttered Malfoy.

'Ron!' Ginny tried again, but Ron ignored her.

'Don't you know? Harry and Hermione are going out now! They're apparently deeply in love and tongue dancing upstairs, it's a total degradation!'

With that concluded, Ron stalked away, Ginny picking up his heels. They left behind a particularly vengeful Malfoy.

'Potter and my Hermione...?' he snarled, clenching a fist.