'I don't get all fluffy about these things like you girls do.'

Ginny rolled her eyes.

'I hope for your sake, you're right.'

Bound Forever

Hermione, seated at a library desk, had collapsed helplessly onto the book A Wizards and Witches Guide to Love Made Easy. She'd sought information on the Aphora Bewitching Potion's counter-potion. It had been her last hope…

The Aphora Bewitching Potion (counter-potion): The only way to counteract this powerful love potion is to take the original formula and re-mix it with an anti-love ingredient. We recommend bat's wings, dragon's blood, spider venom or troll hairs. Once you have mixed one of these ingredients in, simply have your admirer (or in most cases, admirers) re-drink the potion.

So far so good Hermione thought at the time, and was thankful for never managing to throw the potion away, seeing she needed it to make counter-potion with. The anti-love ingredients were easy enough to recover, but then she read the last sentence...

In order for the counter-potion to be effective, you must conduct a ritual while a top Mount Olympus in Greece. For more information on ritual counter-potions, see Chapter Twelve.

'And how on earth am I supposed to get to Greece? "Love Made Easy" indeed!' she moaned, dejected, and collapsed into her present heap.


Ron Loves Hermione?

'It has to be around here somewhere!'

After lunch, Ginny and Ron conspired to sneak back into Hermione's room. Ginny eventually forced Ron to listen her, confessing it was she who brought the love potion into the school, and everything that happened thereafter.

'I think Hermione's been using it for herself,' Ginny explained, searching Hermione's draws. 'We have to get the potion away from her, before she does any more damage. If she gets expelled over this, I'll never forgive myself.'

Ron, however, was on another line of thinking entirely.

'So Harry doesn't love Hermione! I knew something funny was going on,' he said confidently, as if he never doubted otherwise. 'And I bet Hermione used the potion to get Krum back, too! That's why he keeps sending her marriage proposals, the mindless goat.'

Ron bent down to look under Hermione's bed.

'See anything down there?' Ginny inquired.

'Found some notes,' he said, pausing to read. 'Something about the "Agora Befuddling Potion"…?'

'Aphora Bewitching Potion,' said Ginny correctly. 'That must be Hermione's research.'

'Whatever…ah, here we go! Is this it?' Ron asked, bending back up; a bottle of glowing pink liquid was in his hand.

'Yes, that's it!'

Ron went to hand the potion to Ginny, but she backed away.

'What's the matter?'

'I'm not going near that thing ever again!' said Ginny bluntly. 'It takes over your mind if you're not careful. Put a towel over it or something, will you? I don't want you sucked in next.'

Ron sniggered.

'Would you stop worrying, Ginny? It's just a stupid love potion! Honestly, you should've tossed it while you had the chance,' he said, inspecting the contents of the bottle more closely. 'This stuff's really bright, huh?'

Ginny found a towel on the floor and chucked it hard at Ron's head.

'Oi!'

'Ron, I'm serious! Cover it up and stop gawking! It'll do your head in.'

'Come off it! It's a load pink muck, Ginny,' he said with a superior lack of concern, and proceeded to gawk. 'And besides, I'm a guy. I don't get all fluffy about these things like you girls do.'

Ginny rolled her eyes.

'I hope for your sake, you're right.'

'Of course I'm right!'

But the more he looked, the fluffier he felt. A girl's name took over his thoughts, impossible to ignore - Hermione…Hermione...get Hermione!

Shortly after, Ginny left the room. Ron followed, making sure to pocket the notes on the Agora Befuddling Potion with him.


Harry & Malfoy's Deal

Harry arrived at Quidditch practice early, before anyone else. While waiting for the others, he circled the stands on his Firebolt for a few minutes, trying to clear her from his mind...but she wouldn't budge. He landed in defeat. Hermione overthrew him, and his desire to see her tripled with each moment. Unfortunately, the last person he could ever want see, namely Malfoy, was heading towards him from across the field.

'You're not suppose to be here when Gryffindor's practicing. No Slytherin's allowed,' Harry informed Malfoy rudely. Malfoy didn't seem to care about this in the slightest. He kept walking, until he and Harry stood a foot away from each other.

'So, Potter,' he began, sarcasm in his voice. 'Weasley tells me you and Granger are an item after all. Is it true?'

Harry was thrown aback. Where did that come from?

'What's it to you, Malfoy?'

'He says you're in love with her.'

'Yeah, and I repeat, what's it to you?'

Malfoy laughed derisively.

'Well, we can't both go out with her, can we?'

Harry couldn't believe what he just heard. It was ridiculous. Laughable! He would've laughed except Malfoy appeared quite serious.

'You...and Hermione? Hermione Granger?' said Harry, his eyebrows raised to his hairline.

'I heard you kissed her,' added Malfoy, visibly tensing. 'When did you manage that?'

Harry blinked stupidly.

'During lunch, but I don't see - '

'During lunch? Really?' Malfoy echoed him, his sarcasm venomous now. 'Sorry to tell you this, Potter, but it looks like I beat you to it! Hermione and I were snogging straight after Potions class.'

That did it. Gripping his Firebolt, Harry strode right up to Malfoy, facing him off. He wanted to break every bone in his body for even suggesting such a thing!

'What do you mean, snogging?' Harry spat furiously.

'Surely I don't have to explain what "snogging" means, Potter,' Malfoy hissed back.

'I thought you said you'd become a Gryffindor before you liked Hermione!'

'I don't just like her, you great ass! You said it yourself in detention last night. I'm obsessed with her. In love with her, even.'

Harry was really ticked now.

'You are not!'

'Yes I am!'

'No, you're NOT!'

'Yes, I AM!'

But this was getting them no where.

'But you can't love her!' Harry yelled in Malfoy's face, fighting a towering urge to give him a head butt. 'She has Muggle parents, remember? She's not part of your elite, pureblood species!'

'A minor detail I've come to overlook,' said Malfoy with a wave of his hand. 'Listen, since you want her, and I want her, I say we fight for her.'

'You're ON!' Harry held up his fists.

'Not here, Potter! Settle down,' said Malfoy, gesturing for Harry to put his hands away. 'I meant we fight it out in Quidditch. Whoever gets the Snitch first in tomorrow's match gets Hermione.'

Harry smirked. That shouldn't be too hard. Everyone knew he was a better Seeker then Malfoy. And besides, as if Hermione would ever be interested in Malfoy anyway.

'Deal!'

They shook hands.