Chapter 9

Ginny stared horrorstruck as a depressed Hermione sobbed in silence. She didn't know what to do. Hermione was hopelessly in love but she knew it would never work out. She felt so guilty. She and Seamus had been expressing their love in front of her sometimes and she could catch a tear fall from her best friends face. It must have been eating her up inside seeing other couples when she knew that she and her love could never be.

"Hermione... I..."

"Don't tell me you're sorry... I don't want anyone's sympathy. I am going through with the plan. No one can convince me not to." Hermione said determinedly.

Ginny just closed her mouth and kept to herself. Hermione soon left her room and headed to Dumbledore's office after checking the mirror for her appearance.

Hermione POV

'I feel so bad... I can't take it anymore... From now on I will ignore my feelings' she thought.

'You're stronger then this! Go through the plan as decided and you'll be fine!' she reassured herself.

When she got there she whispered the password and went in. Draco was already there and was discussing something with the headmaster.

"Oh! Hermione! Good of you to join us." The headmaster greeted her.

"Im sorry I'm late sir. I got... held up."

"Well, no matter. Draco here will tell you everything and we'll talk about it next meeting. You can go now."

Hermione walked out and was heading to the place of solitude when she heard footsteps behind her. She walked faster and heard it run after her. She stopped and turned.

'Draco.'

"Hermione! Wait up!" he panted.

She ignored him and turned around. She began running again. She ran out of the castle and headed for the big tree near the lake.

He got there soon enough. She was leaning on the tree and completely ignored him.

He stood beside her and figured since she wasn't going to 'talk' about it he would write. He took out a piece of parchment from his robes and magically conjured up words to appear. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him.

He tossed it to her and she read;

'Whats wrong?'

Hermione wrote back. She wanted this to be over and done with.

'I know who.'

Draco looked puzzling at the parchment. He scribbled something onto it and tossed it back.

'What? I don't understand.'

She sighed and wrote back. She stood up and walked away. She heard him following her and she stopped. She turned and threw the paper at him then she ran.

Draco POV

He picked up the piece of parchment and read.

'I know who she is.'

Draco stopped dead in his tracks and looked around for Hermione. She had long run and was nowhere to be seen.

He pocketed the parchment and whispered to himself...

"I think its time to brew the potion."

Hermione POV

Draco had not spoken to her in a week. Harry, Ron and the rest of the school had come back. The first time they saw Harry and Ron, Ron was rubbing Harry's back and Harry looked down-hearted.

"What happened?" Ginny asked.

"They broke up." Ron answered for Harry.

"Why! Why did I have to break up with her?" Harry looked regretful.

"Wait. You broke up with Cho?" Hermione asked.

Harry nodded.

"Why?" The two girls asked.

"That's coz Harry here likes someone else. When Harry thought things over, He concluded that He had no chance coz she already has a boyfriend." Ron said still trying to comfort Harry.

"Who!?!" the two girls screamed.

"I don't know. He hasn't said a word to me." Ron answered again.

Harry suddenly lifted his head and turned to the other direction. He ran.

Hermione got back to her dorm to find Hedwig waiting for her.

Hermione,

Meet me at the library. Urgent.

Harry

Curious, Hermione left to the library immediately

Harry had his head in his hands when she saw him.

"Hermione!" he cried desperately.

"What?"

"It's Ginny. I think I love her." Harry said sadly.

"But Ginny loves Seamus!"

"I know. That's my problem."

"When did you realize that you loved her?"

"When i saw Seamus and Ginny together i got furious but thought it was coz she was like a sister to me. It all changed at the start of the year. I dont know. I guess i just realized it. My letters to Cho became less and less frequent. My mind was always set on her and you know that one potions I labled my flask Ginny Weasley instead? Good thing I was able to correct it before I gave it to Snape." Harry said sadly.

"I'll talk to her. Find out how she feels." Hermione said determinedly

"Thanks loads Hermione."

After her talk with Harry, Hermione walked back to her common room. Before she reached it, she saw Draco heading towards her direction. She turned around and ran as fast as she could. This was how it had been for the past few weeks.

"Ginny?" Hermione asked.

They were both in the heads common room studying.

"Yeah?" She said while writing a very long essay.

"Do you really love Seamus?"

This startled Ginny.

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, do you?"

"Hermione? Can you keep a secret?" Ginny asked.

"Of course!"

"Well, I caught Seamus cheating on me, more than twice."

"What?!?" Hermione was so surprised.

"He doesn't know I know. But he has been fooling around with Pravati since last year. I caught them but I didn't say a word. I'm not mad actually." Ginny confessed.

"Why? If I were you I would be furious!"

"Well, I like somebody else. I feel like im cheating on him as well."

"Who!?!"

"I still love Harry! I know it's been years but I keep falling harder and harder every year! I don't know what to do."

"Gin, if your not truthful with your feelings they'll just eat you up inside. You have to break up with Seamus and tell Harry! I think he loves you too."

"Really? You're not just saying that?"

"Of course not! You're the reason he broke up with Cho! And if he can end a relationship for you, I think you can break up with a cheating boyfriend for him."

"Your right. Thanks Hermione!" Ginny hugged Hermione and ran out of the common room.

'If only it was that easy for us...' Hermione thought, a tear escaping her.

Every time she would see him walking down a corridor, she would turn and walk the other way. Every time she saw him enter the library, she would stand and leave. Every time she would catch him in their common room, she would run to her room or leave right away. But she always seemed to find him pouring over a huge potions book. She could also sense something brewing that came from his room. She found him one night. Fast asleep with a potions book in hand. She opened it and read.

THE REVEALING POTION

-For the drinker to fully find his true love.

WARNING: DRINKER MUST HAVE A COMPANION WITH HIM TO WAKE HIM WITH A REVIVING POTION...

The ingredients and procedure followed and most of it was already crossed out.

She gasped and threw the book at his chest. He quickly woke up and she ran up to her room and looked the door. She could hear him banging on the door.

"WHO IS SHE?!? TELL ME HERMIONE! BLOODY HELL! I HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW!"

"SHE DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW!" she shouted back, eyes full of tears.

Draco POV

He stopped and sighed. He headed to his room and continued with the potion.

At the night of the full moon, he had the potion in his hand. He had done it perfectly and it was ready.

The glass was only an inch away when Hermione stepped in. He quickly closed his eyes and drank it. He felt woozy and fainted.

His dream...

"Wait!" he shouted.

She looked at him with disbelieving eyes. Her eyes full of tears. He came closer to her. He held his breath as he bent over and was taking of her mask. It was almost of when...

He remembered Hermione's words.

Flash back

"SHE DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW!"

End flashback

He stopped himself. He said sorry to her and turned away.

"Draco... I..." She called.

He recognized that voice. It was Hermione! He faced her. Her face was now clearly seen and had no mask. She looked absolutely beautiful. He felt so glad.

"Shh..." he silenced her by putting his finger on her mouth.

She closed her mouth and stared longingly at his silvery blue eyes. He leaned in to kiss her and she leaned as well. They're lips were only a few centimeters apart when...

He felt someone slapping him. He opened his eyes and found himself in the hospital wing. Madame Promfrey was slapping him.

"Wake up boy! If you don't you might not ever wake again!"

"What happened?" he asked drowsily.

"You fainted and Ms. Granger brought you here immediately. Apparently, you didn't read the part where someone was supposed to be with you. You could only be awoken by the reviving potion. Luckily, Ms. Granger was able to brew some before hand. She was worried when you didn't wake up and bought you here."

Draco's thoughts were racing. It took him minutes realize what was happening. He saw Hermione run out of the hospital wing and the effects of potion came flooding back, including his dream...

"Wait! Hermione!" he called for her.