Thank you again for your kind reviews! Enjoy this next part….

Disclaimer: JK Rowling Rocks! And I admire her characters so I am borrowing them…….

Ch 12

Harry remained lost in thoughts throughout lunch. Hermione was not much of a conversationalist these days although at times Harry was grateful that not all their conversations revolved around school and he and Ron had enjoyed many uninterrupted Quittich debates. Even though Harry enjoyed the non-annoying Hermione, he wished everything was back to normal. Harry truly hoped that Ron's plan would work. A soft voice startled him out of his thoughts.

"Harry! Hogwarts to Harry!" Ginny was waving a hand in front of his face. "I asked you a question!"

"Er…umm….what?" Harry said.

Ginny sighed and then repeated her question, " Are we still going to go to the library today?"

"er….possibly…but not right after lunch. How about sometime later……after dinner?" Harry did not want to tell Ginny about his and Ron's plan. If it back fired Ginny would once again be irritable with him.

"um….ok. Are you excited for the ball?" Ginny asked casually. Harry felt the heat rise to his face. Now he wished he would have asked Ginny sooner to go to the ball instead of being faced with talking about it in front of everyone. Oh well…now is better than never. He thought.

"Er…youwantogowithme?" Harry said in one breath.

"What?" Ginny asked.

Harry took a big breath.

"Do you want to go with me?" Harry asked feeling his face burning and he hoped beyond hope that Ron was busy stuffing his face or something.

First Ginny looked surprised and then a small smile creeped across her lips until it was a beautiful smile. Harry's insides clenched and he hoped that she wouldn't reject him even if he had been pretty stupid lately.

"Really? To the ball?" Ginny asked smiling…or grinning?.

Harry nodded.

"Oh Harry! I would love to!" With that she sprang up, ran around the table and gave Harry a rib crushing hug. (very similar to Mrs. Weasely Harry noted.)

"Oi! Ginny…" Harry could barely breath.

"Oh…" Ginny let go of Harry. " Sorry about that! I am so excited!" She couldn't stop smiling

Hermione stared at Harry.

"You are taking her to the ball and not me?" uh oh thought Harry. Ginny's smile disappeared.

"Why are you taking her and not me?" Hermione almost sounded angry.

"I could take you to the ball!" Ron piped up. Hermione turned from looking at Harry.

"Why would I want to go with you?" Hermione said with a look of disgust on her face. "I like Harry not you!"

Ron felt shock and then reasoning came back to him that Hermione was just acting like this from the potion. But neverless, Ron felt bummed out from Hermione's comment.

"Okay…fine suit yourself." Harry wanted to run out of the Great Hall.

"Hair—weeeee!" Hermione gave him her pout face again. Harry looked at Ginny who then said, " Yea….ok you are going with Harry!" Harry winked at Ginny and she nodded and walked back to her seat looking a little bit glum. Harry now hoped even more that Ron's plan would work.

"Yay! I knew you would go with me!" Hermione flung herself at Harry. Ron frowned and Ginny rolled her eyes.

Trying very hard to breath again Harry said, " R-ron….w…..want….to……g….o?" Harry finally was able to pry himself from Hermione's grasp.

"Yea….let's get out of here." Harry told Hermione that he was going to go work on something with Ron but that she could come with them. She clapped her hands with glee and then followed the two out of the Great Hall. Harry saw out of the corner of his eye, that Ginny was lazily playing with her eggs on her plate looking very upset. I need to talk to her later… Harry made a note of that and then turned to Ron once they reached the hallway.

"So Ron." Harry started. " Where can we test this theory of yours?"

"I was thinking the room of requirement would be a good choice." Ron said as they walked.

"Okay…yea that sounds like the best place. At least no one would disturb us."

"Yea that's what I was thinking." The three of them walked along in silence.

Harry spoke again first. "I really hope your theory is right."

Ron nodded. " Its weird with Hermione acting like this isn't it?"

"A little…..funny….how she was the only one skeptical about that store and now she is the only one of us under one of the potion's influence." Harry added.

Ron glared at Harry. " And why may I wonder is that!"

"Sorry…..I said I was sorry! I'm just saying. It's a little bit ironic."

"Yea…I miss the old Hermione." Ron said not looking up at Harry.

Harry patted Ron's back. "I know you do, mate. I know you do."

The three arrived at the wall where the Room of Requirement door would appear. Ron walked back and forth three times thinking hard and a large brass door appeared.

"well…this better be good." Harry said opening the door. Ron and Hermione followed him inside.

Harry stopped short upon entering the room. It was medium in size but had soft carpeting and soft red couches formed a heart shape in the middle of the room. On one side was a bar. The lighting was dim but everything was visible. A soft reddish glow seemed to hang in the air.

"mate, what in the world were you thinking about?" Harry asked perplexed turning in Ron's direction.

"Er…..Hermione?" I I didn't m..mean too." Ron turned the color of the couches and Harry had to laugh.

"What is this place?" Hermione asked bewildered. "I thought we were going back to the Gryfinndor tower?

"Er….our private party room." Harry told her. "we need to…er…take care of something first."

"Yea…we sometimes party in here." Ron added.

"Reaaally?" Hermione put her hand to her mouth and gave a girlish sqeal of delight before leaping onto the couches. "We need to have a party real soon!"

Harry and Ron shared a look that clearly said, 'This Hermione is insane'

"Right then…"Harry said more to himself than anyone in the room.

"So…"Ron said. " Want to try it out?" he talked quietly so Hermione wouldn't over hear them although he doubt she actually would. Harry nodded his answer.

The two of them walked to the bar and got three Butterbeers.

"Ready?" Ron whispered to Harry.

"Yea."

Ron took a small spoon (which had simply appeared on the bar counter) and poured two spoonful of the potion into one of the Butterbeers. Then Ron took his and Hermione's Butterbeers and brought them over to Hermione, giving Hermione the one with the potion. Harry joined them and sat down. Hermione placed the bottle to her lips but Ron stopped her.

"We need to make a toast first!" Harry explained. Harry raised his bottle and the other two followed suit. "To breaking this spell and then having a great ball…..and to friends….AND to beating Slytherin on Thursday!"

Ron grinned "Here! Here!"

"What Spell?" Hermione asked. The two ignored her.

The three clinked their bottles and drank but Ron watched Hermione out of the corner of his eye. After she had drank a lot of the Butterbeer Ron motioned to Harry to be silent by putting his index finger to his lips and then Ron said, " Hey Hermione how are you?"

She blinked and then,

" Harry! Come sit by me."

Ron groaned. It didn't work!

Harry shrugged and sat next to Hermione. "What do we do now?" Harry asked.

"I dunno…" Ron answered. "Nothing much we can do." He leaned back against the couch and drained his butterbeer in one go. He sat the empty bottle on the table and then ran a hand frustrated through his hair. Bloody! Now I will never be able to go to the Ball with her! Ron looked over to Harry and Hermione who was smiling and looking at Harry dreamily. Ron looked away. He couldn't take it. This was such a mess. Anger boiled up inside him. Why did Harry have to do that? Ron felt frustrated beyond belief. He got up off the couch and started pacing across the room. Ron poured himself a drink of Fire Whiskey and shot it down in one go. Harry saw him.

"Ron, what are you doing?"

"What does it look like I am doing?" Ron spat at him.

"You're pacing the room…and drinking…more." Ron rolled his eyes.

"Bravo Harry!" Ron said in fake enthusiasm.

Harry decided it was best to leave him alone. He knew why Ron was upset but he too was upset. Ron was not the only one that wanted to find an antidote for this potion!

Ron kept pacing and he was becoming more and more agitated. He could not stand having Hermione gushing over Harry all the time. It pulled at his heart! A sudden realization took over Ron. A feeling so strong that his heart was burning. I love Hermione Ron's heart said. Ron wasn't sure if it was the Fire Whiskey or pure burning desire. He felt warm….no…He, Ronald Weasly felt Hot! Without knowing what he was doing or what was going on Ron moved over to Harry and pushed him aside. Ron bit his lower lip, meeting her eyes that held pure surprise and took Hermione's chin in his hand.

"I should've done this a long time ago." Ron said huskily.

Before she could protest against it, Ron pressed his lips against hers in a spine tingling kiss. Emotion and feeling rushed through Ron awakening all his senses. He felt like he was floating and the world had faded away and he was somewhere on a cloud kissing his beautiful Hermione. Ron felt a strong hand pushing him away.

"RON!" Said a shocked and angry voice. "WHAT IN MERLIN'S NAME ARE YOU DOING?" Ron looked at Hermione who had a shocked expression on her face and confusion lined her features. The dreamy look was gone and her eyes held that wonderful brown intellectual look.

"Hermione?" Ron asked breathless.

"yes, Ron!" she said with a hint of impatience in her voice. "Are you going to explain yourself?" Ron grinned and then yelled.

"HERMIONE! You're back!" He hugged her tightly.

"Um…yea? I was never gone." Hermione said almost falling off the couch, startled. She noticed her surroundings. "Where in the world are we?"

Harry exchanged a look with Ron.

"The room of requirement!" Harry added now hugging Hermione also. Harry grinned at Ron who smiled back. (Was Ron smirking? Even….looking proud of himself?)

"My gosh you two!" Hermione said her voice not disguising her surprise. " You two are acting like you haven't seen me in forever!"

"well, er.." Ron started. Harry thought it would be best that he explained everything.

"Ron, let me explain." Harry turned to Hermione. " I think you need to sit down for this."

"Why?"

"trust me…" Harry said taking a seat on the couch and then started the long recollection of the past few days. When he had finished Hermione stared at him for a bit no expression visible on her face. Then she got up, paced the room, and turned back to them.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU TWO!" She yelled, her hair standing on end. "YOU GUYS GAVE ME THE LOVE POTION TO DRINK?"

"Please..Hermione." Harry started. "It was a big mistake…"

"I'LL SAY!" Hermione continued glaring at the two of them. "And to think it was you Harry who did it too! I would've thought higher of you than that!"

"Hey!" Ron said at once.

Then she stopped and put her hand s to her mouth.

In a regretful voice she said, " Oohh…noo! I probably am sooo far behind in my work!"

She looked at the two again disgruntled. " We will continue this later. I need to get some work done!" She retrieved her things and then stalked out of the room slamming the door behind her, not looking back at Ron or Harry.

Ron let out a breath, " Well, at least she is back to normal." Harry grinned.

"How did you know that would work?" Harry asked Ron bewildered.

"I..um.." Ron said. " I don't know…..It just….happened. I don't know what came over me." Harry raised an eyebrow.

"So you just kissed Hermione out of your free will?" Harry said in surprise.

Ron turned red. "Yea…well…er….I think the Fire Whiskey gave me encouragement" He gave a guilty lopsided grin.

"Well, mate! Thank goodness for that quick pang of need to kiss Hermione!" Harry laughed.

"It was not a quick need." Ron started, feeling a little bit flustered. He could still feel on his lips where he had kissed Hermione. Frankly, it definitely had felt nice. Much better than kissing Lavender. Ron just hoped that she would forgive the two of them really fast so that he could ask Hermione to the ball.

"hey Ron. Why do you reckon that even worked?" Harry said taking a drink of his unfinished Butterbeer.

Ron shrugged. " I dunno. We could look that up."

"nah….Hermione is back, she might know. We will just have to ask her when she is on speaking terms with us again." Ron chuckled.

"yea…if she ever is again that is."

"Oh I am sure she will get over it."

The two drank their butter beers in silence again. A heavy weight had lifted from their shoulders and they enjoyed not having the worry of Hermione on their hands.

"Harry."

"mmm?"

"You know…..this room would actually make a good room for a party."

Harry grinned. "Yea….we should do that sometime."

"one more day and then we play Slytherin." Ron said.

"Yup. We could party here if we beat them."

"YEAH!….so we better!" Ron said grinning.

"Well, that means you have to save goals." Harry said teasingly.

"HEY! What is that supposed to mean?" Ron threw a pillow at Harry that had magically appeared.

Harry ducked out of the way. "Just play well, Ron, like you know how that's all." Harry explained and then added for good measure, " Plus, maybe you could impress Hermione!"

"You really think so?" Ron said.

"Sure.." Harry said smiling to himself.

"Okay…..I will….try….I mean…Yes! I will play excellent!" Ron said.

"Good." Harry said. " Want to go back to the Common Room?" He said placing his empty bottle on the table and looking over to Ron.

"Yea…sure mate….let's find Hermione and apologize again. Maybe we could bring her flowers." Flowered appeared on the table. Harry laughed.

"Merlin, How I love this room!" Ron exclaimed grinning and picked up the flowers. The two of them headed back to the common room quite happy with themselves and Ron carried the flowers. He truly hoped that Hermione would forgive them.