Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or ideas in the Harry Potter books, written by J.K. Rowling. I only own this small plot.

Summary: Things at Hogwarts tend to have a certain pattern. Malfoy hates them. They hate Malfoy. But what happens when a certain spell reveals that the last thing Hermione Granger wants to hear is "He doesn't love you." Who could it be about? Draco is sure curious...(A Draco/Hermione and Harry/Ginny piece.) A friend and I originally co-wrote this as a role-play. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 1: Bad Images

Harry ran down the hall nearly tripping on his robes. He couldn't be late to potions again. He ran down the stairs to the dungeon. Slowly, he opened the door and took his dreadful assigned seat next to Malfoy. Snape rolled his eyes and marked 20 points off for Gryffindor. "Damn," Harry said aloud without thinking.

Malfoy chuckled under his breath. He began to scribble something on a piece of paper. He handed it to Harry. It was a design concept for a new set of pins to pass out saying "Gryffindor No More"
Harry opened the letter, read it, and then looked straight ahead and said "Very original Malfoy, glad to see you're using that wonderful mind of yours." Draco scowled and resumed his previous activity: imitating the stupefied look on Longbottum's face.

"Now, this potion requires a great sense of timing...Potter? Would you like to demonstrate? Seeing as you seem to have all of your timing under control?"

Harry hadn't been paying attention; he had no idea what to do.

He tried to glance at Draco's notes. Draco shifted his notebook slightly. "Um...uh...well, first you...," He winked at Hermione for assistance. "You put the toad's blood in the flask," she said. He was saved by Hermione again. Draco sniggered, "Toads blood...nice...and pure..." he said.

"And then what?" Snape asked. Hermione began to speak but he stopped her saying, "No! Miss Granger, we shall hear from Mr. Potter this time..." Harry struggled to remember what he had read last night, when suddenly, the bell rang. Thank god.

Ron rushed up to Harry, "you lucked out, mate. Bloody hell, Hermione, how did you remember all that from the reading? It was incredibly boring"

"Yes Ronald. You see if you actually took notes you would remember it too."

Ron muttered something and rushed off.

Draco casually slipped a Snoggen's Farty Bomb into Hermione's rucksack,
grinned maliciously at Harry and slipped into the crowd of students that was forming around the white piece of paper posted on a nearby poll.
"What is his Problem!" Hermione screamed. "He just can't leave us alone!" Ron rushed out of the crowd towards the two. "Someone posted that paper; you have to look at it! It tells the viewer the thing he or she least wants to hear"
"Why would anyone read that?" Hermione said, Harry had already begun to walk towards it, and she followed rolling her eyes. "It's just for curiosity's sake Hermione" Ron sighed. "Come on, don't you want to know what it says to you?" he asked.

Malfoy, reappearing suddenly, whispered, "Oh miss mud-blood here doesn't need to look at my paper. We already know what it will say: 'YOU FAIL'" he sniggered and once again disappeared into the throng of Hogwarts students.

"Shut up Malfoy." She stomped towards the paper to prove to him it would be different. As she approached, the writing on the paper moved and formed the words:

"He doesn't Love you."

Hermione gasped and tried to cover it up. Ron, Harry and Draco rushed towards trying to pry her hands off and read it. Draco finally pushed all three of them away to reveal the message:

"He doesn't Love you."

Harry and Ron looked to Hermione, "What? Who is that message about?" Harry said. Hermione blushed and tried to walk in the other direction.
"Hold it!" cried Draco.

Heads turned.

"Our darling friend Hermione may have a little amour! I say we keep her here until she tells us the details. Every single one of you is curious...who's with me?" He was having altogether too much fun at Hermione's tomato-faced expense.

Harry and Ron traded glances. Harry thought to himself, 'Well, Hermione is always saying we should try to improve house relations...' "Ok. I'm in." he said.

Ron threw him a look: it was a mix of confusion and - could it be – hope? Harry winked at Ron. Ron blushed. Harry slapped his arm, "No you idiot! Ron, come on."

Hermione shoved Draco out of the way from in front of the door and tried to get to the handle before him. Draco jutted his foot out as she opened the door. Flustered, Hermione didn't notice and tripped on his foot. She fell face first to the ground. "Ow! Damn it Malfoy!" She got up and pushed her hair back, struggling against him to reach the door, but he was blocking her and she wasn't strong enough.

Meanwhile, Harry and Ron debated the idea of staying. Ron was growing increasingly antsy and uncomfortable. He evidentially wanted to run as far away as he could. Instead, he took a deep breath and grabbed Malfoy around the waste, dragging him off Hermione, to save her from further embarrassment.

"Thank you, Ronald!" she screamed, and gave Harry and evil glare. She opened the door, and ran up the stairs, leaving the other three to reflect. Draco chuckled, shrugged, and grabbed Crabbe muttering "It must be someone at Hogwarts...Look out everyone! You may be the next victim of Hermione Granger's love potion!"

Harry jabbed him in the stomach with his elbow, and said "Shut up Malfoy." Ron and Harry began to gather their books to leave, when Draco stopped them...

"Why so fast? We have a lot to discuss. I thought you'd be interested to know that once more my father has generously purchased new brooms for the Slytherin team. They call it the Eagle Rocket - known for its great balance and tight curve. What is the turning radius on your broom again Weasley? Oh, I forgot, it doesn't have one"

Ron ignored him and continued to walk. Harry knew there was only one way to get Malfoy to shut up about this Hermione business and leave them alone.

"Malfoy?"
"Yes?"
"Did you ever think, why, that message could have been about...you?"

Malfoy's grin dropped, he gulped.

Harry smiled and patted him on the back, "See ya around Malfoy."

When they were out of hearing range of anyone, Ron turned to Harry,

"What was that about?"
"I don't know...did she ever tell you about liking someone?"
"No, but I mean what you just said to Malfoy..."
"Oh, I just wanted to scare him that's all..."

Harry stopped dead in his tracks and his eyes opened wide…

"You don't think, y-you don't think it could be do you?"
"I can't see why. I mean, he's such a prick…"
"Yeah. Yeah. He's such a prick. Hermione would never like a prick like him."

" Then again, she did go for that Krum bastard. And I hate to say it, but Malfoy is handsome…not that I think so"

"Look, he may be handsome, but he's a prat and Hermione couldn't...I mean...she wouldn't...would she?" he gulped.

Ron looked almost depressed at the thought, "I certainly hope not...that wouldn't be a very functional relationship, now would it?" he joked.

"True, you're right: I mean, even if she did...which she doesn't...he wouldn't like her back, right? I mean, well...he did react strangely...what was all that gulping business about?"

"No! Malfoy hates mud - I mean people with certain ancestry"

"Yeah! That's right he does, that must be why he was starring at...her in class...oh Ron, Bloody Hell."
"Shit!" Ron cried.
"Shit!" Harry cried.

Just then, Draco came walking behind them, and as soon as he saw them, sped up, as to avoid talking to them.

"Look at him go. To think he'd even consider...it's just so...eww" Ron was flustered.
Harry began to rub his eyes quickly, "Eww! Eww! Bad images, bad images, get them out!"