Chapter Two
"Hey, Hermione," said Ron, "want some butterbeer?"
She gave him an odd look.
"I suppose so," she replied, and took the bottle he handed to her, leaning her head back to take a long sip.
Ron watched her with baited breath.
She sighed, and smacked her lips.
"Thanks, Ron."
"You're welcome," he said, watching her.
"What?" she asked curiously, tilting her head to one side.
"Huh?"
"You were staring. Do I have something stuck in my teeth?" she asked.
"Er…no…" Ron said. Any minute now she'd be falling into his arms and professing her undying love for him.
Yeah, any minute now…
An hour later, when they were finishing breakfast, Ron still had yet to see the results of the love potion.
"Want to go for a walk?" Hermione offered. "We've still got thirty minutes before class starts."
"Yeah, alright," Ron responded distractedly, and they headed out of the Great Hall and toward the grounds.
They walked along in silence for several minutes, until Ron finally lost his patience.
"Why isn't it working?" he shouted angrily.
"Why isn't what working?" Hermione asked confusedly.
"The love potion I slipped you at breakfast," Ron said despairingly.
"Ron Weasley," said Hermione in a dangerously soft voice, her eyes narrowing, "you...slipped…me…a…love…potion?" With each word, she jabbed him in the chest with her wand. "How dare you!" she fumed. "You know such potions are banned at Hogwarts – I could get you expelled! I suppose I did something to anger you, and you're going to make me fall in love with Malfoy or someone for revenge. Is that right?"
"What?" Ron laughed, "No, no, Hermione, I would never do anything as terrible as making you fall for Malfoy."
"Alright, then, who was I to fall in love with?"
"Er…" said Ron. He couldn't exactly tell her the love potion was made for her to fall in love with him, because he'd have to explain why he wanted her to fall in love with him, and he wasn't sure if he was ready to do that.
"Ron," said Hermione angrily, "I'll be a lot less angry with you if you just tell me the truth. Because if I find out you lied to me, I will never speak to you again. Is that understood?" she asked, her eyes flashing with anger.
Ron closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. This was not good.
"Alright, alright," he said, taking a deep breath, "you were meant to fall for…"
"Yes? Who? Out with it, Ron!"
"Me."
