A/N Sorry for the delay, but this was an emotionaly difficult chapter for me to write since I consider what happened to Lavender as akin to rape.

UPDATED 04/07/2017 FIXED A FEW TYPOS

UPDATED 09/02/2018 FIXED MORE TYPOS

Previously

Between sobs Lavender replied. "Ron gave me chocolates like those two weeks after term started."

Madam Pomfrey persuaded Lavender to take a calming draught after which she stopped crying and cleaned herself up. She then took Lavender into an examination room and confirmed the residual presence of a love potion. It was nowhere near as powerful as the potion given to Hermione and did not have a lust component. However, it did contain elements designed to make her more compliant and less inhibited.

Lavender broke down in tears again. Knowing the likely reason for this, Madam Pomfrey asked quietly. "Were you intimate with Mr Weasley?"

Without looking up, Lavender replied. "We didn't have sex, but he got me to…..do things for him." With which statement she started sobbing again in spite of the calming draught. Madam Pomfrey felt a flash of anger. 'Damn potions should be illegal, they are like a liquid Imperius curse' she mentally fumed.

Madam Pomfrey comforted her patient for a while and she eventually calmed down. Looking at the floor, she said to Madam Pomfrey, "I feel so dirty, so used."

She looked up at Madam Pomfrey, "Can I have a shower please?"

"Of course, my dear."

"Madam Pomfrey, once I'm out of the shower and Hermione has woken up, can you please tell them about this?"

"Are you sure my dear?"

"Yes, I want them to know why it happened. I feel so ashamed."

"You have nothing to be ashamed of, this is not your fault." Said Madam Pomfrey firmly but compassionately.

With that, Lavender went for her shower in one of the infirmary's bathrooms.

Madam Pomfrey then flooed the Headmistress and asked her to contact the Aurors, briefly explaining the details and the people involved.

While Lavender was in the shower, Hermione started to stir. Madam Pomfrey immediately erected privacy screens and cast soundproofing charms around her bed, telling Harry and Luna to wait outside the screens.

Hermione awoke and, still slightly befuddled, looked at Madam Pomfrey. "Madam Pomfrey? Why am I in the infirmary?"

"Do you remember where you were before being brought here?"

"I was in an empty classroom…. then I got a message from Harry apologising to me." Hermione smiled at this point. "Then Harry turned up and…" Hermione stopped and her face flushed bright red and her hand covered her mouth in shock. "Madam Pomfrey, I can't believe I… What must Harry think…" her voice started to rise in panic.

"Miss Granger, the note wasn't from Harry, you were potioned by Mr Weasley. Mr Potter bought you here and I gave you a flushing draught. He knows you were potioned, don't worry."

Hermione's head dropped as she processed this information. 'That bastard, I'll kill him! Wait…if the note wasn't from Harry….' and she said in a small voice, still looking down. "So Harry hasn't forgiven me."

Madam Pomfrey's face quirked briefly into a smile. "I can't speak for Mr Potter, but I can say he has had some revelations today that may have clarified his thoughts about certain things pertaining to you."

Hermione looked up quickly, worried that it might mean Harry was rejecting her. This concern was clearly etched on her face.

Madam Pomfrey smiled again, fully this time. "Don't fret child, I very much doubt you have anything to worry about."

Hermione's face relaxed somewhat, "Do you know where Harry is?"

Madam Pomfrey replied. "Probably lurking on the other side of these screens waiting to see you are OK. Are you ready for this?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure, but it's going to happen sometime so it may as well be now."

"Oh, Miss Granger, if Mr Potter seems overly calm don't worry. I saw you shelve your anger at Mr Weasley earlier, am I correct?" Hermione nodded in reply.

"I couldn't give you a calming draught until the flushing potion finishes leaving your system which is why you were able to get angry. Normally I would keep you calm to aid your recovery. Mr Potter, however, is very protective of you and had I not given him a potion, I would have feared for Mr Weasley's life."

Hermione paled as the healer continued. "Let put it in a familiar vernacular for you, if it was muggle tranquiliser, Harry has enough in his system to knock out an elephant."

"Thank you for warning me."

With that, Madam Pomfrey pulled back the screens and dropped the privacy charms. Seeing this, Harry strode over smoothly, a serene look on his face. "Hermione, I'm so sorry I ever doubted you."

"What do you mean?"

"The potion, I_" 'Oh my god, he must be talking about the way I behaved'

"Oh Harry, I'm so sorry! It was a lust potion, there is nothing I could do! I just saw you and reacted! Those things I said and did, I'm so embarrassed. I_"

Harry looked at Hermione a bit confused and then interrupted her. "Hold on a second Hermione, I don't think you have all the facts."

Turning to Madam Pomfrey he asked "Have you told Hermione what the potion was and how it affected her?"

"No, Mr Potter, not yet. Shall we go into my office?"

Harry and Hermione accompanied Madam Pomfrey to her office and sat down next in the visitors chairs." Hermione was looking very nervous now as she tried to understand what they could have been talking about.

"Hermione" said Harry, "Don't worry, it's nothing bad."

"Miss Granger" started Madam Pomfrey, "the potion you were given is called True Lust."

Hermione's face paled. Madam Pomfrey saw this and said "I take it you've heard of it."

"I did some research on what might be used against Harry. I…." her voice trailed off and she looked confused for a few seconds. "I thought that it has a love potion component?"

"It does and a very strong one too," replied Madam Pomfrey.

"Then how come I_"

Madam Pomfrey interrupted. "Miss Ganger, in your reading did you ever come across a description of True Love?"

Hermione's mouth gaped open, "But… but… the books talked about it as if it was a myth!"

Madam Pomfrey replied with a droll smile, "apparently it's not."

With a look of awe on his face again, Harry got off the chair and knelt in front of Hermione and taking her hand in both of his, he gently kissed it. Then, with utter sincerity, he looked deep into her eyes and said. "Hermione, I am so sorry I ever doubted your love for me."

Smiling hugely, Hermione lifted herself slightly, pushed back the chair and dropped to her knees and hugged Harry for all she was worth. After a minute or so, Harry said with difficulty "Breathe, Hermione, I need to breathe."

Hermione relaxed her grip, but snuggled in to Harry, resting her head on his chest for several seconds.

Madam Pomfrey cleared her throat and, blushing slightly, the teens separated and got to their feet. At this point there was a knock at the door and when Madam Pomfrey opened it, there stood Headmistress McGonagall, Madam Bones and two Aurors.

Madam Pomfrey stepped aside and the Ministry employees stepped inside. Madam Bones looked at Harry and sighed. "Mr Potter, how did I just know you would be involved?"

"Ron went after Hermione, what do you expect?"

Hermione, who was still standing next to Harry, one arm hugged him around his middle for that.

Hermione started the explanation with the fight she had with Harry and continued to when she had received an owl she thought was from Harry and had eaten the chocolates. Harry continued the story from meeting with Lavender outside the school through to giving Hermione the flushing draught. He avoided going into detail about what Hermione had said to him to save her embarrassment.

Madam Bones looked at Madam Pomfrey, "What was the potion?"

"True Lust." The mediwitch replied.

The Headmistress's and Madam Bone's face immediately darkened. "I've been trying to get that banned for years," muttered Madam Bones. She then frowned and looked at Hermione then Harry. "You are sure?" she asked looking back at Madam Pomfrey.

"Certain" replied Madam Pomfrey smiling.

Confused, Madam Bones said "But that's not poss_." She spun around and stared at Harry and Hermione, who were now holding hands, smiled back at her .

"Congratulations" she said smiling at them. "I can't believe I am seeing this. It's been dismissed as a myth."

The Headmistress added her congratulations as well.

"What are you talking about?" asked one of the Aurors with a confused look on his face.

"Jenkins, you really should have paid more attention in training! True Love is what we are seeing here."

"True Love? That's a myth."

"Can you tell me how else Miss Granger could throw off the effects of the True Lust potion?"

"No-No Madam Bones, but that doesn't mean it's True Love they are both feeling."

At this, Harry stiffened, "Harry, what is it?" Hermione whispered. "I will tell you later." Harry replied.

Meanwhile they exited Madam Pomfrey's office and the Aurors gathered the bucket, chocolates and receipt as evidence. They found Luna comforting Lavender who was still upset even after her long shower.

The head of the DMLE walked over to them. "Miss Brown, can you please come into Madam Pomfrey's office and tell me what happened."

"Madam Bones, I would like those present to hear this, it will explain some things."

They all moved back to the office and Lavender explained about receiving the chocolates and what she had been doing with Ron. Madam Pomfrey confirmed the presence of the potion in her system. Lavender looked at Hermione and said in a broken voice "I'm so sorry Hermione," and burst into tears again.

Hermione went over and hugged her saying, "You have nothing to be sorry for. You are even more of a victim in this than I am." Paling somewhat, Hermione said, "in fact, I should be thanking you. If Harry hadn't been the one to find me and bring me straight here who knows what I might have done."

Meanwhile, having listened to Lavender as well as knowing what could have happened to Hermione, Harry's magic was rapidly neutralising the calming draught. He stood up, his face suffused with rage. His aura flared, and he ground out, "I'm going to kill the bastard! I warned him."

Hermione whirled away from Luna, "Harry, NO!" she said as she grabbed him. "Let the Aurors do their job, I don't want you in Azkaban!" He started to pull away from her 'I've got to distract him!' Grabbing his head in both hands, she kissed him. Shocked, he stopped moving and after a good 10 seconds, he started to relax and returned her kiss. After a minute, the Headmistress cleared her throat. Looking much more relaxed although a little flushed Harry and Hermione separated.

Professor McGonagall looked at them, "You both know the rules on public displays of affection while in school." She said looking at them both with a slight smile on her otherwise stern face, "however, under the circumstances, I will forgive you. This time at least."

"Yes, Headmistress" they replied.

Having gotten signed statements from everyone, the group moved to the front entrance where the two Aurors waited with Ron in magic supressing cuffs.

Seeing Harry, Ron got angry and yelled at him. "What lies have you been telling!"

With Hermione's hand on his arm to help keep him calm, Harry replied. "None Ron, I don't need to. Now listen carefully, I'll use small words so that you'll be sure to understand you warthog faced buffoon. Stay away from my girlfriend and my other friends or I will find you." He ground out.

Before anyone could stop her, Lavender walked over to Ron and slapped him so hard a glowing handprint was left on his cheek as his head snapped to the side. "YOU BASTARD, HOW COULD YOU!" she yelled as she stepped back.

Ron glared at Lavender and then at Hermione who sinply replied. "What she said."

The Headmistress pulled Madam Bones aside. "Amelia," she said "make sure he is found guilty and punished as otherwise I fear for his life. If the head of the Brown family doesn't challenge him to a duel, Harry will."

"Don't worry Minerva, this will be a pretty open and shut case, at least for Miss Brown."

"What do you mean?"

"Other than the compulsion he placed on her, most of the evidence about Miss Granger is circumstantial. Her being muggle-born isn't going to help."

The headmistress's lips compressed to a thin line. "Please do what you can."

"Of course." Madam Bones replied as she took her leave along with the Aurors and Ron.

Watching them leave, Hermione looked at Harry and raised an eyebrow, "Girlfriend?"

Harry smiled at her "If you'll have me," he replied.

Hermione just smiled and hugged him.

A/N Ok I think I'll leave the rest of what I was going to write for the next chapter. I know this is a shorter chapter, but this felt like a good place to finish it. I hope you like this one and as always, please review.