Chapter 25 What a Simple Book Holds

Hermione woke up the next morning, stiff from a night on the couch.

She stirred and looked at Draco sitting, staring off into the distance looking as if he hadn't slept at all.

Draco noticed Hermione was awake, "Morning love, sleep well?" He asked.

"I was just about to ask you the same thing," She said with a small smile sensing something was wrong.

Changing the subject Draco said, "Come on love, let's have a shower together before Harry and Ginny get here."

They got up and hard the perfect shower together, still wet Draco scooped Hermione into his arms and carried her to his bed. He made love to her like it was the last time. He memorized her smell, her every curve, the way she smiled. He wanted this moment to last forever, but when the clock in the common room struck 8 am, he hugged her one last time and they got dressed.

Harry and Ginny were waiting in the common room. Hermione stopped and turned to look at Draco. She give him a million galleon smile and said, "I love you, you know you're the best thing that has ever happened to me," she said with a heart full of love, and she hugged him tightly.

It took me a single moment to fall in love with you, and it would take an entire life time to forget you," Draco said as his mouth captured his in a kiss. He sighed A moment is all I need to remember her, a moment. Draco smirked as an idea came to him.

"Hey guys you ready?" Hermione asked brightly.

"Yeah come on My," Ginny grabbed Hermione as dragged her off in front of the guys.

"What's up Gin?" Hermione asked after they were out of earshot of the guys.

"We did it," Ginny said happily

"Did what?" Hermione asked.

"Come on My, you know IT!" Ginny blushed.

Hermione's eyes sprang open once she realized what Ginny was talking about. "Oh, I want the details, without the um... details." Hermione said.

"Well after we left your room last night he blind folded me and lead me far from the Gryffindor tower. When he finally took the blind fold off, we were in the Room of Requirement. We were in a field of daises at sunset. There was a picnic set up with so much food a deserts it was all wonderful. He held my hand and told me he had never felt this way about any one before, and then we did it," Ginny said with a flush to her cheeks and a permanent grin on her face.

"Wow Gin, I am so happy for you!" Hermione gushed. "You remembered to use protection right?" She asked just to make sure.

Ginny's face fell.

"Gin please tell me you remembered the spell!" Hermione pleaded.

"I…um…uh…" Ginny stuttered.

"That's it we are going to the Muggle Clinic and you are taking the morning after pill!" Hermione grabbed her arm and began to drag her.

"Hermione Stop! I was joking, we used the contraceptive spell, we were careful, gosh I was just pulling your leg!" Ginny said.

"Ginerva, that was just wrong, are you trying to make me have a stroke," Hermione said with a hand over her heart.

"Geeze lighten up! Come on I want to look at dresses!" Ginny gushed.

Meanwhile about 50 meters behind the girls Draco and Harry were talking about Quidditch and things along that line when Draco changed the subject. "So I am guessing you and Gin had an interesting evening," Draco said with a smirk.

"You could say that," Harry said with a stupid Grin.

"Well welcome to the club, you are officially a man," Draco slapped Harry on the back and that was all that was said about it.

Two hours later, two very bored men sat in the Three Broomsticks waiting for their respective girlfriends. Finally, about twenty minutes of further waiting, the girls came sauntering in empty handed.

"You spent two and a half hours shopping and you didn't get anything?" Draco asked.

"Don't be silly, we had everything sent back to Hogwarts, let's hurry up and eat so we can get to the shrieking shack." Hermione said.

They ate in relative silence. On the walk to the Shrieking Shack Hermione pulled Draco aside, "Draco, what's the matter, you haven't been acting like your self."

"Angel, I am fine, c'mon we need to save Ron." He said as he left Hermione standing there dumbfounded.

A few minutes later the four of them were sitting in a circle with a strong warming charm on them to off set the bitter February cold.

Hermione sat with the book in her lap. She took a couple of deep breaths and cracked opened the book. There were hundreds of spells, potions, charms, all of which she had never even heard of. It was all alphabetized and cross referenced, she quickly looked up the Mens Mentis Curo.

She read aloud.

Mens Mentis Curo
Creation Date 7/18/1974
Perfected Date 6/29/2005
Test Subject: Unknown Muggle
Effects: Very Similar to the Imperious Curse, the victim is under the control of
who ever casts the spell.
Cure: For a temporary cure that will last 4 hours a potion will suffice.

2 parts Dragon Tongue

1 Ounce of the Blood of a Pureblood Male

2 Phoenix Feathers

1 Once blood of a Mudblood

4 Drops of Tears of a Relative

Add ingredients in order listed above. Heat to a boil, stir counter clock wise 23 times. Bottle Immediately. Will store for up to 1 week. This potion is only effective for one month's time, after which it is rendered ineffective.

Permanent Cure: The person the victim dislikes the most must sacrifice them self to save the victims life, then the spell will be completely broken.

Ginny burst into tears. Harry's Jaw was clenched shut, Draco seemed to be in his own world, and Hermione racked her brain for an answer.