It's all J.K. Rowling's, except the plot. And Hermione's tree. I'd like to think that's mine, too.
"Draco is amazing. I'm so lucky to be working with him, and I'm so happy we decided to try that potion. If we hadn't, we might never have realized our true feelings. I just care so much about him, and I wish I could make my friends understand. But if they ever hear that I tried the potion with him, it just won't be good. They'll think he tricked me into it or something and that he's only out for himself. But he's not. He's sweet, and he's kind, and he's adorable. And I know that now. And I'm happy to know it."
Smiling gently, Hermione closed the journal and muttered the password. She clutched it to her chest for a few moments, sighing contently.
"Hey there," Draco said, wrapping his arms around her from behind. She reached her arms behind her head and pulled him closer. Kissing her on the cheek, he said, "So, how are things?"
She led him in front of her and responded, "They're pretty well, thanks. And you?"
"Pretty well," he responded, toying with her fingers.
A moment of silence passed while they both examined their hands interacting. Sighing and finally speaking, Draco said, "So, we need to look around for Placebase, huh?"
"I suppose so," Hermione responded, standing. "Where do you want to start?"
"Well, let's see," he said. "Classes are over, so no need to worry about that."
"Right. And I just had lunch, and I assume you did."
"Right. So then, we have all afternoon?" He looked at her for affirmation.
"Correct," she agreed. "Though we can surely hope we'll find it before dinner," she added wryly.
"Definitely," he said.
They began perusing the library shelves.
The first book Hermione picked up was Aphrodisiacs in Nature. Draco looked at her expectantly as she flipped through the index, but to no avail. "Not in here," she said under her breath. Looking at Draco, she shrugged and said, "Well, it was worth a shot anyway."
"True," he agreed, rubbing her lightly on the back. Hermione smiled at the gesture, then continued in her search.
"Hmm," she said at one point. "Do we remember what the ingredient looked like?"
"It was a plain white powder," Draco replied. "I remember thinking it didn't look like it even belonged in with the rest of it."
"Okay," she responded, biting her lip in thought. Her face brightened suddenly, and she smiled at him. "I have an idea," she said.
Draco followed her to another shelf. Hermione chose a brown, leather-bound book that looked rather worn and tattered. She blew off the dust and showed Draco the cover. It read, Muggle-Based Potions: A Wizard's Worst Nightmare.
"Sounds like a novel," Draco muttered.
"I know it does, but it's not," she responded. "I remember seeing the word 'muggle' and getting curious one day." Draco very clearly held his tongue, even to the point of biting his lip. Hermione withheld her glare and continued. "It's this list of different ingredients that are actually in wizarding potions, but are based on muggle products."
"I see," he responded, obviously not excited.
"I figured you wouldn't have looked at this book," she said, and he shrugged his shoulders in response.
Scanning the index quickly, she squealed. "It's here!" she exclaimed, and Draco immediately clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh, right," she muttered sheepishly as he removed it a second later. "Forgot."
"Right," he said. "So what does it say about our darling Placebase?"
Hermione flipped to the page and scanned the section. "Hm," she said softly.
"What's 'hm'?" Draco asked, only mildly annoyed.
Hermione placed a hand on his arm to calm him, then said, "Well, it doesn't go into detail." She read a bit more, then added, "It just says it's a fluffy white powder that adds a rose-like scent."
Draco blinked at her a few times. "You're joking, right?" he said.
"No, I'm not," she responded, thrusting the book at him.
He then read the contents of the page and threw a hand up in exasperation. "You mean to tell me," he said, "that we've been looking all over this library for an ingredient that just makes a potion smell good?" He wrinkled his nose in disgust.
Hermione laughed whole-heartedly and hugged him. Kissing him on the cheek and smiling, she said, "That's about it."
"Right," he said, kissing her. "Well," he said as they broke apart, "I suppose at least that much is done."
"Exactly," Hermione responded. "I knew you had a bright side in there somewhere," she added, looking at him with teasing eyes.
Draco simply glared, but Hermione could see the slightest hint of sincerity amidst the cold blue. And she had to admit, she kinda liked it.
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They had worked in the library until dinner, and they decided to walk to the Great Hall together. They received a fair share of odd looks from their peers, but neither seemed to notice. When they separated at the doors, Draco squeezed her hand lightly before walking away. Hermione squeezed back and smiled a sincere smile.
Her smile dropped as soon as she saw Ginny. The redhead was giving one of her ever-famous death glares, complete with her hands on her hips, her head cocked to the side, and her lips pursed together.
"What was that about?" Ginny demanded as Hermione sat.
"Nothing, Gin," Hermione responded, scarcely able to keep herself from smiling. She refused to look at the girl.
"Hermione," Ginny said matter-of-factly, placing a hand on her shoulder. Finally, Hermione turned to look at her. "You're not being yourself," Ginny said.
Hermione looked away quickly and gazed at Draco. "I don't know," she said wistfully. "There's just something about him."
"A love potion?" Ginny asked, tapping her foot.
Hermione glared at her. "It's not that," she replied quickly. "There's something, I don't know, more to him."
"Right," Ginny said skeptically. "And was this before or after you drank it?"
Hermione glared again. "Ginny," she demanded, "what makes you think we even took that stupid potion?"
"I'm not dumb," the girl responded. "I know you."
Hermione looked away.
"I just don't want you to get hurt," Ginny said, much more softly. She placed her hand back on Hermione's shoulder, and Hermione turned to face her. "Do you understand?" Ginny asked.
Hermione sighed, then nodded. "I understand your concern," she said carefully. "But I promise it's fine. The potion had nothing to do with it."
"So you did take it," Ginny said in a flat voice.
"Yeah," Hermione admitted softly.
Neither one spoke for a minute.
Hermione broke the silence. "But I know the potion isn't why I like him."
"Are you sure?" Ginny asked.
"I think so," Hermione said softly. Her eyebrows knitted together for a second in thought, and she added, "Besides, so what if it is the potion. I'm happy."
Ginny nodded.
"And that's all that matters, right?"
"What's all that matters?" Ron asked, taking his seat. Harry sat beside him and looked at Hermione intently.
"Nothing," Hermione responded quickly.
"Girl talk," Ginny added, beginning to fill her plate with food. "Nothing you two men need to know."
With that, the girls both began to laugh and the boys took their cue to change the subject.
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After dinner, Hermione made her way outside. Draco joined her moments later, sitting beside her. She cuddled comfortably and immediately into his arms, and he sighed a contented sigh. He ran his fingers through her hair as they gazed out at the water.
"So we test the potion in class tomorrow," Hermione said in a peaceful voice.
"Yes we do," he responded.
"I wonder how Snape will have us actually test the potion?" Hermione mused.
"Probably on some measley first-years," Draco replied, earning himself a sharp jab to the ribs. "Ow!" he responded, looking to her for an explanation.
"You shouldn't talk like that," she replied simply.
"I see," he replied, smiling in amusement.
They sat outside for a long time that way, and eventually sunset came. Entwined in one another, they watched the sky turn from a light blue to purples and pinks and yellows, then to a darker blue after that. Hermione sighed peacefully in his arms as they watched the last of the bright colors fade, and Draco regretfully pushed her away.
"We should go in," he said softly.
Hermione kissed him softly and replied, "Yes we should."
He helped her to her feet, and they made their way back to the castle.
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A/N: Hey all, let me know what you think. Thanks!