Yep, J.K. Rowling's characters. All of them.
"Everyone is acting so very strangely. I could swear it was something Snape did just to mess with all of us. I mean, Blaise and Pansy being... nice. I shudder to think of it. Who knows. Maybe these potions are meant as some sort of character adjustment or something."
"Hey there," said a male voice from behind her. Hermione smiled as she felt Draco's warm arms wrap her in a hug. She sighed into him.
"How are things?" she asked after a moment.
"Going fairly well, actually," he responded, kissing her on the cheek. "And things with you?"
"Fairly well," she responded.
"So the presentation's tomorrow," he said in a somewhat grim voice.
"That it is," she said. "Should we work a bit now, and then finish up tonight?"
"Sounds good," he said, kissing her ear lightly.
Hermione shivered in response, mumbling, "Or maybe a bit later..."
By lunch time, Hermione and Draco had gotten nowhere in their project. For once, though, Hermione didn't mind so much.
"So how are things with Harry?" she asked Ginny, her voice more upbeat than usual.
"They're good," Ginny responded. "You should've heard him when he asked me out. I never thought he could be so... forward." The redhead turned a deep red and giggled.
Hermione laughed along with her. "Who knew?" she responded.
Harry joined them then, and the meal continued in relative silence. Ron still refused to look in her direction, but somehow that didn't phase her either. She was just glad things were going well with Draco.
Hermione and Ginny walked out to Hermione's tree together that day, since Harry needed to practice Quidditch with some friends.
"So how are things with Malfoy?" Ginny asked.
"Very well," Hermione replied, sighing contentedly. "He's so sweet."
"Why, thank you," Draco joked, coming around the corner.
Hermione blushed and hit him playfully as he sat down. "Didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to eavesdrop?"
He smiled in response. "You should know I never listen to anything I'm told."
Both girls laughed in response, and Draco seemed to notice Ginny for the first time.
"Oh, hi," he said awkwardly. "It's Ginny, right?"
Ginny blinked at him for a moment before responding. "Right," she finally confirmed. "And I call you Draco?" Her face contorted just a bit at the name, but she kept her composure regardless.
Draco pretended not to notice. Instead, he just lightheartedly responded, "That's what most call me."
"Got it," she responded.
"So how are things with you and Potter?" Draco asked conversationally.
Hermione could tell Ginny fought hard to keep her mouth from dropping. "They're good," she responded politely. Then, "I'd ask how things are with 'Mione, but, you know, I'm not blind."
The couple laughed in response, and then Ginny stood. "Well, I must be off," she said. "Homework."
With that, Ginny turned and made her way back to the castle.
"Speaking of homework," Draco said, "I think we need to work on the project now."
"I suppose so," Hermione responded, kissing him softly.
Tearing apart from one another so as not to start another bout of the library experience that morning, they made their way into the castle.
"So we need a visual of some sort, right?" Hermione asked as they worked in the dungeon.
"That we do," Draco replied.
Hermione bit her lip in thought. "Well," she said finally, "I know plenty of muggle ways to do that. We could find a computer and make a presentation on there, make a poster, take some pictures..."
She stopped when she noticed Draco was staring at her like she was from another world. Instead of getting mad, though, she just kissed him. "What about some wizarding ways?" she asked.
"We could create a spell, demonstrate on some first years, conjure something to make each student feel the effects of our potion for three seconds to a full hour, or create a 3-dimensional hologram to show our main points."
Hermione thought for a moment. "It's a little late to start the spell or figure out what to conjure, and I know we can't test on first years."
"Right," he agreed. "So the hologram it is, then?"
"Sounds like a plan," she agreed.
They went to work putting one together. After combining their knowledge of spells and key thoughts with which to make the image, they had finally created a wizarding version of the computer presentation Hermione had suggested.
Pleased with their work two hours later, the couple went for a walk on the grounds to wind down after the day.
They walked hand in hand, talking quietly.
After a while, Draco said, "I want to show you something."
"What's that?" Hermione asked.
"I can't tell you quite yet," he said, ignoring her pouty response. "Just close your eyes and trust me."
"Close my eyes?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow at him.
"Yes," he replied. "It's a surprise."
Taking a deep breath in hesitation, she finally agreed. She closed her eyes softly and allowed him to lead her.
After a good while, Draco stopped. "Don't open yet," he said quickly.
"Okay," she said in a nervous tone. She felt him pull her into a sitting position on soft grass. The strong smell of lilacs surrounded her. She sighed deeply.
"Now," he said.
She opened her eyes, and tears immediately came to them. Lilacs were all around her in an absolutely beautiful clearing. Soft, luscious grass created a pillow beneath her. She looked up and saw that the treeline broke away to allow a view of the clearest night she had seen in a long time. "It's beautiful," she breathed.
Draco smiled, gently wiping the tears from her face. "So are you," he responded softly, kissing her.
She buried herself in his chest after the kiss, and each sighed happily. "I love you, Hermione," he said softly.
Raising her head again to kiss him, she replied, "And I love you."
Each slept very soundly that night.
A/N: Hey everyone, let me know what you think. Thanks!