Part III

Several months later, a harem of girls thrown aside and a seriously convoluted fantasy later, Draco began to wonder what on earth was wrong with his fixation on the mesmerising mudblood. Draco, after storming through the dungeons, arrived outside the potions classroom; his Godfather standing rather ominously in the entrance. Unbeknownst to Draco, Professor Snape had been keeping an eye on him; he was the only other person who knew of Draco's … condition.

"Come in Draco." The Potions master drawled. "Losing sleep, I see." This earned the professor a lengthy glare as the blonde boy went and sat behind one of the desks.

The trio of Gryffindors along with Ginny were walking along the corridor toward Potions. Things had been tense between Hermione and Harry for the past two weeks. Hermione refused to be dissuaded from her studies, while Harry was very much focused on Quidditch and the upcoming game between Slytherin and Gryffindor. They hadn't spoken or spent time together since their first real fight three weeks ago.

Flashback

Hermione ducked and dodged her way to the Gryffindor portrait hole, hoping that Peeves or Filch would not catch her. Whispering the password to a half slumberous Fat Lady, Hermione crept into the common room to find Harry waiting by a dying fire.

"Where have you been?" Harry asked, a tone of slight worry and anger lacing his question. "You shouldn't be out this late."

Her head snapped back like she had been slapped, she wore an expression that smacked of rage and surprise. '' You know I'm perfectly adept at taking care of myself.'' she said in a voice that showed that she was sad for his lack of faith in her. ''What is this really about Harry?''

''All you do is study!'' he exclaimed '' If you're not studying in the library, Ron and I find you slaving away here in the common room. We hardly see each other.''

''Like you're any better!'' she said finally losing her patience. She was tired of being accused of over-working herself. There was worry out of love but then there is the type of nagging worry for no reason. ''Like you are any better, Harry! When you're not playing Quidditch, you're practising for a game which is ages away.''

The couple were now standing in a way that screamed fighting. Icy stares were exchanged; Hermione's finger twitched towards her wand before she turned on her heel and ran towards her private rooms.

Collapsing into the oversized armchair, Harry winced when he heard Hermione's portrait slam viciously loud. He sighed falling into a light sleep.

They had never gone to sleep without sorting out their differences.

End of Flashback

The sedated quartet entered the Potions classroom and took a seat. Ginny sat behind Harry, Ron and Hermione; she had taken her place in between Dean and Seamus.

Once the rest of the class filed in and took their seats the door to the dungeon shut with a dull thud. Robes fluttering behind him, Snape walked to the front of the room and turned around to his students with a flourish. "Today we will be making, what is considered to be one of the world's most dangerous potions, Amortentia." The class groaned as the Potions Master waved his wand to reveal the instructions on the board. "You will be working on this specific potion for the next 3 weeks. In between brewing this volatile potions there will be much theory. Copy down the instructions, and begin. I will place you in pair. Do not blow up the cauldrons."

Brewing time: 2 1/2 weeks

Ingredients:
12 Ashwinder eggs, frozen

2 oz. of belladonna essence

5 Veela hairs

1 rose (petals only)

1 cup of white wine, mixed with 1 cup of water

Procedure:
1. Put cauldron on fire. Add the cup of white wine, mixed with one cup of water. NOTE: do not add wine unless it is mixed with water! Will cause explosion. Stir counter clockwise for two minutes.

2. Slowly add the Ashwinder eggs. Bring to a slight boil, stir frequently until the potion is thick, and a sparkly blue colour. Stir after it turns blue for five minutes.

3. Add the Veela hairs. Take off fire, and cover the cauldron. Let the potion sit for thirty minutes. DO NOT take the lid off of your cauldron, or the vapours you inhale will cause a Narcissistic-type complex.

4. After thirty minutes, put cauldron back on. Uncover. Potion should now be a light yellow colour.

5. Add one ounce of belladonna essence and half of the rose petals. Stir and let boil on low heat for one and a half weeks.

6. Add the other ounce of belladonna essence and the other half of the rose petals. Stir, and let boil on low heat for one week.

7. Take off fire. Steam will rise from the pot in heart-shaped swirls, and will be a mother-of-pearl sheen if brewed correctly.

Quills scratching against parchment could be heard throughout the room as the students hurriedly wrote down what was on the board before Snape scrougified it.

"Potter and Parkinson. " Snape began "Theodore and Brown. Mr. Weasley and Thomas. Ms. Weasley and Daphne Greengrass…. Draco and Granger." After the each student was paired up, there was no movement in the room; Gryffindors and Slytherins alike were glaring at Snape with deep hatred. "Get to it; we don't have the rest of the century." Snape growled. "And I expect a 3 foot parchment on the use of Ashwinder eggs in potions, with special focus on Amortentia. Also, a 5 foot parchment on Amortentia, and why it is strictly forbidden to produce it without a Potion Master's permission. Moreover, why has it been deemed an illegal potion by the Ministry."

Gauging Malfoy's reaction to the partnering, Hermione peered from underneath her lowered eyelids. The blonde boy didn't seem fazed or annoyed at being paired with the homely mudblood. Refusing to let this fact bring her defences down, she shuffled over to his desk.

Discreetly looking over to his potions partner; he nodded almost imperceptibly towards the supply cupboard. Both student rose from their respective places and made for the back of the room. They stayed quiet even as they collected the ingredients.

Not watching what the other was doing, they both reached for the belladonna essence. As soon as their hands came into contact, Draco felt his blood warm and his body inadvertently move closer to hers without any warning. This made the Head Girl jump, for she too felt an electric shock as soon as her fingers brushed his palm.

Glancing around awkwardly, the two students left the cupboard almost simultaneously thus bumping shoulders and getting stuck in the doorway. Their heads snapped towards each other, leaving little space between their lips as their nose rubbed against each other involuntarily.

Looking between his two best students, the Potions Master was beside himself with glee. By the hungry look that he spied in his Godson's eyes, the Head Girl was his mate. Resolving that he should pair them up more often, he watched as they walked to the desk and began cutting, mixing, stirring and working together in silence. 'That won't do.' he thought to himself as he walked towards their designated desk.

''Ms. Granger, is there a reason that, while making such a complex potion, you are not consulting your partner?'' He drawled lazily with a reproachful tone.

''With all due respect, sir, we seem to be doing just fine without talking.'' She said as the potion stewed on the flame. ''I much prefer that he didn't open his mouth, anyways.''

A hurt look passed over Draco's face but was almost instantly replaced with a cool facade. The task of getting Draco to realise the know-it-all swot was his mate would be hard going.

For the rest of the lesson, nothing untoward happened. Hermione shot Draco a questioning glance. ''What are you looking at, Granger?'' he snarled under his breath as he felt her eyes burn into his skin. ''You seem to have tamed that beast on your head.'' This commented earned him a glare, he decided to elaborate. ''It looks less like a birds nest, more like a small bush.''

She huffed in annoyance as she called Snape over to inspected their potion and put it away, under lock and key.

Hermione could be seen in the library that same night crouched over a thick tome, one could only assume it was the Seventh year Potions texts. Looking to and fro between her parchment and the books her quill frantically danced over her parchment with practised grace. She looked over her opening paragraph, it read:

Amortentia, an extremely strong love potion, does not really cause the person who drinks it to fall in love with someone, as it is impossible to manufacture or imitate love. It can only cause the person who ingests it to develop a powerful infatuation or obsession with the target. Amortentia is recognizable by its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen and by the fact that its steam rises in characteristic spirals. The potion smells differently to different people according to what attracts them.

A/N: Updates might become more stagnant, Uni begins in a week.

Vyncie

xx