"Alright. I want to know exactly how these potions work, and I want to know now." Professor Langdon looked up at the voice who spoke to her. She was more than surprised to see the young Mr. Longbottom standing before her. Professor Langdon leaned back in her chair, playing with the quill in her hand. Neville could see the debate going on in her mind. "Don't play coy with me either. You know what I'm talking about. You've got to have some idea of what's happening to me when I drink them."

"What is happening to you when you drink the potion Mr. Longbottom?" Professor Langdon leaned forward, looking at him bright eyed. Returning the quill to the holder she waited patiently, her hands cupped beneath her chin watching as Neville took in a deep breath.

"It feels like, well it feels like my body is one fire, lighting up from the inside."

"Is it painful?" Real worry showed on the Professor's face with her question, though Neville shook his head quickly.

"No. No, it's not painful at all. It's wonderful, it's arm and it tingles. It makes me feel alive but at the same time, when I drink it I want to do nothing more than see this one girl. A girl, mind you, who would never in a million years speak to me."

"What makes you think that she wouldn't talk to you ? After all you did choose her." Neville looked at Professor Langdon, more confused than before. The woman smiled at him though. "Wouldn't it serve to reason that if you chose her, that she chose you?" Neville laughed then, the sound surprising Professor Langdon.

"Astoria Greengrass would never have chosen me. Even so, you're being very vague Professor, now please tell me what the hell we volunteered for." Neville sat down, showing that he didn't intend to leave until he got the answers he was looking for. Professor Langdon smiled though, as he was the first one to approach her. The first one to realize that something was going on.

"Alright Mr. Longbottom I'll explain. The potion that you drink each week is not a love potion. That is something I want you to understand right now. It's something I created. In a nutshell it's an attraction potion."

"So the attraction that I feel towards Astoria is because of the potion?" Neville sounded as if he were trying to make heads or tails of his situation though Professor Langdon held up a hand, shaking her head.

"No, no. It's not like that. Each potion was made with the essence of one of the volunteers. They are all different. The only reason you chose the potion is because in the back of your mind, you were already attracked to Astoria. The two of you, were attracted to one another. Maybe mentally, maybe physically, it doesn't matter, what matters is, you chose one another." Neville didn't like the sound of it. The potion didn't sound dangerous, he knew that all strong potions did have their dangers.

"What's the downside? We're attracted to one another now, what happens next?" Neville asked prodding at his Professor.

"The downside. If you two go too long without interaction, speaking to one another, touching one another, your nerves will become frazzled. Your thoughts sporatic until the problem is taken care of. Until you come into contact with one another again." To Professor Langdon it seemed simple.

"What if we don't come into contact?" Neville asked darkly.

"Some how Mr. Longbottom, with this potion, everyone finds a way to come into contact with one another."

When Malfoy wasn't in class on Monday, Hermione didn't think anything of it, suspecting that Madam Pomfrey, as usual was keeping him longer than necessary. Neville asked her about him, though when they were alone with Harry to suspect anything. Hermione had told him her suspicions but could offer nothing else.

Then, two days turned into a week, making Hermione worry. Perhaps his condition had been more serious than she originally thought. That was when Hermione had gone to visit Madam Pomfrey, discovering that Malfoy had been discharged three days prior, though he was to be on bed rest/ light movement only. Hermione didn't know why, but it bugged her to no end to think he was avoiding her. So, Hermione found solice in the only place she could, the library. With it's walls of books, musty old smell, and virtually no people Hermione had always taken refuge in the room, along with Madam Prince.

Hermione did not find solice in the library today though. More people were there than usual. When Hermione did find herself a little nook, away from civilization, an overly heavy book in her lap, Hermione kept hearing giggles. Soft, annoyingly sweet, annoyingly girlish, giggles. After ten minutes of tolerating it Hermione snapped her book shut.

"Oh for heaven's sake." Getting up Hermione turned the corner of the book shelves. Much to Hermione's shock, and horror, she saw a pair of pale legs wrapped around a waist. The sheet of white blonde hair was a telltale sign of the one and only Luna Lovegood. Looking at the back of the boy's head, Hermione had no doubt. Luna and Theo were making out in the library. Too shocked to stopped them, Hermione began to back away slowly, her mouth still agape. She had to tell Ginny. They're darling, innocent, little Ravenclaw friend wrapped up in the dark hands of a Slytherin. What Hermione didn't notice though, was that two aisles over, her Ron was in a similar situation, though with a raven haired girl.

On her way to the common room, Hermione stopped, hearing Malfoy's voice. He was talking to Professor McGonagall.

"Sorry Professor, it's just been a little harder to walk than I imagined, trying to go up flights of stairs every day. I plan on returning to regular classes Monday morning." His voice sounded sure. Hermione felt the dread hit the pit of her stomach. He would be returning to class. She'd have to see him again.

"See that you do Mr. Malfoy, I know that Mr. Zabini has been taking you your work, and no reports of you falling behind have been made, but you still have to attend school. You are not above the rules." Hermione peeked around the corner slowly, trying not to be spotted by either of them.

"It's rude to Eavesdrop you know." Hermione glared at the portrait in front of her holding up a finger.

"Shh."

"Shh? Shh! Don't you shush me girl! You should be ashamed of yourself. Why you could gain a wealth of knowledge from myself, as well as the other portraits in the castle." Hermione groaned, now she had done it and from the silence coming from Malfoy and McGonagall they were on to her presence. Turning Hermione hurried toward the Gryffindor common room. Deciding her knew to Ginny was more important than seeing how Malfoy was doing. Though the thought of Malfoy returning to class, and how she would continue to avoid him, weighed heavy on her mind.

Week One: September 13th - 20th

Hermione barely noticed that Malfoy wasn't speaking to her. Admittedly it was a bit of a relief. Hermione didn't have to worry about him making any sharp quips. Harry and Ron were still in the dark on what had happened, though Hermione had broke, telling Ginny about it all. Telling her about the fight, about Malfoy licking her, even about her kissing him on the forehead at the Hospital Wing. The only thing Hermione hadn't told the girl was the conversation between Blaise, Theo, and Malfoy. It wouldn't do well for Hermione to have her best friend storming off to track down the boys.

Hermione hadn't seen Luna with Theo in the library again, but she had passed a particularly giggly broom cupboard more than once. Though Hermione had been sorely tempted to peak, Hermione didn't know how Luna would react to her privacy being violated so.

Weeks Two & Three: September 21st - October 1st

Hermione was. Irritated. Yes that was the best word to use. Hermione was irritated, mostly because of the fact that for the better half of a Month Malfoy had done everything in his power to avoid her. Even going as far as to switch hall patrolling so they wouldn't have to relieve one another. No unncessary talking. That's what it had been chalked up to. Hermione wasn't complaining, after all, he didn't want to talk to her. Hermione wasn't a sadist, if someone didn't want to talk to her Merlin's beard she wouldn't force herself upon them.

Ginny had taken it upon herself to help Hermione with her search though, search of Luna Theo sightings. Neither of the girls had gotten the gall up to ask the blonde about it, but they both noticed the little pep in her step before lunch each day. Hermione took a wild leap and guessed before lunch was when the two of them met every day, for what Hermione wasn't sure but she hadn't missed the splotching lovebite on Luna's neck, so she had a pretty good guess.

Weeks Four - Seven: October 2nd - 22nd

Hermione itched. Every day it seemed she itched. Itched to talk to Malfoy, to pester him. To push his buttons. Make him angry at her. To see him smirk. To have some sort of contact with him! October was busy, and the month was flying by rapidly. Planning every day, planning tirelessly to make sure that the Halloween Masque on the 30th went off without so much as a hiccup. When Hermione wasn't worrying about Malfoy, she was worrying about Ron. He'd seemed distant lately, not talking to her as much as he used to. Hermione even went so far as to say he'd become cold toward her. When Hermione asked Harry about it, she was surprised to find that Ron had been pulling away from Harry as well. The two hadn't been the same since Ron left. Ron hadn't been the same since he left their camp over a year ago.

The big question on Hermione's mind, concerning Luna was, when her and Theo would announce that the two were seeing one another. Hermione had spoken to Luna, after waiting for so long, and discovered the girl had a date to the Halloween Masque. Luna hadn't let on who it was but then again, Hermione didn't ask, as she already knew. What was more, Hermione didn't even have a costume ready for the party yet.