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It all started with...

Chapter 14

A Dare...

"I'm fine Ronald!" Hermione hissed blushing red, embarrassed by the fact that Ron was giving her a piggyback to potions. Students stared at them like she was crazy. "I can walk you know!"

"It's to stop Lavender from pestering him for a snog marathon." Harry said as they walked past the crowded hall. Hermione resisted grinning and tormenting Ron over his girlfriend's emotions. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine I just have to take some medicine that tastes of batwing each night before I go to bed." Hermione said. Harry winced slightly making Hermione nod. "I know."

"Did Harry tell you what he did to Malfoy?" Hermione bit her bottom lip to stop from crying out. Regaining her composure she shook her head.

"I hexed him." Harry said proudly, Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Why?"

"He insulted me." Hermione looked at him in a perfect Mrs. Weasley imitation. "He said that Slughorn only picked my mum to be his favourite pupil because she was a Mudblood and he felt sorry for her."

"That's a bit harsh for Malfoy." Hermione said.

"That's 'cause it was Zabini who said that!" Ron said. "Malfoy just said that he was Slughorn's favourite because he was the chosen one."

"So you hexed Malfoy and Zabini?" Hermione said slowly. Harry rubbed the back of his head nervously.

"Well...Snape caught us and we've both got detention." Harry said chuckling gently. Hermione grinned. "But I'll escape that. Dumbledore's got me tonight." Ron chuckled patting Harry's back making Hermione make a grab for his hair to stop her from falling.

"Ronald." She muttered.

--

Draco watched from a distance as Hermione brewed her potion next to Harry, Ron was working with Dean in attempts to avoid Lavender. He felt himself feel slightly jealous over the fact that she was smiling and laughing at Harry, not realising what she had put him through. She still is. Today they were supposed to be making a Veritaserum potion, the truth telling potion.

They had talked about it during their fifth year but Slughorn wanted them to actually do it. "Who are you going to use it on?" Harry whispered quietly. They were using the 'Half Blood Prince's' advanced Potions book, even though Hermione disagreed with using the said book the prize was twenty house points. Slytherin were up by fifty.

"You need it more Harry." She said. "Who should I use it on?" She joked looking round the large dungeon styled room. She caught Draco's eye and quickly returned to her potion.

"Why won't he break up with her?" Harry said noticing a panic stricken Ron slowly hiding under Slughorn's desk as he attempted to hide from his estranged girlfriend.

"Because he's scared." She replied adding an ounce of dried batwing. "And he's Ron." Harry chuckled and watched as Ron scurried back to his desk and seemed to be in a deep conversation about Quidditch with Dean just as Lavender passed him looking all forlorn.

"What about you? I mean...are you and Cormac...?" Hermione looked at him shocked.

"With that oaf? With that neurotic, self centered boy?" Hermione hissed. "No way! Besides...I like someone else."

"Who?" Harry asked suddenly intrigued, from two tables behind Draco was interested and let Blaise do his work while he eavesdropped on Harry and Hermione's table to see if he could pick up who this guy was.

"Not telling." She replied as she stirred the silver liquid potion. Draco let out a small growl then pinched himself to make him wonder why he acted like a jealous prat. He wasn't in love with her, he liked her yes but as a friend nothing more...right?

He thought in silence as he perfected his potion, he felt himself jump slightly when he felt a small piece of parchment fall onto his lap. He placed it into his pocket; afterwards he had a free break. He lifted his head up slightly to notice Hermione walking over to Slughorn. He followed her back and said loudly. "Time's up! Put down you're spoons and let's test our potions...Euh... Mr. Potter...Miss Granger. Now remember a tiny amount...we don't want any upsets now."

Hermione nodded towards Harry who picked up the ladle. He sipped it slightly and suddenly shuddered. "Now what?" He asked towards Horace who merely smiled.

"You ask him a question." He gestured towards Hermione.

"How old are you?" She said quickly as it came into her head.

"Sixteen." He said automatically. He smirked in amusement.

"Now you Miss Granger." Hermione took the ladle and took the last drops of it. "Now tell me...what is your favourite colour?"

"Pink." She caught Harry's eye and grinned. They learnt that Seamus had blown up his mum's car, Dean had one set fire to his broom when he was little, that Lavender was madly in love with Ron, when she said this Ron had ducked under his table refusing to get up. They learnt that Hannah Abbott adored rabbits; Terry Boot had broken up with Cho Chang for the fifth time, the Slytherins refused to take theirs claiming it was faulty.

--

"What's next?" Ron moaned sliding on Harry's shoulder; they had just finished their lunch and were ready to start classes.

"Well I've got Arithmancy then charms then I've got transfiguration and then I'm off to the library to do my homework." Hermione said grabbing her back up from the floor.

"Well we've got a free period then we'll meet you in charms and so and so on, then we'll head up to the common room and we'll meet you there." Harry said looking at his timetable,.

"See you later Hermione!" Ron shouted after her. She waved back in acknowledgement. "She works too hard and she wonders why she falls ill? At least she's stopped coughing up blood."

"Yea'...come on I want to send a letter to your dad." Harry said getting up taking Ron with him.

Hermione rushed up stairs towards the classroom. She was just a few minutes early and she nearly jumped when she saw Draco leaning against the stony wall. "Draco...hey..." She mumbled.

"I liked the part when your note told me that the thing had to be done sometime this week. Well Granger it's Friday tomorrow so I don't have much time then do I?" He said chuckling making Hermione feel slightly nervous.

"I'm a high maintenance girl." She replied going into the classroom. Draco followed her in.

"I want to be friends not your boyfriend. That's Potter's job." He sat down a few tables behind her.

"Then like I've said many times before. Prove it." She blew him a kiss and sat down making Draco feel uncomfortable. He thought about what he could do...he wanted to do something that even Harry and Ron hadn't done yet or any guy for that matter.

"Any girl who's made you miss your dad's meetings with Snape has got to be worth it." Blaise muttered to him.

"Problem is I want her forgiveness and I haven't a clue how." He muttered back and at the same time he wrote down the lesson on the blackboard.

"Then do something that's not you."

--

Draco waited for everyone else to leave before going to Hermione's desk. She looked up at him curiosity burning in her big brown eyes. "Yes?"

"Look...I'm ready to do this but you better be eating tonight or else I'm going to look like some loser or something." Draco said looking at her furiously.

"Ok. But I gotta ask...what happens afterwards?"

"We hang out." Somehow that wasn't the answer he was looking for. But he nodded and let his thoughts slide. "But...without Harry and Ron knowing."

"Whatever. Your life Granger, do as you please." He said shrugging his shoulders. The brown haired girl looked up at him confused.

"What is your problem?" She demanded jumping out of her seat. Draco suddenly found himself facing Hermione, he knew how it would go, he'd grab her and kiss her, but that wasn't him. So he kept his arms to his side.

"Ignore me I'm just tired." He said suddenly yawning. Hermione's eyes softened and gave him a small squeeze on his shoulder. "I better get to class." He moved away quickly and left a slightly stunned Hermione.

--

"Have I ever mentioned that I hate Thursdays?" Ron said stuffing into his mouth some steak pie, crumbs fell from his fork around him. Harry shook his head. "I mean we've got about four essays to do!"

"That's why I do them on the day that they're given." Hermione said giving Ron a hard look.

"Can I borrow yours then?"

"No! Do it yourself!" Ron let out a small growl and stuffed himself with another large mouthful of pie. Harry sipped his pumpkin juice and rolled his eyes. "Fine then! But only half!" She said looking at Ron. He nodded and smiled and when she wasn't looking Ron did a victory gesture matched with a very smug grin on his face.

From behind a stony pillar a very nervous Draco watched as Hermione ate with Potter and Weasley, taking a few steps into the Great Hall, he sat down on his table, Hermione caught his eye and gave him a small shrug wondering when he was going to do his stunt. "I have a confession to make." He said coughing slightly to get his housemates attention. When nobody heard him he said a little louder. "HEY! I have a confession to make!" Making sure he had their attention he got up on his bench and stepped onto the large table. "Hello my name is Draco Malfoy...and I am an emo geek." Everyone went silent and watched as Draco Malfoy made an utter ass of himself. "And I like a muggle born."

"What?" Pansy screeched jumping off her seat. Hermione found herself smiling. "And who is this Mudblood?"

"Pansy...she's a very smart muggle born. Look I'm afraid of commitment but I know that if she doesn't get this then this is going to be really embarrassing. I have never ever done something like this and hopefully the last." Now the teachers were interested about Draco's speech.

"Draco." Hermione whispered her breath stuck in her throat. Ginny caught Hermione staring at Draco and nodded slowly at her, a smile on her lips.

"She's here right now but because I don't want her to be embarrassed then I'm just going to say one more thing..." He was going to hate her for making him admit this. "I like the book 'Little women'." He jumped off the table and faced the laughter and the jokes as he left the Great Hall.

Hermione waited for five minutes before leaving the Great Hall. "I'm going to go. See you back at the common room!" The two guys nodded said nothing.

She rushed up the stairs and found Draco at the top. "I am never doing that again Granger so you can forget about doing it a second-" He was cut off suddenly because Hermione was hugging him, he hugged back slowly. He found himself inhaling her rose scented hair...he found it nice. "You do know that I'm a Slytherin outcast."

"But you're the nicest one I've met." Hermione teased linking her arm with his. He shook his head and they walked towards the library. I gotta tell her soon...and I don't think she'll even want me to apologize like that a second time.

--

Hermione entered the common room after spending an hour with Draco. She noticed two strange things. Harry was downstairs with Ginny but where was Ron? "Harry...where's Ron?" She asked.

"Upstairs last time I checked, why?" He replied. Hermione gave him a reassuring smile and shrugged her shoulders.

"I thought you guys had fallen out." Harry shook his head wondering why she was even asking the question. And within the next five minutes something else happened.

"I LOVE HER!" Ron's booming voice seemed to echo everywhere; silence ruled the common room as they glanced upwards towards the boy's common room. Harry got up and went upstairs. He suddenly reappeared and looked at Hermione.

"I might need your help here." Hermione left her bag by Ginny and hurried upstairs. They found Ron sat down on the floor and was staring at the moon via the large window by Harry's bed. A Gryffindor student was cornered and the moment Harry returned the boy shot out of the dorm.

"Ron? Are you ok?" Hermione asked him nervously. He turned and looked at her with a love sick smile.

"I can't stop thinking about her." He replied dreamily. Harry flickered a glance towards Hermione.

"Who?" Harry dreaded the response if he replied that it was Lavender and he started calling her 'Lav-Lav' then he was putting a stop to it.

"I don't know if she thinks I exist." Ron said in a desperate tone, he had stood up and stared at them.

"Well you have been snogging each other for the past months." Hermione said, and then she noticed a small parcel in the shape of a love heart. They'd been back for less than a week and still they were receiving presents. But as she examined it closer it turned out to be one of those secret admirers. Shit.

"Who are you talking about?" He said blinking.

"Who are you talking about?" Harry demanded wondering if all reason had flown out the window.

"Romilda Vane." He said her name so softly that his face illuminated by the mention. Hermione slapped her head. "I LOVE HER!"

"Ok you're in love with her! Have you actually met her before?" Harry shouted.

Ron's face looked crestfallen. "No...can you introduce me?" Harry let out groan.

"Ron did you eat those chocolates?" She asked. Harry looked at her then he noticed the heart shaped box and the empty sweet wrappings.

"They were on your bed and I was hungry and now Romilda is my destiny."

"Ha ha very funny you can stop joking now." Ron's face scrunched up in anger, he snatched the box from Hermione's hands and threw it at him. "Hey!"

"You insulted her!"

"This love potion is strong. How long have you had these?" Hermione asked nervously. Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Great."

"Come on Ron!" Harry said turning him round. "I'm going to introduce you to Romilda Vane." Ron smiled in a weird way and let Harry lead him out of the room, Hermione following them.

When Harry knocked on a large wooden door, Hermione realised he was taking him to see Slughorn, during their little trip Harry convinced Ron that Romilda was downstairs and taking extra potions. "Harry m'boy! I must say it's a little late." Slughorn said opening his door slightly.

"Sorry sir it's just that my friend Ron has had some love potion in his drink." Harry said pushing Ron slightly towards them, lucky that Ron had never seen her. But he was convinced that Romilda was Slughorn and proceeded to try and stroke his face.

"I can see. Well come in." Hermione and Harry sat Ron down on a couch while Slughorn brewed the antidote. "I would've thought that you Harry could do all this." Harry got up and slide to Slughorn's side.

"Well I would've gone to Madame Pomfrey but she'd have guessed it came from the Weasley's Wizards Wheezes and I've never done an antidote for this and if I had done it he might've done some serious damage." Harry said tuning his head just in time to see Ron sitting on the back of Slughorn's couch, he slipped off the back making Hermione jump up and pick him up.

"Romilda! Where is she?"

"I see. Was this potion within date?" Watching as Hermione wrestled with Ron to stop him from leaving the office. "They strengthen during time."

"That'd explain a lot!" Hermione panted now jumping on Ron's back trying to take him down. He slipped and landed on the couch again, Hermione rolled off the side; she got up rubbing her side where she fell.

"Here drink this." Slughorn said producing to him a small goblet filled with a warm clear liquid.

"How do I look?" Ron demanded fervently. The three sane people looked at each other.

"Very handsome. Now drink this. It's a tonic for the nerves." He said handing him the goblet. Ron smirked at them and drank all of it down quite noisily

"Brilliant." He said chuckling. They watched him beam at tem then suddenly he looked at them with the utmost horror. "Bloody hell."

"Back to normal then?" Harry joked. "Thank you sir." Slughorn smiled and went over to a small cabinet.

"Don't mention it. Now what we need now is a pick me up...now let's see...I've got butterbeer, wine...fire whiskey and oh...an oak matured mead...I was going to give that to Albus for New Year...oh well he can't miss what he never had." He got out the long brown coloured bottle and poured out four glasses.

"I'll help you sir." Hermione said leaving Ron's side and getting two glasses and passed them to Harry and Ron while Slughorn passed hers.

"To a Happy New Year!" He said but Ron had taken a large sip and so had Hermione. Harry knew instantly that something was very wrong. His fears were confirmed; Hermione dropped her glass and found herself throwing up while Ron had fallen to the floor, his body trembling like he was having a massive fit.

Slughorn stared at them not moving. Harry rushed to his cabinet and pulled out the different drawers, he knew Hermione would just throw up she had only had a sip while Ron had half a glass. He found the shrivelled kidney like stone Slughorn had taken from him back in potions. He hurled it into Ron's mouth, he forced it down him. Ron shuddered a rattling rasp and then he went limp.

Seeing as next week there won't be any updates (I'm staying with my grandparents = no internet) so the week after there'll be two to make up for it.

I love the polls so...

Who should I kill off?

A- Draco

B- Ron

C- Neville

D- You tell me who you want to evicte from the fanfic.

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