AN: Sorry for the long wait but it took me some time to actually write the new scenes in this chapter. I've been preoccupied with reading fanfics (I've been jumping from one fic to another and I haven't really finished all of them either)and just being a lazy ass. The actual typing only lasted for two days, so I'm sorry for that.

The inspiration for this story is this chapter.

Enjoy!

XXX

Harry slowly opened the door to his dormitory. It was already late in the night and he didn't want to disturb any of his sleeping dormmates. Although, he reckons not even an explosion could wake his friends at this time of the night. They were heavy sleepers; sleeping through the loud symphony of snores was a talent entirely their own, that is proof enough of their deafness in sleep.

He peeked inside, and indeed, the sight of sleeping and snoring bodies greeted him. He slowly advanced to his bed and made a move to open his trunk to get his pajamas when he heard a voice speaking to him.

"How was the dinner?" Harry was startled by the greeting and almost slammed his trunk shut; luckily he had seeker reflexes and caught the lid just in time before it could cause some serious damage. One knows never to wake sleeping lions. Harry shifted his gaze to the bed that was across of his and saw Ron. He was sporting a disheveled look, he didn't seem like he has just woken up. Rather, he gave Harry the impression that he was waiting for him to come back.

"The food or the company?" Harry asked his best mate as he sat on his bed.

"All of it."

"You would have loved the food, but you'd hate the company." Harry told his friend smirking slightly as he started to remove his shoes.

"Sounds terrible." Ron replied and almost gave Harry a sympathetic look. Harry raised an eyebrow towards his friend's seemingly strange remark.

"Oh, and why is that?"

"I've always loved food." Ron told him grinning and Harry laughed softly at that.

"I figured. Why are you still up?"

"I had to ask you something." Ron told him. Harry suddenly noticed the gloomy change in his friend's eyes.

"What is it?"

"Hermione and I, why do you think we always fight?" Ron suddenly asked them and for a minute Harry was stunned by the question. He really didn't expect Ron to ask that. To be honest he didn't think that notion would ever bother Ron; he almost seemed comfortable with how he and Hermione had always been. Now Harry suspects maybe they just settled into some sort of routine, and routines don't always mean they're pleasant.

"You mean you don't know?" Harry teased his friend, but Ron gave him a frown in reply.

"I'm serious Harry."

"Sorry, I was only joking. Well, uhm…they say it's unresolved sexual tension." Harry told Ron uncertainly. It was true though, people like to comment that Ron and Hermione fight like an old married couple. Granted Harry never really saw his parents fight as much as Ron and Hermione did, still he doesn't have an opinion on the matter as he has never been in love. But now discussing this with Ron he was suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

"Bugger! Is that what it is? Does it look like that to you?" Ron who almost had a disgusted look on his face asked him. Harry shrugged; he figured Ron would know about the rumors involving him by now.

"You've always been Ron and Hermione to me. I've grown used to it; I can't really see it in any other way."

"Fair enough, I supposed. It's just that I realize that we do fight too much. We get on each other's nerves. It's been physically tiring, even emotionally taxing, and for someone with an emotional range of a teaspoon, well, I'm having too many emotions." Ron finished his rant with a small grin at the end, but Harry was aware that it was a thought that might have been bothering his friend for a while now. He wasn't really used to seeing Ron's sensitive side; he was always the funny guy of their trio.

"I actually like what you said back there, Hermione would've been proud." Harry teased his friend again and Ron threw him a pillow and muttered that he wasn't helping, even so far as proclaiming that blokes aren't designed to have these 'heart to heart' talks. Which Harry only responded with a laugh. But then he remembered that if he would let their conversation end now, Ron wouldn't be getting a peace of mind and they might never have a chance to talk about this topic again.

"Maybe we're destined to be friends. Hermione doesn't get tired of looking out for us. We both are so reckless that we still need a babysitter despite are incredibly old age. You make us laugh and fill the silence in lazy afternoons. And I'm the middle guy that stops you both from killing each other."

"Yeah, that's probably it. When you told me to shut it, I realized Hermione and I had so many petty fights that were truly avoidable. You're a much better friend to her than I am."

"Ron-"

"Listen Harry, when I'm beside the two of you I feel so inadequate, like I don't fit in. You and Hermione, you're both brilliant at things you do. Take potions for example, you both excel at it-"

"I don't." Harry told Ron, and his friend gave him a confused look.

"Don't be modest Harry, you've already beaten Hermione now."

"I haven't, actually."

"I'm confused." Harry sighed. He really feels bad now, funny how conscience or one's ego can use the emotion guilt so well. It comes during unexpected moments and take so long to leave.

"Alright fine, but don't tell anyone, come here." Harry gestured for his friend to come sit with him, but Ron gave him an incredulous look.

"To your bed?" Ron asked Harry uncertainly and Harry gave Ron a look that clearly says that fact should be obvious to him. But Ron still looked quite doubtful.

"I'm not sitting on your bed." Ron had told Harry and Harry let out an exasperated sigh.

"How else are we going to get privacy? I'm going to tell you a secret."

"Blokes don't share one bed." Ron had insisted and Harry rolled his eyes at his friend's childish antics.

"Honestly Ron? We're doing this now?"

"Fine." Ron grumbled and made his way towards Harry and took a seat on his bed. Harry casts a privacy charm around his bed and made sure no noise will escape their invisible bubble. He then proceeded to take the potions textbook from his trunk and handed it carefully to Ron who took it gingerly. Harry beckoned his friend to open it. At fist Ron didn't fancy reading a potions book so late at night, but then his blue eyes widened when he noticed just how different Harry's potions book was from his or anyone's for that matter.

"Bloody Hell mate! Does Hermione know?" Harry sighed and shook his head.

"She doesn't if she did, well you know how she'd react." Ron nodded his head in understanding but then he looked at Harry suddenly as if he just remembered something very important.

"Which reminds me, did you pass the sorting hat's test?"

"Yes I did." Harry answered Ron quite proudly.

"Don't you think it's strange that you did?" Harry was suddenly surprised by his friend's question, he didn't understand what his friend was implying.

"Why?"

"Like Hermione said, the hat is a master of Legilimency. Surely he'd know you cheated on your technical test and it would have told Dumbledore and Slughorn. Do you reckon the hat's gotten old and might have forgotten to mention it?" Ron asked Harry and for the first time Harry thought that Ron made sense. It was strange that they had allowed him to pass when the truth was that he didn't really pass the first test at all. Harry suddenly felt weary of hi success.

"The hat remembers all the students it has sorted, I doubt that's the case."

"Then, why did they let you pass?"

XXX

-September 9, 1996-

"Do we have homework tonight?" Ron asked his friends. They had just finished their last class together and were heading towards the Gryffindor tower to pass some time before dinner.

"I think just a Transfiguration essay that's due tomorrow and an Arithmacy homework that's due on Wednesday." Harry answered Ron quite happily. He finished the Transfiguration essay during the weekend and he still had two nights to finish the Arithmacy homework. Besides, Hermione happened to be very good with the subject, they could ask her help if they get confuse. Basically, they weren't very busy tonight.

"Great then! Which means we have the free time after dinner. Care for some wizarding chess game to pass the time?" Ron beamed at Harry, Harry was about to accept his friend's proposition when Hermione interrupted them.

"I have a better idea. Since you and Harry isn't too busy tonight, why don't the three of us head down to the library for some research." Hermione proposed and both boys looked quite grim. It was so rare for them to have an assignment free day especially during the school week, but it seemed like Hermione's being a buzz kill again.

"Research for what?" Ron had asked Hermione.

"For the ritual of course. It's on Friday, and Harry needs to be prepared, we wouldn't want anything to go wrong now do we?" Hermione calmly replied and Harry sighed. It was true he needed to prepare. Harry had read the handouts professor Slughorn had given him over the weekend. The notes contained the ingredients of the potion and instructions on how to make it, it also includes the steps during the ritual. He has read it and he's certain he has grown quite familiar with it, but not entirely.

"I don't think I'd be joining you." Ron told his friends and Harry almost looked disappointed that Ron gets to have more free time that he. On the other hand, Hermione merely accepted Ron's turning down of her invitation.

"I think I'll start on that Arithmacy assignment. Who knows, I might finish it and Harry could copy." Ron told them and friends were tempted to laugh.

"Okay, I'll pretend I believe you." Harry told Ron and his friend merely grinned at them and excused himself before heading towards the Gryffindor tower while Harry and Hermione took a different route.

"We both know he's not going to start on your homework." Hermione told Harry who merely grinned at her.

"Yeah. We both know you're the one who'll actually have to do it later." Harry teased his friend and Hermione rolled her eyes at his remark.

"Don't expect to be so lucky Potter. This time, I'm telling you I'd just show you how to solve it."

"That is until you get tired of our thick headedness and finally do our assignments for us." Hermione smacked Harry's shoulder and allowed a small smile to grace her lips. The two friends continued their way towards the library in a comfortable silence.

XXX

The two friends had been pouring over the tomes of books regarding the ritual, alongside the notes and handouts professor Slughorn had given them. Harry glanced at Hermione who was sitting across him. Her brows were furrowed in pure concentration as she scribbled down frantically. He almost smiled as he recalled the look of excitement in Hermione's face as she handed Madame Pince the note Professor Slughorn had provided them so that they may have access to the restricted section of the library. Hermione was giddy then and she absolutely radiated a glow that showed just how much she was absolutely looking forward to visiting that forbidden part of her 'kingdom'.

When they finally entered the Restricted Area Harry had to call Hermione's attention twice as his friend apparently looked dazed as she scanned the different titles of the books across the bookshelves. When Hermione finally snapped out of her trance like state she was able to pull the list of books for reference and she and Harry managed to get those books. And they have been reaadiingg those books for some time now.

Harry glanced at the clock in the library and it showed that it was thirty minutes past seven. Dinner had started forty-five minutes ago and his stomach was slightly making noises. He glanced at his companion again and this time Harry saw that she was done scribbling her notes and was facing him.

"Alright, it seems like you already know what to do during the ritual. Now, let us proceed. The last step of the ritual is for you to soak the rose in a tub with the potion and water. You'll have to light sixteen candles or how many candles you want as each candle corresponds to the age you want for your rose. We then have to leave it overnight and let all the candles burn out. Now, when you visit it on the next day what should you expect?" Hermione asked Harry.

"That on the next day it's my perfect girl." Harry answered disinterestedly.

"And?" Hermione beckoned Harry to expound his answer more, but her friend just gave her a confused look and Hermione sighed.

"Honestly Harry, haven't you been reading? During the ritual you would provide some of your blood. Do you know why you have to?"

"Honestly? No." Harry told Hermione slightly annoyed that he was being scolded again. Hermione gave him a disappointed look.

"Have you actually studied this or not?"

"I tried memorizing the steps of the ritual. Sorry, I forgot to research the reasons as to why." Harry told Hermione bitterly. Sometimes he gets irritated when Hermione expects everyone to be as brilliant as she is. Hermione looked chastised and gave Harry an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry, that wasn't fair to you." Harry suddenly felt guilty. He knew Hermione was only trying to help him and here he was feeling sorry for himself for having to study and not yet eating dinner when he should be thanking Hermione for spending some time with him and helping him prepare for the ritual.

"I'll tell you why. When you offer some of your blood to the rose, you're actually giving it an essence of yourself." Hermione explained and Harry looked at her quite quizzically.

"Why would it need an essence of me?"

"So it can recognize you as its creator. The Jobberknoll Feather added in the potion makes your rose extremely faithful to you; as a result it will instantly recognize you and fall in love with you. So you won't be just expecting your perfect girl, but also your instant girlfriend. So don't be surprised if your rose throws herself all over you." Hermione explained and Harry merely nodded in understanding but having this topic with her suddenly made him curious as to the other parts of the ritual.

"The first part of the ritual requires me to take the Veritas serum before forming a list of all the qualities of my perfect girl right?"

"Yes. You'd be needing someone who asks you the questions and to take down notes as well."

"Why can't I form my own list in advance and why do I have to take the Veritas serum?"

"Because, when you form your own list in advance you might not create the right list. You see your subconscious and conscious mind are both active, but more so on your conscious mind. You might have this perfect girl in your head already but the truth is you might just be afraid to admit to yourself that you prefer other qualities than what you presume to be acceptable. You may have the tendency to be biased too, even when dealing with your own self. For example; you see a girl wearing a flimsy outfit leaving little to the imagination. You might say, I don't want a girl like that because she seems like a trollop, but secretly deep down you find her assets attractive and her confidence to wear that outfit as appealing. Of course, people have this sense of thinking themselves moral and would not admit even in the comforts of their own minds that they want a girl like that. Wouldn't you agree?" Harry merely nodded his head. He realized that one wouldn't get his perfect girl if she isn't someone one truly wants, and denying what you truly want because of restrictions of society and your own righteous beliefs might be in conflict with the purpose the ritual was trying to achieve. The Veritas serum helps one to create a true list.

"But, it's also good for you to prepare your own list in advance too."

"How about the hair? What does it do and why have you given me yours?" With this question Harry could see the uneasiness of his best friend. He found this quite peculiar as Hermione has been always so excited when explaining to them the answers to their questions. Hermione always loved to discuss academic questions, so seeing her now hesitate to answer that question of his was confusing him deeply.

"You can consider it as a trump card; a guarantee that you won't be falling for your rose."

"Why, what does the hair do?" Harry asked again, he wasn't sure why Hermione was so adamant at keeping that piece of information secret from him.

"Just trust me on this one Harry. Have I ever failed you?" Hermione told Harry and he merely sighed and accepted Hermione's explanation. He supposes he owes it to her.

"Thanks. And Harry, please don't try to find out what the lock of hair is for until the day of the ritual." Harry gave Hermione another confused look. He was about to refute her suggestion as well but then he saw the pleading in her brown eyes. She truly didn't want him to know its purpose. Harry has always trusted Hermione, she has always been right and he regrets the times he never did listen to her. Besides, keeping it secret from her that he cheated on his technical test was also making him think twice about rejecting her small request.

"Okay." Harry finally relented and with this Hermione smiled at him

"Great! I think we better head down and catch some dinner it's almost eight o'clock." Hermione told him, and Harry gratefully agreed and they packed up their things before heading down to eat.

XXX

-September 12, 1996-

"Hermione!" The Harry, Ron and Hermione whipped around and saw their fellow Gryffindor and friend Neville Longbottom running towards them.

"Oh Neville, what is it? Do we have an emergency prefect meeting?" Hermione asked their slightly panting friend and fellow prefect. She and her friends were heading down to professor Sprout's office to ask her for one of her potted roses. After all, professor Slughorn had told them to pick up a rose he had requested from professor Sprout.

"I saw professor Sprout awhile ago and she asked me to give this to you three if I find you. She's in a meeting right now and asked me to tell you that you can get the rose in the greenhouse without her." Neville handed the key to Hermione. The three friends thanked Neville for his help before saying their goodbyes and heading their own way.

"This is sort of exciting don't you think?" Ron told the group as they arrived in the greenhouse and slowly opened the door. Hermione rolled her eyes at him, it was clear to them that everyone in their year was anticipating the result of the forbidden ritual. The ritual seemed so innocent, the question as to why such a seemingly small ritual was banned was something that puzzled most of them.

"Boys and their twisted sense of adventure, honestly this is a pretty useless project if you ask me, not to mention it's illegal. If the school really wants to teach us something worthwhile then they should immerse all its students as house elves even for a day and then let the student population decide how much fun they have being enslave. I'm pretty sure that would have been a better." Hermione replied and Ron was about to retort but decided to keep it to himself. The three friends finally found the potted red rose, it had a note tied to its leaf which says; 'to: Mister Potter'.

"Okay, we're going to take this to the ritual room. And tomorrow afternoon I will cut it and detach some of the rose thorns for it is needed for the potion." Hermione told her friends. Harry carried the potted plant as they stepped out of the green house. The three friends then made their way back to the castle.

XXX

-September 13, 1996-

"Okay, have we got everything ready?" Professor Slughorn asked Hermione who was holding a checklist and going over the ingredients for the potion. It was now Friday afternoon and it has already been a week since the professor told her and Harry the news that they were allowed to perform this ritual. The anticipation for this day has been quite nerve racking for Hermione and sometimes when no one was looking she'd laughed a bitter laugh, she just knew that she dreaded this day.

"Yes professor, each ingredient has been measured and nothing seems to be missing." Hermione reported and the professor merely nodded. She had already placed the powdered Bicorn Horn, Boom Berry, Crocodile Heart, Dittany, Fairy Wings, Griffin Claw, Haliwinkles, Jobberknoll Feather, Knotgrass, Lacewing fly, Moonstones, Puffer fish eyes, rose thorns, Salpeter, Silver Weed, and Syrup of Hellebore in their respective vials and dishes.

"Do we have the right amount of Veritas serum?"

"Yes professor and it has already been diluted." Hermione answered once more as she glanced at the clock. Harry's Quidditch practice should be over by now. After classes Hermione had spent almost three hours with Professor Slughorn gathering materials and ingredients and measuring them patiently. She was particularly meticulous as she didn't want anything to go bad. Who knows what the rose would become if they got the measurements wrong probably instead of creating the perfect female it would create a hideous monster that Harry has to deal with for a week. Then again, that might not be so bad. Finally, the door opened and a panting school boy emerged and stepped inside the room. His hair was still wet from the quick shower he had just taken and probably mixed with a hint of sweat from running.

"I'm sorry I'm late."Harry announced as he looked at the table with the various ingredients and the lone red English rose in a glass vase.

"Should I go now professor?" Hermione suddenly asked professor Slughorn as she started cleaning up and gathering her belongings.

"Oh, yes Hermione thanks for all your help." The professor smiled at Hermione gratefully. But Harry looked quite confuse, he was so sure Hermione was staying, it was after all alright for her to remain.

"Wait! Hermione you're leaving?" Harry asked Hermione quite surprised.

"Oh, I've done my part already and besides from this point on it has to be you who creates the potion and professor Slughorn will just instruct you how to do it too, lest you forget. I've still got homework to do, so I better go now. I'll see you in a while." Hermione told Harry as she was busy arranging and gathering her things she was even barely looking at Harry; her motions just seemed to be in a jumbled rush. Professor Slughorn didn't even seem to mind as he himself was busy looking for something in his drawers, but Harry was aware that something was off with his best friend.

"Sure you don't want to stay and watch?" Harry asked Hermione once again but Hermione only shook her head in response and hurriedly left the room. Harry was very confused by Hermione's actions, it almost seemed like she was avoiding him. Even though he knew Hermione was against him making this potion, even if he knew she would be most likely asked to stand aside, and even if he knew that Hermione did have homework to do whose deadlines were most likely in two weeks time, he knew that Hermione would certainly not pass up the opportunity to witness an illegal ritual. She was naturally inquisitive and she loves learning too much to miss this. After years of friendship, that much Harry knows about her. That's why her leaving quite abruptly was completely odd. Yet Harry didn't have the luxury of time to worry more about Hermione's peculiar behavior as professor Slughorn now required his undivided attention.

"Now Harry, Let us begin. Please drink that glass of water over there. It is mixed with a small amount of diluted Veritas serum, this is essential for pre-ritual preparations." Harry did as he was instructed and gulped the water down. Harry was mildly surprised by the blandness of the taste since he was expecting even a hint of bitterness or saltiness that would make the presence of the truth serum known; but if there was, he hasn't tasted it.

"Now, tell me about your ideal girl Harry. For starters, can you tell me what she looks like?" It was then that Harry noticed a quick-notes quill floating beside professor Slughorn. Perhaps the professor has enchanted the quill to write down each detail he says. But Harry's fascination for the floating quill quickly vanished replaced by the thoughtfulness on his part.

What does his ideal girl look like?

Cho had been his first crush, she had beautiful porcelain white skin, and her hair was long, straight, shiny and black. She was certainly very pretty and if it wasn't for her being Cedric Diggory's girlfriend Harry would have tried asking her out. It's a good thing that he has moved on from crushing on her as both Cho and Cedric were still going strong. It'd be sad if he was still pining for her.

But now, who does he like?

Well, Lavender and the Patil twins were certainly pretty with their wonderful feminine physique, you can say they have the right curves at the right places; it was obvious he was attracted to them, who aren't actually? Even Luna had long pretty blonde locks, each time she hops around the corridors, her blonde hair seemed to be dancing behind her and glowing each time the sun shone upon it. Luna's hair was certainly lovely. And then there's Ginny. Ginny was slowly growing into a lovely girl. She had beautiful red straight hair that looked like the blazing fire in the daylight. She was also growing lovely feminine attributes that he and the other blokes seemed to be noticing lately. If she wasn't Ron's younger sister and dating Dean, then maybe he would have tried to ask her out.

"Physically? I like girls with straight hair, I don't have a particularly favorite color but blonde hair is nice, it's beautiful and glows when it get hits by the sun. Of course she should have an athletic built but still have curves in the right places you know, I'm not particularly fond of stick figures. I find doe like eyes to be really pretty and unique too." Harry said at once and he's surprised that he has even articulated his thoughts as he himself wasn't even aware he had this particular image of a girl in his head. Professor Slughorn merely nodded and kept an eye on the quick notes quill.

"How about eye color Harry?"

"I like deep chocolate brown ones." When Harry said the thing about brown eyes he was mildly surprised but maybe it's just like that since he always found brown eyes comforting like Hermione's, Ginny's and probably even Cho's.

"Hmm, how about on the inside?" The professor proceeded and Harry realized he didn't have to think about it, his tongue made the decision for him.

"Oh, she has to be friendly, loyal, assertive, strong willed and brave to stand up for what she believes in. She should have a great sense of humor and she has to be witty too. It would also be great if she's fun, that she loves Quidditch and we could go flying together. She should not be prejudiced, mean, arrogant or gossipy but she can be tough when provoked too. And I don't like girls who boss me around or nag, you know Hermione does that a lot, but still… anyway, I like a girl who is like a temptress, charismatic but not like a slag. I want a girl who can handle my mood swings, show me reason but not fight or disagree with me because that's just too troublesome but still keeps my feet on the ground. Lastly, she should be accommodating to people." As Harry said those things he could help but noticed that he's basing that personality from people he knew, and from them he judged what type of girl he likes or does not like, well at least romantically.

"Hmm… that's good now we just need a sample of your blood, and a lock of hair of the girl you think is most likely resembles your ideal girl." Harry's eyes widened in surprise, not because of the mention of the blood sample he has to give but because of the mention of the hair, the hair he has is Hermione's.

"Sir, hair?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you that Harry, do you think you still have time to get hair?"

"That won't be necessary professor I have a lock of hair with me." Harry said as he looked for Hermione's hair in his bag and handed the brown strands to professor Slughorn who took the hair carefully and placed it in a glass dish. He then gave Harry a clean silver knife which Harry used to cut his hand with, and the professor helped gather his blood and filled a small glass vial with it. They then proceeded to burn the list slowly and gathered its ashes.

Harry then started to make the Perfectus Femina potion. After the potion he had to say some enchanted spells on the rose before submerging it into a tub with lukewarm water and the potion. Finally, after three hours of being in the potion's room they were done. Harry felt magically drained and slightly hungry too after the whole ordeal.

"Alright Harry that seems to be it. You can go now and we will come and collect your rose tomorrow. For the time being, you can think of a name to give her."

"Alright professor."

"I suggest you get a good night's rest now and prepare for tomorrow. Goodnight, Harry."

"Goodnight, professor." As Harry prepared to leave, Professor Slughorn called his attention once more.

"Harry, aren't you going to get that cut healed?" Professor Slughorn asked Harry as he pointed at Harry's bandaged hand.

"Oh, I reckon Hermione can get this fix for me tomorrow. Saves me a trip to the infirmary…" Harry readily reasoned, it came to him so naturally, maybe the Veritas serum still had an effect on him. It certainly was true though, Hermione did know how to heal minor and superficial wounds as he and Ron often get cuts or scratches during Quidditch practices or games, but mostly just out of their own recklessness. Maybe tomorrow when Hermione wakes up he'll ask her to check his wound.

"Very well then…" After saying goodbye to one another Harry finally left for Gryffindor tower.

XXX

When Harry stepped inside the common room, he wasn't really surprised to see it deserted, it was after all, late into the night. He was, however, surprised to see Hermione curled up on one of the sofas and sleeping without a blanket and just using the slowly fading fire from the fireplace for heat. He approached his friend and shook her to wake. At first, Hermione resisted but it only lasted for a second.

"Harry? How was it? Are you alright? Here I prepared a balm for your cut. Are you hungry? I saved a sandwich and a glass of milk for you." Hermione offered Harry as she was busy pushing the sandwich plate towards him and carefully removed the plaster of his cut to rub some balm on them. Harry smiled quite amused at Hermione's slight distress. She didn't even bother to straighten out her curls which were in disarray, the moment she woke, all her attention had been turned to him. He found that cute and quite pleasing that he always has her to worry about him.

"Hermione, there's something I've been meaning to ask you." Harry begun as he let Hermione tend to his wound.

"What is it?" Hermione answered as she wrapped his wound in a new and clean linen.

"Why did you give me your hair?"

"Oh, that…" Hermione's eyes were suddenly looking everywhere but his. It was apparent that she was nervous and embarrassed all at the same time.

"Well, the Perfectus Femina potion needed hair from a female you think closely resembles your ideal girl as they get some of that girl's essence and combine it with the qualities of the girl on your list, therefore creating a perfect balance of your ideal girl. Harry, I knew that by ingesting the Veritas serum you won't be able to cheat in creating the list of your ideal girl. So, I gave you my hair because I know you don't see me in that way. My hair would be the thing that tips the scales."

"You don't think I see you that way?" Harry asked Hermione quite surprised. He didn't know Hermione thought that way. Granted it was a question he has never asked himself too, but surely even close friends might have reached a point in their lives where they considered each other in the romantic sense. Didn't they?

"Of course not Harry, you'd be silly if you did. Anyway, I'm really tired now. Eat your sandwich, and then get some rest. Tomorrow we'll go to Madame Pomfrey so she can check your wounds if they're not better. Goodnight Harry."

"Hey, Hermione…" Hermione stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Harry.

"Yes?"

"Thanks." Harry told Hermione sincerely, she truly has been a big help to him during the week even though she has been very vocal about her disdain with the ritual, she still stayed by his side and never wavered. Harry saw Hermione gave him a shy smile.

"You're welcome." Harry watched as she climbed up the stairs. He was suddenly feeling quite guilty as he thought about his previous session with professor Slughorn; some of the qualities he didn't like were based on Hermione's personality and for that he's thankful that she wasn't around when they were making the list.

XXX

-September 14, 1996-

"Harry, wake up!" Harry was pulled out of his dreamless sleep by the insistent shaking he was receiving. As he opened his eyes he flinched when he was blinded by the intense burning sunlight. It must be almost noon now. It was a Saturday and a lot of the Hogwarts students were either wasting the day away or taking brunch. Most would prefer dilly dallying in their beds, like what he was doing. There was more of that insistent shaking again.

Who in their right mind would try to wake him up?

"Harry! Hermione said I should pour water on you if you don't wake. Professor Slughorn is waiting for you…" Ron's voice echoed and Harry buried his head deeper in the pillow before groaning and facing his best mate.

"I don't recall having a Saturday date with the professor…" Harry replied before burying deeper into the comforts of his bed again.

"You don't have a date with the professor you have a date with your perfect girl, remember Harry?" It was those words that hit Harry like a ton of bricks, bollocks! He completely forgot about that. He scrambled off his bed and saw Ron's grinning face. Harry grabbed his glasses and looked at the time on his clock and it was almost nine o'clock. He lazily rubbed his eyes and noticed for the first time that his wound looked better and almost healed.

"I suppose you had breakfast?"

"Yeah, Hermione and I already ate, I wanted to wake you but she said you slept late last night. Don't worry, Hermione and I grabbed you a stack of toasts, you can eat after you showered." Ron told Harry reassuringly and Harry just nodded in understanding before finally stretching his limbs.

"Thanks, I better hurry now."

XXX

"I can't wait to see what she looks like!" Ron exclaimed as he, Hermione and Harry walked towards professor Slughorn's room. They were to meet the professor there before walking together towards the potions room.

"Oh, so are you always going to ask what the girl looks like before asking what she's like?" Hermione asked Ron pointedly and Harry rolled his eyes once more, why do his two friends always do this?

"No, what I meant was…"

"Guys, please? We're almost there." Harry looked at his friends meaningfully and was thankful that both Ron and Hermione seemed to have heeded his advice and kept mum until they arrived at the professor's office. Harry knocked three times before they heard the fast shuffling inside. The door creaked open to show the smiling face of Professor Slughorn. Among other things, he was carrying folded robes in his arms.

"Oh, it's good to see you three. Harry, are you ready?" Professor Slughorn greeted the friends and for a while there were exchanges of pleasantries before the group finally left for the potions room. Professor Slughorn tried to engage the youngsters in small talk but the anticipation has completely preoccupied them and so the walk was spent in half silence. Finally, they arrived in front of the cold wooden doors of the potions lab.

"Hermione, why don't you go in first and please take this with you." Professor Slughorn instructed Hermione who merely nodded before taking the white robes with her and stepping inside the alcove alone.

"Professor, are you sure it was safe for Hermione to go in there alone?" Harry asked as he gently fingered his wand inside his holster and attentively listened for any sound that might indicate danger for Hermione's safety. He was slightly worried he hasn't perfected the ritual and Hermione might face danger and she was all alone.

"It's perfectly fine Harry. Hermione knows what she's doing and what to expect. There's no danger really, just practicing decorum, that's all." The professor answered Harry which did nothing to elevate Harry's apprehension.

"Practicing decorum? Is this the 'ladies first' policy?" Ron asked the professor and Harry slightly jabbed Ron's chest with his elbow and Ron rubbed the assaulted part gently and turning to glare at Harry.

"Nope, it's the 'respect the privacy of women' policy." Professor Slughorn raised his eyebrow suggestively before knocking on the door and asking Hermione if they could come in.

"It's alright now professor." Hermione's short reply came and so the three of them slowly opened the door and peeked inside. There at the corner sitting on a stool with damp hair and in white robes was a girl; a very beautiful one at that. She looked about the same age as them with long golden thick and straight locks that fell and reached her waist. Her doe-like brown eyes were beautiful and framed by thick black lashes and defined eyebrows. Her skin was beautiful, fair, and simply glowed in the sunlight like the inside of a white shell. She was just so utterly magnificent. Both Harry and Ron have had their jaws falling open to the ground.

The girl stood up from her chair, and once her brown eyes locked with Harry's green ones her beautiful face was graced by a jovial smile as she raced from her end of the room and towards Harry. She jumped at him and hugged him tightly some of her blonde wet hair was sticking at the corners of his neck. It almost felt like Hermione's hugs when they see each other again after the summer breaks. When the girl finally released him from the hug she looked intently at Harry touching his face as if he was clay and was slowly being sculpted by her delicate and soft hands.

"Hi Harry." The girl greeted him and for a moment Harry disentangled himself from her and turned to the professor with a confused look on his face.

"Your blood, Harry. She recognizes it and therefore she knows and loves you already. It's like you're her only magnet, she's pulled to you by design." Professor Slughorn told Harry, and Harry remembered Hermione's small warning days before, he briefly wondered if the girl was going to cling and gush at him like a gum stuck in one's hair.

"Hey Harry, what would you name her?" Professor Slughorn's voice once again interrupted Harry's thoughts and Harry was left to wonder what he was going to name his rose. It seemed too easy to just say 'Rose' but that's rather unoriginal. Bollocks, he should have thought of a name days ago as he has completely forgotten it.

"Ella, it means beautiful." Hermione's words echoed inside Harry's ear. She had whispered it to him, he wasn't even aware that Hermione was by his side. It never seizes to amaze him how well Hermione read him and always seemed to know what he needed. He smiled at her gratefully and she only shrugged in return but flashed him a small smile too.

"Ella, her name is Ella."

XXX

AN: So okay, the inspiration for this story is that when I read fanfics here where Harry is asked to describe his perfect/ideal girl it always is the exact replica of Hermione, or points to her. I however believe otherwise, yes it may be true that his ideal girl have Hermione's qualities but I don't believe it would be all, plus, you cannot deny the fact that Hermione has annoying qualities too.

So what do you think will happen next? Will Harry fall for Ella? Will Hermione get along with Ella who basically has some of her qualities?

REVIEW. For comments, suggestions, or complaints. TY.