Nymphetamine pt 12
Hermione made her way to the great hall for breakfast, a pep in her step. Despite Harry being upset with her about the situation, and having to face him, she was in a good mood. She entered the doors, almost skipping to the table.
"Good morning." She said, a smile on her face.
"Morning Hermione." Harry said, not looking at her. She bit her lip.
"How were everyone's holidays?" Ron looked at her, a smile on his face.
"They were good! We had everyone over as usual, Lavender joined, we played some games and mum made an amazing dinner." He raised an eyebrow, looking closer at her. "Where did you go? We all missed you, did your parents get their memories back er something?" Hermione bit her lip again, wringing her hands. She didn't want to tell him, not yet.
"Well…I was invited to a ball." She said, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. She hoped they would drop it, but her hopes were in vain.
"A ball? Where at?" Harry asked, eyebrow raised. Of course he would ask since he more than likely already knew anyway. She stuttered, looking for an answer before Lavender cut her off.
"My cousin Cessily went to a ball too, at Malfoy Manor of all places!" She wrinkled her nose in disgust and Hermione felt the color drain from her face. Lavender pulled out a stack of paper from inside her bag. "Even if it was Malfoy, the ball looked beautiful, she gave me a bunch of pictures she took." Hermione could feel her heart pounding in her ears. 'Please…don't let me be in any of these pictures.' She repeated over and over in her head. The pictures so far didn't showcase her, just the dining table. She was in one of those shots, but her head was turned and you couldn't see her face. She exhaled, relaxing a bit as Lavender neared the end of her pictures. Hermione openly laughed to herself and her fear as she took a sip of pumpkin juice.
"Hermione…that's you." Ron said, looking up to her. Hermione hadn't been listening, instead trying to focus on her breakfast.
"What was that?" She asked dreamily, looking to her friend.
"In this picture. You…" He stopped, looking at her, anger contorting his features. "You are dancing with Malfoy." Hermione felt her face blanch, looking down at the photo in Lavender's hand, unfortunately it was a moving one. They twirled and dipped, and Hermione held her breath as Draco leaned in close to her face and connected their lips.
"Oh, disgusting!" Ron said, mock throwing up. "Hermione what the bloody hell is this?" The cat's out of the bag, she thought to herself.
"Well…you see. It's really complicated." She said, moaning in defeat. Ron was having none of it.
"You snogging our childhood rival doesn't seem that complicated! Just disgusting and wrong." She looked at Ron, her eyes pleading with him to stop. It didn't work. "I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind!" He got up from the table and stormed over to where the Slytherins sat, stopping directly in front of Draco.
"Listen here Malfoy, I don't know what game you are playing at, but stay away from Hermione. She doesn't need some right git like you muckin' up her life." Draco laughed, looking to the Gryffindor table.
"I can assure you, Weasle, that everything has been consensual." He stood, preparing to walk away, when a hand on his shoulder stopped him. It was Ron, and he looked furious.
"You slimy snake, stay the hell away from her! You've been given your final warning. I swear, I'll pulverize you." Draco shrugged.
"Do what you will." He said as he walked away, Pansy and Blaise following close on his heels. Ron walked back over to the Gryffindor Table.
"Well, that took care of that." He said, cracking his knuckles. Hermione put her head in her hands, looking mortified.
"Ron, you didn't even listen to me. It's much more complicated than a snogging on Christmas. Without me, he could die." Ron looked at her, confusion written on his face. She took a deep breath. "Here…let me explain from the beginning."
Hermione explained the situation until she was blue in the face. When she finally got every detail out, starting at the beginning of the year on the Hogwarts express up until Christmas, she felt satisfied. She looked at the faces of everyone. Ron still looked sick, Harry indifferent, and Lavender was swooning.
"Oh Hermione its soo romantic! So that's what the Muggle Lit. comment was about that one day in class a few weeks ago. You are the beauty and he sees himself as a beast!" Ron rolled his eyes.
"This woman, I swear…" He laughed, pulling her closer. Hermione laughed, glad that they seemed to be understanding and not making any brash choices. "So, we will have to get used to you and Malfoy if his flower doesn't die…won't we?" He said, his face going green. Harry patted his back.
"I'm not thrilled about it either. But Hermione has been supportive of us, we should return that to her." Harry said. Hermione smiled, a tear sliding down her cheek.
"Thank you boys. This is a hard time, and I really do appreciate it."
"My dearest cousin. I need you to do me a favor." Perkins said, grabbing the hand of the young woman who stood talking to him. She shook her head.
"Perkins. You know I don't want to be involved in your dark plans for this stupid potion you are making. He won't succeed anyway, they never do." Perkins shifted in his chair, seemingly annoyed.
"He's already almost there! He has two petals left, which gives him a week to profess his love for the girl, and have her return her affections. They are so close there's no way he won't succeed." He growled. The young girl shook her head.
"Absolutely not. I'm not doing it. Let them have their happiness. You should try to make helpful potions, maybe then you could open your own shop and help people!" She took a sip of her tea, her brow furrowed in frustration. A sly smile spread across Perkins's lips.
"I figured you would say something like that." As if on cue, he snapped his fingers. She dropped her cup of tea, becoming more alert.
"What can I do for you sir?" She asked in a monotone voice.
"I need you to seduce Draco Malfoy, break him and the girl up, and bring him to me."
"So, do you love him?" Lavender cooed, twirling a piece of her hair between her fingers. Hermione chewed her bottom lip, thinking. A small smile spread across her face.
"Yes. I believe I do love him." Lavender squealed, wrapping Hermione in her arms.
"This is all too romantic! You need to tell him and break the curse!" She swooned. Hermione felt the heat rising to her cheeks.
"But…what if he hasn't quite reached the point of loving me back?" She said, her voice weaker than she intended. Lavender put her hand up.
"Look at the way he kisses you in this picture. This is a kiss of love! Not just some lusty snog." Harry and Ron both turned green. Lavender waved them off. "Oh stop it you two!" Hermione watched the picture, a small smile playing on her lips.
"You're right. I need to tell him. It's time." She felt her heart beating in her ears. It was time indeed. The spell needed to be broken, he only had two petals left, and his soul as well as Lyra's were on the line. She stood, smoothing out her clothing.
"Wish me luck."
Draco walked down the hallway. He was going to confront Hermione once and for all. He was running out of time, and he needed to tell her he loved her. His palms felt clammy as he made his way back to the great hall.
"You can do this! I have faith in you." Lyra said, floating beside him. He nodded.
"I know. I just hope she loves me too…" His voice trailed off as he was approached by a young witch.
"Draco Malfoy?" She said, stepping up to him. He noticed something wasn't quite right with her.
"Hey..are you o…" He was cut off when a spell hit him square in the chest.
"Imperio!"
Hermione walked towards the dungeons. She knew she could find him in his room if he wasn't in the great hall. Her hands were shaking from nerves; she swallowed hard trying to calm down.
"Draco, I love you." She said to herself for the hundredth time. It was simple as that. All she had to say was 'I love you.' She heard noises around the corner, but she had no time to investigate.
"Draco, I love you." She said to herself again, getting closer and closer to the noises she was hearing. Her heart thumped in her chest, she took a deep breath to calm down.
"Draco, I…" She stopped mid-sentence. Standing before her was Astoria Greengrass, and she was snogging him, her beloved, Draco. Her heart couldn't take it. She turned on her heel and ran as fast as she could, tears pouring down her face.