Returning back to the head dorms, Hermione was pleased to see that things had calmed down considerably in her absence. Blaise and Theo had taken to playing chess, which they said occupied their minds more than cards. Vince and Greg were still playing cards, and still occasionally mentioning Ginny, but at least they didn't seem eager to rush off and profess their love to her. Dean and Seamus had drifted away from cards and were playing hangman, while Neville had found a Herbology book on the bookshelf and had buried himself in thoughts of horticulture. Ron was sitting on the same chair where Hermione had left him, but Harry was sitting talking with him and he seemed calm enough. As for Draco, he was sitting on one of the sofas, a quidditch magazine in his lap while he gazed into the flames of the fire.
Settling down next to Draco, who instantly tossed his magazine aside and wrapped his arm around her, Hermione explained to the boys what was going on. She explained about the confrontation with Ginny, and how she'd admitted everything, and she mentioned the relief Madam Pomfrey was looking into. Knowing what was going on clearly made all the boys feel happier, but since they couldn't do anything else until Professor McGonagall arrived, they all drifted back to what they'd been doing before Hermione had returned.
"How are you?" Hermione asked her boyfriend.
"Better now you're here," Draco confessed. "It's easier to block these sodding thoughts when you're around."
"I'm not going anywhere," Hermione vowed, more than happy to stay snuggled up with Draco if it helped ease the effects of the potion he'd ingested. "How's Ron been?"
"Quiet," Draco replied softly. "I never thought I would say this, but damn do I feel sorry for him. It's bad enough having these feelings when you know they're not true, but to have them for your own sister must be torture. But I think Potter is keeping him sane."
"With any luck Madam Pomfrey can also provide some relief," Hermione said softly. Even though she knew all the boys could do with some help dealing with the effects of the potion, she felt it was especially important for Ron to get some relief as she hated to think of the torment he was currently going through.
Deciding that a change of subject was possibly a good way of taking Draco's mind off things, Hermione chattered on about their head duties, and what needed to be done in the next few weeks. From there conversation flowed naturally and when talk turned to the summer, Draco filled Hermione in on what had been discussed before they'd broken into the chocolates. To be honest Hermione was pretty shocked at the suggestion that her friends join Draco and his over the holidays, but she was also thrilled at the idea as it meant that they were truly learning to get along and they weren't just putting up with each other because of her.
The couple were still talking about the summer, and the fact Draco was hoping Hermione would join them on holiday at one point, when there was a knock on the door. While Hermione went to answer the door, everyone else tidied away what they'd been doing as they all expected the visitor to be Professor McGonagall. And sure enough Professor McGonagall entered the head dorms with Madam Pomfrey following behind her. McGonagall was also carrying a small bundle of material that she dropped onto the floor as she asked the boys how they were faring.
"As well as can be expected," Draco answered. "Although it is proving harder for some of us to keep our minds on other things," he added, glancing towards Vince and Greg, who out of everyone returned to the topic of Ginny more regularly than the other. "And of course, some of us are more affected than others." This time his eyes swivelled towards Ron.
"I'm okay," Ron said, not sounding too convincing.
"I would like to be able to tell you we can find a solution for this within the next few hours, but sadly I can't," McGonagall explained. "I've spoken to Professor Snape, and while he is planning to analyse the remaining love potion Ginny had in her possession, he doesn't believe he can come up with an antidote before the potion wears off. So, as painful as this might be, all you can really do is grin and bear it."
"Although, I should be able to help there," Madam Pomfrey chimed in. "I've got some dreamless sleep draught with me, which should ensure you all have a decent night's sleep. And for tomorrow, I've got some dampening potion. It will dull the effects of anything magical, whether that's spells, curses or in this case love potions. However, I must warn you that it will also dampen your actual magic."
"How long for?" Theo asked in concern. "I don't want to risk anything happening to my magic ability."
"It will only be for as long as the potion is in your system," Madam Pomfrey assured the worried teenagers. "A dose of the dampening potion will last six hours. When that time elapses, so do the effects of the potion. So any effects on your magic will be temporary."
"I consider it a small price to pay to help ease these thoughts," Blaise remarked.
"I'll leave extra doses of the potion with the head girl in case anyone needs a second dose," Madam Pomfrey explained, opening the medical bag she was carrying and removing several vials of bright purple potion. She also removed vials of the dreamless sleep potion, and entrusted them all into Hermione's care.
"Now, as for how to handle things from here on in," McGonagall remarked, regaining everyone's attention. "Obviously, we have to keep you all away from Ginny, and since she is restricted to Gryffindor Tower, it means no-one will be able to return there until the potion is well and truly out of your system. As such, I've brought sleeping bags," she said, gesturing to the bundle she'd placed on the floor and explained that all they needed was enlarging to full size. "Although as a precaution, I have changed the password to Gryffindor Tower, and I will only give you the new password when this is all over. I will of course give it to Harry, and he can go and get anything you boys might need."
"What about us?" Theo asked. "Do we get to go back down to the dungeons?"
"That is your decision to make," McGonagall replied. "Clearly, you won't run into Ginny down in the dungeons and none of you can access Gryffindor Tower. But if you would rather stay here and all support one another, I have no problem with that. There will be enough sleeping bags if that is what you choose to do."
"Yeah, I think we should all stick together," Blaise said as the other Slytherins nodded in agreement. "Let's stay here tonight."
"What's going to happen with Ginny?" Ron asked McGonagall. "Will she be in serious trouble?"
"That will depend on Professor Dumbledore and your parents, but I would imagine so," McGonagall answered softly. "Given everyone affected by the potion is of age, we will probably leave the decision of contacting your parents up to you. But if any of your parents complain, that will be another thing that will have to be dealt with."
"What if we choose to complain?" Blaise asked. "Not all of us have parents who would complain on our behalf. But what if I wanted to complain about what I've been through?"
"Anything you had to say would be listened to and I'm sure Dumbledore would act accordingly," McGonagall said.
"Not that I'm saying I am going to complain," Blaise said to Ron once he was sure anything he had to say would be taken as seriously as a complaint from a parent.
"Who could blame you if you did," Ron snorted. "I wouldn't blame any of you if either you or your parents took this further," he said to everyone. "What Ginny has done is unforgivable, and I for one hope she gets what she deserves."
At Ron's words, Professor McGonagall decided it was time to leave. Before she and Madam Pomfrey left, she made sure Hermione and Harry knew the new password for Gryffindor Tower, and checked that everyone was alright and wouldn't rather spend the night in the hospital wing under Madam Pomfrey's supervision. Needless to say, everyone opted to stay in the head dorms.
"Maybe an early night should be in order," McGonagall suggested. "And don't forget tomorrow, Ginny will be confined to Gryffindor Tower, so you will be free to move around the castle as normal."
Wishing them all goodnight, the two older witches departed and Hermione locked the head dorms, just in case anything untoward happened in the night and the love potion overpowered someone and they found themselves unable to fight their desire to see Ginny. Deciding that an early night was definitely the best answer, sleeping bags were enlarged and sleeping positions were sorted. Although it took all of two minutes to decide that Draco would go in with Hermione, his friends would take his bedroom and the Gryffindors would camp out in the common room.
"Does anyone need anything from Gryffindor Tower tonight?" Harry asked his friends.
"Pyjamas?" Neville ventured.
"We can just sleep in our underwear," Dean countered with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"I guess so," Neville replied uncertainly. "But what getting washed and brushing our teeth?"
"We do have soap in the bathroom," Draco chuckled.
"And I have spare toothbrushes people can use," Hermione offered.
"Nine of them?" Blaise questioned with a frown.
"My parents are dentists," Hermione explained with a shrug. "They believe in being prepared. I also have some spare toothpaste."
With that sorted, they decided Harry would visit Gryffindor Tower in the morning. But for now, they were all content to just settle down and try and get a restful night's sleep. As people finished in the bathroom, Hermione doled out the dreamless sleep potion, and before long the head dorms were filled with the noise of teenage boys snoring.
When Ginny had decided to lace the chocolates with love potion she had dreamed that Valentine's Day would be her day of triumph. But when she woke on the Saturday, she was well aware that rather than being her day of triumph, it was her day of reckoning. The previous evening she'd been totally stunned to be caught out, and to be honest she still couldn't get her head around what had happened. It had simply never occurred to her that Harry might have shared his chocolates, dragging other people into things.
If she was being brutally honest, she couldn't give a toss that some Slytherins had been inconvenienced and caught up in her scheme. Although Professor Snape getting involved was unfortunate, and she shuddered to think of the Potions Master mooning over her. She would likely never be able to look him in the eye again. She actually faced a similar problem with Neville, Dean and Seamus, and she knew things between them would never be the same again. However, her only genuine concern was for Ron.
It was horrifying that Ron had received a dose of the love potion, and she couldn't help but wonder how her brother was coping. The thought of him thinking of her in a romantic light turned her stomach, so she could only imagine how he must be feeling. Her only consolation was that it was only twenty four hours and it would all be over for him. But for her, the consequences were going to last for a whole lot longer, of that she was sure.
Her first consequence was being trapped in Gryffindor Tower, and she felt lost as her fellow roommates all headed off down to breakfast. When an elf appeared and asked if she wanted anything, she said no, but it still returned with a glass of juice and some toast. Drinking half of the juice and nibbling on some of the toast, Ginny left her half-finished breakfast on her bedside table and wandered down to the common room.
Settling herself by the fire, she watched as the late risers headed down for their own breakfast. Staring into the flames, she began to wonder how her parents would react to what had happened, when a movement towards the stairs caught her eye. Raising her head, she was surprised to find Harry appear from the stairs, a bag slung over his shoulder.
"Harry," she gasped, surging to her feet.
"Don't," Harry spat, holding out his hand to stop her from approaching him. "I don't want to talk to you."
"Please Harry, I want to apologise," Ginny pleaded.
"Why? For trying to drug me, or for failing and getting other people instead?" Harry sneered.
"All of it," Ginny said. To be honest she didn't know if she was sorry she'd tried to use love potion on Harry, or if she was just sorry for the way it had turned out. "I made a mistake."
"Damn right you did," Harry snorted.
"I only wanted you to finally notice me," she cried as Harry turned to leave.
"Do you not think if I'd felt anything for you, I would have acted on it before now?" Harry questioned, spinning back around to face Ginny. "You've been part of my life for years, Ginny. If I had wanted more from you, I would have said so before now. I was happy being your friend."
"But I wanted more," Ginny confessed in a whisper. "I love you, Harry."
"But I don't love you," Harry replied, being brutally honest with the redheaded witch as he genuinely felt it was the only way she was going to listen. "Why would you want to be with someone who didn't love you? Why would you want to trick someone into being with you, when there are people out there, who genuinely like you, and genuinely want to be with you?"
"I don't want any of those people," Ginny snapped. "I want you, Harry. I've always wanted you."
"Using a love potion to get what you want is just sick," Harry said with a shake of his head. "And what would you have done when it had worn off and my real feelings had returned? Or did you genuinely believe I would fall for you off the back of one dose of love potion?"
"I hoped that once we'd spent time together and you'd seen the real me that you would realise we're meant to be together," Ginny confessed.
"You've achieved one of your aims, I've certainly seen the real you," Harry remarked. "And I really don't like it. Goodbye Ginny."
"Wait," she cried as Harry yet again turned to leave. "That sounds final."
"It is final, I want nothing more to do with you," Harry called back over his shoulder, not even stopping to see the tears that had started to roll down Ginny's face as it hit her just how badly she'd screwed up.