Professor Slughorn tapped his wand to the board. "These are the group partners for today's potion. It's a really strong love potion that wears off naturally. There currently are no spells or potions to counteract it, so please, do not spill even a drop on you. If you do, it will be twenty-four hours of being madly in love with the first person you see."
Hermione looked to the board and groaned. Her partner was none other than Malfoy. It was a good thing that he was late. Hermione could probably finish the potion before he showed up. And so it was.
Hermione was able to finish the potion before he showed up. She raised her hand to get professor Slughorn's attention. Just then, a hand touched the back of her shoulder causing her to drop her stirring spoon. "I'm sorry, Hermione dear. I hope nothing splashed onto you." Professor Slughorn apologized.
Hermione shook her head and bent down to grab the spoon. She reached for the handle and groaned when her fingers came across something wet.
"Is everything alright?"
"Professor, I think some of the potion splashed onto the handle when the spoon fell."
"Oh, my." Hermione kept her eyes glued to floor as professor Slughorn's warning came to mind. "Don't look anyone in the eye." He warned before she saw his feet shuffle off. She could hear him muttering as things shuffled and clinked together in the classroom. Professor Slughorn's feet shuffled back into Hermione's periphery vision. "You'll have to wear this till the effects wear off." Hermione felt something soft and silky slide over her eyes before everything went dark.
"A blind fold?" Hermione fingered the silky material. "Am I to understand that I am to wear this for twenty-four hours? How am I supposed to go to classes?"
"I'll let professor Mcgonagall know that you can't attend classes for the day."
"I can't miss any. I'll get behind!"
"Hermione, you just got a get out of jail free card and you're already complaining?" Ron chuckled at his school obsessed friend.
Professor Slughorn put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry dear, with your grades, you won't fall behind after missing a day. You could probably miss a month and still be far ahead of everyone else. Well, except for Mr. Potter, course."
"Professor Slughorn, should I escort Hermione back to her room?" Harry came up and squeezed on of her hands.
She did want to have someone walk her back just in case but she also wanted to be alone. She was angry at herself for making such a stupid mistake. She should have levitated the spoon back up instead of grabbing it with her hand. Making up her mind, she place her other hand on what she presumed to be Harry's shoulder. "Thank you, Harry, but I want to be on my own. Plus, you haven't finished your potion yet." Hermione could hear Harry opening his mouth to argue. "I know the corridors like the back of my hand. I can find my way back without my eyes."
Slughorn clapped his hands together. "Very well then. Good luck, Ms. Granger."
Hermione was able to gather up her belongings with a little help from Harry before she left the room. She let her thoughts wander as she scolded herself.
She walked for a little while longer before coming to a complete stop. For some reason, the hall smelt differently. She put a hand on the wall and started feeling around, hoping to find something to tell her where she was.
"Granger? What are doing? Nevermind that, what are you wearing?" She groaned inwardly at her luck, or there for lack of it. Out of all the people to find her, it had to be Malfoy? How come it couldn't have been Harry, or Ron, or even Neville. She would have even taken Luna.
She heard Malfoy's footsteps approaching. "Go away." She groaned in frustration.
"What is this? What kind of kinky stuff are into Granger?" Before she had time to reply or run away, she felt his hand grab hold of the blindfold, yanking it off her eyes. She quickly closed her eyes. Malfoy was the last person that she wanted to fall in love with. Well, the third to last person. Voldemort and Filch were people she really, really did not want to see right now.
"Give it back, you git. I'm under the influence of a love potion and I really don't want to fall in love with anyone, especially you."
Malfoy chuckled. "Why don't you go find your Weasley blood traitor. Oh wait, he already has someone."
Anger and embarrassment filled Hermione at his words. "I'm going to make you wish you weren't..." out of reflex, she opened her eyes. Mocking grey eyes stared back at her making her threat die in her throat. She felt a warm tingle spread through her as the smell of spearmint and old pages filled her nose. She felt her lips curve up into a smile. "Draco!" She jumped from where she stood and gave him a hug.
...
Draco's eyes widened in shock and felt his body go still as Granger lunged at him. Her demeanor went from anger to thrilled excitement in a mere flash.
Why didn't he listen to her about that daft love potion?
He used his hands to try and pry off the annoying Gryffindor but she clunged onto him even tighter. "Oh, bloody hell." He looked around the hallway, instantly relaxing when he saw that it was still empty. "Love potion, so professor Slughorn."
Granger giggled against his neck, sending shivers down his spine. "If you're thinking of a cure, there isn't any."
Oh bloody hell!
There was no need for him to go and asked professor Slughorn. If Granger said there was no cure then there was no cure.
Heels clacked against the brick flooring making Draco tense up. Please don't be a student. Please don't let it be bloody Potter and his red-headed sidekick. "Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger, what in the world are you two doing?"
Draco sighed in relief at Mcgonagall's unsure voice. It wasn't everyday you find the bookworm Gryffindor clinging to a slimy Slytherin. "She's under the effect of a love potion. Please, help me." Both he and professor Mcgonagall stilled at his plea.
Granger looked up and gave a warm smile to the newcomer. "There isn't a cure. It'll wear off in twenty-four hours."
"Oh, good lords!" Professor Mcgonagall's hand shot up to her mouth.
Draco groaned at the new information. "I can't be bound to her for that long!"
Mcgonagall waved her hand to tell him to quiet down. "I'll have to take you to Dumbledore. Maybe he will know something." Relief and fear shot through him. Relief that he might be able to free himself from Granger but fear at having to face him.
"What's the matter, Draco?" Granger's voice was filled with concern. Draco made the mistake of looking down. Granger's brown eyes stared up at him in concern. The only one who had ever looked at him like that was his mother. Mcgonagall raised a curious eyebrow before she ushered the two toward Dumbledore's office. To his relief, Granger let go of his body, though she didn't let go of his hand.
Dumbledore was looking at the door when they entered as if he was expecting them. "We have a situation." Professor Mcgonagall told him.
Dumbledore continued to stare at the two of them, his wisened hand running up and down his beard. "I see that." He chuckled, much to Draco's annoyance. "Unfortunately, there is no cure but by this time tomorrow the potion will have run its course."
"How did you know Granger was under the influence of a potion?" Mcgonagall still found it eerie how Dumbledore seemed to know these things.
"I've come across this particular potion before. It's easy to recognize the signs once you've seen it in person."
"What am I supposed to do!" Draco stomped his foot in frustration. Granger started rubbing little circles into the back of his hand.
Dumbledore stared at Draco with a twinkle in his eyes. "I would think that you would be thrilled, Mr. Malfoy. You'll get to have a whole day with no classes in exchange for keeping an eye on Ms. Granger." He rose up from his desk. "I'll inform Mrs. Pomfrey that the two of you will be joining her for the evening."
. . . .