Amortentia

DISCLAIMER: All of the Harry Potter characters are the work of J.K. Rowling; the idea of this plot was mine. Everything else belongs to her

It started as an ordinary day in Potions for 16-year-old Hermione Granger. She had paired with her two best friends: Harry Potter, who was famous for surviving the killing curse, and Ron Weasley, who was famous for being a pureblood, or rather, a blood traitor.

"Now add a dash of fairy lashes," Ron muttered while looking at Hermione. "What exactly is a dash anyway? Well, I know it means pinching a bit between your fingers and throwing it in. But, what if you're small, like Professor Flitwick? Or if you're terribly huge, like Hagrid?" Ron's question made Hermione give him a withering look.

"You're just making up an excuse to not finish your potion," Hermione said, smirking.

"No, I'm not! Well, ok, maybe a little. Seriously, I can't finish my assignment without the proper instructions." Ron sighed, sitting back in his chair. Harry chuckled at Ron and shared a fleeting look with Hermione.

"If you want to fail Potions, that's your prerogative. I, however, need perfect scores if I want to-"

"Become an Auror for the Ministry of Magic." Ron and Harry finished her sentence in unison; Hermione found herself blushing.

"I suppose I've said that quite a lot this year, haven't I?" Hermione asked quietly.

"Hermione, I hear it when I'm eating, when I'm walking, even while I'm sleeping," Ron complained to her. Harry nodded in agreement.

"Sorry guys," Hermione said softly.

Suddenly, Draco Malfoy's voice rang out, "Granger, could you possibly move your bushy head? I can't see the instructions on the board." Hermione grabbed hold of Ron and Harry as they jumped out of their seats, ready to curse Draco.

"You can see the board just fine, Malfoy," Hermione said loudly, without sparing him a glance. She heard Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle gasp, and then there was a pause.

"Usually I can, Granger, but today your hair is especially...large," said Draco with a sneer, causing the Slytherins to roar with laughter.

"I'm not moving, Malfoy. Deal with it," Hermione said, turning around to look at her enemy. Their eyes met in an icy stare.

"Fine, Granger, but it'll be your fault if I mess up my potions assignment."

"Oh, that would be a shame," Hermione said with mock pity and continued to work on her own potion. She was nearly finished with hers. Their substitute teacher, Professor Trebourne, was busy reading the Quibbler, not paying any attention to the class. Hermione was stirring her potion when someone tripped right next to her and a large amount of Monkswood fell into her nearly completed potion. Hermione yelped, and looked around to see who had tripped. It was Draco Malfoy. Hermione watched as Ron doubled over with laughter.

"Draco, you prat!" Hermione cried out angrily, the rest of the class falling silent.

"Your bloody weasel was the one who tripped me, Granger, so don't take it out on me," Draco said angrily. He stood up and began to sweep up ingredients off Hermione's table into his hand.

"What do you think you are doing? You're taking my ingredients!" Hermione said, slapping his hand away.

"Don't touch me," Draco hissed. "You took some of mine so I'm taking yours." Draco went back to his seat. Hermione raised her hand, waiting for the teacher to see her. However, he was so engrossed with his magazine he never noticed Hermione's hand waving in the air. Her arm began to hurt from holding it up so long, so she finally lowered it, scowling.

"Oh, screw it," Hermione muttered, looking down at her ruined potion. It was turning an opal white, the heat coming from it making her sweat.

"Hermione, what happened to your potion?" Ron asked in a concerned voice.

"Malfoy," Hermione grumbled. She pushed her cauldron away and slumped back in her chair.

"Alright class, time is up. Please put the finishing touches on your potions, and then I'll tell you when to pour it into your glass to drink it." Professor Trebourne's words alarmed Hermione.

"Drink it?" Hermione and Draco's voice cried out together.

"Yes, of course! Have you forgotten? This is a healing potion for acne so you are all going to test it. Not to worry, there are no side effects from this potion if it doesn't work."

"But..." Hermione looked down at her potion, horrified. How could she drink something that had some of Draco's ingredients in it, or worse, some of Draco?

"Well, what are you two waiting for?" Professor Trebourne said to Hermione and Draco. The rest of the class had poured their potions into glasses except for Hermione and Draco. Hermione glowered at Draco and she then poured her ruined potion into her glass. She noticed Draco's potion had turned a pearly white color with spirals of smoke swirling above it.

"Alright, everyone ready? Drink up!" Hermione groaned inwardly, but drank down the potion, which tasted surprisingly good. She could taste berries, mint, and vanilla and she felt her whole body begin to warm. Before she knew it, she had finished the contents of her glass though she found herself wanting more. Worried that she would be sick if she drank too much of the potion, she pushed the remainder of the potion in her cauldron away from her.

"Well? How do I look, any different?" Ron asked, which was a silly question, he had perfect skin to begin with.

"You look the same," said Hermione offhandedly. She could feel her chest growing warm, her mouth curving up into a smile. Suddenly she felt as though she was on cloud nine.

"Hermione... you ok?" Harry asked, looking very concerned.

"What? Oh, I'm wonderful Harry. Thanks for asking. Whatever was in that potion... it made me feel amazing." Hermione smiled and ran a hand through her hair. She felt someone staring at her; she looked across the room to see Draco smiling dreamily at her.

"Draco? Draco...are you ok?" Pansy Parkinson's voice asked in an alarmed tone. When she heard Pansy's voice, Hermione became furious.

"Don't you DARE talk to him, you repulsive little pug!" Hermione said, rounding on Pansy, ready to attack. Pansy stared at Hermione as if she had sprouted two heads.

"Shut it Mudblood or-"

"Don't ever call her that again," Draco said menacingly, pulling out his wand and pointing it at Pansy. By now, the whole classroom was in an uproar.

"Darling, are you ok?" Draco asked, coming to Hermione's side and putting his arms around her. "She didn't hurt your feelings, did she?" At this, the class went completely silent; a quill could be heard dropping to the floor.

"Oh no, of course not, Draco. You're here now, and that's all that matters." And to the shock of the entire room, the two former adversaries became locked in a heated and passionate embrace.

Ron and Harry looked at each other, stunned. Harry quickly figured out that the mix-up of ingredients in their potions had created some kind of love potion. As Ron sat glaring at the lovebirds, Harry chuckled to himself. He most certainly did not want to be around when the effects of the potion wore off. He could almost hear the horrified screams now...