Potion Magic

Chapter 9

Although it was deserted, the Gryffindor common room looked cheerful and inviting to Hermione, especially after all the time they had just spent in the cold, damp dungeons. A pleasant, crackling fire warmed the entire room, and the leather chairs and overstuffed couches seemed to call to their weary bodies. Indeed, Hermione was surprised to feel so suddenly tired, and said so.

"Are you kidding?" Harry said incredulously, plopping down onto a couch next to Ginny. "It's the middle of the night. Besides, I know that you didn't get much "rest" when you were in the infirmary. We heard what you said when Snape asked about the potion: the fenugreek and stuff. What did it feel like?"

"Harry, this is really hard, but I promised Ron that I wouldn't talk about it." Hermione didn't want to violate Ron's trust, but she still wished she could share parts of it with her friends. After all, it had been an amazing experience.

"Why doesn't he want you to talk about it? OH MY GOD, WHAT DID YOU TWO DO IN THERE! He always said that he wasn't the kind of guy to kiss and tell, but I didn't think that he meant -" Harry was interrupted when Hermione jumped up and started to defend herself.

"It's not like that at all, Harry Potter. We didn't, didn't, do anything like THAT." Hermione tried to blot out the memory of being naked and kissing Ron in the bathtub. After all, Ron couldn't see her, so that wouldn't count. "Ron and I saw some things within each other. We saw some memories within each other's pasts, and some of those things were very painful and embarrassing to each of us. We promised not to tell anyone else about what we saw or heard. And I won't tell either one of you ever." Tears were welling up in her eyes, but she fought them back.

Ginny spoke softly. "For whatever happened, I'm glad that it did happen. My brother has cared about you for a long time, Hermione. He couldn't admit it, didn't want to show it, and was terrified that you didn't feel the same way. And now you know. And even if Madam Pomphrey's Memory Charm erases all of your shared experiences, it won't change the way he feels for you. You two will just be like you were this morning."

That did it. Hermione started sobbing, and said, "We'll never be like we were this morning because of what that potion did to us. Oh Ginny, he saw some really humiliating things that have happened to me, and he liked me anyway. He understood why I do the things I do. And I have a much deeper appreciation for him, too. It's going to be too hard to have him go back to not knowing what really makes me tick when I now know his deepest fears and insecurities. And it's all those things that have made Ron who he is that make me love him so much."

Harry and Ginny shared a smile as they realized that it was the first time either Ron or Hermione had openly admitted that they loved each other. Harry slid his arm over toward her, and placed his hand on top of hers. Ginny maintained a cool composure, but inside she was melting. Harry Potter was actually holding her hand!

Hermione dabbed at her eyes with a hankie, and took deep breaths in an effort to regain her poise. Standing up, she announced, "Ok, we've got to get going to finish this thing before Ron wakes up. Harry, can you go get those sugar quills?" Harry mumbled a "be right back" and headed up to his dormitory, giving Ginny's hand a light squeeze before he walked away.

Reaching into her book bag, Hermione removed Fang's leash and laid it out on a coffee table. It was at least 8 feet long and made of brown, well-worn leather, soft and supple. She picked up her wand and used a Severing Charm to cut about a foot off from the middle of the leash, where the leather was the softest. Then, she muttered, "Reparo Letharum" and the leash mended itself. "I'll fit this to Harry's wrist when he gets back, so I can make a guess how long to make it for Ron.

When Harry returned with the Sugar Quills, Hermione and Ginny started laughing. They had expected him to come back with a few quills, maybe 5 or 6 at most. And here came Harry with at least 2 dozen Sugar Quills spilling out of his arms. "If my parents, the esteemed Dr.'s Granger could see you right now, you would subjected to a lecture on the evils of excessive sugar consumption," Hermione laughed.

She took the quills from Harry and carried them to a round table. Laying them out in a circular pattern, Hermione transfigured the entire group into a final silver button. Under his breath Harry commented, "And that ladies and gentlemen, is why she is called the cleverest witch of our year."

Hermione gave Harry an appreciative smile of thanks, and asked him to step over to the coffee table, so that she could fit Ron's strap to Harry's arm. Harry reminded her that Ron's wrists were a bit bigger than his, so she made the appropriate adjustments. She used the last of the Engraving Potion to engrave the Sugar Quill button with a feather symbol, and pronounced the buttons complete. Lovingly, Hermione laid the buttons out on the wristband, spacing them carefully. With a wave of her wand, the buttons were beautifully attached.

Looking carefully at the wristband, Ginny wondered aloud how it would actually fasten onto Ron's arm, as she could see no snap or latch.

Hermione blushed as she explained. "When I wrap it around his wrist, I will say 'Be With Me', which will make it attach itself to him. When he wants to take it off, all he has to say is 'Be Free of Me."

Slyly, Ginny said, "I don't think he'll ever want to be free of you, Hermione."

Grinning, Hermione replied, "That's the whole idea."

Harry made pretend gagging noises, and said, "Enough of this! Are we done? Can we go see him now and get this blasted thing on him before we all get caught?" Ginny and Hermione stood up and motioned for Harry to lead the way, as he draped the invisibility cloak over them all. Hermione held Ron's wristband tightly, hopeful and happy to have it finally finished.