The Lovers Scorned Kiss Curse

The Lovers Scorned Kiss Curse

Chapter 1 Wrong Place, Wrong Time

It was one of the last weekends in Hogsmeade before Christmas break and Hermione was making her way through the familiar village with Harry in tow. They were one man down since Ron recently took up with Lavender, but for all Hermione said, Harry might as well have been walking alone. An uneasy look covered her face, as she stared off, thinking. She kept seeing the image of Ron kissing Lavender play over and over in her mind. The last couple of weeks were torture, with those two seeming to pop up everywhere she went. Her only refuge was in the library, because she knew the likelihood of the two of them venturing in there was slim. Every day, she did her best to ignore him and act like he didn't exist, but then she worried he was too taken with Lavender to remember he ever had a friend named Hermione Granger, and felt a cold panic course through her veins. Walking on, she thought the whole mess over once more and decided, right then and there, to refuse to let Ron have that much hold over her. So what if she could feel his eyes on her when she looked away? So what if it send a thrilling shiver down her spine?

That was only when he didn't have his tongue shoved down that tart's throat, she huffed, remembering her anger. No, stop this right now, Hermione, she ordered in her head, when thoughts of turning back to the sanctuary of the library seeped in. She wouldn't give up her freedom to trek to Hogsmeade because she might run into them. Glancing over at Harry, Hermione worried that she was neglecting her friend by being so sullen and she was determined not to bring Harry down with her problems. However, only a half hour into the trip, Hermione decided she had had enough. Her resolve all but gone before it ever really began. It took three seconds of walking into the Three Broomsticks to get sick to her stomach.

Did they have to snog in public? she wondered hotly.

Harry seemed to be understanding of her need to get away, though she did feel sorry for ditching him like that.

She stepped back out into the cool crisp air, wrapping her scarf tightly around her mouth and hurrying through the crowd. She slowed down a bit when the crowd thinned and even meandered through various streets, in no real hurry to get back. It surprised her that there were some buildings she had never noticed before. Of course, there was a lot she hadn't bothered to take notice of when she was walking with Harry and Ron, on all their past outings, too busy wrapped in pleasant conversation, or sneaking looks at a certain red headed boy.

A loud commotion caused her head to jerk up, automatically. Without warning, she felt herself being pulled at from behind. She slipped on the icy road and just managed to right herself in time, but the odd pressure was still pushing down on her. It took her a moment to realize what was going on; that someone, some unknown person, had latched themselves to her and was using her body to cower behind.

What in Merlin's beard is going on here? she thought, growing more annoyed by the second.

"I didn't kiss her. I swear. Honest love," a groveling, shaky voice spoke over Hermione's shoulder; a man's voice.

"I saw you! Don't give me that love bollocks! You think she loves you!?"

The man's voice was clearly shaking now as he said, "Now Viv, don't do anything stupid."

"Excuse me, please," said Hermione impatiently, as she tried to shake the man off. Her efforts only made him latch onto her more tightly, maneuvering her so she stayed between him and the beastly woman coming toward him. The woman had a wild look in her eye and her wand was raised for a fight.

"Come on, sweetie. Put the wand down. Let's go back inside. Talk things through. This is all a terrible misunderstanding," said the sniveling man, as he tried once more to coax her, but the woman's face only became more twisted in rage, with every word that poured from his mouth. Hermione rolled her eyes as she listened to the man beg, and continued to struggle for her freedom.

"I just can't believe ...my mother warned me! Years! Years you've stolen from me! You think you can do this to me and get away with it?! I hope you two are happy together," the woman exclaimed with a cruel laugh. Her face then became oddly calm. It reminded Hermione of the calm before the storm. A simple smile played on her lips and even Hermione was more afraid than annoyed at this point. It only lasted a moment and then her face was once more contorted with fury; low quick mutterings began to spew from her lips, her wand held ready to strike.

Hermione felt her whole body turn to ice. She felt like someone had launched a bowling ball into her chest. The ice was beginning to shatter and then....

The next thing Hermione knew, she was waking up and staring, blurry eyed, at a white ceiling.

"Ah. There you are. We were getting worried about you," said Madam Pomfrey, looking down at her.

"What...what happened?" Hermione asked groggily, trying to look around.

"Oh no, dear, lay back down," Madam Pomfrey ordered, watching Hermione struggle. She didn't mind the order. It hurt when she moved.

Confusion colored Hermione's voice as she recollected. "I was walking back to the school... There was a man and a woman."

"That would be Vivian and Irving Hazelwood," informed McGonagall, who suddenly appeared on her left side.

"She's going to be in loads of trouble after what she did to you, isn't she?" It was Harry who spoke now.

"Harry!" Hermione gasped, trying to shout, but the sound became stuck in her throat. She hadn't seen him sitting there before he spoke and was happy to have her friend with her at the moment.

"What happened?" she asked confused. "How did I get here?"

"You're lucky Hagrid was doing some Christmas shopping. He heard shouting and found you lying there, along with Mr. and Mrs. Brainless, looking 6 shades of guilt. He scooped you up and brought you straight here. I just ran into him on my way back, or I wouldn't have known you were here."

"And..." she asked expectantly.

"That's about all I know," he admitted.

Harry and Hermione turned to McGonagall, both hoping for some information about what happened. McGonagall looked apprehensive to begin with, but their expectant faces would not let her stall forever.

"I am afraid I have some rather unpleasant news. And unfortunately, there is no getting around it. If I could spare you the knowledge of the truth, trust me, I would." She noticed Hermione's anxious face and added, "Now, I don't want you to trouble yourself just yet. I can't tell how serious this is until I get a few answers from you. I need to know what we're working against here."

Hermione swallowed hard; her heartbeat quickening. She wished the headmistress would tell her already and be done with it.

"It appears you were hit with the love curse Vivian intended for her husband, Irving."

"That prat who was hiding behind me." It was not quite a question.

"It's called The Lovers Scorned Kiss Curse and, unfortunately, it is very tricky to deal with, as is anything involving love," she said with a heavy sigh. "Hermione, I need to ask you some things that may be personal." Her eyes shifted. "Would you rather we speak in private?"

"No--Harry can stay. I don't mind."

"What's this curse all about?" Harry asked now, shooting a concerned look at Hermione and then turning back to McGonagall, expectantly.

"The curse's intent is to cause the victim to physically feel the emotional despair caused by the person they last kissed, on the condition that the victim was truly in love with them. In Vivian's case she wanted her husband to be tortured by Rosemary Turtle, whom she evidently caught him kissing." McGonagall's tone was dark with disgust for the woman. "They should lock her away for throwing out curses like that. Blatant disregard for magical law. What was she thinking?" she muttered under her breath.

"So...let me get this straight...Hermione is going to pine for Rosemary Turtle?" he asked awkwardly, trying to get a grip on the situation, but clearly confused. Hermione sat there biting her lip and staring off into space.

"No, Harry," she replied calmly. "I will vie for the last person I kissed. Vivian wanted her husband to pine for Rosemary and once Rosemary got tired of him, and she knew she would, the true suffering would begin. But instead the curse hit me."

"Yes, that's exactly right. The curse should have never been uttered in the first place, but now Hermione is faced with the repercussions." She paused to survey Hermione in her weakened condition, and then began again.

"Hermione, I don't mean to pry but--the last person you kissed, did you have strong feelings for him? Would you say you were in love? I'm sorry to put you on the spot like this, but I can't help if I don't have all the necessary information."

Hermione looked up at McGonagall, her cheeks reddening. Before she could speak Harry swooped in to answer.

"Krum?! No way. He was way more into her. Right, Hermione?"

"Is that right? Were your feelings not very strong for this boy?" A hopeful smile graced her face for an instant, encouragingly.

"It was a very minor crush with Viktor. I definitely wasn't in love with him," she admitted. "But..."

"Oh, well then--that is a relief," McGonagall breathed out. She was clearly less anxious now. "This is very good then."

"It is?" Hermione asked, her head rushing with pain; she ached all over. It was too hard to think clearly and this was all too much to take in, at any time.

"The curse really only takes effect if you are in love with the person you last kissed; though it's different with everyone cursed. It's a very good sign if you don't hold any feelings for... Viktor Krum, did you say?" She couldn't quite conceal the surprise in her voice. "Now, you are sure you aren't leaving anything out or bending the truth a bit. You must know, I am not trying to scare you but this curse can be very dangerous, fatal even, so it's important you are honest with yourself, and me."

"Is there a cure? Something I need to take? Because I feel just awful," she added not to sound too obvious.

"Curing it is possible... but not definite. There have been known instances where even the worst cases of the curse were cured, but like I said, it is a very tricky thing. It isn't the sort of thing I could whip up an antidote for. Curses of the heart are never easy... Everyone falls in love differently. The longer you've been in love, the deeper you've pined for someone, the worse the curse affects you...but in your case, under the circumstances, the curse should just fade away rather quickly. I wouldn't worry too much. You shouldn't feel anything different aside from the initial aches and pains now. You will have to stay in here, at least over night," she insisted. "And if you start having any sort of feelings for that boy, come see me straight away," McGonagall said, sternly, but she appeared less agitated than when she began, confident in her assessment of the situation. Hermione couldn't look at her, afraid she would give something away. Instead, she closed her eyes and tried to ignore the continual throb.

"Come along, Harry. Let her get some rest."

"Just to be clear, it's a good thing I don't have those types of feelings for Viktor because, if I did, I might have to be concerned? There would be a need to be worried?" she asked with her eyes still closed from the pain. She tried to keep her voice even.

"The stronger the feelings, the worse it can be, I'm afraid. If the man...or boy, as it would be in your case, didn't feel the same," replied McGonagall, no hint of suspicion. "Try not to think about it. Get some sleep. It'll help."

"Harry," she called out, as he made to leave; McGonagall out of earshot. "Don't tell anyone what happened, even Ron. If he were to ask I mean--not that he--just don't say anything about this whole thing." Harry just nodded an understanding. Hermione wished she could ask more but didn't want to draw any suspicion. Instead, she sat there alone and fretted over what McGonagall had told her. If what she says is true...I really need to get to the library. Fast.

*** *** ***

"Hermione, there you are. I should have known I would find you here," said Harry, a knowing smile on his face. "You're probably just trying to catch up after missing a whole day of classes." He waited for a smile to crack, but it was as though Hermione had not even heard him. Her face was deep inside a book, as she sat there in one of the many dark corners of the library.

"Hermione are you listening? Earth to Hermione."

Hermione yanked his arm, causing him to tumble to the ground next to her.

"Hold on a second," she hissed seriously.

It felt like forever before she lifted her head again he thought.

Hermione had gone straight to the library as soon as she was released from the hospital ward. She had to find out more. She had to find out what she was dealing with--up against. She had been in there all afternoon, poring over books and passages. She had a knot in the pit of her stomach after a few of the horror stories she came across, that came from a book labeled, "True Stories of The Lovers Scorned Kiss Curse".

"What is that you got there?"

"A book," she replied pointedly.

"Hermione, come on. If you want me to sod off, just say so. I only wanted to see how you were feeling."

"Can you believe a girl once became so mad after falling under the Lovers scorned curse, she actually clawed at her chest, before ripping her own heart out?" A shudder ripped through her; she looked like she might be sick.

"What are you reading that for?! Hermione, I know you like to study up on things, but that book is going to give you nightmares. I think you should forget about that love scorched curse thing."

Hermione ignored the fact that Harry couldn't even get the name right and decided to share something with him; it was too big to bear on her own.

But first, some precautions, she thought guardedly.

"Harry, I need to tell you something."

"What is it, Hermione?"

"First, you have to swear not to tell, anyone, anything I am about to tell you."

"I promise. What is it?" asked Harry alarmed.

"I'm afraid that's not good enough, because, as soon as I say this, you're going to want to tell just about anyone who will listen. I know you, Harry." She pulled out her wand. "Give me your hand and repeat after me..."

"What was that?" he asked, when she was finished with her spell. She was still gripping his arm, as though she couldn't let go.

"It's a sort of secret keeping spell. No matter how hard you try you won't be able to repeat what I'm about to tell you."

"Blimey, Hermione. What have you got yourself into?"

"Well-- er-- it's...it's the curse." She threw her hands over her eyes and hid her face from view.

"What?! But you said you were over Krum!" shouted Harry, failing to understand.

"Harry. Think for a moment. The last person I kissed...it wasn't Viktor."

"Hermione, I'm not following."

"Think, Harry. Last year, before the Quidditch game..." she hinted, growing a bit frustrated.

"Bloody hell, Hermione! Ron!" he gasped, and then became momentarily speechless. "But that was hardly a kiss; just a little kiss on the cheek. It can't really count."

"It wasn't just a kiss, Harry. I-"

"This is...this is..."

"Bad."

Her interjection was an understatement.

"Bad. Very bad...Exactly how bad?" he rambled on, his voice going up at the end, not sure what she meant exactly; An image of Hermione, clawing at her chest, floated into his mind, causing him to shudder.

"I've read some stories. They didn't all end poorly, but mostly...it ends, well, poorly." Her voice was too calm for his liking.

"So, what do we do? How do we break it?"

She released his arm-- the secret concealed-- and said, "That's just it. There isn't a simple answer. It just says, only at the weakest breath, may the broken heart be restored, If love proves true, one heart replaced by another, accrued. Rubbish. What does that even mean?" Her tone was laced with disgust. Harry shrugged, at a loss for what the cryptic verse might mean, but he knew he didn't like the sound of it.

"If..." he hesitated, "...we can't break the curse, what can we expect?"

"Well," she began, her eyes reaching to the ceiling for answers. "The curse has been known to take a person's emotional pain and amplify it significantly. Not only does it wreak havoc on your mind, as though that weren't enough, it causes the pain to be felt physically. It's like it eats away at you. It consumes you in so many ways..." she finished, staring off.

Harry looked at her with great distress. He had to find a way to help her.

"It gets worse."

Worse? he groaned internally.

"Because..." she stopped,--a deep blush spreading, as she fidgeted with the book-- "My feelings for Ron aren't something I'd just begun to feel last week, or last year for that matter, I've been...I've..."

Harry waited patiently. He could empathize a great deal with what Hermione was feeling.

"You've fancied him for a while," he said, trying to help.

She smiled shyly. "Yes. I love him. And for some time now. But," she sighed, "I never told him and we never so much as shared a proper kiss, and he's with Lavender now, and we don't even look each other's way, much less speak to one another anymore, and he's slipping away bit by bit. And now I have this curse on me, which is, literally, going to cause me to die of a broken heart. And... and..." Hermione was breathless; her eyes tightly closed.

"Hermione, breathe. Hold on, now. Let's think about this...If he knew how you felt. If he knew what was going on--"

"No! Absolutely not. Why do you think I bound your lips shut about this? He can't know. Besides, he's with her now. I would rather die than have him find out." Her voice was indignant and Harry thought he understood now what she meant by the curse amplifying her feelings, but then again, he thought, he never could understand girls very well.

"Hermione," Harry said, his voice reproving, "if you don't say anything, it might not be that farfetched. You could--"

"I'll just steer clear of him. Ignore him and La--Lav-- Her. There are plenty of other boys out there; the Slughorn party is coming up. In the meantime, I'll just keep searching for an answer. There must be something in these books that can help."

"We have to go see McGonagall, tell her what's going on. She said--"

"No, Harry."

He looked at her like she was crazy.

"What's the use? There isn't anything she can actually do for me. It's completely out of her hands. I just don't see the point in getting her worked up about it. It doesn't seem fair to worry people and make them feel useless. I shouldn't even have told you. It was just too heavy to carry all on my own."

"Don't be ridiculous, of course you needed to tell me," he told her firmly. "I still think you should tell him. Hermione, he cares about you. He's just being stupid. If he knew--"

"I can't tell him, Harry. For so many reasons. I can't put that burden on him. He can never know, especially, if I don't survive this. If he knew he was in any way responsible, he would be horrified.

"Don't talk like that. He would be horrified if he knew you were keeping this from him. If there was any time to take the risk, it would be now. Tell him the truth," he urged.

"I don't think I could, even if I wanted to. The curse has such a hold over me, like I'm meant to suffer in silence, while my heart simply unravels before him. And for all that, I'm sure he won't even take notice as it happens." The words were choking out of her. Large sobs consumed her and she tried to stifle them.

"Why did this have to happen to me, Harry?" she whimpered, softly.

Harry let her cry on his shoulder until the tears refused to shed, anymore. His jumper soaked, through and through, where her face had lain.