♕ twenty seven

There was a noticeable difference in the atmosphere Saturday morning at Hogwarts.

Students were up early and down to breakfast quicker than usual. Those who usually woke late were up before anyone else. Excitement was high and the energy was even higher; everyone could feel it. Everyone knew.

"It is my pleasure to announce the start of our annual Quidditch Season!" McGonagall announced, covering her ears against a roar of applause that shook the castle. Students threw their hats off and hugged each other as if a great evil had been vanquished. The four house teams were swarmed with admirers and exclamations of encouragement; and Hermione, who happened to be sitting next to the power couple of Hogwarts Quidditch, received a full face of fans that morning.

"Are you nervous Harry?" Colin Creevy shouted over the shouts of many eager students.

"Any new strategies?" Nigel Wolpert asked excitedly.

"Ginny, Ginny! Will you play center chaser again?"

Soon, so many students had surrounded the Gryffindor table that Hagrid had to come and tug them away. Once order had been restored, McGonagall called for silence.

"Yes, yes, I know you all are very enthusiastic... Captains who wish to reserve the field may do so by contacting Madame Hooch. Students who wish to have season schedules will find them posted in the Great Hall. Practices for each team will end no later than nine o'clock, and the first matches of the season are this coming Friday! Teams, train well! Fans, cheer loud!"

Hermione saw Draco and his team smiling and clapping each other on the back. Marcus Flint, that good for nothing troll of a boy, hadn't come back to Hogwarts. Now Draco was captain, and he had a bloody good team of players. Gryffindor did too- but apparently, Harry was kicking Ron off the team. Something about "disloyalty." Gryffindor Keeper tryouts were set to happen that afternoon.

"We'll get the cup for sure," Neville was telling everyone within earshot. "With Harry as our seeker, Redding and Dean as beaters, Dawn and Alice as Chasers, and our secret weapon, Ginny... scored 120 points in the final match last year!"

Ginny rolled her eyes, but she seemed flattered by Neville's praise. Hermione smiled and finished the rest of her breakfast, standing up to look for Draco. Their first class of the day was Potions.

"Let's go, Ginny," she said, beckoning to her and Harry. The pair got up and followed Hermione to the Slytherin table, where they were joined by Blaise and Draco.

"Morning," Hermione said cheerily. Draco smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"We've got potions," Blaise announced to the group. Ginny rolled her eyes. "Wonderful. First class of the day, with my headcase of a brother."

Hermione shuddered. "Why are you so worried about him? It's McLaggen I'm nervous about."

Ginny frowned. "Why are you more worried about him?"

"Don't you remember?" Hermione reminded them. "Slughorn said we'd be making Baneberry Poison soon. It's highly toxic, and I don't want McLaggen anywhere near me with a vial of deadly potion!"

But what Slughorn had planned for that day turned out to be a million times worse than Baneberry Potion, Hermione realized, as she stepped into the classroom and smelled the scent of her favorite things- mint toothpaste, freshly mown grass... and rather shyly, she realized she smelled the cologne Draco always wore. Hermione's stomach dropped as she realized what they'd be brewing today.

"Now, who can tell me what this potion is?" Slughorn asked, pointing to a magenta colored liquid bubbling in the cauldron on his desk. A few hands went up into the air; but Hermione was too nervous to answer.

"It's Amortentia, sir," Dean answered.

"And Amortentia does what to the drinker?" Slughorn asked. Harry put his hand up.

"It makes the drinker completely infatuated with the brewer of the potion. Like an obsession, really, more than love."

"Good, Mister Potter; ten points to Gryffindor," Slughorn praised. "Now. Today we will be making this potion..."

But the professor's voice was soon drowned out by thoughts racing through Hermione's brain. Both Ron and McLaggen were nowhere to be seen; and while seeming very suspicious, Hermione was relieved. She could relax, and enjoy this class with Draco.

"Remember!" Slughorn announced. "This potion will not be ready today; it takes a full eight days to brew. Everyone! Pick a partner. Instructions are on page 226 of your books."

Draco turned to Hermione. "Shall we?" he asked, leading her up to the desk, where ingredients were lined up. They gathered sprigs of aconite, leaves of mistletoe, and many other ingredients and took them back to their desk, where they opened their books.

"So, are you excited for Quidditch?" Hermione asked Draco as he placed a flitterbloom sprout into the cauldron. He nodded eagerly.

"Oh, yes. The whole team is thrilled. Blaise probably more than anyone- he was all too happy when he found out they were kicking Weasley from the Keeper position.

Hermione laughed. "I was rather happy when they announced that too."

Draco smiled, but then his expression turned worried.

"What is it?" Hermione asked, concerned. He shrugged.

"I just hope that a Quidditch rivalry won't distance you from me. The Gryffindors might not want you hanging out with-"

"A Slytherin?" Hermione asked incredulously, stirring the potion.

"Draco," she reassured him, "my friends would never do that. And neither would yours. Nothing is going to split us apart."

Draco gazed adoringly at Hermione. "Even if they do try and break us up, it won't work... never in a million years." Draco leaned over and they shared a sweet kiss on the lips, until they heard a cough at the front of the room- they pulled apart to see Slughorn, a disapproving finger pointing.

"You must be very good at brewing Amortentia, Miss Granger and Mister Malfoy, for the symptoms to have taken effect this early." He gave them a knowing look and Hermione blushed scarlet, glaring over at Ginny who snickered into her cauldron. 

"Back to brewing, not snogging," Slughorn said matter of factly. Hermione turned back to the potion and smiled shyly at Draco. 

"Anyway... I wonder whose going to take the Keeper position for Gryffindor," she said, pouring in a small bowl of crushed holly. 

"That Sixth Year, Ginny's friend... Harriet, that's her. She'll take it for sure."

Hermione frowned. "Why do you think so?" 

Draco shrugged. "Her mother played quidditch for Ireland. Probably inherited some talent." 

Hermione nodded and returned to the potion, which was starting to emit lilac-colored smoke, as the book instructed. 

"Do you think we did it right?" She asked worriedly, hovering over the cauldron. Draco shrugged. 

"I don't feel anything different," he admitted.

"Only because you're already too with me," Hermione giggled. Draco smiled. 

"Yeah, I guess I am." 

And because Slughorn's back was turned, they gave each other a passionate kiss.