23 PM
“The look on Longbottom’s face when Parkinson pulled him after class. Blimey! Poor Neville. Blushed and stuttered like a right school girl, he did.”
“Poor Neville? Oh, Ron, but why did you think he was blushing?”
“Oh, let me think, Hermione. Maybe because he was scared? She practically pounced on him!”
“There are some things, my love, that men simply do not understand. Neville will be just fine. It’s Harry we have to worry about.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. You’ve been awfully quiet since Potions class.”
“Well, that’s because I’ve had nothing to say.”
“Right.”
“Leave the poor bloke alone, ‘Mione. It’s bad enough he’s paired with Malfoy without you badgering him.”
“Excuse you , but were you not the one who asked me to ask Harry if anything was wrong?”
“Hermione.”
“Honestly! Never again shall I intervene on your behalf. You will simply have to ask him yourself.”
“Hermione.”
“And as for Malfoy, well, Harry will simply have to grow up and deal with it because I will not listen to his complaining after he did nothing to fix it.”
“Hermione.”
“What, Ron—oh. Hello Malfoy. I—I didn’t see you there.”
“My apologies. I only wanted to speak with Potter for a moment.”
“...”
“...”
“...”
“... About our Potions project.”
“Oh, well, of course! We’ll just—we’ll leave, right Ron?”
“What—oh, well, of course. Right Harry?”
“No, it’s fine. Sit down, both of you. I’ll go. Would it be alright if we spoke in the hall?”
“I suppose.”
“...”
“...”
“...”
“...”
“So…. Amortentia. It’s a love—”
“Love potion, yes.”
“Have you—have you ever made it before?”
“Of course not, Potter. Why on earth would I need such a potion?”
“Well, I dunno. To make someone fall in love, I suppose.”
“I assure you, I have no trouble in that department.”
“...”
“Besides, the love potion cannot make someone fall in love. It is simply a powerfully manufactured infatuation. Honestly, Potter, did you ever pay attention in class?”
“Hardly. But I’ve seen the effects of Amortentia before when…nevermind when.”
“Right.”
“So what would you want to research about? I think we have to meet with Slughorn next week.”
“I was not sure. That’s why I thought we should speak.”
“Right.”
“...”
“Wait, what was it that you said? That the love potion can’t make someone fall in love?”
“Yes. And?”
“Well, what if we try to alter the potion so that it can. Make someone fall in love, that is.”
“No. Absolutely not.”
“Why?”
“That’s impossible, Potter.”
“How do you know? Have you already tried?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Then why not?”
“It would be…dangerous. Not to mention extremely difficult. Amortentia is powerful as it is.”
“Are you scared, Malfoy?”
“You wish, Potter.”
“...”
“...Well I suppose it is not a horrible idea.”
“Oh really? Is that a compliment, I hear?”
“Not in the least. And pray, tell, how would we test the altered potion?”
“On each other, I suppose.”
“Good god!”
“How else would we be able to know if it worked? We can always have an antidote on hand.”
“That is a horrible idea.”
“But you just said—”
“Let’s do it.”
“Wha—oh. Okay.”
“Okay.”
“Then I suppose we’re done here?”
“Yes. You may run back to your friends, Potter.”
“I would say the same, but I didn’t think you had any.”
“Very funny, Potter.”
“...”
“...”
“Well, see you around, Malfoy.”
“Yes… Goodbye.”