Chapter 14
"Where have you been?"
Harry and Ron asked at once, as Hermione sat down to dinner that day. Ginny was watching her closely with a smirk on her face. They had been worried when Hermione had managed to slip past their watchful (distracted) eyes and out of the commons room, but Hermione just said "The infirmary. Madam Pomfrey had me back to normal in a second."
Relief washed over two faces, but Ginny asked "and you went all by yourself, did you?" "Professor Sprout took me, we met in the hall." The lie came forth easily. After all, Professor Sprout had played an important part in today's events.
"Guess that means we can throw out the Amortentia now", Ron said and turned to his best mate, "you still have it, Harry?" "Aaahhmm..." Harry patted down his robes, unable to find the vial of stolen potion. "I took it", Ginny said cheerily, "watch what happens."
There was some commotion at the Slytherin table until Draco Malfoy managed to tear himself free, his pale face flushed and agitated. "Potter!", he cried. The Gryffindors laughed, and Hermione chanced a look up at the staff table. McGonagall winked at her and turned to an enraged Professor Snape. Hermione's heart was soaring all of a sudden, as she recalled those last few moments by the lake...
"Professor?"
They were still on the shores even though the sun had already set beyond them, huddled together on a rock in a cove, neither of them wanting to return to the bright insides of the castle. It was dinner time and they would have to leave soon, Hermione knew, and yet she kept thinking 'just one more minute', every time another minute had passed.
Just a moment more with her head in the crook of Minerva's neck, her professor's left arm looped around her shoulders and her right hand still in Hermione's.
"Yes dear?" "The love potions... what do they smell like to you?", Hermione asked, and looked up into lake green eyes that twinkled right back at her behind square glasses. "I can smell cinnamon, the tips of a pine forest and peppermint..." Hermione looked up at her professor questioningly. McGonagall arched an eyebrow and amended "...toothpaste." It took a moment before they both burst out laughing.
THE END.