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It’s a random, 5th-year Hufflepuff that causes the situation. A small crush, which has blown up post-war to an obsession with Harry that leads to a desperate attempt to catch his attention.
And when that fails, she attempts to force his attention on her. It’s a brilliant, if nefarious concoction, meant to make the victim fall in love with the first person who they see. Literally love at first sight. Hermione would love the chance to study her methodology, given the chance. It’ll likely be confiscated by the Aurors though.
The girl had bashfully asked him to meet her in an out-of-the-way hall on the sixth floor. He accepts, as he’s accepted every single earnest request since he came back for his seventh year. Harry hasn’t shaken the feeling of paranoia yet (none of them have really it’s been just over a year since the final battle at Hogwarts), and always asks either Ron or Hermione to follow along under the cloak, just in case.
Hermione supposes his paranoia paid off, because it means that she is there as a witness when the girl convinces Harry to try one of the chocolates from the box that she brought along. Harry pops one of the chocolates in his mouth, and then several things happen in quick succession.
Hermione throws off the cloak, surprising the living daylights out of the girl, who looks away from Harry.
Her yell attracts hurried footsteps from the other end of the hall, and Malfoy rounds the corner, seemingly concerned about the commotion.
Of course, Harry’s attention is immediately drawn to Malfoy, the way it always is when the other boy is around.
And that’s when disaster strikes, as the potion takes effect.
Herminone throws an Expelliarmus at the girl, just in case.
Harry is rushing over to Malfoy’s side. He looks alarmed as Harry grabs one of his hands with both of his.
“Malfoy!” Harry exclaims, “Malfoy, why do I still call you Malfoy? Can I call you Draco? Have I ever told you how beautiful you look when the light makes your hair shine?”
“I-I, what? No, don’t call me that. It’s weird,” Malfoy responds, bewildered. He looks to Hermione for help.
Herminone doesn’t know what to do. Luckily, Headmistress McGonagall and Professor Slughorn are darting around the corner. She quickly restrains the girl, while Slughorn comes to take a look at Harry.
“Escort Mr. Potter to the hospital wing immediately,” McGonagall orders.
“And inform Madam Pomfrey that it’s a homemade brew with pearl dust and rose petal,” Slughorn declares, sniffing at the chocolates. “At least from what I can determine.”
Hermione moves to try to pull Harry away, but he refuses.
“No! No, I can’t leave Draco,” Harry declares, still holding his hand. “My heart breaks just at the thought of it.”
“Mr. Malfoy, if you would please?” McGonagall asks. It’s not a question.
“Of course, Headmistress. Come on then, Potter, Granger.” Draco awkwardly leads Harry towards the stairs by his hand. Harry follows blissfully. Hermione trails after them, sending a glare at anyone looking at them too closely. The murmurs around them grow in volume as they get closer to the ground floor, until Ron bursts through a group hovering in front of the bottom of the staircase.
“I’ve just heard what happened,” he pants, probably from running to their little group. He falls into step with them. “How is everything?”
Harry is currently waxing poetic about Malfoy’s entire being, down to his eyelashes. Hermione doesn’t know whether to be disturbed or impressed; she’s never heard Harry so verbose.
Madam Pomfrey is waiting for them when they arrive. Word must have traveled quickly. To be fair, if she saw Harry and Malfoy holding hands, she’d probably join in on the gossip if she was a bystander as well.
She closes the door behind them, and instructs Harry to sit on the cot. He completely ignores her, until Malfoy goes to take a seat himself. Harry plops down next to him easily. Hermione repeats the ingredients as instructed by Professor Slughorn.
Madam Pomfrey tsks, waving her wand in a diagnostic above Harry’s head. “I don’t know what students are thinking these days. Homebrewed love potions? We’ll be lucky if there are minimal side effects.”
Hermione nods, taking mental notes. It’ll be good to update her personal notes with a firsthand look at a homebrewed variety versus the mass-produced potions.
“Luckily, it seems to be brewed fairly weak,” she says, as she moves to her cabinet. She pulls out a small bottle. “He just needs to drink this, and he should be good to go. Here you are, Mr. Potter.”
Harry doesn’t even take the bottle from Madam Pomfrey. Malfoy rolls his eyes, and accepts it from her.
“Here. Drink this for me,” he says, holding it out to Harry. Harry immediately downs it like a shot, grimacing at the bitter taste.
There’s a second where everyone holds their breath waiting, and then Harry is jumping up.
“Oh my god, Malfoy, please, just erase everything I said from your brain,” He rambles. Malfoy only smirks at him. To Hermione’s astonishment, it’s not a mean-spirited expression. If anything, he looks… amused?
“Why would I do that? I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say anything quite that nice to me,” he laughs. “Have we gone back to Malfoy then? I quite liked Draco.”
He’s flirting.
Ron looks like he’s going to throw up.
Harry is looking at Malfoy (Draco) with that intense gaze he always regards the other boy with. Oh god, Hermione isn’t mentally prepared for this.
“Draco then,” Harry repeats back, almost in wonder. “Draco, do you… want to… eat together?”
Hermione doesn’t know whether she wants to puke or face palm. Is that really the best Harry can do?
She feels like she and Ron are going to witness a lot of awkward flirtation.