The Consequences of Solutions

Later that night in his room, Harry Potter didn’t know what to do about this situation. On one hand the Redamo Rivalis spell and potion seemed to have solved the problem of Draco trying to kill him, but on the other hand, he now had an odd relationship with his ‘enemy’ that he couldn’t yet place.



Fortunately for his mind, but not for his body, the Winter Holidays were coming up, and Harry was looking forward to some time to think. Draco would undoubtedly be spending some time back at Malfoy Manor with his dear old mum and dad. Though he would miss the blond boy, Harry was sure it would be a good thing that he would have some time to think, uninterrupted by the wild sex Draco was so fond of. Not that Harry didn’t enjoy it too.



-XxX-



Hermione was busily finishing her potions homework, talking with Ron, and keeping an eye on two rather mushy Gryffindor lovebirds across the room when Harry slumped down in a chair nearby.



Being the incredibly smart and well-learned girl, no wait, young woman, that she was, she knew Harry was troubled. She also was the only one to know that Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy were fucking like little sexually charged bunnies at every chance they got. If Ron ever learned that fact, she knew he would either throw up or pass out. Maybe both. However Hermione wasn’t willing to spill such hot information to the boy she still blamed for the fact that it had taken so long for Harry and Draco to get together. Despite the fact that Ron rang her bell in every way she wanted it rung, she still had every right to hate him for ruining a very good thing.



While she was busy thinking, Ron was greeting Harry.



“What’s up, mate? You look like the captain on the losing side of a Quiddich game.”



Quiddich. That’s what Ron’s life revolved around.



“Honestly Ron, doesn’t anything exist to you other then Quiddich?” Hermione asked, her normal badgering tone back in action.



“Oh yes Hermione, sometimes I think about you naked, spread over my…” Ron started, before remembering they weren’t alone anymore. He blushed redder then his hair. “Sorry Harry.”



Harry was laughing. “Don’t worry about it Ron. It’s only my mind that was tarnished a little, and who really needs a mind?”



Ron and Hermione, glad to see Harry momentarily out of his glum behavior, sat up eagerly, intending to keep him in that frame of mind for a while longer.



“Want to go flying, Harry?” Ron asked.



Hermione glared at him. Both Ron and Harry knew she didn’t like flying nearly as much as they did.



Harry spoke before she could say anything. “No thanks Ron, I’m suddenly really tired, and I have a bit of a headache. I think I will just take a nap or lay down for a while.”



Harry got up and said a quick farewell to his friends before departing. Ron and Hermione stared after him, and then looked back at each other. Something was up with Harry.



-XxX-



Late that night, after Ron had gone to bed, unhappily muttering about witches who wouldn’t put out every night, Hermione sat by the fireplace, thinking about Harry. He had been moody lately. He had also complained about headaches, backaches, and being tired. Not to mention his change in tastes for food, and odd cravings. If there was only one more symptom, she might think he was…



She gasped and ran upstairs, whipping her wand out of her pocket and casting luminos. Once in the girls’ dorm, she hurriedly opened her trunk and took out the book, which was not in the same position she had left it in. Somehow, the book had flipped to the very page she had been rushing upstairs to look at. Also, oddly enough, the text was glowing. Down at the bottom of the page in large glowing letters read, “Redamo Rivalis should not be used in cases where love may be the same as hate. In these specific cases, it WILL cause…” The rest of the page was missing.



“WILL CAUSE WHAT!” She shrieked at the book, waking up the other girls in the dorm. It was times like this that she regretted not taking the private room Dumbledore had offered her when she took the station of Head Girl. After assuring her roommates that she was fine, and that it was just her mental state that was off a bit, she slunk back downstairs with the book to brood. Finally she realized what she could do. The one person she could ask anything to. Dumbledore!



-XxX-



Hermione left Gryffindor Tower holding the book. Using her status as Head Girl, she made her way to Dumbledore’s office and to her relief, she guessed the password on the second try and went in, finding the Headmaster sitting in his chair, as if waiting for her.



“Hello Ms. Granger. I was wondering when you might be returning my book.” He spoke, glancing down at the book she held clutched in her hands so tightly her fingers might leave imprints in the cover.



“Sir, I just had to ask you, because I really didn’t know, and I helped Harry with a spell from this book - you know the one that was bookmarked when you lent it to me -and now I think Harry might be…” Hermione stopped as the Headmaster raised his hand in a pacifying gesture.



“Never fear, child. Everything will work out in the way it should. And Harry is fine. Now, please, if you would, I have some business to take care of.” He held his hand out for the book and took it when Hermione’s hand automatically guided it to the nearby authority figure's hand. He ushered her out the door, and when he was sure she was well on her way, settled himself back into his chair with a small sigh and a halfway hidden smile.



Nearby, Fawkes warbled at him softly, while his thoughts implanted themselves in the old man’s head. “You never should have meddled in the lives of those two boys, Dumbledore.”



“Mind your own business, you silly bird.”