In the Eyes of the Enemy

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

In the Eyes of the Enemy- Chapter Four Roses and Realizations

Hermione woke to the morning sun pouring through her window and the soft scent of roses. As she sat up though she was startled to find it was not just the scent of roses in the air but that her room was actually overflowing with them. Across the top of the dresser was a large bouquet of bright crimson roses, which then sprawled out unto green vines laced with tiny white flowers popping out periodically. The top of her closet was decorated similarly though in yellow roses and her window seat had a think cover of mixed crimson and yellow rose petals. As she headed for the bathroom to wake herself up she was shocked to find the bathroom floor covered in white rose petals and her sink and toilet toped with smaller but similar bouquets as were in her room but done all in white.

Hermione could not believe her eyes who had done this for surely this was not standard to wake up to such a sight it was breathtaking but judging from the size of the flowers it would have been very costly. Her mind was racing so she decided to see if there was a card to give her an idea of the sender. In the bouquet on her dresser she found just a short card.


Dear Hermione,

Congratulations on being Head Girl


It was unsigned and didn’t tell her who was responsible, but it did tell her this was not a usual Head Girl wake up call. Her mind then jumped to Ron’s words the previous night that he had a surprise for her, and was upset that he couldn’t give it to her till the next morning. Hermione grinned from ear to ear and quickly dressed to that she could head down to the Great Hall.

The Hall was buzzing with conversation as it was Monday morning and classes would be starting today. Everyone was comparing schedules to find which classes they would have together and when there would be free periods. The doors burst open and Hermione came flying at Ron locking him in an enormous hug.

“Thank you so much it was absolutely beautiful.”

Ron looked quizzically at Hermione, “What did I do? What was beautiful?”

Hermione released Ron from the embrace and said, “Your surprise, the flowers.”

Ron still confounded as to what she was talking about replied, “What flowers? I didn’t get you any flowers I got you a book.”

Hermione turned to Harry and Ginny, who were looking wide-eyed at Hermione and Ron. “Was it either of you?”

Both Harry and Ginny shook their heads, that in fact it had not been either of them. With that Hermione reached out and grabbed Ginny’s hand and said, “Come with me I have to show you something.” Ginny stumbled out the doors following a fuming Hermione.

In the hall Ron and Harry exchanged confused looks and Ron asked, “What was that all about?”

To which Harry replied, “I don’t know but I think you better lay low Hermione didn’t seem happy that you weren’t the one responsible for her surprise.”

Ron looking miffed said, “Why should she be upset with me I got her a surprise maybe it’s you who should be worried I don’t remember you mentioning getting her a gift?”

Harry shook his head and retorted, “Her birthday isn’t for 3 weeks. Why do I need to give her a gift for now?”

Ron looked straight at Harry and said, “For being named Head Girl, that’s why.”

Harry nervously replied, “Right, we better both steer clear of her for a bit.”

Ron nodded in reply, “Let’s get out of here before she comes back.”

Harry agreed, “Good idea lets go.”

* * *

Draco had decided that rather than heading to the Great Hall for breakfast, he would enjoy the fruit in the common room and have a front row seat to the morning’s entertainment. He knew the house elf had done his job when he saw Hermione burst out from her room, bright red and smiling from ear to ear. She didn’t take any notice of him sitting in his Head Boy chair, thumbing through a book munching on an apple in the corner of the room. She hadn’t said anything just ran straight out the main door.

Draco decided to continue reading his book, he didn’t have Potions for another hour and though Snape would not tolerate anyone being late, Draco had no wish to spend and extra time with his head of house then required. Over the summer he had noticed Snape at the Death Eater meeting and decided he didn’t want him nosing around in his plan reporting all his deeds to the Dark Lord.

The Heads door burst open again and Hermione still dragging Ginny by the hand pulled her though her portrait’s door after whispering her password in her likeness’ ear. Draco once again went unnoticed in the corner of the room nonchalantly, continuing to read his book.

* * *

“See Ginny, they’re everywhere.”

Ginny looked around in wonder. “It’s absolutely beautiful Hermione, and so romantic.”

Hermione shooed Ginny into the bathroom. “Look there is more in there too.”

Ginny took in sighsights and smells around her before looking back to Hermione who was sitting on her bed with her head in her hands. Leaving the bathroom and taking a seat next to Hermione on the bed Ginny calmly asked, “You have no idea who they are from?”

Looking up Hermione shook her head. “I thought it was your brother. He said he had a surprise for me he was going to give me this morning. When I asked him he said it was a book, not all this.”

Ginny nodded in agreement. “It was a book. I had to help him wrap it.”

Hermione beginning to get nervous replied, “Then who could it be?”

Ginny replied, “Was there a note or anything?”

“Yes, it’s over here but it’s unsigned. I’ll show you.”

Hermione crossed the room and pulled the card from inside the bouquet then returned to the bed handing the card over to Ginny. As Ginny held the card up to read the note on the front Hermione’s face dropped for she could see that written on the back of the card was the words ‘Your Head Boy.”

As a realization set in, Hermione snatched the card out of Ginny hand and said, “Never mind, I figured it out. I know who they’re from.”

Ginny smiled. “Really? Who? Tell me Hermione! Please this is so romantic you have to tell me who your secret admire is.”

Hermione shook her head. “No, I want to be sure this time. I’ve been embarrassed enough for one day. We better be heading to class anyway, I’ve got double potions with Slytherin, and being Head Girl won’t stop Snape from taking house points for being late.”

* * *

Professors Snape’s voice resonated thought the dungeon. “This year we will be learning N.E.W.T. level potions. Those of you who have chosen to pursue Advanced Potions, should you be successful here will be rewarded with jobs such as Aurors, Apothicareians, or possibly someday a Potions Master, such as myself. Also, this year I have decided that those of you choosing to pursue this path have done so for your own benefit and shall not be held back by inept partners.”

With that he cast a glance at Neville Longbottom who despite six previous years of dismal potions results had decided to forge ahead and continue with Potions in his final year.

Snape continued, “This year, I will be assigning partners who a of equivalent skievelevel to better challenge each other rather than be held back helping their struggling partner.” Snape again cast a glare at Neville who choose to look the other way. Snape cleared his throat before moving on. “Once your name is called, take your belonging and pair up with your designated partner. These pairing will remain throughout the year unless I see fit to change them. Do not bother asking me, it will be at my discretion not yours.” Snape cast a glare at each of the studentsthe the room before returning to his announcement. “I expect you to sit with your partner before the beginning of class rather than wasting my time changing your seats during class. Is that understood?”

A low, “Yes, Professor,” was heard from the group none of which seemed excited about what these new arrangements would be. Snape then lifted a length of parchment from his desk and began to read the names aloud:

Hannah Abbot – Ernie MacMillan

Padma Patil – Ronald ley ley

Dean Thomas – Pansy Parkinson

Anthony Goldstein – Millicent Bulstrode

Hermione Granger - Draco Malfoy

Harry Potter – Neville Longbottom

“Now move,” Snape barked at the class as everyone scurried to meet up with their partner and find a table to set up their caldrons.

Neville turned to Harry and whispered, “We got lucky being the only two Gryffindors to work together. Everyone else had to pair up with someone from another house.” Harry cast a glance over to Hermione. “Poor Hermione is stuck with Malfoy for the rest of the year.”

Harry knowinvillville to be a good friend but a horrid Potions student frowned and replied, “Yeah, lucky.”

* * *

Hermione moved toward Draco who had chosen to remain in his seat and wait for her to join him. Once she finished arranging her text, quill, and other items to her liking around the desk Hermione leaned over toward Draco and whispered in his ear, “Thank you.”

Draco smiled and with a gleam in his eyes and responded, “Snape may be my Head of House, but I didn’t have anything to do with our paring.”

Hermione started to bite her lower lip debating if she should continue after her first assumption of the day had brought such dismal results. She took a deep breath and with a blush said, “No, for the flowers.”

Draco leaned back with a smirk across his face and replied, “I take that to mean you liked them.”

Unable to stop hersHermHermione nodded. “Yes, they were absolutely gorgeous.” Her faced turning an even darker shade of red.

Draco leaned over to her ear and whispered, “I’m glad you liked them. They reminded me of you.”

To the last comment Hermione’s jaw dropped but before she could say anything furtherpe cpe called for, “Quiet”.

Once everyone had settled Snape began his lecture. “Open you Potions text to page five, there you will find the one and only known love potion in existence. The Coercere Amore potion can only be taken once after that, it will never work again. Think of this as what Muggles call an immunization. It’s effects are fleeting as it lasts only twenty-four hours which will cause whomever drinking it to believe they are in love with whomever’s hair is placed in the potion. The potion will only amplify even the slightest feeling of love you have for the person but ultimately you will still be in control of your own bodies. Since most of you reside in separate houses after class today I suggest you head back to your common rooms should you feel unable to control yourselves. Potter and Longbottom should you successfully be able to brew the potion, which I highly doubt as it is quite complicated, you will find Madame Pomfrey has a bed waiting in the infirmary. Miss. Granger and Mr. Malfoy, I don’t foresee either of you having a problem controlling your own emotions but just in case Madame Pomfrey will be waiting.”

Hermione’s hand shot in the air and in an annoyed tone Snape asked, “Yes, Miss Granger?”

Hermione took a breath before launching into her question, “Isn’t the use of love potions against the law?”

With a scowl across his face Snape angrily retorted, “Yes, Miss Granger, but as I said before, the effects only last 24 hours and oncnsumnsumed will never work again for anyone. Thus the Ministry has seen it fit to administer this potion in a safe environment, effectively eliminating the possibility it be used against you in the real world.”

Hermione’s hand shot into the air again, Snape’s eyes narrows and his lips pulled tight. “Yes Miss Granger?”

Hermione quickly asked, “But I thought you said we had final say over our emotions. How could the potion be used against us?”

Snape’s knuckles were turning white from how tightly he had be clinching his fists and crisply. “The potion removes any self restraint you have and while under the influence you could be coerced into doing something in the name of love, rather than using your commonsense much like being under the Imperious Curse.”

Hermione resisted the urge to ask any further questions.

Hannah Abbot’s hand was next to fly up into the air. Snape turned his scowl in her direction and growled, “Yes Miss Abbot?”

Nervously Hanna asked, “Professor Snape, you didn’t mention what Ernie and I should do since we are both in the same house.”

To this Sngringrinned and replied, “From what I hear from Madame Pomfrey, this potion won’t make you do anything you haven’t done already.”

After hearing Snape announce to the rest of the class the situation her and Ernie got themselves into at the end of last year Hanna burst into tears and ran from the Potions dungeon. Ernie ran out after her and Snape announced, “Fifty points from Hupuffpuff. Now, start your potions. It will take you the remainder of class to finish it and the ingredients are on the board.”

With a flick of his wrist the list appeared on the board behind him. With a second flick the vials containing the necessary ingredients appeared before them. Snape smirked and said, “I wouldn’t want and stray hairs finding their way into other students potions.”

This announcement was followed by a loud huff from Pansy Parkinson, who realized that too late she was sitting on the opposite side of the room as her longtime interestco Mco Malfoy.

Hermione and Draco worked diligently on their potion it was too complex to allow time for talking about anything other than which items needed to be added next, which direction to stir, and for how long.

Harry and Neville tried their best to keep up with the frantic pace the potion called for, but found they had to stop several times to change the direction they were stirring or add an extra item if they couldn’t remember having already added or not. They were both getting nervous as they looked at the simmering pots of pink surrounding them. Their pots had begun taking on a murky black appearance. Harry was horrified when he bent down to pick up his fallen spoon and saw the ground unicorn horn lying in a pile on the floor.

At the end of class Snape announced, “Each student is to place two pieces of their own hair into their potion, and fill two vials. One is to be exchanged with your partner, the other is to be labeled with your name, and turned in for grading.” After watching each student place their hair into their potion Snape smiled and informed the class, “If you were successful your potion will have turned a shimmering pink, how ever, if you were unsuccessful as Potter and Longbottom were, you will have nothing but black goo. I highly suggest the two of you take zeros on this project unless you’d like to spend the evening with Madame Pomfrey.” Neville and Harry nodded and with a flick Snapeareeared their caldrons of their contents.

“The rest of you after drinking your partners potion will have twenty minuets to get to your houses before the potions take effect, you will then document your unrequited love and turn in a foot and a half of parchment on how the potion effected you to me on Friday. Also, arrangements have been made so that the house-elves will be bringing your meals to you so that we can avoid any uncomfortable situations in the Great Hall. Now drink up and go, class is dismissed.” Each student with the exception of Harry and Neville reluctantly exchanged vials quickly drank the contents.

Everyone was frightfully aware of what was about to happen, as the pink liquid made its way down his or her throats. Books were shuffled into bags at a frantic pace. There was a mad rush for the door as half the class tried to push their way through at the same time.

Harry and Neville were the only ones who didn’t appear to be in a rush to leave the Potions Dungeon. Harry especially had decided to take his time leaving as he was hoping Hermione would be gone by the time he reached the corridor. He didn’t have the heart to face one of her lectures on the importance of paying attention to detail. His whole future was riding on him passing this class. Harry didwantwant to place blame on his failure today but he realized if he was going to do well in this class he was going to need to concentrate on his own work. He was so worried about what Neville was doing his own work had suffered. His aspirations of becoming an Auror required him to take advanced potions among other high level classes before being admitted to sit the entrance exams for the Auror training program with the ministry. Professor McGonagall had gone out of her way to ensure Harry is allowed in the class despite Snape’s strong objections.

* * *

Draco was the first to clear the room and didn’t waist any time looking back at the pani mob mob behind him. He casually walked back to his room wondering how much different the potion would make him feel toward Hermione. The Professor had said it would only amplify any feeling he currently had for her. Draco admitted to himself that after their ride up to the castle the night before he had been starting to see Hermione in a whole new light.