Halloween Mix-Up

Halloween Mix-Up

by: Tassana Burrfoot







Chapter Seven: Insight







Harry gave a feral growl as he stared at himself in the mirror. Why the blood hell was he having these thoughts? Why couldn\'t he get rid of them?



For six years, he had known Hermione. Never in that time had he ever thought of her like that. Sure, he knew she was a girl, she was like a sister to him. But, never had it ever register to him just how much of a girl Hermione actually was.



He closed his eyes and pictured her. She was so beautiful when she sat in a chair reading a book. She even smelled wonderful, of fresh parchment and new leather. He loved how her fingers were always stained with ink and how she spoke each spell with precision and care. And the way she walked...



Harry shook his head and gave a short yip. No! He couldn\'t think of her like that. That was just... just... WRONG!



"What the hell is wrong with me?!" he demanded as he stared at his reflection.



He could almost see her in his eyes. She was dancing for him. By Merlin, she was beautiful!



He needed to see Madam Pomphrey. There was just no other way around it. Perhaps she had some sort of cure for him. Who knew?



(II) (II)



"You\'ve gone completely mental!" Hermione exclaimed as she stared at Malfoy. Perhaps this spell was finally getting to his brain?



He rolled his eyes and placed the book in front of her. "Look, right here," he said, pointing to a paragraph. "Read it for yourself."



She huffed but began translating the runes, "As she touched..."



"Not out loud!" he interrupted, slamming the book shut. "Remember what happened last time you read something out loud from this book? This book is a book of Aphrodite. Whomever reads it aloud will be \'blessed\' with the gifts Aphrodite bestowed upon those within the book."



She looked at him curiously. "And how are you able to determine that?" she inquired, though she already knew the answer.



"Personal experience," he answered shortly.



He opened the book again and flipped back to the page. Again, he placed the book in front of her and pointed out the paragraph. As she read it, he moved behind her and placed a hand upon each of her shoulders.



Hermione\'s eyes widened and she gasped in shock by what she read. "Oh, my god," she breathed.



Malfoy smiled to himself as he pulled her hair back and dipped his head. He kissed her softly on the neck. "You see? I\'m not mental."



She leaned back in her chair and stared unseeing at the book. She felt his hands on her shoulders, his lips on her neck. She found she no longer cared. She just couldn\'t believe what the book said. "We have a very large problem," she stated after a moment.



He tilted his head curiously. "And what problem might that be?" he asked as he kissed her jawline.



She knew what he was trying to do. But, she wasn\'t in the mood. She was suddenly very frightened. She stood up and moved away from him. She stared at him for a long moment before she answered, "I can\'t do this, Malfoy. I\'ve never been with... a guy."



His eyes flashed with something she did not like. Scared even more by what she saw, she turned and practically ran out the library. How could this happen to her? It wasn\'t supposed to be like this. This was wrong!



She continued to run until she came upon a large stone gargoyle. "Roasted Pecans," she said to the gargoyle, who then moved out of her way.



She hurried up the stair and knocked onto the headmaster\'s door. "Enter," came the soft voice from inside.



She hesitated a moment before entering. As she stepped up to the desk, she felt herself start to get nervous. Perhaps she should have gone to Professor McGonagall.



"Miss Granger," the headmaster greeted.



Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Professor," she returned.



"Care for a cup of tea?" he offered, as he produced a small china cup and a pitcher of tea.



She smiled kindly at him and took a seat. "Thank you, Professor," she said as she watched him pour.



Neither spoke as they drank their tea. When she finished, Hermione found she was much more relaxed. She looked at the cup curiously. "What is in this?" she inquired.



He smiled. "A bit of Anxiety Potion," he answered. "I had Madam Pomphrey put some in early. I\'ve had quite a rough day."



"As have I," she told him.



"Would you care to elaborate?"



She placed her cup on his desk and replied, "Malfoy has agreed to help me figure out this spell. He knows the spell was placed upon him and he\'s willing to help me."



"Mr. Malfoy knows a great deal of the Dark Arts, Miss Granger. His father is a Death Eater. Not only that, but his mother is very in tuned with the Greek gods. I think you\'ll find his help very useful," he responded.



She nodded. "He found something very disturbing a few moments ago," she told him. She hesitated before continuing, "Apparently, each guy I touch will begin to feel lust towards me. And each day that lust will grow until it becomes unbearable. Only by being with me can that lust be appeased."



There was a slight twinkle in Dumbledore\'s eye as he spoke, "It\'s incredible how mischievous Aphrodite can be. Don\'t you agree, Miss Granger?"



Hermione pinched her lips together. "Mischievous and humiliating. Professor, I\'ve never been with a guy before. And even more, I know what happens when two people get together. I have no desire to bare any children."



"I would hope not. You are but a child yourself still," he agreed. "But, you realize there are ways to prevent pregnancy? Even here in the Wizarding World we believe in keeping ourselves from unwanted children."



"I\'m scared."



Dumbledore smiled. "You shouldn\'t be," he told her. "Each man you have thus far affected cares a great deal about you. Yes, even Professor Snape and Mr. Malfoy, though you do not wish to believe it. None of these men will wish to harm you. As we speak, Harry is currently in the hospital wing trying to get rid of his \'ailment.\' Mr. Weasley is looking for you, as well."



"What do I do?"



He thought about it before replying, "Go where you feel comfortable. As you have discovered, you will have to eventually sleep with these men. I shall make allowances for Professor Snape considering the circumstances. The longer you make them wait, the more disparate they will become."



"And if I sleep with them, will the spell be lifted from them?" she questioned.



He shook his head. "I have read that book as well, Miss Granger. Until Valentine\'s Day, when Eros may set things right, you will have to appease those you touch."



She nodded slowly in understanding and glanced down at her gloved hands. This was not the answer she was hoping for.



(III) (III)



Somewhere I feel comfortable, she thought to herself as she walked along the corridors. But, where did she feel comfortable?



She knew what Dumbledore had meant. If she was to be with a guy, she needed to start with the guy she felt the most comfortable giving herself to. That was neither Harry nor Ron. Just the idea of being with them... She shuddered.



She had always viewed her two best friends as the brothers she never had. She knew that eventually she would have to be with them, but she wished to postpone the inevitable for as long as she could.



The idea of being with her teacher creeped her out more than she cared to admit. Especially as a first time. He was a lot older than her and probably pretty well endowed... Oh, god! I did not just think of Professor Snape that way! she thought to herself as she went down another corridor.



So far, there had only been four men she had touched. Since the other three had been checked off in her mental list, that only left for one more...



Hermione stopped in her tracks. Could she really do that, though? With Malfoy?



He was her only option. She took a deep breath and steeled herself. She knew exactly where he was, though she didn\'t know how she knew. With a confidence she did not feel she made her way into the library.



She found him sitting exactly where she had left him. He was reading the book with interest. "You aren\'t planning anything mischievous, are you, Malfoy?" she asked.



He looked up from the book and smiled. "Not at all," he answered. "Actually, I was going over your story. Seems this little touch of yours had the ability to pacify werewolves."



She tilted her head curiously. "Pacify werewolves?" she repeated in inquiry.



He nodded. "If you were to touch a werewolf while he was in human form, then even his werewolf form would not hurt you," he told her. "Werewolves do not attack their mates, and you would be considered their mate."



"If I were to touch a werewolf," she pointed out. "I have no intention of touching anyone else, Malfoy."



"I will not argue that point, Granger, but accidents do happen," he said. "I\'m pretty sure that, had you known about this whole thing, you never would have slapped me. Nor touched the Professor, nor anyone else you might have accidentally touched."



"Which brings us to the topic I wished to discuss with you," she stated, gaining his interest. "I\'ve thought about what you said and I find that I have very little choice. I will have to sleep with each of you. However, I do have a choice on who I bed first."



There went that flash in his eyes again. She now knew what it was and could no longer deny it. He wanted her. Of course, he wanted her. He was affected by the spell. "And, whom," he asked, his voice coming out hoarse as his throat was constricted, "have you chosen?"



She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and announced, "You."