The Erised Effect

Erised

   "Absolutely fucking not, that's like a breach of my bloody privacy!" 

   Pansy scowled. Hermione could sense she was about to fight her argument, which she would nodoubt win, but it was making Hermione feel slightly uncomfortable at the thought of going therewith these particular boys. 

   "I'm with Blaise I'm afraid, it's a bit wrong, don't you think?" Theo huffed. "I'd feel all vulnerableand exposed..." 

   "I thought you were in to that sort of thing, Theodore..." Pansy sing-songed at him from her placeopposite him, her face in her hands and looking at him expectantly. "I've heard you like beingwatched...

   "The group around the table sniggered as Theo held up his hands, looking affronted. "Under normalcircumstances I'm not opposed to an audience," he looked at Pansy pointedly. "as you very wellknow..." Pansy glared at him. "...but this is an invasion of the mind... it's digging around insomeone's fantasies and finding out what they really think ... what makes them tick..." 

   "Exactly!" Pansy announced excitedly, banging her hands onto the table and making everyonejump. "It's a niche market, and that is exactly why myself and Hermione want to trial it! Isn't thatright, Granger?" 

   The boys all looked over at Hermione from their beer glasses expectantly, as if she held the powerto stop Pansy and her wittering madness. She held her wine glass close to her, knowing that shewas fully aware that she would never be able to stop Pansy once she was on a mission. Nobodycould stop Pansy when she was on a mission. 

   Hermione knew the girl far too well now, having been in business with her for almost six years. Itstarted small; an idea one night over dinner with Harry and Blaise who were working in the samedepartment as each other at the time. Hermione and Pansy were there to add extra ambience, butended up being the forefront of the conversation that night. 

   Pansy had inheritance and an idea for a shop that she wanted to open. Hermione had business senseand a passion for making things successful. From the friendly banter they had struck up that night,'Mi Amor' was created and neither of them had looked back since. 

   And as it turns out; the Wizarding World was full of kinky bastards who flocked to their little shopevery day, whether it be to look through their selection of erotic books and magazines, tantalisingunderwear or their vast array of potions and sexual enhancers. Pansy always ensured that there wassomething for everyone, and Hermione always ensured that the books were balanced out. 

   "Don't look at me," Hermione glared at the boys and put her hands up in surrender. They all knewPansy far too well. "You know what she's like when she's on one..." 

   "Like a dog with a bone..."

   Hermione shuddered internally as the low voice of Draco Malfoy met her ears. That voice... fuck,even his voice was affecting her now. Shit ... she daren't even look up at him. She'd managed toavoid looking in his direction all night, like she did every Friday night when their little group metup for after-work drinks. 

   It was an odd little collection of people, Hermione had to admit. After all, who would have thoughtthat this combination of Gryffindor's and Slytherin's from their particular year group could everget along like they did now? Blaise brought Theo into the mix, unfortunately for themall...something Blaise has never been allowed to forget. 

   Harry, strangely enough was the one who ended up bringing Malfoy on board and took him underhis wing when Malfoy transferred to his department within the Ministry. Friday night drinks werea weekly thing now, and had been for years. It was a fact however, that Hermione found the lastfew months of them a lot harder than they used to be ... now that she was more aware of Malfoy,anyway.