To Dare You

Chapter Twenty-three

"Ron, do we have to do this?" Hermione whined as she saw the perfectly brewed love potion, otherwise known as 'Amortentia.'

"Yep!" Ron beamed, ladling the clear serum into a small vile, corking it and slipping it into his robe pocket. "C'mon 'mione, lets go to dinner and slip it!" He hooks his arm through Granger's arms which were firmly on her hips, skipping out of the room of requirement with her.

* * *

"Gryffindor's, no choice Malfoy." Harry told him as they approached the dining hall, before Draco could open his mouth to say the s-word.

"Fine." He giggled, turning heads as the two walked in, Draco giggling, leaning into the boy-who-lived. "Hello Granger, weaselbee," He nodded curtly at the two as they plopped down, sandwiched between the two.

"Why are you laughing Ron? And 'mione, why do you look so... uncomfortable?" Harry asked, utterly curious about it.

"Nothing!" They both said, Hermione squeaking, and Ron chuckling.

"Okay..." Harry said slowly as Pansy popped next to her girlfriend.

"Hey baby!" she pecked 'mione's cheek, only to stand up again, serving Harry as usual, as if at the Slytherin tables.

"Thanks, Pans," Harry smiled lightly. He picked up his fork, and nibbled on a bit of quiche, his amounts of food he consumed slowly increasing throughout the days.

"You have to eat some more," Draco pleaded as Harry pushed his plate away after eating three mouse-sized bites, leaving more than nine tenths of the pie-like food.

Harry whimpered as his stomach lurched, a custom thing that happened.

"Haz, you ate less then yesterday, please," He whined as he looked at Harry intently. "Please Harry, I know you don't want to, but the vitamins wont give you all of the nutrients you need.

Ron, finding this the perfect moment, popped the cork open and empty during the contents into the ferret's pumpkin juice, a far larger dose than 'enough.'

Nobody saw, all worried for Harry.

"Here Harry, at least drink some juice?" He asked, handing the peculiar pumpkin juice to him. "Okay? Either this, or food."

"No!" Ron exclaimed as Harry reached for the glass. "I mean, food is much more of a nutritious meal, so I think Harry should eat instead," He explained as everyone stare in utter shock.

Harry just whimpered, and Draco hugged him awkwardly, as Hermione did as well.

"It's okay, Harry." Hermione told him. "One day wont do much, but tomorrow, you have to eat at least two meals, and a fair amount, that is." She told him sternly.

Harry nodded, leaning into Draco.

The blonde grabbed his pumpkin juice, and took a sip. He frowned as Ron looked at him eagerly, as if waiting for something. "What is it?" He asked. "Weasel. What are you looking at?"

"Nothing," He replied. Ron, it can take up to five minutes to take effect, he reassured himself, smiling as well. "Nothing, nothing at all." He repeated, more to himself than Malfoy.