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“Honestly, Ronald,” Hermione rolled her eyes at the more ravenous of her two best friends. “Can’t you wait two seconds?”
The remnants of a heart-shaped box of chocolates were scattered across the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall; a frothy pink ribbon, warped red cardboard, and numerous waxy candy wrappings stamped with the Honeydukes logo. Their eighth year at Hogwarts was nearly over, and Hermione, typically not one for silly holidays, had to admit that she was glad to celebrate everything she could with her friends while they were still all under one roof.
Ron Weasley chewed and swallowed the last chocolate. “Blimey, that one was delicious! Coconut, maybe?”
“You don’t even know?” Harry chuckled.
Ginny reached for the tag hanging off the pink ribbon. “Of course not, he scarfed them down before he even opened the note! Let’s see what it says.”
Hermione leaned over and read alongside Harry’s longtime love. She was glad to see them together, even if it hadn’t worked out between her and Ron. It was all for the best, really, since Ginny, Harry, and Ron all planned to play professional Quidditch after they left school in May. That was only three months away, and Hermione still wasn’t sure what she’d do.
Her heart would always be here, at Hogwarts.
“Wait a second,” Hermione gasped, glaring at Ron. “Those weren’t even for you! They were for me!”
Ron pushed between Ginny and Hermione to look at the card. “It just says ‘To Granger, from your secret admirer.’ Who would send you chocolates?”
Suddenly a purple hex hit Ron square in the back. He fell to the floor and began puking up the chocolates he’d just devoured.
“Mr. Malfoy,” shouted Headmistress McGonagall. “That’s twenty points from Slytherin!”
Draco Malfoy lowered his wand, picked up the hem of his robes and stepped over Ron as he continued to retch. He locked his grey eyes on Hermione.
“Sorry about that, Granger. I forgot your mates can’t read,” he paused, assessing the ruined present. “Should’ve gone with flowers.”
With a few flicks of his wand, Malfoy transfigured the ruined box and ribbon into a bouquet of delicate red and pink carnations. He blushed as he handed them to her, and she hugged them to her chest.
Hermione smiled as she inhaled their light scent. “I suppose your secret’s out.”
“I suppose it is. If I cast the countercurse for Weasley here, will you go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend?”
“If I say yes, will you promise never to buy me a box of chocolates again?” Ron’s current predicament had put her off them, maybe forever.
“It’s a deal.” Malfoy grinned, holding up his end and putting Ron out of his misery.
“Bloody hell, Malfoy,” Ron groaned, clutching his stomach. “If you’d just asked, I could’ve told you she’s more of a spearmint gum kind of girl. Always made me carry some when we were dating.”
Hermione’s eyes widened as Malfoy pulled a pack of Drooble’s Best Blowing Gum, Sparkling Spearmint flavour, from his pocket. His smirk made her heart skip a beat.
“Is that so?” He unwrapped a stick of gum and popped it in his mouth, chewing slowly.
She swallowed audibly and he took a bold step towards her. His next words, minty and with just the right amount of bite, were just for her.
“Well then, Granger. I suppose your secret’s out, too.”