Anne tilted her head slightly, there was a stronger scent of alcohol than before.
A sudden wave of clarity swept through her mind. She grabbed Hermione's hand just as she reached for the fourth button on Anne's shirt. Hermione shifted restlessly, then leaned in to peck Anne on the lips.
Grasping Hermione's wrists, Anne propped herself up slightly, locking eyes with her. Hermione's eyes shimmered, full of emotion, glittering as if stars were reflected in them.
She's definitely drunk, Anne thought.
Her mind snapped into focus, and she couldn't help the mix of relief and helplessness that crossed her face.
Hermione pouted in protest and bit Anne's forearm where she was being held. The unexpected bite made Anne loosen her grip, and Hermione immediately wrapped one arm around Anne's neck, pulling her back down toward the bed.
"This is my bed," Hermione mumbled with obvious dissatisfaction.
"Okay, okay, I know," Anne said indulgently, sitting up and pulling Hermione up with her.
"Hermione, I need to ask you a few things," Anne said, cupping Hermione's face and looking into her eyes.
Hermione had her arms wrapped around Anne's waist, eyes still shining brightly. She muttered, "A few questions? I'll answer them all correctly."
Anne chuckled. Drunk Hermione was even cuter, and more honest.
"Not many. Just two," Anne said. "First one: Do you know that you're drunk?"
"Drunk?" Hermione tilted her head slightly. "Nope. I still see one of you, not two. Plus," she grinned brightly, a little foolishly, "I like you, Anne. I like you a lot. I've liked you for a long time."
Then her smile faded, replaced by a look of sadness. "But today, when I saw Luna holding your hand and you two talking for ages… neither of you noticed me come in." She poked a finger at Anne's chest, "It felt sour right here. Even though you're not you anymore, how did she still know?"
"I dragged Viktor over afterward, but I regretted it the moment I said those things. I was scared you'd be mad," Hermione mumbled. "I know you don't like it when I bring him up in front of you."
Then another goofy, dazzling smile broke out. "But the story you told after that made me really happy."
Anne was both touched and surprised. She fought back the urge to kiss Hermione again.
"I really, really like you too, Hermione. But tell me… how much did you drink just now?"
"Drink?" Hermione licked her lips. "I didn't? Oh, wait, I had one butterbeer and a sandwich. But I got thirsty, so I had a glass of water."
Water? At the wedding? Anne remembered that Mrs. Weasley had only sent safe drinks, there was no plain water.
Hermione smacked her lips. "The water tasted a little weird. It was clear, but really good! Burned my throat a bit though."
Anne froze. That wasn't water, Hermione had downed a full glass of vodka.
"I was still thirsty after that," Hermione said, the alcohol on her breath growing stronger. "So I had another glass."
Anne could only smile helplessly. She gently pressed Hermione's shoulders. "Hermione, be good and wait here for me, okay?"
"No!" Hermione clung tightly to Anne's waist, snuggling closer. "I'm thirsty." She squirmed. "So hot~"
The alcohol was clearly kicking in.
Anne glanced at her wand and backpack just a few steps away. She tried to get up, but Hermione immediately wrapped her arms around Anne's neck again. Seeing those starry eyes, Anne gave in and scooped her up bridal-style.
"I'm getting you some real water now. Be good, don't move, alright?"
Hermione blinked, then glanced down at the floor, giggling as she snuggled into Anne's neck. "I love when you carry me. Or give me piggybacks."
"Mm-hm."
"You smell really nice, Anne."
"Mm-hmm." Anne stepped over to the spot where her wand had fallen. Three wands lay scattered on the ground. Since Skoll had to conceal his identity, his wand had been custom-made by a lesser-known wandmaker in Germany.
Back when Anne was looking into wandmakers, she'd learned that many wands in the past were crafted using materials chosen by the wizards themselves.
She made a motion to set Hermione down, but Hermione clung even tighter. "Not done yet, "
A strong waft of alcohol hit her face. Anne sighed, both exasperated and concerned. She couldn't leave Hermione like this.
Adjusting her grip to free one hand, Anne muttered, "Accio wand," in Ancient Runes. Two of the wands wiggled, and her phoenix-feather core wand shot into her hand.
"My head hurts," Hermione murmured into Anne's neck. "I feel awful…"
"Hang in there." Anne flicked her wand, unzipping her bag. "Pepper-up potion, bottled water, come out!"
She carried Hermione back to the bed. The moment she set Hermione down, the latter pulled Anne down with her. Anne steadied herself and helped Hermione sit up. A floating vial uncorked itself mid-air. Anne held the bottle gently and coaxed, "Here, Hermione, let's drink this. You'll feel better afterward."
"Really?" Hermione blinked.
"Really. I promise."
Hermione pouted. "But you said you had two questions! You've only asked one!"
"Uh… right. Second question?" Anne scrambled to think of something. Finally, she asked, "What's today's date?"
"Silly!" Hermione pinched Anne's cheek. "It's June 16th! Fleur and Bill's wedding! How do you not know that?"
"Me???"
Then came an unexpected kiss, Hermione playfully bit Anne's bottom lip.
Anne's barely restrained longing and desire exploded, burning even stronger than before.
She deepened the kiss instinctively. The conical potion bottle slipped from her hand and hit the floor, spilling a fifth of its contents. Luckily, the bottle was enchanted not to break.
When her lips brushed against the silver necklace she'd given Hermione, Anne froze.
"Damn it…" she muttered in Chinese, scolding herself.
Hermione paused too. She stared into Anne's amber eyes, her own filled not just with starlight now, but fire. Outside, the night had fallen, casting a mix of golden and silvery light through the tent from lanterns and floating torches.
Anne grabbed the wand again. The potion flew into her hand, and she took a large gulp.
With her eyes closed, Anne fought the feelings swelling inside. This Hermione, Anne had zero resistance to her. When she opened her eyes, they were clear again. She let out a slow breath.
"Alright, sweetheart. Let's drink some water, okay?"
"I'm not thirsty anymore," Hermione pouted.
"Okay," Anne's tone softened further, coaxing gently, "but it's a really nice drink. See? I just had some, want to try too?"
"Hmm…" Hermione looked like she was considering it.
"You're my girlfriend. I'd never lie to you."
"…Fine." Hermione nodded.
Anne held the potion to Hermione's lips and supported her waist.
Hermione took a small sip, throat moving as she swallowed.
"Liar," she grumbled, glaring. "It's gross."
"That's because you didn't drink enough," Anne said confidently. "It tastes better the more you drink."
Hermione's eyes lit up. "Then you drink more too."
Under Hermione's watchful gaze, Anne reluctantly took a tiny sip, holding it in her mouth instead of swallowing, and brought the bottle back to Hermione.
"You didn't swallow…" Hermione puffed her cheeks.
Someone tell me, how is Hermione a Gryffindor again? I'm starting to think I'm the fake Slytherin here.
Anne finally swallowed. She knew one thing for sure: she wasn't getting any sleep tonight.
Satisfied, Hermione giggled and took a big gulp of the potion.
The effects finally started to show. As Anne adjusted Hermione's dress straps and buttoned up her shirt, Hermione's brown eyes began to clear.
"Ow… my head," Hermione murmured, lying back down, still groggy.
Anne smiled helplessly and waved her wand to clean the room. A small box of mint-honey candies floated into her hand. She turned back, then paused.
On the bed lay a giant white "caterpillar." Hermione had wrapped herself tightly in the blanket like a cocoon.
Anne couldn't help laughing. The "caterpillar" tightened even more.
Climbing into bed, Anne tugged at the blanket and said softly, "Sweetheart, it's okay. You just mistook vodka for water and drank two big glasses."
"Nooo, " came Hermione's muffled voice, "You must think I, "
Anne could hear the tremble in her voice, maybe even a hint of tears.
She gently pulled back the blanket. Hermione, flushed red from her neck to her ears, was biting her lower lip, eyes brimming.
"Hermione, don't overthink it." Anne held Hermione's face, meeting her eyes. "There's nothing wrong with what happened. Honestly, I have no resistance to you."
Anne smiled, placing Hermione's hand over her heart. "Even with the potion, my heart's still racing."
"This was just passion, and you followed your heart. I'm just holding back with all I've got. It's just… not the right time. But someday, if you're willing, I want to give you a wedding even better than today's."
Anne covered Hermione's mouth gently. "And you know… those three words, I'll only say them after I've prepared thoroughly, down on one knee."
Hermione blinked, eyes shining with tears.
"Now, does your head still hurt? Still thirsty?" Anne helped her sit up.
A bottle of water floated over, cap unscrewing mid-air. Anne handed it to her. Hermione sipped slowly. Afterward, Anne offered her a candy. "Suck on this, it'll help."
"What kind is it? It's cool and sweet," Hermione asked.
"Mint-honey," Anne replied, opening the window with a wave of her wand. A breeze swept in, refreshing the room. Anne glanced out at the glowing white wedding tent below.
The ball was still going. The music now was livelier, more upbeat.
Hermione's cheeks were still pink. She remembered everything. Still sucking on the candy, she nervously played with her fingers but kept sneaking glances at Anne.
Anne glanced at the two watches on the table. It was still early, but time to head down.
"Hermione?" Anne called, shrugging on her gray robe.
"Mm?" Hermione stood up.
Anne approached her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and gently kissed her lips. Hermione looked up at her.
"I'm sorry for not noticing you earlier in the tent," Anne said sincerely. "You looked beautiful tonight. Not that you don't always, but this was a different kind of beautiful. And what happened earlier… It's not that I wasn't shy. It's just… it was you. And it'll always only be you."
Hermione smiled. Only her ears remained red now. "Do all Slytherins talk like that?"
"I meant every word," Anne said with a laugh. "But you should be careful. Like the Sorting Hat said, I can be cunning enough to do whatever it takes to get what I want."
That made Hermione relax. She playfully fired back, "Well, brave Gryffindors aren't afraid of any challenge."
"Exactly," Anne nodded. "Still feeling a headache? The potion should've kicked in, but let me know if anything's off."
"Much better. And the candy's yummy."
"Then take the rest." Anne handed her the box. "Bought it near the hotel yesterday, tasted pretty good."
Hermione tucked it into her bag along with her wand.
"Oh, right, here. A map and info on Godric's Hollow." Anne handed her a thick stack of parchment, packed with writing and diagrams. "I was going to go over it with all three of you later, but I'll give it to you now."
Hermione took it. She recognized Anne's handwriting, she could tell how much effort had gone into it.
Anne put on her glasses, earpiece, and ring, and just like that, she was Skoll again.
"What time are you three, " Her sentence was interrupted by a sharp vibration from her robe pocket. Hermione looked over as Skoll's brow furrowed.
An alarm?
Only four inner-circle Order members had a one-time use communicator, and it could only be triggered during an A-class emergency or worse.
Skoll pulled out the badge. Three short lines of text drained the color from his face.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.
"Damn it!!" he cursed. "It's today???" He grabbed Hermione's shoulders. "Listen, get to the tent and find Harry and Ron immediately. Be ready to Disapparate at any second, go to, "
His brain scanned through options. "Number 12 Grimmauld Place. That might be the safest now. I'll find you if I can. Got it?"
Hermione nodded. "Got it, but what's happening?!"
"The Ministry's fallen."
Skoll and Hermione Disapparated to the back of a tall golden pillar. A massive silver creature crashed through the ceiling above the dance floor.
A shimmering lynx landed gracefully among the stunned guests. People turned in shock; those nearest froze like statues.
The Patronus opened its mouth and spoke in Kingsley Shacklebolt's deep, resonant voice.
"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."
"Go!" Skoll released Hermione and charged into the chaos, wand drawn. The ball dissolved into panic as guests scattered in every direction.
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The complete release can be accessed through Patreon.com/Crimson_Lore