The Ways of the Friendship Potion
By: Ashie
Summary: Potions are considered one of the most important items to Wizards. Able to force the drinker to tell truth, cure illnesses, poison foes and - make a person believe that their worst enemy is their very best friend?! Professor Dumbledore assigns the Gregory's Unctuous Unction, a potion that does just that. When the sixth years are paired up with student from the opposite house, anxiety in the school reaches it's peak. But will the potion be as everyone fears, or something much more?
Disclaimer: I do not own anything written here, including characters. They belong to J.K. Rowling. And even though I'd give anyhting to be half as good of an author as her, I'm not. I'd even give my left arm...but that's another story. :)
Chapter One - The Pairing
Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley walked down a dungeon corridor, taking their time for two reasons. One; they were early - and two; they weren't pleased about where they were going in the first place. It was quite obvious, as they walked with expressions of great distaste, that they were going to -
"Potions!" Ron exclaimed with a moan, throwing his free hand in the air. "I still cannot believe we're in this class, mate." he said, throwing a sideways glance at Harry. "I mean, I almost purposely tried to fail Snape's exam!"
Harry opened his mouth to respond when Hermione chimed in.
"Oh, Ron!" she snapped. "It's November, don't you think you should stop complaining? It's never going to change!"
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, 'Mione." Harry said. "Today we start the potion that Dumbledore's assigned."
"Yeah, so? What's the big deal about that? It'll probably be just as hard as the other potions we've been doing."
"Harry may be right, Ron." Hermione said, eyes narrowed in thought. "Snape seemed quite angry when he told us that Dumbledore was assigning the next potion -"
"I know, he was an arse that day! He almost kicked Harry out when his potion turned a shade to dark."
Harry glowered at this, but said nothing. Hermione looked at Ron, slightly miffed for being cut off, and continued.
"So I believe that the potion will be fairly easy, or at least closer to the level potions we should be studying. Snape is most likely angry because he fells he is wasting his time."
"Or the potion is extremely hard, and know that half the class will mess up." Harry said, looking like Victor Krum.
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione sighed exaspretly. "You know that if it is that difficult I will help you!"
Harry nodded, and they walked through the door of the class together. Hermione and Ron followed him to the back of the room, and set their cauldrons on the table on his opposite sides.
Harry looked to the front of the room, and scowled as Malfoy gave him one of his trademark sneers.
Turning his head, he noticed that Snape was not writing notes on the board, but sitting at his desk, gazing intently at a piece of parchment in his hands. Harry's curiosity grew as he watched Snape's sallow skin turn a dangerous pale as he read the bottom of the sheet.
Harry was about to point this out to Hermione and Ron, but saw that they were watching him as well. They exchanged curious glances and looked up as Snape silently stood from his chair and walked to the front of the class.
Still staring at the parchment in his hands, he asked, "Which one of you know what the Gregory's Unctuous Unction is?"
A few hesitant moments passed before Hermione raised her hand. Snape looked up at her.
"Granger."
"The Gregory's Unctuous Unction is a potion that makes the receiver believe that the giver is his or her very best friend." Hermione answered, and the class broke out into whispers.
"SILENCE!" Snape roared, and the class instantly fell silent. Harry stared as Snape scowled at the class and glanced to Harry, a twitch in his left eye.
"Now, if you all don't mind," Snape sneered. "I would like to explain what we will be doing the next three days. But if there is one more outburst ,I will send every one of you to the Headmaster's office, as he was the one that assigned this disaster."
At this, Malfoy raised his hand.
"Malfoy?" Snape asked, and to everyone's surprise, he had a deep scowl on his face.
"Sir, surely you don't mean that we are actually going to do this ludicrous potion?" Snape's scowl just increased and he turned away.
"Today, I will pair you all up with someone from the opposite house-" several gasps filled the air. "-and we will brew the potion for the rest of the week. On Friday, each of you will be drinking the potion.
"Now, I'm warning all of you, this potion is extremely difficult. You will have one chance and one chance only to brew it correctly. If you fail to do so, which I know many of you will..." he cast another glance at Harry, one that surprised Harry, for he was unable to comprehend what it meant. "You will fail instantly and will have detention with me for two months, also the same amount of time the rest of you will be under the potion's influence.
"Now, stand up, all of you." The class grudgingly got to their feet. "When I call your name, bring your things and sit next to your partner, or your new best friend." Snape made another face.
Snape moved forward to the first table, and placing one hand on it called,
"Crabbe, Finnegan." Harry heard Seamus groan and mutter profanities under his breath, and walked forward to sit next to Crabbe.
Snape read a few more names on the list before-
"Zambini, Granger." Hermione gave Harry and Ron a half smile, and walked over to sit next to a startling pretty redheaded Slytherin. Snape read a few more names before-
"Nott, Weasley." Ron had a pained look on his face as he looked at Harry. Harry felt his throat constrict as he nodded to Ron. He watched as Ron walked over to a future Death Eater and sit down.
Harry looked away from Ron, a sinking felling in his chest. He looked around the rest of the room. There were only four more people. Neville, Goyle, Malfoy, and himself. The sinking feeling is his chest deepened.
If Neville was paired up with Goyle, then Harry was stuck with Malfoy. Or maybe even worse, if Harry was paired with Goyle, then Neville would be paired with Malfoy.
Please let me be paired with Goyle, thought Harry desperately. At least if Neville gets paired with Malfoy, there's a great chance of the potion being brewed incorrectly.
Harry's thoughts were snapped as Snape's voice rang through the dungeon.
"Goyle, Longbottom." The two walked forward.
Gasps filled the air once again as the class realized who the last pair was. Harry's mind was numb as he heard Hermione moan "No!" from the other end of the room. Harry mutely looked over to Ron, whose eyes resembled brown Galleons.
Harry then looked up to see Malfoy's reaction. His eyes were narrowed at Snape, his cheeks a dangerous shade of red.
He's furious, thought Harry with a twinge of satisfaction, watching Malfoy's fists shake at his sides.
Snape was looking at Harry, his face once again pale. He opened his mouth, closed it, and opened it again.
"Malfoy, Potter."
Harry snatched his bag, threw it in his cauldron, and quickly walked over to the table. In a flash of anger, Harry banged his cauldron loudly on the table, and threw himself in his chair, and resorted to glaring at his lap.
As Malfoy walked over, Harry's anger erupted, sending both chairs on Harry's sides to go soaring into the walls, and Malfoy strait on his arse.
Malfoy sent a hiss of profanities at Harry, as Snape yelled, "POTTER!"
"Sorry, sir." growled Harry, still glaring at his lap. He heard Malfoy get up and receive his chair, and after making sure it wasn't going to move, sat it.
"Now, get to work, all of you." Snape said, and waving his wand, sent the instructions on the board. No one moved. After several moments of glaring, Snape snapped.
"Get to work!"
Harry refused to move. He looked up as Malfoy started to get out the ingredients, then lean forward and hiss, "What the bloody hell was that, Potter?"
"Wandless magic, you dolt."
"You mean you can actually do magic, Potty?"
"Yes, Ferret Boy, you should know. Did my Patronus back in third year give you memory damage? Or was it falling to stone floor as a white rat?" Harry snapped. Malfoy scowled, but said nothing. Harry, feeling that he had the upper hand hissed, "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm making this bloody potion!" Malfoy snapped, cutting up two long blue roots. Harry gaped at him.
"You mean you are actually going to do this?! You're accepting to do the potion that will turn us into...into best friends for two months?"
Malfoy sighed, and turned to him.
"I'm not about to serve two months of detentions with Professor Snape."
"Why not? It's not like he'd actually give you detention, with your dad and him being best mates and all." Malfoy's face turned into and angry scowl.
"Now you listen to me, Potter." he snarled. "I am damn tired of you making assumptions about me and my family-"
"What about you, you hypocrite? You've been making assumptions about me and Ron's family for six years!"
"I'm supposed to, Potter, use your scared head! You're the 'Golden Boy' and I'm the son of a Death Eater and a Slyhterin. And you, being to perfect Gryffindork that you are, are supposed to take it lying down."
Harry, without thinking snapped, "There you go again, Malfoy. Assuming that I'm the perfect Gryffindor. That just shows how much you know."
Malfoy looked at him, a curious look in his silver eyes. "What's that supposed to mean, Potter? Are you saying you aren't the perfect Gryffindor?"
"Maybe I am, Malfoy."
"Oh? And how's that? Prove it."
"Prove what?"
"Prove that you're not the perfect Gryffindor." Malfoy grinned knowingly, cornering Harry.
"No."
"And why not? Know you can't prove it?"
"I know I can prove it, Ferret Boy. It's just that I would have to put a Memory Charm on you right after."
"Like you'd even be able to perform a Memory-"
"Potter and Malfoy! Do I need to fail you already?" Snape snapped, and Harry noticed a kind of hopeful look in his eyes.
For a moment, Harry thought of saying something rude to Snape, to get himself out of making the potion. And as Harry cast a glance at the silver- haired Slytherin, he knew Malfoy was thinking the same thing. But it seemed that neither of them could say or do anything.
Harry sighed and said, "No, sir." He reached over, grabbed a bottle of Mermaid scales, and began.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Now all of you store your mixes in the jars I've provided, and place them in the cabinets with both you and your partner's names."
Harry poured the potion into a glass jar, labeled it, and handed it wordlessly to Malfoy. The Slytherin walked to the cabinets and placed it on the shelf. Harry picked up his things, and turned to leave.
"Potter."
Harry sighed and turned around to face Malfoy.
"I still want to know why you aren't the perfect Gryffindor." Harry nodded.
"Another time, Malfoy."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A.N: This is my first Slash, and I want to know if I started this off all right. PLEASE REVIEW.
By: Ashie
Summary: Potions are considered one of the most important items to Wizards. Able to force the drinker to tell truth, cure illnesses, poison foes and - make a person believe that their worst enemy is their very best friend?! Professor Dumbledore assigns the Gregory's Unctuous Unction, a potion that does just that. When the sixth years are paired up with student from the opposite house, anxiety in the school reaches it's peak. But will the potion be as everyone fears, or something much more?
Disclaimer: I do not own anything written here, including characters. They belong to J.K. Rowling. And even though I'd give anyhting to be half as good of an author as her, I'm not. I'd even give my left arm...but that's another story. :)
Chapter One - The Pairing
Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley walked down a dungeon corridor, taking their time for two reasons. One; they were early - and two; they weren't pleased about where they were going in the first place. It was quite obvious, as they walked with expressions of great distaste, that they were going to -
"Potions!" Ron exclaimed with a moan, throwing his free hand in the air. "I still cannot believe we're in this class, mate." he said, throwing a sideways glance at Harry. "I mean, I almost purposely tried to fail Snape's exam!"
Harry opened his mouth to respond when Hermione chimed in.
"Oh, Ron!" she snapped. "It's November, don't you think you should stop complaining? It's never going to change!"
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, 'Mione." Harry said. "Today we start the potion that Dumbledore's assigned."
"Yeah, so? What's the big deal about that? It'll probably be just as hard as the other potions we've been doing."
"Harry may be right, Ron." Hermione said, eyes narrowed in thought. "Snape seemed quite angry when he told us that Dumbledore was assigning the next potion -"
"I know, he was an arse that day! He almost kicked Harry out when his potion turned a shade to dark."
Harry glowered at this, but said nothing. Hermione looked at Ron, slightly miffed for being cut off, and continued.
"So I believe that the potion will be fairly easy, or at least closer to the level potions we should be studying. Snape is most likely angry because he fells he is wasting his time."
"Or the potion is extremely hard, and know that half the class will mess up." Harry said, looking like Victor Krum.
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione sighed exaspretly. "You know that if it is that difficult I will help you!"
Harry nodded, and they walked through the door of the class together. Hermione and Ron followed him to the back of the room, and set their cauldrons on the table on his opposite sides.
Harry looked to the front of the room, and scowled as Malfoy gave him one of his trademark sneers.
Turning his head, he noticed that Snape was not writing notes on the board, but sitting at his desk, gazing intently at a piece of parchment in his hands. Harry's curiosity grew as he watched Snape's sallow skin turn a dangerous pale as he read the bottom of the sheet.
Harry was about to point this out to Hermione and Ron, but saw that they were watching him as well. They exchanged curious glances and looked up as Snape silently stood from his chair and walked to the front of the class.
Still staring at the parchment in his hands, he asked, "Which one of you know what the Gregory's Unctuous Unction is?"
A few hesitant moments passed before Hermione raised her hand. Snape looked up at her.
"Granger."
"The Gregory's Unctuous Unction is a potion that makes the receiver believe that the giver is his or her very best friend." Hermione answered, and the class broke out into whispers.
"SILENCE!" Snape roared, and the class instantly fell silent. Harry stared as Snape scowled at the class and glanced to Harry, a twitch in his left eye.
"Now, if you all don't mind," Snape sneered. "I would like to explain what we will be doing the next three days. But if there is one more outburst ,I will send every one of you to the Headmaster's office, as he was the one that assigned this disaster."
At this, Malfoy raised his hand.
"Malfoy?" Snape asked, and to everyone's surprise, he had a deep scowl on his face.
"Sir, surely you don't mean that we are actually going to do this ludicrous potion?" Snape's scowl just increased and he turned away.
"Today, I will pair you all up with someone from the opposite house-" several gasps filled the air. "-and we will brew the potion for the rest of the week. On Friday, each of you will be drinking the potion.
"Now, I'm warning all of you, this potion is extremely difficult. You will have one chance and one chance only to brew it correctly. If you fail to do so, which I know many of you will..." he cast another glance at Harry, one that surprised Harry, for he was unable to comprehend what it meant. "You will fail instantly and will have detention with me for two months, also the same amount of time the rest of you will be under the potion's influence.
"Now, stand up, all of you." The class grudgingly got to their feet. "When I call your name, bring your things and sit next to your partner, or your new best friend." Snape made another face.
Snape moved forward to the first table, and placing one hand on it called,
"Crabbe, Finnegan." Harry heard Seamus groan and mutter profanities under his breath, and walked forward to sit next to Crabbe.
Snape read a few more names on the list before-
"Zambini, Granger." Hermione gave Harry and Ron a half smile, and walked over to sit next to a startling pretty redheaded Slytherin. Snape read a few more names before-
"Nott, Weasley." Ron had a pained look on his face as he looked at Harry. Harry felt his throat constrict as he nodded to Ron. He watched as Ron walked over to a future Death Eater and sit down.
Harry looked away from Ron, a sinking felling in his chest. He looked around the rest of the room. There were only four more people. Neville, Goyle, Malfoy, and himself. The sinking feeling is his chest deepened.
If Neville was paired up with Goyle, then Harry was stuck with Malfoy. Or maybe even worse, if Harry was paired with Goyle, then Neville would be paired with Malfoy.
Please let me be paired with Goyle, thought Harry desperately. At least if Neville gets paired with Malfoy, there's a great chance of the potion being brewed incorrectly.
Harry's thoughts were snapped as Snape's voice rang through the dungeon.
"Goyle, Longbottom." The two walked forward.
Gasps filled the air once again as the class realized who the last pair was. Harry's mind was numb as he heard Hermione moan "No!" from the other end of the room. Harry mutely looked over to Ron, whose eyes resembled brown Galleons.
Harry then looked up to see Malfoy's reaction. His eyes were narrowed at Snape, his cheeks a dangerous shade of red.
He's furious, thought Harry with a twinge of satisfaction, watching Malfoy's fists shake at his sides.
Snape was looking at Harry, his face once again pale. He opened his mouth, closed it, and opened it again.
"Malfoy, Potter."
Harry snatched his bag, threw it in his cauldron, and quickly walked over to the table. In a flash of anger, Harry banged his cauldron loudly on the table, and threw himself in his chair, and resorted to glaring at his lap.
As Malfoy walked over, Harry's anger erupted, sending both chairs on Harry's sides to go soaring into the walls, and Malfoy strait on his arse.
Malfoy sent a hiss of profanities at Harry, as Snape yelled, "POTTER!"
"Sorry, sir." growled Harry, still glaring at his lap. He heard Malfoy get up and receive his chair, and after making sure it wasn't going to move, sat it.
"Now, get to work, all of you." Snape said, and waving his wand, sent the instructions on the board. No one moved. After several moments of glaring, Snape snapped.
"Get to work!"
Harry refused to move. He looked up as Malfoy started to get out the ingredients, then lean forward and hiss, "What the bloody hell was that, Potter?"
"Wandless magic, you dolt."
"You mean you can actually do magic, Potty?"
"Yes, Ferret Boy, you should know. Did my Patronus back in third year give you memory damage? Or was it falling to stone floor as a white rat?" Harry snapped. Malfoy scowled, but said nothing. Harry, feeling that he had the upper hand hissed, "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm making this bloody potion!" Malfoy snapped, cutting up two long blue roots. Harry gaped at him.
"You mean you are actually going to do this?! You're accepting to do the potion that will turn us into...into best friends for two months?"
Malfoy sighed, and turned to him.
"I'm not about to serve two months of detentions with Professor Snape."
"Why not? It's not like he'd actually give you detention, with your dad and him being best mates and all." Malfoy's face turned into and angry scowl.
"Now you listen to me, Potter." he snarled. "I am damn tired of you making assumptions about me and my family-"
"What about you, you hypocrite? You've been making assumptions about me and Ron's family for six years!"
"I'm supposed to, Potter, use your scared head! You're the 'Golden Boy' and I'm the son of a Death Eater and a Slyhterin. And you, being to perfect Gryffindork that you are, are supposed to take it lying down."
Harry, without thinking snapped, "There you go again, Malfoy. Assuming that I'm the perfect Gryffindor. That just shows how much you know."
Malfoy looked at him, a curious look in his silver eyes. "What's that supposed to mean, Potter? Are you saying you aren't the perfect Gryffindor?"
"Maybe I am, Malfoy."
"Oh? And how's that? Prove it."
"Prove what?"
"Prove that you're not the perfect Gryffindor." Malfoy grinned knowingly, cornering Harry.
"No."
"And why not? Know you can't prove it?"
"I know I can prove it, Ferret Boy. It's just that I would have to put a Memory Charm on you right after."
"Like you'd even be able to perform a Memory-"
"Potter and Malfoy! Do I need to fail you already?" Snape snapped, and Harry noticed a kind of hopeful look in his eyes.
For a moment, Harry thought of saying something rude to Snape, to get himself out of making the potion. And as Harry cast a glance at the silver- haired Slytherin, he knew Malfoy was thinking the same thing. But it seemed that neither of them could say or do anything.
Harry sighed and said, "No, sir." He reached over, grabbed a bottle of Mermaid scales, and began.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Now all of you store your mixes in the jars I've provided, and place them in the cabinets with both you and your partner's names."
Harry poured the potion into a glass jar, labeled it, and handed it wordlessly to Malfoy. The Slytherin walked to the cabinets and placed it on the shelf. Harry picked up his things, and turned to leave.
"Potter."
Harry sighed and turned around to face Malfoy.
"I still want to know why you aren't the perfect Gryffindor." Harry nodded.
"Another time, Malfoy."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A.N: This is my first Slash, and I want to know if I started this off all right. PLEASE REVIEW.