Okay I have finished writing the Half-Blood Prince and there should be about 2 more chapters!
"You're lucky you weren't killed." Hermione read the Daily Prophet as she walked alongside us. The headline read 'MORE DISAPPEARANCES.' "You have to realize who you are, Harry."
"I know who I am, Hermione, alright?" Harry said sharply and then he frowned. "Sorry."
"So tell me what Arthur said." Hermione continued.
"If Dumbledore's traveling places, it's news to the Ministry. But get this: that night at Borgin & Burkes? It seems Draco was looking at a Vanishing Cabinet."
"What would Draco want with a Vanishing Cabinet?" I asked
"You tell me." Harry shrugged
I frowned, pondering this. "He looks different, don't you think? Draco. Almost... ill. "
"Who could tell the difference?" Harry said
"Lav, c'mon. Of course I'll wear it." I glanced ahead to see Ron and a pouting Lavender. Ron held a gold chain which spelled out "My Sweetheart."
"That's my Won-Won." Lavendar giggled
"Excuse me, I have to go vomit." Hermione declared before she walked away.
"Wait, Hermione!" I called giving Harry an apologetic look before I followed after Hermione "You promised you'd help me with my Ancient Runes Homework"
We were in the common room late at night. Hermione was helping me with my Ancient Runes work while Harry peered at the Marauder's Map. We were the only ones present. Harry had just told us about his conversation with Professor Slughorn.
"Did you actually expect you could just walk up to Ol' Sluggy and ask him to reveal his deepest, darkest secret?" I asked Harry slightly amused
Hermione sighed "Honestly, Harry, sometimes I think the Daily Prophet should call you the Dim One."
"Nice" Harry said dryly.
Hermione began to rise "You're going to have to persuade him somehow. And now, I'm afraid, you've made it a lot harder."
"Hermione. Belle. I think Malfoy's leaving the castle." Hermione stopped dead and looked back at Harry. He nodded "I've seen it. Sometimes... sometimes he just disappears off the Map."
I shook my head "That's... not possible. No one can leave the castle these Map is wrong."
"The Map is never wrong." Harry disagreed
Hermione frowned, thinking, then shook her head and turned away.
I yawned as I packed up my work and kissed Harry. "It's getting late, goodnight."
"Night, Belle!" Harry continued to peer at the Marauders Map as I left to my dorm room.
I made my way to my dorm and found everyone asleep. However after lying on my bed for an hour unable to fall asleep, I walked back to the common room and sat in front of the fire. I decided to do my Muggle Studies work when I saw Harry lead Ron, still in his PJs, towards the common room door. "Where are you guys going?"
Both of them jumped and turned to me startled. Harry left Ron at the door and walked over to me and whispered. "He's under a powerful love spell. I'm taking him to professor Slughorn."
I packed everything away and put it to the side. "Let's go then." Harry looked at me confused and I rolled my eyes. "I'm coming with you, obviously." Harry didn't argue and we began to lead Ron to Professor Slughorn
"How do I look?" Ron asked
"Devastatingly handsome." Harry answered as he raped on the door.
I heard footsteps followed by a loud crash. The door opened and Slughorn stood in a green velvet dressing gown and matching nightcap, looking bleary-eyed and annoyed. If this wasn't serious I might have laughed. Something smoked on the floor behind him…the floor lamp he'd sent wobbling the night of the dinner party. "Yes?!" he said warily "Oh. Potter. Danvers. It's you. I'm afraid I'm busy at the moment – "
He started to close the door but Harry stuck his foot in. "Sir. I'm sorry. We wouldn't bother you if it weren't absolutely – "
"Where's Romilda?" Ron questioned behind us.
Slughorn squinted over Harry's shoulder at Ron who was doing precisely the same from the other side. "What's the matter with Wenby?"
Harry leaned forward and whispered into Slughorn's ear. "Powerful love potion."
He frowned. "Ah. Very well. Bring him in. Slughorn, with practiced ease, mixed a concoction of powders and potions into a goblet while Ron peered into a mirror.
"I'd have thought you could whip up a remedy for this in no time, Harry - an expert potioneer like you." Slughorn said to Harry and I rolled my eyes.
"I figured this called for a more practiced hand, sir." Harry answered as I went over to r]Ron.
"Hello, darling. Fancy a drink?" Ron winked into the mirror. Ron turned to me. "Romilda" he exclaimed as he wrapped me in a hug.
I turned to Harry and mouthed "HELP ME". He grimaced and mouthed back "Sorry!" as he continued talking to Slughorn and I glared at him.
When I got out from Ron's hug Slughorn gave Ron the finished potion "Alright, m'boy! Bottoms up!"
"What's this?" Ron started at the potion.
"A tonic for the nerves." Slughorn gestured to Ron to drink it.
Ron drank it and Beamed briefly. Then his grin sagged "What happened to me?"
"Love potion." Harry frowned
"And a bloody strong one at that." Professor Slughorn added.
"I feel really... bad." Ron confessed
"Pick-me-up's what you need, m'boy." Slughorn eyed Harry. "Do us all good, I think. I've got butterbeer, wine - ah - and a dazzling oak-matured mead. I had other intentions for this but given the circumstances..." Slughorn took a stout bottle and filled a glass for Ron. As Ron took a sip, Slughorn filled a pair for him, Harry and I "There we are. To life!"
We toasted when suddenly there was a CRASH! - Ron's glass hit the floor and he crumpled to his knees, then tumbled full out on the rug, spasming horribly, foam oozing over his lips. Harry and I rushed to him.
"Ron! Ron!" I cried "Professor, help him!"
"I d-don't understand –" Slughorn stuttered.
"Professor! Do something!" Harry yelled
Slughorn shuffled haplessly through his bag, mumbling at a loss. I turned back to Ron, his skin was turning blue. "He's choking!" I yelled
Harry glanced about, then leaped up, and frantically began to strip the walls of its potion stores, looking for something, anything. A box tumbled, something spilled: a scattering of stones, no bigger than a robin's egg, shrivelled and dry. Snatching one, he wrenched open Ron's jaw and thrust it deep into his throat. Instantly Ron stopped moving, paralyzed. The room was suddenly silent. I checked his pulse and realised he wasn't breathing.
Harry placed both hands behind Ron's head and gave it a shake. Another. "Breathe! C'mon, Ron, don't be a prat. Breathe! BREATHE!" Harry shook him again and again... then stopped.
Ron's head rolled limply from his fingers. Slughorn looked on, mouth agape. Useless. Then... A cough, a great hiccupping cough - like a swimmer almost drowned - and Ron was back. Breathing. "These girls are gonna kill me, Harry."
Harry grinned as I took a deep breath and hugged him. Then Ron's eyes fluttered. Out. But breathing.
It was early in the morning and we were in the hospital room. Harry, Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Ginny, myself and a very somber Hermione circled Ron's bed as Madam Pomfrey ministered him. Slughorn sat off to the side, in a chair, looking stunned.
"Quick thinking on your part, Harry. Using a Bezoar." Professor Dumbledore congratulated Harry. "You must be very proud of your student, eh, Horace?"
"Hm? Oh. Yes... very proud." Professor Slughorn stuttered.
"I think we all agree that Mr. Potter's actions were heroic. The question is: Why were they necessary." Professor McGonagall questioned.
"Why indeed." Dumbledore took the half-empty bottle of mead, still bearing a bit of gift-wrap. "This appears to be a gift, Horace. You don't by chance remember who gave you this bottle, do you - which by the way possesses remarkably subtle hints of licorice and cherry when not polluted with poison."
"Actually I had intended to give it as a gift myself." Slughorn said
"To whom might I ask?" Dumbledore continued
Slughorn averted his eyes "You, Headmaster."
Just then the door burst open and entered Lavender Brown. "Where is he? Where's my Won-Won! Has he been asking for me?" she stopped; glaring daggers at Hermione "What's she doing here?"
Hermione stood up from her seat next to me "I might ask you the same."
"I happen to be his girlfriend." Lavendar countered
"I happen to be his... friend." Hermione stammered
Lavendar scoffed "Don't make me laugh. You haven't spoken in weeks. I suppose you want to make up with him now that he's suddenly all interesting."
"He's been poisoned, you daft dimbo!" Hermione snapped "And for the record, I've always found him interesting." Hermione frowned, a bit embarrassed as I smiled. Ron snorted, stirring.
"Ha! See? He senses my presence. I'm here, Won-Won. I'm here." Lavendar walked closer to Ron
"Er... My... Nee... Er! My! Nee!" Ron, in a haze, reached out blindly. Blushing, Hermione took his hand. Instantly, he fell unconscious again.
Lavender, vibrating with rage, stalked out while Dumbledore beamed. "Ah, to be young and feel love's keen sting. Come, everyone, I think Mr. Weasley is well tended. "Dumbledore lead the others past Harry.
I moved from my seat next to Hermione to stand next to Harry. "Bout time, don't you think?" I whispered as I indicated Ron and Hermione. I studied Hermione, hand enfolded over Ron's.
She looked up and saw my faint smile. "Oh shut up." She mumbled
When Madame Pomfrey released Ron from the hospital room we made our way to the Great Hal once Ron had changed into his uniform.
"Ron. Stop. You're making it snow." Hermione pointed out as I ate my breakfast.
"Huh?" Ron looked up to see that it was snowing exclusively over the four of us. Hermione placed her hand atop his wand and he blinked, as if the gesture kindled some sense-memory.
I twirled my wand around in my hand as I spotted Romilda Vane sitting with some friends on the Ravenclaw table. I felt Harry's hand clasp my right as he gently lowered my hand onto the table. "What?" I asked confused as Hermione and Harry both gave me pointed looks. I rolled my eyes "Do you guys honestly think I'm going to hex her?"
Harry gently took my wand from my hand. "Knowing you…"
I pretended to look offended "Knowing me…." Suddenly there was a high-pitched scream from the Ravenclaw table and we all looked to see Romilda screaming as her ears grew to become more elf-like, her teeth began to elongate at a grotesque, alarming rate and she began to grow facial hair like that of a werewolf. I laughed as she ran out of the Great Hall.
When Ron, Harry and Hermione turned to me I sighed "Okay I might have gotten a house-elf to put something in her food but what did you expect? She tried to put a love spell on my boyfriend. I couldn't just do nothing!. Plus it's not permanent; it should run out in an hour or two."
Ron laughed "That was bloody brilliant!"
Harry wrapped an arm around my shoulder as I leaned into him. "It's nice you're jealous!" Harry smirked as I elbowed him in the side.
Hermione scowled. "What you did to Romilda wasn't very nice." She scolded but I saw a faint smile on her lips.
"Tell me again how I broke up with Lavender?" Ron changed the subject. Harry paused on his soup and exchanged a glance with Hermione and I.
"Um, well, she came to visit you in the hospital," Hermione started "you see, and you talked - I don't believe it was a long conversation –"
"Don't get me wrong. I'm bloody thrilled to be shot of her." Ron admitted "It's just she seems... a bit put out." As one, the four of us glanced over at Lavender and were rewarded with a lethal squint.
"She does, doesn't she? And you say you don't remember a thing from that night? Not one thing?" I questioned Ron.
"Well... there is... something. But no. It can't be. Besides, I was completely boggled, wasn't I?" Ron moved his fork around his plate.
"Right. Boggled..."Hermione slumped back, frowning.
Harry smiled with amusement. Just then, a mild commotion drew my attention. At the back of the Hall, a group of girls surrounded a new arrival.
"That's Katie. That's Katie Bell." I muttered shocked as Katie Bell, pale but smiling, greeted the other girls. Harry got up and began to make his way to her.
After Harry left and Ron began to talk to Dean Thomas Hermione frowned at me. "I don't approve of the way you dealt with Romilda. It was mean!"
I rolled my eyes. "Oh please, I was surprised you didn't."
Hermione looked at me shocked "I would never do something like that?"
I smiled "But you wanted to. I've seen the spells Hermione, the ones you planned to us on Lavendar. It's where I got the inspiration. And plus, it was funny!" Hermione tried to scowl but instead let out a laugh
Thank you for reading.
Please tell me what you think of this story or chapter?
Kisses,
RockaRosalie
xxx
