Persephone's foot incessantly tapped. Harry had stopped asking if she was okay after the first attempt where she'd huffed in response that he needed to work on his divination. She poked holes in three pieces of parchment. Ron returned to their table with a box of chocolate cauldrons.
"Fancy one?" He offered both Harry and Persephone. After they both declined Ron shoved two cakes in at a time.
The three of them fell into a comfortable silence broken only by the turning of pages, scribbing, and the crinkle of cauldron cake wrappers. Slughorn had assigned her a paper on defending her Draught of Peace choice for extra credit points. While she thought it was fairly obvious apparently the potions professor needed convincing. The clock in the common room chimed one when Persephone's stomach finally gurgled.
"Lunch?" she asked.
"Definitely." Harry answered shoving his parchment away, "Ron, clean up. Let's go."
"I'm not hungry." Ron replied lazily.
"You did just eat a whole box of cauldron cakes." Persephone said resizing her books to fit in her bag.
"It's not that.." Ron sighed rolling his head back and forth, "You…. you wouldn't understand."
"Fair enough." said Harry, giving Persephone a puzzled shrug, as he turned to leave.
Ron shot up from his chair nearly toppling it over, "Harry!"
"What?" Harry turned.
"Harry, I can't stand it!" Ron nearly shouted.
Persephone glanced at Harry alarmed. Their friend was pale and looked as though he might retch. Harry shared her look of concern.
"You can't stand what?" Harry asked.
"I can't stop thinking about her!" his voice was hoarse.
Harry met eyes with Persephone. He had been dealing with the brunt of "Won-Won" and "Lav-Lav" as Hermione refused to be in either of their presence and Persephone would always excuse herself at the most polite opportunity.
"Why does this stop you from coming to lunch with us?" Harry asked.
"I don't think she knows I exist." Ron made a desperate gesture almost sinking into the floor.
Persephone nearly snorted, "She knows you exist, believe me."
"Yeah, kinda hard to snog someone if you don't know they exist." Harry's eyes rolled.
Ron blinked, "Who are you talking about?"
"No, who are YOU talking about?" Harry said growing rather annoyed at the lack of sense leaving the conversation.
His whole face seemed to illuminate with a large nearly creepy smile, "Romilda Vane."
The three passed glances at each other for a full minute.
'Whose Romilda Vane?" Persephone asked.
Ron popped up twirling on the tip of his toes, "She's the sun… no the stars… no the galaxy. Beautiful..yet so far away."
Harry said, "This is a joke, right?"
"I think…..Guys, I think I love her." he responded in a strangled voice.
"Is he serious?" Persephone whispered.
"Okay." said Harry, walking up to Ron to get a better look at the glazed eyes, "say that again with a straight face."
"I love her," Ron repeated breathlessly but kept the same expression, "Have you seen her? Her hair is… its all black and silky… and her-"
"This is very funny and all, but jokes over." Harry said turned, done with the conversation and ready to leave with Persephone with or without Ron. He had gotten two steps.
"Ron!" Persephone reached for her wand but her draw wasn't quick enough.
Harry staggered forward confused at the blow, but turned to see his best friend ready to strike again. "Levicorpus!"
Ron yelled as his hell was thrown upward into the air. He dangled above them upside down. Persephone blinked having never seen Harry use this spell… never having heard of the spell before.
"What the hell!" Harry bellowed.
"You insulted her, Harry! You said it was a joke!" Ron shouted. His face began to turn to the shade of a plum as the blood rushed to his head.
"This is insanity, Ron," Persephone said.
Harry wand still pointed at Ron and moved to the table. He picked up the box of chocolate cauldrons inspecting them, "Ron… where did you get the chocolate cauldrons?"
"They were a birthday present," he struggled in a vain effort to free himself, his wand had fallen to the floor, "I offered you some didn't I?"
"You just picked them up off the floor didn't you!" Harry accused.
"They'd fallen off my bed! Alright? Let me go." Ron replied wriggling.
"Harry what does it matter whose-." Seph started.
Harry got within inches of Ron's face, "They didn't fall off his bed. They were mine, I threw them out of my trunk looking for the map…" he glanced over at Persephone, "they're the chocolate cauldrons Romilda gave me...spiked with love potion!"
Persephone felt horribly dumb. It made complete sense, but only one word registered with Ron.
"Ramilda," he smiled despite the full plum color of his face, "Arry… Harry! Do you think you could introduce me?"
"Yeah...yeah I'll introduce you," Harry said quickly, "I'm going to let you down now." he lowered his wand and Ron clattered to the floor. "Follow me."
The three left the common room behind. Unfortunately, Lavender Brown was prancing up the steps as the Fat Lady closed behind them.
"You're late, Won-won!" She pouted, "I waited and-."
Ron shoved passed her, "Leave me alone," he said impatiently waiting at the stairs next landing, "Harry's introducing me to Ramilda Vane."
Lavender's face paled. Her brown eyes wide with confusion.
Persephone took Harry's arm leaning into his ear, "I assume you have a plan…" she whispered, "I'm going to have Lavender introduce me to this R.V."
Harry nodded as if he knew her plan already and while he tried to give Lavender an apologetic smile, to Persephone it looked more amused than anything. The boys left.
"I..I don-t understand." Lavender choked. Tears were already brimming her eyes.
She felt bad for her despite never having been really friendly with each other. Persephone couldn't imagine what she would do if George just brushed her away like yesterday's floo powder for another girl.
"Look…" Persephone started, "Ron is-"
"Confused! Obviously!" Lavender's pale face began to turn, scathing in anger, "Who in merlin's name would be interested in that pug nosed-ratty haired-"
"Lavender, shut it!" Persephone remembered why they didn't get along. Lavender gaped at her. For a moment she almost wanted to lie. That it wasn't the love potion. That Ron really was done with her. She thought about Hermione and her deep seeded feelings. But… "Ron accidentally took some love potion that was-." before she could finish Lavender screeched.
"I'm going to murder her!" Lavender began down the stairs.
Persephone followed. It wasn't too hard as the current fifth years had taken up to congregate in small flocks in the fifth floor corridor. Ginny said it was due to the large divots in the wall. If Filch peaked around the corner he would see an empty hallway. Lavender strode through the hall checking each window bench with her fists balled. Ginny was in one of the divots with a boy she didn't recognize from Hufflepuff and looked embarrassed. Her friend sprung away from the boy and joined her.
"What's going on?" Ginny asked, "Lavender looks like she's about to explode."
"RAMILDA!" Lavender stopped at the last divot in the hall.
Ramilda looked up from her book large brown eyes; startled. "Lav-"
"How dare you try to steal my Wun-Wun!" Lavender shouted, "Just so you know he's going to get all fixed up and he's never going to so much as look at you ever again!"
It started off as a snicker. Ramilda stifled the outright laugh into her hand. "I'm sorry, you're talking about Ron Weasley?"
"You know bloody well who I'm talking about!" Lavender said.
Ramilda set down her book leaving it creased and stood putting a condescending hand on Lavender's shoulder, "Dear Lav, I would never in a million years want anything to do with a Weasley, so you can rest easy." she glanced at Ginny, "No offense dear."
"Well I'm offended." Ginny growled in reply.
Lavender shrunk back unsure of how to proceed.
"Well, if that's all you needed," Ramilda turned.
"Actually, no it's not," Persephone flicked her wand as she had watched Harry do, "Levicorpus!"
Her ankle yanked into the air with a surprised yelp. She rotated the fifth year towards them and stepped closer.
"Do you know who I am?" she asked.
Ramilda wouldn't let herself look afraid, but the swallow in her throat spoke otherwise, "You...Your Persephone Black."
"And you know who my father was?" Persephone continued.
Ramilda nodded.
"Good," Persephone stepped even closer, "If you so much as touch another love potion, if you so much as wave to my brother-."
"You-r brother?" Ramilda asked.
Persephone blinked, "If you so much as wave at…. Harry or speak ill of any Weasley I will know, and you won't like it. Do you understand?"
"I….I." suddenly Ramilda's face changed…from fear to… almost smug.
"Miss Black, release Miss Vane, now!"
Persephone didn't have to turn to know how much trouble she was in … with Professor Snape.
Snape leered at her from his desk. It didn't feel right calling it his desk. Lupin made a far superior defense Professor. He had been quiet for far too long. She nearly flinched when he did speak.
"Where. Did. You. Learn. That. Spell." He demanded.
"I read about it." Persephone replied.
"Don't lie." Snape sneered.
"Not a lie." she replied firmly.
"Then do tell me," he said, "what book? I would very much like to understand the context in which you read about this spell."
"My mother's journal." her quick answer was like a stunning jinx.
His upper lip twitched, "I've been lenient with you Miss Black...despite…"
"Despite what?" She snapped, "What have you ever caught me doing? Bullying other students on a constant based solely on the status of their blood?" she grew bolder, "Oh wait… that's your entire House."
Snape stood silent once again. His hard cheek sucked inward but nothing else about his static complexion changed. She had seen Harry get a rise out of him before, but his now leveled stare was perhaps far worse than that. If he was going to speak it was interrupted by Professor Flitwick bursting into his office.
"Professor Snape, you must come at once-," the Charm's Professor stopped, "Oh… Miss Black."
"Filius… perhaps if you would knock." Snape said.
"I do apologize, however, the Headmaster has requested your immediate presence. Miss Black… you might want to head down to the hospital wing. Your friend Mister Weasley…"
"Love potion, I know." Persephone said quietly.
"No, dear girl, he was poisoned." Flitwick replied.
Snape came around his desk like a bat, "Detention, one month, every Saturday." and he flew past Flitwick without another word.
Professor Flitwick's mustache twitched slightly at his rude departure, "Would you like to walk with me Miss Black?"
She nodded following the Professor out into the hall.
"One month detention…" Flitwick said slowly as they walked; curious, "was my colleague over reacting?"
"No, I deserved it." She answered not much regret in her voice. Bullying Ramilda was wrong, however, what she had done was wrong. Wrong enough to put Ron in the hospital since it didn't work. Would have enthralled Harry in madness if it had worked. She didn't know if the charm's professor cared for an explanation or not but it flew out of her in justification.
"Love potions are serious business…" he said thoughtfully. They arrived at the hospital wing. "Perhaps, I shall inquire if you could serve your detentions with me." Flitwick smiled, "I must get back to the Headmaster's office. I hope Mister Weasley is well."
"Thank you, Professor." She returned his smile, though not optimistic of Snape relinquishing her for an easier detention.
Persephone opened the door to the Infirmary and her heart pattered. George was towering over Ron's bed snickering as Fred drew on their brother's face.
"Ah-ah, only four vistors at a time." Madame Pomphrey walled her off from entering.
Persephone nodded in response not wanting to call attention to her friends. Hermione was in the bedside chair and while the Ancient Runes book in her lap was open her eyes were fixed upon Ron. She had an overwhelming feeling they were on better terms now whether Ron knew it or not. Harry, Fred and George were discussing something, but their conversation fell from the air… Her friends' forms became blobs of color… The room began to swirl… Her body felt hurled forward.
"Shit." she whispered.
The Infirmary had been replaced by the Great Hall empty and cold. There was moisture in the air with a sickeningly sweet yet metallic smell. The three stretchers lay at the end of the room. Persephone could see the soles of their feet. It was obvious the room reeked of death. She took a step and her heart hit like a chisel; a quick yet decisive strike that made her stop.
"I don't want to know." she said.
The floor began to rumble under her feet as if to move her.
"I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!" she shouted and slammed her eyes shut.
Peeking between her lashes Persephone was greeted with a goofy grin, a constellation of freckles, and rich hickory eyes.
"Hi love." George said softly.
"Hi," her voice whispered, "how's Ron?"
"Well he's had worse birthdays." he answered. George shifted them further into the hallway as discreetly as he could manage. It wasn't hard with everyone's attention on Ron. "Did you ...were you… just having a vision?"
All Persephone could do was nod and try to stifle the whimper building in the depth of her throat. George knew her better than that.
"Oh love…" he brought her into him and let her hide the stream of tears in his chest.
"Why is it always death?" Her question was rhetorical. George couldn't have an answer anymore than she.
By the time Persephone regained her bearings Harry had stepped out into the hall.
"Ginny said you hexed Ramilda Vane." He said with half a smirk.
"Got detention for it too." She replied, "But I don't think you'll have to worry about her ever again."
George spied down at Persephone with a careful eye. "Taking a page out of yer dad's book, ey?" he said jokingly, not wanting to approach the subject with Harry around.
Ever since Prague, neither of them had been the same. Persephone especially so. Could he blame her? She risked everything to save him. He'd asked Ginny to keep an eye on her, and her reports concerned him.
"Nothing seems to interest her outside of reading a book she stole from the restricted section and that old pocket watch. We invite her to things. She agrees, but… she's not always there…She hasn't been flying all semester. I even jumped out the window like you suggested!..."
George had been hoping for the opportunity to chat, but every time J.J would need a partner for a stake out, the shop was too busy, or the Order was meeting.
He squished her against his side after Harry suggested seeing Ron, "I think I've seen enough of Roneekins. He has plenty of keener visitors."
Harry nodded, but was oblivious to George's polite turn from the hospital wing.
"Care for a walk?" He asked Persephone.
"I'll see you in the common room Harry." She said.
Thank you all for the encouragement. I appreciate it more than I can say. I'm sorry this chapter is so short. I am really struggling with Book 6, but our adventure deserves to be continued. Cheers!
