It's been weeks since Jason started on the Felix Felicis and he's already feeling a sense of dread. The Ashwinder egg that Professor Slughorn gave him was totally fresh and the recipe calls for it to be wholly boiled. In order to boil the egg it has to be in 250 °F water for 168 hours. He's set up shop in the abandoned girl's bathroom that a ghost called Moaning Myrtle haunts. Even though it's abandoned Moaning Myrtle sometimes beckons in visitors so Jason enchanted one of the stalls to look like it wasn't there. He also transfigured the toilet to be a small furnace.
After the first week of boiling the egg and carefully checking to see it remained at 250 °F as well as spending an additional two weeks carefully peeling off the protective membrane and shell of the boiled egg, yesterday he was finally able to cut the completely hardboiled egg into eight perfect slices and scoop out the yolk. Now he was off to the library to research where to find the next ingredient needed in order to brew the liquid luck: Squill Bulbs. On his way to the library he saw Luna talking with Harry on one of the stairwells and immediately tried to go the other way, but Luna caught sight of him before he did.
"Well Harry I'll give you some new Spectrespecs later this week since you lost yours, but please do try and hold on to them this time!" Luna stressed.
"Will do," said Harry before Luna left him to go catch up on Jason. He was already halfway up a flight of stairs before Luna lost him in a crowd. Jason didn't feel like talking to Luna at the moment if he was being truly honest with himself, he just really wanted to focus on the Felix Felicis. Not to mention she was with Harry Potter. He always gets jealous when he sees her or any of Harry's many friends with him. He can't help but wish that were him instead.
Jason managed to get to the library without running into anyone else. His hands in his robe pockets, he felt the invitation he'd gotten earlier today on his visit to the Owlery. It was for the Slug Club supper party later next week. They were gonna have one this week but since Slughorn knew that Jason was working on the Felix Felicis he pushed it back so that Jason wouldn't miss the first get together. Finally he made his way to the Herbology section and saw Neville Longbottom also looking at books in that particular aisle. Neville always was a Herbology geek so maybe he could help him.
"Hey! Neville!" Jason blurted quietly as he walked up to him. Neville looked at him kind of confused, then looked down at his robes and realized he was in Slytherin. Immediately his confusion turned into nervousness.
"If you want to tease me or something get on with it but please no more stomach hexes, I can't stand blowing chunks non-stop," pleaded Neville. Jason made a disgusted face.
"Oh Neville, no. I was just wondering if you could help me find a plant," Jason explained. "I need it for...uh...potions..." Neville looked a little intrigued, but still very much had his guard up. He looked Jason in the eye for a small awkward moment.
"What plant are you looking for exactly?" He asked.
"A few quill bulbs. I know they aren't particularly rare, but I have absolutely no idea where to find some," Jason explained. Neville chuckled.
"Oh is that all? They sell squills in Hogsmeade for just a few Sickles! I need to buy them all the time since I'm very prone to colds. Muggles use them in cough medicines." Neville explained. Jason wondered how he didn't know that.
"Uhh a few sickles huh? I always forget the wizarding currency is a thing since I just use my Converto-Card when I need to buy stuff around here," Jason stated. "A few sickles...that's like a $1.50 each I think..."
"Dollars?" Neville asked. Then his eyes lit up. "You're that American who sits next to Dean in Herbology! I knew you looked familiar!" He paused as if to contemplate. "You know if Dean hangs around with a Slytherin then you must be one of the good ones, how about I bring some squill bulbs to Herbology for you?" offered Neville.
"Hey that'd be great," Jason said enthusiastically. Since Neville is giving Jason some bulbs he'll let that passive aggressive Slytherin remark slide. Even though it was true, Jason is still pretty proud of his house.
"You know you don't act like a Slytherin if I'm being honest," Neville declared. "No Slytherin has ever talked to me except to insult me." Jason was getting bored of the conversation. To be quite honest, Jason could see why Neville was such a target. He finished up the conversation and made plans to meet before Herbology class started tomorrow.
As he left the library he saw a big bushy haired silhouette looking at old newspaper articles that could only be Hermione Granger. He passed by the desk she was stationed at when he realized he dropped his Slug Club invitation right next to her. He sighed, anticipating what can only amount to an annoying encounter.
"Hermione," He simply stated. She looked up from studying a picture of some captain of the school gobstones team from the 40s. When she saw it was Jason who called her attention she looked almost confused.
"Bias," she said almost observably.
Jason rolled his eyes. "Could you hand me that piece of paper next to you?" He asked as he pointed towards his invitation. She obliged, but not before taking a little look.
"Wow, a Slug Club invitation. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised," she smirked as she handed Jason the invitation, "Slughorn basically begged us to give you a standing ovation that class after we turned in our Draught of the Living Dead potions," she told him. The next potions class they had after Jason's unfortunate accident Slughorn revealed to everyone that Jason's potion would have took the win if he was there. To make up for it he awarded 15 points to Slytherin and made everyone give Jason a round of applause. Jason remembers it fondly.
"You mean after Harry and I turned in our potions," Jason chuckled. "Apparently we were the only ones who even managed to make the damn thing." Hermione's smirk slightly wavered. "I have to admit I was surprised it wasn't you who took the victory since I wasn't able to." He always loves to remind Hermione any chance he gets that he's tough competition for her in potions. "Even still, I assume you also got an invitation?" She quickly raised and showed off hers, as if she was ready to show it off this whole time.
"I've actually had mine since last week. It had the original date on it before but it changed to next week. I asked Professor Slughorn and he said it was your fault. That you needed extra time on a project or something and he wanted everyone invited to be able attend his first dinner party of the year." She was basically throwing verbal daggers at Jason trying to cut down his pride a bit. Usually Jason cares very little what anyone thinks of him, but the rivalry he has with Hermione is intense. He almost wanted to tell her he was making Felix Felicis just to see the look on her face but he wasn't sure if he should. Instead he just smiled and slightly made her hair even frizzier than it is already. He wasn't worried Hermione would notice, she's probably had it look worse before.
"Well see you around Hermione." Jason said with a smile as he walked away.
The next day Jason was invited by Luna to visit Hogsmeade with her. He realized he was kind of giving her the cold shoulder yesterday so he accepted the invitation. He could use some butterbeer from The Three Broomsticks anyways. He was meeting her at the Hogsmeade gate.
"Ready to go?" Luna asked him.
"I stay ready Luna," Jason joked. She didn't seem to understand the joke at all however. She grabbed Jason's arm and they walked the path to The Three Broomsticks. There was a small line out the door today.
"It looks like we're in for a bit of a wait. At least it's a nice day today," Luna added. Jason looked around at the snow covered village. It was early to mid-October and already there were inches of snow. All he could see was a blinding white anywhere he turned. It was very pretty to look at, but also extremely cold.
"Ugh, I'll never get used to this cold weather. I'd never even seen snow before I moved here," Jason explained. Luna seemed so shocked at the revelation.
"Never seen snow! Americans must truly come from another world!" she claimed. Jason laughed. He explained that only the southern parts of the U.S. don't get snow very often, but northerners are quite familiar with it. "That's so curious! Though, you know," Luna continued, "Magic in the States does tend to have a warmth to it doesn't it? My dad always said the witches from across the pond always favored spells that have to do with aura more than incantations."
"Hell if I'd know," Jason said. "I never got to study magic over there. Though I'd imagine-" Jason got shoved so hard he almost lost his balance and fell in the snow
"Oops," He heard someone giggle, "Sorry." Jason turned to look. It was Katie Bell, Chaser to the Gryffindor Quidditch team. She was accompanied by other members of it as well, all of them giggling.
"Ha-ha," Jason played along, "You know...for some reason I get the feeling you aren't very sorry at all," Jason said with a faux smile and mocking her British accent. Luna's face turned red, which Jason guesses is from second-hand embarrassment. She does hate confrontations. Katie Bell just rolled her eyes. She looked inside The Three Broomsticks at someone, almost as if something went according to plan. She slightly sneered at Jason before she entered to sit with her friends who already had a table. After she left Jason also looked at the direction she did and saw Ron Weasley starring at him with a smirk. He was with Harry and Hermione drinking butterbeer. Jason suddenly felt very self-conscious for some reason, and Luna must have noticed Jason's spirits go down a bit.
"Don't let them get to you Jason. I'm sure it's just the usual house rivalry since...you know..."
"You can say I'm in Slytherin, Luna. I'm not ashamed of it or anything," He told her just a little too loudly. The Hufflepuff and Gryffindor standing in front of them gave him a disgruntled look. Jason decided he couldn't take this today. "Luna do you mind if we just go get some snacks at Honeydukes-"
"Hey Jason! Luna!" someone called from inside The Three Broomsticks. They both looked inside and saw it was Dean Thomas. He was sitting with Ginny, who didn't look too pleased. "Hey guys! Come and sit with us!" encouraged Dean. Luna looked at Jason with a smile as if asking if it was okay.
"Luna, I don't know..." Jason still wasn't feeling all that up to having a glass of butterbeer anymore.
"What? I can't very well go in there by myself! He specifically asked for both of us!" she said with a pout. Jason can't help but find it amusing when she actually forces him to do stuff.
"Ugh alright," Jason gave in. She immediately grabbed his hand and pulled them both towards the table Dean and Ginny were at. It actually wasn't very far from the table Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting at. As they passed by their table Ron looked at Jason like he spit in his drink. Jason returned the look. Dean and Ginny were sitting at a booth so Jason sat next to Dean while Luna took the seat next to Ginny.
"How's it going guys?" Dean asked as he gave him and Luna a hug. Jason couldn't help but blush at this. Ginny and Luna greeted each other as well. Jason looked at Ginny to say hi but she wouldn't even look his way.
"Oh...uh...today's been just a little annoying," Jason mumbled, "But I'm sure the rest of the day will be fine now," he said. Dean chuckled.
"Well the first step to that is getting a butterbeer in ya! I'll order you and Luna one," he offered.
"Oh that sounds great!" Luna chimed. Before Jason could say anything else Dean was calling the waitress over. After she took down their orders Dean began to introduce Ginny to Jason.
"I don't believe the two of you have ever met huh?" Dean asked them. Jason was going to say that they see each other in Divination but Ginny spoke before he could.
"Nope," she said very plainly as she took a sip of her butterbeer. Jason just smiled and did the same.
"Yeah well you know Jason here's the reason we're together-"
"Yeah Dean, you told me the story already," Ginny stated. She looked at Jason with a blank smile. Dean looked at her a little perplexed. Jason can't imagine why she's acting so cold. Then he remembered she was also on the Quidditch Team along with Ron and Katie Bell. Suddenly a few things started to all make sense. Ron must have let them all know about him and Harry. Who knows what else he could have said to make Jason such a target.
It seemed even Luna could feel the tension as she quickly changed the subject. Their butterbeers arrived and Jason just blanked out after a bit. He was beginning to feel quite miserable. His self-consciousness rose as he realized he was basically surrounded by members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. It seems Jason had entered the lion's den.
"Jason m'boy!" someone roared. Jason immediately recognized the voice as Slughorn's.
"Oh hello Professor Slughorn," Jason responded. Even though no Gryffindor was actually paying Jason any mind, he felt better knowing there was a Professor present. Everyone looked at Slughorn as he waddled his way over to their booth.
"I see you're also here enjoying a glass of butterbeer," he said in a jolly tone. Jason assumes Slughorn has drank a tad too many butterbeers. Dean smirks at Jason and he can't help but smirk back. Slughorn immediately noticed that Ginny was also at the table. "Oh Ginny m'dear! You're here too! It seems my chosen members of the Slug Club all have good taste!" he chuckled to himself.
"The Slug Club professor?" Ginny asked. Jason's smirk immediately dissipates.
"Oh that's right! I sent my owl to deliver the invitations to my supper parties for my Slug Club but yours was the only one that got returned. I've been meaning to give it to you in class but you're always off in such a hurry," he explains. Jason knows that 5th years have potions right before lunch. If Ginny was running off somewhere immediately after it ended it was probably to the Great Hall. Jason always sees Harry and Ginny together before Dean shows up. This made Jason clench his jaw. It seems Dean might also have put these things together.
"Oh she does?" asked Dean. Ginny might've sensed what this revealed so she immediately tried to change the subject.
"Oh! Yeah, my brother Ron and I share the same owl address but it's officially his not mine," she quickly explained.
"Ahh that'll do it," nodded Slughorn. "Your brother Ron huh?" he asked. She pointed towards Ron sitting at the table close to them. "Oh! Wallaby!" he exclaimed, getting the attention of everyone around them. "Yes we wouldn't want him accidently getting that invitation," he uttered a little too loudly. Everyone who heard looked at Ron and giggled including Harry and Hermione. Ron's face turned as red as a tomato and he sunk into his chair from embarrassment. Slughorn handed Ginny her Slugclub invitation and told her and Jason not to be late next week and finally left.
"Wow," Dean said. "He's just so...honest isn't he?" Dean looked at Ginny. Ginny looked like she was about to say something but then gave up. Jason and Luna both felt extremely uncomfortable at the silence that followed the encounter. Finally Dean broke the tension.
"You know I think I should leave," Dean said. Ginny wouldn't even look at him.
"Aww why?" Luna said a little halfheartedly.
"Oh it's just I'm starting to feel a little sick. I guess I'm catching that Hogsmeade sickness going around," Dean explained. Everyone there knew he was lying, but nevertheless no one questioned him. Jason got up so that Dean could leave and Dean hugged him goodbye, again catching Jason by surprise and making him blush. Jason could see Harry looking at him as Dean let go, which made Jason feel even hotter in the face. Dean also hugged and said goodbye to Luna and mumbled something to Ginny before hugging her good bye as well. "…ridiculous…he doesn't….blood magic…." Jason managed to overhear. He went to pay for his and Ginny's butterbeer and finally left. Before Jason could even sit down comfortably Ginny asked Luna if she could also get up and then left in a hurry without saying another word. Jason and Luna just stared at each other.
"Well...that just happened," Jason said to Luna as she sat back down.
"I don't understand?" Luna asked him. "Why did the tension in the air get so...tense?"
"Oh Luna-" right as Jason was about to explain he felt an ice cold liquid pour all over him. Jason looked behind him to see Katie Bell, holding an empty glass in one hand, a cookie in the other and a faux surprised look on her face. It seems she accidentally spilled butterbeer all over Jason.
"OH! My. Bad." Katie Bell said as she looked back at her table for approval. They all giggled of course. "Filthy dark mage," she called Jason under her breath.
The butterbeer wasn't warm like they usually serve at this time of the year. The freezing liquid had him completely soaked and shaking. Jason can't believe what's happening. If it wasn't clear before, Jason was convinced of it now. He realized Ron has probably been spreading lies that Jason uses dark magic. He looked over and noticed Ron was having the time of his life at his table, laughing at Jason. Could this have been a coordinated attack on Jason by the Gryffindor Quidditch team? A team Harry is the captain of. All he can think about is if Harry is in on it, looking in his direction and laughing at him as well. He's too afraid to even look. He's frozen.
"Seriously?" Luna said to Katie. She just shrugged and sneered at Jason. Luna just looked at her. "Here Jason, I'll dry you off," she offers as she take out her wand.
"No," Jason finally speaks. He feels like a pot of emotions just swirling around, but one rings through more than the others.
Wrath.
He dries himself off and looks at Luna. "Luna I think it's time we leave don't you think?"
Luna looks at him, almost a little worried. "Yeah, sure Jason," she agrees. Jason and Luna both get up and Jason gives Luna his Converto-Card so she can pay for their butterbeers.
"Oh uh..." Luna looks at him, "I've never used one of these before. Will it work if it's not you?" she asks.
"It's no problem. They don't ask to sign for anything here," He reassures her. He talks as if the last minute or so never happened. She still gives him a worrying look, "It'll be fine Luna. Sorry to ask you this but I just want to have as little human interaction as I possibly can right now," he explains. She just gives him a small but worrying nod.
As Jason heads towards the exit he stops to check if no one is looking. He scans the room while avoiding Harry as much as he can and notices Draco is also at the Three Broomsticks way in the back with his usual friends, if you can even call them that. Suddenly he notices that Draco is up and heading towards the restroom. "Perfect," he whispers to himself. He'll get to kill two birds with one stone. He looks back at Katie Bell. She's about to take a bite out of her cookie.
"Crustulum Nasuseam!" he whispers while discreetly pointing his wand at the cookie. The hex hits right before she takes a bite. He stares at her with anticipation until finally Jason can see that the more she chews, the more increasingly uncomfortable she looks.
"Katie what's wrong?" asked Leanne Bailey.
"Oh...uh nothing," answered Katie Bell. She took another bite of the cookie which made Jason recoil with glee. She began to groan and hold her stomach. Finally you could hear a very loud growling coming from Katie Bell's direction, which made Leanne and the rest of the people around her stare. She looks down at her stomach.
"OOOH!" Katie groaned. She put her hand over her mouth and ran to the restroom but it was occupied by Draco. She started knocking very loudly. "OPEN UP!" she screamed. Jason was struggling to contain his laughter. Everyone there was looking at her now.
"Woah what's going on?" Luna asked Jason, handing him his Converto-Card.
"Oh, nothing," Jason chuckled. "Let's just get out of here." Luna looked at him a little suspiciously but nevertheless she obliged. As they walked back out into the white wonderland that was Hogsmeade covered in snow, Jason could hear Draco screaming "GROSS!" at what he assumes is his plan coming into full motion. He silently smiles to himself, feeling a lot better about today.
