Chapter Nine
The first three months of the year flew by, between studying for their N.E.W.T's and just trying to get all his homework in on time. The quidditch season would be starting soon and practices would be starting soon, adding to his already busy schedule.
Potions class seemed to fly by. Without two evil slytherins to deal with, the class was much easier. Harry still had to contend with Snape, but even he seemed subdued. So far this year was turning out smashingly.
Snape of course still tried to make Harry's day miserable, but he failed in doing that. He had of course switched Ron with Draco, in attempts to anger him. This of course had failed and both boys had had an excellent class. Harry never realized how good at potions Draco was.
This day was going well, but the fate of Harry Potter had other plans in mind.
"Today we will be brewing a very dangerous potion. It is called the Acidious potion. If this potion comes in contact with your skin, the skin will melt of in a very painful manner." Snape informed the class. He gave Harry a very malicious grin.
Harry was hoping that Draco had wasn't lying, because trusting him with the acidious potion wasn't appealing. Even after three months of this set up Harry still had a tough time trusting him. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to either kill Harry or cause him as much pain as possible. But he had said that he was going to start over, and he was going to keep his word.
Class was almost over, and the potion was almost done. Thankfully nothing had happened. The entire class was cautious handling the potion, even Crabbe and Goyle.
"Harry we need more Armadillo bile." Draco said.
"I'm pretty sure Ron has some extra." Harry replied.
"Ok, I'm gonna go borrow some." Draco said.
Harry nodded and stirred the potion, Draco was true to his word and actually had been companionable during this lesson. It was an interesting turn around. Harry had actually enjoyed the lesson, laughing with the platinum haired boy. He actually might be a friend.
Of course what happened next would probably be the worst thing that happened in all of Hogwarts history. Or at least while Harry had been there.
Draco walked over to Ron and Goyle's table and asked if he could borrow some Armadillo bile. Harry could see Ron nodding and bending down to get some of the bile from his book bag under the table.
As he rose to hand Draco the bile, and he bashed his head on the underside of the desk. The vile of Acidious potion that was sitting waiting for him to take up to Snape, wobbled and swayed.
As Ron was rubbing the back of his head, still bent under the table...the vile fell. It fell and shattered on the edge of the table, splattering the back of Ron's head and his hand in Acidious potion.
Ron screamed his scream echoed through the dungeons, and probably farther. The piercing scream rattled around the dungeon and brought looks of horror to all the class mates faces. Regardless of house all the students in the classroom looked equally horrified. Friend or enemy no one would ever wish the pain that was etched onto Ron's face on anyone.
Not even a second after the scream had left Ron's mouth Snape had blasted into action. He shot out of his chair at the head of the class like a rocket. His wand was out of his robes faster than Harry could see.
"Frezeium impenda !" Snape yelled
A shot of ice blue light crossed the room and came in contact with Ron's head. Immediately after it hit, the top half of Ron's body froze. His head and torso were encased in a coffin of ice. The look of pain and horror still etched on to his face.
"Potter, Granger take him to Madam Pomfry and tell her what happened." Snape said quietly.
Harry and Hermione just stared at him in awe of what he had just did. Even though he hated Harry, Ron, and Hermione he still had done everything in his power to save Ron as much pain as possible.
"What are you waiting for?!? NOW!" Snape bellowed.
This seemed to snap Harry and Hermione out of there trances and snap into action. As gently as they could they levitated Ron's frozen body into the air. The walk to the Hospital wing seemed to drag on forever, but Harry knew better. What was he going to do without Ron by his side? Who would be there to talk quidditch to, or to make a joke, or to play wizards chess with? No, he wouldn't let himself think like that. Ron was going to be fine.
Snape only said it was so bad to scare them, right? There is no way that if a potion was that dangerous then why would they let seventeen year olds brew such a thing? Nothing added up, it just didn't seem to make sense to Harry, but then again right now nothing makes sense. All Harry cared about right now was making sure that Ron was safe, nothing else mattered in the world.
The Hospital wing door never looked so ominous, tall, dark and foreboding. Thick brown doors, ancient carvings etched into the thick oak doors. Harry had been here many times in his school days, but very few times did he remember walking in the actual doors. Ninety-five percent of the time he had been unconscious at the time of entry.
Harry pushed the doors open and they creaked, adding to the creepy effect. Harry and Hermione found Madam Pomfrey putting some charms on a sickly looking student.
"What are you stud...Oh my god, what happened?!?" Madam Pomfrey basically shrieked when she saw what they were carrying in between them.
"Some acidious potion spilled on his hand and the back of his head. Professor Snape used a charm on him to keep him from pain, but I think that the potion is still in effect." Hermione spilled out as if she was answering a question in class.
Harry rather reluctantly looked down at his frozen friend. Just as Hermione had said, the potion was still taking its toll on Ron's frozen body. Through the reflected maze of ice Harry could just make out the back of Ron's head and the potion still sizzling and bubbling there. Harry quickly looked away, the sight of his best friends head melting away was just too much for him.
Lucky for Ron, Harry, and Hermione Madam Pomfrey knew just what to do, and didn't lose her head.
"Harry, I want you to come with me and take him to St. Mungos. Hermione, I want you to floo to the burrow and tell the Weasleys what has happened and get them to St. Mungos as fast as the whole family can get there. Thank god you're the head Boy and Girl, other wise it would be against rules to send you out of the castle...Well get going." Madam Pomfrey snapped
Hermione immediately grabbed a pinch of flew powder and tossed into the fire. The flames turned emerald green and she blew a kiss to Harry and disappeared with...
"The Burrow!"
Harry turned to Madam Pomfrey and she nodded curtly. They each took a side of the frozen body and crossed over to the fire. And with a short pinch and yell they were gone in a woosh of jade flames, they were gone.
The first three months of the year flew by, between studying for their N.E.W.T's and just trying to get all his homework in on time. The quidditch season would be starting soon and practices would be starting soon, adding to his already busy schedule.
Potions class seemed to fly by. Without two evil slytherins to deal with, the class was much easier. Harry still had to contend with Snape, but even he seemed subdued. So far this year was turning out smashingly.
Snape of course still tried to make Harry's day miserable, but he failed in doing that. He had of course switched Ron with Draco, in attempts to anger him. This of course had failed and both boys had had an excellent class. Harry never realized how good at potions Draco was.
This day was going well, but the fate of Harry Potter had other plans in mind.
"Today we will be brewing a very dangerous potion. It is called the Acidious potion. If this potion comes in contact with your skin, the skin will melt of in a very painful manner." Snape informed the class. He gave Harry a very malicious grin.
Harry was hoping that Draco had wasn't lying, because trusting him with the acidious potion wasn't appealing. Even after three months of this set up Harry still had a tough time trusting him. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to either kill Harry or cause him as much pain as possible. But he had said that he was going to start over, and he was going to keep his word.
Class was almost over, and the potion was almost done. Thankfully nothing had happened. The entire class was cautious handling the potion, even Crabbe and Goyle.
"Harry we need more Armadillo bile." Draco said.
"I'm pretty sure Ron has some extra." Harry replied.
"Ok, I'm gonna go borrow some." Draco said.
Harry nodded and stirred the potion, Draco was true to his word and actually had been companionable during this lesson. It was an interesting turn around. Harry had actually enjoyed the lesson, laughing with the platinum haired boy. He actually might be a friend.
Of course what happened next would probably be the worst thing that happened in all of Hogwarts history. Or at least while Harry had been there.
Draco walked over to Ron and Goyle's table and asked if he could borrow some Armadillo bile. Harry could see Ron nodding and bending down to get some of the bile from his book bag under the table.
As he rose to hand Draco the bile, and he bashed his head on the underside of the desk. The vile of Acidious potion that was sitting waiting for him to take up to Snape, wobbled and swayed.
As Ron was rubbing the back of his head, still bent under the table...the vile fell. It fell and shattered on the edge of the table, splattering the back of Ron's head and his hand in Acidious potion.
Ron screamed his scream echoed through the dungeons, and probably farther. The piercing scream rattled around the dungeon and brought looks of horror to all the class mates faces. Regardless of house all the students in the classroom looked equally horrified. Friend or enemy no one would ever wish the pain that was etched onto Ron's face on anyone.
Not even a second after the scream had left Ron's mouth Snape had blasted into action. He shot out of his chair at the head of the class like a rocket. His wand was out of his robes faster than Harry could see.
"Frezeium impenda !" Snape yelled
A shot of ice blue light crossed the room and came in contact with Ron's head. Immediately after it hit, the top half of Ron's body froze. His head and torso were encased in a coffin of ice. The look of pain and horror still etched on to his face.
"Potter, Granger take him to Madam Pomfry and tell her what happened." Snape said quietly.
Harry and Hermione just stared at him in awe of what he had just did. Even though he hated Harry, Ron, and Hermione he still had done everything in his power to save Ron as much pain as possible.
"What are you waiting for?!? NOW!" Snape bellowed.
This seemed to snap Harry and Hermione out of there trances and snap into action. As gently as they could they levitated Ron's frozen body into the air. The walk to the Hospital wing seemed to drag on forever, but Harry knew better. What was he going to do without Ron by his side? Who would be there to talk quidditch to, or to make a joke, or to play wizards chess with? No, he wouldn't let himself think like that. Ron was going to be fine.
Snape only said it was so bad to scare them, right? There is no way that if a potion was that dangerous then why would they let seventeen year olds brew such a thing? Nothing added up, it just didn't seem to make sense to Harry, but then again right now nothing makes sense. All Harry cared about right now was making sure that Ron was safe, nothing else mattered in the world.
The Hospital wing door never looked so ominous, tall, dark and foreboding. Thick brown doors, ancient carvings etched into the thick oak doors. Harry had been here many times in his school days, but very few times did he remember walking in the actual doors. Ninety-five percent of the time he had been unconscious at the time of entry.
Harry pushed the doors open and they creaked, adding to the creepy effect. Harry and Hermione found Madam Pomfrey putting some charms on a sickly looking student.
"What are you stud...Oh my god, what happened?!?" Madam Pomfrey basically shrieked when she saw what they were carrying in between them.
"Some acidious potion spilled on his hand and the back of his head. Professor Snape used a charm on him to keep him from pain, but I think that the potion is still in effect." Hermione spilled out as if she was answering a question in class.
Harry rather reluctantly looked down at his frozen friend. Just as Hermione had said, the potion was still taking its toll on Ron's frozen body. Through the reflected maze of ice Harry could just make out the back of Ron's head and the potion still sizzling and bubbling there. Harry quickly looked away, the sight of his best friends head melting away was just too much for him.
Lucky for Ron, Harry, and Hermione Madam Pomfrey knew just what to do, and didn't lose her head.
"Harry, I want you to come with me and take him to St. Mungos. Hermione, I want you to floo to the burrow and tell the Weasleys what has happened and get them to St. Mungos as fast as the whole family can get there. Thank god you're the head Boy and Girl, other wise it would be against rules to send you out of the castle...Well get going." Madam Pomfrey snapped
Hermione immediately grabbed a pinch of flew powder and tossed into the fire. The flames turned emerald green and she blew a kiss to Harry and disappeared with...
"The Burrow!"
Harry turned to Madam Pomfrey and she nodded curtly. They each took a side of the frozen body and crossed over to the fire. And with a short pinch and yell they were gone in a woosh of jade flames, they were gone.