Disclaimer: J.K.R owns HP… and I own… *thinks* nothing. *Tear*
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Chapter 11"Potions and Problems"
It was finally the last day of the holidays and the group had decided to stay up a bit in the Gryffindor common room. While Harry was updating Ron on the practical part of the classes, Ginny had just come down from the Owlry. She told Ron that she had just gone to mail some letters. When he asked to whom, Ginny said: "Well you know, to mum and my friends… nothing special," Harry looked at Ginny as she brought her gaze to him. She looked strangely nervous.
When the rest of the students returned to start their classes, the first thing that had seem to pop out of their mouths was the buzz about Ron and Hermione. Many people, especially from Gryffindor, had come to ask the now talkative Ron just why he was acting so strange and all he could say was: "Well… I was just in a slump…" Lavander and Pavarti were all a twitter about how cute they looked together and the pair could only blush and smile. Draco wasn't so impressed and in his irritancy, kicked a rat out of his way. Who were they to form a romance while all this was happening to him? Harry had noticed Draco from time to time walking around in the halls, either talking to Blaize Zambini or Pansy, unsure about what that night's events had settled between them. After that day in Hogsmeade they had stayed distant and Ron was the only one who really approached him to talk about his business with Lucius. Harry noticed something else that made him feel uncomfortable. Ginny looked more vigilant about everything since the end of the holidays. She sort of reminded him of Draco when Ron was sneaking around the school. "I hope she's not hiding something too," he thought. It was on the group's way to Potions that he knew what.
"Oh! I forgot my Potions notes! I'll be right back," said Harry as he left Ron and Hermione to walk to class.
As he turned the corner his eyes met with a sight that usually would have made his heart dance. It was Ginny but she was not alone.
"So what did you mean by that letter? Are you refusing or -"
"It's not that. I just need time to sort some things out," said Ginny.
"It's him isn't it? I'm sick of hearing about him all the time,"
Ginny started to laugh.
"What?"
"Oh please! You used to obsess about him as much as I did," she said.
"It was just a phase! I was just a little kid! I'm older now… and so are you,"
"Yes well, sadly it was this obsession that made us friends wasn't it?" said Ginny.
"Yes, I suppose… but it shouldn't be him that stops us,"
"Listen Colin, I'll have to think about it. I care for you very much but going out with you… It's something I'll have to let sink in. Oh, we better hurry. Classes will be starting soon," she said as she and Colin Creevly walked down the hall.
Harry didn't know what to think. How twisted. Colin and Ginny? He turned back and forgot about his notes. It was far better for him to not have them then to be late for Snape's class. So he walked back, a little dazed and feeling a little sick. "Colin and Ginny?" he kept muttering to himself as he entered the classroom to strangely see Ron, Hermione and Draco, all sitting next to each other, looking at him with anxious eyes. They had begun to urge him madly to sit down.
"Our Hermione has done it!" said Ron.
"Oh please! Had Snape said it a few moments after I would have thought of it," sneered Draco.
"What?" said Harry.
"We have an idea of how to cure Lucius," whispered Hermione. "The Curalithium!!!"
Harry eyes grew to twice their size. Of course, this potion was rumored to cure most curses! But then something else dawned on him.
"But Hermione, neither of us are any good at preparing it. Normally you would have been able to do it but -" said Harry.
"Speak for yourself Potter!" said Draco.
'So, it's back to Potter is it? Well, these things don't change overnight,' thought Harry.
"I can easily make that potion and my father will be back to normal!"
Ron looked at Draco now puffing his chest with confidence. Mr. Malfoy, back to normal? Was this really a good thing after all? Everyone settled down as Professor Snape came limping into the room. It looked like he had just been to the matron's office. He told them to prepare their cauldrons for part 2 of the Curalithium potion as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Draco looked at him shocked! There was more to it? It was already VERY hard.
"And now comes the hard part," said Snape. "It's time to add the murtlap growth to the mixture of the first part of the Curalithium we practiced on the last time. The last classes were not just to learn how to extract the growth from a murtlap's back but also a test to see how quickly you could perform the procedure. So now you'll know if you need work on it. The Curalithium is a very complex potion that must have all it's parts done before the initial mixture begins to cool off. The growth must be fresh in order for it to work, other wise, you might as well be serving the victim a potion that tastes horrible, makes their nails turn orange and that can turn their hair purple – and NO Mr. Finnigan you cannot use it to dye your hair!" said Snape with a growl as Seamus talked to Dean while pointing to his currently fire engine red hair. He changed it's color every month or so.
"Blimey!" said Ron in disbelief. "I studied at the manor for that blasted potion and tried it. I kept adding the ingredients too late or too early and it made horrible orange smoke that smelled like dung! How in the world, are we supposed to make the potion and extract the growth before it cools? Snape's lost it!"
"This potion, Ron, happens to be part of our N.E.W.T.s! I can't believe I didn't even read up to it! I'm actually behind in this class!" said Hermione in disbelief.
"That's what happens when you only think about boys," said Draco mockingly.
"Shut up Draco! I was trying to help you too you idiot!" said Hermione very hot as Draco laughed evilly. She wasn't exactly proud of being behind in anything!
They all then looked at the live murtlap on Professor Snape's table that was boxed in a little aquarium. These creatures were strange rat-like animals with growth on their back resembling sea anemone. Usually the growth would be pickled and eaten to make the eater resistant against curses and jinxes but they had to pick it freshly for this potion and it was no easy deal. Picking it freshly meant making sure the murtlap was alive. The little rodent could be heard snapping and squeaking as professor Snape told them that he would be doing a demonstration for the proper way to make the Curalithium entirely. The four watched with extra attention as Snape's movements and delicate attention could only be called super-human. If they knew better, they could have sworn that Snape could have done it in his sleep. As he added the final ingredient that was the pearly scale of Antipodean Opaleye, a dragon found in New Zealand, the potion let out a multi-colored puff of smoke.
"Wow!" said Hermione. Snape had managed to make the first part in less than 20 minutes.
"But what about the murtlap?" asked Harry now eying the little tank.
His question was easily answered as Snape reached in and grabbed the creature. It jiggled and snapped and looked very vicious for such a little thing. Snape grabbed the pincers and began to grab a fair amount of growth by the root all the while stunning it with little zaps from his wand. He had to make sure that the growth came out whole. He couldn't petrify the murtlap cause he would be mixing in the powers of the spell with the magical properties of the growth. Hermione was eagerly taking notes.
"I have just gained an all new respect for Snape," said Harry.
"I've just gained respect for him period," said Ron.
"That's what you two idiots get for thinking of him that way – but my god! How are we supposed to do what he just did?" added Draco.
"Quiet! He's preparing the growth now!" hushed Hermione.
Indeed, he was mixing the growth in an oily substance that had to be prepared beforehand. He added a few drops of dragon's blood, which also made the smell of the mixture bearable, and extracted the growth that had now turned a deep red. With a shaky hand he slowly dipped the reddish element into the cauldron and let in sink in slowly and repeated it with what was left. The smoke turned purple and the Curalithium became totally clear. It looked just like spring water. Professor Snape looked up at the class and merely said: "That wasn't so hard was it?"
"Terrible time for Snape to get a sense of humor!" shot Ron to Harry.
The class ended with four 7th year students looking more depressed then ever. Not only did they already have trouble in that potion AND it was part of their N.E.W.T.s but also how would they ever make it to give to Lucius? As they walked by, Harry caught a glimpse of Ginny and Colin walking down the corridor. Harry didn't know what to think about those two anymore but knew better then to be rude.
"Hello," he said as Ginny's face lit up with joy.
"Oh Harry, hello! How was your class?" she said as Colin made a face.
"What do you think Gin? It was potions," said Ron as he looked at Hermione. She however, looked in deep thought.
"Are you ok?" Ron asked.
"Yes-Yes I'm fine… just worried about things," she said looking into his eyes.
"We'll figure it all out Hermione, don't worry," said Ron softly.
"Well - I'm off. I have things to do," said Draco abruptly as he joined some departing Slytherins.
After he walked away, the Gryffindors made their way to their common room. Ginny looked up at Harry and got closer to him to ask him a question.
"Harry, has Draco made good on him being friends with us?" she whispered.
"I think so Ginny but it looks like it will take longer then a few weeks for him to get used to us. He's been against us for 6 years,"
"I see," said Ginny as she looked at Harry.
Colin began to growl in his corner and shouted angrily: "Chocolate Rum" as he marched his way into the portrait hole. Ron and Hermione looked very surprised by his shouting but Harry knew what it was about. Ginny didn't offer any explanations as they retired for the evening.
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A/N: I'll be putting up more today or tomorrow just to say I'm sorry.