Chapter 7 – The Love Potion
"What are we going to do?" Liz moaned.
"About what? Everything's perfectly fine," said Rachel. "Right, Michael, honey?"
Michael blanched. "Did she just call me honey?"
"Why shouldn't I? I love you so much!"
"She's gone insane," Michael declared.
"No, it's the potion. Don't you see? What else would make her declare her undying love for you?"
"Wouldn't she do it on her own?" Michael asked. Liz pursed her lips at him. "Just a thought."
"Michael, I know this is kind of sudden," said Rachel, "but will you go out with me? I'll be a good girlfriend! I'll love you for ever and ever!"
Michael looked around at Liz. "Help me here," he pleaded through gritted teeth. "What do I do?"
"Say yes. No, I'm serious! Play along for now until I find the antidote."
"Stop telling him what to do, Liz!" Rachel said. "Well, Michael? What do you say?"
"Um...all right." To Liz, he muttered, "I wonder what Mum'll say."
"Come on, let's go to the library, I need to look. Rachel, get off his arm, we've got to go now."
Over the next few days, Liz spent her time in the library researching Love Potion antidotes. She brought Michael and Rachel with her, but neither of them was much help. Rachel kept hanging on Michael and trying to kiss him. He kept resisting her efforts.
After one night, four days after the incident in Potions, Rachel pulled Liz aside. "What do you think you are doing, Liz?"
"Finding the antidote!"
"No, I mean with Michael."
Liz blinked. "Huh?"
"I can see what you're doing. You're trying to steal Michael from me, aren't you? You keep bringing him to the library with you, saying you're finding some antidote, but you're jealous that he loves me and not you!"
"Rachel, do you hear yourself? You're under a spell, so you love him. It was a Love Potion!"
Rachel sniffed. "That's what you want me to think! Look, Liz, never ever come near Michael again, ever! Do you hear me? Ever!" And she stomped off.
Liz stared after her. Did Rachel believe what she was saying? She needed to talk to Michael. Soon. Or he'd be in deeper than he bargained for.
But it was easier said than done. Every time Rachel saw her coming, she'd lead Michael away somewhere to be alone. Finally one night, Rachel went up to bed early after attempting to kiss Michael good night. He moved over to Liz and asked, "Did you find it?"
"I did," Liz answered. "It was in the Restricted section."
"How'd you get it?"
"I used Snape's signature."
Michael choked. "Snape gave you permission?"
"No. Remember that paper he gave us about the essay on proper stirring techniques last year? Well, he had signed it, and I used a spell to copy it onto my note. I have some right here." She produced, with a flourish, a small vial of black liquid. Michael made a face.
"That's gross. How do I give it to her?"
"Slip it in her drink tomorrow at breakfast. Then—"
Loud footsteps sounded on the stairs. It was Rachel. She spotted Liz and Michael. "You!" she yelled, apoplectic with rage. "You two! Michael, you're cheating on me!"
"Rachel—"
"No, Michael, you will love me!" And she stormed back up the stairs, muttering and cursing under her breath.
Michael looked at Liz. "What did she mean by that?"
"I don't know. I'd be careful if I were you." Liz sat back in her chair. "Stupid haywire magic. I hate not being able to control it!"
The next morning, Liz slipped into the Great Hall unnoticed by anyone save Michael, who gave her a thumbs-up. She returned the gesture. Rachel noticed and told Michael to drink his pumpkin juice. Liz mouthed at him, "Did you do it?" He held up one finger, indicating that he hadn't yet, and took a sip of his drink.
Something changed. When Rachel kissed him on the cheek, he didn't resist. In fact, he planted another one on her forehead! He allowed Rachel, who grinned maliciously at Liz, to take his hand.
She had put something in his drink! A Love Potion? So that's what she had meant by 'you will love me.' And now he did. Oh, great, Liz thought. What am I supposed to do now?
The vial. Michael had it. How could she get it? Why was this happening? Stupid, stupid out-of-control magic! Now her two best friends were madly in love with each other over a potion! This was truly ridiculous.
Liz snuck over to Michael's bag. He didn't notice; he was too busy with Rachel. The vial was in his bag's front pocket, thankfully.
He turned to Rachel to kiss her. Really kiss her, on the lips. Liz refrained from watching and poured about half the antidote in his cup. He took a sip. Nothing happened.
Oh, wonderful. The Love Potion had been in there. It had probably counteracted the antidote.
Liz stole Bettie's glass and put the antidote in there. Bettie began protesting loudly, but Liz really couldn't care at the moment. She replaced Michael's cup with hers and waited. Sure enough, he took a sip and let go of Rachel. Rachel noticed Liz standing there. "What are you doing here?"
Liz couldn't think of a plausible answer for why she was standing behind the once-happy couple, except the truth. But before she could say a word, Michael held out his cup to Rachel. "Drink this," he said.
"Sure, Michael. Anything for you." She smirked at Liz and swallowed. A change took place on her face, and she scowled at the cup. "Gross." Then she looked up at Michael. "What just happened? I feel out of it."
Liz grinned. "I'll explain it later."
October had come in full swing with autumn winds. Rachel refused to talk about 'the incident' ever again, and that was fine with Liz. Michael, too, apparently. Things went back to normal after a while.
They were heading to Care of Magical Creatures one day, looking at a catalogue from Madame Malkin's Robes. Actually, Liz and Rachel were looking at it. Michael hung back, uninterested in clothes.
"Ooh, that one has a nice pattern with the shiny red wands on it," said Rachel, pointing.
"Yeah, I guess that one's good—oh my gosh, look!" Liz cried excitedly.
"What is it?" asked Michael.
"It's an invisibility cloak! I want one really badly. I saw them over the summer but I couldn't afford it."
"If you couldn't afford it, it must be really expensive," said Rachel, taking a look at the merchandise. "Whoa, it is. Nobody can afford it."
Winnie Chen passed by with her friend Patsy Casarez, saying loudly, "I just love my new invisibility cloak! It's so warm and smooth, and best of all, I can be invisible!"
"I stand corrected," said Rachel.
"I wonder how long it would take me to earn enough money to buy that thing?" Liz said thoughtfully.
"Too long," said Rachel. "See there, it says limited stock."
"They're supposed to be really rare," said Michael. "How did Madame Malkin get enough to sell?"
"I don't know, but I want one. A lot!"
"What do you want?" said Chris, coming up behind them. They had finally reached Hagrid's cabin, where most of the class had gathered already.
Something I saw in this catalogue," said Liz. She showed him what it was.
"An invisibility cloak? I wish I had one too."
"Had what?" asked Hagrid's booming voice behind them. If they told him, the whole class would hear that she wanted an invisibility cloak. The last thing Liz wanted was Winnie to know she wanted something Winnie had.
"Nothing," she said hurriedly.
The class was spent with puffy, bouncy round furry animals called puffskeins. They whirred slightly when not playing with friends. Most of the girls had a good time, but the boys didn't really enjoy the creatures that so resembled stuffed animals.
"That was fun," said Liz as they left.
"Oh, yes, tons of fun," Michael said sarcastically.
"It was," Rachel agreed. "They were so cute!"
"Ooh, ooh, take out the catalogue, let me see again!" Liz said excitedly. They spent the rest of the way back up to the castle marveling over Madame Malkin's invisibility cloaks.
"What are we going to do?" Liz moaned.
"About what? Everything's perfectly fine," said Rachel. "Right, Michael, honey?"
Michael blanched. "Did she just call me honey?"
"Why shouldn't I? I love you so much!"
"She's gone insane," Michael declared.
"No, it's the potion. Don't you see? What else would make her declare her undying love for you?"
"Wouldn't she do it on her own?" Michael asked. Liz pursed her lips at him. "Just a thought."
"Michael, I know this is kind of sudden," said Rachel, "but will you go out with me? I'll be a good girlfriend! I'll love you for ever and ever!"
Michael looked around at Liz. "Help me here," he pleaded through gritted teeth. "What do I do?"
"Say yes. No, I'm serious! Play along for now until I find the antidote."
"Stop telling him what to do, Liz!" Rachel said. "Well, Michael? What do you say?"
"Um...all right." To Liz, he muttered, "I wonder what Mum'll say."
"Come on, let's go to the library, I need to look. Rachel, get off his arm, we've got to go now."
Over the next few days, Liz spent her time in the library researching Love Potion antidotes. She brought Michael and Rachel with her, but neither of them was much help. Rachel kept hanging on Michael and trying to kiss him. He kept resisting her efforts.
After one night, four days after the incident in Potions, Rachel pulled Liz aside. "What do you think you are doing, Liz?"
"Finding the antidote!"
"No, I mean with Michael."
Liz blinked. "Huh?"
"I can see what you're doing. You're trying to steal Michael from me, aren't you? You keep bringing him to the library with you, saying you're finding some antidote, but you're jealous that he loves me and not you!"
"Rachel, do you hear yourself? You're under a spell, so you love him. It was a Love Potion!"
Rachel sniffed. "That's what you want me to think! Look, Liz, never ever come near Michael again, ever! Do you hear me? Ever!" And she stomped off.
Liz stared after her. Did Rachel believe what she was saying? She needed to talk to Michael. Soon. Or he'd be in deeper than he bargained for.
But it was easier said than done. Every time Rachel saw her coming, she'd lead Michael away somewhere to be alone. Finally one night, Rachel went up to bed early after attempting to kiss Michael good night. He moved over to Liz and asked, "Did you find it?"
"I did," Liz answered. "It was in the Restricted section."
"How'd you get it?"
"I used Snape's signature."
Michael choked. "Snape gave you permission?"
"No. Remember that paper he gave us about the essay on proper stirring techniques last year? Well, he had signed it, and I used a spell to copy it onto my note. I have some right here." She produced, with a flourish, a small vial of black liquid. Michael made a face.
"That's gross. How do I give it to her?"
"Slip it in her drink tomorrow at breakfast. Then—"
Loud footsteps sounded on the stairs. It was Rachel. She spotted Liz and Michael. "You!" she yelled, apoplectic with rage. "You two! Michael, you're cheating on me!"
"Rachel—"
"No, Michael, you will love me!" And she stormed back up the stairs, muttering and cursing under her breath.
Michael looked at Liz. "What did she mean by that?"
"I don't know. I'd be careful if I were you." Liz sat back in her chair. "Stupid haywire magic. I hate not being able to control it!"
The next morning, Liz slipped into the Great Hall unnoticed by anyone save Michael, who gave her a thumbs-up. She returned the gesture. Rachel noticed and told Michael to drink his pumpkin juice. Liz mouthed at him, "Did you do it?" He held up one finger, indicating that he hadn't yet, and took a sip of his drink.
Something changed. When Rachel kissed him on the cheek, he didn't resist. In fact, he planted another one on her forehead! He allowed Rachel, who grinned maliciously at Liz, to take his hand.
She had put something in his drink! A Love Potion? So that's what she had meant by 'you will love me.' And now he did. Oh, great, Liz thought. What am I supposed to do now?
The vial. Michael had it. How could she get it? Why was this happening? Stupid, stupid out-of-control magic! Now her two best friends were madly in love with each other over a potion! This was truly ridiculous.
Liz snuck over to Michael's bag. He didn't notice; he was too busy with Rachel. The vial was in his bag's front pocket, thankfully.
He turned to Rachel to kiss her. Really kiss her, on the lips. Liz refrained from watching and poured about half the antidote in his cup. He took a sip. Nothing happened.
Oh, wonderful. The Love Potion had been in there. It had probably counteracted the antidote.
Liz stole Bettie's glass and put the antidote in there. Bettie began protesting loudly, but Liz really couldn't care at the moment. She replaced Michael's cup with hers and waited. Sure enough, he took a sip and let go of Rachel. Rachel noticed Liz standing there. "What are you doing here?"
Liz couldn't think of a plausible answer for why she was standing behind the once-happy couple, except the truth. But before she could say a word, Michael held out his cup to Rachel. "Drink this," he said.
"Sure, Michael. Anything for you." She smirked at Liz and swallowed. A change took place on her face, and she scowled at the cup. "Gross." Then she looked up at Michael. "What just happened? I feel out of it."
Liz grinned. "I'll explain it later."
October had come in full swing with autumn winds. Rachel refused to talk about 'the incident' ever again, and that was fine with Liz. Michael, too, apparently. Things went back to normal after a while.
They were heading to Care of Magical Creatures one day, looking at a catalogue from Madame Malkin's Robes. Actually, Liz and Rachel were looking at it. Michael hung back, uninterested in clothes.
"Ooh, that one has a nice pattern with the shiny red wands on it," said Rachel, pointing.
"Yeah, I guess that one's good—oh my gosh, look!" Liz cried excitedly.
"What is it?" asked Michael.
"It's an invisibility cloak! I want one really badly. I saw them over the summer but I couldn't afford it."
"If you couldn't afford it, it must be really expensive," said Rachel, taking a look at the merchandise. "Whoa, it is. Nobody can afford it."
Winnie Chen passed by with her friend Patsy Casarez, saying loudly, "I just love my new invisibility cloak! It's so warm and smooth, and best of all, I can be invisible!"
"I stand corrected," said Rachel.
"I wonder how long it would take me to earn enough money to buy that thing?" Liz said thoughtfully.
"Too long," said Rachel. "See there, it says limited stock."
"They're supposed to be really rare," said Michael. "How did Madame Malkin get enough to sell?"
"I don't know, but I want one. A lot!"
"What do you want?" said Chris, coming up behind them. They had finally reached Hagrid's cabin, where most of the class had gathered already.
Something I saw in this catalogue," said Liz. She showed him what it was.
"An invisibility cloak? I wish I had one too."
"Had what?" asked Hagrid's booming voice behind them. If they told him, the whole class would hear that she wanted an invisibility cloak. The last thing Liz wanted was Winnie to know she wanted something Winnie had.
"Nothing," she said hurriedly.
The class was spent with puffy, bouncy round furry animals called puffskeins. They whirred slightly when not playing with friends. Most of the girls had a good time, but the boys didn't really enjoy the creatures that so resembled stuffed animals.
"That was fun," said Liz as they left.
"Oh, yes, tons of fun," Michael said sarcastically.
"It was," Rachel agreed. "They were so cute!"
"Ooh, ooh, take out the catalogue, let me see again!" Liz said excitedly. They spent the rest of the way back up to the castle marveling over Madame Malkin's invisibility cloaks.