Chapter 5: Wired

"Just another drink," Harry kept mumbling every time he'd finish a mug. Even through a more butterbeer-influenced state, he could sense Katherine's growing annoyance with him. Finally, she became fed up.
"Look, Harry, there's no more money left for the drinks," she snapped. "There's nothing left to buy any sweets with either. All we have left to do is walk around outside or wait until it's time to head back to Hogwarts."
"What is Dean doing with Ginny?" Harry said, his words slurring together a bit. Katherine eyed him and shrugged impatiently.
"I don't know...they could be on a date," Katherine said boredly. Harry laughed.
"Ha!" he shouted, "you're right!" He slammed down his mug and waved it to Katherine. "She is! And you-a know what? I do care. I mean, I don't care." He laughed again and tipped backwards in his seat, almost sliding down to the floors. "'Course I wouldn't care. She's Ginny. Dean and Ginny. Hey, I'll get to be in their wedding." Katherine, who hadn't had a single butterbeer since Harry gone on about different keys ("Amazing! One little jagged metal can open up that door, but not that one!"), looked around the room for something to interest her while she was waiting for Harry to shut up and leave the table.
"I don't mean to rush you or anything, Harry," Katherine said somewhat sarcastically, "but it's high time we left." Harry nodded and jumped up. He didn't even wait for Katherine before stumbling towards the door.
"Wait up, Harry!" a voice called behind him. Harry spun around. It took him a minute to focus and realize it was Ron, Hermione trailing close behind him. He grabbed Katherine by the shoulder and pulled her over so that she was standing close by his side. Ginny, seeing this, sat up and brushed off her skirt and led Dean to the door.
"Ron!" he shouted. "And his girlfriend!" Ron and Hermione looked at each other briefly before throwing Harry a creeped expression.
"Harry?" Hermione asked, as if she had been meeting him after years past.
"How many butterbeers did you have?" Ron asked, walking up to his friend and patting him on the back. It must've taken a many several butterbeers to drive Harry into this state. All of them could take a butterbeer - it was a light drink.
"Two!" Harry said triumphantly, holding up three fingers. Katherine couldn't stifle a laugh. She held up Harry's shoulder so he wasn't tipping over as he was.
"Times ten, more like?" Katherine said, not able to hide the slight bitterness in her voice. Hermione looked to Ron and motioned to Harry. Ron got the hint and began to swing Harry's arm over his shoulder so he could walk him back to the gathering line back to Hogwarts. Katherine shook her head.
"No, no, enjoy what's left of your date," Katherine insisted. She did as Ron was beginning to do and led Harry out the door, but he pulled away.
"I can walk my own damn self," he growled. He pulled a window shade instead of the doorknob and walked into the wall. Ginny appeared by Ron's side, standing closely to Harry, Katherine, and the door. Her fingers were held lightly by Dean Thomas's.
"Ron, help!" he cried. "The door! It's - "
"Right here?" Katherine finished, grabbing his hand and putting it on the doorknob. Harry smiled a crooked smile at her.
"She's incredibly pretty," he said. No one had any clue who Harry was talking about or to you.
"Okay, here we go," she said hurriedly and swung open the door. Even though she knew as well as anyone else in the pub he was tipsy, Katherine blushed immensely at the drunken compliment. She didn't really know if it was meant for her and wanted them to leave quickly.
"No rush," said a voice behind him sarcastically. It was Dean. Apparently, he and Ginny were waiting for them the group to go out the door.
"Back off, Dean!" Harry barked, swirling around. Dean's hand was on Ginny's shoulder and Ginny was leaning towards him.
"Calm down, you drunk," Dean said. It was a joke. Hermione, Ron, Katherine, and Ginny all realized this. Harry took it as an insult and lunged at him.
"No!" shrieked Ginny pulling Dean back.
"I was kidding, Harry. Sorry," Dean apologized. Ginny scowled.
"Don't apologize," she demanded. "You didn't do anything wrong. It's Harry who can't handle a few drinks." She pushed between Harry and Katherine angrily as Dean followed her. Harry bowed his head and did his best not to trip all over himself as he walked away from the group. Katherine was about to go after him, still insisting Ron and Hermione stay behind, but Ron pulled her back. She looked at him suspiciously, and he shook his head as a reply.
"Hermione, you should stay. I think this is something I should talk to Harry about, alone," Ron said, turning to Hermione. She nodded and smiled. Knowing she wouldn't see him until they were back in the common room at school, she lightly touched his arm and kissed him warmly on the cheek. Ron was dazed for a moment and almost forget his mission as he touched the spot on his cheek. Remembering, he raced after Harry; he was stumbling down the wrong direction.
"We need to talk," Ron said firmly, grabbing his arm and pulling him down the right road.
"Are you breaking up with me?" Harry asked with a loud, bubbly chuckle. Ron quickly let go of his shoulder causing Harry to fall to the ground. "You pushed me!" Harry accused. "Wait, no you didn't. That was me..."
"Harry," Ron ordered sternly, "there is something wrong with you. You've become a mess lately." Harry stayed limply in the slushy snow. He sighed and hiccuped.
"I had like," Harry began, flicking his fingers up and down as if counting on them, "this many - " shoving a changing number of fingers up on his hand in Ron's face " - drinks. Katherine just kept pushing them in front of me. I swear, that girl is gorgeous but she is not so bright."
"No, she didn't," Ron said slowly. "You kept asking for them. You are ruining your chances with Katherine!"
"I know," said Harry, whining slightly. Ron smiled.
"And I know why," Ron said, now on his knees next to his best friend. "Ginny." Harry jerked his head up and stared at Ron.
"What?" he grumbled.
"You were too preoccupied with Ginny to notice how many drinks you were gulping," pointed Ron. Harry was about to shout something back when Hermione trudged through the slush, the melting result of snow going past her ankles.
"Ron, Harry, can we go with the rest of the group?" asked Hermione politely. She seemed almost afraid of Harry at this point. Harry jumped off the ground. Suddenly, he realized a head rush coming on and stood there with his hand clamped to his forehead. Ron would take none of this and kept pushing Harry in front of him. Eventually, though, Hermione and he had to carry him along with the line.

Harry awoke the next morning with a splitting headache. He could not blink without intense pain.
"Teach me about my butterbeer tolerence," grumbled Harry to himself. Even that was too loud. His thinking was too loud. Harry sat up and forced himself out of bed. He opened his eyes but could not see straight. Everything around him began to spin and darken until his backside began to hurt with a thud noise. After a few painful blinks, he realized he must've fallen to the ground as he stood up so fast. He looked towards the window to check what time of the day it must've been, but the bit of light peaking above him he could not take. He remained on the ground until he regained the strength to latch on to the bedside table and push himself up.
"Morning, Harry!" yelled a shrill voice. The voice shot through his ears and crashed his brain, blinding his eyes with such pain rising against his forehead. He couldn't even bare to make a sound signaling the voice to be quiet. "Nice night?" whoever it was continued to shout. Harry had to close his eyes to keep the hangover of several butterbeers in check, but opened slightly enough to realize the shouting was coming from Hermione.
"Hermione...I don't need a lecture," he mumbled. "I need sleep..."
"I know you do," she continued, showing no mercy in her tone of voice, "but we need to get a few things straight." Harry sighed a long sigh. He might as well get Hermione's "talk" over with before she began to follow him around impatiently all day, making sure he finished his homework, ate right, and didn't touch a single drink. This, in the long run, was the safest way out.
"Go on with it," Harry ordered, shutting his eyes tight and laying back down on the bed.
"You need to be a little more responsible when your out. Especially with a girl, and by a girl I don't just mean me. Katherine! She had to carry you out the door, you know that?"
"Fantastic...what else did I do yesterday?"
"You made a complete fool out of yourself. You were loud and annoying. Not so much different then Ron most of the time," Hermione continued with a little joke. She'd meant to be serious but the little smile on her face revealed her heart's current inner thoughts.
"Now I'm back where I started with an incredible headache," Harry whined.
"Can we talk about how drunk you were?" Hermione demanded.
"Didn't we just?" Harry managed to snap back. Hermione put a friendly hand on Harry's shoulder.
"No, Harry," she said sternly, "why you were drinking your weight in butterbeers." Harry breathed a heavy sigh and shook his head. Both of these actions sharpened the headache.
"I'm not going to talk about it," Harry muttered angrily and managed to get away from Hermione and layback down in the bed. Hermione sighed and flung her arms down.
"Fine, you sleep now," she mumbled. "But we're really worried about you." With that, Harry heard her footsteps down the staircase. Harry shook her voice off and shut his eyes, determined to go back to sleep.
Tired as he was, Harry had gotten all the sleep he was going to get. Harry cursed to the room and forced himself up. He changed into some clothes lying by his bed and walked slowly down to the common room.
No one was down there except for Hermione, who was quietly studying by the fire. He couldn't quite tell, but it looked as if she were asleep. Harry snickered quietly to himself and continued to walk down. He was grateful for the silence of the room.
On a table, Harry noticed a stack of books. They looked fairly old. Probably Ron's textbooks, Harry dismissed it. But the books didn't seem to be school books. He could hear a heavier breathing pattern from Hermione, which led Harry to believe she really was napping. Quietly and slowly, he walked over to the books. He kneeled to the ground and ran his fingers over the spines as he read them. However, all the spines were worn beyond legibility, and Harry couldn't think of a Restoration or Bookbinding Charm. The covers were of plain colors. He knew for sure that these were not school textbooks. Curiosity overcame Harry as he grabbed for the top books - a pale pink book with what would've been white cover text. He opened to a page that seemed to be deliberately dog-eared and began to read it to himself.

The Love Serum is a very common and ineffective love potion, but it has the least side effects. It is also the least complicated to make. Other potions, such as the Cloud Nine Serum p. 204 or the Romance Potion p. 198 can cause the consumer to go into a deep depression or state of longing. Some even known to have memory loss. The Love Serum is a light serum for the consumer to become more romantically willing.

THE LOVE SERUM
Cocoa beans or one bar of pure bitter chocolate
4 hairs of The Romantic Interest
1 part moonshine powder Make sure coooa beans or chocolate have melted completely in the cauldron. Moonshine powder to be blended next. Finish by mixing in moonshine powder. Let boil 3-4 hours.

It was all Harry was able to read before being startled by the thud of feet being pounded suddenly against the ground. Harry's headache had been relaxed for a while, but the sudden thud brought another shooting pain.
"Ha-Harry," Hermione said, forcing herself to sound awake. "Don't touch that..." her voice trailing off a bit by the obvious grogginess in her voice.
"Nice, nap, Hermione?" Harry teased. Hermione was the one who enjoyed studying - it was quite ironic for her to be the one to be face down in the book, not unlike Ron or him. Hermione ignored his comment.
"Those are Ginny's - well, Parvati's - books. Don't touch," she ordered. Sleepiness had immediately drained from her voice. Harry couldn't hide his curiosity.
"What's Ginny doing with Love Potion books?" Harry asked, and even though he hadn't meant it to come out that way, angrily. Hermione shrugged. She didn't look uninterested; in fact, the expression on her face showed her sudden interest as if she'd had no idea. She just seemed to been put out as the guard over these books.
"I bet Ginny's just having some fun...you know 'love potions' are just so hoaxy," Hermione said, laughing it off. "Not even the strongest magic will force anyone's free will like that."
"Legally, of course," Harry said darkly. Hermione nodded quickly and jumped over to the books, snatching them from Harry as he was still talking to her.
"Hey!" Harry said, startled. Hermione smirked.
"What, they're not yours? What do you want Love Potion books for, anyway?" she said teasingly. Harry shuffled his feets and crossed his arms.
"No, no...you're right. I don't care," Harry said. Hermione was unconvinced, but let it go.
"Ginny's in the library," she pointed out quietly. Harry just looked at her blankly. His face was unreadable most of the time.
"So?" he asked. Hermione shrugged.
"Finish your homework?" she asked, running out of things to say. Harry nodded.
"Yes, Hermione," he replied boredly. Hermione looked away awkwardly. Harry could tell there was something else she was hiding from him.
"Well, you know, I've finished all my homework," Hermione said, still facing away from him. Harry rolled his eyes, which ached a little bit. What else was new? "I think I'll just do some random studying." Clutching the books closer to her, she swung her messenger bag over her shoulder with her free hand and rushed out.

Hermione breathed an almost sigh of relief when she reached the library and Ginny was there, parchment strewn across the table, an inkbottle clutched in one hand, a quill in the other.
"Ginny," Hermione whispered, and with a thump dropped the books on the table. "These are your's, right?" Ginny looked up from her essay and pushed her things aside.
"No," she whispered a reply, shaking her head. She grabbed a book off of the top, the pale pink one, and skimmed through it. Eyes wide, she snapped the book to her chest, hugging it tightly. "They're Parvati's. She was going to give them away, I just thought I might take a peek." Hermione eyed the book but decided it was best not to straight out ask for it.
"Uh huh," she breathed, nodding. "So Parvati's in on the Spring Ball idea, right?" Hermione wasn't really that interested, even though she imagined herself in pretty robes and her hair done up specially, and for her to dance in the center of the floor, Ron's hands on her waist, her hands on his shoulders...something from a faerie tale. Hermione blushed at her own thoughts and pushed the idea away for the purpose of not drifting too far away from reality.
"Yeah," Ginny said brightly. "I think that would be so much fun! Heaven knows I'd never fit into those robes from the Yule Ball though...I might even be forced into wearing Ron's old dress robes. Mum probably wouldn't let me get new ones." Ginny and Hermione shared a giggle. Hermione eyed Ginny's thin frame for a moment in envy. Hermione thought that she, herself was probably the one who's robes would fit tighter then when she was 14.
"Would you go with Dean?" Hermione asked playfully. Ginny blushed.
"I suppose...well, yes, if he asked I would," she replied with a small smile.
"Oh, Ron wouldn't ever agree to go," Hermione said with a sad sigh. Ginny shrugged.
"If you wanted to, he would put on more frilly robes in a heartbeat," Ginny insisted. It was her turn to breathe a sigh of quiet jealousy. Dean and her were definitely not like that, no matter what she wanted others to think. He was a great guy and all, of course...cute, funny, and...not an idiot. He liked her and enjoyed going out with her. He was the one who suggested they get back together. In her fifth year, they'd been somewhat of a couple. But there was a reason they split up. Ginny couldn't quite remember what that was. He was sweet and complimented her, whether it be what she was wearing or her marks in Potions. Not terrible at kissing either, Ginny reasoned with herself. But she also thought that maybe she just was with him because it was conveinient and nice to have someone like him there...always there. She looked at Hermione. There was something anxious about her fingers tapping against the table and her feet swinging under the seat. Was there something she didn't know?
"Well, if that time comes," Hermione said quietly. Then, changing the subject, she asked, "Well, Quidditch game next week...Gryffindors and Slytherins. Are you on the team, or didn't you resign last semester?" Ginny shook her head.
"There's something amazingly rushy about Quidditch that I love, but I'm not as cut out this year I suppose," Ginny said. "I haven't played at all this year." Hermione nodded.
"I guess we should let Harry know it's not a good idea to 'Drink and Fly,'" Hermione remarked. Ginny leaned forward in her seat and laughed at the reference to the day before.
"Safe to say Katherine won't be on the sidelines for him," she said haughtily. Hermione sat up quickly and attentively. She shifted a little so she was up straight and facing Ginny directly. Ginny looked at her suspiciously. "What? You awake?"
"Oh, fine," she said smiling an even more curious smile. There was definitely something else about Hermione that Ginny couldn't put her finger on. Did she know something? "Shame about Katherine though," Hermione continued concerningly. Ginny nodded understandingly. Hermione was getting frusterated again, and Ginny could tell. Finally, she blurted, "You seem awfully excited that Harry's available." Ginny stared at Hermione, in shock.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Ginny snapped. Hermione shrugged, blushing.
"It's just that...there's something Ron and I notice about him...well, you, too, but mostly Harry - " Hermione tried to explain, but Ginny wouldn't have it.
"What about me? Harry has issues, but who can blame him? We all saw what he had to go through. He needs someone who can understand that, and if his two best friends can't see that, then - " Ginny was almost shouting now. There weren't many people in the library either, but the ones who were most likely were listening to Ginny. Hermione grabbed Ginny on the shoulder and pat her gently.
"I know, I know," she said in an effort to calm Ginny down. Ginny sighed. Hermione cleared her throat and said, "It's just that...we want to help him. And we don't know how. It's clearly not just his past that has him distracted." Ginny raised one eyebrow.
"What are you getting at?" she asked curiously. Hermione took her hand off of Ginny's shoulder and grasped her hands together, resting them on the table.
"It's just that," she continued. "Harry won't let himself be happy." Ginny guffawed.
"That makes no sense," Ginny grumbled. Hermione nodded again.
"Of course it doesn't," Hermione said. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"What I mean is, you're wrong." Hermione crossed her arms.
"Oh?" she challenged, "then what do you think?" Ginny sat there silently for a moment, then Hermione said, "Thought so," triumphantly.
"But Harry deserves to be happy!" Ginny whined, as if they were talking about her and not Harry. Hermione slammed her hands on the table, palms upward.
"Of course he does!" she yelled, almost laughing. "Why do you think we're trying to help him?" Ginny nodded. She rest her arms on the table in a crossed way and lay her head down in them.
"I wish I could make him happy," she said, her voice muffled.
"What?" Hermione asked, surprised. Ginny jerked her head up and looked at Hermione, blushing.
"I just mean," she stumbled, "that I wish Harry could enjoy himself." Hermione bit her lip in order to keep her from saying something else stupid. She looked down at the table. As she did, she realized that Ginny and flung the book she'd been clutching across the table, close to Hermione, in the midst of their brief argument. Ginny rest her head back on the table. Hermione thought quickly, as she was curious about the contents of the book and why Ginny wanted them. Casually, she picked up the book. She slid her chair back and rest the book on her lap and began flipping through the pages. Ginny snapped her head towards Hermione again and quickly grabbed the other edge of the table and pulled herself up.
"Give me that!" Ginny demanded shrilly and lunged for the book. Hermione couldn't hold back a giggle that time as she slid her chair farther back. Ginny flopped over the table and landed in front of Hermione. When she got up, she pushed back her messed hair and threw Hermione a somewhat murderous glare.
"No, let me take a look," Hermione insisted. She stood up from her seat and began walking backwards as she continued to flip through the pages. Ginny kept her glare on Hermione and kept taking slow steps towards her. "Oh, the Romance Potion? Love Serum? Oh...the...wow, Ginny aren't you a little young for this potion..." Ginny's face was scarlet now, from anger or embarassment, and Hermione felt really guilty for teasing her younger friend. She decided to take one last cheap shot to get the information she'd been hunting for. "Things between you and Dean a little cold? Or are you just looking for a little something new?"
That was it. The breaking point for Ginny was right there. She couldn't think of what to do next. Should she draw her wand? Hit her? What? Before she was able to strike her best friend, she dropped everything. And left.

"Ginny, slow down," Ginny's brother called after her as she stormed down the corridors. She whipped around, her ponytail swishing with her.
"Yeah," she replied shortly. Ron smiled at her. This was a little strange to Ginny, seeing as her brother rarely smiled like that at her unless he was making a joke with her or at her. That was the kind of smile he saved for Harry or sometimes Hermione.
"I need to talk to you," he said almost in a whisper. He pushed back his fiery hair from his face and slowly walked towards her.
"About what?" she asked, trying to sound disinterested even though she was really curious. Ron's smile got wider and a little twinkle shown in his eyes. Ginny didn't care about hiding her curiosity any longer and rushed after her older brother like a little rabbit chases a carrot.
"Now, you have to remember not to tell anybody," Ron warned. "Harry doesn't know, Hermione does not know - no one knows, Ginny." Ginny nodded eagerly. Ron breathed nervously and close his eyes tightly for a second. "Now, I haven't done anything yet. I just bought this on impulse. You have to promise me not to make a big deal out of this." Ginny nodded and then eyed the pocket of his robes, which Ron's hand was in, slyly.
"C'mon, out with it then," she demanded encouragingly. Ron sighed and took out something from his pocket and showed it to Ginny. Ginny shrieked and clamped her hand to her mouth.
"Ginny, shut up - "
"Ron!" Ginny gasped in a loud whisper. "That - that's a ring!"