Author's note: Okay, the next chapter is up! Hope you enjoy! I would really, really appreciate it if you would leave reviews after you read my chapters and tell me what you think. I really would love the feedback. The next chapter will be up very shortly!
Chapter 8- The Over-truth Potion
"Watch before you step on my foot again, Harry!", Ron grumbled.
It much later that night around eleven thirty, and they were their way to the library under the invisibility cloak. They were being extra careful, as they didn't want to run into anyone, especially Snape.
"We need to get an extra one of these things one of these days," he added referring to the invisibility cloak.
"Sush! Ron, were almost there!" Harry warned Ron.
They reached the library a few minutes later.
"Okay. It's this way," Hermione said as she led them over to the Secret Section.
They arrived at a secluded part of the library that Harry or Ron never noticed before. To the left of where they were standing, Hermione was starring at the wall intently for a few minutes.
"Hermione, what are you doing?"Ron asked.
"There's a painting here, but it blends into the wall, remember?"
"Oh, yeah. So how are we going to see it?", he mumbled.
Hermione seemed to be intently starring at a specific section of the wall.
"I see it!", Hermione shouted.
Harry looked intently at where Hermione was staring at, and he really focused on it for a couple minutes. Suddenly, he saw a large painting appear on the wall. It had two very old wizards that were snoring loudly. "I see it too!" Harry told them.
"Me Too," muttered Ron.
"Now what?"Harry asked eagerly.
"Okay, I believe we lift up the painting.
"You believe?" Harry questioned.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Would you like to do this then?"
"Wait. I can't see it anymore!" Ron said a panicked voice.
"I believe you've got to keep looking at it, or it'll blend right back into the wall again. Because I still can see it," Hermione told them.
Hermione lifted up the painting and right in the middle of the wall where the paining was hung was a very small, antique keyhole.
"Okay. This is it," Hermione sighed as she took a small, tarnished, gold key out of her pocket. She put the key in the lock and turned it.
"Nothing happened!" shrieked Ron, alarmed.
Hermione shook her head at Ron, while Harry had reminded him that Hermione had to say the password still.
"Secreto Sectiona," Hermione whispered nervously.
All of a sudden the key hole and the painting vanished, along with the key, and an antique gray door appeared where the wall used to be.
"Where did the key go?" Ron cried.
"Don't worry. I think that was supposed to happen," Hermione said.
Before they walked into the door, Harry wondered something.
"Do you think we should take off the invisibility cloak off before we go in?"Harry asked.
"No. I think we should wait until we get in just to be safe," Hermione uttered quietly looking at the three of them.
Harry opened the large gray door and it creaked loudly as it opened.
As they walked in, it was an extremely large room with very little light. The only sources of light were a few torches on the wall. It was also very cold in there as well, while the hard, concrete floor was covered with dirt and dust. There must have been at least four hundred books, and they weren't really in sections either, like how they were in the library. Books were stacked on tables, against walls, and on the floor. Harry was filled with a feeling of dread. How were they ever going to find the book they were looking for? It would probably take hours.
"How are we going to find one measly little-" Ron started to say. But all of a sudden they heard a noise, like a book dropping on the ground.
"Shhh" Hermione signaled by putting a finger over her mouth.
They stood completely still. Somebody was in this room.
They moved quietly to one of the corner's of the room. Because of how dark and how large the room was, they couldn't see who was there. A few moments passed, and then a somebody came into the faint light from the torch. It was a tall, blonde woman. Her high heels echoed on the concrete. It was Professor Harmone. She seemed to be walking over by a large pile of books close-by to where they were standing. She was quickly sitting on the ground, and started frantically going through the books, then banging each one on the floor, as she discarded each book she obviously didn't want.
"Come on, it's got to be here!" Professor Harmone said in a desperate voice.
Ron had a panicked look on his face.
Harry couldn't exactly ask him what was wrong, so he raised an eyebrow.
"I'm going to sneeze" Ron mouthed.
Harry and Hermione looked frantically at one another. Hermione quickly put her hand across Ron's mouth, but it was too late. Ron let out a sneeze, and a really loud, to make matters worse. Hermione had a disgusted look on her face, as she wiped her hand on her sleeve.
Professor Harmone's eyes widened, and she dropped the book on the ground that was in her hands.
"Who's there?" She said softly, her voice full of fear, as she slowly rose up from the cement, where she was sitting. She stayed quiet for a minute longer, and walked near the door.
Harmone whispered under her breath. Then before they knew it, Harmone was gone out of the room, and Harry breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"That was too close," Ron blurted.
"Do you think she's coming back?" Harry mumbled.
Hermione shook her head. "I don't think so. We scared her off. We should be safe for now. But we should start looking, just in case anyone else decides to join us," Hermione said to them.
They took the invisibility cloak off and started to look around the room.
"Do we know what were actually looking for?", Harry asked Hermione as he peered at the massive amount of books in the room. They had been looking for a book Hermione claimed she saw something that could help them, but Harry had forgotten how she described the book. It would be pretty hard to find if he didn't know what to look for.
"Yeah and how are bloody gonna find it?" Ron whined.
"Well, since we've been looking for this book for weeks now, I assumed that you two would remember how I described it to you two," Hermione said annoyed.
Before they could answer, Hermione then gave them a perplexed look.
"What's wrong?" Harry and Ron asked.
"I don't' know. Maybe - It was over a year ago that I read the book with the symptoms matching Ginny's. It's so vague in my mind, but I didn't even pay attention really at the time. Maybe I'm getting books mixed up. You know how many books I've looked at in the past year?"Hermione questioned them, unsure of herself.
"Yeah, we know. A lot," Ron blurted.
"No. I'm almost certain that the book was small, but thick, had red binding, and was very old. I know it's the book of that I'm thinking in my head. You would know it if you saw it," Hermione said positively.
"Well, if you're certain, then we should start looking. We have to find this book," Harry said outright. They had to. They had to help Ginny.
Harry began to look at some books that were on the floor. Hermione started to look though the books on one of the tables. Ron seen a big pile of books on another table, and starting scavenging through them. It was a lot harder than Harry thought. Since they knew sort of what the book looked like, he thought he could just look for a book that matched that description. But it wasn't as simple as that. All the books sort of looked similar. It seemed as if a half-hour had passed, then an hour, and still nothing. Harry was going through the pile of books that Professor Harmone had been going through. He picked up the last book that she didn't get the chance to look at.
"I think I found it!" Harry shouted optimistically.
Hermione and Ron dropped the books they were looking through and sat down beside Harry on the cold cement. Sure enough the book looked exactly like Hermione described. It was rather old, but still in good condition.
"Harry. This is it!" Hermione smiled.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked just to be sure.
"Positive," she confirmed. "I recognize the gold lettering," she added.
"Where did you find it?" Ron blurted.
"It was right here, in the pile of books that Professor Harmone was looking through. It was the last one left that she hadn't a chance look at, before we scared her off that is," Harry filled them in.
Hermione took the book from Harry's hands and read the title which was in worn gold lettering. "The Most Destructive Potions and Spells."
"Well, come on then, open it!" Ron uttered in anticipation.
Hermione opened the cover, and had a very serious expression in her eyes.
"I guess we'll just have to start reading from the beginning. I can't remember what part of the book I read about her symptoms," Hermione said while peering at the first page.
"Well the important thing is that we've finally found it," Harry reminded her.
They proceeded to look through almost the entire book, page by page. Every spell and potion they came across had some use of the language that was used on the title of the book. Some of the spells were completely written in that language. And Hermione was sure that what she read what in English, so they were just thankful that they were going to be able to understand it. They went through a few more pages, when Hermione let out a gasp.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Oh My! This is it!"" Hermione shouted with a smile. She pointed to the page before them.
"Le Breuvage magique D'Au-dessus-vérité," Hermione said speaking French.
"Huh?", said Ron desperately confused.
"Or translated as, "The Over-truth Potion," Hermione finished.
"How do you know that?" Ron demanded.
"Did you forget that I went to France over summer holiday a few years ago? Plus, when I looked up the password the other day, I sort of read the entire book," Hermione said proudly.
"Of course you did," Ron said shaking his head.
"Plus it sort of says The Over-truth Potion right on the page," Harry pointed out, with a smirk.
Ron looked at Hermione and started grinning.
"I didn't see that- Honestly!" Hermione said.
Harry just realized they were getting too distracted. They had to keep reading on.
"Come on guys, we have to keep going," Harry reminded them.
They continued to read on.
"The Over-Truth Potion lets you act out your deepest desires and most hidden thoughts," Harry read aloud.
"That sounds bad already!" Ron interrupted looking at Harry and Hermione.
"Although, this only the first and most short-lived symptom of the potion that lasts for but a brief moment. It accompanies untrue feelings, and outrageous, false behaviors. It changes a person's true personality and the person affected is not aware, and will believe this is how they think and feel. The persons affected by this highly destructive potion may appear to be the opposite of their true self.", Harry continued on.
"That sounds exactly like what Ginny got!" Ron shouted.
"I know. Exactly like it," Harry added.
They kept on reading.
"The Over-truth Potion is not permanent, but the length it lasts on a person affected depends on how much potion the person was given, so it could last from a period of several weeks, months, or even years. Also, the more potion or doses of potion given to a person, the more extreme the effects of the Over-Truth Potion.
The Over-truth Potion is a potion that should almost never be brewed, only in the most desperate of situations. It's mostly brewed for immoral reasons of personal gain like revenge, intense dislike or hate of a person. Or in rare instances as that are meant for good as to be used as a last resort to change a person's behavior when so destructive it's necessary to do so, since it creates the opposite personality. If brewed, one must tread with caution, for its tendency for to create such destructive consequences. No other potion exists with its capability to induce such havoc.
No underage wizards should ever attempt to make this potion, even under extreme circumstances. If for a last resort, there is an antidote that will reverse the effects of the potion and restore the person to their true selves. Only wizards with extensive knowledge and experience should attempt to conjure the potion or the antidote," Harry finished
They all looked at each other with horrified faces, realizing the seriousness of the situation. It was worse than Harry ever thought. Someone was doing this to people, and they needed to be stopped.
All of a sudden, they heard a noise, like maybe someone was in the library, or possibly coming in the secret section.
"We gotta get out of here!" Ron panicked, looking at Hermione.
They all stood up very quietly, while Hermione put the book in her knapsack. They got under the invisibility cloak and moved toward the door cautiously.
"Section Secrète," Hermione said softy.
Hoping that would work, and Harry was pretty sure it would since they saw Professor Harmone do the same thing.
In the blink of an eye, the key appeared in Hermione's hand, and they all smiled at each other. They walked through the old, gray door. After they stepped out, the door disappeared and the wall was replaced behind them along with the tarnished key hole. Harry closed the painting over it, and before the painting blended into the wall like it was never there. Harry noticed that no one was in the library, and the noise they heard was probably nothing. But at the same time he just wanted to get out of here just in case someone was waiting to catch them.
"This way!" Hermione then whispered as she walked a little bit in the opposite direction of the exit of the library, with Harry and Ron dragged along with her as she walked, since they were all under the invisibility cloak.
"What are you doing?" said Ron.
"Hang on, "she muttered as she untangled herself from the invisibility cloak and knelt down to the floor. Harry couldn't see what she was doing because it was pitch black. She came back up and under the invisibility cloak nearly a minute later, and Harry and Ron gave her questioning looks.
"I had to put the key back! Unless you want Madam Pince to know someone's taken it. Honestly, what would you two do without me?" She asked with a smirk.
Ron and Harry didn't say anything, and just exchanged annoyed glances. Harry was too tired to say another word and he just wanted to get out of here. They quickly left the library, (not before Ron practically tripped over Hermione's feet)and ran back to the common room as fast as they could.
The next morning at breakfast, sitting at a secluded part of the table, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all thinking the same thing: Malfoy, Ginny, and Neville were all affected by the Over-Truth Potion. Who was going to be the next victim?
"Who do you think is next?" Ron said while putting a piece of sausage into his mouth.
"Er- I don't know. But I would like to know who's doing it," Harry admitted while looking around the great hall. Harry's eyes landed on Snape. After all he is the potion's master.
"I know exactly who's doing it," Hermione claimed.
"Professor Harmone" Hermione blurted
"Snape," Harry said as the same time as Hermione.
"Wait, you think it's Professor Harmone? "Harry asked quietly.
"You think it's Snape?" Hermione said with a chuckle.
"What's so humorous about that?" Harry asked.
"Well, Harry, it's just absolutely ridiculous. We all know what Snape is, but that doesn't mean he would meddle something so destructive, and immoral," Hermione argued.
"Hermione, think about it. Who better to do it then the potion's master," Harry pointed out.
"I'm going to go with Harry on this one," Ron admitted.
Hermione shot Ron a dirty look, but then she looked seriously at the both of them. "We accused Snape of being against us being before with Sorcerer's stone, or don't you two remember?"
"Of course, but that doesn't mean-"Harry started to say.
"Dumbledoore trusts Snape, and as far as I'm concerned, we should to," Hermione interrupted.
"Why accuse Harmone though?"Harry asked.
"She was in the Secret Section last night, Harry," Hermione said frankly.
"So, that doesn't mean anything."Ron blurted.
"She could've been in there for a number of reasons," Harry put in.
"That maybe, but I have a feeling that she's involved in this somehow," Hermione admitted.
"Only because you don't' like her," Ron reminded them.
Hermione sighed. "I never said I didn't like her, Ronald. I said I didn't trust her. Maybe I'm wrong about her be involved, but I think we have a right to view her a suspect, because we don't know who we can trust anymore," Hermione stated.
"Yeah like Snape," Harry added.
"No, Do you trust Dumbledoore, Harry? Well, Snape's been at Hogwarts for a long time. Dumbledoore trusts him. We should too, as hard as it is, I think he's on our side," Hermione told.
Harry thought about what Hermione said, and maybe she was right. As much as he hated to admit it, he would rule out Snape as a suspect. At least for now.
"I guess you're right," mumbled Harry while picking at his breakfast. Besides he didn't feel like arguing anymore.
"Do you think we should tell Dumbledoore?" Ron questioned them.
"Yeah, and admit we broke into the secret section?" Hermione said.
"What other options do we have?" Harry asked.
"We have to help Ginny," Ron said sadly.
"We will," Harry told him. "I'm thinking we should try and make the antidote ourselves. Who knows how long she will be affected for. We don't know how much of the Over-truth potion she was given. It said it could take years to wear off," Harry added bleakly. The thought that it could take years to wear off, made his sick to his stomach.
Hermione looked doubtful. "I don't know, Harry. I want to help Ginny just as much as you two. But we read the same thing. It said underage wizards should never attempt to make it."
"And when has that stopped us before?" Ron shouted glaring at Hermione.
"Ron's right. We never let things like that stop us. And this is Ginny. I think we should try and make the antidote," Harry said firmly.
Hermione shook her head. "We're forgetting another thing. We've never heard of half of those ingredients. It would take awhile to find out what they are how to get them," she told them. "But I guess if we can find them, we could try and attempt to do it. I just don't know," Hermione said in an unsure tone.
"I know," Harry agreed. Hermione did make a very good point. He didn't know what to do now. Harry was glad that they found the book, and now they have the option of making the antidote to help Ginny, but he had a feeling it wasn't going to be easy. What if they made the antidote wrong? What if they make the situation worse? He felt like they needed to tell somebody else. Someone they trusted. "I just wish I had a better feeling about all this."
"Harry, we gotta help Ginny!" Ron cried.
"Trust me, we will, "Harry stated outright. They had no other choice. They had to get Ginny back. "Do you think we should tell somebody else? Maybe see if they know anything about what's going on?" He blurted as he peered at Ron and Hermione.
"Well, who can we trust?"Ron asked.
"We'll go to Hagrid later today, and find out what he knows. And Harry, since you said you trust Lupin, you should write to him and tell him what's going on and find out what he knows too.", Hermione suggested, although it sounded more like an order.
"Er- All right. I guess well see where it goes from there," Harry mumbled anxiously.
Dear Lupin,
Hello. How are you? I know I should've written to you before, but things have been really strange here at Hogwarts. Something has been going on here, and I need to know if you know anything about it. You're one of the only adults I can trust. I don't want to go to Dumbledoore yet, but I need your help. Do you know about the Secret Section of the library? And most importantly, have you ever heard of a potion called, "The Over-Truth Potion?" Myself, Ron, and Hermione believe that three people have already been affected, one of them being Ron's sister, Ginny. We have to help her. We found a book in the secret section and read all about the potion. We know it's very dangerous, but we also know there is a cure for it. We are just not sure what to do next. We have no idea who might be doing this, although we suspect it could be a teacher. Please let me know if you can help us. Tell us anything you can. Write back as soon as you can.
Thanks,
Harry
Harry put down his quill later that afternoon after classes and tied the letter to Hedwig and she flew away. Hopefully Harry would hear back from Lupin very soon. Harry wasn't too sure of how he felt about anything anymore, but he felt a little better knowing he could go to someone he could trust. Sirius just entered in his mind for a brief moment. The pain just grew in Harry's heart more. He missed him very much. But he didn't have time to dwell about it now. He had to head back to the common, and then he, Ron and Hermione were going immediately down to Hagrid's hut.
It was nearly ten minutes later, and the three of them were almost at Hagrid's Hut. But Harry hadn't counted on Ron and Hermione starting to fight again. Actually he shouldn't have deluded himself that their fighting days were over. But he couldn't believe they were fighting now of all times.
"Oh are you sure you don't 'want to tell Benjamin about this, Hermione?" Ron shouted.
Hermione stopped her track and sighed. Ron stopped walking and faced her.
"I mean he is part of "The Trio" now isn't, why not include him in on it too?" Ron taunted her.
Hermione folded her arms. "Ronald you are so- uhhhhhh! I can't even find a word that describes you!"
Harry was trying to tune this out but he couldn't. Now they were definitely getting distracted. They needed to talk with Hagrid now.
"Oh, really then?" Ron retorted.
"Come on-"Harry started to say. But they were involved in their conversation to notice Harry mutter a word.
"I just don't get it Ronald, why do you dislike Benjamin so much? Yes, he's a Malfoy, but he's only an eleven-year-old boy!" Hermione pointed out.
Ron was prepared to throw back an insult, but it seemed as if had nothing left to say to Hermione's response. What could he say? It was the truth.
Harry didn't have the energy or the strength to try and figure out Ron and Hermione's relationship. But what he did know was that for some reason, whatever it may be, Ron had this strange jealously of Benjamin when it came to his spending time with Hermione. Harry had told Ron countess times that Ben was just an eleven-year-old boy, but finally hearing it from Hermione's mouth, might finally put a stop between Ron's insane jealously over Ben. Harry had enough though of their "Relationship" if that's what you want to call it. They had to get to Hagrid's. He was slowly beginning to lose his patience.
"Are you two nearly finished?" Harry mumbled, an edge to his voice.
"What are you talking about?" Ron said with a confused look on his face.
Harry couldn't believe Ron said that. He knew good and well what he was talking about. "Either you two want to kill each other or er- for like a minute you manage to get along great, and then it bloody starts all over again! I can't take trying to figure you two out any more!" Harry just blurted from his mouth.
Ron didn't say anything. But Hermione just shook her head.
"Your right, Harry, But I can't take it much more either," She said softly while glaring at Ron.
"Can't you two just make up your minds already about each other? And do it soon. Because we all need to stick together now more than ever," Harry reminded them in a calmer voice.
Ron just looked at Hermione but didn't say anything. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence.
"Come on, we gotta talk to Hagrid," Hermione then uttered as she started to walk again. Ron and Harry followed slowly behind.
When they reached the hut, the door was open.
"Hagrid?" They all shouted out as they walked inside. He didn't appear to be inside.
Where was he? Harry thought to himself.
A few seconds later Hagrid came inside looking a wreck. His clothes were torn, he had slime all over him, and he didn't exactly smell good either.
"Hagrid?" Harry said. What in the world happened to him?
Hagrid looked surprised, but then frowned. "Oh, look who finally decided to come and pay me a litto visit!"
"Sorry, Hagrid," Harry told him. It just dawned on Harry that they've hardly spent any time with Hagrid since school started.
"We've been sort of, preoccupied lately," Hermione pointed out.
"You've been ter busy to see me?" Hagrid cried
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all exchanged apologetic glances with Hagrid.
"Oh, lighten up, you three! I am just foolin with ya! It is good ter see you though," Hagrid said as he sat down in this big chair.
As Hagrid sat down, Harry couldn't notice again how bad Hagrid looked. "Er, Hagrid, what happened to you?"
"Yeah you kinda look like a mess there Hagrid, "Ron added.
Hagrid didn't even seem to notice what they were talking about, until peered down at his clothes. "Oh, it's ter nothing! Just little Shelby. You know one of my Telawarts. She just got a wee bit rough. But she's ter cutest little creature," he chuckled.
Hagrid must have noticed the expressions on their faces, because Hagrid immediately changed the subject. "So what's new with you three?"
Harry gulped. "ER"- Harry couldn't seem to get any words out.
"Oh boy! Don't tell me yer got yerselves into more trouble!" Hagrid shouted.
"Not exactly," Ron started to say.
"We'll get right to the point. We know about the Secret Section, and-"Hermione said frankly. But then Hagrid's face turned a shade of red, and he rose up from his chair and started pacing around the room.
"Where did yer three come up with that one? The Secret Section! Hah!", He chuckled nervously.
"Hagrid, we know you know about it. All the teachers must. We know it exists," Hermione told Hagrid firmly.
"Oh you three can't go believin all the flubbish floatin around the school, now can ya?" Hagrid said in a shaky voice. "You know how pesky rumors get started," he mumbled.
"Hagrid. You can drop the act," Harry said. "We know about the Secret Section, er, because we were there!"
"Yeah, last night," Ron added.
All the color in Hagrid's face was lost, and he began to pace around the room even more.
"Oh boy. Oh boy. Oh boy!" He kept repeating over and over again.
"What?" said Harry.
Then Hagrid's expression turned very serious. "No student was EVER supposed to find out about the Secret Section. It's been a secret for a reason."
"We know, Hagrid. There are very dangerous books in there. If they ever got into the wrong hands it would be very bad," Hermione told him.
"Exactly! If anyone found out that you three found out about it! In speaking of, how did you find out about it?" Hagrid demanded.
Harry was about to answer, but he just realized that it might not be the best idea to tell Hagrid right now. Hagrid wasn't even handling this part well.
"Well-"Hermione started to say, but Harry looked her in the eyes, and shook his head. He hoped she got the message. He glanced at Ron too in the same manner.
"Well, you know, we realize now that it was wrong. We were just being our usual nosy selves. You know us. But we will never go back there again, and we won't say a word to anyone else," Hermione said awfully fast as they began inching closer to the door.
"Wait, where you goin?" Hagrid shouted.
"We gotta go," Ron started to say.
"Er, Eat," Harry mumbled.
"Well see you later Hagrid!" Hermione added with a quick smile, as they ran out the front door.
As Harry, Ron, Hermione started walking fast away from the hut, they could hear Hagrid screaming in the background.
"Yer better come back here! I know yer up to somethin!"
"I don't think that was the best idea; going to Hagrid's, I mean," Harry said as they headed toward the castle.
"I know. It's not that we shouldn't trust Hagrid. We do trust him. More than almost anyone. But I just don't 'think he we should tell him yet. I was thinking the same thing Harry, right before you signaled me not too", Hermione admitted to them.
"Well, so what are we going to do now? Who knows how bloody long it's going to take for Lupin to write back. It could take ages," Ron moaned.
"I don't know Ron, I just-" Harry was beginning to say, but right out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of red hair from a short distance away. He froze. It was Ginny. She was with Malfoy. It's not like he should be surprised. He should be used to seeing them together by now. Malfoy and Ginny were in an embrace and Harry and no choice but to walk right by them. Ron shook his head, while Hermione just had a sad expression on her face. Harry just felt frozen in time, like this whole situation was still so surreal; like it really wasn't happening. But it was. And it hurt like hell. He felt so lost and he didn't know what to do anymore.
Around dinnertime, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting in the common room on the couch. Neither of them had felt like going to dinner mainly because of Ginny. Besides there was no way Harry was going to willingly subject himself to seeing Ginny and Malfoy together anymore. Their afternoon pretty much consisted of this: Laying around in the common room. Oh yes, except Hermione tutored Benjamin in the library for a little while earlier. And Ron actually didn't complain once! Well, he did sort of a make a face, but you have to take what you can get, right? All Harry knew was that he felt completely drained. He peered around the room. Ron seemed to have drifted to sleep, on the couch across from Harry. A light snore came from his direction. Hermione seemed to be captivated in some novel she was reading for the past couple hours. It was very quiet all of a sudden. Too quiet. He didn't even feel like thinking anymore. Curfew wasn't for a little while. Harry then decided he would take a quick walk.
As Harry was walking down the corridors, about fifteen minutes later, he didn't even know what the purpose of going for a walk would do. He still ended up thinking the same thing: Ginny, and Malfoy together. He tried to block it out of his mind, but as hard as he tried, it seemed to be no use. What was he going to do? Harry didn't know. He had no answers. Even if they Ginny was cured by the antidote or it eventually wore off, could he ever be the same way around her? Could he feel the same way about her? Harry knew he didn't now the answers to these questions. All he knew was-
Just then, he heard footsteps running down the corridor. They were coming from behind him. And very fast. He stopped in his tracks, and someone ran right by him.
"Benjamin!" Harry shouted. "Is that you?" Harry called out, as he ran and tried to catch up with him
Benjamin stopped running, but he was breathing very heavily.
"Ben, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Harry asked, concerned.
"Oh, um, I'm fine Harry," Benjamin said in a positive manner. But to Harry it seemed forced. He then looked closer at Ben. His eyes were all red. He looked as he had been crying. He was shaking too, Harry just realized. He looked miserable. He had never seen him like this.
"Ben, you don't look okay. Are you sure?" Harry asked firmly.
Ben looked at him for a minute. "Um. I- I'm fine Harry. Really, I am. Silly me, I thought I saw something in the shadows. It's sound ridiculous, I know."
Harry wasn't sure that was what Ben was going to originally say. But what other explanation could their be? "Well that happens to all of us from time to time I suppose," Harry said trying to make him feel better.
Ben looked at Harry and smiled. " I guess I am afraid of the dark. It's our secret, okay?",he chuckled. "If Ron found out he would tease me to no end," he added.
"Er- Don't worry, I won't mention, Ben," Harry assured him with a smile.
"I'll see you later, Harry. I gotta check out a book from the library," Ben said as he turned around and walked down the corridors.
Ben did seem a bit more shaken up then just seeing something in the shadows, but he was sure if something happened to Ben, he would tell Harry about it. Besides Harry had much more important things on his mind. Ben was right about one thing though. If Ron found out that Ben was afraid of the dark, Ron would tease him to no end. Harry laughed a minute to himself at the thought. Anything to keep himself thinking about Ginny. Too late. He'd gone about five minutes without thinking about her. It was no use. Harry was about to turn the corner, when he bumped right into someone. This was not his day, or year for that matter.
"Excuse you," said a girl's voice.
"Er-Sorry," Harry said without even looking at the person.
"Harry? Oh, sorry. Long time no see, huh?" said the girl smiling.
Harry finally looked at her. "Belle?"
"Yeah. Nice you remember my name. See ya around, huh?" Belle said with a smile as she waved at Harry as she walked away, down the corridor.
Harry couldn't believe he forgot about Belle. Probably because she was in Slytherin. She did seem nice though. And he remembered she did say she hated Malfoy on the train back in September. So that was a plus.
Harry went through the portrait hole, and it was apparent that Ron was awake and Hermione wasn't reading anymore, because they were sitting on the couch next to each other deep in conversation.
"About what Harry said earlier, I just wanted to say-"Ron started to say. But then he noticed Harry in the room, and his voice trailed off.
Harry felt awkward, and bad that he walked in on what was obviously a private conversation.
"Sorry, I just came back from a walk," Harry said as he walked over by them.
"Yeah we were wondering where you went off to. I didn't even notice that you left," Hermione admitted with a laugh.
Hermione's face then got serious. "But It's a good thing you weren't here, Harry," She told him.
"Why?" Harry asked. What more could possibly happen?
"Just the usual. Ginny was here," Ron groaned. "Of course we don't exist to her anymore," he added bitterly.
Harry shook his head. He felt more determined than ever that they had to get the old Ginny back to them. They had to. Harry didn't know how much longer he could go on like this. "Ron, we are going to help Ginny. We are going to get her back. I don't know how, but we will. We have no other choice," Harry said in a desperate voice. It was looking more and more clear that they might have to try and attempt to make the antidote and soon. Even though they didn't think they were going too able to. They might have to try. But Harry wanted to hear back from Lupin first.
"As soon as we hear back from Lupin, we'll attempt to make the antidote," Harry told them.
"I think that's a good idea Harry," Hermione said.
"I just bloody hope Lupin writes back real soon!" Ron blurted.
"I trust Lupin, "Harry said. "He won't let us down," he added.
"What are we going to do until then?" Ron added.
The only thing we can do, Harry thought. "Survive."