Chapter Eleven, Potions
"I'm trying to tell you something about my life -
Maybe give me insight between black and white...
And the best thing you've ever done for me
Is to help me take my life less seriously,
It's only life after all..." -'Closer to Fine', Indigo Girls
"Um, Professor, I have a quick question." Ginny said timidly. Professor Slughorn was a nice man, but if you got him talking...well, he just never shut up, and she wanted to leave the smelly dungeons as soon as possible.
"Oh, Miss Weasley, yes - what can I help you with? Hm?" He said hurriedly, while tapping the board with his wand, Ginny froze then groaned as she saw the words 'The Draught of Peace' come up on the chalkboard.
"Weren't we supposed to learn to do that in our fifth year?" She groaned, hoping she didn't have to make yet another Draught of Peace.
"What? Oh, yes, but I thought we would do some review before moving into the next chapter - we'll be doing Healing Potions and I thought you all might appreciate a quick overview of the things you'll need to remember." Ginny gaped as he explained, she really didn't want to make healing potions just so they could be graded. The bell rang and Slughorn ushered her to her seat, and it wasn't until he began lecturing about the Draught of Peace that she realized she hadn't gotten to ask him her question yet.
Without even bothering to pay attention to Professor Slughorn's lecture, Ginny began gathering the ingredients she would need to make her potion. She ordered them as she usually did - by order of use - and began before she was supposed to, off in her own little world, as she usually was when she made potoins.
"Miss Weasley?" She was startled out of her daze by the Professor, who looked somewhere between worried and curious.
"Yes, sir?"
"I would prefer if you waited for the instructions before you begin. I don't want an accident occuring today, and this particular potion is quite difficult and tedious..."
"Don't worry, Professor, I know what I'm doing." She didn't want to sound arrogant, but she really was sick of this stupid potion.
"Miss Weasley," he said chuckling, "I'm sure that you do, but if the instructions are not followed to the letter, you may end up putting the drinker into a heavy sleep, sometimes even a coma..."
"I'm sorry, Professor, what I meant was that I made one the other day for Madam Pomfrey." She clarified. He looked surprised,
"Madam Pomfrey supervised you?" He asked curiously.
"No, sir, I had no supervision, I made it for her - for her inventory." Professor Slughorn looked like he didn't know how to respond to her, and so he ordered her to see him after class, and asked her to wait til the instructions showed up on the board anyway. Ginny mentally rolled her eyes and waited for him to finish his lecture, but as soon as he finished reprimanding her, he tapped the board again and the directions appeared. Ginny gaped, wondering why he had even bothered, but then realized it was time to add the next set of ingredients.
She finished her Draught of Peace flawlessly, and turned in her vial. As she went back to her table and gathered her things, Professor Slughorn called her over.
"Miss Weasley, how often do you make potions as complicated as this for Madam Pomfrey?" Ginny considered the question - she made potions for Madam Pomfrey quite often, but the Draught of Peace was supposedly difficult...but then again, Potions was a difficult subject in general...
"Pretty often, why?"
"Potions is a difficult subject, I wouldn't want you to have an accident or anything terrible." He said, smiling. "You have quite the talent for potion-making, I can see." Ginny smiled, it was nice to be complimented. Although 'talent' wasn't quite the right word, because that would imply she hadn't been working too hard, and she had.
"It's not talent, sir," she decided to correct him. "I've just been working pretty hard." This seemed to delight him even more.
"Oh, how wonderful! Another Potion's Master learning under me! Mind you, the last one didn't turn out so well," he said sourly, "but I would love to see another follow in my footsteps!" Ginny frowned. She had a lot of goals for herself in life, but becoming Horace Slughorn was not exactly on the list.
"Yes, well..."
"You had a question, Miss Weasley?"
"Oh yeah," Ginny remembered, "If one were to mix ginger roots with pomegranate juice and frog brains together...would it be strong enough to battle a potion that works the same as a Confusing Concoction, but doesn't have the same ingredients?" Professor Slughorn looked a bit taken aback,
"Why would you need to know that?"
"Frankly, sir?" he nodded in curiosity, "because I don't know what's going to be in my pumpkin juice the next time I go home and I'd rather be ready. My brothers aren't very good at making potions." It had been an interesting Christmas - Fred and George had announced they were working on a new line of products, but wouldn't say what they were. She knew, though, that it would have something to do with confusion - that's the only way they could get people to test their products on anymore, except themselves and Lee Jordan. All three of them were just crazy, though.
"Well, I suppose...if it didn't blow up, and you added some scurvy-grass to counteract the parts of the potion you're unsure of...it could work." His tone was light, he seemed to still be wrapping his head around the fact that Ginny had been doing complex potions on her own for months. "Would you like to stay for my seventh year class?" he asked suddenly. Ginny froze in surprise,
"What?"
"The seventh years are coming in now, and they are working on the Confusing Concoction. Would you like to stay, see if you get any good ideas?" Ginny's surprise slowly turned into a timid, almost unwilling smile,
"I guess, but I'm supposed to have Charms..."
"Oh, I'll send Filius a message, I'm sure he'll understand..." Ginny moved back to her table. Not only did she have to stand her potions class, but her brother's as well.
She sat down at her seat as the seventh years filed in. She was drumming her fingers on the table when Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down with her.
"Hey Ginny! What are you doing here?" Hermione asked. Ginny sighed, it was going to be a long class.
"Professor Slughorn asked me to stay. He said you guys were going to work on the Confusing Concoction, and I'm trying to figure out something that will counteract whatever Fred and George are going to put in our drinks this summer...Lord knows they won't have made it right." She giggled, and the table broke out into laughter.
"Gin, that's brilliant!" Harry said, "We definitely need something like that."
"How did you get so good at potions?" Ron inquired lightly.
"Hm?"
"I thought you hated potions," Ron said.
"Oh, I do." Ginny assured him, "but it gives me something to do in the hospital wing. I'm getting pretty good."
"Feeling a little narcissistic today, are we?" A voice drawled from the back of the room. Ginny smirked as the trio collectively rolled their eyes.
"What's it to you?" Ginny spat with an eyebrow raised, "You're narcissitic every day."
"It's not narcissism if it's true." Draco said arrogantly.
"I agree. You, however..." They scoffed at each other, almost simultaneously, and Ginny had to think about her newest endeavor in potions to keep from dissolving into giggles.
"Sod off, Malfoy." Ron said sourly. Now Ginny was trying to go through Quidditch statistics to keep from laughing out loud...
"What's it to you, Weasel?"
"She's my sister," Ron growled.
"I must have forgotten. You know, you look so different and all...I really couldn't tell." Now Ginny was trying to hum loudly to herself. Draco was so obviously amused, and Ron's face just kept getting redder, Ginny had to stare at Professor Slughorn and hum loudly enough that she couldn't hear them. It didn't work so well, but she tried.
"Take your seats, class. Today, we will be working on the Confusing Concoction. Who can tell me a few of the ingredients...Miss Weasley?" Ginny flushed crimson - she hadn't raised her hand, but apparently he wanted to draw attention to her presence. She really didn't appreciate that, and was a bit angry at him, but didn't want to seem dumber than the rest of the class.
"Um..well..sneezewort...scurvy-grass...and lovage, I think are all in there..."
"Very good!" Professor Slughorn said delightedly. "Ten points to Gryffindor! Now, you all must be quite careful making this potion, for it can be quite complicated and disastrous if not brewed correctly. For this reason, I would like you to work in partners."
"Oh boy..." sighed Ron,
"Here we go..." muttered Harry. Ginny looked at them confusedly - he'd never paired them up in her class before. As Professor Slughorn looked at the class list (Why he needed to do that was beyond her, there were obviously only twelve people in the class), Hermione leaned over and explained.
"He's been a bit obsessed with inter-House unity. He never pairs anyone up with anyone from their own House, I think he thinks it'll make us like each other or something..."
"Like I could ever grow to like them." Ron huffed defiantly in the direction of the Slytherins.
"Alright! Here we are!" Professor Slughorn announced, looking at the class list "So, who's missing?"
"Amelia's sick today, Professor." Said a Ravenclaw Ginny didn't recognize.
"Oh dear, what a shame. Alright then, let's see..." He went through the list and sure enough, no one was with anyone from their House. He didn't give Ginny a partner, though. She figured he probably forgot about her, or had so much blind faith in her that he figured she could do it on her own. She moved uncomfortably to get the ingredients out, when Draco interrupted just about everyone.
"Professor?"
"Yes Mr. Malfoy?"
"May I join Blaise's group? I usually work with Amelia, but if she's sick..."
"Oh, yes..." Slughorn looked at him, then a lightbulb could be seen turning on above his head and Ginny's stomach dropped. 'Oh, God...' "Miss Weasley!" 'Oh God...'
"Yes, Professor?"
"Why don't you work with Mr. Malfoy?" Ginny's eyes widened, even though she'd seen it coming a mile away. Ron and Harry had identical looks of horror on their faces, while Hermione and Ernie Macmillan just looked sympathetic.
She gathered her things and trudged to the back of the room. As soon as she was behind everyone, and no one was looking, she let a smirk cross her face. She couldn't help it, it was funny.
"But, Professor..." Draco sputtered indignantly, but Professor Slughorn was ignoring him. Ginny got to the back table and just looked at him and shook her head.
"You did that on purpose." She whispered. Draco just smirked back. "So is that how a person lies?" She mocked.
"We'd better get to work, Weaselette. I don't know why you're here, but this is hard stuff." He had a smirk on his face, that Ginny immediately identified as a positive answer to her question, and she just moved next to him to work. When she glanced up, she noticed two pairs of eyes that often glanced worriedly in her direction, and one pair of eyes whose glare never left Malfoy. Ginny tried to stifle a giggle,
"It seems we have an audience." She whispered, trying to hide her amusement. Draco glanced up and smirked at Ron, who turned an even deeper shade of red. When he looked back down at his cauldron, he whispered in reply.
"Then how about we put on a show?" She rolled her eyes and shook her head, frustrated, but a bit amused at the same time.
"You're unbelievable," she whispered, then "Malfoy, you drop that in now and your face will be blown off." she continued, loudly and indignantly. Draco's hand froze, as he was about to drop in the sneezewort.
"Well, now, we wouldn't want to miss looking at my face every day, now would we?" He said, staring eyebrows raised, staring pointedly at the potion.
"You know...on second thought...go ahead. Drop it in now, it will save the rest of us a lot of trouble." Ron was trying to make a move towards them, but a Look from Hermione stopped him. He went back to staring intently at his own potion - the Ravenclaw he was working with was not happy with him, he was practically doing the whole potion himself because Ron was so preoccupied. Ginny saw Hermione whisper something at Ron, but she couldn't hear what. Whatever it was, Ron smirked and went back to his potion.
"Weasel! Watch where you point that thing!" Draco cried, and Ginny realized she'd been accidentally pointing a dagger at him, preparing to cut up some daisy roots.
"Oh, I wasn't going to stab you," she spat impatiently, "not here, where everyone can see me. If I were going to hurt you it'd be with my wand, you moron." She finished as she began to cut up the daisy roots.
"Tsk, tsk, Weasel. Threats are very unlady-like." he chided, still staring intently at other things. She was, too - she knew that if they made eye contact they wouldn't be able to keep this up. She couldn't even look at his face while he was looking away, because she was on the verge of laughter and wouldn't be able to keep it in.
"And what would you know about being lady-like?"
"I am a gentleman, aren't I?" Ginny snorted,
"Yeah, and I'm the Minister of Magic." She said sarcastically. She knew he was smirking, and so she focused intently on the daisy roots she was finishing up.
"Chop them any harder and you'll go right through the table." Draco scoffed.
"Leave me alone, Malfoy." She said sternly, trying to end the show before her brother flipped out and she had to deal with it.
"I won't have you ruining my grade for kicks, Weasel. Do it right or leave."
"How about you do it yourself?" She said, dropping the knife on the table and looking over to see what Hermione was up to. He was still smirking...He picked up the daisy roots, which had been cut to perfection, and dropped them into the potion. Ron looked fit to be tied, not even Hermione could calm him down. He marched over to their table. Ginny's stomach dropped a bit, she really didn't want to deal with all this right now, especially after already having a full class of potions.
"You leave her alone," he snarled. Harry joined him next, trying to pull him away.
"Ron, Ginny's got it under control."
"Yeah, Ron, Ginny's got it under control." Draco mocked, "So why don't you just go back to your little Mu--"
"Draco Malfoy don't you dare finish that sentence!" Ginny said, glaring, pointing her wand at him. She wasn't about to deal with this crap.
"Or what?" He said, smirking at her. She focused on the part of her that hated that word...and focused hard.
"Or else."
"Please, Weasley, you couldn't hurt me."
"Wanna bet?"
"Bet what? It's not like you have anything of worth." he spat arrogantly. She absent mindedly fingered the ruby necklace that she now wore every day. Draco noticed, and scoffed. "Ugh, Weasley, you actually think that little trinket is worth anything?"
"This little trinket is worth more than you'll ever know." She hissed. They bickered through the rest of the class, and Ginny noticed Harry staring more often than usual. There was something off in his eyes - it sort of looked like nervousness, but there was a sadness about it. Pain, maybe? Anger? She couldn't quite pinpoint it. The look on Ron's face was easy to identify - rage. Every second he was one second away from going at Malfoy with his fists, and every second Hermione caught him and gave him a Look.
"There, I think we're about done here."
"You're lucky I was here, then." Ginny said arrogantly, mocking him.
"Ah, yes, I don't know what I would have done without you..." He drawled sarcastically, but a knowing glint in his eye told her that a part of him wasn't really being sarcastic...
"Miss Weasley?" Came a voice from the front of the room. Ginny turned around and smile sweetly,
"Yes, Professor?"
"Could you come here, please?" Ginny made her way to the front of the room and had a short conversation with Professor Slughorn before walking out of the room. She wasn't sure whether or not to be happy, part of her was, but most of her was a bit annoyed.
"God, did you hear Malfoy in there? I thought for certain you would hex him," Hermione said.
"No need. He's all talk - he loses the hot air after awhile."
"After awhile?" Harry asked, "You guys bickered for an hour and a half! That's a pretty long while!" Ron still looked livid, and Hermione tried to calm him down. They all walked to dinner together, and Ginny ate hers in peace.
After her healing session that night she went to the library and saw Draco already sitting on the couch. He stood up when he heard her approach and she jumped into his arms, giggling.
"Well that was interesting..." She sighed. He was chuckling, too.
"It was, wasn't it?"
"Did you see my brother's face!"
"Yeah, he looked ready to kill me."
"He was, but he always is. And something was up with Harry, too, but I dunno what that was about." She began to calm down and they sat down on the couch.
"He's just jealous." Draco stated. Ginny looked at him like he was crazy.
"That's absurd, he is not." Draco smirked,
"He still likes you."
"That's absurd, he does not." Draco smirked even more,
"Yes, he does."
"And how would you know?"
"Didn't you see him? It was all over his face."
"Yeah, right. He was just mad that you were picking on me." Ginny brushed off his comments- Harry's never been jealous of anyone in his life.
"Me? Picking on you? What about you!" He cried, pretending to be offended.
"Aw, did I hurt your pride?" She joked, acting like she was talking to a five year old. Draco rolled his eyes as he relaxed back.
"So what did Slughorn want after class?"
"Oh, he just needs some Veritaserum for his own storage cabinet. I swear, it's like I'm everyone's personal potions slave." Ginny rolled her eyes - but then again, she'd never tried to make Veritaserum before, and was definitely up to the challenge.
"And how does he propose you do that?"
"He didn't, he just said if I did I could join your class and skip the rest of my year."
"Skip the rest of your year?" Draco said disbelievingly, "how'd you manage that?"
"You know, I'm not really sure. I asked him about some ingredients and what they would do when I put them together --"
"I thought you had books about that." Draco said, half-amused, half-alarmed at the prospect that she'd made him a potion without knowing what effects the ingredients had on each other. Ginny just looked at him.
"I do. I was just curious about a few ingredients, and they were all in different categories, so I figured I'd ask him just to make sure I was right."
"And were you?"
"Yes."
"So that's why he asked you to stay?"
"Yep. And he was so impressed with our potion he said I could stay for the year, and work with Professor Flitwick during a free period on my Charms."
"You must be pretty talented to convince that crazy old man..." Draco whistled. Ginny shook her head,
"It's not talent," she repeated, frustrated. "I've just been doing it a lot, and practice makes perfect, right?" Draco snorted,
"You are far from perfect." He stated.
"That's not what you say to a girl! ANY girl, let alone one you're supposed to like!" She cried, thoroughly amused by the situation. "I know I'm not perfect, but you're not supposed to tell me that! You're supposed to say, 'Oh, no, Ginny, you're perfect through and through and I love you oh so very much!'!" Draco smirked,
"Red, could you hear me saying any of that?"
"Well...no..."
"And you never will."
"But you should."
"But I won't." Ginny shook her head, she was fighting a losing battle and she knew it.
"You're such a prat." That usually gave her the last word. And just like every other time, he smirked and threw his arm over her shoulder,
"And you love it." She grinned up at him and shook her head. She couldn't help it, the prat had her hooked.
The next few days went by in a blur, it had been a few weeks since she'd gotten back to school, but she hadn't heard from her Mum since break. So when the owls flew in one morning, she was surprised to see Errol drop a letter into heroatmeal.
"Bloody owl..." she muttered, as she fed him some crumbs. She read the letter, and basically it was just a congratualtions and how proud she was to hear about Ginny's newfound talent in Potions. Ginny shook her head and sighed, what could she do? She walked out of the Great Hall, her books in tow.
"Going somewhere?" She looked up and saw Draco walking in the opposite direction.
"You haven't been to breakfast yet?"
"Not yet, you're already leaving?"
"Errol dropped my letter into my oatmeal, and I kind of lost my appetite." Draco snickered, "Shut up, he got it here, at least."
"And what did your letter say?"
"It was just my Mum, congratulating me on finding my talent in potions, yadda yadda yadda." She sighed again. "I don't understand why people keep thinking I like potions."
"Aw, you do like potions. You just hate dungeons and the professors who've taught it. And the hospital wing. All of which you associate potions with." She considered this - everything he said was true, about Professors Snape and Slughorn, the hospital wing and dungeons. "You know I'm right," he added casually.
"Just like you always are?"
"Absolutely." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"What are you doing!" yelled a voice from behind them, "I told you to stay away from my sister!" Ginny wheeled around to see Ron storming upon them.
"Don't worry, Ron, I was just about to tell Draco here what a prat he is. Draco, you're a prat." She said with a smirk. Ron looked dumbfounded, Draco just scowled and proceeded into the Great Hall. Ginny looked and noticed Ron's expression, "What?"
"You...called him...'Draco'." He said the name like it was poison to the ears.
"For emphasis." she clarified. He seemed to accept this logic, as he continued on his way, probably back to Gryffindor Tower. Ginny, however, decided to talk a walk out by the lake.