CHAPTER 14: Of Fog and Poison

Harry walked up to the now very familiar gargoyle guardian in front of Dumbledore's office with a slight grin.

"Hot Tamales." he snickered. Dumbledore was starting to get pretty creative with his candy passwords.

"Good evening, Harry." the old headmaster said from behind his desk, hands folded together, the charred blackened fingers of his left gingerly tucked under the much healthier ones. "How have your studies been as of late?"

"Pretty brilliant."

"Professor McGonagall tells me your transfiguration marks have drastically improved as of late."

"Er… yeah. I've been doing a lot more research into the theory. It's turning out to be a lot more interesting than I'd ever thought."

"It wouldn't have anything to do with your new... friendship? With Miss. Bones?" Dumbledore said, eye twinkling as he glanced down his nose at Harry. The teen blushed brightly, making the old headmaster chuckle. But then his face grew stern again. "Enough of that. I think it's time, Harry, that I show you the most important memory in this collection." Harry's curiosity peaked.

"Why is it so important?"

"That, I think,'' Dumbledore began as he poured the memory into the familiar basin of the Pensieve. Harry instantly noticed something off with the memory. It was cloudier than most. It also had a viscosity to it, like old honey. "Will become quite clear upon the viewing." Then Dumbledore waved a hand for Harry to enter. It wasn't a very long memory. Not by a large margin. In less than five minutes Harry was back in Dumbledore's office. His face was set in a firm line.

"What happened?" Harry questioned, "everything got all foggy. And kinda staticky, like tv snow."

"Indeed," Dumbledore said, even as he quickly cleared the memory away back into its phial and locked it safely away again. "That memory is indeed the most important. But it is also completely untrue."

"Untrue?" Harry questioned. "Like, it's been tampered with?"

"Indeed."

"It's Professor Slughorn's memory though, right?" Harry asked. He was pretty sure it was because the only other subject who had been in the room with Slughorn was the young, charismatic, (but still despicably evil) Tom Riddle. There was no way Dumbledore would have been able to get his hands on one of Voldemort's actual memories. That would be insane.

"Indeed, it is," Albus said with a pleased nod.

"Who would want to tamper with one of professor Slughorn's memories?"

"Why Horace himself of course," Albus said as though it were obvious. Harry blinked at him in confusion. "I believe that this memory contains something which Horace deeply regrets, or else reflects quite badly on him. And so, in an effort to hide his shame, he gave me this tampered memory, in the hopes that it would placate me." Albus's face grew grim. "Unfortunately, the information he has hidden seems to be the key to a puzzle that has rather stumped me for some time now. It is vital that we learn this terrible secret, whatever it may be."

"That's what you meant at the start of the year." Harry said with dawning realization, "you wanted me to get close to him so I could convince him to give up the real memory."

"Yes." Harry let out a gust of air. If Slughorn was so desperate to hide this memory from Dumbledore, how on earth was he going to convince the man to part with it? Sure, he was Slughorn's darling, but that didn't mean he could just waltz up and ask him about it. "It is an arduous task, I know. But I'm confident you can manage it, my boy." in the end Harry left that office with dumbledores confidence, but he was not optimistic about his prospects.

Harry heaved yet another sigh as he looked down at his charms book. He hadn't been able to focus at all during his free period and the test he was studying for was about to begin. Snuffles whined next to him and poked his watch Insistently.

"Yeah, yeah I know." Harry sighed. This week was going from bad to worse. When Dumbledore had first set Harry on the task of getting Slughorn's true memory Harry hadn't thought his chances were very good. And he'd been very right. There just wasn't ever a good time to broach the subject with Slughorn. And the one time Harry had managed to get Slughorn alone and broached the subject about memory charms had seemed to make the man nervous and suspicious. Now the potions master almost always had an excuse ready to escape being alone with Harry. Suddenly the bell rang. Harry cursed under his breath. As he scrambled to put his books away a shadow fell over him.

"Mr. Potter." Snape drawled slowly. Harry froze and groaned. "Any particular reason why you are not yet in your class?"

"I lost track of time while studying. I'm actually running late for a charms test." Harry explained.

"Your charms textbook." the man said with a nod to the window sill. Harry blushed.

"Er…" he scooped it up and stuffed it into his bag. Snuffles groaned in irritation at Snape. The potions master sneered at the dog distastefully. "Thanks, sir." Harry finished before turning away.

"What had your attention so fully if not charms Mr. potter?"

"Well…" Harry started before he turned back around and gave Snape a curious look. Maybe he could help. After all, Snape knew the man. Slughorn taught him as well. Maybe he had a different insight. "Dumbledore asked me to get something from Professor Slughorn. But he's not been very cooperative."

"I see," Snape said, folding his arms but looking thoughtful. "I take it this is for the war effort."

"Yeah," Harry confirmed tiredly. Snape's face twitched, as though he wanted to snap at Harry reflexively for poor manners. Instead, he straightened up.

"Normally I wouldn't dare suggest such a thing," he began slowly, "but given the circumstances… perhaps you should use your mutt's rather deserved reputation for a bit of intimidation."

"What… you mean… scare it out of him?" Harry asked in shock.

"The man is rather afraid of dogs is he not?" Snape said coldly, "perhaps you should bring your dog around to… give Horace some encouragement." Harry blinked at the man. After a few moments, he grimaced.

"I'll think about it." he finally said. A beep on his watch made him curse again. "Sorry sir, I'm running very late."

"Tell Flitwick I kept you." Snape drawled. "That should win you some sympathy points." Harry grinned.

"Thank you, sir." Then he was off. Hopefully, the short warlock would indeed be forgiving.

Sirius and Harry sat cross-legged in the wildflowers as Susan yet again soared around in the flying room. Harry never tired of watching his girlfriend majestically glide through the clouds.

"You know," Sirius suddenly cut in, face growing grim "I can't believe I'm saying this… but I think Snape is right."

"Wot?!" Harry yelped in shock. Sirius was agreeing with Snape?!

"I know," Sirius grumbled as he fell back into the flowers, disappearing behind the tall grass. Despite how much they had all tramped through here, the flowers were always fresh and unrumpled every time they returned. "Hell has suddenly become a lot more comfortable for my mother."

"But… if I try and scare it out of him and that doesn't work, he'll hate my guts!"

"Now hold on." Sirius calmed him "I don't agree with all of Snape's suggestions." the man scoffed "that would be truly absurd. However, I do think that snuffles attending the next slug club would get your foot in the door. In my experience, men like Slughorn are willing to do just about anything to make things that make them uncomfortable go away."

"But what if I become one of those things that make him uncomfortable?" Harry questioned.

"As long as you get the memory will it matter? I thought you didn't like him anyway?"

"I don't." Harry agreed. "But what if I can't manage to get the memory first?"

"I say it's worth the risk." Sirius argued, "and if it does work, we can finally be free of him." Harry winced. It was risky. But he was desperate for anything at this point.

"Alright."

Harry sighed as he sat down on the couch in the empty Gryffindor common room. It was sunny out, the perfect day really. The winter chill wasn't quite as biting today, and many people had taken the opportunity to enjoy the fresh snow from last night. But Harry's heart was ill at ease. It had been weeks now since Slughorn had even looked at him. Normally that would be alright for Harry, all things considered, but Dumbledore's pointed prodding and now his insistence on postponing all further 'lessons' until Harry obtained Slughorn's memory was giving him a completely new and unwelcome form of anxiety. He was starting to regret listening to Snape and Sirius's advice. Attempting to scare the man into giving him what he wanted hadn't worked at all. Instead of making Slughorn more pliable, he'd caught on that Dumbledore had set Harry up to some kind of vile scheme. Now he refused to even talk to him. He'd even stopped inviting Harry to slug club meetings! According to Susan, Blaise had been insufferable, safe in the knowledge that he could now bad mouth Harry and not be rebuffed. That's not to say Slughorn was unfair. The man wasn't Snape (reconciliation aside). Harry's marks still reflected his newfound understanding of potions thanks to the prince. But it was maddening to know that Slughorn held all the answers. Suddenly the portrait door slammed open.

"Harry!" Seamus shouted in a panic "Harry you've got to come quick!"

"What?!" Harry asked in a panic "what is it?!"

"Ron 's gone bloody barmy!" Seamus cried. As soon as he said this the portrait opened up again. Neville and Dean were both holding Ron up. He was staring dreamily up into space with a dopey smile.

"It just started," Dean explained as he and Neville threw the teen into one of the armchairs. His legs weren't working at all it seemed. "He was fine at lunch. Eating the usual amount. and then he just sort of flopped over."

"Is it a jinx?" Harry asked in confusion.

"No idea," Neville said worriedly. "Maybe we should take him to Pomphrey?" the portrait opened once again. Padma and Hermione rushed into the common room. When Padma saw Ron, she froze.

"Oh gosh tell me she didn't actually…"

"Who didn't actually?" Harry demanded with a glare.

"Lavender." Padma supplied.

"What did lavender do?" Hermione asked angrily. Padma twisted her fists into her sweater.

"Well, she's had a crush on him all year you know. Ever since he got onto the quidditch team. But he never gave her a second glance. He's been so obsessed with you. So, lavender said she was going to 'take matters into her own hands.'"

"Meaning?"

"She nicked a love potion from Romilda Vane," Padma admitted.

"Bloody hell!" Seamus cried.

"Where is she now?" hemione said with tight lips. Padma grimaced

"I don't know. I haven't seen her since lunch." Harry looked down at Ron and suddenly had a spark of inspiration.

"Why don't you guys go tell McGonagall what happened. And try and find lavender." He passed the leash on the sofa to Neville. "Take snuffles. His nose can help."

"What are you gonna do?" Dean asked.

"Why go to the hospital wing when I can go straight to the source." Harry reasoned. "Slughorn will have something to sort him out."

"Are you sure you can get him there on your own?" Hermione asked as Harry struggled to get his much taller friend in a somewhat upright position.

"Yep," he said, straining, "I got this." Ron's feet slid out from under him again "I'm good!"

And thus began the very VERY long walk up to Slughorn's office.

Harry took a deep breath as he approached the old door. It was now or never. He hoisted Ron back up to a more stable position and raised a hand to knock. Slughorn opened the little window in the door and flinched.

"Potter," he said with a grimace "I don't have time to-"

"Wait, professor!" Harry cried. "I need your help."

"Help?" Slughorn asked. Harry shifted and revealed the dreamy starstruck Ron. "Good heavens what happened to Weatherby?!" Harry winced.

"Love potion," he said. Slughorn looked closer with a frown.

"Quite a strong one too." he gave the pair another look before sighing and opening the door. "Come in come in. get him on the settee."

"Thank you, professor," Harry said as he lugged Ron into the room. Slughorn leaned over the boy and waved his wand a few times before making a noise of irritation.

"Whoever dosed this poor boy really had no idea what they were doing. It's not a particularly strong brew, but he does have triple the required dose in his system."

"Is that dangerous?"

"Thankfully it isn't anything too disastrous," Slughorn assured him. "It's not like Amortentia. But as you can see, the side effects can be astonishingly powerful." he flicked his wrist and a small cauldRon appeared along with several ingredients. "Thankfully the remedy is quick. I daresay you could brew it yourself!"

"Maybe," Harry said, "but considering how strong it is I wanted a more expert hand." Slughorn was still just as susceptible to flattery and puffed up when Harry complimented him. "Do you want me to help with preparing the ingredients?"

"Certainly, my boy!" Slughorn cried. So, Harry and Slughorn brewed together. Things fell back into the way they used to be. Harry silently listened as Slughorn went on long self-absorbed tangents, occasionally answering a deeply personal question. After the final ingredient was added and Slughorn doused the fire Harry took the leap.

"Professor…" he began. "About our last conversation."

"Hmm?" Slughorn asked as he separated the brew into a few vials and a drinking beaker. "What about it?"

"I wanted to apologize sir." Harry said "I came off a bit strong. I understand that some subjects are rather delicate… best left alone." he said. Slughorn smiled.

"Water under the bridge my boy!" he cried before turning back to Ron. "Oh dear." the gangly teen had managed to bonelessly slide to the floor. He was now humming a little ditty staring up into the clouds. "We may need to help him swallow."

"Right," Harry said as he hefted Ron upright. Slughorn passed him the breaker and Harry forced the potions down Ron's throat. After a few moments, Ron's cloudy eyes cleared up. But the dazed expression was replaced with anguish.

"I feel awful," he murmured pitifully. Harry blinked.

"Side effects of the potion I'm afraid." Slughorn explained, "heartbreak. It'll wear off in a bit, though… I suppose." he turned towards his liquor cabinet and returned with a bottle wrapped in flashy gold paper. "Let's have a pick-me-up."

"Er…" Harry began nervously "are you sure that's allowed, sir?"

"It's only an elf-made mead." Slughorn said dismissively "not even 5% alcohol." he strained slightly with the bottle opener before Harry held out a hand. "Thank you, my boy." The man returned with three glasses as Harry opened the bottle with a pop. as Slughorn passed around the half-full glasses he smiled.

"To true love?" he offered as a toast. Ron didn't wait for any kind of assent; he just knocked the glass back.

"True love and good potions." Harry offered. Then Ron collapsed. Both Slughorn and Harry looked down at him in alarm as he convulsed. The second he started foaming at the mouth Harry dropped his glass. "Ron !" he cried, falling to his knees. The teen's eyes were rolled back. Harry then turned frantically towards Slughorn's potions cabinet. The potions master stood, frozen in shock, staring at the scene with the bottle still in his hand. Harry found what he was looking for and dove back across the room. He shoved the rather disgusting stone down Ron's throat. Ron shuddered once more before going completely still. Harry's ears started ringing. His breath came in short gasps. His vision blurred a bit. He heard someone calling his name, but he couldn't make out who it was. Then a hand gripped his shoulder, not tightly, but it grounded him. And instantly he could hear the voice.

"Deep breath potter," Snape said quietly. "In." Harry sucked in a shaky breath "out." he let one go. Again "where is Snuffles?"

"W-with… McGona-gall." Harry gasped shakily. "Ro-n… h-he… he stopped… brea- eathing."

"He's fine," Snape assured him. "Horace took him up to the hospital wing."

"He's o-okay?" Harry asked, feeling himself level off.

"Yes. Horace tells me you saved his life," he said, giving Harry a slow rub on the back.

"I gave him a bezoar," Harry said flatly. Snape snorted.

"Nice to know I taught you at least one thing in five years," he remarked sardonically. Then he helped Harry up to his feet. "Let's get you up to the hospital wing."

"I'm fine." Harry insisted. Snape snorted.

"No potter, you are not fine. You just had a severe panic attack. And rightly so. So, we're going to go up to the hospital wing, Pomphrey is going to give you a look over and you're going to get some medicated rest." Snape's face grew stormy. "Meanwhile I'm going to have a stern word with that dog of yours."

"I'm the one who sent him off with McGonagall." Harry insisted "it's not his fault." Snape's face seemed as though he wanted to disagree but in the end he just huffed. When he was sure Harry was stable he let go and let him walk to the hospital wings unassisted. When he entered the room was somewhat chaotic. Normally it would make Harry even more anxious. But he was bone tired. Maybe Snape had the right idea.

"Harry!" Hermione cried before running over and giving him a tight hug. "Oh, my goodness are you alright?"

"I'm f-"

"Don't dare finish that clause, Mr. Potter." Snape snapped.

"Tired." Harry finished instead.

"As you should be!" Pomphrey cried. "You did great work today, Potter."

"Thanks." he said as he sat down on one of the empty beds "Did they find lavender yet?"

"What does miss brown have to do with this?" Snape asked with a frown.

"I can answer that," Slughorn said. He was still holding the bottle in his hands and looked dazed from where he was sitting on the bed. "Harry brought Young Weatherby to me because he'd been heavily dosed with love potions." Snape looked at the man unimpressed.

"I see. And that correlates to serving alcohol to minors-"

"It was for a pick-me-up. You know how powerful the aftershocks of love potions can be Severus-" the man began.

"Regardless!" the man snapped "it is unacceptable behaviour!"

"Now Severus." Albus suddenly cried from the door. "There is no need for such harsh words."

"Headmaster…" Snape began with a growl. But he trailed off as McGonagall rushed into the room.

"Good heavens!" she cried. "What happened?!" Then she was nearly bowled over as snuffles rushed into the room and almost tackled Harry with deep whining. Harry sighed as his tensions melted away as he buried his face into the dog's thick black fur. He was vaguely aware of the explanation that McGonagall was given. But he might as well already be asleep.

"Here Potter," Pomphrey said, suddenly right next to him. Harry looked at the vial in her hands and downed it gratefully before slipping into the void.

Harry sat on the chair next to Ron's bed as he and the boy played a game of chess the next day. Hermione was sitting across from them, occasionally reading, occasionally watching. When Ron destroyed Harry's queen she chuckled.

"When are you going to give up Harry?" she asked, "you know he always wins."

"I will get him someday." Harry insisted even as his other rook was taken.

"Never in a million years." Ron insisted. After a few more turns Harry was defeated and they decided to put the board away.

"So, what happened after I fell asleep yesterday?" Harry asked.

"Well." Hermione began, "it turns out that bottle of mead Slughorn served you guys was intended as a gift for Professor Dumbledore."

"Really?"

"Yes," she confirmed before straightening up. "Professor Snape was absolutely furious that he even attempted that you know. And I agree with him."

"Come on Hermione," Ron began, "it wasn't even half a glass. Plus, he said it was weak stuff, right?"

"Regardless!" Hermione cried angrily.

"What about lavender? Did they find her?" Harry asked.

"Yes." Hermione said, "She's going to be writing Ron a formal apology."

"And she's serving detention with Snape until the end of term," Ron added. "That was McGonagall's idea."

"Also, Dumbledore gave you 100 points for saving a fellow classmate once again," Hermione said.

"Sluggy wanted to tack on another 50 for practical use of learning material," Ron added with a snicker. Harry smiled. That all but confirmed that he was back in the man's good graces. He had a second chance at getting that memory, and this time he wouldn't muck up. Suddenly there was a pinging sound of someone knocking on the bar of the curtains. Anthony poked his head behind them.

"Hi Ron." he said, "how're you feeling?"

"What are you doing here?" he demanded with a confused frown.

"Hermione and I have a study group on Thursdays," Anthony said with a weak smile.

"He's coming to pick me up," Hermione said.

"But…" Ron began, "but I thought." he looked between them. "Yesterday you said you cared for me?"

"And I do," Hermione said matter-of-factly.

"Right." Ron began, "so I thought that-"

"Ronald," Hermione began before she sighed, "listen to me. We are never going to be a couple. Because I don't feel for you that way. We are friends. Only friends. And we will only ever be friends." she said plainly "I'm sorry. I know that is probably difficult for you to hear, but it's just the way it is. And I would appreciate it if you stopped being rude towards Anthony. You are one of my best friends. And he is my boyfriend. I would much prefer it if you two got along, instead of you pitching a fit like a three-year-old every time we're together." Ron was silent for a while and Harry felt the awkwardness weighing down on him heavily. Finally, the redhead slumped.

"Okay," he said. "I'll see you later?"

"Of course." Hermione cried before she gave him a quick hug. Then she and Anthony left. Ron leaned back against the pillow looking forlorn.

"I guess… I guess once I realized what I wanted I thought it would just happen you know?"

"Yeah."

"But I was too late."

"Nah mate," Harry said tiredly, "I don't think Hermione ever felt for you like that. Or maybe you guys are like Ginny and me. She saw how much of an idiot you were and changed her mind."

"Piss off." Ron cried with a grin as he punched Harry's arm. Then he slumped. "But yeah… you're probably right." he was silent before he shrugged "heck, maybe I should start dating lavender."

"No!" Harry cried in horror. "Are you kidding me?! That would just encourage her!"

"I'm joking." Ron insisted "that was bloody fucking creepy. I never realized she was capable of something like that." he shuddered "girls, amiright?"

"Yeah." Harry said with a groan as he thought about his various romantic foibles over the years "bloody girls."

A/N:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Seriously guys thanks for an awesome year!

I'm super excited about what the next one will bring.

Anthro79: weeeeeeelllll

I mean the man was kidnapped and is currently mia...

;)

Ugly-Duckling123: No, Charlie was still in Romania, getting the dragon ready for the tournament and transport. this is legit the first time they meet.

there was more planned for that convo. But I ended up cutting it for a better flow.

Rori Potter: Thanks!

once again, I hope you enjoy my birthday! I know I will.

I'm getting a pig cake! ;D

Don't forget to keep on reading!

-TheTransfiguredCanary