Title: Venom, Tears and Potions

Author: Knife Hand

Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated

Spoilers: Nothing Specific, general for first few books.

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I do not own Hermione, or Luna, or Ginny, or Cho, or... I would buy them all but I am broke.

Summary: Events during Second Year have far reaching consequences that no one could have foreseen.


Before breakfast the next morning, over a hundred students, seven staff and countless portraits almost had a heart attack when a grinning Harry Potter fell past them with a waive down the centre of the main stairwell bay, performing a single, powerful sweep of his wings just before the ground and landing with a slight thump. Harry was followed down by a grinning, and purring, Hermione who was leaping from hand railing to hand railing, often across enormous gaps. When she reached the bottom, she pounced onto Harry, who was trying to stand in what he imagined was a majestic pose with his wings outstretched, taking them both to the floor in a smiling, giggling heap.

"You should know better than to tease a feline." Hermione said between giggles.

"Potter, Granger. Twenty points off for recklessness." Snape said.

"Phfft." Hermione said, still high on Adrenaline. "The gaps were only twenty feet. No danger at all."

"I can fly." Harry simply stated, before turning to Hermione with a smirk. "Dibbs on the cereal."

Harry jumped up and began racing for the Great Hall.

"No way, Harry. That cream is so mine!" Hermione shouted, taking a few strides on all fours before a long leap, taking her over the head of three First Years, and then running normally.

By the time Ron made it down to breakfast, the Adrenaline had faded and Hermione was slightly freaking out that she had talked back to a Professor, even if it was only Professor Snape. Hermione was almost hyperventilating when Ron slouched down in his seat next to her and did arguably the dumbest thing in his entire life, and considering Ron's history that was saying something.

"Why are you still wearing those stupid costumes? Nice prank and all but enough is enough." Ron said, and then tried to yank what he thought was a fake tail off of Hermione.

The ear-splitting yowl echoed through the hall, easily recognised by anyone who had ever hear an injured or fighting cat, followed by the just as recognisable sound of someone being forcibly hit by an open handed slap. It took Ron two seconds to realise he was on the floor and another ten to realise why he was on the floor. By that stage he was staring up at an outraged Hermione, a pissed off Harry and the stern, angry and disapproving Professor McGonagall.

"She bloody hit me." Ron said before his mind fully engaged, not that it would have made much difference. "Why did she hit me?"

"Because you assaulted Miss Granger first, Mister Weasley." McGonagall replied.

"I just pulled the fake tail." Ron said, still confused.

"It's not fake, Ronald!" Hermione replied, giving him a death stare.

"Huh?!" Ron said.

"Bloody hell, man, you were there when she got the damn thing." Harry added.

"Wha?!" Ron replied.

"Miss Granger is now a human/feline hybrid, Mister Potter is a human/Phoenix hybrid." McGonagall tried to explain.

"Dah?!" Ron spluttered.

"Mione's a Catgirl and I'm and Angel." Harry said cheekily, earning a glare from McGonagall and a slap over the back of the head by Hermione.

"Gah?!" Ron semi drooled.

"I think you broke him." One of the Weasley twins said.

"Nice work, we've been trying to do that for years." The other said.

"Misters Weasley, please escort your brother to the Hospital Wing. And I expect him to arrive in the same condition that he is in now." McGonagall said, before walking away.

The Twins held a slumped and drooling Ron between them as the exited the Great Hall. Harry and Hermione sat back down at the table and heard a soft clearing of the throat, which made them turn. The noise was made by Ginny Weasley.

"I just wanted to say I am sorry." Ginny said softly. "If it wasn't for me and that stupid Diary, then neither of you would be in your current situation."

"Ginny. I do not hold you responsible." Harry replied. "You were being controlled, and I would have done the same for anyone in the School… except Malfoy or Snape. Have you had a chance to talk about it to anyone?"

"Not really. Dad's been so busy, Mum wants to pretend it never happened and I can't talk to my brothers about it." Ginny replied.

"You really do need to talk about it with someone." Hermione said, unconsciously tilting her head slightly to the side. "A situation like that can cause serious psychological issues, and add in the synaptic overwrite there is the possibility of Cognitive Disassociation or even Schizophrenia."

Ginny looked at Hermione in confusion then turned her gaze to Harry hoping he would explain.

"It can seriously mess with your head and make you believe things that are not true." Harry clarified.

"That's what I said." Hermione grumbled.

"Yes dear." Harry said in an overly patronising tone, causing Hermione to stick her tongue out at him.

"What kind of things?" Ginny asked.

"Oh, anything." Hermione replied. "That you are Tom Riddle. That because Harry saved you then you are both destined to be together. That you are an only child and your brothers are imposters. It could be anything."

"Or none of those." Harry added. "But either way, I suggest you at least go and speak to Madam Pomfrey. At least she will listen, maybe even recommend a specialist for you to go to. She was great with helping us adapt to the impact of our new situation."

"I think I might." Ginny said. "But my parents would never be able to afford a specialist."

"You may not need one." Harry replied. "But if she thinks you do, then come to me, ok? I'll do whatever it takes to get you the help you need, be it getting Professor McGonagall to use school funds or pay for it myself."

"Thank you." Ginny replied, then went to sit down with the other Second Years.

"Think she'll go?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah." Harry replied. "She'll probably wait till after classes this afternoon. Avoids questions from her friends and Ron will probably be out of the Hospital Wing by then."

The pair resumed eating their breakfasts, with Hermione relishing the huge dollop of cream on her pikelets.


Harry and Hermione were studying in the Gryffindor Common Room, causing a bit of a stir due to the fact that Hermione was curled up with her head in his lap.

"Hello Harry." Oliver Wood said, having approached the pair. "First practice is tomorrow."

"Sorry Oliver." Harry replied. "I won't be playing this year, or ever again actually."

"WHAT?!" Oliver yelled.

"What's going on?" Katie Bell said.

The three Chasers and the Weasley Twins came over.

"Harry's quitting the team." Oliver explained.

"Why?" Katie asked.

"Because the rules require a broom. I can't fly on a broom anymore. My wings throw off the balance and manoeuvrability of a broom." Harry replied. "Being able to fly on my own is kinda cool through."

"Damn it." Oliver replied. "What are we going to do? We need a new Seeker."

"What are the requirements for a Seeker?" Hermione asked.

"Fast reflexes, agile on the broom, sharp eyes." Harry replied. "Generally a slight build is best but a good eye for movement is key."

In a moment of both inspiration and amusement, Hermione picked up a small glass bead off the ground that had come from a cheap broken necklace. She tossed the glass bead hard over her shoulder and everyone expected to hear it hit the ground but when they did not, they turned and saw Ginny bouncing the glass bead in her hand.

"Looks like we found your new Seeker." Hermione replied. "Ginny! Front and centre."

Ginny came over from where she was sitting with some other Second Years.

"What's up?" Ginny asked.

"How would you like to be the new Gryffindor Seeker?" Oliver asked.

"But Harry's the Seeker." Ginny replied.

"I quit." Harry replied. "Can't fly a broom with these wings."

"Really?" Ginny said excited.

"Sure." Oliver replied.

Ginny squealed in excitement and ran off to her friends.

TBC…