Chapter 4: Opportunity Gone

"That's not fair," frowned Ron as they made there way to potions. "Why didn't you take up for us Hermione?" Hermione who trailed behind them looked at Ron.

"What did you expect me to do? I didn't want Neville to get in trouble," said Hermione. They both looked at her with shocked disbelief.

"I can't believe that you would take Neville's side rather than ours. We are still friends right," asked Harry.

"Yes, we're still friends. I just thought that you would like time together… alone?" responded Hermione shyly. They looked confused at these words. They stopped outside Slughorn's classroom.

"But, we spend time together all the time. Why should we get detention to add to it?" asked Harry. Hermione opened her mouth to respond but is interrupted. Malfoy and the rest of his cronies showed up.

"Well, well, well. It's Potter and his debutants," cracked Malfoy. Pansy Parkinson mirthfully laughed at this, flexing her fist at Hermione who smirked back at her.

"Shove it Malfoy," said Ron. Malfoy stepped closer to Ron followed by Crabbe and Goyle.

"Step any closer Malfoy, and I'll hex you into oblivion," threatened Harry. He pulled his wand out of his pocket and pointed it toward Malfoy's face.

"Is that a threat Potter?" asked Malfoy as he pulled his own wand from the inside of his robes.

"It is if you want to be!" added Harry. They glared at each other, but before Malfoy could react Slughorn walked up.

"What's this, wands away boys. Enter everyone, and take your seats. I have a very interesting class for you today." Harry pocketed his wand and followed Hermione and Ron into the class, his eyes were still on Malfoy. After everyone took there seats; again Hermione seating on the end, Slughorn stood in front of the class; complete glee on his face.

"Hello everyone; this will be a very interesting class today. We will be making veritaserum, the truth potion. It's very complex, but I know that everyone will be capable of making it for you all have made it through your O.W.Ls. The method is on the board, he waved his wand toward the board. "And the ingredients are in the cupboard. Have at it then!"

They spent the course of that class mixing and stirring the content of their cauldron. Multicolored fumes permeated the air. The bell rang for the end of class. Each person was given a dose of the potion to test on a fellow student to encounter the effects firsthand.

"Now the effect of this small dose will only last ten minutes, so be sure to get the required questions on the board answered before the potions wears off." Added Slughorn as the class exited.

"Well, that was interesting wasn't it?" asked Ron. They entered the common room for their free period, and discussed who of the three of them would take the potion first.

"I think that it should be Harry," said Hermione. Harry looked at her in bewilderment.

"Why do I have to go first?" asked Harry. Both Harry and Ron looked at Hermione and waited for her to respond.

"I just thought that you would like to test it first, that's all. You know, get it out of the way."

"Yeah, that would be good, since I have quidditch practice tomorrow." Harry paused and Ron just nodded his head in agreement. As Harry made to get his books out of his bag, Hermione leaned toward Ron.

"You can question him if you want. I have arithmacy, so I won't have time," whispered Hermione in his ear. She waited for these words to seek in, and then smiled to herself. Ron didn't know what she played at, so he didn't respond, but reached into his bag for his transfiguration textbook.

"Can I use your lucky eraser Ron?" smiled Harry. Ron looked up, and then realized that Harry was talking to him.

"Ah, well, it wouldn't be lucky if everyone used it, right?" asked Ron. He knew very well that he didn't have a lucky eraser. He didn't need one. They couldn't erase ink after all. Hermione laughed at his side then disappeared behind a book.

"Yeah, but I think that you should share the luck, it couldn't hurt. These transfiguration questions are horrible." grinned Harry. Ron rummaged in his pocket for a while.

"Ah, I must have lost it again," said Ron; he smiled wickedly at Harry; who smiled back. Hermione just rolled her eyes at them and sat back for the show.

Harry threw a balled up piece of paper at Ron, which started a fierce paper ball fight throughout the common room.

"You guys are so childish," yelled Hermione as she covered her head for the third time to protect her head. "Well, I'm off to arithmacy." she called. They looked as Hermione left, and then finally decide to end the fierce paper ball fight.

"Ouch, I forfeit Harry," yelled Ron, as he cowered behind a table. "Stop hitting me…"

"I'm not hitting you Ron!" yelled Harry. Ron, who crouched on his knees behind a table, looked up and saw Harry who wasn't moving.

"What was that then?" asked Ron. In a distant corner he saw Peeves getting ready to aim again. Peeves laughed and lunged the last paper ball at him, before he floated up through the ceiling. Harry leaned over the sofa and laughed heartedly.

"That wasn't funny, damn Peeves…" yelled Ron as he looked up at the ceiling.

"Should we try that potion then?" asked Harry.

"Ah, yeah, if you want to." said Ron.

"Do you want to go somewhere quiet so that we won't be overheard?" asked Harry.

"Yeah, let's go upstairs. No one's up there, I think," said Ron. Harry nodded and they go up stairs. Ron sat on the bed and Harry dug in his bag for the vial of veritaserum. Harry sat on his bed took a small dose of it and paused to let the potion take effect.

"Okay, what is your name?" asked Ron as he looked at the list of questions. Harry's eyes glossed over and he answered.

"Harry Potter," said Harry, his voice was deep and somewhat slurred.

"What did you do yesterday?" asked Ron. Harry goes into full detail account of what he did yesterday, but Ron heard none of this. His mind began to race. He looked down the list and he saw that one of the questions, number nine was, "Who do you have a crush on?"

He didn't know why this bothered him. Obviously, Harry's answer would be Cho Chang, a girl that he had had a crush on since their third year, but some part of him wanted Harry to say his name. That's stupid, he thought. Why would he want Harry to have a crush on him? He didn't feel that way, and he was sure that Harry didn't either.

He continued to ask the questions, one after the other. Each answer seemed to last longer and longer. Finally he reached number nine. He opened his mouth to speak.

"Who do you have a crush… But it was too late; he could see that Harry was coming to. His eyes had lost that glazed over look, and he was now focusing in on Ron. At the same time Seamus along with Dean came through the door.

They stopped on the threshold of the open doorway, and stared at the scene before them. Ron realized that he was on his knees in front of Harry; something that seemed innocent at the time, but now seemed odd through the eyes of onlookers. He pushed back from Harry and looked around at them.

"Are we interrupting something?" asked Seamus smiling. Ron stood and looked at Harry, his palms began to sweat.

"Naw, we were just doing homework," said Harry. Seamus and Dean came into the room and sat on their beds.

"You guys missed lunch..,'' said Dean.

"Ah, I'm not hungry anyway," added Harry and Ron together. Dean stood and grabbed his bag, Seamus followed suit.

"Well, we're off to class, you guys coming," asked Seamus?

"Yeah, in a bit," added Ron. Seamus and Dean left. Ron turned toward Harry.

"So, how was it," asked Ron.

"Weird actually, I can't remember a thing." Harry rubbed his eyes and stood to retrieve his bag.

"You coming," asked Harry.

"Yeah, I'm coming," added Ron. Harry walked out but Ron sat on his bed. He felt angry with himself; anger that he didn't quite know what to do with. He grabbed his bag and followed after Harry.