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Hermione knew the only way to get into Malfoy Manor was through the floo at Snape Manor. Luckily the Burrow's floo was one of only a handful that would allow entrance into Snape Manor. Knowing full well that Ginny's brothers would not allow her to go to Malfoy Manor, the girls decided to set up a divergence to get the boy's and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley out of the kitchen so Ginny could use the floo.
Hermione walked into the kitchen clutching Ron's new broom in her hand, "Ron, I think I'd like to take another shot at flying."
Everyone stopped what they were doing to look at her. Ron's mouth hung open for a moment before he shook his head, "No way Hermione."
At first she thought he was denying her desire to fly but he walked up to her then grabbed the broom from her hand, "No way are you using my new Chudley Cannon broom!"
Hermione rolled her eyes up to the ceiling, "Ron! Just let me borrow it for a few minutes?"
After much teasing from the twins Ron finally gave in and they all followed Hermione out to the backyard. On their way out the door Hermione asked Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to come watch her attempt to fly, under the ruse that she needed their moral support.
Ginny stood around the corner quietly laughing over the production her friend was wiling to go through for her. Hermione was the best friend a girl could wish to have. She peeked out the back window just as Hermione kicked off and went spiraling out of control across the backyard.
Ginny laughed hysterically before throwing floo powder into the fireplace and calling out, "Snape Manor!" As soon as she landed she grabbed more floo powder and threw that down as she called out, "Malfoy Manor!"
Her heart fluttered madly in her chest.
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Draco's bedroom was packed with teens dancing and drinking. The music blared from magical speakers floating throughout the room and flashing lights flickered about the dance floor. Two house elves suddenly appeared with trays of food to share with all the guests.
Harry stood by the dance floor and watched Draco make a fool of himself as the Slytherin stumbled about trying to dance in his intoxicated state. Alix stood next to Harry's side adding running commentary regarding all the people in the room. Harry thought she was a nice girl but he could tell she wanted to be more than just friends by the way she kept touching his arm and giggling at everything he said. He didn't want to hurt her feelings so he stayed and talked. He could tell his attention towards Alix was really getting Charlet angry. All the more reason to stay and talk.
One of the house elves kept bringing him back the drink Draco had given him earlier. He tried to explain that he didn't want it but every time he turned around the incessant house elf was back again holding out the same glass of amber liquid. Finally, out of frustration, he took hold of the glass. For a while he just held it in his hand, then without really thinking he took a small sip. A few moments later he took a few more sips until the glass as empty.
Charlet waited for the potion to take effect before dragging her girlfriends onto the dance floor. She couldn't wait to see how her friends would react when Harry Potter fell head over heels in love with her! She had put the love potion in his drink for two reasons; the first reason was to prove to her friends that she was the most popular girl in the room. The second reason was to get Potter to bend to her will. Once she was sure that the potion was in full effect she would ask the idiot boy a very important question. If all went well she would find the item Vespa had sent her to get and leave Snape Manor forever!
Harry's head began to spin, forcing him to look around for a chair to sit in. As he scanned the room for an empty chair his gaze stopped on Charlet. She was on the other side of the dance floor, dancing with her friends. He could see the lights shinning off her raven hair and her crystal blue eyes were sparkling in a very appealing way. His breath caught in his throat as he realized she was perhaps the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Before he knew what he was doing, he had excused himself from Alix and made his way across the dance floor.
He stood before Charlet with his heart hammering in his chest, "Charlet, would you like to dance?"
Charlet stopped dancing to look at the prize standing before her. He was wearing a pathetic look of worship on his face. She loved the sounds of adoration her friends were making. She knew how jealous they must be at this moment. With a look of triumph she extended her hand out to the-boy-who-lived, "Of course Harry, I would love to dance with you."
As soon as Harry touched her hand he knew something was wrong. He furrowed his brow as something inside him screamed out a warning. Charlet grabbed at his hand forcing, him to move closer. The more he looked into her eyes the more he knew this was all wrong. He took a sudden step back then narrowed his eyes at her. She pulled him close once more, gyrating against the front of him. He didn't respond the way she wanted him to.
Charlet abruptly excused herself, aware that he was resisting the love potion. Harry stood in the middle of the dance floor now thoroughly confused about his feelings. A moment later Charlet returned with two glasses of champagne.
"I'd like to make a toast to … to you, Harry!" Charlet said pushing the glass towards his mouth.
The rest of the people in the room held up glasses and began shouting out words of praise. Harry startled out of his confusion as he realized everyone had been watching them. He took a sip of champagne just to get this moment over with. Charlet urged him to finish the glass so he obediently did as she told. For some reason he knew he would do whatever she asked of him. He felt so lucky that she was paying attention to him.
Charlet had added a few more drops of the love potion to the glass of champagne before giving it to Harry. She waited impatiently for it to take effect.
As soon as she accomplished her goal she would leave Snape Manor and return to her adoring auntie. She missed her auntie and all the perks that went with being Vespa's heir. Oh how she missed the extravagance Vespa offered!
She could see the glossy look to Harry's eyes and knew this was the moment she had been waiting for. She threw her arms around his neck pulling his head towards hers. The kiss lasted long.
As soon as their lips met Harry just knew he shouldn't be doing this. He tried to pull back but Charlet tightened her grip around his neck and he just didn't have the ability to pull away. He tried to pull away again until she finally released him with a huff of rage.
"Harry, come with me now!" Charlet commanded. She grabbed a tall glass of fire whiskey from a tray then turned her back to Harry to put a few more drops of love potion in it. Usually it only took two drops to make any guy fall in love with her but apparently Harry Potter was a special case.
Inside Harry's mind was screaming at him to refuse the drink but the pull to do as Charlet asked was just too strong. He took the tall glass of fire whiskey and gulped until it was gone. The room spun out of control for a brief moment before it slowed down. His eyes were finally able to focus … on the most beautiful witch he had ever seen. Charlet stood before him with an angry glare but it only made him desire her more.
"Charlet, please don't be angry," he pleaded. He heard those ludicrous words coming from his own mouth but couldn't stop himself from saying them. Something inside his head was screaming for him to get away from her but her pull was just too much to turn from.
"Harry, would you like to make me happy?" Charlet whispered in his ear as she ran a finger down his face. Once she was sure he was under her spell she asked, "I need you tell me where Severus is hiding his …" her sentence broke off when she noticed a girl with long red hair and an amazing blue dress standing at the door. The girl couldn't possibly be … but… no it couldn't be the Weasley girl!
Charlet immediately grabbed hold of Harry's arm to turn him away from the door. "Come on Harry, we need to find a more private place." She wasn't relieved when Harry followed along without question. He was not only drugged with potion but he had enough fire whiskey in him to be completely smashed. She wasn't going to take any chances and decided to grab one more tall glass of fire whiskey on their way to Draco's walk-in closet.
Harry's head spun in a bad way. He knew he had drank too much alcohol but he couldn't find the power to refuse the glass Charlet held out to him. How many drinks had he had so far? Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew this was wrong. The glass was large enough to hold three or four times the amount of a normal size drink, just like the last one he had finished. Charlet pushed the glass up to his lips and he forgot all other thoughts. Yes, he would do anything to win this witch's approval, anything she asked. His body protested as the burning liquid slid down his throat. At one point he had to will himself not to sick up on the floor. He placed the half empty glass on a shelf. His knees felt weak, almost like he had the jelly jinx. He leaned up against the closed closet door to steady himself.
Charlet leaned into him as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Harry, how are you feeling?" she asked in a seductive voice.
"Not s'good," Harry slurred then berated himself when he saw the look of anger flit across Charlet's face. "M'sorry Char, just feelin' a bit smashed."
"It's okay Harry. I'll forgive you," Charlet said before digging her nails into his back.
He hissed out in pain, "Ouch!"
"I'll stop if you answer a question for me," Charlet whispered close to his ear. She nibbled at his ear then bit down hard. He flinched back but didn't try to get away. Yes, he was ready to tell her everything she wanted to know. He nodded as he swayed a bit. She had no doubt he would have just fallen to the floor if she had not been holding him up.
"Harry, you must tell me where …"
The door suddenly burst open and they both stumbled out, almost falling to he floor. Harry steadied himself but his head still spun making him feel so dizzy. He looked up and saw Ginny standing before him with her mouth hanging open in shock. He rubbed his eyes thinking he was must be hallucinating. He knew he wasn't when he heard Charlet's sharp voice.
"What the hell are you doing here, Weasel?" Charlet was livid! This stupid girl was going to ruin her plan.
"Gin, what're you doin here," Harry tried to step closer to her but she moved back away from him.
"Harry," Ginny didn't know what to say. Her heart beat painfully in her chest. Her throat felt tight as if she needed to cry. With all the dignity she could muster she calmly said, "I don't know what I'm doing here. I guess I made a mistake."
Harry tried to touch her again but she moved back. "Harry …don't. I don't ever want to see you again."
Her words cut through Harry like a knife. They helped him to sober up a bit and brought about a strong desire to get away from Charlet.
"No, don't say that," Harry reached for her arm and held on tight. "Please don't say that."
Ginny looked at him closely, she could smell the strong scent of fire whiskey. Still, it was no excuse to be caught in a closet with Charlet! She shook her head, now just wanting to get away from this whole nightmare. She felt foolish for thinking Harry would choose her over someone like Charlet.
"That's right Weasley, you should never have come," Charlet snidely remarked. She grabbed hold of Harry's face and turned him so they were eye to eye. She could see him try to fight the love potion. "Come Harry." She grabbed his hand away from Weasley's arm and pulled him to the closet once more.
"Charlet, no," Harry tried to fight against the strong desire to be with the raven haired witch. "I don' want to.. leave me 'lone." He clutched at his head as it pounded painfully. The more he fought against the love potion the more his head hurt.
"Let him go," Ginny commanded once she saw Harry was in pain. "Harry, are you okay?"
"I-I dunno. Somethins wrong," Harry tried to wrap his mind around why he had been spending time with Charlet. Charlet grabbed hold of his face once again forcing him to look at her. Something about her was just not right.
"No," Harry whispered, his head feeling ready to explode.
"You get your hands OFF my boyfriend!" Ginny said in a threatening voice. Yes, she could tell something was definitely wrong with Harry.
"Harry, look at me, sweetheart. Tell that wretched girl that you don't want to see her anymore. Come on dear, come with me." She pulled Harry's hand towards the closet once more.
Those deep blue eyes had a way of making him desire Charlet to the point of obsession. Whatever she wanted him to do he didn't have the power to deny. Harry followed Charlet without question.
Ginny couldn't believe this was happening. "Harry?"
Draco stood by her, watching with his mouth hanging open in shock. "Potter, what the bloody hell are you doing?"
Harry stopped walking, turning to look back at Draco. His gaze stopped on Ginny's look of hurt. Something in his head screamed at him to go to her. He stepped away from Charlet, towards Ginny.
"Harry!"
Charlet's screech cut like a knife through his pounding head. He ignored her and kept walking towards Ginny, fighting against whatever was pulling him.
"Harry, look at me!" Charlet screamed in fury. She grabbed the half empty glass of fire whiskey off the shelf. "Harry James Potter, come back here and finish your drink."
Ginny could see Harry struggle to keep from looking at the horrible raven haired witch. She looked at the glass of fire whiskey Charlet was holding out to Harry. It suddenly occurred to her that Charlet must have given Harry a love potion! She couldn't let that wretched girl get away with doing that to her boyfriend!
Without hesitation she pulled her wand out and pointed it at the glass Charlet was holding in her hand. "Accio, glass!"
Charlet couldn't stop the glass of fire whiskey from being pulled out of her hand and landing in the hand of Weasley. She watched as the Weasley girl sealed a lid on the glass then shrink it down to the size of a lipstick.
Ginny stuck the shrunken glass in her purse. She would give it to Professor Snape to have him test it for a love potion.
"Give it back, you little bitch!" Charlet threatened as she pulled her wand out.
It would take a lot more than the likes of Charlet to scare Ginny! The ginger haired girl held her wand up, ready to blast that spoiled brat if she so much as moved any closer.
Harry's head pounded fiercely in his head as he fought the desire to be with Charlet. He kept his eyes on Ginny's face but stumbled when the room began to spin.
Ginny took her eyes off of Charlet to grab hold of Harry as he stumbled into her.
Charlet knew she had to get that glass of fire whiskey away from Weasley before the girl found out she had used a love potion on Harry. She aimed her wand at the small blue purse Weasley was holding and blasted it with a strong incendio curse.
Harry heard the curse Charlet yelled out and instinctively threw his body over Ginny's. He felt the sharp sting in his back as they both tumbled to the ground.
He jumped to his feet and turned towards Charlet before she had another chance to hurt his girlfriend. He knew he was completely intoxicated when the room continued swaying and he could see two Charlet's standing before him. He took aim on one of the Charlet's before calling out a spell meant to bind the girl's arms to her side.
Somehow the words came out wrong and the spell resulted in a blast shooting by Charlet and hitting the back of Draco's closet filled with expensive clothes!
"Bloody hell Potter!" Draco screamed as he ran into the closet to see the damage that had been done.
"Oh shit!" Harry said when he saw the damage he had caused. Even in his inebriated state of mind he knew he would get into huge trouble for using magic while he was drunk. Merlin, if that spell had hit Charlet he might have killed the girl!
"You bloody stupid fool!" Charlet screeched. "You almost killed me!"
Draco held out a dark blue robe with a giant hole in the middle of it, "Potter, that robe was hand made and cost more than that broom you're so fond of!"
Ginny stood by Harry's side, assessing the damage that had been done. She wrapped an arm around Harry's waist to help keep him steady. As soon as her arm touched his back he stood up straight and hissed out in pain.
"Harry, are you hurt?" Ginny gave Charlet a look of wrath.
Harry felt the sharp sting in his back but he couldn't think of that right now. He had to sober up before his father found them. "Mm'okay," he mumbled, his head felt ready to burst. He had to get away from Charlet. He still felt the strong pull to be with her but he fought hard to keep away.
Just then the bedroom door burst open as Severus came storming through followed by Tonks, Shacklebolt and the two bodyguards. The teens quickly stepped out of the closet to face the livid professor.
"What has happened?! Are you hurt?" Severus asked in a dark tone as he surveyed the area with his wand up.
All four teens stood silently, none of them wanting the professor to find out what had happened. In Harry's inebriated state he panicked over Severus finding out he had blasted a hole in Draco's closet, practically killing Charlet.
"S'okay dad," Harry slurred. He tried to keep from swaying as he leaned up against Ginny. Ginny tightened her grip around his waist.
Severus narrowed his eyes at the teens standing before him. Something had definitely happened. He had cast several alarms throughout the mansion to alert him should any spells be cast against his son. He saw the glazed look in Harry's eyes and could see the boy struggling to stay upright. He stepped closer and immediately smelled the fire whiskey on his breath.
"Have you been drinking?" Severus asked incredulously.
"Jus' a little," Harry answered, trying to keep his voice steady.
His father grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him closer. He tried to avoid the glare coming from Severus but his dad gave his shirt another sharp jerk. His eyes flew up to meet Severus'.
"Maybe more then a little," he confessed. His dad let him go abruptly causing him to stumble back. Ginny caught him with shaky hands. Every teen in the room looked scared as his dad surveyed the room once more.
"We are leaving," Severus announced in disgust. "Shacklebolt, please escort Ms. Weasley home. Tonks, please bring the wards down momentarily so I may apparate Harry out. I do not trust him to use the floo in the condition he is in."
Harry's face reddened with shame as he met the eyes of his father once more. He didn't even have time to say goodbye to Ginny before his dad roughly grabbed hold of his arm.
Severus held a hand out to Charlet before apparating all three of them back to Snape Manor.
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They landed in Severus' study. Harry staggered to the sofa while Charlet made a mad dash to get up to her room.
As soon as his study door shut he swooped down on his inebriated son. "What the bloody hell were you thinking!?!"
Severus' angry roar cut through Harry's spinning head like a knife. "Dad, shhh, mm'head."
"Mr. Potter, I am just getting started" Severus leaned up against his desk, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Harry tried to stand holding onto the back of the sofa. His head throbbed like a jackhammer was inside it, "Dad, can't you jus' …" He walked closer to Severus but tripped on the rug and landed against him. He felt his dad steady him in his strong arms.
"M'sorry," Harry muttered against Severus' robes. The moment he was by his dad his head stopped pounding so much, leaving his head still swimming dizzily though.
"Not half as sorry you will be in the morning," Severus dryly commented, feeling his anger ebb away as his son made no effort to move away and slumped against him even more.
"How much did you drink, Harry?"
The boy didn't answer. Severus shook his shoulders a bit. "Harry?"
"Dincha think Ginny looked boo'ful?"
"Harry answer my question," Severus said in a warning tone.
"Answer mine firs'," Harry demanded in his drunken slur, burrowing his head further in the soft robe.
"Yes, Ms. Weasley looked nice," Severus' sarcastic tone was lost on his son. " Now answer my question Mr. Potter."
"Don' call me tha'. It makes you sound like you're mad at me."
Severus huffed out in irritation, "You are accurate in that statement. However, seeing as you are in no condition to remember my admonishments I feel it best if I wait until tomorrow to punish you."
"I don' wanna get in trouble. Can't you jus' let me off this one time?" after a moments pause he added, "I killed Voldy, you know. Doesn't that count?"
"I will not let you use that as an excuse to divulge in harmful substances. I will not let you take the wrong path again, Harry," Severus said still feeling the guilt over Harry's battle with the pain potion. He would never let the boy go down that road again. Those thoughts brought about the anger he had felt towards the boy a moment ago.
"How much did you drink?" Severus pushed the boy off his chest to get a better look at his eyes.
His eyes not only looked glazed but they were bloodshot as well. Severus wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulder's and helped him upstairs. The boy stumbled up the stairs, laughing madly every time he fell. By the time they made it into the bedroom Harry was laughing hysterically.
Severus could find no humor in the situation. He walked Harry to the boy's bed and pushed him onto it. He spelled some pajamas on the teen before tucking him under the covers. As an after thought he spelled forth a magic bucket, knowing full well the boy would be using it before long.
"Thanks dad," Harry whispered as his eyes closed.
Severus looked down at the teen as the boy rolled onto his side and immediately fell asleep. He shook his head over the antics the teen had pulled tonight. They would be having a very serious discussion on the damage alcohol would do to your body, but he would wait until morning for that.
When he had agreed to adopt Harry he knew he would have to face issues such as this one with the boy. He had dealt with underage drinking more times than he could count since becoming the head of Slytherin. It didn't matter how much experience he had … it was different when it was your own son breaking the rules. He resisted giving Harry the antidote to having a headache in the morning but admittedly it was hard not to offer it to the boy, especially when Harry had mentioned Voldemort. It almost broke his resolve to let Harry ride this out on his own when the boy had mentioned that beast. Nonetheless, he knew he was doing right to let the teen face the consequences of his actions.
He pushed the hair back off his son's forehead then ran his thumb over the scar. That scar represented so much hardship for the boy. He refused to let those experiences garner Harry any special treatment or spoil the teen. Lily had entrusted the boy to his care knowing full well how he would never let Voldemort define Harry's future.
The potion master gave his son a pat on the arm before leaving him to suffer out the night. Hopefully the teen would learn a hard fought lesson.
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Hi Friends,
Where has everyone been lately? Is anyone still reading this? I'm getting close to just updating once a month because I just started writing another story. I'll let you know when that one gets posted. I'm not trying to make people review I'm just thinking maybe people are tired of the story so don't get mad at me for posting less.
Anyway, please let me know what you think of the story so far,
Rachel
Next chapter:
Vespa comes back with a vengeance, turning Harry's life upside down!
