Conspiracy at Slug's
Snape's Alchemy sessions became more difficult as he started working on objects rather than plants. Alchemy unlike other forms of magic, was easily done on living objects. Working it into dead objects took more time and effort. Their heavy workload was almost unbearable. So one day in the library Harry admitted his defeat.
"Okay, I'm pretty sure I can't give Moriarty his essay on time." Harry said.
"He'll get mad, Harry." Hermione warned.
"I know. However, if I work on his essay I won't have time for Slughorn's and Snape's. They're going to take far less time."
"I'm really trying, Harry. But I really don't understand Chinese Plague." Ron whined.
"Well, what do you know about it?"
"I think you have to sacrifice a Bubon." He said unsurely.
"No. Bubonic Xang Fever or Chinese Plague isn't sacrificial at all, Ron. It's a curse, developed by altering a normal muggle infecting agent into a deadly magical virus which starts it's nasty work from your muscle tissues and progresses to your nerves. The problem is finding a way to cure it, as the virus mutates every time you make a new curse."
"Okay. What's a virus Harry?"
Harry was about to answer that, but he saw Ginny approaching.
"I think you should ask Hermione about that. I need to go." said Harry evasively.
"Hi, Harry," said Ginny as she closed her distance. "Before you go make yourself busy. I have something to tell you."
She paused and looked around carefully.
"Did you know that some girls have attained a considerable amount of love potions? Did you know some of it is intended for you?"
Harry simply stared at her in shock. The shock of the news made him forget all his reservations toward Ginny.
"How did they get it?"
"From Fred and George's." Ginny explained.
"Didn't Filch ban Weasley's Wizard Wheezes?"
"He did, but again he's pretty bad at recognising potions. Especially when they're transfigured to look like perfumes and cough potions."
"Harry just don't drink anything without checking it." Hermione warned him.
"I wonder if Filch can tell the difference between potion and …"
There was a sound. Hermione waved her wand swiftly. The books from the other shelf fell on the ground. However, nothing was behind it.
Madam Pince , of course, showed up immediately. Luckily, she accepted Hermione's lie that someone else had desecrated her precious book.
"Careful Hermione, you might get banned." Harry warned her when they were out of the library. Hermione raised her left eyebrow and smiled.
"Harry, would you do something for me? Would you please ask someone else to come with you. I want to bring Ron. He seems to really like those parties."
"I think I can, if you're really okay with that." he responded warily.
"Oh, I trust you, Harry. see you at Transfiguration."
Harry nodded uncomfortably and went to the common room while Hermione went the opposite direction for Ancient Runes. Harry was unfortunate enough to meet Romilda Vane on the stairs who offered him Gillywater and then forced him to accept a box of chocolate cauldrons, all of which Harry stored under his bed hastily before he got on Snape's project. He barely managed to scrape by. Then he ran to Transfiguration where McGonagall deducted ten points for being late.
When Harry left the class he saw a familiar face.
"Hey, Luna." He greeted her warmly. "Is everything alright."
"Oh, Harry. Hi. It's not bad, a bit rough now. Ginny is very nice though. She stands up for me a lot."
"Luna, would you like to come to Slughorn's party tonight?"
Before Harry could regret asking her. Her beaming face made him glad that he had.
"Slughorn's party? Sure, Harry. As friends of course." Luna responded enthusiastically. "Is that why you've dyed your eyebrows. Should I do the same?"
"Oh no. this is just a transfiguration mishap. "
"Oh, it just turned back to normal!"
Before Harry could express his surprise, Peeves jumped from a corner and began to sing, "Potty asked Loony…"
He instantly shut his mouth as he saw a newcomer.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Lovegood, how are you today?" asked Moriarty.
Peeves slowly hovered back and then it disappeared.
"Professor, I don't think Peeves is more scared of Bloody Baron than he's scared of you." Luna claimed.
"I'm not sure that's entirely true." was Moriarty's soft reply, "Mister Potter, a moment, please."
He took Harry to his office.
"I hope you're not cheating on Miss Lestrange, Harry."
"I'm not, sir. It was Hermione's idea."
" Of course it was." Moriarty laughed lightly and glanced at his little skull in his palm, "My people tell me that the stone was most likely real."
He turned to Harry, "How's your essay going on."
"I might have to deliver it a bit late, sir." said Harry apprehensively.
"Don't bother with it, I know you're busy. Instead take a look at this." Moriarty gave Harry a plain grey book. "Read it during your Christmas break. It's about… well... necromancy."
Harry almost dropped the book.
"Necromancy? That's outright forbidden to study." said Harry in shock.
"Yes, and soon you'll know why."
Moriarty gulped uncomfortably, "I'm putting a lot of trust in you by giving you this book. I want you to start thinking of ways to stop a necromancer by studying their methods."
Moriarty stretched his neck slightly. It appeared that he had a nasty neckache.
"Now, I also wanted to ask regarding Slughorn's party. Is it any fun?"
"Hermione says so, sir." Harry answered, "Personally, I've never been to one."
"Hmm. Slughorn's invited me. I should probably attend then. See you there."
Moriarty dismissed Harry.
He went back to tower, changed to one of ten outfits Sirius had forced him to bring to Hogwarts and stormed down to the Entrance Hall, where many girls including Luna were waiting for their companions.
She was wearing a set of spangled silver robes which were attracting a lot of attention and causing laughter. Harry was glad that was the only thing funny about her.
"Hi, Luna." Harry greeted her.
"Wow Harry. I almost didn't recognise you. Is there a reason for wearing green and silver."
"Not really. I just like the design."
Harry said nervously as people glanced toward him skeptically.
"Where's his girlfriend?"
"Did they break up?"
Harry heard even more brutal assessments among whispers.
"Shall we get going?" he asked politely.
"Sure." Luna said placidly.
Slughorn's office was much larger than the other teacher's studies Harry had seen previously. It was quite crowded, too. Slughorn spotted Harry upon entering and called him up.
"Harry, m'boy, Welcome, welcome." He called next to his distracted colleague, Moriarty. He slid his way to Harry and grabbed his hand tight as if he feared Harry would disappear any moment. "I have so many people here I'd like you to meet, Harry."
Harry snatched Luna's hand in time and dragged her with himself.
Slughorn introduced him to an author called Eldred Worple and his morbid friend Sanguini. After a brief chat with him and his politely declining his offer to write Harry's biography, His girlfriend came to rescue Harry.
"Harry, Luna, you look lovely." Hermione said cheerfully. Worple and Sanguini backed off when they saw her and left Harry alone.
"Wow Hermione. Good riddance." Harry huffed at the tiny writer.
"Some people here really don't want to be associated with me. At least in public." said Hermione sourly.
"You don't want to be associated with them anyway." Harry comforted his girlfriend.
"Is that Trelawney?" Luna asked them.
It was too late to get away. She had spotted them.
"Hello." Luna said politely before Harry and Hermione could feign not seeing her.
"Good evening, dear." responded an obviously drunk Professor Trelawney. "I haven't seen you in my class lately."
"I've got Firenze this year,"
"Ah I see. I prefer to think of him as Dobbin." said Trelawney bitterly. "I wrongly assumed that now I've returned, Dumbledore would get rid of him. But instead I'm sharing classes with a horse."
Hermione tried to hide behind Harry as she had no desire to be seen when Firenze was compared with a horse.
"Oh no, McLaggen is here." Hermione complained. She sneakily applied Disillusionment charm on herself.
"Hi, Potter. Haven't you seen…"
"My girlfriend?" said Harry contemptuously. "McLaggen, if I see you around Hermione again you are going to wish you were a girl."
McLaggen hurried away without another word.
"Wow, Harry that was harsh." said Ron who had joined them with a drink in his hand. "Where's Hermione, by the way. I think I lost her."
"I'm here." said Hermione near Harry.
"Wow, I must be too drunk, but I just can't see you." Ron shook his head.
"No, Ron. I used Disillusionment charm." Hermione responded aggravated by his thickness.
"Oh, you're good at it 'Mione." Luna said. "You're completely invisible."
"Harry Potter." said Trelawney having found enough stability to recognise him.
"Hello, professor." Harry replied politely.
"My dear boy, I've heard rumors. A dark shadow follows you. Why haven't you come to Divination? You of all people should know it's importance."
"Ah Sybill, isn't that what we all think about our subject?" said Slughorn, dangerously close to where Hermione was. He almost spilled some of his drink on Hermione. "I've never seen a such great innate talent in Potions. He's much like his mother. I can tell you not many turn out as bright as him… Even Severus…"
To their horror, he threw out an arm and brought Snape out of nowhere.
"Ah Severus leave solit-" Slughorn began to say but he dared not continue when a very displeased James Moriarty came along Snape.
"You have drank too much, Horrace." said Moriarty annoyedly. He himself reeked of alcohol and a mix of smoke and narcotics. To Harry's surprise he was wearing a classic red robes and pointy wizard hat with moving and flickering stars and half moons on it.
"I was just telling Sybill what a terrific potion maker, Harry is." Slughorn ended his sentence with a hic. "Some credit goes to Severus for teaching him so well."
"Mr Potter's talent has no natural or biological basis. He simply worked hard during his fifth year and his efforts have finally paid off."
"What are your subjects, Potter?" Snape asked.
"Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology…"
"In other words, you want to go for a job in DMLE." said Moriarty with boredom.
"I would like to become an Auror." Harry said firmly.
"I'm sure you'll make a great one." Slughorn said.
"It would be a waste." Moriarty said as Luna to Harry's surprise nodded.
"I don't think you should be an Auror Harry, Aurors are a part of Rotfang Conspiracy, I thought you guys knew that." she said to their surprise. "They're using a combination of Dark magic and gum disease to bring down the Ministry."
"I knew that," said Moriarty and everyone burst into laughter.
As Harry tried to wipe his mouth he saw Draco Malfoy dragged to them by Argus Filch.
Malfoy claimed that he had intended to gate crash but Harry was doubtful.
"He can stay, Argus. Don't fret over it." Slughorn said casually.
Malfoy began thanking Slughorn greatly for his generosity.
"Hello, cousin," said Hermione suddenly materialising next to Harry and Slughorn. Snape seemed extremely surprised, but Moriarty showed no expression as if he had known Hermione was there all along.
Draco's breath was trapped momentarily as he saw her materialise out of thin air.
"Ah, here you are, Hermione. Draco just arrived." said Slughorn sheepishly.
"It seems that your health hasn't improved since the match." Hermione told Draco, paying no attention to Slughorn.
She was right. Malfoy was sick.
"A word, Draco." Snape took him by his shoulder and dragged him out.
"I think need to use the bathroom." Harry swiftly left the laughing crowd and followed Snape and Malfoy. He hid himself under the invisibility cloak and after some searching he finally found them.
"... cannot afford mistakes, Draco, because if you are expelled -"
"I didn't have anything to do -" Draco began but suddenly an invisible hand grabbed the handle and opened the door. That invisible hand didn't belong to Harry as the owner materialised upon closing the door.
"Hi, professor." said Hermione's voice, "Draco."
"What are you doing here, sis?" said Draco.
"Ah, that's a very good question, Drakey." said Hermione with a terrifyingly sweet voice, reminiscent of Bellatrix Lestrange.
"I was talking to your brother in private, Miss Lestrange." Snape said politely.
"About the fact that he foolishly ordered a Greek Cross from Borgin and Burkes, I assume." said Hermione bitterly.
"Nobody suspects me..." Draco said.
"Silence you fool... Harry Potter suspects you and he has already told Dumbledore. Your moronic action could get you arrested." Hermione bellowed angrily.
Harry couldn't believe his ears. Was Hermione in this, too?
There was a commotion between Draco and Snape and then it stopped.
"I knew your aunt has taught you Occlumency. I didn't expect you to be this good."
Hermione chuckled audibly at Snape's remark.
"What thoughts are you concealing from your master?"
"I'm not concealing anything from him, just trying to keep you out"
"What's your plan?" asked Snape after failing to use Legilimency against Draco.
"It's none of your business." Draco said defiantly. Harry heard Hermione chuckle again.
"I could assist you, if you told me-" argued Snape.
"I have got all the assistance I need, thanks, I'm not alone."
"Weren't you tonight? It was foolish of you to wander the corridors without lookouts or backups. You're making very simple, fundamental mistakes." Snape whispered.
"I suppose it has to do with you putting Crabbe and Goyle in detention." Hermione said reasonably.
"Well I'd like to see them work under Moriarty. He wouldn't let them have a single free hour." Snape pointed out.
"Yes, why would you give them detention." yelled Malfoy.
"Keep your voice down." warned Snape practically spitting into Draco's face. "If they want to pass Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.s this year, they should apply themselves to their studies."
"It's not like they would ever need it." Malfoy spat laughing. "Defense Against the Dark Arts is more like a joke. It's all an act. None of us needs protection Against the Dark Arts."
"That's a very shallow way of thinking about it." Hermione said cooly. "Professor Snape has survived so far by this so-called act."
"Look, I have Hermione's help. She has agreed to help me. Don't you trust Bellatix Lestrange's daughter? Don't you trust my sister?" said Draco, confirming Harry's fears. He was so heartbroken and yet little he could do to change the situation.
"I simply wanted to know,"
"Oh, I know. You want to steal my glory." Draco responded indignantly.
"Don't act like a child-" Snape began but Draco was already leaving the room.
Harry barely managed to get out of his way before he burst through the door.
"I wasn't aware that you were involved in this." said Snape accusingly.
"Oh, it was too easy. Draco came to me himself." Hermione sat, "Now, if you don't mind, I would like to go back to the party. I haven't had enough drinks tonight." Hermione left the room gracefully. Snape followed walking past Harry, without noticing him.
Harry came back to room shaking from fear. He had just heard the conversation of a convicted Death Eaters with two other suspected Death Eaters, planning something right under Dumbledore's very nose.
Harry sneaked back into the party, trying to act normally. Hermione was chatting amiably with Ron and Luna while Malfoy was sulking in a corner. Harry jumped when a hand grabbed his shoulder.
A/N: I appreciate your comments and reviews. If you have an account log in and then post your review so I can reply or answer your questions. There was an interesting review yesterday, that caught my attention. I want to clarify that my humble lowly fanfiction in which mistakes are plentiful is not comparable to Rowling's masterpiece. I understand why Rowling wanted Hermione to be specifically muggle-born and powerful. My intention was not to undermine any of that that, but to give it a twist. I wanted to take Hermione from the muggle-born world and throw her into the world of purebloods. I simply wished to illustrate how people would react to her and expect her to behave as a pureblood.
