Chapter 22

- Potions and Poisons -

Hermione shook her head and she, Harry and Teddy walked down the busy corridor. In her hand she held an issue of the Daily Prophet. 'Ministry Disappearances Continue'. Three pictures of Ministry members were posted on the front.

"It's so easy for them to get to you." She snapped. "You're bloody lucky you weren't killed." Harry didn't reply, in fact he seemed to be trying to ignore her. Teddy clutched on to his school bag, glancing up at his friend nervously. Hermione huffed. "You have to realize who you are, Harry!"

"I know who I am, Hermione, alright." Harry snapped back and Hermione flinched. "Sorry."

Hermione suddenly got distracted and paused, staring at Ron and Lavender sitting on one of the windowsills. Ron looked panicked and exasperated as Lavender tied an ugly looking necklace around his neck. "Lav, come on. Of course I'll wear it." Ron sighed in defeat.

Lavender let out an admiring breath. "That's my Won-Won!" She hugged him so tight Ron looked like he was suffocating. Teddy stomach did a flip and Hermione spoke exactly what he was thinking.

"Excuse me, I have to go and vomit." She said, walking away.

Teddy turned to Harry. "And such begins another term of those two not talking to each other. Hey, I'm meeting up with the guys for study during our free period. Wanna join?"

"No," Harry shook his head. "Dumbledore wants to see me."

"Alright, tell him I said 'hi'." He pulled his school bag further over his shoulder and set off towards the library.

"Dumbledore asked you to do what?" Teddy asked as he and Harry ambled down the darkening corridors. A week had passed since the term had begun and Teddy could not believe his ears. "Dumbledore asked you to get a memory from Professor Slughorn. Why?"

"The memory might contain something very important about Voldemort and how to defeat him." Harry explained further.

"So? What happened? Did Slughorn give you the memory?"

Harry ducked his head in disgrace. "No. It was horrible, he doesn't trust me anymore. I went to see him earlier in his office but he just shut me out." Teddy pulled a strained face and Harry returned it. The two stood outside the Fat Lady portrait.

"I'm sure you'll convince him somehow." Teddy said reassuringly as Harry said the password and the portrait swung open. "Sure everything will sort itself out by the morning." Teddy didn't believe his own words but Harry seemed to appreciate them. "I should go to the Ravenclaw Tower-"

"No, can you come up with me?"

Teddy shrugged. "Sure." The two climbed through the portrait hole and walked across the Gryffindor common room.

"So, how's duelling going? The inter school competition is just around the corner isn't it."

Teddy let out a loud exhausted sigh. "Intense. Anna's going to pick the chosen competitors soon and I swear if Marcus is picked and I'm not... but I've got another reason to want that spot on the team."

"What is it?"

"Arkie's father. He's probably a bigger fan of the sport than Anna is, and that's saying something. He promised to see me compete." He ran his fingers through his hair as they climbed the stairs to the boys dorms. "Why do relationships have to be so complicated?"

"Good luck, mate."

They opened the door, to find Ron sitting on the ground, holding his knees to his chest. Chocolate wrappers littered the floor. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" The red-head sighed dreamily.

"Huh?" Said Teddy.

"The moon. Have you ever noticed, Teddy?"

Teddy exchanged a quick look with Harry. "Um... yeah, sure. Sometimes I guess.

Harry looked at all the chocolate wrappers spread out across the floor. "Had ourselves a little late night snack, did we?"

Ron turned around, clutching a heart shaped chocolate box to his chest. "It was on your bed, the box. I just thought I'd try one." Ron's cheeks were an odd shade of pink.

Harry gave a tired laugh. "Or twenty."

"I can't stop thinking about her, Harry." Ron giggled, still standing by the window, swaying weirdly from left to right. Teddy cocked his head, something he always did when he was confused or curious. "I thought she was kind of annoying you." Harry moved over to his bed, taking a seat on the soft covers.

"She could never annoy me." Ron sat next to Harry, a little too closely. "I think I love her." Harry looked at him strangely.

"Well... brilliant." He took a few steps away until he was standing beside Teddy.

Ron watched him hazily. "Do you think she knows I exist?"

Now Teddy let out a laugh. "Well, she has been snogging you for the last three months." Ron looked at Teddy in confusion.

"Snogging? Who are you talking about?"

"Who are you talking about?" Both Teddy and Harry repeated at the same time.

Ron looked almost offended. "Romilda, of course. Romilda Vane."

Teddy tried to remember where he'd heard that name before. It was on the tip of his tongue. Harry gave a snort, jumping up and walking across the room to pick up the empty wrappers scattered everywhere. "Okay, very funny."

Thud!

"Ow! What was that for?" Harry stared between Ron and chocolate box he'd just thrown at his head. Ron's face had turn violent shade of red.

"It's no joke!" His voice cracked. "I'm in love with her!"

"Alright, fine. You're in love with her." Harry rubbed the back of his head gingerly.

Teddy looked at Ron. "Ron, have you even actually met her?"

The red head looked off into the distance. "No." He whispered, then seemed to regain his lover-boy attitude and turned to his friends. "Can you two introduce me?" When neither replied Ron just smiled, staring back out the windows at the beautiful moon, twinkling in the sky. It was as if he had completely forgotten about his house getting destroyed, the Death Eaters that'd come so close to killing his friends and the fact that he already had a girlfriend.

Teddy walked over to Harry's bed, where he'd noticed a lovely red, heart-shaped card. He opened it, quickly reading the beautiful love poem inside, and staring at the small moving picture in the middle of Romilda, blowing a loving kiss. Now he knew where he'd heard her name before. He had seen her once in the library staring at Harry.

'Apparently she's trying to smuggle Harry a love potion'. He could remember Hermione saying. "Harry." He turned around, holding out the card. Harry read it and the two exchanges identical nods before both going to help Ron to his feet.

"Come on, Ron. We'll introduce you to Romilda Vane." Harry said and the three walked out of the boy's dorms.

"Are you sure about this, Harry? You said Slughorn wouldn't want to see you." Teddy said, using one arm to hold his freckled friend up. Ron had begun to play with Teddy's hair, attempting several times to tie it in a braid. It was both annoying and uncomfortable, Teddy had constantly yank his head away from Ron's fingers.

Harry ignored Teddy's comment and knocked on the Potion Master's door. Professor Slughorn opened the door slightly. "I'm sorry, sir. I wouldn't bother you if it weren't absolutely essential." Slughorn's gaze moved past Harry to Teddy who was yanking his hair from Ron's grip for the fifth time.

Ron let out a dreamy giggle and sigh. It was as if he had, had too many drinks at the Three Broomstick, he could barely stand up on his own at times. "Where's Romilda?" He murmured.

Slughorn's eyebrow raised. "Teddy." He nodded in greeting. "What's the matter with Winby?" Teddy pulled out his wand and flicked it, releasing two blue butterflies that floated around Ron's head. He let out a happy sigh as Ron seemed to become completely invested in the glittering butterflies.

Harry leaned forward towards his professor. "Very powerful love potion." He whispered.

"Very well, better bring him in, Teddy." He opened the door far enough for them all to get inside. Ron gave a sad groan as the butterflies disappeared into thin air. Slughorn had waddled over to his shelf of potions and other strange remedies. "I always thought you could whip up a remedy for this is in no time, Harry."

Teddy let go of Ron, feeling like he could now stand on his own. "Well, I thought this called for more practiced hands, sir." Harry said and suddenly Ron wandered towards Slughorn, wrapping him in a slow, loving hug.

"Hello, darling. Fancy a drink?" He murmured and Slughorn stared uncomfortable down at him. Teddy quickly moved forward, gently tugging his friend away and helping him on to the couch. "Perhaps, you're right." The professor agreed.

Harry stood awkwardly beside Slughorn as he quickly began to brew the antidote. "I'm sorry, by the way, Professor, about earlier today. Our misunderstanding."

There was a soft tinkling of glass as Slughorn stirred the unappetizing concoction. "Oh, not at all. All water under the bridge, you know. Correct?"

"Well, I expect you're tired a bit, after all these years. All the questions about Voldemort-"

"Don't use that name!" Slughorn snapped, turning around to Ron and holding out a cup of the antidote. 'Here you go, boy. Bottom's up."

Ron looked at the drink being provided to him curiously. "What's this?"

"Tonic for the nerves."

Ron gave a flattered smile and took a long sip of the red liquid. Teddy watched thankfully as the dreamy expression faded from his eyes and Ron's pale complexion returned to him. "What happened to me?"

Slughorn chuckled. "Love potion. A bloody strong one at there."

"I feel really bad." Ron sighed, rubbing his aching head. Teddy patted him on the back, smiling. It was good to see the old Ron back, even if he wasn't feeling his best. "Don't worry, headaches always pass." Teddy said expertly.

Slughorn began to shift through an assortment of drinks. "You need to pick me up, my boy. Got butterbeer, wine, dazzling oak-matured mead. I had other intentions for this, but I think, given the circumstances. Here you all are." Soon all four of them were holding a glass of the sweet smelling drink. Ron took a sip of his. "To life!" Slughorn said happily.

There was a sharp shattering of glass and Ron was lying on the ground, wriggling and jolting. White foam was frothing on either sides of his mouth, like rabies. "Ron!" Teddy shouted, dropping his drink and crouching at Ron's side. "He's been poisoned! Ron! Professor, do something!"

Professor Slughorn was frozen in place, shock present on his old face. Harry had gotten up and was rummaging through Slughorn's stocks frantically. Suddenly, he grabbed something and put it in Ron's mouth. "Come on, Ron... breathe!"

For a while there was no response and Teddy covered his gaping mouth with one hand. Then suddenly, Ron took a huge intake of breath, coughing slightly afterwards. He stared at everyone around him, stunned. "These girls... They're gonna kill me."

Teddy let out a relieved laugh.