Chapter 20: Potions and Crews

All week Hogwarts was abuzz with anticipation for the documentary crew's arrival. It seemed that everyone was excited, everyone except Harry. Friday afternoon classes had been cancelled, but students were still required to remain in the school uniforms. Harry and Ginny met the others in the Great Hall for breakfast. Harry grabbed his food and began eating quickly. He was determined to escape before the cameras came. Professor McGonagall had warned him that the crews had already asked about him.

"Slow down. You're making Ron look slow." Hermione said, watching Harry.

"Sorry, I just really don't want to be here when the camera crew comes." Harry said shoving more toast into his mouth while Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Kristen!" Hermione jumped to her feet as Kristen came walking in with Allie.

"Hi everyone!" Kristen smiled as she waved to everyone and hugged Hermione.

"I thought you weren't coming back." Ginny said.

"Originally, I wasn't, but Allie's parents convinced mine. Apparently, your dad left a big impression on them. Said he was one of the nicest people they'd ever met. My parents said I could come back if I wanted." Allie and Kristen sat down with the group and started to dig in.

"How'd you get back?" Ron asked before eating another slice of bacon.

"I took the train with the camera crew –" Harry jumped to his feet.

"They're here! Already?" Harry grabbed his bag and took off. Ron couldn't help but laugh as he watched Harry practically run from the Great Hall.

"What just happened?" A very confused Kristen asked.

"He wants to avoid the cameras. McGonagall said they'd probably want an interview or something and he hates interviews." Ginny laughed as she finished her breakfast. Her boyfriend could be funny. Of course, she understood not wanting to be near the cameras, but it was rare she ever saw him move that fast on his feet.

A few minutes later, the group separated from Allie and Kristen. Entering the potions room, they noticed Harry in the back corner. Ginny happily walked over to Harry as other students entered behind her. Hermione and Ron joined as well. After a few minutes, Professor Slughorn waddled happily into the room. Harry's heart sank as he watched three muggles with cameras enter behind Slughorn.

"Today we will be sharing the art of potion making with our guests." Slughorn beamed with pride as he bounced on his feet. "We will be making the Ice Potion, which is more commonly known as –." Hermione's hand shot up.

"No." moaned Harry as the cameraman turned to face them.

"The Fire Protection Potion, which allows the drinker to safely walk through fire." Hermione said proudly, ignoring Harry's protests. Harry quickly realized he should not have sat next to the Know-It-All. He leaned back in his seat, trying to hide behind Ron and Ginny.

"Excellent. Ten points to Gryffindor. The Fire Protection Potion creates a sensation of ice and frigidity in the drinker. It provides protection from most fires." Slughorn continued to explain the history of the potion, but Harry was barely listening. He was trying to avoid the cameras, which Hermione was making quite difficult. Luckily, Ron leaned forward more in his seat, which helped hide Harry.

As Professor Slughorn turned to write the directions on the board, Ginny turned Harry towards her. She began messing with his bangs, until she was satisfied.

"Now your scar doesn't show as much." Harry couldn't help but smile at her.

"Thank you."

"You'll have forty-five minutes to brew before we test. Now I know the cameras may be distracting but do your best to be natural and have fun with it." Harry couldn't help but scoff. Having fun with a camera crew, unlikely.

Harry and the other students proceeded to cut their bursting mushrooms. Harry tried to focus on cutting his slices evenly and thinly. The camera crew was on the other side filming a table of Ravenclaws. To their left someone started cursing, before a friend flicked their wand over their knife cut, healing them instantly. The director was disappointed they missed the shot. Harry bet he was secretly hoping someone else would cut themselves.

Harry dropped the mushrooms in his cauldron and began stirring by hand. Ron, Hermione and Ginny used magic to have their cauldrons stir, but Harry didn't want to give them a reason to come closer. Once his potion turned blue, Harry slowly added the salamander blood, which the camera crew seemed both intrigued by, but also appalled. As Harry began to crush the wartcap in a pestle, the camera crew came over. Harry refused to look up from his pestle, resulting in him possibly over grounding according to Hermione. Fortunately, the crew seemed more interested in another table; Seamus' cauldron was releasing quite a lot of purple smoke, which also alerted Professor Slughorn.

After announcing Seamus' potion unusable and a disaster, Slughorn walked the room. He told some students to fill a vial with their potions and others not to. Some, like Dean Thomas, were told theirs would work in a pinch, but they would still probably suffer minor burns. When Slughorn reached the trio and Ginny's table, the camera crew followed. Slughorn analyzed Ron's deep pink potion for a few moments, before requesting him to fill a vial and explaining to Ron that he believed his potion would prevent burns, but he would still feel the fire's heat. Hermione's was perfect of course. Slughorn suggested to the crew to film her potion as a great example of potion mastery. Hermione beamed with joy. Slughorn was quite impressed with Ginny's potion, telling her to fill a vial as well. When Slughorn arrived at Harry's he really wished he had skipped him.

"Excellent as always Mr. Potter." Harry cringed as he saw the recognition on the camera crew's face. Slughorn unfortunately turned to the camera an announced that Harry was an excellent potion maker and that it ran in his family, as his mother was perfect in potions. Harry tried to ignore the camera, focusing on filling a vial. Luckily, the camera crew continued to follow Slughorn.

The students who were asked to fill a vial, lined up by Slughorn's desk, everyone held their potion close. Slughorn looked upon them happily before making a magically fire in the center of the room. The fire was about three feet long and tall and a foot wide. It reminded Harry of the fire he walked through first year. One by one, Slughorn instructed the students to drink and walk through the fire. Harry was second to last. He watched impatiently as the others went. Once this class was over, he had a free period and then all other classes were cancelled. He'd be able to hide. After what seemed like an eternity, Harry approached the fire. He downed the potion, waited for Slughorn's count and walked through. He immediately felt his body tingle as he walked through the fire, but it did not hurt, nor was he hot. Harry quickly walked past Slughorn, heading for his desk, but Slughorn stopped him.

"I believe your mother would be very proud of your work this year." Slughorn whispered, just loud enough for Harry to hear.

"Thanks Professor." Harry walked back to his seat smiling. Maybe he was actually decent in potions. He was no longer using the Prince's book and he was still doing well. When Harry sat in his seat the last student, a Ravenclaw, walked through the fire. Ginny leaned against Harry, laying her head on his shoulder.

"Want to hide in the Room of Requirements with me until lunch?" Harry smiled as he nodded. Soon after the bell rang, and everyone left the room.

Author's Note: HELLO EVERYONE! Long time no see! I apologize for taking so long to add a chapter. Life has been crazy! I plan to upload a new chapter much sooner this time. Please leave a review!