It's What's Inside That Counts
Chapter 9
January 15th
After the holidays, Severus had a hard time reconciling the fact that the person he now cared for above all others was there, in the castle every day, and he couldn't do a damn thing about it. What he used to think was sentimental claptrap was now a reality in his life. He treasured her unassuming brilliance and adorable quirkiness. He dreamed of her kisses, they way her mocha eyes gazed at him in passion, the way her smooth, warm skin felt against his. He couldn't wait to have her back in his life again full time.
After the holidays, Hermione had to sit next to Ron and his foul attitude in DADA class. The reason behind the foul attitude was the professor. He had romanced, seduced, and shagged his Hermione and told Harry as much. Professor Anderson was losing patience with his growing impertinence in class. Hermione was trying her best to reign in Ron's anger, and Severus saw this, but he had no choice. Ron was disrupting an important class and openly disrespecting a professor.
"Mr. Weasley, remain after class," he announced before class ended.
Ron glared at the professor as the rest of the class left. Harry gave Ron one last pleading look before he left. Professor Anderson sat back in his chair, crossed his arms and quirked an eyebrow at Ron.
"Explain yourself, Mr. Weasley."
"I would ask you the same, Professor," Ron snarled.
"I have nothing to explain, boy. I am not the one disrupting an important class and openly disrespecting a professor."
Ron said nothing.
"Very well. If I knew the basis of your dislike of me, we would discuss it like men, however, I see that you are currently incapable of-" Severus started.
"Do you even like her?" Ron asked quietly.
"If the her you speak of is Miss Granger, then yes, I more than like her. I am fond of her and greatly enjoy her company. If she will have me, I plan to court her upon her return," Severus said. That much was true.
"But she's 18! You're what...? " Ron said.
"39, but that hardly matters in our world," Severus said. "Before I assign your detention, would you care for a bit of free advice?"
Ron reluctantly nodded his head. He loathed the man, but he had seduced and shagged the woman he thought the least able to be seduced and shagged, and did it in a matter of days. Ron had tried for years!! He must be doing something right.
"Miss Granger is unlike most of the young witches at this school, only she is not at this school, and that distresses you. If you truly are the friend she describes you to be, she might have been persuaded to stay," Severus said. Hermione had actually said something to the point of "being tired of being taken for granted, one of the boys, only good for homework."
Ron blushed as red as his hair. "She's the best thing in my life," he said.
"Did you ever tell her that?" Severus asked.
Ron shook his head.
"In the short time I was with her, I came to see her as the best thing in my life and told her as much," Severus said. "Now Mr. Weasley, I hope we have come to an understanding."
Ron nodded.
"You will be assigned a week's worth of detention with Hagrid, doing whatever he deems necessary. You are dismissed."
Harry watched the common room door for Ron's arrival. Ron finally entered with a thoughtful look on his face. He sat down next to Harry and took out his Divination book. He refrained from making a comment about his choice of reading material.
"Well?"
"Well what?" Ron asked.
"What happened?"
"I have week's detention with Hagrid," Ron said with a shrug.
"You were gone all that time for that?"
Ginny emerged from her dorm and listened to the two talk. She stayed hidden from the top of the stairs.
Ron closed his book and looked at Harry. "Why Harry, I didn't know you cared," Ron said with fluttering eyelids then sighed. "I think I've lost Hermione."
Ron, you haven't, just not in the way you think!
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Professor Anderson really, really likes her. He plans to court her when she gets back."
He does? she thought. "He does? He told you that?" Harry asked.
Ron nodded. "He wanted to talk man to man. We both acknowledged that Hermione is the best thing in our life, however, he actually told her that. How can I compete with that?" Ron went on to tell the rest of the conversation with the professor.
I'm the best thing in Severus' life! she thought happily. He said it!
Harry was wakened from his musings by Ron waving his hand in front of his face. "Earth to Harry! Hello- best friend in the midst of an emotional crisis!"
"Sorry Ron, but the professor has a point," Harry said. "She's more than an object to be claimed. Like we talked about on the train, Hermione does have feelings like everyone else. She found someone that actually listened to what she was saying and not just hearing her words. Does that make sense?" Harry asked.
Damn right it does! Ginny thought from the stairs. She herself had been a little guilty of neglecting Hermione's feelings. Wow Harry!
"I think I understand," Ron said.
"She does love you Ron, just not in the way you would like her to love you," Harry said.
I've been such a git! Ron thought.
Valentine's Day
At breakfast, an owl delivered a box of chocolates and a card to Harry. Ginny saw it and felt her heart drop then anger.
Who the hell sent that? To my Harry!?
"Who sent that?" Ron asked as he shoveled a overly large bite of eggs into his mouth.
Harry shrugged.
"Looks like Harry has a secret admirer," Ron said with a grin then dropped the grin when he saw Ginny's face.
Harry looked around the Great Hall to make it look as if he were trying to spot who might have sent him the parcel. He opened the card and read:
Special chocolates for a special person.
He flipped the card over and saw nothing. Ginny snatched the card from him and read. "Special chocolates for a special person?" she said and gave the card back.
Harry glanced around the hall again and his eyes met Professor Anderson's. The corner of his lips twitched and Harry now knew who sent the parcel. Ginny, who had a little bit of the Weasley irrational streak similar to Ron, decided to take action.
Some skank is after my Harry! She quickly left the table to send an owl to her brother's shop.
That afternoon when classes were over, Harry opened the box of chocolates. One of them was wrapped in foil. He took it out, unwrapped it and found some writing on the inside of the foil that caught his attention:
If you choose to do so, eat this very special piece at midnight in the Astronomy tower.
Harry grinned and replaced the piece in the box. Meanwhile, Ginny was making plans of her own, also with some special chocolates from her brothers's store. No one else was going to have her Harry. That night at the Hogwart's Valentine's Dance, the Headmaster gave a brief speech behind the history of the day then let the party begin. As usual, the staff was wary and watchful for anything that some student might try to sneak into the punchbowl. After an hour of partying, Ginny presented a box of chocolates to Harry.
"Here, have one," Ginny said and took one herself.
Harry would never suspect anything if he saw her eat one. Inside the chocolates were a barely legal, modified love potion still in the experimental stage. Fred and George, eager to have the product tested and eager to help their little sister, assured her that there would be no negative side effects. She smiled when Harry popped the chocolate in his mouth. Across the hall, Severus saw Harry take the offered chocolate from the youngest Weasley, then take another.
Is it my imagination, or does Miss Weasley look a little too happy that Harry has eaten a piece of candy? And why does she keep looking at her watch? Severus spent years honing his spy abilities and he knew scheming when he saw it. Miss Weasley wasn't very subtle. It seemed to be a Weasley trait. What was she up to?
The question was answered ten minutes later. Harry no longer dancing. He was swaying on his feet and wiped sweat from his face. He had a dazed look and gazed around in confusion. He swayed again and leaned heavily on Ginny. She looked up at him and started to panic.
Dear God, I poisoned Harry! she thought frantically.
"Harry, say something!" she squealed. Harry mumbled something in return. Ron and a few others noticed the commotion.
"Let's get him to a chair," Ron said and guided himher to a seat.
Severus and Minerva hurried to the scene. Severus was alarmed at what he saw. Harry could barely sit up without assistance. He was pale, sweating, mumbling something incoherent and could barely keep his eyes open. Severus knew the signs of someone that had been poisoned.
"Minerva, I would suggest getting him to the infirmary while I retrieve a bezoar," Severus said and rushed from the infirmary.
Minerva nodded and levitated Harry to the infirmary with Ron and Ginny following close behind. Ginny felt lower than dirt.
What have I done? What was I thinking?
Minutes later, Madame Pomfrey was applying light calming and muscle relaxing spells on the sick, convulsing Harry. Ron was trying to calm Ginny who was wailing "what if he dies...my fault."
"What do you mean by my fault, Miss Weasley?" Professor McGonagall asked sharply.
Severus swept back into the infirmary with the Bezoar. He glanced at Minerva then at Ron and Ginny. She nodded and ushered them from the infirmary.
"Miss Weasley, don't go far," she warned. Ginny nodded fearfully.
"Ginny, what did you do?" Ron whispered.
With curtains drawn around the bed, Minerva, Severus and Madame Pomfrey discussed how to help Harry.
"Will the Bezoar nullify the Polyjuice potion?" Minerva asked.
"I am not entirely sure, but I would venture to say no. The Bezoar counteracts harmful agents, which the Ppolyjuice has not been," Severus said.
"I've stopped the convulsing, but we need to treat him-her..as soon as possible," Madame Pomfrey said.
Severus nodded. The nurse pried open Harry's mouth and Severus put the Bezoar bezoar at the back of his throat. Severus held his nose while the nurse massaged Harry's throat. The Bezoar was swallowed. All they could do was wait.