It's What's Inside That Counts
Chapter 10
In the Headmistress' office, Ginny looked at Professor McGonagall sorrowfully. She knew that she was in trouble, possibly the biggest trouble of her pathetically short life thus far. She had used what was a borderline illegal potion and worse, hurt Harry.
Do they send sixteen year old witches to Azkaban? She could see the headlines in the Daily Prophet now:
Youngest member of Weasley clan sentenced to Azkaban for mindless, hormonal stupidity, see page two.
Getting expelled would be kind.
"Miss Weasley, do you have any idea what you have done?" the professor asked sharply.
At that question, knocking was heard on the door. McGonagall said "enter" and Arthur and Molly Weasley came in.
"Molly, Arthur, I wish I could welcome you under better circumstances," McGonagall said.
"I thought that after George and Fred left, we wouldn't have a reason to come here," Arthur said.
"Well, let's get on with it then, what has she done?" Molly asked and sat down.
In the infimary, Severus and Madame Pomfrey observed Harry's tremors subside. He was sleeping, but shifted in his sleep and scrunched his face in pleasure or pain, they couldn't be sure. He started to pant, alarming the two. The nurse ran her medi-wand over him.
"There's nothing abnormal to note," she said.
Harry moaned and gripped the sheets. His hips bucked and his hands traveled to his groin area.
"Oh dear," the nurse mumbled and turned away.
"Indeed," Severus said evenly.
It appeared that he was in the midst of a wet dream, and a very good one at that as the moaning became louder, his hips bucked higher and faster and he groped himherself forcefully. With a strangled yelp and hiss, a wet spot appeared at the crotch area of his pants. He sighed, shuddered and started to snore.
So much for our Astronomy tower interlude!! Severus thought. At least she was out of danger. Now to Minerva's office to see about the youngest Weasley. Wasn't she supposed to be the one with half a brain?
"GINERVA WEASLEY HOW COULD YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS??!! TO HARRY OF ALL PEOPLE???" Molly shrieked. Minerva winced at the shriek.
"I don't know," Ginny mumbled.
"Well, you had better think of something young lady, I don't know will do you no good when asked why you were expelled from Hogwarts," Arthur said sternly.
"The mischief your brothers managed to accomplish when they were here was substantial, but actually never harmed anyone," Minerva said. "I need some kind of explanation."
Ginny's shoulders slumped. "I didn't want anyone else to..."
"To what?" Molly asked.
"To have him," Ginny finished weakly.
"And you thought poisoning him would accomplish that?" Minerva asked.
"It wasn't poison!" Ginny pleaded. "It was love potion in chocolate!"
There was another knock at the door.
"What now?" Minerva demanded. The door opened and Professor Anderson entered.
"I thought you would like to know that the Bezoar was effective and he is out of danger, sleeping comfortably," he said.
"That is good to hear, thank you Professor Anderson," Minerva said then returned her attention to Ginny. "Now Miss Weasley, the entire story, if you will."
It only took a few minutes for Ginny to explain that her jealousy over someone sending Harry chocolates drove her to seek a love potion from the only place she knew to get it, her brother's shop.
"Headmistress, please believe me when I say that I would never hurt Harry, I love him," Ginny pleaded. "I would have never given him that chocolate had I known he would have some kind of reaction to it."
That much is true. Severus thought. I need to examine what ingredients in the offending love potion react negatively with the Polyjuice potion.
"Miss Weasley, do you still have anymore of the offending chocolate?" Severus quipped.
"Yes sir," she said then her eyes went wide. "I left them on the table in the Great Hall!! What if other people ate them!!" She covered her face with her hands.
"Just how many are there?" Minerva asked.
"It's the extra large fifty count box," Ginny said miserably.
Minutes later, Severus and Minerva returned to the Great Hall to see two dozen students and three staff members in varying amorous states. A large heart-shaped, gaily decorated candy box with one single piece of chocolate lay on a table. Severus took the box and helped remove the love-stricken students and staff members from the Great Hall.
Ginny wasn't expelled. However, the remainder of her time at Hogwarts would never be the same. She was disenrolled from Potions class the rest of the year and would be refused enrollment in NEWT potions the next year. She was barred from Quidditch and Hogsmeade trips the remainder of the year. Additionally, she would serve detention every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night the rest of the year, with Mr. Filch. Last, she would lose two hundred points for the infraction. Her punishment was the worst she ever heard a student receive ut it could have been worse. She wasn't expelled and Harry was going to be all right.
When she woke the next morning, she felt fine. There had been no side effects from the tainted chocolate, although she did wonder why she felt so sticky around the groin area. Madame Pomfrey came to her bedside when heshe sat up and waved her medi-wand over her.
"How are you feeling this morning?" she asked.
"Starving but fine," was the reply. "What happened to me?"
"That is something for Miss Weasley to explain," the nurse said.
"Ginny? Why?"
"We'll get to that dear, you just get some breakfast in that belly while I have Miss Weasley brought in," the nurse said.
Harry shrugged and waited. A house elf brought in a tray of food and Harry tucked in. Halfway through the tray, Professor McGonagall walked in, a worried Ginny trailing behind. When she saw him, she sighed in relief. Harry looked at her curiously.
"Something wrong Ginny?" he asked.
Ginny's chin trembled.
"Aww come on, it can't be that bad," Harry said.
"You're here because of me," Ginny said softly. "When you got those chocolates yesterday I got jealous that someone else sent them to you. I...got some..." Ginny stopped.
"Go on Ginny," Harry urged.
"Some chocolates from my brother's shop that had...lovepotioninthemand youateoneandgotsick," Ginny said.
"I really didn't catch that last part," Harry said.
Minerva sighed and spoke. "The chocolate that Miss Weasley gave you was laced with a love potion. You had a reaction to it and became quite ill."
Harry's eyebrows rose and he looked at Ginny in shock.
It reacted with the Polyjuice potion! What if I had transformed back into Hermione right there in front of everyone! she thought. What was she thinking?
"Ginny, what did you think was going to happen? That I'd just sweep you from the Great Hall, declaring my love for you?" Harry asked.
Ginny blushed at the comment.
"You can't make people love you," Harry said. "Poisoning someone isn't exactly the way to someone's heart."
"I know that, Harry. I wasn't thinking straight. I'm so sorry, I would never hurt you," Ginny said with tears in her eyes. "I'll understand if you never speak to me again, but can you forgive me?"
Hermione knew Ginny wanted Harry, but to resort to this? She was aggravated with Ginny that her cover could have been blown, but wasn't really angry with her. People did weird things when they were in love.
Case in point: I shagged a professor and can't wait to do it again! Hermione thought. However, Ginny had committed a grievous wrong against Harry and the point had to be made.
"You're forgiven Ginny, but could you just leave me be for a while to sort this all out?" Harry asked.
"Of course Harry, anything," Ginny said.
Over the course of the next week, Ginny couldn't help but notice the wariness in Harry's eyes when he looked at her. Harry had never looked at her that way and it broke Ginny's heart.
It's all my fault! I put that look in his eyes! Just like Ron lost 'Mione, I've lost Harry!
A week after the tainted chocolate incident, Harry was summoned to the Headmistress' office after breakfast. As soon as he walked through the door heshe was greeted with, "Harry's awake, I thought you'd like to know. And yes, you may use the floo," McGonagall said and gestured to the office fireplace. "I'll be right behind you shortly with Severus."
At Grimmauld Place, Hermione ran up the stairs to Harry's room, barked the charm to make the door appear and rushed through.
"What the bloody hell is going on?" Harry asked when he saw himself rushing through the door.
"Harry, thank God you're awake!" the other Harry exclaimed and rushed at him, smothering him with hugs and cheek kisses.
Harry had never been more confused in his life. Remus, Minerva, Madame Pomfrey and Professor Anderson came into the room. The nurse examined him and was satisfied that he was in good health.
"He's a bit malnourished, but understandable considering the circumstances. It will take no time at all to fatten him up. I'll also prescribe vitamin and nutrient treatments until he's up to speed again. Now to the important part: Mr. Potter, can you stand?" the nurse asked.
Harry answered by standing up. "Now would someone please tell me what's going on?" he asked.
Two hours later, Harry looked at Hermione in amused, amazed admiration.
"Hermione, you didn't have to do this," Harry said softly.
"Yes, I did," Hermione said. "In spite of what you think of yourself, you are more important to me, to everyone than you think."
"So what happens now?" Harry asked.
"Minerva?" Professor Anderson asked.
Harry looked long and hard at "Professor Anderson." That was the hardest thing to reconcile. He was really Severus Snape and had really shagged Hermione. Ugh. But hey, it's their lives. If that's what they want, so be it.
"Harry will spend the rest of the weekend here, recovering. We need to ensure that you are up to strength to return to school," Minerva said. "Miss Granger will "return" from America later in the week. Is that acceptable?"
Harry and Hermione nodded.
"We'll leave you two to talk," Remus said.
Hermione nodded. She had a lot to tell, mainly about Ginny.
"Something happened last weekend at the Valentine's Dance at school, involving Ginny," Hermione said. "But before I tell you, let me take care of this first."
She took a potion vial from the bedside table, sighed and drank it quickly. Coughing and holding her stomach, she grimaced as the reverse transformation took place. Harry could barely breathe as he saw himself change into pretty Hermione.
"That doesn't look fun," he said.
"No, it isn't. It tastes and feels wretched," she said and flopped down on the bed beside him. "Now, about Ginny."
"All this is so hard to believe. In my mind, it's still just a week before the start of school and here we are, a week past Valentine's Day!" Harry exclaimed. "And Ginny, what was she thinking?"
"She's got the worst punishment I've ever heard given at Hogwarts," Hermione said. "She's having a hard time forgiving herself."
"All because someone gave me a box of chocolates?" Harry asked.
"It must be a Weasley thing. Ron got detention for confronting Professor Anderson about me," Hermione said.
"Professor Snape, you mean," Harry said with a grin then became serious. "Hermione, why him? How?"
"I ask myself that everyday," Hermione said. "It's really quite simple. He makes me happy."
Severus was outside eavesdropping, beaming at the declaration.
"I'm living for the day we leave that school so we can be together, I love him," Hermione said.
Severus' heart warmed at the statement and he knew from that moment on he would do whatever it took to make sure ensure her happiness and not regret for a moment that she chose to be with him.