Potions and Planning

As they left the Great Hall after dinner that night Harry was smiling, almost stupidly, all the way to the entrance to the Gryffindor Tower. "What's wrong with you?" Ron asked in a tone straddling the border between curiosity and skepticism.

Harry glanced over at his friend and grinned even more broadly. "Didn't you hear what he said?"

Ron furrowed his eyebrows. "We all heard what he said, Harry, but why are you smiling?"

Harry chuckled as he reached out to muss up Mark's hair. As Mark swatted his hand away and scowled up at his second cousin Harry said, "We're all heroes, Ron; heroes and heroines. It's not just me anymore. I just one man, Ron, but it is going to take an army of heroes to beat Tom and I think we are just the army to do it."

Ron shook his head and muttered something about Harry being mental.

When the boys and girls separated to go to their rooms a few minutes later Ginny earned a few curious glances from the first-years as she climbed the steps to the seventh-year boys' dormitory but they were advised not to worry about it because special arrangements had been made the previous Easter and that nothing untoward was happening. What they didn't know was that ever since witnessing Severus' death on Good Friday Harry had not been able to actually sleep without her. He could rest and, if he was utterly and completely exhausted, get a few minutes of nightmare-filled slumber but he could not actually rest comfortably and sleep peacefully without her.

On the few occasions when she had gotten up before him it had taken less than a minute for his mind to be filled images of memories he had used his penseive to mitigate. It wasn't that he was weak; but when he was asleep his subconscious mind would strive to force him to deal with those memories before he was consciously ready to face them. Ginny was his security blanket, in a manner of speaking, and for some reason he knew that he would not be able to get much sleep without her, at least until the war was over.

As he crawled into bed next to her that night he wondered if Albus had had the same problem during the war with Grindelwald.

The next morning Mark was all smiles has he entered the Great Hall and sat down next to Harry. "Alright, Mark," Harry asked suspiciously, "what'd you do? Who'd you prank this time?"

Ron looked up and scowled. Mark's last prank had been to sprinkle a few grains of Blair's Sudden Death chili powder on Ron's pudding when he wasn't looking. It hadn't been enough to actually hurt him but it had put him off his desserts for almost a week.

Mark smiled innocently. "I didn't prank anyone," he said cheerfully.

"I'll bet," Ron grumbled.

Ignoring Ron's barbed comment Mark said, "No, really. My roommates just think its cool that I spent the whole summer here with you guys."

Harry looked skeptical. "No pranks?" he asked.

Mark smiled and vigorously shook his head. "Nope. No pranks." The he softly added, "This time."

Ron groaned as Harry shook his head while softly chuckling to himself. "I just hope you remember the first law of pranking," Harry admonished.

"Oh, yeah. I memorized it. 'Never prank a prankster.'"

"Good," Harry said. It looked like things were shaping up quite nicely for Mark. When they had first met last year Mark had felt isolated and alone. Over the course of the year he had made a few friends but now he had done something none of his roommates had been able to do, even though a few of them had tried, and was enjoying the notoriety.

About halfway through breakfast Professor McGonagall came down from the Head Table and began passing out timetables to her students. Her expression was as stern as ever but Harry thought he could sense a certain softness in her eyes that he could only assume was something akin to an expression of grief for the loss of innocence in the hearts and minds of the children she had been charged with guiding through the next ten months of life. As she made her way down the table she paused to speak with each of her charges, sometimes individually but usually in groups of five or six. When she reached Harry's group she said, "I just wanted to let you know how thankful we all are that you were flying escort, Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Longbottom. According to Remus, the four of you flew in formations, and used tactics, that he had not seen since Romania. We are going to have to study your memories of this battle in a penseive because apparently you were acting on reflex. We need to teach those tactics to all of our flyers so that they can use them just as effectively.

"I think it is safe to say that our enemy will be studying the memories of their survivors to learn our tactics. We need to continually improve and change if we are going to win this war and, as our strategists, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger and Mr. Longbottom we are counting on you to lead the way."

Turning towards Mark she said, "And I especially want to thank you, Mr. Evans. Your shatterproofing charms performed admirably. All of the compartments you charmed came through without a scratch."

Mark sat up a little straighter in his seat and his slime was even brighter than it had been when he sat down. Ron even looked over and smiled. "Pranks aside, Mark," he said, "I guess you're an alright kind of bloke."

Mark burst out laughing. "Thanks, Ron," he laughed. "Just for that you have earned a week's reprieve from my pranks."

Harry snickered; Ginny giggled; Ron groaned; and Hermione shook her head. Professor McGonagall smiled thinly as she handed them their timetables. "Just keep them under control, Mr. Evans," she said before moving further down the table.

Mark swallowed. "Oops!" he said. I forgot she was there."

Ginny leaned across Harry and whispered, "I think she has given you her blessing, Mark. Just keep them safe and don't prank any of the teachers."

Mark nodded. "Don't worry. I will and I won't."

After studying his timetable for several seconds Ron muttered, "Oh, bloody hell. Same as last year only worse."

"Worse?" Harry asked.

Ron nodded. "NEWT Potions, NEWT Charms, NEWT, Transfiguration, NEWT Divination, two Defense against the Dark Arts classes, Military Tactics and Strategies, Early Morning Dueling Practice, Mandatory Aerial Combat Training on Saturdays, our presentations," he said indicating Neville and himself, "every second and fourth Saturday evening and meetings with Dumbledore every Sunday afternoon."

Harry raised an eyebrow at the mention of the meetings with Dumbledore but then remembered that Ron and Hermione were Head Boy and Head Girl and that they had agreed to the Sunday afternoon meetings because it was the only time both of them had free.

Looking down at his own timetable he saw that the only real differences between this year's schedule and last year's were the addition of the Saturday morning Aerial Combat Training, the inclusion of his and Remus' classes on the first and third Saturday evenings of each month and the fact that his Thursday evening classes with Albus had been moved. With a wry grin he murmured, "It looks like Ethrindell has been talking to Albus."

Ron looked up from his schedule. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"My Thursday evening classes have been moved," he said tiredly. "They used to be held in Albus' office but now they are being held in the Chamber of Secrets."

At Ginny's involuntary shudder he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her towards himself. "It's alright, Gin," he whispered encouragingly, "I've been working on it most of the summer and I'm trying to remove all traces of the chamber you knew."

Ginny nodded into his chest then, pulling away, smiled up at him. "I know you are and I thank you for that but that period of my life still haunts me."

After going over Ginny's and Mark's timetables, and promising to help Mark with his revising, the six of them stood up and made their way out into the Entrance Hall.

Luna joined them in the Entrance Hall and compared her timetable with Neville's and then Ginny's. As it turned out, Luna would be taking NEWT Defense against the Dark Arts, NEWT Potions and NEWT level Ancient Runes with Ginny and working with Neville in NEWT level Herbology. Her specialty course, however, was Advanced Healing Techniques, which was being taught by Madam Pomfrey as well as any number of healers from Saint Mungo's.

Mark's first class was Charms so he headed up the stars to Professor Flitwick's classroom. Ginny and Luna had Defense Against the Dark Arts first period so they left to join their classmates. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville all had Potions first hour. As they turned towards the dungeons Harry thought back to his first meeting with Professor Slughorn and Albus' vague warnings about his modus operandi. He had been too busy over the summer to even think about the funny little man and wondered what kind of teacher he would be.

When they entered the potions classroom minutes later it was already filled with vapors and odd smells. Professor Slughorn, his massive, round belly preceding his every step, was bouncing from station to station peering into the cauldrons he had placed on tables around the room. "Ah! Good morning, class!" he greeted with a bit more enthusiasm than the situation warranted. "Before we begin we are going to have a little impromptu quiz. So, if you could please look into each of the cauldrons you see at the various stations around the room before taking your seats we can begin."

The first potion, Harry knew, was the Wolfsbane Potion. He had been brewing it for Remus since April and, while it was a little thicker than ideal, he would recognized the potion anywhere. The second potion he had only seen twice before, once in his second year when Hermione had successfully brewed it in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom and again last year, when they had brewed it in class for Severus. The Polyjuice Potion. The next potion was a colorless, odorless potion that Harry knew to be Veritaserum. When cooled it was indistinguishable from water. When warm or boiling, however, as this potion was, the steam rose in a characteristic swirling pattern that plain water could never duplicate.

The potion at the fourth station was on a gold plated cauldron. It had a mother-of-pearl sheen; its vapors rose in a distinctive swirling pattern, resembling Veritaserum's pattern in many respects; and, when he sniffed at it, he was reminded of his favorite desert – treacle tart – his favorite sport – quidditch – and Ginny. He couldn't be sure but somehow he got the impression that this was one of the more potent love potions.

The fifth potion was contained within a much smaller, silver cauldron. It was the color and consistency of molten gold and it was bubbling merrily about its container. As Harry studied this potion he recognized it properties and knew that he had brewed it at least once while working with Salizar. He also recalled that Salizar had cautioned him against its use in all but the most desperate of times; and even then it was only to be used as a last resort. He knew that it had something to do with luck but couldn't remember what.

When everyone had taken their seats Professor Slughorn, smiling jovially behind his massive walrus mustache, bounded over to the first station. "Alright then," Slughorn chirped gleefully, "Who can tell me about this potion?"

Hermione's hand was the first up but Harry, Ron and Neville weren't far behind. Slughorn hesitated a moment then said, "Ah, Mister Potter. What can you tell me about this potion?"

Harry got the uneasy feeling that Professor Slughorn was trying to curry his favor by calling on him first. "That would be Wolfsbane Potion, sir," he said politely. "It has, however, passed its prime brewing period and is nearing its functional end. Since the full moon is not until the end of next week I'm afraid it will not be of any use to anyone."

A look of horror appeared in Slughorn's eyes as he looked into the cauldron. Muttering a mild curse to himself he extinguished the flame and vanished the cauldron's contents. "Well spotted, Mister Potter. I should have been more vigilant. It takes a week to brew that potion properly; now I'm afraid I will have to start over."

"If you are brewing it for Professor Lupin," Harry tried to console the rotund man, "I think I've got that covered. I've been brewing it for him ever since Professor Snape died."

Professor Slughorn looked up, interested. "Have you, now, Mister Potter? Well then, it would seem that you have inherited your mother's talent. She was a right dab at potions you know!"

Harry closed his eyes and bowed his head. Sighing softly he softly said, "No, sir. I didn't. I never knew my mother."

Professor Slughorn looked he had been kicked in the stomach but the damage had already been done and Harry, even though exceedingly mature for his age, was extremely sensitive where any mention of his parents was concerned. He didn't know how he had tolerated six years of Severus' abuse but, on looking back, realized that Severus had always attacked his father but never mentioned his mother. He wondered why this was and began to suspect that there was more to that story than he knew and now, with Severus' death, it was unlikely he would ever know the truth.

As the class continued around him Harry heard, but didn't hear, Ron describe the second and fifth potions; Hermione accurately describe the third potion; and smiled slightly when Neville critiqued the fourth. The rest of the class passed in a blur. Harry almost mechanically, but accurately, brewed the Draught of Living Death as he thought back on the time he had spent with his parents and Sirius during his near death experience, wondering why he had not taken the time to really get to know them. As the period ended Professor Slughorn asked Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville to stay back for a few minutes.

As they approached his desk Professor Slughorn looked sincerely remorseful. "I really am sorry about my comments, Mister Potter," he began. "Sometimes I get so caught up in the excitement of the moment that I forget my position. Do you think you can forgive me?"

Harry looked up, his eyes dull and almost lifeless. "Yes, I … I think so. I have some thinking to do but I think I can forgive you. You had no way of knowing how that would affect me so …"

The portly professor breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you," he said. "Now," he said with a fresh burst of enthusiasm, "I have a question for the four of you. I have been watching you, as well as the rest of your fellow students, since my return at the end of June and you four seem to be the unofficial leaders of the entire student body." Smiling up at Ron and Hermione he added, "I realize that you two are Head Boy and Head Girl but I honestly don't think it would matter if you were or not. You four are natural born leaders.

"I am in the process of forming a small, informal club of the future movers and shakers in the Wizarding World – something I did almost every year, with some success I might add, before I retired seventeen years ago – and would like to know if you would be interested in joining."

As Harry looked into the excited professor's eyes he saw a mixture of emotions. There was excitement and anticipation mixed with a certain amount of greed and a desire to be associated with the powerful, rich and famous. These qualities repulsed Harry more effectively that any shielding charm ever could. At the same time, however, he knew that he had been used as bait to get him to agree to return. But then again there was the war and his training. He knew he needed to get out more and relax but, in his heart of hearts, he could not justify it until he had done everything in his power to put an end to Tom's reign of terror. Breaking eye contact with Professor Slughorn he said, "I'll think about it, sir. Right now I've got a lot on my plate but I'll keep it in mind."

The others expressed similar sentiments, being careful not to mention any of their war related activities. Even though he had been there since the end of June and they had seen him at lunch and dinner almost every day he was still an unknown; and if Aberforth suspected a spy, even though that suspicion had yet to be confirmed, they were unwilling to take the chance.

As they left the Potions Lab something Sirius had said while at Grimmauld Place replayed itself in Harry's mind. "In the last war, no one knew who was trustworthy and who wasn't." An involuntary shudder shook his frame as he and Ron made their way up to the Gryffindor Tower. Neville had a special project he wanted to get started on in Herbology and Hermione headed for the library. Harry hoped Halloween would be the end of it because he didn't want to let either the war or Tom tear apart any friendships, as had happened in the first war. He wasn't going to kid himself into thinking that relationships would not be strained but he hoped that the most important relationships would stand the tests of time.

Two months, he thought as they approached the entrance to the tower, was not a long time but with everything that was happening it was more than enough time for things to go terribly wrong.

Harry and Ron walked through the Gryffindor Common Room and mounted the stairs to the boy's dormitories on their way to Harry's trunk. Ginny looked up from one of her Defense Against the Dark Arts texts, this being her free period for the day, and jumped up, joining them as they opened the door to the seventh-year boys dormitory. "What's up?" she asked.

Neither Harry nor Ron answered until they were all three safely inside, with the door closed and they were sure that neither Dean nor Seamus were in the room and even then it was a short two-word answer. "Planning session," Ron said succinctly.

When they were safely inside Harry's magical trunk and the lid had been closed and sealed and additional silencing charms had been added so that that could speak openly Harry said, "We know when and we know where, Gin. What we don't know is who and how many.

Ron glanced up. "We do?"

Harry nodded grimly. "Yes. I spent a lot of time studying his plans last week and again last night. The attack on the Hogwarts Express was not his doing. It was the brainchild of a few rogue death eaters who wanted to test their abilities in a combat situation. Tom was … shall we say … upset to say the least, but his plans have not changed. His four main targets in Great Britain are still Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, the Ministry of Magic and Saint Mongo's and he plans on hitting all four of them, simultaneously, on Halloween.

"I also spent some time in my Room of Requirement last week, constructing models of all four of these targets. You are our chief strategist, Ron. My main target is going to be Tom. I am going to have to lure him onto the castle grounds, if not into the castle itself because everything depends upon me being able to draw as much energy as possible from Hogwarts. That is what I have spent most of the summer training for. The defense of his four main targets is in your hands. All I am going to ask is that Ginny and Neville stay here, with me. Ginny because I love her and because she is my wingman and Neville because he is my regular dueling partner."

Ron walked through Harry's office in silence, his head bowed, deep in thought. As they entered the library Harry glanced up and saw that Dobby and Winky were sitting at one of the study tables thoroughly engrossed in one of their favorite pastimes, reading. He shook his head when Dobby looked up, silently telling his friend that his services were not required.

Ron was muttering to himself as he walked along one wall, turned the corner and walked to the blank space in the middle of the adjoining wall. "Just walk back and forth thinking about the location you want."

Ron nodded ad paced up and down the short expanse three times. When the door appeared he opened it and they entered a vacant replica of Diagon Alley. After taking several long strides along the empty street Ron stopped and turned towards Harry who was waiting near the entrance. "How detailed is it?" Ron asked.

"All of the buildings, their aisles and shelves are accurate down to the millimeter. The books, wands, potions ingredients and other merchandise are dummies. Everything else, however, is accurate."

"How much big is the board?"

"This model includes all of Diagon Alley, all of Knockturn Alley, the Leaky Cauldron and the city block surrounding that stretch of Charing Cross Road."

Ron nodded. "Good. Are all of the other models as detailed?"

"Yes."

Walking back to the entrance Ron smiled and said, "You know, it's probably a good thing I got attacked by those brain things at the end of fifth year." When Harry and Ginny both raised an eyebrow at this remark he said, "This is our NEWT year and we all know that they are going to be piling on the homework. I'm going to have to use those memories to do my homework because I'm going to be spending most of the next two months in here, planning their defense. And since you've taken three of my most valuable pieces off the board I am going to have to plan around that.

"Fortunately, with all of the information you have been able to provide, through your penseive memories, I know most of their strengths as well as their weaknesses. Add to that everything I was able to learn about our own forces this summer and I think we might just have a chance. I'll want to meet with the shopkeepers in Diagon Alley a few times between now and the end of October because the alley is going to be the most difficult place to defend. I'll also want to meet with a Madam Bones and Rufus Scrimgeour a couple of times to outline the defenses for the ministry and Saint Mungo's. I think we can handle Hogsmeade. The residents have already been through two battles and they are used to working with us."

The glazed look of determination that had crept into Ron's while formulating his initial plans was similar to, but somehow more intense than, the look he got when concentrating on a particularly difficult chess configuration. He had never worn that expression when playing against Harry but they had all seen it several times whenever he was playing either Alastor of Neville. It was almost frightening when it happened because they knew that Ron was strategizing and that he would not give up until he had found a the most favorable move.

When Ron broke the trance he had been in it was almost as if a bluebell flame had exploded with a near-audible pop. Looking up he said, "Do you think you could recreate these models in the castle's Room of Requirement?"

Harry smiled. I'm already working on it. Winky and Dobby actually created a more flexible version of that room when they created this one but I think we can do it. If nothing else we can always use my trunk."

Ron frowned. "I'd rather not. I know its your trunk and all, but I would like to keep its capabilities a secret as long as possible."

"I agree!" Ginny said. I don't want a bunch of strangers traipsing through my sitting room, no matter how noble the cause."

Harry laughed and pulled Ginny into a one-armed hug. "Yeas, dear," he laughed. "I'll ask Albus for his assistance this weekend."