A/N: Second part of the Christmas special (though this is not a happy chapter by any stretch of imagination.) The next one- Part 3 of the festive season present from my end will be.. well I'm not saying anything before hand. :)

Thanks to each one of you for appreciating the story and the last chapter.

Got to rush but I am waiting for that review.

Happy Reading!

All Characters, props and places mentioned here belong to JKR.

Chapter 21: Poisoned

Harry flipped through the Prince's potion book, squinting to figure out the numerous notes written between the margins. He still could not believe his luck for having found this book at the beginning of the year and how much it had taught him, not to mention how it had vastly helped in getting a fantastic reputation with his new Potion master. If only there was some way the book could help him to get the information Dumbledore wanted him to get from Slughorn! But that hope was getting feeble as the days passed. They were almost at the end of February and he could make out that the Headmaster was getting impatient like some kind of a clock was ticking away. Well he had tried hadn't he? He had stuck around after class, followed the Professor around to get a word but since the first time when he had mentioned 'Horcrux' after their antidote brewing assignment, the nutty old man had been giving him a wide berth.

He flipped the pages again. The common room was vacant except for him and even the fire in fireplace was beginning to dwindle now. Harry pulled out the map from his pocket, his eyes scanning it for a particular figure. Malfoy seemed to be in his dorm and he heaved a temporary sigh of relief. He was as close to finding out what the blonde was up to in the Room of Requirements as he was with Dumbledore's assignment. He scanned the map again for one more figure. Ron's footsteps were barely a corridor away from the portrait entrance following another pair. He closed the book and decided to wait up. Ron was making him worry. The redhead had cooled down to a certain extent in the past few days and had even gone back to Hermione's guard duties for the past two nights but that was more of a compulsion than anything else. Harry wondered if Dumbledore had specifically set their appointments in such a manner that Harry would not be able to fill in for Ron.

Hermione Granger was a different story.

He hated to admit that he had begun to genuinely see her as a friend before that one episode blew that everything up. Now-a-days she was quiet and withdrawn and hardly ever looked up more than once when he went in to get her assignments. And the way she lifted her eyes each time told him clearly that it was not him she was waiting for. In the initial days she had tried explaining her actions, told him that she had sent that letter ages ago, but he knew that from Ron already. He clearly remembered the way she had looked when Harry had told her that they knew that it wasn't a recent thing. But it didn't make her any less guilty because she would have literally massacred Ron's character if not for the headmaster's charms. Hermione had refrained from giving any excuses after that. But of late, Harry couldn't deny he felt a tiny bit of sympathy for her, she looked pale and undernourished. He wondered if he ought to tell Professor McGonagall about it. And yet, so far he had done nothing. It did seem like a betrayal itself to be concerned about the girl who had backstabbed his best mate, not once but twice.

Ron had begun to worry him. He was reckless, temperamental and furious most of the time. He had landed in detention for a week already. Snape had made a sneering comment about his abysmal wand work in Defence Against Dark Art for failing to manage a non-verbal spell. The next thing the professor knew, he had been thrown back by a very powerful shield charm without Ron having muttered the incantation aloud. It had earned Ron a rigorous detention with Flinch and a very loud applause from the rest of the Gryffindors. He hadn't cheered up a bit.

He stretched his cramped legs, with so many distractions he wondered how on earth he was suppose to concentrate on Voldemort. There was yet another thought that kept him busy and unlike others this was like a wisp of fresh air with something flowery. He closed his eyes and the image of long, silky red hair and a stunningly beautiful face materialized in front of his eyes... Ginny. He was doomed. Another image, a mad Ron erupted in front of his eyes and he sat up straight. There was no hope there. If the bloke got to know, he would surely use Harry as a punching bag, it might help the ginger release all the pent up frustration but would not bore well for Harry at all.

The portrait door opened and two arguing Gryffindor prefects walked in.

"You should have handed it over to McGonagall, Ron!" screamed Parvati.

"Why on earth should I have done that? This is fine mead! Brewed by the famous Glilletwinder family!"

"What's wrong?" asked Harry as he dropped the potion book on the table and came forward.

"Ron is being a prat! He confiscated a bottle of mead from two Hufflepuff fifth years and now he is refusing to hand it over to McGonagall." provided Parvati shooting a dirty look at Ron.

"Why would fifth years have mead with them and how did they get it?" inquired Harry. It was strange to get anything past the rigorous screenings now-a-days.

"One of them, Henry Wincostin's Uncle runs the brewery. He said he got it during Christmas for Dumbledore." She provided.

"For Dumbledore?!"

"Come on mate! Henry and Lisa were caught snogging and maybe more in an empty classroom last week. They have detentions till the end of the term, this is just to coax the headmaster to get their punishments reduced." Provided Ron and pulled away the bottle beyond Parvati's reach. "I am not giving it back!" he told her. "Merlin knows I need a drink."

"You should have thought of it before ditching Lavender!"

Ron and Harry looked at the girl in shock and then Ron howled in laughter. Harry decided it was very unlike Ron, not that he was being such a prat but the way the laugh sounded hoarse and a little sad.

"I am not drinking for that Parvati, although yes I am sorry for the way I treated your friend." He said after a while.

Parvati was reeling off to go on another tirade but Harry stopped her in time. "Let it rest Parvati. I promise I'll make him hand it over to a teacher. I'll take care of this, you go ahead." He said sincerely. She looked at him sternly for a minute and then with a small nod turned around and left for the girl's dormitory.

Harry turned around to find Ron at the verge of unscrewing the bottle.

"Hold on mate." He said pulling the bottle away.

"Wait?! Come on Harry! I'm sure Dumbledore doesn't need mead."

"Nor do you."

"Hah!" he replied sarcastically.

"Let me drink to celebrate then. Tomorrow is my ruddy birthday, remember?" he said sourly as he flopped down on the couch.

"Happy Birthday Ron but it's still a no."

"What will you do with it then? Give it to McGonagall? I doubt she is of the kind who appreciates good liquor" he asked.

Harry thought for a while. He wasn't sure about McGonagall but he knew one particular professor who did. He felt rotten stooping so low as to use a confiscated article to bribe a teacher, but these were desperate times.

"No not her but Slughorn." He said with a gleam in his eyes and it took a minute before Ron caught on.

"No way! That's wicked, I like it!" he grinned, the first one in many days.

"What say we do it first thing tomorrow?"

"No better day than a birthday for some celebration!"

...

The next morning Harry woke up early to find a pile of presents at the foot of Ron's bed. He pulled out his own, a broom servicing kit and added it to the pile before pulling off the curtains on his friend's bed.

"Rise and shine birthday boy!" he said hitting Ron with a pillow.

"Ouch!" groaned the other boy and sat up.

"Happy Birthday Ron! Man you are seventeen!"

"Blimey! Yes I am, wow many presents this year." He pulled out a small package from the top which was from his parents. "Wow! It's a watch and a brand new one at that!" he said cheerfully as Harry looked away embarrassed.

"Open this." He said pointing at his own gift and Ron tore off the wrapper much less enthusiastically than he did every year. Harry assumed that it had a lot to do with all that he had gone through in the past few months.

"Nice mate! Thanks!" he said as he took in the box.

"Won't you open the rest?" asked Harry as the taller boy lifted himself up.

"I will. Let's try and get your assignment done first, shall we?" he replied.

The two boys dressed promptly and snuggling the bottle under Ron's shirt, left the common room to head towards Slughorn's quarters.

"Do you think he will be suspicious?" asked Ron in a whisper when they were a little distance away.

"We will just have to use a lot of flattery and maybe get him drunk a little with this very same mead." Replied Harry thoughtfully and Ron made a gagging sound as he pulled out the bottle.

"Shush now!" called the raven haired boy and after a deep breath, knocked purposefully. A small window opened and a sleepy form of the professor peeped out.

"Harry? It's early!" asked the man groggily.

"We know Sir and we apologise but my friend Ron here apprehended something from the students during patrol last night and we thought we should bring it to you." He said in a sweet voice ignoring a snot from Ron which the ginger tried to pass on as a cough.

"Oh! Alright come on in then." Replied the Potion master and opened the door a little grudgingly.

"What is it?" he asked a little impatiently and Ron handed him the bottle, the expression on the man's face changed instantly and didn't go amiss to either of them.

"Oh My! My! A fine Glilletwinder Mead! Where did you get this Rupert?"

Ron looked annoyed at the wrong name but a poke from Harry and he adjusted his expression. "Two fifth years were sneaking it. Said they wanted to give it to Professor Dumbeldor but I am sure that's just a cock and bull story they made up."

"Well I am sure! I am sure!" replied the older man holding the bottle adoringly.

"Well... we thought we will bring it to you Professor and since it's Ron's birthday today we thought it will be a nice gift from us to you." managed Harry. My! The levels he was stooping to get that memory!

Overkill Mate! Thought Ron trying furiously to control the laughter.

"Oh then we must celebrate!" suggested the professor eagerly and soon three goblets were floating towards them. He uncorked and poured the liquid into three goblets although one was filled more generously. He handed the other two to the boys.

"To Rob's health." He said lifting his glass and the boys joined him.

"Ron." corrected Harry automatically.

"Oh I'm sorry! Ron!" said the old man and brought the goblet to his lips but stopped abruptly as Ron crashed on the floor with a loud thud at that very moment, the goblet spilling the remaining liquid on the carpet, foam coming out of his mouth.

...

Hermione sat on the couch waiting for him. She had lost all hope to ever see him again but he had come... although his expression was a dead giveaway that he would be anywhere than in her presence, but still... Dumping the scrolls unceremoniously on the table, he had stayed only long enough to pick up her completed assignments. There were no more memories to fill the Pensive but that wasn't new really. She had not received the memories from the time Harry had taken over the duty. She realised it was a safety measure to keep her away from flicking into Potter's brains. She hadn't complained, not for that or anything else for that matter. She knew she deserved every bit of the loneliness. She had not spoken in days and often wondered how long she would survive before she went insane. The boys never spoke to her and still she sat waiting just to see Ron once. And that was what she was doing now. As always, she expected someone to come before dinner time. Even the meal times had been reduced to a means of measuring the time of the day as she ate very little, just enough to sustain herself. These times reminded her so much of the ones in the Gryffindor common room that she often choked with the onslaught of grief that fought their way out.

It was still daylight and she concentrated on the door that was hidden behind Ron's bed.

She had perhaps dozed off when a small sound woke her up. She opened her eyes hurriedly to see that flash of red, the only bit of colour in her otherwise grey, mundane life. But there was no red today but black.

"Where is Ron?" she asked before she could stop herself and Harry looked up from the table to meet her eyes. Something in those green orbs stopped her heart for a moment before she found her voice again.

"Where is Ron, Harry?" she asked urgently as she lifted herself up from the couch. He did not bother to answer but turned away. She was sure his face looked ashen.

"HARRY JAMES POTTER! ANSWER ME! WHERE IS RON?" she screamed as some kind of dread crept in her heart. Harry wouldn't be here collecting your assignments if something was that wrong. Ron is fine! Ron is fine!

She glared at him as he paused and then turned around.

"What do you care Hermione?" he asked maliciously but she could still see a lingering trace of fear and helplessness.

"Where is Ron?" she asked again in a voice that didn't seem to be hers. Harry took in her form for a long time and then heaving a sigh, dropped the scrolls on the couch before running his hand through his messy black hair.

"Ron got poisoned. He is still unconscious... since morning."

Hermione was sure her heart had stopped. No! Not Ron!

Before Harry knew what was happening he felt a blur pass him and reach the small corridor leading out to Ron's side.

"LET ME GO! PLEASE!" she yelled banging hard on the door that was only visible from this side. He walked quickly to her while she continued her assault on the enchanted wood.

"Let me out! Please! Please!" she sobbed dropping down on the floor and felt two hands gently lift her up and guide her to the seating area.

"Please Harry please... I have to see Ron!" she pleaded through her tears.

"Why Hermione? Haven't you done enough to him already?" he asked irritated. He hated seeing her like this, wanted to believe her too but this girl was a wonderful actress when she wanted to be. How would he know this wasn't an act?

She sobbed harder. "Please Harry just once..."

"I don't think it is a good idea." He replied flatly and she snapped up looking like an injured lioness.

"WHY?" she hissed.

"Give me one good reason why I should let you see him. It's not like you care. You have proved that enough already haven't you?"

"WHAT DO YOU KNOW IF I CARE ABOUT HIM OR NOT POTTER?" she yelled through her tears.

"You broke his heart last year for some silly revenge, framed him for a molestation case that could have seriously jeopardized his life and you say you care? Do you have the faintest idea what you have put him through all this time? Do you know the kind of risk he took by taking you out? And is this how you show you care?" he fumed.

She sobbed harder and curled into a ball and although he had no clue what he was expecting, he stood waiting for her answer.

"I-I know w-what I did and n-no one regrets it m-more than I d-do." She hiccupped after a long time.

He looked away.

"I-I know you won't believe me H-Harry b-but that was a d-different me, t-the one who thought she was k-kept as a captive while her ... her f-family was out there. The o-one drunk on the notion of wealth and name and p-power. That is n-not me anymore..."

He stayed quiet and she continued urgently as if it was crucial for her to get all that she had to say out of her system.

"I never appreciated what the Order was doing for me till I saw the M-Mansion... and R-Ron... I can't ever repay h-him for saving my life in the Room of Requirements that night, for saving me, for doing everything he did after how I treated him at the end of last year..." she paused and hiccupped back more sobs before continuing again.

"I wrote that letter to h-hurt him like I was hurting because I felt he intentionally put a memory of him snogging Lavender in there for me to see when... when he knew I liked him... I couldn't take the rejection... I am not saying I did the correct thing or making up excuses for my actions but ... I would have never even thought of something like this if I knew back then how my future would change... If I had known the real Ron as I do now...I-I don't have anyone else anymore Harry... It's just the two of you... You don't know how I hate myself for writing that note, I hate myself more than you hate me or R-Ron does for that matter... But believe me I do care about the two of you... I care about Ron... more than I can ever express..."

"He is better than before. Madam Pomfery says he is recovering." He wasn't sure why he was telling her this but somehow he wanted to believe her, and if he kept his anger aside, the timeline of her actions did make a bit of sense. He stood wondering what he was supposed to do. Did the Headmaster know this would happen? Was this the reason why he had been specifically asked to get her assignments now while his best mate lay unconscious in the hospital bed? Just to get the news to her? He looked at the sobbing Hermione.

"I have to go now." He said picking up the scrolls. "I-I'll let you know when he comes round." He added as an afterthought.

"I want to see him once... please Harry?" she pleaded again.

"I can't take you out Hermione, only Ron can and this is seriously out of my hands." He replied in a softer tone.

"Can the Headmaster help?"

He thought of the genius wizard with those twinkling blue eyes. Is this what the Headmaster had planned all along when he had given Ron the assignment? Had he known that Hermione would need someone to hold on to after losing her family and that was where Ron had come in? How much does the old man know?

"I am guessing he might be able to help." He replied thoughtfully.

"Will you wait for a minute till I write him a note, please?" she added wiping her tear stricken face and he nodded despite himself.

She penned a note quickly and handed it to him.

"You may read it if you please." She said guiltily and Harry left the room after taking it from her without commenting on her suggestion.

...

It was the middle of the night when the door to her chamber was opened again. She sat up straight from her position on the rug in front of the fire to turn around at the lone figure and a small shriek escaped her lips as another tall figure materialised in front of her eyes out of thin air.

"Professor Dumbledore!" she breathed softly and stood up.

"We are sorry to have come calling at this odd hour, Miss Granger." said the old man kindly.

There was so much she wanted to inquire of him, she asked the first one on her lips.

"Is he alright?"

Behind that enormous amount of facial hair she thought she saw a bit of smile before those piercing blue eyes looked into hers with a kindness she hadn't seen in days.

"He is recovering. It was a deadly poison. Good thing Harry remembered to use a Bezoar."

She looked gratefully at Harry. "Good thing the Potion master had one of those." He said.

"May I..." she began.

"See him? Yes I suppose you may."

She could feel the tears of gratitude prickle her eyes. "Thank you..." she muttered softly.

Dumbledore turned towards Harry. "I suggest you use the cloak and... " He turned at her again, "Ron has been put in a special ward with high security because we still don't know who got the poisoned mead and for whom. He might be an accidental victim but his condition is weak and we are not taking chances. Poppy has ensured us he should be awake in another four hours once the antidotes finish flushing the poison from his body. His parents and siblings will be there to see him once he wakes up."

"I will leave before that." She replied in a quiet voice.

"Harry will bring you back in exactly one hour."

"Thank you Professor."

"You are welcome my dear." He replied with a twinkle and gestured towards Harry who pulled out the cloak from his robes and dropped it over the two of them. One flick and Dumbledore vanished and she left her chambers once more after a long time... but without Ron this time.

A/N: Thanks a lot for reading. Please drop a review if possible.