Chapter 8: The Half-Blood Prince
The next morning, Harry and Ron met Hermione at the common room, before breakfast. Hoping to obtain support for his theory, Harry wasted no time and told her what he heard Malfoy say at Hogwarts Express. Ron Weasley believes Draco was just showing off to Pansy Parkinson, while Hermione sees it as a Malfoy thing trying to look more important than he is but he's exaggerating. Harry couldn't argue because there were many people eavesdropping.
After finishing their meal, they remained seated waiting for Professor McGonagall to come down from the teacher's table. This year the scheduling was more complicated than usual because she first needed to confirm that each student had earned the needed O.W.L.s to continue their topics of choice at N.E.W.T. level.
Hermione was soon released to take Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Herbology, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes and Potions and quickly rushed for the first period of Ancient Runes. Neville's schedule was more complicated to define. Professor McGonagall says he can take Herbology and that Professor Sprout will be glad to know he got an "Outstanding" at O.W.L. level Herbology. She also says he's got "Exceeds Expectations" at Defence Against the Dark Arts. However, since he only got "Acceptable" in Transfiguration, she won't let him take the topic at N.E.W.T. level. She wonders why he wants to take N.E.W.T. level Transfiguration since he never seemed to like the subject that much. Neville sadly explains that his Grandmother wants it. McGonagall says it's time his Grandmother learns to be proud of him. Professor McGonagall also comments Neville got "Exceeds Expectations" in Charms and suggests him to try the subject at N.E.W.T. level. Neville says his Grandmother considers Charms a "softer option" and Professor McGonagall not only tells him to take Charms but also says she'll tell Augusta not to consider the subject useless just because she didn't get an O.W.L. on that subject.
When Parvati Patil asks if Firenze will continue teaching Divination, Professor McGonagall tells her that Firenze and Professor Trelawney will share the subject with Trelawney teaching the sixth year students.
She then allows Harry to take Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Transfiguration and Potions. Ron is allowed to take the same topics. She also tells Harry that twenty students have applied to join the Gryffindor Quidditch team that year.
"Excuse me, Professor, but I don't have the required material for N.E.W.T. level Potions." Ron says. "I just knew I would be allowed to take the subject."
"Don't worry, Weasley." She replies. "I'm sure Professor Slughorn will let you borrow the material until your parents send some of your own."
Later on, Katie Bell congratulates Harry for being the captain of Gryffindor Quidditch team and asks when the tryouts will begin. He tells her she doesn't need it but she says he can't simply keep known players rather than trying to know if there's anyone better for the position.
One hour later, the Gryffindors reluctantly leave for the Defence Against the Dark Arts class. There, Professor Snape reviews the many forms the Dark Arts can take, using gruesome examples. He shows how to make nonverbal spells and makes the students practice it.
After recess, Harry and his friends go to the Potions classroom. There are several cauldrons there. Each one with a potion. Professor Slughorn then appears. "Pick your brass scales and the potions kits and don't forget your copies of Advanced Potion Making."
"Sir." Ron says, raising his hand. "I don't have book, scales or anything. I didn't know I could take N.E.W.T. level Potions, you know."
"Oh, yeah. Professor McGonagall told me about it." Slughorn replies. "You can use the ingredients from the cupboard, and I'm sure we can lend you a set of scales. We have a set of used books, you can borrow one until you get a book of your own."
After Ron borrows the needed material, including an old and very worn copy of Advanced Potion Making, by Libatius Borage, Professor Slughorn starts teaching. "I've prepared some potions just for their interest. They're the kind of thing you must be able to brew at the end of your N.E.W.T.s. You probably have already heard about some, even if you still can't brew them. Can anyone tell me which one is this?" He asks, pointing to the cauldron closest to the Slytherin table. Harry sees something that seems to be boiling water.
Hermione raises her hand before anybody else and Slughorn points to her. "It's Veritaserum, a clear and odorless potion that forces whoever drinks it to speak truthfully."
"Correct." Professor Slughorn happily comments. Then he points at the cauldron next to the Ravenclaw table. "Now this one is well known. And also appeared in some brochures of the Ministry recently. Who knows...?"
Once again, Hermione's hand was the fastest one. "It's the Polyjuice Potion, Sir." She answers. Harry had also recognized the potion but didn't get upset Hermione took credit for it since she's the one who prepared it during their second year.
"Excellent, excellent! Now this other one... yes, my dear?" Slughorn interrupts himself, seemingly dizzy upon seeing Hermione's hand raised for a third time.
"It's Amortentia." She answers.
"In fact, it seems foolish to ask, but I presume you know its effect, don't you?" Slughorn asks.
"It's the world's most powerful love potion ever." She explains.
"Correct! And you recognized it, I presume, by the mother-of-pearl sheen?" He asks.
"And the steam rising from it in characteristic spirals." Hermione excitedly answers. "It's said to have a different aroma for each one who smells it, accordingly to whatever attracts us. I smell fresh cut grass, new parchment and..." She blushes and doesn't complete the sentence.
"May I know your name, my dear?" Slughorn asks.
"Hermione Granger, Sir."
"Granger? Granger? Would you be related to Hector Dagworth-Granger, founder of the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers?" Slughorn asks.
"I don't think so, Sir." She answers. "I'm a muggleborn, you know."
Malfoy whispers something to Nott and both of them laugh but Slughorn is not disappointed. He looks from Hermione to Harry and remembers at the train when Harry mentioned about one of his best friends being a muggleborn and the best of their class. "I presume this is the friend you told me about, Harry."
"Well, Miss Granger, you just earned Gryffindor twenty points." Slughorn announces. "It's not without reason Harry said you're the best of your class."
Malfoy's face had the same expression from when Hermione punched it.
"Did you really say I'm the best?" hermione whispers to Harry.
"Big deal!" An annoyed Ron comments. "I'd have told him so should he ask me."
Hermione smiles but asks for silence while Slughorn explains more about the potion. "Amortentia doesn't create actual love, of course. That's impossible. But it does cause a powerful infatuation or obsession. For that reason, it is probably the most dangerous potion in this room." He then notices Malfoy and Nott laughing in disbelief. "When you see as mugh of life as I did, you won't underestimate the power of obsessive love. And now, it's time to work."
"Professor, you didn't tell what's in this one." Says Ernest Macmillan, pointing at a small black cauldron on Slughorn's table. This potion has a shining gold appearance, resembling molten gold. Small droplets leap like goldfish above potion's surface.
"Oho!" Slughorn exclaims. Harry's sure the teacher didn't forget the potion but just waited for someone to ask about it so he'd make a theater effect. "Yes, that one. Well, that one, ladies and gentlemen, is a curious little potion named Felix Felicis. I suppose – and he gives Hermione a huge smile – you know what the Felix Felicis does, Ms. Granger?"
"It's liquid luck." She excitedly answers. "Makes the drinker lucky."
The whole class seemed to be more well set. Only now Harry could see Malfoy's blonde and silky hair, because he was finally paying the professor total attention.
"Correct, more ten points to Gryffindor. It's a funny potion the Felix Felicis." Slughorn explains. "Very difficult to make and disastrous to get wrong. However, if correctly prepared, as in this case, you'll find out your efforts will be rewarded... at least until it wears off."
"Why don't people drink it all the time, Sir?" Terence Boot asks.
"Because if taken in excess it causes giddiness, recklessness and dangerous overconfidence. All that's too good, you know... highly toxic in large quantities. But used sparingly and very occasionally..."
"Have you already tried it?" A very interested Michael Corner asks.
"Twice in my life. Once when I was 24 and another when I was 57. Two soup spoonfuls at breakfast. Two perfect days." He let himself daydream about those days. If he was acting or not, Harry thought, the effect was good.
"And the potion," Slughorn says seeming to return down to Earth. "is what I'm gonna offer as a prize at this class."
There's a big silence where each potion noise seemed to be increased tenfold. Slughorn then shows a corked small glass. "A flask of Felix Felicis. Enough for twelve hours of luck. From sunrise to sunset, you'll be lucky at everything you try. Now, I must warn that Felix Felicis is prohibited in official competitions and sports like, for example, tests and elections. Therefore, whoever wins it must use it only on a normal day and watch that day become extraordinary."
"Then," the suddenly energic teacher says. "how you will win this fabulous prize? Well, opening page ten of Advanced Potion Making. There's still a little more than one hour left, which must be enough for you to make a valid attempt of brewing the Draught of Living Death. I know it's more complex than any other you have tried before and I don't expect anybody to make a perfect batch. But the one who makes the best one will win little Felix here. Begin!"
All students start preparing their potions. Ron stares at the book Slughorn let him borrow. To his annoyance, he notices the previous owner wrote in all pages, making it so the borders were so black as the printed parts. He bent himself a little more to decipher the ingredients (even there the previous owner made notes and crossed out words) and rushed to the cupboard to pick up all he needed. When returning to his cauldron, he notices Malfoy's slicing valerian roots the fastest he can.
All look around to see what the others are doing; that's at the same time the advantage and the disadvantage at Potions classes: the difficulty of working alone. In ten minutes, the whole room was full of blue smoke. Hermione, naturally, seemed to have gone further. Her potion was a smooth, black currant-coloured liquid as the book said it should be at halfway stage.
Upon finishing the root slicing, Ron once again tries to read the book. It's really annoying try to decipher all the silly scribbling from the previous owner, who, for some reason, had a problem with the way to cut the Sopophorous Bean and wrote an alternative: Crushing the Sopophorous Bean with the silver knife releases more juice.
"Professor, I believe you met my grandfather, Abraxas Malfoy."
"Yes." Slughorn answers, without looking at Malfoy. "I regretted when I heard about his death, albeit it wasn't unexpected; Dragon Pox at his age..."
It was obvious Draco Malfoy expected to be treated like Harry or Zabini; perhaps even get privileged treatment like the one Snape usually gives. It seems Malfoy would have to rely only on his talent to win the flask of Felix Felicis.
The Sopophorous Bean has proven to be hard to cut so Ron decides to borrow a silver knife from Hermione, who agreed without taking her eyes off her potion, which remained very purple, although the book said it should already be a light shade of lilac. Ron follows the alternative and is surprised as the potion immediately has the exact shade of lilac described in the book. His annoyance at the previous owner soon vanishes and now he made a point to see the next line of instructions. According to the book, he's supposed to stir counterclockwise until the potion becomes clear as water. But, according to the previous owner's notes, he should stir clockwise once every seven times counterclockwise. Believing the previous owner to be once again correct, Ron does stir clockwise and the potion becomes a clear pink.
"How did you do it?" Hermione asks, surprised at Ron's improvement. He tells about stirring clockwise but Hermione refuses to do anything other than following the book's instructions. Harry, who overheard the conversation and stirs clockwise once. Seeing as it worked and, paying enough attention at Ron to notice he's only stirring clockwise once every seven times he does it counterclockwise, does the same. Of course, his potion didn't become as good as Ron's since he didn't get the hint about crushing the Sopophorous Bean instead of cutting it.
"Time's up!" Slughorn announces. "Please stop stirring."
While evaluating the potions, he gives an approval nod to Hermione and compliments Harry by saying something like "you're nearly as good as your mother". "We got a winner!" He announces after seeing Ron's potion and then gives him the Felix Felicis. "Congratulations. Here's the flask of Felix Felicis as promised, uh... what's your name again?"
"Ron Weasley." He answers, still perplexed at being praised by a Potions Master.
"Ginny Weasley's brother?" Slughorn asks, as he deems her the only other Weasley worthy remembering.
"One of her brothers, actually." Ron replies. Draco Malfoy would make a retort except he's too shocked at Ron outshinning him.
"I see her Bat-Bogey Hex didn't make her the only talent in the family." Slughorn comments. "But we'll have more time to discuss it at the next Slug Club meeting. I hope to see you there." He then turns himself to look at Hermione. "The same goes for you, Ms. Granger."
Ron puts the flask inside his robe's inside pocket, feeling a strange mix of pleasure at seeing the furious looks from the Slytherins and mild shock at Hermione's disappointed face. (I don't believe Ron would be remorseful) Harry was simply shocked. "How did you do that?" He whispers to Ron while they leave the dungeons.
"Lucky shot, I guess." Ron answers, worried Malfoy would hear them.
Once they get back at the Gryffindor common room, he felt it safe to tell the truth. Hermione's face gets harder at every word Ron says. "What? It's not like I cheated, right?" He defends himself.
"Well, it's not exactly a work of yours. Was it?" She replies.
"I just followed different instructions from yours." Ron says. "It could have been a disaster but it wasn't. Whoever wrote in that book, I wish I got him as Potions Master from the very beginning. He's better than..."
"Stop right there!" Says a voice at Ron's right ear, while Harry feels the sudden presence of the flower aroma he recognized at Slughorn's dungeons. He turns around and sees Ginny next to them. "Have I heard it right? Have you been following instructions somebody wrote in a book, Ron?"
She's scared and angry. Harry soon understands why. "Nothing serious." He says, tranquilizing her. "It was not like in Riddle's old diary." At the mention of the diary, Ron finally understands why his sister is so worried. "It's just an old textbook somebody wrote notes on."
"But you followed what was written on?" She asks.
"I just tried some tips, Ginny." Ron replies. "There's nothing..."
"Ginny is right." Hermione immediately says. "We must check for anything funny with the book. I mean, all those funny instructions."
"You're just jealous!" Ron protests as Hermione takes his Advanced Potion Making issue and raise her wand.
"Specialis revelio!" She orders, slightly tapping the book cover. Nothing happens. The book remains still, only old, dirty and full of marks.
"Are you finished?" Ron asks, evidently annoyed. "Or are you waiting for the book to attack us like the Monster Book of Monsters does?"
"Seems normal." She concludes, still mistrusting the book.
"Fine! Then I can keep it." Ron harshly says, picking up the book. As he does it, the book slips out of his hand and notices something written at the previous owner's handwriting at the book's first page. This Book is the Property of the Half-Blood Prince.
Sorry if it took longer to update. Did you like the idea of Ron getting the book? For those who didn't read the sixth book or watch its movie counterpart, who do you think the Half-Blood Prince is? Please review.
