AN: Okay thank you so much guys for the reviews and support. And yes, Perfectus Femina is my sacrificial lamb(such a pity, but it's for research purposes-hence changing of writing style). Anyway, I think I confused a lot of people with the first chapter before. If you're one of them please read Must Read. If you're not, skip and continue reading.

Must Read: Harry here has a normal life. His parents are alive as there is no Voldemort so basically there isn't any complications in his life aside from the drama of being a teenage boy. Secondly, Harry is still bestfriends with Ron and Hermione. This story is pretty easy to understand, if you just keep in mind his life is normal, still bestfriends with Ron and Hermione and that this is set in year 6 which doesn't follow HBP's time line. Lastly Rosarium Ritual is my creation, so yeah. (If you know my previous fics I think my AUs are pretty much the same).

Next: The summary might mislead you as it is an excerpt from chapter six (because I can't think of a better summary), but this story is definitely Harmony. (check my profile, that's all I write). I think if you guys read my previous works you might now have an idea on how I write Harmony fics. If not then don't worry, it'll soon be clear to you how.

If you have more questions Review or PM me.

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"What's this rumor I heard? That Mister Harry Potter is a potions master?" A red haired girl by the name of Ginevra Weasley asked her two companions. The two boys; one with red hair and features like hers and the other with dark lock and wearing round glass looked at one another before shaking their heads in amusement. Finally, it was the red-haired boy that answered her question.

"Oh, that's not a rumor. He's the only one that got the potion. He even beat Hermione…" Ron told his sister whilst giving Harry a pat on the back, and Ginny's brown eyes showed with disbelief.

"Someone surpassed Hermione with schoolwork? You're not pulling my leg are you?"

"Gee, Ginny, didn't know you think so lowly of me." Harry teased as he and Ron got their brooms and slowly walked towards the Quidditch pitch for try-outs.

"It's not that I think lowly of you just that I think highly of Hermione." Ginny answered back and Harry merely laughed, albeit his laughter didn't quite reach his eyes. You see, he did think about Hermione and how upset she looked like when he was the only one that passed the test. Ron tried to tell him she was only bitter since he was the one that perfected the potion and not her. Harry reckons she's mad since he just perfected the potion; not so much that it's not her who did. But then he remembered the weird writing the inscriptions written in the old beat-up book.

When he first saw the writings he thought that the previous owner was careless. I mean the bidding was loose and there were too many writings and doodles, it looked just like his notebook when they were in Professor Binn's class. But, he realized that it looked like that since it has been read, studied and used so well. Now he feels slightly guilty.

Guilty, since the book was the reason he passed the test. If it wasn't for the book having the correct ad perfect instructions on how to brew the potion he would have made an awful potion that could not harm a fly like everyone else's.

"Ginny and Ron remember we still have try-outs. Are we still going to debate on my improved potions skills or are we going to play Quidditch?" Harry told them playfully as he prepared to mount his broom. He was glad he had booked the Quidditch field before the other teams, this way he can have more time practicing with his team than scouting for them.

"Play, Captain!" Both Ron and Ginny saluted before mounting their own brooms and joining their teammates in the field.

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"Okay, everyone… it doesn't mean that you made it to the team last year you'd still be playing this year. Now I wish everyone a good luck and remember to play fair." Harry reminded the players before the beginning of the game. As he finished with his speech he saw Hermione approaching the Quidditch stands and carrying her book bag with her. Hermione saw him too; she smiled and waved at him before heading towards the bleachers. Harry waved back at her too and watched her take a seat before settling his attention to his players.

"Hey, Harry can I ask you for a favor?" Harry's eye was suddenly caught by a seventh year housemate of his by the name of Cormac McLaggen. Harry wasn't quite fond of the older boy as he often came off as arrogant, narcissistic and pompous. If he wasn't such a good keeper Harry would have never even bothered to talk to him.

"What is it McLaggen?" Harry asked him, slightly noticing his voice came off slightly cold and bitter, more so than he expected. But the older boy seemed to not have noticed, that or he simply didn't think much of it.

"Do you mind introducing me to your friend Granger? I'd love to get in first name basis with her, if you know what I mean." Harry thought that he did mind, especially since he knows Hermione doesn't like Cormac, and he's quite certain Cormac isn't the right guy for Hermione either. Cormac was one of the people who used to tease Hermione a lot when they were younger. It was only when she got her teeth fixed in fourth year that the teasing lessened and they only picked at her hair for being bushy. But Cormac had started hinting that he like Hermione by the end of fifth year. Basing on what the older boy's previous actions were and his act now, he wasn't sure Hermione would find him the least bit attractive. The only problem now was how to tell Cormac 'No'. Cormac was stubborn and expected everyone to say yes to him as if he's the bloody king of England. Saying no to 'His Majesty' is simply a tedious task.

"Oh, well you see McLaggen…"

"Cormac! What are you still doing down there? The game is about to start." Ginny Weasley called out from her broom, her glare almost as powerful as her fiery red hair. Cormac looked slightly annoyed by this.

"Talk to you later, Harry. Hey Weasley, you're not the boss of me." Cormac mounted his broom and joined the others in the air. Ginny gave Harry one last wink before returning back to her post. Harry just grinned at the retreating form of his friend, grateful that Ginny spared him from the tiring ordeal of having to refuse the 'Great' Cormac McLaggen.

XXX

The game almost lasted for two hours, and all those time Harry has been keeping a close eye at his players. He was practically nervous of Ron's performance as he was fighting against Cormac who was also equally very good. Harry prayed Cormac would fall off his broom, he didn't really want him on the team but he didn't also want to seem biased by picking Ron without giving those two a fair chance.

Sometimes though, his gaze will travel to the bleachers. He'd notice that Hermione was studying a large book diligently. Her nose was buried in the enormous tome and her face was masked with perfect concentration. But once in a while she would look up and cheer for her friends. Harry smiled at that, truly, only Hermione would multi-tasked at a place like the Quidditch Pitch. But one thing didn't escape Harry; he saw Hermione confounding Cormac McLaggen; making the arrogant older boy missed one shot. Harry smiled a mischievous smile, maybe he'll have to talk to Hermione about it later but for now he is grateful.

When the games were over Harry announced that he will post the results on the next day. Cormac had tried to reason with Harry to give him another shot as he insisted that it was clear Ginny just went easy on her brother. Harry exasperatedly tried to reason with Cormac that Ron won his five saves fair and square, and hurriedly excused himself before the two of them could start a fight. As his teammates went off to take showers and changed into dry clothes Harry flew to the bleachers to greet Hermione and to escape the insufferable Cormac McLaggen before he accidentally blast the git and saved humanity the trouble of meeting him in the future.

"Hi." Harry greeted Hermione as he arrived by the bleachers and dismounted from his broom.

"Hello, try-outs went well I supposed. Do you have a clear set of players you'd like to be on the official list?" Hermione greeted him as she stood up from the bleachers and handed Harry a bottle of water. Harry smiled at her thankfully before taking a sip of the cold drink. Harry noted that Hermione casted a light freezing charm on it to keep the water bottle cool. It was little things like this that made Harry grateful to have Hermione as a friend.

"Yes, try-outs went smoothly. I already know the players I want on the team but I have to say Hermione I'm sort of confused as to whom I want as our House team's keeper."

"You're not going to pick Ron?" Hermione looked at him quite surprised, she was so sure Ron was a shoe in for that position.

"I would have, if you didn't confund McLaggen." Harry grinned at Hermione cheekily and Hermione blushed profusely at this.

"Well, I didn't think you'd want McLaggen on your team anyway, you should have heard him talk about Ginny and Ron." Hermione insisted whilst averting looking in his eyes. It was apparent her actions slightly miffed her, but not so much that she regrets it.

"I thought you were all for fairness Miss Granger, where's the justice in this prefect?" Harry smirked at this and despite the redness that tainted her cheeks; Hermione faced Harry head on.

"Well, sometimes a little evil is necessary. Anyway, I came here to talk to you, about the Rosarium Ritual, not McLaggen."

"What about it?" Harry suddenly forgot about his teasing of Hermione, his attention now on a different topic. Hermione took a deep breath before beginning.

"Harry, if you get chosen promise me you'd refuse. I'm worried about you…"

"What's the deal with this ritual anyway? I don't particularly see it as life-threatening as you make it sound to be."

"Listen to me Harry, I researched about this. If you'd give me a moment to convince you…"

"Okay, but I'll only listen to you if you do me one favor?" Harry grinned at Hermione, suddenly feeling quite confident. It seemed he has a really small attention span as from being interested in what Hermione has to say, he was now interested in Hermione herself.

"What is it?" Hermione asked challengingly and sticking out her chin defiantly. Harry just smirked in response; here was the moment to ask her.

"Fly with me." He had always tried to find the perfect opportunity to ask Hermione to fly with him, but finding that moment in which she won't be able to him has always been elusive. It's just that the times that he did ask her she always said no. Of course, it did not hurt that he and Ron had a small bet on who between them could make Hermione fly. Obviously, Hermione knows about their friendly game, but she just rolls her eyes at the mention of the bet and wished the both of them luck.

"Are you mental? You know I don't fly."

"Come on Hermione, I'll listen to your litany if you'd do this once and fly with me. We both know you've never flown. You might like it and get to understand why Ron and I love it so much. I won't let you fall. Don't you trust me?"

"I trust you. But that's not the issue here. I have a fear of heights."

"Oh, then I suppose I won't listen." Harry smirked as he prepared to mount on his broom as if to fly away. He knew Hermione was stubborn but she can also be quite persistent when it comes to things she wants to accomplish.

"Harry James Potter! Alright, you win, but no exhibitions, none of those Wonky Faint things."

"It's Wronski Feint, and of course I'll take it slow. Come, Hop on." Harry told Hermione excitedly as he gestured at the space in front of him. It was like that feeling when you're six and in the park and you had just tried the slide by yourself and you're trying to convince a younger kid to do the same too.

"I hate you so much right now. And I'd prefer to take the back seat." Hermione told Harry as she crossed her arms in front of her and looked at the broom quite apprehensively.

"What's wrong with being in front?" Harry teased Hermione, he almost laughed at the look of nausea painted on her face.

"I'd prefer to be at the back so I can hold on tight to something, and if we crash you get to go down first." Harry laughed, only Hermione would want to play these little games just to prolong her getting on the broom, and it's his fault for entertaining her.

"Well, I'd want you in front because you know I'd never let you fall, seeker reflexes and everything. And besides, I know you'd just close your eyes, you won't be able to enjoy flying that way." Harry tried to convince Hermione but Hermione shook her head.

"I'd really prefer to be on the back." Harry just nodded his head, he knew when to stop arguing with Hermione, a skill which Ron never seem to have perfected or will perfect any time soon.

"Alright, come on." Hermione sighed heavily and got on the broom quite hesitantly. When Harry felt Hermione's cold trembling hands carefully encircling around his waist he could not help noticing that maybe he was being quite mean. Maybe he shouldn't have forced Hermione, after all, he and Ron knew how much Hermione hated flying and for her to get on his broom despite her seemingly incurable fear means a great deal. What she had to say must really be important if she was willing to result to these measures just to make him listen. Harry took a deep intake of breath; he really hopes Hermione doesn't regret flying with him.

"Hold on tight." Harry told Hermione but she didn't respond and just tightened her grip around his waist. Harry thought that maybe the fear has numbed her already. As he prepared to hop off, he heard a small whimper from behind his back. He was about to fly, and then he stopped…

Just because of Hermione's muffled voice and braveness, he stopped.

Hermione shifted at his back and he sensed that she had craned her neck to look at him and her cheek was now on his shoulder. Her brown eyes found his green ones, the concern on her face was apparently showing, but the tightness of her grip remained unwavering.

"What's the matter Harry?" Her soft but tender voice cut through Harry like a poisoned tipped dagger; sharp and severe, then filled him with the after effects of pain called guilt.

"I'm sorry. I'll listen to what you have to say." When those words left Harry's mouth as if the fear that made Hermione's hands tremble was gone. She caressed his cheek softly and looked at him intently before speaking.

"Are you alright Harry, what's wrong?"

"I'm wrong Hermione, I shouldn't force you. Maybe someday you'd want to fly and until then I shouldn't push you. Come on, let's sit, what is it that you wanted to say?" Harry and Hermione got off from the broom and they went back to Hermione's seat at the bleachers. Hermione though apprehensively, opened her book bag and a large tome of a black leather book was fished out of it. She flipped the book open to a bookmarked page.

"When I found out that for our NEWT classes this year we might be dealing with dangerous potions I researched a lot. One of the potions was as you know Amortentia, created by Laverne de Montmorency. As I read about the potion it made mention of the Rosarium Ritual which came before it, and was also illegal. I was curious and so I researched about it. This book is the book of illegal rituals and why they were prohibited. The Rosarium Ritual has been around for almost three hundred years now but has just been recently banned a hundred and fifty years ago." Hermione showed the page of the book to Harry and pointed at a man with blonde curly locks and blue eyes, red roses adorned the frame of his picture in the book too.

"Rosarium Ritual was created by Rembrandt Dougherty. He was an intelligent wizard and he was known for his potions making and fascination for magical plants. He does however, have a fondness for the red English rose. Aside from these things he was known for being vain bordering to the point of narcissism. He did not think any woman suited him. He spent a few years searching for that perfect witch for him but he could not find her. He thought since he was a wizard maybe he could make one. His inspiration was the English Rose, hence the name Rosarium Ritual."

"Hermione, you mean to tell me he actually managed to create a living breathing human?" Harry asked quite surprise, magic can't even bring back the dead, how can one create a human being from nothing? He was sure that process takes nine months.

"Not exactly, since in the ritual you create the perfect female from a plucked rose. That female will only last as long as the lifespan of that rose. Now, this ritual can only be performed by a man, and let me tell you Harry most who've done this didn't recover from it."

"I don't see anything wrong with it, how can it be potentially threatening to me? If you ask me it's just like that straightening charm you once tried, it's straight for a day and back to being curls on the next."

"Harry the caster can only perform the ritual once. Many don't recover since most of them have fallen in love with their roses. Some suffer from depression for a short while, if it's extreme maybe forever and if one doesn't recover then he might kill himself. There have been many casters who've committed suicide since they can't take the heartache of losing their perfect girl; Rembrandt Dougherty killed himself. Harry don't you understand…"

"Do you really think I'd fall for this girl that isn't even real? Hermione, I won't fall for her…"

"Harry, it's your perfect girl. Why wouldn't you fall for her?" Hermione reasoned back, and Harry was suddenly aware of the worry present in her eyes. He truly, didn't want to worry her but hearing about the ritual suddenly made him interested about it. He didn't even felt a hint of fear; maybe it's his Gryffindor bravery that causes him so.

"Then I'll just choose someone who's not my perfect girl and after a week it'll be over."

"That's not that simple, one of the reasons it is banned since you'll be using a very sensitive potion. You'll be taking veritas serum too…"

"Hermione, I don't know. Who knows if I even pass the sorting hat's test? Who's to say I'll even qualify?"

"Oh, I know you will. That's what I'm afraid of. I have no qualms that if you fall for your rose you'll recover. I just want to save you from the heartache. Harry, I don't want to see you hurt. Not even for a short while. Heartache is something I might not be able to help you with."

"I won't be. Hermione, I don't want you to think I don't value your opinion but honestly, I am curious and I sort of want to know what the fuss is all about."

"I really can't stop you can I? Are you not afraid? The statistics show disheartening results. Harry, these were men older than you, doesn't that scare you?"

"Not really..." Hermione laughed a somewhat amused laughed and Harry smiled at that.

"I really admire your courage Harry, but sometimes, you can be really thick. If I can't stop you can you do something for me?"

"What is it?" Hermione took a pair of sheer scissors from her bag and took a lock of her brown curls and cut it. She then tore a piece of paper from her notebook and transfigured it to a zip locked bag, placed the strands of hair in it and handed it to Harry. Harry looked at her quizzically.

"What's this?"

"That is plan B. If you're going to take the ritual you'll find out what that hair is for. It's a precaution Harry, to make sure you don't fall for this girl…"

"Hermione-" Harry wasn't able to say what he wanted to say since a voice called out from behind him.

"Harry, Hermione!" Ron and Ginny who were now back to wearing their school robes greeted the two friends happily.

"Merlin, I'm feeling good. I bet I'm getting that keeper position aren't I mate? Cormac was sure hard to beat, for a second there I thought I was a goner." Ron asked Harry as he grinned at them.

"You did very good Ron and you too Ginny." Hermione told the pair honestly and they just smiled at her in appreciation.

"Well, you two will have to wait till tomorrow for the results as I'll be keeping it as a surprise." Harry told them and at once Ron and Ginny's cheerful moods were dampened as they tried to convince Harry to tell them if they got in and even used the 'friend card' effectively too.

"Come along children, I'm very sure you three are hungry. Let's go back for dinner." Hermione told the three of them and the small quarrelling ceased at the mention of food.

"Yes, with my performance, I do think I deserve a good dinner, hope there's treacle tart." Ron said as he led the way back to the castle with Harry, Hermione and Ginny laughing behind him.

XXX

Congratulations for reaching the end…of this chapter. Anyway, if you noticed inconsistencies with the timeline, again, I am aware of that but I changed it here to apply it more to my stories. Now, must answer…

Question: So far is it OOC?

I reply to all reviews and I do appreciated unsigned ones, but I often wish I could message them too. Okay since I'm happy that's why I updated.

Review…happiness prolongs my life. If I'm still alive tomorrow there might be an update.