Chapter 5 - Potions and Commotions
Once Harry and Hermione had gotten their stuff for Potions, they proceeded to the classroom. They were the first ones there so they pulled out their essays to go over them one last time for any errors. After five minutes, the "walking carrot" rudely interrupted them.
"WHERE WERE YOU?" Ron screamed at them.
"Ronald Bilius Weasley, quit yelling! Our meeting with McGonagall took longer than we thought, so she was kind enough to share lunch with us, so that we wouldn't be late."
"Oh, sorry."
"You should be, Mr. Weasley," Snape sneered as he came up behind Ron, the open Potions door evidence of interrupting Snape. "After all, you interrupted the last of my lunch, causing it to be thrown across the room due to the volume of your voice; therefore, detention tonight with me at eight o'clock to clean it up."
Before Ron could argue, the rest of the Gryffindors and Slytherins showed up, and proceeded into the open classroom. The Golden Trio sat down at their usual spots. For a few seconds, the only sounds that could be heard were the shuffling of papers and the frantic scratching of quills.
"Pass in your homework," Snape said.
Snape then threw a piece of enchanted chalk at the board and it started writing the directions for that day's potion - Pepper-Up Potion. The students got to work quickly and Harry had no trouble making the potion, since for some odd reason, the Slytherins weren't acting out today.
Snape held Harry and Hermione after to explain to them the different homework assignment they received. Ron looked envious, but quickly left to find Ginny. He needed to talk to her about the seemingly ineffectual potions. Snape led Harry and Hermione to his office.
"Harry, I had a question about yesterday."
"What is it, Uncle Sev?"
"You seemed unsurprised that Voldemort was your great-grandfather."
"I know, the goblins, when they sent the letter, had sent the letter that my parents had wanted sent, to me. In it, contained the information that Riddle was my great-grandfather. It also explained the whole of the situation with McGonagall and Dumbledore as well."
"Ah, and how did you take it when you first found out?"
"Well, thankfully, I only destroyed about half of my bedroom-which was no different than what it normally is, so I didn't have to cover up anything when the Weasleys came to pick me up. Hermione, do you think that the twins had anything to do with this?"
"Hmm…no, I don't think they are, but we can ask them."
"Pardon, but how can you be sure they will be honest?"
"Simple, we tell them to swear by the Marauders. So I know that they will do."
"Anyway, so you two can go off to dinner, and draw suspicion away from Mr. Weasley, I'll give you your assignment now. It is to write a twelve-inch essay over a potion of your choosing and its countermeasures, if any. It will be due at the next potions class on Tuesday."
"OK, Uncle Sev. See you later."
Harry and Hermione got to the Great Hall just as dinner was about to start. They quickly found Ron and Ginny and sat down across from them and next to Neville. Ron asked what their assignment was and when they told him, he groaned very loudly.
"All you two have to write is a foot. Everyone else has to write two feet on how they screwed up today. It's not fair."
"Life's sometimes not fair, Ron."
"Harry," Ginny started, "would you like some pumpkin juice, I have the jug by me so I thought I would pour you some?"
"Yes, Ginny, I'd like that, but Hermione has already poured me some. Sorry."
"Oh, that's ok."
Harry and Hermione were silently communicating with each other. They discovered they could do this the other night, so were contemplating on whether Ron and Ginny were going to try something.
'Love, be on your guard.'
'I will, Mione.'
Harry tested all of his food throughout dinner, and he tested his dessert. When he went to get a last piece of treacle tart, Ginny grabbed and quickly handed it over to him. He tested it as well, and found it to have some Love Potion in it. He quickly stood up and took the piece to Minerva who understood what he wanted done. She handed it to Severus, who tested it and told Harry what it was.
Harry walked over to Dumbledore and he provided him with the piece of treacle tart.
"Harry, my boy, what do you want me to do with this?"
"I want you to submit it as evidence."
"Evidence, for what?"
"The use of Amortentia on the boy-who-lived."
"Harry, that's preposterous."
"Is it, Albus?" McGonagall asked him. "Isn't it also preposterous that Tom Marvolo Riddle be still alive?"
Dumbledore visibly paled and knew what Harry had gone to do the other day. He called a meeting of Harry, Hermione, Snape, McGonagall, Ron and Ginny. As those named exited the Great Hall, the rest of the school and Beauxbatons and Durmstrang wondered what was going on.
Next: The Meeting, Fallout, and Preparations for the Yule Ball
(A/N It might go a little slower now, since I'm back to a full work load at school and my muse comes and goes throughout the day, making it difficult for me to get a chapter done. I'll try to upload Ch. 6 before the week is out. So please be patient.)