Chapter 33

"Well, that's enough drama for one morning," said McGonagall dryly, as Severus, Harry and I left Dumbledore's office.

It had been a long morning; Slughorn had run off for help, McGonagall and Pomfrey had shown up and together they had brought Ron to the hospital wing. Severus had shown up in the hospital wing not long after that. More than likely, Slughorn had alerted him as well.

Ron was going to be okay, but he would have to stay in the hospital wing for at least a week, taking Essence of Rue.

"Mr Weasley was very lucky that the two of you thought so quickly," said McGonagall, as we moved on the revolving staircase. "I daresay Professor Slughorn too was grateful for your actions." She sniffed disdainfully. "At least he alerted us to the situation." She shook her head. "But what a birthday for Mr Weasley!"

"All started by a love potion," Severus scoffed.

"He didn't know, Professor," Harry said, looking irritably at Severus.

"Yes, Potter," Severus said snidely, "they were your cakes."

"I wasn't going to eat them-"

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Then why not throw them away?"

"Not that I would normally get in the way of a good bickering session between the two of you," said McGonagall tersely, as we reached the stone gargoyle, "but I do believe we have the House points to talk of."

"You can't take points!" Harry exclaimed. "Professor! We didn't make the love potion-"

"Potter!" McGonagall snapped. "I wasn't talking of taking points, though I assure you I'm well within my rights to if I feel so inclined."

Harry had the grace to look abashed. "Right…er…sorry, Professor."

Severus rolled his eyes, while McGonagall pursed her lips. "As the Headmaster stated, in a situation that certainly required quick thinking, the two of you acted admirably. Mr Weasley could have lost his life today, as you well know." She turned to Severus. "What do you think, Professor Snape, fifty points apiece?"

He nodded his assent, offering no comment.

"Well then," said McGonagall brightly, "fifty points to Ravenclaw and Gryffindor it is!"

Our murmurs of thanks were drowned out by the thunder of footsteps down the corridor.

"Professor!"

We turned to see Hermione and Ginny running full pelt towards us, with Lavender Brown not far behind.

"What's this about Ron?" Ginny exclaimed, looking from Harry to McGonagall.

"Is it true? Is he on his deathbed?" Lavender asked, her eyes wide.

"No," Harry and I said together, both of us unable to keep the derision from our voices.

"Do you need to be so dramatic?" Hermione snapped, her eyes flashing at Lavender.

Lavender put her hands on her hips. "Do you need-"

"-I think it's time for biscuits in my office," said McGonagall crisply. She looked at Severus. "Care to join us?"

"Definitely not," he said, his lip curling as he looked at the Gryffindors in front of him. "We'll leave you to it, I think."

"Thanks, Armilla," Harry said quietly. "For finding the bezoar."

I smiled back, before turning to follow Severus, who had already began walking back towards the dungeons.

"Bezoar?" I heard Hermione and Ginny say in unison, surprise in their voices.

"Let us get settled in my office first," McGonagall told them firmly, as they headed in the opposite direction.

"I too am proud of your quick thinking," Severus said quietly, as we made our way towards the marble staircase.

"It was the only thing I could think of," I said. "I wasn't sure if it would even work."

"Well, it certainly made all the difference. It's a good thing you and Potter were there, seeing as Slughorn proved himself incompetent."

"Was that a compliment to Harry?" I asked, smiling at him. I shook my head. "And he wasn't even here to hear it."

"No, it wasn't," he said smoothly, "and I was implying that Slughorn slightly outdoes him in the incompetency category."

"Of course."

We were silent until we were back in our quarters.

"Now, how did you come to be there at that time of the morning anyway?" Severus asked, closing the door. "Bit early for a morning's jaunt around the castle, wasn't it?"

I shrugged. "Not really."

"Armilla." He gave me a meaningful look.

"I had just dropped off my violin and was about to meet the other Ravenclaws," I said dismissively, sitting down on the sofa. "I didn't seek her out on purpose, though I suppose since the corridors are generally deserted at that time of the morning it gave me a good chance of meeting her."

Severus was frowning. "I don't like-"

"Before you say anything," I interrupted, "you did say that I could be alone again in the castle. Aiming my bracelet's emerald at her does work. It's strengthening my magic."

"Yes, I don't doubt that," he said, looking impatient. "I know it's important that your magical strength is returned to you…it's just the potential danger I don't like. We still don't know what it is."

"I can handle it." I wasn't overly sure of that lately. It seemed to have become routine to see Merle, reclaim what magic I could, and then get stupefied. Wanting to distract Severus, I changed the subject.

"Who do you think poisoned the mead?" I asked, as Severus conjured a tea tray.

"Could be a multitude of people," he said shortly. "Slughorn did say that he had intended to give it to the Headmaster at Christmas."

"Draco Malfoy," I said quietly.

Severus looked at me sharply. "Why do you say that?"

I shrugged. "He was still here back then. It seems the sort of thing he'd do. He was doing all sorts of strange things he was trying to hide." I thought grimly about losing my memory because of it.

Severus narrowed his eyes as he looked away. "Well, …don't express your thoughts on this to anyone else."

"Of course not," I replied, taking the cup he offered me.

We were silent for a few moments as each of us drank our tea.

"Severus," I said quietly, staring into my cup.

"Mm?"

"Is Dumbledore's hand going to get better?"

There was a pause as Severus met my eye. "No."

I nodded. I had tried not to stare whilst we had been in the headmaster's office, but the blackened, shriveled hand was just so disturbing.

"Will it get worse?"

Severus gave a curt nod. "Over time."

I stared back at him. "Is he going to die?"

Now, Severus looked away, putting his cup down. "Armilla-"

"It's a simple question," I pointed out, putting my own cup down. "How are we supposed to win the war without him?"

Severus looked back at me again. He didn't say anything for a moment. When he did speak, I could detect a tone of bitterness in his voice. "I daresay Dumbledore has planned everything, as only he can."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Enough questions," he said gruffly, standing up. "Come, let's test your magic again. I'd like to see how erratic it's become after this morning's episode."

"Ever the optimist," I muttered, taking out my wand as I stood up."

Severus glared at me. "Ever the realist, you mean."

o o o o o o o o o o

My magic had proved to be a little erratic, but as I had assured Severus several times, it was nothing I couldn't handle. True, the sudden immobilization when Merle appeared was going to be a larger obstacle, but my bracelet had come to my aid.

Nothing was going to stop me getting my magic back; of that, I was certain.

When I came out of the bathroom after showering that evening, I heard voices out in the sitting room. Dumbledore's voice was immediately recognisable. I supposed he had just come down to fill my brother in on the latest theory of the poisoned mead. I heard Severus call for me a moment later, and I went out to find the two of them seated at the dining table, drinking tea.

"Hello again, Armilla," Dumbledore greeted me, his blue eyes twinkling. "Eventful day it would seem."

"Yes," I replied. "Do you know where the poisoned mead came from?"

"I cannot confirm anything," he answered, looking pensive. "It was a gift intended for me, after all." He smiled. "I do have so many people at the moment who would like to see my demise."

"You say that with such pride," my brother drawled.

This time Dumbledore chuckled. "I daresay that's the best way to face it."

Severus merely shook his head.

"Armilla, why don't you go on up to the hospital wing," said Dumbledore. "The Weasleys are up there and are rather desirous of seeing you."

"Really?" I wondered which Weasleys were up there. Mr and Mrs Weasley of course. Fancy receiving the news on Ron's birthday that he was lucky to have survived the day.

"Don't look so surprised, Armilla," Dumbledore said, picking up his teacup. "I just came from speaking with Mr and Mrs Weasley and they were very thankful that you and Harry had been there."

"Naturally," said Severus quietly.

"I'll go up now then," I said.

"Don't be down too late," Severus called as I went to the door.

"I won't be long," I relied, opening the door.

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

I was met by a crowd of people when I entered the usually quiet hospital wing. I couldn't see Ron at all. A large group were gathered at his bedside, most of them with flaming red hair.

"Armilla!" Mrs Weasley cried when she saw me. She rushed forward and grasped my hands. "I cannot tell you how thankful I am that you helped save my Ron." She planted a kiss on my cheek. "Harry told us it was you who started searching for that bezoar." She hugged me so tightly, I couldn't breathe.

"She's going to turn blue in a moment, Mum," said George, who was suddenly at me side. "Honestly, let her breathe."

Mrs Weasley laughed as she let go.

"Thank you, Armilla," said Mr Weasley, reaching forward to shake my hand. "We are grateful for the quick thinking both you and Harry showed."

"Snape must be so proud," Fred said cheerfully, grinning at me. "He would always celebrate any Gryffindor heroics."

"Fred!" Mrs Weasley snapped, whipping around to glare at him.

Fred held his hands up. "Only joking, Mum."

"Of course he is," I replied, smirking at him. "Ravenclaw heroics are far more celebrated."

"That's a brave statement," laughed Harry, who was standing at the foot of Ron's bed. "You're surrounded by Gryffindors."

I smiled, shrugging. "So how is he?" I asked, nodding at Ron.

"He'll live," said Hermione, who was sitting at Ron's bedside. She patted his hand.

I didn't know if it was a coincidence, but Ron mumbled in his sleep as Hermione spoke.

"We'll be back soon, dears," said Mrs Weasley, picking up her large handbag. "Your father and I are going to see Professor McGonagall. Keep Ron company until we come back."

"Wild hippogriffs couldn't chase us out," Fred told her.

"Except Madam Pomfrey," said Ginny, who was sitting next to Hermione.

We watched as Mr and Mrs Weasley left the room.

"Blimey, it was lucky you two thought of a bezoar," said George in a low voice, his eyes on Ron.

"Lucky there was one in the room," said Harry, looking unsettled as he too looked at Ron.

"Any theories, Armilla?" Fred asked.

I shook my head. I wasn't about to share my thoughts on Draco Malfoy. Besides, he was currently residing in a place guarded by the Order, apparently caring for a two-year-old girl. I shuddered at the thought.

"No," I said quietly. "That poisoned mead could have come from anywhere."

"What about Slughorn?" Fred suggested, looking over at Harry. "Would he have had a chance to slip it in?"

"Probably," Harry replied, though he looked doubtful.

"Why would Slughorn want to poison Ron?" I asked.

"I dunno," said Fred. "Maybe he mixed up the glasses by mistake. Maybe he intended the poisoned mead for Harry? I mean, heaps of people might want to poison you, Harry, what with being the 'Chosen One' and all that?"

"I can't imagine Slughorn being a Death Eater," said Ginny.

"Anything's possible," said Fred darkly.

"I suppose he could have been under the Imperious Curse," said George.

"Or he could be innocent," said Ginny. "The poison could have been in the bottle, in which case it was probably meant for Slughorn himself."

I frowned. "Who'd want to kill Slughorn?"

"Dumbledore reckons Voldemort wanted Slughorn on his side," said Harry. "Slughorn was in hiding for a year before he came to Hogwarts. And," Harry paused, "and maybe Voldemort wants him out of the way, maybe he thinks he could be valuable to Dumbledore."

"But you said Slughorn had been planning to give that bottle to Dumbledore for Christmas," Ginny reminded him. "So the poisoner could just have easily have been after Dumbledore."

"Then the poisoner didn't know Slughorn very well," said Hermione thickly, sniffling. "Anyone who knew Slughorn would have known there was a good chance he'd keep something that tasty for himself."

"Er-my-nee," croaked Ron, rather unexpectedly.

We all stared anxiously at him, but, after muttering incomprehensively for a moment, he merely started snoring. Hermione gazed at him with a watery smile.

"I better head back," I said.

"Not alone?" Harry said, giving me a look that clearly said he didn't approve, seeing as he'd caught me a couple of times now in unexplainable predicaments.

"Why can't she be alone?" Ginny and Hermione asked at the same time.

All eyes turned to Harry.

"Er…Slytherins," he said shortly. "Anyone heading back into Slytherin territory shouldn't go alone."

Fred laughed. "As if they'd do anything to Snape's sister."

"And she's capable of defending herself, as you well know, Harry," said Hermione, grinning. "She really got you in our last defence lesson."

"A witch beat you, Harry?" Ginny asked, grinning at him.

Harry blushed as he looked over at Ginny. "Something like that," he mumbled. He looked over at me again. "I'm just saying that travelling in twos is a good idea."

"I'll walk you back," George offered.

I nodded my thanks. It was unnecessary…yet somehow so necessary at the same time.

George followed me out of the hospital wing. We walked in silence until we had placed several corridors between us and the hospital wing. The silence did nothing to settle my stomach, which had a strange feeling. Had I eaten something off at dinner?

"So how's Bletchley?" George asked, a little too cheerfully.

"Your overly conversational tone is not subtle, you know," I replied.

"No?"

I shook my head. "No."

"You didn't answer my question," he said pointedly.

I sighed. "I wouldn't know how Bletchley is."

George looked over at me. "Really?"

"Really."

"Ah…" He suddenly looked a bit ill.

"You're more likely to know of him than me," I said casually, filling the silence. "You do work near his cousin, after all."

George wrinkled his nose. "Alonso. Fred and I still don't trust the bloke. As for Bletchley…"

He stopped walking suddenly and turned to face me, his face uncharacteristically serious.

I stopped too, put off by his expression.

"I…er…had a visit from him." George looked ill again.

I frowned. "You had a visit from Arian Bletchley? Whatever for?"

"He came to…express his displeasure of my apparent friendship with you."

This was all very confusing.

"Apparent friendship?" I repeated. "I thought we were friends."

"We are," he said quickly.

"What's it to Bletchley?" I said crossly. Honestly, what business was it of Arian Bletchely's?

George looked uncomfortable, which again disconcerted me. "I got the impression that you had recently…disappointed Bletchley."

I folded my arms. "Oh."

George didn't blink. "Did you?"

I nodded. "Yes, I did. He even thought it advisable to ask for Severus' permission."

That did it. The seriousness on George's face vanished and a split second later he was doubled over with laughter.

"It's not that funny," I commented, as he tried to straighten his face. "And you're not tell Fred about it."

"Wizard's Oath, I certainly won't," he said, nodding, still trying not to smile.

"So why is your friendship with me so offensive to him then?" I asked, as we began walking again.

George didn't answer at first. We had walked several more steps before he replied.

"He's jealous," he said simply.

The feeling in my stomach seemed to be growing stronger again. "Oh." Now it was my turn to deliberate before answering.

"And what did you tell him?"

George didn't hesitate this time. "I told him he had no reason to be, and then told him to mind his own business…in the most eloquent terms, of course."

"Oh." A heavy, unwanted feeling settled somewhere in my chest.

"That's all he needed to know, I thought," George went on, giving me a sideways glance.

I had nothing to say to that; I was thoroughly baffled by the conversation now.

George suddenly stopped again and faced me. "Armilla."

I stopped again and looked at him.

"You must know that…" he paused, looking nervous. "I'm not terribly good at this sort of thing, but Fred's not to know that."

I smiled.

He tried again, his face turning pink. "I…er…like you…very, very much, it would seem. I always have…"

The heavy feeling in my chest suddenly plummeted to my stomach.

"And…I hope the feeling is mutual because otherwise I'm going to look a bigger fool than Gilderoy Lockhart in his hair curlers."

I laughed, unable to stop the image of Lockhart invading my mind.

George looked relieved that I'd laughed, but didn't allow himself to smile.

I smiled instead. "Of course, it's mutual."

George stared, blinked and then covered his face with both hands as he let out a thankful laugh. "Thank Merlin," he whispered.

We turned and continued our walk to the dungeons. I was feeling both relaxed and on edge at the same time, if that was possible.

When we had descended the dungeons stairs, George suddenly took out his wand and waved it around us.

"What-"

"Notice-Me-Not," he said simply, pocketing his wand again. He smiled, holding out his hand. "I'm exceptionally good at any sort of charm where I need to hide."

Smiling back, I took his hand and immediately appreciated the warmth I felt when he squeezed it.

"Hide is right," I said quietly. "It could cause complications."

"With You-Know-Who or your brother?" George asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Both, I suppose," I said softly. "But anyone who doesn't agree with the Dark Lord is at risk."

We reached the corner where our quarters were located.

"I may not see you for a while," said George, looking a little uncomfortable. "You'll write?"

"Of course," I assured him.

"Maybe I'll find a way so that you're not constantly sending owls," he said, looking thoughtful. "We need to be diligent in regards to this."

I stared at him.

"What?"

"You…sounded so Ravenclaw just then."

He shrugged. "Well…" he stared at me. "Here's something a little more Gryffindor. We're in Slytherin territory, so…"

I wasn't sure if it had only taken a split second for him to make the decision, but suddenly George was kissing me. I couldn't be certain how much time passed before we broke apart; it could have been seconds, or perhaps minutes.

All I knew was that I was happy.

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

A/N This was just a little 'chapterette' to tide you over until I get time to put a longer one out, hopefully with more happening. I hope the ending met with your satisfaction! The next couple of chapters will contain the resolution to major plot points, since I am reaching the end of Armilla II. The real drama is coming up!

For anyone on Pottermore, I was lucky enough to get in early. If you are also on, my username in FelicisUnicorn27. If you'd like to friend me, send me a PM through FFnet as well so I know who you are. I am in Hufflepuff, which I am still learning to deal with, as it was rather unexpected actually.

Some dialogue has been borrowed by Half Blood Prince.