28 November 1994
BOY-WHO-LIVED NOW THE BOY-WHO-LOVES
The Tri-Wizard Tournament's youngest champion now has a shoulder to cry on, or so it seems. Hermione Cedrella Weasley, daughter of the Head of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office Arthur Weasley and Molly Weasley, née Prewitt seems to have captured our Golden Champion's heart. The Gryffindor couple has recently become inseparable since Harry Potter's name was called forth as our fourth and Golden Champion. Gossip around Hogwarts says that Miss. Weasley has always had a taste for famous wizards, setting her sights on our young hero before she even started Hogwarts.
"Sure, she has the whole Boy-Who-Lived series, even gave him a copy of her favorite book for Yule. Harry Potter Saves the Sanguine Princess, it sits on the mantel above his bed." A fellow fourth year Gryffindor told Rita Skeeter in a private interview, his only wish was that he remain anonymous.
Miss. Weasley has reigned as the top student of her year for the past three years, professors have raved about her keen intellect. Even the Minister of Magic was quoted to have worked side by side with Miss. Weasley to apprehend escaped death eater, Peter Pettigrew. Other rumors point out that she inherited certain brewing skills from her mother, formerly known as Potion Princess Prewitt, Molly Weasley. Could young Miss. Weasley be looking to start a life long love the same way her mother ensnared Arthur Weasley, the last remaining heir to House Weasley? This reporter hopes that this young love is all natural with no preservatives added.
"What rubbish!" Hermione snarled as she slammed the paper down onto the table in the great hall. Her friends watched her wearily as she waved her wand and the paper went up in flames. The entire hall looked on eagerly waiting for her reaction as Hermione narrowed her eyes at Harry's dorm mates, wondering which of them told the horrid reporter about her Yule gift.
"I don't believe you would potion me." Harry said soothingly, his face red as the entire hall stared at them openly.
"That's exactly what someone would say if they were in fact potioned." Eloise groaned exasperatedly. All of her surrounding friends turned to stare at the girl incredulously. "That's not what I meant and you know it! Hermione doesn't need to potion anyone." She snapped defensively.
"Very well." Harry said curtly as he abruptly stood from the table, pulling Hermione along with him. Stiffly, he held her hand as he lead her away from the Gryffindor table out of the great hall.
"Oi! Where you going?" Ron exclaimed, jumping up to follow. He looked between their retreating figures and his half eaten breakfast longingly before grabbing his bag and chasing after them.
"Eloise, I swear sometimes I think wrackspurts have mutated and are feasting on your brain." Luna said bluntly as she glared at the tall girl. Eloise flushed and slid lower in her seat, feeling uncomfortable.
-0-
"Yes...I want you to test our systems for potions." Harry repeated for the third time as the medi witch stared him down.
"Why, Mr. Potter? Do you really believe your affections are not genuine?" Madam Pomfrey asked looking him over with concern and worry.
"Of course not! But with this rubbish Skeeter is shoveling, someone should do something." Harry said vehemently, glancing at his girlfriend who was glaring out the window.
"Very well." Madam Pomfrey sighed as she motioned for them both to stay still. After a very long incantation, they both glowed a bright gold before it faded and they looked to the medwitch incredulously.
"What was that?" Hermione demanded.
"That would be negative results, Miss. Weasley." Madam Pomfrey sniffed and turned her nose up at the blushing redhead. "You'll take these Madam Magnifique flushing draughts, it's standard procedure, just in case there was something untraceable in your system."
"Is that just recent potions?" Hermione asked, her face losing all its color.
"Well, no...it's actually quite potent. It should clear away any potions you've had in your system for during your life span. Normally, with love potions the cleansing drafts are needed to clear away anything up to two decades. How ever it would clear any potions with lasting effects." Madam Pomfrey said airily but watched the girl with a critical eye. "Why?"
"Uh...well." Hermione hesitated, Harry already downed his potion in one large swallow and had a look of disgust on his face.
"Is there something I should know?" The medi-witch asked briskly. Hermione looked to her brother and Harry, nervously, Ron was pale and shaking his head. While their mother never told them if she used a ritual to bless her with family magic, they knew that she could be very old fashioned and would do anything to ensure her children grew up healthy. Even if it was frowned upon by wizarding society.
"You can't tell anyone, can you?" Ron asked apprehensively, sharing a long look with his sister.
"Miss. Weasley, if there is something I should know that is not in your files then I absolutely must know." Madam Pomfrey said sternly, mentally rolling her eyes.
"Mum adopted me into the family." Hermione whispered, and looked up at the matron through her lashes.
"Did she use any banned rituals?" Pomfrey asked after a tense moment of silence.
"I don't think so...I think she just blessed her but she never told us." Ron grumbled, shuffling his feet awkwardly.
"Very well, I will speak to your mother before you take that. Come back to see me after dinner tonight." Pomfrey said briskly as she started to usher the students out of the hospital wing so that she could make a visit to their home. She knew how purebloods felt about adoption, some families were desperate enough to use banned dark rituals and she really hoped the Weasleys weren't one of them.
-0-
"If I could have your attention!" Professor McGonagall stood in front of her students near the end of their transfiguration lesson. Most had yet to accomplish the spell proficiently but it didn't stop them from talking and messing about with their desk mates. "This year over winter break, we shall be hosting the Yule Ball."
"Oooooo!" The excited squeals of the girls in class cut the professor off from continuing. They immediately broke off into pairs to whisper amongst themselves, broken by giggles and loud squeals.
"If I could continue!" Professor McGonagall said briskly, the class was silenced as they turned to the stern deputy professor. "The Yule ball is a tradition of the Twiwizard Tournament that has been in place since the inception of the competition. We shall gather in the great hall with our guests on Christmas Eve for a night of well-mannered frivolity. While this particular tradition is first and foremost a dance-"
"Like a real bash?" Seamus exclaimed in a high simpering falsetto over the excited squeals of the girls in class.
"Quite, Mr. Finnigan." Professor Mcgongall said sternly, her mouth in a thin pinched line but there was a sparkle to her eyes. "I expect all my Gryffindors to be on their best behavior. Mr. Potter, if you could stay after?" She asked just after the toll rang for the end of class. Harry and Hermione exchanged happy grins before she left with her brother, Neville, and Eloise.
"Have your gotten your dress robes?" Eloise asked excitedly as they exited the classroom.
"Yeah, mum picked some out...they are ancient, though. I think they were hers." Hermione blushed, looking down at the floor. She moved to lean against the opposite wall of the classroom to wait for Harry.
"Why don't you buy some at Hogsmeade?" Eloise asked curiously, moving to stand beside her. Neville and Ron stood a little farther away from the girls having a furious, whispered conversation.
"Well, I wouldn't want to hurt mum's feelings." Hermione shrugged, feeling awkward. While she and her brothers grew up well cared for and never needing anything, really. Dress robes were expensive, especially the ones that Eloise would probably choose.
"She won't be here, we'll go look this weekend. If we can't find anything, we can always alter something...I couldn't decide which dress I wanted so I bought three." Eloise shrugged nonchalantly, missing the girls discomfort. "How do you think Harry will ask you?"
"I don't know..." A small smile bloomed on Hermione's face as her eyes darted to the closed classroom door. She looked up to see Eloise with a tight smile on her face and sighed. "Why are you so unhappy?"
"I'm not! I suppose I'm just a wee bit jealous...to know who You're going to the ball with. I doubt anyone will ask me." Eloise's eyes darted to the floor as her ears turned a dangerous red.
"You'll look amazing, blow everyone away with some amazing muggle dress. Your acne has been getting loads better." Hermione smiled brightly, laying a hand on her arm to give her a reassuring squeeze. "I'm sure you'll find some nice Durmstrang boy, I've heard they love leggy birds." She wagged her eye brows suggestively with a silly grin.
"Ugh! You're the worst!" Eloise laughed happily, relishing in a moment of normalcy with her best friend. Her blue eyes misted slightly as she looked down at the smiling red head, without warning she lunged forward and wrapped her in a tight hug. Just as Hermione lifted her arms to return the embrace, a cough from behind her made her jump away as if burned.
"You okay?" Harry asked apprehensively as he saw the tall girl looking to be on the verge of tears, reaching automatically to take Hermione's hand in his own.
"Yeah, fine!" Eloise said in a forced cheery voice. Ron and Neville stood behind Harry, still arguing over something in low tones. "Just guessing how you will ask Hermione here to the ball."
"I have to ask?" Harry gasped, looking up at the girl in shock, missing the flash of hurt in his girlfriends eyes.
"Of course you have to ask, Potter. What did you think?" Eloise sneered, her eyes cold as she regarded her best friend's boyfriend with disdain.
"She's my girlfriend! I just assumed we would go together!" Harry cried defensively, glaring at the girl looming over his girlfriend protectively.
"It's fine!" Hermione shouted, cutting off whatever retort Eloise was about to say. Harry looked to her, his eyes softening as he pulled her to his side.
"I-uh was just...more nervous about dancing." Harry whispered in her ear as they started to walk to their next class.
"It's fine, Harry." Hermione smiled slightly, but kept her gaze straight ahead of her, deep in thought. She knew that he would probably ask Sirius for advice and shuddered. The marauder told many stories of how he and his friends would ask girls for dates in school. While she had little shame, she most definitely didn't want to be asked in a marauder fashion. If she did she wouldn't be dating Harry, she would be with Lee or something. She liked that he was more soft spoken and sweet, keeping their displays of affection to more private settings.
-0-
When Hermione went to Madam Pomfrey's office that night the matron was not alone. Her mother was waiting for her as well, spring her tea calmly. There was a tense moment of silence before Molly swept her daughter into her arms in a tight hug, Hermione immediately relaxed in her hold.
"Mum, I'm sorry." Hermione whispered once Molly released her, keeping her eyes on the floor. Her mother scoffed and hurriedly shoved her into a seat, preparing her a cup of tea.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, dear." Molly shook her head firmly as she relaxed back in her seat. "I'm sorry that woman even alluded to you doing someone like that."
"Why would she think you potioned daddy?" Hermione scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. Molly blushed, coughing uncomfortably making Hermione's eyes widen comically. "No!"
"Wait! It's not as bad as all that." Molly rolled her eyes fondly. "No, I just...may have given him a potion to...enhance his feelings. Feelings that were already there, I might add. It only lasted a few hours, enough for him to have the courage to ask me to Hogsmeade!"
"Really?" Hermione stared at her mother incredulously,
"Well, he was so sweet and told all his friends that he was going to ask me...but after a few weeks I grew impatient!" Molly said defensively, taking a large drink of her tea. Madam Pomfrey smiled into her own cup as she watched the interactions of mother and daughter before clearing her throat.
"I think we should get on to the matter at hand..." The medi-witch gave the Weasley matriarch a pointed look.
"While, I believe that this article is much more important than dragging up the past..." Molly sighed wearily. "I did not perform any illicit rituals nor give my daughter the renesterius potion!"
"I didn't think you did but...we had to be sure. The flushing draught would have done serious harm if you adopted her in that manner." Madam Pomfrey said matter of factly.
"Please, that potion is more likely to kill the babe than really give the child a blank slate like it's supposed to." Molly scoffed, running a hand through her daughter's curls.
"What's the renesterius potion?" Hermione asked curiously.
"A forbidden potion, it was used to take away the parents traits from a child so that they could use a dark ritual to make the babe completely of the caster's. It was banned over two hundred years ago but with the war, quite a few families used it right around the time you were adopted." Madam Pomfrey sighed sadly, "it's why your class is so small and there are so few muggleborns. Many of the abducted children died."
"That's horrible!" Hermione gasped, looking between the women with wide eyes.
"Hermione, when Albus placed you in my arms you became every bit my child as your brothers before you. I would never risk your life for the off chance you would become my blood. You are my heart." Molly whispered as she pulled Hermione into her arms.
"Why would anyone do that though?" Hermione demanded angrily into her mother's shoulder.
"They were desperate families, caring more for the continuation of their family name then some unidentified muggle child." Madam Pomfrey said with disgust. Hermione's shoulders slumped as a potion was shoved into her hands. She didn't hesitate before downing the noxious elixir and pulling a face.
"Ugh, Harry was kidding." Hermione took a long drink of tea to try and rid the taste from her mouth.
"Oh! How are you and Harry?" Molly asked with a sly smile, happy to put the conversation of her adoption behind them. Unknown to the occupants of the office, a tall figure moved away from the doorway, a confused frown on their face.