So, in the argument between Harry and Hermione over the Half Blood Prince's Potions book. I've always thought both were half right and both were half wrong. I think Harry is right about the alternate Potions instructions while Hermione is right about the unknown handwritten soells. In this piece, Ginny plays the role of mediator between Harry and Hermione.

Ginny Weasley had once again walked into the Gryffindor Common Room to discover Harry and Hermione arguing over the Half Blood Prince's Potions book.

Ginny walked to within a few feet of where Harry and Hermione were standing and arguing.

"I'm just following a different set of instructions to the rest of the class," argued Harry, "It's not cheating. It's called using a different approach."

"It's called getting a reputation for Potions brilliance you don't deserve," said Hermione shrilly, "That's not even talking about those unknown handwritten spells. What if one of those unknown handwritten spells cut someone open?"

"You're just being close minded," insisted Harry, "Luna was right about you."

"Actually, "piped up Ginny, "You are both half right and you are both half wrong."

Both Harry and Hermione looked up at her.

"Harry, you are right about the alternative potions instructions. Hermione, you are right about the unknown handwritten spells."\

Both Harry and Hermione looked intently at Ginny.

"As a pure blood witch, I can tell you point blank that it is well known in wizarding families that Potions is and has always been a very alive discipline of magic. Potion Makers are ALWAYS engaging in guess, test, revise, and update to improve the efficiency of the process of making potions as well as the quality of the finished product," explained Ginny, "NO potion is made the same way today as it was made even ten years ago. Potions Makers are always experimenting to improve their craft. It sounds like the Half Blood Prince was a Potions genius. It is unclear why he or she never published his or her work."

"Maybe he or she passed away before he or she had the opportunity to publish it," suggested Harry.

"Possible," replied Ginny, "Harry, I strongly encourage you to keep following the Half Blood Prince's Potions instructions. If they continue to consistently produce better results than the official instructions, then I urge you to talk to Slughorn about updating certain Potions recipes."

"I will keep that in mind," Harry promised Ginny.

Ginny turned to Hermione and said, "In no way is crushing a bean instead of cutting it cheating. Cheating would be bringing a high quality premade potion that he had bought, found, or stolen to class. Crushing a bean instead of cutting it is simply an alternative method and if it works better, why not use that method?"

"I didn't know potions recipes changed over time," admitted Hermione, shaking her head, and looking a little embarrassed, "I've never read about that anywhere. Even the Potions section in Hogwarts A history says nothing about that."

"You know," said Ginny thoughtfully, "Percy always thought he was an academic genius because of his strong grades, especially in his O.W.L.s and his N.E.W.T.s. The truth is that Percy was simply gifted at reading and remembering and achieved mostly by having a robotic memory. You're cut from the same cloth. You've always thought of yourself as the Brightest Witch of your age because your grades. However, your slavish devotion to both books and official methods has held you back. You are no true genius because you lack creativity and open mindedness. Fred and George are far more brillant than you are because of their creativity. Luna is a far better role model than you because of her open mindedness."

Hermione was silent with a stunned look on her face. Harry, meanwhile, felt a sudden curiosity.

"Ginny?" inquired Harry, "Do you know how often Potions textbooks are updated?"

"New editions are published literally every year," answered Ginny, "Some years more updates are made than others, but the bottom line is that new editions of Potions textbooks and recipes are published every year."

"Slughorn himself has said that there are different ways to make Potions and that sometimes there isn't a right or wrong way to go about it," said Harry matter of factly."

"You also need to understand," said Ginny clearly, "That sometimes multiple recipes are kept for the same potion. This will sound weird, but sometimes, a less well made potion is actually better. For example, if Calming Draught is made too well then it will make the drinker sleepy instead of merely calming them down. Sometimes you want more effective potions and sometimes you want less effective potions."

"That's good know," said Harry gratefully, "Now, what about the unknown handwritten spells?"

"Hermione is in the right on that one," If you don't know what a spell is for or what it does, well, better safe than sorry. There are plenty are Dark Spells beyond the Unforgivable Curses. If you don't know what a spell is for or what it does, how are you to know that it won't cut someone open or cause them to bleed to death? Some of the unknown spells are probably harmless and others are probably repulsive but trivial. But there's bound to be some that have very dark effects and Hermione is in the right to fear you may use the wrong one and cause lots of unintended damage."

"It's best if you ignore the unknown handwritten spells and not mess with them, Harry," said Hermione firmly.

"I agree," said Ginny, "If you keep playing with fire, you're eventually going to get burned."

For a minute and a nanosecond, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny all looked between each other.

Finally, Ginny said, "I think we should come to agreement here: Harry will discontinue trying out the unknown handwritten spells. In exchange, Hermione will stop badgering Harry about the alternate Potions instruction that Harry will continue to use. Do you both agree to this?"

"Yes," chroused Harry and Hermione, who both now understood that Ginny was right.

Ginny observed Harry and Hermione closely over the next week. To her relief, not one time after their talk did Ginny see or hear Harry and Hermione fighting or arguing over the Half Blood Prince's Potions book.

Her mediation had resolved the issue.

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