Chapter 104
Birthday Nightmare
As the next two months progressed, Lily put everything into the training sessions she and the others had with Crouch, including learning to increase their power enough to safely use the Fiendfyre curse. They hadn't tried to use it yet, but it was clear that everyone in the group was growing in strength.
She also spent as much time with Tonks as she could, who was coming in every weekend to help Lily train her Metamorphmagus abilities. She hadn't needed to use them since that battle, but she had been training herself, using Tonk's guidance.
She could change her appearance at will, but not for too long. She could stay changed for thirty minutes, but at the end of it, she was exhausted, which was apparently normal when first getting the hang of Metamorphmagus abilities.
February marked the start of Apparition lessons for the school, for those who would be old enough. Lily, Ron, Hermione, Draco, Lavender, Padma, Parvati, Cormac, and Neville all signed up, as did others, including, to Lily's shock – given how bad they were at anything – Crabbe and Goyle. Draco told Lily he was expecting the two of them to be splinched.
When Lily had learnt what it meant to be splinched, she had winced; it didn't sound pleasant, leaving a part of yourself behind. She could understand why it was so regulated.
During the course of the lessons, Lily could see that Hermione was practically perfect at it, which didn't come as a surprise, since it required focus, dedication, and determination, three things Hermione had in spades. She wasn't doing too bad either at it, and even Ron was making progress. It wasn't long before Neville dropped out of the lessons, however.
Lily and the others made sure to cheer Neville up, understanding why he didn't feel ready.
"Neville, if you don't feel ready, you can't push yourself. I'm not entirely comfortable with Apparition myself, to be honest," Lily said. "I definitely prefer flying by broom."
"I struggle with brooms as well," Neville replied. "I don't feel comfortable, and I feel like I could fall off at any time."
"You know, I've seen Moody's broom, he has a seat affixed to it. Why don't I speak to Aunt Minnie, and ask her to help put a seat on yours? Would that help?" Lily asked. Neville grinned and nodded. He had been training really hard in the lessons with Crouch, and Lily could see the effect it was having.
When Lily had met Neville, he was slightly overweight, and plain. Now, he was slender, and had begun to develop muscles. Parvati had confided in Lily how much she loved the new look Neville was sporting, and how much more confident he was on their dates.
"Honestly, you've helped him so much," Parvati had told her.
"He's done the work, I just showed him he could," Lily had replied, blushing at the compliment. "You two make an amazing couple."
"I'm lucky to be with him," Parvati gushed, grinning as they were talking.
The week after the lesson with Dumbledore, Lily spoke to Slughorn, and tried to ask him about Horcruxes, trying to hide it as though she had come across the word and wanted to know what it was. Slughorn, however, had known what she had really wanted, and refused to help.
Of course, by the time of the next lesson, he was back to his jolly self, and Lily had apologised, to which he had told her to pay it no attention. She didn't want to risk trying the same tactic again, so she spent time in January and February trying to come up with an idea to get the memory she needed.
She knew it was important, but she also knew if she tried to do anything else, she knew she'd risk Slughorn not wanting to talk to her again. However, she knew it was vital to find out about the memory.
Of course, the best part of February was, in Lily's opinion, Valentine's Day. She booked a table at Madam Puddifoot's tea shop, as had multiple other couples, and as usual, Lily had really enjoyed her date with Ginny.
The month passed by smoothly, so much so that Lily was just beginning to think that things were going to be okay, although she didn't realise that would soon change.
As the first of March neared, Lily was working with Lavender, Hermione, Ginny, Parvati, and Padma to surprise Ron for his birthday. They were going to have a private breakfast, with presents, and since it was a Saturday, they'd be spending time playing Quidditch, games, and hopefully they'd be getting to go to Hogwarts, to meet Fred and George.
The morning began perfectly, with Ron waking up, and coming down to see the food, and the presents, all ready for him, with a banner saying "HAPPY BIRTHDAY RON!" across the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Happy Birthday Ron," Lavender smiled as she gave Ron a present, before pressing her lips to his, letting the kiss linger as she closed her eyes. Lily knew how much Lavender loved kissing Ron.
"Hey, don't forget the food and other presents," Dean teased, helping himself to a chocolate muffin.
"You really need to get a girlfriend, mate," Ron teased, smirking at Dean. "You'll understand why I love kissing Lavender."
"I could always borrow yours," Dean replied, laughing. Ron rolled his eyes, before slapping the back of Dean's head.
"Sorry Dean, I've only got eyes for one man," Lavender said, her arms wrapped around Ron.
"You've got plenty of presents, Ron," Lily grinned. "Hope you like them."
"I always do," Ron replied. "Why don't you try and speak to Slughorn today? You should be able to, and I doubt he'll say no to you."
"I can try, but after my last attempt. I don't know how to address the situation with him. I don't know what the memory is, but it's gotta be a bad one," Lily said, as Ron opened a present.
"There's gotta be a way, we'll figure it out together," Ron promised. He looked at the box of chocolates. "Who got me these? I've not tried them before; they were always pretty expensive."
"Not sure, what does the card say?" Lily asked. Ron checked it and chuckled.
"No idea. Just says 'Happy Birthday Ron. I thought you'd like these chocolates. P.' I don't know why Percy's signed it as P," Ron mused, as the entrance to the common room opened, with Draco and Pansy being escorted in by Aunt Minnie.
"Happy Birthday Ron," Pansy said, smiling as she carried a medium sized parcel in her arms. "We've brought a present. Sorry to bring it here, but we figured it'd be easier."
"No, you're always welcome," Ron smiled. "I was just about to try these chocolates Percy sent me. Want one?"
"Too early for chocolate, but thank you," Pansy chuckled, putting the present with the others.
"How are you both doing?" Lily asked, as Ron tucked into the chocolates.
"Not too bad. I've been speaking with your Madam Pomfrey, mostly about how I've been feeling. She gave me a potion to try, to help with something called Depression," Draco explained. "She said it's a relatively new potion."
"It is, it was developed for me, because I suffer from it, or I did. The potion helped, so I've not needed to take it for a while," Lily replied, taking out her flask, and taking her morning potion. "I still have to take the feminising potion, but I'm used to it."
"I'm sorry for anything I did to add to that depression," Draco began, but Lily held up her hand.
"Draco, that's in the past now. Honestly, you being here is welcome," Lily said, smiling at him. Draco nodded thankfully but frowned as he looked at Ron. "You okay, Ron?" Draco asked.
Lily turned and saw what had him concerned. Ron had finished the chocolates, but he was looking at Pansy now, an almost strange look on his face.
"Ron? Ron, what's wrong?" Lily asked.
"She… she's here… Pansy's actually here?" Ron asked, almost weakly. "You didn't say my Goddess was going to be here."
"Your what?" Pansy asked, frowning as she looked at him. "Ron, what's going on?"
"Pansy, I… I… I'm madly in love with you!" Ron exclaimed. Dean burst out laughing.
"Yeah, very funny Ron," Dean smirked, but his smirked faded as Ron punched him.
"Don't make fun of my love!" Ron demanded.
"Someone wanna tell me what's going on here?" Lavender asked. "Ron, what are you saying? You're not in love with Pansy, are you? She's our friend, remember?"
"She's a goddess. Pansy, everything about you is perfect," Ron said, walking over to Pansy. "There's nothing I won't do for you."
"Lily, what's happening?" Pansy asked, looking worried. Lily looked down at the box of chocolates and picked it up, taking a chocolate and sniffing one.
"I'm thinking someone dosed these chocolates with a love potion, a strong one," Lily said, frowning.
"Not Amortentia?" Draco asked.
"Maybe," Lily said. "We need to get him to Slughorn."
"Agreed," Pansy nodded, taking Lavender's hand. "We'll get this fixed."
"Thank you," Lavender said. Lily could see she was close to tears.
"Come on Ron, we need to go and see Professor Slughorn, he might have something good for us," Pansy said, taking his hand.
"Yes, my Goddess," Ron agreed, smiling goofily, as Hermione hugged Lavender, as did Ginny.
"Back soon," Lily promised, as she and Draco led Pansy and Ron out of the common room.
"I'll bet anything this was Zabini's work, wanting to destroy our friendship," Draco said, as they marched quickly through the corridors.
"Agreed. He's really not good at planning, is he? He thought this would work? He clearly doesn't know us well enough," Lily replied.
"Especially after everything we went through together at Christmas. This is bloody ridiculous," Draco said, as they neared Slughorn's office.
"We should figure something out after this and stop him. I think he was likely behind Katie's attack, with him doing something like this," Lily suggested, before knocking on the door.
Slughorn opened the door slightly, seeing Draco, Lily, Pansy, and Ron. He looked a little anxious.
"Lily, I'm sorry, it's early, and I have a lot to do," Slughorn said.
"Professor, we need your help. Ron ate some chocolates that we suspect were dosed with a powerful love potion," Lily spoke urgently. Slughorn saw how Ron was fawning over Pansy.
"Of course, come on in," Slughorn opened the door fully, with Pansy leading Ron inside, who was quoting poetry to Pansy.
"We suspect it could be Amortentia," Lily explained, as Slughorn opened his potions case.
"Potions expert such as you, I'd have thought you'd have whipped up an antidote in no time," Slughorn said. Lily didn't want to dissuade Slughorn of the idea, but in the lesson covering antidotes, she had simply taken a Bezoar and shown it to Slughorn, who had laughed, agreeing it would work against most potions.
"We figured it'd require a more deft hand, sir, especially with love potions being so powerful. I mean, he immediately began to worship Pansy," Lily explained. Slughorn nodded.
"Good call," he agreed, seeing how Ron was fawning over Pansy. He quickly finished mixing the antidote, and poured it into a glass, giving it to Ron.
"Ron, you need to drink that, it'll help you," Pansy insisted.
"Yes, my Goddess," Ron smiled as he drank the antidote. He was still smiling, but after a few moments, his shoulders slumped, and his smile faded as he groaned.
"Feeling better?" Slughorn asked. Ron simply nodded, blushing as he looked at the floor.
"I… I'm so sorry," Ron said.
"It's okay Ron, it's not your fault," Pansy smiled sympathetically, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We'll get you back to Lavender, shall we?"
"Thank you," Ron said, as Slughorn smiled, taking out a bottle of what looked like Oak Matured Mead. He blew a small amount of dust off the bottle.
"How about a pick me up? You're of age now, my boy, so you can enjoy a drink with us, and as for the rest of you, well, I won't tell if you don't," Slughorn chuckled.
"Thank you, Professor," Lily smiled.
"Really, thank you," Draco added. "We think someone did this to Ron deliberately, to try and break up our friendship."
"Really? Now who would want to do such a thing?" Slughorn asked, his eyes widening.
"We're not sure," Lily lied. She didn't want to say it was Zabini without any proof. "I think it was likely the same person who attacked Katie."
"Such a ghastly thing to happen," Slughorn commented, shaking his head. "It's something I never thought likely to happen."
"Same here, sir," Lily agreed. "But don't worry, I know Dumbledore will figure this out."
"I hope so," Slughorn replied. "I was supposed to give him this bottle for Christmas, but I forgot. Oh well, he won't miss what he never had."
"I guess not," Lily agreed, though she wasn't surprised. After all, anyone who gave Mead to Slughorn to pass on didn't know him well enough.
Slughorn poured out five glasses, handing the first one to Ron, who drank it in one go.
"Careful lad, you don't want to drink it too quickly, it can be strong," Slughorn chuckled, but his smile faded as Ron immediately collapsed, and began to spasm, his eyes closed. Slughorn froze, unsure what to do, but Lily immediately knew what she had to do.
She ran to Slughorn's potions case, and quickly searched it, finding the Bezoar she had given him in her last lesson. As she grabbed it, she ran back to Ron, who was being held steady by Draco and Pansy whilst he was turning blue, and opened Ron's mouth, shoving the Bezoar in.
As Ron stopped shaking and twitching, he gave a shudder, gasped, and as everyone looked at him, he stopped moving, and became limp.
