'Drink the counter-potion, Harry, and you will know the truth.'
~ Dumbledore's Theory ~
Harry slept in late the next morning. On waking, he sat up, yawned, and mechanically reached for his glasses on the bedside table. After putting them on and blinking sleepily, he was given quite the fright when he saw Professor Dumbledore standing at the foot of his bed - definitely not something he expected to see first thing in the morning.
'Good morning Harry,' Dumbledore said in a pleasant voice. 'Sleep well?'
'Ah,' said Harry awkwardly, still adjusting to Dumbledore's presence, 'yes, thank you. Sir...'
'Very good. You've had a very hectic week, Harry. And look?' he gestured to Harry's bedside table. 'Madame Pomfrey has fixed you a delicious breakfast. And I see your counter-potion is still here.'
Harry suddenly felt worried. When Hermione left him last night, Harry still couldn't make himself drink the counter-potion. Was Dumbledore here to punish him? He must be. After all, Harry had broken a load of school rules lately: breaking into Snape's secret laboratory, going to Greece without consent, locking Professor Flipwick in a cupboard, snogging Hermione in the hospital bathroom...
'I've been trying to see you since your arrival last night, Harry, but Madame Pomfrey insisted I wait until morning. You and I need to have a little chat.'
Harry's worry increased.
'Professor Dumbledore, I can explain!'
'Harry, it's all right,' said Dumbledore soothingly. 'I'm not here to impart any more trouble on you.' He chuckled. 'In fact, my first order of business is to congratulate you.'
'It is?' said Harry, confused.
'You saved Hermione Granger's life, Harry. The Ministry of Magic is also impressed with your heroism. I should warn you in advance, they're officially rewarding you tonight in a special ceremony.'
'Ceremony?' This sounded exceedingly embarrassing.
'Yes, Harry. And that leads me to my second order of business - your love potion relapse.'
'I'm sorry, Professor,' said Harry, thinking he knew what Dumbledore meant. 'I'll drink the counter-potion with breakfast.'
'No need to be sorry, Harry,' said Dumbledore plainly. 'It probably wouldn't make any difference if you did.'
Harry was very confused now. 'Wouldn't...make a difference?' Dumbledore smiled.
'I remember, not too long ago, when I had the pleasure of greeting Miss Granger in my office after she'd fainted on the school grounds. Worn out by the prospect of having three husbands I imagine.'
Harry recalled Ron telling him about this. Harry had been on Hermione's Aphora Bewitching Potion when it happened, so he didn't remember. Ron informed him later, with much delight, that Harry, Malfoy and Krum all proposed to Hermione at the same time.
'I may be out of my depth with what I'm about to suggest, Harry,' said Dumbledore. 'Feel free to stop me if you like.'
Harry was silent, and looking at Dumbledore with intensifying curiosity.
'I have a theory,' he proceeded. 'A theory, that leads me to believe you're not suffering from love potion relapse at all.'
Had Dumbledore been speaking with Ron?
'How can that be, Professor?' Harry asked.
Dumbledore trailed off for the moment. 'You're so much like your father, Harry. I was not surprised you became friends with Miss Granger in your first year. She is remarkably like your mother, Lily.'
Harry listened to Dumbledore's words very intently, as if memorising them later. Where was all this going?
'When Miss Granger woke from her faint, I told her of a hidden power the Aphora Bewitching Potion can sometimes have. I believe I said that, in certain cases, the Aphora Bewitching Potion can make you realise you've loved your bounder previously, meaning love was true to begin with. Hence, love potion relapse is unable eventuate. I think this is what I said. Forgive me, Harry, I should have consulted the Penesive before coming here.'
Harry's heart beat a little faster.
'Are you saying, you think I was in love with Hermione before I'd taken the Aphora Bewitching Potion?' Dumbledore nodded reverently.
'Drink the counter-potion, Harry, and you will know the truth.'
Suddenly filled with suspense, Harry leant over to his bedside table and took hold of the goblet of counter-potion for what was to be the last time.
'I'll leave you now, Harry, and say no more,' said Dumbledore. `Good luck.'
With atwinkle in his eye, Professor Dumbledore exited the hospital wing. Now alone, Harry knew what he had to do. Without any reserve or hesitation, he drank and swallowed the entire counter-potion in one go.
Then he waited.
~ Truth ~
Soon after Harry's chat with Professor Dumbledore, Madame Pomfrey allowed him leave the hospital wing. Hermione and Malfoy had been released earlier when Harry was still asleep. Dressed back in his school uniform, Harry was happily met on the other side by the very person he wanted to see.
'Harry!'
It was Ron. He'd been waiting near the stairs and rushed over excitedly.
'Sorry I didn't come see you, Harry, but Madame Pomfrey was really strict about the `no visitors' thing. Fred and George tried persuading her but that only made things worse…'
Harry was eager to catch up on everything that had happened since the Annual Drakon Hunt. Ron gladly obliged and talked Harry's ear off as they headed for the Great Hall.
'Percy's grown into an even bigger git. He's telling anyone who'll listen how he was the one who first saw Hermione at the Hunt. He didn't even know it was her at the time! Fred and George are thinking of using him as Drakon bait for next year.'
It was a bit early for lunch, so there weren't many people in the Great Hall when they arrived. Harry and Ron sat themselves down at the Gryffindor table.
'What about Lucius?' asked Harry loathingly. 'Has he been charged yet?'
'Ah, well,' Ron looked sullen. 'No, actually. He's not being charged at all.'
'WHAT!' said Harry, too loudly.
'I know!' said Ron in full agreement. 'That's exactly how I reacted.'
'But - ' Harry's hands were balled in fists. 'He attempted to murder Hermione!'
'I know! But there isn't enough conclusive evidence against him. According to the Ministry, who he's probably bribed anyway, Hermione's held accountable for her own actions because she was infected with the Aphora Bewitching Potion.'
'That's CRAP!' Harry cussed. A few heads around the Hall turned Harry's way, looking offended.
'I KNOW!' said Ron, agreeing again. 'Not much we can do about it though.'
'How about Percy?' Harry suggested. 'Doesn't his story count for anything?' Ron scoffed.
'What, you mean Percy the prat's eye-witness report? It's too vague, Harry. Plus he keeps changing it. Each version makes him sound more involved and heroic.'
'Snape!' said Harry, desperate now. 'What about Snape? He suspected Lucius from the start! And Professor McGonagall!'
'Yeah, but they can't prove it! Malfoy's the only one who witnessed Lucius actually hypnotising Hermione, and he's not about to turn in his own dad.'
Harry slumped in defeat. 'There must be something I can do.'
'Afraid not,' said Ron drearily. 'The Ministry isn't going to listen to someone with love potion relapse, are they?' Ron then realised. 'Hey, that's right! Have you been cured yet?'
Before Harry could answer, Fred and George made their usual, badly timed entrance.
'Gentlemen! Partners in crime!' said Fred brightly. 'A wonderfully good morning to you both!'
'A most wonderful morning!' said George, with a rolled up newspaper under his arm.
'Simply dazzling!'
'Spectacular!'
'Oh great, not this again!' grumbled Ron.
'And congratulations to you, Harry!' said Fred, patting Harry on the back. 'A thousand galleons! Fabulous work.'
'Stupendous!' related George.
'Miraculously - '
'SHUT UP!' said Ron, very irritated.
Harry chuckled. He could always count on the twins for a good laugh.
'Don't mind, Ron,' said Fred from behind his hand, as if Ron couldn't hear him. 'He's just ticked at being shirtless in the Daily Prophet.'
'FRED!' Ron blared, his face heating up.
'Sorry?' said Harry, amused. 'What's this?'
'Take a look for yourself!'
George handed Harry the latest edition of the Daily Prophet he'd been carrying. Harry opened to a page with the following headline: 'Missing Hogwarts Student Found Alive at Annual Drakon Hunt.' This was made complete by a portrait of Hermione, smiling back at Harry politely. There were other photos too; a school picture of Harry himself ('Potter Ends The Search!'), a really cool moving photo of Hermione punching Malfoy in the face ('Granger Denies Malfoy's Claims!') and, funnily enough, a picture of Ron looking humiliated without a shirt ('Fellow Hogwarts Student Bargains With Wood Pixies!').
'It was those bloody Pixies, Harry!' said Ron, scandalised. 'After you went in the Drakon's lair, I caught them spying on me. Out for more clothing! They were the one's who got me to the top of Mount Olympus.'
'How?' said Harry. He'd been meaning to ask Ron this.
'They flew me! Held onto my two big fingers, said some magic Pixie word, and lifted me right to the top. Do you know what it's like at the top of Mount Olympus without a shirt?' he said, sounding harassed. 'There's bloody snow up there! Though I'll admit the flight was pretty wicked, but I had to give them my undies for it.'
Fred and George cackled with laughter.
'KNOCK IT OFF!' Ron interjected, flaming. George snickered.
'The Daily Prophet should write a new headline: 'Ronald Weasley Found Shirtless and Underless!'
'No, wait! I got one,' laughed Fred. 'Ronald Weasley: The Exposed Story!'
'ENOUGH!'
'Ron,' said Harry, keeping laughter his in check. 'How did you loose your shirt then?'
'Because! It was the only way those miniature clothing hoarders would take the counter-potion to you! They took my robe and my shirt. They wanted more, but I'd be daft to pass up my trousers.'
'Shame really,' said George, nudging Harry. 'It would've made a great photo.'
'We'd love to stay and chat, but we must be going!' said Fred. `Congratulations again, Harry! And Ron, keep your clothes on.'
The twins hurried off, leaving Harry and a furious Ron to themselves.
'Nutters! The two of them!' said Ron once they'd left. 'Still, I'll have them over Percy any day.'
Then, Ron suddenly remembered what he and Harry had been discussing before.
'So, Harry, you didn't tell me! Are you cured? Did you drink the counter-potion?'
Maintaining a poker face, Harry nodded.
'Oh,' said Ron, who seemed rather confused all of a sudden. 'Are you sure?'
'I drank it at breakfast,' Harry confirmed. Ron was still uncertain.
'How come you remember so much, then? About the Hunt, I mean. Ginny was cured a day ago and she hardly remembers anything - thank Merlin! The less she remembers the better.'
Harry shrugged nonchalantly, and said, with an evolving smile that Ron didn't notice, 'I remember everything.'
'That's weird,' he said, then brushed it aside. 'Oh well! I'm glad Ginny didn't react that way.'
Harry moved the conversation to a more delicate subject. 'You wouldn't know where Hermione is, would you?'
'Hermione?' said Ron, and rolled his eyes. 'Yeah, I sure do. She's hiding out in the library. Been in there since leaving the hospital, studying like a maniac. It's mad! The teachers told her she doesn't need to catch up. She's just afraid of facing the school. Hates the fact she's involved in another love potion scandal. And,' he paused, choosing his words cautiously, 'well, she's terrified of seeing you. You know, now that you don't like her "that way" any more.'
Harry's smile grew wider. Again, Ron ceased to notice.
'I better talk to her then,' said Harry.
'Yeah, I guess…but Harry!' said Ron, throwing him a pleading look. 'Go easy on her, okay? Hermione's been through a lot so if you're going to tell her you don't fancy her, make sure you - '
'Ron…'
'Seriously, Harry! She's been real upset, and I don't think - '
'Ron!' Harry stressed, cutting him short. 'It's okay. You were right.'
'I was?' said Ron, raising his eyebrows. 'And what was I right about exactly?'
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