"Today class, we will be learning how to make the Ageing Potion," Slughorn announced to his N.E.W.T Potion's class. A spark of amusement washed over Harry as he remembered Fred and George in his fourth year and their mishap with the potion.
"Can anyone tell me why this is a dangerous potion?" Slughorn asked. No one raised their hand. His eyes scattered all over the classroom before his eyes landed on Harry. He groaned inwardly, knowing the teacher would call on him but hoping he wouldn't.
"Mr. Potter, perhaps," Slughorn said.
"Um…the more Ageing Potion one drinks, the more they age. It's difficult for the body to adjust to growing outside of its own time. Sometimes it can be fatal and sometimes the results are just bad," Harry said, trying to remember what his book had said when Slughorn assigned the class to read the section about it.
"Very good Mr. Potter, five points to Gryffindor," Slughorn said. Harry refrained from rolling his eyes. For someone who had been in Slytherin himself and was the Head of the House currently (and had been in his past teaching years) he certainly favored Gryffindor, more so Harry than anyone else but still the complete polar opposite of his own house nonetheless.
Slughorn went on to explain the making of the potion before he let the students begin. Harry flipped open his text book and began reading the instructions to the potion. He added the Essence of Belladonna first and then stirred the liquid counterclockwise four times before he added the Fluxweed.
"Nicely done Harry," Slughorn said as he did rounds around the dungeon classroom. Harry nodded his thanks and continued on making his potion. He could hear Slughorn in the background complimenting some other student.
As he poured in the next to last ingredient to the potion, his scar began to hurt. At first it was just a twinge and Harry reached up and rubbed it for a moment before returning his focus to his assignment. As the minutes passed, the twinge turned into a dull pain and the dull pain turned into a fiery hurt. Absolute pain shot through his head but Harry continued with his potion. He added the last ingredient, peppermint, and stirred it seven times. He bottled some of his potion to turn into Slughorn and then took out a few extra bottles he had carried with him and filled them too, just in case he would need some for future reference. He then sat back down at his desk with his head down and let the pain overtake him. His head was on fire and he swore it would explode.
"Mr. Potter? Are you okay?" rang the voice of the potions master.
"Yes sir, I'm fine. Just a headache," Harry said.
"Would you like to visit the Hospital Wing?" inquired Slughorn.
"No sir, I'm fine," Harry said. No Pepper-up Potion would help this. He only had ten more minutes before he went on break. He could hold out that long…he hoped. Voldemort was thoroughly pissed off though.
Class finally ended and Harry staggered up to the desk to turn in his potion. He slung his backpack over his shoulder and made his way quickly to the Heads Dorm. When he set foot into the Common Room, he shed his robes and threw his backpack down before he went upstairs to his bathroom and promptly got sick.
After he flushed the toilet, he let himself slide down the wall of the room. He broke out into a cold sweat and he could feel his hands and arms shake. Blinding pain shot through his head. His Occlumency walls were up, but he was starting to weaken.
"Harry?" he heard Hermione call from downstairs. They were supposed to start researching this period so they could get a head start. It was safe to say researching was going on hold for the moment.
"Harry?" her voice was getting closer. He didn't have the energy to talk so she knew where he was. He feared that if he opened his mouth again, he would throw up once more.
A knock sounded on the other side of the bathroom door and Hermione stuck her head in the doorway.
"Harry?" she said. "God, Harry!" In a second he could feel her at his side. "Harry what happened?" He shook his head, not trusting himself to speak. He opened his eyes to look at her. Worry and concern was etched into her beautiful features. He could feel the sweat begin to pour off of his face. The familiar feeling of his stomach dropping made him all but push her out of the way to get to the toilet once more.
Her hand was rubbing his back as he was bent over. He could hear her whispering comforting words to him and though they reassured him somewhat, the pain in his head was still there.
The toilet flushed once more and he leaned back against the wall again. Hermione sat next to him. She had a firm grasp on the hand that was closest to hers.
Composing himself, Harry spoke. "My scar," he said. "It started to hurt in potions and then it just got really bad, worse than it has ever been and I ended up here."
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked. Harry waited for a moment before replying. The pain in his head was starting to go away but it still hurt.
"I think I will be," he said. "But for now, I think I need to brush my teeth." He stood up and helped Hermione up before grabbing his toothbrush.
"Did you see anything?" she asked from behind him. Harry shook his head as he scrubbed his teeth vigorously. The nasty taste in his mouth was gradually going away.
"I know he's really angry," Harry said once he was done. He washed his hands before he turned around to face his best friend. Worry was still written on her face and in her eyes. He sighed.
"I'm okay now," he said. "I promise."
"I think you should lie down," Hermione said, ignoring his promise. She knew he wasn't. Harry checked his watch.
"We've got class in fifteen minutes," Harry said.
"And you're uniform is soaked with sweat. You look like you just rose from the dead and I know for a fact that your scar still hurts. The pain never goes away like that," Hermione said. "You're going to lie down."
"Are you going to make me?" Harry asked stubbornly.
"Even if I have to tie you down, you're not going to class. And I know for a fact that you haven't been sleeping well lately if the circles under your eyes say anything. Now march," she said, pointing to his bedroom. He sighed and left the bathroom with her in tow. He sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up at her. Her features were firm, but as she looked at him they softened.
"God I hate when this happens," she murmured as she bent down slightly to untie his tie. She tossed it aside and began unbuttoning his shirt. She tugged on it to get it untucked and with a little help from a shrug of his shoulders, she pulled his shirt off of him too. Getting on her knees, she untied his shoes and took them off along with his socks.
"Stay," she said. Hermione disappeared into his bathroom before she reemerged with a towel and a damp washcloth. She pressed the wet cloth to his face and pressed lightly over his scar. Harry was surprised when it calmed almost immediately. She ran the cloth over his face, wiping the sweat from his face before she moved down to his neck, chest and back. Before she stepped back, Hermione patted him dry with the towel.
With a wave of her wand, the cloths were gone. She motioned for him to stand, which he did, and she pulled back his comforter. He got in his bed and she pulled the covers over him.
"Rest," was all she said. She bent down and kissed his forehead gently, right on his scar. As she turned to leave, he caught her wrist.
"Thank you," he said softly. The corners of her mouth lifted up into a small smile before she replied.
"That's what I'm here for," she said. "I'll check on you in a little bit." She kissed once more on the cheek and left his bedroom. Harry sighed and let his head fall back against his pillow. His eyes closed and soon enough he drifted off.
Harry didn't get up until that night. He checked his watch and it was well past dinner. His stomach grumbled telling him that it wanted food. Harry sighed and got out of bed. He changed from his slacks to a pair of sweatpants and he pulled on a shirt before he headed down to the common room.
Hermione was sitting with her knees up to her chest in a pair of his boxers and a long sleeved shirt and her hair was up in a messy bun. A book and a piece of parchment were balanced on her knees and she was scribbling away with a quill.
"I saved you a plate of dinner," Hermione said. "It's on the table with a heating charm." Harry walked in front of her and she looked up at him. He bent down slightly and took the quill out of her hand and moved the book and her parchment aside. Taking her hand, he pulled her up and then to him.
"Thank you," Harry mumbled as he buried his head into her neck. As the embrace went on, it switched to him holding her to her holding him. "No one's ever taken care of me like that."
"I'm your best friend. I care about you," she said. Her hands wove into his silky locks as he pulled his head from her neck. The two of them stood there for a moment. Harry's gaze flickered down to Hermione's lips and he caught himself wondering what it would be like to kiss her. Her lips looked so soft. He mentally chastised himself and dismissed the thought. Hermione didn't feel that way about him and he didn't feel that way about her…did he?
"What were you working on?" Harry asked, changing the subject so he could have something to concentrate on instead of listening to his thoughts. Hermione blinked before she stepped back from him.
"Oh," she said, finally getting to her answer. "I got started on Ravenclaw." Harry looked at her things and then back to her.
"I'll help," he said. "We were supposed to do it together. I feel bad having you do it by yourself." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"You eat first. I think I can handle reading a book," she said, lending him a small smile. Harry sighed and gave her a look before he walked over to the table and started on his dinner.
"Okay, I'm done," Harry said once he took the last bite.
"Don't talk with food in your mouth, it's disgusting," Hermione said without looking up. Harry grinned.
"Okay," he said. Moving her parchment and quill, he sat down next to her on the couch and rested his chin on her shoulder so he could see what she was reading. Hermione laughed softly.
"You're feeling better then," she said. Harry grinned.
"Yeah, I am," he said. And it was true, he was. His twelve hour nap did him wonders. The exhaustion that had been running through his body was no longer there, his stomach didn't hurt any longer nor did his scar. For the first time in weeks he was in a truly good mood.
After a while, Harry asked Hermione a question. "What book is this?" Hermione smirked a little to herself before answering her best friend.
"Hogwarts: A History," she replied. Harry lifted his chin from her shoulder and looked at her.
"Well, it's a good way to get me to read the book then," he said. She laughed and he settled back down to resume his reading.
"Look," he said. "It says here that Rowena was noted most for her cleverness. Ravenclaw devised the changing floor plans and moving staircases in the school."
"So we know she was smart," Hermione said. "That means anything of hers could be a Horcrux, not necessarily something important to her."
"And it says that she was from glen, which means she was either from Scotland or Ireland," Harry said.
"So tomorrow we need to check out books on Ireland and Scotland and see if we can find anything else on Ravenclaw," Hermione said.
"Right," Harry agreed. "Look for anything in context to ravens. The clues could be in that." Hermione nodded. The two of them spent most of the night reading the rest of the passage about Ravenclaw before Hermione went up to bed. Harry, not being the least tired, stayed down on the couch staring into the fire mulling over the possibilities of the Horcruxes. Eventually, his eyes closed.
"Master?" said a rat-faced man. Harry opened his eyes weakly. "Master? What is wrong?"
"Wormtail," Harry rasped. "I feel unusually weak."
"What about the raid tomorrow night? You were to attend," Wormtail said. Harry sighed.
"I will still be going Wormtail. A little bout of sickness isn't going to stop me from torturing muggles," Harry said.
"The muggles are still unsuspecting sir. Bath will be destroyed," Wormtail said. He kissed the hem of Harry's robes.
"Very well then," Harry said. "Then it will be time to get Bella out among the others." Harry motioned for Wormtail to stand.
"I will inform the others, master," Wormtail said. Harry nodded. As Wormtail left, Harry let out a laugh.
"The Order won't know what happened," Harry said to himself.
The real Harry woke up with a gasp. Sweat was pouring down his face. Instead of racing to McGonagall's office at this hour, he quickly took out a piece of parchment and a quill.
Professor-
I just had a dream. Sometime today, I don't know when, Voldemort will be attacking. Azkaban will be broken into and the small town of Bath will be attacked.
H.J.P.
He folded the letter up and woke Hedwig. His owl, though unhappy to be awakened, stuck out her leg and Harry tied the letter to her. He opened the window and Hedwig flew towards the other side of the castle.
About twenty minutes later, Harry had a reply.
Potter-
The Order has been informed. You, Miss. Granger and Mr. Weasley are not to attend classes today. Members have been notified to be stationed in Bath and we are attempting to station at Azkaban.
Please, meet me in the antechamber off of the Great Hall after breakfast. There will be a meeting with the unattained members for a counterattack.
M.M.
Harry looked at the clock. It was three-thirty in the morning. He could only picture how disturbed the members of the Order were to get a call at this hour. He sighed. He and two of his best friends would be taking apart in a counter raid. And what more, this could be their chance to get Nagini.
&---&---&---&---&
Chapter 12 is out. Well, who's ready to see the movie? I've got my tickets for the opening night.
Are you all ready for the 7th book? I don't think I am. Not just because of the pairings, but because of what it will be about. Horcruxes and death aren't very fun subjects. And there's talk of Harry dying. Who thinks he will?
Criticism is welcomed.
Thanks, WarriorPride23. 8 pages.
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