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Author: RdeHwyll Story: Harry Potter and the Philtre of Promise Rating: Teens Setting: AU Status: Completed Reviews: 5 Words: 101,355
Harry and Ron came rushing down the stairs and into the common room as Sir Nicholas disappeared through the wall. "Sorry I took so long. It took forever to get the little buggers sorted out -- Peeves emptied every one of their trunks into a pile in the middle of the room, and was turning the beds upside down when we got there. Did you find her?" asked Harry. "I've brought Ron along to help." "She's safe in bed and already asleep," replied Ginny, moving to one side of the huge armchair and motioning for him to sit next to her. "Bloody first years -- We weren't like that, were we, Harry? Seems like they get smaller and wilder every year," complained Ron. "And I still have to go check the corridors for stragglers out after hours. Hermione smiled smugly. "When I was Head Girl, I just did what I was supposed to -- That Head Boy Medallion on your chest will give you quite a bit of authority if you use it properly." "Erm... Do you think you could come along with me? Just to show me the ropes?" Ron's ears flamed red. "Why Mr. Weasley -- are you trying to get a Prefect in trouble the first night here?" Hermione asked slyly as she stood and walked over to him. "What possible excuse could I give for being out after hours if someone spotted us?" "Oh... well, you would be with me, so I could explain --" "Be sure to check the broom cupboards, big brother!" teased Ginny. "You never know who you might find hiding in one." Ron turned nearly as red as his hair; he and Hermione had used a broom cupboard to do a bit of snogging the previous year. Peeves the Poltergeist had caught them at it, chased them into the staff room and announced to everyone just what he had caught them doing. That had earned them both a week in detention and cost Gryffindor thirty house points. Hermione just looked at her coolly. "That's twice today, not counting the fiasco this morning at The Burrow. Care to add to your total?" There was no menace to her voice, but Ginny felt a cold finger of dread run down her spine. "Erm... No, sorry. I was just teasing a bit," the red-haired girl replied, "and I am very sorry about getting everyone in trouble with Mum and Dad." Surprisingly, it was Ron who broke the silence that followed. "Ginny, it wasn't all your fault. I sure didn't help things much, and I knew mum would go all bonkers if she even thought Hermione and I were..erm," he blushed again and continued, "compromising our purity." Both Ginny and Harry tried hard to keep from snickering, but Hermione had turned on Ron in a high dudgeon. "Excuse me? Why would she think we would be doing anything like that?" asked Hermione, now glaring at Ron. "Erm... Uh, well --It's just that she -- she found my copy. Of the letter. The one I wrote to you last year." "You keep copies of the letters you send her?" Harry asked incredulously. "The letter...? ...Oh!" Hermione blushed scarlet as she remembered the awkwardly worded and very easily misinterpreted letters she had received. It had absolutely infuriated her at the time. She knew now, of course, that his choice of words had not been innuendo, but then... Harry looked at Ron, looked at Hermione, then back again. "I really don't think I want to know about this," he said, shaking his head. "Erm... Right. I guess I had better get going..." Ron turned and started toward the Portrait Hole. "Wait, Ron. I'll go with you," Hermione had seemingly forgiven him and followed. When the two had closed the portrait behind them, Harry and Ginny reclined back in the overstuffed armchair they shared. Harry reached behind and around Ginny with one arm, letting her settle into place with her head on his arm. "Harry?" "Yes, Ginny?" "After we're married -- how many children do you want?" "What?" Harry was caught off-guard by the question. "It's just that... Tonight, when I was with Anna May, tucking her in and telling her a story, it just felt... right, somehow." She snuggled a little closer. "I know it sounds silly, but in spite of everything I've ever planned to do -- have a career as a magical researcher in the Department of Mysteries or do important work with the Ministry like Daddy -- it felt like what was missing from my life plans. It made me want to be a mother too, and take care of our children... Am I making any sense?" She turned toward him, looking up from her resting place, her fingers beginning to trace random patterns across his chest. "Erm... Children?" Harry felt heat rise to his face. "I--I really haven't thought that far ahead. How many would you want?" "At least two," she smiled. "A boy and a girl." Her fingers had found a gap between the buttons of his shirt, and she had started to caress bare flesh. Harry held Ginny close, tightening the arm already wrapped around her, his other hand coming up to take hold of her wandering fingers, bringing them up to his mouth so he could gently kiss her fingertips. She responded by scooting up and placing her head on his shoulder, and lightly touched her lips to his neck. Harry found he was at war with himself. As much as he wanted Ginny nearby, to be able to feel her presence and feel her touch, another more logical portion of his mind kept whispering at the back of his head that if he -- or she -- let things go too far they would reach a point that they could not come back from. "Ginny?" "What, Harry?" "You know how much I love you -- that I want to be able to always make you happy, don't you?" "Of course I do," she replied. "You make me happy just by wanting us to be close to each other." She moved a little closer, and nibbled at the base of his ear. He responded by pulling her in front of him, and craned his neck to bring his mouth closer to hers, encouraging her to kiss him. She responded almost immediately, her lips pressing his, her mouth opening just enough to let the tip of her tongue slide along his bottom lip.Harry did not want the moment to end, but his nobler instincts made him pull away. "It's late," he whispered. "We had better head up to our dorms." "Oh... can't we stay here just a few more minutes?" "I -- I don't trust myself. We're in enough trouble with your parents already, and I'm afraid that if we stay here, something is going to happen." "Something?" Ginny purred. "Like what?" She pulled her fingers free of his hand, and traced a line down his chest. "Like -- like -- " He shivered in response. " Like something that would--" "Something like this?" Ginny twisted and rolled at the same time, ending up straddling Harry's lap and on her knees, facing him. She leaned forward, tipping his face up with her hands, and started to kiss him. "Ginny Weasley! What do you think you're doing?" Ginny started with shock and surprise. Looming over the back of the chair was her mother, face red with anger. "Mum! What--" she exclaimed, trying to stand, only her robes had twisted under her knees. The red-haired teen toppled backwards out of the chair, sprawling on the floor, her own face blushing scarlet. As she struggled to reach a sitting position, laughter rang out, and the image of Mrs. Weasley faded to transparency and was gone. In its place stood Hermione, her wand out and laughing. Off to one side, Ron continued to laugh, tears leaking from his eyes as he watched the gamut of emotions crossing Ginny's face. Harry, a bit red-faced himself, helped Ginny to her feet as Hermione sauntered to Ron's side. "Not quite so funny now, is it?" the older girl laughed. Ginny glared at her brother and friend as they continued to chuckle, but slowly allowed a smile to creep across her face. "All right, I deserved that. I'm sorry I embarrassed you today." "You know you nearly gave me a heart-attack, don't you?" asked Harry, smiling now himself. "Where did you learn that spell, Hermione?" "I found it in this year's Standard Book of Spells. It's just an illusion, and I haven't quite got the knack of being able to make it move yet." "Well, you certainly did it well enough to scare me," chuckled Harry. "How did you get the voice?" "That was me," Ron spoke up. "Ginny's not the only one who can imitate our parents." "So..." Hermione said slyly, "Just what were our two prefects doing when we walked in?" "Erm..." Harry felt heat rising to his face. "We were just about to rip our clothes off and have wildly passionate sex on the hearthrug," Ginny interrupted, "but I see we aren't going to be able to do that now, so I'm taking Harry down to the Great Hall. We'll use one of the tables there..." Harry gave a start of shock and blushed a deep crimson at that comment, as did both Ron and Hermione. They turned their gaze towards him, questioning with their eyes. "Harry, you and Ginny haven't..." Ron swallowed hard, his own face matching his hair "...have you?" "No! I mean--that is--I--Ginny--You--I--We..." Harry's voice sounded a bit strangled, his mind whirling uneasily, wondering at one moment if she was serious, and uncertain what to say or do the next. What was Ginny thinking? "Well, what do you think we've done, Ron?" said Ginny. "After all, Harry and I have been together for over a year, and now we're engaged, so excuse us if we want to be together in some privacy!" With that, she took hold of Harry's hand and began to pull him toward the Portrait hole. "Ginny!" Hermione's voice shook, shock and disbelief were etched on her features. "You don't mean --you and Harry...? You haven't really --" Ginny stopped and turned to face her brother and friend. "What can I say? Harry and I love each other. If we couldn't express ourselves physically to each other, I would never be able to say -- Gotcha!" With that, she stood on tiptoe, quickly kissed Harry on the cheek, said "Good-night, love," and raced out of the common room and up the girls' stairway. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at each other in disbelief, then towards the stairway as Ginny's footsteps faded away. "Why, that little -- she -- I'll have to --," Ron sputtered, then fell silent for a moment before beginning to laugh. Hermione and Harry joined in as the humour of the situation brought tears to their eyes and left them gasping for breath. *** Dean, Seamus, and Neville were all asleep as Ron and Harry crept quietly into the room and to their respective beds. They swiftly undressed and put on their pyjamas, and slid under the sheets. For several minutes the only sound to be heard was the quiet, regular breathing of the sleepers. "Harry?" whispered Ron. "You still awake?" "Yes." "You and Ginny... the two of you -- She was only joking tonight, right?" "Ron, what kind of question is that? You know how your sister is, and I thought you knew me better than that." Harry sounded frustrated. "Yeah ... it's just that -- Well, she's the only sister I've got. I guess I'm just feeling -- protective." Harry sighed deeply. "All right, I can accept that. I feel that way about Hermione. I love Hermione like a sister, but I love Ginny as the woman with whom I want to spend the rest of my life. I want nothing more than to always be able to make her feel safe and happy." He paused for a moment. "I hope you feel the same way about Hermione." There was a long silence before Ron answered. "I guess I do." "Good." Both of the young men rolled over and tried to fall asleep, only to find that their minds kept racing from one thought to the next. One thought of a young lady whose nose always seemed to be in a book, and whose presence had always made him giddy and nervous; the other groaned silently as he remembered the sensations the touches and kisses of a certain red-haired and freckled young woman had caused only a short while earlier. Both lay silent but awake well into the night... *** "Miss Granger? Who did you say we were going to meet?" "I'm going to introduce you to Sir Nicholas at breakfast, Anna May. He's a friend who will be helping Ginny and I make sure you get to all your classes today. A special kind of friend." Hermione led the youngest student to ever attend Hogwarts down the stairway to the Great Hall. "What's so special about Sir Nickles?" "That's Sir Nicholas, Anna May. He has been here at Hogwarts for a very long time, and he isn't quite like our other friends, or you, or me." A puzzled frown fixed itself on the seven-year-olds face. "So if he's not like us... How is he diff'rent?" "Do you remember what I told you about Professor Binns, the History of Magic instructor, being special?" "That he was a ghost? Yes." "Well, so is Sir Nicholas," she said as they entered the Great Hall and headed toward the Gryffindor Table. "Oh... Do you think he might like to meet Lady Desiree?" "Lady Desiree? Who's she?" blinked Hermione. "She's the ghost in our flat. She's special, too. She and I have tea parties sometimes on rainy days. Oh, look! There's Miss Whizzly and the Head Boy! Do you think they kinda look alike?" Ginny was about halfway down the table, seated facing the far wall and talking quietly to Harry and Ron as they ate breakfast. "They look alike because the Head Boy is Ginny's older brother. His name is Ron." "I thought so," Anna May replied, quite seriously. "Who is the man with the glasses and messy hair? He was leading us up to the tower last night, wasn't he?" "Yes, Anna May, he was. His name is Harry. Harry Potter." "Oh... Mum said I would see him here. She says he's special. Is he a ghost, too?" Hermione smothered a giggle. "No, Anna May, Harry is definitely NOT a ghost. Harry is special because -- well, because of something that happened a long time before you were even born." By this time, they had reached the place where the others were sitting. "Good morning, Miss Whizzly," said the little girl, sitting down next to her as she spoke. "Good, morning, Mr. Whizzly and Mr. Potter. I'm here to be 'troduced to Sir Nickles. Where is he?" "Sir Nicholas isn't here yet. Ron, Harry, this is Anna May Vertocular. She's a very special little girl," introduced Hermione. Anna May turned to Hermione, a look of dismay on her face. "I'm not special. I'm still alive. Sir Nickles is special, like Lady Desiree and Perfesher Binns." Just then, Sir Nicholas arrived, floating along just above the floor. "Good morning, everyone." "Good morning, Sir Nicholas," emphasized Hermione. "May I introduce Anna May Vertocular? Anna May, this is Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, the Gryffindor House Ghost." Anna May stood up and gave a small curtsey. "I'm very pleased to meet you, Sir Nickles." "As am I you, Miss Vertocular," replied the ghost, returning the curtsey with a deep bow and sweep of his ghostly hat. "What a delightful child!" he murmured aside to Ron and Harry. "Miss Granger told me you were special, Sir Nickles." smiled the little girl. "Would you like to meet Lady Desiree? She's the ghost at our flat in London. She's special, too." The four older Hogwarts students witnessed something that very few people have ever seen -- Sir Nicholas, a ghost whose normal coloration was pearly-white and slightly transparent, darkened as if he were blushing. "Ahem... How -- very charming! I do believe that at some time in the future, if it can be arranged, I would very much like to make the Lady Desiree's acquaintance, my dear young lady. I do complement you on your exquisite manners. Such protocol is often sadly missing here at Hogwarts," commented Sir Nicholas. "However, I am here now to offer you my services as an escort for later this day, as you traverse the corridors from your lessons in History of Magic to your lessons in Herbology." "Thank you, Sir Nickles. I would 'preciate your comp'ny," replied Anna May, curtseying again. "Hogwarts is so big; I think I would get losted if special friends didn't show me the way." "How absolutely marvellous! What a wonderful young lady! Miss Anna May --You do not object if I use the familiar, as a friend?" inquired Sir Nicholas. "Of course not, Sir Nickles. 'Friends are the treashers of a life well spent' ", Lady Desiree always says." "Smashing! Miss Anna May, I shall await your exit from Professor Binns' classroom at the appropriate hour so that I may guard and guide you to the care of Professor Sprout. Until then, m'lady, a most pleasant day to you." The ghost gave an elaborate bow, (to which Anna May curtsied once more) drifted backwards (almost colliding with a fourth-year boy from Ravenclaw) and then glided swiftly out the Great Hall's double doors, chuckling to himself, "What an extraordinary child. And to think she called me special... Sir Nickles! How wonderfully charming!" Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny turned as one to stare in open-mouthed wonder at Anna May, who merely smiled, sat back down and asked for some breakfast porridge and milk. "Damn!" said Ron. "She wrapped him right around her little finger!" He immediately winced in pain as Hermione kicked his shin, shook her head, and murmured, "Watch your language!" "Sir Nicholas was right, you know. It wouldn't hurt if we all started practicing some of Anna May's manners," said Ginny thoughtfully. Her gaze shifted to Harry. "You too, Harry. Every girl wants her suitor to treat her like a queen." "I think I'd best remember that," Harry murmured to himself. "Anna May?" asked Hermione, "Wherever did you learn deportment like that?" "Lady Desiree says, 'Any young lady who isn't p'lite, isn't really a lady.' That is why she comes to my tea parties -- to help me learn manners and 'portment to be a real lady. May I have a mufflin, please?" *** When Ron and Harry attended the Basic Missed Information Lessons (A short introduction to those classes not previously taken so that every student had at least a minimal knowledge of the curricula) they learned that the NEWTs for the three areas of study that they would be taking (Arithmancy, Study of Ancient Runes and Muggle Studies) would consist of an oral exam to show they had at least a basic understanding of the subjects and a written test of certain facts pertaining to each of the disciplines. "That doesn't sound too bad," said Ron in a relieved voice after class. "I was expecting something along the lines of having to decipher a hundred pages of runes about Muggles and Arithmancy." While Ron and Harry were in Basic Missed Information Hermione was learning the details of her Arithmancy NEWT. For perhaps the first time at Hogwarts she felt that she might not have studied hard enough. Upon learning that the NEWT would include two entire terms of Predictive Computation, spent deriving the Greater and Lesser Numeraics in relation to their quantitive whole, half, thirds, quarters, fifths and sixths when portrayed in each of the major and minor Hesperadic equations, followed by a review of Numerological Display and Magical Calculus as a two-day written test, even Hermione joined in her year-mates collective groan. Transfiguration proved to be no easier for any of the seventh-year students. Professor McGonagall revealed that the NEWT for her class would consist of rapid-fire multiple transfigurations of a random number and kind of animal, vegetable and mineral subjects (not less than 50 nor more than 100), ending with a self-transfiguration challenge to be revealed only at the time of testing. Ron and Harry did not meet up with Ginny again until Potions, where she made sure to sit next to her fiancé and hold his hand. The new Potions Master had his back to the students when they arrived, putting away an assortment of glass vials and crystal jars, each one meticulously labelled with both a name and a description of the contents, in the supplies cupboard. The dungeon room seemed both brighter and cheerier than in years past, its walls, ceiling and floor having been scoured free of the alchemical detritus of previous centuries, though a thin pall of deep purple smoke lingered at the ceiling. On the granite-topped table at the front of the classroom, a cauldron continued to smoulder lightly, apparently the source of the purple cloud overhead. When he finally turned back and walked to the front of the classroom, Harry was once more made very aware of the instructor's two differently coloured eyes, particularly since they focused on him almost immediately. "Good Morning," he began. " I apologize for the colourful residue floating about -- I was attempting to recreate a formula from my private researches, and was distracted by the questions one of the students from the previous class was posing. A very good practical demonstration of why concentration is so vital to the proper method of potion creation," the Potions Master smiled faintly as he spoke. "I am Doctor Farthinwald, your Potions Instructor for the immediate future. I request that when any of you pose a question to me, please be certain that I am not involved in experimentation," he smiled again. "Much safer that way for all of us, yes." "Let me begin by outlining the curriculum for this coming year," he announced while picking up a sheet of parchment. After scanning it quickly, he began to read aloud. "You will first be concocting and distilling concentrated syrup of Piscator Ocularum, Puffskein Urine and Kneazle Fur dissolved in a mixture of acidic Streeler slime and Aqua Rosara created from the night-blooming variety of the Rosa Victorinox. This will be a rather lengthy process, but quite manageable for students of your ability. The complete process is well detailed in the textbook you were requested to acquire for this class." "That will be followed by extracting and refining six ounces each of the three alchemically different adhesive substances found in acromantula webbing. That process is also well detailed in your texts." He looked up from the parchment for a moment. "As Acromantula are deemed one of the most dangerous magical creatures to be found, it is fortunate that Reubeus Hagrid, the Care of Magical Creatures instructor and Hogwarts Keeper of the Keys and Grounds, has been able to acquire a supply of said webbing for our needs." Doctor Farthinwald seemed almost preoccupied with giving details, much to Hermione's delight. Ron, who had turned a bit pale at the mention of the acromantula, whispered across the worktable to Harry, "No need to ask where Hagrid found that stuff, right Harry?" "Mr. Weasley! Please pay attention," called out the Doctor. "This information will be vital to your successful completion of the NEWT for Potions. Five points from Gryffindor for your inattention!" "To continue, your third project will require a fair amount of research on your part, for you will be given a selection of plant and animal materials which you must identify, categorize, and prepare for long-term storage. Those three tasks will be sufficient to take us to the final term, when you will then determine which of those materials you must use in conjunction with your previous work projects to create several potions, which you will then concoct. Any questions?" Ginny's hand was in the air, along with Hermione's and about half the students in the class. "Yes, Miss Weasley?" "May we work together and share information as we complete the various projects, sir?" Ginny asked. "Yes, you may. However, I want a complete breakdown of which students work together and who in that partnership has determined what, why, when and how in the process if you do so. Five points to Gryffindor for asking an intelligent question! Miss Abbott, your question?" "Doctor Farthinwald, must we acquire the necessary ingredients for the distillation process of the tincture through self-collection, or will we be able to purchase them?" "An excellent point. Five points to Hufflepuff! I shall award an extra credit bonus of five percent of your final grade to those students who collect the materials on their own. Miss Granger, your query?" Doctor Farthinwald was speeding through the the answers he was giving, delighted that the students wanted to learn. "May I ask if the components that we must identify create more than one potion mixture when combined with the rest of the ingredients in different amounts or order?" Doctor Farthinwald smiled broadly. "Thank you, Miss Granger, you have identified the one bit of information that will either assure success or failure with your assigned work; The fact is that fifteen different potion mixtures are capable of being created from the ingredients you will be working with. It will be up to you to do sufficient research to discover what they are." An audible groan came from several students as the new Potions instructor scanned the room. "That, ladies and gentlemen, is why it is called a 'Nastily Excruciating Wizarding Test'. Ten points to Gryffindor!" A few more questions were asked and answered before Doctor Farthinwald gave over the rest of the class time to the students to study the necessary chapters and instructions to begin their first project. As pages turned and quills scratched softly on parchment, the Potions Master cleared up the remains of the failed experiment, then sat at his worktable with a sheaf of parchment sheets making notes. Harry looked up from his own research to find the instructor looking directly at him, a slight frown on his face, then watched him quickly scribble something, crumple the sheet of parchment and toss it onto the tabletop. Whether by accident or purposefully, it rolled off the teacher's worktable and came to rest beneath the one where he sat, right by his left foot. A slight nod from the doctor seemed to indicate that Harry was supposed to pick it up, though when he began to bend over, Farthinwald shook his head slightly and mouthed silently, "Not yet." Harry was burning with curiosity about the message on the floor by the time class was over. To have a reason to bend over he 'accidentally' knocked his quill and a textbook to the floor. When he stooped down to retrieve his possessions, the crumpled ball of parchment was surreptitiously picked up along with the quill and quickly transferred to a pocket. It was then that the Potions Master stood up, straightened the parchment sheets on the worktable, and cleared his throat. "Students," he announced, "as we have only a few minutes of lesson time left, I have a few instructions for all future lessons. "First, starting with the next time we meet, I'm requiring that you, your clothing and all equipment to be used be magically cleaned and sterilized before you enter this chamber. This is to keep any foreign particles and dust to the absolute minimum. A reminder will be posted on this room's door, along with instructions on how to accomplish this necessity." "Second, from this time on, we will meet for all instructional lessons in the Great Hall -- This chamber is to be used only for the seventh-years hands-on practicum. The other-year's lessons will be held elsewhere." Doctor Farthinwald paused to scratch the side of his nose before continuing. "Third, I remind you to record in your project notes every step of the project, along with the date and time each step is both begun and completed. Failure to do this will negatively affect the result of your Potions NEWT." "Fourth, I shall allow access to this chamber to monitor the distillation process you will be performing outside of regularly scheduled lesson times, but you must see me first to obtain both permission and the necessary password to enter every time you wish to do so," He peered myopically around the class before continuing. "I will be available in my office from four pm to half past five Monday through Thursdays, as well as being available at the regularly scheduled lessons." "Finally, both a bit of good news and bad news," he smiled sardonically. "The good news is that should you manage to complete your project at any time before the summer holidays begin, you will be excused from attending the remaining class sessions." A murmur of excitement swept through the classroom before he continued. "The bad news is that should you not complete your project before the scheduled end of classes, ten percent of your final NEWT score will be deducted for every step left undone. Ladies and gentlemen, I wish each and every one of you the best of luck. You'll need it. You are dismissed." Harry held back a bit from the rest of the students going out the door, taking the opportunity to surreptitiously remove and quickly uncrumple the parchment to look at what was written. HP After evening meal My office Alone Tempus Fugit RF Author's Note: Ever have one of those moments in writing where everything you want to relate in your story just comes together perfectly? Well, it sure did not happen with chapters five and six! Between trying to cut down on wordiness and minutiae at the suggestion of my wonderful BETA reader/editor/all-round Wonderful Person (with Boldly Capitalized WP) Kalarien (Who groans at my puns), the sudden realization that lesson schedules as I had originally written them just did not work, and a frantic search for what I remembered as a short story (but was in actuality an outtake from Imogen's wonderful Alpha and Omega, which can be found at Elenard.com that inspired me to use an adapted reference to it in this chapter -- it's the mention about the copy of Ron's letter to Hermione that Molly found -- that forced me to rewrite these chapters three times -- each time about an hour AFTER I had sent the previous version to Kalarien. You can imagine the furious e-mailing I had to do to keep her from BETAing the wrong stuff. (Sigh...) But she was understanding and (virtually) held my hand as she helped me through the whole process while flinging frozen seafood in my direction, so in lieu of adopting her as my granddaughter (just to keep it in the family), I'm dedicating both chapters to her. Thank You, Solveig
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