Harry Potter and the Power of Emotions

Ninotsjka

Story Summary:
Harry wakes up around midnight. A few moments later he finds that Fred and George have apparated into his room.

Chapter 09

Chapter Summary:
Rendezvous at the lake...
Posted:
10/18/2003
Hits:
1,843


Chapter 9: Rendezvous at the lake

"That's definitely something, you should try," said Ron.

"No Ron, he isn't!" said Hermione, "you've read yourself what Dumbledore said. It's too dangerous."

"But I'm going to try it anyway," said Harry, "this is something he will not pass to Snape, I suppose. I guess he's already suspicious at Snape, since Snape has worked for Dumbledore since he disappeared. He's not going to tell Snape, something like: 'Oh, I'm writing my memoirs. It's about how I'm going to kill the Potter Boy!' But I'll bet Snape would be quite happy to assist him in my killing, after Voldemort is gone himself."

"Fair point, Harry," said Ron, "It's good that Midas is your friend now. Maybe this time Snape will be a bit lighter on you."

"I certainly hope so!" said Harry.

The afternoon was dedicated to Transfiguration and Herbology. Madam Sprout made them work with Dwale. A cousin of the Mandrake, that was also known as Deadly Nightshade.

"Professor Snape, has asked to teach you a bit more about this plant, because you will soon get to work with it in Potions. Does anyone know what the properties of Dwale are?" asked Professor Sprout.

Neville put up his hand, just as Hermione did.

"Neville?" asked Professor Sprout.

"Dwale is poisonous. The root is the most poisonous and the berries the least. An adult can eat two or three berries without injury," said Neville.

"Ten points to Gryffindor," said Professor Sprout, "now what are the symptoms of Dwale poisoning? Hermione?"

"You completely lose your voice, your trunk bends forward, your hands and fingers move continually and your pupils become dilated," said Hermione.

"Again ten points to Gryffindor!" said Professor Sprout, "today we will be harvesting the leaves of the plant. So I'd use your dragon hide gloves if I were you. There are still toxic."

The Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors went to strip the plants of their leaves.

"Why do you think Snape wants to use Belladonna for?" asked Ernie.

"I don't know," said Harry.

"Maybe he wants to concoct a potion that makes you act like a fish above water," said Ron.

"Yeah, right! What good is that potion going to do?" said Harry.

"I think he's again wanting to make a medicine out of it. I hear it helps with eye injuries and a few other things," said Hermione.

They didn't say anything more that lesson. Professor Sprout had told hem to keep quiet and work further.

"Now, put all the leaves in this pot, and you can go," Professor Sprout said.

The week went quickly. That Friday, Harry went to the Quidditch pitch with Ron, Katie, Andrew and Jack. A lot of people turned up at the Chaser try-out. He needed two new Chasers. The best turned out to be Ginny and Colin. Although Dennis was also quite good. Dennis would have a chance the next year, as this was Katie's last year at Hogwarts.

Harry spend Saturday with Luna by the lake. They talked about a new species of bat. It seemed only to attack marsupials. It was several inches long, black and had lots of hair. The last sighting of one had been in Harry's third year by a group of students of a local Muggle School. Luna's father was planning to publish an article about the bat in the newest edition of the Quibbler.

Harry liked spending time with Luna, even though she was a bit weird. He felt as if he had been waiting for her all his life, as if she would give him the courage to fight off Voldemort again, when Voldemort was ready writing his memoirs.

"Do you know whether a loved one, can give you more courage," Harry asked her.

"Sure it can, the loved one is like a net to fall back on. A net that's always going to be there when you need to fall back onto it. It gives you courage to do more things, because you have something, or in this case someone, to fall back on," said Luna misty-eyed, "do I give you more courage?"

"Yes, you do. Although I don't know if I will be coming back. I have to be a murderer, you know... or be killed myself," said Harry. For the first time he had told someone else than Ron and Hermione about what troubled him.

"So, Potter! You and your girlfriend finally got it out in the open have you?" snarled Malfoy.

"Watch out, Malfoy! Picking fights with a substitute teacher? Five points from Slytherin! You have nothing to stand on, anymore, Malfoy. But your secret is still safe with me. I'm not so lose in the lips as your dear Professor Snape," said Harry.

"You can't take points from Slytherin, Potter! You are not a teacher, nor are you a substitute teacher," Malfoy said disbelievingly.

"Oh yes I am. I am the substitute Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. When Lupin is being a wolf in his office I'll be teaching YOU Defence Against the Dark Arts!" Harry said with a broad smile on his face, "you're lucky, though. Dumbledore wanted me as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, not merely a substitute!" Malfoy looked disgusted.

Pansy, Millicent and Blaise danced to Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle singing: "We're back, back in black! Join the Draco Malfoy fanclub!"

"No thank you," said Harry.

"Potter, you're taste in girls gets worse and worse. Cho was at least normal!" sneered Pansy.

"Do not insult me, Pansy! I'm a substitute teacher. Want me to dock some more points from Slytherin?" said Harry.

"I didn't know you had a sense of humour, Potter," added Millicent.

"He hasn't. He IS a substitute teacher. Of Defence Against the Dark Arts!" said Malfoy with a look that could kill.

"Crabbe, Goyle, go with Pansy, Millicent and Blaise. I want to have a little chat with Potter," Draco said malevolently.

As they went Draco began: "Don't you tell them what you saw." He sounded quite frightened.

"I won't," said Harry. "Besides it could have been worse. You could have been kissing Dean Thomas. Dean is a man, black, a Mudblood as you call them and in Gryffindor!" added Harry in a whisper. Malfoy turned a beautiful shade of pink. He looked like a strawberry with whipped cream on top.

Hermione was watching Harry and Draco from a distance as she sat with Ron on the other side of the lake. She liked to eat that strawberry with whipped cream. She'd always loved them. She used to eat them when she went to watch tennis at Wimbledon with her parents. She started to lick her lips. She could almost taste the strawberry. Did Draco taste like strawberries and cream, when I kissed him? Would he taste like that when they would kiss again?

Suddenly she came back to her senses. What was she thinking of Draco in that way for? She was Rons girlfriend! Ron was talking about Quidditch, not noticing Harry, Luna and Draco. Hermione nudged him in the ribs, and pointed at Draco.

"I'll bet Harry takes some points from Slytherin!" said Ron.

"What if he was talking about the incident in the Room of Requirement?" asked Hermione, trying to hide her feelings for Malfoy.

"Oh, that," said Ron quickly. Ron started to blush also. He didn't look nearly as cute as Draco when he blushed, thought Hermione.


Author notes: Next chapters title: With a little help from Snape?