Chapter 55 - Half-Blood Prince

        My first class of the morning was Charms. I hadn't slept well the night before, constantly stressing about Draco and Harry's reaction, so I was thankful we didn't have to perform any spells as I probably wouldn't have done very well. The second class of the day was Potions. I was a little excited to see what kind of a teacher Professor Slughorn would be. As I was walking down the corridor to the Potions classroom, Harry suddenly stepped in front of me,

"Ella!"

I panicked, wondering if he was about to yell at me right here in the middle of the hall when he pulled an old Potions book out of his bag, "Use this in Potions. It has corrected instructions, so you'll do better than everyone in the class and win the liquid luck prize."

"I- What?" I tried to ask, but Harry was already running down the corridor to his next class. Confused but trusting my twin, I rushed to get to my class in time. Eric gave me a big smile when he saw me walk into the classroom,

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

"I'm ok, Eric. I promise," I smiled before Professor Slughorn started the class. After introducing himself and explaining the basics of potions, Professor Slughorn gestured to the potions on the table behind him,

"Now, I prepared some concoctions this morning. Any ideas what these might be?"

There were murmurs from the students around me, and when I turned to Eric, he grinned and raised his hand. We both knew what two of the three were, and I had a guess for the second one, but I wasn't feeling up to talking today. Professor Slughorn smiled, "Ah, mister...?"

"Underwood, sir," Eric answered, stepping toward the counter to point out the two potions he knew, "I believe this one is Veritaserum, the truth-telling serum, since it's almost indistinguishable from water. And this one I know to be Polyjuice Potion. It allows the drinker to temporarily assume the form of another person. I'm unsure about this last one, though, sir."

"That's quite alright, my boy. Well done."

I gave Eric a proud smile as he came to stand next to me again while Professor Slughorn looked around the classroom, "Can anyone else venture a guess as to what this third potion is? Hm?"

I tried to avoid eye contact, looking around at everyone else until Slughorn called on me, "Ella, my girl! Do you have an idea?"

"Um, I believe so, sir," I awkwardly answered, walking up to the counter. The smell from the potion confirmed my guess as I explained, "This is Amortentia which is considered the most powerful love potion in the world. I've read that it smells differently to each individual depending on what attracts them."

"Yes, well done, Ella. Would you mind telling us what you smell? Just so we can all have an example."

"Oh, um... I smell... Old parchment and spring rain and-" I froze at the smell of green apples, fully realising who I associated these things with as I quickly lied before returning to my place beside Eric, "And apple pie."

Eric gave me a weird look, probably wondering why I hesitated at the last scent, but I ignored it.

"Thank you very much, my dear," Professor Slughorn smiled as he then added to the class, "I should tell you that Amortentia cannot create real or actual love. That would be impossible, of course, but it does create powerful infatuation or obsession. And for that reason, it is probably the most dangerous potion in this room."

The professor put the lid on the cauldron, breaking some of the students out of their dazed states. Turning to the small vial he had, Professor Slughorn showed it to us as he "Now, what you see here, ladies and gentlemen, is a curious little potion, known as Felix Felicis. It is more commonly known as Liquid Luck, but it is incredibly difficult to make and can lead to disaster, should you get it wrong. However, if brewed correctly, one sip from this and you will find that all your endeavours succeed... Until the effects wear off, of course. So, the exciting thing about this tiny vial here is the lucky student who manages to brew an acceptable Draught of Living Dead within the hour will be able to claim this prize. Issue one, however, I've only had a small set of students manage to brew a potion of sufficient quality during this task. Nevertheless, I wish you all good luck. You can find the recipe on page ten of your books. Off you go!"

Eric and I were quick to find a table and pick two cauldrons beside each other. Still not understanding why Harry had given me his book to use, I flipped it open anyway to page ten, immediately taking notice of all the markings and notes of the margins and such. I started following the instructions that the notes had changed rather than the original. Most of the corrections made sense to me, but it seemed odd that whoever had written in the book was smarter than the original authors. It felt a little good seeing everyone else have Sopophorous beans fly about as they tried to cut them rather than crush them with their knives. I felt bad seeing Eric looking a little stressed about the fact that he was struggling while I wasn't breaking a sweat. But when Professor Slughorn smiled proudly at my perfectly brewed Draught of Living Death, I couldn't help but feel amazing compared to how I had been feeling the past day and a half.

As we made our way to the Great Hall for lunch, I tucked the vial of Felix Felicis safely in my bag as Eric asked me,

"How did you do it?"

"Harry gave me his book before class, saying it would help win me the Liquid Luck. I didn't have time to question him, but I'm so glad he gave it to me because it has so many useful corrections!"

Eric nodded before changing the topic to his first class as we continued down the corridor. When the two of us sat down across from Harry, Ron and Hermione at the Gryffindor table for lunch, Harry and I shared awkward eye contact as I handed him back his book before Hermione sweetly asked,

"Are you alright, Ella? What made you late last night? Does it have anything to do with Harry's nose bleeding when he came in?"

"Oh, I... Um," I tried to think of a lie that made sense until, saving me, Harry spoke up,

"El came looking for me with Luna. She made sure I was alright and walked me to the Gryffindor common room so I could clean up my nose. Right, Ella?"

"Yes. I was worried after grabbing the jumper I had left on my seat and found Luna, so we just looked for Harry together."

Ron, Hermione and Eric nodded, looking a bit suspicious but not questioning it as they started eating their lunch. I gave my brother a small thankful smile, glad he wasn't so mad at me that he'd out me to our friends.

Later that night, after dinner, I had received a message from Professor Dumbledore that he needed to see me in his office. I had been helping Professor Flitwick prepare some things for a class demonstration he had planned for his first-year students the next morning before rushing off so I wasn't late to see Dumbledore.

As I opened and stepped through the office's large wooden door and walked toward the headmaster's desk, I saw Harry already there.

"Forgive me. I was only being curious," Professor Dumbledore said to my twin before he noticed me coming toward them, "Ah, Ella, I'm glad to see you got my message as well. Thank you for joining us."

Harry and I shared another awkward glance at each other as I took the place beside him and replied to the professor,

"I'm sorry, Sir, Professor Flitwick asked for my help preparing a demonstration for some first years tomorrow."

"How lovely. Not to worry," Dumbledore smiled before becoming serious, "But enough chit-chat. You both must be wondering why I summoned you here tonight. The answer lies here." Dumbledore stood from his chair to lead Harry and me over to a beautifully shaped cabinet of sorts holding multiple vials. "What you're looking at are memories. In this case, pertaining to one individual: Voldemort. Or as he was known, then: Tom Riddle." Pulling one of the many memory vials out, Dumbledore explained, handing it to us. "This vial contains the most sufficient memory. On the day I first met him. I'd like you to see it. If you would."

Sharing a look of caution but curiosity, Harry and I nodded to each other before I took the offered vial and brought it over to the pensieve. Turning to Dumbledore to ensure my actions were correct, I waited for his nod before pouring the liquid into the strange water of the pensieve. The liquid turned into what looked like black ink in the pensieve, and when Harry and I placed our faces into the bowl, it swirled, forming a world around us from the memory.

We were in a city, following a man in a cloak carrying an umbrella to shield himself from the rain as he walked toward Wool's Orphanage. When the man stepped inside the building, he closed the umbrella, allowing me and Harry to see that it was a younger Professor Dumbledore. After speaking with the lady at the front desk, she led him up some stairs as she spoke,

"I admit to some confusion for receiving your letter, Mr Dumbledore. In all the years' Tom's been here, he's never once had a family visitor. There have been incidents with the other children... Nasty things."

When we reached a door, the lady knocked before pushing it open to reveal a very small room with a bed, a desk and a wardrobe. There was a young boy standing by the window that the lady gently spoke to, "Tom, you have a visitor."

"How'd you do, Tom?" Professor Dumbledore greeted before the lady left, so Tom and Dumbledore could talk. The professor took a seat on the small bed while Tom sat at his desk before asking,

"You're the doctor, aren't you?"

"No, I'm a professor."

"I don't believe you. She wants me looked at. They think I'm... different."

"Well, perhaps they're right."

"I'm not mad."

"Hogwarts is not a place for mad people. Hogwarts is a school. A school of magic."

Tom sat there, unresponsive due to his apprehension. Professor Dumbledore took a breath before cautiously questioning, "You can do things, can't you, Tom? Things other children can't."

"I can make things move without touching them. I can make animals do what I want without training them. I can make bad things happen to people who mean to me. I can make them hurt... If I want. Who are you?"

"Well, I'm like you, Tom. I'm different."

"Prove it."

My eyes widened slightly along with the memory of Tom as his wardrobe suddenly caught fire from the inside.

"I think there's something in your wardrobe trying to get out, Tom," Dumbledore smiled, nodding his head for the boy to go check inside. When Tom opened the wardrobe, he found his box, which Dumbledore asked him to open and empty. Tom did as he was asked, showing the professor the things he had taken from other children at the orphanage. Dumbledore explained, "Thievery is not tolerated at Hogwarts, Tom. At Hogwarts, you'll be taught not only how to use magic, but how to control it. You understand me?"

Tom didn't nod, but Dumbledore seemed content with the interaction as he grabbed his coat and bag and went to leave. Before Dumbledore turned to walk down the corridor, Tom spoke up,

"I can speak to snakes, too. They find me. Whisper things. Is that normal for someone like me?"

The memory disappeared, and I pulled my head out of the water to process what I had seen.

"Did you know, sir? Then?" I asked Professor Dumbledore, not looking away from the magical water until the headmaster replied,

"Did I know I'd just met the most dangerous dark wizard of all time? No. If I had, I..." Dumbledore trailed off, and I wondered what he would have done before he changed the subject, "Over time, while here at Hogwarts, Tom Riddle grew close to one particular teacher. Can you guess who that teacher might be?"

Harry and I thought for a moment before looking at each other with a knowing glance before Harry guessed,

"You didn't bring Professor Slughorn back simply to teach potions, did you, sir?"

"No, I did not. You see, Professor Slughorn possesses something that I desire very dearly. He will not give it out easily."

"You said Professor Slughorn would try to collect to us."

"I did."

"Do you want us to let him?" I asked, turning to look at my headmaster as he nodded,

"Yes."

My brother and I turned to each other, sharing the same thought: we would have to work together on this.

When Dumbledore dismissed us, I was quick to try to leave and make my way down the stairs to escape being alone with Harry, worried he would want to talk about what Draco had said on the train. Confirming my suspicions, Harry called after me, being sure not to be too loud so late at night,

"Ella, please! We need to talk about this! I want to talk about it!"

"Well, I don't!" I called back, walking faster until Harry used a tone I had never heard from him,

"Ella Lily Potter, we need to talk now!"

I stopped in my tracks, knowing there was no point in trying to avoid this inevitable conversation. With a sigh, I turned to my brother, flailing my arms against my sides as I questioned him,

"What is there to say, Harry?"

Harry didn't say anything, so I admitted, filling in any missing pieces Harry may have needed, "Yes, last year, I kissed him. We had been talking a lot, and ever since tutoring him in third year, we've had an understanding. We were... friends. And I started to- I thought maybe..." I trailed off, hating myself for thinking we could ever be more than temporary friends behind closed doors. With another sigh, I finished, looking up at my twin with a frown as I finished, "I thought we were moving past the rivalry stuff."

Harry walked over to me, frowning as he questioned me,

"Why didn't you tell me? You didn't mention anything. After every tutoring session in third year, you would complain about him."

"I lied because I knew you would freak out about it. You can be really protective, and that, mixed with your hatred for him, would not have gone well."

"Only because he's dangerous, Ella. What I said on the train, I may have said it with anger then, but even now, I know that your hope to see good in people who don't have any will hurt you. I don't want you to get hurt, Ella."

"It doesn't matter now," I said, looking at my feet to hide the fact that I was trying not to cry. I had already been hurt, but if I told Harry, he'd kill Draco, and as much as I hated him, I didn't hate him enough to send my angry brother after him. Looking away from my twin, I assured him, "I told him to stay away from me." I scoffed with a fake laugh, noting, "That's probably the best news you've heard all day..."

Harry frowned at hearing me say that, looking sympathetic. Just wanting to be ok with my brother again, understanding where he was coming from, I finally faced him, "I'm sorry I got mad at you."

"Hey, I'm sorry, too," Harry replied, pulling me in for a hug. With that, Harry went out of his way to walk me to the Hufflepuff common room, planting a kiss on my cheek goodnight before I went inside to bed.

A few weeks had gone by. I had been feeling better day by day, slowly forgetting about Draco. But it didn't stop some of the dreams I'd have of him or the little memories that played in my head when I saw something that reminded me of him. It was easier to distract myself with my friends and the task of doing well in my classes, especially Potions, so that I could impress Professor Slughorn.

It was finally time for Quidditch tryouts again. Harry had been made captain of the Gryffindor team, and Ron had decided to try out for keeper. Despite Eric being busy with an assignment, Hermione and I were excited to watch the tryouts and cheer on Ron. There were quite a few people trying out this year, and they were all chatting amongst themselves as Harry tried to get their attention,

"Okay, so this morning, I'm going to be putting you all for a few drills just to assess you straight! Quiet, please!"

No one was listening to my twin, except Ron, and I felt a little bad until Ginny saved him by shouting,

"Shut it!"

"Thanks. Alright, um, now then, remember, just because you made the team last year does not guarantee you a spot this year. Is that clear? Good."

As Harry and Ginny started to discuss who to try out first, Ron looked up at Hermione and me seeming very nervous. Hermione gave a small wave, and I watched as her cheeks turned pink. Cormac McLaggen started talking to Ron, taking his attention away from us, so I turned to Hermione,

"Do you-?"

"No," Hermione answered before I could finish. I laughed, speaking quietly so the others around us in the stands couldn't hear,

"You don't even know what I was going to say!"

"Yes, I do."

"Yes, you do know what I was going to say, or yes, you do have feelings for Mr Weasley down there?"

Hermione turned to me with narrowed eyes as I smirked at her, waiting for her to admit it. After a moment, Hermione huffed and turned toward the field as she replied,

"Fine. Maybe small feelings."

"I knew it! It was only a matter of time."

"What?"

"You two have always argued like an old married couple, Mione. I've been waiting a year for at least one of you to have feelings."

Hermione turned to say something, but before she could argue with me, I smiled, "Now shush, I want to watch the tryouts."

My brilliant friend gave me a playful smack on the arm before we watched Ron fly his broom to take up the keeper position at one of the ends of the field. Though, I was a little worried about seeing McLaggen take up the other keeper position, knowing Ron probably felt more nervous at having competition like him. The Gryffindors, and Luna, sitting around Hermione and me cheered for both boys before the tryouts began,

"Come on, come on. Go, Cormac!

"Come on, Ron!"

Ginny did fantastic trying out as a chaser, and I was very proud of her. I was growing worried for Ron when I saw McLaggen block every attempt Ginny and the other chasers made to get the quaffle into the hoops. When it was finally Ron's turn, I shouted for encouragement,

"You can do it, Ron!"

As the quaffle was sent in Ron's direction, he brilliantly blocked every one. At one point, he accidentally slipped off his broom, holding on so he didn't fall to the ground. Hermione grabbed my hand, worried like I was, but we both sighed with relief as Ron quickly climbed back on his broom.

It was the last two throws for the keepers to block. McLaggen was first, looking as confident as ever, but as the chaser made her way toward him, about to throw the quaffle, I heard Hermione mutter under her breath,

"Confundus."

With wide eyes, I watched as McLaggen suddenly jerked out of the way, letting the quaffle fly past and through the goalpost. I turned to Hermione, not being able to hide my smile even though I knew it was sort of cheating. Hermione only slightly smirked, nodding her head toward the field for me to pay attention to the tryouts. It was hard not to laugh at McLaggen's befuddled expression, though I didn't care as all my focus went to Ron as another chaser flew toward him. The chaser threw the quaffle, and Ron blocked it with his head upside down. Excited for him, Hermione and I cheered along with the rest of the crowd.

After Harry and Ron had changed out of their quidditch uniforms, the boys, Hermione and I all made our way to meet up with Eric before heading back to the Gryffindor common room to relax together. Eric worked on his assignment some more, Hermione read the paper, Harry read his Potions textbook, I read my book, and Ron sat and enjoyed the fire, proud of himself after today as he spoke,

"I have to admit I thought I was going to miss that last one. I hope Cormac's not taking it too hard. He's got a bit of a thing for you, Hermione. Cormac."

Hermione put down her paper, turning to Ron to make sure he wasn't joking before shaking her head,

"He's vile."

I let a small smile cross my lips, knowing who Hermione was really interested in when Harry suddenly asked Hermione, showing her a page of his Potions book,

"Have you ever heard of the spell: Sectumsempra?"

"No, I haven't," Hermione frowned, irritated that Harry and I had been using the book to do exceptionally well in Potions, "And if you had a shred of self-respect, you'd hand that book in."

"Not bloody likely," Ron spoke, "He's top of the class. He's even better than you, Hermione. Slughorn thinks he's a genius."

Hermione frowned, glaring at Ron as Eric laughed, adding,

"Not that you haven't always been pretty good at Potions, El, but that book has definitely helped you become the top of our class."

Still frowning, Hermione asked, holding out her hand,

"I'd like to know who's that book was. Let's have a look, shall we?"

"No," Harry quickly answered, closing the book and standing. Hermione stood as well, questioning,

"Why not?"

"The binding is fragile."

"'The binding is fragile'?"

I furrowed my brows at my brother, not understanding what the issue was.

"Yeah."

"Ella?" Hermione asked, but I shrugged,

"I don't know. I've never looked to see."

Since he was distracted by my answering Hermione's question, Ginny was able to snatch the book out of my twin's hand, opening the first page before asking,

"Who's the Half-Blood Prince?"

"Who?" Hermione and I questioned simultaneously.

"That's what it says right here. This book is property of the Half-Blood Prince."

Hermione and I shared a puzzled look but shrugged as Harry took the book back and sat at a desk across the common room. I didn't understand what Harry's fascination was with the book but decided to ignore it until Hermione inevitably decided to research and tell us what she found out.

A week later, it had finally started to snow. Hermione, Eric, Ron, Harry, and I had decided to take a trip to Hogsmeade. As we were walking, Hermione expressed her frustration with Harry and the potions book,

"For weeks, you carry around this book. Practically, sleep with it, and yet you have no desire to find out who the Half-Blood Prince is."

"I didn't say I wasn't curious, and I don't sleep with it," Harry retorted, but Ron argued,

"Well, it's true! I like a nice chat before I go to bed. Now all you do is read that bloody book. It's like being with Hermione."

I gave Ron a playful smack on the shoulder as Hermione shook her head before explaining,

"Well, I was curious. So, I went to-"

"The library," Harry, Ron, Eric and I said simultaneously before I asked,

"And?"

"And nothing," Hermione pouted, "I couldn't find a reference anywhere to the Half-Blood Prince."

"There we go," Harry smiled, "That settles it, then."

Before anyone could make any further comments, the five of us paused at the sound of Professor Slughorn,

"Yeah, uh... hoping to find you in the Three Broomsticks!"

Professor Flitwick declined, hurrying to walk away and back toward Hogwarts,

"Uh, no, emergency choir practice from the freighthorse."

Figuring this would be a good chance to try to get closer to Slughorn, Harry and I simultaneously offered to our three friends,

"Does anyone fancy a butterbeer?"