PART 39

THE RISE of the sun was almost shy , reluctant beneath the clouds from the previous night's impending storm - across the cerise sky , its diamond light scattered in golden patterns upon the waters of the Black Lake. It was a wintry day , although it was still early September. Students scurried through the arching tawny corridors - eager to get to breakfast before beginning their day. The light travelled through the blades of grass coiled upon the soft soil , shimmering through the stained windows and throwing light upon the lively faces of the students and professors. 

It was that kind of a day where one would have preferred to have curled in front of a warm hearth and read to themselves - a pleasant , yet chilly air lingering all around - toes tucked neatly underneath a woollen blanket.

Evanna dragged her feet through the swarm of people clad in coloured , hemmed robes towards the Potions classroom in the dungeons. The previous night had come with strong , trepid winds - as well as with a bout of insomnia that the Ravenclaw had not been able to shake away. Albeit , she had entered her dormitory at one in the dread of night - after her patrol duty and repairing the Cabinet a bit - but she had continued to toss and turn before having finally given up and travelled to the Common Room with a book clutched under her arm.

Finally , she reached the doors to the classroom - the light barely filtering through the obsidian bricks of the dungeons. Evanna's crystalline eyes shimmered with lack of sleep , and her gaunt figure started walking towards an empty seat next to Draco.

"Did you travel to Azkaban and back ?", Draco mused with a curl of his lips , readying the apparatus on his table.

"Shut up", Evanna muttered before producing a copy of 'Advanced Potion Making' from her bag and slamming it on the table with an audible thud - attracting the attention of a crowd of few Hufflepuffs who were also taking Advanced Potions.

"What ?", Evanna questioned with a bored tone , before a sneer made its way onto her face - making the badgers turn away and return to their own business.

"Someone is moody", Draco chuckled , mercury irises tilting to regard her own.

"Didn't get much sleep last night", The Ravenclaw sighed - making the boy's gaze soften.

"You should go to Madame Pomfrey", He affirmed , making her look at him with an astonished look. Draco was aware that Evanna knew of his suspicions p but chose to suppress her problems instead of being open about it. He was tired of her keeping secrets from him - and whether they were terrifying , gruesome or merely too upsetting for one soul to bear alone , he wanted to know.

"I know you are not getting enough sleep , Ana. You should get it checked in the infirmary. It could be more serious than you think", Draco continued in a whisper.

"I'm fine , Draco", Evanna tired to assert - only to be met with the shake of his head.

"By the way , how many O.W.L.s did you get ?", His girlfriend enquired - a tried smile overtaking her weary features. He very well knew she was trying to switch to a different subject - but he played along anyways.

"Ten Oustandings , and one Exceeds Expectations", the Slytherin answered with a small smile.

"That's great." Evanna's grin widened , and she started setting up her own apparatus.

"Thank you. How many did you get ?"

"Eleven Outstandings", Evanna replied through a smug look - making Draco roll his eyes.

"Of course you did , I shouldn't have asked."

Their conversation was cut short by the shuffle of heavy footsteps padding across the stone-set floor. Professor Slughorn entered the circular classroom - dressed in plum robes , gooseberry hair cut short as he let out pants for breath before placing his books upon the mahogany desk. Light filtered through the slits in the glass , and the circular dungeons were much more different from when Professor Snape used to take the class. Previously , it had been dingy and the air had been stale - as though what entered never had a chance of going out through the cracks in the frigid stone walls. But now it was more airy somehow , charmed to smell much more pleasant - although most Slytherins were used to the obsidian darkness of the dungeons situated far below the rest of the castle.

"Good morning , everyone. I am Professor Horace Slughorn and I will be taking Advanced Potions", The aged wizard beamed in a cheerful voice - before his hand moved through the air upon a few cauldrons that had been covered. The lids were removed , exposing the coloured fumes melting into their surroundings. A pleasant smell filled the classroom - one that rose in the form of pink fumes from a cauldron on the far right.

The classroom suddenly smelled like mint , a familiar smell of linen and citrus too.

Immediately it became clear to her , judging by the pearlescent rose-coloured fumes rising in spirals from the particular cauldron , that the potion from which the pleasant scent emanated was Amortentia. Evanna did not have a particular fascination for the potion - considering it was quite useless in a broader view of things.

Just as the aged wizard opened his mouth to speak , the door to the classroom burst open - revealing two panting students clad in scarlet hemmed robes. Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley.

"They are taking Advanced Potions ?", Draco commented - baffled. Evanna turned to look at Hermione , who stood a few tables away , and the Gryffindor girl just shrugged to show that even she was not aware.

"Ah - Harry my boy , I was beginning to worry", Professor Slughorn mused with an appreciative smile. "You brought someone with us , I see."

"Ron Weasley , sir", Ron clarified. "I am dead awful at Potions - a menace actually. So I'll see myself out , Professor , sorry to trouble you" - but just as he turned around to flee for his life , Harry held him in place by his collar , with a look that said "If I am going down , I am taking you with me".

"Nonsense , we'll sort you out. Any friend of Harry's , is a friend of mine. Get your books out."

"Sir we don't have our books actually- " 

"Don't worry , get what you want from the cupboard", The Professor gestured - which resulted in Harry dragging away a defeated-looking Ron towards the cupboard.

"Now , I prepared these concoctions this morning. Any ideas as to what they might be ?", Professor Slughorn asked , motioning his hand towards the cauldrons bubbling upon burners.

In the fraction of a second , Hermione raised her hand.

"Yes Miss.... ?"

"Granger , sir."

The Gryffindor stepped in front , walking towards the set of cauldrons arranged upon the mahogany table. She leaned towards the potion , identifying them one by one. Looking down at a clear potion - Hermione inferred ,"That is Veritaserum. A truth-telling Potion. It forces the drinker to tell the truth until the effect wears off."

Moving to the next one , a light smile of nostalgia tugged at her crimson lips as she spoke ,"That is the Polyjuice Potion. It gives the drinker the ability to transform into the appearance of the person whose essence - such as nails or hair - has been added to the potion."

"Precisely , Miss Granger", Slughorn nodded.

"And ...... this is Amortentia. The strongest love potion in the world", Hermione spoke determinedly. "It is rumoured to smell differently according to the smell that attracts them the most."

She paused , heat creeping up her neck as she spoke ,"For example , I smell.... freshly mown grass , new parchment and....... spearmint toothpaste."

She hurried back to her spot next to Lavender Brown , trying desperately to hide her blushing face behind a curtain of chestnut hair.

"Yes , Miss Granger. But Amortentia does not create actual love , only powerful infatuation or obsession. Which is why , it is the most dangerous potion in this room."

Evanna's hand slowly went  up at this , and with an arched brow , Slughorn asked ,"Yes , Miss....?

"Frey." At the word , the aged wizard's eyes widened slightly , before Evanna proceeded to ask her doubt.

"Isn't is possible to break out of the effects of Amortentia ?"

"It is , Miss Frey , but incredibly difficult. Almost as difficult as it is to break out of an Imperius Curse", Professor Slughorn clarified.

Evanna nodded , stepping back next to Draco. Amortentia disgusted her , it had been the downfall of her ancestor. Why would one drug another person for the sake of love , without the conscious consent of the victim - was a question that was beyond her wits.

"Sir , you haven't told us what's in that one", Katie Bell pointed out , motioning towards a tiny crystal vial of clear liquid hanging from the apparatus.

With a wrinkled smile , Professor Slughorn unhinged the vial - holding it up as he affirmed ,"This , is a curious little potion , known as Felix Felicis. It is also called -"

"Liquid Luck , sir", Hermione answered , receiving a nod from the Professor.

"Precisely. Liquid Luck. Desperately tricky to make , disastrous if brewed incorrectly. One sip ....... and all your endeavours will succeed. Atleast until the effects wear off", The Professor chuckled.

That managed to catch Evanna's attention , as she slowly lifted her head to listen. Perhaps she could use it for repairing the cabinet.

Slughorn's hat tipped a little , as he whirled around to walk towards the front of the classroom , speaking all the while ,"So , this is what I offer each of you today. One tiny vial of Liquid Luck for the student , who in the hour that remains manages to brew an acceptable Draught of Living Death , recipes for which can be found in page 10 of your books."

"I should warn you , however , that only one student has managed to concoct a potion good enough to claim this prize. Nevertheless , good luck to you all", The Professor halted in his steps with a nod.

Immediately , student scurried to their respective tables where they had arranged their apparatus. Two Ravenclaws had hoarded a table to themselves , so Evanna joined Draco , Pansy and Blaise.

"I am an absolute knobhead. Merlin , what demon possessed me that I decided to take Potions again ?", Blaise groaned quietly as a small chuckle tore out of Pansy.

"Yeah - you ladies are smart. But I already struggled with Snape", The Slytherin boy sulked , as Draco's lips quipped upwards. 

"I know , Blaise. Not everyone is gifted with brains. Some have atleast good looks to make up for their loss of intellect , but we can't even say that for you , Zabini", Pansy sniggered - earning a scowl from the said boy. 

"Oh , shut up."

Their heads bent over their books , peering into their cauldrons as they began slicing the ingredients. Within the matter of minutes , the classroom evoked into chaos - sopophorous beans flying in every direction as almost everyone was unable to cut the slippery substance. Professor Slughorn even caught one skidding from the Gryffindor table towards them. Dean Thomas laughed as the potion exploded in Seamus' face.

Everyone at her own table struggled , and Evanna watched through her peripheral vision as Blaise tried , and failed , to cut the beans.

"Fucking hell", He muttered , shaking his head. 

"We need a miracle to brew this thing properly", Pansy murmured , her own knife going right through the beans but failing to dice them - her cauldron bubbling upon the burner in an acid green colour.

"Well then - hallelujah", Blaise chanted , throwing the uncut beans into his potion , before jumping back as a repellent odour emanated from his cauldron. Covering his nose with the sleeve of his robe , he received a scowl from Draco - who took a few steps away from Blaise , standing closer to Evanna to drive the foul smell away.

Evanna chuckled , shaking her head at Blaise's efforts , before proceeding to crush the beans with the flat of her silver blade.

"We need to cut it , not crush it", Draco raised a brow , stopping mid-air.

"Crushing produces more juice , which is a key element towards getting the Potion correct", Evanna whispered - making sure others didn't hear her. Afterall , that would reduce her chance of getting the vial. 

The boy with silken hair nodded at her statement , before his ashen eyes focused back on his own potion - and he crushed his own beans.

Her rosebud lips tugged upwards , as the Ravenclaw saw Hermione Granger struggle with the potion - curly hair frizzing in all direction , her hand frustratingly curled around the spine of her Potions book - but the momentary lapse of happiness dwelled down as she watched the Chosen One breeze through the difficult concoction.

He appeared to be enjoying making it. And judging by his track record in the subject , Harry Potter would rather jump off the Astronomy Tower than try to enjoy Potions. He was better at dueling than at theoretical magic , afterall.

Then.... how ?

Shaking her back , Evanna jolted her crystalline eyes back to her bubbling cauldron - stirring it every once in a while on low flame. She had kept her book open - but didn't need it anyways. Her mother had taught her how to do the potion correctly in the second year when Evanna had been doing the fifth year O.W.L course at home during the Christmas break.

As the hour drew to a close , Slughorn's frown had grown further as he moved around the tables in hopes of seeing atleast one acceptable Draught.

As he stopped by Evanna's , his lips curled upwards - before his eyes widened in marvel.

"Merlin's beard", He murmured , hand digging into his robe pocket before producing an auburn leaf for testing. Dropping it into the dark liquid - his smile widened upon seeing the leave completely wither away.

"One drop could kill us all. The texture and colour is perfect. This is by far , one of the best Draught of Living Death potions I have seen. Absolutely astonishing for someone as young as you to accomplish this", He continued to praise her - Evanna's lips only curving into a polite smile.

"You are Miss Frey , is it ? Do you happen to be related to Lyra Frey ?", Slughorn enquired with curiousity.

Evanna nodded. "She is my mother."

"She was an equally brilliant student , but I dare say , you are even more astounding. I offer my condolences for your loss , Lyra truly was brilliant - and I expect nothing short of you", The aged wizard spoke with a sad smile , before moving on.

"Mr. Malfoy the texture is on-point , although the colour is a little darker than what is accurate. Professor Snape has told me that you are quite a gifted student", Slughorn said to the boy opposite to her , who nodded in response. Slughorn didn't compliment him as much , perhaps for the fear of associating with the Malfoy name.

At Harry's table , it was safe to say , Slughorn was in love with the cauldron itself.

"My , my Harry ! And you were telling me you were not good at Potions. This is excellent ! I presume , this is almost as good as Miss Frey's", He praised after testing Harry's potion.

                                                         ____________________

At the end of the class , the students strode out of the dungeons , scattering in various directions towards their respective classes. Evanna walked out of the classroom , soles of her shoes clicking against the cold stone of the dungeon.

"Your potion was far better than Potter's", Draco said with a scoff. "His texture was off ; I did not know that surviving a Dark Lord as a baby came with special privileges later on."

Evanna sighed , curling open her palm to look at the half-filled vial of Liquid Luck. She had been told to share the other half with Harry. Miniscule bubbles shimmered through the depth of the vial , and Evanna pocketed it - flashing Draco a small smile and a shrug.

"Considering what we have seen in the past few years , even wearing a Gryffindor tie grants you special privileges", She inferred - before she spotted a familiar figure turn round the corridor.

"You go ahead , I'll join you", Evanna said to Draco , who nodded , confusion etching across his face as he watched his girlfriend disappear down the corridor - towards the opposite direction , melting into the shadows.

                                                                      ___________________________

"In a hurry , Potter ?", Evanna sneered , as she halted in her steps a few feet away from the boy with raven hair. Harry turned to regard her , raising a confused brow. The unlit torches hung from the walls like silent spectators , the corridor quiet as the calm sea.

"Care to explain where your sudden affinity for Potions came from ? Especially when you didn't even wish to take the subject this year", The Ravenclaw assessed , hands resting on her hips , a lazy smirk tugging at her lips as Harry's shoulders stiffened. The shadow of a doubt passed over his features , the afternoon light of the sun piercing his emerald irises.

"I- I happened to come across the potion last year in a book at the library while working on my Potions assignment", Harry spoke with a firm , decisive tone.

"Oh , but in the book the recipe asks to 'cut the beans' not 'crush' - but you preferred to crush them , didn't you ? And I know that it did not come from presence of mind , or else you would have succeeded at Potions long ago."

"Well then - I can ask you the same question. Why did you crush them ?"

"My mother taught me the recipe."

Walking forward , Evanna voiced in a soft , stern note ,"Stop stalling , Harry."

A sharp , piercing pain echoed through the bones of his skull - a sudden migraine that he could not ignore , his eyes numbing as Evanna kept her azure gaze on him. With a jolt , he realised what was happening , looking away as he stepped back.

"Stop reading my mind without my permission", He snarled.

"Then you should learn Occlumency to protect yourself , Harry. I could have been the Dark Lord reading your mind instead", Evanna asked , dusting down her robes before continuing in an indifferent manner ,"Oh - and hand over the worn Potions book that you got from the cupboard. The one that says property of the half-blood prince."

Harry sighed , as Evanna continued with a reassuring smile , "Don't worry - I'll return it to you after writing a few notes."

The Boy-Who-Lived frowned , before reaching into his bag for the almost-ancient copy of Advanced Potions - handing it to the Ravenclaw , who took it with an appreciative smile.