Part 16

Harry, Ron, and Hermione all sat at a table in the corner of the Gryffindor common room. Ron looked bored, and was internally trying to convince himself to look down at his transfiguration homework, which he couldn't seem to do. Hermione was frantically writing away at a Charms essay, and Harry was buried in his Advanced Potions textbook. He furrowed his brow at a particular note in  the margins.

"Hermione, look at this..." He said, setting his book down on the table and sliding it over to her. Ron leaned forward in his seat as Hermione's jaw dropped. "What?" Ron asked, glancing between her and Harry. Hermione still seemed dumbfounded so Harry answered Ron's question. "Whoever's been writing in that book reckons that Damocles Belby didn't actually invent the wolfsbane potion." Ginny entered the common room and sat at the table in between Harry and Hermione, just as Hermione sputtered: "They're saying that it's some big conspiracy, and that the real inventor was a deatheater."

Then Ginny spoke up. "No way, I've been thinking exactly the same thing!" The three all looked at her, confused, so she continued. "Well, it makes sense, doesn't it? Back when the potion was invented werewolves were outcasts, and most of them ended up on the deatheater path because Voldemort and his followers were about the only ones that made them feel wanted. Even if it was for a sadistic cult." Ron and Harry had to hide their snickers at Ginny's comment but Hermione remained stoic. "That doesn't prove anything." 

"That's where I'm getting to." Ginny continued. "When Slughorn was talking about the potion in class, he got all fidgety after mentioning Damocles Belby." "Like he knew something but wasn't supposed to talk about it?" Ron offered, raising his eyebrows at Hermione who rolled her eyes. "Exactly my thoughts." Ginny replied. "I was bored the other day so I decided to read up on him. I asked Madame Pince for his biography, and she said they had one in the restricted section, and that I needed a note."

Harry smirked over at Hermione who's arms were now crossed. "Seems sketchy." Ginny nodded and quickly continued. "So I forged a note from Slughorn- it wasn't hard, Pince barely checks anymore." Ginny answered to Ron's questioning look at her. "And get this- right after the part where he supposedly invents the potion, there's like 6 years of activity that goes completely unmentioned.

"You don't think-" Harry gaped at her then glanced back between Ron and Hermione. Ginny nodded. "Azkaban." At this Hermione slammed the book down on the table. "Now that's just preposterous. Why would he get 6 years in azkaban for pretending to invent a potion?""Oh, but there's more." Ginny said, slyly. At this point Ron and Harry were grinning as if it were Christmas. "So thought I'd check up on Wizengamot trials from around that time, and volume three of past cases mentions 'the investigation of discrepancies in Damocles Belby's record. They held a trial in August." 

Ron's mouth was wide open. "And it doesn't mention what the trial was about?" Ginny shook her head, grinning mischievously. "The case files are also in the restricted section, but I knew that Madame Pince would suspect something if I brought her another note the same night." Harry leaned forward in his seat. "Don't tell me-" Ginny nodded at him. "What?" Hermione and Ron said in unison. Harry slumped back in his chair and breathed out, in awe of Ginny. "Miss Weasley over here asked to borrow my invisibility cloak really late on Saturday night..." Ginny blushed slightly at the nickname but continued.

"So, I snuck into the restricted section and looked at the case files." Ginny paused dramatically. Ron looked annoyed, then tapped the table impatiently. "c'mon!" He urged. Ginny smirked slightly before saying: "They accused Belby of the murder of a werewolf named Atticus Schrapnel. Who was found dead the day after it was publicly announced that the potion had been invented, with a dark mark on his arm. Belby pleaded guilty." "Wait-" Harry began. "So the ministry covered up a murder?" 

"Well that's what it looks like, doesn't it?" Ginny replied. Ron turned to Hermione. "And you didn't notice this." Ron said, then pointed to Ginny. "And she did?" Hermione rolled her eyes. "How did you guys ding out?" Harry took the book from off the table. "It was written in this journal." Ginny held her hand out and Harry handed the book to her. He continued as Ginny started flipping through the pages. 

"They call themselves The Half-blood Prince. It's all of their notes on the usual potions book- and so far, they've all been correct." Then Hermione spoke up. "I'd really like to know who this prince character is, because they seem pretty confident in their knowledge of this confidential information." "Yeah mate-" Ron agreed. Doesn't that seem a little... You know? What if this guy was a deatheater? It would explain how they know all of this." Hermione's eyes were unfocused as she stared at nothing in particular on the other side of the common room. "Harry..." She said, vaguely. "You-know-who is a half blood, isn't he?" 

The sound of something heavy falling to the floor snapped Hermione out of her trance. She turned and saw Ginny. Her face was ghost-white and her hands were still held out in front of her although the book had fallen through her fingers and onto the floor. She seemed frozen, then quickly dropped her hands and shook her head lightly. "I'm gonna take a walk." She smiled weakly, and left. Harry sighed as he watched her go. "What was that all about?" Ron asked. Hermione stared after her, sadly. "Well she thinks this is another one of you-know-who's diaries, doesn't she... I shouldn't have said anything." 

Harry picked the book up from off the floor, dusting it off. "It makes sense though, doesn't it?" He said, placing the book on the table. "Slughorn was his teacher, it explains why he would know about the potion." "Yeah." Ron agreed. "What if all these notes are from when Tom Riddle went to school?" Harry cringed at the thought. Had he been reading the handwriting of the man who killed his parents? Had Lord Voldemort been helping him through potions? "Harry if that's true- I really think you should turn that book in." Harry thought for a moment, then shook his head. "We don't have any solid proof that this is his book." Hermione scoffed at him. "Don't be naive! This book could be dangerous." Harry glared up Hermione as he grabbed the Half-Blood Prince's book and stuffed it into his bag. "I'm going to go check on Ginny." He said, stubbornly, then left the common room. 

"What. An. Idiot." Hermione said as Harry left, then resumed writing her essay. Ron snorted loudly and smiled at her fondly. She looked up at him. "What?" Ron shook is head. "Nothing..." He pulled his own homework closer to him as Hermione's quill began moving again, still smiling to himself at her resemblance to a small, brown-eyed, bushy-haired girl that he once knew...

Harry walked out of the castle and spotted Ginny sitting on a bench near the black lake, hugging her knees tightly. Harry made his way over to her, and sat right next to her. She didn't flinch, for it was so natural for him to just be there. "So..." He started. "People don't usually expose ministry scandals on Saturday afternoons." He smirked down at her. "You might be an even bigger nerd than 'Mione." Ginny almost didn't look at him, but when she did, she couldn't help but smile. His clear emerald eyes, goofy lopsided grin, messy raven hair, the look on Harry's face right then was enough to make any girl swoon. "Shut it Potter." He suppressed a larger grin as he turned back towards the lake. 

Ginny set her feet back on the ground and stared off in the same direction. "Harry... Please just be careful with that book." Harry smiled to himself. "What- are you worried about me?" "No." Ginny said, smirking. "You know I can't stand you.""Eyes as green as a fresh pickled toad." Harry replied automatically. "Okay-" Ginny interjected."Hair as dark as a blackboard." "Harry that's enou-" "I wish he was mine, he's really divine..." "The douchebag who the dark lord should have finished off when he had the chance." Ginny finished, grinning. playfully. "Oi, Weasley. I'll get you for that one!" 

When the uncontrollable laughter died down, and it was quiet for a while, Ginny finally said. "I am serious, you know. Be careful with that book." Harry looked at her. "What, you're not gonna tell me to turn it in? Just in case something terrible happens?" Ginny shook her head and said softly, "you know that's not my job, Harry." "Oh?" He said, smirking. "So what is your job?" Ginny snorted. "I'll be right next to your bed in the hospital wing, ready to say I told you so as soon as you wake up."

Hello! This chapter focused mainly on the conspiracy* and didn't add too much to the Hinny plot. You can read more chapters like this by following the DobbyRIP Instagram account- [dobbyrip_]. There I will let you know when you can expect new chapters, teasers for upcoming stories**, and more extras like this one***. And just to clarify, this Fanfic is not ending ANYTIME SOON! Thank you to those who commented and reminded me to get off my butt and write. You can also DM me on Instagram if you ever want to talk, I gotchu ;). 

*100% made-up, by the way. None of that was at all canon. 

**I may or may not have two Fanfics planned for you... Coming soon :))

***Extras will no longer be posted on my Wattpad, you can find them exclusively on Instagram.