Mischievous Glint | George Weasley

Chapter 35

I considered the dagger in my hand, then placed the flat of the blade against the bean and pressed. Instantly, the protective parchment covering the desk ran red with juices. I glanced to see Harry doing the same.

"How did you two do that?" Hermione asked.

"Crush it." Harry said.

"Don't cut it." I added.

"No. The instructions specifically say to cut."

"It's just written there. Doesn't mean its mandatory to follow." I shrugged.

Hermione stared at me then looked at Harry who just shrugged. I lifted the parchment and tips the juice into my cauldron. It hissed, then turned Lilac. Harry grinned as I smirked. Hermione grew more and more frustrated. I looked around to see everyone struggling. Pride surged in me as I silently enjoyed their failure.

Slughorn wended his way amongst the cauldrons, nodding with sympathy at the fiascos before him. Then he stopped at mine and Harry's cauldron which was placed next to each other. He stared in disbelief at the pearly sheen of one bubbling potion.

"Merlin's Beard! You both, it's perfect. So perfect I dare say one sip would kill us all! Your parents were excellent at potions Miss Knight and it seems like you are too but Harry... your mother was a dab hand at potions, but this... my, my, what can't you both do. Perhaps you two will save us all in the end."

All eyes turned to me and Harry. Our smiles faltered.

"But I have only one bottle to reward. I didnt know two students will excel." Slughorn said, undecided who to gift the potion.

"Uhh... Professor you can give it to Harry."

Slughorn spinned at me as if wanting to know I was sure about that.

"It's fine, sir. Don't bother. If I need I'll make one myself." I smiled as he laughed trying to ease the tension.

"Ah! Always been the generous one I see. So, here you are then, as promised. One bottle of Felix Felicis. Use it well." He handed it to Harry as slowly reached out and took the glittering vial.

"Thank you." Harry mouthed.

"No biggie." I mouthed back.

   ♠️

It was Quidditch practice day. Hermione and I sat together as always. A little lower sat Lavender Brown and beside her, Luna Lovegood. I saw Cormac give a lewd wink at Hermione who smiled and then he sauntered off.

At the start of the game, Ginny flew swiftly, handling the Quaffle with ease. Two second years collided in mid-air. Cormac made a brilliant save. Ron made a shaky save. Hermione and I looked on, nervous for him. Katie Bell snatched a Quaffle with one hand, split two defenders beautifully and made a slick blind pass to Dean who jet high in the air, then let the Quaffle roll off his fingers right into Ginny's hands as she raced below.

Seamus sent a Bludger rocketing into the stands, scattered a group of onlookers, leaving only Neville, who sidled delicately to the right as the others legged it. Ron turned the wrong way but made then save anyway as the Quaffle caromed off the tail of his broom. Hermione looked on more nervously.

Demelza Robins, bent low over her stick, pinned the Quaffle under her chin, split two Bludgers and a pair of Beaters. Two fourth years collided in mid-air. Two aspiring Beaters whiffed on a pair of Bludgers, whack each other instead and plummet to the pitch as the Bludgers ricochet off one another and went flying into the stands, scattering onlookers yet again and leaving. As before, only Neville, this time, he sidled delicately to the left. Cormac again made a brilliant save. The Quaffle bounced off Ron's head. Now two fifth years collided in mid-air.

"C'mon, Ron." I muttered under my breath.

Demelza hunkered over her broom once again, flying like an arrow, then went into a wide, sweeping slide. Ginny blasted over the pitch, ginger hair streaming like flames, then rolled recklessly to the side. As one, they both let fly.

I looked at Hermione who glanced at me then buried her face in her fingers and muttered a spell.

Cormac, at the last moment, inexplicably rolled his broom to the right and the Quaffle sailed over his shoulder. Ron, zig-zagging crazily, nearly falling off, rights himself in a panic, and deflected Ginny's Quaffle with his forehead. Cheers erupted from the stands as Harry grinned, then had to restrain himself.

"Isn't he brilliant?" Lavender said as Hermione and I stared balefully at her then I noticed Cormac eyeing his broom incredulously. We got up and slipped away.

That night Hermione asked me to sneak into Gryffindor common room. I did and now we were sitting across the blazing fire. Harry scanned his Potions book as I joined him. Harry tilted his book for I could I have a better look at it. Hermione perused the daily Prophet. Ron cracked walnuts, pitching the pieces into the fire.

"Have to admit, thought I was going to miss that last one. Hope Cormac's not taking it too hard."

The corner of my lips turned up as Hermione glanced at me then rolled her eyes.

"Has a bit of a thing for you, Hermione. Cormac. Don't you think, Y/N?" Ron asked.

I looked at him then Hermione before turning back to the book so that they dont see my smirk.

"Yeah... I noticed." My voice was hardly innocent.

"He's vile." Hermione said. Ron considered this, then glanced across the room at Lavender.

"Ever heard of this spell?" Harry pointed to a notation in the margin underlined three times, "Sectumsempra. For Enemies."

"Yeah I have. If casted to someone then it severely injures the person." I said.

"And Harry if you had a shred of self-respect you would turn that book in." Hermione added.

"Not bloody likely. He's top of the class. Even better than you, Hermione. Slughorn thinks he's a genius." Hermione casted Ron a withering glance.

"I don't think he should. If it belongs to someone then Slughorn wouldn't late him take it. He would've warned that one book already has a owner." My voice was calm as If I didn't want Hermione to burst at me like a furious mother.

"Now you're encouraging him? I thought we were friends." Hermione tried to sound hurt but mostly sounded angry.

"You are." I whined as Harry snickered but quickly stopped.

"I'd like to know just whose book that was. Let's take a look, shall we?" Hermione said.

"No." Harry held it out of reach.

"No?" Hermione became suspicious. "Why not?"

"It's old. The binding is fragile." I defended.

"The binding is fragile?" Hermione made another grab for it, but Harry held it clear. Then Ginny appeared and plucked it out of his hand.

"Who's the Half-Blood Prince?" She asked.

"The who?" Ron, Hermione and I asked in unison.

"That's what it says. Right here. This Book is the Property of the Half-Blood Prince." Ginny pointed.