If I survive you survive

Chapter 17: Extra Lessons

Harry realised during the welcome feast that he had completely forgotten about Slughorn and the fact that he had specifically mentioned his mum was good at potions. He could have kicked himself when he heard that Slughorn would be teaching potions and Snape would be taking Defence. His favourite class was about to become another place where he was made to feel useless.

This was probably why he'd managed to get detention within the first five minutes of being in the classroom. He had been as cheeky as he probably ever had been to Snape and was lucky to get away with just the one detention for that Saturday. Hermione was not impressed with him, but Ron thought it was extremely funny. It was nice to hear Ron laughing again and was laughing at something Harry had done. The holiday at the Burrow had felt strained. The tension of Harry's secrets making their normally easy friendship stilted. It was starting to feel as if they might be getting slightly back to normal.

Due to the change in professors Harry and Ron were able to take potions despite their 'E's in their examinations. Slughorn obviously felt that was enough and McGonagall had shooed them off to the dungeons. Harry wasn't actually sure how he'd managed to get an E in potions and wasn't convinced he'd do too well this year. They were about five minutes late to class but Harry explained the situation and Slughorn pointed them towards a cabinet where there were a couple extra potions books. He and Ron scuffled over the better of the two but in the end he was stuck with the copy that was barely holding itself together.

They were called to the front of class to inspect some pre-made cauldrons of potion. The first cauldron held a thick, dark, mud-like substance that Harry immediately recognised. However, as she had brewed it at the age of twelve Harry didn't resent Hermione the five points to Gryffindor she received for correctly identifying Polyjuice potion. The next was a cauldron of liquid that had a pearl-like sheen and steam was rising from it in swirls. As soon as the lid was lifted they all drew nearer. Harry's nose was full of the scent of treacle tart, the fresh outdoorsy smell of cut grass and something woody and peaty that immediately threw Harry's memory back to sitting in the booth at the Hogshead. The lid clattered back on the potion and again Hermione received five points for her description of amortentia. Finally, Slughorn held up a tiny vial of gold liquid. Another five points to Hermione for correctly naming liquid luck or felix felicis.

"This will the smartest girl in your year that you were referring to Harry?" Slughorn said beaming at both Hermione and Harry. Hermione looked like she might explode she was so happy.

They began brewing the draught of living death. Harry wanted the prize, the small vial of liquid luck. When he looked at his textbook, he was rather unimpressed to see the previous owner had scribbled all over it. They had changed bits of the instructions. On a whim when he was struggling to cut his sopophorus bean he decided to follow the alternate instructions and crushed it with the side of his knife. Following the instruction in his book Harry brewed the perfect draught and won the tiny prize.

Hermione was so angry she didn't talk to him for the rest of the day. It was worth it though. He didn't know when, but the potion would be needed at some point.

Harry was accosted on his way back to the common room that evening by a tiny Hufflepuff who handed him a note.

Dear Harry,

I have rearranged your detention with Professor Snape. I would like you to attend at my office at 8pm on Saturday night.

Yours,

Professor Dumbledore

Harry was frustrated he would have to wait almost a whole week to find out what Dumbledore wanted.

Harry normally found being back at Hogwarts a relief. This year it felt oppressive being around so many people. The whispers of his classmates seemed to follow him everywhere. He just needed some peace. He decided he would go to the Shack on Thursday. Not because he expected Tom to be there because he hadn't heard from him but because he just wanted some peace. He thought about having a bath and lying in their, no his, bed for an hour or two to calm the thoughts swirling inside his head. He was constantly thinking about what Dumbledore had said to him about Tom not existing and both versions of the dark lord needing to die.