Before Things Change, Harry Potter Year 6

22. After the Burial

Lilly's POV
Harry had been unsuccessful with getting the memory from Slughorn and finding out about Malfoy. Hagrid sent a letter and he was us to go out of the castle late at night to go to Aragog's funeral. I was going to go because Aragog was there for Hagrid when no one else was, except Dumbledore. I know what it feels like to lose someone very important in your life. Ron, Harry, and Hermione weren't going to go. Ron gave Harry the idea of using Liquid Luck and he was if he couldn't convince Slughorn.

Harry and I went to Potions and only us, Ernie, and Draco were there. Slughorn asked, "All too young to Apparate just yet? Not turned seventeen yet?"
The boys shook their heads while I said, "Don't need to, I already passed the test."
Slughorn nodded and said, "Ah well, as we're so few, well do something fun. I want you all to brew me up something amusing."
Harry was making Euphoria and I settled with Polyjuice Potion. I needed to restock my supplies anyway.
He thought it was exellent and I smiled brightly before bottling it in my own supplies. I packed up and winked at Harry as the bell rang and joined Neville later in the common room. Hermione passed the test and Ron failed, leaving half an eyebrow behind.
Harry decided to use Liquid Luck and he went to Hagrid's. Hermione and Ron thought he was mental for going down there, but he was going to be fine. He saw Slughorn on the way talking to Professor Sprout. He noticed Harry and Harry mentioned how he was going to Hagrid's to bury an acromantula that Hagrid had for a while. Slughorn happily let him go, he even joined him to collect the arcomantula's venom. I was there waiting for Harry and we buried Aragog. I made an excuse to leave and I saw Harry was trying to convince Slughorn. Harry was talking about how his dad died first then his mum. She could have ran, but she protected Harry with her last breath. Slughorn didn't want to hear more.
Harry said, "I forgot, you liked her, didn't you?"
Slughorn said with tears brimming his eyes, "I don't imagine anyone who met yer wouldn't have liked her... very brave... very funny... it was the most horrible thing..."
"But you won't help her son. She gave me her life, but you won't give me a memory."
"Don't say that. It isn't a question... if it were to help you, of course, but no purpose can be served..."
"It can. Dumbledore needs the information. I need the information..."
"I am the Chosen One. I have to kill him. I need that memory."
"You are the Chosen One?"
"Of course I am."
"But then... my dear boy... you're asking a great deal... you're asking me, in fact, to aid you in your attempt to destroy-"
"You don't want to get rid of the wizard who killed Lily Evans?"
"Harry, Harry, of course I do, but-"
"You're scared he'll find out you helped me?"
Slughorn looked terrified.
"Be brave like my mother, Professor..."
There was a slight pause.
"I am not proud... I am ashamed of what - of what that memory shows... I think I may have done great damage that day..."
"You'd cancel out anything you did by giving me the memory. It would be a very brave and noble thing to do."
There was a very long silence, but slowly Slughorn gave Harry the memory. After that, Slughorn fell asleep...

Thanks for reading! Vote please! :)
-Lilly :)