𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 (𝟐) || HARRY POTTER LOVE STORY

31

In the second week of December Professor McGonnagall came around as usual, collecting names of those who would be staying at school for Christmas.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Julie signed her list; they had heard that Malfoy was staying, which struck them as very suspicious. The holidays would be the perfect time to use the Polyjuice Potion to get a confession out of him.

Unfortunately, the potion was only half-finished. They still needed to add the Bicorn horn and the Boomslang skin, and the only place they were going to get them was from Snape's private stores.

Julie privately felt she'd rather face Slytherin's legendary monster than have Snape catch her robbing his office.

"What we need" said Hermione briskly, as Thursday afternoon's double Potions lesson loomed nearer, "is a diversion. Then one of us can sneak into Snapes office and take what we need!"

Harry, Ron and Julie looked at her nervously.

"I think l'd better do the actual stealing" Hermione continued, in a matter-of-fact tone. "You three will be expelled if you get in any more trouble, and I've got a clean record. So all you need to do is cause enough mayhem to keep Snape busy for five minutes or so."

"Oh, brilliant, yeah," Julie said sarcastically. "Let's just casually commit a crime in the middle of a dungeon full of Slytherins and the most terrifying professor in the castle. Great idea, Hermione. Love it."

Hermione huffed. "Do you have a better idea?"

Julie paused. "...No."

Harry smirked. "Wow, Jules admitting she doesn't have an idea? Mark the date, Ron. We'll tell our grandchildren about this moment."

"Shut up, Potter," Julie shot back. "You're literally about to be part of the dumbest person in Hogwarts history."

"Correction," Harry said, grinning. "You are about to cause absolute mayhem in Snape's class while Hermione commits theft. I'm just here for moral support."

"Oh, so when Snape is yelling at me, you'll be what? Holding my hand?"

Harry wiggled his eyebrows, smirking at her. "If you want."

Harry received a very cold glare

Potions lessons took place in one of the large dungeons. Thursday afternoon's lesson proceeded in the usual way.

Twenty cauldrons stood steaming between the wooden desks, on which stood brass scales and jars of ingredients. Snape prowled through the fumes, making waspish remarks about the Gryffindors work while the Slytherins sniggered appreciatively.

Malfoy, who was Snape's favourite student, kept aicking puffer-fish eyes at Harry, Ron and Julie and they knew that if they retaliated they would get detention faster than they could say 'unfair'.

Julie's Swelling Solution was far too runny, but she had her mind on more important things. She was waiting for Hermione's signal, and she hardly listened as Snape paused to sneer at her watery potion.

When Snape turned and walked off to bully Neville, Hermione caught her eye and nodded.

Julie ducked swiftly down behind her cauldron, pulled one of Fred's Filibuster fireworks out of her pocket and gave it a quick prod with her wand.

The firework began to fizz and sputter. Knowing Juloe had only seconds, she straightened up, took aim, and lobbed it into the air; it landed right on target in Goyle's cauldron.

Goyles potion exploded, showering the whole class. People shrieked as splashes of the Swelling Solution hit them. Malfoy got a faceful and his nose began to swell like a balloon; Goyle blundered around, his hands over his eyes, which had expanded to the size of dinner plates, while Snape was trying to restore calm and find out what had happened.

Through the confusion, Julie saw Hermione slip quietly out of the door.

"Silence! SILENCE!" Snape roared. "Anyone who has been splashed, come here for a Deflating Draught. When I find out who did this...!"

Harry leaned over. "You're doomed."

"Shut up."

Julie tried not to laugh as she watched Malfoy hurry forward, his head drooping with the weight of a nose like a small melon. As half the class lumbered up to Snape's desk, some weighed down with arms like clubs, others unable to talk through gigantic puffed-up lips, Julie saw Hermione slide back into the dungeon, the front of her robes bulging.

When everyone had taken a swig of antidote and the various swellings had subsided, Snape swept over to Coyles cauldron and scooped out the twisted black remains of the firework. There was a sudden hush.

"If I ever find out who threw this" Snape whispered "I shall make sure that person is expelled"

Julie arranged her face into what she hoped was a puzzled expression. Snape was looking right at her, and the bell which rang ten minutes later could not have been more welcome.

"He knew it was me" Julie told her three friends, as they hurried back to Moaning Myrtles bathroom. "I could tell."

Hermione threw the new ingredients into the cauldron and began to stir feverishly.

"It'll be ready in a fortnight" she said happily.

"Snape can't prove it was you" said Ron reassuringly to Julie. "What can he do?"

"Knowing Snape, something foul" she said, as the potion frothed and bubbled.