Harry Potter and the Year After

Chapter Sixty-two: Gawain Robards

Chapter 62: Gawain Robards

A month later, Harry had met with the healer every day. He hadn't drank any alcohol since Valentine's Day. He actually felt alright, even if he was drinking a few drops of Elixir to Induce Euphoria every day, per the healer's instructions.

March was trying to be warm but not quite managing it. Despite this, the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff game was in two days.

Ginny was ever the fan of PDA it seemed. Harry hardly caught sight of her without her arms literally hugging Draco Malfoy. It was sickening to see every time he accidentally looked in her direction.

You're still not over her? Ron wrote on a corner of a spare bit of parchment. They were sitting in Potions class and were supposed to be watching Professor Slughorn make Veritaserum.

She's looked sick since xmas. Harry wrote back.

Maybe a bit peaky. (Ron)

I wish I could talk to her without Malfoy there. (Harry)

Maybe you should try dating someone else? Romilda Vane's still single I hear. (Ron)

No thanks. (Harry)

I won't help you with the essay unless you pay attention, Ron! (Hermione)

Sorry L (Ron)

After Potions, during lunch, Hermione sat reading a book and sipping tea while the two boys discussed the upcoming match against Hufflepuff.

"Ginny's been looking amazing at practices," Ron said enthusiastically, taking a bite of sausage. "She looks like a professional. She's maybe even better than you now, Harry."

"Yeah, she must be taking Pepper Up Potion or something though. I'm not sure how's she's managing it."

"I don't think there's anything physically wrong with her..."

"Then why's she always leaning on Malfoy like that?" Harry asked sharply.

"I'd rather not think about it," Ron said, making a disgusted face.

"Oh!" Hermione said, setting her tea down so quickly that she splashed it onto the table.

"What?" Ron asked quickly.

"Hush—"

"Sorry," Ron whispered, "What?"

"No," she said, smirking, "This blasted book that I got a while ago. Professor Trelawney actually wrote it."

"Wait a tick, you're reading a book that Trelawney wrote but you—"

"Yes," she said, cutting Ron off, "And this actually has a really good explanation for why Harry had a different reaction to Hush than most other people do."

"Oh yeah?" Harry asked, obviously skeptical.

"Yeah, listen. She says, 'With this specific herb,'—Hush, she means—'there will be very few witches and wizards who will experience a plane of deeper spirituality than a feeling of peace or a feeling of being at-one with nature. These few will have experienced the peril of near-death experiences or likewise have a deeper understanding of what it means to be in the throws of a deathly passion, such as possession by a raised spirit.'"

"So yeah, Ginny and I both experienced something like that, I suppose. We weren't really possessed, but..."

"Right," Hermione said happily, "And then she says, um... where is it... 'The plane of deeper spirituality will often call the witch or wizard toward the nearest place where strong magic has routinely been practiced, sometimes causing the magical person to travel for hours while in a trance. Once surrounded by the residue of magic, the herb will strengthen within the magical person, causing extremely vivid visualizations of magical, usually ancient, sacrificial practices wherein the archetype that most closely resembles the individual witch or wizard will then be exhibited to the magical person in some form or another."