The Key (A Draco Malfoy Love Story)

Chapter 21: Felix Always Knows

Amelia's P.O.V
Harry took my suggestion and got rid of the Half-Blood Prince's book, somewhere in the Room if Requirements, he said Ginny hid it so he wouldn't be tempted, smart girl. Neither Harry nor I are having any luck with Slughorn, he's even avoiding us now, and how helpful is that? But we're going to try one more time to persuade him, and I have a feeling it might work, even though it is risky. All we really need is a bit of luck, I think you can guess what I'm hinting at here. Draco is alright now, he's no longer phased by th memory of what Harry did, but that doesn't mean he still isn't acting suspicious, and the fact that he won't tell me about it makes me wonder what he's doing...

"Go on then." I urged Harry, who held the tiny, delicate bottle of Liquid Luck is his hand. He pulled the top out which made a loud 'pop' sound as he did so, and brought the tip of the vial to his lips. He downed the contents of the potion and we all looked at him to find any difference in his behaviour.

"Well?" Hermione asked impatiently, waiting for his response.

"I feel brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Harry exclaimed, a grin plastered on his face. He stood up from his seated position and we copied.

"Remember, Slughorn normall eats early, goes for a walk, then returns to his office." Hermione reminded, talking to me more than Harry.

"Right! I'm going down to Hagrid's." Harry told us, heading for the door. Ron, Hermione and I glanced at each other before walking quickly after him.

"No! Your meant to be speaking to Slughorn!" Hermione said, stopping Harry from walking anu further.

"I know! But Hagrid's seemss the place to be tonight! You know what I mean?" Harry replied cheerfully, trotting out the door, cheerfully saying "Hi!" to someone as they passed him.

"I'll sort him out." I told the two before rushing off after Harry who still had that goofy smile on his face.

"Harry? We have something to do, so do you really think going to see Hagrid is a good idea." I attempted to reason with him, but all I got was a happy "Yeah!" back, I sighed in frustration and followed his quick pace. We carried on walking (well me half running, trying to keep up with him) through the school and left through the front door, which I was very surprised that it was open. It was the Herbology Harry decided to go first, I don't know why, it must have been another change of direction.

"So remind me why we're going to Hagrid's." I said to Harry who was walking quickly in front of me.

"Like I said before, it's the place to be tonight. Trust me, I know what I'm doing, or at least Felix does." Harry explained, in a jolly mood, god I hope this works. Then we saw a person sticking their head into one of the Herbology windows, it was Slughorn. Harry stood right next to the potions master and waited for him to notice Harry standing there. Slughorn let out a frightened cry once he took one glance at Harry, who had just stood there staring at him.

"Merlin's beard, Harry!" Slughorn said in fright, almost hitting his head on a plant that he was cutting.

"I'm sorry, sir. I should've announced myself, maybe coughed or clearedmy throat. You probably throught I was Professor Sprout!"" Harry spologised, not moving away from Slughorn.

"As a matter of fact, I did actually. But what makes you assume that?" Slughorn laughed, taking the small plant cuttings and putting them into a bag. I shifted uncomfortably behind them, not really sure what to do next.

"Just your behaviour at the moment sir, the general sneaking around, the jumping when you saw me." Harry started before jumping straight into another sentence.

"Are those real Tentacula leaves? They're very rare and valuable aren't they?" He changed the subect completely, and I actually found his mood quite amusing.

"It is said to be ten galleons a leaf to the correct buyer. Not that I would sell these, I just hear a lot of rumours." Slughorn replied, placing more of the leaves into his bag.

"Personally, these plant always freak me out, mmm." Harry cringed at the sight of them and I rolled my eyes, not saying a word, yet. Harry then began walking quickly towards the door pulling me with him as he wanted to go and see Hagrid.

"Evening, sir." I greeted once he noticed me being dragged along by Harry.

"How did both of you get out of the castle?" Slughorn demanded in a nice way and Harry turned.

"Through the front door, sir. We're off to see Hagrid, you see, he's a dear friend of ours and we thought we'd pay him a visit. So if you do not mind we will be leaving now." Harry informed him and I shot Slughorn a look that said 'It-was-his-idea-not-mine'. Harry then pulled me out of the green house and out onto the fresh, crunchy green grass.

"Harry! Amelia!" Slughorn followed us out.

"Sir?" Harry answered in the same tone, as if he was mocking the potions professor.

"It's nearly nightfall! Surely you don't believe that I would let you both wander about the grounds unsupervised!" Slughorn exclaimed in a high voice.

"Then come along with us , sir." Harry suggested and continued walking down to Hagrid's while I followed him with Slughorn.

"He seems to be in a very strange mood." Slughorn observed as we strolled after Harry who seemed eager to get to the little hut that Hagrid lived in.

"Believe me, sir. You don't know the half of it." I replied, hurrying to catch up with me twin brother.

"Harry! Amelia! I insist you accompany me back to the castle this instant." Slughorn called to us both, but we kept on walking.

"That would be counterproductive, sir!" Harry responded, not even looking back at Slughorn who was trotting along about thirty meters behind us.

"What makes you say that?" Slughorn asked, confused and curious.

"I have no idea." Harry answered cheerfully and I rolled my eyes at him with a laugh. We then saw Hagrid standing by what I hoped was a spide statue and a big hole in the ground.

"My, my, Hagrid! Is that a real Acromantula?" Slughorn asked in disbelief.

"A dead one, I think sir." Harry cut in and we all looked at him strangely.

"How ever did you manage to kill it?" Slughorn questioned and Hagrid looked at him, stunned.

"Kill him?! He's my oldest friend, he is." Hagrid said sadly.

"I'm so very sorry. And I'm not being insensetive, but do you mind if I extract a vial or two? Acromantula venom is uncommonly rare." Slughorn asked, and yes, he was being insensetive!

"Well, it isn't going to do him much good now is it?" Hagrid cried and Slughorn made his way over to the spider.

"Seriously misunderstood creatures, spiders are. I reckon it's the eyes, they unnerve people." Hagrid stated and of course, Harry -who was acting like he was high- had to comment.

"And the pincers." He made clicking noises with his tongue and snapped his thumb and index fingers together to make them look like some sort of fangs.

"And that too." Hagrid shot me a look that clearly said 'what's-wrong-with-him?' but I gave him one that said 'don't-ask' and he said no more about it.

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Later that night

Harry and I were sat in the corner of Hagrid's tiny hut while both him and Slughorn get drunk. They were currently singing along to a song that was barely audible, it was quite... strange to be very honest with you. But Harry was just sat there grinning like an idiot, was I the only normal one in the room? I believe so, anyway. It was way past night fall now and the others must be wondering why we're taking so long, Hermione might blame me for coming in very late. It's not my fault though! You try controlling someone who is dosed on liquid luck and two drunk people, it's harder than it looks you know! Once the song was over Harry began clapping fantically while Hagrid and Slughorn grumbled laughs.

"I had Aragog from an egg, you know. Tiny little thing, he was." Hagrid told us and Slughorn 'awwed'.

"How sweet! I once had a fish, he was called Francis, he was very dear to me. The one day I came downstairs and he had gone, vanished... poof." Slughorn slurred making a large hand gesture when he said 'poof'.

"That's rather odd isn't it?" Hagrid asked in a gruff voice.

"Yes, but, that's life! I suppose you go-go along and suddenly... poof." Slughorn said, over exaggerating it with his voice.

"Poof." Hagrid copied quietly.

"Poof." Chimed Harry who hadn't said a word for a while. Hagrid then swayed slightly and passed out cold, leaning back against the wall. I snorted a laugh and bit my lip, a smile forming on my face. No-one muttered a word for a while, forming a very awkward silence between the three people left consious.

"It was a student who gave me Francis, one day I found a bowl on my desk, full of clear water. Floating at the top was a small flower petal, I watched as it sank. Then when it reached the bottom, it transformed into a tiny fish, magnificent magic. The flower petal had come from a Lily, your Mother. The day I came downstairs, the day the bowl was empty, was the day she... she died. I know why you're both here. But I'm afriad I can't help you. It would ruin me." Slughorn explained slowly and Harry and I leaned forward a bit.

"Do you know how I got through that night, and how Amy got through those years trapped in a cell?" Harry asked and Slughorn remained silent.

"Because of our Mother. She sacrificed herself by not stepping aside, her love was strong, stronger than Voldemort-" I got cut off by Slughorn.

"Don't say that name."

"We're not scared of the name, sir. We are going to tell you something, something people have only guessed at." Harry said and we walked nearer the teacher.

"It's true, we are the chosen ones, and only we can destroy Voldemort. But to do so, we need to know what Tom Riddle asked you all those years ago and we need to know what you said. Be brave Professor! Be brave like our Mother." I pleaded and he only shook his head.

"Otherwise you disgrace her, and she died for nothing. Otherwise, the bowl will remain empty." Harry carried on and Slughorn gulped, taking out his wand and pointed it to his temple, pulling out the shiney silver string that was the memory we needed.

"Please, don't think badly of me when you see it." He begged sealing the memory in a vial and he handed it to me. We finally had the memory we had been trying to get for the past three weeks. Mission acomplished.