𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗔 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗧

ACT ONE, CHAPTER FOUR
disappearing boyfriends &
bloody noses.

THE TRAIN'S HALLWAYS were packed. People were meeting up with their friends, and most importantly, looking out for the lunch trolley. That meant that Harry's plans of trying to watch Malfoy under the Invisibility Cloak wouldn't work too well — in which, he stowed the Cloak back in his bag and took Venus' hand.

He seemed uncomfortable with all of the attention on him. Every so often, students would stumble out of their compartments to get a good look at him. The only exception to that was Cho Chang, who had dove straight into her compartment when she saw Harry coming. Venus looked through the window as they passed. Cho seemed to be in a very determined conversation with her friend Marietta, whose pimples in an odd formation were still visible despite wearing a thick layer of makeup. A small smirk on her face, Venus moved on.

Her, Harry, and Neville soon reached compartment C. They hadn't been the only invites — there was a Slytherin sitting next to Penelope, two seventh-years, and looking like she didn't know how she got there, Ginny. However, by the way the older man (Venus guessed it was Slughorn) greeted Harry so enthusiastically, Venus assumed that he had been the one Slughorn wanted to see the most.

"Harry, m'boy!" Slughorn exclaimed. He jumped up from his seat at the sight of him. "Good to see you, good to see you! And you must be Mr. Longbottom!" Neville nodded in response, looking quite scared. "And you, Miss Black! Now, do you know everyone? Blaise Zabini and Penelope Lestrange are in your year, of course—"

"Oh, I know Penelope, sir," Harry interjected as they sat down. "She's dating my best friend."

"Is she?" Slughorn glanced back at Penelope, and the Slytherin girl nodded. "Fantastic! This is Cormac McLaggen, perhaps you've come across each other—? No?"

McLaggen was a quite large, wiry-haired youth. He raised a hand in greeting. Harry and Neville nodded back at him, and Venus gave him a small wave.

"—and this is Marcus Belby, I don't know whether—?"

Belby, on the other hand, was thinner and seemed to be quite nervous. He gave them a strained smile.

"—and this charming young lady tells me she knows you!"

Ginny grimaced at that. Venus laughed slightly before quickly covering her mouth with her hand.

"Well now, this is most pleasant," Slughorn voiced cozily. "A chance to get to know you all a little better. Here, take a napkin. I've packed my own lunch; the trolley, as I remember it, is heavy on licorice wands, and a poor old man's digestive system isn't quite up to such things . . . pheasant, Belby?" Venus blinked as Belby accepted something — what was a pheasant? "I was just telling young Marcus here that I had the pleasure of teaching his Uncle Damocles." Slughorn then began to pass around a basket of rolls. "Outstanding wizard, outstanding, and his Order of Merlin most well-deserved. Do you see much of your uncle, Marcus?"

Unfortunately, Belby had just taken a large bite of whatever a pheasant was. In a haste to answer Slughorn, he swallowed too fast, turned purple, and began to choke. Venus blinked in surprise.

"Anapneo," Slughorn recited calmly, pointing his wand at Belby, whose airway seemed to clear.

Belby gasped, his eyes streaming. "Not . . . not much of him, no."

"Well, of course, I daresay he's busy. I doubt he invented the Wolfsbane Potion without considerable hard work!"

"I suppose . . . er . . . he and my dad don't get on very well, you see, so I don't really know much about . . ."

His voice trailed off as Slughorn gave him a cold smile. Venus and Harry shared a look. Interesting.

Slughorn turned to McLaggen. "Now, you, Cormac, I happen to know you see a lot of your Uncle Tiberius, because he has a rather splendid picture of the two of you hunting Nogtails in, I think, Norfolk?"

"Oh, yeah, that was fun, that was," McLaggen replied. "We went with Bertie Higgs and Rufus Scrimgeour — this was before he became Minister, obviously—"

Slughorn beamed as he stared to pass around a small tray of pies, Belby somehow missing out. "Ah, you know Bertie and Rufus too? Now tell me . . ."

Venus was hit with the sudden realization. Everyone here had to have been invited because they had connections to somebody well-known or influential — well, everyone except Ginny. Zabini, who had been interrogated after McLaggen, turned out to have a famously beautiful witch for a mother, and she had been married seven times, each of her husbands dying mysteriously and leaving her with mounds of gold in inheritance (Venus had to admit — she sounded like a girl boss). Neville's turn came and went with an uncomfortable talk about his parents, who had been well-known Aurors that had been tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange and some other Death Eaters.

Slughorn then transitioned the conversation to Penelope, the daughter of Bellatrix. She gave short answers to every question about Bellatrix. Venus frowned. She knew Penelope absolutely despised talking about her mother. Slughorn quickly realized this and asked her about family life, where she replied that she had been living with her aunt, Andromeda Tonks. The conversation then went more smoothly — Slughorn had apparently loved Andromeda when he had taught her.

The interview went onto Venus. Slughorn instantly asked her about her parents — apparently, he had loved them as separate students and even more as a couple. Venus answered every question with enthusiasm because, well, she truly had the best parents ever. She also talked a little bit what it was like to live in America and what Ilvermorny was like and how moving to England was.

Harry was the final one to be interviewed. It was obvious that this was who Slughorn was waiting for. Venus felt Harry's grip on her hand tighten, and she squeezed it comfortingly.

Slughorn shifted massively in his seat to turn to Harry. "And now. Harry Potter! Where to begin? I feel I barely scratched the surface when we met over the summer!" He contemplated Harry for a moment. "The Chosen One, they're calling you now! Of course, there have been rumors for years . . . I remember when — well — after that terrible night — Lily — James — and you survived — and the word was that you must have powers beyond the ordinary—"

Zabini let out a small cough that was clearly supposed to indicate amused skepticism. Venus glared at him, and Penelope, from her place next Zabini, elbowed him.

"Yeah, Zabini, because you're so talented . . . at posing . . ." Ginny began.

Slughorn chuckled and looked around at Ginny, who was also glaring at Zabini. "Oh dear! You want to be careful, Blaise! I saw this young lady perform the most marvelous Bat-Bogey Hex as I was passing her carriage! I wouldn't cross her!" Slughorn then turned back to Harry. "Anyway. Such rumors this summer. Of course, one doesn't know what to believe, the Prophet has been known to print inaccuracies, make mistakes — but there seems little doubt, given the number of witnesses, that there was quite a disturbance at the Ministry and that you were there in the thick of it all!"

Harry nodded, but still didn't say anything. After all, there was no point in lying.

Slughorn smiled at him widely. "So modest, so modest, no wonder Dumbledore is so fond — you were there, then? But the rest of the stories — so sensational, of course, one doesn't know quite what to believe — this fabled Prophecy, for instance—"

"We never heard a Prophecy," Neville stated, turning bright pink as he said it.

"That's right," Ginny agreed. "Neville, Penelope, Venus, and I were both there too, and all this Chosen One rubbish is just the Prophet making things up as usual."

"You were both there too, were you?" Slughorn asked with great interest, looking between Venus, Penelope, Neville and Ginny.

All of them sat quietly there. Venus avoided all eye-contact. She didn't have the heart to tell them that Harry actually was the Chosen One — she still couldn't believe it, and every time she thought about it, it made her sick to her stomach. Besides, it was Harry's business only.

"Yes . . . well . . . it is true that the Prophet often exaggerates, of course . . ." Slughorn said, sounding a little disappointed at them not saying anything. "I remember dear Gwenog telling me (Gwenog Jones, I mean, of course, Captain of the Holyhead Harpies)—"

Slughorn then meandered off into a long-winded reminiscence. However, Venus had a feeling that Slughorn wasn't finished talking about this at all.

The afternoon strung on and on with more anecdotes about illustrious wizards Slughorn had taught, all of whom had been delighted to join what he called the Slug Club at Hogwarts. To be honest, Venus didn't really want to be there — she wanted to go back to her compartment and hang out with her friends. Finally, the train emerged from another long misty stretch into a red sunset, and Slughorn looked around, blinking in the twilight.

"Good gracious, it's getting dark already!" Slughorn revealed. "I didn't notice that they'd lit the lamps! You'd better go and change into your robes, all of you. McLaggen, you must drop by and borrow that book on Nogtails. Harry, Blaise — any time you're passing. Same goes for you, ladies," he added to Venus, Penelope, and Ginny. "Well, off you go, off you go!"

Zabini shot Harry a filthy look as he pushed past him and Venus into the darkening corridor. Venus rolled her eyes at that as her, Harry, Ginny, and Neville followed Zabini back along the train.

"I'm glad that's over," Neville admitted. "Strange man, isn't he?"

"Yeah, he is a bit," Harry responded. "How come you ended up in there, Ginny?"

"He saw me hex Zacharias Smith," Ginny answered. "You remember that idiot from Hufflepuff who was in the D.A.? He kept on and on asking about what happened at the Ministry and in the end he annoyed me so much I hexed him — when Slughorn came in I thought I was going to get detention, but he just thought it was a really good hex and invited me to lunch! Mad, eh?"

Venus nodded in impressment. "Solid, Gin."

Harry scowled at the back of Zabini's head. "Better reason for inviting someone than because their mother's famous, or because their uncle—"

He suddenly broke off and let go of Venus' hand. Her eyebrows knit in confusion and she looked up at him. Harry had a look of both realization and determination on his face. Venus stared at him for a moment longer.

"I'll see you three later," Harry told them quietly, bringing out his Invisibility Cloak and flinging it over himself.

Venus raised an eyebrow. "You're going to do something stupid—"

"Later!" Harry insisted. He pulled the hood down of his Cloak so that only his head was exposed and kissed Venus quickly. "Love you, Star."

He then put the Cloak back on fully and disappeared. Venus stared at the spot where he once stood in complete and utter confusion.

"I love you too," Venus replied.

However, she said it more like a question, because truth be told, she had absolutely no idea what Harry was going to do.

╞════════ ༺ ༻ ════════╡

HARRY DID NOT, in fact, see them later.

He didn't join them for the rest of the train ride, the ride up to Hogwarts on the carriage, or at the dinner table for the Sorting. Venus had to keep reminding herself that he was okay, that everything was fine . . . but in such dark times like these where Harry basically had a bounty over his head for Death Eaters, she could never be too sure. The entire time she was eating dinner, she kept glancing back at the open doors of the Great Hall, willing her boyfriend to come. Nothing could help the concern in her heart. Not even the fact that she was back at Hogwarts, sitting in her favorite room in the world, eating good food with her favorite people.

Finally, when dinner was almost over, Venus looked up one last time. The familiar figure of her boyfriend was speed-walking straight towards her, Ron, and Hermione. Venus' eyes widened as he sat down next to her.

"Where've you — blimey, what've you done to your face?" Ron demanded.

Harry grabbed a spoon and looked at himself in the reflection. "Why, what's wrong with it?"

Venus took his face in her hands and inspected it. "Oh my God, why are you covered in blood?" She then sighed and pulled out her wand. "Tergeo."

"Thanks, darling," Harry replied, touching his now clean face. "How's my nose looking?"

"Normal," Hermione answered anxiously. "Why shouldn't it? Harry, what happened? We've been terrified!"

"I'll tell you later."

"But—"

"Not now, Hermione."

Venus watched Harry in both concern and confusion. Truly, she had absolutely no idea what was going on and why he had shown up so late with blood all over his face. Harry reached across Ron to get some chicken legs and chips, but before he could take any actual food, dessert replaced everything.

"You missed the Sorting, anyway," Hermione revealed as Ron took a large chocolate slice of cake.

"Hat say anything interesting?" Harry questioned, taking a piece of treacle tart.

"More of the same, really . . . advising us all to unite in the face of our enemies, you know."

"Dumbledore mentioned Voldemort at all?"

"Not yet, but he always saves his proper speech for after the feast, doesn't he? It can't be long now."

"Snape said Hagrid was late for the feast—" Harry began.

"You've seen Snape?" Ron inquired through mouthfuls of cake. "How come?"

"Bumped into him."

"Hagrid was just a few minutes late," Venus told Harry, brushing off the whole situation for now. "Aw, look, he's waving at you."

Harry looked up at the staff table and grinned at a waving Hagrid. Hagrid was sitting next to Professor McGonagall, the Head of Gryffindor House, and her head barely reached Hagrid's shoulder. On the other side of Hagrid was Professor Trelawney, the Divination Professor who had almost gotten kicked out by Umbridge last year. She looked off with her glittering beads and trailing shawls.

"Venus already told us Slughorn wanted to hear what really happened at the Ministry," Hermione voiced. "Him and everyone else here. People were interrogating us about it on the train, weren't they, Ron?"

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "All wanting to know if you really are the Chosen One—"

"There has been much talk on that very subject even amongst the ghosts," Nearly Headless Nick interrupted, the ghost of Gryffindor house. "I am considered something of a Potter authority; it is widely known that we are friendly. I have assured the spirit community that I will not pester you for information, however. Harry Potter knows that he can confide in me with complete confidence, I told them. I would rather die than betray his trust."

"That's not saying much, seeing as you're already dead."

"Once again, you show all the sensitivity of a blunt axe."

Nearly Headless Nick then rose into the air and glided back towards the far end of the Gryffindor table. Dumbledore then got to his feet behind the staff table. Instantly, the talk and laughter around the Hall died away.

Dumbledore smiled and opened his arms wide. "The very best of evenings to you!"

Hermione gasped. "What happened to his hand?"

Venus stared at the headmaster's hand in shock. Dumbledore's right hand was blackened and looked dead. Whispers swept around the room, making Dumbledore merely shake his purple and gold sleeve over his injury.

"Nothing to worry about," he reassured them. airily. "Now . . . to our new students, welcome, to our old students, welcome back! Another year full of magical education awaits you . . ."

"His hand was like that when I saw him over the summer," Harry whispered. "I thought he'd have cured it by now, though . . . or Madam Pomfrey would've done."

Hermione looked like she was about to be sick. "It looks as if it's died. But there are some injuries you can't cure . . . old curses . . . and there are poisons without antidotes . . ."

Venus blinked at Hermione. "Wow, I'm really loving the optimism."

". . . and Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has asked me to say that there is a blanket ban on any joke items bought at the shop called Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes," Dumbledore explained. "Those wishing to play for their House Quidditch teams should give their names to their Heads of House as usual. We are also looking for new Quidditch commentators, who should do likewise. We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year. Professor Slughorn—" Slughorn stood up "—is a former colleague of mine who has agreed to resume his old post of Potions master."

"Potions?"

"Potions?"

The word echoed all over the Hall.

Venus turned to Harry. "I thought you said—"

"Professor Snape, meanwhile, will be taking over the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Dumbledore revealed.

"No!" Harry exclaimed, so loudly that many people turned to look at him.

"I thought you said Slughorn was teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts," Venus continued.

"I thought he was!"

Snape, who was sitting on the right of Dumbledore, didn't stand up at the mention of his name. All he did was raise a hand in acknowledgement of the applause from the Slytherin table, an obvious look of triumph on his face.

"Well, there's one good thing," Harry stated. "Snape'll be gone by the end of the year."

"What do you mean?" Ron asked.

"That job's jinxed. No one's lasted more than a year . . . Quirrell actually died doing it . . . personally, I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for another death. . . ."

"Okay, so that's what we're not going to do," Venus refused, very shocked. "Let's not wish death upon people, Harry."

"He might just go back to teaching Potions at the end of the year," Ron announced reasonably. "That Slughorn bloke might not want to stay long-term. Moody didn't."

Dumbledore cleared his throat, interrupting all of the conversations in the Hall. "Now, as everybody in this Hall knows, Lord Voldemort and his followers are once more at large and gaining in strength." The silence seemed to tauten and strain as Dumbledore went on. "I cannot emphasize strongly enough how dangerous the present situation is, and how much care each of us at Hogwarts must take to ensure that we remain safe. The castle's magical fortifications have been strengthened over the summer, we are protected in new and more powerful ways, but we must still guard scrupulously against carelessness on the part of any student or member of staff. I urge you, therefore, to abide by any security restrictions that your teachers might impose upon you, however irksome you might find them — in particular, the rule that you are not to be out of bed after hours. I implore you, should you notice anything strange or suspicious within or outside the castle, to report it to a member of staff immediately. I trust you to conduct yourselves, always, with the utmost regard for your own and others' safety." Dumbledore's eyes swept over the students before he smiled once more. "But now, your beds await, as warm and comfortable as you could possibly wish, and I know that your top priority is to be well rested for your lessons tomorrow. Let us therefore say good night. Pip pip!"

There was a deafening scraping noise as the benches were moved back so the hundreds of students could file out of the Great Hall. Venus waited behind with Harry as he obviously pretended to tie his shoe, waiting for most of the Gryffindors to go ahead of him. Hermione had dragged Ron away to complete their Prefect duty of showing the first years where to go. Venus suddenly got a very large sense of déjà vu from a year ago, when it had also been just her and Harry going to the common room.

"Are you going to tell me what actually happened to your nose?" Venus questioned once they were at the very back of the crowd leaving the Hall.

Harry had told her what happened — how he had snuck into Malfoy's compartment, what he heard, how Malfoy had broken his nose, Tonks saving him, and what Snape had did.

"Huh," Venus commented. "It all sounds very strange, I agree, but I still don't understand how someone like You-Know-Who would incorporate teenagers into his rank."

Harry sighed. "How d'you know Voldemort doesn't need someone at Hogwarts? It wouldn't be the first—"

"I wish yeh'd stop sayin' tha' name, Harry," a familiar voice behind them said.

Venus turned. Sure enough, Hagrid was standing there, shaking his head.

"Dumbledore uses that name," Harry protested.

"Yeah, well, tha's Dumbledore, innit?" Hagrid inquired mysteriously, making Venus tilt her head in thought. "So how come yeh were late, Harry? I was worried."

"Got held up on the train. Why were you late?"

"I was with Grawp. Los' track o' the time. He's got a new home up in the mountains now, Dumbledore fixed it — nice big cave. He's much happier than he was in the forest. We were havin' a good chat."

"Really?" Harry replied.

Venus and Harry tried not to look at each other. Last time they had met Hagrid's half-brother, who was a Giant who liked to tear up trees by the roots, he only knew how to say five words, and two of those words he hadn't been able to pronounce properly.

"Oh yeah, he's really come on," Hagrid stated proudly. "Yeh'll be amazed. I'm thinkin' o' trainin' him up as me assistant." Venus blinked at that. Oh? "Anyway, I'll see yeh tomorrow, firs' lesson's straight after lunch. Come early an' yeh can say hello ter Buck — I mean, Witherwings!"

Hagrid raised an arm in a cheery farewell and headed out of the front doors into the darkness. Instantly, Venus looked up at Harry. He looked back down at her. Both of them were experiencing the same sinking feeling.

"None of us are taking Care of Magical Creatures," Venus voiced quietly. "Not you, not me, not Hermione, not Ron, not Eli . . . not even Charlie."

Harry took her hand again and pressed a kiss to the top of her head as they stared to walk towards Gryffindor Tower. She didn't know what hagrid would say when he realized his six favorite students had given up his subject.

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