𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗔 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗧

ACT ONE, CHAPTER FIVE
new york city pizza.

HARRY HADN'T LET the topic of Draco Malfoy being a Death Eater go.

Now Venus was all ears — she had told him that she would listen, but Harry had decided to talk about it every waking moment. The next morning, he had met her, Hermione, and Ron in the common room before breakfast. He took Venus' hand and kissed her cheek in good morning before immediately jumping into what he had overheard Malfoy saying on the Hogwarts Express.

"But he was obviously showing off for Parkinson, wasn't he?" Ron interjected quickly before Hermione had the chance to talk.

"Well, I don't know . . . it would be like Malfoy to make himself seem more important than he is . . . but that's a big lie to tell. . . ." Hermione voiced.

"Exactly," Harry agreed.

However, he couldn't go on. So many people were trying to listen in on their conversation, along with staring at Harry and whispering behind their hands. Venus rolled her eyes when they got in line to climb out of the portrait hole when she noticed a small first-year boy mutter something about Harry to his friend behind his hand.

"Don't you have another topic to talk about?" Venus asked the boy, a very unimpressed look on her face. "It's rude to point and whisper, you know."

The boy immediately turned scarlet and stumbled out of the hole in alarm. Venus shook her head and climbed out of the portrait hole after him.

Ron sniggered. "I love being a sixth year. And we're going to be getting free time this year. Whole periods when we can just sit up here and relax."

"We're going to need that time for studying, Ron!" Hermione insisted as they started to walk down the hallway.

"Yeah, but not today. Today's going to be a real doss, I reckon."

"Hold it!" Hermione suddenly announced, throwing out an arm to stop a passing fourth year who was attempting to push past her with a lime-green disk clutched tightly in his hand. "Fanged Frisbees are banned, hand it over."

The boy scowled at her and handed over the snarling Frisbee. He then ducked under her arm and ran after his friends.

Ron tugged the Frisbee from Hermione's grip once the boy was gone. "Excellent, I've always wanted one of these."

Hermione's scolding was frowned out by a loud giggle. Lavender Brown had apparently found Ron's remark highly amusing, even though there was literally nothing funny about it. Venus raised an eyebrow as she watched Lavender continue to laugh as she passed them and then glanced back at Ron over her shoulder. Ron stared after Lavender with an odd look on his face, like he had no idea what had just happened.

The ceiling of the great hall was a serene blue and was streaked with frail, wispy clouds, matching the squares of sky visible through the high windows. While they all started to eat breakfast, Venus and Harry told Ron and Hermione about their embarrassing conversation with Hagrid they had the previous evening.

"But he can't really think we'd continue Care of Magical Creatures!" Hermione exclaimed, looking distressed. "I mean, when has any of us expressed . . . you know . . . any enthusiasm? Well, besides Charlie, but that's because she adores Hagrid."

"That's it, though, innit?" Ron countered, swallowing an entire fried egg whole. "We were the ones who made the most effort in classes because we like Hagrid. But he thinks we liked the stupid subject. D'you reckon anyone's going to go on to N.E.W.T.?"

None of them answered, but there was no need. All of them knew that nobody in their year would want to continue Care of Magical Creatures. They avoided Hagrid's gaze and returned his cheery wave halfheartedly when he left the staff table ten minutes later.

Once they had finished eating, they remained in their places to wait for McGonagall's descent from the staff table. The distribution of class schedules was more complicated this time around because McGonagall first needed to confirm that everybody had achieved the necessary O.W.L. grades to continue with their chosen N.E.W.T.'s.

Venus was the first one of their group to receive her schedule. She was very well on her way with all of the classes she needed to take to become a Defense professor, but she had a free period at the moment, so she continued to sit to wait and see what the others' schedules were.

Hermione was instantly cleared to continue on with Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Herbology, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Potions, so she shot off to her first period Ancient Runes with a short bye. Neville had taken a little longer to sort out — he had an anxious expression on her face as McGonagall looked down at his application and then consulted his O.W.L. results.

"Herbology, fine," McGonagall announced. "Professor Sprout will be delighted to see you back with an Outstanding O.W.L. And you qualify for Defense Against the Dark Arts with Exceeds Expectations. But the problem is Transfiguration. I'm sorry, Longbottom, but an Acceptable really isn't good enough to continue to N.E.W.T level. I just don't think you'd be able to cope with the coursework." Neville hung his head, and McGonagall peered at him through her square glasses. "Why do you want to continue with Transfiguration, anyway? I've never had the impression that you particularly enjoyed it."

Neville looked miserable and muttered something about his grandmother wanting him to.

"Hmph. It's high time your grandmother learned to be proud of the grandson she's got, rather than the one she thinks she ought to have — particularly after what happened at the Ministry." Neville turned pink and blinked in confusion at the compliment. "I'm sorry, Longbottom, but I cannot let you into my N.E.W.T. class. I see that you have an Exceeds Expectations in Charms, however — why not try for a N.E.W.T. in Charms?"

"My grandmother thinks Charms is a soft option," Neville revealed.

"Take Charms, and I shall drop Augusta a line reminding her that just because she failed her Charms O.W.L., the subject is not necessarily worthless," McGonagall stated.

She smiled slightly at the look of delighted incredulity on Neville's face. With a tap from her wand, a blank schedule filled with detailed of Neville's new classes. McGonagall then turned to Parvati Patil, whose first question was whether the handsome Centaur Firenze was still teaching Divination.

"He and Professor Trelawney are dividing classes between them this year," McGonagall answered, just a hint of diapproval in her voice. "The sixth year is being taken by Professor Trelawney."

Parvati then set off for Divination five minutes later, looking a little crestfallen.

McGonagall then consulted her notes as she turned to Harry. "So, Potter, Potter . . . Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Transfiguration . . . all fine. I must say, I was pleased with your Transfiguration mark, Potter, very pleased. Now, why haven't you applied to continue with Potions? I thought it was your ambition to become an Auror?"

"It was, but you told me I had to get an Outstanding in my O.W.L., Professor," Harry replied.

"And so you did when Professor Snape was teaching the subject. Professor Slughorn, however, is perfectly happy to accept N.E.W.T. students with Exceeds Expectations at O.W.L. Do you wish to proceed with Potions?"

"Yes, but I didn't buy the books or any ingredients or anything—"

"I'm sure Professor Slughorn will be able to lend you some," McGonagall cut in. "Very well, Potter, here is your schedule. Oh, by the way — twenty hopefuls have already put down their names for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. I shall pass the list to you in due course and you can fix up trials at your leisure."

A couple of minutes later, Ron was cleared to do the same subjects as Harry. Venus, Harry, and Ron then left the table.

Ron looked down at his schedule in delight. "Look, we've got a free period now . . . and a free period after break . . . and after lunch . . . excellent!"

When they returned to the common room, it was empty besides about six seventh years. Katie Bell was included in one of them.

Katie pointed at the Captain's badge on Harry's chest. "I thought you'd get that, well done. Tell me when you call trials!"

"Don't be stupid, you don't need to try out, I've watched you play for five years . . ." Harry told her.

"You mustn't start off like that," Katie warned. "For all you know, there's someone much better than me out there. Good teams have been ruined before now because Captains just kept playingthe old faces, or letting in their friends . . ."

Ron looked slightly uncomfortable after that statement and started to play with the Fanged Frisbee Hermione had taken from the fourth-year student. It zoomed around the common room, snarling and attempting to bite the tapestry. Venus and Harry shared a look before resuming to their original stance — Harry sitting in the armchair, Venus sitting on the floor in front of him. The only difference now was that her back was leaning against Harry's legs comfortably and she would rest her head against his knee every so often.

They reluctantly left the sunlit common room an hour to later to go to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Once they arrived, a queue was already outside — including Charlotte and Elijah.

"Morning, Eli," Venus greeted. "Morning, Charlie."

"Good morning, America," Charlotte responded. "Had any classes yet?"

She shook her head. "Nope, this is my first one. And it's with Snape . . . yay."

"Tell me about it," Elijah agreed. "I mean, his class can't be as bad as Moody's when he showed us the three Unforgivables literally in the first lesson . . . right?"

Hermione then approached them, carrying a lot of heavy books. "We got so much homework for Runes." Elijah then held out his arms, and he took some of her books, making her smile at him graciously. "A fifteen-inch essay, two translations, and I've got to read these by Wednesday!"

"Shame," Ron said with a yawn.

"You wait. I bet Snape gives us loads."

Penelope then joined them, her two best friends Tracey Davis and Daphne Greengrass right behind her. Ron immediately slung his arm around her shoulder as she told them all good morning. However, the conversation between Penelope and Harry was ceased when the classroom door open. Snape stepped into the corridor, his sallow face framed by two curtains of greasy black hair. The whole queue went silent.

"Inside," Snape demanded.

Venus and Harry let go of each other's hands as she entered the classroom. She looked around. Snape seemed to have imposed his personality upon the room already. It was gloomier than what Venus remembered, which was saying a lot, because Umbridge had been the last one to inhabit the room. All the curtains had been drawn over the windows and it was only lit by candlelight. New pictures adorned the walls — many showed people in pain, sporting grisly injuries, or strangely contorted body parts. Nobody spoke as they settled into their seats. Venus took her seat next to Harry, her eyes flickering between the shadowy, gruesome pictures.

"I have not asked you to take out your books," Snape began, closing the door and moving to face the class from behind his desk. Hermione hastily dropped her copy of Confronting the Faceless back into her bag and stowed it under her chair. "I wish to speak to you, and I want your fullest attention." He looked around the classroom, and his gaze lingered upon Harry for just a second longer than anyone else's. "You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe."

Venus resisted the urge to scoff. She knew that Snape had wanted the job for years and watched literally all the teachers come and go.

"Naturally, these teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion I am surprised so many of you scraped an O.W.L. in this subject. I shall be even more surprised if all of you manage to keep up with the N.E.W.T. work, which will be much more advanced." Snape set off around the very edge of the room, sneaking now in a lower voice — all of them craned their necks to keep him in their vision. "The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible."

Venus slightly tilted her head. Snape was talking about the Dark Arts with a little too much fascination in his voice.

Snape got louder. "Your defenses must therefore be as flexible and inventive as the arts you seek to undo. These pictures—" he indicated to a few of them as he swept past "—give a fair representation of what happens to those who suffer, for instance, the Cruciatus Curse—" a witch who was clearly shrieking in agony "—feel the Dementor's Kiss—" a wizard lying huddled and blank-eyed, slumped against a wall "—or provoke the aggression of the Inferius—" a bloody mass upon the ground.

"Has an Inferius been seen, then?" Parvati questioned in a high-pitched voice. "Is it definite, is he using them?"

"The Dark Lord has used Inferi in the past, which means you would be well-advised to assume he might use them again," Snape stated. "Now . . ." he set off again around the other side of the classroom towards his desk, and they all watched him as he walked, his dark robes billowing behind him. ". . . You are, I believe, complete novices in the use of nonverbal spells. What is the advantage of a nonverbal spell?" Hermione's hand shot into the air, and Snape took his time looking around at everybody else, making sure he had no choice. "Very well — Miss Granger?"

"Your adversary has no warning about what kind of magic you're about to perform, which gives you a split-second advantage," Hermione answered.

"An answer copied almost word for word from The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Six, but correct in essentials," Snape voiced dismissively, and Malfoy sniggered from the corner. "Yes, those who progress to using magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spell-casting. Not all wizards can do this, of course;it is a question of concentration and mind power which some—" his gaze lingered maliciously upon Harry once again, and Venus slightly straightened up "—lack. You will now divide into pairs. One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. Carry on."

Venus paired up with Penelope, so that Harry was with Ron, Charlotte was with Neville, and Elijah was with Hermione. She knew that Penelope was good at Defense, and, well, so was Venus, but nonverbal spells were really hard. There was a reasonable amount of cheating, where many people were merely whispering the incantation. Hermione was the first one to succeed, and Venus had actually repelled Penelope's spell not longer after without saying a single word. It should've earned them at least twenty points for Gryffindor, but then again, this was Snape, so he ignored it.

"Pathetic, Weasley," Snape announced. Venus then turned around, a slight frown on her face. "Here — let me show you—"

Snape then turned his wand on Harry. Venus' eyes widened as she watched her boyfriend instinctively yelled Protego! His Shield Charm was so strong that Snape was knocked off-balance and hit a desk. The whole class looked to see Snape right himself with a scowl.

"Do you remember me telling you we are practicing nonverbal spells, Potter?" Snape inquired.

"Yes," Harry responded stiffly.

"Yes, sir."

"There's no need to call me sir, Professor."

Venus jaw dropped and her hand lifted up to cover her mouth in shock. Well, okay. Many people gasped, including Hermione, but Ron, Dean, and Seamus just grinned appreciatively. And, of course, there was one person letting out quiet giggles, and it was none other than Charlotte. Elijah quickly reached over and elbowed her side so she would stop.

"Detention, Saturday night, my office," Snape demanded. "I do not take cheek from anyone, Potter . . . not even the Chosen One."

"That was brilliant, Harry!" Ron exclaimed once they were on their way to break a short while later.

Hermione frowned at Ron. "You really shouldn't have said it. What made you?"

"He tried to jinx me, in case you didn't notice!" Harry told her, letting go of Venus' hand and opting to sling an arm around her shoulder instead. She then reached up her hand and held onto his that was dangling by her shoulder. "I had enough of that during those Occlumency lessons! Why doesn't he use another guinea pig for a change? What's Dumbledore playing at, anyway, letting him teach Defense? Did you hear him talking about the Dark Arts? He loves them! All that unfixed, indestructible stuff—"

"Well, I thought he sounded a bit like you."

"Like me?"

"Yes, when you were telling us what it's like to face Voldemort. You said it wasn't just memorizing a bunch of spells, you said it was just you and your brains and your guts — well, wasn't that what Snape was saying?" Hermione explained. That it really comes down to being brave and quick-thinking?"

Venus looked up at Harry. "It was a good line."

He grinned back at her, one that made her heart race, and kissed her quickly. "Thanks, Star."

"Harry!" a voice then shouted. "Hey, Harry!"

They all turned. It was Jack Sloper, one of the Beaters on last year's Gryffindor Quidditch team. He was hurrying towards him with a roll of parchment in his hand.

Sloper handed him the parchment. "For you. Listen, I heard you're the new Captain. When're you holding trials?"

"I'm not sure yet," Harry answered. "I'll let you know."

"Oh, right. I was hoping it'd be this weekend—"

However, Harry just continued to walk, making Venus, Ron, and Hermione follow after him, leaving Sloper in mid-sentence. Venus looked over and started to read the parchment, which had thin, slanting handwriting.

Dear Harry,
I would like to start our private lessons this Saturday. Kindly come along to my office at 8 P.M. I hope you are enjoying your first day back at school.
Yours sincerely,
𝒜𝓁𝒷𝓊𝓈 𝒟𝓊𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝒹𝑜𝓇𝑒
P.S. I enjoy Acid Pops.

Ron looked perplexed. "He enjoys Acid Pops?"

"It's the password to get past the gargoyle outside his study," Harry revealed in a low voice. "Ha! Snape's not going to be pleased . . . I won't be able to do his detention!"

The whole break, Venus, Harry, Ron, and Hermione speculated on what Dumbledore would teach Harry. Ron thought it was spectacular jinxes and hexes that the Death Eaters wouldn't even know. Hermione said that things like that were illegal, and thought that it was much more likely that Dumbledore wanted to teach Harry advanced Defensive magic. Venus, on the other hand, had an inkling it had something to do with Voldemort. After all, he was now roaming free, no one blissfully ignoring his existence anymore.

After break, Hermione went off to Arithmancy while Venus, Harry, and Ron returned to the common room. They started on Snape's homework, which turned out to be so complex that it took them a while — well, Venus took less time than Harry and Ron and managed to finish when Hermione joined them for their after-lunch free period. Harry and Ron managed to finish when the bell rang for the afternoon's double Potions. They walked down the familiar path to the dungeon classroom.

In the hallway, there was only about a dozen people progressing into N.E.W.T. level. Zabini, Malfoy, Penelope, Charlotte, and two other Slytherins made it, along with four Ravenclaws, and one Hufflepuff, Ernie Macmillan. Charlotte and Penelope then instantly joined their group.

Charlotte held out her hand for a high-five to Venus, who happily obliged. "The Potions dream team is back."

Venus glanced around. "Eli's not here?"

"Nah, he hates Potions. I think he has a free period right now."

Ernie then held out his hand to Harry. "Harry, didn't get a chance to speak in Defense Against the Dark Arts this morning. Good lesson, I thought, but Shield Charms are old hat, of course, for us old D.A. lags . . . and how are you, Ron — Hermione — Venus — Charlotte — Penelope?"

Before they could answer, the dungeon door opened and Slughorn exited. They all filed into the room, and Slughorn greeted Venus, Harry, Penelope, and Zabini with particular enthusiasm. The dungeon was unusually already full of vapors and odd smells. Venus, Harry, Charlotte, Hermione, and Ron — reluctantly leaving Penelope to the table of Slytherins — sat down at the table with a gold-colored cauldron.

This particular cauldron was emitting one of the best smells Venus had ever come across. It smelled simultaneously of salt air, freshly-baked cookies, and something that reminded her of wood. Venus knew she had smelled it before . . . and then she adjusted in her seat, and when she accidentally leaned closer to Harry, that same wood scent was coming from him, not the Potion this time. She slightly recoiled. Uh . . . what?

"Now then, now then, now then," Slughorn announced. "Scales out, everyone, and potion kits, and don't forget your copies of Advanced Potion-Making . . ."

Harry raised his hand. "Sir?"

"Harry, m'boy?"

"I haven't got a book or scales or anything — nor's Ron — we didn't realize we'd be able to do the N.E.W.T., you see—"

"Ah, yes, Professor McGonagall did mention . . . not to worry, my dear boy, not to worry at all," Slughorn reassured them. "You can use ingredients from the store cupboard today, and I'm sure we can lend you some scales, and we've got a small stock of old books here, they'll do until you can write to Flourish and Blotts . . ." Slughorn walked over to the corner cabinet and emerged after a moment with two very battered-looking copies of Advanced Potion-Making and two sets of tarnished scales. He then returned to the front of the class. "Now then, I've prepared a few potions for you to have a look at, just out of interest, you know. These are the kind of thing you ought to be able to make after completing your N.E.W.T.'s. You ought to have heard of 'em, even if you haven't made 'em yet. Anyone tell me what this one is?"

He indicated to the cauldron nearest to the Slytherin table. Venus slightly raised herself and saw what looked to be plain water boiling inside of it. Hermione instantly raised her hand, and Slughorn pointed to her.

"It's Veritaserum, a colorless, odorless potion that forces the drinker to tell the truth," Hermione responded.

"Very good, very good!" Slughorn told her happily. "Now—" he pointed at the cauldron nearest to the Ravenclaw plus one Hufflepuff table "—this one here is pretty well known . . . featured in a few Ministryleaflets lately too . . . who can—?"

Hermione raised her hand once more. "It's Polyjuice Potion, sir."

"Excellent, excellent! Now, this one here . . . yes, my dear?"

Slughorn now looked slightly bemused at Hermione's hand being in the air again.

"It's Amortentia!" Hermione answered.

"It is indeed," Slughorn voiced, looking impressed. "It seems almost foolish to ask, but I assume you know what it does?"

"It's the most powerful love potion in the world!"

"Quite right! You recognized it, I suppose, by its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen?"

Hermione nodded enthusiastically. "And the steam rising in characteristic spirals, and it's supposed to smell differently to each of us, according to what attracts us, and I can smell freshly mown grass and new parchment and books."

Venus' eyes slightly widened. Love potion. She had smelled Harry in that love potion. Venus didn't know why she was shocked — after all, her and Harry had already admitted their love to each other. But still, love was a scary thing. Her face suddenly feeling hot, she averted her gaze to the table.

"May I ask your name, my dear?" Slughorn inquired.

"Hermione Granger, sir," Hermione stated.

"Granger? Granger? Can you possibly be related to Hector Dagworth-Granger, who founded the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers?"

"No, I don't think so, sir. I'm Muggle-born, you see."

Slughorn beamed from Hermione to Harry, who was sitting next to her. "Oho! One of my best friends is Muggle-born, and she's the best in our year! I'm assuming this is the very friend of whom you spoke, Harry?"

"Yes, sir," Harry said.

"Well, well, take twenty well-earned points for Gryffindor, Miss Granger."

"Did you really tell him I'm the best in the year?" Hermione whispered, a radiant expression on her face. "Oh, Harry!"

Venus looked up and smiled at him, ignoring the way her heart was racing. "You're sweet."

"I told him about you, too," Harry admitted. "Said you won the World's Best Girlfriend award."

She rolled her eyes playfully and elbowed him. "Shut up."

Charlotte scoffed. "You guys are gross."

"Call me when you get a love life, Charlie," Harry responded.

"Oh, that's low, Potter, and you know it."

"Amortentia doesn't really create love, of course," Slughorn explained. "It is impossible to manufacture or imitate love. No, this will simply cause a powerful infatuation or obsession. It is probably the most dangerous andpowerful potion in this room — oh yes," he paused, nodding gravely at Malfoy and Nott at the Slytherin table, who were smirking skeptically. "When you have seen as much of life as I have, you will not underestimate the power of obsessive love . . . and now, it is time for us to start work."

"Sir, you haven't told us what's in this one," Ernie said, pointing to a small black cauldron standing on Slughorn's desk.

The potion within the cauldron was splashing about merrily. It was the color of molten gold, and large drops were leaping above the surface, yet it wasn't spilling.

"Oho," Slughorn voiced, and Venus was sure that he hadn't forgotten about the potion and had waited to be asked about it for theatrics. "Yes. That. Well, that one, ladies and gentlemen, is a most curious little potion called Felix Felicis. I take it—" he turned and smiled at Hermione, who had let out an audible gasp "—that you know what Felix Felicis does, Miss Granger?"

"It's liquid luck," Hermione answered excitedly. "It makes you lucky!"

Everyone seemed to straighten up at that revelation.

"Quite right, take another ten points for Gryffindor," Slughorn said. "Yes, it's a funny little potion, Felix Felicis. Desperately tricky to make, and disastrous to get wrong. However, if brewed correctly, as this has been, you will find that all your endeavors tend to succeed . . . at least until the effects wear off."

"Why don't people drink it all the time, sir?" Terry Boot asked eagerly.

"Because if taken in excess, it causes giddiness, recklessness, and dangerous over confidence. Too much of a good thing, you know . . . highly toxic in large quantities. But taken sparingly, and very occasionally . . ."

"Have you ever taken it, sir?" Michael Corner questioned with great interest.

"Twice in my life," Slughorn admitted. "Once when I was twenty-four, once when I was fifty-seven. Two tablespoonfuls taken with breakfast. Two perfect days." He gazed dreamily into the distance for a long moment before coming back to Earth. "And that, is what I shall be offering as a prize in this lesson."

The whole room was silent besides the bubbling and gurgling of the surrounding potions.

Slughorn took a miniscule glass bottle with a cork in it out of his pocket and showed it to them all. "One tiny bottle of Felix Felicis. Enough for twelve hours' luck. From dawn till dusk, you will be lucky in everything you attempt. Now, I must give you warning that Felix Felicis is a banned substance in organized competitions . . . sporting events, for instance, examinations, or elections. So the winner is to use it on an ordinary day only . . . and watch how that ordinary day becomes extraordinary! So, how are you to win my fabulous prize? Well, by turning to page ten of Advanced Potion-Making. We have a little over an hour left to us, which should be time for you to make a decent attempt at the Draught of Living Death. I know it is more complex than anything you have attempted before, and I do not expect a perfect potion from anybody. The person who does best, however, will win little Felix here. Off you go!"

There was scraping as everyone drew their cauldrons toward them and some loud clunks as people began adding weights to their scales, but nobody dared to speak. Venus peered down at her book. This potion was definitely complicated, but she had faith that she could at least try and make a good attempt.

After gathering her supplies from the cupboard, Venus started on her potion. She glanced up every once in a while to see that the whole place was full of bluish steam. Venus continued to cut up her valerian roots, and soon enough, her potion already resembled the smooth, black currant-colored liquid mentioned at the ideal halfway stage. Everybody else seemed frantic, but Venus took her time. She didn't really need Liquid Luck, anyways. All she did was focus on her potion and drown out everything else.

"How are you doing that?" Hermione suddenly demanded.

Venus snapped out of her trance and looked up from her almost-pink-colored potion. Charlotte seemed to be at the same stage she was, her hair now tied into a knot with her wand. Hermione, however, was red in the face and her hair was growing frizzier. Her potion was still purple, but she was looking at Harry, whose potion was the ideal shade of pink the book was looking about.

"Add a clockwise stir—" Harry began.

"No, no, the book says counterclockwise!" Hermione snapped.

Harry shrugged. Venus shook her head and continued to stir her potion.

"And time's . . . up!" Slughorn called. "Stop stirring, please!"

Venus set down her wand as Slughorn started to move around the tables and peer into cauldrons. At last, he reached their table. Ron's potion got a rueful smile, Hermione's got an approving nod, Venus and Charlotte's got praises, and then a look of incredulous delight spread over his face when he got to Harry's.

"The clear winner!" Slughorn cried. "Excellent, excellent, Harry! Good lord, it's clear you've inherited your mother's talent. She was a dab hand at Potions, Lily was! Here you are, then, here you are — one bottle of Felix Felicis, as promised, and use it well!"

Harry slipped the tiny bottle of golden liquid into his inner pocket. Venus nodded in impressment. Harry had apparently stepped up his potion game.

"How did you do that?" Ron whispered to Harry as they left the dungeon, clearly dumbfounded, and looking a little upset at Penelope's sudden weird behavior that made her leave.

"Got lucky, I suppose," Harry replied.

Venus could tell that wasn't it, and she was right. Once they got to the Gryffindor table for dinner, Harry told them that he had been following extra instructions from the book Slughorn gave him. Apparently, someone had written in the margins.

"So, you've got, like, hacks?" Venus inquired, spooning some mashed potatoes into her mouth.

"I guess so," Harry replied. He then looked at Hermione, who had a stony look on her face. "I s'pose you think I cheated?"

"Well, it wasn't exactly your own work, was it?" Hermione argued.

"He only followed different instructions to ours," Ron insisted. "Could've been a catastrophe, couldn't it? But he took a risk and it paid off." He let out a sigh. "Slughorn could've handed me that book, but no, I get the one no one's ever written on. Puked on, by the look of page fifty-two, but—"

"Hang on," a familiar voice then interjected, and Venus looked to see it was Ginny. "Did I hear right? You've been taking orders from something someone wrote in a book, Harry?"

"It's nothing," Harry reassured her. "It's not like, you know, Riddle's diary. It's just an old textbook someone's scribbled on."

"But you're doing what it says?"

"I just tried a few of the tips written in the margins, honestly, Ginny, there's nothing funny—"

"Ginny's got a point," Hermione agreed. "We ought to check that there's nothing odd about it. I mean, all these funny instructions, who knows?"

"Hey!" Harry protested as Hermione pulled his book out of his bag and raised her wand.

She tapped the front cover with her wand. "Specialis Revelio!"

However, nothing happened. The book just laid there.

"Finished?" Harry said irritably. "Or d'you want to wait and see if it does a few backflips?"

Hermione still stared at the book suspiciously. "It seems all right. I mean, it really does seem to be . . . just a textbook."

"Good. Then I'll have it back."

Harry snatched it off the table, but it slipped and landed on the floor. He then bent down to retrieve his book. Meanwhile, Venus put some more mashed potatoes and chicken on her plate. She started to cut up her chicken as Harry came back from under the table.

"Hey, V, what'd you smell in the Amortentia?" Harry then asked his girlfriend, the smirk on his face evident in his voice.

Venus didn't even glance up from her plate — she knew what he wanted to hear. "Pizza from New York City. There's truly nothing like it."

"Anything else?"

"The ocean."

"A certain scent to anyone in particular?"

"My mom's freshly baked cookies."

Harry let out a groan. "Star."

"If you wanted me to say that I love you, Harry, you could've just asked," Venus voiced nonchalantly, laughing slightly. "Yes, you were one of the things I smelled in the Amortentia, Harry."

He then kissed her cheek. "I smelled you, too."

And with a smile on her face and a racing heart, Venus continued to eat her dinner.

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harry the icon potter

also I would also smell new york pizza in the amortentia like that shit SLAPS