A few weeks later, Riley, Hazel, and Hermione found themselves in an advanced Potions class with Professor Slughorn. Harry and Ron, having achieved "Exceeds Expectations" on their OWLs, had a free period and decided to entertain themselves by observing the younger students' struggles.
Above them, the trio laughed as they watched the younger children navigate their way through the castle.
"History of Magic is upstairs, ladies, not down. Mr. Davis, Mr. Davis, that is the girls' lavatory," Professor McGonagall scolded a little Ravenclaw student, her green hat perched firmly on her head.
Harry and Ron couldn't help but snort at the scene.
"Potter," McGonagall called out to Harry, prompting him to groan and approach her.
"Oh, this can't be good," he muttered under his breath.
"Are you enjoying yourselves?" McGonagall asked sternly, holding a booklet in her arms.
"I had a free period this morning, Professor," Harry explained to the older woman.
"I noticed. I would think you'd want to fill it with Potions. Or is it no longer your ambition to become an Auror?" McGonagall inquired, her gaze fixed on the Boy Who Lived.
"Well, it was, but I was told I need an Outstanding in my O.W.L. to pursue that path," Harry replied, casting a wistful glance at Ron, who was still making fun of the younger students.
"So you did when Professor Snape was teaching Potions. However, Professor Slughorn is perfectly happy to accept N.E.W.T. students with "Exceeds Expectations"," Professor McGonagall informed him.
"Brilliant. Um... well, I'll head there straight away," Harry said, preparing to leave.
"Oh, good, good. Potter, take Weasley with you. He looks far too happy over there," Professor McGonagall said with a smile.
Harry grabbed Ron's arm and led him toward Slughorn's classroom.
"I don't want to take Potions. Quidditch trials are coming up, and I need to practice!" Ron protested, but Harry ignored him and entered the classroom.
"Attention to detail in preparation is the prerequisite for any successful plan," Slughorn addressed the students.
"Harry, my boy, I've been starting to worry. And you've brought a companion along, I see," the entire class turned their heads to look at Harry and Ron.
Riley waved and gave Harry a small smile. She was sitting with Theo, who glared at Harry with intense anger. His arm was wrapped tightly around her, possessively.
"Oww, Theo, ease up," Riley groaned, shrugging off his arm.
"Sir, I'm Ron Weasley. But I'm dreadful at Potions. A complete disaster, actually. I'm probably just going to—" Ron began, but Slughorn interrupted him by waving his hand.
Lavender sighed dreamily as she looked at Ron.
"Nonsense, we'll sort you out. Any friend of Harry's is a friend of mine. Get your books out," Slughorn reassured them.
"I'm sorry, sir, I haven't actually got my book yet, and nor has Ron," Harry explained to the professor.
"Not to worry, get what you want from the cupboard. Now as I was saying, I prepared some concoctions this morning. Any idea what these might be? Yes, Miss...?" Slughorn turned to Hermione while Harry and Ron headed to the cupboard to fetch their books.
"Granger, sir," Hermione replied, with Hazel standing next to her, curious about the potions.
In the cupboard, there was a newer-looking book and a ragged ripped book.
The two boys exchanged a glance and then plunged their hands into the cupboard, each vying for the newer book.
Riley snickered as she nudged her boyfriend who looked unamused as he stared at the chosen one and his best friend.
"That one there is Veritaserum. It's a truth-telling serum. And that would be Polyjuice Potion. It's terribly tricky to make," Hermione explained.
Ron emerged triumphant, clutching the newer book, grinning at his victory. Harry, using his old book, playfully smacked Ron's thigh, causing him to howl in pain.
They joined the rest of the class, standing alongside Riley and Theo.
"This is Amortentia. The most powerful love potion in the world. It's rumored to smell differently to each person according to what attracts them," Hermione continued.
"For example, I smell... Freshly mown grass and new parchment and... Spearmint toothpaste," Hermione inhaled the potion's scent.
"Cool," Riley raised an eyebrow, well aware that she caught a whiff of Ron's scent.
"What do you smell in the Amortentia, Riley?" Harry asked curiously which made Theo's head snap towards her.
"It's a bit far, but there's a hint of your cologne, Theo. And then I also smell..." Riley took a sniff.
"Broomstick handles, grass, butterbeer, and a touch of lavender," Riley concluded.
She was fairly certain that Harry used lavender shampoo. And whenever he returned from Hogsmeade, he always had a lingering scent of butterbeer.
Blushing, Riley hoped Theo wouldn't realize that she caught a whiff of Harry's aroma.
Harry, too, inhaled the potion's scent. He picked up the notes of vanilla, the aroma of the coffee Riley brewed each morning, and the fruity fragrance of her perfume.
"Now, Amortentia doesn't actually create love. That would be impossible. However, it can induce powerful infatuation or obsession. For that reason, it's considered the most dangerous potion in this room," Slughorn explained.
"Sir, you haven't revealed the contents of that large pot," Hazel pointed at it.
"Oh, yes. What you see before you, ladies and gentlemen, is a curious little potion known as Felix Felicis. Though it's more commonly referred to as—" Slughorn was interrupted by Hermione's hand shooting up.
"Liquid luck," Hermione and Hazel chimed in unison, exchanging smiles.
"Yes, Miss Granger, and..." Professor Slughorn glanced at Hazel.
"Hazel Lockwood," Hazel replied with a smile.
Slughorn returned the smile.
"Indeed, liquid luck. Exceptionally challenging to brew, and disastrous if mishandled. One sip and you'll find that all your endeavors succeed, at least until the effects wear off," Slughorn explained.
"So, this is what I offer each of you today: one tiny vial of liquid luck to the student who, within the remaining hour, manages to brew an acceptable Draught of Living Dead," Slughorn announced, catching Draco Malfoy's attention.
"Recipes for the potion can be found on page 10 of your books. However, I must express doubt. Only one student will succeed in brewing a potion of sufficient quality to claim this prize. Nevertheless, good luck to you all. Let the brewing commence," Slughorn clapped, and students returned to their seats.
Harry opened his potions book.
On the first page, messy handwriting declared, 'This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince.'
The book was filled with shortcuts for brewing each potion.
Everyone struggled with the Draught of the Living Dead.
Riley growled in frustration as she attempted to cut the Sopophorus beans, only for them to fly into the air. Slughorn caught them.
Theo laughed as Riley playfully smacked his arm, visibly irritated. Her eyebrows were knitted together in concentration.
Hermione and Hazel, known as the brightest students in their year, also found themselves struggling. Hermione's hair stood on end, while Hazel's hair poofed up like a bird could nest in it.
Harry sprinkled the juice of the beans into his cauldron.
"How did you do that?" Hazel asked, arms crossed.
"You crush it, don't cut it," Harry informed her.
"No, the instructions specifically say to cut," Hermione's voice carried a tinge of frustration.
"No, really," Harry grinned, impressed with himself.
Seamus Finnegan added something to his cauldron, resulting in an explosion that left black ash on his face.
"Why is this so difficult?" Theo complained, flipping through his textbook.
A blob of gray goo flew out of Theo's cauldron and landed on his notes.
"Ew, what the fuck," Riley gagged, glancing across the room. It seemed like everyone else was also struggling with the potion.
"Harry seems to be having no trouble," Riley observed, casting a glance at the boy who lived, calmly stirring his potion.
Theo plucked the blob off his paper and forcefully tossed it into the trash.
After some time, Professor Slughorn made his rounds, adding something to each student's potion for testing.
Riley received a passing grade, while Theo failed miserably, causing his face to turn red with disappointment.
Daphne also received a failing grade, prompting Riley to smirk victoriously at her.
"Merlin's beard! It's perfect!" Professor Slughorn exclaimed.
Everyone turned to look at Harry, whose potion was flawless.
"So perfect, I'd say one drop could bestow good fortune upon us all! Here we are then, as promised. One vial of Felix Felicis. Congratulations. Use it wisely," Slughorn presented a tiny glass of Liquid Luck to Harry, who flashed a brilliant smile.
Riley cheered and whistled, while others politely clapped.
"Fantastic job, Harry!" she praised, earning a warm smile from him.
Theo, standing beside her, didn't applaud at all. In fact, he wore a grim expression.
With pride, Harry stood before the class, holding the vial of Felix Felicis.
....
A few hours later, Harry was summoned over to Professor Dumbledore's office. He was relieved to leave the sight of Riley sitting on Theo's lap, engaged in a passionate kiss.
"Ah, Harry, you received my message. Come in. How are you?" Dumbledore greeted him warmly.
"I'm fine, sir," Harry replied politely.
"Enjoying your classes, I see. Professor Slughorn has been singing your praises," Dumbledore smiled.
"I think he might be overestimating my abilities, sir," Harry responded, thinking of the Half-Blood Prince's helpful tips in his potions book.
"Do you?" Dumbledore chuckled, taking a seat.
"Definitely," Harry said, taking a seat across from the Hogwarts Headmaster.
"What about your extracurricular activities?" Dumbledore inquired.
"Sir?" Harry asked, curious about the direction of the conversation.
"Well, I couldn't help but notice that you've been spending a lot of time with Miss Granger. I wondered if—" Dumbledore paused as Harry burst into laughter.
"Oh, no, no, sir. We're just friends. She's brilliant, but there's someone else," Harry continued chuckling.
"Forgive my curiosity, Harry. Let's move on. I assume you're wondering why I summoned you here tonight," Dumbledore said, standing up.
"The answer lies here. These are memories, specifically about one individual: Voldemort, or as he was known back then, Tom Riddle," the Headmaster explained, gesturing toward a large bowl filled with swirling blue liquid.
Dumbledore held a vial in his hand.
"This vial contains the most significant memory, the day I first met him. I would like you to see it, if you're willing," Dumbledore said, handing the vial to Harry, who poured it into the bowl.
Harry immersed his head in the liquid, and the surroundings around him transformed.
He found himself witnessing a man with a black umbrella entering an orphanage.
The scene shifted to the man conversing with a woman inside the orphanage, and they climbed a flight of stairs together.
"I must admit, Mr. Dumbledore, I'm confused by your letter. In all the years Tom has been here, he has never had a family visitor. There have been incidents with the other children. Nasty things," the woman shuddered as she knocked on a door and opened it.
"Tom, you have a visitor," she announced.
The man turned out to be a younger version of Professor Dumbledore.
A young boy stood by the window, his dark hair and regal face catching attention. He wore a dark shirt and shorts.
"How do you do, Tom?" Dumbledore greeted the boy.
"Don't. You're the doctor, aren't you?" Tom asked, while Dumbledore glanced around the room.
"No, I'm a professor," the older man corrected.
"I don't believe you. She wants me checked. They think I'm... different," Tom admitted, looking down.
"Or perhaps they're right," Dumbledore responded.
"I'm not mad," Tom insisted, crossing his arms.
"Hogwarts is not a place for the mad. Hogwarts is a school, a school of magic. You can do things, can't you, Tom? Things other children can't," Dumbledore's voice was gentle.
"I can make things move without touching them. I can make animals do what I want without training them. I can make bad things happen to people who mean to me. I can make them hurt, if I want. Who are you?" the young boy looked up at Dumbledore, puzzled.
"Well, I'm like you, Tom. I'm different," he replied.
"Prove it," Tom challenged.
Dumbledore complied and conjured flames from Tom's wardrobe.
"I think there
's something in your wardrobe trying to get out, Tom," Dumbledore remarked as Tom opened the wardrobe door, revealing a book at the bottom.
Suddenly, the flames disappeared, and the wardrobe door swung shut.
"Thievery is not tolerated at Hogwarts, Tom. We will teach you not only how to use magic but also how to control it. Do you understand?" Dumbledore asked.
"I can speak to snakes too. They seek me out and whisper things. Is that normal for someone like me?" Tom inquired, as Harry's head emerged from the blue liquid, wiping his face with a towel.
Turning to the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Harry asked, "Did you know, sir? Did you know that I had just met the most dangerous dark wizard of all time?"
"No, Harry, I did not. If I had known, I..." Dumbledore's voice trailed off.
"While Tom Riddle was at Hogwarts, he formed a close bond with a particular teacher. Can you guess who that might be?" Dumbledore asked Harry.
"You didn't bring Professor Slughorn back just to teach potions, did you, sir?" Harry inquired.
"No, I did not. You see, Professor Slughorn possesses something I greatly desire, and he won't give it up easily," Dumbledore revealed.
"You said Professor Slughorn would try to collect me," Harry recalled.
"Yes," Dumbledore confirmed.
"Do you want me to let him?" Harry asked.
"Yes."
...
After having dinner, Riley headed to the library to study with Hazel and Hermione. It grew late, and exhaustion weighed heavily on her as she started dozing off on her textbooks.
Hazel gently snapped her out of her drowsiness.
In the soft light, Hazel looked beautiful with her dark hair, straightened earlier that morning, and her hazel eyes looking down at Riley.
"Hey, are you tired?" Hazel asked with concern.
"Yeah, but I still need to study for the charms exam tomorrow," Riley replied, yawning.
"Sweetie, you've studied enough. Go to sleep," the beautiful brown-skinned girl insisted, packing up Riley's belongings in her backpack.
"Fine," Riley mumbled as she slung her heavy backpack over her shoulder.
Hazel also stood up.
"No, sit down, babe. You stay with Hermione," Hazel said softly.
Hermione looked up, removing her earbud.
"What?" she asked, causing the two Americans to burst into laughter.
"Anyway, you stay here," Riley poked Hazel's cheek.
"Okay, fine. I love you," Hazel smiled at her friend.
"I love you too," Riley responded, then left the library and began making her way back to the Slytherin dungeons. As she walked through a corridor, she heard a strange sound.
Riley's heart pounded in her chest as she witnessed the scene before her. The sight of Daphne Greengrass pressed against the unforgiving wall, Theo's possessive grip holding her in place, sent a surge of emotions coursing through her veins. Theo's body bore the marks of their passionate encounter, lipstick stains adorning his white button-down shirt.
A mixture of shock, hurt, and anger welled up inside Riley, threatening to consume her. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the large smile etched across Daphne's face.
Theo's murmurs filled the air, his lips leaving wet kisses on Daphne's exposed collarbone. His hands ventured beneath her shirt, igniting a moan from Daphne's lips. The intimacy they shared, the blatant disregard for anyone else's presence, cut deep into Riley's soul.
"Can we please just take this back to your dorm?" Daphne pleaded, biting her lip.
"No, Riley's probably there. Besides, we can't risk going over there. Remember when Blaise nearly caught us last time? You know how loyal he is to Riley," Theo responded, his lips still exploring Daphne's neck with an insatiable hunger.
Daphne's contented sigh mingled with the atmosphere, further tormenting Riley.
The depth of her connection with Harry was undeniable, and even though suspicions of Theo and Daphne's involvement had stirred within her, witnessing it firsthand was a shock to her core.
Riley was frozen in shock. She had suspected something was going on between Theo and Daphne but it was still shocking to see. The weight of the moment pressed upon Riley, her thoughts scattered and emotions swirling within her.
A question laced with bitterness pierced the air as Daphne challenged her, "Why do you even date, Riley?"
"I don't even know," Theo interjected, while Daphne seized him in a passionate kiss, stealing his breath away.
Riley's throat tightened, unable to find her voice amidst the surge of emotions crashing upon her. She had become an outsider in her own world, watching her feelings unravel in the face of this betrayal.
The hurt and confusion drawn on her face were transparent, as she grappled with the realization of her shattered trust.
But just as the tension reached its peak, Riley mustered the strength to break the suffocating silence. With a forced clarity, she cleared her throat loudly, punctuating the scene that had unfolded before her, causing the two lovers to abruptly separate, their intimate connection shattered in an instant.
Theo's words stumbled out in a desperate attempt to explain himself, "Riley, it's not what you think, I promise!"
Riley couldn't help but let out a scoff, a mixture of disbelief and bitter sarcasm. "Oh, yeah. I was totally not about to have sex with my ex," she retorted, her tone laced with biting cynicism.
An angry fire flickered within Daphne's eyes as she unleashed her venomous words, "Shut up, you American scum," she sneered, her disdain dripping from every syllable.
"And you," Riley breathed as she walked up to Daphne and punched her straight in the face knocking her down.
"Riley, please, stop!" Theo's voice trembled with concern as Daphne's eyes rolled back, causing her to collapse onto the floor. A purplish bruise was already forming on her right eye.
Tears welled up in Riley's eyes, her voice cracking with heartache, "No! Wasn't I good enough for you?"
Theo's face burned with shame and regret, his gaze filled with remorse.
"You were so incredibly sweet before. What happened?" Riley demanded, her finger jabbing into Theo's chest with anger and pain.
"What changed? That damn snake got inside your head!" Riley pointed accusingly at Daphne's motionless form.
Meanwhile, after Harry left the Headmaster's office, he made his way back to the Gryffindor tower. However, as he walked, he heard raised voices echoing from the Slytherin dungeons. Curiosity got the better of him, and he peered inside to witness Riley fiercely confronting Theo.
"I should have never loved you," Riley's tears streamed down her cheeks.
Theo's expression showed deep hurt as he insisted, "You don't mean that."
"Oh, I do, and I'm removing every trace of you from my room. You never truly loved me, admit it. You only dated me because you thought we would have sex," Riley's anger blazed in her eyes, tears mingling with her words.
Harry had never seen Riley so consumed by rage.
"No, I did love you. Daphne manipulated me," Theo pleaded desperately.
"We had this same conversation a few weeks ago. It's all lies. You are a fraud. I'm done with you," Riley declared.
"You chose that bitch over me," the blonde sneered, flipping him off before storming back towards the Slytherin common room.
Feeling like he was intruding on their private moment, Harry decided to leave. However, a small spark of joy ignited within him as he realized their relationship had ended. Riley Madden was now single, and he saw a glimmer of hope for himself.
Theo grabbed her wrist.
"Don't touch me, you disgrace," Riley hissed, her voice loaded with venom.
"It's because of Harry," Theo's voice cracked, revealing his pain.
Riley paused, her eyes narrowing as she studied him intently.
"I see the way he looks at you and the way you look at him. Last year, I didn't pay much attention to it until Daphne mentioned it over the summer. I know you're in love with him. You've been lying to me and yourself, pretending that you love me. I'm sorry for not keeping in touch this summer. It was a dick move, and I feel awful because you were hurting. But I did it because I'm hurting too," Theo explained, his words filled with remorse.
"Whatever, Theo. That still doesn't justify cheating on me," Riley's gaze held nothing but disdain.
Did he really think she would pity him?
"From now on, Daphne and I will stay away from you. I'm sorry, Riley. I truly wish you could find it in your heart to forgive me, but it seems like you won't," he said calmly, lifting Daphne's motionless body and disappearing into the Slytherin common room.
Left alone, Riley unleashed her frustrations and emotions upon the wall, her fists colliding with it again and again.
She smashed and smashed, pouring her anger and anguish into each blow until her knuckles were raw and bloody. Blood seeped from the wall, staining the floor.
"Shit," she mumbled, staring at her wounded hands.
Quietly, Riley made her way back to the Slytherin dormitory. Millicent and Pansy were already fast asleep.
She washed her hands under hot water, feeling a slight burn that mirrored the pain within her. When she finished, she changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed, pulling the covers over her head.
Harry's piercing green eyes were the last image that occupied her thoughts before she surrendered to slumber, engulfed in a mix of emotions and longing.
....
That was Chapter 26! The ending was honestly really cringy. This whole chapter was really cringy as well. I'm multitasking and working on an essay and I'm literally about to jump out a window. All of next week I'm not gonna be updating because I'm gonna be out of town but tomorrow I will most probably update. Anyway, I hope you all have a great day!
xx Asiya