"But it's just a guess?"
"Well, I haven't felt much inclined to confront them again, if that's what you're asking!"
Ron blew his breath out in a huffing noise. "If they meant to incapacitate witnesses then they did a pretty poor job of it. Slytherin was well on the mend by the day the expulsion hearing rolled around."
"Yeah," said Nott in the same kind of voice Hermione used when she thought someone was being stupid. "Because they didn't cast it right. They messed with it. It spread out over Slytherin instead of over time, something like that."
"And you're telling me all this because?"
Nott stared at Harry for a second, then barked a harsh laugh. "Well, shite. Did I read you wrong yesterday? Seemed to me you were pretty interested in the plague and trying not to show it. So I thought you might appreciate knowing what I've been able to figure out."
When Nott stepped closer, Harry stepped back. Had he really been that easy to see through? "Why would you care what I appreciate or not?"
"Because," Nott whispered, stepping closer yet again, "I turn seventeen over the summer! Do you know what that means, Potter? In my family, at least, it means this..." He thrust his left arm out of his sleeve.
Unmarked.... but Harry still flinched back. Nott was standing too close for comfort by then.
"And why would you object to that?" questioned Ron in a harsh whisper of his own as he actually stepped between Nott and Harry. "Seems to me you used to think it was a fine idea!"
"Yeah, I used to think it was exciting and glamorous. Lure of the forbidden, you know." Nott backed off, then. "Well, it doesn't sound so attractive now. It's slavery. With torture tossed in for good measure. Who the hell would want that?"
"Oh, only just about every student in your fucking House!"
"What you know about my house wouldn't fill a teaspoon, Weasley!" Nott looked past Ron at Harry. "You might be surprised how many of us would rather just skip serving the Dark Lord now that Draco's given us a first-hand look inside a meeting. You tell your father that, Potter."
Nott hesitated a moment, then turned his back on them and headed into the castle.
"Told you we weren't really friends," said Harry. He still felt jittery inside from when Nott had come too close to him. "He wants to use me. I just can't figure out if it's for something good, like getting away from Voldemort, or if there's more going on than I know..."
"Well, there's more going on than I know," retorted Ron. "Draco's given us a first-hand look inside a meeting? What the hell was that about?"
Harry swallowed, not liking the tone of those questions. "Um... well, Draco was at the meeting on Samhain, actually."
Ron shoved his hands in his pockets. "Oh, great. Your precious brother watched you get your eyes skewered. That's just wonderful, Harry. And you never thought it might be good to mention this to me?"
"Well, it was really Draco's personal business... and anyway, I'm glad he was there. 'Cause that's what brought him over onto our side, Ron. He saw Lucius being a slave to Voldemort, and realised he was destined for the same if he didn't do something about it." Harry sighed. "And that's why Nott just might be telling the truth, see? Draco's spent the past few months trying to convince his Housemates that what they're getting into isn't what they think it is."
Ron's eyes were still fierce with anger, but he managed to nod. "So you think he has it right, about Bella and Erik and the Slytherin plague? But wait, that doesn't make much sense, not really. You said your father had determined they were testifying based on false memories.... that they weren't really working for Lucius Malfoy.... well, at least not knowingly."
"You're right; it doesn't line up." Harry shrugged. "But Nott said it was just his guess. If he thinks that Bella and Erik cursed him, anyway, that probably counts for something."
"What?"
"I'm still figuring that out." Harry smiled. "Um, thanks for making him back off, anyway. The last few days I've felt a little bit... I don't know. Sort of jumpy."
"Yeah, I noticed. It started just about when Draco got adopted," Ron said with a pointed look. "Maybe you're not as delighted with that as you want us all to think."
"Maybe you should stop impersonating Hermione."
"Shut up, Harry."
Harry laughed, and said they'd better get down to the greenhouses before they ended up missing the class after Charms, too.
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"As we finished working with Magma Potions on Tuesday," Snape said that afternoon as he swept majestically into the Potions classroom, "we will today continue our study of charmed potions by brewing Waldenholfer's Acuity Draught, which is representative of the Senseo class of potions. As you are all sixth-year students, which hopefully means you have surpassed the academic level of first-year dolts, I will assume you have all done the readings I assigned at the close of the last session. If anyone has not, I strongly advise you to leave class now and do them."
Harry sort of gulped. He had done all the readings, of course. He just didn't remember too much from them.
Of course, this would be one of those days when Snape seemed to be a vicious mood. His black eyes were almost predatory as they swept over the class... just as if he wanted to find some poor hapless student or other who was unprepared.
Harry gulped again, hoping he didn't get called on.
"Mr. Zabini," the Potions Master quickly rapped out, "what is the general purpose of an Acuity Draught?"
"Um, to increase acuity," Zabini said, though when the teacher frowned he quickly added, "Perception, I mean. To make you see better or--"
Snape spoke right over his answer. "And Waldenholfer's contribution to the Senseo class, Mr. Potter, was...?"
Harry thought fast. Perception. Senses. Zabini had already mentioned sight so he took a stab in the dark and said, "His potion improves hearing, Professor."
Snape didn't say correct, but then again, he hardly ever did. You knew you had the right answer if he moved right on to something... or someone, else.
"And the reason why Senseo class potions require charms, Mr. Nott?"
Harry breathed a sigh of relief, but was careful not to let it show.
After a few more questions and answers, Snape appeared satisfied that his students were ready to begin brewing. He waved a careless hand toward the blackboard and the instructions appeared. "You will note, ladies and gentlemen, that this potion requires no fewer than four separate applications of charms. The colour, viscosity, and magical aura of your potion must be perfect prior to each charm, so I suggest you follow the procedure precisely as written."
The Potions Master gave a thin smile. "Since you all now have sufficient experience in the realm of charmed potions, you will be brewing individually this afternoon. I expect, however, each and every one of you to summon me to check your potion before you apply the two most critical charms." He looked down his nose at them. "I trust you all know which two I mean? You may begin."
Great, Harry thought. Individual work. He'd been hoping Hermione would keep him on track, not to mention awake. Or at least Nott, if Snape made the Houses mix.