Harry decided that we should go try to talk to Slughorn again that night. I wasn't thrilled about the idea, but knowing how important it was, I joined him.

Knock, knock.

"Harry, this isn't a good idea," I whispered to him as I knocked on Slughorn's door.

"We've got to at least try to talk to him," he replied.

Just then, Slughorn poked his head outside to see who it was. "Yes?" He saw our faces. "Oh, it's you two. I'm sorry, I'm busy at the moment." He left us there, disappointed once again.

"I told you it wasn't a good idea."

"Oh, shut it, Max. I hate it when you're right."

"But you still love me."

"Of course."

I chuckled, walking back with him to the Gryffindor Tower.

He headed upstairs to his own bed and I stayed in the Gryffindor Common Room, falling asleep. I was dreaming about Draco again. Since the other day in History of Magic, Draco was all I thought about. He really had changed ever since third year, and I admired him for that. Merlin, something was wrong with me. Before I could go into a deep sleep, someone was shaking me.

"Max, Max, wake up." It was Harry.

"What?" I sat up, groaning.

"It's Ron. Romilda Vane gave me a love potion with chocolates and Ron ate them. We need to take him to Slughorn."

I got up from the couch and helped Harry take Ron back to see Slughorn, where Ron was loopy, swaying back and forth all the way down the corridors.

Harry knocked again and Slughorn came out once more. "I'm sorry, sir. We wouldn't bother you, but this is absolutely essential."

"Where's Romilda?" Ron asked.

"What's the matter with Wenby?"

"Very powerful love potion," Harry whispered.

"Very well. Better bring him in." We took Ron inside and helped him get situated. Harry went with Slughorn to get some things and I stayed with Ron to make sure he didn't do anything stupid. "I would have thought you two could whip up a remedy for this in no time."

"Well, we thought this called for a more practiced hand, sir," Harry replied.

Ron got out of my grip and went up to Slughorn, giving him a hug. "Hello, darling. Fancy a drink?"

"Perhaps you're right."

I grabbed Ron and sat him down on the couch, throwing a pillow at him for him to hug. "We're sorry, by the way, Professor, about earlier today, our misunderstanding," I said to Slughorn.

"Oh, not at all. All water under the bridge, you know? Correct?"

"We expect you're tired of it after all these years," Harry spoke up. "All the questions about Voldemort."

"Don't use that name!" Slughorn shouted.

"Ron, get off of me!" I squealed as he tried to kiss me.

"I just want one kiss!" he protested.

"Right, like we haven't done that already..." I pulled him up from the couch and placed him on the other one across from me. As soon as I turned my back on him, he climbed onto the edge and fell backwards. Harry helped me put him back on the couch as Slughorn had his drink ready.

"What's this?" he asked, taking the drink.

"Tonic for the nerves," the man replied.

Ron took a swallow of the drink, his smile fading away. He looked at Harry and I. "What happened to me?"

"Love potion," we said in unison.

"A bloody strong one at that," I added.

"I feel really bad," Ron whispered.

"You need a pick-me-up, my boy! I've got dazzling oak-matured mead, which I had other intentions for, but I think, given the circumstances, we shall have one glass, shall we?" He poured the drink into four glasses and gave each of us one. "To life!" Ron was the first to take a sip of his drink.

Thud!

I gasped, running over to him. "Ron! Ron! Professor, do something!"

"I-I don't understand!" he said.

"Harry, do something!" I cried. He ran over to Slughorn's cabinet and hurriedly opened all the drawers, scanning over the boxes. I was still by Ron. "Don't die, Ron, It's going to be okay. It's going to be okay. Hurry up, Harry!"

"I'm coming!" He came back over to us and put something in Ron's mouth. "Come on, Ron, breathe!"

My eyes were wet from all the tears that were coming down as I watched Ron's body stop moving. "No. No, Ron," I sniffled. "He's not dead, is he, Harry?"

Suddenly, Ron started coughing, making Harry and I back away from him. We leaned against the couch, breathing heavily.

He looked at us with wide eyes. "These girls, they're going to kill me."

I couldn't help but laugh. But why was I still crying?

Harry wrapped his arms around me, stroking my hair. "It's alright. It's alright, Max. He's not dead. Ron's not dead."

"Thank you, Harry," I said. "Thank you."

*******

Ron was in the Hospital Wing overnight. Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and I were by his bed, waiting to see if he would wake up. While we waited patiently, McGonagall, Snape, Slughorn, and Dumbledore came in.

"Quick thinking on your part, Harry, using a bezoar," Dumbledore praised him. "You must be very proud of your student, Horace."

"Oh, yes, very proud," he said.

"I think we agree, Potter's actions were heroic," McGonagall commented. "The question is, why were they necessary?"

"Why, indeed? That bottle appears to be a gift, Horace. You don't remember who gave it to you? Which, by the way, possesses remarkably subtle hints of licorice and cherry. But when not polluted with poison."

"I had intended to give it as a gift myself," Slughorn told him.

"To whom, might I ask?"

He paused for a moment. "To you, Headmaster."

Before anyone could say anything else, the sound of Lavender's voice came running in. Literally. "Where is he?! Where's my Won-Won?! Has he been asking for me?!" She looked at Hermione. "What's she doing here?"

Hermione looked offended. "I might ask you the same question!" she snapped, shooting up from her chair.

"I happen to be his girlfriend!"

"I happen to be his...friend."

Lavender scoffed. "Don't make me laugh! You two haven't spoken in weeks! I suppose you want to make up with him now that he's all interesting!"

"He's been poisoned, you daft dimbo! And for the record, I've always found him interesting!"

Ron started to stir in his sleep.

"Ha! See? He senses my presence!"

"I bet all he can sense is a disturbance in the force," I whispered to Harry.

He snorted, finding my comment amusing.

"Don't worry, Won-Won! I'm here. I'm here."

Ron began to mumble something. It sounded like someone's name. "Uh...Hermione...Hermione...Hermione..."

Lavender gasped in shock and ran out of the Hospital Wing, sobbing. About time. I didn't care for her. But my thoughts suddenly went back to the poison. Katie Bell was cursed because she was delivering a package to Dumbledore. A package that Draco gave her. Ron was poisoned because of a gift that was meant for Dumbledore. A gift that Draco must have given him. It all made sense.

Draco was the one who poisoned Ron.

A knife went through my heart as I came to this realization.

"Oh, to be young, and to feel love's keen sting," Dumbledore said.

Before I knew it, I dashed out the door and headed straight for the Room of Requirement.

I was hurt. Why would he do that? Ron was one of my best friends and he almost killed him! But I didn't know that for sure unless I asked him myself. I had to know. He had to tell me. Even if it was going to ruin everything, I didn't care. I just wanted to hear it for myself.

"Draco!" I yelled once I spotted him. I walked up to him and stared at him for a moment.

"Hey, Max." He smiled.

Slap!

That smile went away when the palm of my hand collided with his cheek.

"What the bloody hell was that for?!" he screamed in pain.

"It's one thing to curse Katie Bell, but Ron?! You would poison my best friend?! Because of you, Draco Malfoy, he's in the Hospital Wing right now!"

"Max, let me explain--"

"I thought I could trust you! I gave you everything and this is how you repay me? By almost killing someone that's like a brother to me? Merlin, I can't even look at you right now."

"No, Max--"

"Just stay away from me, Draco," I retorted, letting the tears fall from my face once more.

I ran away from him and raced out of the castle. I stopped when I reached the Black Lake. Huffing a sigh, I sat at the edge of the pier, looking out at the water.

It was all his fault that I was here. What was I supposed to do now? Sit here and cry my eyes out over someone who not only hurt my best friend but also hurt me as well? What kind of person would I be if I did that?

Weak. That was what I would be, and I, Maxine Lillian Potter, was not weak.

Merlin, who was I kidding? I was weak. When it came to Draco Malfoy, I was nothing but weak. He broke me down, piece by piece, letting me trust him, letting me open up to him. Did I just throw our entire friendship away? Why did it feel like déjà vu all over again? For some reason, I already missed him, and I wanted him more than ever, knowing that he could change for the better.

~~~~~~~

A/N: W-O-W. MORE drama has begun. Damn, Draco. Why'd you have to poison Ron?!

What did you think? Where do you think Draco and Max's friendship is going to go from here? When the hell will Max tell Harry about her and Draco sleeping together?!

Comment, vote, COMMENT! Next update: Thursday! Bye! :)

-A