Chapter 26 (Ava)

I stood alone in the dark Room of Requirement, my heart pounding.

What had Draco meant when he’d been apologising? Whispering the word ‘sorry’ against my lips like it was the most important thing he needed to say to me, like he really meant it.

I just didn’t understand why he’d been saying it.

I walked towards the doors and opened them, checking for any students in the corridor before stepping out. The doors closed behind me and disappeared into the wall, leaving behind no trace of the room.

I started to walk, although I had no idea where I was going. I knew I should have followed Draco, asked him questions, but I had been so shocked, I hadn’t even thought about it.

Now, walking down the corridor alone, I felt on edge. I was in the dark about something, and I didn’t have a clue what it was.

I was pulled from my thoughts as I turned the corner and saw Harry dragging a dopey Ron Weasley down the corridor. I stopped,

“Harry? What’s the matter with Ron?”

Before my brother could reply, Ron grinned,

“Harry’s taking me to meet Romilda.”

I frowned,

“Romilda Vane? What on earth happened to Lavender?”

Harry grabbed onto my arm and muttered in my ear,

“He ate some chocolates with love potion in them. I need to take him to Slughorn to see if he can make an antidote.”

I nodded and turned to Ron,

“Follow us, it’s only a bit longer. Romilda can’t wait to meet you- in fact, I’ve heard her say plenty of things about you.”

A dopey smile spread across Ron’s face,

“Really? I didn’t think she even looked at me.”

We started to walk again, and I nodded,

“Of course she’s looked at you, she won’t shut up about you!”

We arrived at Slughorn’s office soon enough, and he opened the door after the first knock,

“Harry, Ava… This is very early for a call… I generally sleep late on a Saturday…”

Harry cleared his throat,

“Professor, I’m really sorry to disturb you, but my friend Ron’s swallowed a love potion by mistake. You couldn’t make him an antidote, could you? I’d take him to Madam Pomfrey, but we’re not supposed to have anything from Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes and, you know… awkward questions…”

Slughorn raised an eyebrow,

“I’d have thought you could have whipped him up a remedy, Harry, an expert potioneer like you?”

I turned to Harry in confusion- I’d heard before that he was good at Potions, but I didn’t know that he was good enough to be mixing his own potions without help.

Just as he started to talk, Ron moaned,

“I can’t see her, Harry- is he hiding her?”

I grabbed onto his arm while Harry convinced Slughorn to let us in,

“No, no- she’s coming in a bit Ron. Just wait, she’s a bit shy to meet you.”

Professor Slughorn finally opened his door wide enough for the three of us to walk- or, in Ron’s case, tumble- in.

Ron muttered something to Harry and he shook his head,

“She’s not here yet.”

Ron nodded,

“That’s good. How do I look?”

Slughorn handed him a glass,

“Very handsome. Now drink that up, it’s a tonic for the nerves, keep you calm when she arrives, you know.”

“Brilliant.”

I watched nervously as Ron gulped down the antidote. He grinned for a moment before the antidote kicked in and he realised what was going on.

“Back to normal then? Thanks, Professor.” Harry grinned.

I sighed with relief as Ron collapsed onto a chair by the fire. He was okay.

Slughorn smiled,

“Don’t mention it m’boy, don’t mention it.”

He glanced over at Ron and continued,

“Pick-me-up, that’s what he needs. I’ve got Butterbeer, I’ve got wine, I’ve got one last bottle of this oak-matured mead… hmm… meant to give that to Dumbledore for Christmas. Ah well… he can’t miss what he’s never had. Why don’t we open it now and celebrate Mr. Weasley’s birthday? Nothing like a fine spirit to chase away the pangs of disappointed love…”

I froze, staring at the bottle that Slughorn was holding. It was the exact bottle that Draco had been holding in the Room of Requirement. What on earth was Slughorn doing with it?

I’m so sorry.

Draco’s words played through my mind as Professor Slughorn passed me a glass of mead. He started to speak, but I wasn’t paying attention.

God, Ava- I’m so sorry.

It was even stranger that Professor Slughorn had intended to give it to Dumbledore, yet he hadn’t done so. He was a very organised-

Dumbledore.

The glass in my hand dropped to the floor and smashed, the dark liquid spreading out across the wooden floor.

“Ron! Don’t drink it!”

It was too late- Ron had already swallowed the mead.

The poison.

He stood up before collapsing to the floor, his limbs jerking wildly.

I ran over to him, not caring that I’d stepped on the broken glass. He started to foam at the mouth, and I bent down to help him.

“Professor!” Harry shouted, “Do something!”

“Ohmygod ohmoygod ohmygod.” I cried.

Ron’s skin started to turn blue, and I turned to Harry, my eyes wide with fear.

He leapt over the table and grabbed Slughorn’s potion kit, throwing jars and bottles out of the way, looking for something, anything that would save his best friend.

He picked up a shrivelled stone- I immediately recognised it as a bezoar- and sprinted over to Ron’s other side. He opened his mouth as widely as he could and shoved the bezoar down his throat.

Ron shuddered before his body stopped moving and he became limp.

I got up and sprinted across the room, throwing the door open. I ran down the corridor, my heart pounding in my chest.

This was Draco’s fault. He had tried again to kill Professor Dumbledore by giving Slughorn the poison to pass onto him- how could I have been so stupid?

I caught sight of Professor McGonagall and hurtled towards her. She looked at me and her eyes widened,

“Miss. Potter, whatever is the matter?”

I gasped,

“Ron…”

She put her hand on my arm,

“Ava, you must calm down and tell me what happened.”

I nodded,

“Ron swallowed some poison… he’s in Slughorn’s office right now… Harry gave him a bezoar but I don’t know if he’s okay…”

“I’ll call Madam Pomfrey.” McGonagall decided in a heartbeat, “We’ll be there as quickly as possible. Get back there and put him into a comfortable position…”

I gulped and turned around, running back towards the office as quickly as I could.

Ron was still on the floor, his arms limp beside him. I took a deep breath,

“Harry- we should get him up onto the sofa while we wait for Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall.”

He nodded in agreement, although he looked as if he was in a state of shock.

I picked Ron’s top half up and Harry lifted his legs. We carefully placed him on the sofa and I leant against the wall behind, trying to catch my breath back.

We waited in silence for Madam Pomfrey and McGonagall to come. When they did, fear crossed both of their faces momentarily when they saw Ron’s limp form lying on the sofa.

They gently took him up to the Hospital Wing, and Harry and I followed as quickly as we could. However, when we arrived at the doors, Madam Pomfrey simply shook her head at us,

“You two won’t be allowed in just yet- we need to make sure that he’s stable.”

Harry nodded, although he looked irritated. I could understand why- after all, it had been him who had saved his best friend’s life with the bezoar.

After a few minutes of silence, Professor Dumbledore appeared in front of us.

“Are you aware if Mr. Weasley’s health is stable?”

Harry shrugged and I gulped,

“Sorry, I just need to…”

I turned away form them both and quickly ran down the corridor. When I was sure they couldn’t hear or see me, I stopped and slid down the wall slowly, crumpling on the floor. I broke down into tears.

Because of Draco, it was now two lives that had nearly been lost. Two times that I had been even closer to betraying Harry to Voldemort.

That was why he’d been sorry.

This was the second time that I’d been too late to put the clues together. I had been so stupid, so recklessly stupid. How had I let this happen?

After I while, I wiped my tears away and made my way back to Harry. I waited until Madam Pomfrey finally came out and told us that Ron was okay. Then, after politely excusing myself, I left.