𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗔 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗧

ACT ONE, CHAPTER EIGHT
harry tricks hermione . . . well,
that's a first.

FOLLOWING THE EVENTS, Katie has been moved to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries the next day. The news that she had been cursed had naturally spread all over the school, though nobody knew the full details. Only Venus, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Charlotte, Elijah, and Leanne seemed to know that Katie hadn't been the actual intended target.

"Oh, and Malfoy knows, of course," Harry had said, though none of them fed the fire on his Malfoy-Is-a-Death-Eater theory.

Two days later, Venus, Harry, Ron, and Hermione found themselves in Herbology. Harry filled them in during their walk across the vegetable patch toward the greenhouses about his lesson with Dumbledore. Apparently, Dumbledore was showing memories and such about Voldemort's past. He had showed Harry a memory of him meeting a young boy named Tom Riddle ⁠ — Voldemort ⁠ — in an orphanage.

"Wow, scary thought, the boy You-Know-Who," Ron voiced quietly as they took their places around one of the gnarled Snargaluff stumps that formed this term's project and pulled on their protective gloves. "But I still don't get why Dumbledore's showing you all this. I mean, it's really interesting and everything, but what's the point?"

"Dunno," Harry replied as he put a gum shield in his mouth. "But he says it's all important and it'll help me survive."

"I think it's fascinating," Hermione admitted. "It makes absolute sense to know as much about Voldemort as possible. How else will you find out his weaknesses?"

"So how was Slughorn's latest party?" Harry asked Venus and Hermione thickly through the gum shield.

Venus shrugged as she pulled on some protective goggles. "It was kind of fun, to be honest. I mean, besides the fact that he talks a lot about famous ex-students he's taught and fawning over McLaggen because he's so well-connected, he does serve some good dinner. He also introduced us to Gwenog Jones, which was pretty cool."

"Gwenog Jones?" Ron repeated, his eyes widening under his own goggles. "The Gwenog Jones? Captain of the Holyhead Harpies?"

"That's right," Hermione replied. "Personally, I thought she was a bit full of herself, but—"

"Quite enough chat over here!" Sprout scolded them, walking over to them with a stern look on his face. "You're lagging behind, everybody else has started, and Neville's already got his first pod!"

They looked around. Sure enough, Neville sat there with a bloody lip and several nasty scratches along the side of his face, but clutching an unpleasantly pulsating green object that was the size of a grapefruit.

"Okay, Professor, we're starting now!" Ron told her, but turned to the others when she looked away. "Should've used Muffliato, Harry."

"No, we shouldn't!" Hermione refused at once. "Well, come on . . . we'd better get going . . ."

She gave them an apprehensive look. All three of them took deep breaths and then dived at the gnarled the stump between them. It instantly sprang to life. Long, prickly vines flew out of the top and whipped through the air. One tangled itself in Hermione's hair, and Ron beat it back with a pair of secateurs. Harry trapped a couple vines and knotted them together. And finally, Venus' job⁠ — when a hole opened in the middle of the tentaclelike branches, she plunged her arm in. It instantly closed like a trap around her elbow. Harry, Ron, and Hermione tugged at the vines which forced the hole to open again. Venus freed her arm, clutching in her fingers a pod just like Neville's. Just like it had never happened, the prickly vines shot back inside, and the gnarled stump sat there innocently.

Ron pushed his goggles up onto his forehead and wiped the sweat from his face. "You know, I don't think I'll be having any of these in my garden when I've got my own place."

Venus held the pod as far away from herself as she could. "Do me a favor and get me a bowl."

Harry passed it. "Here you go, darling."

"Oh God," Venus complained, looking down at the pod in disgust.

"Don't be squeamish, squeeze it out, they're best when they're fresh!" Sprout called.

Hermione continued their interrupted conversation like a lump of wood had not just attacked them. "Anyway, Slughorn's going to have a Christmas party, Harry, and there's no way you'll be able to wriggle out of this one because he actually asked V and I to check your free evenings, so he could be sure to have iton a night you can come."

Harry groaned at that.

"Aw come on," Venus urged, smiling slightly. "It'll be fun. We'll go together."

His pretty green eyes softened slightly. "Fine."

Ron was angrily trying to burst the pod. "And this is another party just for Slughorn's favorites, is it?"

"Just for the Slug Club, yes," Hermione confirmed.

The pod flew out from under Ron's fingers. It hit the greenhouse glass and rebounded onto the back of Sprout's head, knocking off her old, patched head. Harry went to go retrieve it.

Venus blinked. "What's got you all mad?"

"Slug Club," Ron responded bitterly.

Hermione sighed as Harry came back. "Look, I didn't make up the name Slug Club—"

Ron sneered. "Slug Club. It's pathetic. Well, I hope you enjoy your party. Why don't you try hooking up with McLaggen, then Slughorn can make you King and Queen Slug—"

"So that's what we're not going to do," Venus announced firmly. "First off, we've already made agreements. Harry and I are going together, Neville's going to ask Charlie, Hermione's going to ask Eli, and Penelope's going to ask you ⁠ — duh ⁠ — so we can all go together. Second, I think Hermione would rather throw up than take McLaggen."

Hermione pointed at her in agreement. "True."

"Oh," Ron let out quietly.

"Yeah, oh," Venus mocked.

Harry looked up at her while he tried to hit the pod. "We're going together? But you didn't ask me."

"You're a part of the Slug Club too, sweetheart. But if you want me to ask you, I will." She then took the bowl from him. "You're horrible at this. Give me it."

"Do you want to be asked?" Harry questioned softly as Venus punctured the pod and Ron and Hermione dove back into the stump for another pod."

Venus shrugged. "Sure, I guess. It would be nice."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Gotcha!" Ron yelled, pulling a second pod from the stump.

The rest of the lesson continued on with no more mentions of Slughorn's party, and so did the next couple of days. It was evident that Ron was waiting for Penelope to ask him, even though Christmas was weeks away. Hermione kept reassuring him that the time would come. Meanwhile, Venus was slightly worried about Harry — ⁠now that Katie was in St. Mungo's Hospital with no prospect of leaving, it meant that the Gryffindor team was one Chaser short. The match against Slytherin was rapidly approaching. Harry kept bouncing ideas off of Venus, who was always there to listen, when he finally settled on something.

Harry had managed to corner Dean Thomas after Transfiguration one day, holding Venus hand tightly (for comfort, she guessed.) Most of the class had already left, although several twittering yellow birds were still zooming around the room. They were of Venus and Hermione's creation, but Venus was shocked that she managed to get that spell. It was extremely difficult. No one else had succeeded in conjuring so much as a feather from thin air.

"Are you still interested in playing Chaser?" Harry inquired.

"Wha—?" Dean began before a smile grew on his face. "Yeah, of course!"

Over Dean's shoulder, Venus saw Seamus Finnigan slamming his books into his bag while looking sour. Seamus had also tried out for the team, but Dean was a little bit better than him. Venus offered him an apologetic smile. It must've been like rubbing salt in a wound.

"Well then, you're in," Harry continued. "There's a practice tonight, seven o'clock."

"Right," Dean responded. "Cheers, Harry! Blimey, I can't wait to tell Ginny!"

He sprinted out of the room, leaving Venus, Harry, an Seamus alone together. It was terribly uncomfortable, and one of the yellow canaries whizzed over them.

Seamus was not the only person upset about the choice of Katie's substitute, however. There was a lot of muttering in the common room about the fact that Harry had now chosen two of his classmates for the team. Venus kept constantly rolling her eyes. Poor Harry could never catch a break.

That night, Venus, Charlotte, and Elijah had made plans to just wander around the castle. It was something the three of them started to do together — ⁠just walk around, talking about everything and nothing at the same time. Somehow, Venus could feel them getting closer each walk they went on. It was kind of fun running way from Filch and Mrs. Norris too.

They were currently on the second floor by the tapestry that led to a shortcut up to Gryffindor tower. The three of them were talking about their favorite Muggle songs and Charlotte's slight obsession with ABBA when they heard commotion coming from behind the tapestry, and the familiar voice of Ron shouted Oi!. Venus, Charlotte, and Elijah all looked at each other before pushing open the tapestry.

Standing there was Harry, Ron, Dean, and Ginny. Ginny and Dean were pulling away from each other like they had just been making out ⁠ — which, they probably were. Judging by their swollen lips and how embarrassed Dean looked, that was definitely it. Venus snuck a quick look at Elijah. He had a sort of crestfallen look on her face, making her frown.

"What?" Ginny asked.

"I don't want to find my own sister snogging people in public!" Ron shouted.

"This was a deserted corridor till you came butting in!" Ginny argued. "And now these three are here, to!"

"Oh, uh, we can go," Venus said, trying to ignore the way Harry was frantically shaking his head, asking her to stay. "We just heard some commotion and wanted to make sure everything was all right."

"Er . . . c'mon, Ginny, let's go back to the common room . . ." Dean suggested awkwardly.

"You go!" Ginny urged. "I want a word with my dear brother!"

Dean left, not eager at all to stay. Venus wanted to follow him because they had definitely walked in on something, but somehow, they all managed to stay.

Ginny tossed her long red hair out of her face and glared at Ron. "Right, let's get this straight once and for all. It is none of your business who I go out with or what I do with them, Ron—"

"Yeah, it is!" Ron insisted angrily. "D'you think I want people saying my sister's a—"

"A what?" Ginny demanded, drawing her wand out. "A what, exactly?"

"I don't think he means it like that, Gin—" Elijah began quietly, looking like he just got punched in the stomach.

Ginny turned angrily towards Elijah, making him take a step back. "Oh yes he does! Just because he's never had any snogging experience with anyone besides Penelope⁠, who was his second kiss after our Auntie Muriel—"

"Shut your mouth!" Ron bellowed, turning a deep shade of maroon.

"No, I will not! I've seen you with Penelope, practically begging for kisses, it's pathetic! If you went out and got a bit of snogging done yourself with her, you wouldn't mind so much that everyone else does it!"

Ron pulled out his wand as, making Harry and Elijah step in between them. "You don't know what you're talking about! Just because I don't do it in public—!"

Ginny laughed. "Been sneaking into the Slytherin common room, have you? Or do you have a picture of your girlfriend stashed under your pillow?"

"You—"

A streak of orange light flew under Harry's left arm and missed Ginny by inches. Elijah continued to stand in front of Ginny.

Harry pushed Ron up against the wall. "Don't be stupid—⁠"

"Harry snogs Venus all the time!" Ginny protested.

Venus' face instantly burned and her eyes widened. "All the time is a bit of an over exaggeration—"

"No it isn't," Charlotte cut in.

Venus looked at her incredulously. "Not right now, Charlie."

"Harry's snogged Cho Chang!" Ginny continued, sounding close to tears. "Charlie's snogged Terence Higgs—"

"Now wait a second, that was a dare," Charlotte insisted.

"And Hermione snogged Viktor Krum, it's only you who acts like it's something disgusting, Ron, and that's because you've got about as much experience as a twelve-year-old! Merlin, I wonder how Penelope puts up with you!"

With that, Ginny stormed away. Harry let go of Ron, who had a murderous look on his face. They all stood there, sort of shocked, until Mrs. Norris, Filch's cot, appeared around the corner.

"C'mon," Harry urged as the sound of Filch's shuffling feet was heard.

Venus said goodbye to Charlotte and Elijah once they reached the seventh floor corridor. There was no point in continuing their walk now, not after that whole scene. Plus, the two girls could tell that Elijah wasn't in the mood anymore. Venus also kissed Harry goodnight before she went back to the girls' dormitory, where Hermione was reading on her bed.

The next few days were miserable. Venus, Harry, Hermione, and Charlotte were doing all right, but Elijah was just sad and Ron was treating everyone horribly, including his own girlfriend ⁠ — but Venus assumed that was just because all the things Ginny had said. Nothing anyone did was making Ron feel better.

Finally, it was the morning of the match. Breakfast had the usual excitable affair. Venus sat at the Gryffindor table with Hermione, Charlotte, and Elijah, who were all decked out in their Gryffindor clothes. She heard hissing and booing come from the Slytherin table and looked over at the doors to the Great Hall. The entire Gryffindor team was entering the Great Hall underneath the pale blue sky the ceiling was showing. Venus smiled at Harry grinning and waving at the people cheering for them.

"Cheer up, Ron!" Lavender Brown called as Penelope approached the table. "I know you'll be brilliant!"

Ron ignored her. Harry took his usual seat next to Venus and pressed a kiss to her cheek. Venus' smile only widened at that and butterflies rushed throughout her stomach.

"Morning," Venus greeted. "You ready for the match?"

"Yep," Harry answered happily. He then turned to Ron, who looked slightly better after talking to Penelope for a moment. "Tea? Coffee? Pumpkin juice?"

"Anything," Ron replied glumly, taking a bite of his toast.

Hermione then looked up from the book her and Elijah were reading at the same time, tentatively looking at Ron, whom she had been fed up with because of his attitude lately. "How are you both feeling?"

"Fine," Harry responded, handing Ron a glass of pumpkin juice. "There you go, Ron. Drink up."

"Don't drink that, Ron!" Hermione stated sharply as Ron raised the glass to his lips.

Venus blinked in shock. She looked at Hermione. Charlotte did so as well, an eyebrow raised. Even Elijah looked up from his book.

"Why not?" Ron countered.

Hermione was staring at Harry like she couldn't believe her eyes. "You just put something in that drink."

"Excuse me?" Harry voiced.

Charlotte shook her head. "Harry, maybe you and I have to have a talk about morally right things. Number one, don't spike drinks."

"You sure, Hermione?" Venus cut in, glancing at Harry for a second, who had a slight smirk on his face.

Hermione nodded. "I saw him. He just tipped something into Ron's drink. He's got the bottle in his hand right now!"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Harry countered, and Venus for a second thought she saw him putting away a small glass bottle into his pocket.

"Ron, I warn you, don't drink it!"

Ron then picked up the glass and drained it one gulp. "Stop bossing me around, Hermione."

Hermione looked scandalized as she leaned closer to Harry. "You should be expelled for that. I'd never have believed it of you, Harry!"

"Hark who's talking," Harry whispered. "Confunded anyone lately?"

Hermione, obviously fed up, got up from the table and stormed away. Venus watched after her for a moment, tilting her head. It was quite clear that Hermione was also getting affected by Ron's icy mood.

Elijah placed the bookmark in his book with a sigh. "Guess I'll wait for when she reads again."

Charlotte looked at him. "You know, that's kind of sweet. You ever thought about getting over Ginny and asking Hermione out?"

"Stop trying to play matchmaker, Lottie."

"Nearly time," Harry then announced.

Venus looked up as Harry stood up from the table. "Good luck. Don't break anything."

Harry smiled at her and leaned down, kissing her softly. "No promises. I love you."

"I love you more."

"No, I'm serious," Charlotte insisted as Harry walked away. "You're literally perfect for Hermione. Hello, open your eyes. For someone so smart, you're acting real dumb right now."

Elijah paused for a moment. "Real talk?"

Venus nodded. "Real talk. I would say maybe see how things go with Hermione. She smiles wide when she's around you. Just . . . ease into things."

"Aw, our Eli's growing up," Charlotte said, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and leaning her head against his, making him roll his eyes with a ghost of a smile on his face, looking happier than he had been in the past couple of days. 

"Yeah, now it's maybe time for you to step up with Neville," Elijah responded.

"Hey, don't turn this around on me." Charlotte then checked her watch. "We'd better go down to get a place at the stands. Come on."

The three of them made their way down to the stadium, the forsty grass crunching underneath their feet. Many people were doing the same thing so that the pitch became alight with buzz. It seemed that the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws had taken sides as well, and those supporting the two teams managed to choose their own sides of the stands so that one side was a sea of red and gold and the other was a sea of green and silver. Venus, Charlotte, and Elijah climbed up the stands and took some good seats. Hermione managed to find them a little while later, still looking quite annoyed.

Venus had now a little bit of a clue as to what Harry had put in Ron's drink, but she had a feeling that Harry hadn't actually done it. Sure, Harry could do some drastic things at time, but Venus had faith that he wouldn't do that. Her guess was that he pretended to pour it in the drink so Ron could become more confident.

Finally, both teams walked onto the pitch. Venus cheered loudly along with everyone else. Harry and Urquhart, both team captains, stepped up to Madam Hooch, the referee, who was standing ready to release the Quidditch balls from the crate.

"Captains shake hands," she ordered, and they obliged. "Mount your brooms. On the whistle . . . three . . . two . . . one . . ."

The whistle sounded, and the two teams kicked off hard from the frozen ground, and they were away. Venus' eyes trailed after Harry as he soared around the perimeter of the stadium, looking for the tiny golden ball that was the Snitch.

"Well, there they go, and I think we're all surprised to see the team that Potter's put together this year. Many thought, given Ronald Weasley's patchy performance as Keeper last year, that he might be off the team, but of course, a close personal friendship with the Captain does help . . ."

These words were greeted with jeers and applause from the Slytherin side of the bitch. Venus rolled her eyes at the familiar voice and turned towards the commentator's podium. It was none other than Zacharias Smith, a Hufflepuff player who was terribly annoying. He was talking into the magical megaphone that was once Lee Jordan's, and let Venus say that he was not living up to Lee's legacy.

"Oh, and here comes Slytherin's first attempt on goal, it's Urquhart streaking down the pitch and—" Venus sucked in a breath, but soon cheered loudly at how Ron blocked the goal. "—Weasley saves it, well, he's bound to get lucky sometimes, I suppose . . ."

A half hour passed, and Gryffindor was leading sixty points to zero. Ron had made some truly amazing saves, some by the very tips of his gloves, and Ginny had scored four of Gryffindor's six goals. This had stopped Zacharias on wondering out loud if the two Weasleys were only there because Harry liked them. It forced him to move onto Peakes and Coote, the two Beaters.

"Of course, Coote isn't really the usual build for a Beater, they've generally got a bit more muscle—" Zacharias began.

Charlotte scoffed. "Dude, let me at him. I'll send him home crying."

"I'd honestly love that," Venus admitted with a slight laugh.

It seemed that Gryffindor could do no wrong. They scored over and over again, and Ron kept saving goals with apparent ease. He was actually smiling, and when the crowd greeted a particularly good save with a happy chorus of Weasley Is Our King, he pretended to conduct them.

"And I think Harper of Slytherin's seen the Snitch!" Zacharias exclaimed through his megaphone. "Yes, he's certainly seen something Potter hasn't!"

Venus clasped her hands together in front of her and watched as Harry and Harper chased the Snitch. Harry was zooming fast on his Firebolt, but Harper was still ahead of them. Harper was just about to catch the snitch, but he fumbled with it and let it slip through his fingers. As he shot right past it, Harry caught the tiny ball. Venus' face broke out into a bright smile and she clapped happily while everyone supporting Gryffindor cheered loudly. Harry held the Snitch high as he went towards the ground while the whistle that signaled the end of the game was blown.

"Wait, where's Ginny going?" Elijah inquired.

Venus looked over. Ginny was still on her broom, and with a mighty crash, she collided with the commentator's podium. Venus' eyes widened and she slightly jumped. The crowd shrieked and laughed. After that, the Gryffindor team left the pitch arm-in-arm, waving to their supporters.

"Come on," Hermione urged. "I want to have a word with Harry."

They knew better than to argue. Venus, Charlotte, and Elijah all followed Hermione down towards the changing rooms. Once they got inside, Harry and Ron were the only ones left. Harry turned towards the door when it opened, and he got a bright smile on his face once his eyes set on Venus. She grinned back at him and walked up to him, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. He responded just as enthusiastically, his arms tightening around her waist.

"No, don't hug him," Hermione refused, making the two pull away from each other. However, Harry kept an arm around Venus' waist. They watched as Hermione twisted her Gryffindor scarf in her hands, looking upset yet determined. "I want a word with you, Harry. You shouldn't have done it. You heard Slughorn, it's illegal."

"What are you going to do, turn us in?" Ron demanded.

"What are you two talking about?" Harry inquired, looking down and sharing a quick smile with Venus.

"You know perfectly well what we're talking about!" Hermione insisted shrilly. "You spiked Ron's juice with lucky potion at breakfast! Felix Felicis!"

"No, I didn't."

"Yes you did, Harry, and that's why everything went right, there were Slytherin players missing and Ron saved everything!"

"I didn't put it in!" Harry continued, grinning broadly. He put his hand in his jacket pocket and drew out the tiny bottle of the golden potion, and sure enough, the cork was still tightly sealed with wax. "I wanted Ron to think I'd done it, so I faked it when I knew you were looking." He look at Ron. "You saved everything because you felt lucky. You did it all yourself."

Charlotte nodded in impressment. "Looks like I don't have to have a talk with you about what's morally right."

Ron seemed astounded. "There really wasn't anything in my pumpkin juice? But the weather's good . . . and Vaisey couldn't play . . . I honestly haven't been given lucky potion?" Harry shook his head, and Ron gaped at him for a moment before rounding on Hermione, starting to imitate her voice. "You added Felix Felicis to Ron's juice this morning, that's why he saved everything! See! I can save goals without help, Hermione!"

"I never said you couldn't — Ron, you thought you'd been given it too!" Hermione argued.

However, Ron had already strode past her out the door with his broomstick over his shoulder. Venus watched as Ron joined Penelope, who seemed to be waiting for him.

Harry was the one to break the tense silence. "Er, shall . . . shall we go up to the party, then?"

"You go!" Hermione shouted, looking close to tears. "I'm sick of Ron at the moment, I don't know what I'm supposed to have done . . ."

She then stormed out of the changing room as well.

"Well, all right," Charlotte said. "You said something about a party?"

"Yes, and you're invited, captain's orders," Harry replied, the two grinning at each other. "You coming, Eli?"

"Oh, please come," Venus pleaded. "It'll be so fun."

Elijah sighed. "Fine."

The four of them walked back to the castle, hearing the many congratulations that were being yelled at Harry. When they arrived in the common room, the party was in full swing. Renewed cheers and clapping greeted Harry's appearance, and Venus smiled like the proud girlfriend she was. A mob of people then surrounded Harry, which of whom was Romilda Vane, who kept glaring at Venus while heavily hinting that she would like to go to Slughorn's Christmas party with him.

Finally, they managed to fight their way out. They found a lonesome Penelope Lestrange getting butterbeer at the drinks table. She looked up at them as they approached her. They had a short conversation about how Penelope was liking the Gryffindor common room and how Venus didn't know where the Slytherin one was before Elijah pointed out that Penelope was being cornered by Lavender. With that, Penelope left, leaving the four of them.

Elijah then left because Ginny was telling him to come play a game with her and some other people, and Charlotte was dragged along with him. That just left Venus and Harry, his arm still around the girl as they leaned against the wall of the common room.

"You think Hermione will be okay?" Harry asked.

Venus nodded. "Ron just needs to chill out for a second and she'll be fine. She's quite sensitive, and Ron definitely does not understand though."

And as she stood there with her boyfriend, smiling as she watched Elijah and Ginny cheer as they played Exploding Snap, she truly had never felt more alive — but she had no idea how quickly that feeling would fade.

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okay should I make eli be with ginny or hermione let me know