florence pov

Hermione, Ron, Harry and I had met up after classes in the common room. We had all agreed to try and help Harry make a plan to get Slughorn's memory.

"So, any luck with it yet?" Ron asked, watching the fire burn in front of us.

"No. Slughorn's avoiding me."

"What's your plan?" I asked.

"I don't know. I don't think he's going to forgive me anytime soon."

"Luck. That's it. All you need is a bit of luck!" Hermione exclaimed.

"What are you on about?"

"The liquid luck Slughorn gave you!"

"Harry used it on me, remember?" Ron said.

Harry pulled out the full vial from his pocket. "Nope. You only thought we did."

Ron's mouth dropped open. "S-so that was all me?"

The three of us nodded.

"Bloody hell." Ron's face lit up and a proud look spread across his face.

I patted his back proudly as he smiled cheerfully.

Harry popped the top off the liquid luck. He looked around at us all for approval and we all nodded eagerly. He downed it all in one go.

We waited to see the potion's effects take place. Nothing had changed, except the huge grin plastered across his face.

"Well, how do you feel?" I asked.

"Excellent, really excellent!" He exclaimed loudly as he jumped off the couch.

"Remember, Slughorn usually eats early, takes a walk, and then returns to his office." Hermione said.

"Right." He paused and cheerfully turned to us all. "I'm going down to Hagrid's."

"What? No! Harry you've got to go and speak to Slughorn!" She urged.

Harry wasn't listening to a word. He grabbed his jacket and began to head for the portrait hole.

"Hey! We had a plan!" I yelled after him.

"I know, but I've a got a good feeling about Hagrid's. I feel it-it's the place to be tonight. Do you know what I mean?"

"No." We replied in unison.

"Well, trust me. I know what I'm doing. Or, felix does." He said brightly as he disappeared into the portrait hole.

Even the way he was talking seemed different. It was more upbeat and merry. It was funny, honestly.

Hermione huffed and turned to Ron and I. "Okay, who's going with him?"

"I will. Someone has to." I sighed before grabbing my jacket and running after him.

When I caught up with him, I was greeted with an even happier expression than before. Which I didn't think was possible.

"Hi! What're you doing here?" He asked.

"Just thought I'd join you."

"Hey, chaser." Cormac grinned as he walked over to us.

"Oh. Hello Cormac." I smiled awkwardly.

"Care to accompany me to the library? Or my dorm if you'd prefer that?" He winked.

I opened my mouth to politely decline but before I had the chance, Harry grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me into a very passionate kiss. His hands travelled down my back as he leaned over me. When we pulled away, I looked at him in a pleasantly confused sort of way.

Cormac was glaring at him and Harry turned directly to face him, taking a step forward.

"Did you see that McLaggen? She's mine. Stop hitting on her if you know what's good for you." Harry grabbed my hand and dragged me off.

That.

Was.

Hot.

I turned back to see Cormac frozen on the spot, looking shocked. I guess he isn't used to rejections, especially ones from the boyfriend.

I'm beginning to like liquid luck Harry more and more.

We were walking hand in hand through Professor Sprout's greenhouse on the way out. Professor Slughorn was half inside one of the open windows.

Perfect!

"This is our chance." I whispered to Harry as we walked towards him.

Slughorn jumped and did a double take when he saw us. He held his hand to his heart in surprise. "Merlins beard you two!"

"Sorry, sir. We should've announced ourselves, cleared our throats, coughed. You probably feared I was Professor Sprout." Harry said awfully quickly.

"Yes, I did actually." Slughorn laughed as he cut some leaves off of a wriggly plant. "What makes you think that?"

"Well, just the general behaviour sir. The sneaking around, the jumping when you saw us. Are those tentcula leaves, sir?"

I wanted to burst out laughing. Does he ever stop talking?

The venomous tentacula is a plant we've studied in Herbology before. They're covered in thorns and try to grab you when you get near them. Not to mention, the leaves are worth a fortune.

"They're very valuable, aren't they?" I asked.

"Ten galleons a leaf to the right buyer. N-not that I'm familiar with any such transactions, but one does hear rumours." He stuttered. "My own interests are purely academic, of course."

Yes very convincing.

"Personally, these plants always kinda freak me out." Harry said.

I laughed at him. "Me too."

We began walking towards Hagrid's hut after another moment of watching Slughorn snip some more tentacula leaves.

"Exactly how did you two get out of the castle?" Slughorn yelled after us before we could walk any further.

"Through the front door sir. We're off to Hagrid's, you see. He's a very dear friend and I just fancied paying him a visit. If you don't mind, we'll be going now." Harry answered happily.

"Harry!"

"Sir!"

"It's nearly nightfall. Surely you realise I can't allow yourself and Miss Bailey to go roaming the grounds by yourselves."

"Well then, by all means, come along, sir."

Oh. This should be interesting.

After a few minutes, we were completely out of the castle and heading down the many steps to Hagrid's.

"I must insist you accompany me back to the castle immediately!" Slughorn urged as he tried to keep beside us.

"That would be counterproductive, sir."

"Actually Harry, that would be a better idea." I whispered to him.

He waved it off.

Did he forget that the whole reason he took the liquid luck was to find out Slughorn's memory?

"And what makes you say that?" Slughorn asked, out of the breath.

"No idea."

We froze in front of a massive dead acromantula. I shuddered at the sight of it. I hated seeing magical creatures is any sort of pain, so seeing them dead wasn't the best thing for a Tuesday evening.

"Horace." Hagrid greeted.

"Merlins beard Hagrid!" Slughorn exclaimed. "Is that an actual acromantula?"

"A dead one, I think sir." Harry answered.

I mentally face palmed.

"Good god. Dear fellow, however did you manage to kill it?"

"Kill it? Me oldest friend, he was." Hagrid defended.

"Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't-"

"Oh don't worry yerself, yer not alone. Seriously misunderstood creatures, spiders are."

If Ron was here I'm sure he'd have something different to say about that.

"I think it's the eyes." Harry said, as he bent down to examine the spider. "They're fascinating but-"

"-unnerving." I finished.

He looked at me and nodded happily. "Not to mention the pincers." He continued as he made clicking noises and began imitating the spiders pincers.

I laughed at his little demonstration.

"Yeah, I reckon that too." Hagrid said, looking strangely at Harry.

"Hagrid, the last thing I wish is to be is indelicate, but acromantula venom is uncommonly rare. Would you allow me to extract a vial or two? Purely for academic purposes." Slughorn asked nervously.

"Well I don't suppose it's going to do him much good now, is it?"

"My thoughts exactly. Always have a vial or two with me for occasions such as this." Slughorn said as he pulled a few out from his coat.

"Or in other words, for quick money." I muttered under my breath.

Harry sniggered quietly.

"I wish ye could've seen him in his prime." Hagrid started. "Magnificent, he was. Just magnificent."

Harry and I moved over and stood next to Hagrid. I looked down at the spider sadly.

"Would you like me to say a few words?" Slughorn asked.

"Yes please."

"He had a family, I trust?"

"Oh yeah." Harry breathed.

Yep. I had heard about that adventure in second year.

"Farewell......."

"Aragog." Hagrid confirmed.

"Farewell Aragog, king of the arachnids. Your body will decay, but your spirit lingers on. And your human friends find solace in the loss they have sustained."

----

We were now in Hagrid's hut, where we have been for the last three hours actually.

Harry, Hagrid, and Slughorn are having the time of their lives. Hagrid brought out some strong fire whiskey and even let Harry and I have some.

I lay my head against Harry's shoulder as Hagrid and Slughorn continued to sing some drunk song. Harry ran his fingers through my hair.

As the two finished their song Harry clapped profusely.

"I had him from an egg ye know. Tiny little thing he was when he hatched. No bigger than a pekinese. A pekinese mind you!" Hagrid shared, slurring every word.

"How sweet. I once had a fish." Slughorn started. "Francis. He was very dear to me. One afternoon I came downstairs and he'd vanished.........poof."

"That's very odd, isn't it?"

"It is, isn't it. But that's life I suppose! You go along and then suddenly, poof!"

I tuned the two out as they began to enter another deep conversation, this time about the meaning of life and death.

I turned to Harry. "Can you please do Dumbledore's task so we can leave soon?" I yawned. "I'm getting tired, and by the looks of it, Hagrid is too."

Hagrid was leaning against the wall behind him and was fast asleep, snoring loudly.

"Anything for you my dearest lovebug." He tickled my nose and kissed it.

I laughed. Looks like the liquid luck hasn't worn off quite yet.

Slughorn turned to Harry and I. "It was a student that gave me Francis. One spring afternoon I discovered a bowl on my desk with just a few inches of clear water in it. Floating on the surface was a flower petal. As I watched, it sank. Just before it reached the bottom it transformed into a wee fish. It was beautiful magic. Wondrous to behold. The flower petal had come from a lily. Your mother."

Harry listened intently to Slughorn. Any mention of his parents and nothing can distract him.

Slughorn's expression fell. "The day I came downstairs. the day the bowl was empty, was the day your mother...................." His voice trailed off.

My heart sank. Every time I hear about Harry's parents, I'm reminded of the fact that my father is the reason they're gone. My father is the reason Harry has went through so much pain. I'll never stop feeling shame for the things he's done, or stop feeling as though it's somehow my fault.

There was a silence before Slughorn spoke again. "I know why you're here. But I can't help you. It would ruin me."

"Do you know why I survived, professor? The night I got this?" Harry pointed to his scar. "It was because of her. Because she sacrificed herself. Because she refused to step aside. Because her love was more powerful than Voldemort."

"Don't say his name."

"We're not afraid of the name, professor." I stated, defensively.

"I'm going to tell you something. Something others have only guessed at." Harry paused. "It's true. I am the chosen one. Only I can destroy him, but in order to do so I need to know what Tom Riddle asked you all those years ago in your office, and I need to know what you told him."

There was a silence.

"Be brave professor. Be brave like my mother. Otherwise, you disgrace her. Otherwise, she died for nothing. Otherwise the bowl will remain empty.........forever."

My heart broke for Harry. For all the pain he's had to go through. He's the strongest person I've ever met.

Slughorn blinked hard and looked at him. "Please, don't think badly of me when you see it. You've no idea what he was like, even then."