chapter 35 : Liquid Luck

Three days later, Ron and Harry were walking in the corridor under the admiring looks of the others and especially the new students who, still young, admired them a lot without counting the looks of the girls on them and the respectful greetings of the other students.

 One was Harry Potter, the child who survived and won the Triwizard Tournament where he faced Voldemort while the other was Ronald Weasley, the youngest Quidditch World Champion and the school's best student , a genius perfect in everything he does who according to the gazette had also faced Voldemort alongside Dumbledore.

 They had an hour free in the morning so they were walking around peacefully when McGonagall came in front of them and Ron started to mentally put himself on guard.

 Minerva: Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley I have been looking for you.

 Ron: What a lucky guy I am...

 Minerva: Don't start it Weasley...

 Harry: Professor, do you need us?

 Minerva: The headmaster and I signed you up for advanced potions classes this year. Since Mr. Weasley got the maximum mark in the O.W.L and you Potter got a mention of exceptional effort, Horace Slughorn decided to take you to his course for the NEWT

 Ron: You forgot a little detail professor, this class doesn't interest me. Here's why I didn't sign up!

 Minerva: Oh stop Weasley, it's for your own good and Potter's too...

 Harry: Maybe she's right, I always wanted to become Aurora.

 Ron: I'll pass...

 Minerva: Even if I ask you?

 Ron: PROFESSOR HAVE MERCY!

 Minerva: Please Ronald…

 Ron: (grabs his head) Gggnnngh! Alright, I'll be there...you've always made me do what you want since my first year. What's the point of sulking again...?

 Minerva: (puts her hand on his shoulder) You are the best Gryffindor student this school has had. Do you have any idea how proud I am of you?

 Ron: Professor...I'll do my best...

 She left there with a victorious smile leaving Harry looking at Ron with a mocking smile...

 Harry: If I knew you were so easily manipulated...

 "Raah this woman! I can't refuse her anything... I love her too much. She's the grandmother I never had and her charm, you imagine her younger and you're immediately won over ah!" Ron said boredly and they headed towards the potions room.

 They arrived in the room and Horace interrupted his explanations to the others to welcome them.

 He seemed very happy to have them with him and asked them to take out their textbooks but they didn't have any so he asked them to take some from a cupboard in the room.

 When Harry opened the cupboard door there were only two textbooks, one was in good condition and the other was damaged.

 Harry tried to quickly grab the new book but Ron immediately pulled the book towards him using telekinesis, wandless magic.

 "That's for making fun of me earlier..." Ron said smiling and went to join the others while Harry cursed him behind.

 Horace: Very good, I prepared some mixtures this morning. Can anyone tell me what these different potions are?

 Hermione raised her hand to start responding while next to Ron, Lavender Brown, one of his admirers greeted him, he gave her a cute smile in response and she immediately turned around blushing to start whispering with the other girls.

 Harry: I'll tell Luna.

 Ron: That I smiled at a fellow Gryffindor?! She knows I'm hers only and with Hermione, where are you? One of you definitely needs to make the first move. Do you want help ?

 Harry: It's not easy, she only had you in her eyes.

 Ron: Who cares, it's your turn now and she's a great girl so don't waste the opportunity. She's the future mother of your children, I tell you.

 "You're stupid" Harry said laughing and Horace saw them distracted as he warned the girls attracted to the love filter in the room.

 Horace: Mr. Weasley, can you tell me what's in this little vial?

 Slughorn showed the small vial with the colorless liquid and showed it to Ron who came closer, Katie Bell was also curious because she planned to ask the professor the question.

 Ron: Can I give it a light sniff?

 Horace: Of course...

 *boop*

 He removed the cap slightly and looked at Ron who was sniffing the smell with amusement.

 Horace: I would be surprised if you guessed it like that Mr. Weasley, the smell of this potion is very-(interrupted)

 Ron: Felix Felicis! Very well prepared by the way and (sniffles) the added Billywig wing was of pretty good quality too.

 Horace:…by Merlin's beard…!!!

 Ron: Overall, it's a pretty good job in the preparation.

 Horace: Um...thanks Weasley. You can...you can go back to your place.

 He returned to Harry with whom they did a fist check by joining their fists.

 Horace: One small sip of this potion and everything you do will be successful. Also, this is what I will offer you today, a small bottle of liquid luck to the student who in the hour that remains will succeed in preparing a Draught of living death . You'll find the recipe on page 10 of your manual.

 A smile immediately decorated Ron's face as several other students looked at him in awe, he had been brewing the best quality potions in class since first year so far.

 "It's okay, stop looking at me like that and to do you a favor at the start of the year, I'm not going to participate. You see ? I'm nice" He said as he lazily lay down on his desk reading the textbook.

 "It's cool Ron."

 "Thank you Ron."

 " Yes thanks "

 "Thanks old one" Harry said after the others who started to prepare the potion.

 Normally, Ron knew the recipe by heart and could make this potion with ease just like Felix Felicis but he preferred to let the others participate before yawning and starting to sleep.

 Almost an hour later, Harry came to wake him up to show him his trophy, he had won the potion of luck.

 Ron: Amazing! I would have bet on Hermione!

 Harry: No confidence!! What kind of best friend are you?

 Ron: Hermione's best friend too! (yawns) Let's get out of here, these ingredient smells are making my nose hairs curl.

 They were in the courtyard and Ron was going to find a quiet corner to continue his sleep when Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix came to him and landed on his arm with a small parchment.

 Harry: Is that Dumbledore's phoenix!?

 Ron: He wants to see me, let's both go. He's sidelined you enough as it is, you too have the right to know.

 Harry: Know what?

 Ron: You'll see.

 They entered Dumbledore's office who was a little surprised to also see Harry and Ron quickly set things straight.

 Ron: I'm not going to let Harry participate in plans he doesn't know anything about, professor, explain to him everything about Slughorn and our objective. To tell you the truth, if I were to examine both of our characters, Harry has a much better chance than me of getting answers without using the legilimens spell. Tell him everything, show him what you showed me in the pensieve and I will help him to complete the objective.

 He immediately teleported away without giving them a chance to respond and Dumbledore was consumed by a severe migraine.

 Ron was sincere in his words but he also wanted Dumbledore to offload this burden onto someone else and Harry was perfect.