365 Days (Part 1) | ✓

93. Potion

93. Potion: Write about a magic potion. What is it made of? What does it do? What is the antidote?

Testing Gone Wrong
A Harry Potter oneshot
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Fred Weasley grinned devilishly at his twin brother and held up the vial. It was delicately fizzing with a light purple, foamy liquid, and was only about the size of his forefinger. They hadn't been able to brew a large amount of it -- the unicorn hair had been too expensive for when they were still trying to perfect the formula. It had been one of their most complicated processes yet: each step had to be performed just so to form a cohesive whole. After months of experimentation, the two red-headed Weasleys finally thought they had it right.

They had brewed a love potion, and there was nothing they wanted to do more than test it.

"Who do you reckon?" Fred asked.

George glanced around the Gryffindor Common Room. They were ensconced at a corner table, with several textbooks spread out before them as a cover for their real purpose: deciding who to use as a test subject for their potion. Hermione had been coming down hard upon them, and they had to do their research and planning for Weasley Wizards' Wheezes discreetly. Things had been pretty boring lately, though, and the two troublemakers decided it was time for some action.

"Can't do it on a Gryffindor, mate," George said. "Much as it would be entertaining to see one of them go at it with a stranger... We ought to do a Slytherin."

"Yeah, suppose we should," Fred agreed. "Which one of those foul slugs deserve to get it?"

The two stared at their one, precious vial of love potion contemplatively. Although not as strong as Amortentia, it still packed quite an embarrassing punch. Unlike Polyjuice Potion, it didn't require a piece of someone that the drinker was supposed to fall temporarily in love with. Just an incantation. And it lasted a little longer, but they still hadn't decided if that was a good thing or not.

At that moment, their younger brother burst through the portrait hole, with Hermione Granger close on his heels. Fred hurriedly stowed the potion in his robes and the two bent their heads with convincing studiousness over their textbooks. If Hermione confiscated their potion now, when they were just about to use it...

Hermione wasn't paying attention to anyone but Ron, though. She was imploring the youngest Weasley boy, "You can't let him get to you, or you'll get detention like Harry did!"

"Alright, fair trade," Ron said angrily, his cheeks blazing as red as his hair.

"Ron --" Hermione reached out to grab his arm, but he jerked it out of her grasp.

"Not now, I have a murder to plan," Ron said.

Ginny, curled up nearby in an armchair and a book, looked up. In fact, Ron was starting to garner a lot of attention.

"Harry's in detention again?" she asked, her brow furrowed.

Fred and George looked knowingly at each other. Ginny still had a crush on Harry. Bit pathetic, really. Sure, Fred had had a thing for Angelina Johnson for several years, but that was different. At least he could talk to Angelina without stuttering. Totally different. Besides, Ginny was supposed to be dating some bloke named Michael Corner.

...Hey, maybe that's who they should use this love potion on.

"Yeah, and I'm about to join him," Ron snarled. "I should have never come back up here and let that bloody ferret get away." He glared at Hermione and made to storm out of the portrait hole, but she pulled on him, trying to get him to stay.

Fred and George swiftly stood up and helped to restrain Ron. "Mind telling us why Ron is acting like a fool?" George asked Hermione, who looked distraught.