Madeline sat next to Ron with Hermione, Harry, Ginny and the ponies. Just then, Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, Horace Slughorn and Minerva McGonagall.

“You should be proud of your actions Harry. Calling this Madeline to bring Ron here.” Dumbledore said “And you should be proud of your student Horace.”

“Indeed.” Minerva said.

“Yes, I’m very proud.” Horace said.

“What is that Horace?” Dumbledore asked pointing to a bottle Horace was holding “I don’t remember who gave you this bottle.” Dumbledore sniffed it. “But it does hold a scent of licorice and wine.”

“I got it this morning.” Horace replied.

Dumbledore handed the bottle to Snape who sniffed it.

“And what does it say on the label?” Dumbledore said.

Horace pulled the label off and read this:

To Horace Slughorn. Give to Headmaster Dumbledore.

Well….here you go.

“This is my fault” Fluttershy said sadly “I dared him to drink that love potion and if he hadn’t drunken it then he wouldn’t have gone crazy and then he wouldn’t have taken the poison.”

“It’s not your fault.” Twilight said.

Suddenly Lavender Brown burst in.

“How is he?” she panted with worry in her voice.

“He’s fine.” Madeline said as she got up “Luckily Harry and Horace found an antidote. He’ll be fine by tomorrow. I suggest we let him get his rest.”

Everyone except Hermione, Lavender, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Applejack left the room and shut the door. Now it was just the five.

“Why are you here?” Lavender asked.

“I was about to ask you the same question.” Hermione said.

“I happen to be his girlfriend!” Lavender responded.

“Well I happen to be his….” Hermione said as she suddenly realized what she was about to say “…friend.”

“Don’t make me laugh!” Lavender insisted “You haven’t spoken in weeks. I just wanted to see why a man who you never found interesting is in here and you’re suddenly defending him?!”

“He’s been poisoned, you daft woman!” Hermione replied “And for the record I’ve always found him very interesting! Something an idiot like you could never begin to understand!”

“Whoa! Hey!” Applejack said as she cut between the two “That’s enough, y’all.”

“I agree.” Rarity said “Let’s not let things descend into petty insults.”

Just then Ron began to mutter something.

“See?” Lavender said “he senses my presence!” She then sat down and took a hold of Ron’s hand “Don’t worry, Ron. I’m here.”

Ron still was trying to say something but it was coming up as gibberish.

“What is he saying?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Relax, Pinkie.” Rarity said “Let’s see what he does.”

Ron turned his head towards Hermione and moaned.

“H….Hermione?” he asked very exhausted.

Lavender looked perplexed.

Hermione then sat down and took a hold of Ron’s hand.

“It’s alright.” Hermione whispered.

“Oh to be young” Rarity said “and to feel loves keen sting. Well, I think Ron is well tended. Shall we off?”

“Yeah alright.” Applejack said as they walked off with Pinkie Pie and Hermione.

But Lavender stayed.

/////////////////////

Twilight walked up the staircase that leads to Dumbledore’s study room. She opened the door and closed it behind her. She’d always wanted to see what was in the room.

It was similar to a library with books and shelves galore. She looked around and he had a massive globe in the tower above. She would have gone upstairs to the tower if her horn hadn’t glowed like mad.

She followed the horn to a desk where under it was a crate. In the crate was a book. A green book. And it was making her horn glow. She shut the door to the observatory and put drapes on the windows to make sure if anything happened nothing would be broken.

She opened the book. Suddenly a little smoke like thing began to form and formed a circle above the page she’d flipped too. It then began to show an image and this is what she saw:

In a room with a fireplace and an hour-glass was a young man. The man in the room was Horace Slughorn. Suddenly a young student walked in.

“Mr. Slughorn” the boy said “I was in the library the other night when I came across something. Horcruxes.”

Slughorn blinked in surprise. “I’m sorry, what?” he said.

“Horcruxes.” the boy replied.

“That’s dark stuff.” Horace said “I don’t think you should be-”

“Tell me” said the boy “what are they?”

Horace sighed. “A Horcrux is a device of which one can store one’s soul in more ways then one.”

“What?” the boy asked.

“It’s a device in which one can store one’s soul.” Horace replied “They can look like any household device.”

“Has there ever been a successful one?” the boy asked.

“Not that I know of.” Horace responded “Anyone who has tried has died.”

The boy stood in front of the fireplace. His eyes did some random searching. Horace sat down.

“I hope you’re hoping to attempt such a feat.” Horace said.

“No.” said the boy “just curious.”

The boy started to leave but then turned around and looked at Slughorn.

“Tell me” said the boy “can they become snakes?”

“I don’t know.” Horace said.

Suddenly Twilight felt the presence of someone and shut the book and the room went black. She lit up her horn and gasped when she saw Harry and Dumbledore standing behind her with their wands glowing.

“Give me the book.” Dumbledore said as he reached for it.

Twilight levitated the book out of his reach.

“No.” Twilight said.

“Twilight, just give it to him.” Harry insisted.

“NO!” Twilight yelled “Not until you explain yourselves. And I want the truth.”

Dumbledore sighed.

Twilight then opened the drapes and light flashed into the room temporarily blinding the trio.

/////////////////////

Lavender Brown slept next to Ron in the hospital in her chair. She awoke and realized she’d been napping for a long time. She then prepared to leave.

“L-Lavender?” Ron said weakly.

Lavender sat right back down.

“It’s so good to hear your voice.” Lavender replied “but there’s something I have to tell you, Ron.”

“What?” he asked weakly.

“I’m breaking up with you.” Lavender said.

“Why?” Ron asked weakly.

“Because…Hermione.” she said.

Before Ron could answer she put her finger on his lips.

“I’ve seen the way you look at her” Lavender continued “the way you said her name. You love her. And you can’t love me back. I’m sorry I didn’t realize that earlier.”

Ron sighed. “If that’s how you feel. What about you?”

Lavender smiled. “I’ll be okay. I’ll find someone.”

She kissed his forehead.

“Goodnight, Ron.” she said before walking out of the room and leaving Ron to get his rest.

Next Chapter: The Pieces Are Coming Together Estimated time remaining: 16 Minutes