Eric watched with interest as Alexa crossed the room and went into the girls dormitories, not even noticing him.

Her and her two little friends had caused quite the stir last week. McGonagaral had been in quite a lot of trouble after people found out about her overboard detention. The board of governors and Dumbledore were still debating now what her punishment would be for ‘reckless endangerment’ of the students.

Oddly enough Hagrid hadn’t been blamed for anything. It seems that Dumbledore had shut down that line of blame early. It had probably been long enough, Eric thought. He had discovered early on in his exploits that it wasn’t as fun to mess with random people. It had struck fear into the population at first, that anyone could be targeted. But it was too easy, and it got boring after the first year. Now, he was more focused.

Whenever he heard about bullying or even something mean that someone had done… then he targeted them. It made him feel very heroic, like he was righting the injustices of the world. And he got to have some fun too. Counter bullying he had taken calling it this year, just like when he humiliated Draco when he was bullying the first years. It was a surprisingly effective strategy, but luckily bullying was rampant in this place, so Eric had plenty of good targets to choose from.

He didn’t target the Slytherins very much anymore. It was just so… boring. None of the other houses liked Slytherin so they welcomed anything that would take them down a peg. It was okay the first couple times, but after a while it grew stale. Everybody expected the Slytherins to be targeted so no one discussed it except right after it happened.

So Eric focused on the other three houses. People cared a lot more and wondered about the culprit when it wasn’t Slytherins being targeted. And as a nice side benefit now everyone thought the person doing it must be in Slytherin since their house almost never got targeted by him. Which created even more drama as the tension between Slytherin and the other three houses only rose as time passed and the culprit, Eric, was never caught.

He couldn’t believe that Draco was so uncreative in his insults. Instead of thinking of something more clever, he had just been sulking and not insulting anyone at all after Eric had petrified him and his friends. And had them insulted by the first years. Heh. They had been surprisingly good at it. Especially Ginny and Alexa.

Eric was glad that Ginny had survived last year. Now everyone won. He still got control of the chamber and Basilisk and she didn’t have to die. He wondered if Tom Riddle was still out there plotting and being his devious self after he fled, having reviving himself. If anything, Eric had made the right choice. If he had fought Riddle then he would have lost control of the chamber and the basilisk and the girl had survived either way.

Anyway, Eric was almost ready to begin. He had a bottle of his love potion, one from all the way in the beginning of his second year. It had aged wonderfully and now was more potent than ever with so much time to ripen.

It actually was too powerful, people went a little crazy when they were affected by it. So it was immediately obvious that they’d been drugged versus a normal love potion that could fly under the radar more often.

Eric waited with the two open bottles of the love potions in the pocket of his robes. He made sure to hold them up with his wandless magic so they wouldn’t spill.

Amelia and Isla, the two sixth year Gryffindors, walked by in the hallway. Eric had already gotten samples of their hairs earlier. As they were walking by, Eric quickly used his magic to draw out two small drops and hover them in the air even as he kept walking by with his head down, one from each bottle of love potion.

The two girls were talking casually, and Eric waited for the perfect moment before striking. In mid word, he sent a single drop of love potion into Amelia’s mouth. It splashed into the back of her throat and Eric followed it up by doing the same to Isla. The two of them blinked and shook their heads, looking around confused.

Eric kept walking innocently past them.

“That was weird,” Amelia said, “Did you feel that?”

“Yeah. Strange. So you were saying…” Isla replied and the two girls moved on. Eric turned the corner and circled back and began to slowly follow them from behind, only allowing himself to smirk slightly as he did so.

Eventually, he saw the two girls shooting quick looks at each other, their cheeks flushed and eyes dilated. Even licking their lips the more time passed.

“Let’s go to an abandoned classroom,” Amelia suddenly said, “Get some privacy. I want to show you something…”

“Oh? Yeah!” Isla said while staring at Amelia and drooling slightly, “Let’s go. You’re so beautiful…”

The two girls diverted into an abandoned classroom, barely able to hold back from kissing each other before the doors were closed behind them with a flick of Isla’s wand.

Eric let out his grin and went off to where he knew their boyfriends were. He’d have to dose them too, and leave a few hints on where Amelia and Isla were hiding. It wouldn’t be as dramatic if the lovestruck boyfriends didn’t catch them in the act.

Eric felt his lips twitching and worked to suppress it. Yes, the chaos. He could already feel the drama and rumors that would run rampant through the school. And all it would take was a little planning, a few hairs, and four drops of love potion…

— — —

Ginny put her hands on her knees as they finished their run. She was panting slightly and her lungs were burning, but she was still feeling good. She had only been in the hospital wing for two days before she was released again. Her twisted ankle had been fixed with a single spell by madame Pomfrey. Her magic was drained, but after sleeping for fifteen hours straight she felt fine. If anything the amount of magic she had access to grew slightly after it had been drained to nearly nothing.

After two days to rest, Alexa had insisted the three of them start exercising. She was indignant and annoyed that the other Gryffindors made fun of her for exercising so much. And she didn’t want to do it alone, so she convinced them to start back up after Ginny felt like she’d recovered.

Ginny flipped her hair back and reached back and took out the scrunchie that Alexa had given to her. It was annoying having her hair flying all over the place while she ran, so Alexa had taught her how to make it into a ponytail with the little elastic band. That made it much more manageable. But Ginny liked having her hair free normally so she only kept the ponytail while they were doing their runs.

“Hey, look it’s Hagrid,” Jack said and the three of them looked over to see the massive man walking towards them, still bandaged all over from his wounds. He was resistant to spells so apparently they couldn’t heal it instantly very easily and had him drinking series of potions to help him properly heal.

Hagrid reached them and stopped a little ways away, “Hey kids. Saw that ya three like runnin’ and swimmin’ in the mornings.”

“Yeah,” Alexa said while eyeing the man suspiciously.

“Well, I wanna apologize fer what happened in the forest. I didn’ think about it, but really weren’t safe fer me to bring ya with me so deep inside. Wanted to get it all done in one trip. I’d like to give all of yeh a gift as an apology.”

“A gift?” Ginny asked, “What is it?”

Hagrid reached into a bag at his side and opened it revealing over a dozen large glass bottles with a dull green potion swirling inside all of them.

“Well, yer exercising to get fit, aren’t ya?”

“Yes,” Jack said, “Although Alexa’s already there. She’s helping us get in shape.”

“Well, I don’t know if you know,” Hagrid said, “But ther’ are potions to help with tha’. All sorts a things, but these are the best kind fer what you’re doing. Just take a sip and it’ll heal your muscle tears. Same as resting for multiple days after ya exercise hard. With these, ya can push as hard as ya like and still be right as rain fer yer day.”

Alexa peered at the potions in excitement, “They can really do all of that?” She said with a gleam in her eyes, “Are there any drawbacks?”

Hagrid shrugged, “Make ya real hungry. Don’t take it every day. Maybe only two or three times a week or so. I’d ask Professor Snape about the specifics beyond that. He’d know better than me. Even if you have too much it’ll just be less effective and you’ll get hungrier. It won’t be harmful or anyfin’ like tha’. So, here ya go.”

He slung the bag off his shoulder and held it out. Alexa grabbed it eagerly and looked down at the potions inside eagerly.

“Thank you!” She said, “This is amazing!”

“Thank you, Hagrid,” Ginny said, “You fought off all those thestrals for us. You did your best and I didn’t really blame you. But thanks for the gift.”

“Thanks, Hagrid!” Jack added in.

Hagrid chuckled and looked slightly awkward, “Really nuffin’ really. Nuffin’ at all. Well, best of luck to ya. Glad you like it.”

With that, he turned around and walked off back to his hut. Alexa picked up one of the potions out of the bag and started swirling it and staring at the green fluid.

“We can do so much with this…” She said. Ginny and Jack shared a glance. On one hand, no dealing with sore muscles. On the other hand, “We can really get a great workout with these things to help us recover!” Alexa said in excitement, “This is amazing, I can’t believe I didn’t think about there being potions like this that can help us.”

“Jack and I can check them with Professor Snape after class today,” Ginny said, “Not that I'm accusing Hagrid of anything, but who knows where he got these potions. They look like he just threw them together in that bag…”

“Oh,” Alexa said, her enthusiasm dampening slightly, “That makes sense. Here.”

She handed over the bag to Ginny who slung it over her shoulder with the strap letting the bag and potions themselves hang at her hip.

They went to shower and clean up and went through their day in classes. There was some big drama with Amelia and Isla. The crazy person spiking everyone’s drinks with love potions had hit them and was causing a whole big drama. Apparently the two girls had kissed and been all over each other while under the potion's effects and their boyfriends had caught them in the middle of it, having been dosed themselves and causing even more drama. It was all that people could talk about for the whole last week.

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Jack and Ginny spent more time in classes. Their first exams had already come and passed. Ginny and Jack did pretty well, but not enough to be considered top of their class. Some of the Ravenclaws really went overboard on their studying, agonizing over each missing point on their exams. Jack and Ginny studied, but they didn’t go that far to get the top score.

Finally after a long day, they reached the end of the day and potions class was over. Ginny had been carrying Hagrid’s bag of potions all day class to class to make sure that she didn’t lose it. She didn’t even want to imagine how upset Alexa would be if the potions spilled or got damaged somehow…

Everyone started filing out of class, only Jack and Ginny waiting behind as the room emptied. “What are you loitering about, Weasley, Anverts?” Snape asked as he noticed them standing there.

Jack stepped forward, “Hagrid gave us some potions,” he said, “Do you mind checking them for us, sir? He said to ask you about limits on how often we should take them and things like that. And we want to make sure they’re actually safe…”

Snape raised an eyebrow, “Hagrid gave you potions? Whatever for?”

Ginny cleared her throat, “He felt bad about what happened for our detention and wanted to apologize,” She said.

Snape looked at her for a moment before nodding, “Where are they then?” He asked, “Show them to me.”

Ginny lifted the bag from the floor where she had placed it and opened the flap to show Shape the pile of potion’s bottles inside.

Snape looked vaguely horrified as he looked at the jumbled pile.

“This… He handed them to you like this?”

Ginny nodded, a little frightened by his expression, “Of course an oaf like that wouldn’t even think to make sure they’re safely packaged,” He muttered before reaching down and lifting a single potion up to eye level and inspecting it.

“Hm. A weak healing potion of some kind?” He said, “What is its purpose?”

“To help heal muscle fatigue,” Jack said, “We exercise in the mornings, and Hagrid said we could use it to recover from our workouts. And that we should only use it two or three times a week or it wouldn’t work as well.”

Snape sniffed, “Hm. What a waste of time,” He said, “But I suppose it’s your choice…”

“Waste of time?” Ginny asked, “What do you mean, professor?”

Snape looked away from the potion and at her, “There are potion regimens that can develop your body to a peak state in only a few weeks. Perhaps not as effective as training like muggles do… but if fitness is something that one cares about then those potions will get you most of the way there.”

“Could we get some?” Jack asked, “How expensive are they?”

Snape let out a snort, “Hah. More than either of you could ever afford. But they exist and you could buy one if you save up for a few years after you graduate from this school.”

Neither of them replied, Jack looking disappointed at the revelation. Snape kept inspecting the potion and taking out his wand began casting a series of spells on the potion. Ginny could see the man’s spells sinking into the potion and then shooting back into the wand after they were done.

Snape nodded, “Hagrid was correct. These potions are brewed correctly, if at a lower quality than a true professional should make… I shall have to ask who his supplier of these is. I would err more towards twice a week maximum usage, and a single sip per person each time. But most importantly…”

Snape pointed at the bag in front of him, “Never let me see you store potions like that ever again. Or you will each have detention for a week. Each must be separated and there must be absolutely no contact of glass on glass. You’re lucky that that oaf handed it to you like that or my ire would be on you right now.”

Snape put the potion back on the bag and Jack quickly picked up the bag and slung it over his shoulder and closed the flap.

“Thank you, Professor,” Jack said, “We appreciate it.”

They went to leave, but…

“Weasley, stay for a moment,” Professor Snape said, “A quick word.”

Jack hesitated but Ginny nodded to him, “I’ll catch up,” She said.

He left the room, leaving only her and Snape in the potion’s classroom.

“I wished to… apologize for my comments earlier this year,” Snape said after a moment, “I was not informed of your full situation until recently. While for a second year your skills are barely adequate… It is impressive for a true first year. I wished to clear up the misunderstanding.”

The man said before his tone suddenly grew biting as his eyes bored at her, “But do not think this an excuse to slack in your studies,” His voice calmed a bit, “Laziness is the bane of many learning potions. That will be all, Ms. Weasley.”

Ginny bobbed her head, not sure of what to think, “Thank you, Professor. See you tomorrow.”

With that she scurried out of there and rejoined Jack who was waiting just outside in the hallway.

“What was that about?” Jack asked.

“I don’t know,” Ginny said, “He was saying sorry for those nasty comments he made in the first week. It seems he really thought that I still remembered everything back then.”

They started walking off, Jack carrying the bag filled with the potions.

“Oh. Even so,” Jack said, “It was still mean of him.”

“Yeah. But he did apologize I guess.”

“Yeah.”

— — —

“Hey, firstie. So how you liking Hogwarts so far?”

Ginny looked up from her textbook to see Olivia plop into the open chair across from her, immediately lounging as she sat there. Her shiny prefect badge shone bright silver as they sat alone in the isolated reading nook off the side of the Ravenclaw common room.

“Alright, I guess,” Ginny said, “It’s been really fun learning magic and everything.”

“Yep. Magic’s pretty good,” Olivia agreed. Ginny just stared at her for a moment.

“Preston’s not bothering you anymore?” Olivia asked.

“No. He doesn’t like me, but he hasn’t said anything.”

Another pause as Olivia sat there.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” Ginny asked suddenly, “Even on the first day, you didn’t have to come and stop those people from pressuring me.”

“Just doing my prefect duties,” Olivia said in a light tone, “It’s our job to look over the first years and make sure that jerks like Preston don’t spoil things for you.”

“Is that it?” Ginny asked, “Why me in particular though? You don’t ask Jack how he’s doing.”

Olivia shrugged half heartedly, “That’s Barty’s job I guess. Does there have to be a reason?”

“No,” Ginny said, “But if there is one it would be nice to know what it is.”

Olivia stared at her for a moment before sighing and running a hand down her face.

“You just remind me of somebody,” She said, “Just thought… that it’d be nice if you didn’t have a crappy first year like I… they did.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

They stared at each other for a long moment.

“If you want to see my familiar Fawkes, then you can just ask,” Ginny supplied, “I wouldn’t mind if it was you.”

The prefect blinked and looked surprised, “What, really? But you’ve been defensive about it with everyone…”

Ginny shook her head, “None of them are friends. I think we’re friends? Sorta. They don’t want to meet him anyway. You know that my brothers tried to pet him without his permission first in the beginning of the summer? Fawkes still hasn’t forgiven them and they still haven’t touched him even once. For all I know, being rude to Fawkes once will make him hold a grudge against them forever. And he’s really proud, if someone actually insulted him who knows how offended he’d be…”

“Well, if it gets me access to a phoenix, then I guess we just have to be friends then,” Olivia said with a smirk before she seemed to think over what she’d just said, “Not that that was what I was going for with this.”

“No, I get it,” Ginny said before putting her textbook in her bag, “Want to go now? We can just go to an abandoned classroom and call him from there.”

“Sure!” Olivia said standing. The two of them started walking out of the common room together. “So, how are classes?” Olivia asked, “You do well on exams?”

They chatted as they wandered about until one of the less used portions of the castle with the abandoned classrooms. They went inside one of the rooms and after shutting the door, Ginny called Fawkes.

“Fawkes, this is Olivia,” Ginny said, “Olivia, Fawkes.”

“Whoa, so majestic…” Olivia whispered and Ginny suppressed her giggles as Fawkes puffed up and looked proud at the compliment. He really was such a sucker for praise.

“Yes,” Ginny managed to say, “The most majestic of birds!”

Fawkes puffed up more, but then squawked indignantly and flapped his wings slightly as Ginny finally let a giggle or two slip out.

“Just because it’s true doesn’t mean seeing you puff up at one compliment isn’t funny!” Ginny said.

Fawkes chirped and looked away pointedly.

“Aw, C’mon. Don’t be like that. I’m just joking. You’re the handsomest, warmest, most majestic…”

Ginny kept praising Fawkes in a way over the top way, and eventually he turned back around and seemed to forgive her despite knowing that she was still making fun of him. Seems he didn’t care as long as he was still getting praised. Ginny started petting Fawkes, sitting on the floor next to him.

“You two really can talk to each other,” Olivia said in surprise, “I didn’t believe it.”

Ginny looked at her, “He’s as intelligent as a person.”

Fawkes chirped.

“Yes, more intelligent than most people,” Ginny corrected, “That’s probably true.”

Olivia ended up getting to briefly touch Fawkes with his permission in the end. After a few minutes Fawkes hopped away, chirping again. It was lucky that he couldn’t get fat. Given his gleeful chirps he was enjoying eating his fill on Hogwarts expense.

“Well…” Olivia said, “That was pretty amazing. Thanks for letting me meet him, Ginny.”

“No problem. I’m glad that he liked you.”

“If anyone like Preston gives you trouble, just send them my way,” Olivia said, “I’ll do my proper prefect duties and blast them with a few good hexes.”

“Thanks, Olivia. I wish Alexa had someone like you to protect her in Gryffindor. No one seems to do anything when people are mean to her…”

Olivia shot her a disbelieving look.

“What? Ginny, don’t you have three brothers in Gryffindor? Go threaten to write a letter home to your parents if they don’t do something. Fred and George are pranksters, but when they’re motivated they really get things done. Ron… Well, I don’t know much about him. Just that he hangs around that weirdo Eric Potter. But you’ve got the twins to help at least.”

“I can do that?” Ginny asked blankly, “Do you think that would work?”

Olivia shrugged, “Worth a try. Plus, Amelia and Isla already got their comeuppance. And in dramatic fashion too. The Mad Potioner's struck again and got vengeance for your friend.”

“Mad Potioner? Who’s that?”

“The person that’s been slipping love potions and drugs into people’s drinks for the last two years. One of the theories is that it's one person doing all of it. People have taken to calling them the Mad Potioner. Most people think they’re in Slytherin because of how little they usually target any of them.”

“Huh. I never heard them called that before,” Ginny said, “How have they not been caught yet? Surely the teachers would do something.”

“Nah. You’ve already dealt with McGonagall. So long as no one is seriously hurt they mostly let things slide. But even so, whoever it is is good. Snape at least is on the warpath on finding the person. They keep having their love potions make people fall in love with Snape because they think it's funny or something.”

“Snape? Wait, how does that work? I thought it was guys that got dosed too?”

Olivia looked at Ginny and reached out and ruffled her hair with one hand.

“Hey! What was that for?!” Ginny said as she smoothed out her hair and fixed it back up to be presentable.

“You’ll find out when you’re older. Love potion makes you fall in love with anyone that it’s targeted at. Doesn’t matter whether you really feel it in real life, the love potion will make you feel that way whether you like it or not. Boy, girl, old, young, ugly, handsome… It doesn’t matter to the potion.”

“Wow… That’s… That’s horrible. Now I’m feeling a little bad for Amelia and Isla now.”

“Meh. A little. But I think they do protest it a bit too much when people prod them. Perhaps there was already something there waiting to be explored…”

Ginny looked at Olivia blankly, who returned her expression.

“Bah,” Olivia said, “I forgot you’re only twelve. You’ll get it in a few years.”

“Er, Alright.”

The two of them left and went back to the Ravenclaw common room, talking about love potions and the Mad Potioner. Olivia knew a lot. Once they were back Olivia said goodbye and went her own way while Ginny returned to her reading nook and went back to studying.