Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 343 Aphrodisiacs and Poisons (Part 1)

This was probably the most gifts Ron had received in seventeen years; packages of all sizes practically overwhelmed him.

Ron casually slipped the gold watch onto his arm and began disassembling the items one by one, letting out a gasp every now and then. They were all things he liked—mostly prank items or various snacks.

"Do you want some, Harry?" Ron broke off a piece of chocolate and handed it to Harry, still chewing on a piece himself.

"No, thank you." Harry shook his head, spread the Marauder's Map flat on his bed, and tried to find Malfoy among the stacked names, his words revealing a hint of absentmindedness.

Ron shrugged and popped the chocolate in his hand into his mouth, even though he hadn't swallowed the one in his mouth yet.

Harry has been staring at the Marauder's Map whenever he has free time lately, and Ron has gotten used to it. Sometimes he helps search for it, knowing that Malfoy is now elusive and often disappears, only to reappear unexpectedly in another place soon after.

He didn't find it strange at all. Even though Malfoy's movements were indeed very strange, as Hermione said, there were many secrets in Hogwarts Castle, and a Marauder's Map couldn't possibly expose all the hidden secrets.

Compared to Harry's persistence, Ron felt that Hermione's words made more sense.

Harry took off his glasses, rubbed them—his eyes had been a bit sore lately. After putting them back on, he tapped the map with his wand and said, "Prank over!" The lines and names on the map quickly disappeared.

As he dressed, he pondered the reason for Malfoy's frequent disappearances, but like the densely packed names on the Marauder's Map, his mind was a jumbled mess.

Harry knew the best way to figure this out was to keep a close watch on him, but that wasn't practical, especially for a sixth-year student like himself. Quidditch, classes, homework, and Apparition—all sorts of trivial matters took up almost all his time. Even with the Invisibility Cloak, it wasn't feasible.

"Are you all dressed, Ron?" Harry asked casually, having finished getting dressed. "Weren't we supposed to go have breakfast together?"

"I'm not hungry, you go ahead," Ron replied, his tone somewhat forlorn.

Harry turned around in confusion, only to find Ron sitting amidst a pile of unwrapped gifts, staring blankly at the rain-washed window. He was motionless, holding a half-eaten chocolate in his hand.

"Didn't you just say..."

"Okay, I'll go downstairs with you, but I don't want to eat." Ron sighed and got out of bed with a rather helpless expression.

Harry's gaze remained fixed on the chocolate in Ron's hand, his face full of a strange expression.

"You ate all that chocolate?" he asked.

"No... never mind, you wouldn't understand anyway." Ron muttered as he started to put on his clothes. Harry watched for a while, then shook his head and turned away. But before he could open the dormitory door, he heard Ron suddenly call out to him.

"Harry! I can't take it anymore!"

"What?"

"I can't stop thinking about her!"

Upon hearing this, Harry felt goosebumps rise all over his body. Even though so much time had passed, he still felt uncomfortable with Ron and Lavender's cloying relationship.

"Thinking about her won't stop you from having breakfast, will it?"

Ron suddenly looked utterly desperate, slumped onto the bed, and said, spreading his hands, "She doesn't know I exist, Harry! Do you understand?!"

"How could she not know you? You're sitting on the gift she gave you." Harry said, pointing to the flattened pink heart-shaped box under Ron's bottom.

"Who? Lavender? It's not her..." Ron pulled out the box, glanced at it, and casually tossed it aside.

"Who else could it be but her?" Harry asked in shock.

"Romida Vanni!"

"You're kidding, right!" Harry said, looking at Ron's innocent face.

"No! I'm sure, I love her!" Ron said firmly.

Harry stared at Ron for a moment, then waved his hand.

"Okay, that's enough, stop messing around, okay?" Harry said, turning around, but before he could take two steps, he was hit hard on the back of the head. He staggered a couple of steps before regaining his balance, and angrily turned back to see Ron swinging his fist at him again with a furious expression.

Seeing this, Harry quickly took a step back, drew his wand, and swung it fiercely at Ron, not even bothering to utter the spell in his haste. But the magic succeeded, and Ron was now hanging upside down in the air.

"Are you crazy?" Harry shouted.

"I won't allow you to insult her! You called her a joke, and that's a joke!" Ron's fists were still waving in the air, but hanging upside down, he looked like a clown.

"That's ridiculous! What did you get...?" Harry said, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over a piece of chocolate on the ground, and he was immediately startled.

He ran over, picked up the chocolates, and examined them. Then he searched through the open boxes under Ron's bed. A moment later, his eyes lit up, and he rushed to Ron, clutching a purple box, asking, "Is this the box of chocolates?"

"Yes, this is my birthday present!"

"You idiot!" Harry shouted back. "Don't you understand? This isn't your birthday present, it's mine! It's a Christmas present Romida Vannie with a love potion in it!"

"Romida? You know her, Harry? Can you introduce me?" Ron's emotions suddenly stabilized, and he stared intently at Harry with wide eyes.

Harry looked at Ron's face, which had turned somewhat purple from the blood rushing to his brain, and an idea popped into his head.

"Okay, I'll introduce you." With that, he put Ron down.

Ron crashed to the ground with a loud thud, looking like he'd been seriously injured. But he seemed oblivious, jumping up immediately with a broad smile on his face.

"Where is she, Harry?"

"In Professor Slughorn's office," Harry said, leading him toward the door.

"Professor Slughorn's office? Why is she there?"

"Potions class, Ron." Harry mumbled as he opened the dormitory door, but to his surprise, Lavender was already waiting at the door, his face full of anticipation.

"Lolo, you're out!" she said cheerfully to Ron, but Ron looked impatient.

He reached out and shoved Lavender aside, saying, "Get out of the way! Harry's going to introduce me to Romida Vannie!"

Lavender was furious, but Ron walked straight toward the portrait hole. Harry wanted to say something, but worried about Ron, he didn't say anything, gave Lavender an apologetic look, and followed after him.

He didn't take the furious Lavender seriously, with Hermione right there beside him.

"How could he do this!" Lavender stamped her foot angrily, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Don't worry, something's wrong with Ron..." Hermione comforted him, "He seems to be under some kind of spell..."

"Oh? Is Roro alright?" Lavender asked anxiously upon hearing this.

"They should be alright... Come on, let's follow them and see!"

Happy National Day!

(End of this chapter)