The Great Hall cleared out after several hours, with the ball finally ending at two in the morning. Those who remained after midnight were mostly couples who were slow dancing. That was certainly something Harry enjoyed. Dylan and Astoria had headed back to their dorms sometime before midnight as they were too sleepy. When it finally ended, Harry and Daphne dragged themselves to the Room of Requirement. Reconfiguring a room, they undressed and Daphne carefully put the jewellery back in its case. Once done, they collapsed on the large bed.
"Thank you for a wonderful evening, Harry," said Daphne sleepily, smiling as Harry kissed her neck.
"You're welcome," he muttered into her ear. "Good night, Daphne. I love you."
"Love you too."
They were out like a light as sleep caught up to them, wrapped tightly in each other's arms.
...
"Try it now," said the ghost of Alfred Potter, looking at Harry speculatively. "Remember, don't crush it this time, but chop it finely. Let's see if this technique works."
Harry nodded, taking a deep breath as he stirred the potion in the small cauldron. Chopping the Gillyweed, he dropped it in the cauldron, waiting with bated breath. After ten seconds, the cauldron exploded, the shields holding tight as it contained the spill.
"Well, that was my twenty-fifth attempt, not counting the initial stages," said Harry, his face impassive, but his eyes a darker shade, showing how frustrated he was. "That's more than fifty cauldrons I've blown up. Maybe I should just go with the regular Gillyweed or Bubblehead Charm and be done with it."
"Now, now, Harry," said Alfred, floating towards the boy, peering at the various sheets of parchment which contained Harry's notes in his distinctive neat handwriting. "This project is a very good idea. Don't give up."
"But you have to admit I'm doing something wrong, Grandfather," muttered Harry. "I guess this is why witches and wizards don't attempt to create a potion until they have finished their Master's degree."
"Maybe you should consult a potions master," said Alfred. "I'm sure they could help you."
"But who can I ask?" wondered Harry. After thinking for several minutes, his eyes lit up. Scrambling to the Floo, he called Sirius. This potions master would be willing to listen if the Minister of Magic himself called him to help Harry. Besides, going by his mother's journal and Voldemort's memories, the man was a genius when it came to Potions, not to mention was one of the most highly qualified in Europe.
...
"Oh ho!" cried Horace Slughorn as he looked at Harry's notes jovially. "This is certainly ambitious! An amphibian potion, you say?"
"Yes, Professor," said Harry calmly. "The second task of the Triwizard Tournament will be held underwater. I know the Bubblehead Charm, but it doesn't help with manoeuvrability. The Gillyweed is an alternative, but it only lasts for an hour, not to mention hinders my grip with a wand. I started working on this potion the day after the first task when I figured out what was to be done. Nearly a month and a half have passed. I have rechecked my Arithmancy formulae and changed the stages of the ingredients, but nothing works! I have already blown up fifty cauldrons in the process, so I thought I should consult an expert on the subject instead of giving up as a lost cause."
"There will be no talk about giving up in front of me, Harry, my boy," said Slughorn, waving a stubby finger. "Let's see where you went wrong, shall we? Let's start with the ingredients and properties and then we'll move on to the mathematical application of the potion."
And so it began. Harry spent all of what was remaining of the Yule holidays with Professor Slughorn as they worked on the potion. Harry was enthralled by the knowledge the old wizard was sharing with him. The Potions Master would also tell funny stories about his students from his teaching days, focussing mainly on Lily, Harry's mother. Finally, on the last day before going to Hogwarts, they were once more working on the potion, which they felt would be successful.
"The mathematical calculation checks out," said Slughorn, looking at the sheet of parchment. "Now, try that again, Harry. There should be no chunks in it at all - pure liquid."
Harry nodded as he pureed the Gillyweed into liquid form, adding saltwater to dilute it. Once done, he poured seven drops into the cauldron, stirred clockwise one and five times counter-clockwise. He repeated the process three more times before casting spells on the cauldron.
"It is done," said Harry with a smile. "The potion looks exactly what the formula said it would and everything else checks out."
"It still needs testing," said Slughorn, looking a bit worried. "Maybe -"
"Don't worry, Professor," said Harry with a small smile on his face, barely able to hide his happiness. "I'll be very careful and run the proper simulations before going through with it. I can't believe I actually reached this stage!"
"Indeed, my boy!" said Slughorn, beaming. "If I may say so, Lily would have been proud of you."
"Thank you, sir," said Harry sincerely. Putting his hand inside his robes, he removed a small, but thick glass phial containing black liquid.
"Please accept this as a token of appreciation for your efforts, Professor," said Harry with a smile. "This is undiluted Basilisk venom; the best you can find anywhere in the world."
"Oh, Merlin!" breathed Slughorn as he accepted it. "I can't believe it! This is near priceless in the market. Thank you, Harry."
"No, Professor," said Harry, shaking his head. "Thank you. I would never have been able to do this without you. I hope I can apprentice under you after my N.E.W.T.s are done. You are an outstanding teacher and I would be honoured to learn from you."
Slughorn beamed as he nodded.