Little En En

"But the one to be pitied most is Mr. Ron Weasley. By my count, the boy has been poisoned twice in a row, and he has injuries from falling as well. He very nearly lost his life." McGonagall's gaze shifted from Romilda Vane, whom Madam Pomfrey had led to one side, to Ron on the hospital bed.

"You must be proud to have taught such a student, Horace." Dumbledore looked at Professor Slughorn, then turned his gaze back to Hermione. "Miss Granger, you think very quickly, to have thought of using a Bezoar as a temporary antidote."

The distracted Slughorn froze when he heard his name. "Hm? Yes, yes, very proud."

"Thank goodness it happened in Professor Slughorn's office..." Hermione had not joined Harry and Ginny's repeated discussion about how Ron had been poisoned. She only gritted her teeth, looking with lingering fear at the hand that had also touched the wineglass. If this had happened in any other professor's office, everything would have been too late.

"We all agree that Miss Granger acted very alertly. The question is, why did something like this happen?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Yes, why? This wine looks like a gift, Horace." Dumbledore walked toward Slughorn and took the beautifully wrapped bottle from his hand. "Do you remember who gave it to you?"

"Actually, I had originally intended to give this as a gift to someone else." Slughorn's voice was grave, threaded with panic.

"May I ask whom it was for?" Dumbledore looked at Slughorn's somewhat dejected expression and lifted the bottle to his nose for a sniff. "Also, if this wine hadn't been poisoned, the fresh scent of licorice and cherries would still be rather tempting."

Snape took the bottle from Dumbledore and sniffed it as well.

"For you, Headmaster." At Slughorn's answer, everyone