Nightshade Dreams
By iamgaki
Disclaimer: Wishing I own Draco Malfoy
Inspired by The Power of Two Hearts, Chapter 12, by kayjuli
I've been mulling on the idea of Magical Sleep when one of my friends has told me of a story, or rather, a chapter she has read a couple of years ago from a CCS fanfic. Shame we haven't found a copy of the story as the writer pulled it out from the site. Girl, thank you for the Inspiration. Hope this is to your liking.
This isn't the first fanfic I've written but this is the first one I've been tormented into posting. Damn persistent friends. Practically bullied me into writing this.
This would only be a Two or Three Chapter Story. I planned this to be a One-Shot but my keyboard seemed to have a mind of its own and before I know it, it's more than a couple of pages longer.
Summary: Struck by a rare poison that induces sleep during an Auror mission, Hermione has one week to make a choice whether to stay in the world where everything she ever truly wished for is a reality or to come back to everything she has ever known.
Rating: T
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Chapter 1
She's Fading
They were still 2 blocks away from the apparition point. The sun was making its futile attempts to illuminate the road they're taking but the ominous looking clouds would storm its way in between, dousing the road in varying shades of yellow and gray.
It sure looks like it would be one of those rainy afternoons. But such thoughts did not even penetrate their already troubled thoughts. All they can think of was that they have to get there. It's just a couple of blocks more, past the muggle city center, down the abandoned alley, the one point in the city where they could finally apparate.
Fuck the Statute of Secrecy
It was times like this where he was cursing every known Magical Protection Law ever written.
They were still down a few hundred or so meters when the weather considerably darkened and the winds picked up signifying the oncoming rain. But they paid it no heed.
They were not aware of the throes of people parting their ways for them to pass through. Nor did they notice the glistening and twinkling burst of pastel colors and every variation of Easter eggs and rabbits and bunnies that adorned every establishment that signifies the nauseatingly sweet holiday. Everything was a blur.
Their steps never did miss a beat. Their legs continued to plow down the rugged street as the promise of rain and a dark wet afternoon finally fell. It did nothing to ruin the speed the three of them has. The hustle they were on was fatal with the possibility of being rammed by a car but neither of them cared. There's only one thing that's on their mind right now. That is the one laying on the back of the golden haired one.
Her long curly tresses lay tussled against the winds and rains whipping across them. Her pale face could be seen visibly from the one who was carrying her. Her immensely golden brown eyes tucked away behind close lids and dark lashes that never once fluttered across the numerous bumps the one carrying her encountered. She looked like she was just sleeping when she was far from it.
Very far from it
The one carrying the girl looked less aggravated than he let on. Anxiety could be seen and felt, his body was tensed and grim were the lines across his mouth. Eyes were as troubled as the movements around him was.
Draco Malfoy looked at his partner for a fraction of a second before looking ahead of him again. He noticed that the surroundings grew darker and darker with the pouring rain but he neither cared nor gave it much importance. He needed to get Granger to St. Mungo's as fast as possible.
Merlin forbid, she needed all the help she could get.
He wished that whatever that struck her, it wasn't what he was thinking about.
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It was during one of their usual missions.
The Four of them have been through enough of these that the coordination is the same as breathing. They were one of the best Auror Groups there is.
Auror Training had been a breeze for them. What with all the experiences they have prior and during the secondary wizarding war, three years of Auror Training have mostly been a walk in the Park.
Only the four of them has been accepted into training. The youngest group ever since the department has been established.
It was expected that Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley would apply for the position as soon as their NEWTS result came out. They were preparing for these since Harry learned of being an Auror in his Fourth year. It may come for debate that Harry was born for this since the day Lord Voldemort has given him his Scar.
What was surprising was the application of Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy.
It was without a doubt one of the strangest settings they have ever been in. But these did not come without drama. Sharp words were thrown, Hexes were fired but at the end, a truce was formed in order to be alive. It is one thing to hate your comrade when both of your feet are on the ground and you were sipping coffee. It's another when one is dangling from the ceiling avoiding curses while battling an enemy.
That difficult mission squashed all notions of hatred all of them has especially when they owe their lives to each other.
This time however, the mission given was simple enough.
Get in. Shut Down Operations. Apprehend those liable. Get Out.
Hermione Granger was in charge of the tactical operation and strategic placement. Draco Malfoy specializes in stealth and recon. Between the two of them, they could plan the entire operation down to minute details.
The building was located in Central Haleburry in London, in the more active parts of the City. Intelligent reports stated that the building was being used to manufacture illegal potions and artifacts and experimenting with various objects to be used for nefarious deeds.
It took them two days to gather all the necessary data: building layout, ins & outs of personnel, guard and security duties and where the Headquarters of Lance Hobbes and Arth Riley, the mastermind of the operation.
The four of them were hunched over what seems to be the Floor plan of the Building. There were 4 floors in total. Most of the operation was being done on the 3rd floor.
"We need to be discrete as possible and incapacitate Hobbes and Riley quickly." Hermione looked at each member of the team with a steel glint in her eyes. "I don't want to have the incident in Wales repeated where we nearly blew up the whole street." This was said in particular to Harry and Ron who were in charge of the Offensive Line who she gave a pointed look to. She was pleased to note that they sported a guilty grin and in Ron's case, pink ears. She pointed to a section on map and directed the others to look. "We will enter here and through the ducting system that will take us directly to the upper floors. Malfoy will go through first followed by you two then I will seal all exits."
She then directed to another part of the Floor Plan consisting of rooms and open spaces. "This place is littered with dark artifacts and experiments. We don't know exactly what we are dealing with here. It is important that I point out to never touch anything - and I mean anything."
"Where are Hobbes and Riley located?" asked Harry squinting through the floor plan. Hermione directed her finger to a section in the plan. "We haven't been able to gather what's inside this room and we need not enter unless necessary. The plan is to lure the two out."
Malfoy this time held out 6 pieces of small black balls, blue balls and red balls to Harry and Ron. "I trust you know what to do with them Weasley." The almost snarky comment is enough for Ron to sprout one of his own but the sharp glance from Hermione has set his mouth shut.
Black Balls for Smoke Screen. Red Balls for Flash Bomb. Blue Balls for Sleeping Gas.
Muggle Equipment designed for concealment and distractions.
It was one of the things that make them unique. Incorporating muggle devices to mask their movements was an idea of Harry and they were the only group that does so. Something which most of their enemies has no clue about and never expected to encounter. Spells has traces on them and each spell has a distinct vibration or signature that may sometimes cause an alarm. They aim to limit as much spell casting during infiltration as to avoid unnecessary confrontation.
Malfoy looked at his watch noting the time: 03:12PM. Not the most optimal time to launch an attack but this is the time each and every target wizard is currently present in the building.
"Let's move in."
Floor Plans were vanished and gears were placed. Each of them covered in Black from the black boots, to black pants and black fitting long sleeve shirts and jackets. Robes were discarded as they will hinder movements. Knives were strapped to their boots, thighs and back. Waist holsters carry potions and emergency healing supplies, the black, red and blue balls as well as random paraphernalia of their own choosing.
They were crouched down on a rooftop overlooking the dreary building. For both muggle and wizards, it looks the same, a decrepit looking old building in moldy chipping green paint that stands between a bakery and a coffee shop who no one bothered to renovate.
It was an excellent arrangement. Who would have thought to have an illegal operation in the middle of a muggle commercial center right in the heart of the city.
"Position" The simple command from Malfoy has changed the demeanor of everyone in the group, from the lackadaisical bearing to alert and vigilant. Eyes set on the task at hand. A nod from Harry and Ron and the two leaped from the roofdeck down to their point of entry. Hermione cushioned their fall to a gradual descent with a simple "Arresto Momento".
Seeing their position on the entry way, Hermione raised a leg on the ledge to begin her descent when a hand touched her right arm. She barely managed to look at the offensive piece of limb when the said hand raised itself to touch her cheek. She couldn't help but gaze at the owner of the hand with a curious stare. Eyes of silvery gray matched her golden brown. Her breathe hitched when an affectionate stroke glaze her cheek. A gentle look crossed his face and she couldn't help but be intrigued on what she supposed to be an internal battle flitting through his mind. Her heartbeat increasing in paced every second that ticks by with the fluttering of her skin where his hand was. She couldn't help but give him a gentle smile to say that everything is going to be fine. A sudden rush of wind tussled the surrounding and the moment was gone.
His face was blank as an empty canvas.
She couldn't dwell on her partner's changing moods now. She willed her heartbeat to calm down and composed whatever nerves plaguing her skin. She needed to focus on their mission and come out unscathed.
A small smile. A slight nod. Then she jumped.
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Their mission consists of two parts according to Hermione. Infiltrate and capture wayward wizards that were an accomplice to the operation and prevent the destruction of property.
Elijah Lynch, the current Auror Office Head, was adamant on the second one. The Office on Research on Experimental Potions as well as the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit and Protective Objects were on standby for the mission completion. Upon apprehension of the criminals, they were to investigate the laboratory as well as the dark artifacts that will be found littering the compound.
The second floor was found empty by Malfoy upon initial assessment. His eyes trained for detection can perceive movements in the dark and his sensitive ears can detect scuffling skulking about. Upon his signal, he met Hermione's eyes giving her a One Finger wave signifying the coast was clear.
They stopped on the crossing by the Duct System that will take them up to the third floor. Hermione then blocked all exits and placed alarms on specific passageways that will alert them if someone attempts to flee.
This was for additional precautions. In their line of work, you can never be too careful and a half-assed job could be a recipe for disaster. It is common knowledge that you cannot apparate on Commercial Muggle City and this will be the downside of their enemy. The whole city is blocked and the only exit is through the designated apparition points.
The only way a wizard can escape is through the Floo Network and Hermione has been disabling the system one floor at a time so as not to alert the occupants of the building. A spell of her own design that tampers the routing system and will enable the wizard to return to his starting point thus disabling his source of escape. It's undetectable and will appear only as a glitch in their network. She wasn't considered to be the brightest witch in this generation for nothing.
Malfoy landed on the third floor followed by Harry and Ron. Hermione covered the back. Through the grills on the ducting system, they could see the activity bustling below the level. Numerous tables littered the floor with what seems to be random ornaments and trinkets and three wizards tinkering them. There doesn't seem to be a pattern on the objects and most of them are common household items. By the back they could see two wizards a witch crouched down on a long table with various vials and one tube emitting a static yellow light.
They could see the long end of the corridor where they knew the unknown rooms reside that holds Hobbes and Riley. They need to lure the two of them out.
It was time for their attack.
Malfoy held his hand with three of his fingers up signifying the countdown. He and Ron positioned themselves by the exit on the other side of the room away from the bulk of the activity. Upon zero, one smoke bomb was released to mask their presence. Black smoke billowed on the floor covering almost the entire area and the group dispersed onto the floor. Goggle Masks were place for visual protection.
Surprised shouts were heard throughout the room. "What the-?! Lavi is this your doing?!"
"Who did this?!" and another "Clear the smoke Lavi!" It would seem that smoke was a common occurrence. This was to the advantage of the Aurors.
The Aurors placed themselves strategically in the Area. Harry and Ron will cover the bulk of the Floor incapacitating the wizards. Malfoy would scour the rooms behind.
As soon as the smoke materialized, Hermione skittered to the Floo Place. Concealing herself on the floors and the shadows, she moved past distracted wizards who were running and waving their wands to dispel the smoke. She was a couple of feet from the floo when she heard a thud and she knew that the boys have started to immobilize the wizards on the floor. Working quickly, wands drawn, she started the chant on the floo before any of the wizards has any clue what was going on.
Yellow light enveloped her wand and a series of lines circled the floo. She noticed that the connection was illegally made and mentally took note to check on who authorized the connections. Working quickly to disable the network, she could see lines upon lines crisscrossing across the floo indicating the network. Sensing the pattern she rapidly found where she will be able to hitch the system and disable the linkage. Upon the final words of the spell, the yellow lines popped and everything settled.
She surveyed the room with eyes darting hurriedly to her comrades. The bright red hair of Ron was the first to jump her vision and was pleased to see that between Ron and Harry, a good number of wizards was already stunned and tied up. She didn't want to rush head first into the fray. Her logical side was analyzing the situation they were controlling so far. She wondered where Malfoy was and if he was able to secure the rooms by the back hall as planned.
Surviving a war has done great things to her reflexes plus the three years of Auror Training. Impeccable senses honed, she could almost always detect casted spells aimed at her. Casting a Shield Charm almost instantly without speaking is almost as easy as breathing. She saw the spell dispersed the moment it hit her shield and her eyes zoned in on three wizards to her left. She didn't think they were a matched to her even with their burly physique. With their doubtful faces, they knew exactly who they're dealing with. She supposed it has to do with numbers. They must have thought they could outsmart her when they outnumber to a fault.
The three wizards spread themselves with two on either side of her readying themselves to battle. She took note of their postures and which would most likely incarcerate at a moment's notice. She suspected they weren't the wizards experimenting on neither the objects nor the ones dabbling in suspicious mixture of potions as they looked far too brawny to have a quarter of a brain. Guards maybe? Whoever they are she needed to dispose of them swiftly knowing that they are working on a limited schedule.
She maneuvered her stance and drew her wand to the side lightly raised. It always pays to wait for the enemies move before drawing her own to gauge their skills and these ones were not even in league of her. She pulled back a step as a spell sped past her left ear. Conjuring a swift shield charm deflected a curse aimed at her but she didn't wait for a moment to attack. She casted a rapid stunning spell on the wizard to her left and easily dodges a set of spells being aimed at her. A quick turnaround and she blasted the wizard to her right while easily summoning a shield charm. One down. The wizard she blasted has been knocked cold by the table a good feet away from them. She had an instantaneous thought of the man having a splitting headache when he woke up from the bruise forming on his head.
This time she didn't wait for any one of the two remaining wizard to move first. She sent a quick stupefy to the wizard directly in front of her at the same time advancing forward. A quick duck gave her ample time to roll forward casting a deflecting shield aimed at the wizard to her left. From her position, she pushed herself upward with her right knee raised up to the unfortunately wizard being thrust upon. Her left hand tightly grasped the wizards arm holding him in place and her right knee slammed on the crotch of the unlucky wizard. I wonder if he'll ever have children. The slightly humorous thought flitted through her mind as she heard the sweet sound of pain as the man clutched her aching groin.
Absolute pleasure raked through her as she watched the man slid on his knees grasping his crotch and bending his body slightly forward as intense agony was etched on his face and groaning immensely at his pain.
Just as she was about to give the unfortunate wizard a swift roundhouse kick to the head, instincts flared up raising the hairs on the back of her neck. Less than a second later and with a full step back, a spell whiz past her just an inch from her nose almost whispering the air surrounding her skin. Her displeasure took a nosedive and a well-cast full body bind hit the offensive wizard. She watched the body go rigid and the sickening thud of the body getting acquainted with the cold cemented floor reached her ears as she now faced the remaining wizard whose hands were still clutching his busted balls.
Body still strung up from the duel and with no outlet except this unfortunate wizard, she readied her body again to give him the absolute kick he deserves. She clenched her fist around her wand, noting the wariness and the acceptance formed on the wizards face. It's not like he didn't deserve it. A slow smirk appeared on her face seeing the pitiful state he was in.
Just as she was about to deliver on this indulgence, a stunning spell hit the man blasting him to hit the wall and slowly slump his way down one floor. "What the-?!" Outraged at being denied the opportunity for retribution, she faced the intruder head on. The smirking face of Draco Malfoy loomed her vision.
"Easier to just hit with a spell isn't it Granger?"
And she could do nothing but drop her head on her hand to stop whatever tirade she knew would pass her mouth. Calm Down. Deep breathes, Inhale, Exhale, before facing once again the grin of her extremely annoying partner.
But that did not mean she would not attempt to annoy him to no end. "Really Malfoy?" Her exasperation was obvious from the tone of her voice.
"Really Granger, Can you blame me from wanting to be a gentleman and help a lady in need?"
The statement ticked on her feminist side. Surely he did not just suggest that she was a damsel in distress. She would let him know that SHE is Hermione Granger and she can fight and end her own battles and win. Thank you very much.
She was just about to start her tirade when she spotted Harry and Ron on her peripheral vision topple backwards on a table and almost immediately felt the tremors that cascaded on the floors. Leaning on the walls for stability, she focused on the source of the tremors. It was the activated spell that enables when a person crossed a threshold. A spell that Malfoy casted earlier on that would alert them if anyone enters, or in this case, leaves an area. Once activated, another spell seals the door from where they came. Any spells would be deflected when attempting to undo the charm.
It would seem that Hobbes and Riley have finally graced their presence.
She wondered what they attempted for the charm to cause these tremors.
She felt Malfoy cast a quick Incarcerous on the guards and binded them altogether but her attention fell on Harry and Ron. They were on their feet and leaning on a table for stability before meeting their eyes.
It was time.
Two wizards were no matched from four Aurors but they would take no chances. A single miscalculation may mean Life or Death in their field. Of Winning and Losing.
Hermione watched as Harry and Ron advanced on the Riley and Hobbes with determination in their steps. It was part of their master plan anyway. Hermione would hang back while Malfoy would be the support in the back. This would give her the time to analyze the situation and craft whatever strategy is needed as the circumstance required.
Harry and Ron started their assault of firing spells attempting to subdue the two while blocking whatever spells is being fired at them. Her eyes landed on the cluster of tables scattered on the room.
Shit
"Malfoy, fall back on the left side by the Stairs. Lure the fight away from those potions."
Her strict tone leaves no room for arguments and he was already and positioning himself even before the last words left her lips. He had seen those potions as well. They didn't know what those potions are and one wrong move may mean an explosion. She didn't want another incident like the last one.
Hermione fingered her flash ball. She had to time this right. She didn't expect that Riley and Hobbes were that much competent in dueling- having to hold their own against Three Aurors.
"Code Red!" She yelled at her team members and instantly everyone was on the defensive. Heart pounding and swiftly running to a column where she could conceal herself, she threw the flash bomb on the marble surface and immediately everything was engulfed in blinding light.
Riley and Hobbes didn't expect that kind of attack as the light assaulted their eyes. But as the brightness faded and their visions slowly adjusted, they couldn't find a single trace of the aurors. "Fuck! Where are they?" Riley exclaimed and both he and Hobbes placed themselves on the defensive once again. Slowly they ventured in the open space wands drawn.
They failed to see the shadow that crept up on them. As their heads turned, a blurred shape of black and brown loomed their vision before their bodies were hit with two stunning spells. Riley collided with Hobbes and the two were hurled at the back wall with a sickening thud.
Harry Potter barely smirked at the way the two wizards were sprawled on the floor feeling the immense satisfaction when the wall cracked behind them. A Roguish grin made its way on his lips as he looked down at Hermione who gave him one of her sheepish smiles in return. The extra strong stupefy was cast by her.
They didn't notice that before Hobbes succumb to the inevitable darkness, he made one last ditch effort to conjure a dart and hurled it across the room. He was smiling before he lost consciousness with only these thoughts - Very few survive that.
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The retrieval team has finished hauling all condemned wizards thru the emergency portkeys organized by their team. It merely took 5 minutes from the signal Harry has given to collect them. Their asses will be detained at the ministry holding cell until such time that enough evidence to convict them has been gathered.
It was during that time that the standby team from Experimental Potions as well as from the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Objects also moved in and began the cleanup. It was organized chaos at its best.
"Hey Guys!" Ron exclaimed enthusiastically as they met on the Ground Floor outside the building. "How about a quick bite before we return to HQ? There's a couple of cafes a few blocks from here right?"
Their job was done the moment the criminals were transported.
"You do realize we had just eaten lunch before we came here right?" the snarky response can only come from one person.
Hermione can only look at her bickering friends as she followed them out on the street. She could see that Harry occasionally joins the jibes of the two but otherwise remains the neutral party. As much as she was amused by the situation and feels the accomplishment of a job well done, she was distracted by what her body was currently experiencing. They were two blocks down when she noticed the changes.
She could feel the fatigue penetrating through her limbs and she had to force each step to move forward. Pained breathing is rising and she could feel her sweat trekking down her neck and forehead. She distinctly wondered what is happening but her thoughts were concentrated on her constraint breathing and the three boys before her. She didn't know how to tell them as she had to focus on staying upright.
They rounded on the corner when her vision doubled and she had to lean on the wall with her right hand as her left hand covered her eyes. She could feel her body heat rising and absently wondered if she inhaled something during their raid. Malfoy's gonna be so pissed if I did inhale something with all the caution I annoyed them with before. She thought humorously even with the condition she's been.
She's afraid to move now as she felt that one step would have her be acquainted with the street better. Nausea was seeping in and as she removed her left hand from her eyes to be blinded by the afternoon light and a wave of vertigo washed over her. She suddenly felt a pair of cool hands held her face and neck. She doesn't need to see to know who it was because judging by the musky smell of expensive cologne and the richness of black tea, it was Malfoy. His right hand held her chin up to see her face. His left hand circled on her waist to support her and pulled her closer to him. "Granger, what's wrong?" His voiced muffled on her ears but she could detect the apprehension in them.
She could faintly hear Harry and Ron calling her name as she concentrated on her breathing, her hands now holding on to Malfoy as she lowered her head on his chest.
"I'm dizzy… My head..." She gripped the arms that now held her shoulders as to prevent herself from falling. "It hurts.."
She's aware that she was clutching onto him as tightly as she could. It was all she could do to avoid succumbing to the darkness that was now calling her.
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Draco was already aware of Granger the moment they stepped out into the street. She was quiet and subdued. Far from the usual cheekiness she exhibited when they finished a mission. She appeared to be lost in her thoughts as there was a faraway look in her and she didn't expressed the customary banters they indulged themselves in whenever they got the chance.
Still he didn't thought too much of it as he was distracted in annoying Weasley. Maybe she just had a lot on her mind.
The surprised came when they rounded the street they were in and he saw at the corner of his eyes the moment Granger leaned on the wall for support. It wasn't normal. He abruptly stopped and almost collided with Potter as he took a hasty turn to look at Granger. She has her head hanged down low on her hand and you could see the rise and fall of her shoulders. He swiftly walked towards her and held her face, pushing her body slightly forward making her look at him.
He noticed that her face was flushed red. Her eyes were blazed over and the touch of her skin was hotter than usual. Somehow, he knew that it wasn't from the walking they did. "Granger, what's wrong?"
Potter and Weasley now circled them and calling her name but he was focused on the way she gripped his arms with shaking hands. "I'm dizzy… My head... It hurts-" His heart must have leaped from its cage as he grew frantic. What the hell happened?
"Did it start just now?"
"C'mon Malfoy le's get her out of the sun" Harry all but dragged him as he picked up Granger and lifted her up and they made their way down to an alley away from the throngs of people gawking at them. What must they looked like, three men and one carrying an almost unconscious girl.
"Malfoy…" Her eyes were now closed and her voice was feeble and distant. Under a pasty shade they placed her down with half her body still leaning on Malfoy. He immediately unzipped her jacket to release the heat and had Potter helped him removed it from her as they knelt down on her other side and raised the sleeves on her arms. Her breathing was shallow and frantic. He conjured a towel and soaked in cold water and wiped her face to try and alleviate the heat. He felt Potter do the same for her arms.
"Weasley check her stats!" His voice may be calm but his mind was on overdrive. He was recalling everything from the moment they started the raid. Did she inhale something? Did she trip something? Was she hit by a spell? If she was hit by something the effects would have been immediate.
The stats showed that everything was normal except her rising fever. But this was general information, any internal abnormalities would have to be checked by a healer. He looked Potter and Weasley, apprehension displayed on their faces.
"Gu – Guys…" Every head turned to her. Her whispering voice carried the tremble of alarm.
"Hey Mione" Weasley started, his voice carrying the gentleness he normally doesn't have. "You're going to be alright ok"
It was in their apparent relief when a ghost of a smile appeared on her face despite her current condition. There was nothing they could do now except bring her to a healer.
He picked up the towel again to wipe the beads of sweat the formed on her face and neck when his hands bumped on to something on right side of her neck. Swiftly he pushed her hair away and noticed something embedded on her skin just below her ear. His blood ran cold.
"Fuck! Potter!" Fear widely spread now on his voice and the alarm caused Harry to immediately inspect what Malfoy was directing him. "Shit!" he exclaimed as he pulled out the dart that was no longer than 1cm in length. One look and Draco knew right away it was heavily loaded with poison.
They stared at it incredulously. His hand reached out to Potter grasping his arm to pull the poison to him for examination. His insides further froze. "Oh Merlin.. Fuck- This is-" He didn't think it was possible.
"What- What is it?" Weasley all but shouted as he also stared at the dart.
"Smell it" He thrust the arms of Potter back to him. One sniff and his eyes widen to look at him. He knew. He knew only one poison could smell as sweet as honeyed berries and vanilla.
"Belladonna" He said softly as though the effect of fear would lessen.
Belladonna. Nightshade Berries. A fitting name for something to lure you in darkness.
It was then he noticed that Hermione was limp on his arms. "Granger?" He called out to her. At the same time Potter and Weasley was calling on their friends name frantically.
Shit. How fast does this poison worked? But his logical mind was on hyper drive. Still, you have to consume at least 10 whole berries before the poison turns fatal for an adult. His insides squirmed endlessly. He checked for her pulse as fear was gripped him. Thankful as the beat of her pulse echoed on his hands albeit irregularly. They had to get Granger to a Healer fast.
"Rennervate!" Potter's voice borders on desperation and Weasley's attempt echoed but the light of the spell disperses with no effect.
The voices swirled around him as he realized that Granger won't stir. Even his ears can't take enough of the shouting of her name by her two friends. But there was nothing. No stir. No movement. No shifting. Nothing.
She was just lying there as though sleeping. Her breathing even out and there was an almost serene look on her face. He longed to touch her skin just to see if she were real. The events were surreal enough and he was desperately wishing this was just a really bad dream. His nerves were beginning to fray as though pins and needles were pricking him. He didn't think he was capable of being this afraid.
Double checking her vital signs indicates she's healthy enough. Why won't she wake up?
Unless there's something mixed in the Poison. The notion penetrated his thoughts and he looked back down. Fuck. Knowledge and understanding on the plant surged through his mind.
Belladonna. Deadly Nightshade. The plant is native to Europe and he was certain anyone could grow them in their backyard. The berries are extremely toxic and it would explain the dizziness, nausea, fever and fast heartbeat. But no amount of toxin would result to coma. Hallucinations yes, but not coma. No, this was the work of something else.
"Potter! Contain that poison! We need to get to St. Mungo's now!"
He quickly heaved himself and positioned Granger on his back to ease his movements. They were in Central District and only one apparition point. The day was going downhill with every second that passed. They couldn't very well return to the raid site. There's no telling if they will be able to acquire a portkey and the floo would still be unconnected. They wouldn't risk returning there just to know that they would have to go back via the apparition point. It's not a risk they were willing to take.
"How far to the apparition point?" He was almost running and he could feel the two just behind him.
Potter cursed loudly as they trudge through the crowded street. "Six blocks from here down at the end of River Street."
They ran and they never dared slow down.
There was a nudge on his brain as though it was telling him that he was missing something. But what? His lessons with his godfather came to mind. He drilled him before on plants and poisons but he was too frazzled to remember them all.
He frowned. There were too many plants that would cause a person to fall into a coma. Oleander, Rhubarb, Daphne, Hydrangea, Jimsonweeds even Apples and every one of them is poisonous. It's possible that one of them was mixed with Belladonna to cause the victim to fall into a deep sleep.
He nearly collided with a woman pushing a carrier by the sidewalk as they turned a corner. Potter almost tripped in a raised cement floor in his haste. He would have laughed at Weasley for crashing on a wooden crate outside a grocery store while avoiding an elderly couple in front of the door if not for the dire situation they found themselves in.
Just four more blocks. A fleeting thought penetrated his mind as he saw a grungy looking man sleeping by the sidewalk. If Hobbes and Riley's aim was to kill, why didn't they use a more fast acting poison like Rosary Pea or Castor Bean or even Aconite. Those are easily accessible. It's not that he was ungrateful that they used a slow acting poison but it was a thought he felt like he should venture into.
Belladonna at its worst would cause paralysis but its effects are treatable with emetic if administered immediately. A bezoar would do the same. They could easily neutralize the toxins as soon as they could Granger to St. Mungo's but what concerned him was the effect of coma.
Belladonna was chosen for a reason. He just needs to find out why. His hold on Granger strengthened. His lungs were already grasping for air from the amount of running they did and with the additional of weight of Granger on his back. But he would not dare stop. Not when he knew every second is crucial.
He gritted his teeth and concentrated on evading every muggle that loitered the street without breaking the speed that he has. Just a little more.
His temper flared when a large group of overtly raucous muggle teenagers hogged the street they were on playing screechy music and dancing on the heated pavement and shouting at one another for a showdown. What he wouldn't give to just hex every single one of them into oblivion in that moment. Heck, he could see Potter twitching his hand on his wand in his pocket probably thinking the same thing as they passed by the shrieking and screaming teens. If his arms weren't so busy carrying Granger, he would give them something to scream about. Probably conjure a ghost or an apparition in the middle of their dance floor. And he would make sure it would follow them lest they think they were just hallucinating-
Wait? What? His feet almost stopped on the insinuation. Hallucinations. Delirium. Holy Fuck-
His eyes widened at the implication of his thought and he couldn't help but peered at the pale face of Granger. "No…" he couldn't help murmuring as the he picked up the changes on the wind.
Salvia. Silverthorn.
"It can't be…" No. He won't believe it. He can't.
The Sage of the Diviners. It can only be found in the isolated mountains of cloud forest in Oaxaca, Mexico. Treacherous to obtain and almost impossible to find. It is famous for one thing only – It induces visions and causes spiritual hallucinations.
Mix it with Belladonna who hits the nervous system of the body and the mind would have been in an altered state of reality.
It felt like he was hit by a really strong stunning spell and crushed under a rock as he suddenly stopped his trek. Panic was already setting in and the only control he got left was his hold on Granger as if slacking his hands would cause her to disappear.
The concerned face of Potter and Weasley loomed on his vision. "Malfoy?" Their voices seemed so far away. He gulped down the nausea and the sting of the realization of his discovery. Strained air passed through him as he struggles to breathe.
"Silverthorn" The toxin found in the base root of Salvia. "It's Silverthorn. Salvia is the other component in the poison." His voice labored and drained as though preventing him from even speaking the words. He didn't need to look at the faces of the golden duo to know how the color drained from their faces.
"How-?" Uncertainty was clear on Potter's voice.
"I'm still not certain but it's the only possible explanation." It may be the only explanation.
He doesn't want to entertain the direction his thoughts were taking. He couldn't. Not when he knew it was almost impossible. This was beyond serious. The situation suddenly became critical if his theory was proven.
Fuck it- He would not believe it. He refused to even consider it.
Acknowledging it would mean he was about to say goodbye.
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AN: How was it? Read and Review!