Pride and Joy
Disclaimer: All credit to Jo Rowling!
"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Prologue: The Alchemist
The experiment had failed.
Theodore Nott would not have admitted it to anyone else, not even to Daphne. But to himself, as he stood in his laboratory in the Alchemical Centre, he knew he must be honest.
The centre was hidden in the heart of Alexandria, and Theodore had never felt so at home in a place before. Below the glittering port and temples and dusty streets ran a parallel city of caverns and passageways. It was difficult to tell which had given birth to the other, for a crumbling arch or stone inscription in the city above ground might have seen the rise and fall of civilisations, but some of the black caves that lay beneath seemed older than the earth itself.
Day and night he worked here, among shelves that groaned with ancient tomes, among an infinite variety of herbs and powders, and among tunnels that breathed in the darkness, where he might walk forever if he chose.
The laboratory had been granted to him under an assumed name, but Theodore considered it his own. He could spend hours here conducting experiments, until his eyes had grown scratchy and blurry behind his glasses. Spending so long by himself meant that his thoughts took form and became living, breathing things, so that he was never alone.
Today, however, was not destined to be one of those days of blissful silence. He heard the knock on his door just as he was directing a stream of cold air from his wand into a tube, and called, "Enter."
Daphne Greengrass stepped into his office, bearing with her a whirl of hot, dusty air from the city above. "I assume you've heard the news."
Theodore Nott turned and studied her face. Beads of sweat stood out on her forehead, her face pale and drawn, while the neck above the collar of her robes was an angry red. "You don't look well, Daphne."
"You know I don't like coming down here," she replied, with the slightest tremble to her voice. Her sharp green eyes… the eyes that had haunted his dreams, years ago. They were still the same, even if the rest of her had changed. They flicked around his office now, regarding the network of tubes in the corner, the half-opened manuscript on the shelf. They lingered on the old photograph on his desk, then snapped back to him. "Well? You've heard about Weasley being elected?"
"It is no cause for worry," said Nott quietly, turning back to his work. "Hermione Weasley's power is waning. She will not be able to stay in office for long."
"How can you be so confident?" Daphne exclaimed. He heard her quick step, the swish of robes, and then she was beside him. "In the past year, Hermione Weasley has managed to rally all the wizards and witches of Britain around her, while Aurors everywhere are looking for the killers of Harry Potter's son."
Bending, Theodore sent a stream of hot air into another tube. "You must be patient, Daphne."
"How can I be patient when I don't know what you're doing?" The familiar whine had entered Daphne's voice now. As a younger man, he had found it endearing. Now, it grated on his nerves. "Your experiment…"
"Took rather longer than expected, I will admit." Theodore Nott straightened once more. "It is true that the Muggleborns did not lose their magic straight away, as we had planned. But those who remain in Hogwarts will find that their magic is not what it once was." He could sense Daphne about to speak again, and bulled over her, "Fewer Muggleborns than ever received letters this year. There will come a day when there are none."
"And in the meantime?" Daphne Greengrass waved a hand, almost dislodging one of the tubes, and Theodore gritted his teeth. "You work on - whatever this is? While I wait for you?"
"You know I am always happy to tell you about my work," Nott said, straightening the tube.
Daphne snorted. "Oh, is that so? When have you ever - " She broke off as Theodore put his hand over hers, directing it to a large vial.
"Do you see that black substance?"
"Yes." Daphne's voice was very quiet now, and he sensed her glance at him. "Theo…"
The nickname stirred something within him, but Theodore kept his features impassive. "Impure magic. I harvested it."
"Harvested - how?" She turned her head fully to look at him, then shook it. "Would I prefer not to know?"
"Perhaps." He smiled, then moved her hand - he felt her stiffen - over to the first tube. "Now, see what is happening here. You remember your Potions?"
They both gazed at the vapour pouring into a second vial from its tube, and then Daphne said after a moment, "It's subliming."
"Yes." Theodore Nott's smile widened. "Into pure magic." Turning, he saw the wonder in Daphne's face, and it made him almost remember - almost…
"Pure magic," she repeated softly, and his hand tightened over hers as he leaned in. She tipped her face up to his, eyes closing, and Theodore planted a kiss on her lips.
"Have faith, Daphne," he said after a moment, pulling away a little and brushing his thumb over her cheek. She bowed her head, nestling it in his shoulder, and looking down, he saw the spiderwork of grey in her hair. "We will not be here forever."
A/N: Read and review! First chapter will be up soon. Also, I'm no expert on chemistry, but I tried my best to research it and alchemy in preparation for this. Apologies if there are any errors!