Disclaimer: We do not own the Harry Potter characters or world, but the over-active imaginations that produced this we will claim.

Rituals and Consequences

by mmagicwolf and WickerChair

Chapter Thirty-Six: We're Off to See the Wizard

Saturday, June 22, 1991

Liam's internal alarm for the end of his nap went off. He crawled up to consciousness to hear the driver say, "Sir, it is time to wake."

"Thank you, I am awake."

"Yes, sir. You seemed to sleep well."

"I always do when watched over by family." Liam smiled ruefully, "Unless it is Greta."

"She terrifies me," admitted the driver. "I have never been on her bad side, but the stories..." he trailed off.

"Unfortunately, all true," admitted Liam. "But she makes a good gatekeeper."

"If you like dragons."

~O~

The limousine pulled up to Potters, Ltd on schedule and the driver got out and opened the back door.

André entered the limousine, settled against the cushions with a sigh, and extracted the package he has carried from Charring Cross Road. He muttered a quick "Kansei shita," and rested his packages on the floor.

~O~

Liam looked at the two large packages, obviously from a bookstore. "You had good hunting. Personal or family library?"

"Personal. I found a copy of the Materia Medica Pura. I've been looking for that for years. Mr Mulpepper is a reputable apothecary, he should be able to locate the ingredients that you might not be able to procure for me. Is there still a family potions master in England?"

"Yes, John Kulala would usually be available. He is, however, in Chile at the moment. He is negotiating peace between the purakaruma and the waxrapaxsi. The recent flooding near Antofagasta removed some of the ward stones, and since he is known as Umawara to both groups, he should be able to resolve their dispute. The two have been in competition for minerals since the rains. You might have noticed the sudden jump in prices of potions ingredients from that part of the world."

"Liam, you know that I am a healer not a potions master. If my patient needs a particular potion, I don't pay that much attention to the price. I just provide the potion."

"Yes, André, I am aware of your integrity. What can you tell me about your summons to Black Manor?"

André shrugged. "Nothing really," he paused and opened one of the packages beside him, "however, I did find this book and found its title peculiarly appropriate." He handed the book to Liam.

Liam glanced at the book quizzically, blinked, re-read the title on the dustcover and stared at André, "Are you certain?"

"Yes, Liam, I am quite certain. Puzo is a good author, and the title is quite appropriate for the situation."

Liam examined the book in his hand, "How much do I owe you for a," he glanced at the title page, "signed copy of The Godfather from its first edition?"

"Liam, the book cost me all of £2. The Potter luck is running strong today. I got a lead on a potion maker who is discreet as well as reliable. I think he will be an asset to the case."

Liam shook his head in disbelief, "André, I know every potions master in England. There isn't a single one that I would trust to provide potions for a friend. You found a master you would trust with that man's life?"

André shrugged, "He is not technically a master."

Liam growled, "Who?"

"Severus Snape. Technically he is a journeyman potion maker because he never took the test for mastery. However, I tested some of the potions that he made and I would take them myself or give them to my family without a qualm."

Liam's voice rose, "You hired him already?"

"Not yet," replied André. "I am waiting for him to contact my wife."

"You do realize that he was an enemy of James at Hogwarts?"

"It will be fine," soothed André. "What potions I do not know, Tsubo-sensei knows. I believe that this may give us a source within Hogwarts and an ex-Death Eater as well."

"You are trusting his life to a Death Eater? André, have you gone insane?" Liam's face began to turn bright red, but further explosion was stalled by the voice of the driver.

"Sir, Greta is on the telephone."

Liam sighed and picked up the receiver. "Yes, Greta, what is it?"

Greta's piercing voice was audible to André despite being on the other side of the limousine. "Liam, Athena called and told me to pass a message. Relax! All will be well. Just relax! Now, will you please listen to Athena because I am tired of having to remind you. Now, let me talk to Heilende Durian."

André flinched, Margreta Potter was infamous throughout the company. No one crossed her path without praying they would not offend. André had heard rumors that she trained with the Wiro and frequently outdid even the best of them. He reluctantly took the handset that Liam held out. "Yes, Greta?"

"André, you did the right thing. Now, get yourself and my brother to Heathrow. The flight from Amsterdam is supposed to be landing at any minute. You need to get to the airport before Tsubo has a chance to cause havoc."

André winced, he could imagine the damage that Tsubo-sensei could do in a British muggle airport. Only a fool would leave him without supervision, but he had no choice. André almost laughed at Liam's wide-eyed look of disbelief. "Thanks, Greta, we are on our way now." André returned the handset to the mobile telephone and explained, "Tsubo-sensei is unusual. He is extremely skilled, but he almost always has a keeper with him when he leaves Japan. The last time the family had to let him travel without an escort," he shuddered, "he went to the Northwestern United States in May of 1980. It took two Wiro teams a month to find him again."

Liam looked intrigued, "Where was he?"

"He had encountered a group of Selahtik fleeing from the eruption. They took him along until they reached Mount Lassen almost five hundred miles away."

"And he did not apparate away?"

"That's what the Wiro teams who located him asked. He said that the Selahtik were kind and had been teaching him about the medicinal properties of the local herbs. He couldn't understand why we were so worried."

Liam winced, "Maybe that's why Greta assigned Raoul to keep an eye on him from Amsterdam."

André shrugged, "If he's good, maybe Tsubo-sensei will not be able to cause havoc. Although," he reflected, "his eccentricity seems to be less when he has a patient in need of his assistance. Maybe we will be fortunate."