Dark Tower
All characters contained in the story, belong to JK Rowling and company.
Chapter forty-nine: When a potion goes bad.
Jessica had slept well considering she had taken a drop of sleeping draught before retiring for the night. After a good stretch and jaw-breaking yawn, the realization that today was her wedding day, struck her all at once. Her nerves started to take over again as soon as her feet hit floor. She went to take a hot shower, hoping it would calm her down. But it hadn't, to her greatest chagrin.
When a knock came to her door, she jumped up with a start, her heart thudding loudly in her ears. Becca came in, a large smile on her face, that soon faded after seeing her sisters panic stricken face.
"Jess? Are you ok?" she asked her softly. She came to her, taking her hand into hers. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Jessica gulped down the nausea she felt, shaking her head to her sister. "No, I'm just a bit nervous, that's all."
Becca quirked a brow at her and chuckled lightly. "Jess, you look like you're ready to jump out of your skin. This is your wedding day, you're not getting lynched or being sent to Azkaban." She hugged her sister, passing a caring arm around her shoulders.
Jessica tried to laugh but she could only manage a lopsided smirk. "Becca, I'm not sure I want to do this."
Jessica's word rang out in the silent room, giving them a more poignant ring to them. Becca just hugged her a little tighter. "Come now! You know what you're doing. And it's for the best..." She made Jessica sit on the sofa. "Give me a second, I'll be right back."
With that, she went to the fireplace, throwing a pinch of floo power on the flames. She stepped inside the flames and disappeared to an unknown location. Jessica didn't understand her sister's words actually; too frazzled to make out the half whispered words.
She returned a few moments later, a small flask in her hands. Taking a glass from a side-table, she poured a small quantity of the smoky fluid that the flask held. She gave it to Jessica, "Drink up... Severus said it was ok for you to take some of this. It isn't as strong as Calming draught"
Jessica looked at the glass, her lips pursed with doubt. "Are you sure about this? I don't want to harm the baby in any way."
"Perfectly! Now, drink up!" She instructed Jess with a face reminiscent of Mme Pomfrey, the Healer from the school. She swallowed the bitter liquid and waited for the effects to come into play. Closing her eyes, she felt the potion's effect creep across her body and mind. She felt more relaxed right after, a smile stretching across her face, her limbs feeling less tight.
Becca watched with a grin, "Ahh, feeling better aren't you? Now, Your friends should be up here in a few moments. They'll be helping you to get yourself ready."
Jessica closed her eyes and smiled mindlessly. She felt like she was standing on a cloud, not a care in the world.
Alice and Marilynn arrived a half hour later, bags in hand, large grins on their faces. They came to Jessica, who was still half-laying on the sofa with eyes closed, and shouted "Good morning Jessica!" Jessica opened one eye and waved dreamily to them.
"Hey there comrades! Have some tea and scones. They are quite tasty today..." Her voice trailed off, leaving her friends with confused looks on their faces.
Becca came in and greeted the two girls. "Hi there! Nice to see you this morning. Hope you slept well?"
Alice came and pulled Becca to the side. "What's wrong with Jess? She seems a little 'funny'. She nodded toward Jessica's semi-slumbering form.
Becca looked at her sister and couldn't see what was wrong. "Funny in what way?"
Marilynn got closer to them, having overheard what Alice had said. "She seems, well... like she's drunk or something."
"Jessica? You must be joking? You know she barely drinks. She just took a little Peace draught to calm her nerves." Becca was half shocked by their words.
"Have you spoken to her since she's taken it? She sounds a little off if you ask me." Alice said as she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Well... no. Not really." Becca looked at Jessica again. "I'll go talk to her, make sure she's ok. But Severus did assure me that she could take the potion without any ill effects." She was getting worried now.
Becca went and sat next to her sister, giving her a slight shove to get her attention. "Jess, are you sleeping?"
Jessica moaned lightly, then let out a small snort. She giggled then opened her eye again.
"Hey there Becca! Are you coming to the wedding too?" Her eyes closed themselves again, as if they were too heavy to keep open.
Becca jumped up in panic. "Good Lord! She does seem drunk! What in Merlin's name is happening here?" She went to fireplace and threw a pinch of floo powder inside. "Give me a second, I'll get Severus here." She stepped inside the swirling green flames and disappeared a second later.
Alice and Marilynn just looked at Jessica, wondering what had gone so wrong with a simple potion like the one she took.
Severus and Becca arrived a few moments later. He went straight to his future brides side. He took her pulse and then passed his wand over her supine form, murmuring incantations as he went along. When he was finished, he sat back on his haunches, pursing his lips. "Where is the bottle I gave you, Rebecca?"
Becca pointed to it, as it stood on the table where Jessica had left it. Marilynn went over, took the bottle and then gave it to Severus. He looked at the label, which did say 'Draught of Peace'. He uncorked it and smelled its content. He wrinkled his nose, evaluating the scents he could decipher. "Could I have a clean glass please, I need to see its color."
It was Alice's turn to go to the table and she handed a glass to him. He poured the liquid into the glass then swirled it gently to see its consistency and color. "The color is not off, as is the smell. I won't try to taste it, not knowing what it is. Maybe its just spoiled or it was mislabeled. But that couldn't be... this is part of my personal stock. I've used it myself in the past."
"Maybe we should get Mme Pomfrey down here?" Becca suggested quietly. "Maybe she could help with this?"
Severus smirked, "Might as well, she might see something that I have missed." He agreed half-heartedly. The healer would surely give him an earful now.
Becca turned immediately and took the floo network again. Alice and Marilynn looked at each other, not risking to say anything to their ex-Potions Master. They valued their lives at the moment.
Pomfrey arrived with a flourish, muttering under her breath, and went to work over the now sleeping Jessica. After 10 minutes of tense silence, she stopped and gave Severus a terse look. "Could I see what she took?"
Severus passed the bottle and the half-filled glass. She repeated the same analysis as Severus had done before. She finished and slowly shook her head. "That's what I thought. The girl is obviously over sensitive to one of the ingredients in the potion. Since she is with child, it might just be a more intense reaction." She frowned down at the girl. "Her sleepiness is her reaction to it; I'll get her the antidote for it. I do hope it works, but I make no promises."
She returned a few minutes later with a vial of blue tinged liquid. She put a few drops of it in Jessica's mouth as she whispered to her to swallow. Jessica gulped it down rather slowly as they waited to see if it would work.
Jessica's eyes fluttered open, still feeling light-headed and tired. She finally saw all the people assembled in the room, a self-conscious feeling coming over her in that very instant. Quirking a brow she asked, "Is something wrong? Did I miss something?" When they started to grin, she bristled a little. "Well? Are you all just going to stand there and grin at me for no reason?"
Becca hid her grin in the wink of an eye. "No, it's like... um." She looked at Mme Pomfrey; maybe she could explain it better.
Mme Pomfrey took her cue readily. "You had a small reaction to the potion you took before."
Jessica looked puzzled, "The potion I took?" she couldn't remember that. "I took what potion?"
Severus spoke up, "A sip of Peace draught. It didn't sit well and you got 'drunk' on it." He pushed a lock of hair behind his ear.
Jessica shook her head. "You can't be drunk on Peace draught, that's impossible! It has no alcohol in it."
Marilynn nodded in agreement, as did Alice. But Pomfrey added, "We use the term 'drunk' to describe its effect on you. You had passed out as if you were. You are probably sensitive to one of its ingredients, just more so now that you are pregnant." She turned on her heel, going to the fireplace. "If I'm not needed anymore, I'll go back to the hospital. Still have a few things to do. Good day to you all and good luck for the ceremony. " She waved a friendly hand and left the room.
"Oh no!" Jessica screamed, "The wedding! And I'm not even ready yet!" She exclaimed as she looked at the clock. Becca patted her on the arm. "Come on then, we still have plenty of time." She winked at her.
Alice and Marilynn followed them to the bedroom. As they closed the door, Severus called to them. "I'll be going then, see you later Jessica!"
He went back to his rooms, slightly irritated for some reason. They had not even bothered to look back at him, as they carried off his bride. Women were such pains when they traveled in packs. And they wondered why he had never wed before now?
He went to his bedroom, picking up the dress robes he was wearing for the ceremony. He smirked as he looked at the garment. Minerva would be proud of him, he mused. His choice had stopped itself on a strictly tailored affair, which had a slight military look to it. It was a dark green with a series of silver buttons and braided loops that closed the front, down to waist height, hugging his torso. It flared down to right below the knee. It was quite eye catching he thought. Mme Malkin had assured him it was the latest wizard style. He hadn't cared about that fact, but had liked the overall effect.
He went to shower, and then shaved his face smooth. His raven hair gleamed brightly, as he finished combing it. He had just finished preparing himself when a knock came to the door. "Enter!" He bellowed tersely as he was expecting Albus to show up.
When Albus appeared at the door of his bedroom, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses, a large smile on his face. "Ah, Severus! I see that you are ready for the big event! Not feeling nervous, are you?" He asked with a gentle voice.
"Yes Albus, i'm ready. Have you ever known me to be late for official affairs?" Severus asked testily.
"No, you are not one to be fashionably late to anything." Albus conceded. "I wanted to know if you could give me the ceremonial chain? Mme Bones would like to prepare them beforehand."
Severus nodded his head. "Let me get it." He turned away and went to the far corner of the room, into a well hidden, heavily guarded cupboard. Severus brought back the box and gave it to Albus. "I opted for a new set, didn't want to use my parents hand-me-downs." He loathed using anything his mother and father had ever used for their ceremony. Merlin knows what spells had been placed upon them.
Albus nodded to him, "As you wish, my dear boy." He placed the plain brown box in his cloak pocket. "Did you need anything else while i'm here?" As the "Guardian" for the couple during the ceremony, he had to make sure the groom lacked nothing.
Severus shook his head, "No Albus, I need nothing more than a stiff drink." He chided the old man.
Albus took his wand out and produced a glass filled with an amber liquid. He presented it to Severus, a slight grin on his face. "I cannot refuse that request. A good glass of cognac always alleviates jittery nerves."
Severus took the glass and sniffed at its content. An appreciative smirk appeared, "Nice choice Albus. You do know what I like." He sipped it slowly, feeling the drink go warmly down his gullet.
Albus went to the door, "If you need anything else, just send me Dobby. He'll know where to find me." He left quietly, only the gentle click of the door closing, troubled the silence that dominated the room.
Severus went to sit near the fireplace, continuing to drink his cognac slowly. Such a fine brew had to be taken slowly, to appreciate its refined taste.
