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Over the next few months, Freddie learned Legilimency by practicing on younger students. Most of them were unsuspecting first years but as she progressed she got willing victims in the form of her Potions students. They were glad to help her if it meant she'd help them with their homework. She became skilled at extracting specific memories or thoughts from their minds.
She continued her Potions work with Snape, of course. He continued alternating between ignoring her and being kind to her – having tea together, brewing potions together. They even had drinks a few times, staying up late into the night, talking, but those times were few and far between.
One Friday evening in early May, Freddie went down to Snape's office after dinner. He'd promised her a new potion to brew and she was excited. The last few weeks they'd been busy replenishing the stock of healing potions for the Hospital Wing. She was more than ready for something new.
She stopped by her dorm first to change clothes. The weather was warm again and the Brewing Lab was even warmer. She shed her restrictive school uniform and opted for a pair of khaki shorts and a black v-neck shirt. She left her bag, not wanting to lug it down to Snape's office.
She put on her cobra earrings and sat on the edge of her bed to braid her hair.
"Hey Freddie!" said Amelia's cheerful voice as she popped into the room. "We're gonna play Exploding Snap, wanna join us? Ooh you're braiding your hair? Can I help?"
"I have a potion to brew with Professor Snape," Freddie said as the girl walked over.
"Cool! I know how to do a french braid – can I?" she asked, sitting next to Freddie on her bed.
"Go for it," Freddie said, dropping her hands and turning her back to her so Amelia could braid her hair.
"What are you and Professor Snape working on?" Amelia asked curiously as she played with Freddie's hair.
"I'm not sure yet. We've been doing healing potions all week for Madam Pomfrey but tonight he said we're doing something new."
"How can you stand spending so much time alone with him?" Amelia asked curiously. "I know he's our Head of House and he treats us better than the others, but he's still...uh..."
"Difficult?" Freddie suggested with a smile.
"That's one word for it," she laughed.
"Yeah, I know," Freddie chuckled. "I dunno, I guess I got used to it. He's not always so sullen and moody."
"He's not?"
"Well maybe 98% of the time he is," she said and Amelia laughed. "But, I love Potions. So putting up with a grumpy git like him is worth it."
"There we go," Amelia said, finishing up the braid with a black hair tie.
"Thanks," Freddie said, getting up. She picked up Hemlock and Amelia tilted her head curiously.
"Is that a cat?" she asked.
"A kneazle," Freddie answered, showing him to her before shrinking Hemlock in her hand and stowing him in her pocket.
"Whoa! You just did that without a wand! That's amazing!"
"Yeah," she said, grinning. "See ya later, kid."
Freddie hurried from the Common Room and down the hall to Snape's office. When she reached the door she stopped and knocked.
"Enter," said his bored voice.
Freddie entered the room and greeted him with a smile.
"You're late, Miss Gray," he said, putting aside the Evening Prophet.
"I was changing clothes – the lab gets got this time of year," she explained.
His eyes lingered on her a moment, his dark eyes glittering. Finally a twisted smile curled across his lips and he picked something up off his desk and offered it to her.
Intrigued, Freddie leaned across the desk and took the parchment.
"What's this?" she asked as she unfolded it.
"A recipe," he answered.
She scanned it quickly, grinning.
"Another of yours?"
"Uh-huh," he said, still smirking.
"Thank you," she said happily and started to go into the lab.
"Wait."
"Hm?"
"Next December the Wizarding Schools Potion Championship is being held. Since you are of age, I thought you-"
"Yes!" she declared before he'd even finished. "Yes, I want to enter! I have to!"
"I'll recommend you then," he said.
"Do you think I can win?" she asked seriously. "There'll be competitors from all over the world, right?"
"Yes and yes. I believe you can. I have not spent the last several years molding you into a 'Potions Princess' for you to lose," he said and Freddie flushed with pride. "Besides...I have something that practically guarantees your victory."
"Oh yeah?"
He studied her silently a moment, then pushed his chair back from his desk slightly. He picked up his wand and performed a silent spell which unlocked the bottom drawer of his desk. Curious, Freddie tried to peer inside. There were several books but she couldn't see the titles as he quickly grabbed one and shut the drawer. She heard the lock click automatically.
"What's this?" she asked, taking the book as he handed it to her. "...Zygmunt Budge's Book of Potions."
"Not just any copy. This is an original 16th century copy of Budge's Book of Potions that contains the spirit of Zygmunt Budge. Open it."
Freddie opened the book to the title page. It was blank, other than the printed title. Then, all of a sudden, words appeared as if an invisible hand were writing them.
Good evening, young potioneer. How fortunate you are to have come across this piece of literature. You, young potioneer, hold in your hands my masterpiece. With it, my place in history is assured.
This potion book will teach you the composition of particularly potent and complex potions. With this textbook, with my mind guiding you along each page, you can accomplish even the most impossible of brews, assuming you are not a complete idiot. Good luck and let us begin...
"Whoa," Freddie said as the words disappeared. "Where'd you get this?"
"I may tell you someday, if you are lucky," he said, taking the book from her and closing it. "You can look at this later. You have a potion to brew."
"Saxum Brew," she said, looking at the parchment he'd given her. "It turns the drinker to stone?"
"Very good, Miss Gray," he praised. "You have been practicing your Latin."
"Yes sir," she said with a grin.
"Go. Brew it."
"Yes sir," she repeated and headed into the lab to get started.