Hidden Tales From The Chamber of Secrets - 86 - Timing
by Polydicta
We learn, in the books, that when making potions, timing is everything. It is reasonable to suggest that the same goes for rituals.
Disclaimer:
All fiction is derivative and fan fiction doubly so. I make no claim to own any part of any of the following, all I have done is an attempt to put together the elements in a novel fashion, using words and ideas like Lego ™ bricks.
There is no money involved – all I do is to share what I do for my own amusement.
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Hidden Tales From The Chamber of Secrets - 86 - Timing
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Colin Creevy had introduced the Gryffindors to a muggle game, Dungeons and Dragons. This had produced an unexpected result - the students were trying to reproduce some of the spells and effects found in the books.
The first success was a potion version of the Stoneskin spell. The book had this to say:
Stoneskin
Abjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V S M (Diamond dust worth 100 gp, which the spell consumes)
Duration: Up to 1 hour
Classes: Druid, Paladin, Ranger, Sorcerer, Wizard
This spell turns the flesh of a willing creature you touch as hard as stone. Until the spell ends, the target has resistance to nonmagical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
Well, diamond dust didn't feature into the potion, indeed, it was made entirely with common potions ingredients and lasted about four hours. The Weasley twins were crowing about the stuff they had developed, and how it would reduce the number of Quidditch injuries through bludger damage.
It was when Harry got back from the Quiddich pitch after finding out what the third task of the Triwizard Tournament was to be that he decided that he needed that potion in his life. At least during the third task. The fact that his skin would be greyer than usual was not an issue.
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At the three and a half hour mark, Harry took his second dose of Liquid Stoneskin. A few minutes later, he was taking the cup to win the tournament.
As he slammed into the ground in a darkened graveyard, he was grateful to the twins for their help, and he would mention that the potion also helped with falling injuries. Then the world went dark as he was stunned.
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Harry regained consciousness in time to be taunted by a deformed baby thingummy named Voldemort, and his role in the proceedings was explained.
Voldemort was dropped into the potion in the stone cauldron and, despite Harry's exhortations that the thing should drown, Wormtain proceded with the ritual.
"Bone of the father, unknowingly taken, you will renew your son ..."
The bone dust settled into the cauldron, and it turned a sickly yellow.
"Flesh of the servant, willingly sacrificed, you will revive your master ..."
Wormtail's hand dropped into the cauldron and the potion shone with a malevolent, red glow.
Wormtail approached Harry.
"Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe."
CLINK!
Wormtail's knife hit Harry's stone-hard skin. Wormtail tried again, with more power behind the knife.
"Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe."
CLACK!
The result was the same, though louder.
"Third time's the charm. Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe."
CRACK! . . . TING!
Wormtail had broken his knife on Harry's skin, and while this was going on, Voldemort's potion was continuing to boil. The malevolent red has graduated to angry red with extra sparks and flares.
Wormtail was desperate. He tried again, but this time using his wand and a cutting curse.
"Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe. Diff..."
SPLOOM!
A wet-sounding explosion caused the cauldron to disintegrate into stone shrapnel, the liquid residue put out the fire, and a large lump of cauldron hit Wormtail in the back of the head - interrupting his curse and his consciousness. As The Rat lost consciousness, his conjured bindings on Harry failed.
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Harry arrived back at Hogwarts with Wormtail in tow.
The rest, as they say, is history.
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