Fifty-Seven
An Ounce of Prevention
Most of the time, Viorica loved to come to the lab on Saturdays. But today she stepped in warily, wondering what was in store for her.
Along the back wall near the windows were four large cauldrons. Three of them had charmed spoons stirring them, while Professor Lupin stirred the other. Nearby stood Professor Weasley, chatting with him, while closer to the front, a pair of busy dictation quills were copying alchemist notation that was written on the chalkboard and inside an old notebook.
"Good morning," Viorica said, trying to sound braver than she felt.
"She's in there," Remus said, pointing her to the open office door. Raising up her chin, Viorica marched in.
Inside the office, Professor Ravenclaw was attending the cauldrons surrounding the lab table, chatting with Professor Craw. Craw was standing next to the lab table with a short red cloak in one hand, and her other leaning on Disparte's full picnic basket.
"Good morning," Viorica repeated.
"Oh, there you are! Sorry, Ick," Jennifer said.
"Have fun," Ick said with an enigmatic smile.
"Viorica, you stand in front of the mirror, just there," Jennifer told her.
"This entire room is full of mirrors," Viorica pointed out.
Jennifer positioned her in front of the full-length mirror. Then she took the red cloak and put it down on the girl's shoulders, pulling up the hood. That was when Viorica began to realize just how much trouble she was in.
"What a cute riding hood, Jennifer! She looks quite adorable in it!" Icarus commented with sadistic delight.
"Wait, I can't look cute and adorable! I'm a Slytherin!" Viorica protested in horror, knowing what her housemates reaction would be if she was caught wearing it. But when she tried to push the hood off, it was to no avail; no matter how much she pulled the hood or the cloak, it was not coming off.
"Now, stop fussing with it! I'd behave, if I were you. I do have the right of scheduling a third detention if you're not satisfactory in serving mine, and since the headmaster already offered to take that one should it be needed, I wouldn't risk it," Jennifer warned her, handing her the picnic basket. "Come along! I'll explain what you're going to do next on the way," she said cheerfully, leading her out the door. Cringing at walking down the halls in such garb and terrified to who was going to see it, Viorica reluctantly followed behind her.
"So... while my husband was convalescing in the hospital wing after being mauled by a werewolf so badly that it left him within an inch of his life, he told me a rather funny story about his dear friend Bael, whom you may recall is from the Otherworld," Jennifer said, walking her down the hall.
"You see, knowing that he was likely to be bored having to lie their all that time, his sister decided to drop off a large collection of classic literature, which my husband happens to be fond of. Among them were several books that Severus had read to her as a child... including Alice Through the Looking Glass, and a leather bound collection of fairy tales," Jennifer continued. Viorica was still worriedly assessing the route they were taking, growing concerned that they might have been heading towards Danyelle's office. "Of course, it was the book of fairy tales that piqued Bael's interest, thinking that the title meant the stories were all about fairies. Instead, he found himself exposed to classic children's literature, which my husband had to explain to him in great detail," Jennifer went on. No doubt about it. They were headed to the Quidditch wing.
"So after they read a few stories into the book, they naturally got to the story of Little Red Riding Hood and her foolish naivete that caused her to get into quite a predicament with that wolf," Jennifer continued, walking her towards the Quidditch gates. "Well, when Bael read the title, he wanted to know what a riding hood was, exactly, because Danaan Fae don't typically use mounts in the Otherworld; they treat all creatures equally. So Severus, of course, explained it to him. Then after he read the story very intently, Bael asked a funny question... funny enough for Severus to decide to recount it to me, despite the fact that it's the most obvious question in the entire story. Can you guess what that question was?" Jennifer asked, her voice sounding dangerous under its cheerful tone.
"If she was dressed for riding, why did she walk?" Viorica asked meekly.
"Precisely," Jennifer said, opening the gate. Viorica was painfully aware that the rest of the Auror Club was lined up for attendance on the Pitch. "And do you happen to know the answer to that question?"
"Um... well... being a fairy tale, it was probably translated from an earlier work," Viorica stammered, being nudged towards the steps. "It's a misinterpretation of the story."
"Exactly," Jennifer said, her smile growing cold. "It was a misinterpretation of the story... which is exactly what you did when you made your own conclusions about the fight between Disparte and his son, which frankly was none of your business in the first place. So you, Little Red Riding Hood, are going to take a walk with me through the Quidditch Pitch and then across the football pitch, and then and only then will I allow you to carry that basket over to the Muggle Farm, where you deliver it to the faculty members who will be in charge of the second half of your detention today."
"But football practice is going on! Wait, the Auror Club is out there!" Viorica protested as Jennifer firmly took her arm and led her down. "Do you realize just how many people will see me? I'll be roasted when I get back to the common room! I thought you liked me!"
"My dear Viorica, this is not about you," Jennifer said sweetly, stopping at the edge of the stands. "This is about them," she explained, gesturing to the other students on the Pitch. "I want as many students as possible to see you. I want what happens here to spread through the school like wildfire, because the moment the other students find out about it, they will do everything in their power not to be put in your position. They will see at once that I do not take kindly to my husband being put in needless danger because of a student's stupidity, and they will also immediately realize that I am the last professor in this school that anyone wants to piss off!" Jennifer snapped, firmly nudging her forward and making her start her walk across the Pitch.
Aurelius, who had just finished roll call and was about to start the club on basic Apparation maneuvers, decided for safety's sake to wait until after the procession, allowing the entire club to gawk and snigger as Viorica walked across the Pitch in her hood and with her basket. Professor Craw was standing right behind her with a fierce expression on her face, watching just in case the girl got even a toe out of line.
"Looks like the students are getting a first hand look at who the scariest professor in the school is today," Ginger murmured beside Aurelius.
"It's just as well," Aurelius quietly replied as he watched the glum expression on Viorica's face. "Especially for her sake." Ginger couldn't help but chuckle.
"She's going to fit straight in with this family, isn't she?" Ginger asked softly, grinning.
"Most definitely," Aurelius agreed. Then Aurelius glanced up in one of the boxes where Severus and Bael were sitting.
Severus had insisted that they both have a bag of roasted nuts as they sat there, watching Viorica with as much interest as if there had been an actual Quidditch game going on.
"I can't believe that Lady Jennifer came up with something this dastardly," Bael protested.
"You've met her father, haven't you? I've seen him do much worse," Severus replied.
"Perhaps, but considering the conversations we've had about this particular story, I can't help but wonder if you might have intentionally planted this idea into her head," Bael said accusingly.
"I suppose it's possible," Severus said noncommittally, watching until they stepped behind the stands. "Would you like to go watch football practice?"
Viorica was quite relieved when they finally reached the Muggle Farm, and might have wanted to sit down on the steps for a moment had Professor Craw not stepped past her and opened the porch door, gesturing for her to go in.
Sitting at the table sat four people playing cards. A cheer went up at their arrival, making room on the table for Viorica to put the basket. It was then that Jennifer finally plucked the hood off Viorica's head and folded up the cloak, and Viorica allowed herself a sigh of relief.
"I see our lunch has finally arrived," Ivano commented. "And who do we have here?"
"It looks like it's the girl who nearly got my brother killed," Anna observed.
"And nearly turned my niece into a werewolf," John Carnegie added.
"And almost led to the death of my best friend," Sirius put in.
"Not to mention my son," Ivano finished.
Viorica tried to back up, but Jennifer was right behind her.
"I was thinking that for the remainder of her detention that you four might have some ideas on her restitution," Jennifer suggested.
"Well, I for one noticed that the vault we put in for Remus could use a good cleanin'... and the area just outside of it too, if you don't mind," John said.
"We had the end of several rows of vegetables completely upended... I think someone needs to replant them," Anna said.
"That's not as bad as the area right next to those fields," Ivano added. "The ground is broken and scorched, and there's blood everywhere. Fortunately, I happen to know of a girl with a good head when it comes to blood."
"I also noticed there was damage done to the emergency tunnel next to those fields. I could use a pair of strong hands to help me in there," Sirius suggested.
"That sounds quite fair to me," Jennifer decided. "I need to get back to assisting Professor Ravenclaw, so I'll leave her in your capable hands. Considering the charges, I think it's safe to say that she knows it'd be unwise to cross any one of you at the moment. Isn't that right, Viorica?"
"Yes, Professor," Viorica said with a somber nod.
"Have a good day! Enjoy your lunch, all!" Jennifer added cheerfully. She stepped back outside with a smile, walking leisurely towards the tracks. "Detention is so therapeutic!" Jennifer said to herself, ready to get back to work again.
Severus woke up that Monday bright and early as he always did, getting in a half an hour of work before Quintin awoke and he had to pause to get him ready. He had just finished helping Quintin with his mismatched buttons and was about to take him downstairs when Armando spoke.
"Severus, Maurice Craw has just arrived at the gate and has started making his way across the grounds," Armando informed him.
"Oh. Alone?" Severus asked.
"I believe Minister Craw dropped him off, but left at the gate."
"I had better go see to that, then. I have little doubt that Maurice probably just had one of the toughest weeks of his life," Severus said. "Come along, Quintin, let's go see Ashley."
Quintin ran to the Doorlift, waiting impatiently until his father caught up and led him in.
Not long after Maurice got inside the castle, he stopped and leaned against a pillar with his eyes closed, relieved to just be inside. He listened to the echo of footsteps in the halls and the stairs grinding in the distance. He listened to the comments of students trying to coax each other to breakfast and a pair of first years complaining about early morning doubles.
"Maurice?" he heard Severus say quietly.
Maurice looked up, immediately straightening his shoulders and fixing his posture. He was suddenly aware that he was still wearing his black mourning robes, having completely forgotten to change back into his school uniform.
"Good morning, Severus," Maurice said. "I'm back."
"So I see. Where were you heading? I'd like to escort you. It'll prevent other students from troubling you," Severus suggested. Maurice was certain there was more to it than that, but began to consider where it was he could go first to make being back in the castle seem more real.
"The library," Maurice decided at last. "I need to check the aid schedule and make sure Boulderdash knows I'm back now."
"Very well," Severus said, letting Maurice set the pace as they walked down the corridor. "Do you have an early class?"
"Not really. Items second bell," Maurice said.
"If you need more time to get resettled, let me know, and I'll write you a pass," Severus offered.
"No, thanks. I really want to get back to class," Maurice said fervently. "In fact, I would very much like to not have to do anything adult for the entire two and a half months I have left. I'd just like to be a student. Just for a little while longer."
"I understand," Severus said quietly. "Then I suppose I should get you caught up to what you missed. The House is in third place, thanks to Viorica's losing 100. I don't expect that Gryffindor will manage to stay in first with Hope and Charles working against it, but you need to keep your eye on Ravenclaw. I suppose the Quidditch Cup is still possible if you can take out Hufflepuff, but no one is likely to stop Ravenclaw winning the football cup this year... second place might be obtainable if you take out Gryffindor. You'll be happy to know that your absence in the sparring tournament didn't matter so you'll still probably take that title; Jennifer canceled last week's round due to reorganizing their research. Speaking of which, nearly half the faculty, the majority of the Order of the Owls, and all of the potion majors are involved in Jennifer's new research project in some way, so don't be surprised if you get swept up in it as well. Also, don't forget NEWT exams are starting, so when you turn in your homework from last week, make sure your professors remember to hand you your reviews. There, I think I've covered all of the major points."
"Thanks, it all sounds wonderfully uncomplicated," Maurice replied with a sigh. He glanced in the side door of the Great Hall, catching just a corner of the Slytherin table. "I hope Garvan is having breakfast in the Owl Room. I really ought to warn him about how our fathers are ganging up to try and change our wedding plans."
"I thought you didn't want to talk about adult matters?" Severus reminded him.
"I don't," Maurice agreed. "That's why I want to get it over with. We were planning to have two different ceremonies on back to back Saturdays, but our parents decided we'd be better off combining them for security reasons. They think it's a lot less likely for anything to go wrong if Garvan and Peter are there."
"Make certain to invite Steward Aldus as well. I doubt Thomas would object," Severus advised. "How are Elizabeth and Michael?"
"Devastated," Maurice sighed. "They lost their entire family in less than a year, although Father is doing everything he can to help them. You know how ever since we started dating, he's been a second father to Beth. Lately, he's been mentoring Mike as well. He was the one that managed to talk Mike out of going on a rampage, actually. Right now, Mike is helping in the LE department as an assistant until Father and Harry decide he's ready for work as an Auror again."
"Yes, Thomas mentioned something like that in his last letter," Severus admitted. "But I think your first instinct coming into the building was the correct one, Maurice."
"What instinct?" Maurice sighed.
"Put those concerns on hold for now. Take advantage of these last few months and allow yourself the mental break. Concentrate on your studies and solidifying your legacy as Slytherin Prefect and Head Boy. Who are you training for next year's prefect, anyway?" Severus asked.
"Oh... I haven't even thought about that yet..." Severus stopped dead in his tracks and stared at him.
"You should have had an idea on who you wanted to take over by Halloween so you could take advantage of the candidates! Really, Maurice, I know you've been having a long year, but you should know how Slytherin works by now."
"You're right. I'd better figure that out and quick," Maurice realized. Severus stopped at the door of the library and folded his arms disapprovingly.
"I want at least two names on my desk before dinner. Four would be better," Severus told him sternly. "And I expect you to be in Danyelle's office with those names at some point tomorrow."
"Okay, okay, I'll take care of it," Maurice said, going in the library. Severus watched him from the doorway. Perhaps it's just as well, Severus thought, shaking his head. At least he was sure that Maurice would have his mind back on school business now.
From the moment Maurice came in for Items, he saw a startling change in the Potion Lab. Several Cauldrons bubbled in the back despite the fact they weren't needed for items at all, and every single cage had a different specimen in it, each carefully labeled.
"Welcome back," Cain said as he slid into place next to him on the back row.
"What the hell is going on in here?" Maurice asked.
"Lycanthropy research," Cain explained quietly. Maurice gaped at him.
"All of it?" Maurice asked.
"Yeah, since you left, your sister all the sudden went for overkill. It's been like this for days now," Cain explained. Maurice remembered now that Severus briefly said something about her research, and realized his warning had been much too brief. Diana, who had gotten up to get her items project, had heard their conversation on the way past.
"You have a lot of catching up to do," Diana warned him.
"You're right," Maurice realized, turning his attention to his sister the moment she stepped into the room. She barely even acknowledged Sagittari, who had clopped over to check on all of the cages, making notes on a parchment in his hand. She behaved like he did it all the time, but Maurice couldn't remember ever seeing Sagittari in there before.
"Maurice! Welcome back!" Jennifer said brightly. "Are you going to be helping me with student labs again? Because I could really use the help."
"Of course I am," Maurice reassured her.
"Lovely! You can see me at lunch then to discuss changes in my schedule!" Jennifer said cheerfully. "Anyone stuck on any projects? How about up front?"
"You've done it now, you know," Cain murmured to Maurice. "There's no getting out of that rabbit hole."
"So be it. My sister comes first," Maurice said, then turned to see what kind of progress Cain had been making with the compass.
By the end of lunch, Maurice realized that Cain's warning had been well-placed, and he knew that his time was going to be at a premium. Making a quick decision, both Keir Box and Apollo Grey found themselves quite suddenly on Maurice's personal duty roster, sending Box to the library and Grey to Conspiracies with long lists in hand.
When the weekend rolled around, it seemed that the Potion Lab was even busier than it was during classes, with more random appearances from various professors, as well as Ginger Snape. Ginger was helping to organize a series of Petri dishes for Viorica, who was scanning them in the magical telescope. Viorica began calling out numbers and letters in some code that Ginger seemed to understand, making notes of each one on her sheet.
Halfway through open lab, Severus walked in and scanned each wall before going into the office. Then he came back out and scanned each wall again. He focused in on the wall behind the desks, then walked out of the room.
By the time Maurice reported to lab the next day, there was a door on that wall, and the painting of Nurse Hazel from the hospital wing was guarding it. Every time a professor went in or out of it, they were bathed in a shimmer of light. The only two people besides professors who ever seemed to go in or out were Ginger and Viorica, both wearing matching lab coats (in fact, the lab coat was so long on Viorica that Maurice was quite sure it was one of Ginger's old ones). Maurice found times when he had to supervise the open lab students by himself. At other times his sister handed him lists of components that he and his errand boys had to run through the tunnel to Corey's, waiting for them to refilled before running back.
It had been so busy in the lab that the full moon was on them again almost before they knew it. After a short discussion, it was decided that it would be safer for the first trial dose be given in the examination room in Sagittari's hut, just in case anything went wrong.
While Sagittari stood on standby with potions for reactions, poisoning, and even triggered wolf-form, Remus drank down the potion. Ivano and Jennifer stared so intently at him that he wondered which of them was going to blink first. Sagittari helpfully counted off every five minutes, but after a half an hour past, Ivano and Jennifer began to relax.
"No sign of any reactions yet," Ivano noted.
"If it was going to trigger wolf form, it would have done it a long time ago," Jennifer added. "I'm afraid we're going to need another blood sample, Remus, to check the rest of the effects."
"So what else is new?" Remus said with a thin smile. "I must say, Jennifer, the new potion doesn't taste any better."
"I'm sure not, but if this works, and you will only have to take it once a month," Jennifer reminded him.
"Yes, I know. I'll deal," Remus said with a smile, glad when he could return to the Muggle Farm for the duration of the experiment.
Laura Lupin had been too busy teaching Defense to have time to worry about her father. But as terrible as she was at teaching Potions, she found that she was much more comfortable in Defense, using her experience with the Auror Club to set the tone and drawing on her experiences as an Auror any time she needed to transition into a serious subject. It wasn't until the full moon was about to rise before she finally began to worry about her father. She Owled Lindsay to let her know that she planned to stay at the castle for the rest of the week.
Jennifer and Ivano took turns downing Wakeful Doses so they could monitor all three nights, while Janus Craw kept a gargoyle outside the farmhouse just in case there was a problem and they needed backup. Severus also found himself losing sleep, often nodding off in his chair and waking up just to climb to his observatory to make sure everything was quiet.
At seven in the morning, Severus awoke from his chair to Jennifer coming in with a loud yawn.
"Don't worry about Quintin, he went downstairs on his own," she informed him. "The potion seems to have held. I'm going to bed now."
"Wait, don't you have an earlier class today?" Severus said, glancing at the calendar.
"It's all right, Severus, I found a sub," she said and collapsed on the bed.
He was only mildly surprised to see Icarus in front of the class, and was even less surprised to find that Essie had taken over his class again.
Maurice was sitting in his seventh-year Potions listening to Professor Ravenclaw teaching them some of the finer points of Alchemist Notation when he noticed a flash out of the corner of his eye. Viorica Eddy burst in from the other room.
"Why, Viorica Eddy! What are you still doing in there?" Icarus scolded her, looking at the time. "Don't you have Divination this hour?"
"Yes, Professor Ravenclaw, but you told me last week in class that I was going to miss this week's class anyway," Viorica explained quickly. "You even took off points in advance! I'll make up for it," she added when she saw Maurice squinting at her.
"Oh yes, I do remember that now..." Ravenclaw said thoughtfully.
"Never mind that! I think one of my samples just got the response we've been looking for!" Viorica said impatiently.
"Everyone finish that notation on the board and start on your reading assignment. I'll be right back," Icarus said, his expression rather dubious as he went into the other room.
"What is back there, anyway?" Garvan whispered next to him.
"Jennifer says it's some sort of dust-free room. Apparently the Potion Vault wasn't big enough for all the samples," Maurice explained. "So they had to make a second one."
"Just how many samples are in there, anyway?" Garvan wondered, and happened to be watching just as Icarus came out. There was a flash as Viorica followed, looking quite excited.
"Class dismissed, do your reading. Maurice, wake up your sister and get her and the headmaster down here," Icarus ordered. Maurice jumped up and ran to the Doorlift, while Icarus put a sign on the door canceling classes for the day.
By the time Jennifer arrived, Icarus, Viorica, and Sagittari had already checked duplicate samples. By the time that Ivano, Remus, and John arrived, they had begun testing it on some of the lab animals.
"I hope you brought all those saliva samples, Ivano, they'll probably come in handy," Jennifer said, snatching the alchemist notation that Icarus had floated over to her.
"Can I do anything?" Hermione asked, standing in the doorway.
"I'd like more eyes on this, Hermione. Contact Corey, Dumbledore, Ginger, Ashley, and get Eric Dalance here sometime today as well. I'd rather he hear about what we've been up to first hand," Severus told Hermione.
"I'm on it," Hermione said, hurrying back out.
"You haven't told the board yet, Severus?" Jennifer teased knowingly.
"Some of it," Severus said defensively. "Just not particularly all of it."
"Well, while you're doing that, I'm going to make more of this stuff so we can start running more tests," Jennifer said, going over to Sagittari. Ivano followed her, listening to the conversation before the two of them ran off to her office.
"Oh dear, I suppose we had better get more organized if we're expecting more of a crowd. This room was meant for instruction, not this sort of mass research," Icarus observed.
"Yes, I was thinking the exact same thing," Severus said, the two of them working together to try to get the situation in order.
Fortunately, by the time Eric Dalance arrived that evening, everything had been neatly organized into stations. He couldn't help but stare wide-eyed at Corey, Dumbledore, and Ashley standing over racks of test phials, consulting each other as they made observations about the results. Next to the cages stood Doctor Sagittari and Severus, while Ginger and a young Slytherin girl were busy looking at samples through charmed microscopes. Just then, the door to the office opened and Jennifer came in with a tray of potions, followed by Ivano with another, although Eric couldn't help but think from the look in his eye that Ivano might have been tempted to follow Jennifer with or without the tray.
"Good evening, Eric. Do you mind coming out of the doorway?" Remus said behind him, and Eric took a step back and looked around in surprise to see both Remus and Laura. "I wanted to show my daughter our progress."
"Sorry, I was just taken aback. I have never seen so many renowned alchemists in one potion lab before," Eric admitted.
"And here comes another," Remus pointed out as Icarus floated in from the dust-free room. He was on his way to speak to Jennifer, who had stopped by the table with the test phials to talk to Corey. Eric blinked.
"Ravenclaw is helping as well?" Eric asked with a frown, walking further into the room. It was Albus who noticed him first, smiling warmly at him.
"Why, hello, Eric," Albus greeted, and everyone looked around.
"Oh, good! There's Remus! I need one more blood sample!" Jennifer said enthusiastically, walking over. "Oh, hi, Eric," she added.
"Jennifer, have some mercy," Remus pleaded with a chuckle.
"I just need a small one, Remus, to make sure the new potion is out of your system when it's supposed to be," Jennifer explained. "Eric, you'll be happy to know that our preliminary test for the new therapy potion worked as expected."
"I'm glad to hear it, although that does make me wonder what the rest of this is about," Eric admitted. "Because this is quite a meeting of the minds that you have going here."
"Sometimes that's what it takes," Jennifer decided.
"Severus? A less vague answer, if you don't mind?" Eric suggested.
"Perhaps you might like to take a look at their work?" Severus suggested, glancing over at the two charmed microscopes. "I don't suppose you have a sample ready, Viorica?"
"Yes Professor," Viorica said, stepping back with a smile.
"So you're Viorica Eddy. I've heard of you," Eric admitted, then stepped over to peer inside. "And just what am I looking at?"
"Do you see that shimmer against the blood on the magic setting?" Severus asked.
"Yes... very faint," Eric agreed.
"Keep watching," Severus said, taking an eyedropper of a liquid and dropping it into the dish.
"Well, whatever magic you added just dissipated into nothing," Eric said. "It had no affect on the blood at all."
"Correct," Severus agreed. "That's rather the point." Eric looked up.
"We're creating a vaccine," Jennifer smiled. "We've been working on it for about a month now."
"You did this in a month?" Eric asked flatly.
"Well, actually, all of the work that we've done since the first of the year was the foundation of it, as well as a bit of ancient wisdom that put us on the right track," Jennifer explained glancing at Icarus and back. "Just about everyone has been pitching in as much as they can, and to be honest, everyone involved has been pretty determined and has put in a lot of hard work. So much so that we're just about ready to test it on wizards and witches now. I've just been waiting for all of our consultants to say it's safe enough."
"I believe it is safe enough," Albus Dumbledore decided.
"Just the normal precautions are needed... it's not even that toxic," Corey added. "It's countering the regeneration part of the disease instead of the shape-changing... quite brilliant, actually."
"Yes, I agree. You know, it's funny, but I see a lot of my grandfather's notation in this formula," Ashley commented.
"That is because there is, Ashley," Icarus admitted.
Severus pulled out the bound notes, handing it to her. She smiled warmly.
"These are the notes you got back from Rummert," she realized.
"And you sold back to me; and as you can plainly see, his influence is a part of this formula just as much as every other alchemist in this room," Severus said.
"I'm sure he would have loved that," Ashley said, tearing up. Albus put an arm around her.
"He certainly would have, no doubt about it," Albus agreed.
"I have the emergency potions prepared, Jennifer," Sagittari informed her. "We are set up to have someone take a dose. Who shall volunteer to test the vaccine first?"
Jennifer immediately looked behind Eric. Severus and Sagittari were doing the same. That was when Eric turned to see Remus standing there with an intense expression on his face as he held Laura's arm in the air with a firm, unshakable grasp. Laura glanced at her father, uncomfortable, but also not willing to try and pull away.
"Looks like a volunteer to me," Corey decided.
"I can think of no one better," Albus agreed.
"Just... tell me what I need to do," Laura said resignedly, her father finally letting her go.
"Sit on the stool just there, so you're at Sagittari's height," Jennifer instructed. "You'll simply have to drink the potion, then we'll watch for any signs of rejection as a safety precaution, and then we'll need to take a blood sample. The blood sample will tell us if it worked or not."
"As long as I don't have to get bit again," Laura chuckled nervously, sitting down and very aware of how many eyes were on her.
"No, but we'll probably have to do followup screenings once a month for the next year or so to make certain the potion stays consistent over time," Icarus explained. "But I really don't think it will fade, Laura, it's merely precautionary."
"That will be easy enough to do here at the castle, if she plans to stay on next year," Severus hinted.
"I'll stay as long as you let me," Laura said earnestly. "I love it here!"
"Severus, it sounds like if you play your cards right, you won't have to worry about needing another Defense teacher for many years to come," Albus noted with a twinkle in his eye.
"Yes, that is the entire point," Severus replied curtly. "Jennifer, if you'll do the honors?"
Icarus handed Jennifer one of the potion bottles, and she smiled at him before turning to Laura and handing it to her.
"You need to drink the whole bottle," Jennifer instructed her. Laura drank it down, and Severus kept track of the time, sounding off every five minutes.
"It can't be all that bad. She didn't gag on it," Ginger teased.
"I've had worse," Laura admitted.
"Feel anything?" Jennifer asked.
"Just a tingle," Laura said.
"Then let me know when it fades," Jennifer said.
Laura didn't like all of this attention. Nobody seemed to want to do anything but watch her and listen to the count. The only one in the room who wasn't looking at her was her father, who seemed to be looking out one of the windows on the opposite side of the room. At fifteen minutes, she nodded at Jennifer, letting her know it faded. So Jennifer got up and nodded once to Ginger and once to Sagittari. The moment the half an hour expired, Sagittari had a needle in the arm. Nobody seemed interested in talking as a slide and dish was prepared and put under the microscopes, while Corey jumped in to do the standard test phials at his table.
"It's ready, Jennifer," Ginger said with a smile.
"Mine too," Viorica agreed.
Jennifer walked over, carefully looking through both of them before taking an eyedropper of saliva to one mixture and a drop of werewolf blood on the other, watching as the tainted magic dissipated the moment it hit each sample.
"Consistent with previous test results," Corey reported from behind her after checking the phials.
"The same," Jennifer reported with a glowing smile. "Her blood is showing signs of immunity."
Sounds of cheers and relief went up all around... all except for Remus, who leaned against the nearest wall and then slowly slid down it. He put his hand on his head but couldn't stop the tears from descending his face. Finally he gave up and crossed his arms over his knees to shield himself from the pinned up emotion that began coming out at once.
"Dad?" Laura began, but Jennifer pushed her back down again.
"Don't mind him, he's just happy," Jennifer explained, everyone giving him plenty of space until Albus finally pulled him out of it.