Chapter 13: Potions' Effects
"Arrogant, thieving tossers!" muttered Snape at breakfast, not quite under his breath .
"What was that, Severus, I didn't quite catch it," asked Minerva, sweetly.
"I said, one of the delightful, little cherubs has stolen some potions from the store room. Albus, I've been saying for years it's too much of a temptation."
"And that's why we made it key-lockable, not just charm locked, and only you and Argus have keys," said Albus, reasonably, "You are sure..." One look at Severus' face told him he was sure.
"And it's likely one of mine too," growled Snape.
"What makes you think that?" asked Filius, "While I'm glad you don't think it's one of my students, how do you know it's one of yours?"
"This sort of thing is usually them. They know where the stuff is, they know me, and they probably know where I keep the key. I must move it again. I'm running out of places."
"I hate to ask, but..." said Minerva.
"It wasn't the twins. They're not that stupid. At least not any more. Ask them about the Gillyweed incident sometime. Anyway, they have their own means to get ingredients and potions, they don't pilfer mine."
Minerva looked relieved, and gratified that Severus hadn't accused them first.
"What are you going to do?" asked Filius.
"I've not had a contraband search of the dorms for a while. Albus, expect some visitors to your office in the near future, there are always some idiots."
"You know that just annoys them, don't you?" asked Minerva.
"Yes, but I'd rather they were mad at me than they get testy with each other. Sometimes Slytherin gets a bit like a powder keg - too much pureblood, political wrangling in a confined space."
"I'll expect some visitors, then," agreed Albus.
Snape's contraband search didn't turn up any potions. It did find three bottles of firewhiskey, one cursed artefact being 'looked after' on behalf of their family, and a stash of porn. Only two students made a trip up to Dumbledore's office.
Severus' house were in a sulk at him all that evening, and he was still angry over the theft of his potions. One student arrived back into the common room five minutes after curfew.
He escorted her to his office and when she returned she was in tears from his words and found a soft cushion to sit on.
Next morning, Snape was just as annoyed in class. The tiniest of infractions brought censure and detentions rather than the usual snarky comments. Even his N.E.W.T students tiptoed on egg shells.
On the third day after the theft, Filius turned up at his office door, the purpose of his visit two-fold. Severus invited him in. Filius rarely visited Severus. Their professional relationship was cordial, and had grown over the years. They mutually respected each other, they just didn't have much in common.
"Severus," said Filius, sitting down in an armchair, "I know the students have stolen from the potions store, and I know you take this as a personal affront. You are diligent with student safety." There was a pause where Filius didn't add 'now'. Severus' own first year teaching embarrassed him in hindsight. "But I think you need to let this one go. Yes, we'll all keep an eye out for the vials, but I think either they've been stashed somewhere where we'll never find them, or they've been used, or even sent off the premises."
Severus just looked stony.
"My house aren't easily offended or upset, but I've overheard a number of comments about Potions classes this week. I'm not about to tell you you're being unreasonable..." Filius left that sentence hanging for 'but you are'. "Think about it, Severus."
Severus slightly moved his head in what could have been yes, no, or anything in between. There was a long pause.
"There's something else I wanted to talk to you about." Severus noticed that Filius had become uneasy. Severus paid closer attention, "Have you noticed any difference in me recently?"
"No, why?" asked Severus, both surprised and curious.
"Do you think I'm getting too old to teach?"
"You aren't the oldest member of staff here by a long shot," said Severus, "What's this about?"
"I don't think I'm on my game at the moment, that's all. I know we've been tired all term, Black, the Dementors, Umbridge, making sure Lupin is fine every month, but apart from being permanently trashed, I'm beginning to forget things. Things like where I've left things, or which class is next."
"That's the end of the year talking!" said Severus, "It's been the longest term of the year, a lot has happened, and in four weeks time it's the end of term. Get away from the place. You often stay here over the break. Go somewhere else. Go find some sunshine, Merlin knows Scotland in winter is enough to make anyone a nutjob."
"Maybe that's it. I asked Poppy to give me a scan, but she couldn't find anything wrong with me, I just wondered if I was obviously losing it. I don't want to go down in Hogwarts' history as a Lockhart!"
"Believe me, that you would never do!" said Severus with conviction, "The way you're talking, anyone would think you're Albus's age and doolally. At this rate we'll start thinking you've taken the Befuddlement draught yourself, or better yet some of the Essence of Insanity!"
"I'm not there yet," said Filius, nodding thanks for the pep talk, as he got up to leave, "Thank you Severus, please think about what I said about letting that go."
Next morning there were ten more points in the Slytherin hourglass and Henrietta, the girl who'd been five minutes late at curfew, looked a lot happier for having received an apology from her head of house.
It was the last week of November. There was a certain amount of counting down to the holidays, even though exams were in a fortnight's time. Monday 29th November was a full moon. But that wasn't the main problem.
Hagrid was teaching Hippogriffs. After Umbridge started working at Hogwarts, Dumbledore had sensibly decided that Hagrid teaching alone would be a really bad idea. He hired Professor Grubbly Plank to teach OWL upwards, and to supervise Hagrid for lower school classes. She checked what he was going to teach in advance, and occasionally observed his lessons. That weekend, Grubbly Plank had been ill, but had trusted Hagrid not to do anything rash in his lessons in the upcoming week.
It wasn't a complete surprise in hindsight, that Hagrid had brought a Hippogriff to a lesson. It wasn't exactly out of character for him. So that was what Professor McGonagall saw out of her window during second period. She'd nearly had kittens when she saw Ron Weasley on its back flying loops around the castle.
"But Headmaster," wailed Hagrid, "They're as tame as you or me, they're pets!"
"They're wild creatures, Hagrid," Dumbledore stormed, "You have children under your care and you don't see that a Hippogriff might be a problem?!"
Hagrid wisely chose this moment to be quiet.
"I've blown it, haven't I?" asked Hagrid, blowing his nose.
"You have certainly jeopardised your teaching opportunity, yes" said Dumbledore sternly. "As of now, you're on leave. There are just over three weeks left of term. After that, in the new year, you may plan more lessons and if, and only if, they are approved by Professor Grubbly Plank, will you be allowed to teach them. For now, you've said you've always wanted a walking holiday in the Lake District. It's the middle of winter, there will be few muggles out and about. Take Fang. Have a think about health and safety when you're in the middle of lonely moorland."
There was a close call that evening too. Umbridge had accosted Lupin on his way out of the castle, ostensibly to visit Hogsmeade for a drink, but in reality to get to the Shrieking Shack, a vial of Wolfsbane potion in his pocket. He wasn't a professor, and as a teaching assistant he didn't even need to be in the castle at night, but he'd taken Dumbledore up on his offer to stay there. Or at least that was the story Umbridge was told.
"Lupin!" called Umbridge from the castle entrance, on seeing him hot footing it out of the castle. He pretended not to hear her, but she called again and started to chase him down. Whatever can she want?
"Professor Umbridge," said Lupin, glancing over at the horizon. He still had another three quarters of an hour until moonrise.
"Where are you going?" she demanded.
"Hogsmeade, if you must know," he replied honestly, yet shortly.
"Do you think that's a good idea?" she simpered, "It would be very irresponsible of you to come back drunk with so many impressionable minds around," she said in tones of censure.
"Believe me, Madam, I have no intention of getting drunk. I really must go now, I've arranged a meeting with someone." Lupin had started to walk towards Hogsmeade, and he couldn't afford for her to walk there with him, yet she showed no inclination to let him go without a full-on haranguing. He slipped his wand out of his pocket surreptitiously so that it was hidden behind his back. While making sure she was looking in the direction they were going, he fired shooting stars back towards the castle. It was a prearranged signal that was being watched for.
He had arranged with Dumbledore that whether going through the passage from the whomping willow, or via the road, he'd send up green sparks when he got to the shack. If he encountered any problems he'd either send red sparks or a patronus. Someone each full moon night would watch from the astronomy tower to make sure he made it to the shack.
Minerva was on duty that night. She sent her patronus to Dumbledore and mounted the broom she had with her for speed. With a werewolf potentially on the loose, speed was of the essence. She flew to where the red sparks had been fired from. In front of her, by maybe 300 metres, she saw Lupin and Umbridge. Bugger, she thought.
She hurried to catch them up, leaving her broom where she'd landed.
"Remus! Delores!" she said in sunny tones, "I didn't think anyone else would be out here! You must be frozen Delores, out here in just your cardigan. Pink and fluffy isn't going to protect you from Scottish winters, you know. Remus is all rugged up, but you'll catch your death, come back to the castle and we'll get you nice and warm. Remus, you don't mind if I steal your company do you?" Minerva had said all this with barely a pause and had literally linked her arm into Delores' and started to march her back to the castle.
Apart from, "But..." Umbridge didn't get a word in edgewise.
"Oh look, some idiot has left their broom out here. Tch! Students!" she said, picking up the broom lying in the middle of the road.
Minerva nodded to Dumbledore who was casually taking some air outside the castle by the time her and Umbridge had reached the entrance. "Busy tonight, isn't it?" said Minerva brightly to no-one in particular on her way passed.
Severus opened his door to the insistent knock. It had just gone 10pm. He'd finished his rounds and had passed over to Filius, making sure that all students were in the common rooms or dorms. Especially tonight. Tonight the four heads of house would take two hour shifts all night.
"Severus, I know you keep a decent whisky in here. In the nicest possible way, hand over a wee dram or I claw your eyes out."
Severus passed the bottle and a glass without comment.
Next morning most of the staff looked tired, and not because one of them had had a nightcap. Minerva had had a harrowing day the day before, Lupin was obviously rough, Filius was looking worried and haggard, and a number of the others just looked frazzled. The only person who looked chipper was Professor Umbridge. Her sing-song voice was more than a little grating, and she was being deliberately cheery.
"Put the butter knife down now, Severus, it's too blunt to murder her with," said Minerva, quietly, "If I'm putting up with her, so are you!"
Severus growled, and ate his toast.
"What's this?" asked Filius, looking askance at his plate.
"It's toast, Filius, the same toast you always have, with the same disgusting marmalade," said Aurora Sinistra, shortly.
"Is it? I'm not sure I like it," said Filius, and got up and left the great hall. Aurora looked down the staff table and rolled her eyes. What was with everyone this morning?
Today we're going to learn about cheering charms," said Filius to his class of third year Hufflepuffs. "The action is so!" He raised his wand then froze. He didn't move. He just stood there. The class waited politely and patiently for him to continue.
"Sir?" asked Hannah Abbott, after a good half minute had passed.
"Excuse me, class," said Professor Flitwick, "Something has just come up. Read your Charms text about cheering charms. I'll be back shortly."
"But Albus, what if it's not that I can't remember how to do a charm next time, what if it's that I do a wrong charm instead. I know a lot of charms, especially from my duelling days. I'd never forgive myself if something happened. I won't do it!"
"It's another three weeks, Filius. I'll have Lupin pulled from helping in other classes and co-teach with you."
"No, I'm sorry Albus, I'm not sure I can be trusted in front of a class with my wand."
"Then Remus can teach your class, and you can be in the room. It'll look like teaching practice for Lupin, and that's no bad thing," countered Albus.
Filius thought about that for a moment. "Maybe that could work," he said dubiously.
"You'll be able to mark your student's work? You can do that without being student facing?"
Filius nodded. "But what about my house?"
"Lupin and Grubbly Plank together can share that responsibility. Your house is a good house for new staff, they're so organised." Filius nodded again.
"And what about in the new year if I can't teach anymore?" asked Filius, with an edge of panic in his voice.
"Filius, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. We're not going to tell the student body anything other than you're ill. At Christmas you're going to get away from Hogwarts. You always stay. This year you're not going to. Go down south, better yet, go international, somewhere warm. Scottish winters aren't good for anyone."
Filius smiled. He'd heard that somewhere else recently. Perhaps he should tell Severus he was beginning to sound like Dumbledore.
That evening Dumbledore called a staff meeting, with everyone present except Filius.
"As some of you know, Filius has been unwell for a couple of weeks," said Albus, addressing the room. "I realise the timing of this is unfortunate, but Filius will not be teaching until the end of term. Mr Lupin has kindly accepted my request to teach some lower years charms. He will teach First and Second Year, I will teach Third, Fourth and Fifth Year, Professor McGonagall will teach Sixth Year, Professor Snape Seventh Year and Mr Lupin will teach First and Second Year Transfiguration. Poppy has volunteered to take First Year Potions with Mr Lupin assisting. Filius will mark students' work and prepare lesson plans."
"I realise that this is an extended workload. Those members of staff will need more preparation time for lessons, so I'd like their curfew duties taken over by anyone free. There's a roster on the wall for that. Please look at your busy days and sign up on your lighter days. I do expect you all to take up some slack."
"Hem, hem."
"Yes, Delores," said Albus, not quite disguising his weariness.
"You mean you're expecting an already busy staff to take on extra work? Why not hire a locum teacher? One with more stamina than Flitwick, obviously."
"Yes, I do expect you to take on extra work, and Filius is well enough to do most prep and marking, just not well enough to be at the chalk face as it were. I do not appreciate personal comments aimed at staff."
"If he's unable to cope, he shouldn't be here at all!" retorted Umbridge.
The rest of the staff looked stonily at her. Filius was a well respected member of the faculty.
"My school, my decision, Delores. Sign up for extra duties."
"Have you seen the duty roster now, Albus?" asked Minerva, indicating the list on the wall, "Merlin help any student studying for their exams. She got to the roster first and took all the library and study session slots. You know all she's going to do is have every student in silence for the time they're there. That's not productive study. Quiet, yes, silent, no."
"I'll message Heads of House to tell their students about the arrangement, and ask them to make some quiet space in the common rooms. I'll speak to Madam Pince about loaning texts rather than reference copies. I'm not about to turn down Delores' offer, although I'd rather she'd taken curfew duty. It seems more up her street."
"I think up her street is disrupting normalcy in any way she can," growled Minerva.
That was how the next two weeks went. Filius was occasionally in Charms lessons, usually when Remus was teaching. Dumbledore and Snape were perfectly fine on their own, and Filius was classroom assistant occasionally to Minerva.
The students collectively thought he'd simply been ill, flu, or some such, and he was taking longer than expected to get better. His House were most concerned. While they had no qualms about Lupin and Grubbly Plank, they missed Flickwick, and were worried about how long it was taking for him to come back, and why wasn't he seen around the House more. They'd realised he wasn't contagious, and his N.E.W.T students had occasionally been summoned to his classroom where he went over some aspects of theory with them, but they missed him actually being there.
One evening, Filius was sitting in his classroom marking OWL essays. The class had done good work for Dumbledore. Minerva came in, bringing him a hot chocolate.
"How are you, Filius?" she asked. It'd been a week since he'd stopped teaching.
"I'm forgetting things, Minerva," he admitted, fiddling with his quill, nervously. "This morning it took me two tries to get dressed. I kept forgetting how to tie a tie, and I had to ask a house elf to tell me when it was time for breakfast. I'm losing sense of time. It's worst in the evenings when I've done my marking. I think I'm more than tired, Minerva, I think I must be done."
"Please don't talk that way, Filius. Christmas is coming, two whole weeks to sleep it off. Talk to Albus about taking a month. Get away for a proper holiday and get some rest."
"Look, I know you're trying to help me," he said, worriedly nibbling the end of his quill, until Minerva gently took it from him and passed him the hot chocolate instead, "See, I can't even have a normal conversation without being batty, but this is just it. I don't think I'll get better."
Minerva sighed sadly and left him to his marking.