Chapter 11
Remus Lupin put another log on the fire to ward off the chill, then turned to look at the young woman in auror robes.
"I'm flattered, Tonks. But you know why I cannot get into a relationship with anyone."
"Cannot, or will not?"
"It's for the best," he said firmly. "I could never put a child through what I have faced."
"Who's talking about children?" Tonks demanded. "I don't want any! Nor am I asking for marriage. But I don't see why we can't have a bit of pleasure!"
"I have learned that pleasure must be paid for. The price is simply too high!"
Tonks fingered the vial in her pocket. Should she spare a bit for the werewolf, or not? Reluctantly, she decided against taking the risk, and got up to leave.
She was through waiting…she would make her move tonight.
"Is everyone returning home for the break?" Daphne asked.
"I usually stay, " Harry said thoughtfully. "But maybe this year…" Now he was free of the Dursleys forever, he could go to Grimmauld Place. He'd heard others speak of Christmas in London, and he longed to experience it himself.
Hannah, the half-blood, obviously felt the same. "Yes! There are Christmas markets all over, we could go! And the lights are amazing!"
"I'd like to see them." Neville smiled at her shyly.
"There's so many carol concerts," declared Terry. "And…pantomimes! I love those."
"We could even go ice-skating! I like to go to the rink by the Natural History Museum!" Hannah exclaimed.
"Do you think we'll really get to do any of those things?" Daphne whispered to Harry.
"Sure." He smiled down at her. "Let's make a plan!"
They did, but for Daphne it was a fantasy. She knew that, if she returned home, it would mean a round of Yule visits for pureblood scions to scrutinize her and Astoria for their potential as future wives. It would be stiff and uncomfortable, and she'd be counting the seconds until she could return home.
On the other hand, if she stayed at Hogwarts, she'd be mostly on her own in the Slytherin dungeons. No chance of getting away, even for one afternoon.
But oh, it would have been glorious…to walk hand in hand with Harry through an illuminated city, to drink mulled cider, to listen to the special music. Carols, Terry had said.
It would have been a Yule to remember.
Remus did occasionally take his meals in the Great Hall, only to keep a connection with the other Hogwarts staff, even though he was more comfortable in Hagrid's hut.
Much to his surprise, this had led to…not exactly a friendship, but a sense of companionship…with Severus Snape. They had more in common with one another than with their other colleagues- they were of similar age, both intelligent, both… perhaps…a bit lonely.
The visit from Tonks had unsettled Remus; he decided to go to dinner, check on Harry, perhaps have a drink with Severus afterwards.
Ron dropped into a seat across from Harry and Neville and beamed at them. "Saw you in Hogsmeade, but didn't get a chance to say hello. Just think, for once I didn't need to go to that bookshop! Lavender and I practically bought out the supply of cauldron cakes at Honeydukes…I'll give you both some when we go back to the dorm."
Harry and Neville exchanged a surprised look; Ron had never been so generous with his sweets before.
The redhead seemed in a cheerful mood; it was clear he'd enjoyed his afternoon out.
The food appeared, and everyone began eating.
"Harry!" Ginny Weasley stood next to him, extending a slice of luscious chocolate cake. "Have a piece of my birthday cake!"
Harry didn't see how he could refuse.
"Oi! What about me?" Ron grumbled. "None for your favorite brother?"
Ginny smirked. "It would probably be stale by the time it reached Charlie."
She walked away to sit with Demelza Robbins, and Harry offered, "Let's share; this slice looks big enough to feed the entire table!"
He started to divide it but asked, "How about you, Nev?"
Neville grinned. "Looks tasty, but I already had an apple tart."
"Just us, then," Ron prompted.
Harry handed Ron the larger half, and took a small bite.
Then promptly slipped to the floor while convulsing.
The Gryffindors began screaming; McGonagall rushed over and called a house elf to transport Harry to the hospital wing.
Daphne clutched Millie's arm so tight the bigger girl winced.
Severus Snape strode over to the Gryffindor table and picked up the cake.
"Don't eat any of that, Weasley!" he waved his wand, and picked up one of the goblets.
"Right then."
Professor Slughorn waddled into the infirmary and forced a bezoar down Harry's throat just as Snape and Lupin entered.
"He'll be fine," Pomfrey said at once.
"Was he poisoned?" Dumbledore burst in.
"Yes and no," Snape told them. "Potter received a massive dose of a particularly strong love potion!"
"What!" Remus gasped. "Was it in the cake?"
"AND in the pumpkin juice." Snape shook his head grimly. "Two different strains of amortentia, which means they were administered by two separate people! It's a wonder he's not dead!"
Daphne stood frozen on the other side of the door, hoping she wouldn't be discovered and sent away.
"How?" Remus demanded.
"More importantly, who?" Slughorn gasped.
"We'll find out, " Dumbledore promised.
Remus nodded to Tonks and Dawlish, who were present at the staff meeting. "I'm glad you're here! This is definitely auror business."
"A love potion?" Dawlish sniggered. "Hardly a major crime!"
"It might have killed Harry Potter!" McGonagall was livid.
"Hardly," sneered Snape. "The brat isn't easy to kill."
"Besides, the potions weren't intended to kill him," Slughorn reminded them. "He would have had no reaction to either one; it was due to the fact that he'd ingested two slightly different strains that made him convulse."
"What did the Weasley girl say?" asked Flitwick.
"The cake was purchased in Hogsmeade and given to her as a birthday gift." McGonagall explained. "It was bought by Dean Thomas; however, as far as we can tell, he had nothing to do with the potion."
"We discovered he'd been obliviated," Dumbledore informed them. "The potion in the goblet was due to a switching spell. Fortunately, the two strains reacted against each other immediately, before Harry had a chance to entirely consume either."
"So, what shall we do?" Remus was agitated.
"I will check all of the food and drink brought to the Gryffindor table," declared McGonagall.
"And I will announce that students consume nothing that has not been vetted," said Dumbledore with finality. "Hopefully such precautions will serve."
Daphne drew in a sharp breath. She slipped silently away, having learned that Harry…that Potter…wasn't seriously injured.
She decided that, first thing tomorrow, she would go to the library, learn that potions detection spell, and teach it to Harry…to Potter! This could never be allowed to happen again.