Title: Harry Potter and the Veneficus Quies (12/16)

Author: Atlantis Potter

E-mail: atlantispotter@yahoo.com

Category: Romance, Mystery

Keywords: Year 5, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Petunia

Rating: R

Spoilers: All Four Books.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. I do not own the idea of the magus. It is not an original idea, and I'm not positive where credit goes, but certainly not to me.

A/N: Please R/R! If you like it, let me know. If you hate it, let me know! Thank yous are at the bottom of each chapter.

Harry Potter and the Veneficus Quies

Chapter Twelve- The Magus


The hand of the new "Emergency Rule" reached into the furthest corners of the Wizarding World and Hogwarts was no exception. The year, though spotted by Death Eater attacks, had been relatively mild and the general feeling ease because of it quickly deteriorated into a feeling of great duress. The entire school had heard about Harry's brush with death. Everyone, with the exception of the Slytherins, frowned upon Draco. Of course, Arabella took it as a lesson to be learned and they were all put under similar spells until they could detach themselves from the feelings caused by the Phatomus spell. There were only one or two IMS students who couldn't escape the pain.

Harry was not one of these students. He had caught on rather quickly and abilities like these were become more rampant in his daily life. His studies became much easier, even Potions, which they had just started. Research became simple, he was able to pour over a novel even faster than Hermione. If anyone found this strange, they said nothing for there were greater things to worry about.

Over the course of the past year, many laws had been placed into effect as a means of protection and preparation for any unknown dangers. These laws were quickly scratched from the book. Harry had been somewhat annoyed that he would not be able to practice magic over the summer anymore. It had definitely been a perk.

The Underage Wizarding Law was back in full swing. Fines were being issued for something as simple as a child riding a toy broom. As if the several laws being scratched from the books weren't enough, countless new laws were in effect. Apparition was only allowed at certain points. Ways of travel were greatly restricted. Flooing was limited, broomstick travel had restrictions as well. Perhaps the greatest surprise came when it was announced that Muggles were no longer allowed into the Wizarding world, even if they had a child who was magical. It was obvious that Dumbledore and the other teachers were beginning to get worried about all the new laws.

The IMS students were far too busy to be worried about politics. Snape had begun working with them in Potions and they were also spending a great deal of time in the greenhouses. There were few research projects and more hands on experience. Potions had been a stretch from their old studies. No more were they studying memory potions, but they were now studying truth potions, death potions, love potions, fame and fortune potions, and of course, the myths and thereoms of immortality potions.

They studied, or at least attempted to study, the potion that Voldemort had used in the graveyard last year. Harry and Draco had teamed up to research Voldemort's potion under the idea that it would be easy to do both that and their Mind Control project. Harry was finding himself in the library from the end of IMS until close for five nights a week and he found himself developing quite the rapport with the librarian. Madam Pince was friendly, though strict. She often let them stay late into the night, usually until one or two o'clock.

It was on one of these nights that Harry and Draco found a major piece in the puzzle that had become their mind control project. They had begun work on the project, both boys doing their best to steer clear of the theoretical spells on mind control. They had fast made it a rule that they were only going to cover tried and true methods. Even after their extensive work on the Imperius Curse and several other potions, curses, hexes and methodologies, their rough draft of the final paper hadn't been enough to meet the requirements set by Arabella.

Draco had, of course, been furious. He had spent hours coming up with elaborate examples for each of the methods they had described.

"This is your fault, Potter! I knew we didn't have enough material."

"Malfoy, settle down. We've got plenty of time before the project is due."

"Isn't that just like a Gryffindor! We've got no time Potter! Whatever else we find is going to end up causing me to rearrange our entire final presentation, plus let's not forget that we don't exactly have all the time in the world to work on this in the next few months. We've got that bloody Prophecy report due, plus Snape is pushing us extra hard. And as if that weren't enough, we have History of Magic and Muggle Studies and I can practically taste the hundreds of hours of research involved!" When Draco finished his mild rant, he was red faced and looked completely unlike his usually calm and collected self.

Harry, much to his credit, did not immediately collapse in hysterics. He allowed himself to hold back his laughter, and instead, felt himself turning beet red. He nearly lost consciousness from holding his breath, and leaked tears from his eyes before he sunk into a seat at the table in a fit of laughter.

His loud, bellowing laughs echoed in the library. It was the sound of a great release, a sign of all the tension of the past few weeks. He pointed at Draco; he collapsed onto the table in a heap, cradling his head in his arms and pounding on the table with his hand, all the while releasing great shuddering laughs.

Needless to say, Draco was furious. Harry was quickly brought out of his mood by a sharp thawp on the back on his head. Looking up, he saw Draco holding his wand. There were many firsts that night. It was the first time that Harry had ever seen Draco go completely mental and it was the first time that Harry had actually ever been hit by a wand.

Everyone in IMS was watching as the scene unfolded, and as Harry chuckled, so did the rest of the group. Great peals of laughter sounded in the room.

"Entrerò nei vostri sogni e controllerò il vostro sonno!"

The laughing died immediately, for Harry had stopped and was now staring at Draco with a look of dismay on his face. The rest of the group was merely watching and Draco sat smugly, looking extraordinarily satisfied with himself.

"Where--how--what was that?"

"A spell. I came across it today while I was attempting to find information about the theoretical mind control spell. Why? Are you familar with it?"

Harry stopped and racked his brain. He knew that spell. But how? Why? "I--it just sounds so familiar, and I don't know why."

Draco sniffed. "Well, I suggest you read some more about it." He slid a large, heavy book across the table to Harry, stood, and walked out of the library with a decidedly huffy attitude.

As if on cue, everyone went back to what they had previously been doing. Harry pulled the great book closer and peered at the miniscule writing. Of course, Draco had not marked the page that contained the spell and he had to do a lot of searching to find the right page.

Of course, its use is highly illegal, for it allows entry into another's mind. The use of the Entrero spell is unique in that the person being cast upon must be asleep, but dreamless. There can be no mental activity at the time of entry, for the mental plane must be completely void. Once used, the caster of the spell is given full control over the dreams of his victim.

Harry's mind was racing. He couldn't place why the words Draco had said were so familiar, but he couldn't shake the feeling that they were vitally important. Pulling out a quill, he copied down the incantation and the short passage about the spell so that he could pass it all along to Hermione. Then he remembered that he still needed to find some information on Snape's topic so that he could try and appease the now extraordinarily angry Draco. He still disliked Draco, but he knew that an angry Draco was not a pleasant partner for IMS projects.

Using the general emptiness of the library to his advantage, Harry walked back to the Restricted Section. Out of habit, he tiptoed to the brass doors and slowly opened them, cringing as they whined and creaked. He realized he was holding his breath and it out in a sharp hiss as he walked to the back shelves of the dusty, creepy room.

Admittedly, Harry had no idea what he was looking for, so he just roamed his fingers across the ancient spines of the dusty books, looking for some sort of clue on his mission. As he searched, a decrepit, blood red coloured book caught his attentions. There was only one letter that he could make out on the cover of the book; a gilded, faded 'V' was slightly off center near the top of the front cover. His curiosity got the best of him and he flipped it open. Not surprisingly, it wasn't in English. As he flipped through the book, a bunch of parchment fell to the floor.

He bent to pick it up, and opening the folded sheets, realised it was the same languge as the book. However, it was completely handwritten and looked suspiciously like a journal.

He took both of his discoveries and tucked them into his rucksack. Looking at his watch, he saw it was nearly two o'clock and decided to head back to his dorm.

"Morning," said Hermione without looking up from her stacks of textbooks.

"I can't believe I was in the library later than you."

"I rather enjoyed your little laughing fit; the look on Draco's face was priceless."

"I know, except now he's going to be hell to work with."

"So find him some obscure little fact for your project and he'll be content."

"Actually, I found some books that might interest you."

He pulled the book and parchments from his rucksack and handed everything to Hermione.

She took them from him and he watched with a hint of amusement as her brown eyes doubled in size. "Harry! This is just incredible! I think it's Latin, could take awhile to translate--What are you doing? Sit down!"

Harry had been heading towards his room, anxious to go to bed. But he did as she said and sat next to her on the couch as she took out her wand and began the laborious project of translating the heavy text. He stretched his legs out, gently pushing aside some of her books to prop his feet on the table. Leaning back against the couch, he sighed as he felt his eyelids begin to droop. His head fell back against the couch as he drifted off into sleep, ignoring the bright reading light and Hermione's words as she translated her book.

***

He sighed as his feet hit the soft, warm sand. There was something about this place that connected him to it, something that intertwined it with his soul. It was in the air. A type of electricity, a radiance that came out of everything. However, he looked around and noticed there wasn't much of anything. It was all sand dunes. Sand dunes and an invisible sun that beat down upon him, creating sweat on his brow. He turned to his left. Sand. To his right. Sand. As far as the eye could see stretched white, blinding sand. Yet, even as the sand hurt his eyes and he cringed in pain, there was something keeping him here. Even if he'd wanted to escape he couldn't.

The flash did not surprise him, but the outcome of it did. He found himself in a complete new place. The white sand was gone and in its place was pure darkness. The black soothed his aching eyes and he felt the same calmness here as well. The heat he had begun to suffer from had subsided. He was cooling, no longer sweating, and breathing at a regular rate. The only thing unchanged from the previous place was the feeling of an electric charge. Once he reached a level of comfort, he looked around. However, there was nothing to see. Even where the sand had been, there was a sky. There was a noticeable difference in the land and the sky. Here there was nothing. And as quickly as he had been soothed, he was thrust once more into feelings of discomfort. The coolness of the air began to seep into his skins. He felt the deep chill within his bones. The darkness was blocking his thoughts and he felt it begin to creep into his mind, ebbing the flow of consciousness.

Another flash. He sighed with happiness. The ground was green, the sky was blue. Here the feeling of radiation was magnified twofold and Harry began to feel the power building with him. As he stood in the green field, he looked around. To the west, there was a great storm building. Towering black clouds loomed in the distance with the promise of a great show. To the east, there was an eternal sunlight, bright, white and unchanging. This middle ground, between the light and the dark, was where the power reverberating from him was strongest. Intrinsically, Harry knew what it was. Magic. It surrounded him, wove through him, and joined his soul. It was a part of him. Every fiber of his being vibrated with this organic power. He was home.

"Welcome Harry, to Terre de la Magie."

He spun at the voice and was not surprised to see Tristram looking down at him.

"Terre de la Magie? But--how can I be here?"

"What do you mean how can you be here?"

"Well, I thought only magi could come here."

"Harry, don't you know what you are?"

"There seems to be this horrible trend that people know more about me than I know about myself."

"Well, be that as it may, it is time someone told you what you are."

"And I suppose you're going to do the honour?"

"But of course. Harry, do you know what a magus is?"

"No."

"A magus is a very powerful magical being. What was your MQ again?"

"It was something like 426."

"And your friend, Hermione, who is probably the strongest witch you know, tests at around 260. She's half-Magus. But you are completely Magus."

"Yes, but what does that mean?"

"It means that I could not kill you." A new voice came from behind Harry and Tristram. Voldemort was standing there, watching them. He grinned maliciously at them. "The power of your mother protected you, and I could have easily killed you, but Lily was just as powerful as your girlfriend. It was her strength that protected you. You would have died without her."

His mind flooded with questions, but Harry stood his ground silently. "What do you want from me?"

"You know what I want. You have what I want."

***

The dreams were confusing Harry more and more. He was surprised at this dream, because it had lacked the maliciousness of his prior nocturnal visits from Voldemort. The more he pondered the dream, the more he was convinced that it was some sort of scheme cooked up to get him to let down his defenses. He refused to do so, and the first thing he did when he awoke was to go to his room and write down the dream. He had begun keeping a journal containing his dreams and all the information that he had found about them. As their studies increased, so had the bulk of his journal.

He walked back into the living room. Hermione had fallen asleep on the couch as well. How had he not noticed her before? He shrugged it off, trying to ignore the feelings of unease that came with the knowledge that he and Hermione had fallen asleep in the same room. They had not slept in the same bed since Christmas and Harry missed having her in his bed. There had never been anything sexual about their nightly habits, but he missed the feelings of closeness between them. Of course, he had lost it all when he had kissed her. Even after their long talk, Harry was convinced that the kiss had placed a strain on their relationship.

"Hermione, wake up."

She didn't. After attempting to rouse her, he picked her up gently and she sunk into his arms, curling against his chest. He tried to ignore the feeling of her breath on his neck as he carried her into her room. After tucking her in, he kissed her lightly on the forehead and walked out, closing the door softly behind him.

A feeling of sadness crept into his heart. She was there, in the flesh, talking to him, laughing with him and being her usual self, but Harry couldn't shake how much he missed his best friend.

***

The following morning, Arabella roused them all at six o'clock. They would be beginning Herbology, and she had reserved the greenhouses for six thirty.

Harry was yawning when he walked into the living room to find Hermione dressed in muggle clothes. She was wearing jeans and a heavy sweatshirt. Her heavy school robes were draped over the back of the lounge.

"Morning."

"Morning, and don't say anything about my clothes. It's cold and early and I don't want to hear it."

He nodded as she stood, slipping the robes on as she walked towards the common room. He followed her and they found everyone else in a similar state.

Arabella, however, was wide awake and looked as if she'd been so for hours. She marched them down to the greenhouses and after pairing them up, she handed each group a basket and a pair of dragonhide gloves. "Often times, Potions and Herbology go hand in hand. In your second year, I'm sure you all remember the use of the Mandrakes in the potion for curing those petrified by the basilisk. This afternoon we are going to be making a Truth Serum. Professor Snape has asked me to tell you that next week, you will be making Veritaserum, though you will not be using it. However, you will be testing this truth serum, so I recommend you take the time to find the proper ingredients. You will be needing dittany, which you can find in Greenhouse four and indieque, which you can find in Greenhouse two. The indieque must be dried and don't forget to use the proper charms for severing the bulbs from the dittany."

They set off to find the plants needed for their potions. This served to be no easy task, as Arabella hadn't really given them much direction. After about two hours, everyone had collected what they needed and were standing just inside the first greenhouse.

"Did everyone get everything they needed?" Arabella asked cheerfully, seemingly ignoring her frozen students. Their nods sufficed as an answer and she led everyone back inside, where they were told to go immediately to the dungeons.

"Good morning," Professor Snape drawled as he met them at the entrance to the dungeons. "If you'll all follow me, I've set up one of the dungeons for your use."

They followed him and soon found themselves in a very cramped dungeon that reminded Harry of the Potions classroom, except the smell was much worse and there was less light. Snape gave them further directions for brewing their potions and said he would return after breakfast. Harry and Hermione set up their cauldrons and began the painfully slow process of brewing this particular potion. About half an hour after he had left, Snape dropped by to bark further orders at them.

"I'm going to go back to the dorm and get that small book you found Harry, I have a feeling it will have some very important clues," she whispered to him after Snape had left.

She nonchalantly left the room, leaving Harry to watch their bubbling cauldron. It was still blue. Snape said that when it had turned purple, it would be finished. Harry had no idea how long it would take to turn purple, but with a sinking feeling he realized it wouldn't be soon.

Hermione appeared twenty minutes later, holding the half-translated journal in her arms. She moved aside some of their potion supplies and withdrew her wand. Again, Harry heard the muttering of unfamiliar words and he watched in amazement as the very words on the page were sucked into Hermione's wand. The wand tip would glow a strange iridescent purple color and after a few moments, words will tumble out of the wand again and begin to change and warp until they were in English. He couldn't help but be amused as the words jumped around the page, ordering themselves in a readable manner.

It took Hermione about half an hour to finish translating the entire book. Their potion had turned a very strange green colour and Harry was beginning to worry.

"Hermione?"

"Yes Harry?"

"Is the potion supposed to be this vile green colour?"

"Is it purple?"

"No, it's green."

"Well, when it turns purple, we'll worry about it."

Harry gaped at her. "Who are you and what have you done with Hermione?"

"Oh, relax, I'm trying to translate this last part, but it won't let me. Rather strange really, this doesn't look like any human language."

Harry peered at the page she was currently running her wand over. There was no movement or glowing purple light. She mumbled the strange spell again and again and nothing happened. "Perhaps if you read the rest of the book, it would tell you how to translate it?"

"Perhaps," she mumbled. She flipped back to the beginning of the book and motioned for him to join her. They peered at the ancient pages. For the first ten or so pages, there wasn't anything discernable. There were a few diagrams, odd phrases scattered about, and a strange word here or there. Harry was interested in the diagrams, but Hermione flipped past them until she came upon a page with actual sentences.

So subtle and exact was the potion, that it's purest form was completed only one time. It was originally created as one of the Four. It is far more powerful than anything that can be imagined by the average wizard. The Philospher's Stone is mere child's play, for not even the greatest alchemists of all time could complete the potion. Its use is not widely known as an incorrect brewing means certain death. This is not a potion for the weak of heart or mind. Those who are feeble cannot bear the weight of immortality; no mortal being can, it is not within our capacity. However, curiosity and advancement of knowledge have always been the muses of my quests. Therefore, I cannot help but to share what I have found, be as it may that a most certain death will result. It is for the betterment of society that I work...

After that, the writing became illegible and smudged, as if something had been spilled upon the pages. However, the writing picked up once more on the next page.

I know not the date, it seems as I have never left this room. From the dawn of my life until its dusk, I shall remain in this room, solving this puzzle. I wish to know how to do this potion, it has become my goal in life. My strongest desires lay in my ability to unlock the mysteries, not only of this Potion but of the Four. Why must they be so hidden? Why so taboo? What is there purpose? Who made them? Why?
-VS

'Why' has become my question of choice as I slave and labour. I went to the Lady Lucia today and she gave me a Prophecy, passed down through the ages, older than even the Founders. I wrote it down and charmed it. I shall never reveal the secret to unlock it, for only those smart enough are worthy to know the most awful truth. I am not sure whether the Prophecy answered more questions or asked more. I will have many sleepness nights over this discovery, but I am moved to ask, what is differenet than any other night? Sleep is but a thing of the past, a desire I do not have.
-VS

They reached the end of the page and Hermione turned to look at him. "Harry! This is incredible!"

"Where did you find that?" hissed Draco, coming up behind them before Harry had a chance to answer Hermione.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Hermione answered without looking up at him.

"That book. Where did you find it?"

"How do you even know about it?"

"Never you mind. Where did you get it?"

"I don't know how you know about this Draco, but I suggest you forget that we have it," she said icily, glaring at him pointedly.

He was obviously seething, but he let it go, turning back to his reading. Hermione looked at him one last time to make sure he wasn't watching and flipped open the book. She also had some pieces of parchment with her that looked like notes.

"Hermione, what is that?" Harry asked louder than he meant to.

"Shh! It's my notes on that Prophecy I was studying. There seems to be something connecting this, your Mind Control project and this journal, I just can't quite put my finger on it."

Harry just nodded and stared at all the papers spread it front of her. He noticed Hermione's notes, which were very haphazard and messy, quite unlike her usual notes. There were odd bits of phrases here and there, followed by lengthy explanations and word translations. Upon closer inspection, he noticed it was mostly translations because the odd phrases weren't in English. They weren't in any language that Harry recognized. He was about to ask Hermione when she pulled out a piece of parchment that had been folded and stuck in the back of the book. She read it over, looking between it and her notes. Suddenly, she hit him rather hard on the arm. "I knew it! Harry! This is it! This is the entire prophecy!" she exclaimed.

"Well, what does it say?"

She looked crestfallen, "I have no idea. I've only found bits and pieces of it scattered through different books, but I haven't been able to translate it properly."

Harry nodded and took the journal from her.

Today was a breakthrough. I brewed the potion today, yet I am terrified to try it... there are many methods to use the potion. It can be used to bring the dead back to life and if used by the living, it creates immortality. I am now stricken with guilt, do I take the potion? Or do I destroy it and all remnants of the potion? This is not a tool to be given to man, that much is true. My great great grandfather, as I have discovered, created this potion as some sort of key, to what I know not. He hid it in our family vault, hoping that it would be destroyed for only he, Rowena, Godric, and Helga knew of its uses. Surely, there is some greater mystery to this, one that even I cannot comprehend.
-VS

I have decided to wait to use this potion. I have stored it and hope that it will keep. I am determined to solve this mystery, even if it means the death of me.
-VS

Harry looked at Hermione as she read over his shoulder. They were both startled by this journal and a million questions were running through Harry's mind. How had Voldemort found this potion? It was obviously the one he had used but where had he learned about it? If this journal was the only answer, how had he gotten it? Harry flipped further into the translated pages...

Today, I will take the potion. All of my research and the key to the potion are all included in this diary, however, my language is easily translatable. I have scripted it in an ancient tongue, much like the original instructions for the potion. Within this book lies the key to all the mysteries of the Prophecy and the Four Keyes. I instruct you, fair reader, beware, for this book is not for the weak.

The writing stopped abruptly and Harry flipped further back in the book, past the drawings of a cauldron and gravestones. There were some fifteen more pages of writing and the only thing he could discern was that it was the same language as the Prophecy. He shook his head; they had reached a dead end. It was obvious that he couldn't learn anything else from the book, not without some major translation, and he didn't have the time to undertake such a project.

Hermione began pouring over the Prophecy, trying in vain to decipher it. Harry turned to look at their potion, which had turned a lovely amethyst colour. He picked up a beaker and siphoned some of the potion into it. About twenty minutes later, Snape came back to tell them to leave their potions on the shelves, as they wouldn't truly be finished until the next day.

They all trudged up to IMS. It was only 11:00, not yet time for lunch. Harry was hoping that they'd have a break before lunch, but Arabella immediately ushered them into the classroom.

"I thought we could use this time to discuss some of the things we've learned so far this year. The OWLs are getting closer, you're only got another 10 weeks or so. Does anyone have any questions?"

No one raised their hand. Harry remembered his dream from the previous night and slowly raised his hand.

"Hermione?" called Arabella, who noticed Hermione's hand first.

"What's a magus?"

Nearly everyone shifted in their seats, leaning somewhat closer to hear Arabella's answer. It was common knowledge that Harry had the highest MQ out of the group, and by leaps and bounds at that.

"A magus is a super big badass wizard."

"Um, is that all?"

"No, they're more magical than everyone else because magic is entertwined with their soul. It's a part of them instead of merely being a tool like it is for the rest of us. There are half-Magi like you, but Harry--Harry is the first full Badass Wizard Guy."

"Ah, so can I shoot laser beams out of my eyes?" Harry piped up, catching on quickly.

"Probably, but don't try, it might reflect off of your glasses."

"Can he bend iron in his bare hands?" asked Ginny.

"Sure, but only if he uses magic."

"Can he leap tall buildings in a single bound?" Draco questioned.

"On a broomstick."

"Is he faster than a speeding bullet?" Hermione asked as she stood up, looking rather flustered.

"I said Badass Wizard, not Superman. Sit down."

"B-but--but."

"But what Hermione?"

"Isn't there a more technical explanation?"

"Do I look like the Encyclopedia Brittanica to you?"

"Erm, but you're the teacher."

"So I am," she paused before resuming a more serious tone. "All kidding aside, a Magus was a theoretical thing until Harry here came along. And you really are a half-Magus, as is Draco. Magi and half-Magi are very special magical beings. Like I said, magic is a part of you, it's in your blood. It practically seeps from you. You and Draco have always been a bit pretentious in your studies because of your abilities, but Harry didn't come into full power over the summer."

"Is that why we can apparate here?"

"Yes, and also why you can perform wandless magic. In fact, the only reason Draco here isn't an Animagi is because of a curse on his family."

Draco reddened as she said this. He raised his chin up a bit and sniffed, obviously determined to not let it bother him.

Arabella continued her explanation, moving on to the more mythical aspects of Magi. She explained different abilities and ancient prophecies concerning the Magi.

"Arabella?"

"Hermione?"

"Um, you wouldn't happen to know any ancient magical languages would you?"

"Of course, in fact, there is an ancient language of the Magi. It is believed that thousands of years ago, everyone on the Earth had a bit of magic in them. The Magi were almost a separate race of people, being as magical as they were. There is an ancient language, called Mage,--yes, they were a creative bunch-- that could only be spoken by Magi and half-Magi. It is believed that although the language is dead, if it were spoken aloud, anyone with any Magi blood, at least half of course, could understand it."

Hermione looked as if a lightbulb has just turned on in her head. She scribbled down what Arabella had said.

They talked for a bit before lunch, Hermione scribbling down everything Arabella mentioned relating to Magi. As soon as they were dismissed, Hermione dashed off to the library and Harry, for once, decided not to join her, but headed to the Great Hall instead.

***

"So then, Trelawney told me that I would die in a boating accident before Christmas. Of course, it didn't happen and I haven't taken the class seriously since then." Parvati was regaling everyone at the table with her story of how she had come to disbelieve in Divination. Ever since the Boating Prediction, as she and Ron had come to call it, she spent much of the class causing trouble with Ron. Lavender was furious with them, as she still believed Trelawney to be the greatest Seer the world had ever known.

"My dear, I see a great, watery death for you. Very soon and very cold," said Ron in a high, whispy voice, attempting to impersonate Trelawney.

"Oh, honestly, it wasn't that bad. She's really very good at Divination, you two need to give her more credit. She probably absorbs so much from teaching, she's bound to get confused and make a mistake once in awhile," Lavender said a bit defensively.

Harry watched as Ron tried to hide his snickers by ravishing a chicken wing.

"So, what is everyone going to be doing over Easter holidays?"

Holidays started in a few weeks and Harry had planned on staying at Hogwarts once again. He almost wished that he could go back to Privet Drive and spend more time with his aunt, but the news from the outside world was beginning to sound a bit tense. It seemed as if something was building and everyone sat holding their breathes, waiting for some clue.

"I'm going back to the Burrow," Ron said between bites of his salad.

"I'm staying here," Hermione spoke up, still not taking her head out of the book she had been reading all through lunch.

"I'm going back to the Burrow as well, thought I might help Mrs. Weasley out as Mr. Weasley is still in the hospital," Lavender said rather quietly. Hermione bristled a bit at the mention of Lavender going to the Burrow, but it went unnoticed as everyone turned their attention to Mr. Weasley. His condition had not changed since Christmas and the worry surrounding his condition was beginning to build as well.

"Oh, Harry! Look at the time; we have to go down to the Dungeons to test out the Truth Potions today."

"Truth potions?" asked Ron.

"Yes. We had to brew Truth potions today. We're looking for volunteers to test them out on, are you up for it Ron?" Harry asked teasingly.

"Best be careful with him, Harry. If you don't want to hear about anything going on in the supply closets, it's in your best interest not to test it on Ron," Seamus interjected.

Ron's ears turned a furious shade of pink as a similar shade seeped into Lavender's cheeks.

"Seamus, that's enough, I won't have you starting any rumours about me," Lavender said, her voice an octave higher than usual.

Everyone laughed as Harry and Hermione stood to leave. As soon as they were out of earshot of the other Gryffindors, Hermione let out an exasperated sigh. "Those two need to be less hormonal."

"Hermione! Really!"

"Well, don't you think so? Going about doing Merlin knows what in supply closets! Goodness, I would never have been caught doing any such thing."

"Who said they were caught?"

"Harry, you're missing my point. I'm just saying that I would never want to do anything, erm, intimate where I could easily be caught."

Harry laughed as a slight redness tinged her features. "Hermione, you kill me, you know that?" He said as he slung an arm around her shoulder and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

She slipped out of his grasp, the redness flaring up even more. She turned and caught his gaze and an awkward silence passed between them. After a moment, she shook her head and let out a forced laugh, "What am I going to do with you Harry Potter?" She turned once more and walked a little more quickly than she had before.

"Probably nothing," he said under his breath as he caught up to her.

***

"Quickly get your potions and then get together with your partner," Snape said as the IMS students filed into the room. Harry sighed with relief. At least it would only be Hermione asking him questions.

"Take your seats. I want one of you from each group to take exactly one sip of your potion. I would like the other partner to ask questions."

"I'll go first, Harry. Give me the potion," Hermione said as she reached for the beaker. She titled it back and took a sip from it. The look on her face betrayed the taste immediately. "Oh, it's vile! Blech!" she paused, making odd faces as she adjusted to the strange new taste. "Alright, go ahead."

"How do we know its working?"

"I can tell. It's a rather odd feeling. Go on then."

"Erm, alright. What's your favourite colour?"

"Red. Can't you come up with better questions?"

"Erm, alright, what's your favourite book?" "The Wizard in the Willow."

"Isn't that the romance novel you were reading over the summer?"

She blushed, "Yes."

"Right then," he said, looking around the room, trying to think of another question. "What do you think of Professor Snape?"

"Oh, he's quite alright. There's something about him that is very mysterious. It's sort of, well, dreamy…"

"Hermione!" he managed as his jaw dropped.

"I'm only joking. I think the potion has worn off. Your turn," she said with a rather cheeky grin as she handed him the potion. He peered into the beaker. The light purple liquid seemed innocent enough, but if Hermione's reaction was any indication… With a shrug, he brought the beaker to his lips. The taste nearly caused him to drop the glass container. Some sort of strange combination of cauliflour and spoiled milk invaded his senses and overtook his tastebuds. He gagged as the putrid stuff slid down his throat. As it hit his stomach, a strange feeling washed over him. It was as if someone was pressing against his throat. Instinct told him that if he were to make one wrong more or say one false thing, the pressure would increase.

"Alright, go ahead."

"Ok, Harry, what do you think of Professor Snape?"

"He's a slimy git. You know that."

"Right," she paused, as if going over something in her mind. A devilish grin appeared on her face. "Harry, who do you have a crush on?"

He swallowed. Why on earth should she ask that question? His mind cringed at the thought of his answer. Was there anyway he could avoid the question?"Erm…. Er- I-er-like… Could you please ask another question?" he managed to gasp as he felt the pressure on his throat increase ever so slightly.

She gave him a strange look. "What do you think of the Prophecy?"

"It's somehow related to nearly everything we've been doing this year. There's something strange about the Minister of Magic and I think it ties directly into the Prophecy. Immortality, mind control, it's probably all a part of it, I just don't know how."

"Can you speak Mage?"

"I don't know," he sighed. The potion was beginning to wear off. The pressure decreased greatly. "It's gone. The potion's worn off."

Hermione nodded, still looking at him strangely.

Snape stood at the front of the classroom, watching the students try out their potions. When he was satisfied that all of the potions had worn off, he dismissed them.

"I'm heading to the library. I've been trying to find out more about Mage," Hermione said as they reached the top of the stairs. Harry nodded, saying he'd meet her there after he dropped some things off at the dorm.

He went to his dorm room to pick up a few books that he needed for information about the immortality potion. He couldn't escape the feeling that it was going to be another long night in the library.

***


Sorry these have taken so long to get up! I was on vacation and when I came back, FF.Net wasn't up. Thanks to everyone who reviewed chapter eight. Also, thanks to my Beta Reader Elliott. For updates, art, and ficlets visit The Power of Three! at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/powerthree .