The Golden Elixir, Chapter Ten
Albus looked about the large rectangular room and tried to concentrate. His companion, who still had a wand leveled on him, was not helping matters any, but the real distraction was the . . . things . . . in cages along the back wall. With a head that still felt as though he had downed a cask or two of Durmstrang's evil smelling beer, he could not make any sense at all of the disturbing thing that sat in the pen closest to him, calmly regarding him through great golden eyes. It LOOKED almost like someone had crossed a house elf with one of the pterodactyl-type birds that lived down in the caverns, but obviously that couldn't be right. Disturbingly, it was the least alarming of the specimens on display. He was resolutely not looking in the direction of the door, as the brief glance he'd had of the contents of one cage in particular had almost caused him to start hyperventilating earlier. He kept telling himself that it was all just part of the hallucination his companion had placed on him, that none of it was real. But he couldn't imagine how anyone's mind, however diseased, could dream up such things.
"So, when enough people began to suspect what she was doing--after all, only so many children can go missing in freak accidents before suspicions arise--she decided a new source of magical power had to be found. Unfortunately, she was not able to hit upon a creature, other than humans, with an energy source compatible both with the talisman and her own magic. So she began the experiments. Despite years of cross-genetic pairings, however, some of which resulted in quite powerful magical creatures indeed, witches and wizards remain the only usable source for her needs. Not that that has caused her to end the experiments--she still holds out hope--but it did result in her switching the majority of her interest to the Philosopher's Stone recently, as obtaining one would insure that her supply of human donors would need to be much smaller. A large percentage of each subject's power is wasted at present just sustaining her health and appearance."
What made the whole experience truly surreal, Albus decided as the floor seemed to sway under his feet, was the completely dispassionate tone with which the young man opposite him voiced these comments.
"Of course," Hieronymus continued, bending to peruse what looked like a merger between a merman and a water snake, with a tail so long that it had to be wrapped several times around his body just to permit any movement within his cramped tank, "the quest for eternal youth and beauty were the start of it all, some seventy years ago now, but the search has shifted to something rather more impressive these days. Did you notice what it's like, when you're wearing the talisman? Intoxicating, isn't it? You can think much more quickly, react faster, even see and hear better--and your magical ability . . . well, there's just no comparison, is there? A witch or wizard with the talisman to draw from, has abilities that make you or I seem like little more than muggles. It's completely seductive and utterly addictive. And that is just with one person powering it."
Hieronymus moved away from the tank when the mer-snake bared wicked looking fangs at him. "I suppose it was inevitable, really, that sooner or later she would ask the obvious question. What would happen if the powers of many wizards could be harnessed at once? What would it be like, to have the life-time magical abilities of ten, a hundred, a thousand people, all at your disposal, all at once?"
He gestured around at the grotesque menagerie. "I commented shortly after arriving and seeing all this, that it looked rather like she was trying to play God. Thankfully, she didn't take it badly; in fact, she laughed." He moved to stand within a few inches of Albus, who couldn't help shivering. The whole experience was sensory overload, surrounded by hideous things, being regaled with a scenario far beyond any nightmare he had ever had, and now Hieronymus was grinning at him. "She said," the dark boy went on, his voice barely above a whisper, "that she wasn't playing--that sooner or later, she would BE a god, or close enough that it made no difference." He draped an arm about Albus' shoulders, in a parody of comradeship. Albus, who was trying very hard not to be sick, did not bother to even attempt to shift him, not even when he dragged him over to the cage he'd been avoiding.
"If she gets the stone, her power will greatly increase, as it will sustain her life without any drain from her subjects. That, in turn, will allow her to take certain steps she's been planning for a long time, to gain enough control over the wizarding world to insure a steady supply of donors with no awkward questions being asked about where all the children are disappearing to."
Albus could not avoid looking at the monster in the cage any more. Some part of his mind, which was slowly waking from whatever spell he'd been put under, had begun screaming some time before, but the volume level in his head hit a new high as he regarded the bastardized version of a phoenix sitting in its cage. Albus had always been very fond of Fawkes, ever since his grandfather gave it to him on his eleventh birthday, but he didn't think he'd ever be able to look at his familiar the same way again. Instead of the benevolent, often sleepy eyed gaze he was used to, this bird had the burning, mad eyes of some other creature. He could not tell which, but they looked almost human, and their expression was that of someone tortured beyond all reason.
His companion pulled him close to whisper a final unwanted piece of information in his ear. "Of course, all that's just a prelude to what she really wants to get started on--a new range of experiments crossing wizards with other magical creatures, to obtain a purer and longer-lasting energy source. And, thanks to you, she'll have all eternity to perfect it."
The phoenix-thing suddenly began screaming, a high-pitched, horrible whine unlike anything Albus had ever heard. It seemed to reverberate throughout his entire body in sickening waves, and started off all the other creatures, which added their own undecipherable commentary to the hideous cacophony now echoing off the walls. It was the most horrific sound Albus had ever heard, but he didn't have to endure it long, as his mind finally gave up the fight and he fainted dead away.
* * *
Apollo wrinkled her nose at Sev, but didn't otherwise comment on the restraining hand he'd placed on her arm. As if she would be stupid enough to venture out against such odds. Not that hexing Etienne into the next life was at all a displeasing thought, but as his friends would insure that she followed closely after him, she supposed she'd have to forgo that particular pleasure for the moment. Luckily the charms they had cast over themselves earlier were momentarily concealing them from the mob that was now searching the undergrowth, but she did not find crouching under a very scratchy clump of bushes appealing, especially as the search seemed to be headed their way.
A flick of her wand set up a quietus perimeter around she and Severus, allowing her to speak without giving away their position. It also helped to muffle the taunts Etienne was spouting, apparently in the idiotic hope that one or more of them would draw her out. Really, as if they hadn't been insulting each other practically since birth; it wasn't as if she hadn't heard his entire repertoire many times over, and he wasn't even original enough to come up with any new ones. "I'm open to suggestions, darling," she told Severus frankly. He scowled, but as he did that habitually anyway, Apollo decided not to take it personally.
"Would I be correct in assuming that an ambush to knock us out of competition is not your cousin's primary objective?"
Apollo smiled, it always pleased her when Severus deduced something without having to be told. Intelligence was so attractive. "Right in one, although I'm sure that's the story he gave Durmstrang to acquire their assistance. I suppose the idea is to have them hex us into unconsciousness, then run back to the trial while he finishes us off. They probably don't even know what he plans, and may never as our demise could be made to look like one of the giants was responsible. I somehow doubt anyone at Durmstrang would investigate too thoroughly another couple of Triwizard fatalities." For the first time, she stopped being irritated with Sophicles. Wherever the boy was, he was probably safer than he would be with them. Etienne's obsession had skewed the Tournament odds from bad to positively frightful.
She noticed that Severus seemed to be having trouble breathing. Apollo patted him solicitously on the back, but received only a renewed glare in response. She left her hand where it was, however, worried that she could feel his spine so easily even through the thick robes they wore. He ought to renew the polyjuice, but she didn't suppose it mattered at the moment. She really needed to fatten him up, not that the gaunt look wasn't attractive to a degree, but a few more pounds would be nice. She added a note to that effect to her mental file labeled Project: Severus, which also contained ideas for better hair care and some new robes. Not the joke type she'd been unable to resist sending him before, but something more refined, maybe in a nice royal blue . . . "What?" Severus was regarding her with a look she couldn't quite define, but thought might be somewhere between bewilderment and disgust--which was hardly fair as she was thinking about his welfare, after all.
"And exactly why does your cousin wish to kill you and spread your remains across a mile or so of forest?"
Zosimus sighed. His voice had THAT sound in it, the one she really hated, the one that said "I can't believe I'm lumbered with someone this incompetent" without having to actually say the words. Not that he'd probably mind voicing them, she thought sourly. Add another jot to mental note--arrange a moment to define relationship rules with Severus, and one of hers would unquestionably be no use of that tone ever no matter how annoyed you may become.
Noticing that Severus was slowly turning purple, Apollo thought it might be a good time to come up with an answer. Much as it pained her, she supposed the truth was going to have to do. "He's been trying to murder me for years. If I die, and my father has no more male children, which doesn't look likely as mother is getting on a bit, although according to Delaia I do get a baby sister in a few years, but of course, that won't help, will it? In any case, as things now stand, after me, he's next in line to inherit one of the largest fortunes in France. Assuming father doesn't manage to spend most of it before anyone can inherit. Anyway, Etienne's always hated me. Or, rather, he's always hated Apollo, even though he's never actually MET Apollo--the real one, I mean--but naturally he doesn't know that. And it didn't help that I was always better than him at everything, well, except for dueling, mores the pity considering the current circumstances, and he's jealous. Besides, I'm better looking. But it's mostly the money."
Severus was looking a bit dazed, she noticed. "So," he began, then stopped, putting a shaking hand to his head. Apollo wondered if that was why he'd been acting so snarky all day. Maybe the poor thing had a headache. Mental note to find out if he often has headaches, and to brew up something to alleviate them. He finally decided to try again. "Etienne has been trying to kill you for years, and you never once mentioned this? Is it at all possible that the thugs who stabbed you in Paris were connected with your cousin?"
Apollo sighed. She'd known, of course, that they were going to have to have this conversation sooner or later, but had been deliberately avoiding it. She'd envisioned bringing it up after they'd had a good meal, maybe all alone in their room, with two or three bottles of excellent wine to mellow the mood a bit, and, in a few of her better fantasies, Severus had responded to her tale of woe by comforting her in some very satisfactory ways thereafter. Their current position, doubled up under a bush, being hunted by giants and assorted maniacs, did not feature anywhere in the fantasy. Severus didn't look particularly mellow, either, and there was no wine in sight. Which was too bad because she could really have used some. But there was no help for it.
"Yes, I knew who they were. Etienne has had difficulty getting to me since I decided to go to Hogwarts rather than put my neck in the noose at Beauxbatons. So he's recently taken to sending little assassination parties after me from time to time, and I suppose he thought using muggles would be a good idea as I wouldn't be expecting to be attacked by an actual KNIFE for God's sake, and wouldn't have taken suitable precautions. He was right about that," she was annoyed to have to admit it, but she'd walked right into that one. "I suppose he heard that I was trying to obtain Tizheruk venom and thought setting up a false buy would give him a perfect opportunity to finish me off. Thanks to you, it didn't work."
"And you waited to tell me about this until now because . . . ?"
Apollo sighed again. This was definitely not her day. "I didn't want to worry you."
Apollo was very glad she'd performed the quietus charm, as the explosion following that little pronouncement would have drawn people from miles away. After awhile, she stopped listening to Severus' rant and resumed watching the searchers. They were definitely circling closer now. Of course, that big pink confection in the middle of the clearing WAS rather a give away, she thought, and noticed with annoyance that the icing had started to melt, running in small rivulets down the sides. Oh well, she supposed it didn't really matter, after all, as far as she could tell from their personal hygiene, giants seemed less than discerning.
It was that last thought that caused Apollo to experience an epiphany. Putting a hand over Sev's mouth to shut him up for a minute, she grinned a particularly Slytherin smile. "I just had a really interesting idea."
Albus looked about the large rectangular room and tried to concentrate. His companion, who still had a wand leveled on him, was not helping matters any, but the real distraction was the . . . things . . . in cages along the back wall. With a head that still felt as though he had downed a cask or two of Durmstrang's evil smelling beer, he could not make any sense at all of the disturbing thing that sat in the pen closest to him, calmly regarding him through great golden eyes. It LOOKED almost like someone had crossed a house elf with one of the pterodactyl-type birds that lived down in the caverns, but obviously that couldn't be right. Disturbingly, it was the least alarming of the specimens on display. He was resolutely not looking in the direction of the door, as the brief glance he'd had of the contents of one cage in particular had almost caused him to start hyperventilating earlier. He kept telling himself that it was all just part of the hallucination his companion had placed on him, that none of it was real. But he couldn't imagine how anyone's mind, however diseased, could dream up such things.
"So, when enough people began to suspect what she was doing--after all, only so many children can go missing in freak accidents before suspicions arise--she decided a new source of magical power had to be found. Unfortunately, she was not able to hit upon a creature, other than humans, with an energy source compatible both with the talisman and her own magic. So she began the experiments. Despite years of cross-genetic pairings, however, some of which resulted in quite powerful magical creatures indeed, witches and wizards remain the only usable source for her needs. Not that that has caused her to end the experiments--she still holds out hope--but it did result in her switching the majority of her interest to the Philosopher's Stone recently, as obtaining one would insure that her supply of human donors would need to be much smaller. A large percentage of each subject's power is wasted at present just sustaining her health and appearance."
What made the whole experience truly surreal, Albus decided as the floor seemed to sway under his feet, was the completely dispassionate tone with which the young man opposite him voiced these comments.
"Of course," Hieronymus continued, bending to peruse what looked like a merger between a merman and a water snake, with a tail so long that it had to be wrapped several times around his body just to permit any movement within his cramped tank, "the quest for eternal youth and beauty were the start of it all, some seventy years ago now, but the search has shifted to something rather more impressive these days. Did you notice what it's like, when you're wearing the talisman? Intoxicating, isn't it? You can think much more quickly, react faster, even see and hear better--and your magical ability . . . well, there's just no comparison, is there? A witch or wizard with the talisman to draw from, has abilities that make you or I seem like little more than muggles. It's completely seductive and utterly addictive. And that is just with one person powering it."
Hieronymus moved away from the tank when the mer-snake bared wicked looking fangs at him. "I suppose it was inevitable, really, that sooner or later she would ask the obvious question. What would happen if the powers of many wizards could be harnessed at once? What would it be like, to have the life-time magical abilities of ten, a hundred, a thousand people, all at your disposal, all at once?"
He gestured around at the grotesque menagerie. "I commented shortly after arriving and seeing all this, that it looked rather like she was trying to play God. Thankfully, she didn't take it badly; in fact, she laughed." He moved to stand within a few inches of Albus, who couldn't help shivering. The whole experience was sensory overload, surrounded by hideous things, being regaled with a scenario far beyond any nightmare he had ever had, and now Hieronymus was grinning at him. "She said," the dark boy went on, his voice barely above a whisper, "that she wasn't playing--that sooner or later, she would BE a god, or close enough that it made no difference." He draped an arm about Albus' shoulders, in a parody of comradeship. Albus, who was trying very hard not to be sick, did not bother to even attempt to shift him, not even when he dragged him over to the cage he'd been avoiding.
"If she gets the stone, her power will greatly increase, as it will sustain her life without any drain from her subjects. That, in turn, will allow her to take certain steps she's been planning for a long time, to gain enough control over the wizarding world to insure a steady supply of donors with no awkward questions being asked about where all the children are disappearing to."
Albus could not avoid looking at the monster in the cage any more. Some part of his mind, which was slowly waking from whatever spell he'd been put under, had begun screaming some time before, but the volume level in his head hit a new high as he regarded the bastardized version of a phoenix sitting in its cage. Albus had always been very fond of Fawkes, ever since his grandfather gave it to him on his eleventh birthday, but he didn't think he'd ever be able to look at his familiar the same way again. Instead of the benevolent, often sleepy eyed gaze he was used to, this bird had the burning, mad eyes of some other creature. He could not tell which, but they looked almost human, and their expression was that of someone tortured beyond all reason.
His companion pulled him close to whisper a final unwanted piece of information in his ear. "Of course, all that's just a prelude to what she really wants to get started on--a new range of experiments crossing wizards with other magical creatures, to obtain a purer and longer-lasting energy source. And, thanks to you, she'll have all eternity to perfect it."
The phoenix-thing suddenly began screaming, a high-pitched, horrible whine unlike anything Albus had ever heard. It seemed to reverberate throughout his entire body in sickening waves, and started off all the other creatures, which added their own undecipherable commentary to the hideous cacophony now echoing off the walls. It was the most horrific sound Albus had ever heard, but he didn't have to endure it long, as his mind finally gave up the fight and he fainted dead away.
* * *
Apollo wrinkled her nose at Sev, but didn't otherwise comment on the restraining hand he'd placed on her arm. As if she would be stupid enough to venture out against such odds. Not that hexing Etienne into the next life was at all a displeasing thought, but as his friends would insure that she followed closely after him, she supposed she'd have to forgo that particular pleasure for the moment. Luckily the charms they had cast over themselves earlier were momentarily concealing them from the mob that was now searching the undergrowth, but she did not find crouching under a very scratchy clump of bushes appealing, especially as the search seemed to be headed their way.
A flick of her wand set up a quietus perimeter around she and Severus, allowing her to speak without giving away their position. It also helped to muffle the taunts Etienne was spouting, apparently in the idiotic hope that one or more of them would draw her out. Really, as if they hadn't been insulting each other practically since birth; it wasn't as if she hadn't heard his entire repertoire many times over, and he wasn't even original enough to come up with any new ones. "I'm open to suggestions, darling," she told Severus frankly. He scowled, but as he did that habitually anyway, Apollo decided not to take it personally.
"Would I be correct in assuming that an ambush to knock us out of competition is not your cousin's primary objective?"
Apollo smiled, it always pleased her when Severus deduced something without having to be told. Intelligence was so attractive. "Right in one, although I'm sure that's the story he gave Durmstrang to acquire their assistance. I suppose the idea is to have them hex us into unconsciousness, then run back to the trial while he finishes us off. They probably don't even know what he plans, and may never as our demise could be made to look like one of the giants was responsible. I somehow doubt anyone at Durmstrang would investigate too thoroughly another couple of Triwizard fatalities." For the first time, she stopped being irritated with Sophicles. Wherever the boy was, he was probably safer than he would be with them. Etienne's obsession had skewed the Tournament odds from bad to positively frightful.
She noticed that Severus seemed to be having trouble breathing. Apollo patted him solicitously on the back, but received only a renewed glare in response. She left her hand where it was, however, worried that she could feel his spine so easily even through the thick robes they wore. He ought to renew the polyjuice, but she didn't suppose it mattered at the moment. She really needed to fatten him up, not that the gaunt look wasn't attractive to a degree, but a few more pounds would be nice. She added a note to that effect to her mental file labeled Project: Severus, which also contained ideas for better hair care and some new robes. Not the joke type she'd been unable to resist sending him before, but something more refined, maybe in a nice royal blue . . . "What?" Severus was regarding her with a look she couldn't quite define, but thought might be somewhere between bewilderment and disgust--which was hardly fair as she was thinking about his welfare, after all.
"And exactly why does your cousin wish to kill you and spread your remains across a mile or so of forest?"
Zosimus sighed. His voice had THAT sound in it, the one she really hated, the one that said "I can't believe I'm lumbered with someone this incompetent" without having to actually say the words. Not that he'd probably mind voicing them, she thought sourly. Add another jot to mental note--arrange a moment to define relationship rules with Severus, and one of hers would unquestionably be no use of that tone ever no matter how annoyed you may become.
Noticing that Severus was slowly turning purple, Apollo thought it might be a good time to come up with an answer. Much as it pained her, she supposed the truth was going to have to do. "He's been trying to murder me for years. If I die, and my father has no more male children, which doesn't look likely as mother is getting on a bit, although according to Delaia I do get a baby sister in a few years, but of course, that won't help, will it? In any case, as things now stand, after me, he's next in line to inherit one of the largest fortunes in France. Assuming father doesn't manage to spend most of it before anyone can inherit. Anyway, Etienne's always hated me. Or, rather, he's always hated Apollo, even though he's never actually MET Apollo--the real one, I mean--but naturally he doesn't know that. And it didn't help that I was always better than him at everything, well, except for dueling, mores the pity considering the current circumstances, and he's jealous. Besides, I'm better looking. But it's mostly the money."
Severus was looking a bit dazed, she noticed. "So," he began, then stopped, putting a shaking hand to his head. Apollo wondered if that was why he'd been acting so snarky all day. Maybe the poor thing had a headache. Mental note to find out if he often has headaches, and to brew up something to alleviate them. He finally decided to try again. "Etienne has been trying to kill you for years, and you never once mentioned this? Is it at all possible that the thugs who stabbed you in Paris were connected with your cousin?"
Apollo sighed. She'd known, of course, that they were going to have to have this conversation sooner or later, but had been deliberately avoiding it. She'd envisioned bringing it up after they'd had a good meal, maybe all alone in their room, with two or three bottles of excellent wine to mellow the mood a bit, and, in a few of her better fantasies, Severus had responded to her tale of woe by comforting her in some very satisfactory ways thereafter. Their current position, doubled up under a bush, being hunted by giants and assorted maniacs, did not feature anywhere in the fantasy. Severus didn't look particularly mellow, either, and there was no wine in sight. Which was too bad because she could really have used some. But there was no help for it.
"Yes, I knew who they were. Etienne has had difficulty getting to me since I decided to go to Hogwarts rather than put my neck in the noose at Beauxbatons. So he's recently taken to sending little assassination parties after me from time to time, and I suppose he thought using muggles would be a good idea as I wouldn't be expecting to be attacked by an actual KNIFE for God's sake, and wouldn't have taken suitable precautions. He was right about that," she was annoyed to have to admit it, but she'd walked right into that one. "I suppose he heard that I was trying to obtain Tizheruk venom and thought setting up a false buy would give him a perfect opportunity to finish me off. Thanks to you, it didn't work."
"And you waited to tell me about this until now because . . . ?"
Apollo sighed again. This was definitely not her day. "I didn't want to worry you."
Apollo was very glad she'd performed the quietus charm, as the explosion following that little pronouncement would have drawn people from miles away. After awhile, she stopped listening to Severus' rant and resumed watching the searchers. They were definitely circling closer now. Of course, that big pink confection in the middle of the clearing WAS rather a give away, she thought, and noticed with annoyance that the icing had started to melt, running in small rivulets down the sides. Oh well, she supposed it didn't really matter, after all, as far as she could tell from their personal hygiene, giants seemed less than discerning.
It was that last thought that caused Apollo to experience an epiphany. Putting a hand over Sev's mouth to shut him up for a minute, she grinned a particularly Slytherin smile. "I just had a really interesting idea."