Harry Potter and the Stone Wand
Chapter 3
"Friday the 13th"
"She had you all drink something that has made you unable to do any magic?" asked Ginny in disbelief.
"Yeah. Rotten trick really," said Ron, waving his wand around absentmindedly.
"We're not allowed to do magic during holidays, so I don't really see the difference," said Harry. "Check."
"It's different!" exclaimed Ron. "Everyone else can do magic! Someone could attack us in the halls and we'd be defenseless!"
"We're not allowed to do magic in the halls either," said Ginny. "Check mate. I win."
Harry looked at her and grinned. "Must run in the family."
Ron stood up and tossed his wand in the chair. "What kind of crazy potion is that anyway?! Now anyone can rid everyone of all their magical powers!!! And she had us make our own?! What was she thinking?! She could have caused serious damage!!! Ten years from now I could be apparating and I'll just disappear!!! And it will be her fault!!!! How could she do this to me?!" He flopped down in a chair all huffy puffy.
"Not everything runs in the family," she said.
Harry thought Ron was overreacting a bit. The potion wore off in time for their Monday classes. Harry couldn't wait for Friday. For the first time ever, he was looking forward to Potions. He just had so many questions about Veneficium.
But first they had Divination on Thursday. "Welcome, class!" said Professor Trewlaney as she wistfully entered the classroom. "Today we will be using all that we have learned thus far in order to predict what tomorrow will be like. You do know what tomorrow is, don't you?" she asked when she saw all the blank looks. "Friday the thirteenth!" she exclaimed. There were a few gasps and a few moans. "Everyone, take out your charts. We'll start our predictions with the aid of the stars."
By the end of the class, Trewlaney had seen Harry in danger, Ron in distress, and Neville running for his life. Harry thought she predicted pretty much the same fate for them, just worded them differently.
"Rubbish," scoffed Ron as they made their way to the common room. "Nothing is going to happen tomorrow. Friday the thirteenth. With her it doesn't matter what day it is. Harry, you seem to be in danger every day of your life."
The next day, Harry made it to Potions just fine, as did Ron and Neville. He eagerly sat in the dungeon-like classroom waiting for class to begin. Professor Parsons emerged from Snape's office and stood by his table. "Please bring your essays up and grab a satin scarf."
When everyone was back in their seats, she said, "Alright. Today we are going to make a potion that requires its ingredients to be filtered--yes, Harry?" Harry had abruptly raised his hand.
"Aren't we going to discuss Veneficium Pop?" he asked, hopefully.
"Oh. I suppose we could. I just had you make the potion last week for fun and practice. It's not something you really have to remember."
"Then why did we take notes on it?" Pansy asked, bitterly.
"You need to know about it, but you don't need to remember how to make it. In fact, you won't know how to make it because all the key ingredients were premade by me. It is a dangerous potion when made by inept wizards. There was no danger for you all since you only made half the potion. I guess I didn't explain it very well." She put down the purple scarf in her hands. "You all are wizards and witches because you have magic in your blood. Whether you are halfblood, pureblood, or muggleborn, you are all similarly magical. Veneficium affects this and basically acts as a cover. A proper potion will flow through you and hinder your magical abilities. Kind of like how poison can make you sick. If the potion is not made properly, it could act more like a virus causing permanent damage. I made the part that can do this. I obviously wouldn't put you all in that kind of danger. But it's extremely rare for it to act like a virus. It's not easy to rid someone of their magic permanently or damage them somehow. Usually the long term effects are inabilities to apparate properly (Harry smiled at Ron.) or do certain charms or something simple like that. Stuff like that are already common problems among some magic folk. Not a huge deal.
"The complications that come with Veneficium usually prevents people from attempting to make it on their own. My grandmother was very talented with potions, which is how she came to perfect it. I wanted to continue her work. It's quite fascinating really, turning wizards and witches into muggles for a short while."
"Why?" asked Parvati.
"Excuse me?"
"Why even make this potion? If no one uses it or it really doesn't have any importance, why bother?"
"Why bother learning cheering charms? Do you really need magic to be happy?" Parvati looked confused. "Miss Patil, there is always a purpose, always a reason for something. Veneficium is highly regulated by the Ministry of Magic because of what it can do. Just because it is seldom used does not mean it can't be useful."
"If it's highly regulated, why were you allowed to give it to all of us?" asked Pansy.
"Because I am the one who creates it. I am responsible for it. I guess it's safe to tell all of you that I am making a batch for the ministry to test at Azkaban. They have decided it is necessary to take further actions seeing as how Sirius Black is still at large. If the prisoners are given Veneficium Pop regularly, they'll have no way of escaping. Does that satisfy you, Miss Patil?" Parvati nodded slightly. "Good. Now, Harry, what else would you like to know about it?"
Harry was still stuck on her mentioning Sirius. "Uh...nothing."
At dinner, everyone was anxiously discussing classes. "Was anyone else totally confused in Potions?" asked Neville.
"Completely. She was talking in circles," said Ron. "One moment she said the potion was dangerous and the next she said the side effects are no big deal. I don't think she quite knows what she's talking about."
"Well, I think she meant it is potentially dangerous, but it's also very hard to seriously damage someone's magical powers," said Harry.
"See? She has you contradicting yourself as well! She's definitely mental. I don't think the ministry should trust her to make a 'potentially dangerous' potion."
Harry decided to change the subject. "I didn't know that people in the magic world were superstitious," he said, thinking about Trewlaney.
"Well, most aren't. There is of course the occasional weirdo."
"I remember one Friday the thirteenth," said Neville, "my uncle crashed into a tree, while flying on a broom."
"That's just a coincidence. Not really out of the ordinary," said Ron, unconvinced. "Friday the thirteenth is just like any other day."
As though right on cue, a familiar but unwanted face sat down across from them next to Neville. "Hi, Ron, Harry, Neville. How was your holiday?"
Chapter 3
"Friday the 13th"
"She had you all drink something that has made you unable to do any magic?" asked Ginny in disbelief.
"Yeah. Rotten trick really," said Ron, waving his wand around absentmindedly.
"We're not allowed to do magic during holidays, so I don't really see the difference," said Harry. "Check."
"It's different!" exclaimed Ron. "Everyone else can do magic! Someone could attack us in the halls and we'd be defenseless!"
"We're not allowed to do magic in the halls either," said Ginny. "Check mate. I win."
Harry looked at her and grinned. "Must run in the family."
Ron stood up and tossed his wand in the chair. "What kind of crazy potion is that anyway?! Now anyone can rid everyone of all their magical powers!!! And she had us make our own?! What was she thinking?! She could have caused serious damage!!! Ten years from now I could be apparating and I'll just disappear!!! And it will be her fault!!!! How could she do this to me?!" He flopped down in a chair all huffy puffy.
"Not everything runs in the family," she said.
Harry thought Ron was overreacting a bit. The potion wore off in time for their Monday classes. Harry couldn't wait for Friday. For the first time ever, he was looking forward to Potions. He just had so many questions about Veneficium.
But first they had Divination on Thursday. "Welcome, class!" said Professor Trewlaney as she wistfully entered the classroom. "Today we will be using all that we have learned thus far in order to predict what tomorrow will be like. You do know what tomorrow is, don't you?" she asked when she saw all the blank looks. "Friday the thirteenth!" she exclaimed. There were a few gasps and a few moans. "Everyone, take out your charts. We'll start our predictions with the aid of the stars."
By the end of the class, Trewlaney had seen Harry in danger, Ron in distress, and Neville running for his life. Harry thought she predicted pretty much the same fate for them, just worded them differently.
"Rubbish," scoffed Ron as they made their way to the common room. "Nothing is going to happen tomorrow. Friday the thirteenth. With her it doesn't matter what day it is. Harry, you seem to be in danger every day of your life."
The next day, Harry made it to Potions just fine, as did Ron and Neville. He eagerly sat in the dungeon-like classroom waiting for class to begin. Professor Parsons emerged from Snape's office and stood by his table. "Please bring your essays up and grab a satin scarf."
When everyone was back in their seats, she said, "Alright. Today we are going to make a potion that requires its ingredients to be filtered--yes, Harry?" Harry had abruptly raised his hand.
"Aren't we going to discuss Veneficium Pop?" he asked, hopefully.
"Oh. I suppose we could. I just had you make the potion last week for fun and practice. It's not something you really have to remember."
"Then why did we take notes on it?" Pansy asked, bitterly.
"You need to know about it, but you don't need to remember how to make it. In fact, you won't know how to make it because all the key ingredients were premade by me. It is a dangerous potion when made by inept wizards. There was no danger for you all since you only made half the potion. I guess I didn't explain it very well." She put down the purple scarf in her hands. "You all are wizards and witches because you have magic in your blood. Whether you are halfblood, pureblood, or muggleborn, you are all similarly magical. Veneficium affects this and basically acts as a cover. A proper potion will flow through you and hinder your magical abilities. Kind of like how poison can make you sick. If the potion is not made properly, it could act more like a virus causing permanent damage. I made the part that can do this. I obviously wouldn't put you all in that kind of danger. But it's extremely rare for it to act like a virus. It's not easy to rid someone of their magic permanently or damage them somehow. Usually the long term effects are inabilities to apparate properly (Harry smiled at Ron.) or do certain charms or something simple like that. Stuff like that are already common problems among some magic folk. Not a huge deal.
"The complications that come with Veneficium usually prevents people from attempting to make it on their own. My grandmother was very talented with potions, which is how she came to perfect it. I wanted to continue her work. It's quite fascinating really, turning wizards and witches into muggles for a short while."
"Why?" asked Parvati.
"Excuse me?"
"Why even make this potion? If no one uses it or it really doesn't have any importance, why bother?"
"Why bother learning cheering charms? Do you really need magic to be happy?" Parvati looked confused. "Miss Patil, there is always a purpose, always a reason for something. Veneficium is highly regulated by the Ministry of Magic because of what it can do. Just because it is seldom used does not mean it can't be useful."
"If it's highly regulated, why were you allowed to give it to all of us?" asked Pansy.
"Because I am the one who creates it. I am responsible for it. I guess it's safe to tell all of you that I am making a batch for the ministry to test at Azkaban. They have decided it is necessary to take further actions seeing as how Sirius Black is still at large. If the prisoners are given Veneficium Pop regularly, they'll have no way of escaping. Does that satisfy you, Miss Patil?" Parvati nodded slightly. "Good. Now, Harry, what else would you like to know about it?"
Harry was still stuck on her mentioning Sirius. "Uh...nothing."
At dinner, everyone was anxiously discussing classes. "Was anyone else totally confused in Potions?" asked Neville.
"Completely. She was talking in circles," said Ron. "One moment she said the potion was dangerous and the next she said the side effects are no big deal. I don't think she quite knows what she's talking about."
"Well, I think she meant it is potentially dangerous, but it's also very hard to seriously damage someone's magical powers," said Harry.
"See? She has you contradicting yourself as well! She's definitely mental. I don't think the ministry should trust her to make a 'potentially dangerous' potion."
Harry decided to change the subject. "I didn't know that people in the magic world were superstitious," he said, thinking about Trewlaney.
"Well, most aren't. There is of course the occasional weirdo."
"I remember one Friday the thirteenth," said Neville, "my uncle crashed into a tree, while flying on a broom."
"That's just a coincidence. Not really out of the ordinary," said Ron, unconvinced. "Friday the thirteenth is just like any other day."
As though right on cue, a familiar but unwanted face sat down across from them next to Neville. "Hi, Ron, Harry, Neville. How was your holiday?"
