Chapter Twenty-Six
Aurelius and the Wine of Satyrs
Aurelius, Heph and Stock met up with Alex and her friends in the library just before lunch the next day, shuffling, into chairs across the table.
"I have more names for you to cross off," Aurelius said, handing Alex a scroll.
"Good. Mandria and I got most of Ravenclaw done. It looks like only four or five of ours stayed," Alex said, circling those names that weren't yet scribbled in before scrolling up to the Slytherin enrollment to eliminate the ones Aurelius had brought. "Any luck on staff?"
"Sagittari was here for Christmas, Professor Dumbledore, of course. Pomfrey and Scribe went home," Aurelius said.
"Eliminating Pomfrey and Scribe, got it," Alex said. "Rose?"
"Here's the rest of the list from my class, although I admit I had some help from the Gaffneys to get it done," Rose said.
"Wonderful, two more to add to the Pact," Aurelius muttered.
"How are we going to get Hufflepuff done?" she asked.
"I'll ask Ranly, we used to be pretty good mates," Heph suggested.
"True, but we've been pretty hard on him since he turned Snifflepuff on us," Stock pointed out. Aurelius joined his housemates in sniggering.
"Can we try to finish this with some level of maturity?" Mandria asked, wondering why she suffered herself sitting with Slytherin in the first place. "Professor Weasley and Madame Brittle went home."
"Right, already have them marked off," Alex nodded. "Anyone else we know for sure that stayed?"
"Professor Ravenclaw?" Mandria said.
"Of course he was here," Aurelius said rolling his eyes. "It's not like he'd have it."
"Well, I could say that about any professor on this list," Alex sighed.
"What about Boulderdash?" Heph whispered. "Anybody know if he had stayed?"
"He's not marked off yet," Alex said.
"I'll ask him," Rose said, getting up and walking over before anyone could protest.
Boulderdash, in typical Boulderdash form, merely held his hand out, and this time Rose put some books in his hand.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Boulderdash. Did you have a good holiday?"
"We've been back for several weeks now, Miss Bailey," he pointed out, inscribing the books.
"I know, I'm sorry, I've been busy. I've had to spend my weekends at home going over this trial thing. I suppose you've heard about it?" Rose asked.
"Some, Miss Bailey," he said. "I see you are studying soil composition now?"
"Yes, I'm getting ready to replant my Willow project," Rose nodded. "So were things all right in Myrkinbrek?"
"Oh, is that what you're after, is it?" Boulderdash said, studying her. "I avoid conflict, Miss Bailey, why else do you think I would be this school's Librarian? I did get quite a number of the books repaired in my office. Hopefully the students will take better care of them this time."
"Yes, sir. I do try to take care of the books when I have them," Rose said, reaching out for the books he had begun to hand to her. He paused however, looking thoughtful.
"You'll be fifth year next year?"
"Yes, sir," Rose said, slightly puzzled by his expression.
"If you have any openings in your class schedule, I hope you'll consider volunteering as an aid then," he suggested, handing her the books. "You may actually learn something other than how to get your hands dirty for a change."
"Yes sir, thank you sir," Rose said, wandering back over to the table with a wide grin.
"Well?" Alex asked.
"Yes, he stayed here," Rose said. "And guess what, I think I got a job next year."
"What?" Aurelius said. "If he stayed, then he's suspect number one, after all he is a goblin."
"Oh, Rel, do be realistic. Boulderdash wouldn't want a war," Rose said.
"For all we know, he could be spying on the school so that the goblins know what we're up to," Heph agreed.
"If anything, I'd more imagine it's the other way around," Rose said. "Boulderdash is loyal to Dumbledore, that much is clear."
"Yes, but you're forgetting one thing," Heph said. "Dumbledore isn't here anymore, is he?"
When the murmur started at Rose's table, Boulderdash didn't look up from his book, although he did have a slight twitch in his ear that indicated someone was talking about him. It had been twitching quite a lot in the months since the conflict had started, he mused. It was not surprising. Throughout time there were accounts of those in similar positions as he facing similar scrutiny. The noise wasn't enough to concern him. But then, all at once, the room became quiet… too quiet to be normal in the Hogwarts Library. Therefore, of course he had to look up to find out what the meaning of the disturbance was.
It all made sense when he looked up and saw Xavier Platt at his desk, standing tall with a complete air of confidence all his own. But despite his appearance, Boulderdash couldn't help but notice that he smelled like a frightened rabbit.
"I have a note for you from Professor Snape, sir," Xavier said, handing it out.
"Ah, so I see," Boulderdash said, reading the note carefully before gazing at the boy. "Looking to learn how to kill goblins, are we, Mr. Platt?"
"No, sir," Xavier said expressionlessly. "I am looking to learn how to keep them from killing me."
"That," Boulderdash said, carefully folding the note with a nod. "I can help you with. If you'll follow me," he said, getting up and walking to the Restricted Section with Xavier close behind.
Slowly the whispers began to come back into the library. Alex, who had been leaning precariously in her chair to watch the two of them as long as she could, slid back into place.
"Now that was odd," Alex said in a low voice, turning back to the others.
"Xavier Platt must have nerves of steel," Stock said as he sat back in his seat. "I don't know all that many students who would have been able to just go up to him like that if they were in his shoes."
"Comes from upbringing. No matter what else can be said about the Platts, they're definitely an old school family," Heph said. "I say, old Boulderdash had better not give him any trouble."
"Nonsense, Boulderdash would never do anything to harm a student," Rose said angrily. "I don't care what any of you say, I think he's trustworthy."
"Maybe that's something we ought to let Platt decide," Aurelius said, effectively ending the conversation.
Xavier Platt spent quite a bit of time in the library after that; at least he was definitely spending a lot less time in the Common Room of Conspiracies over the next few days. Of course, he still didn't miss sparring, and his record for wins there promised sure points for Slytherin so that Horus did not complain. Heph and Aurelius were doing well too, even though it seemed that Rel's father didn't have time to host the tournament himself anymore. Instead, Madame Brittle stepped to the plate to help Jennifer coordinate sparring for the rest of the term.
"We really have it in the bag this year," Horus said at the end of the evening as he leapt into one of the chairs and put his feet on the coffee table. "In fact, I'd say the only year we have a problem with would be second year, wouldn't you say?" His eyes were intent on Aurelius, while Xavier and Camille were heartily agreeing with him.
"We'll have enough points without getting second year sparring," Aurelius said.
"True, but if you know anything that might slow your sister down a bit, you might enlighten us," Horus said.
"She's a Snape," Aurelius said simply. "Nothing's going to slow her down."
"You might as well give it up, Horus. Rel's made it clear on more than one occasion he's loyal to his sister, no matter how peculiar that is," Heph said, ignoring the look Aurelius gave him in return.
"You know, that's too bad, because there's going to be a few Quidditch spots opening next year, and I'm sure the house as a whole would be very interested in someone who knows how to insure a clean sweep in any sport," Horus said, Camille nodding to him in agreement. "Just something to think about," he added before heading up to his dorm.
Aurelius sighed and got up without saying a word to Heph or Stock sitting beside him. He was already settled into his bed by the time they came up, making as much noise as a herd of hippogriffs.
"You know, maybe I know a way to get your sister to stop sparring…"
"Heph, stow it," Aurelius warned.
"That'd be easy, just make some up some sort of secret ancient magic item and tell her it's connected to the end of the world and send her on her way," Stock said.
"Stock, stow it. And snuff the candles," Aurelius snapped.
"I will not. It's Imbolc, don't you know? Tomorrow's February second."
"Hurray for it, snuff the candles."
"Better do it, Stock, we've got him all mad talking about his precious sister again."
"I don't care. It's bad luck to put them out," Stock said. Aurelius sat straight up in his bed then, grabbing his wand from the nightstand.
"Caligatio!" Aurelius snapped, and all the candles snuffed out at once, leaving Heph and Stock standing in the darkness.
"Well, that was rather rude," Stock said.
Aurelius, however, was much too tired to care. He fell into a deep sleep, strangely haunted by dreams that at first were too quick to understand. Then, he heard a sound… a whinny of intense pain, and he found himself once again facing the Manticore next to the Unicorn suffering at his feet. But this time as he fell, he saw something he hadn't seen the first time. It was a large serpent, growing larger and larger as if were going to eat him whole. That was when he felt the serpent's tongue on his chin.
Leaping up wide-awake with surprise, Aurelius sat up abruptly and Achilles was flung from his chest, the snake hissing in protest when he hit the edge of the bed.
"Achilles, what are you doing? You scared me out of my wits!" Aurelius hissed in annoyance.
"You wanted me to tell you if I found something," the snake said calmly.
"Found something? You found the cup?" Aurelius asked, rubbing his eyes.
"No. A mouse. I was hunting."
"Achilles, I am hardly interested in your eating habits. It was your choice not to let me feed you," Aurelius said.
"It was not an ordinary mouse," Achilles explained. "It did not run. It fought back. And the taste was strange. I will show you where. The ground is odd too. And magic."
"Achilles, I'm not sure what you are trying to tell me, but I haven't any intention of wandering around the castle this late," Aurelius complained.
"Not in the castle. Outside. The cup is not there. The cup was there."
"Wait, wait. What do you mean was there?" The snake let out a long hiss that sounded like a sigh. "Not an ordinary mouse. Odd ground. Do you mean perhaps the wine was spilled there? How far?"
"Far for me. Close for you," Achilles said. Aurelius thought for a moment, glancing at the clock. As much as his father had been working, there could be little doubt that he was asleep at the moment, and Achilles said it was close… making up his mind at last, Aurelius threw on some clothes and stuffed some extra supplies in his cloak before putting it on, holding out his hand so that Achilles could wrap himself around it. "All right, show me."
It was frigidly cold outside. In fact, had Achilles maintained his lonely life in the caves he'd have probably been sleeping right now, doing what he could to maintain his body heat. As it was he clung tighter to Aurelius' arm as he led him past the pens, Aurelius slowing down the farther past the barn they went.
"Achilles, we're awful close to the forest," Aurelius hissed softly. "Please tell me it's not in it."
"Yes. But not far."
"You said that in the rooms. May I remind you that the last time I went in there I nearly got killed?" Aurelius pointed out.
"It is not far. Even for me."
"Good, then you can slither on your own," Aurelius said, putting him down at the edge of the cleared brush. Making a small glow light, he followed the snake as closely as possible, following the snake's hissing voice whenever he lost sight of him. But soon the snake stopped and curled up, licking at the ground.
"It was here," the snake hissed.
"Here?" Aurelius stood up curiously and looked back in the direction that they came. From there, he could barely still see the soft glow of lights inside the barn. "Why, this isn't far from the castle at all…" he stopped then, his face paling as realization sank in.
But before he could move or explain his thought to the snake, a patch of light from the other direction caught is attention. At first only the scarred front shoulders of the beast could be seen, but then the Unicorn lifted its head standing more still and more graceful than a deer, and somehow still more beautiful, despite its broken horn and lacerated face.
"Pali," Aurelius murmured, and one of the Unicorn's ears flicked slightly at the mention of his name. Pali did not make a move to come nearer, he merely watched from the protection of the trees, and Aurelius somehow knew that now was not the time to try and go nearer. It was merely curious, Aurelius realized. Perhaps curious, as he had been, to see how the other was faring. But as the moment faded, so did the Unicorn, and Aurelius found himself having to concentrate to remember what he was doing.
He grabbed Achilles off the ground and stuffed him in a pocket, hurrying back to his dorms. He paused only a moment or two when hearing a sound in the halls, but then he safely made it back, slipping in his room and turning on all the lights. Heph and Stock protested loudly and tried to roll over, but Aurelius was busy going through his trunk, quickly flipping through old copies of the Daily Prophet.
"Aurelius, have you gone mad? What are you doing?"
"I know who stole the cup!" Aurelius said, finding one of the papers and taking it out, then searching further back.
"Good, then that means we can go to sleep," Stock said.
"Aurelius, how could you possibly know who stole the cup when you didn't when we went to sleep?" Heph yawned. "Wait a minute, you've your cloak on. Are you going somewhere?"
"Just got back, actually. And I think I may know who has the cup now, only I am going to need a bit of help proving it," Aurelius said, reading over some of the papers.
"Right. In the morning," Heph agreed sleepily, falling back into bed.
"Right. After breakfast. And expect to miss part of your first class."
"Are you insane? We have Double Potions first period!" Heph said.
"That's not going to matter. I think it's finally time for a bit of staff involvement," Aurelius said.
It took Aurelius naming off seven different side characters in Sherlock Holmes stories before he finally hit on the right one to open the passage, taking the spiral stairs by twos and knocking heavily on the double doors, which finally opened and let him in.
Severus had already been up for an hour attempting to get some tests marked before his first appointment; the pot of coffee half gone and a good dent had been made in the candy dish. He looked up in surprise at the sight of Aurelius standing there, frowning and wondering how he managed to get in.
"Aurelius, unless it's important, can it wait until before class? I have a full schedule today," Severus said.
"Clear it," Aurelius said as he walked towards the desk.
"I beg your pardon?"
"At least for the next few hours. There's something you need to see," Aurelius said.
"This isn't home, Aurelius," Severus sighed, rubbing his head. "I cannot just clear my schedule on a whim just because…"
"Princess Thera stole Hebe's Cup, Father!" Aurelius barked. In the time that it had taken Severus to blink, the entire morning's appointments in the book suddenly erased themselves and replaced it with: Undivided Attention to Son.
"They had taken her to the Ministry the day that it disappeared, and she had been with them in the Artifacts Office. No one bothered questioning her because first off, most of them couldn't understand her, and nobody suspected her anyhow because everyone felt sorry for her. But I think what happened was at some point… at some point she must have drank the Wine, and she got addicted to it, because the moment it began to wear off, she began to feel afraid again of everything that was happening to her. She must have taken to keeping it nearby fearing that she would lose it, and she happened to take it to Sagittari's that day we scared Nearly Headless Nick. That was when she lost it… she had slipped in the forest to try and get a sip of the Wine without Sagittari knowing it. And I think Sagittari nearly caught her with it so she dropped it, thinking she would come get it later. Only when she came back, it wasn't there. That's why she had been acting so strangely the day of the shopping trip and why she wandered away. The effects of the Wine had completely worn off, and being so close to the forest, she wanted to try to find it. But it wasn't in the forest anymore. It was in the castle. And if you come with me, I can prove who it was that found it."
"Show me," Severus said, and Aurelius nodded, following him out the door.
It had taken Heph and Stock some time to finally track their unwilling victim. Finally they found him near the Quidditch Pitch, putting new latches on the gates. Carefully slipping into position, Heph nodded to the other boy, and they counted to three, both of them dropping a water balloon on the unsuspecting Argus Filch.
"Peeves!" Argus barked, his hands still hovering near the latch. "That better not be you. I can get you now, you know. Better leave while you can." Shrugging at each other, Heph and Stock aimed again, and two more water balloons fell on his head. Argus backed up then, pulling at his sleeve as he tried to see where the balloons where coming from. "Alright. Ye're askin' for it now! Show yourself! It's just you and me this time!"
Heph nodded to Stock again, and a water balloon barrage started raining down, when suddenly, Argus whipped out a wand from his sleeve, pointing at a dangling foot poking out from one of the railings.
"Wingardium leviosa!" boomed Argus, and suddenly Heph wailed as he was dragged by his feet into the air, dangling upside down. "Thought you could get by me, did you? Wanted to pick on the squib, poor Mr. Filch, did you?" he sneered. "Wull, guess what boys…" he said, as he switched his wand to the other side, managing to catch a protesting Stock in the levitation spell as well. "The rules have just changed, and you're not going to be takin' liberties with me no more!"
"I hope that doesn't mean you plan to be turning them into toads, Mr. Filch," Severus said, stepping around the corner with his arms folded. "Because I haven't remanded that yet."
"Professor Snape!" Argus said in surprise, the two students falling to the pitch as he lost his concentration. "Of course I wasn't going to do toads, I…" Argus glanced at the wand then stuck it back up his sleeve.
"Quite an impressive display of magic. Come to think of it, you've been doing quite a bit of it lately, haven't you? A footprint spell to keep the floors free of dust that day you were in the study, not to mention when you were on that ladder on Halloween… you summoned your screwdriver."
"It's come over me all the sudden. After all these years, I finally got my magic!" Filch said, nodding.
"So you have," Severus agreed. "How did you do it?"
"Just… it just happened, actually. Practice just started paying off, I guess."
"Does it have anything to do with this?" Aurelius asked, coming around the corner beside his father with a cup in his hand. "I found it in the case in the Trophy Room, thanks to a little tip from a House Elf."
"Why you little… that's mine!" Filch barked. "I found it, nobody else had it! It was just sitting in the forest!" Aurelius quickly handed it to his father to keep himself from becoming a target.
"Argus, you must have had some idea what it was and what was in it. You know better than to drink strange brews on a whim," Severus pointed out. Argus stared hard at the cup for a long time before looking up at Severus and bowing his head.
"I only meant to take a sip, to see if the legends were true and that it could give me magic," Argus muttered. "And in that instant, I knew… I knew I could do it, Professor. After all those years, after all the jeering and jibbing… I finally felt what it was like to cast a spell and for somethin' ta actually happen! How could ya expect me to give that up? How can ya expect me to give that up now when I've finally had a chance to actually do it?"
"Argus," Severus sighed, glancing inside the cup. "Even forgetting the fact there is barely a swallow left and had you drank it, you would not have been able to get more, there is something here that you need to know. Regardless of any legends about the Wine, or what you may believe about what the 'gods' that made these really were, no matter what rare mixtures, herbs, and techniques may exist, there is no such thing as a potion that can make a person magic. No matter how you transform a thing, or try to change a thing, part of it is still the thing it started out as in some way shape or form. All this Wine does, no matter how potent, is make you feel confident and free of fear. So if you can do magic now and never could before, then you are going to find yourself asking some very hard questions when the last of this Wine wears off."
"So what now? I suppose you'll send me packing?" asked Argus Filch somberly.
"Yes," Severus said seriously. "Right to the hospital wing, where you will stay until Poppy and Sagittari inform Minerva and I that you are fit for duty again."
"Then I'm not getting sacked?" Argus asked with surprise.
"And then have to explain to Dumbledore where you went? Do I look like a fool? To the hospital wing, Mr. Filch. And you, Mr. Snape, will march right back up to my study. You have some blanks to fill in. Such as how exactly you knew the cup was in the building to begin with. Aren't you two late for class?" Severus added impatiently, glancing over to make sure that Argus was already on his way.
"We're not in trouble for what we did to Filch?" Heph asked. Stock gave him a dirty look.
"Being late to one of Craw's classes will cover any punishments I might have in mind," Severus said. "And before you ask, no, I won't give you a tardy slip." Heph and Stock glowered a bit at Aurelius, who smiled apologetically. "Oh, and one other thing," he said as they started to turn. "Hand her this, I have enough problems to deal with," he snapped, giving the cup to Hephaestus, who took it wide-eyed. "And before you get any ideas, if either of you even let one drop of that touch your lips, I will make sure that neither of you ever see the outside of this school again," Severus threatened darkly. "Ever."
Heph and Stock couldn't help but believe him. Glancing at each other nervously, they hurried inside, very careful not to spill what was left in the cup.
"March," Severus ordered Aurelius again, giving him a firm push forward. "And take us by way of the hospital wing, I want to make sure Filch gets there in one piece."
"You know you cleaned that up fairly well for a beginner," Aurelius said daringly, making sure he was keeping well ahead of Severus' reach.
"I've had a lot of practice at home, don't you think?" Severus said dryly, making sure his son kept his pace.
