Chapter Four
An Unpleasant Discovery
Phoebe sipped at her coffee, looking over what notes she had now. She had scanned through another chapter, and had made some interesting discovery points. Only a few people that were in that class could have messed with the potion. Her list was as follows.
Larissa Troy, Phoebe Williams, Paul Yeager, and Shayla Culluns.
She knew it wasn't herself and why would any of the other three do something like this?
Her body slumped into the seat on the other side of the table Phoebe was sitting at.
"What's with you DeMarcus? You look like you just ate a flobberworm."
"Well, you're friends with raging sphinxes!"
"What are you talking about?"
Her face scowled at her, Phoebe shrugged. She really didn't care what Richard said to her, she was on her way to figuring out what had done this. Richard was just a distraction, and distractions were to be ignored.
At that moment, Cambria walked into the library with Larissa and Morgaine in tow. She pointed at Phoebe and Richard with a scandalous tone to her voice.
"SEE!"
Morgaine gave a dramatic gasp, Larissa paled slightly. Cambria looked triumphant. Phoebe glared at Richard from over to top of the binder she was gathering her notes into. Cam nodded towards the dishonor of Phoebe Williams, a Gryffindor, being seen with Richard DeMarcus, a Slytherin.
"Watch this, hey Phoebe, remember, Andrew said our homework was to be quidditch."
Richard-in-Phoebe's-body looked at Cambria blankly while Phoebe-in- Richard's-body was trying her level best not to snicker loudly. Must not laugh, will blow cover!
Morgaine and Larissa looked at Cambria as confused as Richard-in-Phoebe's- body did. Cambria smiled with pride and pointed at Phoebe-in-Richard's- body.
"That is the real Phoebe."
Morgaine and Larissa's eyes grew wide as Larissa fought the urge to heave her stomach contents onto the library floor. Richard-in-Phoebe's-body got an evil grin at the reasoning for their reaction. Phoebe-in-Richard's-body kicked him hard underneath the table.
Larissa controlled her urge, "How long?"
Phoebe-in-Richard's-body fidgeted in her seat behind her binder, "Only a few days, since the polyjuice in Snape's class."
Morgaine swooned slightly, leaning heavily on the table, "You mean, you mean..."
Phoebe-in-Richard's-body frowned, "Don't think I'm anymore pleased with it then you are Morgaine, the basturd is in my body!"
"For someone who calls me a basturd, you're not exactly princess perfect yourself!"
"I resent that DeMarcus. Besides, I'd never be a princess, I hate the crown."
"That wasn't my point."
Morgaine swallowed a lump in her throat, "If he's been in the girls, gick, dormitory, does that mean you've been in the, erm, Slytherin boys dormitory?"
Phoebe-in-Richard's-body laughed, "No, thankfully DeMarcus is a quidditch captain, and he has his own room and bathroom. I would have been lost if it wasn't for that."
Richard-in-Phoebe's-body smirked, "Well, I'm glad you found something redeemable about me Williams."
"I didn't say it was redeemable, though I'm surprised that it wasn't some evil scientist's lab. I would have expected that."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Don't worry," Morgaine interjected, "Phoebe watches way too many sci-fi flicks. We blame her dependency on fantasy."
Phoebe-in-Richard's-body glared at Morgaine, who scowled back before remembering who it was. After she remembered that this was in fact her friend, she grinned. Richard-in-Phoebe's-body rolled his eyes at the two and leaned back in his chair.
"Well Williams, what have you figured out about this, startling predicament?"
Phoebe-in-Richard's-body sighed as she leafed through her binder, "Well, I've figured that only four people could have done this, myself, Larissa, Paul, and Shayla."
Larissa's face took on an unfamiliar scowl, "I would do NO such thing!"
"I wasn't accusing you Larissa, but the fact remains, those are the only four that would have the ability to mess with a potion this complex to give it this effect."
Richard-in-Phoebe's-body smirked as an argument began boiling up. He knew from experience that Phoebe enjoyed little more then a good argument, and this could take till lunch. Phoebe hated little more then to lose an argument she knew she was right in. He pulled out the notebook Cambria had thrown at him the night before and opened to where the writing stopped.
His eyes grew wide as he began reading. Cambria saw him and snatched the notebook out of his Phoebe hands. She glared at him, "That's not for you to read."
"Obviously!"
Larissa and Phoebe-in-Richard's-body paused in their building argument and Phoebe's Richard eyes grew wide, "You were reading our rp! You little!"
Phoebe-in-Richard's-body had to be held back by Larissa and Morgaine to keep her from strangling Richard. Richard-in-Phoebe's-body laughed coldly.
"You should get back to your research, unless you would live to live forever in my body."
A dark scowl from his body's face silenced him as Morgaine took up a book with Phoebe and the two started work. Larissa took Richard's arm.
"Come on, they have work to do."
*** *** ***
A few days passed. Phoebe was able to cover more material with Morgaine helping, and Cambria occasionally sneaking her some of her own books so that she could let her mind relax. Morgaine had confiscated Phoebe's copy of The Mists of Avalon twice already, Wizards First Rule once, Temple of the Winds twice, three different mythology books, and a book on fairy tales. Morgaine would then scowl at her and lecture her on letting Richard's habits set in.
Morgaine had commented that Phoebe was starting to grow a distaste for coffee. Upon questioning Richard, she found that Richard hated coffee.
THIS IS HELL!!!!!!
Phoebe forced herself to drink more coffee then ever just to prove that Richard wasn't setting into her. She started to find the taste too bitter. More sugar was needed then before. I hate you DeMarcus! How can you make me start hating my beloved!
Morgaine took Temple of the Winds out of Phoebe's hands. The book was cleverly hidden behind a book on potions. It was the third time she had taken it. It was the second time that day.
"How do you keep getting this?! I already took this today!"
"Cam gave it back to me, we all know that when you take my books from me, you place them very carefully back where it is supposed to be on my book shelves."
"But, don't you want to get out of that slime-balls body?"
"Of course. But don't think I don't see that cunningly hidden copy of The Fellowship of the Ring in that book you're reading."
Morgaine's cheeks took on a slight reddish tint at being found out. The book fell onto the table and Morgaine quickly went back to reading, but placed Temple of the Winds far out of Phoebe's reach.
Curse her! Phoebe picked the potion book back up and went back to reading it.
Potions can often be given different affects if simple ingredients not found in the potion are added. Any truth potion can be altered to cause pain each time an answer is given if powdered rattlesnake fangs are added. An aging potions effects can be reverse to make the user seem younger if bats blood is added. This potion is not often used, as it has side affects such as irritation to light and doziness can become permanent. Potions such as the Polyjuice potion have been altered through the ages. The said example is said to be made everlasting if fresh, powdered black unicorn horn is added.
"EUREKA!"
Morgaine looked up at Phoebe, "What? Did you just sit in a bathtub?"
Phoebe glared at Morgaine with her Richard eyes, Morgaine gulped.
"I found out what was added."
"Really? What is it? Distilled essence of evil?"
"No, nothing that simple."
"Yes, all they would have had to do was drain the blood of one of those Death Eaters."
"SHH!"
Morgaine went white as Phoebe shushed her, looking around. With the war having gone on as long as it had, you were never sure if one of the students was an aspiring Death Eater. Phoebe and her friends were all steadfast on Dumbledore's side. Each of them had taken secret defense lessons from Dumbledore himself. As muggle-borns, they were in more danger then other witches might be. Dumbledore had been the one that had gotten McGonagall to teach Phoebe and Morgaine. Larissa and Cambria were in lessons with Snape to protect their minds, and the girls were teaching each other what they were learning. Larissa was like Morgaine, and had quickly picked up the art of turning into another animal at will. Cambria was more like Phoebe, it had taken her longer, but it was just because she wanted to be sure she could do it.
Phoebe still hadn't told her friends her own form. She wanted it secret for a little while longer. Morgaine leaned forward and started whispering.
"Well, what is it?"
"Black unicorn horn, powdered."
"They got it off Knockturn Alley probably. Black Unicorns are rare and powerfully magic."
"I doubt they could get it on Knockturn, it says fresh."
"You mean they would have had to kill the unicorn themselves?!"
"That's what it looks like."
"That's horrible!"
"I think my condition applies as horrible."
"Sorry, forgot for a second."
"Forgot! How can you forget! You're speaking to DeMarcus's messed up face!"
"Well, it isn't exactly messed up."
"MORGAINE!"
"What? I'm just saying he's not the ugliest boy of our year."
"You are so not helping!"
"Well, it's not like he's a Darrin!"
Phoebe winced. Darrin Yates was the ugliest boy in school. He also had a crush on her cousin Jennifer. Jenny had gotten detention for exploding at him the year before. Well, and hexing him.
"You're still not helping."
"Well, I'm sorry. Maybe I should bring you some fic from the computer."
"Richard hasn't gone into my slash files, has he?"
"Not that I know of, though I don't understand how you can read that trash!"
"I have a problem ok! Besides, not all slash is bad."
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
Paul walked into the library at that moment. A look of puzzlement appeared on his face as he saw Morgaine talking to Richard DeMarcus. He walked up slowly.
"Umm, Morgaine, what the hell are you doing here with DeMarcus?"
Morgaine spun around in her chair to face Paul, "Project."
"For what?"
"Potions."
"We don't have a project in potions."
"Extra credit."
Paul cast an evil look at Phoebe. Phoebe froze. Oh god, I seriously don't want to get into a fight with Paul. Does he really hate Richard this much?
Paul shrugged again, and started to walk off. He stopped when he caught sight of The Sword of Truth book Temple of the Winds lying on the table. He also saw Morgaine's copy of the fellowship.
"What are you doing with Phoebe's copy?"
Phoebe froze. Ok, brain panicking. Need to think fast.
"I stole it out of Williams bag."
Smooth move Phoebe.
"You stole it?"
Phoebe shrugged what she deemed a classic Richard shrug, "Yeah, so?"
"Why did you steal it?"
"Was a good idea at the time."
Paul's eyes narrowed and he picked up the book and walked out of the library. Morgaine looked at Phoebe as the breath Phoebe had been holding released from her lungs.
"Well, that wasn't easy."
"Do you think he bought it?"
"No Morgaine le Fay, I think he sold it."
"This is no time for sarcasm Phoebs."
"You're wrong Morgaine le Fay, it is always time for sarcasm."
"You're hopeless."
"Only when it comes to coffee and slash."
"I still don't understand how you can read slash."
"As I said, I have problems."
"Obviously, let me see that book."
Phoebe complied and handed the book to Morgaine. Morgaine looked over the passage.
"Says this was also used to turn people into animals with the polyjuice potion."
"Interesting."
"Very. Why didn't you tell Paul?"
"Hmm, think about it. Would you really want Paul to know about something like this?"
"Oh, good point."
An Unpleasant Discovery
Phoebe sipped at her coffee, looking over what notes she had now. She had scanned through another chapter, and had made some interesting discovery points. Only a few people that were in that class could have messed with the potion. Her list was as follows.
Larissa Troy, Phoebe Williams, Paul Yeager, and Shayla Culluns.
She knew it wasn't herself and why would any of the other three do something like this?
Her body slumped into the seat on the other side of the table Phoebe was sitting at.
"What's with you DeMarcus? You look like you just ate a flobberworm."
"Well, you're friends with raging sphinxes!"
"What are you talking about?"
Her face scowled at her, Phoebe shrugged. She really didn't care what Richard said to her, she was on her way to figuring out what had done this. Richard was just a distraction, and distractions were to be ignored.
At that moment, Cambria walked into the library with Larissa and Morgaine in tow. She pointed at Phoebe and Richard with a scandalous tone to her voice.
"SEE!"
Morgaine gave a dramatic gasp, Larissa paled slightly. Cambria looked triumphant. Phoebe glared at Richard from over to top of the binder she was gathering her notes into. Cam nodded towards the dishonor of Phoebe Williams, a Gryffindor, being seen with Richard DeMarcus, a Slytherin.
"Watch this, hey Phoebe, remember, Andrew said our homework was to be quidditch."
Richard-in-Phoebe's-body looked at Cambria blankly while Phoebe-in- Richard's-body was trying her level best not to snicker loudly. Must not laugh, will blow cover!
Morgaine and Larissa looked at Cambria as confused as Richard-in-Phoebe's- body did. Cambria smiled with pride and pointed at Phoebe-in-Richard's- body.
"That is the real Phoebe."
Morgaine and Larissa's eyes grew wide as Larissa fought the urge to heave her stomach contents onto the library floor. Richard-in-Phoebe's-body got an evil grin at the reasoning for their reaction. Phoebe-in-Richard's-body kicked him hard underneath the table.
Larissa controlled her urge, "How long?"
Phoebe-in-Richard's-body fidgeted in her seat behind her binder, "Only a few days, since the polyjuice in Snape's class."
Morgaine swooned slightly, leaning heavily on the table, "You mean, you mean..."
Phoebe-in-Richard's-body frowned, "Don't think I'm anymore pleased with it then you are Morgaine, the basturd is in my body!"
"For someone who calls me a basturd, you're not exactly princess perfect yourself!"
"I resent that DeMarcus. Besides, I'd never be a princess, I hate the crown."
"That wasn't my point."
Morgaine swallowed a lump in her throat, "If he's been in the girls, gick, dormitory, does that mean you've been in the, erm, Slytherin boys dormitory?"
Phoebe-in-Richard's-body laughed, "No, thankfully DeMarcus is a quidditch captain, and he has his own room and bathroom. I would have been lost if it wasn't for that."
Richard-in-Phoebe's-body smirked, "Well, I'm glad you found something redeemable about me Williams."
"I didn't say it was redeemable, though I'm surprised that it wasn't some evil scientist's lab. I would have expected that."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Don't worry," Morgaine interjected, "Phoebe watches way too many sci-fi flicks. We blame her dependency on fantasy."
Phoebe-in-Richard's-body glared at Morgaine, who scowled back before remembering who it was. After she remembered that this was in fact her friend, she grinned. Richard-in-Phoebe's-body rolled his eyes at the two and leaned back in his chair.
"Well Williams, what have you figured out about this, startling predicament?"
Phoebe-in-Richard's-body sighed as she leafed through her binder, "Well, I've figured that only four people could have done this, myself, Larissa, Paul, and Shayla."
Larissa's face took on an unfamiliar scowl, "I would do NO such thing!"
"I wasn't accusing you Larissa, but the fact remains, those are the only four that would have the ability to mess with a potion this complex to give it this effect."
Richard-in-Phoebe's-body smirked as an argument began boiling up. He knew from experience that Phoebe enjoyed little more then a good argument, and this could take till lunch. Phoebe hated little more then to lose an argument she knew she was right in. He pulled out the notebook Cambria had thrown at him the night before and opened to where the writing stopped.
His eyes grew wide as he began reading. Cambria saw him and snatched the notebook out of his Phoebe hands. She glared at him, "That's not for you to read."
"Obviously!"
Larissa and Phoebe-in-Richard's-body paused in their building argument and Phoebe's Richard eyes grew wide, "You were reading our rp! You little!"
Phoebe-in-Richard's-body had to be held back by Larissa and Morgaine to keep her from strangling Richard. Richard-in-Phoebe's-body laughed coldly.
"You should get back to your research, unless you would live to live forever in my body."
A dark scowl from his body's face silenced him as Morgaine took up a book with Phoebe and the two started work. Larissa took Richard's arm.
"Come on, they have work to do."
*** *** ***
A few days passed. Phoebe was able to cover more material with Morgaine helping, and Cambria occasionally sneaking her some of her own books so that she could let her mind relax. Morgaine had confiscated Phoebe's copy of The Mists of Avalon twice already, Wizards First Rule once, Temple of the Winds twice, three different mythology books, and a book on fairy tales. Morgaine would then scowl at her and lecture her on letting Richard's habits set in.
Morgaine had commented that Phoebe was starting to grow a distaste for coffee. Upon questioning Richard, she found that Richard hated coffee.
THIS IS HELL!!!!!!
Phoebe forced herself to drink more coffee then ever just to prove that Richard wasn't setting into her. She started to find the taste too bitter. More sugar was needed then before. I hate you DeMarcus! How can you make me start hating my beloved!
Morgaine took Temple of the Winds out of Phoebe's hands. The book was cleverly hidden behind a book on potions. It was the third time she had taken it. It was the second time that day.
"How do you keep getting this?! I already took this today!"
"Cam gave it back to me, we all know that when you take my books from me, you place them very carefully back where it is supposed to be on my book shelves."
"But, don't you want to get out of that slime-balls body?"
"Of course. But don't think I don't see that cunningly hidden copy of The Fellowship of the Ring in that book you're reading."
Morgaine's cheeks took on a slight reddish tint at being found out. The book fell onto the table and Morgaine quickly went back to reading, but placed Temple of the Winds far out of Phoebe's reach.
Curse her! Phoebe picked the potion book back up and went back to reading it.
Potions can often be given different affects if simple ingredients not found in the potion are added. Any truth potion can be altered to cause pain each time an answer is given if powdered rattlesnake fangs are added. An aging potions effects can be reverse to make the user seem younger if bats blood is added. This potion is not often used, as it has side affects such as irritation to light and doziness can become permanent. Potions such as the Polyjuice potion have been altered through the ages. The said example is said to be made everlasting if fresh, powdered black unicorn horn is added.
"EUREKA!"
Morgaine looked up at Phoebe, "What? Did you just sit in a bathtub?"
Phoebe glared at Morgaine with her Richard eyes, Morgaine gulped.
"I found out what was added."
"Really? What is it? Distilled essence of evil?"
"No, nothing that simple."
"Yes, all they would have had to do was drain the blood of one of those Death Eaters."
"SHH!"
Morgaine went white as Phoebe shushed her, looking around. With the war having gone on as long as it had, you were never sure if one of the students was an aspiring Death Eater. Phoebe and her friends were all steadfast on Dumbledore's side. Each of them had taken secret defense lessons from Dumbledore himself. As muggle-borns, they were in more danger then other witches might be. Dumbledore had been the one that had gotten McGonagall to teach Phoebe and Morgaine. Larissa and Cambria were in lessons with Snape to protect their minds, and the girls were teaching each other what they were learning. Larissa was like Morgaine, and had quickly picked up the art of turning into another animal at will. Cambria was more like Phoebe, it had taken her longer, but it was just because she wanted to be sure she could do it.
Phoebe still hadn't told her friends her own form. She wanted it secret for a little while longer. Morgaine leaned forward and started whispering.
"Well, what is it?"
"Black unicorn horn, powdered."
"They got it off Knockturn Alley probably. Black Unicorns are rare and powerfully magic."
"I doubt they could get it on Knockturn, it says fresh."
"You mean they would have had to kill the unicorn themselves?!"
"That's what it looks like."
"That's horrible!"
"I think my condition applies as horrible."
"Sorry, forgot for a second."
"Forgot! How can you forget! You're speaking to DeMarcus's messed up face!"
"Well, it isn't exactly messed up."
"MORGAINE!"
"What? I'm just saying he's not the ugliest boy of our year."
"You are so not helping!"
"Well, it's not like he's a Darrin!"
Phoebe winced. Darrin Yates was the ugliest boy in school. He also had a crush on her cousin Jennifer. Jenny had gotten detention for exploding at him the year before. Well, and hexing him.
"You're still not helping."
"Well, I'm sorry. Maybe I should bring you some fic from the computer."
"Richard hasn't gone into my slash files, has he?"
"Not that I know of, though I don't understand how you can read that trash!"
"I have a problem ok! Besides, not all slash is bad."
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
Paul walked into the library at that moment. A look of puzzlement appeared on his face as he saw Morgaine talking to Richard DeMarcus. He walked up slowly.
"Umm, Morgaine, what the hell are you doing here with DeMarcus?"
Morgaine spun around in her chair to face Paul, "Project."
"For what?"
"Potions."
"We don't have a project in potions."
"Extra credit."
Paul cast an evil look at Phoebe. Phoebe froze. Oh god, I seriously don't want to get into a fight with Paul. Does he really hate Richard this much?
Paul shrugged again, and started to walk off. He stopped when he caught sight of The Sword of Truth book Temple of the Winds lying on the table. He also saw Morgaine's copy of the fellowship.
"What are you doing with Phoebe's copy?"
Phoebe froze. Ok, brain panicking. Need to think fast.
"I stole it out of Williams bag."
Smooth move Phoebe.
"You stole it?"
Phoebe shrugged what she deemed a classic Richard shrug, "Yeah, so?"
"Why did you steal it?"
"Was a good idea at the time."
Paul's eyes narrowed and he picked up the book and walked out of the library. Morgaine looked at Phoebe as the breath Phoebe had been holding released from her lungs.
"Well, that wasn't easy."
"Do you think he bought it?"
"No Morgaine le Fay, I think he sold it."
"This is no time for sarcasm Phoebs."
"You're wrong Morgaine le Fay, it is always time for sarcasm."
"You're hopeless."
"Only when it comes to coffee and slash."
"I still don't understand how you can read slash."
"As I said, I have problems."
"Obviously, let me see that book."
Phoebe complied and handed the book to Morgaine. Morgaine looked over the passage.
"Says this was also used to turn people into animals with the polyjuice potion."
"Interesting."
"Very. Why didn't you tell Paul?"
"Hmm, think about it. Would you really want Paul to know about something like this?"
"Oh, good point."