Chapter 12
Seeds of Renewal and Ruin
Age creeps up on everyone even me. Those were the thoughts uppermost in Lucius Malfoy's thoughts as he awoke at mid morning. He let out a hoarse groan as he forced himself out of bed. He couldn't remember doing much last night that would have warranted the aches and pains he was feeling now. It had to be age and stress. He strode to the dining room. His breakfast was waiting and still warm. The hot Ceylon black tea with milk lifted the fog from his mind. A house elf stood nearby waiting for orders.
"Elf, where is your mistress?" he barked between bites.
"Mistress is out, sir. Not said when she would return, sir." The elf trembled wishing fervently that it had a more positive answer.
"Get my day robe ready. I will be leaving shortly. And get me a Pepper Up potion, too."
"Yes, sir."
He would have a talk with Narcissa tonight. He had to make her see reason before Voldemort became too impatient. Voldemort was most insistent on the matter last night. Lucius had to agree with his lord's reasoning. Were Narcissa to join them willingly, it would be a potent display of loyalty and commitment. There were advantages and social avenues that Narcissa's lineage could open for them. Perhaps, Draco could help him persuade her. He considered that for all her other faults, she was a dedicated mother. As he was finishing his breakfast, a post owl dropped a letter. Sipping his tea, he read it.
"Snape is absent from Hogwarts, interesting. A leave of absence, why now?" He made a note to himself to get to bed early tonight. He was still feeling wooly headed but he could feel the potion take effect as he shrugged on his robe and apparated to the Ministry.
--
Fortunately it was a weekend and a Hogsmeade weekend, too. The castle was practically empty. Had a student entered the library that morning, he would have seen Professor Sinistra instead of Madam Pince at the library desk. The librarian was at the time in the Room of Counsel while Madam Pomfrey got some much needed rest. Madam Pince routinely looked into a secluded room just off the main room. Inside lay Professor Snape dozing under heavy medication.
Demos had awakened Madam Pomfrey at dawn having left Snape in a hypertensive seizure. Pomfrey assessed Snape's condition and decided to detoxify him immediately. With Filch's help, Snape was moved to one of the side rooms. That good deed had earned Filch a punch in the mouth and a hurried hex spell when Snape began to struggle. The potions master was not going to be a happy man when he finally awoke. The belt restraints tying him to the bedframe was definitely not going to improve his mood either.
Dumbledore had argued last night seeing Snape lying there with restraints on both arms and legs and several across his middle. His hands were wrapped and strapped to the side rails. "Is that really necessary, Poppy?"
"Yes. He's going to be in worse shape when the anti-pain spells wear off and he regains consciousness. Withdrawal from Pepper Up abuse is a nasty business. Add everything that happened yesterday and this is the result," Poppy's tone brooked no further argument even from the headmaster. Her companion turned bright red as if to support her point as it hovered above Severus' bed.
"But ."
"No, buts. As powerful a wizard as Severus is, I have to take every precaution. His body has gotten used to having stimulants to keep it going. Take those stimulants away and his body will not know what to do. I'm going to keep him in that bed for as long as it takes for his body to recover from the detoxification. He will not work, read, talk or any other activity other than resting for an entire week maybe more if he puts up a fuss."
"That will be difficult." Dumbledore said.
"Too right. Severus is the worse of patients. He will say anything to get out of that bed and gad about. Fortunately, I and Cera are immune to his charms. He will get the treatment he deserves, believe you me. I've even asked Demos to stay away for as long as he can. I want to get some baseline readings when Demos is not merged and when he is."
"Demos can only stay out for an hour or two at most, Poppy."
" I think he can last longer. It's time Demos got to see our world in the daytime instead of lurking about only at night or being confined to the dungeon areas. It will do him some good. Now you, Albus, are not to come in here without either Cera or myself in attendance."
"What?"
"I don't want you telling him more news that will only distress him. Severus will find a way to convince you that he's the only one to solve whatever crisis is currently happening and be out of here in no time."
"Really, Poppy."
"No, Albus. I know you too well. That's the rule. Stick to it or lose all visitation privileges." Poppy crossed her arms and dared Albus to say anything else. "Don't try anything. My companion will be watching Severus all the time with instructions to use whatever means necessary to keep him in bed. There will be no jailbreaks on my watch."
In the meantime in the library, Sinistra worked on her ideas for natural defense systems using airborne spores, microscopic burrs and hallucinogenic scents. The olfactory sense is one of the most powerful human senses and also the most primitive and least developed. People don't realize how much their nose dictates their behavior from sexual pheromones to general likes and dislikes. No one thinks about it until they can't breathe and then it suddenly becomes vitally important.
- -
Every philosopher, venerated and otherwise, all agree to disagree on the answer to the question "How does one tell the good from the bad, the right from the wrong?" Consider the flipside of that age old question - "Why does everyone have a different definition?" Leaving aside moral ambiguity, secular sensibilities, religious diversity, scientific posturing and individual indecisiveness, how does one know for certain? The simplest answer is "That which causes immediate fear is bad while that which does not can be considered good, at least for that moment." That was the answer that Demos received from the Tree of Blessings that Saturday morning. By far it was the one answer that made the most sense to him.
The meeting with Voldemort had left Demos confused. The pentagram seemed to draw him out against his will and only Severus' outright refusal to release him kept him in place. The sensations had agitated him to the point that Severus had had to exercise iron control and expend much energy to contain him. He had been told that bad things made one feel bad. Bad things were to be avoided. If the pentagram was bad, why did it draw him so? Severus had not wanted to discuss his questions or anything else that had happened.
This morning Severus was still unconscious. He had thought it was an uncomplicated question but he now realized that humans thought about it all the time and let it rule their actions through a set of rules they called morality or belief systems. Whatever the rules were called, he now knew that humans needed to have some rules predefined in order to decide between good and bad. That was very straightforward. But what he was unsure about now was the seeming multiplicity of rules that differed by person to person. And then, there were the different degrees of good and bad. He would save that for another time.
He had spent his night patrol asking different entities the same question. As he stood by the Tree of Blessing waiting for further instructions from Professor Sprout, he pondered the other answers he had gathered.
Bloody Baron: The good advances your cause. The bad weakens or reverses your cause.
Sir Nicholas: You know it's right because it feels right so you know that it's the right thing to do.
Fat Friar: The right and good is that which is approved by God's law. Anything else is bad.
Gray Lady: The good is supported by logic and reason while the bad is influenced solely by emotion.
Filch: Simple. If it in my way, it's bad. If it refuses to let me do what I need to do, it's bad.
Sinistra: It depends on the person, what they believe in or what they're destined to do.
Ollivander: The good has a positive long term effect. The bad is always short term, always negative.
McGonagall: The bad gives you regrets, many regrets. The good gives you hope.
Flitwick: The good you do for the many. The bad you reserve for a very deserving few.
Dumbledore: The right thing is what you need to do. The wrong thing is what you're afraid to do.
For now, he had decided to formulate his own rules. Then he would know good and bad. That was important if he was to help Severus with his work. The other companions told him of how they helped their friends. Every day he saw how the others worked with their companions on small and great tasks. Even though Demos did some things for Severus, Severus still kept him at arms length unwilling to discuss and share his ideas and thoughts. Demos could never ignore the nagging sense that there were many, many things Severus was deliberately keeping to himself. He needed to do more. He was determined to do more. But what?
Professor Sprout instructed, "Demos, please ask if it needs more organic nutrients like water and nitrogen?"
Demos touched the trunk and thought the question. Shortly, he replied to Professor Sprout "It says that it would like approximately 10 more phosphorus and about fifteen percent less potassium at this time. Water levels are more than adequate." Demos paused as he listened to another message. "And, Professor, its first fruit is due tomorrow."
"Oh, that is wonderful!. Completely ahead of schedule," Sprout clapped her hands in delight. She stood on the other side of the energy barrier field which was transparent with only the occassional red energy pulse to indicate that it was there.
Her companion was inspecting the tree's trunk and leaf structure on her behalf. Only energy could pass through the barrier as the tree did not truly exist in their reality. The barrier acted not only as a protective field but also as a connecting window between dimensions. Ingenious method by Snape to both hide and protect the tree. She looked at the tree with affectionate regard. It was a handsome one - silver trunk, deep brown branches and deep red leaves veined in gold. No one knew what the fruit would be like nor what the properties would be.
"Professor, it says that it is very full right now. It drained the food source last night and would like to know if there would be more food tonight." Demos said.
"Oh, of course, the poor thing. There will be three sitters tonight -Vector, Trelawney and Pince - scheduled tonight." Sprout answered after consulting a piece of parchment tacked on the wall. "With their companions, it will have energy as well as some amusement. Demos, please explain that we were all on alert last night and that's why no one was here."
Demos was silent while he explained. "Professor, it feels bad that it left nothing behind. It tried to restrain itself as it was told to do but it was very hungry."
"It's all right, no harm done. Well, unless you count Mr. Finnigan and Mr. McMillan's formal protest to the headmaster when they saw the empty hourglasses this morning." Sprout smiled remembering how she saw the two students pass by the hourglasses, get halfway through the doors of the Great Hall then run back to the main hall to check what their eyes had seen. She had suggested the formal complaint to them.
- -
In Hogsmeade, the Three Broomsticks was crowded as usual. Rosmerta flitted here and there delivering drink orders. Ron carried a tray of butterbeers towards a corner table where Harry, Ginny, and Bill were waiting. The butterbeers were passed out in record time.
"So, Bill, how long are you here?" Ginny asked.
"Just a few days, Ginny," Bill said. " I took some vacation days and plan on visiting Mum and Dad too."
"How's the curse breaking business?" asked Harry.
"It's gotten slower in Egypt. Many of the senior curse breakers like me have been reassigned. I'm considering asking for a new assignment." Bill sipped his butterbeer. "There's a new site being excavated near Glastonbury. I might ask for that assignment. If not there's another one in Aylshire that could prove to be interesting."
"Mum will be thrilled to have you closer to home," said Ginny.
"Yes, well, I'll cross that bridge when I have to. I've gotten used to independence," said Bill with a lopsided grin. He eye spotted an attractive young woman around his age slim build but curvy with dark blond hair tied in a bun. His fingers itched to loosen that bun. "Do any of you know that lady ordering a drink at the bar .. the one with the hair bun?"
"That's Eve Delacour. She's my potions teacher," said Ginny. "I don't miss Professor Snape at all."
"She's Fleur's sister," added Ron."Remember from the Triwizards Cup."
"Invite her over and introduce me," Bill said it in that tone that an older brother learns to use on their younger siblings to get immediate cooperation.
"Ms. Delacour, over here!" Ron rose and waved. Eve Delacour collected her beer and weaved her way around the other tables to reach them.
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley. It is very crowded here today," said Eve. Everyone had moved around to let Bill sit next to Eve. That preference was unsaid but it did not take a genius to realize what Bill was up to.
"Ms Delacour, meet my brother Bill. He's a cursebreaker for Gringotts in Egypt. He's up here for a visit." Ron introduced her and promptly got out of Bill's way. That was the thing about being the youngest boy in a large family, you developed good instincts on when to shut up and get out of the way. Ron decided he would watch Bill and get some pointers.
"Ginny tells me that you're her potions teacher. Did you just start at Hogwarts?" Bill inquired keeping his attention solely on the lady who at closer inspection was even more attractive.
"I started last week. I'm one of a group of graduate students on loan from the university," said Eve returning Bill's interest in equal measure. "I am teaching most of the lower classes. Professor Snape has asked me to finish the term and I believe I will do so. And yourself how long will you be staying."
A very direct woman, thought Bill. "I'll be in and out of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. I have vacation for the next two and half weeks. But I'm thinking, strongly thinking of getting reassigned to England. Egypt is losing its fascination for me."
"I doubt that there is anything here in England that would be more fascinating to you," Eve responded taking a sip of her butterbeer and looking at Bill over the rim of her glass.
"I'm not too sure about that. I'm sure I'll find some of England's better attractions," said Bill.
"Here's to your quest, then." Eve clinked her glass with Bill and smiled. Ron was full of admiration for his older brother. It had only taken three sentences.
The table had suddenly gotten too small for so many people. Realizing this, Harry stood up and tactfully excused the younger set with "Well, we promised to get Hermione some sweets from Honeydukes. We should get going Ginny, Ron." The other two rose and said their goodbyes. Bill waved goodbye but his eyes never left Eve Delacour.
- -
At the Ministry, Lucius found himself waiting outside the meeting chambers with Walden MacNair for company. Macnair was subdued this morning another victim of the late night.
"It was good last night, wasn't it?" asked Macnair not bothering to stifle a yawn. "He seemed stronger than before. That's good."
"Yes, our lord is quickly regaining his powers and his physical body will be stronger than before. He told me so himself." Lucius agreed.
"I forgot to ask last night but I have someone who wants to join."
"Are you absolutely sure of him ... his beliefs, loyalty?"
"Reasonably. Third cousin of mine."
"Not good enough. We must be careful. Give me his name later and I will have him investigated first. Remember, our lord has admonished us that we must be wary of traitors. We want only those who will be the most dedicated and loyal."
"Understood. Congratulations on your new position, Lucius. We've never had deputies before."
"Thank you, Walden. I can't say that it is not deserved." Lucius smirked. "It's the right thing to do. We're going to get bigger and that means that we need to be more organized. Deputies are just the beginning, mark my words."
- -
Not in the common room. Not in the Great Hall. Not in any of the greenhouses. He didn't go to Hogsmeade. He said he was going to do some research. Hermione exited the library after failing to find Neville inside. Where is that dratted boy? In the distance, a muffled boom echoed through the halls. It was followed by several equally muffled booms every other minute. She followed the booms hoping to find Neville at the other end. She found herself in the dungeons almost being run over by a running Mr. Filch. She followed at a more dignified pace. If Neville was on the other end, she could at least distract Filch while he made a run for it.
"You've lost your touch," said Flitwick shaking soot off his clothes.
Mr. Ollivander, equally dirty with his hair streaked black and gray by soot and dust, followed his friend quickly down one of the passageways. "A slight miscalculation nothing more. One needs to keep in practice for this kind of thing."
"You've forgotten the recipe. You just won't admit it," Flitwick huffed. Behind him plumes and clouds of smoke were filling the passageway. "You need to keep focused, Flavius. No distractions."
"I wasn't distracted. The incantation was perfect. I have to practice my delivery. It has to be just so," Ollivander replied then as if his mind jumped to another thought sequence he said, "I wonder if she liked the flowers I sent over this morning. Minerva wasn't at breakfast so I couldn't ask her and she blocks the bond as much as she can. You think she liked it? Maybe flowers was a bad idea after what I said last night?"
Before Flitwick could form a suitable retort, Filch advanced on them. "What happened 'ere?"
"Just a small accident, Argus," said Flitwick.
"Small? Seven explosions, steam coming out of one end of the castle and smoke out the other? You call that small?"
"I was just practicing a few little things... got a bit out of hand." said Ollivander in all innocence.
"First Snape now this. The armory is still intact, isn't it?" Filch's companion popped out and zoomed through the corridor following the smoke to its source.
"The walls are just fine, Argus," Flitwick turned and fled heading for the staff room with Ollivander in tow. Being of small stature all his life made him uniquely appreciative of the advantages of an early retreat. In this case it was better to get out of Filch's reach before his companion reported the real damage. They would come back tomorrow to finish enspelling the battle wands.
He glanced sideways at his old comrade at arms who again had a distant look in manner and face. Minerva's indifference was not having the desired effect on Ollivander. Flavius spent most of his free time scheming of ways to get a rise out of Minerva. Minerva spent an equal amount of time pretending to be completely unaffected. So far she was winning which only motivated Flavius even more. He would have a talk with Minerva after dinner tonight. Talking to Flavius about it was hopeless. He burbled on and on about the state of his love life. He needed a focused wandmaker not a distracted, lovelorn one. They encountered Hermione on the way back.
"Professor, have either of you seen Neville," Hermione did not even blink at the older gentlemen's dusty grimy appearance. Being involved in Harry's escapades tended to increase one's tolerance towards danger, unusual events, unpredictable results and natural disasters.
"Have you checked the Intelligence room?" asked Flitwick
"I didn't know there was one. Neville has to be there. I've looked everywhere else."
"Come with me then, Ms. Granger. I will be more than happy to escort you." Ollivander offered. Flitwick departed muttering under his breath about finding Minerva as soon as possible. "The Eyrie, as Severus calls it, is in the North Tower."
"I've never heard of it, Mr. Ollivander," said an intrigued Hermione.
"No, you wouldn't have. The Eyrie was the private sanctuary of Salazar Slytherin and its use is strictly monitored. Perfect place for the intelligence team's offices, I say."
"So it's dangerous like the Chamber of Secrets?"
"Only to those who mean it harm. The artifacts in that room are priceless and ancient. Things that Salazar collected during his lifetime or were gifts to him. The Snapes have added a few things over the years. Unlike the chamber, it's purpose is not malicious. The Chamber and the Eyrie represent the two sides of Salazar Slytherin - the crusader and the scholar."
"Scholar? That's not the Salazar Slytherin the history books talk about," said Hermione.
"Well, someone had to be the bad one. It makes the story more palatable."
"You make it sound like recorded history and what really happened are two different things."
"Things are rarely entirely what they seem, especially in our world, Ms. Granger."
"You're not what you seem to be either. I remember the day I got my wand. You were so gentle and grandfatherly showing me which end of the wand to hold, how to hold it right. You knew how nervous I was. I mean it's one thing to get a Hogwarts letter but quite another to actually be able to do something with a wand." She watched as Mr. Ollivander touched each picture counting under his breath.
"After the meeting in the Counsel Room I got curious about everybody. You and Professor Flitwick fought alongside the headmaster in the war against Grindelwald. You were one of the most vocal warhawks of the time. I found some things about everyone except Professor Snape or Snapes in general. Other than entries in alchemical treatises, I can't find much else about him or his family and I've looked hard for weeks."
"Recognition is not always necessary, desirable nor sought out, Ms. Granger. Weeks?"
"I've been trying to find some research data to prove a point." Hermione said it with such a degree of overarching pithiness that Ollivander was strongly reminded of Minerva when she did not want to discuss something - now or ever. He let the manner drop.
"Here we are. Unless the password has changed," Ollivander said the password and the door swung open. "Anyone in?!"
Mr. Ollivander showed her in then went straight to the espresso machine. Neville waved from his desk by the windows. His desk was piled high with volumes and parchments crowded but neat. "Hi, Hermione, Mr. Ollivander, sir."
Hermione was too busy looking around the room as she absentmindedly said, "Neville, I've been looking everywhere for you. So this is where you've been disappearing off to. Nice, very plush." Her eyes automatically read the spines of the books sitting on his desk. She pounced on one old, tattered volume. "Neville, where did you get this book? There are only three copies in the entire world! What are you writing in?"
"Just doing the daily coded ciphers. Why were you looking for me?"
"A few things. I had some ideas regarding our assignment that I need to run by you. Also, can you monitor the common room tonight? I forgot I have a planning meeting for tonight."
"You? Actually forget something?" teased Neville.
"Yes. It does happen. I am not all-knowing." Hermione said in a wry, self- depracating tone. Her eyes began roaming about the room again. "And you need to stop disappearing every morning. Harry and the others are getting suspicious. Is that an espresso machine, a real one?"
"Take your pick - cappucino, different lattes or espresso. We're thinking of getting a smoothie machine next, whatever that is. Calvin, Professor Vector, swears it's results are heavenly."
She stepped over to the counter as Mr. Ollivander was filling his mug with hot espresso. "But, I don't understand, muggle devices don't work at Hogwarts."
"True, save for this room." Said Ollivander moving to sit in an armchair by the fire.
"Am I never to believe Hogwarts, A History ever again?" Hermione set about expertly making cappucino. She was delighted to find shakers of cinnamon and chocolate.
"Actually, that one is fairly accurate. Just read it with an open mind." Ollivander advised.
"There was one other thing, Neville. I don't know how I'm going to track the Slytherins. I'm not exactly popular in that house. Any ideas?"
"Actually, I was going to ask you to switch with me. I'll take Slytherin if you take Ravenclaw while we double team Hufflepuff and Gryffindor."
"What's the catch?" Hermione eyed this new Neville in front of her with some wariness as she took the chair by his desk.
"No catch. I just think I absorb that bunch's insults better than you do." Neville said with just too much perception on his part. "Less personal, you know, bounces off well."
"Good luck and thank you! How are you going to do it?"
"Don't ask and I won't have to tell you any lies," Neville said. "But I do intend to have some fun doing it."
The door opened and Professor McGonagall came in. She was carrying a steaming cup of tea. "We'll be having our meeting here, Hermione. Sybil will be joining us after she picks up Vector."
"Right, Professor," Hermione turned to Neville and they resume their discussion on their joint Club assignment. "I was thinking about the whole can't-sleep-in-the-dungeon thing. One of the hurdles is getting our energy from one point to the other."
"You're right. I might have a solution though. Here, have a look at this passage." Neville pulled a thick volume out of his stack and opened to a bookmarked page. "Here, it says - "
"That's interesting but what about the problem with ..." said Hermione instantly engrossed in the text. She and Neville proceeded to riffle through various books and parchments.
Meanwhile by the fire, Minerva took the chair next to Ollivander and said softly, "Thank you for the flowers."
"Sorry about last night. I don't understand you and Albus sometimes, you're -" Ollivander began.
"He's like . he cares too much. Always gets me into these predicaments," Minerva smiled facing her old flame. Ollivander returned the first genuine smile she'd aimed at him in a long time. "I don't always know what to do about it so I go off and brood."
"Muggles have a saying 'Go with the flow' "
"By myself?"
"If you choose," said Ollivander trying to sound neutral and failing. ".. but I had hoped you would choose otherwise."
There was a long pause before she said, "I've decided that company would be appreciated. It's a long trip, and, I suspect, a longer way down this time."
Ollivander took her hand in his. "I promise to travel light then. No more past baggage either way, up or down."
"Our way has never been easy. I can offer no guarantees." There it was bluntly said, she thought. Now what?
"I expect none." Ollivander pressed his advantage. "Dinner out tomorrow? I can guarantee good food and conversation."
"I thought you were checking on the store tomorrow?"
"I've decided to take Filius' advice and let go a bit. I'm sure Hugh is up to the challenge. I have something more important to attend to."
"Just the one?"
"The only one." Ollivander brought her hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss upon her skin.
- -
It was almost noon at the derelict little gray farmhouse. There were no visible remnants of the celebrations and debauchery of the night before. Inside, Voldemort turned his face to the left then to the right. The muggle mirror confirmed that his sickeningly sallow complexion was no more. It had been replaced overnight by one with the hue of health and growing vigor. Even his skin was soft and moist instead of dry and scaly. After the gathering last night, he had felt sleepy. That in itself was highly unusual. Insomnia had been his constant companion since he had attained his physical form. But last night, foregoing his nightly research, he had slept deeply. When he awoke he had marveled at feeling a dozen times more energetic than ever and experiencing a long forgotten sensation - hunger. He had summoned Wormtail. When Wormtail arrived, he ordered him to bring food.
"Food, master? Like breakfast?" Wormtail asked. He was so surprised that he forgot to be subservient.
"Yes, as in breakfast. I have a taste for scrambled eggs, some cumberland sausages, bacon, tomato and black pudding with an Earl Grey." Voldemort clarified. "Be quick about it. My stomach is starting to hurt."
"But, you never eat. I've never seen - "
"Well, I need to eat now. Lunch, breakfast, I don't care. Just go on and get me something to eat!"
"Yes, right away, of course!" Wormtail left to do his master's bidding.
As Voldemort stood there, he realized that it wasn't only his appetite for food that had returned. There were other appetites vying for his attention and craving satisfaction. But not here and not yet, he thought. His nostrils flared with the fetid stench of the place. He itched to leave immediately. But he would stay for tonight. He needed to test a few things first. How long would he feel like this? Would it ebb with the day? Would he feel stronger tomorrow? He had many, many questions. However, he was certain of one thing, he owed his good health to Severus' work. While he waited for Wormtail's return, the dark lord pondered a fitting reward for his most trusted disciple.