OK. Quick note here. I wanted to thank all my faithful fans out there who have kept up at me to continue, if not for you, I probably would have let the Council of Archmages fall to the wayside. The reason why I haven't updated in so long is a combination of lots of work, and an annoying case of writer's block. Hopefully updating in the future will not take so long, but I can't promise anything right now. With that said, hope you enjoy..
Mirengard
Chapter 14: The Wolf's Bane Potion
The next few days were fairly normal. Harry and Ginny had quickly become inseparable. They seemed to do everything together, and everyone at school was astounded that they had not gotten totally sick of each other. They were always seen walking the halls, arm in arm, and had even convinced Professor McGonnogall to allow them to make their sweeps of the castle together, even though neither had duty until the following week. As soon as they got back to the Gryffindor Tower, they went to their room, and their friends became somewhat annoyed at the couple.
Harry and Ginny were curled up on their couch, enjoying each other's embrace, when they heard a knock at their door. Harry lazily waived his hand at the door, making it unlock and open, and Ron and Hermione walked in.
"I thought you two said you were going to do homework," said Hermione accusingly.
"We already finished," said Ginny carelessly. "It wasn't that hard really."
"YOU finished it ALL?" asked Ron in disbelief. "It's only been a HALF HOUR since dinner ended! Not even Hermoine has it ALL done."
"No, actually I still have a lot to do," she said sounding a bit worried.
"Well what do you two want me to say?" asked Harry. "I can't help it that I'm an Arch-mage. I've already covered this stuff, and I've been helping Ginny keep a little ahead of the class." Ginny looked at him carefully at his words. She did not understand why he wanted to keep the fact that she had already completed the sixth year from them.
"Yes, Harry's been a lot of help," she said, playing along. "Why, without him, I probably would never get all this work done." This seemed to mollify the other two prefects.
"Well, that's not why we came here anyway," said Ron.
"Yes, we came here to ask if the two of you wanted to come with us on our sweep of the castle. It's our night tonight, and we need to be leaving soon. We thought it would be a chance for us all to catch up, we haven't had a chance to hang around lately," Hermoine put in.
Harry thought about that for a moment, and then said, "I would love to go guys, but there's a few things I have to do tonight. Why don't you go with them though?" he asked Ginny. "That way the three of you can catch up, and I'll be able to concentrate on.on what I'm working on." I need to finish the Wolf's Bane Potion tonight Gin, he sent to her. If I don't the whole batch will be ruined. It will take the rest of the night to finish.
"If it's all the same to you Harry, I think I'll stay," said Ginny, further annoying Ron and Hermione. "I haven't had a nice long soak in the bath in a while, and I think I would enjoy taking it easy tonight."
"Are you sure," asked Hermione, still hopeful.
"Yeah, go ahead without us," said Ginny, ignoring the angry look on her brother's face. "We'll catch up soon, I promise." Ron stormed out, and Hermoine quietly followed, a hurt expression on her face. Ginny jumped up from Harry's lap crossed to the door, closed it, and locked it again, then turned to Harry. "I wanted to watch you finish the Potion," she told him, picking up Midnight and sitting down in the chair next to Harry. "I promise I won't get in your way."
"Gin, you couldn't get in the way if you tried," Harry informed her, pulling out his wand and pointing it towards the floor before the fire place. A large cauldron appeared there over a blue flame that seemed to heat the cauldron but not affect anything else. The liquid in the cauldron was bubbling uncontrollably. Harry gazed at it, and nodded. "It's just about ready for the final ingredients," he informed her, getting up, and walking towards his desk. He waived his wand over the desk, and a large assortment of Potion ingredients appeared on the desktop that had been empty before.
Each night for the past four days, ever since their first Potions class, Harry and Ginny had gone up to their room, then Disapparated away from Hogwarts, in search of the numerous ingredients for the Wolf's Bane Potion. While Ginny did not exactly know what they were looking for most of the time, she had kept Harry company. Finally, yesterday they had gathered enough of the ingredients to start brewing the complex potion, and Harry had somehow obtained the final ingredients himself, even though Ginny had almost never left his side the entire week.
Harry pointed at several packets of powder, as well as several vials of various liquids, making them float behind him, as he walked back to the cauldron. He carefully added each ingredient, making sure that he measured each precisely, then pulled his Staff out of the air and began to mutter spells above the cauldron. Every so often, a beam of light would shoot out of the jewels on Harry's Staff and make the potion glow briefly, then fade away. Each time this happened, the potion turned a different color. Finally, Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a lock of grayish-brown hair. He tossed it into the cauldron, making the contents fizzle angrily before settling down. He cast one last spell on the cauldron, but this one was different. A beam of silver light shot out of the jewels on Harry's Staff, and connected with the liquid in the Cauldron, making the liquid glow silver, but this time it did not quit. Harry let go of his Staff, which did not move in the slightest, nor did it disappear. It just kept on pouring that sliver light into the liquid in the cauldron. Harry smiled at Ginny who was staring at his Staff in surprise and stroking Midnight, causing the kitten to purr.
"I thought you said it would take the rest of the night," said Ginny still looking at the Staff in confusion.
"It will," said Harry sitting down next to her and petting Midnight as well. "The Staff will be doing that for the next several hours, and while it is completing the potion, I can't get too far away from it." At Ginny's questioning look, he explained. "The spells that I cast were all parts of one big meta-type spell. I just finished it, so the Staff is casting it. The spell takes a very long time to complete after being cast, and requires a large amount of power as well. As long as I stay relatively close to the Staff, I supply the power needed through my blood bond, which I have and can spare."
Ginny thought about this. "How close to the Staff do you need to be without jeopardizing the spell?" she asked a bit too casually.
"Oh about a hundred feet in any direction," came Harry's answer as he stretched his back.
"You know," said Ginny. "You've really been working hard the past couple of day's haven't you?"
"MmHmm," Harry agreed still stretching tiredly.
"You really deserve to be able to relax now that you are finished with the potion," she said innocently. This time, Harry caught the tone of her voice.
"What do you have in mind?" he asked, looking at her and raising his eyebrow.
"Oh, I was just thinking about how a nice hot soak in the bath would be extremely relaxing right about now," she said, a bit too innocently. Ginny put the now sleeping kitten on the bed, and then slowly got up. "I think I'll just go in for a bit Harry," she informed him in that too innocent voice. "I hope you find something to relax yourself." Then she left him alone, going into the bathroom.
Harry considered Ginny's somewhat blatant offer for a few minutes then made a decision. Taking off his robes and putting them away, he crossed to the bathroom and went in. Ginny was in the large, steaming bath with her eyes closed. Harry got in, and made his way to her quietly, settling down beside her.
"Find something to relax you?" she asked, opening her eyes and gazing at him.
"Yeah, I think I figured out something to do," Harry answered her, slipping his now wet arm around her shoulders and pulling her head towards him in a kiss. It started as a quick kiss, but quickly turned into something else. In fact, both Harry and Ginny ended up slipping under water during the kiss, and both had to come up out of the water for air, before kissing again. They were in the middle of the tub, as they started kissing the second time, this time not even trying to be quick. Harry's arms slipped around Ginny's waist, and Ginny's arms slinked their way around Harry's neck. They broke away again, after several minutes, their breath coming out raggedly. Harry took Ginny by the hand and led her to the seat in the hot bath, where he sat down, motioning Ginny to sit next to him. Ginny, though, had other ideas. Straddling his waist with her legs, she knelt down in his lap, her arms snaking around his neck once again pulling him close. She had an extremely wild, lustful look in her eyes.
"Gin." Harry breathed, but Ginny silenced him with her lips.
His arms soon slipped around her waist again, pulling her close to him, the feeling of her large firm breasts and hard nipples against his chest driving Harry insane. The fact that both of them were wet as well, just seemed to be icing on the cake, and Harry found himself rock hard despite himself. Ginny, just as turned on, slowly grinded against Harry, making him even harder, and causing them to both gasp as they broke their kiss again. Harry ran his hands up and down Ginny's spine, making her gasp again and arch her back, grinding her hips against Harry's crotch even more. Not even thinking anymore, Harry began to kiss Ginny's sensitive neck, even as Ginny did the same for him, her hands moving from his neck to his chest, then lower.
Finally, Harry kissed Ginny, pulling her up by her waist, while Ginny still stroked him. Then, as they kissed, Ginny slowly settled back down, but this time, she moved slightly and Harry felt himself lightly brush Ginny.
The first penetration caused them both to gasp. Slowly moving up and down, making sure not to hurt her, Harry quickly felt himself press against Ginny's maidenhood. There he paused briefly, gazing into Ginny's eyes. In answer, Ginny pushed down, clutching to Harry as she felt the shocking pain. After several moments of not moving, the pain passed, and she began to gyrate her hips, making Harry groan. Harry quickly turned the tables on her when his mouth captured one of her nipples, and Ginny found herself groaning in turn, arching her back so that Harry could have better access to her breasts. She started moving again, and soon the two of them were totally lost within their own desires.
Harry woke up with the familiar feeling of Ginny's warm body against him. He smiled as he thought that he had never slept so well until they had started sleeping together. He leaned down and kissed her awake as he always did, the previous evening's activities resurfacing in his mind. When he and Ginny broke their good morning kiss, and she smiled up at him, he relaxed. Ginny shifted slightly then winced, causing Harry worry he had hurt her.
"Are you ok?" he asked, not wanting to think of the possibility that he had been the reason of any pain that she faced.
"Just a bit sore," she replied, rolling off him, and slowly getting up. She winced again as she sat up, and then she smiled down at him. "You really worked me you know, I lost count of how many times I screamed," she informed him. "It's not surprising that I can't walk straight."
"You were planning that," said Harry, he didn't seem shocked shocked in the least.
"Planning? No, Hoping for? Definitely," she said, grinning impishly. "I mean, come on Harry, we might have been together for just a few weeks to everyone else, but to us, we've been together for what? Over two years now?"
"How did you know we spent two years at Avalon?" asked Harry, although he did not seem surprised that she knew.
"I figured it out around the time you finally revealed that you taught me all of sixth year as well as fifth year," she admitted.
Harry grinned, and pulled her into a kiss. "My clever Ginny," he said once they broke apart. "Why don't you go soak in the bath for a bit while I check on the Wolf's Bane potion? He asked, "It might help the soreness."
Ginny smiled in thanks and shakily got to her feet, then awkwardly walked to the bathroom, disappearing from view. Harry got up, and put a robe around himself, then walked to the Cauldron and his Staff which was still pouring light into the cauldron, this time a bright gold, signaling that the potion was almost complete. He grasped his Staff, and felt his connection to it flare to life as he always did when touching it. He felt the spell working as soon as he touched the Staff as well and knew that there were only a few more minutes until it was complete. He waited patiently until the spell had finished and lowered his Staff, looking into the cauldron. The potion appeared to be completely clear, and gave off a pleasant smell. Harry conjured up a small goblet and dipped it into the cauldron, knowing that the potion would have no effect on anyone who had not been bitten by a werewolf. He brought the goblet to his lips and drank deeply. It tasted as it was supposed to: a cross between honeysuckle and strawberries. Why can't any of the normal potions taste this good? he asked himself silently. Sighing, he quickly conjured a large bottle and a ladle, and slowly, carefully the ladle filled the bottle, a stopper appearing in it when the bottle was full. He then conjured up two large goblets, banishing the smaller one, and the ladle filled them with the potion. "Might as well not let it go for waste," he said, letting go of his Staff, which immediately went invisible to everyone but him. He picked up the goblets, and walked into the bathroom and back into the bath that he and Ginny had occupied the previous night. Settling down beside her with a contented sigh, he pushed one of the goblets into her hand. When she felt the goblet, Ginny opened her eyes, and grasped it.
"What is this?" she asked, taking a sip. "It tastes wonderful."
"It's Wolf's Bane Potion," he answered. "Don't worry, it doesn't have any effects as long as you haven't been bitten." He took a sip of his own to prove his point.
"Oh, I just want to lie and soak here all day," groaned Ginny, leaning on Harry's chest while Harry put an arm around her shoulders. "How long until Classes start?" she asked, drinking from her goblet.
"It's about six right now," replied Harry, "So we have about two hours before we need to be down at breakfast. I wanted to be up early to check on the Wolf's Bane Potion."
"Ooh, goody," said Ginny with a contented smile, "That means we can have a nice long soak before breakfast. Do you think you can slow down time in here for a bit?" Harry nodded and grasped his Staff briefly, casting the now familiar time spells. Then, after drinking from her goblet again Ginny looked at him, "How much more of this do we have?" she asked eagerly.
Harry laughed. "Plenty love," he said kissing her cheek. "We have plenty."
A little over two hours later, Harry and Ginny walked into the Great Hall, Harry carrying a large bottle of clear liquid. Everyone watched with interest as both walked down the center of the room and straight up to the Staff Table. The hour and a half or so soak in steaming hot water did the trick and Ginny moved normally, even though it was not quite comfortable to move yet. She just ignored the pain, finding that she had the same ability as Harry now that she had survived the Test of Pain. The young couple stopped in front of Professors Lupin and Stormcloud who both looked at them in surprise.
"True Wolf's Bane Potion, as promised," Harry said as he put the bottle down. Remus, as well as the rest of the staff looked confused, but Matilda's eyes widened in surprise.
"You-You've made it already," breathed Matilda.
"Yeah," said Harry grinning. "Ginny and I have been working on this potion non-stop for the past several days."
"What exactly does the potion do Harry," asked Remus, looking at the large bottle with interest at his words. Anything that Harry and Ginny had worked on for so long had to be important after all.
Harry looked from Remus to Matilda in surprise, the latter looking a bit guilty. "Matilda didn't tell you?" he asked, forgetting to speak of her as a professor.
"Tell him what, exactly Mr. Potter?" asked Professor McGonnogall, interest apparent in her voice. "What does that potion DO?"
Harry looked down the Staff Table. The entire Staff, including Professor Snape, was looking at him and Ginny with interest. "Oh, it doesn't do much," Harry downplayed. "It just grants werewolves control over their transformations, and gives them total control over themselves while transformed, which basically makes them animagi, except they transform into werewolves instead of regular beasts." At his words, Remus began to tremble, and the entire Staff looked at Harry in obvious surprise.
"Impossible," breathed Snape. "No such potion exists, I would have known if it did."
"It DOES exist, and it's sitting right in front of Remus," countered Harry, somewhat annoyed. "If you don't believe me, have Remus drink the potion to prove it, what's the worst that could happen?"
"It could KILL HIM for one," said Snape automatically, refusing to believe that Harry, Arch-mage or not, could make a decent potion.
"It won't kill him," said Ginny. "Harry and I have been drinking it all morning, since it was ready, and we're fine." At her words, Remus looked at the bottle excitedly.
"What do I have to do?" he asked, eagerly.
"Just drink the entire bottle," said Harry, "all at once, as quick as possible. As soon as you've finished, you'll feel the effects immediately."
At Harry's words, Remus quickly pulled the stopper from the bottle and began to drink the potion, especially after he tasted it. Pausing every so often, he quickly drained the bottle as the entire school looked on expectantly. As soon as he finished the bottle and set it down, he began to glow a bright silver color. Several people in the hall gasped at this, but Remus had an amazed look on his face. Before their eyes, Remus began to change, the lines on his face disappearing, and his gray hair slowly coloring to a dark brown. He looked as young as Sirius had seemed again. Finally, he stopped glowing. He laughed excitedly and leaped out of his chair, jumping across the Staff Table, changing into a huge wolf in mid jump, and landed on four paws in front of Ginny. He quickly stood on hind legs and put his forepaws on her shoulders before she could bolt, she looked extremely nervous. He quickly licked her face, causing Ginny to giggle, and then he did the same to Harry who had been standing calmly with a small smile on his face throughout the entire transformation. Harry laughed as well when he felt Remus lick his face, then Remus leaped over the Staff Table, again changing in mid-leap, and stood in front of the entire amazed room proudly. He pulled Matilda up into his arms and kissed her deeply and passionately, not caring where they were, or who saw them. Loud cheers broke out across the hall at this, but for once, the couple did not care, and kept on kissing.
Ignoring the couple, Harry glanced along the Staff Table to see their reactions. Most of them were stunned, including Snape, whose mouth was open, and eyes were wide. Professor Dumbledore was smiling at Harry and Ginny, as was Professor McGonnogall. Harry grinned at Ginny, who smiled back, then led her to the Gryffindor table as if nothing had happened. Ron and Hermione both rushed to them, almost suffocating them with hugs.
"We're so sorry," cried Hermione tears streaming down her face. "We all thought that the two of you were so into yourselves that you didn't want to hang out with us anymore."
"Yeah," said Ron, HIS face wet with tears too. "If we had known. How did you DO it?"
"Later Ron," said Harry softly, noting that almost everyone in the Great Hall had cocked an ear towards Harry and Ginny at this question, well everyone except Matilda and Remus, who were still kissing. Harry watched as Professor McGonnogall finally pulled them apart so that she could embrace Remus as well. "Right now I just want to sit down and eat some food."
Noticing the numerous students and Staff looking towards the group of friends, Ron quickly nodded and the group sat down on the benches. Harry and Ginny quickly made a show of putting food on their plates and eating. They all ate silently, then went to class, agreeing to meet in Harry and Ginny's room after dinner without a word between them.
Classes that day were a joyous affair. Right after Breakfast the Gryffindors had Double Potions with the Slytherines. Matilda was so happy that as soon as Harry and Ginny walked in, they were both swept up into monstrous hugs that threatened to crush them, which they both returned wholeheartedly. The Professor declared the class a free day and spent the entire time talking to Harry and Ginny with Ron and Hermione there as well. She did not ask about the potion, but Harry sensed her eagerness and curiosity, so he telepathically sent her, as well as Remus of course, invitations to His and Ginny's room after dinner.
"Harry, Ginny, I don't know how to thank you," Matilda said finally. "What you've done. it means more to Remus and I than you could possibly know. You've made a dream come true!"
Harry smiled and hugged Matilda close again. "You don't have to thank us Matty," he said. "We were happy to do it."
"That potion must have cost you a fortune to make," said Matilda, looking from Harry to Ginny. "If I knew you were going to brew it, I would have paid for-,"
"Don't worry about how much it cost," interrupted Harry. "However much it cost was worth every Knut when I saw your and Moony's expressions today at breakfast this morning."
"But Harry," protested Matilda. "You shouldn't have to-,"
"Why not," asked Ginny. "Harry and I have more money than we could possibly use in our lifetimes, no matter how long we live, and how many children we have. Heck, even I don't know how rich Harry is. Why shouldn't we use our money to help our family? You DO know that you and Remus are our family don't you Matty?" At her words, Matilda started bawling again, and soon Ginny and Hermione had joined in, all hugging each other.
"Women," Ron muttered to Harry. "They're all bonkers."
Harry grinned at his statement, then said quietly, "Oh by the way, mate I've been thinking about your little engagement problem and I think I've figured out a way for you and Remus to top me. Want to hear about it?" At Ron's excited nod, Harry went on whispering into his ear. Ron's eyes got wider and wider as Harry outlined his idea then, after Harry had finished, he grinned widely.
"Perfect," he breathed.
After lunch, the Gryffindor fifth years went out on the grounds for Care of Magical Creatures, which they had with Ravenclaw. When they reached Hagrid's hut, he beamed down at Harry and Ginny.
"Tha' was a righ' nice thing you two did, y'know tha' righ? I'm proud of yeah," he said. Then he turned to the class and said. "Cuz of wha' happened today, we're gonna study werewolves. Professor Lupin has agreed ta transform for us so you lot can see a werewolf up close safely."
At that, he gestured to his cabin door where Remus had appeared grinning at all the students. "If any of you are afraid, don't worry, I don't bite anymore," he said cheerfully, then transformed into the huge wolf and walked towards Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny. Harry and Ginny both eagerly petted him, and scratched him behind the ears, making him pant and his tail wag. Emboldened by the two, Ron and Hermione also came and began to pet the werewolf, who soon rolled onto his back, allowing the four laughing teenagers to rub his belly. Once all the rest of the students saw how friendly he was, even if he was a werewolf, they all approached the werewolf form of Professor Lupin tentatively at first, then more readily when he licked faces and made sure to be very gentle with everyone who touched him.
Soon, the laughing, happy group of students all made their way to their respective Commons rooms to relax before dinner. Harry and Ginny both made sure to stay and chat with the rest of the Gryffindors in the Commons rooms for the first time since the first night back. Most of their housemates questions were about the miraculous changes that happened to Harry and Ginny both, as well as the Wolf's Bane potion, but both of them avoided some of the questions, downplayed the answers to others, and flat out lied to the rest. As soon as it was time for dinner, Harry and Ginny made their way down to the Great Hall in good spirits.