A/N - Okay everyone, don't kill me for not updating in such a long time. There has been too many things going on around here for me to even begin to explain. Let's just say that I've been majorly busy. Okay, these next few chapters are my Halloween present to you all. Later.
Disclaimer - It's not mine. It never was.
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Sabotage
It was no time flat before another week of school had passed and the students were once again treated to another Hogsmeade weekend. Preparations for the ball were finished, so many of the students had the entire day just to spend in the little wizarding town. Sable, on the other hand, stayed back at the castle for the day since she had already gotten her costume and had everything she needed for it. Remus had wanted her to come into town with them, but when she brought up the little problem that had arisen with the American Minister over the Celtic potion book he immediately backed down. He knew that she was in a rush to finish her work and send the dreaded book back to America. The Marauders were planning on spending the entire day out in the little wizarding town, along with Lily, Bella, and Amanda. She was the only one who was going to stay back and work.
The rest of the students had already left, and Remus had promised to bring her something back from the village. It was already after breakfast, and Sable pulled out a book that she had found in the library about werewolves. Dumbledore had said that this particular book housed some information that she might find useful. So far, she had found nothing that she did not already know. 'I better damned well find something useful!' she thought angrily, opening the book and looking into the pages carefully. 'I've already got Neal Willington on my back, as well as the rest of the American Ministry!' She picked the book up and walked over to a desk to read it. Out of the corner of her eye, a folded up piece of parchment fluttered to the ground when she moved. She stopped and picked the paper up, reading over it for the millionth time since she had received it earlier that week.
It was a letter from the American Ministry, inquiring as to the whereabouts of a certain tome that had mysteriously disappeared out of the Library Archives. She glanced over the paper and frowned. That bastard Willington was always a self centered, pernicious, ass-hole, but the letter topped it all off.
Mr. Robbins,
I am writing to inquire to the whereabouts of a particular tome that has come up missing from the Archives of the American Ministry. The tome was a part of an ancient set that supposedly housed information pertaining to the potion making of our ancestors. I know that you have an avid interest in Potions, and I would like to know if you have any knowledge as to the whereabouts of this book.
It is extremely important that you respond with your answer. There are few that had access to the archives, you being one of the only ones. Since your mother and father are out on a mission, I could not contact them due to security measures.
I have already sent the Headmaster a copy of this letter as assurance that you get it. I hope that you can help us with this, Sable. I know your parents would be quite upset if their daughter was caught stealing from their employers. I hope that you will be able to help us to find the culprit. Any information you have will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Neil Willington
American Minister of Magic
P.S. On a more personal note, I hope you are having a wonderful year in school. You were one of Salem's brightest students, and I hope you are doing us proud over there. Good bye, and good luck.
Sable sighed and rolled her eyes in disgust. 'That stupid man could care less about me.' she thought. 'He already suspects me of taking the book. I don't know why he doesn't just come out and say it.' She stuck the offending letter in a drawer and pushed it to the back of her mind. She had spoken with Dumbledore, and he had suggested sending the book back, via an untraceable owl. Even though he was supposedly responsible for turning her in because of her part in stealing the book, Dumbledore realized that she was possibly the only person who could do the needed work that would result in a cure. Sable had agreed with him about sending the book back, and promised to have the last of the book translated and finished by the time the end of the week rolled around.
As she had promised, she finished translating the book the night before, and now she was in the process of cross matching some of the information in the Potion book and the new book she had received from the library. Settling down on her bed, she opened the book to the marked page and began reading. She sat there for the majority of the day, skimming through the chapters. Right before dinner, Sable caught something that might be of some use to her.
There is only one main branch of werewolf bloodline. Most people who are affected by some form of lycanthropy have been directly infected from the bite of another werewolf. However, there have been a few documented cases of people being born with the lycanthropy already present within them. This is only possible if both parents of a child have been infected by the same wolf at the same time before the child is conceived. Thus, the child is born with a dormant form of the lycanthropy gene in their DNA structure.
These case studies have been scarce, as most people are afraid to be brought out into the open if the suffer from the disease. But it has been said that these 'natural born werewolves' possess the ability to shift their form from that of a human to that of a wolf at will. They also suffer from the same pre- and post- lunar effects as a person who has been infected with the virus. These effects include abnormal strength, heightened hearing and smell, and a change of eye color to a warm amber color. These people have been coined with the name ranula.
The change is more easily occurred during the week of the full moon, when the subject's body is already in the process of changing. In order to changed, the subject has only to focus on the thoughts and feelings that run throughout their mind during that time of the change. No wand work, spells, incantations, or potions are needed, only the will power to force oneself into the shape desired.
Since ranula's are rare, there have been no studies based on these allegations. However, from the information gathered, it is possible to control the form of ones body if they are in fact a ranula…..
Sable read over the page a few more times, noting that there were no proven facts to support the claims. But she knew that there was some sliver of truth in what was written in the book, because she had fought back the urge to let her wolf side take over more than once. 'I wonder what would happen if I let it go next time?' she thought. She pushed the thought to the back of her mind and continued to read for the next few hours.
She was startled out of her reading by an insistent tapping at the portrait behind her bed. She stood and stretched, taking her time to get there because she knew who it was already. She pulled the warding off of the picture and pulled it open, only to reveal Remus standing in the way.
"Hey." he said. "I wasn't interrupting anything, was I?" Sable smiled and nodded, moving out of the way so he could get down.
"No, actually I was about to fall asleep." she answered truthfully.
"Did you find anything helpful in those books Dumbledore sent from the library?" he asked.
"Actually, I think I did." she said with a smile. She grabbed the book and showed him the passage that referred to the changes from human to lupine form. He seemed surprised at the new turn of events.
"Can you do it?" he asked, eyeing her skeptically. "Seems like it would be more than a little dangerous than normal."
"More dangerous than some of the stunts you and the others pull?" she asked with a smile. Remus had the decency to look properly chastised before saying anything.
"Ummm, good point." he muttered. Sable rolled her eyes and put the book down.
"I'm going to ask Dumbledore what he thinks about it, actually." Sable answered. "He should be able to tell me something about it." Remus nodded and looked at the little charmed clock that hung on the wall above her bed. It was going on dinner time, and he had come to get her so she would eat something. He knew that once she got engrossed in her work, it was pointless to try to get her to do anything else.
"Hungry?" he asked suddenly. "I'll bet you haven't eaten all day, have you?" Sable gave him a small grin and nodded.
"I eat this morning." she said defensively.
"Have you eaten anything since then?" he asked. When Sable shook her head, Remus gave out an overly dramatic sigh and began to push her towards the entrance to her rooms. "You really need to make sure you eat something, Sable." he said. "You can't live off of bread and water, you know. I'm starving. So I know you've got to be hungry."
"I'm so sorry." she said sarcastically. " I didn't know that my diet was being regulated by my goofy boyfriend." Remus grinned and pulled her into a tight hug.
"I just need to make sure you eat something. I know how you get when you get tied up in your work." Sable frowned and rolled her eyes. "You and I are going to dinner, now!"
"Okay, your highness, lead the bloody way." she sneered playfully. Remus beamed and wrapped an arm around her waist. "But, I've got to make a pit stop in the dungeons afterwards."
"Why do you need to go to the dungeons?" he asked.
"I need some more sandalwood for a potion I'm working on, and I'm out. I was going to get some from the student supply cupboard."
"Do we have to?" he whined. "You know I hate going down there. It's too cold."
"You don't have to go, Remus." she said with a teasing smile. "I know you hate going down into those icky dungeons. It's okay. I'll just go down there, get what I need, and be back up." Remus frowned and shook his head.
"I'm not letting you go down there by yourself." he said. "What if you run into Snape, or Flint for that matter?" Sable just smiled and nodded, knowing he would go with her. They made their way to the Great Hall, where Sirius was throwing some kind of fireworks at the younger students. Professor McGonagall finally got so fed up with him that she confiscated the pyrotechnics before dinner was halfway over. Sirius just grinned and pulled more of the pranks he had bought that day out of his pocket.
Before things could get out of hand, Remus and Sable excused themselves and left to go down into the dungeons. Just like always, the dungeons gave off an unfriendly aura that made Remus shiver. They made it to the student cupboard in the main teaching laboratory and Sable penned a quick note to Professor Treble, telling him what she was borrowing. While she searched through the cupboard trying to find the needed ingredients, Remus took a look around the room.
This was one of the laboratories that Treble only let his Advanced Potions students in, so Remus had never been in there. He looked around at the cauldrons on the tables. One over in the corner caught his attention and he walked over to it. He heard Sable come out of the room and shut the door, but it did not bother him. Sitting in front of him on the table in the middle of the room was a potion that looked and smelled very familiar. Sable came up to him and explained that it was another version of the Wolfsbane Potion. The one she was supposed to be doing for class. She explained that there was one major difference in the mixture though. The one they were looking at would not work on anyone. Remus seemed surprised, but quickly caught on to why she had done that. If Snape decided to be an even bigger prat, he could have slipped something into the cauldron while Sable wasn't there, effectively ruining it.
Sable turned to leave, and Remus followed her out of the room.
"How can you put up with another year of Potions work?" he asked. "I hate that class." Sable grinned and smiled at her boyfriend.
"Don't complain, you're getting something good out of my work." she said. "Besides, it's not like there are a ton of people in the class with me. In fact there's only about ten of us in there." They continued to bicker playfully on their way back up through the dungeons. Unfortunately, the good mood was lost when they ran headlong into Snape and Flint.
"What are you doing coming from there, Robbins?" Flint sneered. "You have no business in the dungeons after classes have ended."
"If I felt the need to share that information with you, you stupid prick, I would have done so." Sable said firmly. "As it is, I see no reason for you to be concerned about where I've been."
"Flint may have no concerns," Snape drawled, "However, as a Prefect, I do." He glanced over at the two Gryffindors and sneered. "What were you doing down there?" Remus clutched his hands together as a way to keep himself from swinging at the greasy haired boy.
"I was going to the student supply cupboard to get some sandalwood for a potion I am researching, Snape." Sable said coolly. " I left Professor Treble a note telling him of what I had borrowed. You will see that everything is in order and we have not blown anything up. Now let us pass, you slimy snake." Snape regarded the shorter girl with obvious contempt, but proceeded to let the two of them by. Remus gave the two boys a glare that would have made Treble proud before they turned the corner. When they were out of sight, and hearing range, Flint turned to the older boy with a sneer.
"Do you honestly think they were down here getting potions ingredients?" he asked. Snape nodded.
"Yes. She was carrying a vile of sandalwood with her. And I know for a fact that Lily took what was left in her supplies earlier this week." He began walking back up the corridor towards the room Remus and Sable had just come out of. "Besides, nothing has exploded yet. And if they were pulling pranks, we would not have been able to see them since they would probably be hiding under Potter's damned invisibility cloak!" Flint seemed to take that as a good enough explanation. When the two Slytherins entered into the laboratory, Snape went to the cupboard to find some boomslang skin to add to his cauldron of Polyjuice potion while Flint went to disengage the protective charms they had placed around said potion.
When the Quidditch captain took down the protective wards covering the table the Polyjuice Potion was resting on, his eyes went down into narrow slits. The potion, which had been a goopy, gray color the day before, was not as clear as rainwater, and letting off little wisps of steam. He was no potion fanatic, but something told him that something in the potion had went wrong. 'That can't be right! Snape brewed this potion. And that man does NOT make mistakes, especially when it has something to do with the Dark Lord!' he thought.
"Snape! Get over here, now!" he hissed loudly. The other boy came gliding across the room, his robes billowing around him.
"What is it, Flint?" he asked. Flint pointed at the cauldron and hissed.
"Look at this! I'm no potion master, but I am pretty sure that is not Polyjuice Potion!" He barked. Snape peered down into the cauldron, no expression apparent on his face. He took up a ladle and tried to stir the clear concoction, only to find that the ladle was burned in half.
"It's been tampered with." Snape hissed, his eyes narrowing even further in anger. "Someone has changed it to some sort of an acid based liquid!" He retrieved the half eaten piece of ladle from the bottom of the cauldron and pulled out his wand, vanishing the liquid into oblivion. His anger was apparent, and Flint did not try to find out what he thought had happened.
"Lord Voldemort will not be pleased to know that we have failed." Flint said lowly. "And I personally do not want to be the one to tell him that our plan will have to be put off. Who do you think tampered with it anyway? No one knew you were working on it, did they?"
"The only person who knew was you." Snape said fiercely. "But I have a feeling that Potter and his crew are behind this. Robbins and Evans are the only people who would know how to turn Polyjuice Potion into something completely useless."
"There is no way Evans would do it." Flint said. "She might be dating the school's head prankster, but she would not mess with another student's work." Snape seemed to be contemplating the same thing.
"That doesn't mean that Robbins would not." he said. "I have a feeling she has something to do with this." They were broken out of their reverie when the door to the laboratory opened, admitting a small brown haired boy with a Gryffindor cloak on. He looked up and blanched at the sight of the two Slytherin boys. Flint, having his fill of Gryffindors in the dungeons after dark, -and needing to vent some of the frustration he was currently housing- snapped at the boy.
"What are you doing here?" he barked. The little boy seemed to stutter, but caught himself.
"I was supposed to go see Professor Treble for a detention this evening." he said quietly, his Scottish accent marring his words. "I was to report to his office, but I do not know where it is."
"Stupid Gryffindorks, getting lost in the dungeons." Flint said, rounding on the little boy. "You know what we do to little Gryffies who get lost down here, don't you?" The little boy turned even more pale and shook his head. Flint sneered and begaon walking around the scared first year.
"First, we…"
"Professor Treble's office is three doors down and to the left." came Snape's strident, cold voice. Flint turned around and glared at him for breaking up his fun. "He is not a patient man, so I suggest you go." The little boy nodded and quickly fled from the room, glad to be out of the way. Flint waited until the door was shut and the boy gone before rounding on Snape.
"Take the fun out of scarring the Gryffies shitless, why don't you Snape!" he growled. "That one looked about ready to shit in his pants." Snape turned and eyed the boy stonily.
"We have somewhere to be." he said simply. Flint looked a little confused. But when a sudden pain shot through his left forearm, he knew what Snape had meant. He let a ragged sigh escape his lips as they quickly climbed the stairs leading to the outside of Hogwarts grounds. 'This sure as hell is NOT getting any easier!' he thought quickly.
A/N - Okay. How'd that chapter go? Remember to leave me a review telling me what you think. Okay. Later.
A.A.
