A/N: amplifico = enlarge; resero = to disclose/unlock; rescindo = to open
up; recludere = to open up/to disclose; Jhwty sshta skh = secret scribe of
Thoth; fallax scriptio = illusion writing;
Chapter Eleven
It was late December when Severus had a chance to properly analyse the Libellus de Vetitum Potio, it was a rather snowy Saturday night, with the exception of a handful of students the rest had left that morning to return to their respective homes. Severus was sitting in one of his faded leather armchairs by a roaring fire, the temperature outside was in the low minus' and it was not that much warmer inside.
Approximately a month ago he had finally unshrunk the book with a ridiculously easy 'f?nite incantium' and 'amplifico', and unlocked the book with several slightly more advanced unlocking spells - 'resero', 'rescindo' and 'recludere', each cast under a full, quarter and new moon, respectively.
The book lay open on Severus' knee as he regarded it with contempt, the blank pages of the book stared back at him, as if it was mocking him. Severus had tried all of the revealing spells that he knew, even the very obscure Ancient Egyptian 'Jhwty sshta skh' calling upon powers of Thoth the God of scribes and knowledge.
Severus had been sitting in the armchair for the past five hours and nothing that he cast at it had worked, and it infuriated him. Severus gave a frustrated yell and threw the book onto the floor, and buried his head into his hands.
Severus lifted his head up in confusion as he felt a warm sensation on the back of his hands and realised that he had accidentally set the book on fire in his moment of rage, Severus quickly cast an extinguishing spell.
When the spell ended Severus gingerly lifted the book up and dusted the soot off of the cover, opening the book to check that the pages were undamaged he discovered that the page now contained writing of a sort. Each page was covered with a hundred and eighty glyphs, the glyphs were known as Fallax Scriptio.
These forms of glyphs were used in Eastern Europe more than three thousand years ago, dying out when the Roman Empire expanded and nationalised Latin. Fallax scriptio was known as illusion writing because the glyphs were linked to an individual and reacted to their key magic, in this case, the writer's key magic was fire.
The reading of fallax scriptio was an extremely complicated affair, each glyph held its own meaning but when several glyphs were read together it produced a new meaning and unfortunately, the length of groups of glyphs were endless. Indeed, the longest glyph group was two thousand and sixty three glyphs long and when read it gave the meaning 'to exist'.
Only an expert would be able to properly translate the writings, they would know where the 'words' began and ended. An unfortunate amateur almost drove himself insane three hundred years ago when he began translating a text but did not know where the next 'word' started, he continually translated twenty-two pages before his friends blasted him away from the book.
Although Severus would not claim to be an expert, he did study fallax scriptio from an early age as his father, Cronus Snape, had employed numerous experts to tutor Severus from a young age in all of the studies that a purebred aristocrat should be versed in.
Without hesitation Severus began reading the first three pages, jumping up suddenly from his seat Severus reached into the terracotta pot next to the fireplace and threw in some floo powder saying 'Dumbledore's office' as he stepped into the emerald green fire.
As Severus stepped out of the fireplace he noticed that there was no one in Albus' office, the light that illuminated the office was now dimmed, and Severus spotted Fawkes asleep at his perch.
Just as Severus was about to leave the office via the fireplace, he heard a door behind him creak and the raspy voice of the Headmaster, "A bit early for social calls, is it not, Severus?"
"What time is it?" Severus asked, as he noticed Albus wore his dark green paisley dressing gown and a matching nightcap.
Albus smiled, "Two thirty in the morning,"
"My apologise, Albus, I had no idea it as so late," Severus said.
"Ah, it must be something quite important that you were working on for the time to slip your mind," Albus commented.
"I believe I have cracked the Libellus de Vetitum Potio, I have read the first few pages and it does indicate that the brewing instructions for the elementum potion are in the book. I thought it would be more better if I discussed such matters with you first," Severus explained; holding the book up, face out, at shoulder height.
"You have cracked it?" Albus said astonished, "Please, take a seat, Severus, I will be back momentarily," Albus said gesturing to the place by the fireplace, as he disappeared through the door leading to his bedroom.
Severus chose a dark blue armchair to the left of the fireplace, as he waited a house elf he recognised as Dobby set a tray of tea down on the coffee table, and served (milk and two sugars for Albus, and milk no sugar for Severus). Severus kept the book on his lap as he accepted the cup proffered by Dobby.
Albus re-entered the office dressed in a pale orange gown, dark velvet robes and matching wizards hat. Taking the teacup left on the side, Albus took the seat opposite Severus.
Severus began re-telling how he had revealed the writing, causing Albus to almost choke on his tea, and about the fallax scriptio, and his ability to read it. After Severus finished Albus sat deep in thought for many minutes before he spoke again.
"It is imperative that this book must not fall into Voldemort's hands, I would suggest that you be the one to guard it," Albus began.
"But, Albus." Severus interrupted.
"Now, now, Severus, I believe that it would be the safest place for the book, you are more adept at keeping the book protected from prying hands and eyes than I am capable of," Albus finished.
"But surely there are other ways," Severus said.
"I think that the Fidelius charm would be too risky for matters of such importance, also I would not trust the Ministry to keep such a book safe either," Albus said.
"What of Voldemort?" Severus asked, "He already knows that I have a book regarding the elementum potion,"
"He does not know the contents of the book does he?" Albus asked.
"No, he believes that the book may have references to the potion, but he does not know if it does contain the instructions to brew it," Severus said.
"Will he believe you if you said that the book refers you to another book or source?"
"It would be plausible, he may get rather tiresome of it but I see no reason for him not to believe it,"
"Then, the next time that he summons you should inform him of that fact,"
"Agreed," Severus said, "I believe that that is all we can discus on that matter, it is past three, Albus, I should leave you to return to your slumber,"
Upon arriving back at his quarters Severus sat on the dark green velvet couch opposite the fireplace and placed the book on the oak coffee table in front of him, resting his chin on his knuckles, and his elbows on his knees Severus stared at the leather bound book. Hesitantly he reached out his right arm and opened the book to the third page before he closed it with force, and sat back into the couch.
Minutes went by as Severus sat staring at the book, brows furrowed and his eyes darted about slightly in thought. With a sudden push he knelt in front of the book and opened it and began to read.
The fire had died down to glowing embers when Severus closed the book finally; resting his forehead on his forearm Severus sat digesting all of the information. Severus stood up and stretched his aching joints before taking out his wand and said many incantations over the book, the last spell turned the book into a glass jar containing several harpies' feet suspended in formaldehyde. Picking up the jar Severus put it onto the shelf to the left of the fireplace along with other jars that contained equally gruesome body parts.
It was a curious habit of Severus' from childhood to disguise important objects into mundane objects, many of the items in his quarters were not what they appeared to be especially the jars, it amused Severus that when people entered his rooms they usually avoided looking at the jars, which could well be the most interesting, if not the most sacred, object in there.
Severus walked into his laboratory and began to brew a potion, a cauldron of spring water was placed over the fire and a handful of sliced rosemarinus officinalis was added. After ten minutes a gram of hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) and a pinch of powdered aluminium oxide was added, lastly half a teaspoon of Lavandula angustifolia pollen was stirred into the mixture before the lilac liquid was poured into a silver goblet.
Casting a cooling charm over the potion Severus drank the contents of the goblet and leant on the worktable. Suddenly Severus snapped open his eyes and looked about in confusion and spun round, his gaze fell onto a piece of parchment that sat on the table held fast under a stone paperweight, it read:
This note has been written by you, no doubt many minutes before you have drunken a timed memory potion, as evident by the apparatus and ingredients set out on the workbench. If my calculations are right you will have forgotten the last five hours, beginning approximately from the time you stepped from the fireplace. The book has been protected and secreted away, though you will have no trouble perceiving its hiding place.
-Severus Snape.
After reading the note Severus set fire to the parchment and washed off the ashes into the sink, and cleared away his apparatus. As he entered the lounge he looked around curiously and saw a new addition on his specimen shelf, Severus allowed himself a smile before moving on to his bedroom, where he changed into a pair of black silk pyjamas and slipped into bed.
***
It was now deep in the afternoon and Severus was busy setting up the ingredients and apparatus for his forty-third version of the cruciatus reliever, this time the experiment would include refluxing the mixture and then refining it. As Severus looked into the onyx lined oak stock-cupboard he realised that he had used up his stock of willow branches on the last version of the potion.
So, leaving his quarters Severus walked down the corridor to the potions classroom, upon entering he noticed that the door to the student stockroom was slightly ajar. Silently Severus advanced to the door and withdrew his wand, placing his hand gently on the brass doorknob Severus pushed the door open and stepped inside.
There was no one present in the room, and in a split second Severus realised that he had walked into the oldest trick in the book, as he was suddenly drenched in a pungent brown liquid, and because liquids do not by themselves suspend in the mid-air the wooden pail that was holding it in also fell and hit Severus on top of the head.
As the bucket fell to the ground with a clunk, so did Severus but with a thump, and there he remained.
***
An hour or so had passed as Severus laid unconscious on the floor, when finally the door to the potions classroom opened and the greying head of Remus peered round, his nose wrinkled as the aroma of the potion assailed him. Remus was about to back out of the room when he saw a large black mass on the other side of the room.
Remus crossed the room swiftly and turned the mass over and gasped, drawing out his wand Remus cast 'incendio' into the fireplace before casting 'mobiluscorpus'. Grabbing a handful of floo powder Remus threw it into the fireplace and called out 'the infirmary' as he walked into it emerald fire with Severus in his arms.
As soon as Remus arrived in the infirmary he deposited his charge on the nearest bed and ran to Poppy's office, Remus returned with Poppy in tow and then ran out of the infirmary to alert Albus. Poppy cast a cleaning charm first before scanning for any injuries; there was only a minor bruise on the back of the head, which Poppy dissipated.
By the time Remus had returned with Albus, Poppy had undid the cloak and unbuttoned the top three buttons of the white shirt and cast 'eneverate'. All three gathered closer around the bed, slowly Severus awoke.
Noting the confused expression Albus explained, "We found you unconscious in the potions classroom," Albus continued, "May I ask what your name is and how you came to be in the potions room?"
"Have I just stepped into the." Severus' sarcastic remark died on his tongue as he clapped a hand to his mouth.
"A mirror. Albus, transfigure a mirror for me," Severus said as he looked up.
Albus looked somewhat puzzled at the request but complied, and transfigured a simple mirror within a brass frame.
Severus looked into the mirror and gasped, the image he saw was not the image he was use to. Instead, a young girl with long, jet-black hair, blues eyes the shade of winter skies and a pale complexion stared back at Severus.
Jumping from the bed Severus made his way to the fireplace but was stopped by Remus.
"Get out of my way, Remus. I have more important things to attend to than to pander to your whims today," Severus snarled.
Remus stood stunned at being insulted.
Albus walked up to Severus and looked into his eyes. "Severus?" Albus hesitantly asked.
"Who else?" Severus said exasperatedly.
Remus and Poppy were stunned but then bombarded Severus with a multitude of questions; they fell silent as Albus held up his hand.
"What happened, Severus?" Albus asked.
"I do not know, Albus, but I have an inkling that the potion in the classroom holds the key," Severus said, "I want to go now and get a sample,"
"Wait," Poppy said, "I have no idea what this potion does, I want you to remain in the infirmary so I can keep a close eye on you,"
Severus was about to answer back when Remus interrupted, "Why don't I get a sample for you, Severus?"
"That is a good idea," Albus said, "now everybody is satisfied,"
Severus raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
*****
Chapter Eleven
It was late December when Severus had a chance to properly analyse the Libellus de Vetitum Potio, it was a rather snowy Saturday night, with the exception of a handful of students the rest had left that morning to return to their respective homes. Severus was sitting in one of his faded leather armchairs by a roaring fire, the temperature outside was in the low minus' and it was not that much warmer inside.
Approximately a month ago he had finally unshrunk the book with a ridiculously easy 'f?nite incantium' and 'amplifico', and unlocked the book with several slightly more advanced unlocking spells - 'resero', 'rescindo' and 'recludere', each cast under a full, quarter and new moon, respectively.
The book lay open on Severus' knee as he regarded it with contempt, the blank pages of the book stared back at him, as if it was mocking him. Severus had tried all of the revealing spells that he knew, even the very obscure Ancient Egyptian 'Jhwty sshta skh' calling upon powers of Thoth the God of scribes and knowledge.
Severus had been sitting in the armchair for the past five hours and nothing that he cast at it had worked, and it infuriated him. Severus gave a frustrated yell and threw the book onto the floor, and buried his head into his hands.
Severus lifted his head up in confusion as he felt a warm sensation on the back of his hands and realised that he had accidentally set the book on fire in his moment of rage, Severus quickly cast an extinguishing spell.
When the spell ended Severus gingerly lifted the book up and dusted the soot off of the cover, opening the book to check that the pages were undamaged he discovered that the page now contained writing of a sort. Each page was covered with a hundred and eighty glyphs, the glyphs were known as Fallax Scriptio.
These forms of glyphs were used in Eastern Europe more than three thousand years ago, dying out when the Roman Empire expanded and nationalised Latin. Fallax scriptio was known as illusion writing because the glyphs were linked to an individual and reacted to their key magic, in this case, the writer's key magic was fire.
The reading of fallax scriptio was an extremely complicated affair, each glyph held its own meaning but when several glyphs were read together it produced a new meaning and unfortunately, the length of groups of glyphs were endless. Indeed, the longest glyph group was two thousand and sixty three glyphs long and when read it gave the meaning 'to exist'.
Only an expert would be able to properly translate the writings, they would know where the 'words' began and ended. An unfortunate amateur almost drove himself insane three hundred years ago when he began translating a text but did not know where the next 'word' started, he continually translated twenty-two pages before his friends blasted him away from the book.
Although Severus would not claim to be an expert, he did study fallax scriptio from an early age as his father, Cronus Snape, had employed numerous experts to tutor Severus from a young age in all of the studies that a purebred aristocrat should be versed in.
Without hesitation Severus began reading the first three pages, jumping up suddenly from his seat Severus reached into the terracotta pot next to the fireplace and threw in some floo powder saying 'Dumbledore's office' as he stepped into the emerald green fire.
As Severus stepped out of the fireplace he noticed that there was no one in Albus' office, the light that illuminated the office was now dimmed, and Severus spotted Fawkes asleep at his perch.
Just as Severus was about to leave the office via the fireplace, he heard a door behind him creak and the raspy voice of the Headmaster, "A bit early for social calls, is it not, Severus?"
"What time is it?" Severus asked, as he noticed Albus wore his dark green paisley dressing gown and a matching nightcap.
Albus smiled, "Two thirty in the morning,"
"My apologise, Albus, I had no idea it as so late," Severus said.
"Ah, it must be something quite important that you were working on for the time to slip your mind," Albus commented.
"I believe I have cracked the Libellus de Vetitum Potio, I have read the first few pages and it does indicate that the brewing instructions for the elementum potion are in the book. I thought it would be more better if I discussed such matters with you first," Severus explained; holding the book up, face out, at shoulder height.
"You have cracked it?" Albus said astonished, "Please, take a seat, Severus, I will be back momentarily," Albus said gesturing to the place by the fireplace, as he disappeared through the door leading to his bedroom.
Severus chose a dark blue armchair to the left of the fireplace, as he waited a house elf he recognised as Dobby set a tray of tea down on the coffee table, and served (milk and two sugars for Albus, and milk no sugar for Severus). Severus kept the book on his lap as he accepted the cup proffered by Dobby.
Albus re-entered the office dressed in a pale orange gown, dark velvet robes and matching wizards hat. Taking the teacup left on the side, Albus took the seat opposite Severus.
Severus began re-telling how he had revealed the writing, causing Albus to almost choke on his tea, and about the fallax scriptio, and his ability to read it. After Severus finished Albus sat deep in thought for many minutes before he spoke again.
"It is imperative that this book must not fall into Voldemort's hands, I would suggest that you be the one to guard it," Albus began.
"But, Albus." Severus interrupted.
"Now, now, Severus, I believe that it would be the safest place for the book, you are more adept at keeping the book protected from prying hands and eyes than I am capable of," Albus finished.
"But surely there are other ways," Severus said.
"I think that the Fidelius charm would be too risky for matters of such importance, also I would not trust the Ministry to keep such a book safe either," Albus said.
"What of Voldemort?" Severus asked, "He already knows that I have a book regarding the elementum potion,"
"He does not know the contents of the book does he?" Albus asked.
"No, he believes that the book may have references to the potion, but he does not know if it does contain the instructions to brew it," Severus said.
"Will he believe you if you said that the book refers you to another book or source?"
"It would be plausible, he may get rather tiresome of it but I see no reason for him not to believe it,"
"Then, the next time that he summons you should inform him of that fact,"
"Agreed," Severus said, "I believe that that is all we can discus on that matter, it is past three, Albus, I should leave you to return to your slumber,"
Upon arriving back at his quarters Severus sat on the dark green velvet couch opposite the fireplace and placed the book on the oak coffee table in front of him, resting his chin on his knuckles, and his elbows on his knees Severus stared at the leather bound book. Hesitantly he reached out his right arm and opened the book to the third page before he closed it with force, and sat back into the couch.
Minutes went by as Severus sat staring at the book, brows furrowed and his eyes darted about slightly in thought. With a sudden push he knelt in front of the book and opened it and began to read.
The fire had died down to glowing embers when Severus closed the book finally; resting his forehead on his forearm Severus sat digesting all of the information. Severus stood up and stretched his aching joints before taking out his wand and said many incantations over the book, the last spell turned the book into a glass jar containing several harpies' feet suspended in formaldehyde. Picking up the jar Severus put it onto the shelf to the left of the fireplace along with other jars that contained equally gruesome body parts.
It was a curious habit of Severus' from childhood to disguise important objects into mundane objects, many of the items in his quarters were not what they appeared to be especially the jars, it amused Severus that when people entered his rooms they usually avoided looking at the jars, which could well be the most interesting, if not the most sacred, object in there.
Severus walked into his laboratory and began to brew a potion, a cauldron of spring water was placed over the fire and a handful of sliced rosemarinus officinalis was added. After ten minutes a gram of hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) and a pinch of powdered aluminium oxide was added, lastly half a teaspoon of Lavandula angustifolia pollen was stirred into the mixture before the lilac liquid was poured into a silver goblet.
Casting a cooling charm over the potion Severus drank the contents of the goblet and leant on the worktable. Suddenly Severus snapped open his eyes and looked about in confusion and spun round, his gaze fell onto a piece of parchment that sat on the table held fast under a stone paperweight, it read:
This note has been written by you, no doubt many minutes before you have drunken a timed memory potion, as evident by the apparatus and ingredients set out on the workbench. If my calculations are right you will have forgotten the last five hours, beginning approximately from the time you stepped from the fireplace. The book has been protected and secreted away, though you will have no trouble perceiving its hiding place.
-Severus Snape.
After reading the note Severus set fire to the parchment and washed off the ashes into the sink, and cleared away his apparatus. As he entered the lounge he looked around curiously and saw a new addition on his specimen shelf, Severus allowed himself a smile before moving on to his bedroom, where he changed into a pair of black silk pyjamas and slipped into bed.
***
It was now deep in the afternoon and Severus was busy setting up the ingredients and apparatus for his forty-third version of the cruciatus reliever, this time the experiment would include refluxing the mixture and then refining it. As Severus looked into the onyx lined oak stock-cupboard he realised that he had used up his stock of willow branches on the last version of the potion.
So, leaving his quarters Severus walked down the corridor to the potions classroom, upon entering he noticed that the door to the student stockroom was slightly ajar. Silently Severus advanced to the door and withdrew his wand, placing his hand gently on the brass doorknob Severus pushed the door open and stepped inside.
There was no one present in the room, and in a split second Severus realised that he had walked into the oldest trick in the book, as he was suddenly drenched in a pungent brown liquid, and because liquids do not by themselves suspend in the mid-air the wooden pail that was holding it in also fell and hit Severus on top of the head.
As the bucket fell to the ground with a clunk, so did Severus but with a thump, and there he remained.
***
An hour or so had passed as Severus laid unconscious on the floor, when finally the door to the potions classroom opened and the greying head of Remus peered round, his nose wrinkled as the aroma of the potion assailed him. Remus was about to back out of the room when he saw a large black mass on the other side of the room.
Remus crossed the room swiftly and turned the mass over and gasped, drawing out his wand Remus cast 'incendio' into the fireplace before casting 'mobiluscorpus'. Grabbing a handful of floo powder Remus threw it into the fireplace and called out 'the infirmary' as he walked into it emerald fire with Severus in his arms.
As soon as Remus arrived in the infirmary he deposited his charge on the nearest bed and ran to Poppy's office, Remus returned with Poppy in tow and then ran out of the infirmary to alert Albus. Poppy cast a cleaning charm first before scanning for any injuries; there was only a minor bruise on the back of the head, which Poppy dissipated.
By the time Remus had returned with Albus, Poppy had undid the cloak and unbuttoned the top three buttons of the white shirt and cast 'eneverate'. All three gathered closer around the bed, slowly Severus awoke.
Noting the confused expression Albus explained, "We found you unconscious in the potions classroom," Albus continued, "May I ask what your name is and how you came to be in the potions room?"
"Have I just stepped into the." Severus' sarcastic remark died on his tongue as he clapped a hand to his mouth.
"A mirror. Albus, transfigure a mirror for me," Severus said as he looked up.
Albus looked somewhat puzzled at the request but complied, and transfigured a simple mirror within a brass frame.
Severus looked into the mirror and gasped, the image he saw was not the image he was use to. Instead, a young girl with long, jet-black hair, blues eyes the shade of winter skies and a pale complexion stared back at Severus.
Jumping from the bed Severus made his way to the fireplace but was stopped by Remus.
"Get out of my way, Remus. I have more important things to attend to than to pander to your whims today," Severus snarled.
Remus stood stunned at being insulted.
Albus walked up to Severus and looked into his eyes. "Severus?" Albus hesitantly asked.
"Who else?" Severus said exasperatedly.
Remus and Poppy were stunned but then bombarded Severus with a multitude of questions; they fell silent as Albus held up his hand.
"What happened, Severus?" Albus asked.
"I do not know, Albus, but I have an inkling that the potion in the classroom holds the key," Severus said, "I want to go now and get a sample,"
"Wait," Poppy said, "I have no idea what this potion does, I want you to remain in the infirmary so I can keep a close eye on you,"
Severus was about to answer back when Remus interrupted, "Why don't I get a sample for you, Severus?"
"That is a good idea," Albus said, "now everybody is satisfied,"
Severus raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
*****
