11

Snapes attempt part 2

As promised, part two. If it seems wither too wordy, or too silly, please forgive me, I was rather tired when I wrote it.

Fred and George were ecstatic. They were certain that the plain and boring ' wolfsbane ' potion, was now the world's most potent aphrodisiac. They managed to get the bottle charmed in record time, and replaced on the table, where it sat in perfect innocence, all green and sinister in a good way.

They really should have returned to their shop, but they just felt that the moment was too precious to waste. Far too precious. But, they weren't immature schoolboys pulling pranks anymore. They were now sophisticated men, pulling pranks.

Older.

Wiser.

Wise enough to know that should anything happen...anything adverse, for instance...they might be disinherited of the Weasley name.Dumbledore would be furious, the ministry might investigate... The word might get out, and people might stop coming to the shop...it would be bad business. Bad business all around. So, they opted to leave, and return only after they were certain that Lupin had reappeared.

Fred did at least think to cast a sort of masking charm that would prevent Lupin from picking up their scent. Not that he was inclined to be suspicious. Now Mad-Eye Moody might be a different story...but luckily they didn't have to cast a love spell on him.

Not that it wouldn't be interesting...

Meanwhile Snape was looking forward to the Order meeting that would take place in three days. Just enough time for Lupins love juice to take proper effect. By then Ms. Granger ought to have ingested hers as well...and by the end of the week, he should be the absolute winner!

The thought put him in such a good mood, that he only took five points from Gryffindor when a second year 'accidentally ' set the entire potions class on fire.

Remus Lupin found the green bottle and the note. He uncorked it, and sniffed. Yes...definitely Snape's wickedly bitter concoction. He wondered if it might be possible to put the potion in pill form. That might be very nice. Perhaps Hermione could handle it...she was so clever.

Thinking of Hermione made him weary though...she had hardly spoken to him these last three months, and he could not imagine what he might have done to offend her so heavily. Had he made her feel uncomfortable? Had he hurt her feelings? Angered her? He did not know. All he knew was that he was tired, and the full moon was close. Too close. He tipped the bottle up, and swallowed the brew in three difficult gulps.

'" It never gets any better, that is for sure." he grumbled.

Two identical, loud 'pops ' indicated the arrival of the Weasley twins, who had been using one of their clever spy gadgets to determine the most perfect time to appear.

" 'ello, Remus. " they called.

" Fred. George...or the other way around." Lupin smiled.

They tried not to peer too closely at him, lest he suspect them of some mischief.

" Can I help you gentleman with something, or are you just loafing around a bit?"

" Oh, I just came by to check on the exploding bog.' said George.

" Yes...Mum said it was expanding again. "said Fred.

" Want to have a walk out with us?" asked George?

" Don't mind if I do."

They exited out of the kitchen door, and were in an immense garden. actually the narrow lot, invisible to the oblivious public, was charmed to seem enormous. Harry had actually done all of it, including a stone memorial to Sirius Black, in one corner. The bog had been George's idea, and they had done it as a trick to cheer Harry up. It had actually worked, And Harry had refused to have it removed afterwards. It was quite an amazing piece of magic...at night it sparked, shooting up noisy, multi-colored geysers of slime. Any time the sparks landed on the ground however, they expanded, so that every week, one of the twins had to come and clean up, to keep the bog from taking over the entire garden. Unfortunately...if anyone stepped off into it, they were stuck there until they fed it chocolate...or until someone came to the rescue.

Lupin had been a victim to it one night...walking casually, he had stepped right off into one of the new ' baby ' bogs, and it had wrapped itself tightly around his leg. He tended to steer very clear of that corner now.

Fred and George pretended to clean up, evaporating some baby boglings...and chucking out a few garden gnomes, all the while trying to see if anything new appeared to happen to Remus Lupin.

When something did happen...it was very strange.

First he doubled over, clutching his middle and cursing under his breath. Then he laughed, then he cursed again.

" Are you all right?" George asked,

" No! Yes! I mean, I don't know!"

The twins exchanged looks of severe confusion...and utter curiosity.

" It hurts...but at the same time, I fell...so...strange. I think I must lie down. Yes...that is what I will do...lie down. " He laughed again. " Right here..." he slumped over onto the grass, and cursed. Then he laughed.

" Lupin! Here, let's get you inside!" exclaimed George.

" Absolutely not! Have you ever seen such a fine day...for sleeping on the grass?" and Lupin suddenly began to snore, quite loudly.

" I think we are trouble." said Fred.

" What do we do now?"

Fred shrugged. I just wonder what went wrong."

" Maybe you can't mix it with Wolfsbane potion''

They looked back down at the sleeping man, then they grinned at each other.

" Bloody fascinating!"

" What should we do?"

" Leave him here?"

" No, let's take him inside."

" Right you are George"

They levitated him into the house and propped him on the sofa.

" That shade looks particularly attractive on him, doesn't it?"

" Yes...but how are we going to explain it to mum?'

" We aren't. We are going to inform Dumbledore that Lupin had a strange reaction to one of Professor Snape's potions."

''Strange reaction...that's one thing to call it!"

" Well I've never seen it before, have you?"

'' Do you mean the giggling, the sleep of death, or the fuchsia hair?"

" Oh, I was referring to the heavy snore. "

They shared a hearty laugh, and a healthy back slapping, before they composed themselves. It was two somber Weasleys who flooed Albus Dumbledore, and requested that he appear immediately. But even though they explained everything quite well, and were for once serious...they had the strangest suspicion that behind the twinkle in his eyes...Dumbledore knew exactly what had happened!

" But can he be fixed?' asked George.

" I certainly hope so. Although he is a bit more colorful isn't he?" asked Dumbledore.

" Practically decorative, " agreed Fred in a solemn tone.

" Really a shame he won't keep that way. I'm sure he would be popular."

'' Yes...but I believe it would be best to get him to the school. Perhaps Severus can explain this event, and help Madame Pomfrey to cure him. Before he accidentally turns into the world's very first...pink werewolf."

Hermione's telephone was ringing as soon as she walked into her flat. Apparently her father had discovered both her mother...and the short letter of explanation she had left for him. She had wanted to give her mother a sleeping draught, or a even a hangover remedy...but since she did not know the nature of the original magic...she hadn't dared.

" Hermione?"

" Yes, dad" was that her othr singing again, faintly in the back ground?

" Could you please explain to me what is going on?"

" I honestly don't know, Dad. Just...keep hr inside and I promise to get down to the bottom of this."

" So you didn't do this?"

" No, I think one of my 'friends ' may have tampered with my apartment...as a joke."

" Some joke."

Her mother laughed hysterically in the background.

" Well...it sounds as though mum thinks it's funny! Tonight, at least."

" What's that supposed to mean?'' he demanded.

" See you later Dad. I love you!"

She hung up immediately, grinning.

Actually, it was quite funny!