Chapter Five: Magnus Miser
"Morning class," Tory said, sitting Indian-style on her desk. The class chorused, "Morning Professor Wilkins!" and she flashed them a smile. Thus began an almost-silent debate between Dean and Seamus on who she smiled at, exactly.
"Today we will be doing a rather different lesson. As such, Professor Snape will be assisting us." The students exchanged glances, obviously not pleased with this.
"We're going to be learning about Magnus Miser, and how to counter it," she explained. A flurry of whispers scattered through the class. Snape gave Tory a searing look that was obviously a direct stab at her control of the class, but she paid no heed. "Who can tell me what Magnus Miser is and does?" Not surprisingly, Hermione's hand shot up almost instantaneously. "Hermione?"
"Magnus Miser is the fourth Unforgivable Curse, and the most dangerous. Originally discovered in the Dark Ages, it was recently rediscovered by Rigel Lestrange."
At the mention of the Lestranges, Neville, Ron, and Harry winced. Realizing what she had said, Hermione sent a horrified glance in Harry's direction, but he shook his head.
"The spell combines the three Unforgivables," Hermione continued. "The victim of the spell does not die. Rather, the closest person to him or her experiences great pain, the Cruciatus curse. After a long period of agony, they will die, the Killing Curse. Once he or she is dead, the original victim is forced to do the caster's bidding, the Imperius Curse. It is so terrible that the Ministry is still trying to decide on an appropriately horrible punishment."
"Very good, Miss Granger. Now, because Rigel Lestrange is a follower of You-Know-Who, I think that it is especially necessary for the sixth years to learn the counter-potion, considering the circumstances." Her blue eyes met Harry's briefly. "To counter Magnus Miser, one must make a very complicated potion, and that is why Professor Snape is joining us today." She glanced at Professor Snape, and he waved his wand. A list of ingredients appeared on the blackboard.
"Before you can concoct this potion, you must understand the properties of each ingredient, what it does, and what would happen if you neglected to add it to the potion. You will take thorough notes."
They spent the next hour taking notes on the unusual and rather nasty ingredients used in the counter-potion until the bell rang. "Bring your cauldrons to class next time!" Tory called as they left.
"Ugh. I hope Snape's not at any more lessons," Ron said irritably.
"Tell me about it," Harry agreed, matching his pace to Ron's longer strides. He'd noticed that he'd begun to trail behind, his eyes straying toward Ron's lower back region and beyond.
And he definitely couldn't have that.