There Is Always a Catch
Standard Disclaimer Applies
X
"And that's pretty much how it all came about," Hermione finished.
"In your sixth year? You invented this potion in your sixth year?" Arthur asked as though he didn't believe his own ears.
"Yes... I had to keep it a secret though," she said, "I was afraid if anybody found out they might be able to use it against us."
"A wise decision, indeed," Dumbledore said, nodding, "No doubt Voldemort would have found some way to do just that."
"Yes well... I think it's about time to administer the potion," Hermione said, standing and walking into the kitchen. Moments later she returned with the potion in one hand and a rat in the other.
"What's with the rat?" Remus asked.
"Well... that's the thing," she said, smiling sheepishly, "I may have neglected to mention that four drops of blood is to be added to the potion..."
"Yes, you did. But why the rat? Hasn't it served its purpose?" he asked.
"Not exactly," she replied, "You see, the donor is forever bound to the person who drinks the potion. They share a mind- feel each others pain, know what the other is thinking and feeling at all times."
"I see..." Remus said, narrowing his eyes.
"Ah, yes... there is always a catch," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling, "I presume you already had a willing donor in mind for Remus' potion?"
"Yes... it is usually necessary for the two who bond to be equals- in mind, spirit, and body. And since Remus is incredibly intelligent, strong willed, and his body is only twenty-six, there was really only one person... well, one willing person..." she said.
"Who would that be?" Remus asked.
"Me," she said simply, "Most of the wizarding community is still so wrapped up in the old prejudices against werewolves that would cringe at the very thought of sharing a mind with one- even if they are no longer afflicted with lycanthropy. Of course I thought of either Harry or Ron... but- no offense to them- they are most definitely not your equal in mind."
Arthur laughed. "It's true. Ron has a brain, mind you; he just doesn't quite know how to properly utilize it."
Hermione grinned. "As you see, Remus, I'm the only logical choice."
"No. I won't have you doing something like that," Remus said.
"Let us test first and make our decision later," Hermione said, pouring the drink down the vacant man's throat. As soon as the potion slid down his throat he began convulsing in a painful looking manner.
"Cheese..." he muttered, "Want food... so hungry..." He began sniffing the air around him.
"What the devil has happened to him?" Arthur asked.
"I told you they are supposed to be equals... the rat is stronger in both mind and spirit, because this man has had his spirit sucked out of him. The rat's personality overtook his. You see... the regenerative qualities of my potion work by feeding off of each others energy... thus a constant stream is supplied to both. After the initial dose is registered, the donor may feel slightly... weary... for a time, before he or she regains the life energy that was supplied to the werewolf," she explained.
"My answer is still no," Remus said, "Especially now."
Hermione sighed. "Why don't you at least think of it? I'll give you two weeks," she said, "And then you can make a final decision. Do we have a deal?"
"Fine, but my answer will remain the same," he said stubbornly.
X
Hermione returned to the Burrow and patiently waited for Remus to owl her and tell her his decision. However, after not hearing anything for a little over a month, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She summons the Knight Bus and travels to Remus' house.
"Please, could you just wait here?" she asked, walking up to the door. She uttered the necessary spell to gain entrance and walked in. The place was in an absolute shambles. 'What the hell happened here?' she thought.
She practically ran from the house and demanded that they take her immediately back to the Burrow, where she flooed to Grimmauld Place. She stormed into the kitchen, where Dumbledore was speaking with a couple aurors, one of which she recognized as Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"Where is he?" she demanded.
"Who, my dear?" Dumbledore asked.
"Remus! I haven't heard from him in over a month and his house has been completely destroyed! Where is he?" she practically screamed, feeling her eyes burning with tears.
"I- I have no idea, but I believe we shall have to investigate," he said, and they traveled back to Remus' house. (Jeez, they're like ping-pong balls... back and forth and back and forth...)
"Hermione, do you know if he took his last dose of wolfsbane?" Dumbledore asked.
"I came to give it to him, but I think he was at work... so I took some out and left it on the kitchen counter- bloody hell!" she ran into the kitchen and sure enough, the potion was precisely where she had left it- untouched, "This is all my fault! I should have stayed... but I was so busy- with the cure and all! Where do you think he is?"
"Well, your guess is as good as mine," Dumbledore said, "This last full moon wasn't, by any chance, on Friday, was it?"
"Yes, why?" Hermione said.
"I think we should find young Remus as soon as is possible," Dumbledore said, "Otherwise we may find him quite lost to us."
Hermione gasped. Dumbledore cast a locator spell and was soon following the blue beam of light. Hermione, on the other hand, wasn't as quick to follow. She hurriedly pocketed one of the vials of her cure for lycanthropy that they had bottled after the trial was successful. She ran out the door and was quickly on Dumbledore's heel. 'It really doesn't matter what his decision is anymore... he'll take this potion whether he wants to or not.'
They found Remus in the middle of a dense thicket and Hermione rushed to his side, vial already uncorked. She cradled his head in her lap as she pricked her finger with a needle that had been stuck in the cork, for convenience's sake, and deposited four drops of blood into the vial, turning the potion a shimmering silver. Before Dumbledore could utter a single word of protest she poured the potion down Remus' throat...
IIIXIII
Okay... how was it? Sorry if it's once again a mite bit too short, but don't worry... Christmas break is coming up soon, so I'll have plenty of time to update non-stop! Review as always!