XI
Clues and Conflicts
"So when did this all start?" Severus asked as they walked up the hall.
"A couple of days ago, I guess. Andrew noticed it before I did," Aurelius said. "But I certainly notice it now. In fact, Grandfather insisted I go to St. Mungo's to have it looked at."
"And?"
"They decided to call in a specialist on strange magical anomalies," Aurelius said disapprovingly. "I don't have to tell you who they brought in."
"Morfinn Bliant?"
"Yes, and you won't believe what he said."
"That it's all in your mind," Severus said calmly.
"That it's all in my mind! As if he had any room to talk, straight out of Whitebridge and all dolled up like a doctor when I remember him ruddy, snot-nosed and always making up his own…wait a minute," Aurelius said, cutting off his own ranting. "How did you know that is what he said?"
"Oh, no reason, except perhaps he is right in this case," Severus said, nodding him up the spiral stairs.
"I am not doing this," Aurelius said flatly as he walked into the study.
"Don't be so sure," Severus said. "From what I have seen thus far, this curse seems to seek out internal enemies of ours that manifest themselves in times of crisis or near death experiences…Corey, a fear of failing to save others in danger, has been comprised by a fear of getting on a broom again…your mother, a loss of independence, which honestly has plagued her ever since I have known her…while I face a fear of losing control over my own reasoning. The burning sensation is merely a nasty symptom of what lies underneath, Aurelius, the true cause lies deeper." Severus pulled out a locked box from his desk, turning it with a carved bone key. "Any idea what you were thinking about any times that the burn got worse?"
"No, not really, it's been quite gradual," Aurelius murmured, gazing at the curious phial that Severus took out of the box. It almost seemed like a normal crystal container with a stopper…almost. But Aurelius found that he couldn't get the phial into focus, no matter how he squinted or how long he concentrated on it. Inside was a clear liquid that practically seemed to glow when disturbed by Severus' movements.
"Then the cause is probably some deep emotion or fear within you. Here, drink this."
"What is it?" Aurelius asked suspiciously.
"Don't ask, just drink it," Severus ordered.
"Fine, but it goes against everything you've drilled into me about drinking something when I don't know what it is," Aurelius reminded him, but Severus pushed it at him again.
Sighing, Aurelius took and downed the potion, immediately feeling a shockwave go through him so severe he checked his balance and sat down. But as he shakily slipped into the chair, he immediately noticed a change…it didn't hurt when he moved. He blinked and checked his skin, which had turned back to its original color.
"Hm, you still have some redness on your face, Aurelius. It was just a tad longer than three days," Severus said, locking the box and putting it away.
"What was it that you gave me?" Aurelius demanded.
"A quantum-induced time-instanced third-degree corporeal reversal potion…you may have heard of it referred to as a 'Three Day Pass,'" Severus said. "It reset your body back to its physical condition three days ago."
"But those are illegal!" Aurelius gaped.
"Only if you willingly take it," Severus said calmly. "You were not privy to what the potion was, so it hardly matters."
"It's also illegal to possess one…"
"Oh, it wasn't mine, it was the school's. It was in the emergency kit, part of an extended list of potions kept on hand by all Headmasters over time, and therefore approved by the board."
"As well you know they are hardly going to sit there and read through the thousands of potions on that list," Aurelius muttered. "I wonder how many people realize how Slytherin you still are."
"What matters is that it worked, but in the future you need to be more aware," Severus said seriously. "You must be more sensitive to what is happening to you, when it is happening to you, and what you are thinking about at the time. All the cures I can give you will be quite temporary until you find out what's behind it. It will be most likely a feeling you experienced during one of your close calls. Keep that in mind."
"Personally, I think the best cure is to simply find out who is behind this," Aurelius said. Severus glanced over at the blackboard he had brought up from a spare classroom. It had both notes in chalk as well as papers taped to it with the riddles they had received. He made a note by Aurelius' about his symptoms.
"The problem, as you well know, is the fact that this family has accumulated quite a long list of enemies over the years who would have plenty enough motive to want to make us suffer. The only ones I have been able to eliminate are the ones long dead, and even some of those I haven't completely ruled out. We need some valid way to narrow this down," Severus said, brooding at the marks on the board. "This doesn't even take into account that it could be someone that only one of us knows who may have decided to touch as many persons connected with the one as possible. For example, how many dark wizards may have a vendetta against you since you first received your license?"
"You don't want to know," Aurelius sighed, and then shrugged. "It doesn't matter. Most of them are in Azkaban, and that place has all sorts of magic to keep things like that from happening." Severus looked thoughtful. "You can at least rule them out, can't you?"
"Can I?" Severus murmured uncertainly. Aurelius frowned.
"What is that strange echo I'm picking up from you?"
"Hm? Oh, voices in my head. Nothing to be concerned about, simply a manifestation of the curse," Severus waved it off, going back over to his desk.
"What?" Aurelius said with alarm, getting up. "But that is serious!"
"I have it under control, Aurelius, if I did not, I would have told you," Severus said evenly.
"Yes, but for how long?" Aurelius said. "I don't like this at all. I think we should turn this entire thing over to the Ministry."
"Your grandfather is aware of the situation."
"Yes, aware, but I mean he ought to be the one organizing it, not you," Aurelius snapped. "In my opinion, he's the only one in the family not infected with this curse capable of doing it. I'm sorry, Father, but under the circumstances, I don't think you are capable now."
"What did you say?" Severus said with surprise.
"The truth, and you know it, and if you don't, I'm hardly going to take it back! You can't possibly…"
"No, no, not about that," Severus said, waving off his son's anger and in the process annoying him all the more. "It doesn't make any logical sense. Why would Thomas be excluded? Not only is he a part of this family but he is one of the most hated men in this entire country, by everyone who has ever come in contact with him, especially ex-Death Eaters…"
"So what? They hate you as well…"
"Precisely why they're all included in my list, but now it doesn't make sense. Why would Thomas be excluded?" Severus asked, pacing.
"Perhaps he's not had close calls?"
"Do you really think he'd still be as active as he is at his age unless he had an Elixir or two on him?" Severus said rather briskly. "No, he has had them…one dose I remember quite clearly," he said, looking back at the blackboard. "This may be just the clue I was looking for. At least it will help us narrow the field, if I am correct."
"Correct in what?" Aurelius sighed, wondering how the conversation had gotten so far from where it had started.
"That whatever it was that inspired this curse happened when Thomas Craw was out of the picture…in other words, during the eleven and a half years he was in Azkaban," Severus explained. "Whomever caused this curse had no reason for vengeance, and therefore the curse didn't take upon him. How many enemies do we have that wouldn't have something against Thomas as well?" Without another word, Severus began to pull out his old journals as if forgetting that Aurelius was even in the room. Reluctantly, Aurelius went over to help, shelving his concerns for the time being.
Just as Severus and Hermione had just settled down to go over proposals for the last board meeting before school, Sirius strode into the office with a troubled expression. Hermione, who was already having a difficult time keeping Severus from getting distracted, put her quill down in complete resignation.
"Trouble, Sirius?" Severus asked calmly.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Sirius said sarcastically. "Have you heard anything from Harry? He and Essie still haven't gotten back yet." Severus frowned and began to dig in his desk.
"I haven't. Have you already checked with Ginny?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, although frankly, she didn't look well…nervous, distracted…" he said, coming his hand back through his hair as if he wasn't doing much better. "Think she knew something and didn't tell me?"
"I don't think so," Severus said. "I'm sure the curse is beginning to show on her as well. From her poem and what Harry has said, I believe she's developing an extreme fear in unintentionally injuring those around her."
"What? She can't work in a hospital with something like that on
her head…"
"I believe she's already taken a leave of
absence. Wasn't Cedric there with her?"
"I don't know!" Sirius snarled. "I didn't see him."
"Perhaps I'd better get down there, Severus," Hermione said, and Severus immediately waved a dismissal. Gathering up her things, Hermione gently patted Sirius' shoulder and left.
"And why is it that they were so willing to tell you all of this and not me?" Sirius barked, pacing the room like a caged beast.
"First off, as you know, I have all of the riddles on my blackboard and guessed before Harry even mentioned it what was going on with Ginny. And secondly, I seriously doubt that Harry wanted to burden you since you obviously have problems of your own," Severus said.
"Do you really think so?" Sirius said bitterly, plopping down in a chair with his fingers digging into the plush arms in his irritation. "Anna threw me out of the house. I was forced to stay at the Cauldron last night."
"You could have stayed at the Brooms…"
"Don't change the subject! You have no idea what's been going on the last couple of days!" Sirius growled, getting up and pacing again. "I can't change forms, Severus! I've tried dozens of times and it's as if a part of me has forgotten how! Meanwhile, Anna keeps complaining that I'm behaving like an animal, but I think she's just testy because she's lost all control over her magic."
"It is a good thing she teaches Muggle Studies then," Severus decided.
"Yes, that's very funny, Severus," Sirius said acidly. "You have no idea what we've been going through…what I've been going through…where's Jennifer?"
"She and Alex went out to speak to some of Ambrose's schoolmates to see where he may be staying, but if it's a potion you're after, you're not going to get it. In fact, I think I'll go downstairs and let Corey know you're not to have any transfiguration potions from his shop, either."
"You don't understand, Severus!" Sirius snarled. "Changing form for me is…"
"An escape?" Severus finished.
"A necessity!" Sirius snapped.
"It's an escape, which is exactly why the curse saw fit to take
it away from you," Severus said, matching his raised voice. "A
part of you has never been able to let go of what happened, a part of
you is still in Azkaban…"
"And it always will be,
Severus!" Sirius shouted. "This has been my only relief from
that!"
"Yes, never your family, never your life as it is now, but your ability to become a mongrel," Severus shouted back at him, waving him off in annoyance. "You deserve what you get! Now, go away! I'm busy!"
"What is with you lately?" Sirius barked, then stormed out of the room like a hell hound. Severus sighed, drumming his fingers on his desk for a moment before pushing his work away and kneading his forehead, attempting to clear away the sounds of sniggering in his mind.
