Disclaimer: See Chapter One
-CHAPTER ELEVEN-
Enchanted Velvet and Absinthe Mead
Harry tried to push all thoughts of the Assassin Draft and the Amulet of Sekhmet to the back of his mind for a least a couple of hours while they walked down the path to the village in the still gloriously-sunny weather. As it happened, none of them dared to openly discuss any plans for gaining proof that Snape was secretly brewing the Assassin Draft as only a little way past the castle gates, they had been joined by Neville, Lavender, (much to Hermione's annoyance) Seamus and Lucy, who strolled slowly along, lost in their own little world stopping every now and then to kiss. Lavender looked quite glum explaining that Parvati couldn't make the visit she was in the hospital wing after tripping down the dormitory stairs and breaking her toe. Lavender gasped with horror as she realised that Professor Trelawney's prediction had come true. Hermione snorted with disgust telling Lavender that it was all Parvati's fault for believing in such rubbish. Lavender looked shocked and both Harry and Ron gave her a questioning frown. Hermione explained that because of Trelawney, Parvati had succumbed to a self-fulfilling prophecy, if she hadn't been told about breaking her toe she wouldn't have asked for the boots that although very cool she couldn't walk in properly and so had tripped down the stairs, if she had struck with the soft leather shoes that she usually wore she would have been fine and minus all those painful blisters. Harry couldn't help notice that Hermione seemed to be relishing in telling Lavender all this as if she was the one at fault and not Professor Trelawney, so he was glad when Honeydukes' finally came into sight.
The sweet shop was especially crowded with Hogwarts' students all eager to buy up supplies of confectionaries for their Halloween feasts. Hermione had spent all her money on the last trip buying dragon scale sequins for her costume, but Harry and Ron were intending to buy enough sweets for her to share. While Harry browsed, Hermione battled the throng of customers to get to the large barrel brimming with the brightly coloured Every Flavour Beans and Ron lent against the chocolate counter, momentary lifting his nose from the page whenever Harry asked his opinion on what he should get. Ron just nodded approvingly with a hungry grin and then returned his attention back to the novel.
"I've never seen Ron so engrossed in a book," Harry said to Hermione as he fished several bronze Knuts out of his pocket. They both looked over to see Ron totally ignoring Lavender as she waved a bar of nougat at him; she eventually gave up and stormed over to the counter to pay for her sweets.
"He hasn't been able to put it down since he got yesterday afternoon. It must be good as he stayed up half the night reading it under the covers."
"Really?" Hermione replied with a sly smile she was still watching Lavender who was heading for the door. "Is that the novel Professor Raven said she would lend him by any chance?"
"Yes…I was hoping to take a look at it after Ron."
"Well that explains why Ron's so enchanted with it then," Hermione grinned back at him. Harry was relieved to see she was in a better mood.
In the end Harry and Hermione settled on an extra large box of Every Flavour Beans, several bars of creamy nougat and a handful of chocolate frogs. Outside of the sweet shop the friends parted company Hermione and Neville had promised to meet up with Seamus and Lucy at Dervish and Banges the magical instruments and gadgets shop while Harry and Ron still had to sort out their costumes for the Halloween Ball. The three of them had agreed to meet up in the Three Broomsticks for a pint of Butterbeer before heading back to Hogwarts before the teachers so that they could sneak into Snape's office to search for the Assassin Draft.
The shop front of Osborne and Giant was painted in smart forest green and gold. Above the window, which was draped with opulent cascades of shimmering silks and rich velvets hung a sign in the shape of a smiling golden giant with his hands resting upon his hips. Harry looked up at the elegant golden script painted upon a wooden door over the door, which read Messrs Wilhem Morris and Montgomery Little merchants in fine cloth and exquisite tailoring for every occasion. Rare and antique fabrics a speciality. Stuck in the glass of the door was a rather gaudy pumpkin cut out of vivid orange paper which announced in bold black lettering, Halloween costumes for sale and hire!
"Well this must be the place," remarked Harry, as he gingerly pushed open the door.
"Yeah," Ron replied Ron the depths of his novel. A sharp jingling bell sounded somewhere in the gloomy, depths of the shop as Harry pushed open the door. The small antiquated shop smelt of musty fabrics and mothballs. Neatly lapped bails of cloth, every shade of the spectrum imaginable, piled precariously to the high wooden beamed ceiling and even more crammed upon the shelving that lined the walls of the shop. There were huge, fat rolls of heavy tapestry, luscious satins, fine silks and the delicate gossamer spider web lace similar to one of Professor Raven's gowns. Harry walked past the jars filled with hundreds of sparkling dragon scale sequins and unicorn horn buttons, past a silvery blue fabric that rippled like the watery surface of a lake when you threw a pebble into it. He couldn't see an assistant but could hear movement behind a dark green crushed velvet curtain at the back of the shop so he guessed there were other customers in the shop. Ron flopped down into rickety wooden chair pleased for opportunity to comfortably finish the chapter leaving Harry to look around. A black fabric that had been unrolled upon a wooden counter in front of the forest green curtain drew his attention. On a closer inspection Harry could see that the dark cloth was beautifully embroidered with snakes that glistened as the black thread caught in the sunlight. As Harry reached out to touch the soft velvet one of the serpents suddenly seemed to move, he shuddered quickly recoiling in surprise as the glittering dark eyes glared angrily at him.
"Isn't it gorgeous?"
Startled Harry looked up in the direction from where the tiny creaky voice had come only to see a goblin clad in a bright patchwork waistcoat sitting crossed legged on a shelf among the bails of fabric. The goblin peered over his thick half spectacles and gave Harry a friendly, toothy grin. His nimble fingers worked with lightening speed as he sewed a silver braid with magical symbols woven into it onto a dark blue fabric.
"Enchanted velvet, exclusive to Osborne and Giant, it's an faithful reproduction from a fragment of the coat worn by Salazar Slytherin on the day Hogwarts was opened," the goblin enthused excitedly glancing down at the cascade of black cloth. "It drapes like a dream and so soft to the touch."
"I…I'll take you word for it," Harry stuttered not wanting to offend the goblin. He was certain that the wizened old creature must realise that such a wondrous fabric was far beyond the pocket of a Hogwarts student but still he delighted in proudly enlightening them all the same.
"It's woven from the finest midnight cotton, hand embroidered with shadow silk and the eyes of each serpent are crafted from Cimmerian crystals. It's truly a rare and exquisite cloth, but sadly we won't be repeating it again." And expensive too, thought Harry as he cautiously turned over the crisp green and gold price label and read Thirty-five Galleons a yard.
"Blimely!" Ron whispered, as Harry showed him the label, he had left the chair book in hand to see what all the fuss was about.
"Oh Severus…you are so right it's as if ze zing was made for you. Don't you agree Mr Morris?" the animated enthusiasm that could only belong to Professor Planchette suddenly erupted from behind the crushed velvet curtain at the rear of the shop.
"Indeed…indeed…I believe that sir has been admiring this particular coat for several months now," Mr Morris gushed in a nauseating syrupy voice. "The cut is most flattering and midnight black is most definitely sir's colour, not many wizards can carry off that particular shade but with your skin tone…"
"He'll take it," said Planchette utterly convinced and sounding quite excited about whatever Professor Snape was modelling. Harry noticed that the goblin had stopped sewing and was grinning happily as he strained to hear the exchange that was taking place in the changing room. It was a good guess that whatever Snape was about to buy had been created by the goblin own nimble fingers and perhaps he was due for a nice fat bonus when the item was sold.
"I don't know…" Snape wasn't going to be as easily as swayed as Planchette. The goblin's smile started to waver and Harry could imagine Planchette frowning disapprovingly at Snape as he tried to justify not buying the garment.
"It is a wonderful coat but don't you think its just a bit too extravagant Leon? It's only a fancy-dress ball after all. Besides, something this unique is bound to be hideously expensive," Snape complained weakly.
"Sir is so right, the coat is a one off, we certainly won't be producing another one quite like it again but I'll think you find that it is very reasonably priced considering the rarity of the fabric and the fine quality of the workmanship." At this comment the goblin returned to his sewing with a most gratified grin, happy enough it would appear that even if the sale was lost his craftsmanship had been acknowledged.
"I understand if the price tag is a little more than sir was intending to pay…But if I may be so bold, sir does already possesses an impeccable taste in tailoring and as the Head of Slytherin house…there is truly no other coat worthy of a wizard of your position." Mr Morris continued to fawn in his most saccharine tone.
"Yeah, impeccable taste in tailoring as long as it is black, black and more black," grinned Ron, but even Harry had to admit that although he had never seen Snape clad in anything but sombre black, he did possess a certain elegant if sinister style.
"You always did 'ave far better taste in clothes zan me and just zink with a coat like zat Severus you'll have no problems impressing ze ladies…go on it's only money after all," Planchette added with a chuckle which was met by an irritated throaty growl from Snape.
"That's excellent advice coming for someone who owes more people money than I've given out detentions."
"And I am eternally grateful Severus, after Filch, Spires, Blackheart, Grimes, Mason…"
"Enough…enough Leon just be thankful that I have been so frugal with my wages over the years…"
"And I have promised to pay you back, Severus, ever last Knut," Planchette returned a little offended
"Ahem..." Mr Morris interrupted obviously worried that he was losing the sale. "May I suggest that if sir would prefer to try something else less pricey…"
"Nonsense," Planchette snorted in disgust as if the shop owner had just suggested that Snape try on a filthy rag.
"Snapey…you've just got to 'ave zat coat and zat's final."
"Snapey?" Ron exchanged looks with Harry, both of them trying not to giggle.
"As soon as ze sale of ze chateau goes zrough zen I will pay you back…with interest."
"You're selling the chateau? My god Leon exactly how much money do you owe?"
"Er, I forget ze exact amount…It's no big deal really, I never liked zat nasty old chateau anyway but stop changing ze subject, are you going to but zat coat or not?"
"Okay…okay," Snape snapped. "I'll never hear the end of it otherwise."
"Such a wondrous coat…sir will certainly be the best dressed wizard at Hogwarts ball…dare I say, at any Halloween party being held in the whole country," Mr Morris enthused as he flounced through the velvet curtain and towards the counter. He was a short, portly wizard with thinning grey hair, permanently rosy cheeks and dark, keen eyes like a weasel. He wore a dark green fez and was dressed in a matching baggy pin striped robe that was drawn in at his pot belly by a thick gold cord belt and hung round his neck, under various double chins was a white tape measure.
"Oh yes," the goblin agreed clapping his hands together in sheer delight so excitedly that he nearly tumbled off the shelf.
"Good afternoon gentlemen," Mr Morris beamed spotting Harry and Ron. "I shall be with you in just a moment." In what seemed like the blink of an eye he had whipped off the price label, wrapped the coat in crisp white tissue paper and placed it carefully into a smart forest green bag with the golden giant logo printed on the side of it.
"Ahhh 'Arry, Ron looking for 'Alloween costumes?…Excellent, well you've come to ze right place." Professor Planchette appeared from the changing room followed by a slightly grouchy looking Snape who glared at them before begrudgingly walking over to the counter to pay Mr Morris.
"I've 'ired a costume, Sherlock 'Olmes" Planchette beamed holding up something on a coat hanger draped in a large green plastic cover for the boys to see.
"I haven't decided on a costume yet," Harry confessed with a shrug. "But I think Ron wants to go as the wizard Gandalf from the book he's been glued to since yesterday." He snatched the novel out of Ron's hand and thrust it under Professor Planchette's nose.
"Zhe Lord of the Rings…zat is ze one Professor Raven lent you yesterday no?…well you are a better man zan I am Monsieur Weasley, I never seem to get beyond chapter four," he gave Ron a knowing wink, Ron cheeks instantly glowed crimson with embarrassment as Planchette handed it back to him.
"It's very good," Ron mumbled weakly in his defence to which Professor Planchette just smiled kindly.
"Now Mr Snape that will be…" Mr Morris flashed the price ticket discreetly at Snape who suddenly looked terribly pained sucking in his sallow cheeks as if he had just accidentally swallowed an angry wasp.
"And worth every Gallon," Planchette beamed encouragingly. Snape just curled his thin pale lips into a nasty snarl as he turned his back and began emptying out the contents of his heavy leather purse onto the counter.
"Crumbs Severus…looks like you've just raided a dragon's hoard," exclaimed Planchette seeing a huge pile of golden Gallons and silver Sickles.
"We can accept a Gringott's cheque, if sir would prefer," Mr Morris said in surprise.
"Not unless you accept rubber ones," Snape mutter under he breath glancing briefly at Planchette before starting to count out the money.
"I would be every so grateful if you could give this receipt to Miss Raven and inform her that the gown will be finished…Mr Little?" Mr Morris looked up at the goblin, it was the first time he had actually acknowledged the presence of his business partner sitting high upon the shelf.
"Early Monday morning at the latest Mr Morris," the goblin replied with a polite nod.
"Thank you Mr Little…the gown will be ready Monday morning so if you could let Miss Raven know I shall have it delivered to Hogwarts by first owl post Monday." Mr Morris handed Snape both a parchment receipt and his bag.
"Come on Severus, I want to get to 'Oneydukes I've 'eard zat zeir orange truffles are to die for and zen we better hot foot it to ze zree Broomsticks or Morwenna will be wondering what we've been up to…might see you boys later."
"Don't forget those essays Potter," Snape said with a sneer as he followed Planchette towards the door. "No essays no Halloween ball."
"Right then gentlemen," Mr Morris grinned revealing his uneven, yellowing teeth as he placed a small footstool on the floor in front of him. "I take it we are hiring costumes so have you any ideas?" He pulled back one of the dark green curtains to reveal a long rack of costumes all neatly covered in shimmering silver covers. "I like to think that we have the most extensive range of costumes to hire this side of Diagon Alley."
"Well," said Ron. "Have you got anything like this?" He showed Mr Morris the cover of his book with had an illustration of Gandalf in a flowing grey robe and enormous wide brimmed hat.
"A muggle wizard eh?" Mr Morris replied gesturing for Ron to hop up onto the stool.
"What do you think Mr Little…cotton, wool mixture, heavy in ghost grey?" Mr Morris turned to the goblin as he pulled his wand from somewhere in the fold of his pin strip robe.
"And a felt hat in a shade darker…perhaps phantom grey?" Mr Little suggested with a nod. There was a small puff of blue smoke and Ron found himself dressed in the garb of Gandalf the Grey.
"Of course it will need a few adjustments," Mr Morris frowned as he stepped back to take a better look at Ron.
"Yeah," agreed Ron in a muffled voice from under the brim of the hat, which had fallen down over his eyes as he waved his hands about lost in the seemingly endless grey fabric of the long sleeves.
"Fabric reduces!" Mr Morris said tapping the costume lightly with his wand and with a flash of green the robe and hat slowly reduced to a size more fitting before disappearing only to reappear it the shimmering protect cover upon the counter.
"And now you," Ron jumped down still amazed allowing Harry to step up onto the stool. They went through the same process with Harry ending up selecting King Arthur costume complete with golden crown, sword and chain mail armour made from a metallic fabric that looked realist but weight as light as a feather.
"The costumes are for hire at twenty Sickles each, there is always a special discount for Hogwarts students plus a small refundable deposit, just to cover the unlikely event of the garments being lost, damaged or soiled."
Harry paid for the costumes and they both left the shop clutching them tightly to their chest in their plastic cover, grinning stupidly and hurried, eager to tell Hermione about Snape and Planchette.
Harry and Ron quickly spotted Hermione at the same table they had all sat at on the evening they had watched Beltaine, along with Neville, Seamus and Lucy. Hermione waved them over signalling that she had already got them a tankard of Butterbeer each.
"Got your costumes okay?" asked Hermione as Ron sat down next to her.
"Yeah no problems…thanks for the Butterbeer," he grinned broadly.
"What?" Hermione questioned with a puzzled frown.
"Yeah thanks…we weren't the only ones in Osborne and Giant," Harry explained taking a welcome first sip from his mug.
"If you are talking about Snape and Planchette, then we already know," Seamus grinned back. "Snape's been clutching that green and gold bag ever since he came in as if his life depended upon it."
"Well, what you don't know is that Planchette and the shop owner persuaded Snape to buy this coat that apparently he's been drooling over for months but it must have cost him least two months wages perhaps more," Ron said smugly.
"Yeah…but I think Planchette must have cleaned out Snape's vault at Gringotts because he didn't write a cheque, paid in cash."
"Raided his dragon bank by the look of it," laughed Ron.
Harry glance across the pub to see Professor Raven and Professor Nightshade a plain-looking, brunette witch, who taught Muggle Studies sitting at a table in between Snape and Planchette. Both ladies were finishing the dregs of their Hemlock wine while Planchette chattered away and Snape, looking irritable and bored, drank deeply from a large tankard while hugging the bag to his chest. Professor Planchette went to the bar and quickly returned with a gigantic black bottle and several shot glasses. He set the tumblers out in a line on the table and started to fill them with a dark green liquid. Professor Raven shook her head with an amused expression and gracefully stood up to leave; Snape rose to join her but was firmly pulled back down by Professor Planchette who handed him one of the shot glasses. Professor Raven smiled and draping her velvet cloak over her shoulders left the pub quickly followed by Professor Nightshade.
"Blimely…that's Absinthe Mead," said Ron.
"What's Absinthe Mead?" asked Harry.
"Only one of the strongest alcoholic drinks in the Wizarding world apart from Fire Whisky and Romanian vodka," explained Ron. "Looks as if Planchette's set up for a heavy session…and I think he's intending Snape to help him get through that huge bottle."
"Then maybe this would be a good time for us to get back to Hogwarts," Harry said, giving Hermione a side ways glance.
"Yeah…you do have those essays to write…come on Ron I think we better make a move."
After carefully hanging up his costume Harry took the invisibility cloak from the bottom drawer of his bedside cabinet and the three of them made their way down to Snape's office. It had taken then longer than expected as rather annoyingly half of the staircases had chosen to move around and then they had run into Mrs Norris on the third floor when meant that they were forced to double back and try another route down to the dungeons. It was already dark when Hermione had unlock the heavy door and they had, hearts pounding finally stumbled down the spiralling steps into Snape's gloomy classroom.
The chill, damp dungeon looked even more sinister and uninviting at night, the shadowy silhouettes of cauldrons, potion bottles and the hideous dead things that floated in their jars upon the shelves seemed to disturbingly come to life in the pale moonlight. Harry shivered as the two glinting, dark eyes of the Golden Nile viper watched him in the darkness.
"Lumos," said Hermione softly slipping from under the invisibility cloak as the lamps set into the dungeon walls flickered alight.
To Harry's surprise the key to Snape's office was still in the lock, with a heavy clunk he turned the rusty key and opened the door.
"The Assassin Draft is locked in that cupboard," Harry whispered pointing to the antiquated mahogany cupboard that stood behind Snape's desk.
"Alohomora," Hermione pointed her wand at the ornate iron lock but to everyone's dismay the lock didn't snap open.
"Alohomora," Hermione tried again but still the spell had no effect. She frowned thoughtfully then tried 'Liberateus' but still nothing happen, the lock remained fastened tight.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked in a thin, worried whisper.
"I don't know, Snape must have placed a powerful Sealing charm on the lock probably a twin charm that can only be broken by using the key which will be bewitched as well, there is no way that I shall be able to open that cupboard…not without the key."
"Which Snape's got fastened to a chain hanging around his neck…" Harry sighed mournfully.
"I am sorry," Hermione shrugged. "Snape's obviously taking no chances, which means he is desperate that no one else can discover what he is hiding away in that cupboard."
"I bet Professor Dumbledore could open it," Ron suggested hopefully. "Couldn't we just go to Dumbledore tell him Snape's brewing an Assassin Draft?"
"But then I'd have to explain how I know he was brewing it," Harry replied. "We need some thing we can take to Dumbledore, perhaps we should search the dungeons."
Hermione started to search in the classroom while Harry and Ron looked around Snape's office, which was just as cold and dreary. The walls were lined with shelves crammed with musty potion books and large glass jars in which all manner of ingredients were suspended in liquid of a nasty yellowish hue.
"Harry, Ron in here," called Hermione who was standing behind Professor Snape's desk with a large, black leather bound volume entitled The Cult of Apophis -Their Practices and rites in her hands.
"This is the book Malfoy was talking about, the one containing the Assassin Draft, Snape must have been looking at it before he left for Hogmeads and forgot to lock it back in the cupboard."
"But the books locked," Ron shrugged.
"Wait a minute…Alohomora publicatum," Hermione tapped the tiny lock fastening the book, which fell open upon the desk.
"Nothing," Harry sighed looking down at the blank pages. "Invisible ink perhaps?"
"Worth a try…Revealum observum," Hermione tapped the blank, yellowing parchment and black inked script slowly started to appear before their eyes. "A lot of the most dangerous charms and potions are protected by hiding spells and look this is the last thing that Snape looked at before he shut the book." They watched in chilled silence as the thin, spidery hand slowly covered the pages, two sections, the first a lengthy list of items required to make the potion while the second were detailed instructions on how to brew and administer the draft. The black text was accompanied by a terrifying serpent inked in gold and red ink, it's dark, lifeless eyes seemed to stare directly at them.
"Well that proves that Snape's been looking at the Assassin Draft, just look at that list of ingredients," Hermione whispered uneasily. "Ground Chimera hooves, black halo, dried imp root…you can't get stuff like that from just any apothecary…"
"Knockturn Alley," Harry murmured. "Remember he wasn't at breakfast that Monday and then we saw him taking those bags down to the dungeons."
"This is an extremely complex potion, only to be undertaken by a wizard adept in the Dark Arts," Hermione continued almost admiringly as she ran her finger down the instructions. "Here is a checklist of symptoms if you suspect a serpent has been bewitched by the draft and here it says here that in order to bind the intended victim to the snake a visual representation must be shown to it just after feeding it the finished potion, only then will it work."
"Do you mean like this?" Ron said worriedly holding up a badly creased and rather tatty scrape of paper that he had found while nosing through the parchments scattered across Snape's desk. Both Hermione and Harry looked at the photograph of the young Professor Raven dressed in the red and gold robes of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. "Do you think this is the page torn from the school year book?" asked Ron. "She hasn't changed much."
"I am sure it is…what wrong Harry you don't look so sure," Hermione said seeing Harry's forehead crease into a frown.
"It's just, how did Snape know that Malfoy was going to be given a Golden Nile viper by his father? That page from the school year book went missing almost a month before Snape got hold of that snake."
"Yeah…I thought you said that it didn't matter how many of Dark Art spells that Snape knows if Professor Raven had the amulet he would have to use non-magical means to kill her…
"I don't know why he took the photograph Ron, maybe he just wanted it to gloat but even though the snake is being charmed by Dark Magic its bite would still be fatal. It would be like using magic to fire a gun, you might not have pulled the trigger but you can bet the bullet would still kill. Call it bad luck or deadly coincidence but what ever Snape had intended next was abandoned when he got his hands on Malfoy's snake and the Cult of Apophis book."
"Oh…lucky Snape," Ron grumbled sarcastically.
"But don't you see? All we have to do is take this book along with the photograph along to Professor Dumbledore and explain everything, that should be enough proof, if we are quick he can unlock that cupboard before Snape returns from Hogmeade and when we've got him."
"Bloody hell, Harry, she's right, what are we waiting for?" agreed Ron as he tucked the photograph into the pocket of his robe.
"Upsy daisy, Severus," everyone froze as the jovial, if slightly slurred voice of Professor Planchette drifted down the dungeon steps.
"Nox!" Hermione whispered and the lamps in the chamber went out plunging them back into darkness as they all scrambled under the Invisibility Cloak.
"The book!" squeaked Hermione just managing to snap it shut before Harry dragged her under the invisibility cloak as the two teachers stumbled into the dungeon.
"Let zere be light…Lumos," Planchette cried drunkenly, he grinned stupidly as the lamps on the dungeon walls burst into flame. But Professor Planchette seemed pretty sober compared to Snape who he was struggling to keep upright.
"I think…I'm going to be sick…" groaned Snape as he shrugged himself free from Planchette's grip.
"Well give me zat coat zen before you puke all over it," Planchette chuckled tearing the bag from Snape's hand as he staggered towards the nearest caldron and retched into it.
"Yuck…remind me not to use that one," Ron whispered making a disgusted face as a sweet but nauseating stench of Absinthe and Butterbeer permeated the cold, dank air of the dungeon.
"Sssh," Hermione who had turned quiet green hissed giving Ron a kick in the shin to shut him up. Ron gave her a pained expression to which she returned by mouthing the words "I'm sorry," swiftly cupping a hand over her mouth.
"I feel awful," Snape groaned letting his head rest upon the bench with a thud, his hooked nose was squashed into the hard wooden surface and his greasy black hair hung lanky across his pallid cheeks. "Leon…why am I so ugly?"
"You're not ugly Severus," Planchette offered kindly placing a hand upon Snape's shoulder.
"Yes I am…I'm vile and soooo ugly…" Snape sounded very drunk and exceedingly sorry for himself.
"Nonsense Severus, zat barmaid seemed to like you, zought you were really funny."
"Really?" Snape inquired in a weak voice, his forehead still resting in the bench.
"Yes…"
"What do I care when the woman I love…I think I'm going to be…"
"Oh Severus zis isn't good" said Planchette patting Snape on the back as he was sick into the caldron again. "You really shouldn't 'ave tried to finish zat bottle on your own, I did warn you zat Absinthe Mead is awfully strong stuff, especially for someone practically tee-total like you." But Snape wasn't listening; he was too busy being sick again and just as violently. "Oh zis really isn't looking good, 'ave you got any of your anti-nauseous potion anywhere if we can't settle 'at stomach I'll have to get Madam Pomfrey down 'ere."
"Noooo," hissed Snape pointing to a shelf behind his desk. "Then everyone will know…why didn't you stop me drinking that bloody stuff?" Snape looked up pathetically from the depths of the cauldron he was still hunched over, his dark hair was now stuck to his face, which was deathly pale and clammy.
"Because Severus you were actually beginning to loosen up…I 'onestly didn't realise you 'ad drunk so much. Ahh, 'ere it is" Planchette beamed with satisfaction as he pulled a glass bottle containing a vivid green liquid from the shelf. "Quite ironic really, zat I should be nursing you…I learnt my limitations years ago, surely you 'aven't forgotten 'ow potent Absinthe Mead can be?"
"Yeah I remember…you won't tell anyone what I said in the pub," Snape muttered as he snatched the bottle from Planchette. "What I told you was in the strictest confidence…"
"My lips are completely sealed…I admit it's a bit of a shock but I can totally understand your reasons…now drink zat potion."
Snape pulled the stopper out from the bottle, sniffing at the contents he suddenly turned as green as the liquid.
"Come on…down the 'atch," Planchette encouraged giving Snape a friendly slap on the back. Snape snarled but taking hold of his large nose he drank the potion down in one gulp.
"Oh my god...I've never…" Snape sputtered his face twisted with utter revulsion. "That was the most disgusting thing I've ever…I'm going to be sick again," Snape clutched at the cauldron but the wave of nausea soon passed.
"See you're feeling better already. Now Severus I really zink ze best zing you could do now is get some sleep. But make sure you drink plenty of water before zat should 'elp with the 'angover…I really don't envy you in ze morning, I know what a stinker Absinthe Mead can be. It was a fun evening zough, Just like ze old days eh, only I was always ze one puking all over ze place…We should do it again sometime you're not so boring after all in fact you can still be quite amusing when you 'ad a few drinks," Planchette smiled approvingly.
"So glad to have been of service," Snape scowled as he collapsed into the chair behind his desk, he groaned holding his head in his hands as if that would help stop the dungeon from spinning.
"Well I'm off to bed even if you are not…and as for your plan I wouldn't worry Severus, no one suspects a thing, least of all Morwenna…" Planchette winked and with a slight sway to his walk he climbed the steps humming a wizard jig badly out of tune to himself.
"Oh no, please, don't fall asleep here," Hermione whispered as Snape muttered to himself as he slumped across his desk trapping the book beneath him. Snape lay face down groaning for a while but it wasn't long before the dungeon was filled with the echoing of loud snoring.
"It's just too risky," hissed Harry pulling Hermione back. "We'll just have to leave the book."
"Well…fancy Snape getting plastered," Ron grinned once they had safely returned to the common room.
"I hope he suffered with one hell of a hangover in the morning," added Harry. But Hermione didn't seem to share their amusement.
"How can you joke at a time like this?" she scolded. "We've probably missed our only chance at get out hands on that book Snape will locked away again in the morning," she looked really worried. "You don't think Professor Planchette is going to help Snape kill Professor Raven? I know that they are best friends but…murder?"
"I really don't know Hermione," Harry replied darkly. "Planchette has been acting strangely, I mean he lied about knowing about the Amulet of Sekhmet and with good reason it seems maybe he been working with Snape all the time, getting friendly with Professor Raven hoping that if Snape couldn't bully her then she might confided in him its whereabouts? And if he isn't working with Snape then he certainly got a good motive to steal it for himself what with all those people he owes money."
"I just can't believe Planchette is like that, I mean he just seems so nice…" Hermione sighed sadly.
"Lets face it Hermione," added Ron. "Planchette's fooled us, even if he didn't own Snape for paying off all those debts, he is Snape's best friend after all."
"I am not sure what Planchette's up to but I know one thing we can't risk trusting him now," replied Harry.
"But what are we going to do now?" asked Ron. "We can't get to the potion or the book, not while Snape's using it as a pillow."
"As I see it we've got one choice. We've got to kill the Golden Nile viper before it gets to Professor Raven."
"Blimely," gulped Ron.
TBC...
R&R please!