Potions: What would a Girl Do without It?
By Slave4Severus
Disclaimer: I still do not own any of J.K.R. characters. Even though I wish I did.
"That greasy old wanker!"
"Ronald Weasley!"
"Oh, come off it Hermione! You saw how he treated Neville."
"He is a Professor, Ron. You are a Prefect and should treat the staff accordingly. What kind of example do you think you are setting for the younger years?"
"They will think how handsomely roguish I am, braving to defile the name of the pasty Dungeon Demon."
Both Hermione and Harry stopped in the hall and stared at their friend before they both began laughing at his antics.
"Don't hurt yourself, Ron, that was the longest grammatically correct sentence you have ever used," Harry was still laughing and held onto Hermione for support.
"Sod off, mate," Ron grumbled without malice, his eyes dancing with merriment, as he elbowed the shorter boy in the ribs. The three friends resumed their way to the Great Hall in search of their evening sustenance.
"So, Hermione, are we still on for tonight then?" Harry took a sideways glance at his friend, pushing his hands deep into the pockets of his grey slacks.
"Yes, Alanna is going to be coming within the next day or so. We should be ok for tonight," Hermione said the latter as quietly as possible, casting glances around them.
"You want both of us up there?" Ron had never been in the Head Girls room and was excited at the mere thought.
"All or nothing, right?" Hermione smiled at the two.
"So, err, what you got in mind?" Ron's voice lowered itself into a deep rumble, as he attempted to raise one of his fiery brows.
"Ron! You cannot possible have questions!" Harry rolled his eyes at him and grinned like a loon.
"I have more experience than you, Harry!"
"You most definitely do not."
"I grew up with five brothers, which is enough experience to last a lifetime."
"Then why do you have to ask?" Harry challenged with a laugh.
"As lovely as this is, gentlemen, we have a rough evening ahead of us. So, let us get some food and continue with this discussion privately in the confines of my room…" she regarded them with a stern look that put both young men in line with faint blushes. "And whatever we do, it will have to be done as quietly as possible," she gave Ron a pregnant stare.
"What?" His forehead wrinkled at her accusingly.
"Just…do not scream, alright?"
"What are you on about? I have never screamed doing that!"
"Yes, you have. Remember, in the library at Snuffles house?"
"I did not scream…it was a manly yelp!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Whatever we do tonight. I am in charge, understand? My room, my rules."
"Who made you the authority on going through peoples stuff?" Ron grumbled sullenly.
"Since it is my room and my new roommate," she retorted tartly before turning to enter the Great Hall.
All three made their way to the head of the Gryffindor table, Ron and Harry taking their seats and helping themselves to the abundance the house-elves had to offer. Hermione slid off her heavy Rucksack and was about to sit before she was interrupted.
"Miss Granger, could I have a minute please?" Professor McGonagall turned and let Hermione follow her to a quieter spot in the Hall.
"Miss Granger, I have just been informed that Miss Flint will be joining you tonight after all. The Headmaster wishes you to introduce her to your fellow Gryffindors, be advised that she has had a very tumultuous few days. Please, do not have them pester her about her arrival here. We are to show her support and strength as we would our own, you will fetch her after you partake of your dinner. I have full trust in your abilities, my dear."
"Of course, Professor," Hermione watched the her leave and resumed her seat at the head of her house table.
" E'ything 'right 'ermione?" Ron spat through his mashed potatoes.
She sighed at the turn of events. "It seems that she will be with us sooner than we thought."
Harry looked up at her before letting his gaze wander over the assembled teachers in their respective seats. The Headmaster was smiling at his students before leaning over to the side to talk to Professor McGonagall. A movement at the end of the staff table caught his eye and he took his attention from the Headmaster and his Head of House to the sullen Potions Master. He looked grimmer than usual with his greasy hair hanging halfway in his soup. Was that snarling he saw?
"Guys, look at Snape," Harry said under his breath.
"Professor Snape, Harry…" Hermione's response died on her lips as she and Ron both watched their Professor grimace in pain in the shadow of his black hair. Anger masked his features as he quickly pushed his chair back and strode from the Hall, via the side door he often exited.
"What was that all about?" Ron asked after having swallowed half a chicken leg in one bite.
"Looked like a summoning to me," Harry mumbled while rubbing his dully throbbing scar.
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Hermione excused herself from her friends and made her way up the staircases to the Infirmary, passing the yapping Hufflepuff painting. She could hear a faint 'Heel, Haggis!' as the Scotsman tried to keep his dog from running to the other paintings surrounding their common room. A few students laughing at its antics, while waiting patiently to be admitted into their dormitory.
She rounded the corner and walked down the deserted, and thankfully silent, hall to the infirmary, her shoes thudding softly against the stone floor. She wondered how Alanna was going to take to being thrust into Gryffindor house and room, probably for the very first time, with another girl, especially a muggle-born girl. She could vividly remember her kin, Marcus Flint, taunting her during her first few years at school about her appearance and performance at school. She hated meeting him in the halls during classes or in the evenings when she had to pass entrance to the dungeons in order to return to her own dormitory. He was in a different class than Malfoy, not cocky and slick in that upper-class superior sort of way, but sinister and foreboding. At the time, she did not realize what he had been insinuating with his 'avoid dark places, Granger, because if I find you they will search for weeks.' The gossip had not reached her ears yet about the dungeon having supposed torture chambers, but as a seventh year she had heard and investigated the allegations. Thankfully, they were only rumors, spread to intimidate the younger years and…Muggleborn. If Malfoy would have said this to her though she would not have been as concerned; Marcus Flint belonged in a category of evil by itself. Hermione shivered involuntarily.
She only hoped that Alanna had more brains than a dead tree stump. If her cousin's grades were any indication, she could use all the help she could get.
Hermione arrived at the double doors and gave them a tentative knock. Madam Pomfrey's booming voice surrounded her instantaneously.
"State your name and form of malady."
"Hermione Granger here to pick up Miss Flint."
The door opened itself. "You may enter."
Hermione quietly walked through the double doors spotting Madam Pomfrey holding a fresh change of clothes for one of her patients.
"I trust you are fairing well, Miss Granger?" Madam Pomfrey studied her profile as she approached.
"Yes, Madam," she answered politely and followed the medi-witch toward the familiar privacy screen at the back of the hall.
"Miss Flint will be ready shortly, if you would like to wait here, Miss Granger," the nurse clipped shortly and turned yet again to walk around the screen. Hermione felt a bit odd listening to their conversation that carried over to where she was standing.
"Miss Flint, here are your new robes that you will have to wear while at school."
"Thank you Madam Pomfrey," the voice said meekly, while the rustling of sheets and clothes followed.
"Will you need any assistance with that?"
"No, thank you, I believe I can manage with it, uhm, what do you call this?"
"It is a tie, Miss Flint, a standard part of your school robes, to be worn daily."
"What is the purpose of it?" the voice sounded genuinely interested in the particular article of clothing. Hermione wondered who could not know what a tie was.
"The tie is form of neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn under a collar and tied in knot at the front, effectively presenting your house colours to teachers and classmates," Madam Pomfrey sounded a bit stern.
"Is it like jewelry?" Alanna asked a bit too brightly.
"No, jewelry is not allowed at Hogwarts. The tie is part of everyone's uniform."
A bit more swishing of material could be heard before Madam Pomfrey spoke again.
"Alright, Miss Flint, you are to report back here tomorrow morning before breakfast. I want you to drink a lot of fluids tonight and drink these two potions. One is a sleeping draught and the other a strengthening potion to be taken within fifteen minutes of the other. The Headmaster has requested that you are to room with our Head Girl, Miss Granger, for your duration here. She has come to take you to Gryffindor tower; Miss Granger?"
Hermione moved to step around the screen, hoping that Alanna would not recognize her from the night before. If Madam Pomfrey would suspect anything, she could still get into a heap of trouble. She regarded the new Gryffindor with curiosity.
She looked much healthier than last night. Sleep had done her a world of good, Hermione thought to herself as she walked up to her and held out her right hand in greeting.
"Hello. I am Hermione Granger."
Alanna regarded the girl warily. The first girl she had met that was around her age, and her defenses had come up very quickly. That nagging little voice in her head had reared in alarm at the sight of her, warning Alanna not to let her get too closely. She took a deep breath and squashed the bloody voice with a mental kick, reaching for Hermione's hand and giving it a firm shake.
"I am Alanna Flint, the pleasure is all mine," a shy smile graced her lips.
Hermione had watched her features take on the usual Slytherin mask of indifference as she stared down at her outstretched hand. She was about to awkwardly retreat when Alanna placed her cold hand in hers for a rather firm handshake, her smile seeming genuine.
"Alright then, I have to see to my other patients. I will see you tomorrow, Miss Flint. Good night, ladies," Madam Pomfrey strode to the other side of the ward, both girls looking after her.
Hermione was the first to speak.
"How are you feeling?" They both turned and began walking.
"I have felt better," short and to the point.
They exited the infirmary quietly.
"Are there any questions that I could answer for you about Hogwarts?" Hermione wanted to end the uncomfortable silence.
"Were you at my bed last night?" Alanna stopped and gazed knowingly at her new acquaintance.
Hermione flushed a little, not knowing what to tell her. She was only thankful that Alanna did not say anything while around the medi-witch.
"Oh, please, I did not try to embarrass you. I wanted to thank you for uhm…giving me aid when I needed it," Alanna really looked at the Head Girl. She had the most amazing head of hair she had ever seen, full of beautiful, sleek, corkscrew curls, which framed her face. The rest of her features were not far behind; very pretty seemed to be an understatement here. "I hope that little Won is doing alright," the poor little house elf probably had bandages all over his arms and/or face.
Hermione blinked. "Won?" Then it dawned on her. "Oh, you mean Ron?"
"Yes, the little house elf who helped me with my water. He seemed nice. Do you own many house elves?" They had resumed walking again.
Hermione wanted nothing more than to start talking about S.P.E.W., but refrained from becoming too overzealous. Alanna should not be taxed with too many things at once; the idea however had been filed for a more appropriate time. "No, I do not," was her answer instead. "Ron, is actually not a house elf. He is one of my best friends who was with me last night.
It was now Alanna's turn to become a bit red. How could she have made that type of mistake? "I am so sorry to offend a friend of yours. I had thought that he was doing your bidding the way you were commanding him to do so. I had no idea that he was just a very short person."
Hermione stopped and began laughing at the thought of Ron being a 'short' person. "Oh, no you did not offend me. Actually, I will introduce you to Ron and Harry, my other best friend, when we reach our common room."
Alanna shivered a little; she was not used to meeting strangers on a daily basis, however, Hermione seemed nice enough. Her trepidation rose a couple of notches, as they approached the area close to one of the dormitories. She forgot, which house it was, but the crush of students that littered before the portrait made her more than uneasy. If she could have blended into the wall, she would have.
'Alanna! Flint's never cower!' Her father's voice sternly boomed within the confines of her mind. She stiffened her spine and serenely walked forward into the unknown.
Hermione watched her from the corner of her eye. She knew that most of the fourth and fifth year Hufflepuffs that were having an impromptu after dinner conversation in front of the very empty canvas guarding the common room. The first audible sounds of their light footfalls coming down the hall silenced the lot of them. Now, Hermione was coolly regarding a handful of speechless ninnies.
"Good Evening," she said politely, pinning each with a patented 'I am watching you' stare.
Some students gave the two girls a tentative smile while others just continued staring, a select few displaying rather formidable traps as they gaped open-mouthed.
'Stay calm, Alanna. Just…act… as if you do this every day.'
Oh, whom was she attempting to fool here! The thought of being around so many strange people scared the living daylights out of her. Alanna stiffened her spine, lifted her chin, and as calmly as possible walked by the staring crowd; she could feel their gazes burning into her back.
"What, in Merlin's name, are they staring at?" Alanna asked quietly through her teeth.
"You, of course."
Alanna blinked and looked sideways at Hermione.
"Are you serious?"
"Quite."
A small smile played around Hermione's lips as they continued walking toward the main staircases. Alanna frowned, not pleased at all at the turn the conversation had taken.
"Well, I hope they were the only ones to do so," she clipped softly.
"I would not count on that."
As Alanna looked back at Hermione with a furrowed brow, she had not noticed stepping into the main bowels of Hogwarts castle. She watched Hermione glance upward in awe and finally tore her gaze from the witch to see for herself what had her so mesmerized.
The sheer magnitude of what she saw astounded her. Alanna looked up into a seemingly ceiling-less tower filled with gigantic staircases, which moved on their own volition, connecting with other staircases or to doors that were not accessible by any other mean. Before she could utter an appraising sound, however, loud creaking sounds echoed throughout the tower and the stairs ceased their movement in mid ascent and decent. The entire scene was bathed in an eerie silence and stillness.
That is when she saw them.
Hermione had been correct in telling her that she would encounter others staring. Just not how many.
There were at least a thousand portraits hanging at various angles throughout the tower, and all of them were staring down on her; the same enraptured look upon their painted faces as the human ones had.
Within two breathless seconds, the whispering commenced. At first a soft ripple of sound originating somewhere to her left, which traveled in a spiral swirl to the top of the tower; its volume increasing in waves.
Alanna was not sure if she should laugh or pinch herself soundly in order to wake from this nightmare. Thankfully, Hermione moved toward the nearest flight and began walking upward, un-phased by it all.
Alanna followed.
Two steps later, the tower returned to its flurry of activity, subduing the whispers to a bearable decibel.
"I hope there is a really good explanation for all of this," Alanna grumbled as she caught up with Hermione.
"I suppose it is called flying on a broom through a window that is about fourteen feet tall and protected by the Hogwarts' wards. You do realize that something like this has never happened before," Hermione looked at her quizzically as the flight they were standing on moved upward to the fourth floor.
Alanna shuddered. "The second I remember why I entered through a window instead of the main entrance, I shall let you know."
Hermione looked at her with smiling eyes but said nothing while she turned to approach the next set of stairs leading further up into the tower. A yellow-blond blur approached the duo from a dark passage to their left. Without a moments hesitation Hermione pulled her wand from the confines of her black robes, pointing it stealthily at a rather disheveled looking girl, as she emerged from the shadows.
Alanna regarded her with mild curiosity. The girl looked as if she had a run in with some brambles, her hair falling from her ponytail in blond wisps sticking out at odd angles. Her face was flushed, probably from the vigorous run she had just enjoyed coming down the dark corridor. What Alanna could not figure out however, was the unnatural red tint her lips had. Red and puffy. The wistful smirk that had graced said lips had vanished the second she laid eyes on Hermione. Now, her features had darkened into a cold and calculating frown, as she looked her up and down.
"Granger," the girl snarled while folding her arms before her chest.
"Parkinson," Hermione responded coolly. "Should you not be patrolling the halls after dinner?"
"What does it look like I am doing?" Parkinson said defiantly and stepped closer toward them. She had yet to acknowledge Alanna.
"Looks like you were just snogging that perverted arse, you call a
boyfriend." Hermione stepped closer as well, holding her wand leisurely between her fingers.
"Jealous, Mudblood?" Parkinson smiled knowingly and brushed the hair from her face.
Alanna looked at Hermione with more interest. She was a Mudblood? Wow. A real one? She wondered what it was like…
"Five points from Slytherin for your insult, Pansy. Now, if you want to keep your Prefect badge I suggest you get moving and patrol," Hermione narrowed her eyes and twirled her wand expertly, only too happy to give Pansy a taste of its pointy end.
"Or what?" Pansy looked at Alanna for the first time from tip to toe. "Your Gryffindor lackey will personally take it from me? You are so lame, Granger."
Hermione's look became pure ice as she took another step toward the Parkinson girl. "Do you really want to find out, Pansy? Are you truly convinced that you can wrap yourself in a cloak of confidence? Draco will not always be there to cover for your transgressions."
Alanna watched the two girls stare at each other.
"I am perfectly capable of fighting my own battles, Granger," her eyes narrowed at both of them, as her chin rose a few notches. Her own wand had materialized from within the folds of her cloak.
"As much as I am enjoying this ladies…" both sets of eyes turned to look at Alanna… "I would like to be directed to Gryffindor tower before I get my eyebrows scorched in the skirmish. If one of you would be so kind as to point the way, I shall leave you to it."
Pansy was the first to speak, her tone of voice less than friendly. "Who did you say you were?"
Alanna bristled. "I did not say."
Her eyebrow went up at the nonchalant answer. "Would you care to display some manners and enlighten me then?"
Hermione watched the very Slytherin exchange between the two. Pansy had begun to walk toward Alanna, circling her with appraising eyes. Alanna on the other hand stood rooted, although her eyes never left the blonds movements, even tossing her an over the shoulder glance as her back was turned.
"If you must know, it is Flint. Alanna Flint. Now, if you would excuse us," Alanna looked at Hermione before turning her back and stepping up the next flight of stairs.
"Flint?" Pansy's face scrunched up in confusion. "As in Marcus Flint?" Alanna, however, was already out of earshot to have heard.
"That seems to be the assumption," Hermione supplied as she regarded Pansy, their little spat put on hold for now.
"She does not really look like Flint though."
"Thank heavens for small mercies," Hermione said heartfelt and followed Alanna up the stairs, leaving a thoughtful Pansy in her wake.
Pansy was certain that she would have remembered her parents mentioning another child in the Flint family, especially after their attempts to secure her betrothal to that hideous creature they called heir. Thankfully, they had been approached by Lucius Malfoy and had accepted his suit without any reservations. So, either there is a long lost sister of Flint's running around, or the girl was lying through her perfectly chiseled teeth. She had to find Draco and discuss this with him, especially since a Flint had been sorted into Gryffindor.
Pansy turned and quickly walked back down the darkened corridor to search for Draco in the old charms classroom. Hopefully, he had not been able to right his clothes properly in the past ten minutes. The boy was just too vain for his own good.
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Severus quickly made his way down into his dungeons, his forearm bearing the mark throbbing with the Dark Lord's summons. He had realized after his social calls at the Malfoy and Avery residences that a summoning would be upon him within a few short days. He quickly walked down the stairs and was thankful that he did not encounter any of his students in the hallways. Fortunately, it had only been his dinner to have been interrupted, not that he had been eating much to begin with.
He quickly whispered his password and entered his personal chambers, removing his outer robes with deft movements, a pair of eyes not his own following his every move. Within seconds he had summoned his cloak and mask from his bedroom and donned the one and hid the other in its folds. Another stab of pain seared through his arm telling him of his master's impatience. Severus growled in the back of his throat and quickly exited his rooms, entering a hidden passageway seconds later. His long strides echoed through the small space with a force that even the puddles of moisture could not subdue.
Nature greeted him with a rush of fresh air and a fine mist from the surrounding fog. He gritted his teeth and made his way into the Forbidden Forest to an apparition point. Severus knew that he would probably not be spared the Cruciatus tonight; he would, however, find out more about Alanna Flint. His lips curled in an evil sneer before he hid it behind his mask. For once, he was looking forward to a summoning. With a quick flick of his arm, he exposed his burning flesh and touched the offending mark, apparating once again into the unknown.
His feet connected with a grassy knoll. With practiced movements, he scanned his surroundings and found the gathering a few hundred paces to his right in a rather large field. A soft pop behind him announced another of the Dark Lord's minions, forcing him into motion. The second cloaked figure caught up with his strides.
"Severus."
Severus smirked. "Lucius."
Both men were silent as they approached their kneeling brothers, both regarding Voldemort with watchful eyes. The Dark Lord was highly irritated going by the body language of his familiar. Nagini slithered menacingly between the ranks, never leaving the five-foot vicinity of her master. With practiced stealth both men kneeled before him and kissed the hem of his dark cloak, waiting to be called back into the ranks. He did not however.
"Severus, Lucius. Your tardiness displeases me. Crucio!"
Snape felt as if hot needles pierced every cell inside his body. He wanted to fall to the ground and scream. Yet he was a proud man, who was not going to loose his dignity in front of a sadistic lunatic. He remained on his knees clutching his fists together so hard that his nails pierced the skin. When the pain subsided he took a deep breath and looked at the Dark Lord; he knew he had only been warming up.
Voldemort turned from them and walked around the clearing staring at each masked follower with his penetrating red slits for eyes.
"I have been disappointed by each of you," Voldemort said softly, the s's in his speech standing out even more than usual.
"A Death Eater is the most feared individual in the Wizarding World. Death and destruction follow in their wake to please their one Lord and Master. Me," Voldemort pivoted and approached the head of the circle.
"How does it come to pass, then, that I have been made a fool of by my own? How is it…" his wand pointed into the crowd, "… twenty of you could not subdue a single…" gasping sounds could be heard, as one masked man began clawing at his neck in need of air, "…little…" the wand flicked and the unmistakable sound of snapping bone could be heard, "…girl!" The dead man was flung from the crowd, his broken neck being of little support for his lolling head.
The rage was coming off the Dark Lord in putrid strands, affecting everything it touched. The smell of fear crept up and permeated their midst.
Voldemort was not finished with his speech as he looked around once more. "Would one of you try to explain your actions to your Lord?" Trick question, the man was famous for them.
"No?" He rounded on the next best target. "Lucius!"
Severus watched out of the corner of his eye how the man beside him braced himself for another onslaught.
"Would you care to enlighten me how it is that from a twenty man revel, only five returned to my ranks intact?"
"I apologize, my Lord," Lucius' silky voice drawled in an attempt to placate the creature.
"If I have to wait any longer you will be very sorry…" his words were hissed viciously.
"My Lord, I sent ten after the girl and ten remained at my side to take care of Farrell and his wife…"
"I have been informed that Farrell had been taken care of prior to this incidence. Are you trying to tell me that one man, who had already enjoyed a certain amount of pain, had the strength to best five of you?" Voldemort flexed his long fingers and cracked his knuckles in anticipation.
"Yes, my Lord," the answer was clipped and final. Severus waited for the storm to begin.
"Think very hard before you answer, Lucius," The Dark Lord placed the tip of his wand beneath Lucius' chin, tilting it upward, forcing him to look into the eyes of his master. "Did you kill them?"
Lucius did not falter in his answer. "Yes, my Lord."
"Where are their bodies?"
"I took the liberty of disposing them, my Lord."
The seconds rolled by as Voldemort waited for any signs of weakness.
"Where did you take them?" He did not seem convinced.
"They were left in the forest, my lord," Lucius dared to breathe, "I am sure the animals have already disposed of their bodies."
Voldemort seemed satisfied with that answer and moved out of Lucius' personal space.
"And the daughter?"
Silence.
"So, you have failed in killing her," his voice took on an edge of deadly amusement. "Where is she?"
It was now Severus' turn to be placed in the line of fire. He only hoped that he would not be punished too harshly for his concealment of the girl.
"My Lord," all eyes rested upon him.
"Severus." Deadly calm reigned.
"There has been an incident a few days prior. A girl claiming to be the daughter of Farrell Flint has arrived at Hogwarts, badly injured. The medi-witch has been in the process of healing her for several days now."
Voldemort silently walked around the two kneeling men.
"I want her brought to me alive! In what state I do not care, just bring her to me," a spray of spittle accompanied his exclamation before he lifted his wand once more and began administering his punishments.
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Author's Note: Imperio! Well, now that I have all of you thoroughly hexed, I would like for you to review. As I can tell at least 17 of you have gotten an alert as to my update. All 17 of you are hereby commanded to leave a review. You know you can not fight the urge…you want to press that button down there to your left, don't you. Common, don't fight it any longer…REVIEW! Oh yea, and you there who is not part of the seventeen, you will have to review as well…
Special thanks to: lucidity, who gave me the idea to hex you guys, kudos girl! Mysticsong1978 my beta, and of course the all powerful muse PinkCorsair, who is enjoying a lovely vacation right now.