It took less than two days after the first of the delegation had arrived for them to complete the rest of the student poison removal. The students became absolute when the number of patients shrunk to the degree that could easily be handled by a few people. River felt grateful no one made her leave. The students shared the same mindset as they all felt like seeing this through to the end. River, especially as her sister, was physically fit, and she had not taken much poison, so she was the last taken away for recovery. When her sister was finely outside the danger zone, a wave of tiredness washed over her. All the worry, anger, and despair that had been with her since the feast disappeared.
She sat down and let the peace fill her as they moved out the last of the patients to the recovery room. When the hall was empty of students, it erupted in noise as the people celebrated. There were a lot of pats on the back and even some hugs. Which River was glad she was not a part of that interaction. The noise moved her out of her half-sleep, and the atmosphere around her was energizing. She took a deep breath and joined the rest of the celebration.
After about a half-hour, she saw McGonagall coming toward them an uncommon smile. The students gathered around her "Good work. I am proud of you all." She let them enjoy the complement then continued. "You have two options. First, I can get you to the castle today, or we can get you tomorrow morning. There is a celebration for the people that helped in this crisis. It will be in the Leaky Cauldron, where I can get you rooms."
Hermione seemed to be rooted in thought when McGonagall finished, she looked up before the others had time to say anything and said. "I think we should wait for tomorrow's afternoon. We should get some more free time, maybe to three in the afternoon." There was some sort of quiet communication between them. After a short pause, she answered, "well, I think you all could use the rest. Be careful with the alcohol you are representing Hogwarts. Be sure to remember that." "yes, headmistress," they said in unison.
They then went together to the Leaky Cauldron. The atmosphere inside was calm until the people inside realized that Hermonie Granger had entered the building. They swarmed her, but before she was overwhelmed, she was able to point out to the barman that River was under seventeen. Not that River would have tried, but she had to admit that she had the urge to try to see if she could get away with it.
The event itself was the most fun she had since before her capture. For a night, she was not a werewolf. She was just another comrade that had helped avert a catastrophe.
She saw Sebastian Foster talking to a ministry employee that did not seem more then a couple of years older than him. They seemed to get along quite well.
She talked most with an older lady from Sweden that had a fascinating job in being a researcher on a rare disease. After it had affected her daughter, she had decided her life to mitigate it or, if possible, to cure it. She had not found a cure, but she had made several ways to reduce the symptom. The disease had a long time ago taken her daughter's life. However, she had lived a good life and left her behind grandchildren that she adored. She persisted in her research so that she could help other patients.
The amount and variation of people that had dropped everything to come and help them were humbling. One person was fresh out of the German medic program that had gotten their certificate less they 48 hours before. She was able to avoid personal questions by telling stories regarding the legendary trio. There were several legends that they had created in their time at Hogwarts that made it easy to entertain all their attention.
The center of attention was Harmonie Granger, with a swarm of admirers. River wondered if there existed a similar sense of holiness over Harry Potter and his friends outside Britain or if they had a more grounded view. She realized, based on how people spoke with Hermione, that it might be the opposite. That not being exposed to their exploits except rumors might increase their legendary status.
Eventually, she started to get tired and decided to get some sleep. Before she headed to bed, she took a detour to take a short bath. There was a bit of a line, but eventually, she was able to get into the hot water and enjoy a job well done.
She went to her room, almost skipping. Everyone was going to live, and the celebration had been a blast. She went straight to bed, still with a grin on her face. When she was close to sleep, she felt like she had forgotten something. She was unable to remember or to wake herself until she fell asleep. River had forgotten to take her dreamless potion and was once again in the land of dreams.
The dream started great as she was eating their typical Friday meal of tacos with her family. They were sitting in their living room in the house she had grown up. Her mom was there with her blond hair and brown eyes and a warm smile. Beside her slender frame was her father, a man that compensated for being without magic with muscles. He had short black hair and piercing blue eyes. He knew that his fists would do little to a prepared wizard. His philosophy had always been that both he and his potential opponents knew that fact as well. So, they would underestimate him, and if he could strike them in such a wat that they did not get up, it did not matter that they had magic, and he didn't.
Her sister was there wholly cured. Her mother was silently laughing at a jest their father told. Lastly, there was a mirror beside their dining table, showing her reflection, and she was back to normal again. Without her snake eye and scales, as she held out her left hand, she could see that it was a replica of her right arm. Everything was perfect. Her dad was talking about what he thought her sister should do after she had finish school. He wanted her to work for the Ministry to help end the prejudice against Squib. River nodded her head in agreement. But her mother shook her head, and then her mute mother spoke.
The voice made River feel strange, both a need to please it but also scared of it. Her mother features started to shift slightly, and River recognized them as beginning to resemble The female doctors. The memories of her were unavailable. Still, she knew enough. Now she was terrified. "well, I think she should be a researcher. Specifically, a researcher into werewolves. Think of what she could learn"
Now everything seemed to darken. She wanted to say that it was a horrible ide and how could they even consider it. She could not speak a word. "we even have the perfect try dummies right here," she pointed to both her and her father. Their father and sister nodded their approval fervently "you would do anything to help your sister, right? To help me?"
River almost jumped out of her seat, and everything except her mother started to fade. She took a couple of steps towards the kitchen then she awoke in her cell. She was bond in the way she was when they were visiting her in her cell.
Her mother's facial expression transformed even more into someone else. Her clothes turned into a lab coat with several pieces of jewelry. The most noteworthy was a beautiful necklace with a giant blue stone in the middle. She still could not remember her name, and when she did not focus on her feature faded from her memory. She recognized her voice so full of what seemed like genuine concern, pity, and affection.
Her mother smiled, and with affection, said, "Did you have a good dream?" That sentence shook her to her core. She started to question reality. Was it that she had escaped r that she was still in the cage. Her escape felt unlikely as she considered what had happened to her since her flight. She conceded that the cage must be the actual reality. She even smelled her perfume. That she was unable to remember her features, her sleeping mind just figured was an after effect of the latest experiment. The woman smiled and said, "would you help me with an experiment?" It was not a question that River could answer no to. Still, she nodded fervently anyway as it might lead to a reward, and if she were difficult, the reverse. She smiled, "thank you," she said again, sounding completely genuine. But first, she touched her wand to her forehead. River woke up.
She barely contained a scream. She pined herself to try to reinforce to herself that this was reality.
Most of her memories regarding that woman were the ones that the charmed sealed. The few memories she had indicated that she was a skilled manipulator that needed to control people.
She sighed and looked at the clock. It was six hours before she and the others would return to Hogwarts. The dream had sapped her of much of the extreme joy she had been feeling. Her mind returned to what had happened. She recalled the Hufflepuff that had made the graffiti, and she wondered what he did in the abandoned classroom. She knew that she did not have any proof. Her accusation was useless without any hard evidence. It was likely that even if he was the original creator, it could be someone else that had taken the attacks to that extreme.
She forced herself to calm down so that she would not do anything stupid like attacking him on sight. The stores should have opened by now, and she had not shopped in Daoganal alley in three years. The last time she was with her mother and father had been in town for business and had brought her. It had been a blast usually she ether inherit the books she needed, or they would pick them up for her. That time she had been free to go into all the stores and look around at everting. They did not have the money to buy much, but they had a great time looking at everting.
Her first stop was going to be the ice cream parlor as it had been the highlight of her last visit. To her dismay, the place had closed. She wondered if the owner was okay. Feeling a bit down, she went to her next stop.
She walked into the pet shop. Most of the animals were afraid of her, and those that did not seem nervous at first ether from the other animals or that she got to close became nervous and restless. She sighed and walked out of there before she caused chaos to erupt. Her next stop was the supply shop, where she pursued a couple of small things. With about an hour left, she decided to go to Weasley's wizard wheezes. On her way there, she saw in the window Ollivander's new assistant a girl in her mid-thirties. It had been quite the news when it had happened that Ollivander had taken on an assistant. She saw that she was talking to the same Hufflepuff that had spoken to the young ministry employee. Which surprised River as it was extremely unusual for anyone being there not purchases a new wand. She did not go in to satisfy her curiosity, as she did not have any business there. Ollivanders was not a place you went in to browse. She put that curiosity behind her as she went on to her next destination.
Weasley's wizard wheezes was not a hard place to find as it radiated light. She had heard from Rosie and her sister that it was even more stunning when it opened two years ago as it had had been a bastion of light for the people in despair. When he who should not be named had starting to gain power, she had heard descriptions from her sister did not make it justice. The effect must have been more significant when he who should not be named first stated to get into power. There was even a poster with a shirt with the text "we defeated Voly you think we cannot do (insert impossible thing here). "Which were charmed so that you could change the (insert impossible thing here) at will. She felt uneasy about the poster. As if it would bring back him by pure daring. She shuttered and walked into the shop.
The inside, whereas she had expected full of joke articles. There where trick wands in several different varieties, sick candy that would make you sick if ate them. Then there were self-correcting ink as well as something new in advice rings which from a fake ruby would shine a light which suggested what to write. At the end of the hall, she saw a big sign saying Love potions under that were another sign "OBS temporally removed. Regrettable fellow tricksters and maidens. We have temporally removed our love potion. It was a joke that would almost imminently lose its effect after consumption. But if the potion was left alone, it grew in potently to a frankly ridiculous degree. As it was the catalyst to our brother almost dying so, we feel the need to take the product down until we can work out the thinks. We apologize and hope that you can find a replacement for the trick you want to pull. Maidens, we think that you might be interested in our word gum, which can get you to hear the word I love you from anyone. Tricksters I advise obsession cola as a replacement. We will try to fix this as fast as possible Yours Freed and George." The last sentence made her feel surprisingly sad. She had never known the twins, but there had always been admiration towards them.
She continued to look alive until she saw something that caught her interest. It was a box with a lens with a book next to it. Under was the name Recordio. Its description told that it was a device that could capture images and store them on a chip. Under this, it said. It is like a video recorder for you muggle-borns exempt you know magic. "
It was perfect with this River could put it into the empty classroom, and when Rosie sensed that he went in, they just had to record it, and if there where any evidence of foul play, they would get him.
She smiled, and that smile broadened as she saw the price tag was still in her price range. She headed to the register as she would probably not afford anything else if River did not go to Gringotts, and she did not have time for that. She just had to satisfy herself with something that might catch the person that poisoned an entire house in which one of the members was her only living family member.
She walked with the camera to the desk with a quick look at the muggle magic. At the desk sat George and browsing the quibble with an amused smile. He looked up, and his smile widens. Well, hello, long time no see roof lady. She smiled back. It was better than the first thought was as a victim of an elaborated joke than that she was a werewolf." He continued, "shouldn't you be in school?" then he smiled and said. "of course you are the one with an eye condition that my mother mentioned. You helped with preventing the Slytherin from dying. I have no love for Slytherin, but to try to kill them all is just" he shook his head. "sorry, I do not remember your name." "it is River Blackwell" "you're Viviana, sister," he nodded with approval ."It could not have been easy. I heard from mother and father that they cured the seventh year last, so that must have been nerve-wracking." she nodded "He looked again at her purchase. "I think I know why you want that. "he pointed at the camera. River knew that her face confirmed his suspicion. "I should probably not sell that to you. You might do something stupid with it." he then looked stunned and was quiet for a second, then suddenly sounded angry and made River jump and take a step back.
"wait, what am I saying? did I, George, just say to someone not to do something stupid. You're probably looking down on me, shaking your head in disbelief that I would betray your legacy like that." she was starting to worry. Then he looked at her with a sad smile "sorry I sound almost like my mother there for a second I will not sell you that recorder" Rivers's heart sank. He gave her a wicked smile like he had had one of the few times River had seen him in Hogwarts." I will give it to you as a reward for working so hard and as an apology for my part in this mess." he pointed at several signs that he had taken down. The one she was able to read said, but two stink bombs and pay for one if you promise to use them on Slytherin" instead, I Will tell you not to get yourself killed and try not to get couth" she smiled "thank you I will try to do both." The only problem will be Filch he might search you as you enter the castle. River shrugged "I can handle him, I am after all his godchild. I think I can get away with much excluding putting mud on the statue of that knight with the duck helmet."
Usually, when she mentions this fact, people got nervous. It was like the mere motion of the name was a summoning and would bring him there. It was not as bad as being a werewolf was, and it passed as they got to know her. The Weasleys face lighten up in a huge grin.
"OH you are, are you. The opportunity to sway his godchild." his smile took on a more somber tone "Man, what an opportunity how Fred would have loved it. We might even have given you the map if we had not given it up". She wanted to ask about the map but felt like it was too personal" With the last sentence, he packed another bag. He insisted that she take it. She usually would argue against getting stuff for free like this, especially as that one of his main reason for doing so she suspected where to get under Filch's skin. But with him mentioning his brother in the conservation, there was no way she could say no.
She walked out with three large bags of stuff. She would need to take inventory but decided to do so after she was in her room. She could always use the defense that she did not know what she had, which was true. She had always been a lousy liar, and she knew that Filch would believe her only if she did not have any idea what she broth into school.
River thought that his excitement where a more significant deterrent then any stern talk could have been. Still there where the anger that flared up from time to time made her determined to try to catch the guilty student. The meeting place was back inside the Leaky Cauldron.
They meet up, and she noticed that Sebastian Foster looked extremely pleased she wondered how well it had gone from him with that ministry employer. He was the only one that did not have any shopping, so she wondered about the meeting in Ollivanders. River had hopping bags where Hermione had a backpack. They were sone joined by the professors that had with them a portkey.
They all touched the portkey. Then after what now was a familiar experience, they were back at Hogwarts. She started to mentally go thought the things she would say to flinch when he searched her. But to her relief, he did not show up. In fact, She saw no one who made the entire school seem creepy. She wondered if this what it felt like at night.
They were meet by the headteachers. McGonigal stopped and turned toward them all again "I just want to say on behalf of Hogwarts, thank you for your hard work. Here is a little token of our appreciation, Fifty points to each one of you. There here some happy mumbling from that, only Hermione seemed unfazed. The headteachers took their students and walked them towards their dorm. On the way, their professor sprout was glowing from pride and kept praising them, with her taking center stage, which made River blush. When they arrived at the dorm, she went over to the armor that where their guardian whispered something, and the door swung open. She looked at their questioning look with an apologetic smile. "I am afraid that we are in a bit of a lockdown for the moment. The password is secret, and only teachers, prefects, and a few trusted students are to know it. The plan is to escort you to and from lessons. But do not worry, everything will return to normal soon" So River had to be looked in their room except for doing lessons for a time. That was something she could handle, and that would give her time to convince Rosie about her plan before bad 1 had time to sneak off to his classroom. She just hoped that he had not decided to switch location as it would make things more difficult. When they walked into the room, the sound of applause greeted them. Which surprised River, then the other Hufflepuff was surrounded by admirers while they stayed clear of her and gave her odd looks. She took the hint to go away. She headed towards the only person that was glad she returned. She felt the loss of fitting in that she had gotten a taste of doing the ordeal. In their common room, she waited. She made two tums up while smiled broody. River returned the smile, her mood significantly improving. Rosie looked at the bags with a questioning look, and she smiled and said, "so who of us should start." She looked at River, and with a look that River knew meant that she should start. River told her almost everything. She retold her about the work with removing the poison. Most of her conservation with Granger and Luna. The despair she had felt when she thought that all hope had disappeared. Her meeting with Gorge and her plan and she to her relief she Rosie agreed to help. She left out her dream as it was too personal to share. She also left out the werewolf weapon project as it was a bit to close to Rosie's own experience.
Then it was Rosie's turn. Probably inspired by River's revelation, she described in detail what it felt to be overwhelmed. She described it as being drowned by the fear and panic of the other students. When she fell unconscious, the feelings turned to nightmares, which description made them even worse than hers usually was. To try alleviating matters, she told of a particular one was with Professor Snape and a potion test where whatever she did, he screamed at her. Rosie wanted to frame it humorously bur River saw from her body language that it had not been at all a comfortable experience.
When she woke up, it was in the middle of the night, and she had to go completely alone. Luckily, she ran into professor Sprout. It was with some amusement that she described the professor's expression when she realized they had forgotten her.
They had been stuck here most of the time except for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All meals were all supervised by several wizards and witches so that the food was not tempered with again.
Rosie had not been able to leave in their common room for extended periods. There was to much fear and anxiety in the other common room. That the only time she had ventured out, she had involuntarily sent out a wave of anger in response. When her tale ended, River pointed at the bags, and a feeling of excitement from Rosie invaded her mind. They had mirrored grins on their faces. They each took a bag and started to take out, showing off what they found.
There where stink bombs and self-correcting ink as well as quill that would correct your penmanship that Rosie took great interest in and tried extensively. She had even got a shield charm with could come in handy, then Rosie held up something for her to see with a peculiar smile. River face dropped, then cursed George in a manner River had never in her young life done, and Rosie started laughing. He had given her fifteen vials of love potion; she was fuming, and Rose was on the floor laughing. Her joy was making it almost impossible to keep the anger.
She took a note that was attached to the potion box and read it saliently for herself.
"Loved Dovi version two. Still, a bit too expensive to make, and the potions last a bit too long. They are still legal, but they are too far out of the joke category for my taste. They will not grow stronger with age. Instead, they will last for about fifteen years give or take Fred" when did he have time to write this latter, she wondered. her companion was still laughing after she finished reading the note. "What is so funny anyway?" she said. Rosie compensates herself long enough to respond with "picturing you using that potion on someone "she stopped herself unable to find the word the just shrugging. It diminished her annoyance enough that Rosie's joy overwhelmed her, and she started laughing.
River thought that it was probably a compliment, or at least that was how she decided to take it. The rest of the evening, they planed for the week to follow. She just hoped that their victim was as anxious to get to the classroom as she was to get him there.