Nettesheimer's Experiment
The night resembles a dark cover of dormant sentiments inside us, the stars the encouragement to let them escape. Leonor laid with her hand around the pillow, listening to some grumbling stragglers after a pub night. She had gone early to bed and fell into a deep sleep. It was after midnight now and still time for a long good snooze, instead, some thoughts kept her awake.
The dinner with Lupin finished with harmless small talk. Lupin hadn't noticed Leonor's inward turmoil. The goblet of Wolfsbane Potion brought her back into the present before she had said or done anything silly.
James Potter enjoyed his youth in every possible sense. Leonor had asked casually about Harry's parents at one of the meals, sitting in between McGonagall and Dumbledore. McGonagall praised Lily Potter as one of the most gifted muggle-born witches, pretty, popular, blessed in charms and potions. James and Sirius Black had been excellent in transfiguration. Even McGonagall showed emotions about the great students and the treachery of Black against his best mate. Dumbledore pointed in delight to the duo's inventive mischief. McGonagall at least mentioned the numerous detentions and was relieved Harry didn't follow the role model of his father. McGonagall denied Harry the permission for Hogsmeade visits, considering it appropriate for his safety and thanking Harry's awful aunt and uncle for the excuse. The young Potter and his friends Granger and Weasley were considered the most encouraging group of young students in the school and would likely be prefects later. The Potter's left clearly a footprint at the school even without their tragic death, a brilliant couple at school, adored for the fight against Lord Voldemort.
Severus avoided Leonor. The few words in Lupin's office were more than a hollow warning. Eating together had been impossible. He did not show up early for breakfast and left his meals unfinished before Leonor could even cross the hall to sit next to him. Severus was cold and distant, showing nothing of the emotional man on the stone steps in the narrow passageway. Leonor felt as if she didn't even exist anymore and all the warning about Severus became true.
The lack of conversation was filled by Charity Burbage and her insatiable interest in the way of living as a muggle. An evening with Charity had been a good distraction. Burbage had been honest. She hesitated to talk to Leonor if Snape was around, but Dumbledore recently told about Leonor's past in the muggle world. The evening ended with Leonor inviting Charity to a London sightseeing trip with the usage of muggle transportation for the entire day. Leonor kept her promise on a sunny Sunday in early March introducing Charity to the fantastic world of the non-magic population including all the technical gadgets. In return, Leonor learned a lot about the magical places of England's South, the birthplace of Burbage. Leonor felt guilty to add a drop of bitterness to the pleasant day by answering truthfully the question of her ancestry; Leonor was a pure-blood witch for many generations.
The Saturday afternoon at Hogwarts kept Leonor busy with the oversight of the Hogwarts Grounds. It was a mild day and many children enjoyed a walk or watching the Giant Squid. Leonor's teaching was well-known in the meantime and the faces of the kids more familiar. Leonor smoothed a few fights, healed some scratches and proofed to be good in a counterspell for ferocious growing hair. A boy was grateful to have the afternoon with his girlfriend instead of walking back to the hospital wing. In the twilight, a group of younger Slytherins tried to quiz Leonor about a forthcoming event and liked to know if she would take sides for Slytherin. Leonor did not understand, and they hesitated to give more detail. The students left frustrated and talked heatedly to Snape. He was exiting the portal of the school and dressed in an elegant travelling cloak. He scared off the teens with an unnerved remark when Leonor arrived. It was the perfect moment for a talk; she could have left the school with him. Instead, Leonor pulled a nonchalant face and passed without greeting.
Pauline arrived in London the next morning and presented a fine parchment next to Leonor's breakfast.
"The exam test will take place on Monday before term break, 5 o'clock, potions classroom."
There was no signature, the writing was small and evenly, a bit spiky, but good to read. Leonor stroked Pauline, the note with the smell of aftershave still in her hands. Severus must have found the owl still the same night. She felt regret for being bitchy the day before, cursing herself for likely not noticing Severus' intention to meet her deliberately at the end of the supervision outside the school. The date was placed to the full moon days in March. She added the reply to Severus' note and sent Pauline back to Hogwarts to deliver the letter with the morning mail the other day.
"I will be there and bring the antidotes."
Leonor became tired thinking of the Hogwarts staff. The stars and the sickle of a bright moon, visible from the bedroom window, couldn't cheer her up either. All the friendliness of the professors was tied to avoid the relationship with the Head of the House Slytherin. She would also keep quiet about the next Gringotts engagement in April, an investigation of old silver ornaments to detect Dark Magic. It was an heirloom of a rich pure-blood family. Gringotts hired Leonor to make it safe for relocation into the manor house. Severus was the only person she trusted to tell. Leonor remembered mainly the few breakfasts with Severus. It was nothing remarkable, but she had enjoyed his opinion and knowledge. The students feared him and nevertheless, they learned a lot. He challenged, but with the right effort, everybody could grow. He was the only anchor for the Slytherin House, and these students would defend him; Leonor wasn't even sure if he knew it. It needed all parties to win a war. Leonor did not give up yet. She agreed to be friends with Severus; wasn't it a promise they made? She owed him defeating the Dementors and felt protected in his company. A feeling she had lost a long time ago. She missed it. An emotion of safety deep inside made her yawn and glide into a dreamless sleep.
XXX
It was early and the sun still behind the mountains. Leonor arrived at Hogwarts before lessons on a Monday morning. She would teach two days only; Lupin hadn't needed her on Sunday. There were no essays or tests to be marked this time. Leonor saw the winding path to the school in a fresh green and was nervous in anticipation of the evening. A box with antidotes was safely stowed away in the travelling bag. She dispelled the tension in a reborn wish of a walk around the lake. March was friendly and dry, an evening stroll in the twilight a good idea. The classes passed by quickly and Leonor walked down the marble staircase to the dungeons.
XXX
Severus dismissed the students early today. Most exam candidates perceived the evening likely as detention rather an additional training. He organized the voluntary exercise for the seventh-year students since he was a teacher, but especially Gryffindors frequently were absent. The message about the participation of Scott had been spilled in small snarky doses, and Severus was sure most would appear out of sheer curiosity and pride to impress the young witch.
Severus refilled the cupboard with the ingredients required later. Scott delivered an excellent description of the poison, but also of the mixture for the antidote. The magical plants of her samples were common, but with an international influence; some very cleverly disguised and difficult to analyse. One could think Leonor was master of poisoning. A spiteful grin curled his lips; only those considering his additional book recommendations would be able to be successful today. But not even the malicious joy of predicting the pathetic faces covered the restlessness inside. Severus felt anxious. What if Scott had to work for Lupin or Dumbledore? He hadn't told them out of apprehension they would keep her deliberately busy tonight. It was even more difficult to endure the possibility of her denial for other personal reasons. He had done everything to evade Leonor in February, but he couldn't keep off his mind from missing the mutual talks. He wanted to shield Leonor from all the bad of his past but treating her like she didn't exist required all the strength he could muster.
A creak of the door announced Leonor. Severus felt her presence, desired and damned. He knew all facial colour had left his cheeks before he turned. Leonor stood in the middle of the classroom, dressed in an elegant wizarding gown, the hair in a tight bun and her cheeks blushed. He wanted to speak, something simple, small talk, but words did not form into sentences. He hated himself and the silence. After a while, Leonor asked shyly, "Can I help?"
Severus nodded and pointed to the box with the toxic content and Leonor placed all potions and the matching antidote to Severus' desk. Each flask was labelled with a black number, each student would choose one vial. Severus arranged the workplaces of the students differently from the regular classroom set up and put a spare table in front of his desk. The table was for a demonstration of Nettesheimer's theory. There was enough space for a group to walk around and observe. Severus took the required equipment from a drawer in his desk. He felt Leonor watching him curiously. He did the experiment only a few times for personal study, but never with a need for a result. Leonor was likely more adept of it in the meantime. Severus glanced to the ministry poison; there was also a matching flask with the antidote, but Severus said nothing. The silence felt relaxing now and Severus concentrated on getting ready. Leonor gave a testing look to the workplaces and conjured a cage with white mice. Severus couldn't contain an incredulous grin and placed the jar with blowflies next to it. The girls wouldn't allow killing cute young mice. The assembly of the distillation kid was time-consuming. Leonor joined in after a few moments. She placed the rubber connections skilfully to the glass tubes. They worked silently as if it was a long-trained ritual. Leonor smiled when the last flask had been placed correctly.
"You preferred your own kit for demonstration?" said Leonor conversationally.
Severus only shrugged. "Looks like there's no need for the exercise today any way." A crease appeared on his forehead glancing at the antidote for the ministry and his voice sounded harsher than expected.
"It's good to have your more expensive Nettesheimer's kit. Your setup is better than mine. If it proves the missing ingredients like my own result, then I will be ready, otherwise not. I need the third opinion, the last test under different conditions. Severus, I've been looking forward to it." Leonor's face was stern but the words honest. Severus knew if Revelaspell didn't work only a series of trial and error brought a result. She was right in needing an independent test and the last words encouraged him to ask something he had already denied to the Slytherins. Severus convinced himself to only do it for the children and the blank expressions of his colleagues. He forced his voice to sound uninterested. "The House of Slytherin would like to invite you to the Quidditch Final. The Gryffindor–Slytherin match will take place on Saturday after Easter. It's not within your regular schedule."
"I've never seen a real Quidditch game," answered Leonor pensively and her words carried more delight than disapproval. Severus hadn't anticipated the answer, but she looked expectant and no simple pretext followed. He couldn't invite her officially himself. It would blow up all the efforts of not talking to her. He had decided, a stern determined look on his face. The first students arrived in the classroom.
"Professor Scott, please start. I'll be back in a moment." His robes swished urgently out of the classroom leaving Leonor and the students alone. Most students looked a bit shaky. The Slytherins smirked jeeringly about the nervous classmates. They showed no surprise about meeting two Professors tonight. The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs exchanged looks in disbelieve and hope Professor Snape wouldn't return. Leonor took the chance to bring them back to reality.
"Please, one student of every house to the two large tables, the remaining Slytherin and Ravenclaw student to the small table in the corner. Put your dragon skin gloves on and cover every part of your skin with your clothes. The protective goggles and your tools are organized and clean next to the cauldron," said Leonor with an encouraging smile and a loud clap of her hands. A murmur of protest filled the room. "Come on, take your workplace! Outside of Hogwarts, the world isn't divided into houses and you need to arrange yourself to go forward. You should work independently and on your own today, so no need of your best friend. Professor Snape and I will assist if necessary. We may be more willing to help if you put your house rivalry aside."
The students prepared the workplaces grudgingly squinting to the numbered vials and exchanging venomous glances with the self-satisfied Slytherins. Leonor checked the safety and invited the students to select a small flask with a potion from the desk.
"All vials are highly toxic. A nice colour doesn't mean your work will be easier. I'd rather say, each poison has challenges. Your task is to brew the antidote for it. You'll have two to three hours to finish the task. The antidote will be tested on the flies and the mice. If you work hard, the animals will survive, and you can set them free on the grounds. Keep your skin covered, never remove the gloves and use the protective goggles. We have the antidote ready in case of accidents, but I expect you to work carefully. You may start now. There will be a break before you start with the antidote and your results will be checked at this point for correctness."
Professor Snape leaned in the door frame listening and watching the settling displeasure of the student's grouping. They all obeyed to Scott; her loud and strong voice carried through the dungeons, not ill-tempered, but drowning every protest. Even the girls fought down the need to protect the mice and started to work eagerly. Severus approached the workplaces silently and made some students jump. He grinned satisfied; everything was well-prepared. Leonor worked meanwhile at the demonstration table, heating the water and adding the ministry potion for evaporation. Severus observed the classroom hinting failure and improvements. He couldn't deny being in a good mood and even some students showed grateful bewilderment about the help and started asking questions. Both Professors started sharing experiences, challenging each other more than the students. It was a game, the evening relaxed and much to the advantage of the weaker students. Nettesheimer's theory was new to everybody and followed with interest. The distillation brought five components to light and the students helped to identify them. The most difficult component was finally confirmed by Severus, blended roots of deathly nightshade and devil's snare with similar toxic effects, but different antitoxin. Leonor beamed. The antidote worked against the full blend of atropine causing severe hallucination and amnesia. All students left with a successfully tested antidote. The cage of mice had been given to the two Ravenclaws girls to release them into freedom the other day. Severus restored the classroom and Leonor cleansed the demonstration table in silence until everything was ready for the regular lessons. Severus opened the door coolly to leave into the torch lit passageway. Leonor smiled mischievously and stood quickly on tiptoes to press a light kiss onto his cheek. Severus felt the heat to bubble up and was glad Leonor left without turning into a hidden passage to the upper floors.
XXX
Leonor started the next morning with elation. She'd have breakfast early as always, and she decided to start the search after her grandmother's cottage right after sending the thesis to the ministry. It was only a couple of days left before everything was finalized. Afterwards, she was free until the exam period started in July. The current job arrangements would leave enough time to start scouting the coasts for an old, hidden magic country house. The day was uneventful; Harry Potter's class improved to accept Leonor slowly. They had been the most stubborn and suspicious children.
Leonor walked cheerfully into the Great Hall at dinner and was immediately directed to the Slytherin table by Roger Wilson. All the Slytherins gathered around. Rose handed her a large green and silver scarf and a scroll of parchment sealed with a snake. Leonor glanced round the triumphant Slytherins and to the staff table. Everybody looked baffled, except Severus. He walked quickly towards the riot with an impish grin, shooed the students back to eat and left without another word. Leonor thanked Rose and sat on Severus' vacant chair. McGonagall eyed her ungenerous and thin-lipped while reading the scroll. It contained the invitation to the Quidditch Final in large ornate letters. Leonor placed the scarf around her neck and answered McGonagall's glances coldly. "I won't refuse the invitation; they are children at least, aren't they?"
A couple of teachers shook their heads. Leonor sighed. The bliss of the previous evening gone, a rash reckless kiss at the potion's classroom and a confrontation with the ethics of the school made Leonor feel like an idiot. She would have liked to scream out, but she couldn't tell. Who would listen? Maria and Francesco were good friends, but far away from Leonor's magical understanding. Severus was only right to cut the conversations in public. It didn't do any good; it had never been her intention to get a political focus to the conversations, but there it was. A dream of finding a research partner vanished into thin air, like the possibility of publishing her work if Juan was still alive. Forcing the bliss, fury, and let-down together into the most hidden edge of her brain was nearly impossible. All the patience settling into the English magical world turned into hopelessness. Leonor shivered with cold leaving the castle, the walk on the gravelly path nothing of the relaxed stroll planned earlier.