Advent Dinner
Leonor exited the green flames shaking the ash from t-shirt and sweatpants. The fire was well-nursed and the chamber on the seventh floor almost overheated. Hattie must have been here only minutes before. A tray with healthy food waited and Leonor stole some grapes from the platter. She poured herself a large glass of pumpkin juice and snorted angrily about forgetting her wand at Snape's study. They both needed time to process the far too private situation. She really liked to explain what she couldn't tell two days before, but Severus' mask appeared impenetrable as so often. Leonor decided to sleep at the school for tonight. She felt relieved. All the clothes were back on its hangers and Leonor selected comfortable ones before taking a shower. The warm water made her even more hungry. She dressed quickly to snuggle into bed with the dinner tray at her lap. After a while, a knock at the door pulled her out of tasty bread with loads of butter and cheese. Leonor balanced the tray to the coffee table and believed to see Severus returning her wand. Her anger vanished with the idea.
"Hi—," she called vividly opening the door, "—what a pleasure." Leonor managed to smile despite the unexpected guests. She laughed about her own stupidity. Snape would likely make her beg for the hawthorn wand the other day. She retreated into the room to let the women pass. Leonor still grinned and Charity spoke first, evidently happy about finding Leonor in such a good mood.
"We hope it's not a bad time to visit?" Charity took a nicely wrapped box from Pomona and trusted it into Leonor's hands. "The candy is delicious, you'll like it."
"Thank you, please sit down. Have some fruits. I hope you don't mind if I finish dinner?"
"Not at all, you look rosy, I mean you eat with an appetite," said Pomona astonished.
Leonor just wanted to answer, but Poppy cut in shaking her head.
"You see, I said he would forget something. She's hungry as a horse. We should have come earlier, but Dumbledore insisted on letting Snape finish it. How are you my dear?" added Madam Pomfrey soothingly. McGonagall did not speak but overlooked the scene like a narrow-eyed hawk.
"I'm good," answered Leonor. "No worries, I wasn't able to eat anyway."
"Do you need anything, some strengthening solutions?" asked Minerva.
"No, not at all. I'll sleep soon, and the last bit of tiredness will be gone by tomorrow."
Charity continued poking around. "Why did you ask Snape and not Poppy? You know, he is— a bit difficult and left you with the elf all day."
"Charity, the antidote is complex. He's a Potions Master, the best of the current generation if I trust the opinion of the guild. I slept it off. I'm fine. There was not much to do except waiting. The elf was bored and fell asleep too." Leonor couldn't explain more, nor did she want to offend Madam Pomfrey. She hoped to have convinced them all that Severus did all right.
"You hear it. It is as it is!" stated Minerva matter-of-factly. Leonor only shrugged.
"Is there anything with the foreign students, any incidents or illness?" asked Leonor quietly. Madam Pomfrey only shook her head and helped herself with something to eat concentrating nervously on her hands. Leonor finished dinner and wondered about the delegation of teachers.
"Did Severus tell you that I'm well again?"
"He told the headmaster in the Great Hall. Albus likes to speak to you anyway. Visit him tomorrow morning," said Minerva with a miffed side glance at Poppy. "I suggest we let Leonor rest now." She raised as if it was urgent to exit the room.
"You don't need to leave. Would you like a glass of wine?" added Leonor conversationally.
Charity and Pomona answered like in a choir, "It would be nice, a girl's night, if it's not too much for you?"
Leonor grinned and walked to the little cabinet with two bottles of Italian Red. The bottles survived last school year; she'd forgotten them here without remembering why she brought them initially. A dry Barolo would do its job and bring a good mood. The visit of Charity and Pomona felt honest, but she didn't understand the reasoning of the other two. Deep in her heart, she wanted Snape to deal with the venom. The thought was embarrassing and even though nobody knew she felt like it was written on the forehead. It would be just to thank the matron for being so stubborn; she'd done a great favour to her.
"—would you be so kind and conjure some glasses?" Leonor asked and opened the bottle with a corkscrew in muggle-style, the curiosity easily scattered with the explanation about working at Romano's restaurant. A muggle wine needed a befitting opener. Leonor poured them all a glass and herself a half.
"Cheers!" The women replied happily, and another hour passed with small-talk and stories. Leonor elaborated on the work in Romania and how the antidote for the Horntail had been discovered. It had been a serious threat to life for a young dragon keeper.
Leonor yawned after everybody wished good night but took parchment and quill to inform Peter. She walked slowly to the owlery to pick a large bird for the long journey. The Siberian eagle owl offered herself voluntarily and flew motivated into the dark night. Leonor breathed the fresh air longingly and watched the bird getting smaller and smaller until the little dot vanished into the cloudy sky. The winter in Romania wouldn't be any nicer or warmer than here. The walk back appeared much faster and Leonor looked forward to sleeping soon, but she startled when the protective enchantments of the door were disturbed. She glanced through a slit but couldn't see anything unusual. She entered carefully to find Pauline on the backrest of the sofa. A bouquet of red flowers lay on the upholstery. Pauline looked cross and hooted loudly.
"What's wrong?" whispered Leonor still puzzled about the strange situation, stretching her arm to encourage the owl to sit down. Pauline hooted again without moving. Leonor looked round; ash was littered around the fireplace; she couldn't remember it nor the open window in the bedroom. She felt a bit naked without magic but changed to a pose learned in the Asiatic combat sport. Leonor slipped cautiously around the door frame. Severus sat on the mattress, the head in his hands and the elbows on the knees. He jumped up; the wand stretched against Leonor's balled fists. Severus' expression was hardened, but he let go quickly without a word before his features softened a bit.
"Severus!" The chilly air blew through the room and Leonor closed the window. "Did you look for me?"
"—it was in the flowers," said Severus handing out a little parchment without answering the question.
Leonor swallowed, bewildered about the already open letter. She read Karkaroff's effusive 'get well soon' card. Her eyes followed Severus into the living room. He stopped, looking at the wine glasses, the empty bottle and the remains of the dinner plate and put the hawthorn wand to the mantelpiece.
"How are you?" asked Severus without accentuation, examining the abandoned flowers.
"What do you expect?" replied Leonor visibly irritated. He frowned at her with a deep line on his forehead.
"You did not answer the Floo." The words were defiant and edged.
"I sent a note to Peter. I was at the owlery."
"Who was here? Karkaroff?"
"Is it an interrogation? There are five glasses; Igor and doubles, fourfold." Leonor started to grin widely by her own words, hardly stifling a laughter. "You should have come minutes earlier and I would have answered the Floo with pleasure! I had loved to see the faces! Guess who visited!" Leonor teased by blocking the fireplace with her body. Suddenly the stubborn indifferent expression crumbled into a whiff of a smile.
"Pomfrey … Burbage … Sprout … McGonagall," intoned Severus.
"Indeed, they called it 'girl's night', but I haven't told them about the second bottle of wine in my cupboard, otherwise you would have met them, not that I expected your visit."
Leonor turned, conjured two goblets and opened the bottle with a solemnly plop. She poured the dark liquid carefully before raising her glass with an earnest expression.
"I have all reason to be happy today. Thank you, Severus. Cheers!"
He flinched and took a large gulp, examining her with a boyish interest. Leonor vanished the remains from before. Pauline requested to return to her workplace; likely she would make a stopover at Beauxbatons for a nightly mice hunt. She watched the owl circling in the air while arranging the bouquet of pinks into a fitting vase. Severus leaned casually against the sofa sipping the wine. Leonor burned the letter in the fire, she'd forgiven Severus already.
"I hate red pinks," she said quietly and turned to sit down.
"A powerful feeling for a flower," answered Severus with an unmistakable mocking undertone. "How are you?"
Leonor circled the goblet and stared down to the blood-red rings. "I'm well, still a bit tired and hungry, but it will go away soon. The Horntail arrived in Romania in Potter's first year at Hogwarts. Charly and the dragon keepers collected him here—"
"What? Potter?" interrupted Severus incredulously.
"Hagrid apparently won an egg in the Hog's Head Inn from a stranger and hedged it, but after a short while, it was impossible to deal with the beast in his hut. Weasley wrote to his older brother and the dragon-keepers picked him up. It's been very valuable for the institute."
"McGonagall docked points from Malfoy for telling her about it. I scolded Draco for being delirious. I was sure about Potter's nightly walks to Hagrid's or the rounds through the castle, but taking a dragon up the tower—," answered Severus shaking his head.
Leonor continued, "Dragon's grow fast and in the woods, hidden between the hills, the female found soon company. One day the lads went to observe the brooding Horntail. They returned with an injured dragon keeper, far too young to die. The wound didn't explain to faint. There was something seriously wrong. I started to investigate his blood and after hours I eliminated the toxic substance. Peter returned to the Horntail under the delusion to just find the venom and take it home. I don't know why he did it, he likely just wanted to do something, feeling a bit more useful after hours of waiting. He also returned injured, hit by the clubbing tail, but the cut was merely a scratch and it took much longer for him to become unconscious. The little medical ward was overstretched with the furious acting men after taking the first antidote. We silenced Camil with a full body bind curse, but Peter's wife refused to do the same with Peter. She had the correct gut feeling. Camil was poisoned severely. He needed the antidote for about a day, while for Peter five helpings were enough. The hard part was the aftermath. It took Camil about a half year to get rid of horrible dreams. All demons of his childhood and the dragon haunted him again and again. Peter suffered two nights or so. The antidote can only save the life, but not the soul. If I had known the effects of the toxin; I would have embraced Camil as good as possible."
"Why didn't you tell me?" said Severus and sat next to Leonor, both stared to the flames.
"I hoped you'd find out, but I couldn't ask for it. I'm grateful Poppy rebuffed me. She has sent me away with dittany, scolding me for overacting. Why did you open the letter?" Leonor frowned, putting the glass unfinished to the table with a furtive side glance.
They sat like cross teenagers on a bench with an unusual large space between them. Severus moved the hands through his hair and considered Leonor with an intensive look as if he searched for something. His conscience pricked on him for being rude earlier. Hattie reported to have seen Karkaroff walking up the marble staircases and when Leonor didn't answer the Floo he threw the powder into the flames, prepared to repel everything in the way with his wand. The protection collapsed when he stumbled to the room. The force of the magic raised the ash and dust from the fireplace.
"Your wand was still in the dungeons and Karkaroff visited the castle tonight." His voice was quiet, almost apologetic. Leonor returned his gaze and moved closer. She wanted to feel him. This time they both would know about it, but Severus leaped to his feet with a peculiar expression. The sadness on both faces was difficult to put away.
"It's late. You need to rest." He was gone before the words faded.
XXX
The frost covered the landscape in a glinting white. Hogsmeade radiated the festive spirit and the narrow streets were busier than usual. A patient waited in the sitting area. The cooking of the ointment processed slowly; Leonor was preoccupied with the evening ahead. The middle-aged women left the sales room in the late afternoon with packages full of presents and the medicine for a magical rash. Leonor would examine the healing process next week, yet she was unsure if the women told the truth about the origin. The ointment would help, but she frowned at the carefreeness; most people had no clue how a wrong remedy could make matters worse. She did not indulge in the thoughts much longer and prepared herself for the Advent dinner.
"Good evening!" Leonor greeted Madam Rosmerta on her way to the castle.
"What about a drink? It's on the house. You haven't been in lately," answered Rosmerta cheerfully while sweeping the entrance.
"I'll try to make it before Christmas," grinned Leonor.
"I heard you've been ill, and a certain potions master helped you out?" called Rosmerta nosily.
Leonor waved only and continued swiftly along the sloping path. Today's evening visit was planned to be short and Leonor determined to avoid any discussion about the Yule Ball. The girls and boys were excited and meanwhile, Leonor reacted snappishly to even hear the word. How unjust to express the own uneasiness in that way! She was grateful for the distraction to give some extra lessons and at least tonight the French girls paused the discussion about the festive preparations to pick her brain about next week.
Leonor passed Hagrid's hut. She walked absentmindedly across the narrow footbridge to the ship. The torches on deck were not yet illuminated, only some dim lights prevented to fall over boxes and rigs. A house elf climbed up from under deck without making any noise. He bent low in a bow, his eyes red and distraught. Leonor stepped carefully down the wooden staircase to find the boys' cabins empty. The common room stood abandoned too. All bunk beds in the smaller cabins were straight as if the students had not returned from lessons. The ship appeared exceptionally silent and dark. An anxious feeling crawled up her spine. The planks cracked menacingly in the silence giving away any intruder. Karkaroff's majestic cabin at the rear of the ship sent a small ray of golden light along the corridor. A track of petals surfaced on the polished planks as soon as Leonor noticed the glamour at the far end. Leonor followed. Igor appeared in the door, only inches away. He clearly expected her and opened the arms, the gushing smile triumphant and conceited.
"Welcome, Leonor! What a pleasure to surprise you tonight!"
"Where are the students?" snapped Leonor coldly.
"Ah, they've got an extra transfiguration lesson with the deputy headmistress. Minerva was so kind to give us some undisturbed time. You wouldn't want to work now!" Igor steered Leonor into the cabin with a measuring smile. The table was set for two, candles were burning, and a serving trolley smelled appetising. The romantic atmosphere felt oppressive, like the last two weeks of rude flirts.
"What is that supposed to be?" Leonor swallowed the lump in the throat. All colour left her face, and she felt suddenly cold while Karkaroff strode around.
"I have an appointment!" She said it with a forced calm turning towards the door.
"Of course, with me— if you like we can 'play' first. It will make us hungry," he answered with a drawling voice, approaching her again. She felt his bad breath on her skin. Leonor took her wand out and went for the exit. Karkaroff blocked the way.
"What do you want?" she said dangerously.
"I want you to join me at the Yule Ball. We will have fun and we should start now." Igor's velvety tone contained nothing soft.
"I told you to stop it. It's inappropriate," hissed Leonor. He narrowed the eyes like a naughty child realizing the sweets had been locked away.
"Come on, you are not as bitchy with other men!" snarled Karkaroff, the drawling velvet exchanged into ordinary greed.
"Don't!" A strong hex sent Karkaroff backwards against the cabin wall. It pinned him to the spot unable to move for merely a long moment until he broke into a derisive laughter.
"Snape surely knows how to please you. He was always the hero with the tarts!" His expression was furious, and a circling of his wand closed the door with a bang. In that same moment, Leonor knelt over the numb body. Igor's face and limbs contorted painfully on the hard-wooden planks.
"You would not be the first to die under my hands!" she threatened with a low voice.
Leonor composed herself removing the wand slowly from the whining man's face. A malicious glee wished for a never-ending transfiguration lesson. She controlled herself and left the Hogwarts grounds immediately. The swirl of the apparition and the cool air calmed her entirely.
XXX
The destination stood on a grassy hillock. A busy trunk road showed moving spots of headlights in the distance. The muggle town was nearby. A mild night for December bespoke the southern location of a small mansion. The house was embedded in a generous garden surrounded by a high overgrown wall. Bright lights illuminated the path to the entrance. The gates stood wide open.
Leonor walked coolly along the gravelly driveway. A younger house elf with a white lace cloth around the waist answered the door, another welcomed Leonor with a perfect curtsey and carried the cloak to a coat rack. A solid wooden staircase with an interesting texture led to the upper floor. The decoration in the hall showed less of the wealthy pure-blood style than expected. Leonor glanced into the large mirror. The ornate frame did well with her appearance. She smiled to herself when the large double door in the middle of the hall opened widely and Eldred Burke welcomed her honestly.
"Ms Scott, I hope you don't mind some more dinner guests," said Burke leading her into the drawing room with an elegant dinner table. Burke's wife came over from a large window front and embraced Leonor warmly. It took Leonor by surprise. The old couple spoke in a parental manner like they valued Leonor's presence highly. It was very different compared to the often-meaningless guild conversations in the ministry.
"My Dear, the Fawley's will join us very soon. I hope you enjoy the evening!" said Mrs Burke motherly when the doorbell announced the awaited guests. Leonor watched curiously the elderly couples. The Fawley's appeared to be more senile. They both walked crooked on masterly carved canes but started very lively conversations as soon as sitting down at the dinner table. The elves served a delicious five-course menu. After three hours, they were all well-fed. Leonor was convinced the evening was solely to get to know each other and wondered why nobody questioned her. Her past life in America could be an evening filling topic. The old couples spoke about the annual guild celebrations and their time at Hogwarts. The old Fawley studied with Dumbledore. Burke was a bit younger. Some stories sounded like it had happened yesterday. Fawley just started to tell another memorable incident when Burke stood up.
"Edward, sorry to interrupt you, but I believe it's time to reveal the reason for Ms Scott's visit tonight."
"Of course, Eldred, I almost forgot! I'm getting old!" Fawley chuckled quietly and finished his wine quickly.
"Heather, Alice, please excuse us for a moment. Ms Scott, Edward, please would you be so kind to follow into my study?" Burke led them purposefully into the next room and closed the door without rush. Burke poured an expensive Sherry and put the small glasses to a silver tray on his desk.
"Please sit down!" Burke pointed to the visitor chairs and sat behind the desk.
"Ms Scott, I am very delighted by your visit. I hope to welcome you to the guild at our annual celebration. The official invitation will arrive timely." Burke spoke in a stern business-like tone. Fawley leaned in the chair as if grown a couple of inches, the shoulders straight at the backrest. Leonor nodded and sent a thankful smile across the desk. A nervous feeling groped her stomach despite the nonchalant outside demeanour.
"I appreciate your support very much, but you really make me curious about the purpose of the meeting. Am I right in the assumption it's not about a lecture at the celebration?" said Leonor with a playful smile.
"Indeed, indeed. Edward, may I ask you to speak first?" answered Burke. Fawley wasn't surprised at all.
"Ms Scott, since a couple of years the guild has difficulties to find young talents. The comedown of potion masters in central Europe has various reasons. Inventions of the past decades are common knowledge like a cookbook and heal most 'diseases'; just to name the Wolfsbane Potion as the last important discovery supported by the English Guild Crest. The war and the uprising Dark Arts claimed many adept lives and the younger associate with more 'modern' and convenient professions. The research wandered to America or Asia, not at least because a skill frequently found in the House of Slytherin is recently rather unpopular. To cut a long story short; we would like to hand out a research topic if you are willing to forego your right of publication." Leonor stared at the men and both looked back considering her unsmiling.
"To make it clear, we will oblige you to complete secrecy. It is for your own as well as the safety of the guild," stressed Fawley.
Burke continued, "Edward and I made investigations about your person. Your profile is promising to finish a task started sixteen years ago, but not accomplished to date. Ms Scott, we assure you complete secrecy, except you wish to distribute your results or request the guild's help. Edward and I are your exclusive contact and the only informed about today's visit, your decision, and progress of work. There is no time schedule or regular payment, except let's call it — 'silent donations'. Those will be handed out on request and progress if the necessity arises."
In a loss of words, Leonor remained silent.
"I rate your silence as agreement to learn about the task?" said Burke a bit more relaxed and a brief smile crossed his face.
"Yes."
"Do you have a research partner?" asked Burke with a fatherly undertone.
"No."
"I have to make one addition before we come to the essentials, Ms Scott."
Burke spoke now in a low voice concentrating hard on phrasing the words, "The wealthy British pure-blood families — which present most of the current guild members — fear the return of You-Know-Who as much as the whole Wizarding World. Just a few peers rally around the darkest wizard of all times. Not even my brother shows delight about it, even though he sells the darkest objects. Experts in potion making have always been a tool of power. Unfortunately, the power-hungry are sometimes evil. But there's no darkness without the light."
Leonor swallowed and forced herself to sit upright. She considered denial, but the curiosity got the better of her. Fawley looked at her slyly and Burke put the palms on the desk. Suddenly the men gestured consent with a curt nod.
"We like you to research a remedy for the Crutiatus Curse, the after-effects of short-term torture as well as long-term recovery. It is suggested to start helping those not beyond help already."
"You did research it already?" asked Leonor curiously to say at least a word.
"St. Mungo's develops something for years, but it turns out to be the same known painkillers and there is no real step forward. It brings us to your partner. You'll agree, we both are too 'ancient' which doesn't mean we cannot help at all. Fresh ideas are required. You are acquainted with Severus Snape much to the disappointment of my wife." Burke and Fawley giggled.
"She's still obsessed?" asked Fawley and Leonor couldn't deny a sudden subtlety.
"Yes, it likely keeps her alive and I will not live to see her forgiving the disgrace at the yearly dance." He shook his head and exchanged amused smiles with Fawley before he continued. "Ms Scott, just to explain: young Mr Snape became a member of the guild by recommendation of Professor Slughorn, and he worked voluntarily on the same task with promising results. Political circumstances forced any efforts into hiding. My wife still holds on to the dream of having a flask at hand to wipe off the Death Eaters torture. In some way, the first attempts of a remedy helped her indeed to ease pain and tremor."
"Your wife has been tortured?"
"Not only Alice, almost all members of the guild or their families, some more some less, and some successfully fled from England beforehand. That is also the background of the research — 'to have a flask at hand'— you understand?"
Leonor nodded in consent.
"And if I'm not successful? What if there's no progress?"
"There is no contractual agreement, no punishment, all that has been said will remain in this room," answered Burke matter-of-factly.
"What about Severus Snape?"
"Well, I consider him trustworthy, but cannot promise his help or if he confides any results in you. It wouldn't surprise me if Mr Snape rebuffs you. It all depends on your charm. Of course, it's up to you to work with a partner or not," Burke and Fawley both grinned.
"I'm interested," stated Leonor. "I will let you know if I need your assistance." Leonor stood abruptly, Fawley copied her with a satisfied expression and Burke strode around the table sending the Sherry glasses magically into their hands.
"Let's drink to that!" They raised the glasses and swallowed the Sherry in one go. A tasty sweet flavour filled Leonor's throat. She could have heated a cauldron on the instant even though other solutions than potions swirled through her mind as well.