Of Boys and Spells
Chapter 2: Detention
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Saturday morning was exceptionally bright and promising, a morning where you knew of better things to do than walking down to the dank dungeons.
"Couldn't he send us to the greenhouses?" Scorpius asked.
"The library wouldn't be bad, either," Rose mused. "Just imagine dusting books in the Restricted Section..."
"Well, it's supposed to be punishment," Albus muttered darkly, "not enjoyment."
"Yes," Joseph joined in. "For breaking rules and being catched."
"Being caught," Persephone corrected.
"But not you, Sepho," Scorpius said. "The teachers don't know you were out of bounds."
"But what am I to do all morning if you four are here?" the girl said, gesturing to the entrance of the Potions classroom. "I'd rather come with you. Cleaning cauldrons can't be that bad."
"Rose doesn't have detention," Albus said. "So, you two have a whole glorious morning to yourself. You can do all your arcane girl stuff without having guys peering over your shoulder."
"Arcane girl stuff?" Persephone giggled. "What would that be?"
"No idea," Albus grinned. "It's girl stuff, right?"
When the laughter had died down, Rose said, "Sepho, would you like to come with me to the hospital wing to check what is up with Nancy?"
Scorpius frowned. "She's ill?"
"Seems more likely the public disgrace knocked her off her feet," Albus mused aloud. Hufflepuff had lost fifty points after Professor McGonagall had confirmed that the girl had copied two thirds of Rose's essay.
"That's what I'm trying to find out," Rose said. "Professor Jones had her taken to the hospital wing last night. Neville, I mean Professor Longbottom, said Nancy behaved very oddly."
"You talked with a teacher about Nancy Donovan?" Scorpius asked in astonishment.
"No. He was talking to Hagrid, and I happened to be in the vicinity..." She trailed off, as James appeared in the hallway.
For somebody having detention, James was in a remarkably good mood. "Well, little bro," he said gleefully, "how does it feel to have detention for the first time?"
"I had detention before," Albus said coolly.
"Indeed? For what offence?"
"We practised a defence spell we had found in a book," Rose answered in Albus's place. "Unfortunately, we did it in the common room, and Trayi Wamankar got accidentally hit with a Jelly Legs Jinx that we had failed to block."
"Impressive! I can see a magnificent career as criminals for you," James said generously. "What was your detention, anyway?"
"We had to help Professor Flitwick tidying up the books in our common room," Persephone told him rather proudly. "We had to put fresh labels on the spines where they had fallen off or where they had become dirty and unreadable."
"That must have been an extremely difficult task." James was fighting hard to keep his face straight.
"No, it was easy," Scorpius said. "The labelling system is very similar to the one that my Dad uses."
"You father labels his books?" James asked, and Albus could tell that, this time, his brother's disbelief wasn't faked.
"Oh honestly, James," Rose said, shaking her head, "stop acting the fool. Such systems are common in all public libraries. Scorpius's Dad works-"
Professor Selwyn, House Head of Slytherin, cut Rose's speech short. "Gerstlmeier, Joseph? Malfoy, Scorpius? Potter, Albus? Potter, James?" She read the names from a list without looking up. "In here, gentlemen."
She ushered the boys into the classroom; Rose and Persephone stayed behind.
-
They didn't have to polish cauldrons.
James, being older and more experienced with potion making, as Professor Selwyn put it, had to eviscerate ugly creatures called horned toads.
Albus, Scorpius, and Joseph's task was to dust the shelves in the storage room. Those shelves were laden with bottles, boxes, and jars, with horns, scales, and talons of a variety of magical beasts, with dubious gadgets, crumpled parchments, battered books, and bundles of dried nettles. There was no discernible logic to it. Everything seemed to have been stuffed there at random. And everything was dirty. Judging from the thick layer of dust that covered most of the containers, the place hadn't been tidied up in years.
They had to take every item down, wipe it clean, and put it back. And they had to do it manually. Wand-work was not allowed. Some dirt was smelly and stomach-turning; some dirt clung to the vessels as if it were a living, stubborn creature.
Professor Selwyn poked her head in once in a while. She never stayed longer than a couple of minutes because the classroom was crowded with fifth year Slytherins taking extra training for their oncoming O.W.L. exam. Every time the teacher opened the door, the clanking of cauldrons and animated debates about recipes or ingredients could be heard. Foul odours wafted in, too.
-
The morning wore on slowly, and Albus thoughts tended to wander off to things he could do instead of scrubbing grimy pestles and mortars. He could, for instance, play chess, sit by the lake, listen to Scorpius playing the flute, read, visit Hagrid...
"Drink, drank, drunk. I drink pumpkin juice every day. I drank pumpkin juice yesterday. I have not drunk pumpkin juice since yesterday," Joseph said. They were rehearsing irregular verbs. "Spin, span, spun. A wheel sp-"
"Stop," Scorpius interrupted. "It's spin, spun, spun."
"Why?"
Scorpius shrugged. "There's no specific reason. That's why these verbs are called irregular."
"Spin, spun, spun," Joseph sighed. "I'm hopeless, aren't I?"
"No, you are not," Albus said. "Your English has become much better."
"Except for de" – Joseph paused to concentrate – "the."
"Perfect," Scorpius commended. "You are getting there."
Joseph beamed. He took the large bottle Scorpius had just cleaned and restored it to its place on the topmost shelf. He was the tallest of the three boys.
"Gerstlmeier?" Professor Selwyn called from the door.
"Yes, Professor Selwyn," Joseph answered, turning to face her.
"You'll assist my O.W.L. students." She walked up to Joseph and grabbed the bottle he had just put away. "Amortentia," she read out from the hand-written sign. "That's for curing boils. You have to put it in the medicine section, not here." She carried the bottle over to the shelf next to the door. "I like to have the medicinal potions close at hand in case the nurse needs something. That's called foresight. Do you understand, Gerstlmeier?"
Joseph nodded politely.
"Good. Now come," the teacher said, pointing imperiously to the door.
Joseph complied. When Albus and Scorpius started for the door as well, Professor Selwyn stopped them with an impatient gesture.
"You keep working," she ordered. "And mind the medicinal potions."
Watching Joseph and the professor exit, Albus said under his breath, "Amortentia is no medicinal potion. My Uncle sells it in his shop. The dram is several Galleons because the ingredients are outrageously expensive."
"Then we're lucky we didn't drop that bottle," Scorpius said, almost awed. "It must be worth a fortune."
"No doubt. And it is a love potion."
"Wow... How does it work?"
"It makes you obsessed with someone, Uncle George says. But it doesn't cause real love. He says, manufacturing or imitating real love was absolutely impossible."
"So it should be called Deception Potion for it deceives both the sides. Somebody thinks they are in love, and the other party believes he or she is loved," Scorpius said.
"Perhaps the name itself is meant to be a deception."
"Obviously." Scorpius reached for another large bottle and gently blew the dust off its label. He watched the tiny dust particles dance away and said, "I wonder what potions we'll learn to brew."
"So do I." In their lessons, they mostly had to copy down parts of their textbooks. Or Professor Selwyn made them clean their – unused – cauldrons. However, Albus didn't think that potions had necessarily to be a boring, pointless subject. He vividly remembered the three exciting afternoons they had spent with the DADA assistant from Durmstrang preparing and brewing a Fire Protection Potion. Afterwards, they had been allowed to test its effect. Unlike Floo Powder, which worked only with ordinary fire, the potion shielded the drinker from most types of magical fire. The only exception was Fiendfyre, and Oleg Sagovorov had sternly warned them against ever experimenting with it. Snapping out of his reverie, Albus said, "I wish Oleg could come back next year."
"Oleg?" Scorpius said, looking up from his work. "But he can't. The DADA position is jinxed."
"As Potions teacher."
"Yeah, that would be cool. We've learned as good as nothing from Professor Selwyn. For instance, here – Armadillo Bile." Scorpius held up a dark brown bottle. "What do you think it is used for?"
"Bile could be to do with digesting fat food," Albus speculated. "Or else, the stuff makes the drinker totally angry."
"Okay. Let's do a guessing game," Scorpius suggested. "Your turn."
Albus peered at the faded letters on the container he was cleaning. "Bulbadox Powder."
"Used to repel doxies," Scorpius said after a moment's consideration. He seized an ornate jar. "Confusing & Befuddlement Draught it says here."
"Probably Professor Selwyn's regular nightcap."
"Good one," Scorpius grinned. "Go on."
"Runespoor eggs."
"Main ingredient for magical omelettes. Next is Mrs. Scower's Magical Mess Remover."
"That's too easy. It's a cleaning substance that takes care of everything from spilled Cough Potion to Dungbomb splodges. Mum always keeps a bottle in stock. Ask me something else."
Scorpius selected another bottle. "Veritaserum," he said and paled when, suddenly, realisation struck. He sat the small, translucent bottle back on the shelf with utmost care as if he was afraid the glass would break from mere touch. "That is the drug they gave my Dad, right?"
Albus nodded. He put his arm round Scorpius's shoulders. "You okay, mate?"
Scorpius didn't answer. His eyes seemed to be focussed on something that wasn't there in the storage room, but a long way off.
"You haven't decided yet, have you?" Albus asked softly.
"No, I haven't. I doubt he even knows that book exists."
Scorpius was putting off telling his father about Vallon's Report on Unveiled Death Eater Crimes the same way Albus was putting off telling his parents about Scorpius. Neither of them could be sure how the adults would react.
Albus gave a little squeeze and then released Scorpius.
He had often thought about the fate of Scorpius's father after Rose, Scorpius, and he had secretly read the book. According to its author, an Auror from Switzerland who had assisted with the interrogations and trials after the war, Mr Malfoy was both offender and victim. How were people to deal with such a dilemma? Albus had no idea.
"I think he's scared," Scorpius murmured. "He avoids anything that might remind him."
Albus nodded; Scorpius had said so before.
"How would anyone like to remember being tortured by their own Aunt?" Scorpius went on, the words barely audible. "I have an Aunt, too. An aunt by marriage. I can tell she loves me and my sisters even though we are not – strictly speaking – her kin. I can't imagine her hurting us. It is completely beyond me how anyone can be as horrible as Bellatrix Lestrange."
"She was most likely not quite right in the head."
"Maybe." Scorpius heaved a sigh. "It's all so complicated, such a tangle."
Albus felt sympathy for his friend, but couldn't think of anything helpful to say.
"Vallon only states facts in her book," Scorpius said. "Who committed which crime. Where did they do it, and when. But there was never a real explanation why people like my Dad did what they did. Why didn't the Aurors ask them about their motives? Wouldn't that have been important to prevent such terrible things from happening again? And anyway, why weren't all Death Eaters given that potion and then properly questioned?"
"Well, Vallon says in the chapter about your family she tricked your Dad into drinking it. Older Death Eaters were probably better prepared for such tricks and didn't fall for them."
"I'd like to know how Veritaserum works. In all detail."
"I'm sure there are books about it. They're bound to be in the Restricted Section but" – Albus smiled confidently – "Rose can magic them out."
Scorpius nodded.
Right then, Joseph burst in.
"We can leave!" he announced. "She said so!"
Albus and Scorpius exchanged stunned looks. Being dismissed from their detention this early seemed too good to be true. It was more than an hour until lunch.
While Scorpius had Joseph repeat Professor Selwyn's exact words to make sure there was no misunderstanding, Albus's eyes were drawn to the small bottle filled with Truth Serum. Perhaps they could test the concoction in a similar procedure like the one they had used for testing the Fire Protection Potion. Without thinking, just acting on impulse, he snatched the little flask from the shelf and slipped it into his pocket. Neither Scorpius nor Joseph had noticed.
Scorpius had come to a decision. "Let's go," he said, shrugging. "It's Selwyn. You never know with her."
They ventured out. Inutilia Selwyn hardly looked up from her newspaper when they walked past her. The Slytherin fifth years were busy packing up. James had already left.
-
No sooner were they outside the classroom than Joseph started talking about looking for the girls. Albus didn't really listen because, all of a sudden, Scorpius was sprinting up the stairs. "Hey!" he called after him.
"I'll meet you by the lake," Scorpius called back and disappeared round the corner.
"Where's he running?" Joseph wondered.
"Fetching his flute," Albus said. It was more than a guess. Scorpius used music like other people used Cheering Charms.
He and Joseph decided that it was unlikely for Rose and Persephone to be still snooping around in the infirmary, so they went upstairs, to the Entrance Hall, and leisurely out into the grounds. At an hour to noon, it was already hot outside. Albus took his coat off. Joseph followed suit, all the while explaining about the potion he had been allowed to stir.
"Joseph, just a question," Albus interrupted him at one point. "Is Amortentia for curing boils or is it a medicine against tooth-ache?"
"I know you, Al," Joseph said, smiling. "It's bod... both wrong."
"Exactly. It's a love potion."
"No kidding?"
"No kidding. My Uncle sells it in his shop."
"Professor Selwyn isn't much of an expert at potions, is she?"
"No, I'm afraid she isn't. James says, he was able to brew twenty different potions at the end of his first year. Okay, let's cut that down to ten on account of his usual bragging. It's still impressive."
"Look at the bright side: Professor Selwyn never gives us homework," Joseph said. "Did your brodder... brother have a different teacher?"
"Yes, Horace Slughorn. He retired after James's first year."
"My tutor says Professor McGonagall could find a good Potions teacher easily. The trouble is dat... that nobody wants to be House Head of Slydderin."
"I've heard that, too."
They'd reached the lake and picked a comfy spot to sit down. Scorpius arrived – out of breath thanks to his running – only a couple of minutes later.
"Have you seen Rose?" he panted. "Or Sepho?"
"No," Joseph said. "Have you?"
"No."
"I think they might have gone to Hagrid," Albus said, "to find out a bit more about the conversation Rose mentioned. He's rather prone to blabbing."
Scorpius, still taking deep breaths, gave him a slow, searching look.
Albus shook his head in response to the unspoken question. He knew Scorpius wasn't welcome at Hagrid's cabin. Hagrid had never explicitly said so, but Albus was able to take a hint. Scorpius's name was never mentioned; there was never a single question or remark regarding him. It was as if Hagrid pretended the boy didn't exist. "I don't think Sepho will need me to pump somebody for information," he said, trying to give his words a light tone.
"For sure," said Joseph with affection. "She's nosy enough for two."
"There's that, too," Scorpius muttered, toying absently with his flute.
Albus slid sideways on his buttocks until he sat right next to Scorpius.
"Hey," he said and nudged him playfully.
Scorpius, without looking up, lashed out and brushed against Albus's chest, but Albus caught his wrist and tugged. Scorpius slumped; Albus wrapped both arms around him. Scorpius struggled in vain to free himself with one hand, holding his flute out of harm's way with the other. They grappled uselessly for a few moments until Joseph seized the flute. With two hands free, Scorpius pushed Albus to the ground and tried to pin him. Albus threw him off, though, and they rolled over twice. Since they matched each other in strength, neither gained an advantage. Then, when Albus was on top for a mere second, Scorpius used his leg as a lever and set them rolling again. With one huge effort, he finally forced them apart. Albus let go and came to rest on his back, laughing. Scorpius, lying in the grass two feet away, also laughed.
Still chuckling, they manoeuvred themselves back into a sitting position.
"What was dat all about?" Joseph asked, mildly confused.
"Just for fun," Albus said nonchalantly.
"Right. Indulging in immature behaviour," Scorpius seconded, grinning sheepishly. "Er... thanks for rescuing my flute."
"You're welcome," Joseph said, handing the instrument back with a theatrical gesture.
"Any demands?" Scorpius asked, raising the flute to his lips.
"Old Long Sign?" Joseph suggested.
Scorpius started playing. After Auld Lang Syne he launched into another traditional tune he knew by heart. The music gradually attracted a bigger audience. Ireen and Trayi were the first who came and sat down to listen. Pia and Glynnis joined them, as did a couple of second year Hufflepuffs and Tim Warbeck from Gryffindor.
Scorpius was in the middle of a somewhat exotic song called Nothing Else Matters when they caught sight of Yaxley. He approached rather quickly, and it was already too late to saunter off in a casual fashion. The only option was running, but nobody seemed inclined to give the spiteful youth such satisfaction. After all, they were in a crowd, and he was striding directly towards the lake, looking neither left nor right. Unfortunately, he did spot the group of younger students and stopped in his tracks.
"Ah, what do we have here?" he said, his voice dripping with false friendliness. "Two petite fruitcakes."
The way he towered over Albus and Scorpius made it unmistakably clear whom he was addressing. However, Albus couldn't think of any reply. He had absolutely no idea why Yaxley was going on about cake.
Yaxley, strangely enough, took a step backwards. "Ah, Malfoy, tell me, are you already allowed to sleep in Potter's bed?" he sneered.
Scorpius jumped to his feet. Albus leapt up as well. He still felt dwarfed by the tall, burly Slytherin.
"No. All Ravenclaws are allowed their own bed," Scorpius said, his voice strained with the effort to sound calm. "Do Slytherins have to share their beds with another student?"
"You!" Yaxley snarled dangerously, his face reddening. "You little imp!"
Yaxley's hand shot into his coat and out again in one, smooth movement. The hex hit Albus before he even thought of reaching for his own wand. He staggered backwards but managed to stand upright.
Yaxley roared with laughter.
"Al, your hair..." Scorpius whispered.
Albus looked up and gasped. Scorpius's hair was an intense shade of violet. And judging from Scorpius's shocked expression, his own hair had to have the same, offensive colour.
"Like it?" Yaxley jeered, aiming his wand at them. "Ah, I can make you look even more alike-"
"Protego!" Joseph bellowed.
The shield extended between Yaxley on one side and Albus, Scorpius, and the girls on the other. A heartbeat later, Tim Warbeck fired a jet of yellow sparks in Yaxley's direction. The Slytherin wheeled round, surprised by the fact that a first-year student dared to attack him. Glaring menacingly at Tim, he raised his wand but Joseph brought off another Shield Charm. Although it was weaker than the first one, it served to protect Tim from Yaxley's Stunner.
By the time Albus finally had his wand ready, three of the girls had moved around the fighting boys. They pointed their wands at Yaxley's back, chorusing a Jelly Legs Jinx.
Yaxley fell.
It didn't take him long to recover, though. He was back on his feet in no time at all. But by then, Etienne Delaceur was there, too, and with him his regular throng of N.E.W.T. students. Without wasting time on questions, the DADA assistant disarmed Yaxley, bound his hands with magical ropes, and escorted him back to the castle. The seventh years, save Victoire, trailed along.
Victoire, her face as stern as it was beautiful, had Albus explain about the incident. After two or three futile attempts to turn his hair back to normal, she sent him and Scorpius to Madam Smethwyk.
-
The infirmary was teeming with teachers. Even Professor McGonagall was there.
"Just our luck," Scorpius whispered.
"Let's sit down somewhere and wait," Albus whispered back.
The teachers were clustered around a bed, apparently debating a serious problem. Who the centre of their attention was, Albus couldn't see. As a matter of fact, it wasn't Nancy Donovan. She lay motionless on her bed, staring fixedly at the ceiling. She seemed completely oblivious to the boys' presence or the commotion less than a couple of yards away.
All at once, Rose emerged from the crowd. It took Albus no more than the fraction of a second to realise that something was wrong.
"Rose," Scorpius said softly, reaching for her hand and pulling her gently closer. "What's happened?"
"Sepho can't move her legs anymore," she answered anxiously. "Madam Smethwyk can't undo the curse."
"Why not?" Albus asked, taking her free hand into his.
"She's tried everything. I can't remember every Counterspell she used... Then, she sent for Professor Flitwick and later, when nothing would work, for Professor McGonagall. Professor Jones was here because of Nancy and she alerted some more teachers. They have been talking about Combined Curses and other advanced magic for the past hour. By now, they've come to think it's a Lingering Hex. Such Hexes can't be undone at all," she said, fighting sobs. "You have to wait for them to wear off. That could take weeks!"
Albus was at a loss for words. Poor Sepho. There was only one week until the end of the term. Would she have to stay here while everyone else went home?
"How... who did that to her?" Scorpius asked.
"Yaxley," Rose sniffed.
"Yaxley?! He's just hexed us!" Albus exclaimed.
Rose looked at him. The altered colour of his hair obviously registered only now with her. Silently, she took in Scorpius's appearance as well.
"Bloody hell," she breathed at long last. "I hope that's not a Lingering Hex, too."
-
It was a Lingering Hex.
At any rate, that was what the young nurse, looking completely crestfallen, told them.
- - - - -