"Easter break, finally!" I cried, collapsing in to an armchair next to Audrey. I had just finished the nights patrol with Professor Lupin, and thought it was an hour very well spent, I was exhausted.
"Finally?" asked Audrey sceptically, "You realise this is just an excuse for the teachers to pile us with more revision, don't you? I'll be amazed if we have time to breathe, even."
"Who do I look like, the Easter bunny? Of course I realised!" I replied, pulling a few booklets out of my bag, "But at least I'll have a little spare time to read up on careers. I got these from the library."
I spread the booklets out on the table in front of me.
"That's a lot of booklet's to read," Audrey commented, looking slightly repulsed, "I think I've had enough reading to last me a life time."
"I'm not going to read them all!" I said defensively, "Just skim through them and read the ones that sound good. They're all potions related. I figured you were right. Potions is my strength, so I'll play at that. I got a few on careers in general, not specifically potions related, just in case. That one is about research in general, the blue one is about being a potions inspector, to make sure all the potions are safe before sold, see, and there's a couple about working as a potions maker in apothecaries and stuff like that too," I leaned forward and picked up a particularly big booklet, "This one is for St Mungo's, it's got everything the place offers, including healing and stuff, but there's a good section in here on research staff too."
I sat back comfortably in my armchair and began to read the St Mungo's booklet. The research department was very interesting, and well-known world wide. They had a wing for potions to cure poisons, (the main research at the moment being a cure for basilisk poisoning, which, surprising, is very common these days due to illegal supplies of the venom circulating around the criminal world), a wing for cures for natural age related illness, wand-work related injuries, and the new wing for creature-inflicted injuries Audrey mentioned. It includes research for curing werewolf and vampire bites, and research for a potion that could take the place of human blood for vampires was already underway, with other projects to be initiated shortly.
Flicking through the other booklets, I found information about a few other potions research institutions (most of them more commercial orientated – cures for acne and permanent hair colouring potions and the like), and the information about being a potions maker for apothecaries was interesting too. Though I was still undecided, at least know I had a few options I was seriously considering.
As far as the Easter holidays were concerned, Audrey's was right. It felt less like a holiday and more like one of those dreaded weekend ends just before a Monday test. In other words, lots of study, lots of stress, and very little sleep. Even the younger kids seemed to be over-loaded. There was a rather funny incident in the common room one afternoon when a sandy haired third year boy who I'm pretty sure was called Seamus Finnigan roared,
"Call this a holiday! The exams are ages away, what are they playing at?"
Audrey and I both snorted when we heard this and rolled our eyes. Poor kid, he has no idea what awaits him.
Audrey was finding the holidays even worse than I was, because although we didn't have class, she was not able to spend much time with Oliver because of the approaching Quidditch final and he was training more than ever. Thought, to be fair, he still made a point of sitting with her at dinner when he got the chance.
- - -
"Can I leave my bag here Professor? It's heavy, I'd rather not carry it around on the patrol," I asked.
Professor Lupin nodded, "Just leave it by my desk," he replied, "And make sure you remember to pick it up after patrol."
I dragged my bag over to his desk and placed it on his desk. It made a distinct thud. Never again, I told myself, never again will I borrow so many books from the library all in one go.
I followed Professor Lupin out of his office. He was walking a little slower than usual; he seemed tired. I wondered whether he was becoming sick again. The poor guy seemed to get sick very often.
Their patrol had become very routine over the past few weeks. Check the charms and transfiguration wings and then patrol the corridors. Patrolling the corridors was my favourite part; just me and Professor Lupin, alone, free to talk about almost anything we want. With in reason, of course. He is still my teacher, and I am still his student, but any conversation with him was worth the time spent. Today, he bought up the issue of careers.
"Have you thought about what you plan to do after Hogwarts?" he asked, as we walked along a long corridor with large arched windows. The clear sky outside was spotted with hundred of bright stars, all of them feeble compared to the almost-full moon.
"Yeh, a bit, I guess," I replied, sighing softly, "I'm not really sure though. I've narrowed it down enough to know that I'd be interested in something potions related, though."
"Potions?" he replied, grimacing playfully.
"What, you don't like it?" I asked.
"No, I never showed much aptitude for it, actually," he replied, "You aren't interested in anything related to Defence Against the Dark Arts, then? I had the impression that you really enjoy it."
"Well, I do enjoy it," I said carefully, "But that is probably more because you teach it very well, but I can't say I would want to pursue a career in it."
"Thank you," he said, smiling at the compliment, "Well then, what kind of potion-related occupation are you considering?"
"I'm still not sure. A position at the St Mungo's research department would be cool, I think. Or maybe something apothecary-related."
"Ah," he said fondly, "Yes, the St Mungo's research department is very prestigious. They have made many astounding discoveries over the last few years. They have very strict OWL's and NEWT's requirements though, don't they?"
"Yeh," I said unenthusiastically. It seemed almost impossible to get into the research department, which is one of the reasons I was not letting myself get too excited over the prospect of working there, "For OWL's they want O for potions, DADA, charms, and transfiguration and an O for Potions in NEWT's and E for the other three."
"I'm more than confident you can get an E for your defence NEWT," Professor Lupin said immediately, smiling encouragingly.
"I think so too, but there's a problem, see," I replied blushing slightly. I was not too eager to share certain information with the Professor.
"What problem?" he asked, frowning slightly.
"I, er, I didn't get an O for my DADA OWL. I got an E," I mumbled quickly.
"Ah," he replied, looking thoughtful, "Would they still consider you?"
"Only if I get an O for my NEWT…" I said glumly. I knew impossible when I saw it. And an O for my DADA NEWT was as impossible as it could get.
"Well, you stand a good chance then," he said cheerily.
I raised an eyebrow in response.
He chuckled, "You don't think you can get an O?"
I shook my head, "Of course not… I didn't even get one for my OWL's, how can I get it at NEWT's level then?"
"I don't know what happened with your OWL, but I know you have the potential to get an O in NEWT's, if you study hard enough. At the moment I would say you are easily in the E range, with some more effort I'm confident you can receive an O."
I paused for a moment, "You really reckon I can?"
"Of course, I am your teacher. I know potential when I see. I myself received an O NEWT when I was at Hogwarts, and it took me much longer than you to master a patronus."
I blushed slightly; as one often did when complimented by a person they held in high-esteem.
"Thank you," I said, smiling.
"For?"
"For having confidence in me. And you've given me confidence too."
He smiled, running a hand through his hair, "It's my pleasure."
"Professor, if you don't mind me asking, where did you used to work before you came to teach here?"
Professor Lupin's smile faded quickly and I suddenly found myself feeling nervous. I did not think he liked the question much.
"A number of places," he said, without looking at me.
He did not elaborate, and I did not pursue the topic as he was obviously not keen on discussing it. There was an awkward silence, and then –
"I'm sorry if I was rude, just then," he blurted out.
"Oh," I said, taken aback, "It's okay Professor, I understand if you don't want to talk about it…"
"Thank you," he replied, looking out a passing window at the night sky.
Ten minutes later, our patrol came to an end and Professor Lupin walked me back to his office so I could collect my bag before he walked me to my dorm.
I entered the dark office alone while Professor Lupin waited outside and hurried towards the desk to grab my bag. The only source of light was the moon, and so it was so dark that I did not notice the full goblet also on the desk, which was a big mistake, because when I pulled my heavy bag off the table, it brushed against the goblet. Luckily, it did not fall over, but a fair bit of the potion inside it slipped over the edge and on to Professor Lupin's desk.
"Merlin's beard!" I gasped quietly, "I'm such an idiot."
I quietly reached for my wand and leaned closer to the goblet to clean up the mess I made. I paused for a moment, wrinkling my nose. It smelled horrible. I remembered the smell immediately; it was the medicine Professor Lupin took. In the dim light I could just see that the potion was a shimmering golden-green in colour. There was something very familiar about it…
I picked up the goblet and moved a paper from under it, which was now soaked by the potion, but I could still make out the writing. What intrigued me most was that it was clearly Snape's handwriting.
Drink it all before midnight. I have more in my office.
I frowned; putting the goblet back down on the desk. The potion looked so familiar, but I just couldn't think where I had seen it before. The smell I knew, obviously, from the time I saw the empty goblet. But the shimmering golden-green?
A cloud outside moved forward, blocking the moon, and the room darkened. I looked out the window and watched as the cloud passed and the moon was visible again.
The moon.
The almost full-moon.
It struck me. My grip tightened on my bag and my heart pounded faster than ever. I had seen this potion before. I knew what it was.
Wolfsbane.
A/N - Drum roll please:D Please review! The more reviews, the happier I am to post early!