July 2011

"It's just not possible. T'Ministry's cracking down on it." Fletcher had been getting Lavender the Wolfsbane potion for over a year now but he was starting to have a hard time finding it.

"Surely there must be someone who will brew it for you," she asked across the table at the pub they had been meeting in.

Fletcher shook his head mournfully. "Anyone good enough ta brew it has been served notice by t'Ministry ta cease and desist unless they're doin' it fer Ministry-approved St. Mungo's patients."

"Dammit!" Lavender cursed the paper-jockey who'd come up with this new regulation. "Why the hell are they doing that?"

"Sumthin' about wanting to make sure the potency is accurate. A coupla months ago some poor bastard took some potion he got from a back alley and he went on a rampage up in Cornwall. Took out an Auror before they could put him down."

"Took out an Auror? What was his name?" Lavender may not be in the world anymore, but she still had too many old friends in the Auror Department not to be concerned.

Fletcher shook his head, knowing her concern was for her old friends. "T'was a young one. She was jest a year outta trainin'. Not one a'yours, Lav."

She sighed, "I don't know if that's worse or better."

Fletcher smiled at her. She had, oddly enough, become almost friends with this smelly, slightly creepy man. He didn't judge her. "I got an idea, though."

Lavender smiled back a little. "Let's hear it, then."

"How's 'bout you brew it. I kin get the ingredients. None of them're proscribed since they're all used in other potions."

"Mundungus, I told you, I have nowhere to brew it. Even if I did, it's incredibly complex."

Fletcher shook his head. "I got a solution fer that. I found somethin' at Borgin & Burke's that might help. It's a cauldron that can be invisible ta muggles. I, ahem, took the liberty of purchasin' it, in case ya wanted it." He grinned at the look she gave him. "As fer t'complex part, well, ya have enough to get through the next two months, right?" Lavender nodded cautiously. "Then ya have time ta figger it out."

Lavender sighed. "Sounds like this is my only option. Maybe I can do a look-away spell to make Tommy look away from that part of the flat I use, too. Just in case. Will the cauldron hide the smell, too?"

Fletcher nodded. "Yup. Every bit of t'brewin' is hidden. Tried it out meself when I got home, just in case. Had a, uh, friend, come over ta visit while I brewed a lil sumthin'."

Lavender snorted, "Female friend, no doubt."

Fletcher grinned, a truly frightening view. Lavender just shook her head. She'd gotten to know this little man well enough over the last year to know he was relatively harmless. "Alright, Mundungus. I'll take the cauldron as long as you promise me you can get me the ingredients."

"I promise, Lav. T'mite's a lil cutie." Fletcher had seen him earlier when he'd been lurking to get Lavender's attention to arrange a meet. He'd said something about not being able to get to a phone. She had decided not to press for the real reason.

She smiled with pride. "He is, isn't he?"

Fletcher finished off his drink and stood. "I'll try ta get at least one more set of doses fer ya two, but I can't promise. I can get all t'ingredients, though. Might even be cheaper fer ya, actually."

Lavender chuckled. "If you hadn't said that, you could have gotten a better profit."

Fletcher smiled before he left the pub. "Maybe, but sometimes it's better ta just give someone a break when they need it. I'll get the cauldron to ya tomorra. Look fer it on yer doorstep. Yer man won' be able ta see it."

"How much was it?" Lavender called out, but Fletcher was gone. She smiled as she finished her soda water. She'd put a good bit extra in the next few payments for the ingredients. She sighed a bit. Looks like it's time to break out the potions books again and review, she thought.