Medimagic
At dawn, the trio accompanied Remus to the Infirmary, exhausted, as always after a crisis. Poppy opened right away, but this time she didn't let them in to take him to the bed. Because Sev is inside too, he thought. He let the mediwitch herself help him get there. How strong she is.
"I imagine that they have told you what they have done, haven't they?" she asked him."
"They have. In full detail."
"What a night you must have passed."
This one already knows everything, Remus thought.Besides, Sev is not seen in any bed, he must be behind the screens.I'm going to vent a bit. "You don't know how I want to get rid of them."
"Professor Dumbledore will surely punish them, I warned him last night as soon as I attended him, and he was talking to your girlfriend and later with him for a long time."
Wow… they've already made contact. But he will have convinced him not to. How much will he have revealed to him? I trust his cunning.
They reached the bed. Sev, indeed, is in the one across the aisle.
"Do you need me to help you undress, don't you?" asked the mediwitch.
Usually the others do.They leave the clothes here and then she picks them up so I can drink Sev's Restorative Potion.But if she does, she's going to take the clothes right away and I'll lose the potion and the vial.Well, what does it matter, if she already knows everything. "Okay, thanks, Poppy, help me."
The mediwitch helped him, and also to put on his pajamas. "Well, go to bed, dear."
"Wait, Poppy, give me the shirt. I'm going to tell you a secret."
The mediwitch looked at him fondly and expectantly.
"Summon a chair, it will be a moment," he added.
She pulled her wand out and did it. She handed him his shirt, taking the rest of the clothing in her hands.
"Have you ever wondered why since Christmas I recover at noon and not at night?" Remus asked.
"Yes of course. But I thought you would have found some remedy on your own," she replied.
Remus was already pulling the little vial out of the seam and showing it to her. "Look at this, it wasn't me who found it. The boy you see across the aisle invented it when he stayed at school for Christmas. He combined two sleep potions, 'Restorative' and 'Immediate Sleep', and not only that, he enhanced the effect of the Restorative so that every hour of sleep was worth three. So it's enough for me four hours of sleep that are worth twelve."
Poppy's eyes and mouth were wide. "But… isn't he in fifth year yet?"
"Yes, Poppy. But you should know by now that he is an exceptional wizard and a very good person."
"Of course... but still it seems incredible to me. In fifth year a postgraduate work, and very advanced. Is he preparing the Medimagic OWL?"
"He isn't. Defense and Potions," Remus replied.
"Sure, Potions. But he must have consulted treatises on Medimagic NEWT to do so. It is quite a discovery. He should patent the recipe, he would get income for it."
"Can he do it as a minor?"
"I'm not sure, I've never heard of such a case. I will inform myself," Poppy said.
"Tell him when he wakes up, you'll give him a joy."
"Of course. So I guess you don't need the sleep potion."
"I don't, Poppy. I haven't taken it since January," he replied.
"Oh…" she smiled understandingly. "Students who surpass the teachers."
"In many ways."
"Rest up, Remus."
"Thank you, Poppy. Sleep a little longer too."
"Of course dear."
The mediwitch made the chair disappear and she left with his clothes. Remus drank his dose of the Restorative Potion and fell asleep instantly.
. . . . . . . . .
Lauren woke up at eight o'clock. Ugh… fully rested, thanks to my Sev, how will he be?Well, there's only half an hour left to find out. She jumped up and went to the shower first, so her dormmates wouldn't overtake her.
She didn't wash her hair, she was quick, dressed in her uniform and went down to the Common Room. If something serious has happened, Slughorn will come to tell us before breakfast. She waited until eight twenty-five. If he hasn't come already, then at least he hasn't died.
She headed for the Great Hall. The Sly table was completely empty, also the Huffle and the Gryff. Only a few lonely Raves were already having breakfast. Her food appeared before her as soon as she sat down. She only had tea with milk, also without sugar, like Sev. If I eat anything before I know he's fine, I'm going to throw it up.
While she anxiously looked at the door waiting for Lily to enter, some more students were sitting at the tables. At eight thirty sharp, Lily and Cecile appeared in the Hall, without the rest of Gryffs. As soon as they saw each other in the distance, she made a calming gesture with her hands. Ooff…
Lily thought, Booaah… She must have stayed up all night and slept thanks to Sev's potion. This time the two sat together facing the other tables. Today there is no danger, because Sev is not coming.
"Lauren, Sev is fine," Lily projected to her.
"What a relief… What happened? The Gryffs?" asked the Sly girl.
"Yeah. But tomorrow he will be recovered, in time for the disclosure."
"The truth is that I don't care anymore."
"Well, do care. We have worked a lot, especially you. I'll tell you what happened." Lily told her everything Cecile had told her, including the deductions about Dumbledore.
"Wow… he already has him in his pocket," Lauren said.
"That seems to me too. At noon we will not come for lunch, we will go visit him."
"But it's safe?"
"Yes, Lauren, Remus is there too. And Poppy has set him up in front of him, behind the screens."
"Remus was also hurt?"
"No, Lauren, Remus has a cyclical disease, he has crises from time to time."
"Ah, that's right, sometimes he misses class."
"That is. He will be recovered by noon. The ones I'm worried about are Jack and the others. We signaled for them to meet us this afternoon in the clearing, but they must have noticed by now that Sev hasn't come up to the Hall, and they're going to be restless all day. I would try to project him from here, but I won't know if he has heard me. Can you risk doing it yourself?"
"Let me think about it." Lauren thought, Well, yes, I should. I cannot let them pass the hours of uncertainty and suffering that I have gone through. The other day Jack already noticed that I read him, and what a look he gave me. He is not going to betray me, and there is very little left to contact. It might scare him, but I don't think so. He must have also read about the Projection in the Red Magic summary. "Okay, Lily, I'm going to do it."
"Thank you, Lauren."
Lauren looked in Jack's direction and projected to him, "Hello, Jack, dear.I'm Lauren, don't be scared.If you're listening to me, look at me."
He did immediately, fifty feet away, and smiled at her.
"Okay, keep eating breakfast.I tell you." She told him what had happened, except for Dumbledore. I leave it up to Sev what to tell them what they talked about. She concluded, "He will be recovered first thing in the morning tomorrow, he will not fail us.If you have understood everything, look at me again."
He did it. It was time to get up to go to class. As Jack's group made it to leave and was already turning around, he felt someone grab his arm. He turned, it was Slughorn. "Mr. Steed, come with me for a moment."
"Of course, Professor."
He led him to a corner of the Great Hall, out of sight of the Sly table.
Lauren watched the movement and thought, Sure, if he did talk to Dumbledore, he must have asked him to reassure Jack, using the excuse of training.Very clever.
"I have a message for you from the Headmaster," Slughorn told Jack.
"Tell me, sir."
"Mr. Snape will be present at breakfast tomorrow."
"Alright. Has he told you anything else, sir?" Jack asked.
"He hasn't, that's all."
"Thank you very much, sir." Jack thought, I should have guessed, Dumbledore talked to him, after what happened with the Gryffs last year, and Sev asked him to calm me down.Better, so I can tell everyone.
The others were waiting for him, also a seventh-year Sly, who was the contact with the upper grades. As they left he told them, "All in order, there is no abortion. Prince will come down for breakfast tomorrow."
They all understood that Dumbledore and Slughorn were already in on it, and they were imbued with even greater confidence and hope.
. . . . . . . . .
Sev woke up shortly after, at nine. My lucky hour.Wow… I've slept twelve hours like a prince.Oh, the wolf is in front of me, this Pomfrey... What a good day I'm going to have, alone and quiet, and spending time with Remus and the girls at noon.
A few minutes later the mediwitch arrived with her little tray. "Good morning, dear, how did you sleep?"
"Like a prince."
"Does your arm hurt?"
"A bit."
"Of course, the effect of the potion is wearing off," she explained. "Here I bring you the next doses." She left the tray on the bedside table. "Get up so I can put the pillows for you." She did. "Take them," holding out the tray.
"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey."
"Do you want to have breakfast now?"
"Yes, I'm starving."
"Okay, I'll bring it to you in a few minutes," said the mediwitch. "I left your clothes in the bathroom. Can you alone?"
Sev thought, It's going to be hard for me, but I don't want her to see me naked, what a shame. "Yes, Madam Pomfrey. Don't worry."
They were each to their own. Sev climbed back into bed when he finished. What a pleasure, spending the day in bed and being taken care of like that.
Madam Pomfrey returned, carrying a bed breakfast tray that she placed within his reach.
"Thank you so much," he said.
"I've got this for you too," she said, taking his Muggle notebook and pen and black pine wand out of her apron.
"Ugh… my wand. I didn't even remember it."
"Normal, dear, with the scare they gave you and the pain. The wand and the notebook were picked up by your friend, and the pen was in the pocket of your robes."
"Thank you very much, Madam Pomfrey."
"Stop thanking me for everything, it's my job. Do you feel like chatting for a while while you have breakfast?"
"Yes of course."
The mediwitch drew her wand and Summoned a chair. "You see, your friend," she said, pointing to Remus, "has told me a little secret you two have."
Wow… the potion.To the right person, Sev thought. "And what did he tell you, Madam?"
"Please, you can call me Poppy."
Another. "Okay."
"That you invented a potion at Christmas that is very useful for him to recover," she said.
"Yes that's how it is."
"He has told me how you did it and I have deduced that you consulted advanced treatises on Medimagic."
"Yes of course," he replied.
"Did you also use Arithmancy?"
"I did."
"Do you have it as a subject?" Poppy asked.
"Yes, it is my favourite."
"He also told me that you plan to take two NEWTs, DADA and Potions."
"Yes that's how it is," Sev confirmed.
"Have you not considered doing Medimagic? The subjects coincide with Potions, you should only continue with Arithmancy as well."
"Wow… Is Arithmancy required for Medimagic?" That's why the wolf has it.
"Yes, an Outstanding. How are you doing?" asked the mediwitch.
"It's the one I'm best at."
"Brilliant. So don't hesitate, study Medimagic too."
"Why is it only necessary for Medimagic and not for Defense or Potions?" he asked.
"To prevent harmful potions or spells from being created, only healing ones."
"Of course…"
"Have you also created spells using Arithmancy?" she asked.
Of course, and a very harmful one. "I have."
"Any healing spell?"
Yeah. The counterspell of the Sectumsempra, Dark Magic healer no less. "Yeah," Sev replied.
"When did you do it?"
"Last year." Inspired by when Lily healed me.
"Wow, fourth year. You have many qualities for Medimagic, don't doubt it," Poppy encouraged him.
"I don't see myself working in a hospital with patients."
"But you wouldn't have to. With your talent and qualities you could dedicate yourself to research."
Sev thought, Of course… like the great scientists. Wow… life is not going to be enough for me to do everything. I should be immortal and not bloody Voldemort.
"And for starters, you should patent the potion you've created," Poppy continued, "It's a great discovery."
"Can I do it as a minor?"
"You see, the process is somewhat complicated. As with Muggle medicine, it needs to be properly tested to control its effects and dosage, and to improve it and eliminate side effects as far as possible."
"Of course," he agreed.
"I sent an owl to a fellow investigator who works in St Mungo's first thing in the morning telling him about your case. He is an excellent mediwizard and wonderful person, I am sure he will take an interest and offer to be your mentor so that you can investigate your potion as soon as possible, probably in the summer. Then he would take over the process of testing it on the sick. When are you seventeen?"
"In January."
"Perhaps by then it could already be ready, you could patent it and earn money for it," she explained.
Sev was stunned.
"And not only that, but also to publish the research paper," Poppy continued. "It's a milestone for a sixteen-year-old boy to have invented such a potion, without having completed NEWT or postgraduate studies yet. You are a genious."
Oh…
"How long did it take you?" asked the mediwitch.
"About two weeks."
"And how much time did you spend a day?"
"A couple of hours, and not every day," Sev answered.
"And you tried it yourself, didn't you?"
"I did."
"As I said, a genius. It usually takes months or years to invent such a potion," Poppy said.
"It was not that difficult. I only had to combine two others."
"Take credit for yourself. What I tell you, think about it calmly, you have all the subjects. You only have to prepare Arithmancy also for the OWLs. Do you have Floo at home?"
"I have," he replied.
"Perfect, to go to St. Mungo's. Surely my colleague makes it easy for you in terms of schedules and dedication. With your talent and his help, you won't need to spend too much time on it, and you'll get paid as an intern."
Wooow… "Thank you, Poppy, you just solved my life."
"Thanks to your friend," she said. "Otherwise, we might never have found out, you don't value yourself enough."
How many times have they repeated that refrain to me... quite right.
"Do you have the recipe written down?" Poppy asked.
"I have it."
"In a safe place?"
Safe indeed, in the Haven. "Yes, so safe that only another person apart from me can enter it," Sev answered.
"Yeah... Do you know it by heart?"
Of course. Two weeks ago I brewed six cauldrons. "I do."
"And the doses?" she asked.
For my weight and Anthony's, I have forgotten the others. "For 130 and 140 pounds."
"Do you mind if we write it all down now? I don't want to scare you, but it's in case something happens to you, so it doesn't get lost. I won't do anything with it, and at worst I'll see that you're credited."
She fears for me, normal. And she doesn't want that minimum legacy that I can leave to be lost. Sev's eyes misted over, and so did Poppy's. "Sure, Poppy, I trust you. Take the notebook and write down."
Sev dictated the full ingredients and recipe, then the table of weights and hours.
"Nice work, Severus. Thank you very much for trusting me. I feel very honored," she tore the three humble pages from the notebook lent by Tuney. "I will keep it as a treasure, like what you are," Poppy continued. "Take care of yourself, don't risk losing your life being so young. If you live long, you can do a lot of good."
Another thing to tell Albus.
"Okay, I'm going to take this," she said, taking the tray. "If you get bored and want to chat for a while, or need anything, ring the bell."
"Sure, Poppy, I will."
Poor woman, Sev thought. She sure must get bored a lot, always stuck in the Infirmary, and it is seen that she is a sociable person, she keeps her friends from when she studied after fifteen years. She must feed on it, on the mail with them.
From now on I will come to visit her from time to time, she is doing me a great favor. She has painted the profession for me in a way that attracts me even more than that of a Defense professor.
But if I survive the war, which I'll do everything possible to make it so, I can do both. Even though I live at Hogwarts, I can floo to St. Mungo's, and also research right here, and music… What a fruitful life I can have, it's going to be the best used Time-Turner in history.
And I'm going to continue with Arithmancy next year! Great!