Birthday Surprises
The following day, Arthur had confided in Mike, David and Chrys about the task that Dumbledore set him.
However, he had to do it with David and Chrys separately, since Chrys still refused to be in the same presence as David.
All three agreed on the same thing: don't make it obvious that Dumbledore sent him to get Slughorn's memory.
Naturally, they were all curious about what these Horcruxes were, as even Chrys had never heard of them, though she naturally guessed that they must be really advanced Dark Magic.
Of course, Potions lessons were all kinds of uncomfortable ever since things became tense between David and Chrys. She would always force Mike to be next to her, making David be next to Arthur.
"Settle down, settle down, please! Quickly now, lots of work to get through this afternoon!" Slughorn called for silence from the front of the room.
"Golpalott's Third Law… who can tell me -? But Miss Ranger can, of course!"
"It states that the antidote for a blended poison will be equal to more than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separate components."
"Precisely." Slughorn beamed. "Ten points for Gryffindor! Now, if we accept Golpalott's Third Law as true…."
Arthur was able to understand what it meant as he listened to Slughorn's words, though it seemed most of the class didn't.
"...which means, of course, that assuming we have achieved correct identification of the potion's ingredients by Scarpin's Revelaspell, our primary aim is not the relatively simply one of selecting antidotes to those ingredients in and of themselves, but to find that added component which will, by an almost alchemical process, transform these disparate elements -"
Arthur looked over at David, who looked like he was in trouble.
"...and so." Slughorn finished. "I want each of you to come and take one of these phials from my desk. You are to create an antidote for the poison within it before the end of the lesson. Good luck, and don't forget your protective gloves!"
Chrys had left her stool and was halfway to Slughorn's desk before the rest of the class realised it was time to get going. She had already tipped the contents when the three boys all returned to the table.
Arthur remembered from the Prince's book that there wasn't any notes and annotations about Golpalott's Third Law and so he sat there, trying to think of a way to make an antidote as he uncorked the poison and tipped it into his lit cauldron, revealing a garish shade of pink.
As he was trying to figure out what to do, he then remembered that there was an antidote to most if not all poisons, and he said as much in his first ever lesson in his first year.
Feeling bold, he made his way to the store cupboard and looked through it until he found, at the very back, a small card box that had the word 'Bezoars' written on it.
He opened it as Slughorn called "Two minutes left, everyone!" Inside were half a dozen shrivelled brown objects, all looking like dried up kidneys than stones from a goat's stomach.
Arthur seized one, put the box back in the cupboard and hurried back to his cauldron.
"Time's… UP!" Slughorn then called genially. "Well, let's see how you've done! Blaise… what have you got for me?"
He slowly moved around the room, examining the various antidotes. It seemed that no one had finished the task, though Chrys tried cramming in a few more ingredients to her bottle before Slughorn reached her. David and Mike tried their hardest, though they looked a bit annoyed, clearly having not been able to complete the task.
Arthur waited anxiously with the bezoar clutched tightly in his hand.
Slughorn eventually reached their table, sniffing Mike's potion, and then David's.
"And you, Arthur. What have you got to show me?"
Arthur simply held his hand out, showing the bezoar on his palm.
Slughorn stared at it for ten seconds before he threw his head back and roared with laughter.
"You've got a nerve, boy! He boomed before taking the bezoar and holding it up for the class to see. "Oh, you're like your mother… well, I can't fault you… a bezoar would certainly act as an antidote to all these poisons!"
Arthur looked at Chrys, who was sweaty faced with soot on her nose, and saw she was annoyed even at him.
"That's the individual spirit a real potion-maker needs!" Slughorn said happily. "Just like his mother, she had the same intuitive grasp of potion-making, it's undoubtedly from Rose he gets it… yes, Arthur, yes, if you've got a bezoar to hand, of course that would do the trick… although as they don't work on everything, and are pretty rare, it's still worth knowing how to mix antidotes…."
Arthur then noticed, much to his delight, that Draco was angry at him and had spilled something on himself.
The bell then rang.
"Time to pack up! And an extra ten points to Gryffindor for sheer cheek!"
Slughorn chuckled as he waddled back to his desk at the front of the dungeon.
Arthur dawdled behind and Mike, David and Chrys wished him luck as they left, leaving only Arthur and Slughorn in the room.
"Come on, now, Arthur, you'll be late for your next lesson." Slughorn said affably, snapping the gold clasps shut on his briefcase made of dragonskin.
"I know, sir, it's… I was wondering if I can ask you something." Arthur replied, knowing he can't blatantly ask about Horcruxes, as that would not turn out well.
"Ask away, then, my dear boy, ask away…."
"Well, you see… during my second year, I learned about Tom Riddle… and how he was Lord Voldemort." Arthur said, which made Slughorn freeze before he turned his head to face Arthur. "And… since I realised you would've taught while he was here, I was wondering if you can tell me what he was like."
"Oh… of course… it's only natural you should want to know more. When I first met young Mr Riddle, he was a quiet, albeit brilliant boy committed to becoming a first rate wizard. Not unlike others I've known. Not unlike yourself, in fact. If the monster existed, it was buried deep within."
"Do you remember what subjects he excelled in?" Arthur asked.
"Of course, Arthur. I remember he had an affinity for Defence Against the Dark Arts, Arithmancy… and Potions."
"Is it safe to say you were one of his favourite teachers?" Arthur pushed a bit more.
"Naturally. Though, looking back, it would seem that it wasn't genuine… his affection towards me." Slughorn said as he and Arthur walked out of the dungeon.
"Do you remember where he went after leaving Hogwarts?" Arthur asked, deciding this would do for now.
"I do… I had set up interviews for him to work in the Ministry, so sure he'd want to be Minister one day. However, I was disappointed when he turned my offers down and set up at Borgin and Burkes… I thought it was a waste of his talents."
Arthur frowned at this revelation. That shop was getting more and more interesting in the grand scheme of things.
"Well, I'll best be off, sir. I hope you don't mind me asking more questions like this again." He said as he was about to go to his next lesson.
"Oh, I don't mind, m'boy. Like I said, it's only natural to be curious." Slughorn replied, patting Arthur's shoulder.
By the end of the day, Arthur told the others about his talk with Slughorn and they all knew that it might take a while for Arthur to get Slughorn to give him the true memory.
The next few days, Arthur would stay back in Potions class and ask Slughorn more questions about Voldemort, not revealing much, other than his achievement and how he disregarded Dumbledore's warnings about him when he first arrived at Hogwarts, having taken a liking to him.
He also asked questions during Slug Club parties, deciding to go to them to further delve deeper into his past with Voldemort.
Meanwhile, Chrys was annoyed. No longer at Arthur for the lesson with the bezoar.
She was now annoyed at the Hogwarts library.
"I haven't found even a passing mention of Horcruxes!" She told Arthur. "Not even in the restricted section, which has plenty of horrible books. The only thing I can find is in Magick Moste Evile '...of the Horcruxes, wickedest of magical inventions, we shall not speak nor give direction…' Why bother even mentioning it, then?"
The snow melted around the school when February arrived, now replaced with cold, dreary wetness. Purplish grey clouds now hung low over the castle with a constant fall of rain making the lawns slippery and muddy.
There was an upshot among all of this: the sixth years' first Apparition lesson was coming on a Saturday morning, so they won't miss any lessons, and it will be in the Great Hall and not in the grounds.
When Arthur and Mike arrived in the Hall (David and Chrys having gone earlier and separately) they saw that the tables were gone. Rain battered against the windows and the enchanted ceiling swirled darkly above them as they assembled in front of Professors McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick and Sprout - all four Heads of House - and a small wizard that Arthur knew right away was the Apparition Instructor from the Ministry.
He was somehow colourless, with transparent eyelashes, wispy hair and an insubstantial air to him, like a gust of wind would blow him away with ease.
Arthur suspected all of this must be the effect of having constantly splinched when Apparating.
"Good morning." The Ministry wizard said when all the students arrived and after the Heads of House called for quiet. "My name is Wilkie Twycross and I shall be your Ministry Apparition Instructor for the next twelve weeks. I hope to be able to prepare you for your Apparition test in this time -"
"Malfoy, be quiet and pay attention!" McGonagall barked.
Everyone looked and saw Draco flushing a dull pink with a furious expression on his face, stepping away from Crabbe, with whom he had a whispering argument with.
Arthur made a quick glance at Snape, who looked very annoyed, though Arthur didn't know whether it was because of Draco's rudeness or because McGonagall reprimanded a student of his house.
" - by which time, many of you may be ready to take your test." Twycross continued, like he hadn't been interrupted.
"As you may know, it is usually impossible to Apparate or Disapparate within Hogwarts. The Headmaster has lifted this enchantment, purely within the Great Hall, for one hour, so as to enable you to practise. May I emphasise that you will not be able to Apparate outside the walls of this Hall, and that you would be unwise to try. I would like each of you to place yourselves now so that you have a clear five feet of space in front of you."
There was a mass scrambling and jostling as everyone separated, banging into each other, ordering others out of their space. All the Heads of House moved among the students, marshalling them in position as well as breaking up arguments.
Arthur moved quickly through the crowd, past where Flitwick made squeaky attempts to position a few Ravenclaws, who wanted to be near the front, past Sprout, who put the Hufflepuffs in line, until, by dodging past Ernie Macmillan, he got into position right at the back of the crowd, directly behind DRaco, who took advantage of the upheaval to continue arguing with Crabbe, standing five feet away and looking very mutinous.
"I don't know how much longer, alright?" Draco shot at him, currently unaware of Arthur right behind him. "It's taking longer than I thought it would."
Crabbe opened his mouth, but Draco seemed to have second guessed what he was about to say.
"Look, it's none of your business what I'm doing, Crabbe; you and Goyle just do as you're told and keep a lookout!"
"Unlike you, Draco, I tell my friends what I'm up to." Arthur decided to say, getting Draco's attention.
He spun around on the spot, hand reaching for his wand. But that was when the Heads of House shouted all at once "Quiet!" and silence fell again, making Draco slowly turn to face the front.
"Thank you." Twycross said. "Now, then…."
He waved his wand and old fashioned wooden hoops instantly appeared on the floor in front of every student.
"The important things to remember when Apparating are the three Ds! Destination, Determination, Deliberation! Step one: fix your mind firmly upon the desired destination. In this case, the interior of your hoop. Kindly concentrate upon that destination now."
Everyone looked around to check that everyone stared into their hoop before hastily doing as they're told.
Arthur focused right into the interior of his hoop and despite pondering on the fact that Draco needed lookouts with Crabbe and Goyle, he ignored that for now.
"Step two, focus your determination to occupy the visualised space! Let your yearning to enter it flood from your mind to every particle of your body!"
Arthur now felt such determination consume his entire being as he wanted nothing more than to be able to Apparate, knowing it can help him when he becomes an Auror.
"Step three, and only when I give the command… turn on the spot, feeling your way into nothingness, moving with deliberation! On my command now… one… two… THREE!"
Arthur spun on the spot, actually feeling his way into nothingness and felt that familiar feeling when he Apparated with Dumbledore, now suddenly finding himself in the interior of his hoop.
Chuckling in disbelief that he got it on his first try, he looked around to see that the whole Hall was full of staggering people. Neville was flat on his back; Ernie Macmillan, meanwhile, made a pirouetting leap into his hoop, looking thrilled for a moment before he saw Dean Thomas roaring with laughter at him.
"Never mind, never mind." Twycross said dryly. "It would seem Mr Pendergast was the only one of all of you to succeed. Adjust your hoops, please, and back to original positions…."
The second attempt was just as bad as the first, while Arthur succeeded again, proving that it wasn't just luck. The third attempt was also just as bad.
Then there was the fourth attempt, where a horrible screech of pain rang throughout the entire Hall. Everyone looked to see that it was Susan Bones from Hufflepuff, who was wobbling in her hoop with her left leg still standing five feet away where she started.
Arthur was close to throwing up upon seeing this as the Heads of House converged on her. A great bang was heard before a puff of purple smoke appeared, clearing away to reveal Susan sobbing as she was reunited with her leg, still looking horrified.
"Splinching, or the separation of random body parts." Twycross said dispassionately. "Occurs when the mind is insufficiently determined. You must concentrate continually upon your destination, and move, without haste, but with deliberation… thus."
He stepped forwards, turning gracefully on the spot with his arms outstretched and had vanished in a swirl of robes, reappearing right next to Arthur.
"Remember the three Ds." He said. "And try again… one… two… three -"
An hour later, Arthur being able to Apparate and Susan's splinching were all that the pupils could think about.
Twycross didn't seem discouraged. As he fastened his cloak at his neck, he said "Until next Saturday, everybody, and do not forget: Destination, Determination, Deliberation."
With that, he waved his wand and the hoops vanished before he walked out of the Hall with McGonagall, who gave Arthur a proud smile.
Talk broke out at once as the students all moved to the Entrance Hall.
"I'm so jealous. I guess doing it with Dumbledore helped out." Mike said as he reached Arthur, kissing him on the cheek with a proud smile as well.
"I felt so close. I felt a tingling in my feet." David said as he joined up with them.
"I'm not all that fussed. Anyway, there's something I need to do, come on." Arthur replied.
He led them back to Gryffindor Tower in a run.
"What's wrong?" Mike asked as they ran in through the portrait hole.
"Just hold on." Arthur said as he led them into the boys' dormitory, opening his trunk and rummaged through it.
"What are you doing?" David asked.
"I heard Draco say that he was using Crabbe and Goyle as lookouts. He argued about it with Crabbe." Arthur explained as he finally found what he was looking for.
He pulled out a folded square of what looked like blank parchment, which he smoothed out and tapped with his wand.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good…. Or Draco is, at least."
The Marauder's Map then formed on the parchment's surface. It gave him a detailed look on every one of the castle's floors and the tiny, labelled dots that showed where the various occupants of the castle were.
The three looked through the map to see where Draco was.
"There he is." David said, pointing at the Slytherin common room, where he hung out with Pansy, Zabini, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Okay, from now on, whenever I have the chance, I'm going to use this and keep an eye on Draco." Arthur said firmly.
Just then, Neville had entered, bringing with him a strong smell of singed material, rummaging through his trunk for a fresh pair of pants.
Arthur had no luck in catching Draco out for the next couple of weeks.
He'd consult the map oftenly, sometimes making visits to the bathroom between lessons to search it, but couldn't find Draco anywhere, which was suspicious. He'd often spot Crabbe and Goyle moving around the castle on their own, sometimes remaining stationary in deserted corridors, these being the times when Draco wasn't anywhere near them, and wasn't even spotted anywhere in the castle.
This was very suspicious. He couldn't have left the castle at all, especially with the security measures placed. That was when he remembered the Room of Requirement. Not everyone knew of its existence. Was it possible that the Marauders themselves didn't know of it?
He'll just have to figure out if that is where Draco goes to later.
February was close to turning into March, and with no change in the weather, only that it'll be windy along with being wet.
David became livid when a sign was put up on the common room notice boards saying that the next Hogsmeade trip was cancelled.
"On my birthday as well!" He said.
"But it isn't surprising, considering what happened to Katie." Arthur reminded him.
She still hadn't returned from St Mungo's. Meanwhile, there were still more disappearances being reported in the Daily Prophet, which included some relatives of Hogwarts students.
"All I've got to look forward to now is that day's bloody Apparition lesson." David gritted through his teeth.
Three lessons in, Apparition proved to be as difficult as ever. Arthur didn't go as he had been able to Apparate for the first two lessons, but he did hear horror stories of more splinchings. And all frustrations were aimed at Twycross and his three Ds, inspiring various nicknames, the politest being Dog-breath and Dung-head.
"Happy birthday, David." Arthur said when they were woken up on the first of March by Seamus and Dean leaving loudly for breakfast. "Here's your present."
He threw the package to David's bed, as did Mike, joining a small pile that Arthur suspected was delivered by the house elves at night.
"Thanks." David said as he yawned, starting to rip through the presents.
Arthur got out of bed and opened his trunk, rummaging for the Marauder's Map, which he hid everytime after using it. He found it hiding beneath the rolled up socks where he kept his bottle of Felix Felicis.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Arthur said after Neville left the dormitory, sitting on his bed with Mike.
"Thanks, Arthur!" David said happily, waving his new pair of Quidditch Keeper's gloves that Arthur gave him.
"No problem." Arthur waved him off as he and Mike searched the Slytherin dormitories first.
"It seems that Draco isn't in bed." Mike said.
Meanwhile, David held up a heavy gold watch with symbols around the edge and tiny moving stars instead of hands. Arthur was told that when wizards are of age, they are given such watches.
The two boyfriends then looked at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall, no sign of Draco there. Not even anywhere near Snape, who sat in his study, or the bathrooms or the hospital wing.
"Completely gone again." Arthur said as David started eating through a box of Chocolate Cauldrons.
"And you think he's in the Room of Requirement?" Mike asked.
"It's the only logical answer, especially if the Marauders didn't know of its existence. And it can explain why Crabbe and Goyle stand in the deserted corridors." Arthur reasoned.
David continued eating through the Chocolate Cauldrons as Arthur tapped the map, muttering "Mischief managed."
"Come on, let's go." He then said. But when he and Mike were halfway to the dormitory door, they saw that David didn't move, just leaning on his bedpost, staring out of the rain battered window with an oddly unfocused look on his face.
"David? Breakfast." Mike said.
"I'm not hungry." David replied, leaving the two shocked as they looked at each other in disbelief.
"Since when have you never been hungry for breakfast/" Arthur questioned.
"You… wouldn't understand." David sighed.
"Okay…." Arthur said, very baffled but he decided that he and Mike will just go by themselves.
But as he reached for the door, David spoke.
"Guys!"
"What?"
"I can't stand it!"
"Stand what?" Mike asked, the two staring at him alarmed. He looked pale, like he was about to be sick.
"I can't stop thinking about her!" David said hoarsely.
This left Arthur even more baffled. Since when has David acted like this when it came to Chrys?
"Why does this stop you from having breakfast?" He asked.
"I don't think she knows I exist." David replied with a desperate gesture.
"What are you talking about? Chrys does know, she just doesn't want to talk to you!" Mike told him.
"Chrys? I'm talking about Romilda Vane." David frowned.
Arthur's eyes widened as he realised what had happened. He saw the box of Chocolate Cauldrons that she gave him before Christmas and that David had eaten from it.
"Please tell me this isn't a joke." He demanded from David.
A second later, David's face contorted with rage and he punched Arthur right in the face.
"HEY! BACK OFF!" Mike roared, shoving David back so hard that he hit his bed and fell to the floor.
"What was that for?" Arthur snapped at David as he got to his feet, feeling a bit dazed.
"It's not a joke!" David shouted.
"You shouldn't have eaten those chocolates, then!" Arthur shouted back. "They're laced with love potion by Romilda!"
"Romilda?" David repeated, his rage now gone as he registered the name. "Do you know her? Can you introduce me to her?"
Arthur looked over to Mike, both realising that David needs to be cured and there's one person that can help out.
"Yeah, we'll introduce you to her." Arthur said. "In fact, she'll be in Slughorn's office right now, so let's go."
"Why would she be there?" David asked as he stood and followed after the two out of the dormitory.
"She's taking extra Potions lessons with him." Mike explained as they approached the portrait hole.
Arthur was a bit worried that Slughorn might've left for breakfast as they approached his office, but after he knocked on the door to his office, it was answered and Slughorn wore a green velvet dressing gown and matching nightcap, looking bleary eyed.
"Arthur, Mr McGonagall." He mumbled. "This is very early for a call… I generally sleep late on a Saturday…."
"I know, sir, and we're sorry, but David swallowed a love potion by mistake and we hoped you'd make an antidote." Arthur replied.
"We would've taken him to Madam Pomfrey but we'd be asked questions since the love potion's from Merlons' Magical Merchandising." Mike added.
"I'd have thought you could have whipped him up a remedy, Arthur, an expert potioneer like you?"
"I've never mixed an antidote for a love potion before and I'd rather trust expert hands to make it, sir." Arthur argued.
"I can't see her, guys. Is he hiding her?" David moaned.
"Was that potion within date?" Slughorn asked, now eyeing David with professional interest. "They can strengthen, you know, the longer they're kept."
"That explains a lot." Arthur said as he and Mike wrestled David to keep him from knocking Slughorn over. "Today's his birthday, Professor." He added imploringly.
"Oh, alright, come in, then, come in." Slughorn said, "I've got the necessary things here in my bag, it's not a difficult antidote…."
David then burst through the door into Slughorn's overheated, crowded study.
"She isn't here yet, if you're worried." Mike told him as Slughorn opened his potion kit and added a few pinches of this and that into a small crystal bottle.
"Good." David said fervently. "How do I look?"
"Very handsome." Slughorn said smoothly, handing him a glass of clear liquid. "Now drink that up, it's a tonic for the nerves, keep you calm when she arrives, you know."
"Thanks." David said before he gulped the antidote down loudly.
Arthur, Mike and Slughorn watched him.
For a moment, David beamed at them, but then, very slowly, his grin sagged and then completely vanished, now replaced with an expression of pure horror.
"Looks like you're back to normal, buddy." Arthur grinned, patting his arm as Slughorn chuckled. "Thanks, Professor."
"Don't mention it, m'boy, don't mention it." Slughorn replied as David collapsed into a nearby armchair, Mike easing him in.
"Pick me up, that's what he needs." Slughorn continued, making his way over to a table that had nothing but drinks. "I've got Butterbeer, I've got wine, I've got one last bottle of this oak matured mead… hmm… meant to give that to Dumbledore for Christmas… ah well, he can't miss what he's never had! Why don't we open it now and celebrate Mr Merlon's birthday? Nothing like a fine spirit to chase away the pangs of disappointed love…."
He chortled and Arthur joined in.
"There you are, then." Slughorn handed the three boys each a glass of mead, raising his own. "Well, a very happy birthday, David -"
David didn't listen to the toast as he threw the mead into his mouth and swallowed it.
Within a fraction of a second, Arthur knew that something was terribly wrong and Slughorn didn't notice.
"- and may you have many more -"
"DAVID!"
He had dropped his glass, half rose from his chair and then crumpled, his extremities jerking very badly. Foam started dribbling from his mouth and his eyes bulged from their sockets.
"DAVID!" Mike screamed as he got to David's side.
Slughorn was speechless with horror while Arthur leapt over a small table, sprinting towards Slughorn's open potions kit. He searched, hearing the terrible sound of David gargling. Eventually, he found the shrivelled stone from a goat's stomach that Slughorn took from him in Potions.
He then hurtled over to David's side, forced his mouth open and thrust the bezoar in.
David gave a great shudder, a rattling gasp and then his body was limp and still.
Things are getting much more darker now.