I do not own Harry Potterr, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.

A Taste of Magic

91st Course – Illuminating

"I'm beginning to think that Madam Pomfrey was right," Remus said with a small smile.

"About what?" Dumbledore asked.

"That you like to look out your window pensively to appear mysterious."

Dumbledore chuckled and turned from the window. "Sometimes I do. Other times I find myself woolgathering." He sighed at Remus' confusion. "Daydreaming."

"What a quaint phrase," Remus said.

"A very old one," Dumbledore said as he sat. "Meaning yes, I am old for using old turns of phrase."

"I didn't say anything," Remus protested as he sat too.

"Not out loud you mean," Dumbledore snorted.

Remus resisted the urge to clear his throat, seeing a packet of lozenges on Dumbledore's desk. "Gathering any specific wool in particular?"

"The same problem I have been wrestling with lately," Dumbledore said, "only this time, without any hesitation or reluctance."

"That's good," Remus said. "I confess, I'm still a little unsure how to progress as well."

"Indeed, it is very tricky," Dumbledore mused. "In the past, I had Severus to help and glean some forms of motives or movements, but that avenue is unavailable now unfortunately. We know that Tom and Quirinus are after the horcruxes, but we do not know exactly how many there are, or are left. I thought we might have had a lead after going through memories but when Alastor went to the old shack, the place had been ransacked and demolished. Recently too. If one was there, it is there no longer."

"Information leaving Sanguis is sparse," Remus said. "The families of the students there are not very forthcoming. Not to mention the students themselves are rather tight lipped from what I have heard."

"Hmm, it seems Tom has learned some things since the last war." Dumbledore sighed and rubbed his eyes. "I truly hope it does not come to another one."

"Partially why we are doing this, right? To prevent one?"

"Indeed," Dumbledore said, nodding.

"Sirius was telling me the other day that things may not be so sanguine at Sanguis actually."

Dumbledore laughed. "How long have you been waiting to make that joke? Or did he actually say that?"

"I mentioned it after I thought of it and he was disgusted he didn't think of it," Remus smiled. "But he mentioned it to me the other day. Ted noticed that Lucius was looking a lot less polished at the Governor meetings these days. The two boards meet often to discuss things with the Department of Education."

"Lucius always did care most for his physical appearance," Dumbledore said, intrigued. "And by less polished…"

"Ted said Lucius looks rather haggard, and has let slip an unflattering comment or two about his boss," Remus said. "When Ted did a bit of surreptitious asking, Lucius wasn't like this before, even when we think he was introducing those rules and changes to things to make things easier for Sanguis."

"If Lucius is willing to, accidentally, make comments about Quirinus or Tom in public, then things must be getting difficult," Dumbledore said. "Interesting. Which would support Drake's theory. I was thinking about last year and as the year progressed, Quirinus did seem to lose a bit more control as the year went on. He was calm and collected during the choosing of the champions, rather bullheaded and rude before the dueling event, and a bit unhinged during the Third Task."

He stroked his beard. "I had thought the stress of the situation was making him emotional, but perhaps it was both, as well as an act to put on for the Aurors and the Ministry officials to see."

"Well to be fair, he did get a face-full of Hedwig," Remus snorted. "I've seen her more gentle ministrations many times before. When she actually wishes to cause harm is something else entirely."

"That is very true," Dumbledore agreed. He paused for a moment. "Sirius met with Narcissa over the summer, correct?"

"I believe so. That is how we discovered the existence of the locket after all."

"Right, of course. I think I have an idea. See if Sirius will come over, please. I will need his insight and assistance but if this works, this will be our best way to draw Quirinus and Tom out."

-0-

"And where have you been, young lady?" Parvati asked with a mock frown of disapproval.

"What?" Hermione's look of surprise turned into one of affront and suspicion. "I was at the-"

"-the library I'm sure," Parvati finished.

"If you knew, then why did you ask?" Hermione asked crossly.

"Classic interrogation technique. Surprise a person with a question and show you already know the answer, which flusters them into accidentally revealing more to further questions like who were you with in the library hmmm?" Parvati's mock frown turned into an expression of slyness and mischief. "And were you studying or were you studying?"

"I was with Tracey and-hey wait a moment!" Hermione flushed, her cheeks turning bright red. "I don't think I like what you're insinuating!"

"Hermione, dear friend." Parvati took Hermione's hands in hers. "I'm just doing my duty and watching out for you. Those Slytherin girls are all silver-tongued individuals who use their words to confound and ensnare you and do all sorts of trickery!"

"Oh come off it," Hermione snapped, taking her hand back and scowling at a giggling Parvati. "It is none of your business but Tracey and I only hold hands," she muttered, face still brilliantly red and the scowl turning into something else.

"And no snogging? Poor girl. The both of you," Parvati said with a pitying smile.

"I will not deign to answer that comment," Hermione said, looking away.

"You just did," Parvati grinned.

"I hate you," Hermione growled. She looked to one side and her expression smoothed. "Besides, not all Slytherin girls are like that, thank you very much. And I'm not the only one that thinks that way."

"What do you mean by that-OW!" Parvati yelped and slid her chair back, kicking slightly. "Sunny! That hurt!"

Sunny leapt onto the tabletop and bared her teeth at Parvati, hissing lightly. She flattened her ears when Parvati hissed back, swiping with her paw.

"You know I wouldn't include Millie in that very broad generalization! She's the sweetest," Parvati said and that mollified Sunny somewhat. The kneazle turned and mooned Parvati and smacked her in the face with her tail before she mooched off.

"It's still amusing that Sunny comes all the way to our tower from the dungeons," Hermione smiled. "She loves Harry of course and I do like seeing her and Crookshanks play. He's too lazy otherwise."

"I'm not even safe enough in my common room to talk about people behind their backs," Parvati complained. "So not fair."

"Then maybe you shouldn't talk about people behind their backs," Hermione retorted.

"That's like telling you not to go to the library," Parvati sniffed. "You know, where you are studying with your girlfriend."

"I hate that you can make anything sound dirty," Hermione grumbled.

"Hey, I practice that skill a lot, I'll have you know."

"If only you practiced skills that are actually important."

"You and I have very different definitions of important skills. Also, I have been practicing other things, I'll have you know. See? I'm doing my work unprompted. It's important to stay on top of things academically. Just like Harry says."

"Would it kill you to admit that Padma and I said that first?" Hermione sighed.

"I'm pretty sure it would, and would you want that on your conscience?"

"I'd find it a bearable weight," Hermione smiled.

"You really are learning a lot from Tracey," Parvati said with a broad smile.

"Where's Lavender?" Hermione sighed, shaking her head but also smiling slightly. "You seem to have all this extra energy to mock someone and she needs to share the load."

"Tease, I tease my friends. I mock people I feel nothing positive or negative about and I lambaste people I don't like," Parvati giggled. "Also, she's over there." She inclined her head to the side.

Hermione looked over and softened a little. "Aww."

"Right?" Parvati sighed.

Harry and Lavender were sitting on a couch by the fire. Both were asleep, having dozed off together. Lavender's head rested on his shoulder and she was curled towards him a little. An open book lay on Harry's lap, barely held in place by his sleep-dusted hands.

"How did that happen?" Hermione asked, sitting beside Parvati.

"They were reading something together and both just dozed off. Instead of just leaning against each other like they used to though, she just did that and I've been debating how I want to tease her about it later," Parvati said.

"Still hasn't admitted it out loud, has she?" Hermione asked.

"Not that I know. Still very dim," Parvati sighed.

"Feelings are hard to understand," Hermione said softly.

"Yeah, they are," Parvati agreed.

The two girls watched their two friends for a moment.

"We're going to have to meddle, aren't we?" Hermione asked.

"I think so. I don't think I'd survive what happened last year again," Parvati said, "much less them."

"Let's give them a little more time to try and figure things out, then we can get involved," Hermione said.

"Good idea. Want a sausage roll?" Parvati pushed a box to Hermione.

"Did you take them out of Harry's bag?" Hermione smiled as she took one.

"Wasn't me technically," Parvati smiled. "Sunny took the box out earlier."

-0-

"Come in," Dumbledore called out.

The door to his office opened and Sirius came in with Andromeda beside him. "I brought Andi. She's the smart one in the family," he said breezily.

"The more the merrier," Dumbledore said sincerely. "Additional points of view are welcome. Please, have a seat."

Andromeda sat and nodded at Remus before accepting a cup of tea. "How can we assist you?"

Dumbledore took a deep breath. "Remus mentioned that Lucius seems to be rather put out these days, something you have noticed as well, Sirius?"

"More than a little," Sirius said, sipping his own cup of tea. "He's ragged, physically and mentally. Never seen the like and I'm enjoying it to be honest. Trouble at home is my guess and not his literal home, but at Sanguis. Well maybe at home too. We aren't making it easy for him in the Wizengamot and on the governor boards but still, he's feeling some kind of pressure."

"Cissa...Narcissa and I have a very light form of correspondence right now," Andromeda said quietly. "Simple letters here and there, rather banal in topic to be honest, but with each passing letter, she shares a bit more. I get the sense she is enjoying her time as deputy Headmistress of Sanguis, but it seems she is doing more and more with each passing letter. Accepting more responsibilities."

"Meaning Quirinus or Tom is slacking," Remus mused. "With Lucius so busy being the political face of Sanguis."

"Would Narcissa assist us if we were to go on the offensive?" Dumbledore asked.

Andromeda shook her head slowly. "Narcissa, for all her faults, loves deeply and she does truly love Lucius. And for all of his faults-"

"His many faults," Sirius said.

"-yes his many faults, truly loves Narcissa," Andromeda continued. "He may treat her as a stereotypical Pureblooded Wizard would treat his wife, but he is devoted to her. Legitimately. It would take much for her to betray him and as far as I know, has done nothing to warrant that."

"Understandable and laudable in a fashion," Dumbledore said.

"That said," Sirius started, "she only became a Malfoy. She was born a Black. That means she will do what's best for her if she needs to and she will do what she wants. It will probably include Draco and Lucius to some degree, but she will do what she wants to in the end."

"So she might not turn on Lucius and Draco, but might turn on Quirinus," Remus said.

"Yes, especially if her image and security is threatened," Andromeda said.

"That is good to know," Dumbledore said, closing his eyes, deep in thought.

"Let's not focus on them then, right now. The Malfoys," Sirius said. "You know Tom and Quirinus best, Albus. What are some ways we can go after him, them? Bloody hell, that's confusing sometimes."

"Actually, I just had a thought, something Andromeda said." Dumbledore opened his eyes. "Tom was always very conscious about his image. He very much hated to be seen as lesser, inferior. He always wanted to portray himself as powerful and all-knowing, after milking the image of being a down-on-his-luck orphan for as long as it benefited him."

He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "He pushed himself in his studies while a student to earn accolades and recognition. Then when he left, he always claimed he learned more about magic than others, and that he was more powerful and talented as well as intelligent. Quirinus was like that to a lesser degree."

"Makes sense. He and Lucius have been trying to show off how great Sanguis is and it is so much better than other schools," Sirius snorted. "Despite having only technically existed for barely any stretch of time."

"And even though it seems Narcissa has taken over the day-to-day functions of Sanguis, it is still very much attached to Tom," Dumbledore said. He rose from his desk and crossed a cabinet. He removed a crystal bowl from within and brought it to the desk. While the others watched with interest, Dumbledore filled it with water and using a small silver knife on his table, cut his finger and allowed a drop of his blood to fall into the water.

Healing the wound with his wand, he then tapped the bowl with his wand and incanted and finished by throwing a small brass coin into it. He then sat silently, looking serenely patient while the other three adults looked at each other in confusion.

The surface of the water shimmered and the brass coin rose to the surface. The surface continued to undulate for a moment before smoothing like a mirror and Drake's image appeared. "Hello Albus," he said. He blinked a few times and peered about. "Did you actually put a drop of your blood into the water?"

"Yes, you instructed me to," Dumbledore said, looking confused.

"Oh right, I did say that."

"Are you telling me that I did not need to?" Dumbledore looked irritated while the other three stifled snorts and smiles. "Why did you tell me to do it then?!"

"I was still mad at you! I did not think you would actually do it!" Drake protested. "If I knew you would do that, I should have made up a far more humiliating task."

"This is what I get when I trust people," Dumbledore sighed.

"Oh calm down you large bearded baby, it was just a drop."

"I will remind you the next time that it is only a cinder of flame and ash," Dumbledore retorted.

"I swear, I will eat that damn fire rat and I have found a charm to prevent heartburn! I am going to tell Harry to fatten the beast!"

"You do not need to tell Harry to do that," Dumbledore smiled. "Anyways, the reason I contacted you. I know it is rather late, but there have been cases of schools being invited to the Scholastic Showcase on short notice, correct?"

"Of course. There have been instances where schools were invited to send representatives barely a few weeks in advance. Not very fair for the school as far as preparation time goes, but most schools will jump at the chance to show off. It is a very prestigious international event after all."

"And new schools can be invited as well?"

"If they warrant an invitation or are vouched for by their peers." Drake raised an eyebrow. "What are you thinking?"

"You're thinking of getting Sanguis involved at the International?" Remus asked.

"Yes. I believe Tom would want the opportunity. Before, he never expanded beyond Britain save for a few people here and there like Igor," Dumbledore said. "His desire for recognition would make him understand the appeal of showing up on the international stage. Especially if there is a chance to discredit Hogwarts all the more at the same time."

"Like he did the last few years in secret," Sirius said. "With the Dementors and the Chamber and ruining the Tasks of the Tournament. Will that be enough to convince him though? What if he doesn't think the risk is worth the reward?"

"We dangle more bait in front of him," Andromeda said. "The locket?"

"Precisely. He must be desperate to have it back, especially since it is his horcrux," Dumbledore said. "I can try to make it something of a wager between us, if he and his school defeats us in performance, then he can get it back."

"Isn't that a terrible idea though?" Remus asked, alarmed. "This is his horcrux we're talking about."

"True, but I have a feeling he is recollecting them not to hide them," Dumbledore said. "And if he is doing what I think he is, we actually want him to do that because it will put him in a position of vulnerability as well as power."

"If you say so," Remus said, still looking unconvinced. "But you just doing that will scream 'trap'. He's not that stupid."

"Wait, we can poke the dragon," Sirius said all of a sudden. "Attack Sanguis' image and show Hogwarts as still the best and that it wouldn't be a competition, that sort of thing."

"And how would you do that?" Drake asked, intrigued.

"Skeeter," Sirius said. "She likes Harry somehow. I bet we can convince her to write a few articles leading up to the showcase. Let her attack Sanguis some, talk about how good Hogwarts is, how proud that Britain is for letting Hogwarts represent them."

"And how inferior Sanguis is," Andromeda smiled. "Attack the image and his pride and feed his inferiority complex."

"He and Lucius will bully their way into the Showcase," Sirius smiled. "And we'll still show just how bad they are at the Showcase and it'll be even better because then the whole world will see it, not just Britain."

"They'll ignore the fact that it's a trap," Remus said, warming to the idea. "And if we can get Tom to be in that position of vulnerability-"

"We can end it." Dumbledore said the words quietly but with conviction. "One way, or another."

Drake looked at them thoughtfully. "I can speak with my colleagues and it will be easy enough to offer an invitation, or rather, the possibility of one. Especially if this Tom demands one, we can make it look like a large concession on the ICW's part. Also, to join this late into the preparations, it will be quite expensive."

"Tying them up even more and using more of their resources," Sirius said.

"I approve of this," Drake said. He smiled and the warmth in his expression disappeared faster than candlelight in a storm. His fangs protruded and his eyes turned blood-red. His expression became primordial and primal, predatory. It made the others shiver just seeing it through the water. "And Tom will be in international territory, beyond the remit of the British Ministry of Magic and their…immediate protections."

"Also true," Dumbledore said softly.

"Excellent. I will contact the committee head and we will wait for your Skeeter to make her articles. If that does not work, I will make some falsehood about the ICW offering a chance for lesser schools a chance to show their humble beginnings in the guise of charity." He laughed throatily. "Are you going to tell Nick and Penny?"

"I will," Dumbledore said. "They are coming to the school to do some tutoring soon anyways. They are also a bit upset at me as it were so I apparently need to salve some wounded feelings," he finished dryly.

"I am no longer upset at you. In fact, I appreciate this wonderful gift!" Drake laughed boisterously but the laughter had an edge of hunger to it. "Well! I will be off then. So many things to do and plan for. I will try to visit before year's end and several times before the Showcase. Until then!" The water roiled and the coin slowly sank to the bottom of the bowl. It glowed with heat and magic and the water evaporated away, leaving nothing but the coin behind.

Remus shook his head sharply. "That was…terrifying."

"I'm so glad he only tortured Vesuvius and didn't carry the feud out to anyone else," Sirius said.

"My goodness." Andromeda rubbed her chest, feeling her heart beat heavily. "He really cares for Harry a great deal to do all that. And then to look so…hungry at the coming prospect."

"Drake thinks incredibly highly of Harry and much like the Flamels, credits him for his return to the world at large," Dumbledore said. "He is very fond of him and if I had not been so firm, Drake would have come to hunt down Tom and Quirinus himself."

"And you said the Flamels would have too, right?" Sirius snorted when Dumbledore nodded. "Britain wouldn't have survived with those three burning everything down."

"No. I have seen Nicolas truly angry before. I have seen all three of them truly angry before actually." Dumbledore shook his head. "It is not something I wish to see again."

-0-

"What are you teaching them?!" McGonagall nearly shouted.

"I can ask you the same!" Nicolas actually shouted. "Are you seriously still teaching them to transfigure with additive steps?! That takes more time and effort!"

"But it is more successful with the additive step! Even you have to admit that transfiguring different animals is easier when you transfigure them by steps and use similarities to fuel said transfiguration when it comes to that."

"False!" Nicolas tapped the block of wood and it transfigured into a sloth. "Look! I can do it with just one step! No need to transfigure the wood to a statue of a sloth or into a mouse then into a sloth!"

"Because you are the bloody Alchemist and they are students!" McGonagall raged. "They do not have your expertise and ability! Very few do!"

"Flattering me gets you nowhere," Nicolas said, making McGonagall turn bright red. "Just admit that additive steps is an archaic form of teaching and that you are literally behind the times!"

Almost everyone in the Great Hall stared with wide-open eyes. The vast majority of them had never seen McGonagall lose her control like that, save for perhaps the Weasley twins and a few others. The others, already intimidated by the sheer presence of the Flamels, felt even more so with Nicolas going toe-to-toe with McGonagall. All the fifth years and above students were there, eager for help preparing for the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s while a few of the under years were there out of curiosity.

Flitwick, Arianna, and Perenelle were more or less used to this sort of thing and they pushed on with their tutoring without disruption. Snape deliberately showed no interest or attention at all. Sprout, Remus, and the other professors there stared, as shocked as the students.

"And pray tell, how would you teach it then, oh Alchemist?" McGonagall asked, her words dripped with scorn.

"Just do it! Turn one thing into another, transfigure!"

McGonagall threw up her arms. "You are so old, you have forgotten what it is like to genuinely get better at things. Not everyone can 'just do it'. In fact, there are many things you cannot and should not 'just do'. Do you get an idea for one of your contraptions and just make it?"

"First of all, contraptions? Rude and hurtful," Nicolas sniffed. "Second of all, yes!"

"Stop lying!"

"In more calm and less stressful times, I would have stopped this much sooner," Dumbledore remarked. "In my current state of mind, I find this wonderfully diverting."

"Not conducive to a learning environment admittedly," Perenelle said lightly.

"Probably not. Harry, if you would please," Dumbledore chuckled.

"Yes Sir," Harry grinned. He walked over with a box and handed a muffin to McGonagall and Nicolas. McGonagall took it sheepishly and Nicolas looked at it with askance. "Only one? And it is so small!"

"They're a little smaller," Harry nodded. "And you'll get more as long as you don't fight."

"You are blackmailing me?!" Nicolas gasped.

"Professor Dumbledore said it was more like 'treats to curtail negative behavior'," Harry said.

"Fair enough. I accept the terms." He popped the muffin into his mouth and chewed happily. "Mmm! I do adore blueberry. Very well. If I must teach archaically, then I will do so."

"Correctly, not archaically," McGonagall said sharply. She held the muffin with a firm grip when Harry reached for it. "I will take points away, Potter."

"You will do no such thing!" Nicolas said, incensed.

"It is really weird to see Professor McGonagall acting like that," Hermione said, blinking slowly.

"Nicolas, unfortunately, can have that effect on people," Perenelle said, sighing with sincere weariness. She smiled when Harry gave her a muffin. "Thank you, cheri."

By the end of the tutoring session, most of the students gladly left. They were tired from the additional effort but on the whole, felt much better about their coming tests while a few were even more alarmed at the enormity of the knowledge base ahead of them. Alicia, Angelina, and even the Weasley twins thanked Harry for helping them via the Flamels and other older students from other Houses, like Cedric, did the same, thanking him profusely.

"I feel a lot better now," Pansy said. She closed her Potions notebook. "You are a very good teacher, Miss Dumbledore."

"Miss Ariana is fine," Ariana smiled. "And thank you! Typically I'm not the best teacher but you're Harry's friends and he's been feeding me treats to keep me on my best behavior." She smiled when Harry gave her another mini-muffin. "But you have a firm grasp on potions and excellent practical skills so you'll be just fine on O.W.L.s."

"Why aren't you a professor here?" Tracey asked. "I'm in Slytherin and I'm still asking."

"I'd feel bad if I took the job away from Severus," Ariana said plainly, shocking the others into laughter. "He'd have trouble finding employment otherwise." She scowled up at Dumbledore who had poked her and gave her a disapproving look. "The other answer is I can be rather short with students. Apparently shoving a head into a cauldron isn't an 'acceptable teaching tactic'."

She shrugged. "But I do find myself enjoying tutoring you lot so who knows, maybe I can do more with it in the future."

"I really feel like my brain is mush now," Parvati sighed, rubbing her temples.

"You're actually smoking at the ears, how are you doing that?" Padma asked.

"Oh they have pepper imps that do that," Parvati said. "Want one?"

"No thank you," Padma smiled.

"Are you staying for dinner?" Harry asked.

"Of course we are," Perenelle smiled. "Miss a chance to eat with you? Do not be silly."

"Should we get them to stop fighting?" Harry asked, pointing at Nicolas and McGonagall who had started a new argument.

"No, when he is hungry, he will stop and find us," Perenelle sighed.

"Okay," Harry said easily. "I have something new to share with you. "It's called hot pot."

"It's really good," Ariana smiled.

"Lead me to it," Perenelle said eagerly.

-0-0-0-

odonnellzoo99 - Oh I agree for the most part. Some things are really weird like that surstromming fish that's supposedly just olfactorally awful. I also have a weird thing about certain textures. For example, the first time I had uni, I almost spat it out. Way too weird for me. Yet I adore a well made and braised pig ear and a friend of mine who tried it at the time got very upset at me for forcing them to try a 'dog treat', which I still disagree with lol.

Hands Off MY Wolfie - I always thought that divination was more about interpretation most of the time. Thanks for reading.

Kaya - Thank you very much.

Acindil D - I hope the days get better for you and the future is kinderr to you. I'm glad to help in any way I can. Thank you for reading and I wish you the best.

poka - You are too kind. Thank you so much.

alix33 - I saw stargazy pie in a YouTube video once and was fascinated by it.

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - I read a really nice book that detailed the Certified Chef Exam held by the Culinary Institute of America and one of their tests is making either a galantine, a balotine, or a terrine. It really went into the art of it as well as what people had to do to approach it and I've always been so fascinated by them ever since.