Chapter 29: The Problem with Potions and Veela

He had found a note amongst his things this morning to himself. And he didn't recognize it. Couldn't make sense of it. Yet, somehow he had left it for himself. It had seemed so cryptic—identity potion. What was that supposed to fucking mean?

He already needed a drink and it was barely nine. What he actually needed though was his wife.

He and Narcissa had been way too apart for his liking lately and he felt a need to be with her. It was an odd sort of feeling, but he felt there was something off.

Which made sense because there were a lot of things off given this spring.

She had looked so fragile the day at Bella's funeral. He still couldn't believe Dumbledore had to act like an ass about Draco attending his own aunt's funeral.

He could believe it. The man was mad at him and toying at him at every opportunity because he had the gall to fight his son's suspension and to question what happened this fall.

The inquiry had all but reached a halt. They had never figured out what was in that corridor. He had a sneaking suspicion it was long gone by now. Dumbledore wasn't stupid and probably used one of the many crisis that had occurred at the school to remove whatever had been there.

Then there was the Granger matter—Rat Gate as he heard many of the halfbloods and mudbloods call it. He rolled his eyes at the garish name. The girl's transformation was still causing issues for the school. The stupid zero tolerance policy that he pushed Dumbledore had contorted to suspend his own son had been a result of them trying to clean up the situation and failing.

Now there were talks of trying to get the case dismissed after the girl's being status review hearing occurred.

The medical records that they had received from discovery requests had shown that the girl did not have much of a chance to regain her autonomy of mind. At most she had been able to stay in human form for a week, but the slightest stress could trigger a breakdown. None of the techniques such as learning occlumency or the potions they had been giving her were helping.

She'd likely be obliviated and magic bond so she'd stay in rat form when the Department of Magical Creatures reviewed her case in the couple of months. It really was a travesty. And yet the school's solicitor thought they could get the entire civil case dismissed because a rat didn't have standing to sue the school and neither did a squib in their opinion—really vile stuff. But admittedly, Lucius probably would've argued something similar though he saw a lot of holes in it.

Rat Gate was only one of the many issues the school was dealing with. Delores had done a terrible job as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and there had already been talk about getting her to gracefully resign—mostly how to blackmail Cornelius into removing her from her duties at Hogwarts.

She was an abysmal teacher at best. He had seen the assignments she had assigned Draco over Easter and they were just dreadful. He was just glad that he had been more or less home schooled in that subject but it was ridiculous with tuition rates being the way they were they had someone so unqualified teaching. And then there was his good friend Severus.

Though Lucius inwardly rolled his eyes at referring to Severus as a friend.

He knew the man was slimy and not to be trusted, though arguably you could argue the same about Lucius. However, there had always been something off about the man when it came to a few things. The first and foremost being Lily Potter.

He rolled his eyes thinking of the dead baby stealer. He still wondered how she did it. He heard Narcissa rant about Potter all the time.

Not that he blamed her, the woman was unhinged what she had done to Bellatrix and Black. Imagine had she done that to him and Cissy.

Draco had been a miracle for them. For years he had sworn he would end the Malfoy line because he did not want to put Cissy at risk. He did not want her to become one of those things. It was something he and Abraxas had argued about constantly.

"So, what if she changes, don't be dramatic boy. An heir is an heir."

"She could die, you know that. Most can't handle the full transformation. She won't be the same. She'll be ruined."

Abraxas rolled his eyes. "Then you'll find another wife. It's not exactly alchemy. The bloodline needs to continue, Lucius. Get it done. Besides, you might find yourself liking her more if she survives the change. I find them to be quite fascinating creatures."

More like disgusting creatures. It was bad enough his mother was one. He would not risk his wife becoming one of those monsters.

Cissy had ended up being the one to convince him to have Draco. Of course they took precautions to only have a male heir….he couldn't lose her.

It was funny, how much he had grown to love that woman. He could only imagine what he would've done had he been in Black's position. It was gut wrenching to watch. He and the man had never been particularly close but knowing that his own life was essentially stolen from him it was hard not to sympathize with him.

Severus though had not one ounce of sympathy for Black the one time they discussed his incarceration.

"Pity, you got him released." Severus had said when Lucius had flooed to his office. "Jail is where that dog belongs."

"The dog is my wife's cousin, Severus." Lucius snapped before adding for a good measure. "And Bones appointed me. I had no choice."

Oh, he had a choice but he wasn't going to tell Severus that. He could never quite figure out where his loyalties were.

Maybe they were just to himself. Or Potter perhaps.

How Severus had been obsessed with her. He didn't seem to care about her son though that was made more than clear a second later when he said. "Of course Potter's death had to cause Gryffindor to lose it with that girl and Pettigrew to be discovered. When it doubt a Potter ruins everything."

"You've had to much fire whiskey," He said trying to not want to wring the man's neck. He found with Severus you never criticized him, even when he was being ridiculously petty which he always was when it came to the Potter family.

"Probably," Severus said. "I haven't exactly been in the mood to deal with little monsters. Minerva out and right bailed after the brat died. Just glad everyone in my house knows not to turn on their classmates and hated the little brat."

He doubted everyone in Slytherin hated Potter. Several of the family's were neutral despite what Dumbledore and Severus might think.

Not that he said anything as usual he let Severus think he was right and agreed with everything he said. He used that technique a lot when dealing with Riddle and his followers.

Severus had never exactly been one of the higher ranked members, but at the same time he had never done grunt work for Riddle. He probably would've been higher ranked if he had been a pureblood, Lucius mused. Still, he knew the Dark Lord used him and liked him—well, as much as the Dark Lord liked people. His skills in Potions and the mind arts were only outranked by the red headed bitch.

He wondered…

Identity potion.

Hmmm, maybe he could ask Severus about such a potion. There had to be a reason why he wrote it down, but he still did not know why.

If he could get in contact with Severus that is. The man had practically gone off the radar since Christmas. The couple of owls he had been sent back without so much as a reply. A part of him had been glad because he was always such an unpleasant man to deal with, but now he wondered what exactly Severus was hiding.


Lily realized he was lying to her about her legs.

She wasn't stupid.

She recognized that she always felt worse after those bloody potions.

He was going to pay.

She hated him.

She knew he was keeping something else and she was sick of it. She wasn't an invalid. She did not get what his deal was, but she knew him enough not to voice her opinion.

Instead, she pretended she was too weak and waited for him to leave. He had to at some point. She didn't know if she'd be able to escape at that time—she wouldn't put it past him to have wards around the dingy home but she had to do something. She had had it.

The mudblood comment had been the final straw the first time around. She may have occasionally felt something for him again, but whatever it had been was gone with what he was doing.

As far as she could tell it had been months since she woke up and still not one word about her son.

When she asked the other night he had the gall to say, "Not this again, Lily."

She thought about screaming or yelling at him again, but she knew that's when he'd drug her, so instead she just looked at him.

"You're not arguing," he said finally.

He really had gotten ugly. Would it kill him to wash his hair or change his robes after he spent all day in her lab. She was just as good with Potions as him and she never had looked like a mess.

"I don't see the point," She said. "You are not going to answer my questions, I might as well not even bother asking them."

"Lily. I…"

"Are you going to tell me anything about my son?"

Now it was his turn to be silent.

"There. The conversation is over. No need to give me my medicine."

"But you need to rest…"

"I didn't get upset, Sev, I understand."

He nodded and didn't potion her that night. Clearly being awarded for learning her lesson.

Well, he'd be the one learning a lesson soon enough. If he ever left the house.

He rarely did since he said he was on sabbatical, but she knew occasionally he would have to run to Diagon Ally to procure potion ingredients or what. That was her window of opportunity to figure what the hell was going on.

If she could leave, she'd do just that. Even if she had leave the muggle way, but she would eventually get her revenge. She was so done.

"Is mistress feeling okay?" One of his house elves asked.

She didn't even understand how he could afford a house elf and still live here. She thought about asking the elf but needed to be discreet about it. She couldn't have it squealing to their master. Undoubtedly, they'd also be watching the house when he was gone.

Another obstacle, but it was doable as long as the potions he had given her flushed out of her system before he left again.

He gave them to her every three or four days. She had stopped taking them a week or so ago. She could feel her legs and had practiced moving her toes when she knew no one was watching. When he was gone she'd try to walk or do anything to move. Maybe…just maybe she could get out here and see her son.


Bern, Switzerland

Emma Granger wondered again why she decided to take the red eye to Switzerland. Then she thought of the summons that Ted presented her the other day regarding a being status hearing for her daughter and realized she had no choice.

In a little less than two months those freaks as her soon to be ex-husband was prone to calling the wizarding world were going to decide whether or not to strip the humanity away from her daughter.

It made her blood boil. Even though Ted explained that the Department of Magical Creatures argued that it was the humane thing to do—that if her daughter thought she was a rat to permanently keep her that way.

Well, they could go to hell.

Which was why she was going to see her ex-lover and try to convince him to turn her daughter into a werewolf.

God, the whole thing sounded bizarre and she needed a drink, but she could bloody well not be drunk for this conversation even though she was pretty sure Remus had no idea who she was based on what Andromeda said and what Petey had indicated when she had visited him earlier.

He had been brought back to the ministry cells after those women had been killed. Apparently, he had some minor burns and had somehow been able to weasel himself off the island for medical care. After what had happened to Lestrange and Dursley and the inquiry the ministry was facing for their deaths by the international community, the ministry was actually doing medical treatments for their prisoners. Besides, Petey needed to be in perfect health when his soul gotten eaten by the dementors.

A day that couldn't happen soon enough.

"Back again, sister dear." He smirked seeing her.

She knew she probably looked like a wreck. Since all this had started she had lost a good bit of weight. She hadn't cared much of looking put together like she normally would and her hair oddly reminded her of her daughter's.

She cried when she saw it not for the fact that it needed a good brushing, but the fact that Hermione might not get to brush her hair again in a couple of months.

Her once flawless outfits were long gone too, she was wearing jeans and an old hoodie of his that she kept. She didn't know why she had kept it at the time, probably thought it was comfortable but she had wore it that day to send a message to Petey.

"What did you do to him, Petey." She finally hissed.

"Do to who? Did you lose your conditioner, Emma. Your hair looks just like the Rat of Gryffindor's."

She wanted to strangle him right then and there, but she couldn't she needed answers.

"You know I'm talking about Remus, Petey. I know you did something to cause him to forget me."

"Or he just left you."

She shot him a look.

"Oh, so you found him? Did you share the good news that you share a bouncing baby rat?"

He started laughing hard and then suddenly stopped as if something had hurt him. He then looked at her oddly and laughed, "Little squib isn't a little squib after all…"

"That was not me," She hissed. Even though she guessed it could've been, she wasn't going to even question that now. She could care less. She just wanted answers about Remus.

"Oh, was it? Maybe you can tell you wolf about that and he might be interested in you."

She glared at him.

"Oh, so you already knew the wolf bit then?"

She really wanted to rip his throat out right about now.

"What. Did. You. Do. To. Him."

"Don't you already know that."

"I know he doesn't know who I am and that you did that." She said before adding, "What if I told you I could help you with your appeal."

He looked her.

"I control the family accounts," she said. "I'm sure you're aware. So, start talking."

"How?"

"Well, that Rat of Gryffindor as you call her is the only eligible heir for our ratty little family and I control the purse strings as her mother. So, if you want that money for your appeal…"

Petey picked up on the message. "You should ask Severus Snape what he did it if you want to blame someone. I just helped him find the perfect guinea pig for it."

"Severus?"

She remembered hearing about the boy—Snivellus—who Peter and his friends picked on relentlessly. Remus had regretted doing what they did, but Snape was a jerk. There was no way he and Peter would be friends.

Peter laughed, "Who says we were friends?"

"Why?"

"Why did I join them? I wanted to survive. That's all I want. And you, sister dear, would do well to keep up your end of the bargain."

She grimaced.

"It's a very complicated potion," Petey said. "You know potions are above my skill level."

"All magic is above your skill level."

"And yet, I'm not the squib."

She rolled her eyes, "Seems like you thought otherwise a moment ago. What does the potion do, Petey."

"It makes you forget. Rewrites reality. I only did some minor adjustments to Remus's head, but it can do more. Amelia Bones might be very interested in just what it can do."

"I'll make sure you have funds for your solicitor," Emma said before adding. "If this is true."

He smirked, "Of course, it's true. Would I lie?"

All the freaking time.

"And is there a way to reverse it?"

He shrugged. "Ask Snape. Like I said, I was always bollocks with potions. I do know that one of the recipients started snapping out of it for a bit but…well, we got her back under control."

Finally, she asked the one question that she had been wondering, "Why?"

"Because the last thing our family name needed was for it be stained by a werewolf. And yet, you still had his bastard."

"And you being a murder and sex offender doesn't stain the family?"

He shrugged, "At least it doesn't affect the bloodlines.

Needless to say, she left disgusted. Just like she felt disgusted when she paid his solicitor, but she'd do anything to save her life.

Which is why she was on her way to Switzerland to talk to what was essentially a complete stranger.


Bern, Switzerland

"You seem on edge," Remus Lupin told Sirius Black. They had met for their weekly cup of hot chocolate.

It was surprisingly easy to get back into their friendship even though over a decade had passed since they had been in contact. Sirius was different than he remembered, more mature and solemn. Not that big of a surprise what happened to him. He was still clearly haunted by his time in Azkaban, though he was doing better.

He looked like the man he had been all those years ago, Remus thought. Hardly, the same skeletal man that came to his shop a few months back. He had even gotten rid of the goatee he wore which made the resemblance even more uncanny to pre-Azkaban Sirius However, his eyes had a perpetual haunted look to them. Something that probably wasn't ever going to go away.

"When am I not on edge?"

He had a point.

"Is Harry okay?"

Harry was usually a very safe topic to talk about. It was pretty clear Sirius loved the little boy they were pretty much inseparable whenever the boy was in Bern.

Remus had met him occasionally and was surprised with how quiet the boy was. He had not expected a child of Sirius and Bella to be almost studious, though he had been told a lot of that was probably a result of the incident with the troll this fall.

He still couldn't believe that something like that had happened at Hogwarts and that a child had gotten killed. Harry's injuries seemed bad enough. And then what had happened to that other little girl after the accident…he just couldn't believe the incompetence.

"Harry is great," Sirius said. "If bored. I think he wants to start working on practical aspects of magic, but his core still needs to rebuild. There are other things going on, Moony."

He raised an eyebrow, "You want to discuss."

"Some of them I can't," Sirius said. "And then some…"

He lost focus. It happened to him occasionally, a side effect of Azkaban. But that wasn't what cut him off.

It was a woman.

A veela to be precise.

Even Remus felt the pull of her allure for a second as he took her in. She was dressed simply in a dark colored turtleneck and jeans that seemed to be painted on her body complete with a ridiculously tall pain of ankle boots. Very attractive if you liked that sort of thing. Personally, she was a little too dainty for his taste —if he liked someone. He really wasn't one for dating these days.

He was just surprised Sirius was staring at her. Her allure really wasn't strong. And she wasn't exactly Sirius type either.

Did Sirius even have a type though? Until Bellatrix he would look at anything that wore a skirt, so maybe it shouldn't be too surprising. Though he knew for a fact his friend wasn't ready to move on yet.

"Snap out of it," He hissed. "Really? A veela?"

Sirius grimaced. "I wasn't staring I just…"

"Well, well, well, it's a small world isn't it?"

The veela had decided to join them.

"Claire," Sirius said. "This is Remus Lupin. Remus this is Claire Du Pres."

"Enchanted," Remus said holding his hand out to her.

"So, you like hot chocolate?" Sirius asked.

She shrugged. "Gil likes hot chocolate. I prefer coffee actually. Not that I'm allowed to really have any these days."

Sirius scowled if for only a second when she mentioned the name Gil.

Interesting…

"So, you're on a date then?"

"Well, he's not taking me to a five-star restaurant so you would not believe it's a date."

Sirius grimaced. "I walked into that didn't I?"

The veela shrugged as an extremely stupid looking blonde man in a skintight lilac ski suit of all things entered the shop.

Fucking Gilderoy Lockhart.

Still looking like a fucking peacock.

"There you are my lilac eyed princess."

Sirius looked like he was going to gag while the veela smirked.

"Seriously, Gilderoy Lockhart?" He asked her.

"He was interested and took me on a real date." She said, "It was nice seeing you, Sirius. It was nice meeting you Monsieur Lupin."

He thought he could hear Sirius murmur under his breath that her eyes were violet not lilac.

When she was gone he looked at him friend, "Seriously?"

"Well, her eyes are violet not lilac." He said, "And Gilderoy Lockhart is an idiot.

"That wasn't what I was talking about, Sirius." He said, "I was talking about her…Claire."

"What about her?"

"Are you interested in her?" He asked.

"Of course not, Moony." He said, "I…it's too soon. Bella is the only woman I ever want. And she is very well aware I'm not interested."

He thought he was sincere, but then again…he saw how he stared at the veela.

"It has to be the allure," Sirius said. "Only thing that can explain it. I really need to work on my shields."

Remus was rolling his eyes at the obvious denial when he heard a soft voice ask, "Remus Lupin?'

He turned around to see a woman with dark hair staring at him intently. "Do I know you?"

She smiled sadly, "You knew me a very long time ago. My name is Emma Granger. You may have known me as Emma Pettigrew."


He had written Severus this morning—again. The board needed to know whether or not he was coming back next year. Personally, they wanted to fire him with so little notice of his sabbatical but he couldn't do that. The prophecy…

Then he had to remind himself that Harry Potter was dead.

It was such a hard thing to rationalize. Ten years of planning washed down the drain because he had allowed a troll to enter his school and had the stupid idea to test the boy. He guessed in theory the prophecy could apply to the Longbottom boy, but he hadn't exactly been marked by Tom or had showed any aptitude that made him stand out. Though, after Draco Malfoy had destroyed his father's wand his performance had gotten a little bit better in his classes.

He frowned as he looked at the first-year rankings. Hermione Granger had been a shoe in at the beginning of the year for being top in class, but now was likely going to be spending her life as a garden rat because of their incompetence.

He still regretted what happened to that bright young mind every day, much like he regretted both young Harry and Ronald's deaths.

Poor Molly Weasley. He had talked to her a few times since Percy was arrested. The woman was besides herself. Not that he could blame her. She still believed that if he just spoke to the minister he could have the charges against Percy dropped, he didn't have the heart to tell her if the reports on Ms. Granger's condition were true Percy was likely going to be charged with being status removal which could carry as much as the kiss in terms of sentencing though he doubted that would actually occur since Ms. Granger was a muggleborn.

Only she wasn't.

She was a halfblood, he thought. He still wasn't over the fact that Peter Pettigrew had a sister.

Peter Pettigrew. Another thorn in his side. He still couldn't believe the atrocities the man had committed while posing at a rat at the school. He shook his head thinking about those poor children. Ronald had been one of them.

Yet, another reason he felt for the Weasley family despite Percy's actions.

He was told by the board to distance himself from the family after what happened The optics were bad, but he couldn't help but still sympathize with them.

It was much how he still felt sympathy for Severus even though most of the board—even Lucius—wanted him to cut ties.

He was actually surprised Lucius of all people wanted Severus gone, but who knew what went on in Lucius' s mind?

Yes, he know he might've been pushing it denying Draco attendance to Bellatrix's funeral, but it was Bellatrix Lestrange of all people. In hindsight, it was probably not the smartest thing to do after the botched suspension incident earlier this year.

Between Lucius and Augusta, he had more than half of the board mad at him for their own zero tolerance policy. He had to expunge both boys' records. And then Lucius was furious he had expunged Neville's record because he was the instigator.

He couldn't make anyone happy. And now the latest scandal was that the board was demanding that Cornelius remove Delores from her position. To be fair that was one decision that he could get behind, but that meant finding a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in addition to probably a new Potions professor and Transfiguration professor.

He still was flabbergasted that Minerva resigned. He told she could take a sabbatical if she wanted, but she refused. She said she couldn't forgive herself with what happened this fall. To be fair, a lot of the board hadn't forgiven her either with the exception of maybe Augusta and she wasn't even happy when Minerva advocated for Neville to be suspended as well.

He sighed as he looked at his Transfiguration professor who just came into his office to deliver the news, "Are you sure?"

She nodded. "This year has just been too difficult between Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter's death. And Ms. Granger she might as well be dead."

Albus grimaced but knew what she meant. He felt terrible about the fate that awaited that poor girl.

"What will you…"

"I'll be fine," She said shaking her head. "I've had enough to retire on for a while. I could go back and privately tutor for a while if I needed or wanted to, but it's time Albus. You might want to think about leaving yourself."

He gave her a look.

"You were in charge during all of this," She said. "It was your responsibility not to let the troll in."

He ignored her even though she was right.


Chapter 30: Emma and Remus chat, Severus plots.