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<div class="chap-title">
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33. Chapter 33
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</div>
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<div class="chap-text">
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<p><em>A big thank you to those who sent me a review. You people put a smile on my
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face. I know there's quite a bit of speculation going on and I hope that this next
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chapter might already answer some questions. Lots of things going on in this one so
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please do enjoy.</em></p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p class='c1'><strong>Chapter 33</strong></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>More Magical Maladies Manifest in Muggles</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>St Mungo's reports a staggering amount of muggles to be admitted to
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their premises. There have been reports about numerous illnesses including but not
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limited to Dragon Pox; Cerebrumous Spattergroit and the black cat flue. While usually
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very treatable in wizards, our magical cures seem to not have the same effect on the
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muggles in our care.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>There have also been reports of a new malady that is highly
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contagious and supremely lethal. So far, no cure has been invented for what doctors
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now call '</em><em><strong>the Dissolving Sweats'</strong></em><em>. Reportedly, the
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muggles' organs are slowly dissolving from within after which the muggle expulses the
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destroyed tissue by sweating profusely.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>For now, the unknown disease has stayed contained within the muggle
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population but we still advise caution. Dr Lovegood asks that if anyone should you
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notice any muggle in their neighbourhood that is experiencing sudden weight loss;
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hair loss; vomiting and general weakness, they should notify St Mungo's
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immediately.<br/></em></p>
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<p>Harry closed the paper with a frown and looked at Hermione. She looked very pale
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and her hands were shaking.</p>
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<p>"Hermione," Harry asked, "are you okay?"</p>
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<p>"Just worried," Hermione replied. "This epidemic seems to be getting worse and
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worse. Do you have any idea how many muggles have died so far?"</p>
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<p>"They didn't say," Harry replied, scouring the article again to make sure he
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didn't just miss it.</p>
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<p>"No, they didn't," Hermione said. "They don't want to cause a panic. But the
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muggles obviously know that something is up and they report hundreds of deaths
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already."</p>
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<p>Harry looked at the high table where Dumbledore was reading the muggle paper
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'<em>The Sunday Times'</em> with a concerned frown. Snape was rapping his fingers on
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the table as he seemed to be deep in thought.</p>
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<p>"I'm sure your parents will be fine," Ron said. "They're doctors, aren't
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they?"</p>
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<p>"Dentists," Hermione sniffed.</p>
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<p>"Tooth doctors, right!" Ron exclaimed. "I'm sure that they know how to stay
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healthy."</p>
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<p>Hermione shrugged. "I suppose," she said. "They <em>would</em> know how to stay
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away from any contagious people and to wash their hands frequently. They do know what
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to look out for."</p>
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<p>"There you go," Ron grinned, "They will be fine. And you'll see. Someone will find
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a cure very soon."</p>
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<p>"I sure hope so," Harry mumbled, "because, at this rate, Voldemort will still be
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getting what he wanted, even though he's dead."</p>
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<p>"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed.</p>
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<p>"I'm sorry," Harry said. "I was just thinking out loud. I'll ask Severus about it
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later. He's a Potions Master so surely he has some idea of what's going on or what to
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do."</p>
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<p>This brought a hopeful smile to Hermione's face. "I suppose you're right," she
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said, finally taking a few bites of her food.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>"What do you make of this epidemic?" Harry asked Snape once he got them alone.
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"any ideas?"</p>
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<p>"It is quite odd," Snape replied. "It almost seems as if this is some sort of
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attack."</p>
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<p>"Biological warfare?" Harry suggested.</p>
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<p>"Quite so," Snape agreed. "While the magical community has grown resistant to most
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of the well-known maladies that are going around, the muggles have no such
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resistance. That's why it's killing them too easily."</p>
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<p>"And the dissolving sweats?" Harry asked.</p>
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<p>"That is the enigma," Snape admitted. "It almost seems like some sort of horrid
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combination of a number of maladies that we are already familiar with. Some sort of
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unholy offspring, if you will."</p>
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<p>"So someone is targeting muggles," Harry growled.</p>
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<p>"I think that it is no coincidence that this new illness does not seem to affect
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magical folk," Snape said thoughtfully. "Something in their biological make-up makes
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the muggles vulnerable against this attack. Something that we are protected against.
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Of course, this is all speculation."</p>
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<p>Snape sighed deeply. "For all we know, it is only a matter of time before the
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first wizard or witch is affected by this horrid disease. But I honestly don't think
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that will happen."</p>
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<p>"Do you have any idea of where they stand on making a cure?" Harry asked.</p>
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<p>"The guild is working on it," Snape told Harry. "Dr Lovegood, in particular, is
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hard at work, though I imagine he has his hands full trying to keep the muggles
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alive."</p>
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<p>"Hermione is worried," Harry said.</p>
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<p>Snape nodded. "I imagine that all muggle-borns and half-bloods with muggles in
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their families are concerned," he said. "But I assure you that the magical community
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is doing the best they can."</p>
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<p>"Are <em>you</em> trying to come up with something?" Harry asked.</p>
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<p>Snape shook his head. "Not right now," he said. "As you are well aware, I have
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other duties to attend to. Besides, I do not have a sample of the disease and I will
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not be bringing one into Hogwarts just to attempt something that my colleagues are
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already working on."</p>
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<p>"But <em>you're</em> better," Harry pointed out.</p>
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<p>Snape chuckled. "When it comes to diseases at least, I assure you that Dr Lovegood
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is more proficient than I am."</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Harry cursed himself for his lack of forbearance as he walked out of the main gate
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and into the direction of the forbidden forest. He would not need to venture in too
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deeply but he hoped that he would be able to find some recently deceased thestrals.
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He had run out of thestral hooves for his potion and seeing how they were quite
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critical to make the concoction work, he decided to try and harvest some himself.</p>
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<p>If there weren't any available he would have to order them but that could take a
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while and Harry wanted to wait as little as possible.</p>
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<p>As he walked into the edge of the arboreal enclosure, Harry slowed down his pace
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and tried to walk as softly as he possibly could. It would not do to spook the herd
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before he even got to them.</p>
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<p>"Good morning, Harry."</p>
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<p>Harry all but jumped out of his skin when he was suddenly addressed out of the
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blue. Instinctively, he had drawn his wand and whirled around to come face to face
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with Luna. She was hanging upside down from a low-hanging branch, holding on tight
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with her legs. Her arms were dangling down much like her hair was but she raised one
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hand to wave at Harry unnecessarily.</p>
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<p>"Luna," Harry said," You nearly gave me a heart attack!"</p>
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<p>Luna smiled serenely. "It's quite alright," she said, "Your heart is strong."</p>
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<p>"Thanks, I guess," Harry said, "But what are you doing here?"</p>
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<p>"I'm looking for the Spotted Snurcax," she said matter-of-factly.</p>
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<p>"Okay," Harry said slowly," And why are you upside down?"</p>
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<p>"To <em>find</em> the snurcax, you need to <em>become</em> the snurcax," Luna
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replied easily, "And very much like bats and possums, the spotted snurcax likes to
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view this world entirely upside down. Very unlike the striped snurcax, mind you."</p>
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<p>Harry smiled fondly and shook his head at the blonde. "If you say so, Luna," he
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said, "Say, have you seen the thestral herd anywhere near here lately?"</p>
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<p>"Of course," Luna said, "They are at the creek right now. The morning breeze makes
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them thirsty, you see?"</p>
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<p>"The creek?" Harry asked thoughtfully, "I didn't know there was one here."</p>
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<p>"I think you never looked hard enough," Luna said, "People often miss things that
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cross their paths, simply because it's not on their mind. But I can show you where it
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is if you'd like."</p>
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<p>"I wouldn't want to disturb your search for the er…"</p>
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<p>"Spotted snurcax," Luna supplied, "Don't worry. They'll be here all year."</p>
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<p>"Thanks," Harry said, offering Luna his hand. "Be careful coming down, okay?"</p>
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<p>"Thank you, Harry," Luna said as she took Harry's hand and gracefully dropped down
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from the branch. "Aren't you just my knight in shining armour?"</p>
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<p>Harry chuckled, "Without the armour, you mean."</p>
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<p>"And without the horse," Luna added, "Is that why you're looking for the
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thestrals?"</p>
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<p>"No," Harry said, "I was just looking for one that might have recently died. I
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need their hooves."</p>
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<p>"For your potion," Luna said.</p>
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<p>"For my potion," Harry agreed, "So, what do you think?"</p>
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<p>"Of the potion or the thestrals?" Luna asked, "Or a peculiar combination of the
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both of them?"</p>
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<p>"The thestrals," Harry clarified, "Have any of them died recently?"</p>
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<p>"I don't think so," Luna said dreamily, "But maybe if you ask them nicely, they
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might give you what you need." Her eyes shone with such clarity and determination
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that Harry did not dare question her.</p>
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<p>"Okay," he said somewhat doubtfully, "I'll do that."</p>
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<p>"You have grown," Luna suddenly said as they kept walking into the forbidden
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forest, ducking underneath overhanging branches as they went.</p>
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<p>"Have I?" Harry asked, "I'm still not as tall as Ron, I think."</p>
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<p>Luna chuckled. "Perhaps not that literally," she said, "I meant it in a spiritual
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way. I can see that you have a greater understanding of yourself."</p>
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<p>"Well, I have been getting a lot better at Occlumency," Harry told her, "Maybe
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that's what you mean?"</p>
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<p>"Perhaps," Luna replied. She clasped her hands behind her back and started
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skipping ahead of Harry who quickened his pace to keep up with her. They reached a
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clearing in which a creek streamed calmly. Surrounding the waters stood the herd of
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thestrals. Some of them raised their heads and looked at the intruders thoughtfully
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before deeming them safe and going back to their drinking and grazing.</p>
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<p>"Hello, Sunspot," Luna greeted as she approached a certain mare, "And how are you
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doing today? Has your hip gotten better at all?"</p>
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<p>Sunspot tapped the ground with her foot a couple of times before bucking and
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pushing her nose into Luna's outstretched hand.</p>
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<p>"Oh, that is so good to hear," Luna said happily, "I do hope that you'll be more
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careful from now on."</p>
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<p>Harry looked around but saw no signs of any of the thestrals being sick or dying.
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He sighed to himself. It was probably better this way. Luna might not have taken it
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well had they stumbled upon a body.</p>
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<p>"Go on," Luna goaded, "Ask Blueberry to help you. He's standing over there." Luna
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pointed toward one of the larger thestrals that stood proudly on top of a small hill,
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his wings folded neatly at his flanks. He appeared to be standing guard while the
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rest of the herd grazed.</p>
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<p>Harry frowned. "You mean for me to just go up to him and… ask for his hooves?"</p>
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<p>"That would be a strange thing to do," Luna noted, "Just ask him to help you."</p>
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<p>Harry did not think that would be any less strange but he couldn't help but trust
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Luna. She had – after all – clearly bonded with the herd. She must know what she's
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doing. So Harry carefully walked towards the stallion that watched his approach
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carefully but without backing down.</p>
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<p>"Hello," Harry said uneasily.</p>
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<p>"His name is Blueberry," Luna advised as she threw her arms around a foal,
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scratching its chest.</p>
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<p>Harry cleared his throat and tried again. "Hello, Blueberry," he said, "I'm
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brewing a potion to be able to talk to the people I have lost."</p>
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<p>Blueberry regarded him carefully and for a moment, Harry almost believed that it
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could actually understand him. He glanced behind him to see Luna sitting down in the
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grass as a thestral nudged her carefully with its nose before lying down next to
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her.</p>
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<p>"So, I was wondering if you could help me in its creation somehow?" Harry finally
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said.</p>
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<p>For a moment, Harry and Blueberry regarded each other, neither one of them moving
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even though Harry desperately wanted to move back. But then, the proud stallion
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turned around and started swishing its tail rather wildly until several hairs
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dislodged from it.</p>
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<p>Harry understood the message immediately and gathered as many of the hairs as he
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could into the pouch he had brought along for this purpose. When Blueberry started
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bucking at him, Harry moved back a few steps.</p>
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<p>"Thank you, Blueberry," he said solemnly before turning away and searching for
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Luna again. The girl was crouching next to the creek, a smile on her face. Harry
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approached her and went to stand next to her. He stared into the water and saw their
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reflection.</p>
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<p>"Did you ever wonder if the person in the water is real, and you're just a
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reflection of him?" Luna asked seriously.</p>
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<p>"I really hope that <em>I'm</em> the one who is real," Harry replied, "Otherwise,
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everything we've been through was for nothing."</p>
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<p>"Well, if you want to be sure…" Luna said. She used her hands to form a makeshift
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cup and scooped some of the water up. Then she got up and opened her hands above
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Harry's head, effectively dousing him with the liquid.</p>
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<p>"Luna!" he exclaimed, startled by the cold water, "What are you doing?"</p>
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<p>"It would appear that you are still you," Luna said easily, "So that means that I
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am still me."</p>
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<p>"Are you sure?" Harry asked mischievously, not about to be outdone by the
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Ravenclaw. He didn't quite bother with decorum and simply splashed some water in
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Luna's direction. She was either too slow to dodge or simply didn't want to. Either
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way, she too was soon soaked.</p>
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<p>"That is quite refreshing," she said, smiling brightly. "So what do you see
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now?"</p>
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<p>If Harry had seen the suspicious-looking glint in Luna's eyes, he probably
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wouldn't have looked away. But he did. And Luna – in a moment of Slytherin clarity –
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nudged Harry just strongly enough to throw him off balance. Harry – whose reflexes
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were superior to those of Luna – swirled as he fell, grabbing the first thing he
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could to try and keep himself upright. When that something ended up being Luna's arm,
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they both ended up falling into the creek, disturbing its waters and chasing off some
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of the younger thestrals.</p>
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<p>For a moment, Harry sat there feeling quite shocked. Water dripped down from his
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drenched hair and into his face. He half sat, half lay into the cold water,
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scrambling to find his glasses when he noticed his movements were restricted since
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Luna was now laying on top of him, where she had landed. She looked at him with a
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serene smile on her face, her eyes darting to his hair ever so slightly.</p>
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<p>"You have a frog on your head," she said sweetly. Harry chuckled and Luna moved
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her hand to his head as to remove the frog. But when it hopped away on its own, she
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settled her hand against Harry's cheek and tapped his nose with her own.</p>
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<p>"You are absolutely extraordinary," she whispered.</p>
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<p>Harry inhaled sharply as he realized at that moment just how much Luna meant to
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him. With a rush of courage, he pressed his lips against hers, gently putting a hand
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in her neck as he closed his eyes and lost himself in the moment.</p>
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<p>When she stroked his hair and deepened the kiss, he realized that he felt truly
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happy.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Harry had never felt more excited in his life. Even the day he first came to
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Hogwarts didn't feel like this. He completed the containment field and shivered when
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he sensed its dome engulf him once more. He didn't know why he felt like this but
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something told him that today would be the day. He would finally be able to finish
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the Umbral Locum.</p>
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<p>He felt like a composer as he worked on the potion. The honey mead simmered
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pleasantly, the tendrils of magic stretching all around him. He revived the ghost
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pipe with his innate magic before adding it to the brew. He added the burned jackal
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fur as he would add pepper to a juicy steak. He stirred the potion with the practised
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and precise movements of a master.</p>
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<p>Harry wasn't even remotely distracted by Snape waiting patiently at the other side
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of the alchemical circle. In fact, he even forgot that the man was there. He relished
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in the silence that was now his own and felt invigorated by the colours of magic all
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around him as they were revealed by the circle. This felt right.</p>
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<p>Harry tossed in the carefully peeled bark of the weeping willow and quickly added
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the moth wings before the bark was completely immersed. The crow feathers he dipped
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in honey made specifically from Gorse flowers before adding them to the concoction as
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he stirred.</p>
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<p>Swirling colours of purple, red, green and orange seemed to spur him on as he
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stirred and added, chopped and diced. He monitored the fire like a mother would her
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sleeping child and reacted every time it seemed to change. Not a thing went
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wrong.</p>
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<p>The heat that rose from the cauldron drew Harry into a warm embrace. The popping
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of small bubbles sounded almost like the ringing of bells and the scent that emerged
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from the fumes reminded Harry of a warm spring day after it rained.</p>
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|
<p>As he stirred, the fluid turned clear while the differently coloured strands of
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magic swirled inside until a whirlpool of explosive colour seemed to rise from the
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cauldron, swirling chaotically and yet very controlled.</p>
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|
<p>Harry knew that he was very nearly there. This time he would succeed for sure. He
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grabbed the knife he had gotten from Snape for Christmas and was about to cut into
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his hand when the energies around him seemed to break and crackle. Harry couldn't say
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how he knew this but he understood that the potion did not want <em>him</em> to
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personalize it. No, not him. Not this time.</p>
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<p>A tongue of green magic lashed out at the containment field, in the direction that
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Snape was sitting. Apparently, the dark Potions Master saws nothing as extraordinary
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as Harry was for he was just sitting there, watching intently but completely
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relaxed.</p>
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|
<p>Harry smiled when he realized the magic's objective.</p>
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<p>He locked gazes with Snape and beckoned for him to come nearer. Snape frowned but
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did so. He stepped closer until he was at the edge of the containment field. He could
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not pass it.</p>
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<p>Orange wisps danced around Harry's wrist as he stretched out his hand. It breached
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the circle as he held it out towards Snape. After a moment's consideration, Snape
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took Harry's hand in his. Harry held on tightly and gently tugged on Snape's wrist,
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urging the man to step forward. Purple magic was practically licking at the breach
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Harry had created, almost begging to be allowed to welcome the newcomer as if it was
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an excited pet.</p>
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<p>Snape allowed Harry to guide him inside and stepped through the breach. When he
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was inside of the alchemical circle, it sealed itself off completely once more.
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Snape's eyes widened as he took in the display that was dancing magic, a whirlpool of
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colour emanating from the cauldron and the scents of happy days longs since past.</p>
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<p>"Harry," he said. "This is amazing."</p>
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<p>Harry smiled knowingly. "This is the creation of Umbral Locum," he said. "This is
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the connection between the planes."</p>
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<p>Magic of all colour was dancing around Snape, gently playing with his hair and
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cloak, making it seem as if Snape was facing a strong wind. He allowed the magic's
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embrace and chuckled when a particularly devious strand of red magic tugged at his
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sleeve.</p>
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<p>"Why have you called me in here?" Snape asked.</p>
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<p>"The potion does not want me to take it this time," Harry said.</p>
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<p>"What do you mean?" Snape asked.</p>
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<p>"It's hard to explain," Harry said. "But I've been brewing like this for a while
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now. I've been communicating with the innate magic of all the ingredients that go
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into this potion and I <em>know</em> that in a way it is sentient. And right now,
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it's telling me that it chooses you."</p>
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<p>"But are you certain about this?" Snape asked. "This is your creation and I know
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there are people you want to see."</p>
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<p>Harry smiled. "I will get my chance," he said. "For today, this is how it has to
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be."</p>
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<p>He handed Snape his knife – heft first – and waited patiently for the man to take
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it. Snape regarded Harry carefully before taking the knife from him.</p>
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<p>"How much blood will it take?" Snape asked.</p>
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<p>"I imagine that it depends on the circumstances," Harry replied, knowing that it
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was so. "I will tell you when to stop. For now, just cut your hand and open it above
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the cauldron."</p>
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<p>Snape faced the colourful creation and dutifully cut his hand without even
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flinching. He watched the blood slide down his palm and drip into the cauldron. As it
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did, the clear solution underneath the whirlpool changed colour.</p>
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<p>"More," Harry encouraged, watching alongside Snape as the colour was still
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changing.</p>
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<p>More blood was sucked into the cauldron, the whirlpool doing a fine job of
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stirring it just right.</p>
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<p>"Just a bit more," Harry said when about a cup of blood had been added. "Just a
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few more drops I think. Okay, stop."</p>
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<p>Snape closed his hand and withdrew it. He would cast a healing spell once the
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potion could no longer be disrupted by the magic.</p>
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<p>The whirlpool slowly dissipated to reveal the Umbral Locum below it. It was
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burgundy in colour and smelled of herbs and spices. The amount was scarcely enough to
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fill one vial. The magics that had surrounded Harry up until this point all vanished
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and soon, there was nothing there but silence.</p>
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<p>"It's complete," Harry said, feeling incredibly exhausted. He broke the
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containment field and sat down heavily into a chair. When he looked at Snape again,
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he almost laughed when he saw how confused the man looked.</p>
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<p>"What's wrong?" Harry asked, "Didn't you ever see a potion before?"</p>
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<p>"I have," Snape said evenly, "But never one that was anchored to me in such a
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specific and fantastic manner. I can't help but feel honoured."</p>
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<p>"The honour is all mine," Harry said. "Now, don't keep me waiting. I want to know
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if it worked or not."</p>
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|
<p>"You want me to drink this?" Snape asked incredulously.</p>
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<p>"It's not poison," Harry chuckled, "What are you afraid of?"</p>
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<p>The expression on Snape's face revealed nothing but Harry could take a wild
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guess.</p>
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<p>"You will only find what you need," Harry urged. "Please. I know you can do
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it."</p>
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<p>"Okay," Snape conceded. "I will."</p>
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<p>"I would sit down on the floor if I were you," Harry advised. "Unless you want to
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end up with a cracked tailbone or anything."</p>
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<p>"I would rather not," Snape said as he sat down as gracefully as he could.</p>
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<p>"Don't forget to occlude," Harry pointed out. Snape sneered at him but did so. And
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then, he drank the potion.</p>
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<p>Years of training Occlumency and Legilimency did not prepare him for this moment.
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He wouldn't have been able to stop the sensation, even if he had wanted to. It almost
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felt like apparition, though instead of feeling a hook behind his belly button, he
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felt one behind his mind.</p>
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<p>Before he knew it, he landed near the river in Spinner's End, staring at a piece
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of wood from the yew tree as it drifted past. And for a small moment, he wondered if
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he perhaps <em>had</em> apparated after all. Until he heard a painfully familiar
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voice.</p>
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<p>"Hello, Sev."</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p><em><strong>I will not be updating tomorrow</strong> for the sole reason that I
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wanted chapter 34 to be the finisher of the week. I know, I know, you all hate me for
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doing this but I'm asking you to wait just one more day!</em></p>
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<p><em>Please do let me know what you think. Many things happened this chapter. I'm
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sure you have one or two things to say!</em></p>
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<p><em>See you on Friday.</em></p>
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