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<div class="chap-title">
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40. Chapter 40
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</div>
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<div class="chap-text">
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<p><em>A big thank you to all the lovely people who sent a review. As always, they
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put a smile on my face. Thanks for waiting so patiently for this next chapter. Here
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it is!</em></p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p class='c1'><strong>Chapter 40</strong></p>
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<p>Throughout the next couple of weeks, Harry dutifully got up at five-thirty, got
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showered, ate breakfast and left for St Mungo's. Sometimes he would see Snape in the
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last five minutes before he took his leave but most of the time, he didn't.</p>
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<p>Nine times out of ten, Luna would meet Harry for lunch, lifting his spirits and
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bringing him some of his favourites to eat. Treacle tart was often a part of it and
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almost every time, Harry ended up eating her piece of tart as well.</p>
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<p>Harry would always get an impossible amount of potions to brew and he managed
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every day to complete his task while John never was. Though Harry had to admit that
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the potions he <em>did</em> finish were of very respectable quality.</p>
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<p>He would never be home in time for dinner nor even before nightfall. More often
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than not, Snape would have already gone to bed by the time Harry got in and if not,
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Harry was too exhausted to engage in any conversation that went beyond 'Good night'
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anyways.</p>
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<p>Right now, Harry was focusing on brewing a batch of fever reducer. He had raised
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the number of cauldrons he was working with from eight to twelve, bustling about as
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the concoctions required new ingredients to be added, and putting a stasis on those
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that needed his immediate attention but that he couldn't get to just yet. He was so
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very much into the brewing zone that he didn't even notice it when a few people
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entered the lab.</p>
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<p>"Harry Potter!" said a harsh voice. Harry glanced up from what he was doing for a
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moment to see chief Lovegood standing there next to healer Johnson and a few other
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healers that Harry didn't recognise. Harry flushed when he realized who had come down
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to what he now considered to be <em>his</em> lab but knew that he couldn't get too
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distracted lest his potion would fail. So he went back to adding sudarshan leaves to
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the potion while addressing Chief Lovegood.</p>
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<p>"How might I be of assistance, sir?" Harry asked, immediately walking over to
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another cauldron as to not waste any time.</p>
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<p>"What in the blazes are you doing, boy?" healer Johnson exclaimed. Harry glanced
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at him, somewhat confused, but wasted no time to get back to yet another cauldron to
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give it the much needed stirring it required. "You asked for fever-reducing potions,
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did you not, sir?" he asked. "That's what I'm brewing."</p>
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<p>"And is there any reason why you're using twelve cauldrons instead of one, Mr
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Potter?" Lovegood now asked. "Do you realize the dangers of dividing your attention
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as such?"</p>
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<p>Harry put a stasis on all of the cauldrons with a single flick of his wand to now
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give the healers his full attention. He noticed that John had also stopped brewing
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and was following the conversation closely.</p>
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<p>"Harry 'as been brewin' like this fer weeks," John said. "And he's not made a
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single mistake yet."</p>
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<p>"I did not ask your opinion, Mr Scofield," Lovegood said without taking his eyes
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off of Harry. "Kindly go back to brewing your potion. You are behind as it is, as I
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understand."</p>
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<p>"Aye sir," John said dejectedly as he went back to his stirring.</p>
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<p>"I don't understand the problem, sir," Harry said honestly. "This is how I've been
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taught to brew. This is how I've always done it."</p>
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<p>"You're an apprentice," Lovegood said coldly. "A Master such as Severus Snape will
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have no problem with controlling multiple cauldrons at once, I'm sure, but a boy such
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as yourself – who has no experience worth speaking of – will not be brewing quite so
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dangerously!"</p>
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<p>Harry frowned and opened his mouth to argue but Lovegood wasn't done yet.</p>
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<p>"We were wondering how you always managed to brew as much as you did, and now we
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have our answer. But no more."</p>
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<p>"But sir!" Harry finally spoke up. "If it gets you the necessary potions when you
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need it, and I don't have any problem brewing like this, what is the problem? I can
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do this!"</p>
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<p>"Mind your place," healer Johnson then said. "You're speaking to the Chief and you
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would best mind your tone."</p>
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<p>Harry glanced at his direct supervisor and saw a flash of pity in his eyes.</p>
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<p>"People need these potions," Harry said, trying his best to keep his voice steady.
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"And you're severely understaffed. I know for a fact that most of the interns you
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accepted have already quit again. I can make you these potions in record time and
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have proved to you that I can do this. Why would you sabotage me like this?"</p>
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<p>"Because you are not brewing safely," Lovegood snarled, seemingly losing his
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temper. "I will not have an apprentice blowing up the hospital simply because he's
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too arrogant to see that he's bitten off more than he can chew"</p>
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<p>"But I'm not –"</p>
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<p>"Enough," Lovegood said dangerously. "Others may accept your rebellious attitude
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because of your name and the stories attached to it, but I will not. You will follow
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the rules just like anyone else and you will not endanger anyone with your folly. If
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you cant do as I say, you will be kicked out of the internship program."</p>
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<p>Harry doubted that he could be missed at this point but thought it better not to
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test this theory. So he remained calm and didn't say another word even though he was
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fuming on the inside.</p>
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<p>"You will finish the potions in these cauldrons one by one," Lovegood then said.
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"And once those are done, you will resort to using one cauldron at a time. Is that
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understood?"</p>
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<p>"Yes, Chief," Harry said evenly, trying to not show any emotion in his voice.</p>
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<p>Lovegood nodded sharply and left again, followed on his heel by the other healers,
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some of which threw incredulous glances in Harry's direction.</p>
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<p>Once a few seconds had passed, John spoke up. "Awa' an bile yer heid," he
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grumbled. "Tha' auld dobber cannae even see a good thing when it bites 'im in the
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arse."</p>
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<p>Harry sighed in response. "I can't brew the number of potions he needs when I use
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only one cauldron at a time," he said as he stirred the first one. "I just don't
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understand what the big deal is."</p>
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<p>"Well, 'tis quite rare to see anyone brewin' multiple brews at once," John said.
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"I dinnae ken anyone ter do tha'."</p>
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<p>Harry shrugged. "That doesn't mean it's dangerous," he said. "And he'll run out of
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potions much sooner than he'd like this way."</p>
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<p>John shrugged and winked at Harry. "He'll ken 'is mistake soon enough," he
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said.</p>
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<p>"I suppose you're right," Harry sighed though it still didn't sit right with him.
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But John went back to his own brewing and left Harry to lightly simmer in peace, much
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like the fever reducer.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Snape sat in his chair by the fire, sipping a glass of pumpkin juice as he thought
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about his current situation.</p>
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<p>While he was happy that Harry was taking his internship so seriously, he was
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beginning to wonder if Harry was not working himself too hard. He seemed to be
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exhibiting a combination of the hard-working mentality the Dursleys had knocked into
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him and the hero complex that had guided most of his rash actions at Hogwarts. Young
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as he was, if Harry went on like this much longer, he might just get sick himself.
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And knowing Harry, the boy would not let on anything was wrong until it was too
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late.</p>
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<p>Snape had regularly been sending Harry messages through the cuff they shared and
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always received a reply back after, though it was always short and to the points.</p>
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<p>'<em>Has your partner blown up any cauldrons yet</em>?' Snape sent to Harry in an
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attempt to start some light-hearted banter. In the brief moments they had been able
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to talk to one another, Harry had told Snape about the older gentleman that had
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decided to turn his life around while he was well in his fifties. Apparently, he had
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potential but was nowhere near as skilled as one needed to be while working on a
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schedule.</p>
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<p>'<em>No.</em>' Harry replied shortly.</p>
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<p>Snape looked at the word and sighed, not knowing what he could reply to that
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anymore. Harry was undoubtedly busy and so he just let him be.</p>
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<p>Snape hissed when he felt a sharp pain in his thumb and glanced down to see that
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his glass had bitten him.</p>
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<p>"Maya," he called out with mild annoyance.</p>
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<p>"What?" Maya called back rather groggily from within the bedroom.</p>
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<p>"Is there any reason in particular why you found it necessary to charm my glass so
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it would bite me?"</p>
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<p>There was a momentary silence, followed by a few thuds and thumps as Maya was
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undoubtedly getting up and getting herself dressed. She emerged moments later with a
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delighted smirk on her face.</p>
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<p>"Payback," she said easily. "For charming the mirror to show a stain on my face
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that wasn't there."</p>
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<p>"I see," Snape replied dryly. He tapped his wand against the glass to get it to
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behave again before setting it down. "Have you heard anything from your sister
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lately?" he asked as Maya waltzed into the kitchen to help herself to a danish.</p>
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<p>"No," Maya replied. "I haven't but she rarely keeps in touch anyway. Why?"</p>
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<p>When Snape didn't reply, Maya chuckled. "You miss Alex, don't you?"</p>
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<p>"That's preposterous," Snape scoffed. "It's just out of the ordinary that
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Alexander hasn't bothered me yet."</p>
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<p>"If you're worried, why don't you just go over there?" Maya suggested. She walked
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back into the sitting room and flung herself sideways on Snape's lap, draping one
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arm, around his neck for balance. Snape smiled at the intrusive woman who seemed to
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have no respect for personal boundaries.</p>
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<p>"It's not becoming to visit people without notice," Snape said evenly.</p>
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<p>"Now you're just making up excuses," Maya chided, lightly tugging on Snape's hair
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for punishment. "Why do you have such issues with admitting that Alex is your friend
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and that you miss having him around?"</p>
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<p>"He's not my –"</p>
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<p>"Would you stop?" Maya said. "Don't you lie to me, Severus Snape. Now repeat after
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me. Alex is my friend."</p>
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<p>"Maya, I hardly think that –"</p>
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<p>"That does not even sound remotely like what I wanted you to say," Maya said. "Try
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again."</p>
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<p>Snape narrowed his eyes and said nothing.</p>
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<p>"No?" Maya asked innocently? She gently cupped Snape's face and teased him with a
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light kiss that she quickly withdrew from when he tried to reciprocate. She grinned
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evilly. "Well?"</p>
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<p>"You're such a tease," Snape said but then he sighed in resignation. "As you wish.
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Alexander is my friend and I'm worried about him."</p>
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<p>"Good man," Maya praised before hungrily drawing Snape into another kiss. "Why
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don't we go and check up on him then?"</p>
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<p>"In a bit," Snape agreed. "First, I have some other plans."</p>
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<p>Maya giggled when Snape grabbed her around the waist and threw her over his
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shoulder. The half-eaten danish she was eating dropped to the floor as Snape headed
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back into the bedroom, laughing theatrically.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Harry smiled politely as Luna unpacked the baguettes with fried eggs on them,
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handing one to Harry.</p>
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<p>"This looks great, Luna," Harry said honestly. The eggs had been kept warm with a
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warming charm and the bread was crunchy. And yet, Harry didn't seem to have much of
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an appetite. After taking two bites, he stopped eating and stared at a dirty spot on
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the table, thinking about the earlier occurrence.</p>
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<p>He was drawn out of his reveries when Luna grabbed his hand. He looked into her
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blue eyes in confusion and then noticed how rude he was being. "I'm sorry, Luna," he
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said honestly. "I didn't mean to ignore you or anything."</p>
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<p>"What's on your mind?" she asked kindly. "It might help to talk about it."</p>
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<p>"It's a bit difficult," Harry admitted.</p>
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<p>"Because it has something to do with my uncle?" Luna asked knowingly.</p>
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<p>Harry chuckled. "Always the perceptive one, aren't you?" he said incredulously.
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"But yes, it does."</p>
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<p>"You can tell me," Luna told Harry honestly. "I will understand if you're upset
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with him. He can be difficult sometimes."</p>
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<p>"He told me I can't brew in multiple cauldrons at once," Harry grumbled. "I've
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been doing fine these last couple of weeks. I've completed every last one of the
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ridiculous assignments I have been given and I've not wasted a single potion."</p>
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<p>He looked at Luna but she just looked back at him serenely, cupping his hand with
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hers and listening intently to his troubles.</p>
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<p>"I honestly don't know how they want me to brew three hundred bloody pain reliever
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potions in a single day when I can only use one cauldron. I'm already here from dusk
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till dawn only getting a break to hurriedly eat my lunch and dinner. I don't see any
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of my friends, or my father anymore but I've never complained about it. After all,
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those sick people really need the potions."</p>
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<p>Harry inhaled deeply when he noticed that he was running out of breath. Luna still
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didn't reply. She just handed him a glass of water from which he drank eagerly before
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continuing.</p>
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<p>"After all those weeks, Chief Lovegood just waltzes into my lab with a slew of
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healers and tells me off for not brewing one potion at a time. He says that only
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someone as accomplished as Severus could do that and that he won't risk me blowing up
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the hospital just because of my arrogance."</p>
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<p>Harry clenched his free hand into a fist and stared angrily at that same dirty
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spot on the table.</p>
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<p>"He feels that I only do these things because of who I am. Not for a moment does
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he seem to consider that I actually know what I'm doing. He even threatened to end my
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internship if I continue the way I've been going. But I don't know how to else to
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complete my assignments if I don't."</p>
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<p>Harry sighed deeply and found to his horror that tears seemed to be welling up in
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his eyes. Blaming them on his exhaustion, he blinked them away and looked hopelessly
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at his girlfriend. "Luna, what am I going to do?"</p>
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<p>The kind look in Luna's eyes had shifted to one of fierce determination and yet
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she smiled.</p>
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<p>"You're going to continue brewing," Luna told him easily. "Because that is what
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you do. You do what you think is best and don't let anyone stop you."</p>
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<p>Luna got up from her seat, moved to stand behind Harry and gently put her arms
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around him in a warm embrace. She kissed Harry on the cheek as he grabbed her arms as
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if they were some sort of lifeline.</p>
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<p>"You're not going to allow anyone to get to you. Not even the chief of medicine,"
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she told him knowingly. "You're Harry Potter. You're the boy who warmed Severus
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Snape's heart, the boy who made friends with Draco Malfoy. You helped me when I was
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bullied and you worked hard on all of your creations. You have friends and family
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that care for you, not because of your great accomplishments, but because of who you
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are."</p>
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<p>Harry couldn't help but smile at Luna's reassurances. He leaned back into her hug
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and looked up to meet her loving gaze. "Thank you, Luna," he said fondly. "That
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really helped."</p>
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<p>"I'm glad," Luna said, kissing him lightly on the lips. "Now, you'd best eat your
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food and get back to work."</p>
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<p>"Where are you going?" Harry asked, confused when Luna went in the wrong direction
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to floo out.</p>
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<p>"Oh, I just have some things I need to do," she told him sweetly. And then she was
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gone, leaving a somewhat befuddled Harry behind.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Snape stood staring at the blasted door of his blasted muggle-friend with a
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frightening scowl on his face contemplating at what point in his life he turned into
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the soft-hearted man that would worry about someone as frivolous as Alexander.</p>
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<p>And since when did he listen to anyone but Dumbledore telling him what to do? Even
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if that someone was a gorgeous chocolate-haired woman that made away with his
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heart.</p>
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<p>Snape shook himself from his unhelpful thoughts and knocked on the door with the
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ferocity of a landlord eager to collect his overdue rent.</p>
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<p>There were some sounds coming from inside that made it clear that someone was home
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but it took a very long time before the door actually opened to reveal a very
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dishevelled-looking Alexander. He looked as if he hadn't bathed in days. There were
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bags under his eyes and that annoyingly permanent grin on his face had vanished
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without a trace. And when he saw Snape, there was no denying the fear that sprung to
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life in his eyes. Snape couldn't help but feel a sharp twinge of worry.</p>
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<p>"Severus," Alex breathed. "Why are you here?"</p>
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<p>Snape frowned. "I hadn't seen you for quite some time," he said. "I was merely
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wondering if everything was alright."</p>
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<p>Alex glanced downward before looking back up at Snape. There was a grief in his
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eyes that Snape had never wished to see on the man's face. He suddenly became even
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more worried.</p>
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<p>"Alex," he said sternly. "Where are Charles and Emma?"</p>
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<p>"Charles is at his grandparents," Alex said. "And Emma… Emma is inside. But
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Severus, she is so sick."</p>
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<p>"Why didn't you warn me?" Snape snarled as he brusquely moved past Alex and walked
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towards where he knew their bedroom was. "You've never been shy to ask my help in the
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past. Why didn't you come to me this time?"</p>
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<p>"I don't want her taken away," Alex said. There was a hopelessness in his voice
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that broke even Snape's heart.</p>
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<p>"Taken away?" he asked. "What do you mean? Why would I take her away?"</p>
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<p>"It's this epidemic," Alex said in a hushed voice. "It's all over the papers
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nowadays. People are getting sick. And all of a sudden, they disappear. You wouldn't
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know anything about that, would you?"</p>
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<p>With a few large strides, Snape had made it into the bedroom where Emma lay
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shivering in the bed. He kneeled beside her and gently put a hand on her
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forehead.</p>
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<p>"It's going to be alright, Emma," Snape said kindly. "I'm here for you."</p>
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<p>"I won't let you take her away," Alex said sternly but his voice trembled. Snape
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ignored him while he took Emma's pulse. He sighed when he noticed that it was a bit
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slow. He then motioned for Alex to join him in the hall.</p>
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<p>"You're right," he told the muggle. "Those disappearances have happened because
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this illness is of a magical origin. The healers have taken in the muggles that have
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fallen ill, trying to separate them from the healthy muggles."</p>
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<p>"Are they able to cure it?" Alex asked hopefully.</p>
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<p>"Not yet," Snape told him. "The best healers are working on it but no cure has
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been found. If we take Emma to St Mungo's –"</p>
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<p>"No!" Alex objected, moving in front of the door to the bedroom as if he needed to
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shield his wife from Snape. "If they can't help her anyway, I don't want her to go
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there. Please –"</p>
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<p>"Alex-"</p>
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<p>"I'll do anything. I can take care of her!" Alex said in desperation. "Please
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don't take her. I know you could if you wanted to but… I'll…"</p>
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<p>Snape sighed and ran a hand through his hair. For a moment, he didn't know what to
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do. If he took Emma to St Mungo's, she could receive the magical care she needed but
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he could also understand Alex's worry. The muggle authorities were probably going
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crazy with all the disappearances of the sick people and their papers were probably
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full of conspiracy theories.</p>
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<p>"Alright, Alex," Snape finally said. "I won't take her anywhere. But on one
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condition."</p>
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<p>"Yes?" Alex said, his stance relaxing slightly.</p>
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<p>"You'll allow me to give her the potions I think she'll need," Snape said. "And
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you will get some food in you from time to time. I also believe sleep and a shower
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are in order."</p>
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<p>Alex chuckled, though the sound of it was not quite as happy as Snape would've
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liked it. "You win, Severus," he said. "You're really a good friend, do you know
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that?"</p>
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<p>"As are you," Snape admitted. "Don't worry. I will help you to the best of my
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abilities. You can count on me."</p>
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<p>"I always do, Sev," Alex replied wearily, flashing a brief yet genuine smile in
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Snape's direction. "I always do."</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Harry stared at the missive in his hand. It was short and to the point, written by
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Caratacus Lovegood himself.</p>
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<p class='c1'><em>Mr Potter,</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>Come to my office at 13:45.<br/>
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Do not be late.</em></p>
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<p class='c1'><em>C. Lovegood</em></p>
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<p>Harry wondered what he could've possibly done wrong now but he dared not stay
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away. For a moment, he missed the expectation of detentions and loss of points at
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Hogwarts because then he knew what was coming. Now, there was nothing but
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uncertainty.</p>
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<p>He knocked on the door at exactly 13:45 and entered when he was prompted to do so
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by the commanding voice of the chief.</p>
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<p>"Mr Potter," Lovegood greeted curtly. "Do come in and close the door, if you
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|
will."</p>
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<p>Harry did as he was told and stood waiting.</p>
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<p>Lovegood sighed. "Take a seat boy," he said. "Come now, we're both busy people and
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I'm sure you would like to get this meeting over with as quickly as I do."</p>
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<p>"Sir?" Harry asked as he took his seat. "I'm not sure what this is about."</p>
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<p>"Of course you're not," Lovegood said. "But I'm not one for small talk so let's
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|
get straight to the point. You're dating my niece."</p>
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<p>Harry's eyes widened momentarily and shifted briefly to Lovegood's wand that lay
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casually on the edge of his desk. "I am, sir," Harry told him, doubting if it was a
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good idea to admit that at this point.</p>
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<p>"During lunch, my niece seemed to deem it necessary to come into my office and
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tell me just how unfair I'm being," Lovegood continued.</p>
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<p>Harry was unable to suppress a mortified groan. "I'm so sorry, sir," Harry said.
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|
"That was never my intention. I'll talk to –"</p>
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<p>Harry was stopped when Lovegood raised his hand. "As she explained to me your
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|
attitude in school as well as your accomplishments both in and out of the field of
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|
potions, I realized that I might have been somewhat unfair towards you."</p>
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|
<p>Harry couldn't help but stare.</p>
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|
<p>"While I would never allow any intern to brew as you have been, I understand that
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|
you've been doing so for a while now and that you're managing just fine. Only the
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|
boys who need to clean the cauldrons can complain about that."</p>
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|
<p>Harry secretly pinched himself to see if he was dreaming. Did Lovegood just make a
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|
joke?</p>
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|
<p>"On another note, I think I need to make clear that when we assign you a certain
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|
amount of potions to brew, it is not expected for you to complete said assignment in
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|
a day's time," Lovegood continued. "That being said though, I agree that it's been
|
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|
most useful for you to brew the way you have. Our healers would be in even more
|
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|
trouble if you weren't as skilled as I have to admit you are. Therefore, I give you
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|
permission to use multiple cauldrons again. If you, however, have an accident while
|
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|
doing so, this privilege will be revoked immediately. Is that clear?"</p>
|
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|
<p>"Yes sir," Harry said in wonder. "Thank you, sir!"</p>
|
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|
<p>"Alright, Mr Potter," Lovegood then said. "You'd best be off. I understand that we
|
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|
really need the rest of those fever reducer potions soon."</p>
|
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|
<p>"Right away!" Harry said eagerly. He nearly knocked over his chair in his haste to
|
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|
get out and get started again, eager to show chief Lovegood that his newfound faith
|
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|
in him was not unfounded.</p>
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|
<p>He hurried back towards the elevator and was about to get in when he locked eyes
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|
with a familiar, distraught-looking Slytherin. He skidded to a halt as he took in the
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|
dishevelled appearance of the blonde.</p>
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|
<p>"Draco," Harry said. "What are you doing here?"</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p><em>Oops. Looks like it sort of ended on a cliffhanger. Sorry! Do let me know what
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you thought, please. The next chapter will be up tomorrow.</em></p>
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