|
|
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no" ?>
|
|
|
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd">
|
|
|
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:epub="http://www.idpf.org/2007/ops"
|
|
|
xml:lang="en" lang="en">
|
|
|
<head>
|
|
|
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../Styles/style.css"/>
|
|
|
<meta content="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml; charset=utf-8" http-equiv=
|
|
|
"Content-Type"/>
|
|
|
<title>Chapter 42</title>
|
|
|
<style type="text/css">
|
|
|
/*<![CDATA[*/
|
|
|
p.c1 {
|
|
|
text-align: center;
|
|
|
}
|
|
|
|
|
|
/*]]>*/
|
|
|
</style>
|
|
|
</head>
|
|
|
<body>
|
|
|
<div class="chap-title">
|
|
|
42. Chapter 42
|
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
<div class="chap-text">
|
|
|
<p><em>Wow! I am blown away by your responses! I think only the last chapter op TPA
|
|
|
has gotten more reviews than this chapter did, and that defenitely didn't happen
|
|
|
overnight. You guys are the absolute best and I love you for it. A big thank you to
|
|
|
all the guest reviews as well. I'm sorry I couldn't reply to you but you guys
|
|
|
rule!</em></p>
|
|
|
<p><em>As to you-know-who who made me chuckle... nice try but you get one chapter a
|
|
|
day. I</em> will <em>fight you!</em></p>
|
|
|
<p><em>Enjoy this next chapter. You all deserve it! It's a tad early because I need
|
|
|
to go to yet another party... *groan* ... but that's alright.</em></p>
|
|
|
<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
|
|
|
<p class='c1'><strong>Chapter 42</strong></p>
|
|
|
<p>About a week had passed since Snape had found out about Emma's condition and he
|
|
|
had been spending every waking moment trying to develop a cure for '<em>The
|
|
|
dissolving sweats'</em>. Unbeknownst to him, Harry had been doing the exact same
|
|
|
thing back in St Mungo's but neither of them was having any luck.</p>
|
|
|
<p>When Snape tried to add some valerian root to his current attempt for an antidote,
|
|
|
Hedwig screeched at him.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Keep that beak in check, you ruddy bird," Snape snarled. Hedwig clicked her beak
|
|
|
disapprovingly.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Don't you think that I'm aware that this is a longshot?" Snape asked. "Because I
|
|
|
am. But if it has escaped your notice, I'm running out of – oh Merlin, I am speaking
|
|
|
to an owl."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Hedwig hooted softly but Snape merely glared at her and tossed in his valerian
|
|
|
root. "If you don't refrain from giving me your unwanted advice, I shall confine you
|
|
|
to Harry's quarters. Am I understood?"</p>
|
|
|
<p>Hedwig just glared haughtily at the Potions Master as if to say '<em>I'd like to
|
|
|
see you try'</em>. Snape ignored her and was about to toss in his crumpled St John's
|
|
|
wort leaves when a pop brought him out of his focus.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"It's lunchtime, Master Snape," Zippy said dutifully.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I'll just eat some more at dinner time, Zippy," Snape replied without even
|
|
|
turning away from his cauldron.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"That won't do, Master," Zippy said. "Mistress Bell asked Zippy to make sure that
|
|
|
you ate every meal."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape groaned. "<em>I</em> am your master, Zippy, not her," he reminded the little
|
|
|
house-elf. "And I'm telling you to leave it for now."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Zippy is sorry, Master," Zippy said. "But Zippy must insist. Zippy wouldn't want
|
|
|
to make Mistress Bell sad."</p>
|
|
|
<p>After a moment of silence, Snape sighed. "Fine," he said. "I acquiesce. Just bring
|
|
|
me a bowl of soup if you will and I'll eat it here."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Oh no, no, no," Zippy said. "Master mustn't eat where Master works. Mistress Bell
|
|
|
asked me to see to it."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape grumbled something incoherently before moving past Zippy and hurrying up the
|
|
|
stairs in undignified defeat. Hedwig tucked her head under her wing as she awaited
|
|
|
Snape's return while Zippy simply popped into the dining room, taking care of Snape's
|
|
|
bowl of soup.</p>
|
|
|
<p>When Snape sat down, fidgeting with a napkin as he waited, he noticed a letter
|
|
|
sitting on the table. Zippy must have accepted it while Snape was downstairs. When he
|
|
|
turned it over, he noticed that it carried the seal of St Mungo's. Frowning, he
|
|
|
opened it.</p>
|
|
|
<p class='c1'><em>For the eyes of Master Severus Snape only.</em></p>
|
|
|
<p class='c1'><em>Severus,</em></p>
|
|
|
<p class='c1'><em>I am contacting you in regards to your apprentice Harry
|
|
|
Potter.</em></p>
|
|
|
<p class='c1'><em>He is a diligent young man that does his very best to prepare
|
|
|
whatever potions we ask of him and other than the incident we had a few weeks back,
|
|
|
Mr Potter has made sure to fall in line and do as we have asked of him.</em></p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape frowned. He didn't know what the letter was referring to and he wondered
|
|
|
what kind of trouble the stubborn Gryffindor had brought upon himself this time.</p>
|
|
|
<p class='c1'><em>I am starting to worry for him, though. You may have noticed that
|
|
|
he comes home less and less of late. He tends to sleep in the laboratory where he
|
|
|
also eats. He rarely comes out anymore save to take care of his personal needs and
|
|
|
even those he tries to keep in check as much as possible.</em></p>
|
|
|
<p class='c1'><em>I've already talked to him once but he only seems to be burying
|
|
|
himself in his work more and more. And while we appreciate the steady flow of potions
|
|
|
that we can understandably use, it won't do to have the young man collapse on us when
|
|
|
we need him the most.</em></p>
|
|
|
<p class='c1'><em>Therefore, I wish to urge you to summon him home for the remainder
|
|
|
of the day and if necessary tomorrow as well. We can make do without him for that
|
|
|
long at least. This is not a punishment but rather a preventive measure.</em></p>
|
|
|
<p class='c1'><em>I'm sure you understand seeing how you can get lost in your
|
|
|
creations as well.</em></p>
|
|
|
<p class='c1'><em>I hope you will take action soon.</em></p>
|
|
|
<p class='c1'><em>Master Caratacus Lovegood.</em></p>
|
|
|
<p>By now, a bowl of soup had appeared in front of Snape and was sitting, waiting for
|
|
|
him. Snape contemplated the letter as he stared at the wisps of damp coming from the
|
|
|
bowl. It was true that he hadn't seen much of Harry of late but he hadn't paid too
|
|
|
much attention to it. He now found that he really should have.</p>
|
|
|
<p>He knew what Harry was like and he realized that Lovegood was right. In fact, if
|
|
|
<em>Lovegood</em> had become concerned, Harry must really be taking it too far. So
|
|
|
Snape used the cuff to contact Harry directly.</p>
|
|
|
<p>'<em>You are to come home immediately. You may resume your internship the day
|
|
|
after tomorrow</em>.'</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape ate a few spoonful's of soup before he received a reply.</p>
|
|
|
<p>'<em>Can't. Busy.</em>'</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape growled and wrote back. '<em>This is not up for negotiation. Floo back right
|
|
|
now or I will come and drag you here.'</em></p>
|
|
|
<p>It took a while longer for Harry to reply but the answer was not satisfactory.</p>
|
|
|
<p>'<em>I'm in the middle of brewing some blood-replenishing potions. I
|
|
|
can't.'</em></p>
|
|
|
<p>'<em>That's what stasis spells are for</em>.' Snape replied.</p>
|
|
|
<p>It took Snape getting through his entire bowl of soup, waiting for a reply and
|
|
|
even when he was finished, a reply hadn't come. Nor had Harry flooed back in.</p>
|
|
|
<p>'<em>Last chance</em>,' Snape wrote. But no reply came and Snape grumpily stalked
|
|
|
over to his fireplace, grabbed a handful of floo powder and tossed it angrily into
|
|
|
the flames speaking as clearly as he could: "St Mungo's."</p>
|
|
|
<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
|
|
|
<p>Harry had taken off the distracting cuff and left it on the long table in the
|
|
|
middle of the lab. It was strange, but after such a long time of constantly wearing
|
|
|
that thing, his arm felt oddly naked without it. But Snape was starting to become
|
|
|
annoying and Harry could not afford any distractions right now.</p>
|
|
|
<p>He was brewing a batch of blood-replenishing potions and was moving from cauldron
|
|
|
to cauldron as he added as required and stirred what needed to be stirred. In the few
|
|
|
rare moments in which all cauldrons were simmering peacefully, Harry took to thinking
|
|
|
on the theory of a cure. He had tried brewing something several times already but
|
|
|
never had his brew been potent enough to cure this horrendous disease. And the longer
|
|
|
it took him, the more people died.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry shook his weary head and cleared it of all negativity by means of
|
|
|
Occlumency. If he hadn't mastered the arts of the mind before, he wasn't sure if he
|
|
|
would have been able to handle the stress of this particular internship. He realized
|
|
|
that the stress was largely caused by the uprising of the dissolving sweats but he
|
|
|
still couldn't help but wonder how other internships were compared to this one. Much
|
|
|
more easy-going, he would wager.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Harry, lad," John said. "It's about time ye ate somethin', innit?" he asked. "Ye
|
|
|
didnae eat breakfast either."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Not hungry," Harry mumbled as he continued taking notes. One of his cauldrons lit
|
|
|
up and Harry walked over to it to give it another stir.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Ye're a long time deid, ye ken," John said.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Hm," Harry responded. Sometimes, he didn't even recognise what John was saying
|
|
|
and he just found that smiling and nodding worked best.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Since his potions were all behaving again, Harry went back to taking notes,
|
|
|
wondering just why the valerian root didn't work as intended in his previous batch.
|
|
|
It was at that moment that the door to his lab opened. Choosing to finish his
|
|
|
sentence before acknowledging whoever was here to pick up more potions, he scribbled
|
|
|
away, only barely noticing the flurry of black in the corner of his eye.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Suddenly, the quill he was writing with was ripped out of his hand, leaving an
|
|
|
ugly blot on his notes. Exasperated, he looked up only to find his father standing in
|
|
|
front of him. The only sound he managed to produce at this revelation was less than
|
|
|
intelligible. "Oh."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"We're leaving," Snape told Harry, giving him no room to argue.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I told you I can't," Harry tried anyway.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Ah think yer master is right, lad," John piped up. Harry shot him a look of
|
|
|
betrayal. "An' dinnae ye look at me like tha'. Yer ken tha' ye cannae keep workin'
|
|
|
like this."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape shot a look at John that was clearly supposed to keep the man from
|
|
|
interfering and so he did.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"These blood-replenishing potions won't brew themselves," Harry told Snape,
|
|
|
pretending he hadn't heard John.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I'm certain that Master Lovegood is able to procure another brewer to finish your
|
|
|
potions for you."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"He won't allow this, you know," Harry said angrily.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"On the contrary," Snape told Harry easily. "He asked me to come and get you
|
|
|
before you wear yourself out completely."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry looked at Snape in shock, his mouth agape as if he were a fish on dry
|
|
|
land.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Now, if you'll stop trying to talk your way out of this and come with me quietly,
|
|
|
there won't be any trouble."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"But I –" Harry glanced at his cauldrons longingly.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Ah can finish yer brews for ye," John offered. "Ah am not as good as yer, but
|
|
|
ah'll manage."</p>
|
|
|
<p>With a sigh of defeat, Harry nodded. He gathered his papers, thinking that he
|
|
|
might at the very least be allowed to do some research at home, and put them in his
|
|
|
pocket. Snape frowned but said nothing. Instead, he turned around and started walking
|
|
|
at a rather brusque pace that reminded Harry of all the times he had had to jog to
|
|
|
keep up with the Potions Master at Hogwarts. Nowadays though, all Harry had to do was
|
|
|
quicken his pace to keep up.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Feeling embarrassed that he would have to be escorted home by his father, Harry
|
|
|
kept his head down while he followed Snape, not once looking up until they reached
|
|
|
the fireplace.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"You shall go first," Snape said. "And if you don't floo home, your punishment
|
|
|
will be severe."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Where did Snape think Harry was planning
|
|
|
to go anyways? He grabbed a handful of floo powder, tossed it in the fireplace and
|
|
|
called out his destination. A few seconds later, he stumbled out of the hearth,
|
|
|
couching as he had inhaled some of the soot.</p>
|
|
|
<p>He scurried out of the way just in time for Snape to come out as well, not a speck
|
|
|
of dust on him or his billowing robes. His eyes were stern but if Harry had been less
|
|
|
exhausted, he would have noticed the concern that was present as well.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"First of all, go take a shower," Snape said.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry glared at him with all the force he could muster. "You dragged me home so I
|
|
|
could take a shower?" he asked incredulously. "They have showers at St Mungo's, you
|
|
|
know."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Facilities you have clearly not taken advantage of in a while now," Snape
|
|
|
countered coolly. "Go shower now, unless you want me to come with you and scrub you
|
|
|
clean myself."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry felt his cheeks colour red in embarrassment and hurriedly climbed the
|
|
|
stairs, making sure to stomp loudly with each step he took. He knew that he was
|
|
|
behaving in a childish manner, but he was tired. And he didn't want to argue about
|
|
|
any of this.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Muttering to himself, he slammed the bathroom door, undressed and hopped into the
|
|
|
shower.</p>
|
|
|
<p>By the time he got out, he noticed that his clothes had vanished and new ones had
|
|
|
been laid out in their place. Harry wagered that Zippy had something to do with that.
|
|
|
A part of him wanted to be difficult but seeing how he didn't have any other options,
|
|
|
he got dressed in the provided garments.</p>
|
|
|
<p>When he was done, he walked back downstairs – not stomping his feet this time –
|
|
|
and halted when he saw Snape sit by the fire, reading through what looked like his
|
|
|
own notes.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"How did you get those?" Harry asked in annoyance.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Magic," Snape replied absentmindedly. "Take a seat, please."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry complied and sat down, noticing that a plate of sandwiches and fruit had
|
|
|
been left on the coffee table.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Subtle," Harry muttered but he grabbed a sandwich with cheese anyway.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape finally looked up and placed Harry's research on the table, facing it
|
|
|
towards Harry. "Have you been researching the creation of a cure?" he asked.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Obviously," Harry snarled, belatedly realizing that he really <em>was</em>
|
|
|
sleep-deprived if he dared speak to Snape in such a tone.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Speak to me like that again and you will suffer the consequences," Snape warned.
|
|
|
Harry clamped his mouth shut but nodded his compliance.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I need to speak to you in regards to a few things," Snape said. "First of all,
|
|
|
the obvious. You are not taking care of yourself."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"But I -"</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I'm not finished," Snape said coldly. "You have not been eating, sleeping or even
|
|
|
bathing on a regular schedule. You may think that helps the patients at the hospital
|
|
|
but in the long run, it will only prove to be detrimental to their cause when you
|
|
|
collapse. I am quite aware of the lack of brewers St Mungo's currently faces and I
|
|
|
know they can't do without you for a while -"</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Then why take me out of there?" Harry accused.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"You're not listening!" Snape snarled, slamming his flat hand on top of the table,
|
|
|
nearly spilling Harry's tea. "You're destroying yourself at this rate. And if you do,
|
|
|
who will be better for it in the end?"</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry glared but did not speak.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I know you can see reason," Snape then said. "And I know that you're merely
|
|
|
trying to help. It is very admirable for you to put forth so much effort for the sake
|
|
|
of others. But that quality brings the risk of overexertion and I can clearly see
|
|
|
that you're nearly there."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I'm fine," Harry said evenly.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape's eye twitched dangerously as he clutched his mug so tightly, Harry wondered
|
|
|
if he was resisting the urge to throw it.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"You are truly making me hate that particular phrase," Snape growled. "When it
|
|
|
comes from you, it is never truthful and always an attempt to deflect. You are not
|
|
|
<em>fine</em>. Any dunderhead could see it. Just look at yourself."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"What am I supposed to do?" Harry asked harshly. "People are dying every single
|
|
|
day! And while they are dying, they're suffering tremendously. Lovegood can't find a
|
|
|
cure so he's become so desperate to ask everyone – including the bloody janitors – to
|
|
|
try and brew a cure. Not only that! But I see Draco showing up in the hospital
|
|
|
because his mother had a bout of accidental magic –"</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Narcissa was in the hospital?" Snape asked in concern. Harry stopped his angry
|
|
|
tirade and glanced at his father. He sighed when he realized that he should have
|
|
|
informed him earlier.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"She was," Harry confirmed. "Some time ago. But she's gone home already. Draco is
|
|
|
really suffering, though."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Draco is not your responsibility,
|
|
|
Harry," he said. "Nor is finding a cure. This disease is particularly difficult to
|
|
|
overcome. It's almost as if the source of the disease has closed off all paths that
|
|
|
any medical ingredients would normally take."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry scoffed. "I'll say. This is bloody impossible," he said angrily. "But hang
|
|
|
on. Do you mean to say that you've also been working on a cure?"</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I am," Snape said honestly.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Why?" Harry asked, sensing that something was off. "Did Lovegood ask you to?"</p>
|
|
|
<p>"He did not," Snape replied.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Then why did you suddenly develop an interest?" Harry asked sharply. "Who is in
|
|
|
trouble? Is it Dudley? Did he send you another letter?"</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Of course not," Snape replied harshly. "Calm down."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry shot out of his chair and glared at Snape. "Tell me what's wrong!" he
|
|
|
shouted.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Sit. Down," Snape ordered. His tone reminded Harry of Hogwarts so much that he
|
|
|
complied. He sat back down and seemed to shrink back into himself for a moment,
|
|
|
realizing that he was attacking someone who was on his side.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I'm sorry," Harry said. "I'm just –"</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Tired, I'd wager," Snape told him. "You will be going to sleep for a few hours.
|
|
|
After that, we can talk some more over dinner."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"But I still need to –"</p>
|
|
|
<p>"There's nothing for you to do," Snape said in a calming voice. "For now, I merely
|
|
|
need you to rest up a bit. Perhaps we can compare our research later when you're able
|
|
|
to think more clearly."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Yes, sir," Harry finally complied. Now that he wasn't present on the battleground
|
|
|
that was St mungo's, practically brewing non-stop, he could feel the weariness of the
|
|
|
last months wash over him, nearly dragging him down. He wanted nothing more but to go
|
|
|
to sleep. So he went up to his bedroom, collapsed onto his bed and drifted off almost
|
|
|
immediately.</p>
|
|
|
<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
|
|
|
<p>When Harry woke up again, he felt more rested. He could have easily gone back to
|
|
|
sleep if he had wanted to, but he could smell the scent of food wafting up the stairs
|
|
|
and thought that it would be nice to eat a warm meal again. So he crept out of his
|
|
|
bedroom and came down the stairs when he was stopped by a familiar voice.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"She hardly ate anything today," Maya said softly. "I don't think she has that
|
|
|
much longer, Severus."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I'm sorry," Snape replied. "But I won't give up. Not yet. Here-"</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry could hear the familiar sound of vials clanking together and he imagined
|
|
|
that Snape handed Maya some.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"These are her supplies for tomorrow," Snape said. "Make sure that she takes them,
|
|
|
even if she won't take anything else."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry thought he could hear someone sob and though that it was wildly
|
|
|
inappropriate for him to keep listening. So he came down the rest of the stairs,
|
|
|
making an effort to try and produce a loud enough sound to be heard but not loud
|
|
|
enough to be suspicious.</p>
|
|
|
<p>When he arrived downstairs, he could see Maya withdrawing from Snape's arms as the
|
|
|
man looked at her with concern.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Don't give up," he told her. "It's not over until it's over."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Thank you, Severus," Maya said but her voice sounded blank. "Oh hi, Harry," she
|
|
|
added. "It's good to see you home."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Hi, Professor Bell," Harry greeted.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I told you to call me Maya," Maya told Harry with a smile. But Harry could see
|
|
|
the tell-tale glistening in her eyes.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I'll be off now," Maya then said. "I'll see you two later." And without waiting
|
|
|
for a reply, she all but stormed out the front door.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Dinner time," Snape told Harry as if none of that had just happened. He walked
|
|
|
over to the dining room table and took his customary seat, waiting for Harry to do
|
|
|
the same.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Is Emma sick?" Harry asked as he sat down.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape sighed and steepled his fingers. "She is," he admitted.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Is it the dissolving sweats?" Harry asked rather unnecessary. Snape just nodded.
|
|
|
Harry groaned painfully and buried his face in his hands. "How is Alex doing?" Harry
|
|
|
asked, his voice muffled by his hands.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"As well as could be anticipated," Snape replied. "He's taking care of Emma to the
|
|
|
best of his abilities."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry looked up sharply and shot Snape an incredulous look. "Hold on," he said.
|
|
|
"You're telling me that Alex is with Emma right now? And you didn't think that a bit
|
|
|
dangerous?"</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Harry –"</p>
|
|
|
<p>"This disease is highly contagious!" Harry shouted. "How long has Emma been sick?
|
|
|
It will probably be days before Alex becomes ill as well. And what about Charlie? Has
|
|
|
he been allowed to stay near Emma as well?"</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Charlie is with his grandparents," Snape said. "And Alex wouldn't leave Emma's
|
|
|
bedside. In fact, he had been tending to her for quite a while by the time I found
|
|
|
out anything was wrong. He hasn't gotten sick yet."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry sighed in relief. "That's good news at least," Harry said. "But why isn't he
|
|
|
getting sick?"</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape frowned as he took in Harry's comment, tapping his finger against his upper
|
|
|
lip in thought. "That –" Snape said, " – is an excellent question."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"What have you tried so far?" Harry asked, absentmindedly plating his food that
|
|
|
was roast with potatoes.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Have a look," Snape said. He passed a thick looking tome in Harry's direction. A
|
|
|
narrow strip of cloth was trapped between a few pages to indicate where Snape had
|
|
|
left off. The cover of the book was an emerald green with intricate details and
|
|
|
pictures of ancient runes added in relief to the thick leather. Harry opened the book
|
|
|
at the last additions.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"This is your grimoire?" Harry asked.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Obviously," Snape said evenly.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry looked at the pages where Snape had written down the recipes he had already
|
|
|
tried as well as the ones he was still planning on trying in the near future.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Don't try this one," Harry said, pointing to what Snape was going to brew next.
|
|
|
"It does nothing but cause shallow breathing. This next one doesn't work; this won't
|
|
|
work either…" Harry continued skimming the pages. "I haven't tried this one yet but
|
|
|
the one below that has disastrous results. Definitely don't try that one, ever."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Have you attempted using chamomile yet?" Snape asked.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry groaned. "You would think that something so simple and common would at least
|
|
|
do no harm, wouldn't you?" he said. "But I tried it and it has a very adverse
|
|
|
reaction to someone with the disease. It's almost as if it was created with the
|
|
|
intention to react nastily to all logical solutions."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"It probably was," Snape sighed.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"What?" Harry asked.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I believe I told you my suspicions before," Snape told Harry, refilling his glass
|
|
|
of wine. "I firmly believe that Rookwood is behind all of this. If there's anything
|
|
|
he likes to do, it's to test his new creations be it on muggles or purebloods
|
|
|
alike."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"All the victims are muggles, though," Harry pointed out.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"They are," Snape replied. "Perhaps he tested this disease on wizards as well,
|
|
|
only to realize that it had no effect. The Dark Lord would have commended him for
|
|
|
such an epidemic, for sure."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"But the Dark Lord is gone," Harry said.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Rookwood will always be a man of science," Snape said. "The problem is that he
|
|
|
has no ethical boundaries and is therefore very dangerous. He's also quite
|
|
|
intelligent. He knows how to hide away and how not to get caught. Remember, to the
|
|
|
populace, this disease seems completely natural. Only a few people suspect there to
|
|
|
be foul play in the mix. Therefore, no Aurors are chasing him down beyond keeping an
|
|
|
eye out for all loose death eaters."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"But what does he want?" Harry asked.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"<em>That's</em> the problem," Snape said, pointing his fork at Harry. "There's
|
|
|
nothing in particular that he wants. He merely wants to work in peace and create as
|
|
|
well as destroy what he can. He doesn't care for fame, money or glory. All he cares
|
|
|
about is opportunities and how to grab them."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"So, how can we find him?" Harry growled.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I'm not sure, Harry," Snape said wearily. "And right now, it doesn't matter. The
|
|
|
disease is spreading, whether my theory is correct or not. Finding the madman behind
|
|
|
it comes second to finding a cure and we can't do both."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"We?" Harry asked.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Since' we're both apparently working on this thing, we might as well join
|
|
|
forces," Snape said logically. "I think it would be nice to work together on
|
|
|
this."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Can we start now?" Harry asked eagerly.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Absolutely not," Snape reprimanded. "For the rest of the day, you will rest. I
|
|
|
will feed you dreamless sleep if I have to."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry made a face. "It's still early."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Tomorrow, you may work with me," Snape told Harry. "But I require your mind to be
|
|
|
fresh and awake."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Fine," Harry said. "But then you should go to sleep at a decent time as
|
|
|
well."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Pardon?" Snape asked.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"You reprimand me just fine," Harry pointed out. "But you look like you haven't
|
|
|
gotten all that much sleep lately, either."</p>
|
|
|
<p>For a moment, Snape seemed taken aback but then he smiled. "As you say,
|
|
|
apprentice," he said. "Tomorrow then. Bright and early."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"As the sun rises," Harry sighed.</p>
|
|
|
<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
|
|
|
<p><em>I know some of you have been dying for some more interaction between our two
|
|
|
protagonists so here it is! I hope it satisfies you until tomorrow. Please don't
|
|
|
forget to leave me a review. Five more chapters to come!</em></p>
|
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
</body>
|
|
|
</html> |