Of Witch and Wolf

[Of Witch and Wolf - Chapter 4]

Savannah had a few precious hours the next morning to study the basics of aconite in preparation for her evening lesson with Snape. During the afternoon, however, she was kept busy cleaning the bookcases and retrieving books that had mysteriously been shoved back between the shelves (and which refused to acknowledge her summoning spell). She skipped lunch, and Madam Pince requested that she stay until the cleaning was complete, which wasn't until almost nine-thirty. When she was done, she hurriedly grabbed a bite of dinner (a cold-cut sandwich and an apple), then rushed to the dungeon for her lesson.

"I see you decided to come after all," Severus Snape said as Savannah pushed open the door to his classroom. He was standing in front of a student table, with a cauldron and several oddly shaped bottles of potions already placed there. There was also a mortar-and-pestle filled with dried, spidery roots, and several spoons and cups. The usual sour smell of the dungeon was somewhat lessened by the cool night air.

"Alright," Snape said as Savannah approached the table. "Tell me what you know of aconite."

Savannah drew a ragged breath and then began reciting some basic facts about the plant - common names, where to find it, how to distinguish it from other plants, and also what the different parts of the plant were used for. Snape then began barking out questions, to which she gave flustered, but for the most part correct, answers.

"Fine," he said at last. He held up the mortar-and-pestle. "These roots need to be crushed very finely, and with a very specific twist of the wrist, like this." He grasped the pestle and mashed the roots a few times, flicking his wrist so that the dried roots broke apart. He handed Savannah the bowl.

She held the bowl as he had and attempted the wrist twist.

"Quicker," he snapped.

She flicked her wrist faster, and when he didn't comment further, she got into a rhythm with it, and soon the roots were beginning to more closely resemble gravel than spiders.

"This wrist movement splits the root in a way that is crucial to the release of certain chemicals in the cells which make aconite nonpoisonous to those afflicted with lycanthropy," Snape said, keeping a close eye on her hands. It took a grand effort for Savannah to keep from rolling her eyes; she hadn't been expecting a lecture, too. He continued his lecture for nearly twenty minutes, occasionally correcting her with a sharp word, until the roots were like fine sand.

"That's enough," Snape said at last. Savannah set down the bowl and shook her hands - her fingers were aching.

"You're not done yet," Snape said. "Do you see these little black dots? All of those must be gone before you can add it to the potion. Pick them out." He handed her a pair of tweezers, and Savannah did as he instructed.

"Now we begin the potions mixing," he said after Savannah was done picking out the black bits, nearly fifteen minutes later. He handed her a large jug filled with a dark yellow liquid. "Six cups, Miss Stormcrow. Not a drop more." She uncorked the jug and carefully measured out six cups and added them one by one to the cauldron.

"Good," Snape nodded as she recorked the bottle. "Now this. One teaspoon." This time he held up a tall slender bottle containing a pale green fluid. She uncorked the bottle and nearly keeled over from the smell. She dropped the cork and quickly covered her mouth and nose with her hand. It was no wonder Remus hated the potion if this awful thing was in it, she thought.

"Yes, quite sour, isn't it?" Snape drawled. "It's essence of rosewheat. And the longer you stand there with it open, the longer we'll have to smell it. So pour."

The last thing she wanted to do was expose her nose to the vile stuff. But she did, pouring one teaspoonful with a quivering hand, and nearly vomiting in the process. She snatched up the cork from the floor and stuffed it into the bottle. Then she peered into the cauldron; the liquids had started to bubble.

The lesson went on, a cup here, a spoonful there, half a pinch of aconite powder once, twice, three times, and several periods of waiting while the potions stewed together. She put a drop too many of lizard brine, and lost count of how many grass fibers she had put in - was it seven or eight? (She was supposed to put in eleven.) Snape's continuous glare made her extremely nervous, and his constant snapping when she poured too slowly truly tested her nerves.

During the stewing periods, Snape would ask her more questions about aconite, to which she didn't nearly have all the answers. Snape was hardly pleased with what she knew, and he insisted that she continue the study, as he told her he would not allow her to give the potion to Remus without correct answers to all his questions. He also informed her that she would need to go out and find the monkshood plants on her own, and dry them herself.

It was nearly midnight when the last ingredient was added (three-quarters of a tablespoon of moonstone powder). As soon as this was added, Snape produced a cast-iron lid from under the table. He slammed it down on the cauldron and clamped it shut.

"This needs to sit for two nights," he said as Savannah began cleaning up the workspace. "We won't know how it turns out until then. If the mix is correct - which it obviously is not, what with all the mistakes you made - it will reduce to fill just one bottle, which Lupin must drink on the evening of the full moon, before the moon rises." Snape then pointed his wand at the cauldron and said, "Mobililebes!" The cauldron rose a few inches from the table; it floated into his office, where Snape followed it and set it in a corner.

After a moment, he reappeared in the doorway between his office and the classroom. "Come back Sunday at two o'clock in the afternoon. I'll expect better answers to my questions then. You may leave." He turned and closed the door to his office, leaving Savannah to spend the rest of her night alone.

***

The next morning dawned bright and beautiful, and Savannah knew it, although she couldn't witness it. As she was eating her breakfast, which she had retrieved from the kitchen herself, there was a quick knock on her door, but before she could open it herself the door swung inward and Ron poked his head in.

"Morning," he grinned. "Mind if I join you?"

She pushed out a chair with her foot. "How was the game yesterday?" she asked.

"Swell," he said, plopping himself down in the chair. "We played Hufflepuff. Raylen sent a bludger right at me, but I dodged it and it bounced off the goalpost. That was the most exciting bit of the game. Two-forty to thirty."

"Congrats."

"Thanks. Oh, I got something for you." He stuffed the bagel he was holding into his mouth, then rummaged around in his robe pocket for a moment, producing a slightly rumpled piece of parchment. "Here," he said, handing it to her. "Owl for you."

Savannah quickly ripped it open. She looked at the signature and grinned, then went back to the top and read the letter from the beginning.

Dearest Savannah,

Fortunately for you and your friend, today was a rather slow day. We received your post in the early afternoon, because for once Ron used a decent owl. And we, without further ado, promptly went on a shopping spree. We bought more than we normally could with the money you sent, because Gladrags London gave us a great deal. (We provided some extra goodies for the shop owner's daughter's birthday party last year - networking, you know.) So the package will be sent tonight, at the same time as this post. The book is included - we actually found that one a few months ago while cleaning out the basement, which hadn't been done since we moved in here. Haven't a clue why it was in our possession in the first place. Good riddance.

Give ol' Ron-boy a swift kick in the arse from us, and a nice scratch behind the ears to your friend.

At your service,

Fred

(and George)

Savannah refolded the parchment and tucked it into her pocket, grinning from ear to ear.

"What's the big deal?" Ron asked, his curiosity piqued at his friend's enormous smile. "Can I see?"

Savannah shook her head, the grin still etched on her face. "You'll find out soon enough," she said. "Just look for Remus later today." She glanced at her clock; she'd have to open the library in just a few minutes. She stood up to leave.

"Oh..." Ron murmured, sounding slightly disappointed. "Was that big package from you? I mean, from you from someone else? I mean..." He looked amusingly confused.

Savannah laughed. "He already got it, then?" she asked.

"Yeah, I took it to him just now," he said.

"Wonderful!" she exclaimed. "It's the robe and jacket." This was the happiest she had felt for quite some time. "Well," she said, "I need to open the library. Will you be around?"

"I dunno," Ron shrugged. "Yeah, I'll probably be by later."

"Okay," she nodded. She pushed her chair in, and as she walked past Ron she leaned down and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "That's in lieu of what your brothers wanted me to give you," she said, heading out the door.

"Which was what?" he called after her, his ears burning a deep red.

"A kick in the arse," she called back, her laughter ringing through the hallway.

***

When the owls came, Remus Lupin was not in the Great Hall. He was in his chambers, still dressed in his pajamas and night robe. He sat in the large armchair by the ebbing fire, trying painstakingly to mend a hole in his last good shirt without pricking his finger too many times. Fortunately he did have another jacket, although this one was a bit tight around the shoulders, but at least it would cover the hole in his shirt.

He finished stitching and tied the thread off. Sighing, he tossed the shirt onto the coffee table in front of him. This was no way to live, he thought. Perhaps he should ask Dumbledore for a bit of money for a new shirt. He didn't need much to live on; only a bit of food and clothing, and Hogwarts Castle was more shelter than he needed. Still, winter was fast approaching, and he was not so proud that he couldn't ask for a handout from his friends when he needed one. He would be meeting Dumbledore in just about half an hour; yes, he decided, he would ask him then.

He eyed the package that sat on his coffee table; Ron Weasley had just dropped it off a few minutes beforehand. He had not been expecting anything, though it could possibly be a care package from Molly, Ron's mother - Ron had neglected to mention who it was from, and Remus hadn't bothered to ask. It was wrapped in thick brown paper, looking as though it would burst if not for the twine wrapped twice around it. There was no visible notice on the outside; he supposed he ought to open it.

He took the package to his desk and gingerly set it down. With a pair of scissors, he snipped the twine, and the brown paper immediately rolled up around the edges, exposing the beginnings of the package's many contents. He began to unwrap.

The first items were three very nice shirts, similar to the one he had just stitched up. Nothing too fancy, just nice, plain, button-up shirts with starched collars. The first was white, the second a very pale blue, and the third was off-white with tan stripes. Curious, he checked the labels; yes, they were his size.

"I wonder who...? Oh my..." He trailed off as he pulled something large out from under the paper. The material unfolded itself as he held it up - it was a beautiful robe, navy blue in color, and made of a rich, heavy fabric. A yellow tag dangled from the collar: Courtesy of Gladrags London, it read.

"No," Remus murmured as he ran his hands over the elegant robe. "No, this must be a mistake..." There was no way the Weasleys would be able to afford this. After another moment, he reluctantly refolded the robe and set it gently down on his desk. He reached into the package again.

This time he pulled out something flat and hard - it was a book. His jaw dropped open as he read the title: Herbal Remedies For The Mind, the very book he had mostly eaten just two nights previous. Was this someone playing a cruel trick on him? He flipped through the pages, making sure it was not some other silly book with a bewitched cover. No, it certainly looked the same as what he had been reading. A slip of parchment fell out, and he picked it up.

Savannah said you needed another book, it read. Good luck fending off the Pince. Don't eat this one. ~ F&G

"F and G?" Remus muttered. "And Savannah... hmm."

The next thing he pulled out was a small paper bag. He opened it and pulled out one of several wrapped candies stamped with WWW on them in silver print. "Ah...!" he smiled, recognition suddenly dawning on him. "Fred and George! Well, well..."

He set the bag of candies aside, quite sure that he would never eat anything offered to him by either Fred or George, although he appreciated the thoughtfulness.

He dumped out the rest of the package. Out tumbled two pairs of slacks, a tweed sport coat almost exactly like the one he had recently destroyed, and several little rolled-up bundles that looked suspiciously like socks and undergarments. He didn't need to look twice to see that everything was in his size.

He laughed aloud as he looked over it all. This was certainly a surprise! And it couldn't have come at a better time. He held up the sport coat, and as he examined it, he had a vision of what had transpired: Savannah must have sent a letter to Fred and George, and they did the shopping, and sent the package back to him. She told them about his shredded library book, and she knew how much he had liked his old coat. She had been the one to mend his other shirts - of course she would know when he was down to his last one.

Sweet, sweet Savannah. The familiar feeling returned. Yes, a very old feeling - one that he had not felt for many, many years - a feeling that Savannah renewed in him, a feeling that brought him new life and new happiness. His stomach was swimming, and blood was rushing to his head, and it felt like a warm spring breeze was rising through his body.

He clutched at his chest, his fingers closing around his robe, and the realization that he was still in his nightclothes made him shake off his thoughts and get changed in a hurry. He made a mental note to stop by the library and speak with Savannah, but for now, he must meet with Dumbledore.

***

For much of the morning, Savannah wandered around the library, restlessly pacing back and forth between the bookshelves. Remus had not come to the library yet, and he hadn't been in the day before, either. The cantankerous librarian had been informed by Madam Pomfrey to leave Remus alone, as he was still recovering from his monthly episode. (They had happened to meet in the hallway when Madam Pince was on her way to Lupin's chambers, intending to confront him about the loss of the library book.) Naturally, Madam Pince was in a very bad mood.

Savannah found herself humming a tune that she had heard once several years ago on a radio when she had entered the Muggle world late one night. She could only remember one of the verses, because it had struck a chord deep within her heart, and it also reminded her of a certain someone...

"Savannah, will you please stop that incessant humming!" Madam Pince roared, not for the first time that day. She threw her employee an icy glare.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," Savannah apologized, blushing slightly as two nearby students snickered. She quickly disappeared between two ceiling-high bookshelves in the Restricted section.

She decided she had better stay out of Madam Pince's way, so she grabbed a lamp from a nearby shelf and seated herself at a table in the far corner of the Restricted. She pulled a thick book and a much-scribbled notepad from her robe pocket, along with her hawk-feather quill and a bottle of ink. The words Aconitum Napellus adorned the leather cover of the book in faded gold lettering; this was the book she was studying from for her lessons with Snape. With a dull thud, she plopped the heavy book on the table and flipped it open to where a fat leather strip marked her page.

Section 17: Roots

Aconite roots should be collected in late summer or early autumn, after the flowers and leaves have shriveled and died. However, it is of great importance to find the root in the state BEFORE it has begun to develop next season's flowering bud...

And on it went, with Savannah trying desperately to soak in everything possible about aconite in preparation for Snape's next barrage of questions. She read for nearly two hours straight, making frequent marks in her notepad, until her head began to spin, and she finally threw down her quill. She rubbed her tired eyes, quite sure that she would forget all that she had read before her next meeting with Professor Snape.

She was resting with her head on her arm when she heard knapsacks rustling behind her.

"Savannah?"

She looked up, her blurry eyes just barely distinguishing the figures of Harry Potter and he and Ron's close friend, Hermione Granger. "Oh, hello," Savannah said, trying to sound cheerful. "Can I help you find something?"

Hermione smiled and held up a stack of books. "No thanks, we've got what we need. Can we sit here?" She motioned toward the two empty chairs across from Savannah.

"Of course, sure," Savannah nodded. She stood up and hurriedly gathered her book and other belongings that were scattered across the table.

"What were you studying?" Hermione asked as she swung her bag onto the table. Harry set down his books and began pulling quills and ink out of his bag.

Savannah hesitated, and when she didn't answer immediately, Harry looked up at her.

"Just some stuff on aconite," she said. "For potions," she added hurriedly. She glanced at her watch, and when she looked up again, she was smiling. "I need to get some lunch. See you guys later." Then she was gone, vanished between the bookshelves.

"Potions, eh?" Hermione said, glancing sidelong at Harry as she flipped open a massive book. "Ron says she's really good at it. Maybe you should ask her for potions tutoring. She's a hundred times more pleasant than Snape."

Not too long ago, Harry would have snorted at her for suggesting it; until just recently, he hadn't thought her any more pleasant than Snape. But now, in light of his change of perspective of her, perhaps he would ask her for help. Potions had always been his weak point, and more than one person had suggested that he ought to get tutoring. And with NEWTs coming up at the end of the year...

"Yeah, okay," he mumbled, opening his own book. "What's the assignment again?"

***

Savannah felt a bit rude leaving Harry and Hermione so quickly, but she had realized they were there because it was lunch hour - and lunch hour meant an opportunity to find Remus. She hurried out of the library and down the hall.

At nearly the same time, Remus Lupin was leaving Headmaster Dumbledore's office. Together they walked down the stairs, parting ways on the fourth floor landing as Remus turned toward the library and the headmaster continued down to the Great Hall for a bit of lunch.

"Well, well, well," came a disdainful voice out of the darkened corridor. "What have we here?"

As Remus entered the hallway he was suddenly met with three ugly, sneering faces - faces of Slytherin troublemakers Draco Malfoy and his two cohorts Crabbe and Goyle. They stood in a line across the hallway, blocking his passage. Now that Remus was not technically employed by Hogwarts, he was free game for them to torment, just like the other students.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen," Remus said, a forced smile on his face. Although he despised these three with a passion, he made it a point to be cordial while on Hogwarts grounds.

Malfoy ignored his greeting. His eyes ran over Remus contemptuously, a nasty scowl disfiguring his otherwise handsome features. "Did your Muggle mummy send you those new clothes, Lupin?" Malfoy asked mockingly. Crabbe and Goyle laughed loudly, sounding a bit like braying donkeys.

Remus stiffened; it was becoming increasingly difficult to remain civil in Malfoy's company. "As a matter of fact, I did receive a package today-"

"Or maybe he stole them," Malfoy hissed, his eyes narrowing. "Can't afford his own, and mummy's probably forgotten about him by now, hasn't she, Wolfy? You-"

Malfoy's words ended in midsentence as he felt an icy chill come over him; it felt like he had just taken a plunge into the lake. His heart raced as Lupin's eyes moved from Malfoy's face to just over his shoulder. Slowly, Malfoy turned his head.

Savannah stood directly behind him, her arm outstretched with wand in hand, pointing it directly at his head. "Hello, Draco," she said quietly. She wore a sincerely unfriendly glare, though her eyes gleamed as if she were craving to turn him into something small enough to step on.

Malfoy quickly turned to face her, straightening his back in an attempt to look taller. Crabbe and Goyle had both stepped away from Savannah; apparently they, too, had felt the cold chill she was famous for giving the students. "What do you want, harlot?" Malfoy snarled, his lip curling.

Savannah leaned forward; it took all of Malfoy's willpower not to step back. "I want you to get the bloody hell out of my way," she growled. She slowly rotated her wand hand until her palm was facing up, and she kept the tip pointed at his nose. "Before I turn you into a turnip and deliver you straight to the kitchen."

The color drained completely from Malfoy's face. "Not a crime to go to the library, is it?" he said, trying his best to sound haughty.

"I believe you were just leaving," Savannah said. Her expression had not changed, but Malfoy was looking more nervous about her wand just inches from his face.

"As if I would spend my lunch hour in the ruddy library," Malfoy retorted, forcing a callous laugh. He spun on his heel and hurried toward the stairs, Crabbe and Goyle following closely behind.

Savannah did not move until they had disappeared down the stairs, and then she broke into a smile and lowered her wand as Remus approached her.

"Hello, Savannah," he said, a grin on his face. "Thank you, I-"

"Lupin! Remus Lupin!" A shrill voice echoed from the direction of the library. Savannah and Remus both turned to see Madam Pince rushing toward them, waving a hand to get Lupin's attention.

"Mr. Lupin, I believe you borrowed a book-" she began, her voice sounding very cross. She was still halfway down the hall.

Remus walked to meet her. "Ah, Madam Pince," he said loudly, cutting her off. "I'm so terribly sorry about the book - I'm afraid it was a victim of my, er, condition. I'm sure you know all about that by now." He held out the book that he had received in his package that morning, and flashed a charming smile. "I have a replacement for you. I do hope you'll forgive me."

"I- well!" Madam Pince said, clearly taken aback by the presentation of a replacement book. She snatched it from his hands and flipped through it as he had done earlier, making sure that it was not a fake. Satisfied, she looked up at him and offered a grim smile. "Thank you, professor. I'll enter this into the catalog immediately, and perhaps I'll take your name off my Bad Students list." With that, she hurried back toward the library to make good on her word.

This turned out better than I thought it would, Savannah thought happily. She stepped up to Remus and placed a hand on his arm. "Remus," she said, "let's have lunch."

Without a word, Remus leaned down and planted a kiss square on her lips. It was not a long kiss; it was, in fact, rather short, but it so took her by surprise that the sensation of her heart skipping a beat while his mouth was on hers more than made up for the lack of duration.

Savannah's cheeks were quite pink by the time Remus had pulled away, but he didn't seem to notice or care. He simply held her gaze, and she was too flustered to look away. His lonely smile melted her heart, and there was something else - something in his expression, in the way he carried himself now. He seemed to stand taller, and there was a sense of purpose in his eye that she hadn't seen before.

"You, um... you look very handsome in your new robe," Savannah said at last. She thought she felt her face flush even more.

Remus beamed. "Thank you. But you mustn't fuss over me so much," he added, although it was clear he was enjoying her attention.

"I don't do it because I feel like I need to," Savannah said quickly. She had gathered her bearings now, and as he gazed at her she had the fleeting wish that she would like him to kiss her again. She pushed it aside. "I do it because I want to," she said.

"I appreciate everything you do for me, Savannah," Remus said. He brought his hand up to her face and gently brushed away a few strands of hair; his hand lingered for a moment before he set it down on her shoulder. "I... You know, it has been a long time since we've sat and talked," he said.

"We just had supper two nights ago," Savannah said, smiling.

"Yes, and it wasn't quite the same, was it?"

She knew exactly what he meant - it wasn't quite the same as it had been when he had first returned to Hogwarts nearly a year ago. "We've both been busy," she said quietly.

"I've been busy," Remus corrected her. "Too busy, too many things to study, too much to learn. My head's been swimming. I've gotten my priorities all muddled." He held out his arm, and she took it, and he began leading her down the hall. "I know you still have to remain at the library. But for today, I'm going to put away my books. Maybe you and I could camp in the Restricted? We could just sit and talk."

Savannah smiled. "I would like that," she said. "It has been a while." She paused. "I've missed you."

Remus squeezed her arm with his. "I've missed you too, Vannah," he said. "More than you know."

***

After lunch, Savannah and Remus returned to the library. Savannah kept the book on aconite hidden inside her robe; there was no need for him to know about it yet. Remus had brought some books with him, but he didn't open any of them at all. Instead of studying, the two sat at the table in the corner, talking and laughing as loudly as they could get away with.

It was like old times. They brought up things they hadn't talked about in years, things from when both were more high-spirited and less worrisome. Remus told her everything that was in the package (while thanking her profusely), and Savannah was impressed - it was much more than she had expected. They talked about the new professors at Hogwarts, the direction of the Ministry, the next Quidditch World Cup, Muggle events in London, and on and on...

It was extremely refreshing for both to be able to share with one another again. At eight o'clock when the library closed, Savannah walked with Remus down to his chambers. They had a light dinner, and they continued their conversations until the wee hours of the morning. Savannah couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so much. It was nearly three o'clock when she caught Remus trying to stifle a large yawn.

She smiled and rose from her chair. "I'd better be off now. It's late, and you need to sleep."

"Yes, probably for the best," Remus agreed. "I've another meeting with the Headmaster in the morning." He stood up and walked her to the door. "I've really enjoyed this time we had today. Can we count on lunch tomorrow?"

"Of course," Savannah smiled. She wondered if he was going to kiss her again; in fact, she was rather hoping for it. But when he made no move to do so, she stood up on her tiptoes and gave him a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth.

She thought she saw a hint of pink in his cheeks, but he did nothing but smile and wish her a good night. She did the same, and then happily headed up to the Astronomy tower to moongaze.