Reminiscences

Chapter 2:

Réalisation

THE IRIDESCENT POTION IS TO COMPRISE THE FOLLOWING INGREDIENTS:

• THREE ROSE PETALS
• ONE PEACOCK'S FEATHER
• ONE MUSTARD SEED
• ...

Draco scanned the list rapidly. It didn't seem like much, considering the Iridescent Crystal was supposed to possess extremely potent powers, including the ability to repel Unforgivable Curses. He read on.

• ONE DROP OF THY BLOOD
• ONE DROP OF THE BLOOD OF SOMEONE PRECIOUS TO THEE, WHO WILL BE THY HELPER WHILST THE CRYSTAL UNLEASHES ITS POWER

THY HELPER SHALL BE INEXTRICABLY BOUND TO THE CRYSTAL JUST AS THOU ART. THUS THE SUCCESS OF ANY ACTION THOU SHOULDST CHOOSE TO TAKE WITH THE CRYSTAL HINGES NOT ONLY ON THY ABILITY, BUT ALSO ON THAT OF THY HELPER AND HIS COMMITMENT TO THEE AND THY TASK, AND VICE- VERSA.

CHOOSE WISELY, FOR THERE MAY COME A TIME WHEN THY VERY LIFE DEPENDETH ON IT, AND IN THESE TRYING AGES, THE FUTURE LURKETH UNSEEN...

No wonder Professor Trelawney seems so depressed these days, probably her vision's been obscured by everything going around, not least the Dark Lord's almost absolute restoration to power, Draco thought ironically, trying to hide from himself the most pressing issue of having to find a suitable Helper.

Someone precious to me. No, I couldn't ask

her.

It wouldn't be fair, nor wise, to ask for the commitment of someone who had none left for him.

Draco sighed. Crabbe and Goyle were out of the question too, since they didn't have any abilities to speak of. His dad was a possibility, but it was stated that a person could only be bound to one other, and it was likely Lucius was already somebody's Helper.

Burying his head in his hands, feeling the glistening sweat in his disheveled blond hair, Draco muttered cynically to himself, Oh well, if all else fails I can always resort to Pansy Parkinson, referring to a fellow Slytherin whose overtly suggestive gestures to him had, more often than not, thoroughly disgusted him.

* * *

It was fast approaching daybreak, and yet Hermione had hardly been able to sleep a wink. She'd been preoccupied with many things.

She could hardly believe it when Severus Snape had announced that the whole class would be involved in the making of an Iridescent Crystal each. She'd taken it for granted that, owing to the complexity of the spell, Snape wouldn't have taught them more than the theory aspect of it. Perhaps she'd underestimated the man.

"Lumos," she muttered, pulling out a parchment and quill and tapping it with her wand. Dipping her quill into ink, she began to draw up a list.

PROSPECTIVE HELPERS

1. HARRY
2. RON
3. HAGRID
4. FRED
5. GEORGE
6. ...

She was almost done with listing all her closest friends, including the entire Weasley clan, when she had the nagging feeling she'd forgotten something. Someone.

Yet she didn't have the courage even to scribble his name, for she was suddenly and momentarily overcome with a fleeting sensation of utmost embarrassment at the sheer boldness of it all.

CHOOSE WISELY, FOR THERE MAY COME A TIME WHEN THY VERY LIFE DEPENDETH ON IT.

Be brave, Herm.

And in that moment, in a frank self-admission of her most private emotions, Hermione knew whom she would choose, somehow, as her Helper.

1. S. S

* * *

" Father, I need your help," Draco whispered into the fire (it would never do for anyone to find out that Draco Malfoy was asking his dad for help).

Blurred at first, and then coming into focus, the image of Lucius Malfoy appeared amongst the flames, as his voice, cold as steel, resounded in the depths of the Slytherin common room, and Draco silently hoped that everyone remained fast asleep.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT, DRACO?"

Draco winced, then launched into a narrative of his situation, taking care not to reveal anything he didn't have to. He couldn't imagine how his dad would react if he told him he'd fallen in love with a Mudblood.

The image of Lucius actually appeared pensive for a moment. Then it spoke.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER THAN TO ASK ME. I BECAME YOUR MOTHER'S HELPER WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE. SURELY YOU HAVE THE SENSE TO ASK ONE OF YOUR PROFESSORS FOR HELP."

Draco gasped, as if struck by a sudden inspiration...

* * *