The Figure Clothed in Black

Chapter Eighteen: The Lost Potion

"Amy, what am I going to do? I have to get to Hogwarts somehow and talk to, I ... man, I can not believe that is true! How can anyone be more evil than Voldemort?" he asked his best friend, Amy, over the phone.

"I don't know how it can be true, but everything else you've ever said has been true, so we have to assume this is too. Are you going to be at school tomorrow?"

They both attended a wizarding school in Paris, France, but unlike Hogwarts, it wasn't a boarding school. They had to be there at a quarter till seven and got out at twenty five after two. They students were mainly English speaking though all could speak French fluently. Most of the students had moved over to Paris form an English speaking country. Ethan had moved from Surrey, and Amy from Edinburgh. Amy's mother was a witch, her father a muggle. Ethan's parents were a witch and wizard though they lived in a muggle neighborhood and had muggle devices in their home, like a telephone for example.

"I don't want it to be true. It can't be true, it just can't be," he said desperately into the phone. "I'll be at school tomorrow, "he added remembering her question.

"Good, I hate it when you're not there; I have no one to talk to. I don't want it to be true either, but it most likely is and we need to get prepared to help fight, not denying it," she said firmly. "Listen, I have to go. Talk to you later, okay?"

"Yeah, later, bye."

They both hung up the phone and Ethan went downstairs as he heard his mother call him.

*~*

"Here it is," Harry said breathlessly. Hermione and he, who were sitting beside him on the ground under the shade of a tree, started to read the diary entry.

Dear Diary,

I was looking up some stuff for extra credit in potions and ran across this potion. It says that when taken by someone who has achieved immortality, or partial immortality, it will take it away and they can be killed by the killing curse. I'm not sure why, but I'm going to copy down the list of ingredients and how to make it. The book said it was an ancient potion and the original title had been lost so it's called The Lost Potion.

1. Three four-leaf clover

2. One lily flower

3. A strand of hair from a stag

4. Three petals from the Gold Flower

5. Eye of newt

6. Fingernail clipping of a werewolf in his/her transformed shape

7. Two cups of water from the Nile River

8. One strand of hair from the person who is supposed to drink it

The book said that only the person destined to kill the drinker of the potion can gather the ingredients. If someone else does it, the potion won't work. He/ she can have someone help them to get to the places to get the ingredients, but they have to be the actual one to get them and help with setting the ingredients out for the potion, but other than that they're on their own.

There was more written there, but Harry didn't read it.

How in the world am I supposed to get one of Voldemort's hairs? And fingernail clippings of a werewolf in their transformed state? There's Remus, of course, but even with the Wolfsbane potion I don't think he could kee[ his mind long enough to get fingernail clippings. Three four-leaf clovers? I've never even found one! A lily, easy, eye of newt, easy, but there petals of he Gold Flower? I've never even heard of that. One strand of hair form a stag... I'm sure Hagrid could help me with that.

Hermione addressing him brought him out of his thoughts. "Harry, can I turn the page now? I need to read about how to finish making it since you're obviously aren't reading it." Harry nodded.

"Tell me what it says, will you? I stopped reading after the list of what you need to make it." Hermione nodded her head and finished reading a minute later.

"You have to put them in the potion in this order when you make it: two cups of water from the Nile River, fingernail clippings of a werewolf in their transformed state, three petals from the Gold Flower, three four-leaf clovers, a lily, a strand of hairs from a stag, and finally the hair of the one who is going to drink it. You let the water come to a boil, stir clockwise for five minutes, and then add the fingernail clippings. Stir clockwise for five minutes again. It should be white then; bring it down to a simmer and then add the next thing. You do the same thing for each ingredient. As you add each ingredient it will turn form white to different shades of gray until when you're finished it should be pitch black. It has to be brewed on the full moon after you get the fingernail clippings, which means you have a month to get everything you need. Also, you have to get them in the order they have to be put in the potion. We have to know where everything is and how to get there before and make sure we can get it within a month before trying to get the fingernail clippings. And even if we know where everything is, it will be hard to get it all. You can't apparate, or port key within five miles of the Nile River. The ancient Egyptians did that to ward off opposing armies in war and I have no clue where the Gold Flower is, but my guess is that it will be as equally challenging."

"So," Harry said, "what you're saying is that it's virtually impossible to do. Why try then? Let's just forget about it, and let Voldemort kill everyone. We're not going to be able to get the ingredients, and I'm not going to defeat Voldemort so I might as well kill myself now. I'm going to die when I fight Voldemort, so why not go ahead and end it now?" he said loudly, frustrated. All was silent until Hermione said quietly,

"You don't mean that; you're just frustrated and not thinking rationally. We can find all the ingredients, and you can fight Voldemort without dying in the process. Please don't say that you should die now simply because you think you're going to die when you fight Voldemort because it isn't true. Please don't say that you would be better off dead even if you're just frustrated. You know it's not true," Hermione said quietly.

"I can't help it. I'm sorry if it scared you, but with everything sometimes I can't help, but think like that, even with Sirius back and all of you guys here to help me. Even if I hadn't tried to kill myself this summer, I think I would still be thinking like this. I'm not actually going to try to commit suicide again. That the difference, Hermione. I still think about it sometimes, and say it, but it's not an option. Every time I think about it the rational part on my brain says that I can get through it with help, and I'm okay." Hermione gave him a skeptical look. "Well not completely okay, but I'm not like I was during the summer. When that happens I'll go talk to Sirius, or play chess with him, or Remus and I forget about it. I don't actually see it as an option to get away from my problems like I did during the summer. I don't ever actually consider doing it. During the summer that was the only thing I thought about and saw it as the only thing to do. I don't think like that anymore, okay? I'm sorry if I scared you."

"You did scare me, Harry. I don't want to think about it if you're not here. And I know you're not going to do it, but please don't even say it. At least try not to say okay?" Harry nodded. "So when are you going to ask Kayla out?" she said changing the subject.

"I don't know, what-" Harry groaned and closed his eyes. He had fallen right into her trap. "How do you now I like her?"

"I overheard you and Sirius talking," she said grinning wickedly. "She likes you too, you know. She would really like to have you as a boyfriend."

"You're lying."

"No, I'm not. She really would like to have you as a boyfriend. Why don't you ask her out?

Harry shook his head and changed the subject. "Isn't it weird that my mum was adopted?"

Hermione sighed. She could tell that he wasn't going to talk about Kayla. "Yes, it is weird though it does explain your aunt's behavior somewhat. I don't know why your aunt kept you if they weren't related. It doesn't really make sense."

Harry frowned. "You're right. It doesn't really make sense. Let's go ask her why and see if she knows anything about this 'Gold flower.' "

Fifteen minutes later they were seated in front of Lily Potter's portrait. "Mum, why did Aunt Petunia keep me if you to aren't related? It doesn't make sense."

"When I had first arrived Petunia thought it was going to be great to have a sister. We were talking one night about if we wanted to marry, or have kids and we both promised on out family's honor tthat if something happened to us we would take care of each other's kids. In our neighborhood it was a big thing if you promised on your family's honor. Petunia grew up listening to stories of what had happened to families that had promised something, then broke it, and all the horrible things that had happened. She told me all the stories and I believed them. We were about seven then, and very gullible. We wrote it down on paper and she must have remembered that promise and kept it. I'm sure Dumbledore had something to do with convincing her to keep you. Does that answer your question?" Harry nodded. "Did you find my diary?"

Harry and Hermione both nodded. "It looks almost impossible to make. I really don't know how we're going to do it," Harry said voice sounding defeated. Harry read off the list of ingredients and how to make it. "Do you know anything about the Gold flower?"

"The name sounds familiar, but I don't remember anything about it. I'm sure you'll be able to get everything together in the space of a month. With the Wolfsbane potion Remus can keep his head for you to get the fingernail clippings, and if necessary, someone could give him a sedative before he transforms, or while he's transformed so he'll be asleep, and you don't have to worry about him scratching, or biting you. Snape could get Voldemort's hair one way, or another. Talk to Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore and all your teachers. I'm sure they'll have suggestion for you. I think you should ask Snape and Professor Sprout about the Gold flower. One of them might now. I know it sounds like it's impossible to make, but you'll be able to," she said trying to reassure him. She could tell that it didn't work. They talked a little more before leaving.

They got everyone to meet in Dumbledore's office and then told everyone about the potion.

Looking around the room Harry asked, "Do any of you know anything about the Gold flower?"

Dumbledore spoke up. "I have heard of it, but don't remember very much. I believe it grows in the canopy of the Amazon Rainforest. Give me a couple days and I'll give you more information on it. I'll talk to Severus, and we'll come up with a plan of how to get one of Voldemort's hairs. I advise talking to Professor Sprout; she might know about the Gold flower and where to get four leaf clovers. I'll speak to the inner circle of the Order about it and see what we come up with.

"Thank you so much, sir."

"There's no need to thank me. I'm just as anxious to see Voldemort gone as you are."

*~*

Greg and Brittany had snuck out of Hogwarts after Harry had told them about the potion and had gone to the Three Broomsticks. They were sharing a Butter Beer and talking about miscellaneous things.

Brittany is so different from Hermione. I can't believe they're sisters; they're the complete opposite of each other.

"Do you think we'll get in trouble?" Brittany asked.

Greg shook his head. "We never have before. No one is expecting us to be anywhere and as long as no one notices us missing we'll be fine. This is what the fifth or sixth time we've done this?"

"Sixth. We need to be careful though; last time we almost got caught."

Maybe they're not complete opposites.

"Almost being the key word. Do you want to leave? We can if you want to."

"No, I don't want to leave I just don't want to get in trouble because then they would probably only let us see each other during class and at meals. Sirius probably wouldn't let you sleep in the common room. And we'd get detention with Snape, or Filch depending on how mad he and Dumbledore are. Are you sure no one outside of Hogwarts knows about the tunnel besides Fred and George?"

"I'm positive. It's not like any Death Eaters are going to be able to get in there if that's what you're thinking. Was that what you were thinking?"

She smiled guiltily at him. "Yes, that was what I was thinking." She looked at her watch. "We better be heading back." They got up and left the pub already having paid for their drinks.

A person came out of the shadows and left the pub unnoticed. He followed the teens into the Shrieking Shack taking note of how they got out and where they said the tunnel came out.

He grinned. Master would reward him for this information.

*~*