Transition

Transition by Firesword

Chapter Thirty-eight: Failure

Friday, 12th May 2000.

All was quiet inside the somber-appearing house, but in all actuality, its owner was home. The gray-haired wizard appeared pensive in his huge, dark brown armchair, and he calmly sipped on a cooling mug of tea.

Aran Reed was thinking. He was so lost in his contemplation he did not notice that he had finished his tea, and he was hungry. He had also rested for two hours after the conclusion of his research on the material the principal had handed to him two weeks ago.

"Aran? It's me. May I come in?" requested a voice.

Reed blinked and stared blankly at his cup. Then he realized that the inanimate object had not spoken, but the spell that he had cast on the door that allowed him to hear his visitors' requests for entry. However, only his lover knew how to work with the spell since he found it unnecessary for everyone to visit him frequently.

"The door's locked so be careful," Reed said and smiled faintly when he heard Vine say something about him being rude not opening the door himself. He listened intently for the sounds Vine would make and turned his head slightly to watch the archway.

"Aran, sometimes I wonder if you're lazy on purpose," Vine muttered crossly just as soon as he came within sight. The violet-eyed wizard sat on the floor. Then Vine clasped his hands and rested them on Reed's knee, still scowling. "Had that been just one of your ways to make sure that I'll never get rusty?"

Reed shrugged and set his empty cup on the table. Then he leaned back in his chair again, and a preoccupied expression took over his normal, scowling mien.

"What's wrong? You've been awfully pensive for the past few days."

"It was not a pool of unicorn's blood," Reed said softly and then lowered his eyes to study his lover.

Vine paled and exhaled sharply. "It is not natural?"

"It's a potion infused with dark ingredients and a bit of cruel magic meant to trap a person into a state of illusion." He reached out and subsequently tugged at Vine's ribbon to free the blonde mane. The ribbon fell to the carpeted floor, forgotten and unneeded for the moment. Reed stroked Vine's hair languorously and allowed the motions and sensations to soothe his troubled mind.

"The children in the school are in danger," Vine said flatly.

He nodded wearily. Reed tilted his face to stare up at the ceiling. "The potion is rather crude. If this is something that's brewed by a student, I'd have given the child only an Acceptable grade."

"Inexperienced?"

"No real talent in potion making. Or he was in a haste," Reed said thoughtfully. "The potion has a short shelf-life," he added.

"Can you trace the magic back to the source, Aran?"

"The magic is too weak for me to work with. That makes me think the creator just wants to use this to 'scare'." Reed's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "However, there may be a chance, if the potion is at work."

"But how do we counter it?"

"Magic. This is a potion that tricks the mind. It will not take much to negate its effects."

"Ah," Vine responded. "At least we are experienced in such techniques."

When Reed looked down, his lover's amethyst eyes appeared contemplative.

"But who would be willing enough to suffer being trapped in an illusory nightmare?" Vine inquired in a serious tone.

"Harry and Draco need to know as this might have been directed at them, to cause them grief."

"Greatoak needs to be informed."

"As do Bluestone and Elaviel." Reed cupped his lover's face. "And I need you to do me a favor."

"Summon them so that we could have a conference in our dreams?"

"We can't hold a discussion like that - it's too dangerous for Harry and Draco. I do not think they would appreciate such happenings, since they had told us about having their dreams manipulated by someone," he smiled faintly. "Just request that they come over for lunch tomorrow."

"Through the world of dreams. You're contradicting yourself," Vine grumbled.

oOooOooOo

"Elron?" Harry called out with some amount of surprise.

The appearance of his mentor had been so sudden that Harry thought he was not dreaming. It was quite alarming to have his dream vanishing away into pitch-blackness and to have Vine standing on a swirling cloud.

"You're in bed quite early," Vine said slyly. "Sorry to disturb you, Harry. Aran needs your presence in his home at noon later on."

"Why?"

Vine only shrugged and gave a small wave before being enveloped by fog.

Harry woke suddenly and spent several moments looking at Draco's serene face. What had I dreamt? Harry frowned slightly but no matter how hard he tried, he could not remember it.

When he still could not recall his dream, he shrugged a little and settled back to sleep. However, Draco's hand slipped away from his waist and brushed against his crotch. Harry's eyes flew open almost immediately and he held his breath.

Then he blushed furiously because Draco started to fondle him after a while. It was quite annoying, because Harry knew that Draco was still asleep. Finally, it came to a point where he could no longer tolerate the intimate caresses and gently pulled his husband's hand away from his aroused flesh.

"You need to sleep, you Slytherin," Harry muttered softly and smiled. He kissed Draco's cheek and his husband let out a soft mewl of contentment before snuggling back into him.

Harry held Draco close and he finally drifted back into the world of dreams.

oOooOooOo

Vine was exasperated. He had tried several times to get the message to Draco but each time he managed to penetrate a little, the Assistant Potions teacher would push him out. So he had gone on to contact the head of the centre, Bluestone and then Starkmind. He managed to get to them without any difficulties, and finally went back to get in touch with Draco. It was quite important for him to inform Draco successfully because the magic that would be transferred from messenger to receiver would act as the key to enter Reed's home.

"Draco! Will you stop that for a moment and let me in?" Vine nearly shouted in aggravation.

The moving blocks in Draco's dream came to a halt and Vine carefully wove his way to the center. He sensed Draco's puzzlement over the interruption.

"I apologize for interrupting your undoubtedly pleasant dream, Draco, but this is important. You are to come down to your mentor's place at noon," Vine announced. "You won't remember the interruption until you're fully awake later in the morning. Now, go back to sleep."

He withdrew from Draco's subconscious, and opened his eyes tentatively at first. He saw the cover page of one of his lover's many research journals hovering above him and he silently spied the graceful fingers that held the book up.

Then he casually pulled the book from Reed's grasp and carelessly tossed it over to an ottoman nearby. He lifted his gaze and met scowling, sapphire eyes fearlessly.

"Time to go to bed," he said sweetly. Reed was still frowning even as he started to sit up. He massaged his stiff neck and rotated his head just a little.

"I was reading," Reed grumbled.

"Oh no you don't." Vine quickly prevented the older wizard from summoning the journal back. He proceeded to eliminate the candles illuminating the room, then pushed, and pulled Reed, until the wizard rested fully on the bed.

"What do you think you are doing?"

He did not answer. He simply settled on top of the older. "Good night, Aran." He smiled inwardly as he closed his eyes. The rise and fall of Reed's chest slowly lulled him into sleep, and a few minutes after his lover started to stroke his back, Vine slipped into slumber.

oOooOooOo

Saturday, 13th May 2000.

Draco stretched his legs slowly but he froze when he heard a soft whimper. He opened his eyes and blinked rapidly. The bedroom appeared slightly brighter and it informed Draco that it was morning. However, the thing that he was surprised at was his position.

His cheek was currently resting on Harry's warm abdomen. Had I mistaken it for a pillow? Draco thought inconsequentially.

His husband stirred from under him and Draco rubbed his cheek against the smooth skin as Harry stretched.

"Draco, what are you doing down there?" Harry asked drowsily.

"Do I move around that much when I'm asleep?" Draco asked his husband curiously.

"I'm not sure."

Draco smiled a little and closed his eyes. He did not want to move yet so he silently enjoyed their closeness. Then he remembered the peculiar dream.

"Damn!"

"What in the hell?"

Green eyes stared incredulously into his own when they exclaimed at the same time.

"Love," Draco started to sit up, "I dreamt of Vine just now."

Harry moved as well, and combed his black hair back with his fingers. "Funny - so had I."

"He told me that I needed to go to Reed's house at noon," Draco said gravely.

"What's going on?" Harry's tone was a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "He told me the same thing."

Draco looked at the dark-haired wizard worriedly. "This has never happened before - Reed would always inform me personally if he needs to discuss something."

"And why does he want to see me?"

"No idea." Draco waved his hand at the window and the curtains parted obediently to let in light. He stared at the sunny world outside. "It could be that Reed wants to have a meeting about something," Draco mused but Harry's arms around his waist disrupted his thinking. He chuckled slightly and laid his own hands on top of his husband's before squeezing them gently. "Good morning."

Harry kissed his hair and nuzzled him. "Good morning."

He leaned back. The sensation of being held protectively by Harry was giving Draco ideas of going back to sleep.

"Draco," Harry crooned softly. "You can't go back to sleep."

"Uhmmmm." Draco opened one eye and looked at his husband gloomily. "Okay. Tonight however, we're going to sit at the balcony."

"Whatever for?"

"I don't know. Watch the stars maybe? Or perhaps putting my head on your lap and let me practice for a bit?" Draco looked over his shoulder with an innocent expression.

Harry's cheeks turned bright red.

Draco pouted for a few seconds. "It was a bloody good dream ... until your mentor interrupted me."

oOooOooOo

Harry became slightly dizzy after he passed through the doors of Reed's mansion. He paused in the hallway for a moment and breathed deeply. The world stopped moving after a minute of waiting and his stomach calmed.

"All right there, Harry?" Starkmind, who had been the last to enter the house, inquired.

"I'm all right."

"I feel sick."

Draco looked sick indeed - his face had a slightly greenish tint.

Harry quickly went to Draco's side and offered a small piece of chocolate. He used that to distract Draco from his nausea and they slowly made their way to the dining room with Bluestone in the lead.

Greatoak was just sitting down when the couples from the Lovenest entered.

"Good afternoon," the old wizard greeted cheerfully.

"You're late," another voice said gravely. Reed appeared with several trays of food floating in front of him. "Sit down."

Behind Harry, Starkmind made a soft noise and curious, he turned, just in time to see Bluestone glare at the chestnut-haired wizard.

"Are you all right?" Vine's voice pulled his attention away from the Veelas. His mentor was peering closely at Draco. Vine looked up and violet eyes looked questioningly at Harry.

"It's just like the first time we entered the vale, right?"

"It feels like it."

"I see. I'll get you something hot to drink then."

Lunch was very quiet in Harry's opinion and it had set him to think that Reed was not quite comfortable in an otherwise formal gathering. When they were done, Harry noticed Vine exchange a brief glance with Reed.

"Thank you for the meal, Aran," Greatoak said with a bright smile. "Now, where shall we adjourn for the small talk you'd promised?"

"The library is the most secure of places," Reed said quietly. "Elron, please take them up while I deal with this. I'll be with you shortly."

Harry took that as a signal to stand and then at Vine's gesture, he followed his mentor.

"May I ask what this is about, Elron?" Greatoak asked curiously. "Does he want to give the lads a lecture about exchanging a little affection behind closed, office doors?"

Draco coughed suddenly.

Harry made the mistake of looking at his husband because he thought Draco was choking. However, the moment their eyes met, they blushed furiously.

"I'm glad that it's not, Sir," Vine reassured. "It's about that material you asked him to check several weeks ago."

Greatoak's eyes narrowed just a little bit.

Harry tilted his head to one side in thoughtfulness. "You mean the puddle at the landing of the ground floor?"

"You knew about it?"

"What puddle?" Draco, Starkmind and Bluestone asked in unison.

"It was during that day when we had to dance in the hall. I was coming down when I saw the puddle on the floor. Professor Greatoak was already there."

"I see." Vine looked at him oddly but then they reached the heavy doors of Reed's library.

They entered the room, which brightened immediately on its own. Vine waved absently at the round ancient table, cluttered with some thick books, parchments and notes before taking a seat on one of the velvet-cushioned chairs circling the huge furniture.

Harry waited until Bluestone and Starkmind seated themselves before sitting down. A spark of amusement occurred somewhere inside him when Draco shifted his chair somewhat dreamily in order to be closer to him. Harry watched his husband with a faint smile and blithely ignored the sounds Starkmind made.

I don't think he's aware of what he's doing, Harry mused.

When he felt Reed's presence, he quickly replaced his dreamy look with a calm expression. The others responded as such and Harry did not blame Reed for looking at him suspiciously.

Draco's mentor did not sit down but continued to stand, and Reed appeared somewhat somber. The grave look caused Harry to be slightly apprehensive.

"What is it capable of?" Harry asked abruptly.

"It's a potion, but not one to be consumed. However, at contact, the victim's magic will activate the potion and it would be absorbed into the body. Ultimately, the potion's intent is to trap one's mind in an endless cycle of a nightmare, or bad experience."

"What is a potion like that doing on the floor, when anyone could walk on it?" Harry asked quietly. Unconsciously, he dropped his left hand to reach for Draco's right hand. His lover took it and squeezed his hand comfortingly.

"Sir, is someone trying to harm the students?" Draco asked quietly.

"It could also be that someone is trying to harm you," Reed answered gravely.

Harry tightened his fingers around Draco's.

"When did you discover the puddle?" Starkmind asked Greatoak.

"Exactly at twelve-thirty," the old wizard replied. "Peculiarly enough, it wasn't there when I was chasing Eurus fifteen minutes earlier."

"Aran, how can you tell whether someone has been affected by the potion?" Bluestone inquired.

"The victim will go into a trance."

"In other words, it's safe to assume that none of the students had stepped on it by mistake?" Harry gazed deeply into Reed's eyes. "No one showed any signs of behaving oddly."

"Yes. However, I am disturbed." Draco's mentor did appear worried. "Your friends of Hogwarts and the Aurors still hadn't found the person responsible for the attacks of two years ago."

"Harry, I found it somewhat alarming that you, other than Professor Greatoak, had come so close to the potion," Vine said in a serious tone. "I, for one, cannot simply dismiss this as coincidence."

"Elron," Harry said in a quiet voice, "Knight was there too."

Greatoak and Reed appeared undisturbed, but Vine, Starkmind and Bluestone seemed surprised. Draco looked greatly suspicious. Harry shook his head.

"There's no evidence to imply that Knight is responsible," Harry said reasonably.

"I know, Harry, but my instincts tell me otherwise." Draco's gaze was piercing and Harry suddenly had to look away.

"Harry is right," Greatoak agreed and nodded slightly. "However, we could at least find out who had brewed the potion by tracing the magic back to the source."

"I have a question - how did you handle it without..." Harry felt a little foolish when he asked Reed.

"Dragon-hide gloves."

"Oh."

"Back to the matter - I have tried to trace the magic myself, but the magic in the potion was weak."

"You can't even find a signature?" Starkmind asked and Reed shook his head in response.

"Is the potion still active? Can we find the culprit if I..." Harry's voice trailed off when his seniors shook their heads firmly.

"I am not certain to both of your questions," Reed said with a slight frown. "Even if it's active, there is no guarantee that the miscreant would be found."

"But Aran and I have come to an agreement that you and Draco couldn't be allowed to be 'guinea pigs' for this," Vine said solemnly. "If this is an attack on you..."

"Then who?" Draco demanded.

"Perhaps one of the students may be able to help," Greatoak murmured.

"No!"

Draco had answered at the same time Harry did, but Draco's voice had been louder.

"Merlin's beard - they're children! They have no one apart from themselves, and us. Some of them may have had their memories altered to make their lives as orphans easier." The distress in Draco's voice was so thick that Harry thought he could feel it enveloping him like a blanket. "Who are we to shatter their peacefulness?"

"Draco's right. We need an adult to do this." Bluestone flicked his long hair back over his shoulder.

"Not the day teachers though," Greatoak interrupted.

"A non-teaching member?"

"Julia - I think she's suitable."

"When are we doing this?"

"Monday. At about two in the afternoon," Draco suggested.

Harry looked questioningly at his husband.

"Is that all right?" Draco turned to Reed for approval.

"In the middle of class?" Reed did not sound pleased at all.

"Why not? If Knight is the culprit and I really want to know if my hunches about him are correct, then a good time for us to have a gathering is the time when he thinks we're busy."

oOooOooOo

Monday, 15th May 2000. In the Centre.

Harry looked at his students who were working on their group assignments before checking his pocket watch for the time.

Time to go down.

Harry and the others had all agreed that the 'experiment' should be conducted in Reed's classroom.

"Mister Warwick," Harry called the serious-looking boy sitting at the back of the class. "I have to go down for a meeting so I'll leave you to ensure that your fellow classmates behave while I'm away. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Sir!"

"The rest of you?"

"Yes, Sir!"

"Good." Harry nodded his approval. "I won't be gone long." Harry smiled slightly at them and his students went back to work. Then he left the classroom.

The walk to the basement was quiet and uneventful. The door to Reed's Potions classroom was wide-open and Harry peered around the doorframe cautiously. Students were brewing their potions but some had stopped to stare when they noticed his presence.

"Pay attention to your cauldrons!" Reed's voice cracked like a whip and startled the students and Harry as well. "In there," Reed then ordered him in a normal tone. The Potions Master pointed his chin at another door.

Harry crossed the classroom to enter the door and greeted his mentor, Starkmind, Bluestone and his husband with a smile. "Hey," he greeted Julia, and the Astronomy instructor gave him a lopsided grin.

"Watch your step. Unless if you are wearing dragon-hide boots that are natural magic repellents, you don't want to be influenced by the potion by accident," Julia Swarm said warningly.

He carefully made his way to stand beside his lover.

Just then, Reed appeared with Greatoak, and the Potions Master saw fit to close the door and ward it with several spells.

"Harry, I'm not quite sure why we need to be present," Draco whispered. "I mean ... we're just standing here."

"It's for safety purposes, dear lad," Greatoak replied absently. "You two could lend a helping hand in case things get out of hand."

"I'm ready, Professor Greatoak," Julia announced impatiently.

"Shall we begin?"

Harry and Draco moved aside as the other wizards took the positions on the tips of a five-pointed star.

"Do be careful, Julia," Vine said.

"I'm no baby, Elron. I'll be fine." With that, Julia carefully prodded at the pool with a naked foot.

Harry could feel the air inside the room move. Draco must have sensed it as well, because his stormy-gray eyes had narrowed slightly and were watching something invisible.

"The air is thick with negative energy," Draco murmured. "And it's rushing toward Julia."

Harry nodded absently. He found that if he closed his eyes, he could see the bloody, sickly red mist float around the witch and seep into her body through her eyes, nostrils, ears and mouth.

"No good, gentlemen," Julia spoke with surprising calmness. "The magic isn't powerful enough."

"I thought the victim would be in a trance by now," Harry muttered to Draco.

"But ... ah. I understand now - the negative energy is coming from the surroundings, not the person responsible," Draco said.

"I cannot find the signature." Greatoak sounded frustrated. "The magic is too bland to be significant."

"I sense something," Starkmind interrupted. "But damn it - I can't make out what it is."

"Counter it, gentlemen. Maybe that would lead us somewhere."

However, that did not give them results and the puddle burst into fiery blue flames.

"There goes the evidence," Julia muttered.

"We've learnt nothing," Harry said with disappointment.

"Not quite, young wolf," Starkmind said gently. "There is something in the potion. It feels as though-"

"Something that belongs to the brewer is in that," Reed supplied.

"Exactly."

"What?" Harry looked at Draco, puzzled.

"Like the addition of hair, nails, saliva, body fluids and so on," Draco explained.

"Body fluids? Ewwww! That's disgusting!" Julia exclaimed.

"Haven't you stopped to wonder sometimes about what you're eating? Especially in inns and taverns?" Draco's tone was slightly sarcastic. "The cooks sometime do spit, you know."

The witch was not the only one who stared incredulously at Draco.

"That is why he prefers home-cooked meals," Bluestone said to no one in particular.

oOooOooOo

Jason Kanic was herding his little train of five-year olds along the third floor corridor so that he could bring them to their favorite place of play and study - the courtyard.

The team turned to their left and descended the staircase. On the second floor, an assistant librarian entered the archway, and inevitably, they crossed paths. The librarian nodded a greeting at Jason and smiled at the little ones. Without warning, his face turned red, then white, and green before returning to a normal coloration. Beads of sweat dotted Knight's forehead and his hands shook violently.

"Are you all right?" the warlock asked immediately, a bit concerned by the librarian's wan complexion.

"I'm all right. My stomach has been feeling a little delicate today."

"I see." Jason studied the librarian for a moment before shrugging slightly. "Come on, children." He and his pupils went on their way, and Jason missed the look of chagrin on the librarian's face.

oOooOooOo