The Trail of the Black Star

Palanqa Research Camp

27 June, 11:45am

He woke to the smell of strong black coffee, and he silently praised whatever merciful beings were on his side. Before taking the important step of getting up, he took quick inventory of himself. Finding nothing missing and nothing worse than an asleep arm, he hoisted himself into a sitting position. From the sound of clinking glass and iron, it sounded like Hermione had gotten an early start with her experiment plans. She was also not alone. He lay back down and closed his eyes, listening. It was a male voice, and speaking low and urgently. Unfortunately, he couldn't make out any individual words through the laboratory door.

The ringing of a small bell in the kitchen drew them into the main room. Severus was still feigning sleep, but recognized Tino's footfalls from the previous night. He had to strain his ears to catch their whispers over the clattering crockery. From the sound of it sloshing into mugs, the coffee was even thicker than the previous night's.

"I thought it'd never be ready!"

"It only seems that way when you need it, Danger. One swig of Especial del Jefe just about did me in. How much did you and Mr. Danger drink, anyway?"

He heard the remaining few dozen millilitres slosh against the side of the bottle and Tino's low whistle of appreciation.

"No wonder he's still out cold!"

"Maybe out, but I doubt he's cold."

"Why, Danger, do I detect a hint of cattiness in your voice?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. But I did spy him snogging Brittany after the wards went off last night."

Severus wished he could have seen the look that accompanied the distinct sound of someone choking on hot coffee. "That sly old fox! Still, you can't fault his taste."

She snorted in response. "Watch me. Honestly, I though he had a brain in his head."

"Danger, darling, when will you realize that men don't always think with the brains in their heads?"

"I don't buy that for a second. How could someone possibly get pleasure from a relationship in which he or she doesn't respect the other person involved?"

"Is that a trick question?"

Severus could almost hear her eyes rolling. "Let me rephrase: how could he possibly stand someone that vapid, even for a short amount of time? Is perky anatomy the only prerequisite?"

"No, Danger, you know there's more to it than that. You're doing all right in the perky anatomy department. Mr. Danger's probably just killing time until you come out of mourning for having lost me."

Severus was unable to contain his own snort against the pillow. Fortunately, Granger chose to snort derisively at the same time.

"Still, if he had the whole camp to choose from, he could have done worse than Brittany. She's not all bad. She reads lots of Muggle literature and she must do something useful when she's out with the other Americans."

"I guess." Her tone was doubtful.

"And who's to say what happened last night? You did find him in bed next to you this morning, after all."

"True."

"And I could ask why it bothers you so much."

She tutted. "Just because some people leave their brains at the door when it comes to romance doesn't mean we all do. My interest in Professor Snape is purely professional. But the last thing I need is to lose him to Brittany's two prominent charms when I need him to help me with this project. I refuse to share."

"Wow, Danger. You were never so possessive of me."

She laughed. "Well, he does do hard-to-get better than anyone I've ever seen."

"Ah, but has he faced down a charging dragoness to bring you venom?"

"You got it? You're the best!" Severus opened his eyes a crack just in time to see her throw her arms around his neck. She pulled away suddenly. "Wait, this wasn't the female nesting near the ranger station, was it?"

"That's the one. She attacked the rangers last night."

Hermione whistled. "What a mess! Did she get anyone?"

"No. Luckily, I'd had my eye on her as soon as the gunshots started. All was well after a few stunners and memory charms."

"Wait, why were there gunshots?"

"Didn't I tell you? All the detainees managed to break out of their cells last night, so everyone was running around with flashlights and guns. Clever of the female to take advantage of the confusion."

"Tino, you don't mean that Puquio is loose again!"

"I didn't want to tell you. You've already got Especial de Jefe, and I had hoped to have at shot at the next bottle."

"Well, now we know who breached the wards last night."

"That's a bit of a leap, Danger."

"Not really. Only a Muggle or a really dim Wizard would have breached the wards without disarming them. Even the CHUMPs have learned how to surprise us. Besides, some of the others have spotted him around the camp in the past- not that any of them ever lift a finger to stop him from poaching."

"But why would Puquio come to the camp? Wouldn't he head back to Cusco as quickly as possible?"

"Now that he's been caught and escaped, the authorities would be looking for him there. My guess is that he thought this camp would be a good place to lie low for a bit."

"If Puquio was the one who breached the wards, we've got to find him and obliviate him." He paused. "What's wrong?"

"He may be out for revenge, now that he knows that there are Magical people here. He shot me and almost killed both of us when he realized we could do Magic. He must be furious at Professor Snape and me for turning him in"

"Hang on a minute there, Danger. He saw you do magic and you didn't obliviate him?"

There was an awkward pause. "I forgot."

Severus felt his eyebrows rise of their own accord. Tino must have had a similar reaction.

"Well, I had a few other things on my mind, didn't I?" Her voice was defensive. "And it's not like we can do anything about it now. We just have to tell the others to keep an eye out for him. And for Circe's sake, remind them how to set and reset the wards. They listen to you."

"Will do. I may need some more of your coffee to keep me awake while I do it, though."

She clicked her tongue chidingly. "You haven't slept yet, have you?"

"Aah, sleep is for the weak. I'll get some after the meeting at noon."

"I'll cover dragon duty for you next week if you let me skive off. Professor Snape and I only have today and tonight to finish this potion."

"Only for you, would I attempt teaching remedial charms to the Americans single-handedly, Danger. Only for you."

They sipped their coffee in silence for a few minutes. Severus felt it an opportune time to assert himself. Stretching loudly, he sat up in bed.

"'Morning, Professor."

"Granger, Del Real."

"Well, I'd better get going. I've got to prepare for the meeting." Tino threw a roguish wink at Hermione. "If you start the habit of covering duty for me every time you skip meetings, I'm going to stop telling you when they are."

"Didn't you have somewhere you needed to be?"

"At your side for eternity, Danger." He disapparated with a pop.

Hermione shook her head and turned to Severus.

"Well, we've got a lot to do today. Where would you like to start? I've already started a few tests for cross-reactivity. They turned out pretty much how I expected, except for one that exploded and gave Tino purple hair, but I think that was because he was fiddling with the heat level when he thought I wasn't looking."

Severus slid out of bed, much relieved that his balance, coordination, and professorial vocal stylings had returned. "I thought I'd have the chance to review your tests before you started."

"If you hadn't slept so late, perhaps you could have reviewed them. I hardly think it was necessary. I'm not completely incompetent, you know." Her eyes narrowed. "And don't you dare give me that look because I am in no mood for it. If you haven't got anything constructive to say, keep your mouth shut."

Severus bit back the comment that her threat might have been more effective coming from someone who wasn't wearing garishly un-matching socks. He regarded her over the rim of his coffee mug. She looked distinctly tired and dishevelled; her curls stuck out at odd angles and there were purple shadows under her eyes. She also had the look of someone to be crossed at one's own peril. A person who, if sniped at, would snipe back. While it was decidedly odd for him to be the most affable person in a room, especially before his caffeine kicked in, he capitulated with a shrug.

"Very well then, Miss Granger, where do you suggest we begin?"

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Palanqa Research Camp

27 June, 7:30 pm

Severus wiped away a trickle of sweat as he put the finishing touches on their first attempt at pain blocking potion. The planning was over; now it was a matter of trial, error, and no small amount of luck. An afternoon of bickering had led to their best guess for the potion base, which was simmering in a huge cauldron in the corner. Three drops of each distillation to a flask of corn base was all that was required for final testing. A tiny part of him was optimistic and excited, but the vast majority hoped that the effects of their first tests would be so catastrophic as to put a dent in Granger's rabid enthusiasm.

The offending female herself had done considerably more than a few cross-reactivity tests while he had slept. To his great annoyance, she had gone ahead with a few analytical charms and tests using another batch of "historically accurate" corn solution. To his even greater annoyance, she had actually succeeded in ruling out two of the six orchid derivatives as the pain-blocking compound, one by virtue of its extreme toxicity when added to the base, and the other for its molecular similarity to the primary ingredient of Ire Infusions. To mask his surprise, he ordered her not discard the eliminated essences, in the likely event that she had been too quick to narrow the field.

The chit had the audacity to smile at that. And she agreed! It got increasingly difficult to nettle her as their respective hangovers subsided.

His hand was steady with the dropper- one, two, three shining drops of the glowing red liquid fell on to the surface of the flask, which went from milky translucence to a swirling orange. Interesting. It smelled of clay. She hovered next to his left shoulder.

"That's it, then?"

He removed the potion from the burner and poured a bit into a tube. "Infusion number one is complete. I trust you have a selection of antivenins on hand?"

She produced a small rack of neatly labelled vials. "I may be an amateur at potions, but I'm not suicidal."

"Would you like to do the honours?"

Her jaw was set. "I would."

"Start with about twenty millilitres. We can up the dosage if it has no effect. I will record observations. Give me your wand, please."

She handed it to him, handle first and took the tube. "Bottoms up, Professor."

She drained it and stood with her eyes closed. He poised his quill over his laboratory notebook and nearly jumped when her eyes snapped opened. She appeared mildly unfocused, but otherwise unchanged.

She grinned hugely at him. "Hi, there!"

"How do you feel, Miss Granger?"

"How do I feel about what?"

"Need I spell it out for you, idiot girl?"

"Spelling. I can spell. I was first form spelling champion. I spelled 'existential.' What were we talking about?"

"I was trying to divine how the potion has affected you physically, and these foolish games are hardly helpful."

She wasn't looking at him. He cleared his throat, and she turned to him with a sunny smile.

"Hi, there!"

"I will ask you for the last time. How do you feel?"

"How do I feel about what?"

"Oh never mind," he snapped. "Give me your hand."

She extended her hand, and he pricked one finger with his pocket quill knife. She jerked her hand away.

"Ouch! What did you do that for?" She glared at him for a moment, but seemed to forget about him when she looked at her hand. "Hey wow, my finger's bleeding!"

Severus scribbled his observations in his lab book. A few minutes later and a few dozen "Hi, there!"s later, Hermione seemed to regain some measure of her usual intelligence. Heh.

Severus gave her a purging potion to remove any lingering effects of their experiment and filled her in on what had happened. She was amused by his description but disappointed that she had showed normal levels of pain sensitivity.

One essence down, two to go, and it was his turn.

Severus scooped up another flask full of the corn base and added three drops of the glowing blue essence. This time, the potion turned a vivid mauve and shimmered invitingly.

She scooped up a tube full and gave it an experimental sniff.

"It smells nicer than mine did, anyway. I'm ready to observe when you're ready to drink."

He took the tube and drained it with a flourish.

"How do you feel, Professor?"

"Mentally alert, mildly anxious."

"More than one would expect under the circumstances?"

"No."

"And physically?"

"Unchanged."

"Do you want to take another dose?"

"No. There is a tingling sensation."

"Painful?"

"No, not painful. Just tingling."

"Where?"

"My lips." Interesting. He raised his fingers to his lips, which felt hot to the touch. "The sensation seems to be spreading and growing in intensity. There is also a sensation of heat."

"Is it painful?"

"Miss Granger, I assure you that when I am in pain, you will most certainly know."

"Stick to your responses, Professor," she ordered. "Is the tingling sensation still spreading?"

"Yes."

She tutted. "You could be more specific?"

He was finding it difficult to scowl with such pleasurable warmth spreading throughout his body. "My feet. Calves. Arms. Hands." So warm. He ran his fingers over the back of his hand. The veins his fingertips encountered seemed to vibrate. "Face. Throat. Chest." His breath and heart rates were increasing. "My stomach. My -oh, Merlin!" The tingles had taken on a less innocent intensity and had finally reached his groin. He doubled over and wrapped his arms around his hips in an attempt to shield his growing protuberance from Granger's observation.

"Professor? Professor! Are you in pain? Where does it hurt?"

"Not pain," he managed to squeeze through gritted teeth, humiliated.

"Not pain? Then what- oh." She recovered almost immediately. "Is it physical stimulation, or is there a mental or compulsive aspect?"

Her analytical question was like a mental cold shower. He could have kissed her. "Physical. No compulsion beyond what is normal for this state."

"Is the tingling still present in the rest of your body?"

"Yes, but different. Less. Like peppermint oil." Mundane. But the intensifying tingles between his legs were making it difficult to think, much less speak coherently. He had to make it to the washroom, and soon. But the girl was standing in his way.

"Give me your hand."

"What?"

"I need to check your pain sensitivity."

His legs were shaking. He wasn't going to last much longer. "I can do it myself."

"But Professor, we need to know precisely-"

"STAND ASIDE, STUPID GIRL!" He bellowed, tearing into the restroom just in time to yank off his trousers. While snatching a handful of tissues, he managed to bang his hip on the side of the sink, and was mildly dismayed to note that it hurt. When the inevitable occurred, the black patches that had been lurking in his peripheral vision began to expand. His last thought before losing consciousness were to the effect of that even if they never found a pain potion, this one would make him and Granger obscenely wealthy.

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