Potion Magic

Chapter 8

Draped in the silvery folds of the Invisibility cloak, the trio had just begun their journey down the staircases toward Snape's dungeon when the wall torches began to pulsate, signifying "lights out, all students in bed." Hermione muttered under her breath, "Well, we're out of bounds now. Ginny, Harry, you can still go back; it's not too late."

Harry stopped dead in his tracks and said, "If you don't stop trying to be so noble, Hermione, I'm gonna scream. " She glared at him, but they kept going down toward the dungeons.

After a bit, they turned the corner and stepped into a familiar torch-lit vestibule. Suddenly, Harry stopped and threw his arms in front of both girls to stop them from going further. Hearing some strange noises, he cocked his head, straining to listen, then his eyes got huge with surprise.

They could clearly hear the sounds of people making out.

Ginny slapped her hand over her mouth once she realized what those strange slurping noises were. Harry watched Hermione with amusement, as she tried to recognize the sounds. Usually quicker on the uptake, she didn't put it all together until someone started moaning. It was a boy with an unusually deep voice. Hermione was horrified that she had walked in on something that might get them discovered. The fact that Harry was noiselessly roaring with laughter didn't help. Hermione nudged Harry hard in the ribs to try to get him to hold still and be quiet, when the voices started talking.

"Oh, Millie, run your tongue right there again...."

It was Goyle and Millicent Bulstrode.

Harry's eyes instantly filled with tears as he choked back screams of laughter. Even Hermione had to put both hands over her face to keep from laughing out loud. Ginny's eyes were as big as saucers - of all people to meet making out down in the dungeons! They couldn't see them, but what they could hear was bad enough. There were unzipping, muffled moans, and loud slurping noises. Somebody must have been a very wet kisser to get that much volume from spit, thought Harry.

To make matters worse, Mrs. Norris, Filch's cat had found them. And her favorite student was Ginny Weasley! Ginny was a great cat lover, and she had always taken the time to pet Mrs. Norris and bring her treats. Darting under the invisibility cloak, Mrs. Norris began to walk around Ginny's legs, brushing against her with her sleek body.

The make-out show continued for several more minutes. Hermione was afraid to stay much longer, but Harry didn't want to leave. Then came the moment that ended it all.

Goyle was obviously kissing Millicent, when he said, "Hang on a minute." Harry expected to hear unzipping or unsnapping, but he never expected to hear what happened next. Goyle let loose with an enormous belch! Everyone suddenly screamed with laughter. Who burps in the middle of a kiss?

Millicent shouted, "Oh no! Somebody's coming!", jumped up and ran toward the Slytherins common room. Goyle fell flat on his behind, bewildered. He couldn't see anybody, but he could hear loud laughing that sounded like it was right in front of him.

The trio began to back away when Harry stepped on Mrs. Norris' tail. The cat howled in pain, which made Harry jump out from under the invisibility cloak. Goyle didn't get a good look at him as he ran away in the dim dungeon light, but he was irritated and someone was going to pay for chasing Millicent away. He rebuttoned and went to tattle to the nearest teacher.

Racing through the halls, everyone was at a flat out run. Harry had a head start, with Ginny close behind. Hermione was saddled with the invisibility cloak, which was twisted and wrapped around her waist, making it look like her middle was missing. Flying up the stairs, two at a time, panting and sweltering under their thick robes, they stopped to rest on the East Wing landing.

Ginny and Harry were trying to catch their breath, when Hermione checked her pockets and threw her hands up in the air. Hermione began to swear loudly, much to Ginny's dismay and Harry's surprise.

He asked her what was wrong, and she exploded, "I am a complete idiot! I can't believe I could be SO STU- nothing big; I only dropped the bag that had all the transfigured buttons in it back there!!!!! Harry tried to calm her down to no avail; Ginny saw tears well up in her eyes, and watched Hermione square her shoulders as she visibly came to a decision.

"I'm going back after the buttons."

"NO YOU'RE NOT!" Harry emphatically replied. "Hermione, that place is going to be crawling with Slytherins, looking for us. Remember Goyle? We just broke up his little make out session and he was PISSED. He's going to want payback for that. We can't go back."

Hermione momentarily smiled, remembering Ron's "Connection Interruptus" comment when Madam Pomphrey wrenched them apart. It only strengthened her resolve. "I am going back to get those buttons, with or without you." She started to walk away back toward the dungeon.

Harry muttered, "Come on," grabbed Ginny by the hand, and threw the cloak over them all.

Slinking down the hallways, as fast as they could quietly go, the band of Gryffindors began once again toward forbidden Slytherin territory. Everyone was serious this time, all joviality gone.

Harry decided to break the tension by saying, "Well, Ginny, if Snape catches us, we may really have to give you away to him after all."

Both Ginny and Hermione turned and said "Shut up!" Harry watched Hermione's face contort as she tried not to laugh, so he considered the joke a success.

But as they approached the scene of their last stop, Hermione suddenly felt like someone had kicked her insides out, when she heard a deep silky voice say, "Well, well, what do we have here?" Harry tried to hold Hermione back under the invisibility cloak, but she looked at him and silently said, "No."

Full of resolve, Hermione bravely walked toward the shadowy figure that held her precious pouch. It was Snape. She thought of Ron and the steadfastness in his blue eyes, and loudly said, "I am going to need that back, sir."

The professor whipped around to face off against Hermione, his black eyes smoldering with fury. "Miss Granger, I am surprised to see you. What would a Gryffindor like yourself be doing down here near the Slytherin dungeons? And what is in this pouch that you find to be so precious? Mr. Goyle reported intruders in the hallway. How do I know that the contents of this pouch belong to you and that you did not steal them, hmm? WHAT ARE YOU DOING DOWN HERE????"

"Sir, I mean no disrespect to you or any Slytherin student, but that is my pouch. Goyle surprised me in the hallway, and I lost my pouch. I dropped it when I was on my way to the Potions classroom to concoct a potion that I must make tonight." Hermione's voice was steady, but polite and she looked Snape right in the eye. Ginny and Harry were dying under the invisibility cloak, clutching each other's hands in shock and awe at her honesty and bravado.

Snape didn't immediately catch on to what Hermione had said when he began to answer. "Oh, you were on your way to the Potions class-- wait a minute, that's my classroom! You were going to break into MY CLASSROOM! Young lady, I will have you expelled. And let us see what is in this pouch!" Snape's roar could be heard throughout the dungeons, as he opened the pouch and dropped the silver buttons onto his hands.

"Sir, I have made those buttons for Ron Weasley. You will remember that I injured him today in your class, with the fenugreek potion. He has sustained injuries to his eyes and Madam Pomphrey is cleaning his corneas and will be performing a memory charm on him." Hermione began to stammer, "I must, he must, remember what happened, and the buttons will help, and if he's blind....".

Snape interrupted her with a quizzical, probing look. "Miss Granger, were you exposed to the fenugreek solution?"

Hermione nodded yes and showed Snape her hands. "I suppose this means that you and Mr. Weasley were, shall we say, exposed together? Did you experience anything unusual?"

Hermione blushed profusely and nodded. In desperation, she switched tactics.

"Sir, you have always said that the Potions classroom is a working laboratory for study and inquisition. I had no intention of breaking into locked cupboards or storage areas. I just need to make a simple Engraving Potion, using ingredients found in the student cupboards. I knew, sir, that the classroom is left open for study during the daytime and not locked; this is an emergency situation. I must have the Engraving Potion tonight. It cannot wait. And I'm sorry that I interrupted, er, surprised Goyle. I didn't mean to scare him."

"I don't even want to contemplate what Mr. Goyle was doing out in the hallway and who he was doing it to," Snape's sneer began to soften as curiosity took hold. "Why do you need an Engraving Potion?"

"Sir, if you look at the buttons, you will see that they are all flat, smooth, and the same size. I am making a wristband for Ron, so that when he wakes up, he can press the buttons. He won't be able to see with his head bandaged, and Madam Pomphrey says that he could lose his eyesight all together. And maybe, it will cheer him up or..."

Snape finished her sentence, "help him remember when your potion intersected the two of you. Fenugreek is a fascinating substance. Have you figured out yet what it was about that potion that caused such a "reaction" between you and Mr. Weasley?"

Hermione, the library research queen, quickly thanked her stars that she had headed straight for the stacks to get her answers. "Sir, fenugreek is a main chemical component of Veritaserum. I have not had time to learn more than that, but it would explain why Ron and I connected so deeply." As soon as Hermione said that, she blurted out, "That didn't sound right; it's not what I meant. It's just that, well, Ron and I came to an understanding and I'm afraid that when Madam Pomphrey performs the memory charm, he won't remember how we feel about each other." Hermione was fighting back tears, but she was NOT going to cry in front of Snape if she could help it.

"Little Lioness, fighting for Ron Weasley. I doubt he has any idea just what kind of courage it must have taken to stand up to me, Evil Professor Snape. Don't fool yourself, Granger, you're going to serve detention and it will not be pleasant. But first, you may quickly prepare and brew the engraving potion, since "time is so of the essence." You would have made a good Slytherin Granger, with your intelligence and ambition, but you are Gryffindor to the core: you think with your heart before your head."

As soon as Snape said that she could brew her potion, Hermione's heart leaped for joy. She could not see or hear Ginny and Harry behind her, but she knew that they were cheering just the same.

It was a sight that Harry would always remember, Snape and Hermione walking together toward the potions classroom in the middle of the night. Under the cover of the invisibility cloak, they followed along behind her. Ginny thought that they were going to make sure that Hermione was okay, but Harry knew she'd be fine. He just never in his life thought that Professor Snape could be civil to anyone who was not a Slytherin. And he was almost courteous to Hermione as they walked down the halls together.

"Hey, Bride of Snape," Harry said to Ginny, "I think you've got competition!" Ginny silently slugged Harry, and wished she could tickle him - he was so deserving.

When they arrived at the Potions classroom, Hermione laid the buttons out on a worktable, and transfigured them into their respective forms. Professor Snape was particularly impressed with the wizard chessboard, and seemed surprised that McGonagall had been so eager to help. He also took a great deal of time admiring the 3-dimensional pictures. But at one point, Snape seemed to transform back into his old bitter self, and he began to snark at Hermione, as she prepared the potion ingredients. "Honestly, Granger, after 4 years of school, you'd think that you'd be able to properly prepare chameleon skin. Oh, we're going to be here all night. Give it to me." With that, Snape began to skillfully dice the skin into tiny diamond shaped pieces, as Hermione paid close attention to his technique. Wordlessly, he stirred the potion, evenly and slowly. As it simmered, Hermione took a chance: she said thank you.

Snape looked at her with his smoldering black eyes, a familiar look of disdain across his face. Yet, something about his demeanor changed, and she no longer felt in the company of one who hated her. Maybe he's just a nocturnal animal, she giggled to herself. They should hold his classed from midnight to 3:00 am!

When the potion had come to a rolling bubble, Snape drew some of it up into an eyedropper and placed a single pearly drop on each button. Hermione protested, "No, sir, you didn't have to do that. I had intended to do it myself."

Snape snorted, "At the rate you're going, my 9:00 am class will have left by the time you're done." She was coming to realize that that was just his way. Hermione also wondered where Harry and Ginny were.

"I'd like to see you perform your engraving charm, Miss Granger," said Snape. Hermione readied her wand and said, "Lumos". As the wand began to cast light, she swished it toward the buttons and said, "Carvepedium." The wand's light was suddenly as strong as a laser, which Hermione used to engrave a number of raised symbols on the buttons, rendering distinguishing patterns upon each one.

"Is this all you have to offer Mr. Weasley," Professor Snape asked acidly. "The chessboard and the tableaus," he said, referring to the 3 dimensional photographs.

Hermione rolled her eyes with frustration and said, "No. I forgot the Sugar Quills."

Snape lifted an eyebrow at her. "Sugar Quills? What are you going to do with those?"

Hermione explained her plan to transfigure a parcel of sugar quills into its own button, as they were Ron's favorite confection. "I remember when my grandmother went blind," Hermione explained, "she said when she lost her eyesight, all of her other senses became more finely tuned. She couldn't see, but she thought that she could discriminate between sounds, tastes, and smells more easily. My grandma leads a very full life as a sightless person. I want Ron to be excited about something when he wakes up to his sightless, bandaged head. It might really help him no matter what happens."

Hermione thought that Snape was very hard to read. He seemed to be sneering at her, but his eyes showed something else that she couldn't place. "So, what you are telling me, is that you are making this wristband for him to help him cope with his blindness, be it temporary or permanent, more than as a reminder of your "experience" together?"

Her mouth cracked into a slow smile, as she pondered that thought. "I guess you're right, professor. It's more important to me that Ron's in a good frame of mind, than if he remembers us."

Snape nodded his head. "Well, Granger, it's late and if I get lucky, I can go scare Goyle and Bulstrode for the second time tonight. And come and see me tomorrow about your detention. You owe me some serious time in the lab." With a swish of black robes, Snape strode out of the room and down the hallway, leaving Hermione by herself, so he thought.

"Is he gone?" whispered Ginny to Harry from underneath the invisibility cloak. Hermione jumped and nearly spilled the small vial of engraving potion that Snape had packed for her. Replacing the cork stopper, she began to repack her precious silver buttons into the drawstring pouch. She turned toward the sounds of the voices as Harry and Ginny began to emerge from under the invisibility cloak.

"Ok, how much did you two hear?" Hermione asked.

Harry grinned at Hermione. "Well, let's see - first, I saw you actually confront Snape out in the Slytherin hallway and live to tell the tale. It was all I could do to not shout 'Go, Go, Gryffindor!"

Ginny rolled her eyes at Harry and hugged her friend. "I was so proud of you. See, I told you that Professor Snape's not so bad. He's much easier to deal with when he's by himself; he's always grumpy when he's teaching."

Harry continued, "What the Bride of Snape is trying to say here, is that we can't believe that you got him to brew that potion for you! What else do you have to do to finish this wristband?

"You want it to be all done, so that Ron can have it on when he wakes up, don't you?" Hermione sighed, "Harry, I need you to go back to your room and get all the Sugar Quills you can find. We'll transfigure some of them into a button for Ron. I hope he didn't eat all of the orange sherbet ones that he bought the last time he went into Hogsmeade. Get them out of your room and Ginny and I will wait for you in the common room. We've got to finish this soon before Ron wakes up. We're almost out of time!" And with a sweep of the Invisibility cloak, they began the trek back to Gryffindor Tower.