The Grindelwald Legacy

I own nothing but this sordid little tale. All characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I am not making any money by writing it. I must be insane.

Chapter 17

For the time she was in the hospital wing, Lucy found herself in the company of Professor Trelawney. The woman drove her absolutely bonkers with constant predictions of pain and suffering over the next few weeks. She made Lucy drink so much tea that she thought her bladder would burst trying to hold it in. Lucy hated having to use the bedpans the elf’s brought and eventually refused to drink anymore of it.

“I’m sorry Professor, but you can see how I’m fixed. The tea just goes through me. Please, isn’t there something else we can do?”



“I suppose we can try you with Extispicium. It’s so difficult to do anything much in here. This place lacks atmosphere, the whole environment is one of sterility that clouds my inner eye.”



Lucy leaned closer to peer at the woman, wondering where this inner eye was meant to be. “Extispicium?” ‘Well whatever it was, it had to be better than drinking a never ending supply of tea.’

“Yes dear. They can be quite insightful if you know what to look for. I’ll send a book down for you to study and we can start tomorrow.”

When Severus arrived after supper to give Lucy her potions she grabbed his sleeve.

“Please, you have to get me out of here.” She hissed desperately.



Severus scowled and yanked his arm away. “I have to do no such thing. You have at least a further two days where that knee must remain immobile.”



“Please Seve...Professor Snape, she driving me nuts. Look, I have to read this before she brings me some disgusting entrails or something in the morning. I’ve drunk more tea than the Manchester ladies circle and I’m not even allowed out of bed to use the bathroom. Please don’t let her come back. I’ll be really good, I won’t cheek you or anything. Just keep her away from me. Please.”

Severus walked to the store cupboard, primarily because he did not want her to see the smile he couldn’t hold in. He knew it must be like hell on earth to be trapped in the presence of Sybil Trelawney all day, every day, for a whole week.

“I suppose could arrange for you to be sequestered in the staff room during the day, that way you will at least be in the presence of other members of staff should your inner eye become somewhat cloudy.” He suggested, his lips lifting slightly at the corners. “However, if I am to do this, I want something in return.”

Lucy looked at him suspiciously. “What kind of something?”

Severus pulled a chair up to the side of the bed and sat down. “I want to know what kind of glamour you used on yourself. While you were unconscious it was necessary I checked you for any such charms, as a result your age glamour was removed, leaving you looking the age you actually are. I know of no spell that works as well as the one you employed.”



Lucy brought her hands to her face, feeling her skin. “I err... it wasn’t a spell Professor.”

“Then what was it? Because it certainly had all of us fooled. You had the appearance of someone much older.”



She sighed. “I can do things, without my wand. The aging thing was an accident when I first got off the train. I was scared and had no idea where I was or how to find my gran. I saw the pub and wished I looked older so I could get in to ask for directions. It was only later when I got to a mirror I noticed what had happened and put two and two together. I didn’t know how to take it off. Then when I went to Romania with Charlie I wanted my ipod to work and it did. After that I practiced, and I can sort of make things happen if I concentrate on them.”

Severus stared at her amazed. “You can do controlled mind magic?”

“If that’s what it’s called, yeah. But Charlie said it’s rare and I was scared everyone might think I was odd. I’ve already had enough of that at Springs and Montford, I didn’t want it here too. Are you going to tell on me?”

“Does your grandmother know about this, or the Headmaster?”



“Not that I know of, just you and Charlie.”

“How interesting. What are Springs and Montford?”



“Children’s homes.” She told him, studying her hands.

“And this pod thing, what is that?”

Lucy reached over and opened the drawer in her bedside cabinet, pulled out her ipod and showed him. She fitted the tiny earplugs in his ears and switched it on, grinning when his face took on a look of horror and he ripped the plugs from his ears.

“That is the most terrible racket I have ever heard, but the main point is that it should not be possible for it to work, at least not in Hogwarts. Have you tried with any other gadgetry?”



Lucy nodded, then told him what happened at the dragon reserve, including the cd player that had no batteries.

“Firstly, your grandmother and Albus need to know about this. I will not reveal your talent to anyone else if that is your wish, but I would like the opportunity to explore this further with you.”

“Really?” She asked, her face lighting up. “So you don’t think I’m odd or anything?”



“That remains to be seen.” When her face dropped he felt a pang of sympathy for her. “Mainly because I already considered you an oddball. This however is an interesting phenomenon. You appear to have a rare, if not unique gift Miss Grindelwald.”

Lucy gave him a puzzled frown. She wasn’t quite sure if there was a complement in that insult.

“I will arrange for you to be in the staff room tomorrow, though the brace on your leg will need to be extended before you are moved. However, should your other talent raise it’s head without my permission, you will be sequestered back here for an extra week at the tender mercies of Professor Trelawney. Respect Miss Grindelwald. Do I make myself clear?”



“Yes Sir, loud and clear.”

“Good. And try putting some proper music on that peapod thingy, that noise would scare a Manticore.” Severus stood, ready to leave the ward.

Lucy gave him a grin. “Do you want to do a bit of exploring with me now Professor?”

“I beg your pardon?” He asked, his voice low.

“With the mind magic, do you want me to do something? I don’t want to be on my own yet, it’s boring.”

Severus studied her for a moment, personally he preferred his solitude, but this girl was obviously not used to being on her own for long periods of time. “Very well, I can spare half an hour.” Re-seating himself, he conjured a parchment and quill to take notes. After waiting for a couple of minutes he became irritated. “I am not here merely for enjoyment Miss Grindelwald. Are you going to do something or not?”



“I have, go look in the mirror.”



Severus frowned at her as he stood to make his way to the bathroom. “I am warning you, if you have altered me in any way, you will suffer in a most painful manner.”

Lucy folded her arms, an innocent look on her face as he walked away. She hadn’t altered his appearance, at least not in the way he was thinking. But his hair, it was so annoying the way it hung over his face, limp and greasy. And his skin, it was so sallow.

Severus entered the bathroom and looked in the mirror. It took him a second or two to take in the changes. They were not major alterations, his hair looked... healthy, soft and shiny. His skin too had a slightly more healthy appearance. He turned his head this way and that, admiring himself for a moment, then frowned and stalked back to where Lucy sat waiting for him.

“You can remove it now, I would prefer you attempt something that does not involve me.”



“No.”



“What?”



“No. You look better like that.”



“How I look is none of your business Miss Grindelwald.” He waved his wand and uttered the finite spell over himself. Sitting down with a satisfied smirk, he suggested she try something else, unaware that Lucy had willed the changes to remain regardless of what he did to remove them.

“So what do you want me to try then?”

TBC

Please leave a review

ccino