The Auror and the Fountain

Chapter Two: Potions Master

The dungeons classroom looked the same to Draco as it had in his first year. The cupboard was not as full of ingredients, due to the school year just letting out and the previous teacher not keeping up with the stock. That could explain why the Headmaster had decided he needed replacing. So, here Draco was, using the offer of the job to run from his family problems and escaping into a past that was not all that rosy to begin with, in order to avoid the inevitable.
Scorpius had decided to join him, staying in his dorm room during their stay at the castle so that his father would not be disturbed by his comings and goings. He had his own plans. Other than helping to clean out the office and classroom, he had his pet owl, Houdini, and his broom to go for practice flights. He had been made seeker for Ravenclaw this last year, with Albus Severus as their keeper, and they were determined that their house win for once.
So, Draco had only seen his son on about three occasions since they had arrived a week ago. All these times had been meals taken in the Great Hall. His main help had come in the form of Neville Longbottom, the school’s herbology professor, and his wife Hannah, the new transformation teacher. They had both endeavored to make his stay more pleasant and Neville had even offered to help with the restocking of ingredients from his greenhouses. Draco was currently making a list of just what he needed most, so he could avail himself on that very promise.
“So, the easiest things are all here, and what is missing will take either a great deal of money, or a great deal of time to prepare, even with Longbottom’s assistance. Great!” Draco cursed as he looked over the list, running his fingers through his thick goatee, as had become his habit. He supposed he could just adjust his lessons around some of the more costly ingredients, or require the fifth through seventh years to supply their own, but that would not make him feel good about sending students off to take their OWLs or NEWTs. So, he took his list and headed for Greenhouse three, where Neville was currently repotting Hermaphrodite’s Palms.
“Longbottom? Are you here?” Draco called from the door as he stepped into the humid building and the scent of lavender and pine filled his nose.
“Draco! Stay back. This stuff is more potent than usual. You probably didn’t wear any breathing protection, so just stay back until I can get you the antidote.” Neville called from the middle of the greenery.
‘Shit!’ Draco thought as he turned back and retreated through the door.
Hermaphrodite’s Palms, wizarding’s answer to under population. With this plant a man would be ready to fuck the first body he came in contact with, male or female. It was often used when a gay man had to consecrate the marriage with his arranged bride, then he felt no guilt when returning to his lover, usually with a nice pure-bred baby in the oven, so to speak.
Draco chuckled bitterly at the irony, as this was his mother’s solution to his own marital difficulty, and the only reason that Scorpius had been conceived. Now, he would likely jump Neville the minute the man emerged from the greenhouse. He sure hoped that Longbottom had a supply of antidote right on hand. The idea would be horrific later, though right now, his libido was doing flip-flops over it.
It had definitely been too long since he had last gotten laid.
Draco watched the door to the greenhouse open with heavily lidded eyes, his breath slow and extremely deep as his body reacted to the Hermaphrodite’s Palm scent and tried to understand what had made him think this was such a bad thing. He had just admitted to himself that it had been a long time since he had gotten laid, why not just see how well the Herbology Professor could manage a good shag.
Neville’s face came through the door, his dark hair shining in the mist that shrouded him and his eyes intent. Something was wrong with his eyes. The color, Draco thought, shouldn’t be so pale. But, this was unimportant as long as he hurried up and took off all of those offensive clothes.
“Malfoy, I know you probably don’t think you want this right now,” Neville said and Draco nearly scoffed at such foolishness. Why wouldn’t he want this? “So, just relax, and let me handle everything, okay?” the other man said.
Draco nodded slowly, a simple smile finding his lips as he looked up at the vision in front of him. The man who was even now lifting a bottle and spraying it in his face?
“What the hell?” he yelled as the mist caught him in the eyes and a putrid stench of old socks, rotting cheese and day old feces filled his nose.
“Sorry, the smell is one of the deterrents to the Hermaphrodite’s Palm fumes. I keep it handy when I am working with them, just in case. I didn’t expect you to just walk in there, like that.” Neville was bumbling through his explanation as Draco attempted to hold in his bile and, finally, he stopped the flow of words before he lost the battle.
“I’m fine, Longbottom. Don’t apologize for quick thinking. I appreciate your . . .discretion, as well. Here. This is a list of what I need from you, take your time, we have three months before school starts again, but if you can’t get one or more of them, just inform me so I can procure it elsewhere.” and Draco handed him his list and watched as the man read it thoroughly.
“I can get you all of this. No problems. I had a whizzing good year, and the students were more than successful in all of the work they did. Don’t worry about it, I think I can get you the easiest things by next week, there are some here that will require a drying out time, but the rest will be easy.” again, Neville was babbling, so Draco grabbed his arm firmly and shook him a bit.
“Good. Now, I have to go. The classroom was a mess. It looks like they had a party the last day and even the house elves were afraid to try to clean it. There are potions spilled everywhere."
“Actually, that’s what happened. Professor Dauggus thought the seventh years deserved a real send-off. He authorized the Slytherins to throw a party in the classroom, and then didn’t even supervise it. That would be what got him sacked.” Neville informed him with an apologetic look.
“I see. Well, that does explain things, then. I had better get started. I have been putting it off for a week, and it isn’t cleaning itself. The Headmaster informed me that he had to refuse me the use of the school’s house elves, now I understand why. The little buggers would probably make themselves sick, depending on the mixture of the spilled potions.” Draco said as he pushed up his sleeves and turned back toward the castle proper.


And here is our other main character.
Are you interested, yet? Anxious to know what will happen?
More characters will be returning, in the next few chapters. Any guesses on who the newest Headmaster is?????
Review, and give me your best guess, kay??