Everything I Do, I Do It For You

Chapter 26:- The Potion

Severus Snape, Potions Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, stood in the vast expanse of what some would believe to be a public library; however, it belonged to the Empath, Tolmie Crobobin.

His eyes widened further as he took in row upon row of the exotic tomes. The room was literally covered, wall to wall, floor to ceiling, in books. There were even books on the ceiling, held there by magic. The only place there weren’t any books, was the path that weaved its way in between the rows. Severus thought he had died and gone to Muggle heaven.

The sound of rich laughter brought him back to the present and he whirled around.

“So what do you think?” Tolmie asked, reaching his hands up in the air and gesturing to his library.

Severus was speechless.

“I see you approve,” the elder wizard said, a bright smile radiating from his face. “Well, we have no time to stand about ogling,” he added. “I believe the texts you are looking for are over there.”

Tolmie extended his arm and pointed to the far right corner of the room. Both men made their way over to the bookshelf to start searching for the potion to find Miss Hermione Granger.

***

Dumbledore had some planning to do. He knew he couldn’t just release Peter to the Ministry, no matter how much he wanted to avenge James and Lily’s deaths. There was also the matter of him framing an innocent man, Sirius Black, for his actions.

'No,' he thought to himself. Peter would either wind up back on the streets or be killed, and he couldn’t afford for that to happen, not yet anyway.

When he had gotten back from his unscheduled meeting with Cornelius Fudge, he had questioned Peter about everything he knew about Cornelius. He had found him to be quite willing to talk, and he had listened to him without interruption.

Peter was now in a warded room in the dungeons. He had all the comforts he could ask for, except perhaps his freedom. That was the way that Dumbledore wanted it; if he were to relax a bit, feel that he was being treated right, then maybe he would open up a little more and reveal more of the Dark Lord’s secrets.

Dumbledore had an inkling that Peter was not telling him everything. He could, of course, use Legilimency, but he thought it better to let this game play itself out a little more.

Dumbledore took a deep breath, positioning himself in his chair behind the desk in his office. Placing his hands under his chin, he let his mind wander.

***

Severus had never felt so relaxed in his life. He was leaning into a bookshelf with his legs outstretched before him, drinking in the wealth of knowledge from the books before him.

I could definitely get lost in a place like this, Severus thought to himself as he closed his eyes for a brief second. Opening them up once more, he looked across the rows of books to find Tolmie smiling at him. Giving a tentative smile back, the Potions Master went back to searching.

***

Cornelius Fudge had called Rita Skeeter to his office, with the promise of a story to make her career as illustrious as it once was. He had had her reinstated as a journalist for the Daily Prophet after she went missing for a while a couple of years back. Although she wouldn’t say where she had been, Cornelius had used Legilimency on her, only to discover that she had been changed into a bug and kept in an unbreakable jar by that little witch, Hermione Granger. If anyone hated Granger more than himself, he would have to guess that it was Rita.

There was a knock on the door and Miss Skeeter entered. She wore her best fake smile and her Quick-Quotes Quill and notebook were hovering just over her left shoulder, not taking notes just yet. She was apprehensive, although her appearance showed nothing of this. All the Minister had told her was that he had an exclusive story for her, one that could quite possibly make her head journalist again, bringing her back the status that she so very much wanted and deserved.

Taking the seat that was motioned to her by the Minister, she placed one of her legs over the other and her hands in her lap. Her Quick-Quotes Quill and notebook came to rest in front of her as she looked up eagerly at Cornelius Fudge.

“Miss Skeeter," Cornelius started, “would you care for something to drink?” He motioned towards his vast liquor cabinet.

“No thank you,” Rita replied, still smiling.

“Well then, let’s get down to business. I guess you are wondering why I brought you in here,” Cornelius said with a slight smirk on his face.

“There have been rumours flying around,” Rita replied hesitantly. She leant forward and placed her hands on the desk in front of her. “One of those rumours is that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is dead, and he took out the Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter, with him.” She sat back into her chair.

“Yes, that is part of the reason I brought you in here,” Cornelius said. “I want you to write the story about the Final Battle, what truly happened,” he added. “I want it to come out in Monday’s edition of the Daily Prophet. However, I don’t want to be quoted; you can find someone else for that. I want you to work your magic with this story, make it your best story to date.”

Rita couldn’t believe her ears. An exclusive story; oh this was too much. She had expected some boring tripe on the Ministry, but no, this was going to be good. She could barely contain her excitement, but held her tongue.

“This is what I want you to write.”

***

Severus had been through hundreds of potion texts. It was easy to get caught up in what he was reading, as Tolmie had some truly remarkable books. He had to focus, though, and find the potion on locating a person who was missing. It was an exhausting yet exhilarating process

Blood magic would do him no good, for as far as he knew, Miss Granger’s relatives were all dead.

Some of the texts had magical properties such that all one had to do was speak out loud the potion one was after, or what one needed the potion to be able to do, and the book would open automatically to the correct page. After looking through then for the potion to find Miss Granger with no luck, he placed them aside for further scrutiny later, and proceeded with his task.

Tolmie hadn’t been joking when he had told him that some of the tomes in his library were very dark; a couple of them had even frightened Severus, not that he would admit it to anyone.

Severus had a look of extreme concentration on his face when Tolmie entered the library. “Any luck?” he asked, as he came to stand in front of Severus with two mugs of steaming coffee. Severus hadn’t even noticed that he had left.

Putting the text he was currently looking at to the side, he took one of the mugs from Tolmie’s outstretched hand and sipped on the hot brew. He sighed. “No, not yet.”

“Well, I did warn you, didn’t I,” Tolmie said with a smile. “I haven’t been back here in quite some time,” he said, gazing around. “I have thousands of books on potions acquired from all over the world. Don’t worry, we will find the potion that you seek and when we do, it will be my greatest honour to assist in its brewing.”

Severus felt great hope because of what the older man had just said, and a small smile graced his lips. Silence fell upon the two men as they regarded each other.

“Here, let me give you a hand.” Tolmie broke the silence whilst pulling the closest book off the shelf.
Both men got back to work, each perusing their own volume.

***

After Rita had left Cornelius’ office, he felt like a tremendous weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

'That should shut Dumbledore up,' he thought. 'While he’s busy answering questions from the Hogwarts board, I shall be harnessing Miss Granger’s powers.'

***

It was nearing midnight and both Severus and Tolmie had been looking for the potion all day, barely stopping to eat. Severus was glad that the elder wizard shared his work ethic, as both men carried on their pursuits in silence.

“I’ve found it!” Tolmie shouted, jumping to his feet with barely contained enthusiasm.

Severus stood and made his way swiftly to where Tolmie stood. Tolmie’s eyes were dancing with delight as he handed the Potions Master the academic periodical.

Severus looked down at the potion. “I believe you have,” was all he remarked.

***

A/N:- Well I almost didn’t have this chappie up in time as my eldest son thought it would be funny if we made an emergency trip to the hospital with a crack in his head. Needless to say, I was not impressed, and 6 stitches later he is doing fine. I told him not to jump on the bed, but when do kids listen to their parents, never.

So what do you think? Do you like it, do you not? Please read and review.

The next chapter will reveal Fudge’s plan b, and then we will pick up the pace a little.

As long as my beta stays with me and keeps on sending out my work to me in a timely fashion, then I shouldn’t have a problem getting you all out a chapter a week.

Thanks once more goes out to my beta LydiaCarol, goddess extraordinaire.

Merry Christmas and all that jazz, next chapter should be up for the New Year.

Disclaimer:- Not mine J.K’s.