Fortune Favours the Bold

Chapter Two : Ipsa scientia potestas est. = Knowledge itself is power

Harry, Ron & Hermoine sat in Dumbledores office. Well more correctly Ron & Mione sat, Harry spent more time pacing, sitting only like a comma mid sentence. Trying desperately and impatiently to explain what he had seen.

Dumbledore nodded sagely. **That this child, no correction, young man should carry such weight upon his shoulders seems misplaced & cruel. Yet he speaks with maturity beyond his years as if he has lived a lifetime already.** “sigh” **Perhaps** mused Dumbledore ** It is this very link which is to save the Wizarding World ** “Lemon Drop anyone?”

Hagrid and Nocturnus were currently searching the grounds for Severus. Professor Minerva McGonagall was vainly trying to implement some order. Harry’s screams had woken the entire Gryffindor tower. Madam Poppy Pomfrey was worrying around the Medi Wing. Chaos was definitely the order for the moment.

Harrys’ connection to Voldemort ran only one way and it irked Harry that anyone (even their ‘beloved’ Potions Master) should possibly die for no good reason when the link (in his opinion), was so dependable. Maybe there was still a chance that Snape would survive, but where was he.

Surely after what Harry had seen Dumbledore wouldn’t send Snape back into the fray. Harry looked somehow lost and perched on the arm of the sofa he accepted the proffered lemon drop automatically. Silence reined.

Meanwhile, in the snow-covered grounds of Hogwarts, an angry green flash cleft the pitch of night. The Dark Mark. It was there beneath, as if fallen from the highest tower they found the crumpled body of the Potions Master.

An unholy black jumble marring the pristine snow. When quick scans detected feint signs of life Nocturnus gently levitated the inert body.

“Ah ! Magister Nocturnus” Dumbledore suddenly announced to the opening door of his office. “So good that you could join us, I have been expecting you.” Ron & Hermoine started, whilst Harry fell off the sofa arm with a surprised thud. Nocturnus glided across the room settling gracefully into an overstuffed wing chair beside the fire.

“Severus rests in the Medi Ward under Poppy’s tender administrations, yet it shall be some time before he is back in the land of the living.” He observed everyone from behind steepled fingers.** if at all** “Until healers arrive in from Hogsmeade, I have linked with our Potions Master to assist his recovery, a form of life support if you will.”

He locked eyes with Dumbledore, betraying no emotion. “Sedit qui timuit ne non succederet.” Hermoine did a quick translation **He who feared he would not succeed sat still** and wondered at the cryptic path the conversation had taken.

A raised eyebrow, a gentle nod, a slight incline to the head, it seemed as if an entire unspoken conversation flew between them. One last enigmatic twinkle from Dumbledore and Nocturnis found the answer he was looking for.

“Ms Granger” She seemed lost, deep in thought. He tried again “Hermoine” Her head whipped around lashing Ron with a cloud of hair, surprised that someone would use her first name and a teacher no less. “Yes Sir ?” Suddenly totally focused.

“I believe that you are our most talented potions student. Can you brew ‘Dreamless Sleep’?” He turned to face her “Err we haven’t learnt that yet sir” She fenced, shifting uncomfortably. “I’m well aware of that” he levelled her with his eyes and lent forward in his seat. “But I asked, CAN you do it?”

She blushed and sneaked a peek at Dumbledore who seemed to anticipate her answer with a twinkle. Then readied herself with a deep breath “Err, Umm, Yes Sir” She Squeaked. “Fine” He rose from the chair and offered his hand “Come there is much work to be done”.

“Gentlemen your assistance is also required” He intoned, startling the lads. “I realise it is Saturday but if you could be so good, after breakfast please report to my office.” Not waiting for a response, he swept from the room with Hermoine in hot pursuit. Destination potions lab, leaving a stunned Harry and Ron gawking in their wake.

They positively flew through Hogwarts, Hermione practically running to keep up with Nocturnus’ long strides. They stopped outside of the Potions Laboratory so suddenly that Hermione almost crashed into him. He fixed her with a solemn look and then and motioned her into the empty classroom.

“As you may or not know, Ms Granger, I can not extend myself as life support to Severus and devote undivided attention to the creation of this potion, which I am in no doubt you are well aware it requires.” He met her eyes and when she nodded he continued “Hence I will only supervise, the entire project is in your care at least until the healers arrive.”

Calmly and methodically he set about unlocking the relative cabinets and muttered unintelligible passwords to access the more restricted ingredients. Setting each item upon the workbench with obvious respect.

When he was done he motioned her forward. “I need to leave for a short while but no one shall interrupt you. The password is Nitor. As time is of the essence, breakfast in the main hall is out of the question, food will be sent here for you. I apologise for my abruptness. Please proceed”

Sometime later the two friends ambled through Hogwarts eyes fixed on the lists in their hands, oblivious to all else. “Struth Harry look at this” Ron uttered shaking his head in dismay “Where can we get this stuff? What’s on your list? Wanna swap? How did we get into this anyway?” Harry was busy looking at his equally long list of odds and bods whilst Ron rattled on rhetorically **what I would give for just one normal year** “Sigh”

Hermoine was happily lost in her own world. A line of six pewter cauldrons lined the bench each merrily bubbling away, whilst she cautiously moved from one to the other adding, stirring and checking.

“Will this be sufficient? Sir” She asked not once looking his way or breaking concentration. “It should be for now. When this lot is cooled and bottled please bring it to the Staff Room.”

She nodded briefly, not fully diverting her attentions. “Certainly. Oh! And Sir!” He paused in the doorway “Yes Ms Granger” She briefly raised her face smiled and gestured around the room inferring the faith he had instilled in her “Thank You, for all of this” He nodded and smiled. **More like this please Albus**

“Ms Granger, a challenge. It is imperative that we adapt the ‘Forgetfulness Potion’ and ‘The Draught of Sleeping Death’ for inhalation instead of consumption. Naturally because less the potion will be taken in this way we need for it to work for a longer period so it also needs to be stronger. Are you interested?” Queried Nocturnus waving the proverbial red rag.

Hermoine could barely contain herself. Puzzled but excited by the impending challenge and armed with an all area access slip for the library she was truly in her element.

In the Mediward the healers had arrived and as if on cue, Nocturnus presented himself into their hands to transfer his link.

Within the hour he and Dumbledore were in the Staff Room fielding questions and casting their plan. Hermoine studiously brought the cooled potion vials carefully labelled with name, date and instructions in her tidy script, flanked by Harry & Ron who delivered their cache with the help of Hagrid.

By evenings shadow understandings were reached and vagaries curtailed. “Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit”


Chapter References:
Nitor = to strive, exert oneself, make an effort, persevere, to endeavour.
Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit = He who is not prepared today will be less so tomorrow