Finding Love in War *COMPLETE*

Finding Love in War

Chapter 5- Potion Brewing and an Attack

“Where the hell could she be! She should have returned to Hogwarts!” Voldemort roared as he paced his throne room.

A new term had started a week ago. Draco had sent a letter telling Voldemort that Harry and Ron had returned to Hogwarts, but Hermione didn’t. Draco also said that Severus was absent from Hogwarts as well.

“Do you have any ideas Hadrian?” Voldemort asked.

“If my son lived, he would no doubt retreat to Dedham Manor. Leilani was careful to never take me there. If he is there, he is untouchable. I have yet to break the wards and spells surrounding the estate, let alone finding it,” Hadrian replied.

“What about Granger?” Voldemort questioned.

“I don’t know. None of my sources can find her. I’m beginning to think that she is with Severus. One of my sources said that the Oracle went to Dumbledore after she left here,” Hadrian explained.

“Then we need to triple our efforts. I will send for our best spell breakers. We need to find Dedham Manor and kill them both. I won’t allow the Oracle's vision to happen,” Voldemort hissed.

************************************************************************

At Hogwarts, Harry and Ron were finishing their Astronomy homework when Neville and Ginny sat down at the table with them. Once Harry and Ron finished, Neville spoke up.

“Okay, I managed to get my hands on the plants you asked for,” Neville said.

“And I got the potion instructions. Are you two sure this will work?” Ginny added.

“Yes. All summer Harry and I researched this. If Professor Snape’s dad is as ruthless as I think he is, he’ll find some way to break the wards and spells that are concealing Hermione and Professor Snape,” Ron answered.

“They will need all the help they can get. This potion will protect the manor even if the concealment spells and other wards are broken. It will keep anyone from entering the property without Professor Snape taking them,” Harry explained.

“When do we start?” Neville asked.

“Next week. If we work hard, it should be ready by Halloween,” Harry answered.

“How will we find them?” Ginny inquired.

“Once finished, we’ll give it to the Headmaster. He knows how to get in touch with them,” Ron said.

The four Gryffindors began making plans. Neville, like Harry and Ron, was a lot smarter than he appeared to be. His talents, and Ginny’s, would be tested. Harry and Ron would work on it when they weren’t practicing Quidditch. Harry was now the captain and Ron was the Keeper.

************************************************************************

Hermione sat in the library doing research for a potion she and Severus were working on. A potion to protect the drinker from the Impervious Curse. Severus was down in the lab going through his stores to see what he needed.

“Miss Hermione, can I get you anything?” Francisco asked.

“I could go for a cup of hot tea with ginger and lemon please,” Hermione answered with a smile.

“Coming right up,” Francisco beamed.

Hermione returned to the text she was reading. It was written in Latin and Greek. Severus was quite shocked when she told him she could read, write, and speak Latin and Greek. So, she went to work on reading the potion and herbology texts in those languages. She gasped as she read the paragraph in front of her.

In Athens, Greece, during the peek of the Greek culture, a wizard named Petriclese, discovered if you combined three Phoenix tears, three leaves from a nightshade plant, and a mandrake root, has helped protect one from being controlled by magic.

“Oh my god! This is it!” she gasped.

Hermione grabbed the book and bolted from the library. She rushed down the stairs that led to the spacious state-of-the-art potions labs in the basement. She found Severus stacking up ledgers and books.

“Severus, I found it! Look!” she gasped as she burst into the room.

“What?” he asked in shock as he spun and faced her.

“Right here,” she answered.

Hermione sat the book down and read the paragraph to him. Once finished, Severus rushed back to his stores cabinet. A few minutes later he returned with the ingredients and a hopeful expression on his face.

“Does it have the instructions?” he questioned.

“I haven’t found one yet. I know Petriclese wrote a potions book with his potions. Of course, it would have been written in Greek more than likely. I’ll search your library. Can you send word to the Headmaster? It could also be at Hogwarts,” she said.

“I’ll send a letter right away. Why don’t you get Eligh and Francisco to help you search the library,” he replied.

Hermione nodded. She grabbed the book and the two left the lab. Severus went to send a letter, while Hermione returned to the library. She immediately called for the two elves who were happy to help anyway they could.

************************************************************************

Draco sat in the Slytherin common room with Pansy, Blaise, Millicent, Crabbe, and Goyle. The five were planning their move. That morning, they had received their orders from Voldemort himself.

“The Dark Lord wants us to send a message to the mudblood and Snape. Especially the mudblood,” Draco said.

“How?” Goyle asked.

“He wants us to go after those she cares about. Of course we can’t touch Potter, but Weasley and his sister are fair game,” Draco answered.

“What’s your plan?” Pansy and Millicent questioned eagerly.

“You guys are going to love this,” Draco smiled evilly.

************************************************************************

Ginny and Neville were walking back to their common room from the library when it happened. Out of nowhere, six Slytherins jumped out of the shadows. Neville and Ginny were both bound and gagged before they could draw their wands.

“Looks like we have an extra guest,” one of them said, pointing to Neville.

“That’ll make this all the more fun,” the leader replied.

Neville cried out, but his gag muffled his cry, when Ginny’s clothes were magically stripped away. The leader and three other approached her, while the other two stood near Neville.

“Tell me Weasley, do you know what happens to traitors like you?” the leader asked.

Ginny merely glared at him then turned her head away. The four male Slytherins surrounded her and just laughed. The leader grabbed her hair and jerked her head back so she was now facing him.

“Let’s see how brave you are my pet,” he snarled.

************************************************************************

Ron was pacing the common room. It was four hours passed curfew and Ginny and Neville still hadn’t returned. Harry went to grab the Marauder’s Map, but found it gone. It was then he remembered he had left it at Order Headquarters.

“Maybe they lost track of time and got caught by Filtch,” Harry said hopefully.

“But they still should have been back by now,” Ron countered.

Just then, the door opened, but it was Minerva who entered. Her face was pale and filled with worry. “Potter, Weasley, come with me,” she ordered, her voice catching.

Ron and Harry quickly followed her out of the common room. The three walked in silence. After a few minutes, the two wizards realized they were heading for the hospital wing. Fear gripped their hearts.

“Harry! Ron! I tried to get free, but I couldn’t. They came out of nowhere,” Neville exclaimed as they entered with Minerva.

“Where’s Ginny?” Ron and Harry demanded.

“She’s hanging on,” Albus said as he came from behind a curtain.

“What happened?” Ron asked in fear.

“Your sister has been attacked. According to Mr. Longbottom, they were coming back from the library when six Slytherins bound and gagged them. Of course, at the moment, we aren’t sure it was actually Slytherins. It could have been Death Eaters disguised as students. Your sister was hurt,” Albus explained.

“Can…can we see her?” Harry asked.

Albus nodded. He led the two over to the curtain and pulled it back. Ron let out a gasp while Harry dropped to his knees at Ginny’s bedside. With a trembling hand, he took her right hand in his.

“Ginny,” Harry whispered.

T.B.C