The Hepatic Hex

Chapter 6

Hermione lay awake on her bed later that afternoon with tear stained cheeks and bloodshot eyes. She had not slept since she returned to her dorm after being dismissed by Professor Snape in the infirmary. All she had been doing is replaying Dumbldore’s words from breakfast over and over in her mind.

“Voldemort is dead, for good this time”. He had started and the hall erupted in boisterous applause, hollering and hooting. Dumbledore allowed it continue for a minute before he acquired everyone’s attention again by releasing a purple flare into the hall.

“Yes, yes, if certain events last night had not occurred I would indeed agree with you all that this is a greay iny indeed, however,” he paused scd scanned the room looking at the slowly fading smiles on the faces of both his students and staff before continuing. “Last night there was a Death Eater attack on St Mungo’s after the Dark Lords demise, and our informants have told us of the emergence of a long forgotten adversary to the Light who now commands the former Dark Lords minions. Last night she ordered every Medi-witch and Wizard in the country to be murdered and the Death Eaters fulfilled her command. The only Medical mage now in existence in Britain is our own Madam Pomfrey, who survived only because of the thousands of protection wards Hogwarts is surrounded by.”

Murmurs of disbelief had echoed through the hall, and a number of the girls in all the houses started sobbing.

“Because of the immediate threat, the Ministry of Magic has been sealed, just as Hogwarts has been. Classes today have been cancelled- that is the good news. The bad news is that until the Ministry concludes that this new witch and the Death Eaters pose no danger to you all, Hogsmede weekends have been regrettably cancelled.” Dumbledore stated with finality.

He had continued on about the need for sensibility and called for constant vigilance. Students were told to watch out for each other and report directly to their head of house if they encountered anything out of the ordinary.

Hermione had left the Great Hall without eating and had been in self-induced solitary isolation for the remainder of the afternoon. She hadn’t even spoken to Harry and Ron since they had met up with her after they left the infirmary when they had told her that Harry had dreamed of Voldemort’s demise. Remembering their conversation made her reminisce, for about the 300th time that day, Snape lying in the hospital wing, whispering her name in his semi-conscious state.’I wonder what all that was about. He couldn’t possibly think of me as anything but Miss Granger the Know-It-All could he? No. He was delusional, suffering from the Cruciatus curse and an improperly functioning liver’.

Hermione would have continued to ponder the days events and what Snape had meant when he has let her name fall from his lips for the rest of the night if she had’t been torn out of her reverie by a very persistent school owl demanding entrance to her rooms. Hermione groaned audibly at having to hall her butt out of bed. She opened the window and the owl landed on her shoulder nibbling at her ear causing her to giggle.

“Thank- you my friend. I needed that,” she said as she removed the scroll attached to its leg. She handed the bird a snack that it took gratefully, before flying back out the window. Hermione flopped back on her bed before she broke the Hogwarts seal on the parchment and read the letter:

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Dear Miss Granger,

I respectfully though strongly request your immediate company in my office upon your receipt of this letter. Don’t worry, you are not in trouble.

Albus Dumbledore.

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“Great, what now?” Hermione groaned.

She made her way through her portrait door and headed up towards the Headmasters office. The halls were buzzing with activity with the cancellation of classes and by the time she reached the gargoyle, she felt dizzy from the noise.

“Sherbet Lemon.\" Hermione said the password and was beckoned into Dumbledore’s office before she had even knocked. ‘How the bloody hell does that man know everything?’

“Miss Granger,” Dumbledore started, “thank you for joining me. Would you like tea?”

“Yes, thank you Headmaster” Hermione replied as she took a seat next to the fireplace.

“Miss Granger,” the old man said as he handed her a cup, “please forgive me for dispensing with idle chit chat at the moment, and let me come straight to the point.”

“Of course sir.”

“Miss Granger, how much do you know about the liver and medical diagnostic potions?”

“Well sir”. Hermione started “I am sure you are well aware that my final years independent project is on the effectiveness of Yellow Root as a catalyst to speed up the results obtained by the medicinal diagnostic potions. I believe I have completed the charm to initiate the reaction, but it is untested. I am currently going over my arithmancy calculations in the preparation of trial testing….sorry I’m rambling. I believe I have a confident grasp on the properties of said potions Headmaster”

“Yes my dear I thought that you would. And the liver?” Dumbledore said.

“Well sir off the top of my head I can’t really tell you all that much. I do know that it acts as kind of a filter and regulator for the body but I’m afraid that is about it.\" Hermione replied morosely.

“How would you like to learn a bit more about it?”

“I’m not sure I understand sir” Hermione replied.

“You are aware that Professor Snape is suffering from an ailment of the liver. What you do not know is that is the result of an infectious disease curse, which by now everyone in the school has been exposed too.” Dumbledore said.

Hermiones eyes widened. “Ah… it ...am I…Is it serious sir?” She stuttered.

“From Severus’ recounting of the events last night, Miss Granger, it appears that the curse will eventually become lethal without an antidote.” Dumbledore said in a rarely heard serious timbre.

“Oh” said Hermione as she bit on her lower lip. “Why did you really ask me in here Professor?”

Dumbledore chuckled. “I can’t get anything past you can I my dear? The reason I asked you here is that Severus, Professor Snape, has started running preliminary tests on himself to try and diagnose the problem. Madam Pomfrey has given him all the information she has on the liver, but alas, her private records and knowledge don’t seem to be vast enough to find the solution to this mystery. I would like you to assist Professor Snape in his research. There is far too much to be done for him to be able to handle this load by himself, and you are the most talented researcher and potions student this school has seen since Severus was a student here. Miss Granger, I am asking for your help to find a cure that will help up defeat this new magical despot.”

“Wow.” Hermione paused to take in everything that has been said, chewing more furiously on her bottom lip as she did so. Dumbledore knew that this was an outward sign that the mental cogs in her brain were already clicking over.

“I would be honored to help Professor Dumbledore, but I m afraid that with cls…” s…”

“My dear” Dumbledore interrupted “If you accept this station then you would be excused form all your classes. Potions classes have also been suspended for the next month, and that is all the time we have to find the cure before peoplart art to die. Rest assured that any time you do spend on this project will count towards your independent project and if you succeed in finding a cure with Professor Snape, than you can be guaranteed of just about any profession you choose to follow in the future.” Dumbledore concluded.

‘ Wow’ thought Hermione. ‘Spend the next month sitting in my room waiting to die or spend it isolated in the dungeons with Prsor sor Snape working on a cure for the wizarding world. Duh tough choice!’

“I accept your proposal, Professor, there is just one thing though,” Dumbledore looked at her encouragingly and she continued. “How does Professor Snape feel about this arrangement?”

“Severus has agreed that he cannot do this alone, and acknowledges your capabilities.”

“With all due respect sir,” Hermione interrupted, “he isn’t aware that I am the one who you approached to become his assistant, is he?”

“You leave Severus up to me my dear. I promise that you’ll not have a problem with him.” Dumbledore said reassuringly.

\'Yeh right. No problem with Snape? I wonder if that disease has somehow mutated and affected his brain?’ Hermione contemplated. ’And what is with that Goddamn twinkle in his eye? What does he know that I don’t? Oh Buggery. I’ve been staring at him for too long.

“Now my dear is there anything else we need to discuss?’

“No sir, I might go and owl a friendminemine from the Muggle world who is studying nursing in London. She might be able to help us out with some anatomy and physiology texts.” Hermione stated

“You have a Muggle friend that knows how to owl?” Dumbledore questioned.

“Yes sir, she is actually a witch whose parents refused to let her come to Hogwarts out of fear of her and their family being recognized by the Dark Lord. She is actually a pureblood witch related to the Lestrange line, so you can understand her family’s need to be non-existent in our world.”

“Indeed I do my dear. It is a shame because that line was always strong. I believe you are referring to the De la Rosa family?”

“Yes sir, Artemis De la Rosa, I wasn’t aware that you knew of them.” Hermione was stunned.

“Yes, I went to school with her Great grandparents. Anyway child, I believe you have much to do. Please go straight to the dungeons after dinner and report to Professor Snape, and give my regards to Miss De laRosa and her family when you write.” Dumbledore said as he escorted her to the door.

“I will sir and thank you for having faith in me to help in this project. I promise not to let you down,” Hermione said as she walked through the doorway and headed back to Gryffindor Tower.

“I know you wont let me down Hermione” Dumbledore said to her retreating shadow. He sighed out aloud. ‘One down, one to go’ he thought as he headed back to his fireplace and threw in a handful of floo-powder.

“Severus,” he called into the green flames, “could you join me for a moment in my office please?”