The Auror and the Fountain

The long delay in this chapter is because of a very astute reviewer that informed me of my gross miscalculation in years. Thanks to you, Gen, I have made the corrections and am ready to continue. I am not normally so negligent, and was truly embarrassed to be caught in something so simple. Sorry for the mistake and delay. On with the story:

Chapter Eight: The Potion and the Fountain


The older babies were strapped into a pram while Harry carried ‘Sissy’ and the older two had opted to go to Ron and Hermione’s with Hugo and Rose, and now as he stepped out of the floo, Harry had a new problem. He had to trust someone with the truth and, though he trusted Flitwick, the man had enough on his plate with a school to run. He told him he was there to retrieve Albus Severus, looking up subconsciously at the two portraits that looked at him from the wall of the office. Dumbledore seemed excessively proud of the fact that Harry had named his son after him, but Snape scowled in a show of resistance to the whole idea. Harry nodded their way as he crossed the office and headed down the moving stairs. The twins were enjoying the trip as the baby slept in his arms.
At the base, he headed for the dungeons, determined to speak with the new potions professor before he saw his son. He found Draco in the classroom, diligently mopping up a long dried spill. Harry cleared his throat from the doorway and Draco looked up. “Potter, what are you doing here?” Draco said hurrying across the room and waving frantically. “Don’t bring them in, it isn’t safe yet.” he added.
“I wasn’t coming in, I wanted to talk to you, though. Have you a minute for a problem that requires the assistance of the potions master?” Harry asked, leaning on the pram handle as he spoke.
“A problem? What is it?” Draco asked, his curiosity piqued.
“I have a vial of fluid, of unknown origin, that tastes like water, looks like water, could even be water, but it has a surprising after effect. I need to know more about it and I need an antidote. Are you game to help or is it too much for you?” Harry explained.
“I can handle it. Where did you find this . . .water?” he asked as he led Harry to his office. “Or is that an auror’s secret?”
“In the Amazon, I think. Or somewhere in the Everglades. I’m not sure. I can find it again, but it may be difficult. I think there is a very strong confundus charm on the area. It was heavily warded at one time, but the wards are breaking down.” Harry explained as he transfigured a chair into a cradle and laid Sissy into it. “I have a sample, but be very careful with it. It is dangerous. And compelling.”
“Dangerous in what way?” Draco asked sitting at his desk as Harry arranged the twins on a blanket with a pile of toys. He watched these activities with interest, as he had never been involved with Scorpius’ babyhood to this extent. “Do go on, Potter.”
“Do you suppose you could call me Harry, after all these years? It bothers the twins when you say that, especially the way you say it.” Harry said as he looked at the blond. “Look, if we are going to work together, maybe we should put old hurts to rest. I am willing to start with a clean slate, if you are.”
“A clean slate is a difficult task, Harry. We are getting along in years, you know. Old habits die hard.” Draco insisted.
“I’m not as old as you, but if I can change, so can you.” Harry insisted. “Now, about this . . .sample. It has a rejuvenating effect. It makes things younger.” Harry said begrudgingly. He knew that if word of the water or the fountain got out, it would be a mass of hysteria among those who wanted youth for themselves for all the wrong reasons. He was doubly frightened that there would be more tragedies like Ginny and Stan.
“Rejuvenating? And you found it in a fountain in the jungles of South America? Are you trying to tell me that you found The Fountain of Youth, Harry Potter?” Draco sneered.
“I can prove it. Just trust me for once in your life, okay?” Harry said as he took out the small vial of clear liquid. He put on a pair of muggle plastic gloves and opened it, carefully pouring some into his hand and rubbing them together. “Trust, remember?” he repeated as he stepped closer and raised his damp hands.
One thing that Harry had noticed the first time he had been here at Draco’s summons was the thinning of the white/blond hair on Draco’s head, the widow’s peak that had nearly overwhelmed his entire forehead made the man look far older than his forty years and the idea filled Harry with a sense of loss that was disturbing to him. He put his hands on the skin that was exposed as Draco scowled and held himself still. Harry rubbed the water into the scalp and down the remaining hair until it was dampened thoroughly. He had to stop himself from adding more to his hands and rubbing it along the crows feet that decorated Draco’s eyes. He wanted to prove his point, not make the man look like he had gone for magic surgery.
When Harry pulled back, he stripped off the gloves, bagged them carefully and pulled out a hand-held mirror. “Look.” he said holding it up for Malfoy.
Draco nearly laughed at the antic’s of his guest, but one look into the mirror stalled his mind and stopped any thought of laughter. He beheld himself, only this self was not the one he had woken up to this morning. His hair had returned to the part of his head that had been deserted several years back. It was healthy, clean and shined like a morning sunrise. It was the beautiful hair that had been his pride, his vanity and his trademark for most of his life. “How?” he mumbled unknowingly. Harry smiled.
“The Fountain of Youth. See, how dangerous it is?” the auror said and Draco looked at him. How could this be dangerous? He wondered. But Harry wasn’t looking at him at the minute, he was looking at the tiny baby he had brought with him. “Draco, this is Ginny. This is my wife.” he said, touching the tiny babies cheek. “I have to save her. I have to. Help me.” he added with a voice filled with longing. Draco was stunned silent.
This was the danger Harry spoke of. The desire for youth was one thing, but to go too far and find yourself before you had consciousness of mind, was too much. The girl would not be just living longer, she would have to live again. Relearn everything she had ever learned and start a new life. This was not the dream of eternal youth, this was the nightmare. “I’ll do what I can. But, I will need more than that. I am going to need help, and the only one I know who knew as much about potions as Snape, was my father. He can’t help us now. He’ll need to be . . . Rejuvenated. But, that will require study to see how much it would take to bring him to the point of useful, without That occurring. Do you concede?” Draco said, hoping he was not being too daring with the distraught auror. He did feel that his father could help, but the hope that the water would make the man useful again, was too tempting to pass up. He too was susceptible to the draw of the fountain’s power, and he had to admit it to himself at least.
Harry stared at him, his eyes calculating just how honest the blond was being and he shook his head lightly. “I don’t know. Let me see him.” Harry said, his eyes still wary.
“Follow me.” Draco said.
“Wait. Winky!” Harry called and a little house elf popped in. “Can you watch over these three while we go down the hall a bit?” he asked and the little elf squealed in delight. “Thanks. We’ll be right back.” Harry added as he followed Draco to the door. “Lead on.” he said to the blond.
Draco took Harry to the room where Lucius and Narcissa stayed during the day, a quiet little dayroom where they were watched by an attentive healer and kept from harm, or escape in the case of his mother. Harry stopped and squatted in front of Lucius and looked up at the withered face of his long time nemesis. The long hair that had once been a source of family pride had suffered worse on Lucius than on his son, as he was left with a tiny fringe of it around the back of his scalp and his head was bare otherwise. “Mr. Malfoy, how are you feeling?” he asked in a soft voice, like the voice you would use with a toddler.
Lucius reacted with a scowl and a feeble attempt to move away. “I don’t need your pity, Potter. Leave me alone.” he growled.
Narcissa immediately reacted by throwing herself at the attacker of her beloved husband. She grabbed Harry by the hair and pulled him to the floor. Once there, he was straddled and she lifted her hand to strike him, but froze in mid move. “Harry Potter? How are you?” she asked in a sing song voice, like she was seeing him through a pretty dream.
All of this happened so fast that neither of the other two present, Draco or the healer, had time to react before Harry was helped to his feet by a giddy Narcissa as she talked nonstop about things that hadn’t meant anything to anyone for years.
“I was so happy when you came to see me after the war. I remember that you returned Draco’s wand. Don’t you remember that dear? Harry Potter defeated the Dark Lord and then gave Draco back his wand. He wasn’t there that day, though. He was over at that tutor’s house, learning what he needed to pass his NEWTs. I remember I served Harry tea, and we had treacle tart. I learned that you liked treacle tart from that elf, the cranky one that Aunt Walburga had. . .Kreacher. He thought you were wonderful, and he wasn’t the least surprised that you saved Draco from the fiendfyre. He told me you were the most brave Half-blood around. It was high praise for a house elf from the Black family.”
Draco just watched as his father nodded absentmindedly at his mother’s words and Harry suffered her loving attention, finding him a chair and sitting next to him, petting his hair and holding his arm as if she were afraid he would fly away if she let go.
Lucius spoke very little, but his attempts to move and be more active around the other man were not unnoticed by the dark haired wizard who was watching more than it seemed. He could see the effects of age on the man and knew why Draco had insisted on the terms for his help. He couldn’t bear to be the one to condemn the man, or his wife, to this life if he had the power to aid them. He suffered until the nurse gave Narcissa a drink, a potion that would help her sleep and she drifted off in his arms. He put her on the divan and said a polite good-bye to Lucius before he stepped out of the door.
“Okay, Malfoy. You’ve got permission to use it on them. But make sure to keep it to just enough to ease them back a bit. No earth shattering changes. I have enough to account for. Keep everything documented, for official reports, and I’ll get you some more. I have these two vials right now. And keep me informed what you find out. The minute you have an antidote, I want to be the first to know. I’d like to know before even you do.” Harry said as they stood outside of the office. “I need to get Albus and go home. I’ll have to pay my caretaker more if she’s to watch Ginny as well, so I better get to work, too.”
“I’ll do my best. I’m sure Father will, as well. Harry,” Draco said at the door. “Thank you, I know it isn’t absolutely necessary, but I need him.”
“I understand, Draco. I would do the same, if I had the chance.” Harry admitted.


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