Jigsaw

CHAPTER 9

“It’s an inhibitor potion.” Ron and Harry looked up from their game of chess as the fireplace burst into flame and Hermione stepped confidently through into the living room. Ron barely caught the wad of parchment Hermione flung at him as his bushy haired girlfriend slammed the potion down onto the table scattering the chess pieces onto the floor.

“I wish you’d use the door Hermione.” Harry muttered as he glanced cautiously over into the kitchen and the kitchen window to see if their neighbor was watching. Thankfully it seemed the old bat had something better to do with her time that afternoon.

“It’s illegal in seven different districts and you can only buy it on the black market. Now I demand you tell me what’s going on before I report you both to the ministry!” Hermione was obviously on a power trip, and Harry inwardly swore to himself as his best friend towered over he and Ron, her hands on her hips and her face schooled into an expression of terrifying proportions.

“It was his idea!” Ron was quick to jump in and pointed accusingly at Harry who could do little but shake his head and glare at Ron for being so weak. Admittedly Hermione Granger was a formidable foe when riled but Harry was sure she’d come to her senses once she heard the story.

“Hermione just relax for a moment and just tell me what else you found out about it.” Harry gestured to potions bottle but watched in mild irritation as the young witch shook her head defiantly as she folded her arms over her chest.

“No Harry, you’ll tell me what’s going on! I thought you were just looking for Snape!” Hermione looked mildly hurt that Harry hadn’t been honest with her and he could nothing but sigh heavily and nod in reluctant agreement.

“Alright fine, it came from a shop in KnockTurn Alley. ‘Cretan’s Cures for Cruel Curses’.” Harry watched as Hermione’s expression softened a little, although her arms were still folded across her chest and her lips were still pursed tightly together in irritation. When she didn’t say anything Harry took it as a sign to continue. “Ron brought it today for me, after I found the shops’ business card in Malfoy’s house.” Harry cautiously left out the bit about him having stolen the card from Malfoy’s wallet knowing already that Hermione would have something to say about going down KnockTurn Alley.

“What’s Malfoy doing purchasing things from a shop in KnockTurn Alley, I thought he was acquitted of all ‘dark arts’ charges. Ronald?” Hermione looked to Ron who quickly nodded in agreement with his girlfriend, having himself been there at Malfoy’s trial at the Ministry.

“That’s what I thought Hermione, so I had Ron go into this place and pretend to be picking up Malfoy’s order, and that’s what the woman gave him.” Harry gestured to the potions bottle that Hermione had slammed down on the table.

“Yeah, she mentioned he picks it up every week.” Ron added having seemingly come out of his shell again when it was clear Hermione was going to rip his head off.

“Every week?” Hermione inquired her brow furrowing. “That’s strange.” Harry didn’t comment on Hermione’s aside and merely continued explaining to her what was going on.

“Anyway, the only reason I went to this place was because I knew Malfoy was lying when I asked him about Snape.” Hermione nodded hardly surprised that a Malfoy would lie.

“What did he do?” She inquired again as she sat herself down on the edge of the sofa that Ron was stretched out on.

“He got all defensive, told me he wouldn’t tell me even if he knew because I’d probably hand Snape over to the authorities.” Harry paused as he remembered what else had triggered his belief that Malfoy was lying. “Oh and he had all these meals laid out on the bench, he said he didn’t have time to cook for himself because of his work, but he had house elves, surely they’d be cooking his meals on a day to day basis.” Hermione nodded in agreement at Harry’s reasoning. “Then there was the ‘Apocathary’ receipt. He reckons he’s brewing his own oils and lubricants but going on what he said about being busy with work, I doubt very much whether he’d have time to spend making potions and lotions for himself.”

“He sounds like the good old Malfoy to me.” Ron muttered his hatred of the blonde never cooling even when school had finished.

“Yeah he was just like the old Malfoy, shady, self assured and completely anal.” Harry shook his head and sniffed indignantly at how ignorant the blonde had been.

“Anything else Harry?” Hermione inquired still intent on hearing what else Harry had to say in regards to his visit to Draco.

“Nothing much, just that he said he dealt in property now, and some weird muggle in the pub in the village said Draco wouldn’t sell something.” Harry shrugged his shoulders casually not really fussed about the other information but then he remembered something and looked guiltily up at his friends. “Oh and then there was the strange hedge.”

“What strange hedge? You didn’t tell me about any strange hedge!” Ron sat up immediately from where he’d been lounging on the couch, gently stroking Hermione’s back. Harry bit his lip guiltily as he glanced from Hermione back to Ron who was now glaring at him for not having told him everything.

“I forgot honestly Ron.” Harry was lying, he’d done nothing but think about the hedge since he’d left the estate but he hadn’t mentioned it to Ron, knowing his best friend would have hit the roof. “Malfoy’s living on the grounds of ‘Applegate’ estate and I had to walk past what I assume was the original manor house to get to where Draco’s living in this cottage type thing. Well the place is pretty overgrown and in disrepair but there was this one perfectly trimmed, perfectly looked after hedge about two meters high and so tightly entwined with branches and leaves you can’t see through it. When I got near it the thing shuddered and I got the shock of my life when I realized the hedge was surrounded by wards. Magical wards that is.” Harry watched as Ron through his hands up in the air in despair and got up hastily to begin pacing backwards and forwards past the fireplace.

“Honestly how am I supposed to keep you from doing stupid stuff if you leaving out details like that Harry!” Ron looked incredulously at Harry who sighed and rolled his eyes at Ron’s dramatics. After the last battle Ron had become fiercely protective of him, it was partially the reason the pair of them slept in the same bed. Ron was always afraid something was out to get Harry, to the point he was now becoming frantic.

“It’s okay Ron I’m fine, it just gave me a shock that was all. They were strong, unlike anything I’d seen or felt before. I really felt uncomfortable standing near them but I didn’t test them and I didn’t linger I just moved on and nothing happened alright so don’t get your knickers in knot about it.” Ron pouted at Harry dramatically his arms now folded across his chest much like Hermione had done when she’d first stepped into the apartment. Harry smiled as he hear Hermione tut loudly next to him, as she rolled her eyes.

“Oh stop being a jerk Ron and just sit down. Harry’s a big boy now I’m sure he can look after himself, can’t you Harry.” Hermione pulled Ron back down into the sofa beside her as she glanced knowing across at Harry who nodded in agreement. “Is that all Harry?”

“Yeah, that’s everything. Now are you going to tell me about this Inhibitor Potion?” Harry waited patiently as Hermione thought about it for a moment before nodding in agreement.

“Alright, the Inhibitor Potion is designed to stop or slow down the process of a curse on a persons body.” Harry leant forward on his elbows intently listening to Hermione, who had slipped automatically into lecture mode. Harry wasn’t sure where the witch had found time in her busy schedule to analyse the potion but he was certainly grateful. “An Inhibitor is specifically created to react with both a curses characteristic and the body in which it’s taken hold of. This one has been created for a dark curse, specifically a blood curse but it’s impossible to tell you which one by name without seeing the person who the potion has been made for. All I can tell you is that it slows down the curses progress and prolongs the life of the victim, until a proper cure or counter curse can be found.” Hermione looked from Harry to Ron and then back to Harry whose brow was furrowed in deep thought.

“Then if it’s helping someone, why is it illegal?” Ron inquired of his girlfriend who seemed rather impressed Ron had kept up with her.

“Because of its ingredients Ronald. For a start it’s made with the yolk of a dragon’s egg. Dragon’s are a protected species, also there is a multitude of other dark ingredients that go into it depending on the curse it’s trying to stop, that’s why it’s illegal Ron.” Hermione smiled at her boyfriend.

“That’s probably why it cost so bloody much too.” Ron muttered to himself remembering how hard it was to hand over that amount of gold to a shopkeeper. Admittedly Harry had paid him back but it had been painful giving the money away all the same.

“I wouldn’t like to be Draco paying for it every week, although I wouldn’t like to be the person he’s buying it for either.” Hermione commented quickly when it seemed Harry was lost in his own thought.

“Why do you say that?” Harry looked up sharply at Hermione’s comment.

“Judging from what you said about Draco buying it weekly, I’d say who ever was cursed would be likely in the final stages, either of death or permanent disability. If they’ve resorted to paying for this stuff I’d say it would be a pretty serious curse with no likely hood of finding a cure.” An expression of fear swept over Harry’s face suddenly as he thought of the worst-case scenario.

“I think its Snape he’s buying it for.” Harry whispered sharply as he stood up from the couch and ran into the bedroom returning a moment later in his cloak, with his bag and wand.

“You’re just assuming it’s for Snape Harry, don’t go jumping ahead.” Hermione shot up from the couch, as did Ron as they realised Harry was intending to go out and undoubtedly do something incredibly stupid.

“She’s right Harry, Malfoy did say he didn’t know where Snape was, and besides why wouldn’t Snape be brewing this ‘potion’ for himself, he did claim to be one of the best.” Ron looked determinedly at his friend but Harry shook his head in refute as he moved towards the door leading from the apartment.

“But Hermione just said the curse was ‘serious’ what if he’s too sick to make his own. No, I’m going after Malfoy now.” Harry tried to push his way past Ron to the door but his friend held him back.

“No Harry, confronting Malfoy is just asking for trouble. Draco’s not 16 any more he’s a fully grown wizard and he’s got a hell of a lot more experience behind him than when you were fighting with him a school. He’s perfectly within his rights to hex the shit out of you if you push him to far and I won’t see you do something so stupid as provoke him just in case our greasy old potions master is getting what he deserved!” Harry could hardly believe Ron had just said what he had and the boy stepped back from his friend in disgust.

“What he deserved?” Harry questioned in disbelief. “You can hardly talk Ronald, did your Dad deserve to die just because he was fighting for a cause he believed in? Did Seamus deserve to die because he just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?” Harry watched as Ron lowered his head against his chest in defeat, already knowing he’d said the wrong thing. “Besides who said I was going to confront him? I’m brave but not completely devoid of intelligence. I was going to follow him.”

“Another words stalk him.” Hermione whispered angrily. “Stalking is illegal Harry.”

“Stalking. Following. Just technicalities Hermione.” Harry flippantly brushed her comment off with a wave of his hand as he reached down and grabbed the potion from the table and tucked it into his cloak pocket.

“Technicalities are going to get you killed Harry.” Ron whispered his eyes still downcast as he moved aside to allow his best friend to pass.

“I thought you were done with all this Harry, I though we’d had enough of running around after adventures in school!” Hermione walked over to Ron who instantly buried his face into his girlfriend’s chest as Hermione wrapped her arms supporting about his shoulders. Whenever Ron’s dad came up in conversation it always reduced the boy to tears without fail.

“This isn’t about adventure Hermione, it’s about a person, a person I care for even if the rest of the world doesn’t. You might not believe he did anything significant in the war but I do, and I want to find out what that was before he too becomes another victim of Voldemort’s reign.” Harry opened the door to the flat sparing only a momentary glance back at the couple locked in each others embrace in the middle of the lounge. “If I’m not back by next week tell Sirius what I did.” With that Harry swept out of the door and as he ran down the stairs he disappeared into thin air with a sharp audible pop.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>