Harry Potter and the White Conference

Disclaimer: No one owns Livia or ancient Rome. However, for more information on her please see Anthony Barrett's biography, "Livia: First Empress of Imperial Rome," it is fantastic. Although the presentation of Livia in the following chapter may resemble Graves' portrayal of her in his famous "I, Claudius," I actually do not share the same opinion. I do believe that Livia had a great knowledge of the powers found in herbs and plants, but I do not believe she used that knowledge to murder anyone. So, in short, this portrayal of Livia comes largely from the ancient writing of Tacitus and Suetonius.

Chapter 9: When in Rome

“Severus has really outdone himself this time,” Dumbledore said, his smile reaching the familiar twinkle in his eyes.

“What do you mean, Professor Dumbledore? Am I to go on another journey already? Gandalf has only just arrived.” Sophia answered.

“Ah, do not worry, my dear girl. I have designated Mr. Potter and his charming friends to make sure the great White Wizard feels at home.”

“And I am sure they are more than up to the task. Hermione knows more about Hogwarts than anyone, but, I must say that I am a bit surprised that I am to travel so soon.”

“I’m afraid the matter was a little bit out of our hands, Sophia. The journey must be attempted when the time is right. Severus just finished making this next potion, and it will only be useable for the next four days. That means you must return from your destination in four days as well.” Dumbledore explained.

“I see,” Sophia said slowly, “and where can I expect to go this time?”

“Not where, my dear girl, but when!” his smile became even more mischevous, “we need you to recruit the services of the most skilled potion master of all time. She is the first empress of Imperial Rome, the Lady Livia Drusilla. The potion you will be using is now the Tempus Transferenda. It will take you through time and space!”

Sophia just stood there, her mouth hanging open. “You want me to try and persuade the wife of the first emperor of Rome, Augustus, to come help us??”

Dumbledore just nodded.

“Well, alright. I might as well give it a shot. Although, it will be hard to avoid detection at Livia’s house. I hope you have a really good gift for her. I suppose my best bet is to pretend that I am a Patrician noblewoman seeking an audience with the empress. And, you should send someone with me to pose as a slave in order to help me out if things get rough. I’m sure Professor Snape would do well.” Both of them smiled. Severus Snape was certainly the best person to protect Sophia, however, he was the LAST person who would pose as a slave.

“You are too hard on the lad, my dear...” he chuckled to himself, “Severus may yet surprise you. Anyway, enough chitchat. I have a delightful gift for you to present Livia with: a series of magical phials that will seem to contain perfume, but may in fact contain the deadliest of poisons. I also have for her a splendid Occultus crystal, which will hide the holder from prying eyes. With this gift, she may have even more mobility than if she had an invisibility cloak. And, of course I have a crystal of Wisdom to inform her of the situation.”

Sophia nodded, “sounds good. But what about someone to help me?”

Dumbledore looked grave, “I do not believe I can safely send someone with you. But, I do have a few items that will help you. I can lend you an Occultus crystal to use. I have also thought that perhaps your best form of entrance into her house in Rome would be in the form of a slave. Perhaps a dancer? Did Livia not select young girls whom she thought would – ahem – please Augustus?”

Sophia giggled, “thats the story. Okay, so I’ll speak to Minerva about transfiguring me a suitable costume. But I’m leaving quite early tomorrow morning, and I don’t want anyone to see me in the costume!”

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sophia snuck through the dim corridors. She peered her head around one corner, and upon noticing that it was clear, she ran as fast as her feet could take her. She turned another corner, almost at Professor Dumbledore’s office, when she collided into the back of none other than – Severus Snape.

He turned around, the growl in his throat matching the sour grimace on his face. He was NOT pleased to be awake at such an early hour, especially after catching the bloody Weasley twins experimenting with their joke products in the great hall in the late hours of the night! He stopped midturn, his growl caught in his throat. Snape was actually speechless. He’d been warned that Sophia would be travelling as a court dancer, but the little woman in the exotic outfit before him was quite breathtaking. She was wearing crimson long silk pants that, although the legs were far too large for her, the waist fit snugly over her hips. The rest of the pants seemed to whirl around her body in mounds of fabric that seemed almost alive. She worse a tight-fitted bodice, corset style, which was a similar hue of crimson. Her ankles and wrists bore bells that jingled slightly with every movement she made. She had used a growth potion on her hair, which now fell in tight curls most of the way down her back.

“Minerva has done well,” Snape said, still flabbergasted.

“Thank you, Professor Snape. I shall pass on your compliments.”

“I suppose it is your fault that we had to arise at such an unseemly hour.” The familiar snarl began to return, but Sophia could not miss the hint of desire in Snape’s eyes. She was right. Snape’s mind was currently distracted with the thought of Sophia dancing, before him.

‘Hmm, this will be interesting to look into more when I return, but he will be sorely dissapointed when he realizes that I cannot dance to save my life!’ She said to herself.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sophia appeared on the Palatine Hill just as the sun was poking over the hills. She quickly wrapped herself in a brown cloak to keep out the cold and performed the Omnia Ora spell so that she could converse easily with Livia. She looked out over the Forum and the Capitoline, all of which seemed so foreign to what remained in the modern Forum of Rome. The first gate she came to was lightly guarded, the two soldiers were both asleep, wine jugs lay cast aside at their feet. Sophia kept climbing. She met a centurion of the imperial guard. She gasped, her hand clutching the Occultus stone, and tried to keep calm.

“Hold it, what are you doing out this early!” he barked at her.

“Please sir, I have only just arrived. I have been sent by the great Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa as a gift to his adoptive father, Augustus. I am to report immediately to the empress for inspection.” She hoped her story sounded plausible.

The guard looked her up and down. She opened her cloak to show him her costume, and he grunted, “follow me.” He led her to the atrium of a beautiful small villa. The walls were spectacularly painted with garden frescoes. Images of fountains, trees and flowers gave the atrium a peaceful feeling. But Sophia knew that the supposedly innocent bushes and flowers were actually depictions of potent herbs that could easily kill without any trace of evidence.

The guard returned, bowed slightly, and exited the room. Sophia was just about to wonder what she was supposed to do when a tall woman strode elegantly into the room. Sophia gasped. She was breathtakingly beautiful. She wore a loose, white nightgown, fastened only by a purple ribbon that circled her ribcage just below her breasts. Her long dark hair flowed unset down her back. She had a soft delicate face, but piercingly intelligent eyes.

“Marcus Agrippa has said nothing about sending a dancer for my husband, so, the question is, who are you? Speak quickly, for I am in no mood to humour wayward dancers,” she pronounced every word perfectly, her voice was crisp and strong even for the early hour.

“Please, my lady, hear me. I have a message for you that you may be interested in. I also have gifts for you, although both should perhaps be viewed in more secluded places.”

Livia cocked an eyebrow at Sophia. “Oh, please, I’ve had enough admirers for the time being. Although your master was quite bold, sending a woman in to lure me away and then open the door for him. I wasn’t born yesterday, my dear. I know all the tricks of adultery, despite the fact that it is my husband who made adultery a crime.” She lay back on one of the couches against a wall and rested one arm on the backrest, the other hung loosely at her side. She crossed one knee over the other as she gazed at Sophia, the movement caused her hips to be accenuated under the soft white material of her gown. The pose was more than slightly erotic. Sophia moved towards the couch and pulled out her rucksack. She slowly removed the gifts that Dumbledore had prepared for the Empress and held them out.

“These phials...” she started, but was soon interrupted.

“Hush, child! Do you not know where we are! Follow me!” she jumped up abruptly and grabbed Sophia roughly by the hand and took her to her private quarters. They stepped silently over a sleeping servant girl, an ancilla, and entered a room hidden behind a statue of Augustus the Imperator.

“Alright, so I realize that you have not been sent to woo me. That is good enough, but you could’ve come more discreetly. How am I ever going to explain this to Augustus when word gets to him!” Livia said after having seen Dumbledore’s crystal of wisdom, though her eyes did not seem angered.

“I’m sorry, my lady. We had no idea what would be the best way to approach you. However, I can assure you that once you deem it time to go home, we can arrange to return you to precisely the time when we leave. You will not be missed.”

Livia smiled. Sophia received the impression that there was a reason, other than a desire to help Dumbledore, that made her want to return with Sophia.

“And I can travel with you using merely a potion?” she asked. Sophia nodded. “Well, I must see the world where potions are so respected.” She took Sophia’s hand. “I am certainly ready for an adventure of my own.”

***

Next chapter: what happened while Sophia was in Ancient Rome! I already know what will happen, I just need a little while to myself to get it down. Stay tuned!