A Wizard's Debt

Severus.



Miss Granger was more than worth her weight in gold as she went through my personal stores. She carefully noted each and every bottle, jar or box; wrote down its use-by-date and the supplier.



“I created a system for the joke shop, Professor. I wondered weather you would be interested in it for your stores?” she asked, getting to the end of a shelf before moving onto the one below it.



“What would I want with joke products.” I asked, unimpressed. Perhaps she wasn’t worth her weight in gold. Perhaps copper, a less valuable metal.



“No, not the products, the system I created – well, not really, its based on the muggle barcode system used in supermarkets and other stores… do you know what I’m on about…?”



“I do spend the summer vacation away from Hogwarts, and do visit muggle shops to purchase food. I am not ignorant.”



“Well, I adapted it to several spells. As a product leaves Fred and George’s… George’s… joke shop, the spell recognises it as purchased, and writes it on a piece of parchment on the counter that there is space on the shelf. When they… he… comes to re-stock the shelves, they know exactly how many of a product they need.” She said, talking animatedly and happily about this system.



Too happily. It wasn’t exactly difficult spell work to record a running Talley of products. There was a similar system on classrooms, the registers marked themselves as the students entered the rooms.



“Well, there is a similar spell on their store room; the spell knows how many products fit on the storeroom shelves, and how many have gone onto the shop floor. It also records the speed at which the products sell, and their production time. There is a daily list of products that need re-production, anticipating when the storeroom will run out, before it does.” She continued, smiling.



Still too happy, though, the spell made sense, somewhat.



“And you propose this for my stores?” I asked, though, I am perfectly capable of caring for my own ingredients; not to mention being rather more organised than one half of the twins.



“Not the same. I think you could do to record the rate of ingredient usage; though you obviously know that, you have more of commonly used items than the rarer ones.”



“Then what is the need to record their frequency of usage?”



“Different times need different ingredients. For example, in winter you are more likely to brew Pepper Up potion rather than hay fever relief. Perhaps the stores could work on a calendar basis – especially the medicinal potions.” She said, nibbling on the end of her quill as she noted another vial; gently placing it into the basket set aside for the out of date items.



“Perhaps that would be useful.” Perhaps.



“Plus, I think, with a bit of work, I could create a spell that wrote your order forms for you – if the door knows what ingredients leave the room as well as their manufacturer or supplier… You would have to sign order sheets off yourself, obviously.” She said, looking at the pile of empty vials and jars by the door.



“A useful idea, and it would save time. Though, I normally note when things run low.” I said. Was I considering this plan of hers?



“And, perhaps I could get a spell to record the use-by-dates… maybe paint the lids red of things that need to be destroyed.” She said, cleaning the next shelf with a muttered scourgify before she continued to note names, numbers and dates.



“A good idea, this is certainly tedious… things have distracted me from my stores, as of late.” I said. A war is rather distracting, especially as I fought on both sides at once.



“There are a lot of out-of-date ingredients on here, Professor.” She said, adding more vials to the basket before pulling the in date ones behind it forward.



“Yes, should any of the Death Eaters brew something, especially some of the more dangerous potions; they would cause little harm – their active ingredients inactive. They are not potions Masters, and never thought to check the dates.” Albus would have come back to life and personally murdered me if the students came to harm I could prevent.



Though, some of the brats deserved it.



“Ah, I thought there might be a reason, your stores do seem disordered and random – not to mention the sour ingredients in here. I thought you were more organised than this!” she said smiling.



Was that a compliment or an insult?



We worked in a comfortable silence as I wrote the order for the ruined potions of her fall and those that were past their best. It would be costly for the school funds – especially as those funds would be severely dented with the severe repairs needed.



“I must thank-you profusely Miss Granger, for your sacrifice and your work to save me…” I began, to be rudely cut off.



“It wasn’t a real problem, well, alright, it was – but you’re not dead.” She said, looking uncomfortable.



“As I was saying, I truly appreciate it – but I wish to know why.” I asked.



“Erm. It… erm…” she said, looking at me puzzled. Goodness, a speechless Miss Hermione Granger, would wonders never cease? “Erm, looking back, you worked so hard for the wizarding world, you deserved to live and keep working on your potions and teaching. But at the time, I didn’t think about a why – I just did it. I’d have done it for anyone in the order, or fighting our side.” She said.



“Thank-you for your honesty.” I said. How long has it been since someone viewed me as more than a pawn in a greater game of life. Though, it is wonderful to know I am valued for my potions research by someone.



Even if it is a know-it-all Gryffindor.



A while later, the comfortable silence was broken by someone entering the room, the red-haired face of Ronald Weasley poked from around the door frame.



“’Mione?! Why are you in here?! He practically shouted, looking at her with anger.



This should prove to be an amusing conversation.



“I was sick of marriage proposals and wanted to do something constructive; Professor Snape let me help him in his stores.” She said, looking daggers at him.



“Oh, well, there’s good news – Mum and Dad are going to let Harry get married to Ginny – even though she isn’t seventeen – they got permission from the minister too…” he trailed off looking pale.



“Finally! Harry realised what was right in front of him and went for it!” she said, smiling. “Why did they need the Minister of Magic’s permission?” she asked.



“Because… you know… Ginny’s not seventeen.” Ron said, suddenly finding the floor riveting.



“Thus him asking her parents first.” Hermione said, not sounding impressed with the explination, “Why involve the minister?”



“Well – because she isn’t seventeen for six months.” He said – surely Miss Granger knows this already? The fool is practically repeating himself!



“You’ve said that – or very nearly.” She said, folding her arms over her chest.



I wonder, is she a LEggumes, not that she could penetrate my mind, even the Dark Lord couldn’t do that! Though, Albus could… something to ponder over.



“I think, Mister Weasley is trying to say that the age of consent is seventeen – and as Miss Weasley is not of that age. With the requirements of the law and marriage consummation; the Minister’s permission must be sought, as the young couple would be breaking the law.” I summarised, we would be here all night before Ronald Weasley told her that.



“Oh, I keep forgetting it is seventeen in the wizarding world, muggle England is sixteen.” She said offhandedly. “I’m happy for them – I’ll come and give my congratulations when this is done – I’m into a system now, and I’d never get back into it if I have a break.” She said, smiling.



“Oh, alright then, Mione. Remember, you need to choose someone too…” he trailed off, once again focused on the floor.



“Yes, but I have three months to do that.” She said, an obvious dismissal – though the red-head didn’t notice it as such.



“Are you going to stare at the floor all afternoon?” I grumbled.



“Erm… no. I’ll go then.” He said, shuffling from the room.



We continued to work, once again in a comfortable silence. Silence is always comfortable, it makes thought more successful. And my thoughts were with my Godson’s predicament in this marriage law. Perhaps another mind would be of use in this.



“Miss Granger, I understand you found many loopholes in this law…”



“Three… well, three main ones.” She cut in.



“Indeed, I would be curious as to the third – I only found two.” I said stopping my work to look at her – perhaps Draco would find a way out of this mess with assistance. If not I would push him to take his Mother’s (unwanted) advice and pursue Miss Granger – though the thrice-weekly sex would probably require an incredibly strong lust potion to bring about, not to mention blindfolding them both… perhaps the imperious curse would be permitted in such a situation?



“Ok, in no particular order… the brewing of contraceptive potions is banned, as are contraceptive charms; but there is nothing overruling the various muggle methods.” She said, keeping a straight face as she spoke. I have yet to find a student whom could keep a calm façade while discussing things of a sexual nature with a professor.



“I was aware of that.”



“Right, The law requires sexual intercourse three times a week – The dictionary defines sexual intercourse as: ‘The process by which spermatozoa from a male are deposited in the body of a female during sexual reproduction… the definition doesn’t actually specify where - and as much as other options don’t sound too brilliant – it is a loophole.” She said, blushing ever so slightly.



“I was also aware of that loophole.” I said, enjoying her slight squirming at her statement.



“And, well… the largest loophole is that the law requires partners – but doesn’t actually specify they be heterosexual – yes a homosexual partnership won’t re-populate the wizarding world, but they would be ‘attempting’ in their own manor – but failing… though, they don’t fall into the definition of sexual intercourse… so its only a half loophole really.” She said, looking thoughtful.



“I had not noticed that – though, as the partners clause is above the one regarding the intercourse, it can be considered as more important and to take precedence over the others… it is the way of wizarding law.” I said, thinking.



We continued to work as I plotted; as only a Slytherin can.



























Reference for definition:

Hine, R. S., Martin, E. (2004), Oxford Dictionary of Biology, Fifth Edition, Oxford University Press, England, 587pp.