Hopes and Wishes

Chapter 8: So… What Is The Plan?


Severus left the door to Harry’s bedroom slightly ajar and cast a one-way silencing spell upon it. It would not do for Harry to be shut alone in his room where no one could hear him, as he had been at Privet Drive, but at the same time Severus did not want the child disturbed by the argument he felt sure was to take place.

Poppy, who had had been waiting for the men to finish settling Harry down for his nap, looked up as Remus and Severus re-entered the room. “So… what is the plan?” she asked, her voice determined.

“Plan?” countered Severus innocently.

“Do not take me for a fool, boys. I have tended your injuries since you were eleven and kept your secrets. I know you have something up your sleeves to punish the Dursleys and I want to know what it is!” came her quick riposte.

“We are not trying to take you for a fool Poppy,” Remus answered calmly “We have yet to decide on a fitting punishment; we would appreciate your input. Perhaps we should call Albus and Minerva down to help us plan?”

“We have no need of their assistance. I will simply brew the non animadverto virus potion and feed it to them. It is an undetectable poison which will cause them to die a painful and horrid death. Those muggle police people will never be able to find the cause of death and the potion disappears instantly death has occurred so if ever anything did get back to the Aurors… there would be no proof.” Severus stated seriously “Perhaps if I combine it with Salamander blood and pomegranate juice there will be a more pronounced effect.” Severus mused to himself “We wish the consequences of the potion to be as painful as possible do we not?” he continued.

“We cannot kill them Sev. No matter what they did to Harry and how much they deserve it, we just can’t kill them.” Remus reasoned carefully.

“I think you’ll find I can,” retorted Severus “I can do anything I want to them. And what I want is for them to die long, slow, agonizing deaths. I wish to inflict the maximum amount of pain and suffering with the minimum amount of risk to us. I did consider using Crucio and Avada kedavra but those are far to hackneyed and too easily traceable. A simple potion is best.” he added.

“Punish them certainly; they deserve it. Do you not think though, that ten minutes of pain before their deaths barely even begins to redress the dept they owe for their past misdeeds?” Poppy deliberated, her face creased in concentration.

“You are thinking perhaps of a more long-term punishment; something more subtle and insidious?” Severus probed, head tilted and tone considering.

“Indeed, something that will truly punish them for years to come. Something sneaky and devious and truly horrible,” she agreed, turning to smile at Remus.

“Something Slytherin!” they finished together.

Ignoring the implied insult in their words, Severus continued to think for a few moments, his expression pensive. “I see the merit in your plan,” he nodded “perhaps Albus’ assistance would be helpful. There has never been a more devious and meddlesome man than Albus Dumbledore.”

Remus walked across the living room and threw floo powder onto the fire. Calling out “Headmaster’s Office, Hogwarts” he stuck his head into grate and was still for a few moments, obviously conversing with the occupants in the other room. He stood up a few seconds later imparting “They’re coming through” before returning to his seat on the comfortable sofa.

It was a scant few seconds before Albus and then Minerva appeared from the fire and brushed themselves clean of soot. Finding spaces on the available seats, both newcomers looked at the others expectantly.

“We are plotting Albus, Minerva,” began Poppy, nodding at both parties. “We would like your aid in deciding the punishments for the Dursley family. Severus has suggested a painful and fast-acting poison but both Remus and I agree that it would be too lenient and would not sufficiently punish them for their crimes. Severus is open to a more devious and long lasting retribution but, as of yet, we have not decided upon any. Thoughts?”

“The most painful of punishments attack the areas that the subject feels most proud or protective of.” Albus stated wisely.

“Your point?” was Severus’ blunt rejoinder.

“What objects, people or principles do the Dursleys hold most dear?” Albus queried.

“I watched them that day, the day that Harry first went to live there” Minerva offered “Petunia is house proud, she adores her son and thinks he can do no wrong. From what I saw he is an obnoxious little brat, spoilt rotten. Vernon is very proud of his image: his standing in the community, his company car, his ability to fit in the neighbourhood.”

“So by that score,” started Poppy “we would attack their child, their pride and their normalness?”

“I for one refuse to attack a four-year-old child; even an obnoxious one. We would be no better than them!” Remus stated emphatically.

“You must consider Remus,” replied Minerva “that we do not wish a child to grow up with the same beliefs and standards as Vernon and Petunia Dursley. I do not advocate physically or mentally harming the child but surely there is something we can do to influence his outlook…”

“Bonus mores” injected Severus, coming out of his thoughtful contemplations.

“A fine plan my boy!” rumbled Dumbledore “Excellent idea. If you were to brew…”

“Bonus what?” interjected Poppy

“Bonus mores the morals potion. It is given to petty criminals who do not deserve a stint in Azkaban but whose moral fibre is in need of adjustment. It improves a person’s judgement and outlook with regards to right and wrong. If Severus were able to fine-tune it for use on a child… Well then I think one possible problem would be resolved.” explained Dumbledore.

“That leaves us with pride and normalness to counter. Those are not so easy.” worried Remus.

“Minerva, you said that Petunia was proud of her house and Vernon his car?” clarified Poppy.

“Indeed, very proud of the neatness of them.” Minerva confirmed.

“Could we not then say… disrupt... this neatness? Perhaps use the usquequaque exsisto nuntius and usquequaque exsisto immunda charms to make the house and garden always messy and the car always dirty? That would hardly create a good impression in their prim neighbourhood. They would object more to the scorn of other muggles than to that of wizards and witches.” suggested Poppy, eyebrow raised and small smirk twisting her lips.

“I think Poppy is on to something there,” agreed Severus “The thing they will most hate is not our punishment of them but their humiliation in front of other muggles. Perhaps then some spells and jinxes to show them up in public… Nothing dangerous or that could lead to us being discovered but something to cause maximum embarrassment.”

“When I was younger and still married,” began Minerva “I once played a practical joke on Stephen. I created a spell that transfigures items of whatever clothes you put on in the morning into something completely mismatched and different. Stephen came home from the bank that day wearing his suit jacket, shirt and tie, he worked in the Muggle Relations Department of Gringotts, turquoise Bermuda shorts, one highly polished black shoe and a pink flip-flop! It was most amusing… for me at least.”

Remus chuckled. “An outstanding idea Minerva! You invented the spell yourself you say?”

“It is not so tricky when one has a Latin dictionary and a basic understanding of Arithmancy.” Minerva responded modestly.

“Conceivably we could cast several spells on them. We said we wanted maximum impact. Petunia would not wish for her makeup to be permanently smeared would she?” furthered Poppy.

“Inconsequential rubbish!” snorted Severus “They will not like these as their punishments certainly but there is nothing here to truly make them suffer. I want them to suffer and hurt and be denied the love and satisfaction that Harry has been denied for the past two-and-a-bit years!”

Albus and Minerva looked at one another, turned to their fellow conspirators and said “lucrum haud iucunditas” at exactly the same moment.

“Creepy!” shuddered Remus before questioning “I don’t think I know that spell; what is it?”

“People under this spell gain no pleasure from anything they do. They eat and are never sated, drink and are never quenched, celebrate and are never happy. They gain no satisfaction in any part of their lives. They exist but there is no enjoyment to it. Would that be punishment enough for your tastes Severus?” queried Albus.

“I would be satisfied with that in addition to our other spells and potions. If we are all in agreement?” approved Severus, looking around the room and receiving nods of agreement from all its occupants. “I shall go and start brewing the potion. Remus will stay here with Harry and I’m sure the rest of you have busy lives to get back to. I suggest we regroup in a couple of days, at which time the potion should be ready.” With a nod of his head and a flick of his robes, Severus was gone.

The others dispersed soon after, heads filled with plots and plans. Fingers eager to begin practicing the spells and jinxes they would need.

Remus was left alone in the room; contemplating everything that had gone on in the past few days. He could not believe that it was only yesterday morning that he had been so excited about his date with Severus and now they were a family. He was a father. It was a sobering thought.

AN

Well that is the revenge plan for Vernon and Petunia. I hope it meets everyone’s expectations. I found it really hard to come up with punishments that were original and this is the best I could come up with. I believe that Poppy made a correct statement when she said that the Dursleys would hate ridicule from their fellow muggles more than from wizards. They pride themselves on being normal therefore we try and take that away.

At the moment they do not know that Marge is involved so her punishments will come later. Do not worry; I haven’t forgotten her.

Let me know what you think…

P.S. As always, thank you to everyone that reviewed *passes around a plate of chocolate brownies*


Review Replies

Arcee1000: Thank you for the milk and cookies. Chapter completed and it’s only 10.00! Sorry your trees have been committing hari kari but I’m glad you liked the chapter.

Kurai: Distinct lack of Harry cuteness in this chapter I’m afraid. I hope you like the plan though. Is it enough of a disruption do you think?

Reading: You’re very welcome. Hope you liked this chapter. Thanks for the review.

Bones: *bows* Thank you!

Yuutousei: Thank you for the review! There may be a little Sev/Remy smex in this story at some point but it seems to have a mind of its own. I think I’m going to write a chapter about one thing and it comes out totally different. Hey ho, I’m quite liking it so far.

GeminiCancer: Why thank you! I do but try…