Chapter Eighty-Six: Remedying Magical Misfortune

Chapter Eighty-Six: Remedying Magical Misfortune

Monday, 29 March 1999

"Madam Pomfrey, may I speak with you at your earliest convenience?" Severus asked, catching up to her in the Great Hall on the way up to the staff table.

"Of course," Poppy replied. She looked up at him. He was looking straight ahead, focussed on the staff table. "Professor Vector's not here yet, so why don't I just take her place this evening."

Severus hesitated. "It is not that urgent. It is a matter of school business. The fifth-year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw class. However, if it would be convenient for you . . . yes. We can speak over dinner."

Poppy smiled and nodded.

At that moment, there was a loud crashing and clattering. Poppy and Severus both looked over at the Hufflepuff table. Poppy couldn't imagine how Gwendolyn Cheever had ended up head first in the shepherd's pie, but there she was, her legs kicking as she tried to extricate her head from the casserole dish, but she simply slid forward to hang off the other side of the table. The casserole dish shattered as it finally fell off her head. Poppy saw Severus twitch his finger, and the girl's skirt and robe rearranged themselves to cover her pink knickers. One of her classmates reached out to try to help Gwendolyn, and he slipped on the shepherd's pie and landed hard on his back.

"This is what we need to talk about," Severus said as a few other Hufflepuffs came to the rescue of the unlucky ones. Severus was glad to see that they were not in the fifth-year. "Fifth-year Potions was a disaster. It's a miracle you didn't see more students in your infirmary this afternoon. Fortunately, it was not a double session."

"Probably not a miracle," Poppy replied with a shake of her head. "More likely an alert and talented teacher."

"I hadn't wanted to have to be that alert this afternoon," Severus grumbled.

"I could keep them all in the infirmary . . . it might insulate them from anything that could go wrong...although one of the students did fall out of bed this afternoon, and another one choked on a biscuit. I'm having both Perlie and Strilpa watch them to make sure they don't have any serious mishaps."

"Mm. But they have to leave on Thursday. They're likely to continue having such bad luck for several more days. I can see the Hogwarts Express derailing from a rock slide or some such thing just because a few students are having miserable luck and are all riding the same train," Severus said, holding Poppy's chair for her before sitting himself.

"True. I did what I could, but I didn't know they'd be handling Mackled Malaclaws today...or any day, in fact. They aren't on the list of creatures for any of Hagrid's classes this year. I double-checked, thinking that perhaps it was my oversight and I should have had the right antidote in stock, but they weren't listed."

"I read your memo. I will be sure that Hagrid gets you current lists, or he'll be back to having all his classes breeding Flobberworms and Horklumps. I don't think we can take much more of this," Severus said, watching a Ravenclaw trip over nothing, reflexively try to catch himself by grabbing the back of another student's school robe, but only managing to tear the robe off the other wizard and then fall against Celia Jackson, who landed on young Abdul Khalil, knocking him to the floor. "The rest of us are in danger from their mishaps."

"I did tell them not to play any games of chance and to be extra careful. You're right, though. It doesn't seem that advising them to be careful was very helpful."

Minerva, overhearing the conversation, said, "I have told Hagrid I want to speak with him this evening. I'll stress that he needs to give you current lists. Was he bitten?"

Poppy shook her head. "Fortunately not, but nine of the students were, three of them rather badly. I kept those three in the infirmary."

"Directly after dinner, before I do anything else," Severus said to Poppy, "I am going to brew a potion for you that should help. If you would care to assist me, the work would go faster, or seem to."

"Yes, I'll help you. I do need to check on the students in the infirmary first and ask Filius and Pomona to send the other students to the Hospital Wing to spend the night. They should probably accompany them, in fact." Poppy looked over at the Hufflepuff table just as one of the afflicted students coughed and spat pumpkin juice all over her dinner. At least it was her own dinner, and not someone else's.

"I'll be in my lab...you remember where that is?"

Poppy nodded. It had been several years since she'd been down there, and the last time she had gone down to see him in his lab, he had stood in the half-open door and not let her in. She'd stood in the hallway for their entire ten minute conversation. Minerva told her that Severus's little potions lab was his private sanctum, even more private than his rooms. He wouldn't let anyone in, apparently, so she had dismissed any offended feelings and hadn't gone down there again. Now, though, she felt quite pleased. She doubted that he really needed any help brewing the potion; he just wanted her company...in his private potions laboratory.

"Which potion are you brewing?" Poppy asked.

"The fastest to brew is the Calamity Refuge Draught, but the Clades Refragor Syrup takes only a little longer and is supposed to be more effective, so I thought we'd brew that one."

"All right. I'll have all nine students wait in the infirmary for the time being. Did you know that Gertrude was sent home?" Poppy asked.

Severus nodded. "I ran into Dumbledore. He informed me of their success."

"I hope that Gertrude is comfortably settled at home and having her dinner."

"I received an owl from Quin," Minerva said. "He said she's fine, but he's taking tomorrow off to stay at the estate with her and take her mind off things."

"How is Rosemary, did he say?" Poppy asked.

"She's well. It was frustrating for her to be stuck at the estate and unable to contact anyone," Minerva said. "After Gertrude changes the wards on the estate, Quin's hoping that they'll be able to use their mobile telephones there."

"But what about electricity?" Severus said. "And are there cellular towers near the estate?"

"I don't know what kinds of towers are there, but at Quin's estate in Ireland, he put in an electricity generator. It runs on the sun somehow, he said. Maybe he uses magic for that. He could probably do the same thing for the Gamp estate."

"And electrical devices work at Quin's estate?" Severus asked, not addressing Minerva's ignorance of solar power and mobile telephone towers.

"I don't think he would have a generator if it didn't work," Minerva said drily. "He doesn't have many gadgets there or any electric lighting, but he does have to have his telephone. He has an office at Aine's where he has something called a facsimile machine that he uses a lot...though I don't know why he doesn't have a real machine and not just a facsimile of one...and other Muggle equipment. He just jumps over there if he has to do something . . . technical."

"McGonagall said the MacAirt place was highly magical," Severus said.

"It is. But it's different from the magic at Hogwarts. Doesn't have the same kinds of wards at all, and the castle...the MacAirt castle, that is...isn't designed and held together by magic the way that Hogwarts is. It does have a very deep, very old geomancy that pervades the place...you can feel it around you if you're at all sensitive to that sort of thing...but Quin's mobile telephone does work."

"It's beautiful, Severus. One of the most beautiful places I've ever seen," Poppy said. "I hope you can visit it one day."

"How did Mr Bain just set himself on fire?" Severus asked mildly, taking a sip of his water.

Poppy and Minerva both looked with alarm over at the Ravenclaw table. Lawrence Bain was standing up, beating at his still-smoking, now soaking, robe. Toni Blackwell was standing next to him, holding an empty pitcher. Poppy stood, ready to go down and check Bain, but Toni used her wand to dry him off, and he sat back down to continue his meal.

Poppy shrugged. "I'll look him over when he comes up to the infirmary with the others."

"Thank you for brewing the potion, Severus," Minerva said. "It will be a relief for everyone, I'm sure."

"It is not a complete cure, but it should render them merely mildly unlucky, not disastrously so," Severus replied. "Although . . ."

Minerva and Poppy both looked at him, waiting for him to continue his thought, but he merely gazed out across the room, thinking.

"Although what?" Minerva finally asked.

"Headmistress," Severus said, pushing away from the table. "I am about to leave the grounds. I will depart from the Forbidden Forest and return the same way. I don't believe I'll be long. Less than an hour, I hope."

"What? You can't...that is, I'd rather you didn't leave alone."

"I am going to the Tyree residence. Unless one of them is the assassin, I believe that I shall be quite safe and that I will have an alibi for the time I am away from the school."

"Dumbledore will go with you," Minerva said firmly. "And you will allow him to finish his dinner first...and finish your own. It will also be less awkward for you than appearing unannounced on their doorstep alone."

Severus looked at Minerva for a moment, then he nodded once and pulled up to the table.

"Why are you going to the Tyree estate?" Poppy asked. "Potions ingredients?"

Severus nodded. "I could harvest a few leaves from Professor Sprout's memory plant...which is why I considered brewing the Clades Refragor Syrup...but yesterday, Professor Birnbaum showed me a new hybrid he has created from the memory plant. I wish to consult him about its properties and request a sample. It is quite possible it will create a more effective potion. We can brew two batches simultaneously...quite an easy thing to do...one the standard and one with the new hybrid. And perhaps with a few other . . . tweaks."

"It sounds like something Dumbledore would find intriguing," Poppy said.

"Yes, but my lab is small, and your help will be sufficient. I will present him with our results."

"He's tired today, too. Last night's interruption didn't give us much sleep, then he did a lot of Apparating to find Moody, and he wouldn't let me give him a Side-Along home from London today. So don't let him talk you into staying at my grandmother's for a drink."

"I have a potion to brew, and if you're serious about this 'buddy system' of yours," Severus said with a look of distaste, "then neither of us should Apparate back here alone."

"Thank you."

Severus glanced down the table where Albus was sitting between Pomona and Vector. "He has finished his dinner."

Minerva put a hand on his arm. "But not his dessert. Ten minutes will not make a difference."

"As long as the afflicted students avoid doing anything more dangerous than breathing, perhaps," Severus said.

"I am going to go tell Filius and Pomona to bring their students up to the infirmary," Poppy said. "Do you have an idea when the potion will be ready?"

"It will take four hours to brew. So . . . between one and two a.m., depending on when we can begin. Perhaps earlier if we don't take long with Professor Birnbaum."

Poppy nodded. "All right. I'm going to give them all a Calming Draught in the meantime...not a very effective treatment, but at least it might induce them all to stay still." She stood. "I'll come down at around seven-thirty, if that would suit you."

"Yes. I should be back by then. Stop at my office first. If I am not there, I shall be in my lab," Severus replied.

"When you speak to Pomona," Minerva said, catching Poppy's arm as she went by, "let Albus know to come down here to us when he has finished his meal."

"Shall I bring us?" Albus asked as he and Severus headed through the Forbidden Forest to reach the edge of the Anti-Apparition wards.

"I was there yesterday with McGonagall," Severus replied. He looked over at Albus, who seemed cheery and energetic enough, but he remembered Minerva's concern that the older wizard was over-exerting himself. "I can give you a Side-Along."

"No, no, my boy! Thank you, but I do prefer Apparating myself."

A minute later, they were approaching the edge of the Hogwarts Anti-Apparition wards, and Albus said, "You visited the estate for the first time yesterday? How very convenient."

"Indeed. I would have been unaware of Professor Birnbaum's hybrid had McGonagall not wished to bring me there for a visit...he thought it would be amusing for me to meet Eoghan Tyree."

"Was it amusing?"

Severus shrugged. "Gareth enjoyed himself. It was an interesting way to pass some time, and Eoghan seems to be a bright enough child."

"Minerva seems to think so."

"You don't know him?"

"Of course I have met him, but I've generally only seen him at large family gatherings. He's a quiet boy, too. Introspective, perhaps, and a bit shy. But I know Colm and Wren Caoimhe a bit better...his cousins, Branwen and Renwick's children. Long is another quiet one, their youngest. All four of them are entering Hogwarts next year, Caoimhe, Colm, Long, and Eoghan."

"Branwen and Renwick had triplets?"

"No. Colm and Caoimhe are twins. Long is almost a year younger, but they were born in September and he was born in August."

"At least they aren't identical twins," Severus said with a sigh. "I have not looked at the Hogwarts book for next year yet to see how many letters we will be sending . . . I have made no plans at all for next year."

Albus was quiet for a moment, then he asked, "Are you still considering leaving at the end of this year's contract?"

"I have no plans at all, as I said."

"I would understand it if you were to leave. Conditions have changed. I know it was not your own choice to apply for a job at Hogwarts in the beginning, and certainly not your choice to take it under the circumstances at the time . . . but I would be very happy if you were to stay on. I know that Minerva relies on you and truly appreciates your work and your presence in the castle."

"Hm." Severus thought of Poppy. If things worked out well with her, he could picture staying at least another year; if they did not, he was unsure whether he could bear to be in the castle with her. "I know I must decide, but I fortunately do not need to decide tonight."

"No, of course not, my boy. But if you ever wish to discuss it...pros and cons, alternate plans...I am here."

"Thank you. I believe we are past the wards."

"Yes. I shall meet you there...on the front drive?"

Severus nodded. "Yes."

As soon as both wizards arrived, lamps lit along the drive and the front door opened.

Albus waved at the pale grey house-elf who stepped out. "Good evening! It's Professors Dumbledore and Snape...Bandon, is it?"

"Brantin," the house-elf said. "Please come in, Professors. I will tell my mistress who it is." He bowed slightly and, as soon as the two wizards had entered the spacious front hall, Disapparated.

"This is an immense house," Severus said, looking around him. "A castle, I would call it."

"Indeed. It is. And the grounds are among the most extensive privately held wizarding lands in Britain and Ireland combined. They are an old family. They've been here...and I mean on this land...for many, many centuries, much longer than the Malfoys, or even the Blacks, have been English. And they were on the wizarding isle of Tirodh Beag...Little Tiree...for even longer. Well over a thousand years."

"But we only meddle selectively in the affairs of others, especially English," Siofre's dry observation came from above them.

"Ah, Siofre! Just giving Severus a bit of history," Albus said, walking toward the stairs and taking her hand as she came down the last steps. He bent and kissed her cheek.

"Are you here on a social call? Or is it about the business today? Gertrude hasn't been taken in again, has she?"

"No, entirely different business tonight. Dear Gertrude is being well-cosseted by Quin and the rest of her family, I am sure. We are actually here to see Johannes."

"He was very disturbed by the entire affair," Siofre replied. "He is out sitting in my moonlight garden, I believe. He wants to add a new feature to it...dinna ask me what. He would not tell me. Johannes is aye after surprising me. Contemplating that, he says, relaxes him."

There was a clattering from above, and Eoghan came racing down the stairs, taking the final set by bannister. He landed lightly on his toes.

"Run on your own stairs, laddie, an' no thumping down mine," Siofre scolded mildly.

"Brantin told me my cousin...Professor Snape...was here!" Eoghan said breathlessly. "And Uncle Albus," he added.

"Aye, and they are here to see Johannes."

"I can run and get him for you!" Eoghan volunteered. "I saw him walking around the pond in your garden."

"No more running this time of night or you'll never get to sleep tonight," Siofre said. "But you may bring the gentlemen out to the garden, if they consent."

Albus saw that Eoghan's hopeful look was directed at his new-found "cousin," so he said, "You know, it's been a long day for me. I would be most grateful for a tisane or a cup of cocoa in the parlour with your grandmother. I just tagged along; it's actually Professor Snape's business. He can tell you all about it on your way out to the gardens."

Severus nodded. He would be just as glad not to have Albus there; he had an additional request to make, and he had resigned himself to having to do so by letter rather than be overheard. He was not at all used to the notion of courting anyone, and he still felt more than slightly embarrassed about it. It didn't seem . . . like him. He'd developed such a hard persona over the years, even with himself, it was difficult to admit to enjoying being a bit . . . softer. Being in love.

He followed the boy through the house, this time not going through the conservatory, as he had when returning to the house with Johannes.

"Hope you don't mind going by way of the kitchen, sir," Eoghan said as they passed through what appeared to be a small breakfast room. "I want to tell Multry and Kilbeena that Uncle Honnie will be coming back to the house soon. He didn't have his supper tonight, and no tea, neither. He'll be wanting something soon."

"Did you have your lessons on the island today?" Severus asked the boy after they had stopped briefly in the kitchen and then stepped out into the chilly night air.

"Nay. We were all just 'bout to leave when Aunt Gertrude's house-elf came for Grandmother Siofre." He sighed. "She said we'd go later this week, instead. Thursday, probably."

"Did you have any lessons?"

"Music and German in the morning, and Latin and Muggle history after lunch. Then Uncle Honnie had us work in the smaller greenhouse until teatime."

"You have well-organised lessons, then."

"Aye, and I like my music and language lessons, but it's more fun on the island. There's a lot of kids...cousins...and we do more proper magic."

"I see. What sort of 'proper magic'?"

"Just some charms, mainly. They don't let us do very much real Transfiguration yet...I'm old enough, and so are Caoimhe and Colm, but Long isn't. He doesn't even have a wand of his own yet. He has to use a borr'ied one on the island. We'll all be going to Hogwarts together, so we all have to wait until we get to Hogwarts, Bridie says."

"Who is Bridie?"

"Bridie Tyree. She's in charge. She finds different people to take the kids different weeks for different subjects, like Charms and History and Cooking. All kinds of things. We learned thatching charms last time. When we go to the island...Colm, Caoimhe, Long, and me, er, I...we just go wherever everyone else is, and Grandmother Siofre stays and takes some of the older kids for the day, and they do advanced lessons."

"Sounds . . . haphazard."

Eoghan shrugged. "I dinna know. We all like it. Well, Colm doesn't. But he doesn't like most of our lessons, anyway. Except boating and fishing. And the thatching charms. We all liked that."

"You have lessons every day?"

"Not every day, and not all day, unless we're on the island. But four or five days, and I have my Sunday lesson every week, too."

"I see."

Eoghan pointed. "Down there, that's Grandmother Siofre's moon garden. Uncle Honnie was there when I saw him from my window."

Severus stopped. "Thank you. You may return to the house now."

"Oh . . . I could bring you all the way, sir. The path can be hard to see in this light."

Severus drew his wand. "Lumos. You know that one?"

Eoghan looked up at Severus very seriously and drew his own wand. He held it in front of himself and concentrated. The tip of his wand lit up. He looked back up at Severus.

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Very good."

Eoghan smiled. "Grandmother Siofre said that casting silently is a good skill to have."

"Indeed." Severus looked down at the little person beside him. "It may be dull for you if you come down to the garden with me. We shall be discussing business."

Eoghan shrugged. "I can always think about other things."

Severus started walking again and said nothing when Eoghan continued with him.

"Uncle Albus said you could tell me what your business is."

"Do you know of the Mackled Malaclaw?" Severus asked.

"Aye. I caught one once down on Tiree Beag. But I was careful not to be bitten," the boy said.

"And why is it important not to be bitten?"

"Because the bite from the Mackled Malaclaw can bring its unfortunate victim bad luck for a week or more, and the worse the bite, the worse the misfortunes suffered by its victim," Eoghan recited in a sing-song voice.

"Mm. Nine students in Care of Magical Creatures were bitten by Mackled Malaclaws this morning. They are, as you say, suffering misfortunes."

"More than one Mackled Malaclaw?" At Severus's nod, the young wizard let out a low whistle. "Uncle Jacob says that if you're bit by more than one Mackled Malaclaw, your bad luck will be even worse and last longer."

"Indeed." Severus hadn't heard such a thing before; he wondered whether there was any foundation for that bit of folk wisdom.

"So you need to brew a potion for them and you need ingredients?"

"Precisely."

"I wish I could help."

"You brew potions in your lessons?"

"Not for lessons. I help Grandmother Siofre with the potions she brews, though, and Uncle Honnie brews potions for the plants, and sometimes he lets me help prepare the ingredients."

"Which potions?" Severus asked curiously.

"Headache Potion, burn salve, Doxie deterrent . . . fertilising potions for the greenhouse. Uncle Honnie doesn't let me help with any of the insect repellants, though."

Eoghan led Severus into the garden, which was ringed by hedges. In the light of the nearly full moon, the garden itself seemed to glow. The garden was filled with plants with white blossoms of different shapes and sizes, and others with leaves striped or speckled with white and silver. The garden seemed almost to undulate in the moonlight, the breeze moving through plants of various heights and shapes. Johannes approached them, a looming silhouette in his dark robes.

"Professor Snape, I thought I recognised your voice! Is everything well?"

"Some students were bitten by Mackled Malaclaws, Uncle Honnie, and Professor Snape needs some ingredients for a potion for them," Eoghan said.

"Nothing with Gertrude, then?" When Severus shook his head, Johannes sighed audibly. "That is good. I am seeing her in the morning, but I worry about her. I understand from Siofre that you were instrumental in having her questioning cut short."

"No, not really. Several of us had seen a memory of the most recent attack, and we all realised that it could not have been she." Severus looked down at Eoghan. "That is highly confidential. Do not speak of it."

"Aye, sir. Never a word," Eoghan replied seriously.

"It is good that you all saw that memory, then." Johannes shook his head. "When I heard that Gertrude had been taken by Aurors from her home, which should be sacred, I was very worried. I remembered those who had been taken away during the conflicts with the Death Eaters, taken, sent to Azkaban, and never tried, never released, simply . . . lost. And after all that she has suffered, and her long isolation, Gertrude should have to bear no more. I do not know whether she could."

Eoghan, in what Severus thought a surprising gesture from a boy his age, slipped his small hand into Johannes's large one. Johannes looked down at Eoghan and smiled.

He looked back up at Severus. "So how can we help you with the Mackled Malaclaw potions, Professor?"

"I was going to brew Clades Refragor Syrup, which requires leaves from the memory plant. Pomona has one which is just coming mature, but I thought of your hybrid. I would like to try an experimental potion using the hybrid, if you believe it might have appropriate properties."

Johannes nodded. "I believe it would. It is worth trying. I am sorry I did not include clippings with your flowers yesterday. I did not think you would have any use for them so quickly, and I wanted to send an entire plant or two, but only after speaking with Murdoch." He shrugged. "But I believe he would find this acceptable. I do ask that you share your results with him, however, whether the brewing is successful or not."

"Of course."

"It will need to be kept in a greenhouse...Greenhouse Two would likely be suitable for it. I'll send Pomona an owl in the morning. I can stress the . . . confidential, proprietary nature of the plant, as well as describe its appropriate care."

"Thank you."

"You are welcome." Johannes gestured toward the opening in the hedge.

"The bill for this may be sent to me or to the Headmistress," Severus said as the three wizards left the moon garden and headed up the path back towards the house.

Johannes shook his head. "Simply share the information with Murdoch, whatever he requests, and keep me informed, as well. If there is ever any profit you make...or Hogwarts...then we can speak of money."

"Very well. However . . . I have another request." He looked over at Eoghan. "We can discuss it later."

"Eoghan...be a good lad and run up to the greenhouse and pick out a few nice specimens of Commemoratum tyrensis for Professor Snape to choose from."

With no more than a quick nod, the slim boy let go of Johannes's hand and sprinted up the path ahead of them.

"How old is he?" Severus asked. Eoghan was quite small, and he was more openly affectionate with his Uncle Honnie than Severus would have expected, but he also seemed acute and more adept with his wand than usual.

"Eleven."

"He did a nonverbal Lumos earlier."

Johannes nodded. "He got his wand for his birthday in October. We allow him to carry it as long as he's on the estate or the island, but he only has a few spells he's allowed to perform unsupervised with his wand. Lumos is one of them, so he has much practice with it. But you had a request. A personal one? More flowers, perhaps?"

"Yes. I wished to write you a note of thanks, but other events intervened before I could. They were quite . . . they were good. Perfect. Yesterday when I was here, you mentioned red tulips. Because of the attacks, my ability to come and go freely is somewhat constricted. The Headmistress does not want us to go anywhere on our own, any of us, lest we become either targets or suspects. It is difficult to . . . to do any discreet shopping, if you know what I mean."

"Of course. You would like red tulips tonight?"

Severus shook his head. "Professor Dumbledore has accompanied me."

"I see. It might be awkward. Would you like the flowers delivered to the kitchens again, then?"

"Yes, that would be useful. The house-elf may ask for Twiskett again."

"Very well...tonight?"

"No, I would not impose in that way, and tonight would not be convenient at my end, either. But if the tulips could arrive tomorrow morning, I believe that might be a good time."

"Do you mind if I ask their ultimate destination? The witch? If I know her...although it is very impertinent of me to ask."

Severus shook his head. "It is . . . that is . . . we aren't . . ."

Johannes held up his hand. "Say nothing more. I should not have asked."

"I hope that they will find a place in the Hospital Wing," Severus said after a slight hesitation.

Johannes glanced over at him. "Poppy? Ah, she is a lovely witch. A truly good person. I taught her my first few years here, and then she was my colleague. I came to know her well. She is dear to you, then?"

"She is," Severus replied.

"And she liked the flowers last night? They were appropriate?"

Severus nodded.

"I'm glad."

"I must pay you this time, though. I treat you as a personal florist, and I am aware you are not that." He wouldn't like it if someone came to him, a serious Potions master, and made repeated requests for frivolous potions for personal reasons, particularly not when the person was a virtual stranger.

"All right. But I would prefer to take payment in kind, if you would agree. I have a few potions I was going to ask Murdoch to brew for the estate, but if you have the time, you could brew them instead. They are not standard potions. I can send you the formulas and most of the ingredients, all but the few that are not plant- or mineral-based. What do you say to that? I will provide you with flowers for your lady when you need them, and you brew these potions for us. Over the Easter holiday, if you can."

"That is acceptable to me," Severus said with a nod. He doubted Birnbaum would ask him to brew anything illegal...or at least, nothing Dark...particularly not if it was a potion Murdoch would normally brew. Of course, Murdoch had brewed some rather dubious concoctions during the war . . . but he himself had done far worse during the war, particular before he became a spy. Suddenly, his mind's eye jumped to the vision of Gertrude, crouched on the floor, bleeding, her severed arm beside her. He blinked the vision away and ignored the slight nausea rising in him.

"That would be fine," Severus reiterated.

"And you will tell me when you need your red roses...or any other flowers...and I will provide them" Johannes said as they reached the elaborate greenhouses.

"I will."

The section of the greenhouse they were approaching was well-lit, and they could see Eoghan bent over the low-growing memory plants, but even before they saw him, they could hear him. The boy was singing to the plants, singing in a lovely, light soprano. Johannes put his hand on Severus's arm, and the two wizards stopped for a moment, waiting. As soon as Eoghan became aware of them, he straightened and stopped singing.

"I found three good ones, Uncle," he said. "I could find more if you want."

"What do you think, Professor?" Johannes asked, gesturing toward the three plants that Eoghan had picked out and already repotted.

"They seem fine. Good specimens. Many blossoms."

"Would you like all three, then? You can rotate among them and let me know if you need another, particularly if you collaborate with Murdoch."

Severus nodded. "Thank you."

Eoghan put the three plants in a small open crate. "I can carry it up for you," he said. "I hope your students get better."

"So do we all...they have been having accidents all over the castle, including in Potions class." Severus quirked a quick grin. "One boy even lit himself on fire at dinner...and as there were no candles or any other flames near him, it was quite puzzling how he achieved that."

"Did he hurt himself?" Eoghan asked, following the older wizards out of the greenhouse.

"It did not appear so. Someone threw a pitcher of juice on him. All of the afflicted students were going to go to the infirmary after dinner. I am sure the matron will treat him if he requires it."

"That's good." A moment later, he asked, "Uncle Honnie, could I have some hot chocolate when we get to the house?"

"You know that Siofre does not think that hot chocolate is good for you before bed. You will have to ask her."

Eoghan sighed. "She'll say no. Uncle Albus drinks hot chocolate at night."

"He is an adult."

"Is it bad for him, too?"

"Ah . . . I do not know. It is probably not good for anyone too close to their bedtime," Johannes said. "I will make you Horlicks before bed, yes?"

Eoghan nodded and smiled. "Thanks."

They reentered the house through the French doors to the conservatory, then Severus followed the other two through the ground floor. Johannes stuck his head into the sitting room where Severus and Gareth had waited the day before, but Albus and Siofre weren't there.

"Uncle Albus mentioned the parlour," Eoghan said helpfully.

"If they are not there, I will send Brantin to find them, Professor," Johannes said. "I know you need to return to Hogwarts to brew the potion and do not wish to waste time."

Fortunately, Albus and Siofre were in a large parlour on the ground floor on the other side of the house.

"I have the plants, Professor," Severus said to Albus, accepting the small crate from Eoghan.

"Ah, yes, and I am sure that the students will be glad to have the potion brewed sooner rather than later," Albus said, standing. "It has been lovely to have this time to chat, Siofre...and good to see you, too, young man," he said to Eoghan. "I hear that you are becoming quite adept with the Charmed Obsidian Seer's Glass that your Aunt Gertrude gave you."

Eoghan went pink. "A little."

"Haffie said she'd come and give the boy a few lessons when she returns from Vancouver next month," Siofre said, standing and putting one arm around Eoghan's shoulders. "Say good-night now, laddie, and I'll be up in a bit."

Eoghan nodded. "Good night, Uncle Albus; good night, Professor Snape. Thank you for letting me choose the plants for you. I hope you can come for a longer visit soon."

Severus nodded.

"Perhaps over the Easter holiday," Johannes suggested. "We will talk about it. Off upstairs, now, and I'll bring you your Horlicks."

As soon as Eoghan had left the room, Severus nodded at Siofre. "Thank you again, Madam Tyree. I apologise for imposing upon you a second time in as many days."

"Certainly not. Apology unnecessary," Siofre said briskly, leading them out to the main entry hall. "Take care getting home tonight."

"Ah, one moment," Johannes interrupted. "Just a quick word with you, Professor."

Albus nodded at Severus. "I'll wait for you outside on the drive."

Albus and Siofre stepped out the large front door, and Johannes turned to Severus. "I forgot to ask," he said softly, "if you would like a card of some type sent with the tulips. I do not do this often, so I did not think of it before."

"I don't do this often, either," Severus said with a quick, crooked grin. "Just . . ." He swallowed, trying to think of something not very embarrassing that he could tell Johannes to put on a card for him.

"What about . . . 'My declaration to you,' and then your name? With her name on the outside?" Johannes suggested. "Or something similar?"

Severus thought quickly: red tulips, which he had chosen specifically, meant Declaration of Love, according to the card. "I am not sure . . . and could you deliver them . . . Thursday morning, instead?" The students would be on their way to London on Thursday. They could spend time together that day, and he could work up to the "red tulip stage" in the meantime.

"Yes, of course."

"The holiday begins on Thursday," Severus explained. "Just put my initials on the card. Nothing else. S.S.S. Three esses. And her name on the outside. If I think of something different, I'll owl you." The flowers were expressive enough, he thought. A message might detract from the impact, particularly when he told her the actual words . . . whenever that might be.

"Good. I will also send you the formulas and the potions ingredients with a house-elf. Next week...Tuesday?"

"Monday would be fine, if you wish to send them sooner." Poppy would be on holiday; he would have to keep busy whilst she was away. "I will let you know when the potions are ready. Thank you again for the hybrids. Good night, Professor."

"Good night. Now I'm off to heat some milk and make some Horlicks. Not potions, but effective at calming small boys, I have found!"

Severus headed out of the house toward where Albus and Siofre waited. Albus waved good-bye. The last thing that Severus saw before he Disapparated was Johannes standing in the doorway, hand raised in farewell.