Chapter 540: Expired Medicine
Chapter 540: Expired Medicine (Request for Subscriptions, Favorites, and Votes)
On Saturday morning, the corridor was empty, with all the students either eating in the Great Hall or sleeping in their dormitories. Thus, when Liam and Hermione carried two individuals under the influence of Amortentia through the corridor, no one paid them any attention.
Hermione, carrying the more slender Harry on her shoulder, led the way, while Liam shouldered the taller Ron and held the half-box of Chocolate under his other arm. Before leaving, Liam and Hermione had used magic to thoroughly bind Harry and Ron, even sealing their mouths to prevent any embarrassing incidents on the way. Fortunately, after multiple strength enhancements, Liam and Hermione were far more physically capable than their peers, allowing them to move swiftly even with two men on their shoulders.
Initially, Liam had planned to take them to Professor Slughorn, but with Harry and Ron immobilized, carrying them became more like dragging them, which was far from convenient. In a fit of frustration, Hermione hoisted Harry onto her shoulder, and Liam, to keep up with her, had to do the same with Ron.
Their choice to go to Professor Slughorn wasn't to avoid changing the plot but because he was their only option at the moment.
At this time in Hogwarts, the only people capable of handling this situation were Liam, Slughorn, Madam Pomfrey, and Snape. Snape was the first to be ruled out; this wasn't a matter of life and death, and there was no need to face his sour expression. Liam himself didn't have the necessary antidote or materials, and it wouldn't be worth the effort to use alchemy for this. Going to Madam Pomfrey would be embarrassing, not to mention the Hospital Wing was always bustling, and any news spreading would be bad for Harry and Ron. Only Slughorn could guarantee their confidentiality.
Liam and Hermione encountered no one on their way and smoothly reached the door to Slughorn's office. After placing Harry and Ron against the wall, Liam knocked on the door. He had been worried that the professor might have gone downstairs for breakfast, but the door opened after just one knock.
Professor Slughorn, wearing a green velvet robe and a matching sleep cap, looked groggy, clearly having been sleeping in. This fit his character perfectly.
"Liam, and Hermione", he mumbled. "A bit early, isn't it? I usually sleep in on Saturdays. I don't understand what could be so urgent to wake me up this early..."
"Professor, I'm really sorry to disturb you", Liam said softly. "But my friends Ron and Harry accidentally ingested Amortentia. Could you please prepare an antidote for them? Hermione and I thought about taking them to Madam Pomfrey, but Amortentia shouldn't be in our possession, so it would be awkward to explain."
"Harry!" Slughorn perked up at the mention of Harry's name. He leaned out to look at the two figures leaning against the wall and gestured for them to come in. "Harry, and, um—Ron, come in quickly."
"Sorry, Professor", Hermione said. "They were fighting due to the effects of Amortentia, so we had to bind them with magic to avoid any embarrassing incidents on the way."
"Oh, then bring them in quickly. Honestly, it's quite a feat for a girl like you to carry someone all the way here", Slughorn said, stepping aside to let Hermione and the others in. Hermione's face flushed slightly as she carried Harry into the office.
"I thought you already had the antidote, Liam. Both of you are quite skilled in Potions", Slughorn said, watching as Liam and Hermione placed Harry and Ron on the sofa.
"I wish we did, but we don't have the necessary raw materials. By the time we gather them and brew the elixirs, the situation might have worsened. We found them in a bad state already", Liam explained. "Using alchemy to save someone is one thing, but using it on someone whose body I'm not familiar with could cause severe harm. I don't want them to end up in the Hospital Wing for days."
"Ah, I see!" Slughorn nodded, then examined Harry and the others with a professional interest. "You know, Amortentia becomes more potent the longer it sits. Do you know where they got the potion from?"
"It was probably mixed into the Chocolate", Liam said, picking up the half-empty box of Chocolate. "Judging by the packaging, it's one of Harry's Christmas gifts."
"It is indeed past its expiration date", Slughorn said after sniffing a piece of Chocolate. He then opened his potion-making kit and carefully added various ingredients to a small Crystal Vial. Harry and Ron, meanwhile, were half-lying on the sofa, struggling with strange, goofy smiles on their faces. Fortunately, the Magic Liam and the others had used was effective, and Harry and Ron couldn't break free.
"Yes, the Elixirs they drank seem to be an enhanced version. Amortentia is one of the few potions that become more potent over time", Professor Slughorn explained, looking at Harry and Ron's condition. He was happy to share his potion-making expertise with his talented students. "So when preparing the antidote, you need to increase the amount of sage essential oil to counteract the stronger Amortentia effects—"
"Here it is." Three minutes later, Slughorn produced a Crystal Vial filled with a clear liquid and poured it into two Crystal goblets.
"How do we get them to drink it now?" Slughorn scratched his head, looking at the two boys bound tightly like cocoons. "You could try removing the spells from their bodies first."
"It's not that complicated, Professor", Liam said, waving his wand. Harry and Ron obediently opened their mouths, and Slughorn approached to pour the Elixirs into their mouths.
As soon as they drank the Elixirs, Harry and Ron's faces still bore that dazed smile, but it slowly faded, replaced by extreme fear.
"Are they back to normal?" Hermione waved her wand to release them from the bindings and asked angrily. The two had caused her and Liam to miss breakfast. Slughorn chuckled in the background.
"What happened to us just now?" Harry asked, slumping onto the sofa after being released. "I feel like something was wrong with my brain."
"Amortentia", Liam answered, joining Hermione.
"An enhanced version", Professor Slughorn added, taking their empty goblets. "Harry, as a celebrity, you should learn to protect yourself better."
"It feels awful", Harry said, sitting in shock as he tried to recall what had happened. Ron, sitting beside him, was also lost in thought.
"At least no one saw you two in that embarrassing state", Liam said, trying to comfort them. "Hermione and I made sure to move you here without anyone noticing."
"No one in the Common Room noticed you either, or we wouldn't have found you without any onlookers", Hermione added. Her analysis was spot-on; given the Gryffindors' nature, it would be impossible for no one to notice Harry and Ron wrestling on the floor.
"Thank you both, and thank you, Professor", Ron said sincerely.
"You're welcome, my boy, you're welcome", Slughorn replied. Harry and Ron were sitting side by side on the sofa, with Ron muttering, "Thank goodness Lavender didn't see—"
"You need something to perk you up. I have Butterbeer, wine, and oak-aged mead", Slughorn said, walking to a table filled with drinks. "Ah, Honey Mead is perfect for filling the void left by false emotions. Let's have a toast to Mr. Weasley's birthday."
Professor Slughorn picked up a bottle of beautifully packaged oak-aged mead, examined the brown bottle, and frowned slightly in thought. But his expression quickly relaxed.
"Here we go", Slughorn said, filling a number of Crystal goblets with Honey Mead and distributing them to everyone present. "Happy birthday, Ralph—"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
