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Areas of Expertise	By : SickPuppy Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 42274 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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-- Thanks as always to the lovely reviewers!

-- Is it too obvious what's going on? SP

Chapter Four - Minted Pepper Up Potion

"You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans" Ronald Reagan

***

Albus Dumbledore sat in his office, calmly sipping a cup of thick black tea. Around him the portraits of previous Headteachers snoozed, all except one. Phinneas Nigellus was frowning heavily at Dumbledore, a hand perched impatiently on a hip.

"Well, Albus?"

"Very well, thank you Phinneas. I think everything is proceeding admirably."

"And what of Snape? He will not be best pleased when he learns what has happened." The painting's voice had risen slightly and his neighbours were stirring.

"Do keep your voice down, Phinneas. Severus will cope, as he always does."

"You'll push him too far one of these days, Albus, you mark my words." The Slytherin warned, pointing a finger at the other man. "He will not appreciate the use you've made of him."

"Well, tough!" Albus snapped suddenly. "We're in the middle of a war, Phinneas, and whatever it takes, I intend to win." His voice had risen so much that all the portraits now showed alert men and women, all listening intently to the argument.

"No matter the cost?" Phinneas asked, voice quite calm and controlled.

"No matter the cost." Albus retorted firmly.

"And if, to defeat the Dark Lord, we help to create another to take his place?"

***

Severus was concerned. He had heard, obviously, about what had happened to Potter, but had seen no need to visit the youth. To do so would have been out of character, and might have started the annoyingly observant and clever Granger on the track of something. His day had felt oddly empty. As he strode along corridors, he missed the green flash of a pair of eyes, or the unmistakable black/red/brown hair that denoted the trio of friends. He had never realised just how much he noticed Potter. The boy always seemed to be everywhere, and now Severus missed feeling that.

Albus, when Severus had gone to speak to him about the boy, had been as annoyingly cryptic as usual. He had offered Snape the usual grape juice that always sat on his desk as well as sweets from an ornate bowl, ("I was given them by a student, but I'm not fond of them. Do have one Severus,") which of course the other man had refused, and had steadfastly ignored Snape's requests for information about the lad. Instead he had been urged to speak with Poppy, "as she knows the ins and outs of the case far better than I, a humble headteacher, could."

And so the Potions Master had grit his teeth and visited the Medi-Witch. He had first disappeared into his work room. When he emerged, he was carrying a number of vials in a wooden open topped box. Satisfied that he had a pretext to visit the other, he made his way to the Hospital Wing.

He passed the bed containing Harry with out a glance. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the flash of green, and it seemed to him that suddenly the boy's skin was suffused with more red than normal.

"Poppy?" He asked, looking about the witch's office. He admired her neatness; everything was in the most logical place, except, of course, for the woman herself. The most logical place for her would have been behind the desk, instead she emerged from a closet to the side of the office, a dusty bottle in her grip.

"Found it!" she cried. "Oh, Severus," she added as she spotted the man, "Did I keep you waiting?"

"Not more than half a minute," Severus responded before placing the wooden box on the desk. "I have been checking my stock of potions, and these are coming close to the end of their useful life. I thought perhaps they would be more likely to be used if they were here."

Pomfrey picked up the bottles and examined them, swirling the contents gently to help her identify each liquid.

"Hmm, this looks like Pepper Up potion, but there seems to be something unusual in it," she looked enquiringly at Snape who nodded.

"Well spotted Poppy, I've added just a sprig of mint, it helps with the smoking effect and makes it more efficacious. Of course it can have an adverse reaction with young women during certain periods of their Menstrual Cycle, which is why I've never recommended the alteration to you."

"How interesting." She picked up the other bottles. "Ah! Vectum, Perussi Preventative, Compleo Compound, and, what's this? Oh, yes, of course, Unguentum. Yes, I can certainly make use of these. Thank you Severus."

The man inclined his head in response before he nerved himself to ask. "So what's wrong with the Potter brat now?"

Poppy frowned slightly. "I really am most perplexed, Severus. I've run all manner of tests and nothing seems wrong. His magic is a little 'off', but I can't quite isolate where. It almost seems as if he has two people's magic within him."

Severus drew his eyebrows together. What Dumbledore had planned was certainly beginning to take effect quickly.

"Perhaps if I used your altered Pepper Up Potion it might do some good."

Snape shrugged, not particularly caring how the witch used the potions. He watched as she prepared a tray with a bowl, a damp face cloth, and the vial.

Pomfrey walked steadily to the bed. She was so used to carrying trays that the balance and co-ordination involved (especially when dodging sick as she'd sometimes had to do) no longer required conscious thought. She stopped by Harry's bed and helped him to sit up.

The youngster was frighteningly weak. Snape noticed the slight shake in the hands as Potter allowed himself to be moved.

"Try this, Mr Potter," the witch urged, uncorking the bottle and passing it to him. "Professor Snape made it, and I think it might help."

Harry twitched at the name but took the proffered bottle. He took a drink and closed his eyes. His face began to gain better colour.

"Oh good!" Pomfrey exclaimed before putting the now empty bottle on the tray and turning away with it in her hands.

"POPPY!" Severus roared as he saw Harry slowly turn green. He ran towards the boy.

"Don' feel so good," Harry moaned, clutching his stomach.

The witch had spun on her heel at the wizard's cry and was by the boy's side, feeling his forehead. "I - I don't understand!" she declared, trying to make Harry slightly more comfortable.

Severus crouched by the bed, a magically conjured pail on the floor. He tugged out his wand and pointed it at the bin. He was focusing on ensuring that should Harry be sick, it would be contained. For the briefest of moments their eyes met, then Harry was bent over, head in the bucket.

The two adults could only wait out Harry's vomiting fit. Pomfrey rubbed soothing circles on his back, whilst Severus, after ensuring that the vomit wasn't filling the container too rapidly, pushed Harry's sweaty hair from his face.

After far too many retching noises and other unpleasant sounds, Harry finally quieted.

Pomfrey's worried face met Severus'. "I don't understand," she admitted. "I gave him Pepper Up Potion earlier today and he was fine."

"Snaaaaaape," Harry groaned, "tryin' poison me."

The professor stood abruptly, ignoring the clunks from protesting joints, and paced the room. After long quiet minutes he suddenly stopped and paled. "Gero Potion?" he whispered, horror struck.

The witch heard him and shook her head, although he couldn't see that. "No. I asked him. He said he hadn't taken it."

"But it makes no sense otherwise." He protested. "He has a dual magic signature, he has an adverse reaction to Minted Pepper Up Potion, he was sick this morning, and he had sex last night."

"How did you know?!" she asked, incredulous.

"Dumbledore." Snape answered. Although only one word, it did explain a lot. The Potions teacher frowned. Dumbledore had insisted they sleep together. Surely he hadn't planned on getting Harry pregnant? No, that was a ridiculous notion - after all a pregnant teenager could hardly defeat the Dark Lord. No, the boy must have taken the potion in all innocence.

Snape tried to ignore the voice in his head that asked him just where Potter would have got that particular potion from?
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