A Wizard's Debt

Four: Ginny.



Hermione came back into the Great Hall with Neville, both of them had bandages wrapped around their hands. Neville looked so happy – especially when he told his Gran he couldn’t sit with her because he was busy helping Hermione. Hermione nodded enthusiastically, the way she always does when she’s helping someone out of a tight spot.



And you don’t get tighter spots than Neville’s Gran’s maternal instincts.



Mum’s such a mess, Dad asked Madam Pomfrey to give her a sedative. Its odd to see Mum so zonked out – Hogwarts could fall down and she wouldn’t notice. I can’t just sit and watch everyone fuss over Mum, I love her; but it hurts to see her in so much pain. I need to do something constructive…



“…Hermione? Can I help too?” I asked, running to catch them up.



“Sure – I’ll find you a job.” Hermione said, dashing down to the dungeons.



“I don’t want to be a problem.” I said, Hermione didn’t sound happy about me helping.



“No, you could never be a problem, Ginny, but there isn’t much to do now – I only have one… ingredient… to get, and the potion is relatively simple; but company is welcome! You can do a better job of bandaging Neville up – the Nest Snapper got very snappy!” she said, not stopping her run to the dungeons.



“Is this for the antidote?” I asked, Ron had done nothing but moan about Hermione saving Snape’s life.



“Yeah, its nutritious for the body, rather than an anti-toxin.” Neville said, sounding very Hermione-esque as he spoke about the plant extract. “Its absorbed by the body, and gives it more energy to fight back. You can’t always eat if you’ve been poisoned.”



“What’s the anti-toxin then?” I asked, looking at the little cup of sticky orange liquid Neville was holding.



“Pure water and some blood.” Hermione said, vaguely. Hermione is never vague – there’s more to this!



“Some blood?” I asked.



“Well, the potion’s instructions ask for unicorn blood – but there is a substitute.” Hermione trailed off, looking pale.



“Are you going to have to open a vein?” I asked, knowing Hermione was perfectly fine with the sight of blood, as long as it wasn’t hers.



“Something like that.” She grimaced.



Hermione broke the wards on Snape’s personal lab, though it didn’t take her long to do it – maybe the lab knows she’s there for a good reason? Surely Snape’s room protection would be better than that?



“That was easy.” Neville said, lighting the lamps around the surprisingly large, light room. Who’d have thought Snape would want such a bright, airy, calm, peaceful room?



Perhaps he is human, and not a vampire bat.



“Why can’t we have potions in here? Its nice in here!” Neville said, walking around the room and setting the little bowl of nectar on a workbench.



“What do you need – we can set up for you.” I said, looking around the room.



“Erm, here.” Hermione said, handing me the parchment she’d written the instructions on.



“Right, Neville, we need a gold cauldron – and I’ll sterilise the area for this.”



Hermione picked up a quill from the pot on the workbench, felt its tip before sharpening it with the pen knife next to it. She then sterilised it twice before walking into the privacy of the store room and closing the door behind her.



“What does she want a quill for?” Neville asked, bringing the small gold cauldron over to the desk.



“Hermione doesn’t like blood – she tends to get a bit faint if she cuts herself…”



“She looked a bit pale when the Nest Snapper bit her and made her bleed.” Neville cut in.



“Yeah. I guess she’s trying to make it like a writing accident by stabbing herself with a quill.” I said, cleaning the area, air and ourselves before waiting for my friend to return. Though, I don’t know why she couldn’t cut herself in front of us – if she’s going to faint, then at least we could catch her…