*****
Half an hour before the meeting in the Hospital Wing. Director's office.
The room, filled with mystery and antiquity, was surprisingly cozy. The table of the owner of this room was empty, which was an unaffordable luxury for these walls. The Headmaster of Hogwarts, as well as the Chairman of the Wizengamot, had a lot of work, sometimes so much that the poor old man had to stay awake for weeks. But what's a week without sleep for a Grandmaster, right?
A little further away was an empty phoenix roost. This time he again disappeared somewhere, however, if necessary, he will appear at the first call of his friend, partner, master, brother.
At the moment, there was only one person in the office itself, the owner of this room himself, Albus Dumbledore. At the moment, he did not resemble a good-natured and slightly crazy old man, no, now in front of us was a tired man, but at the same time happy with the work done.
He sat in front of the fireplace, eating his favorite lemon drops and washing them down with hot chocolate. He was dressed in an ordinary terry robe (and where did the provocative robe go), warm, milky in color.
Once again, taking a small sip of the hot liquid, Albus again looked into the flames of the fireplace, plunging deeper and deeper into his thoughts. And somewhere there, in the depths of his eyes, one can discern pictures of the past, or a possible future?
Suddenly, for someone who had recently been relaxed, turning his head towards the door, the director looked expectantly at what seemed like nothing. A moment later, a white cat made of whitish fog burst through the door, straight into the office.
Running up to the old man's feet, the cat opened its mouth and spoke in a feminine, easily recognizable voice (an amazing spell: Patronus. So multifaceted that it is still not known what else it is capable of):
"Albus," the excited voice of the deputy director broke the silence. — I received a message from Augusta Longbot. She's heading here," the director narrowed his eyes slightly and focused all his attention on the incoming information. "The letter also indicates the reason for such a sudden visit to school: her grandson ended up in the Hospital Wing. She kept the reason for his appearance there to herself. Albus," here Minerva's voice became a tone lower, as if she was unsure of something. "I found out from Poppy that Neville really ended up in the Hospital Wing. And you won't like the reason for his appearance there," here the cat fell silent, and then, taking on a more serious look (where else?), continued. "Mrs. Logobot and I will be waiting for you in my office."
Having finished the story, the cat glared at the old man for some time, and then in an instant scattered into many pieces of white light, which also quickly melted into space.
There was silence in the office. All devices (artifacts), as if by magic, fell silent in an instant. Nothing could distract the owner of the premises from his thoughts.
A minute later, the old man, who had been sitting until this time, stood up from his usual place in one smooth movement and headed towards the exit.
With every step, the appearance of a "kind grandfather". First, a lilac robe appeared on him, embroidered with small particles of precious stones. If you look closely, you will notice that the stones are arranged in the form of various runes. But just a second later, a wave passed through the mantle, changing the appearance of the stones to rhinestones, and their arrangement changed to a more chaotic one.
Slowly, right from the desktop, the half glasses rose, smoothly flying up to the director's open palm.
Having put on his glasses and once again examined the office (paying special attention to the unfinished chocolate, as well as half-eaten lemon slices), the director left the office.
The room was filled with silence, which, however, did not last long. In a flash of flame, a phoenix (looking a little younger than in September) appeared in the office. Having examined the room with his burning eyes, he hid his head under his wing, falling asleep just like that, sitting on his perch.
And woe to anyone who thinks that it is possible to invade the office without the permission of its owner. Hell will seem like heaven to them.
*****
Entering the Hospital Wing, Augusta Longobot walked towards her grandson without stopping for a second. Somewhere next to her all these "professors" were talking, but she didn't care. Right at that moment, she was interested in the condition of her grandson.
Approaching Nev's bed, his grandmother immediately began using various scanning charms, trying to find out about the condition of her child.
Having finally finished working on the spells, the woman looked around in confusion, as if trying to discover something.
"Well, you see," Albus approached her, smiling into his beard. "I told you he's fine." It is impossible for the walls of our school to use such dark ones...
"I wouldn't be so categorical, Albus," the teacher suddenly interrupted him for everyone, who had previously stood on the sidelines and had no contact with the new arrivals. "Here, look," with a wave of her hand, she sent in his direction a small sheet of parchment that I had previously given her.
Deftly grabbing it, the director looked at Poppy with a puzzled look, but then nevertheless began to read. Standing in the distance, I focused all my attention on Dumbledore, trying to feel at least something, however, alas. Nothing worked out for me.
Having finally finished reading, Albus handed my conclusion to Minerva, who also began reading, and looked at me carefully.
- So what, Albus? Will you still insist that no one will ever use such dark magic within the walls of Hogwarts? - Poppy said sarcastically. And even though she scoffs at the homemaker, now I clearly see the difference in her attitude. Interesting.
Hearing the words she said, he looked at me even more intently. I tried my best not to meet his gaze, even if this was of little use, and also "released" to the surface those memories in which only the result of the ritual was visible.
"Pomfrey, are you sure?" I understand that this young man is your student, but he could very well have made a mistake.
"Albus, don't forget," she began, wincing slightly. "I am the Grand Matser of Healing." "I have every reason to believe that my student has been an apprentice at the healing school for six months now," the teacher finished with a little pride in her voice.
- Student? Was he the one who discovered the effects of potions? — Augusta took the floor as soon as she read the conclusion. At her words, Poppy only nodded briefly. - I take it this is you? — my friend's grandmother turned her attention to me.
Coming out from behind the teacher, thereby attracting all eyes to me, I nodded, saying:
- That's right, it was me. Nice to see you again, Lady Longbottom.
"Ah, young Calder," this lady drawled, as if she had just recognized me. - Good to see you.
"I think now is not the best time for such conversations," one ill-mannered cat unceremoniously intervened in our conversation. - Mr. Wilson, please explain to all of us gathered what happened? And I ask you not to miss a single detail.
Squinting slightly at the teacher and receiving her silent nod, I took a deep breath, as if calming down (for appearances). Well, now the main thing is not to disrupt, but also not to blurt out too much.
"It all started about a week ago," I began, looking at everyone attentively. — As you know, Neville and I are close friends, and we also spend quite a lot of time together. It just so happened that I was a little busy those days, so I can't say who exactly was involved in this incident - although I have suspicions, they are not one hundred percent correct. So I didn't lie. — Gradually, in conversations with him, Neville became more and more absent-minded and also tense.
"Of course you immediately decided to perform a ritual on him, boy," Professor Snape said venomously.
"Then I didn't pay enough attention to his behavior," I continued, not paying attention to the statement. "However, day by day his behavior changed more and more. Finally, yesterday, during our next training session, Neville started a conversation on one topic, as if he had completely forgotten that we had already talked about it. That's when the decision to test him for potions popped into my head.
"And of course he didn't notice the potions, because he doesn't wear rings like an ordinary Muggle-born, right?" - Severus intervened again. - Typical Gryffindor.
"Please note that Neville is a badger, not a lion," Sprout, who had been silent until then, intervened.
"Yes, yes," "Dungeon Horror" waved his hand.
"That's the point, there was no ring on Neville's hand," approaching my lying friend, I carefully lifted his hands, showing the absence of a ring. "It was after this that I finally decided to check it out." With his permission, ask yourself when he wakes up," I quickly added, until Snape, who had already opened his mouth, intervened again. In response to my words, only a slight muttering was heard from him: "We'll ask." "Having put Neville to sleep, I scanned his body using a ritual, the results of which, certified by my signature (magic, and it is individual for each magician), you have read. To be honest, the result left me slightly horrified (well, not really...). Someone purposefully rewrote my friend's identity, but I didn't know about it.
Clenching my fists forcefully (again for show), I fell silent for a couple of seconds, as if struggling with my emotions.
"Continue, Mr. Wilson," the director said demandingly, but at the same time softly. Talent.
— Having made the first attempts to extract all this nasty stuff, I achieved absolutely nothing. Once mixed, this mixture caused harm to the body itself every time you tried to extract it. Realizing that everything was taking a bad turn, I carried Neville here. Then the Teacher took care of him. "You already know the rest," I finished my story. Well, let's see what happens next.
The room fell into oppressive silence. And they can be understood; it's not every day that you learn that such things are happening within the walls of a school (and for some, at home). But if I had waited a week or two and that was it, Neville would have been beyond saving.
Each of those present here, with the exception of me and the teacher, was plunged into heavy thoughts. Finally, three minutes later, Augusta Longobot was the first to come to her senses.
— Is everything okay with my grandson? Will there be any problems after exposure to these potions? - Outwardly impartial, but inside hoping for the best, she asked the elf (hidden elf).
"Yes, my student," the teacher's palm lay on my shoulder. — I identified the sources of the "problem" in a timely and high-quality manner. Thanks to him, I was able to cure your grandson quite quickly. All he faces is a day of recovery, and then he will be healthy again.
"Thank you," Augusta said after a slight pause. "The Longbottom clan will not forget this."
"No need," I waved my hand. "I'm just a healer doing his job," I smiled in the end. However, it was clear to both me and her that I remembered her words and also accepted them. If I have any problems, I have someone to turn to.
One piece of the puzzle fell into place, a few more remained.
"Well done, my boy," the director suddenly said. What? No, no, no, I don't need that. Let him run after Potter, he's his "boy" after all. "You have accomplished a truly outstanding feat." Plus one hundred Ravenclaw points. "You did a good job," he smiled kindly. Great, he himself did what I was striving for, and the result...
— Did you evaluate my grandson's own "I" with some points? — a very angry woman said threateningly and at the same time rather coldly. Great, that's what you need. "Albus, you're completely...
"August, not in front of the children," the director said mischievously. - We'll talk in my office.
The old man turned around and headed towards the exit from the Hospital Wing. His support group and subordinates followed him. After standing behind him for a little while, Augusta also left, having said goodbye to us.
With a slight bang, the white door closed, cutting us off from the rest of the castle. Once again today I found myself in silence. How good it is that I first strengthened the sleep of the patients who are here. At times the conversation turned to rather elevated tones.
Clap, clap, clap. The sounds of clapping brought me out of my thoughts. Turning around, I looked puzzled at the teacher, who was smiling at me sarcastically.
"Please accept my congratulations, young manipulator," she began, walking around me in a circle. "Who would have thought that under the mask of indifference there could be such a cunning and calculating person."
-What are you talking about, teacher? — I asked her. Ha, who would doubt that she was the one to guess.
-Are you going to play blind? "Okay, that's right," she said, stopping in place and folding her hands under her chest. - Let's. I'll say a few words, and then you'll understand what I mean, okay? — the teacher suggested, smiling softly at the corner of her lips.
"Let's try," I agreed. I wonder which of these...
— Investments in the future, protection with a threat, unnecessary attention, distraction. Although the latter is very controversial.
Clear. She understood everything, Mordred. Well, almost everything. Although, what else can you expect from such an old Sidhe?
- I have to go. "I have to get up early tomorrow," I finally broke the resulting silence. - Goodbye, teacher.
-Are you leaving me already? - she pouted pointedly. - How cruel you are, you can't stay with your favorite teacher for a couple of extra minutes.
So, let's not pay attention. Let's move on, the door is already close.
"Kol," a serious voice caught up with me right at the door. - Catch.
Having picked up an object flying towards me with telekinesis, I looked, puzzled, at that very ball consisting of potions.
- Take some outside ones with you.
- For what?
"You never want to kill a person," she grinned. - In general, she will be able to help you even when faced with dangerous creatures. It won't kill you, but it will knock you out for an hour for sure. Neither a dragon can resist her, nor a manticore, nor," here she grinned again. - Basilisk.
The door closed behind me with a bang. I was left alone in the cold corridor of the castle, clutching in my hand a "tablet" that suddenly became incredibly heavy.
Eh, how complicated everything is.
*****