Infinity and Magic

*Anos's POV*

"What did you do to him? He looks like he'll carve your lungs out!" Draco whispered, motioning pointedly at Alucard as we took our places in Potions Class.

I fought the urge to groan.

Things had been tense lately, in the last few days Alucard while remaining cordial had moments where he would glare at me, it was unnoticeable mostly but with the increase in frequency everyone was bound to notice sooner rather than later.

"Nothing. Don't speak of it now." I said and from the small smile that Drago gave I was sure that this wasn't over and I or anyone that might know would be wheedled in the future until someone would speak.

'Dammit.' I cursed, knowing Draco if it was anyone other than Lan who knew then he would have found out, so at least he wouldn't find out.

I had no plans to take anyone to the Room of Requirements, well I did have them but they died upon seeing Alucard's reaction.

Lan hadn't said much except.

"The words are not mine to tell." And then sent me on my way away from his room.

'Thank the Gods half my friends can't talk like they're children even if someone holds their Magic hostage.' I thought with mirth returning my mind to the lesson.

We had been tasked to make a simple Draught, to cure toothaches.

"Since only a few of you seem to be….competent at the art of Potion brewing and most of you wish to spend as few moments in this class as can be physically possible I will consider any results that has a quarter of the potency of what is generally sold at the market as passable." Father instructed in a hoarse voice and some of the students seemed to lighten while I couldn't help the small grin as I caught his eye for a brief moment.

Looking around I saw that Hermione, Alucard and Scamander had noticed the wordplay, the last one pushing his long hair away from his face with frustration.

"Well, begin." Father said lazily and everyone burst into action.

"Draco, get some Clove into that mortar while I chop the Bitterleaf." I said quietly and got to work.

Pushing my sleeves upwards I began turning the red leaves into a fine pile.

Knives as sharp as mine were generally not allowed for First Years, everyone else's knife had jinxes on them so that they couldn't cut through human flesh but that particular Jinx also meant that the knives weren't as sharp as they could be.

For most students that was a fair enough deal considering how clumsy a child could be but for some like me that meant proving that we can handle a normal knife to a teacher through pre assigned tests and practicals.

Currently me, Scamander, Alucard, Lan and some girl from Ravenclaw were the only ones with permission.

'Hah, Hermione was more than a bit miffed about that one.'

That had been an interesting discussion which has eventually led to her conning her way into getting some lessons from me and Lan.

That was when we discovered that Hermione had the dexterity of a one armed 4 year old.

'Perhaps, I should ask her about the note? Yes, she can help me with that.' I thought dejected as I poured the pile of Bitterleaf into the mortar and began grinding it with the cloves.

'Kulen syshgi' were the word written on that small note I had found from the Mirror of Erised, the paper was more than a bit spotted by my blood and the words somehow had made me nauseous.

The Haze Squirrel had gotten an endless supply of nuts for that and had now made a habit of sleeping on top of my wardrobe.

The thought brought a smile to my face as Draco finished stirring the pot and I added the liquids, while the finer work was being done by me I had mostly allowed him to take over.

I knew the potion well, he did not and I was more than happy to allow him practice.

"Wait, isn't that too little Bitterleaf for this?" Draco asked, staring at the pot.

"Yes, think back on what Professor said." I said in a whisper and his eyebrows scrunched in thought before he shook his head.

"I got nothing." 

"Think of the exact words, Draco." I said taking over and stirring the liquid while he thought hard for a moment before his face lit up.

I held a finger to my lips.

"Don't speak it. Here continue stirring for…."

"15 minutes." He finished the words before chirpily taking over while I continued to check in once in a while.

Yes I needed to translate those words, and the words on the Mirror itself too while I was at it.

My many trips to the Library had yielded next to no results, and I had hoped to ask Alucard for help before realizing how utterly wroth he was with me.

Asking Professor Zephyr didn't seem like an option, while I didn't know what the words meant, they would certainly tip him off to my….. exploration of the Castle.

I still felt a bit of guilt regarding his injuries, guilt that didn't seem to go away easily and for that I had perhaps been a bit too curt with him in the last few days.

Hermione would help, if not then I would continue alone.

"There, done." Draco said and I stirred the potion myself and after making sure there were no lumps and the smell was not too thick, nodded.

Draco put his hand up and I could see everyone in class except Alucard and Scamander stare at us as Dad walked up to our table, those two were still concentrating on their own potions and giving us no heed.

I could see Draco stiffen at my side as the potion was checked for lumps first and then for aroma.

Then a bit of it was poured into a bowl and Dad gently tapped the bowl with his wand, the liquid bubbled a bit but didn't spill out.

"Who grinded the Cloves?" Father asked in his serious Professor voice.

"I did, professor." I replied.

"And I suppose the Bitterleaf was prepared by you as well?" 

I nodded in reply and tapped Draco's leg beneath the table, he was so stiff that it seemed he had forgotten to breathe.

"I have no qualms about it, the ingredients were prepared well. Can I see the Mortar and Pestle?" 

I gently picked them up and handed them to Professor.

"Yes, if I would have your eyes for a moment." Professor Snape continued and I safely walked over to his side of the table before peering into the Mortar.

"As you can see the Bitterleaf is leaving too much juice at the bottom mixed with the Cloves. This would not be a problem for this particular Potion but in the future I would recommend using a bit less force while grinding ingredients, as some like Honeyseeds can have their skins stick to the juice and unknowingly added to the Potion." Professor Snape explained and I did my best to not wince.

'I should have focused more on the Potion.' I chided myself.

"Aside from that you've done your work exceptionally well." Dad added at the end and I nodded, taking back the Mortar and Pestle.

"As for you Mr. Malfoy, I could see your arms stiffening while stirring the mixture, I would recommend against that. Ask your partner to take up stirring if you feel yourself not being Up to the task." Professor Snape turned towards Draco who nodded at the words and if it wasn't winter still then he would surely have been sweating.

"Otherwise you've done well at making sure there were no lumps in the Potion. And the consistency matches the potency so adequate work on that." Father ended before walking away to his table and writing something in his book.

"Hey, good work." I said, patting Draco on the book who smiled thinly.

'I will have to talk that fear out of him.' I thought gloomily before starting to clean the equipment.

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