Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 41: Official Disciple
A few days passed after the dinner at Slughorn's office.
The date for Remus's transformation was getting closer, but this time he was better prepared to create his potion.
He was fully intent on creating something better than the regular Wolfsbane Potion, and he knew he had the skills to do it. However, that would take quite a bit of time, so for now, he was going to brew the regular version.
It would still be better than the rushed one he gave Remus the last time, and James was sure that his friend would be delighted with the effect.
With that in mind, James made his way to his laboratory on the sixth floor.
"Hmm?..." He spotted something strange when he got closer to the corner with the painting that hid the key to enter the room.
There was a small distortion in the light.
"I thought you weren't going to come back… Bellatrix."
As he said this, he noted the distortion becoming more accentuated, and he also heard a pair of shoes tapping on the stone floor.
"How did you know I was there?" Bella asked before canceling her Invisibility Charm. "I've been practicing that charm for over a week!"
"You need more practice, then," James said in a casual tone as he opened the entrance to his lab.
The light distortion only told him that someone was hiding with a Disillusionment Charm. Calling Bella out had been nothing more than a guess, based on the fact that she was the only one who should know about this place, other than the professors. But they would have no reason to hide from him.
He stopped after going through the door and glanced back at the girl. She had remained standing there, just looking inside the lab.
"Are you coming in or not?"
"I…" She looked troubled about something.
"You're going to be spotted if you remain standing there. I advise you to enter if that's what's worrying you."
This made her react. Bella looked around to make sure no one was close by and then hurried inside the room.
Once she was inside, James closed the door and walked to his workstation to begin preparing what he needed.
"I shouldn't be here…" Bella said.
"Kyu!" After giving a cry of joy, the little creature jumped from one of the upper shelves and flew into Bella's arms.
"You can fly?" Bella said with shock as she grabbed onto it.
"The wings weren't there for decoration…" James gave them a sidelong glance. "Primum just needed a bit of time to finish its development since it had hatched before it was completely ready."
"There, there…" Bella caressed the creature with a warm smile on her face. "Did you miss me? I'm sorry I didn't come sooner…"
'Is that why she was sneaking around here?...' James realized that she had come here for the chimera and not to gain more of his knowledge.
He stared at them for a long moment, as if he was observing a bizarre event. 'She's gotten attached to it so quickly. I would never have considered that as a possibility before.'
James then recalled the fact that Bella had also joined the Care of Magical Creatures class. So there was a possibility that this dangerous girl had a soft spot for them.
"I have to take care of something important and do not wish to be disturbed. So you two make sure not to bother me until I'm done." After saying that, James collected the ingredients he needed and began to work.
He first dispatched all the deliveries via owl and then began to brew the Wolfsbane Potion while Bella played with Primum.
Once she got bored, Bella went to observe James brewing.
'He's always so focused when he's making potions… like the rest of the world doesn't exist.' She wished to have an ability like that.
The process lasted over an hour, and by the end, James had created the seven necessary vials of Wolfsbane. He stored them carefully in a wooden box. Remus would need to start taking them tomorrow, so he would hand them over later in their dormitory.
James turned to glance at Bella. She had been observing what he was doing for a while but never asked anything or tried to interrupt him, just as he had requested.
"Very well… we can restart your classes now." He walked to the other side, where her station had remained untouched. "Today, you will be making a-"
"Wait!" Bellatrix stared at him with wide eyes.
"You want to continue teaching me?"
"Kyu?" Primum also looked confused.
"Because!... It's a bad idea. You don't know how dangerous Rodolphus and his family are. He was already angry when his brother found us walking together. If he discovers that you're giving me private lessons… he'll kill you."
"I see… so anyway, today you're going to be making a-"
"This is serious!" Bella snapped.
"I am being serious, and I do not appreciate being interrupted so much. Now sit down." James pointed to the chair next to the potion station.
"..." Bella sat down. "But… you…"
"I would never abandon one of my disciples for something silly like my personal safety. Once I have accepted a student, then I-"
"Hold on." She interrupted him again. "Since when am I your student? You only agreed to teach me how to use that brewing method, and I had to threaten you to even do that…"
"Hmm…" James knew that she was right. That was because he didn't want to teach a future dark witch who would go on to kill countless innocents.
But the more he got to know this girl, the more he realized that perhaps not all was lost. And maybe… there was a different road for her. One that didn't end up surrounded by darkness.
James extended his hand to her.
Bellatrix looked at it with confusion.
Not really understanding what he was getting at, she hesitantly took his hand.
James gave it a shake. "Done."
"What is done?" Bella asked.
"Kyu?" Primum flew closer and landed on the table.
"You wanted me to teach you the art of potion-making, and I have agreed. From this day on, I, James Potter, accept you as my official disciple."
At this point, Bella didn't know the importance of that promise. But for James, taking in an official disciple was not something he would do on a whim...it was a promise for a lifetime.
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