The Curse and The Cure *Snamione*

Chapter 10.

10

"Maple!"

*POP!* The little elf arrived in front of Hermione's desk immediately she was called. Her eyes were full of tears and she was wringing her hands in front of her.

"Maple I need to ask you something and I need you to think really hard."

"Yes Miss. Maple will think her hardest." She replied looking down on the ground, unable to meet Hermione's gaze.

"Do you remember over hearing a conversation about Coronial Maltswift Horn?"

"Nnnnnngh... Yes, Miss" squeaked Maple,

"Where did you hear the conversation Maple?"

"Maple heard Hermione Granger, tell Harry Potter!  Maple didn't mean to listen but Maple was under Hermione Granger's desk emptying the waste paper basket like Maple does three times a day Miss."

"And did you mention to any one.... think Maple... did you mention this to anyone at all?"

With this question Maple dissolved into floods of tears; and fell to her knees.  Hermione, who was quite used to the histrionics of house elves waited for the sobs to lesson and handed her a tissue where she blew her nose noisily.

"Maple only told her sister Binkie, Miss.  Only Binkie.  Maple wanted to see if Binkie could borrow some of her Master's store of Maltswift Horn to help Professor Snape, as a surprise to make Miss Hermione Granger happy, But Binkie is a bad Elf, Hermione Granger Miss.  A very bad elf! She didn't keep Maple's confidence and went and told Mister Walter Whipsnade what you needed, Miss.  Maple told Binky she would get Hermione Granger in trouble but it was too late.  Binky has a very big mouth.  Maple is so sorry Miss.  So sorry indeed.  Maple is ashamed of Maple and Binky.  Maple knows she will have to be punished."  She cried again and Hermione handed her another tissue.  She looked at Maple stood shaking and crying in front of her and felt a sudden wave of empathy.  She couldn't be cross with the hard working little elf who had, before this slip up,  always shown her unwavering loyalty.

"Get up Maple" she said, sharply.  "What you did was wrong, but I know your intentions.... Wait a minute....." Hermione stopped in her tracks, actually hearing what Maple had just said.  "Did you say Walter Whipsnade has a supply of Maltswift?"

"Yes Miss.  In a secret vault.  When Maple was his elf, Maple had to turn it in the cauldron every day to stop it exploding.  Maple's sister Binkie does that job now."

Hermione sat back, taking in what Maple had said to her. What was Whipsnade doing with a highly illegal potion ingredient? It was all rather bizarre. She excused Maple, who disappeared with a small *pop* as quickly as she'd arrived, having first assured Hermione that she wouldn't punish herself and that she wouldn't ever tell Binkie anything... anything at all... ever again. Hermione then went to seek out Severus who she found in her library, his head buried in a large tome, with a crystal tumbler of firewhiskey in his hand.

"Severus" she said quietly so as not to make him jump. He looked up at her and smiled.

"This is a very rare book indeed" he said, taking off his reading glasses and slipping them into his pocket. "'Mortentius Grape's Anthology on Wizarding Law of The Great Britain Covens and Society in the 20th Century'. You might want to read this..." he closed the book and handed it to her. "So did the elf cough?"

Hermione smiled a little "Yes. She mentioned it to her sister because... get this.... Walter Whipsnade has a stash of Maltswift horn sat in a vault and little Maple wanted to get some for you!"

Severus raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Well I wasn't expecting that." He said.  "How long has Whipsnade had a store of it I wonder? Do you think it was he that sold it to the Goblins?"