Edelweiss

The Apple Tree

     Whispers filled the teacherless classroom. Professor Slughorn wasn't usually this late, sometimes he was late by 5 minutes or so, but 15? That was unheard of. The whispers conceded as the sound of heels on stone grew continuously louder. Madame Pomfrey walked through the archway as Professor Slughorn followed behind her. He strayed from her as he went to collect his demonstration of the day's lesson from his stores.

     "I suppose some of you might be wondering why I am attending your class today." The blonde woman said. Her eyes scanned the classroom. "Your Professor has asked me to stand by for this lesson should any of you go into catatonic shock as a result of what you might uncover. Usually I would argue against the teaching of such a potion but you all are N.E.W.T. students so you should be able to handle yourselves. If not, I'll be here."

     Hermione leaned closer to Harry as she whispered in his ear. "What do you think the potion is? A potion that could have such a severe result even when brewed correctly is most definitely not on the Hogwarts curriculum."

     "Yeah it isn't I don't think." Harry said, looking over at Hermione, whose face was inches from his. "Slughorn offered to teach it to the class after I told him about my dream. He said it uncovered blocked memories."

     "So it might help you remember that woman's name." Ron chimed in.

     "Yeah, hopefully it does."

~ ~ ~

     Harry could feel the sweat dripping down his face. It was known amongst the school that the potions classroom had very poor ventilation, and since the windows Professor Slughorn had charmed in were just that. Charmed windows. It's not like he could open them to provide fresh air to the class.

     "Alright everyone!" The Professor clapped his hands to get his students' attention. "Now that some of you are close to finishing your potions I need you to listen closely. You are not to drink the potion you have brewed until—"

     A scream was heard on the other side of the classroom. Harry looked up to see Parkinson with her hands over her mouth. Malfoy had dropped to the ground. Seamus raised hand and looked at Professor Slughorn from the table next to Harry. Slughorn nodded at Seamus, beckoning him to speak.

     "What happened? Why'd he faint?" 

     Snickers from around the classroom could be heard, most notably from Ron and Hermione who were sitting just beside Harry. Harry seemed to be the only Gryffindor who wasn't laughing at Malfoy fainting. Instead Harry had questions. Questions that he knew Slughorn wouldn't answer. Before Slughorn could answer Seamus's question Harry blurted out his own.

     "What did he see? He saw something, that's what made him go into shock like you said."

     "Very well Mr. Potter! I would award you house points but since you interrupted me I can't. To answer your question Harry I can't show you, that would be a violation of Mr. Malfoy's privacy."

     Hermione, obviously curious, spoke up in favor of showing the vision. "But Professor, didn't you tell Harry that you were going to show everyone's at the end of the class? What does it matter now versus then? Most of the class isn't finished with theirs yet, Malfoy is just good at potions."

     "Did I? I don't remember that..." Professor Slughorn stopped to think. "Very well, what harm can it do."

     Hermione looked back at Harry and Ron with a devilish smile on her face. "You lied!" Ron whispered.

     "So what if I did? He's showing the vision." Ron and Hermione seemed to look at each other and have a moment of mutual understanding, almost like they were communicating telepathically. Slughorn dimmed the lights in the potions room and because Madam Pomfrey wasn't there to argue against it, he brought the cauldron Malfoy had used to the center of the classroom so that all students could view the vision equally.

     The vision started with Narcissa Malfoy walking through the grounds on Malfoy Manor. She was wearing black heels, a black dress with a queen anne neckline, and bright red lipstick. Her hair was done up behind her head in braids. She wore a smug expression upon her face like it was meant to be there. Her wand was drawn in her hand as she walked through the grass. Finally, the vision panned to show what she was walking towards. A large tree stood in the distance, the tree had perfect red apples on it. Harry thought the tree looked eerily familiar, but it couldn't be. He had never been to Malfoy Manor before.

     The Malfoy woman walked closer to the tree, as she got closer it became apparent that there was something etched into the bark. There was a sun drawn into the bark, inside it there were two sets of initials. Both linked through a plus sign between them.

AE + LM

     Harry scrambled to pull out a piece of parchment and write down the initials etched into the tree. Quickly Harry turned his attention back to what was being shown in front of him, not wanting to miss a single second. He noticed that Narcissa Malfoy looked notably younger than she did in the newspaper articles about her husband's arrest. Pointing her wand at the tree it burst into flames. The vision panned back to show her face but you could still see the large fire reflected in her eyes. Continuing to smile at the growing fire she said only two words and a name.

     "I win Anyleyia."