A Story of a Short Ending | T.R

Chapter 8 - The Potioneers - Part 1

Alden got up from the table just as a pained sound escaped Lestrange, who bent down just as the candelabrum fell onto his foot after hitting his head. The silence in the room was deafening until it was interrupted by a boom of laughter, considering the sight of Lestrange's pained expression was an entertaining one to behold.

"Merlin, what in the name of Lord are you doing?!" Rodolphus finally straightened up, rubbing the side of his head as he beheld the candelabrum on the floor, kicking it away from himself. He looked back at Emily who was attempting to hold back her pleased smile, considering it was shining across her face she didn't put that much effort into hiding it. She put her hand back in her lap, an opportunity to show her wandless magic skills didn't go to waste. A slight wave of her hand sent the candelabrum from the shelf right into the side of Lestrange's head, a bonus point of gravity for landing it onto his foot afterwards.

"Do you need me to owl your Mother down here? I'm sure a kiss on the forehead will soothe the pain away." Alden landed a hand on Lestrange's shoulder with a grin that showed nothing but amusement.

"Fuck off, will you?" Lestrange shrugged Viridian's hand off his shoulder and gave another glaring look to Emily, who smiled sweetly back at him. He wouldn't mind burning her hair off her head, but something told him that even without her wand she could land something heavier than a candelabrum onto his head.

"Emma, Emily, after you." Alden gestured at the doors for the girls to leave their seats and head with him, while the man tapped Travers on the shoulder indicating his involvement in the situation.

Alden figured it out the moment he saw what village was marked with TAEE written in cursive next to it. Viridian was Riddle's second in command but some details of work the Dark Lord preferred to keep to himself, not revealing those even to Alden, who didn't appreciate being kept in the dark. He knew that Riddle would have something up his sleeve, it was never this easy to earn your place in the Manor.

Alden led them out of the dining hall, guiding the trio behind him through the hallways of the Manor back to the dungeons. Just as he raised his hand to open the door, he felt a tug on the back of his neck, making him turn around to face two women who stood a few steps away from him.

"If you are going to trick us into sitting in cells again, I will find something heavier than a few candles." Emily raised her hand a little higher and Alden felt the sheer invisible force that pressed him into the door he was about to open.

"My working chambers are there, I'm not going to imprison you again." he raised his hands in the air, offering a look of genuine honesty. "I didn't know Tom would do that back then, and I never lied to you about it."

After contemplating making the man drink Veritaserum to prove his words, Emily lowered her hand and Alden could breathe once more. Emma spared a proud look at Emily as they followed Viridian into the dungeons, Travers quietly trailing behind. They passed another two dark hallways that smelled like something had rotted there for centuries when Alden took a sharp turn into a dimly lit room.

The room wasn't big but spacious enough to fit various shelves of potions and ingredients, enough tables for several brewing pots and the old sofa Travers loved to occupy, which is what he did after closing the door once they were inside. He sat down on the couch, watching Emma and Emily inspect the shelves and Alden's working space.

Emma took a vial from the shelf that was a suspicious dark colour, she grimaced "Was that an unsuccessful attempt to make a Maxima potion?"

"Leech juice was spoiled, it didn't work out." Alden shrugged the topic off, earning himself a raised eyebrow from Emily.