Silk Roads

Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Dinner, and Dates

January 1967
Location: Hogwarts

In the dimly lit dungeon, Marcaunon squinted as he stirred the concoction absentmindedly, lost in his thoughts.

Before he had started mixing weird ingredients for this particular brew, he found an old blue notebook he had once used when he was physically around six years old, by accident. He remembered how he had stared at those grey walls in the orphanage so much that he wanted something to do –apart from his failure of good deeds.

Whilst he may be old in mind, he was young in body and it affected his mental state, actions and emotions. As much as it frustrates him so, he was childish and impulsive (he went hunting almost constantly to satisfy his impulses). When he could take no more wall watching, he started doodling on one of the deathfiles (Death had given him a five hour lecture when It found out), just for something to do. He drew dementors, unicorns, phoenixes, and lastly, a bottle of Liquid luck –or Felix Felicis.

The golden bottle made him think – if wizards could bottle luck, why could they not bottle other similar things? He wrote down all the ingredients and their properties, try to mix them up and see if he could create new potions.

Back to the present, he stopped his stirring and wiped his sweaty forehead –the fumes could melt skin. His concoction was silvery white in color, with droplets leaping out at random intervals, similar to that of a fish jumping out of its bowl. It seemed to be the correct color, if what he had written in theory was true.

Similar to Felix Felicis, this potion is highly toxic when consumed in large quantities. If everything is perfect, he would recommend this potion to only be used when in the face of dementors –a back up plan if they could not make a proper Patronus charm due to their incompetence.

Marcaunon placed his wand above the concoction, drawing a symbol of eight slowly.

"Laetifixempra [1]." He whispered the spell he had invented just for this particular potion.

The cauldron shook for a few seconds, before it abruptly halted to a stop. Silvery wisp of smoke rose from the concoction and he pocketed his wand. The cauldron contained a mixture of teal, almost seemed like silky electricity.

He accio-ed a large empty jar, as big as his head, and bottled the concoction. Marcaunon blinked when he felt his sleeve being tugged, and looked at the disturbance. He would test it afterwards.

"Chaos. Weren't you with Mana and Suki?" He looked at Marchosias in confusion as he brushed his knuckles gently over his son's cheek.

"Both are sleeping at the moment. There's a... guest waiting for you in the office." Marchosias had a blank expression on his face, but Marcaunon had a feeling that he was thinking murderous thoughts.

"Who?" He casted an unbreakable charm on the glass jar before shoving it carelessly inside his expandable bag strapped on his right thigh.

"Malfoy. He's been coming here a lot lately." Marchosias stated coldly as they walked to his office. The unasked question and the way he said it made alarm bells ring inside Marcaunon's head.

"Yess... Potions is not one of his best subjects and he requested that I tutor him."

"Is that so..." There was a glint in those ruby eyes and Marcaunon choose to ignore it in favor of opening the door.

Bleach-brat was sitting in front of his desk, patiently waiting for his arrival. The brat smiled but it turned into a scowl when he saw Marchosias walking in behind him.