A Rose's Thorn

Rituals

"Here drink this. Then cut your hand and put two drops in the Cauldrons."

"Bottoms up."

It was New Year's eve, 12:30 pm. It had taken Severus Snape 4 hours to prepare the fist step of an ancient ritual. Now he stood at the far end of the potions room in Malfoy manor. In front of him were two Cauldrons. Behind the Cauldrons stood Pansy and Hermione. Blaise and Dean were out flying with Harry and Draco. Neville, Seamus and Narcissa were seated near the door. The girls followed Severus' instructions and stood waiting for something to happen. Pansy frowned at her Professor.

Severus rolled his eyes. "That was only the first step don't be to hasty."

He stepped forward and started working on the Cauldrons. Adding ingredients Pansy had never heard of and ones that made Hermione question her knowledge. It took him another 3 hours to finish both of the potions. Scooping up two vials for each girl he then banished the rest of it. He handed the girls the vials and checked the time.

"It's 3:45 now. Wait 15 minutes more for that to settle. Take one. You will take the other after dinner. Then we will come back for the final step. Don't freak out if some animal starts talking to you at any point." Severus said and simply walked away.

"Shall I set the timer?"

"Sure Hermione."

Hermione set a magical timer. And the rest left the room. Neville and Seamus were asking questions about what animals the girls expected to show. Then Hermione walked smack, bang into something. She looked at and blinked at the person.

"Ahhh there you humansss are."

Hermione shook her head. "You know we don't understand pasletongue Adriana."

Adriana nodded and grabbed Hermione's hand. She pulled her through the halls. The other supposed people following. Then she stopped in front of a door and pointed to it.

"Thisss would be easssier if Massster Harry wasss here." Adriana shook her head.

"Can we go fetch Harry so he can at least translate." Pansy groaned.

Adriana held up her hand for them to wait and then disappeared. She returned almost immediately with a shocked Harry. He blinked a few times and looked around. Then he glared at Adriana.

"I need Massster Harry to transsslate. Massster'sss friend needsss to sssave her animal." Adriana smiled.

"Ssshe hasssn't even finissshed the ritual."

"But Massster Harry her magic isss ssstrong. Ssshe mussst take the drink thing and go in there to get her animal." Adriana pointed to the door.

"And what pray tell isss her animal and why doesss it need sssaving?" Harry asked.

"The other blonde man from lassst year. The one Massster'sss mate called father. He captured a baby drake. It isss very weak and needsss a magical sssourcsse to sssurvive. Her magical sssourcsse." Adriana stopped being vague and pointed at Hermione.

Harry nodded. "Hermione you need to drink whatever Sevy gave you and go in there."

"What's in there?" Hermione asked.