Chapter 2
After Ginny left, Hermione contacted the owner of the cottage and extended her rental for the rest of the week. She didn’t want to set up another proper testing site if she didn’t have to.
The next morning, Hermione left for work earlier than usual. She wanted to get there early and wait for the Minister for Magic outside of his office so she could reserve some time to discuss her newest potion before his schedule filled up for the week. She had learned early in her career to schedule meetings with him first thing Monday morning if she wanted to see him that week.
“Good morning, Hermione,” Kingsley Shacklebolt greeted. “Are you here to deliver good news or bad news?”
“I believe it’s good news, sir,” Hermione said.
“Wonderful,” he said. “Please, come in. Would you care for a cup of tea?”
“Please.”
Minister Shacklebolt used his wand to procure two mugs and fill them with fresh tea before taking a seat behind his ornate desk. “Now, what news do you have to share?”
Hermione could barely contain her excitement. “I’ve been working on a new potion,” she started and explained how the potion worked. “I tested it on myself yesterday, and it worked beautifully.”
“That’s amazing, Hermione! You never cease to amaze me,” he said.
“Thank you, sir.”
“I am curious. How were you able to test apparating alone with someone touching you?”
She didn’t want to lie to the minister, but she couldn’t very well tell him her best friend knew all about her secret potion and helped her test it. “I invited Ginny Weasley to join me for dinner at the cottage last night. I told her I needed to get something from my house and placed my hand on the back of her shirt when she wasn’t paying attention. She had no idea I was touching her when I disapparated.”
“Fascinating,” he said, sipping his tea.
“I need to test the potion a few more times before I can declare it a success. I was hoping you would have some time this week to help me.”
“Of course,” he readily agreed. “A potion like this will be an invaluable tool if Voldemort’s supporters ever try to take over again. Does anyone else know about the potion?”
“No, sir. I kept it to myself.” Hermione felt guilty as she lied, but she knew Ginny wouldn’t tell a soul.
“That was a smart decision. This information could be dangerous in the wrong hands.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“When do you want to test the potion?” he asked.
“Whenever you’re available, sir.”
“I’ll clear my calendar if you’re ready today.”
Hermione almost choked on her tea when she swallowed wrong. She wasn’t expecting him to be available so soon. “Yes, I am.”
“Great,” he smiled. “Give me a few minutes to clear my schedule. I’ll come to your office when I’m finished.”
Hermione went to her office and waited for Minister Shacklebolt. She nervously paced the length of her office for the thirty minutes it took for him to arrive. A few moments later, they were standing at the edge of the forest just outside of the anti-apparition line surrounding the cottage.
Once inside, Hermione gave the minister a vial of her potion to drink. She smiled to herself when he drank it without hesitation. His unwavering trust in her warmed her heart.
“How long does it take to work?”
“I assume it becomes effective immediately, but I waited a few minutes before I tried to apparate last night.”
“Well, I’ll give it a go now,” he said before clasping her arm and trying to apparate.
Nothing happened.
The minister frowned in confusion.
“Maybe it does need a few minutes to kick in,” Hermione said, even more confused than the minister was.
The minutes seemed to tick by at a snail’s pace. Finally, Hermione suggested he try again. She held on to his arm and waited.
Nothing.
“I don’t understand,” Hermione mumbled. “It worked perfectly last night.”
“Perhaps the potion is only stable for a limited time,” Shacklebolt suggested.
“Maybe,” Hermione said slowly, though she didn’t think that was the case. “I have another vial in my pocket. I’ll drink it and see what happens.”
She downed the contents of the vial and waited several minutes before trying to apparate. She disappeared from the living room with a pop, and reappeared moments later.
“I don’t understand why it’s not working for you,” she said.
“I’ll try again.” Minister Shacklebolt made several attempts to apparate, but none of them were successful. “Maybe there’s an issue with the anti-apparition line,” he suggested. “Perhaps you’re able to get through because you’re the one who set it up.”
“No, that can’t be the problem. I couldn’t apparate when the potion wasn’t effective,” she explained and sighed in frustration. “I wish I could test this like a regular potion.”
“If you could, what would your next step be?”
“I would bring in another test subject to see if they could apparate,” she answered immediately.
“Ah,” he said, realizing the problem.
Hermione thought for a few minutes, trying to come up with a solution. “Could we bring in another witch or wizard to test the potion if we obliviated their memory of the potion afterward? With their prior consent, of course.”
“I suppose we could, but I think it will be difficult to find someone who will agree to have their memory obliviated before they know what they will be testing,” he said. “In fact, I can’t think of anyone who would.”
“I can,” Hermione said. “Luna Lovegood would.”
“Are you sure?”
“Not one hundred percent, but there’s only one way to find out,” Hermione said. “Do you want to wait here while I go ask her? Or would you rather reconvene this afternoon?”
“I’ll wait here,” he said. “If she can’t come now, we can reconvene when she’s available.”
Hermione left the Minister for Magic in her rented cottage while she apparated back to her living room to floo call Luna, hoping she was home. Luna traveled frequently for work, but Hermione knew she was in town for a few weeks before her next trip.
“Hermione,” Luna said. “It’s so good to hear from you. How are you?”
“I’m doing well,” she said. “I do have a favor to ask of you, but I’d rather talk about it in person. Do you have time to come over to my place?”
“Of course,” Luna said cheerfully. “I can come over right now.”
Moments later, Luna stepped out of Hermione’s fireplace. “What can I help you with?”
“Well, that’s the thing,” Hermione said. “I can’t tell you exactly what it is unless you agree to have your memory of it obliviated once we’re finished. It’s for your safety. What I can tell you is that it involves testing a potion I’m working on. I’ve already tested it myself and didn’t experience any side effects.”
“Wow,” Luna said dreamily. “It must be something special if no one can know about it.”
“It is,” Hermione confirmed.
“Well, if you say it’s special, then it must be. I’ll be happy to help.”
“Thank you, Luna,” Hermione said. “Thank you so much.”
“What do I need to do?”
“Come with me. This shouldn’t take long.”
Hermione wrapped her hand around Luna’s arm and apparated them to where Minister Shacklebolt was waiting for them outside the cottage.
“Hello, Minister,” Luna greeted. “Lovely to see you.”
“It’s good to see you, too, Luna,” Kingsley Shacklebolt said with a smile.
“So, what are we testing?” Luna asked.
“First, did you consent to having your memory altered regarding the potion?” Shacklebolt asked.
“Yes,” Luna confirmed. “If Hermione says the potion is important, then it must be, and I would like to help.”
“Thank you, Luna,” the minister said. “Your assistance is greatly appreciated.”
Hermione explained the potion to Luna and asked if she had any questions.
“No, it sounds very straightforward to me.”
“Perfect. Here’s your vial.”
Luna took the potion from Hermione and smelled it before she tipped the vial back and downed the contents. “It has a very pleasant taste,” Luna said sweetly.
“Thank you,” Hermione smiled.
“Should I try to apparate now?” Luna asked.
“Yes,” Hermione said. “Let’s have you try by yourself first. If you’re able to apparate, we’ll try with one of us holding on to you.”
Luna disappeared with a pop and returned moments later.
Hermione looked at Luna with furrowed brows.
“What’s wrong?” Luna asked. “It worked.”
“Minister Shacklebolt took the potion and couldn’t apparate. I don’t understand why it’s not working for him,” Hermione explained. She shook her head to clear it. “Let’s try apparating with one of us touching you.”
Kingsley Shacklebolt placed his hand on Luna’s arm, and the two of them disappeared.
When they returned, Hermione wanted Luna to try apparating with her touching her before she analyzed the situation. Luna disappeared, leaving Hermione and Shacklebolt in the cottage. She returned moments later.
“I don’t understand. It’s like the potion has no effect on you,” Hermione said.
“You’ll figure it out,” he told Hermione. “You always do. Regardless, I’m extremely pleased with what you’ve shown me.”
“Me, too,” Luna said. “Even though I soon won’t remember it, I’m really impressed with your potion. I’ll be happy to help you test it again after you make adjustments if you need me to.”
“Thank you, Luna,” Hermione said sincerely.
“Well, let’s head back to the Ministry so we can alter Luna’s memories and she can get on with the rest of her day.”
Back at the Ministry, Minister Shacklebolt erased Luna’s memories of the potion. Then, Hermione and Luna had lunch together before saying their goodbyes.
Hermione locked herself in her office and spent the rest of the day trying to figure out what was wrong with her potion.