"You're right," Harry said earnestly, nodding as he glanced at Poppy.
"I don't suggest you rush into this, Harry," Poppy said, floating to his side. Her translucent arm passed through his head, sending a shiver down his spine. "Listen to me first—you should know that Mr. Flamel has already found a way to restore my body. I don't really need this gem right now."
"But wouldn't it be better if we used the gem to help you regain your body?" Harry asked, puzzled. "I mean—what if Mr. Flamel's method doesn't work? What if it's some untested dark magic he read about in a book?"
"Hey! Potter, you little brat!" Mr. Flamel snapped, raising his arm stiffly in indignation. "I'm still standing right here!"
"I'm just saying, Mr. Flamel," Harry turned to him, "it's not like I actually believe that."
But Mr. Flamel's expression screamed I don't buy it for a second. He was convinced Harry was being cheeky on purpose.
Saying it right to his face, no less!
"Listen to me, Harry," Poppy continued, her ghostly arm still rubbing his head, the icy sensation giving him a headache. "Someone needs this gem's help more than I do. Do you remember Anne? Sebastian's sister—she's suffering from a dark magic curse. If we use the gem's power, we might be able to break her curse and undo the seal… What do you think, Harry?"
Harry fell into deep thought at Poppy's words.
She made a compelling point. Mr. Flamel had already devised a method to restore Poppy's body. For her, the gem was merely a bonus—a way to make the process even smoother. Without it, they still had Flamel's method as a fallback.
Anne's situation was different. No one had been able to lift the dark magic curse afflicting her, so their only hope rested on this gem.
"I have a suggestion," Veratia spoke up, breaking Harry's indecision. "Perhaps we don't need to use the gem right away. We could wait until after Poppy's resurrection ritual and see how it goes before deciding. What do you think, Harry? If the ritual succeeds, we can use the gem for Anne. But if something goes wrong, the gem can serve as a backup for Poppy. After all, Anne is currently sealed, so there's no rush to break her curse, right?"
Veratia's words hit Harry like a revelation. He nodded. "That makes sense. We'll wait for Mr. Flamel to prepare the ritual, and we'll keep the gem in reserve. If the ritual fails, we'll use it for Poppy."
"What about Anne?" Poppy asked, drifting in the air as if backstroking.
"As Veratia said, Anne is in a sealed state right now. As long as we don't break the seal, she'll be fine," Harry replied.
Poppy nodded, accepting his suggestion.
"Then it seems you'll need to wait a few more days," Mr. Flamel interjected. "If my calculations are correct, the potion will be ready in four days. Then we can proceed with reviving Miss Sweeting. However, we'll need the blood of Miss Sweeting's enemy. I'm not sure if you—"
"I'll do it," Veratia said, glancing at Poppy. "In a way, we are enemies, so… my blood should work."
Mr. Flamel said nothing, only offering a mysterious smile.
It was common knowledge that a romantic rival could count as an enemy, so calling Veratia Poppy's foe wasn't exactly wrong.
At Veratia's words, Poppy guiltily shrank behind Harry, trying to avoid the gaze of the so-called main love interest (not really).
Mr. Flamel turned to Harry. "As for the servant's flesh…" He paused. "Perhaps you could step in? Newt's not in England right now—he's been summoned to America by the Ministry again."
"I'll do it," Cassandra spoke up. Noticing Harry's gaze, her lips curled downward. "This is my decision, Potter, not up for discussion."
"Cassandra…" Poppy's eyes welled up—though how a ghost's eyes could tear up, she didn't know. She was deeply moved. She never expected Cassandra, of all people, to step forward and help her.
"But why…" Harry began, struggling to understand Cassandra's sudden offer.
Cassandra didn't answer, turning her gaze aside.
Her motives were understandable. If Veratia was stepping up to help Poppy, how could she, Cassandra, do nothing? That would seem a bit too cold.
"Perfect!" Mr. Flamel clapped his hands gleefully. "It's settled then. As for old Sweeting's bones, I've already located them. They're stored in my alchemy lab, ready for use in a few days."
"Thank you… thank you all…" Poppy choked out, her voice trembling. A gust of chilling wind swept through as she enveloped Veratia and Cassandra in a ghostly hug.
"If I were you, I wouldn't be so sentimental," Cassandra said, wrinkling her nose. "Achoo! Look, you're practically giving me a cold."
"Sorry, sorry…" Poppy apologized, flustered.
With the resurrection plans set, all that remained was to prepare and wait for Poppy's revival.
Sirius and Lupin returned to the castle to resume their teaching duties. Sirius, however, had more on his plate than just lessons—he had to study things he'd once scoffed at.
"I'd rather wrestle slimy slugs with old Snivellus than learn this filthy stuff!" Sirius growled to Lupin.
"But if you want to take this path, it's what you have to learn," Lupin sighed. "Think about it—how many people are counting on you? Do you want to let Harry down?"
Sirius took a deep breath.
He couldn't argue with that. His godson's expectations were indeed his driving force.
"Fine," he grumbled, rubbing his head. "I'll keep at it."
It was still a few days before term started, so Harry had no classes upon returning to Hogwarts. In his free time, he wandered the castle or checked on Mr. Flamel's progress in the alchemy lab.
Finally, the fourth day arrived, and Mr. Flamel announced the potion was complete.
The resurrection ritual required minimal attendees, so aside from those contributing flesh and blood, only Harry was allowed to observe. Naturally, Death herself was also present, lounging nearby with nothing better to do, ready to watch Poppy's revival unfold.
In the alchemy lab, Mr. Flamel set up a large cauldron filled with the prepared potion. As they entered, he waved his wand, and orange-red flames roared to life beneath the cauldron.
The liquid inside heated quickly, its surface bubbling and sparking as if on fire. Steam grew thicker, shrouding Mr. Flamel in a hazy veil.
"Alright, Miss Sweeting," he said, pointing his wand at the cauldron. "You may enter."
Poppy gave Harry a pitiful glance, then looked at Veratia.
"Go on," Harry encouraged. "Don't worry, you're a ghost. The cauldron won't cook you."
Poppy shot him a mock glare before stepping toward the cauldron, turning back every few steps. Her translucent head peeked out from the potion's surface.
"All the way in," Mr. Flamel ordered.
Poppy sniffled and plunged her head into the liquid.
Raising his wand, Mr. Flamel chanted, "The bone of the father, unknowingly given, shall renew your daughter!"
A nearby chest burst open with a loud bang, startling Mr. Flamel. A large bone flew out and gently landed in the cauldron.
The diamond-clear liquid shattered, hissing and sparking, turning a murky yellow.
"Your turn, Miss Malfoy," Mr. Flamel continued.
Cassandra stepped forward, drawing a dagger and slicing a long strip of flesh from her arm without flinching. Blood gushed, but Veratia quickly waved her wand, healing the wound as if it had never been.
Harry's heart lurched—he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.
Yet Cassandra remained silent, tossing the flesh into the cauldron.
"The flesh of the servant, willingly given, shall revive your master!" Mr. Flamel intoned.
The potion shifted to a vivid emerald green, with silvery liquid swirling within—a perfect Slytherin palette.
"Now, Miss Grindelwald," Mr. Flamel said.
Veratia stepped forward, taking the dagger from Cassandra.
"No, it must not be willingly given," Mr. Flamel stopped her, turning to Harry. "Use the Imperius Curse on her—quickly!"
"Imperio!" Cassandra acted first, her movements swift and decisive. Under her control, Veratia's dagger sliced across her wrist.
Crimson blood flowed down her pale wrist, dripping into the boiling cauldron.
The potion crackled the moment it touched Veratia's blood, shifting from green and silver to a deep violet.
Cassandra lifted the curse, and Veratia, regaining control, healed her wrist with a wave of her wand.
"Is the ritual going smoothly?" she asked.
Mr. Flamel didn't answer directly. "It should be," he said, then turned to Veratia. "I'll step outside for a moment. Harry, are you sure you don't want to come?"
"Huh?" Harry blinked, confused.
He had no idea why Mr. Flamel was asking him to leave.
Mr. Flamel didn't wait for an answer, scurrying out on his own.
Well, I may be old, but I've seen things I shouldn't—might end up with a stye…
Outside, Sirius and Lupin were waiting like anxious parents awaiting a newborn. They crowded around Mr. Flamel. "How's it going, Mr. Flamel? What's the situation?"
"Very smoothly," Mr. Flamel replied, sounding like an obstetrician ready to announce mother and child are safe.
Back in the alchemy lab, white mist rose from the massive cauldron. The potion gradually boiled away, and the cauldron cooled.
Soon, the mist cleared.
Cassandra's eye twitched.
What in the world is clouding my vision?!
"Harry!" Veratia reacted instantly, firing a Conjunctivitis Curse at him.
Harry: ?!?!
He clutched his eyes, unsure what to do.
I haven't even seen anything yet!
But he quickly realized what the mist had revealed—and that he probably shouldn't see it.
A rustling sound reached his ears. As he grew impatient, Veratia finally lifted the curse.
What greeted his eyes was justice and fairness.
"Harry!"
His last thought was that Quidditch rules strictly prohibited crashing into players with the Quaffle.
When he came to, Sirius and Lupin had entered the alchemy lab.
"You're really back," Sirius said, eyeing Poppy like a mother inspecting her daughter-in-law. "This is certainly cause for celebration…"
"Great! Now that I'm back," Poppy said, her thoughts immediately turning to Anne, "can you use the gem to lift her curse?"
Harry nodded. "I'll ask Ominis where the chamber hiding Anne is…"
Just as he turned to leave, Mr. Flamel spoke up. "If the gem works, a healthy Anne will appear before you."
Harry realized he was right.
He pulled the gem from his pocket and looked at Death. "Lady, how do I use this gem?"
"Hold it and focus on your heart's desire," she replied.
Harry nodded, taking a deep breath and willing the gem to lift Anne's curse.
In that instant, the room plunged into darkness, the magical lights swallowed by an all-consuming shadow.
"What's happening?" Harry asked, alarmed.
"No idea," Sirius said, sniffing the air.
A commotion erupted outside.
"Who's there?" Sirius called warily.
The sound suggested more than one person, and it definitely wasn't Dumbledore.
He cautiously opened the door, only to hear a clear, feminine voice shout, "Stupefy!"
A red spell shot toward him.
Sirius dodged, leaping back.
At that moment, Veratia lit her wand.
In the glow, Sirius's wand clattered to the floor.
His voice trembled, fragile with disbelief and the pain of something lost and found. "Prongs? Lily?"
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