Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Behind the Fog (Backup Upload) ❯ Behind the Fog (Backup Upload) 10th Chapter ( Chapter 10 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Anything you recognize is property of JK Rowling. Additionally this is not my story. I am uploading this to my own account in support of the author the story belongs to who has been struggling with hackers.

The thing I've most been dreading as a fan is that the story would be removed from the site by the hackers and the author wouldn't have access to their old chapters when the situation was eventually brought under control in the event the site moderators wouldn't be able to give the author their account back.

For anyone interested the author goes by Hancock23 on Fanfiction -dot- net. I will remove the story from my account when Hancock23 has gotten the story safely uploaded elsewhere or has been safely given their account back on Fanfiction -dot- net. Without further ado I give you a backup upload of: Behind the Fog by Hancock23.

PS: This Backup Upload contains minor edits for grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Plus some rewording/restructuring of sentences so they make better sense and flow better. Hope you don't mind me becoming something of a Beta Reader for this Backup Upload Hancock23.

Chapter Ten - The First Step

Draco woke up earlier than usual since he had literally 'fallen' asleep early and was shocked to find himself in bed. Although his brain was tempted to sit and think about about why Potter had dragged, levitated, or maybe even carried him to bed; the biggest part of himself refused to dwell on it. Instead, he went to his secret base and put in a few hours of work on the Cruciatus Cure potion. By the time he went for breakfast, Biddy had already left with one hundred vials of potion for Bill; and Draco hoped he had not been too optimistic. Either way, he was happy when he sat down at the Slytherin table for breakfast. If nothing else, it had worked for the Longbottoms.

As usual, he poured himself a cup of black coffee, and talked with Pansy and Blaise this particular morning, they talked about the first Quidditch game of the year; which was quickly approaching. He had quit the Quidditch team, and even though none of his housemates had asked him to, he could tell they were relieved. Lucius Malfoy was a force to be reckoned with, and he knew they must be getting pressure from their parents to cause Draco grief, and it was only their deep loyalty to him that stayed their hand. He did not want to push it and cause any one of them harm in the process.

Draco did not show any signs of expectancy, nor did he display any untoward happiness when the Daily Prophet finally arrived, and the Longbottoms recovery was on the first page. St Mungo's had released a press statement saying that the Longbottoms were fully recovered and the hospital will now be able to treat victims of the Cruciatus Curse better. There was an added mention that the cure had been supported by Headmaster Arwin of the Arwin Institute and that it was owned by a corporation known as 'Dragon World' with a recently opened store in Diagon Alley where the cure would be available for direct purchase. Augusta Longbottom had also been quoted thanking Bill Weasley who had approached her with the cure.

On the following page was an interview with Bill Weasley and Draco was hard pressed not to grin like a moron.

"Yes, I have left Gringotts; but I have left the bank on good terms, and I expect that I will be doing business with them sooner rather than later." The reporter noted that Bill Weasley wore an enigmatic smile as he said that.

"I have the utmost respect for the person who made this cure; I would go as far as to say that his genius even exceeds that of Nicolas Flamel and the Wizarding World will agree with me in the coming months and years."

"Yes, I mean to imply that there will be more that will blow everyone's minds away."

"The cure will now be available at the Dragon World store in Diagon Alley."

"A lot of the products available at Dragon World have been modified to be more effective, please visit the store and see for yourself."

"For now, all the wizarding world needs to know is that the owner is a private person who wishes to concentrate on their research rather than being the figurehead of the corporation. I will be in charge of Dragon World for now and into the foreseeable future."

"Please feel free to visit Dragon World and wait patiently for the next revolutionary product."

The Prophet hit peoples' tables at between seven and eight every morning, but even Bill could not have foreseen the avalanche of customers, and owl orders that hit the shop. By nine he had received no less than twenty inquiries, and he was grateful that Draco had the foresight to send the cure beforehand.

A single vial was retailing at five hundred galleons at the store; an exorbitant price by any standards, but one that was worth it. It was unlike any other potion for Cruciatus presently on the market, and it was designed to get rid of damage that ranged from mere tremors to madness in the extreme case, as evidenced by the case of the Longbottoms. Bill had never really been as intrigued by potions as he had been by spells, but as he quickly went through the owls he had received, he decided that he would take an interest and take up Draco on the offer to get a sample of any products free of charge for analysis.

Draco was sitting for dinner when an owl came soaring towards him. He had not expected a report until the next morning, so he pensively unrolled the letter and read.

Draco,
You good? Business was better than expected, I had no idea that so many people suffered from the effects of the Cruciatus. Clearly; the Ministry is clearly not doing enough to monitor the use of the Unforgivables.
First things first, we sold twenty vials today at five hundred galleons. There were many more inquiries, and more sales are expected in the coming days. However, the price seems genuinely unaffordable to some people.
Second, I received an initial order of two hundred vials from a major potions seller in Bulgaria with a follow-up order in the coming weeks if we put their order on the top of the list. I did some research, and I found out that Durmstrang has a habit of punishing students with the curse. The Cruciatus is not illegal in Bulgaria, and the number of people under its effects there is staggering. I found estimates in the Ministry's archives.
Third, a representative of St Mungo's Hospital came to see me and the hospital board has agreed to make an order of one hundred vials for the time being. They are however asking for a reduction in price from five hundred to three hundred and fifty galleons.
Fourth, due to the sudden interest in Dragon World, our potions supply is running very low although nothing has been completely sold out.
Send me a reply on how to proceed on the bullet points, and do what you can about the potions situation.
Bill.

Draco stared at the paper flabbergasted. He had not expected this at all, at least not on the first day. "Blaise, Pansy; whatever you have planned for after dinner, kindly cancel. I need your help." He said as he handed the letter to Blaise, causing Pansy to stand up so that she could read the letter behind Draco's back, who was rummaging in his bag for a quill and parchment.

Bill, the letter began.
I am better than good. You? I have to say that I am overwhelmed, this was unexpected. I will answer your questions in the order you asked them.
First, I am happy that we made so many retail sales. I would like to suggest that we sell the available stock to individuals rather than in bulk. Ask anybody in need of more than ten vials to make an order.
Second, write to the store in Bulgaria and tell them that we do not have that much in store at the moment but we would be happy to ship them the order in eight days' time from tomorrow.
In addition to the wholesale price of four hundred and fifty galleons, assure them that we will include free samples of five of our other products for the inconvenience. As you know, the potion will take at least seven days to complete. Please prepare ingredients and large cauldrons capable of holding a large batch of potion.
Make sure the package has enough ingredients to make at least five hundred vials-use the list I gave you earlier to estimate quantity. When everything is ready, call Biddy, and she will secretly deliver everything to me. I will tell her to expect your call before noon tomorrow.
Third, contact and offer them a deal. Tell them that we will sell the potion to them for three hundred galleons each, but that deal is contingent on some conditions. For every one hundred vials they buy at three hundred galleons, they are to treat fifteen patients free of charge.
Once you can assess that someone suffering is entirely unable to afford the cure, please send them to for the free treatment. Ensure that this is kept quiet and the beneficiaries are not to speak of this to anyone otherwise it will escalate to a situation we cannot control.
Fourth, I will begin making the other potions tonight and should be able to send some of the quick ones by morning. Please send a more detailed stock inventory with the morning post and include the ingredients in the package you deliver with Biddy.
I trust your judgment so use your discretion for anything that does not require my explicit input. Have a goodnight and good work today.
Thank you for all your help.
Draco.

Draco sent the owl off with the letter before he turned to his friends who were now smiling at him after reading the letter. "Is it too late to buy a share of this venture?" Blaise asked hopefully, and Draco had to laugh.

"Keep your money ready; I am sure there will be something we can invest in together in the future." Draco answered, and he was not just saying it, he meant it.

He was going to create an empire, his world. A world that he could be in without anyone questioning his right to be there, this was just the first step to creating that world, and he wanted the people he cared for to be a part of it.

"I will do just that." Blaise said. "I suppose we won't be sleeping much tonight?"

"No." He gestured for them to come closer, "Be careful, though; I have no idea how, but Potter is tracking me. If I were him, I would monitor the two of you, so we have to assume that is what he will do. I have managed to fool him into thinking that I have been spending my time in the Room of Requirement, but we all need to be careful. I don't want him to know any of my business."

Blaise and Pansy nodded in understanding, and the girl discreetly cast her eyes to the Gryffindor table to find the raven haired boy looking at the three of them. Scowling deeply, she went back to her dinner; She needed the energy if she was to help Draco with brewing potions all night.

Harry could not help his curiosity. Who the hell was writing Malfoy so many letters? Lately, the blonde had been receiving at least one letter during breakfast, lunch, and dinner and it was really beginning to bother him. Harry did not think that the Malfoys were the kind of family that stayed in touch that much and even if they were, Malfoy was no longer part of the family.

He thought of Malfoy's solicitor Marina Vaughn Clark but three letters a day seemed too much even if their relationship had proceeded beyond a solicitor-client relationship. For some reason, the thought of that relationship evolving made him angry; and he had to look away for a minute to control himself and think about why he was reacting the way he was. By the time he lifted his head again, the three Slytherins he had been looking at were no longer at the table, and he sighed with resignation as he pretended to listen to what his friends were talking about.

If Bill Weasley had been having doubts about his recent resignation from Gringotts, they would have evaporated when he received Draco's letter. Surprisingly, the young Malfoy had a heart that was rare to come across. Tomorrow, he would speak to St Mungo's, and when the deal was struck, he would contact the old woman who had come by the store looking for a cure for her grandson; and direct her to go to St Mungos the following week when the treatment was delivered to the hospital. Bill slept with a happy smile on his face, and decided to open the letters from his family the next morning when he got a minute.

Contrary to popular belief, Severus Snape was a rich man. He was a Potions Master of exemplary skills; In fact, he was in the top tier when it came to Mastery of Potions and over the years, he had managed to patent many potions including the Wolfsbane. Naturally, he had also tried to come up with a potion that could rid him of the nasty effects of the cruciatus which came with the territory of being too close to the dark lord. He had failed.

Time and time again he had failed, and he had all but resigned himself to having the shakes, migraines, and muscle aches amongst other symptoms that no common painkiller or cure could treat for the rest of his life. He had been sceptical when he read in the morning paper that the Longbottoms had been cured, but being the diligent person that he was, he had drawn one thousand galleons from his considerable wealth and purchased two vials.

He intended to analyse the potion in one vial, and if he decided that the potion was legitimate, he planned to take the other. Now, after hours of examining the potion, Severus Snape was ultimately defeated. There was nothing to the ingredients, in fact, every ingredient he had found in the potion was currently sitting in his students' supplies cupboard; but for the life of him, he could not recreate it, and he had tried. The ingredients were simple enough, but the process was complex, and Severus had even noticed some sort of rune whose purpose he could not tell.

Deciding to sleep off his frustration, he stored the unopened vial in his bedside drawer. Tomorrow was a school day, and the instructions that came with the vial said that after taking the cure, one would go into a fevered curative sleep that lasted between 24-48 hours. He hoped he would have come up with more results from his analysis by the time the weekend came, because the knifing pains he felt in his muscles were bad enough that he did not care that he could not reproduce the damned potion.

Uploader's Note: This has been a Backup Upload of Chapter 10 of Behind the Fog by Hancock23.