~Interlude 1: Umbridge's HeadBoy~

An all too familiar scene. Your Head Boy's Dormitory, attached to the Ravenclaw Common Room. It was lined with bookshelves that were meticulously organized. Against the wall next to your fireplace was your work desk. Opposite of the desk was your 4-post bed. The room was only dimly lit, you sit across from the door in your armchair flipping through a tome on the consequences of imbuing items with with sentience.

The door opens and a student walks in. You glance up, and your eyes narrow. The student closes the door behind them, and swallows nervously. Her small frame is concealed behind her Ravenclaw robe. Her raven black hair drapes down her back and her dark eyes are cast down to the floor. The twin: Padma Patil, you realize. She is in your year, but you didn't interact much with her in your first year- you were too distracted by other things.

Now she was a Seventh Year. The years had been kind. The Witch who had been called one of the prettiest of the Class was now gorgeous. Even Headmaster Umbridge's new robes, frumpy and drab as they were, could not hide her delicate curves.

"Uhh.." She starts awkwardly. Her voice is a little deep, but has a naturally sultry quality to it.

You stare at her, and she stands transfixed by your sharp green eyes.

"Padma," you say softly. You have a good hunch as to why she has come, frankly its adorable. "We've been prefects together for years. You know you can approach me if you need anything."

Padma balks, looking even more nervous.

"Well they say you... *ahem* They say you can get in touch with the Cockatrice." She blurts.

You smile warmly. It's important to try and get her relaxed again, put her in a position where she feels comfortable asking. Almost everyone knew you were the Cockatrice, but under Umbrage's Hogwarts a certain amount of clandestine behavior was required.

"Yes, I suppose they would. I can... get you in touch with the Cockatrice." You say slowly. You slowly move your hand over to your wand, taking care to look non-threatening. You wordlessly pull another chair over from the desk, as well as your bedside table. You set your wand back down.

"Please, have a seat Padma, there's no reason to be strangers." you say dryly. You see some spirit and fire return to Padma's eyes. The two of you had a falling out when you left Dumbledore's Army. You had wanted to be Head Boy, and didn't really care whether that meant sucking up to Dumbledore or sucking up to Umbridge. Predictably, the rest of the Army had a problem with that.

"Many people try to see the Cockatrice for the wrong reasons," you say as she sits down. She nods as if you had confirmed a suspicion of hers. "I try to make sure that I only direct the people who actually need his specific... skills."

She seems to want to say something, but after a long pause she just stares at you, as if trying to get a measure of you.

"Potions and Alchemical Admixtures are seen as a shortcut. A way to get around a problem. I tend to think of them more as a means of approaching a problem, if you try to use a potion to avoid a problem, it typically just gets worse. So please tell me, Prefect, what need have you of the Cockatrice?"

Padma sighs and frowns. "I have an issue. A Boy issue."

You smile, trying to appear sympathetic. It was much the same. It was hard in Umbridge's administration to court your fellow wizards, which meant good business for you, but put a bit of a damper on things socially.

Looking Padma in the eyes you nod slowly, trying to get her to continue. She squirms lightly under your gaze, you wish you could turn it off, but it had to be genetic or something.

"Let me pour some tea." you say, standing up. You walk over to your desk, and whisper a word to bring your kettle to a boil. "Do you take any sugar or cream?"

"Yes, both" she says. Smiling to yourself you bring over the teapot, with the creamer and the sugar floating behind you. What was the point of being a wizard if you couldn't show off?

"Please help yourself." you say pouring her some tea- Assam. She smiles politely and starts to fix her tea. It was a little rude, but it served your needs. You drank the tea black. The sugar cubes were a clever little invention of yours. They were saturated with a *Tolerance Potion*. It would help her be more open about what she wanted and needed, and lower her discretion. It was underhanded, but it would prove useful. Additionally she needed to choose to dose herself, the recipe for her potion would require that. The life of a potions master was one of technicalities.

Sipping on you tea, you listen to her story.

"It's just, no matter what I do, he doesn't seem to notice me!" she continues, a touch louder than before she started drinking her tea. "I know he thinks I am cute, but I can't grab his attention, he sees me as a friend, another Ravenclaw girl. I just want a chance to see if Dean and I could be... more." She turns red and busies herself with the teacup. "This is all so embarrassing."

"Nonsense." You say laughing. "This is part of life." You stretch out and cross your ankles. "The problem is that most potions won't serve your needs. Lust and Love potions wear off, and leave the drinker feeling cheated or jilted.

The infatuation is loud, and clumsy. It feels more like someone is play-acting rather than is truly in love. Other people notice, and the user of the potion is found out. Not to mention that there are some potentially troublesome ethics involved."

Padma deflates, " That's what I thought, thanks." She moves as if to stand up.

"Now hold on," you say raising a finger. "You don't want a standard love potion, you want Dean to pay you some attention and see if you can make a more honest go out of it. That's a tall order, but the Cockatrice can help you."

Padma stops and stares at you for a second. Slowly she relaxes and reaches for her tea.

"So what exactly does this Cockatrice have in mind?" She asks, sipping her tea.

"He has brewed a better love potion." you say. It's hard not to smirk. "With this potion you will always be able to catch the drinker's eye. You'll stand out of a crowd, you'll be funny, charming, and most of all memorable. This potion makes you the most interesting person in school, without changing their emotions, behaviors or really even their thoughts."

"So its just like a love potion." Padma says flatly.

You shrug. "The Cockatrice likes to believe that it is subtler. The drinker typically is never aware that it even happened. The period of heightened interest lasts for about a week, and passes just like any other crush."

"Don't you think its a bit of a risk then?" Padma asks interested. "If the love potion doesn't work, don't you -- er Doesn't the Cockatrice end up with angry customers?"

"For those individuals," you say in calm measured tones. "For those who are not concerned with the future the Cockatrice usually provides more conventional love potions, and he lets them deal with the inevitable outrage, scandal and heartbreak when the potions run their course."

Sipping at your tea, you try not to show your eagerness. The flickering light of the fireplace shows the conflict on the Patil sister's face. You have no doubt which side will win out.

Padma sighs heavily and looks to the floor. Looking up through her lashes she speaks. "I... I'll take it."

Breathing in through your nose you uncross your feet, and place your teacup back on the small bedtable.

"I will tell the Cockatrice that you wish to do business." you say conjuring your quill and a notebook from your sleeve.

"How much will it cost, Marvolo? I - I don't have much." She stammers.

"Between old friends?" you say. "I am sure I can convince the Cockatrice to provide this gratis. Apart from the material costs."

The cleverer of the Patil sisters' eyes narrow. "Material costs?"

"Yes, unfortunately the potion needs a personal catalyst. Otherwise the drinker just finds everyone vaguely more interesting." you say bracing for impact. This part never went particularly smoothly.

"So you need a strand of hair, or a personal effect of mine or?" said Padma, her expression darkening.

"Ah no, unfortunately." You say. "Essentially what we will need is your vaginal secretions."

There is a moment of silence, and then- "WHAT?!?"

You shrug, and hold out your empty hands. "Its what the potion calls for, regrettably."

"You have got to be kidding me, no!" Padma stands up and storms to the door. She reaches out for the door handle. Now you had to test how well the sugar worked.

"What other choice do you have? You can walk out this door, but nothing will change, you'll still need a love potion. Besides I am not sure if Dean is going to stick around much longer now that Umbridge is charge. Do you have time to storm out?" You knew you were playing dirty, but at this point you either made the sale, or risked Padma saying something to one of the Professors.

Padma freezes at the door she turns around at you, dark eyes brimming with indignation.