A Web Of Magic

In the end Magnus never got to brew his potion that day. He kept chatting with Tonks and got to know her well. She's a sixth year preparing for her N.E.W.T.s with the goal of becoming an Auror. Magnus got to know interesting information from her as she spoke about the O.W.L.s and the N.E.W.T.s exams. Tonks seemed like a nice girl and was a veritable source of information regarding many topics. And the best of all? She's a Metamorphmagus. How awesome is that? And her magical level was among the highest he had seen among the senior students at 52. Charlie was a 50 and he was among the best.

Tonks always searched for abandoned classrooms to study for her exams as her common room was way too noisy. Most subjects were manageable but potions had always been a tough subject for her. She always wondered how Snape let her in for the N.E.W.T class. Maybe he took pity on her? Who knows, but she made it in with a grade of EE instead of the usual O required by Snape. Then again there were too few students willing to take N.E.W.T level potions so there's that.

When she first saw Magnus with a potion's setup, she thought it was another first year in over his head. They get a few of them every year especially in Ravenclaw. But his prowess at healing and the way he answered her probing question about potions made her think otherwise. 'Hmm, just maybe,' she had an idea.

"Hey Magnus, how about we make a deal?" she questioned.

'Just what I wanted,' Magnus thought in glee but he didn't show it on his face. He read about a book on negotiations from his father's stash during the holidays and he was itching to try. "What do you have in mind?" he asked nonchalantly.

"How about you help me brew some potions and I'll teach you some cool spells?" Tonks offered.

"I only know potions curriculum up to the third year," Magnus revealed. Well he did learn some potions not taught in class but she doesn't need to know that.

"Only up to third year he says! You seem smart and I can see you brought the ingredients for the Wit-Sharpening Potion. That's a fourth-year potion at the very least. I want you to supply me some of the Wit-Sharpening Potions you make, when you make them. They are in great demand for students preparing for the O.W.L.s and the N.E.W.T.s. There's always more demand than supply and the prices of the potion skyrockets during this time. I would've liked to brew them myself, but I have other subjects to worry about. What do you say?" Tonks offered. It's c.u.mbersome to get potions from the outside not to mention their cost. While there are some good students in her class that do brew and supply them but they were mostly from Slytherin so that's a no.

"Why don't you ask your year mates?" Magnus questioned curiously. Surely, they would be better than a first year?

"It's not that easy. There aren't many students taking N.E.W.T level potions. Those that can and are willing to brew ask for a price I'm not willing to pay. Besides they don't easily sell them, less competition for them that way. And don't even talk about the other years. The professors don't look kindly upon the students who take the potions despite them knowing most do. They just let it slide as long as it doesn't become public knowledge. I don't trust others to keep it a secret," Tonks clarified.

'So, you trust me? You met me an hour ago!' Magnus's face showed his thoughts. Tonks noticed his expression and said righteously," I got a good feeling about you firstie. You are a healer, right? Keeping your patient's secrets is part of the duty."

"Right. Hmm, I can manage that, but the price you pay needs to change. I can learn enough spells by myself from the library," Magnus shrugged.

"I can help you catch girls," Tonks teased.

"What will I need girls for? If I want them for something, I can catch them myself," Magnus retorted.

'Ugh, right he's still a kid. His way of talking makes him sound older,' Tonks sighed." Then why don't you tell me what you want?"

"You are planning to be an auror right? So, you must be good at dueling. How about you teach me that?"

"I don't see what a kid like you want to learn dueling for, but alright. Keep in mind though, I'm not the best at it," Tonks shrugged.

"It's alright. You must be better than me and that's all that matters. Why don't you also teach me one or two spells while you are at it?"

"Sure, I guess."

"And I need a lock of your hair once in a while," Magnus suggested. This was what he really wanted ever since he heard she was a metamorphmagus.

"What do you need that for? You aren't going to curse me, are you? No funny business!" Tonks said seriously with folded hands.

"Don't worry, I'm not such a guy. There's a certain potion that needs the hair of a metamorphmagus. You are the only one I know and you are pretty brilliant," Magnus offered the last part to placate her.

"Damn right I'm brilliant. Alright I'll give you some, but you have to show me whatever you brew," Tonks relented.

"You have my word," Magnus agreed." How about you also teach me about catching girls? You know just in case."

"You cheeky little shit," Tonks put him into a choke and gave him a noogie. She calmed down eventually and agreed on the condition that he'll heal her for free whenever she asks and to also help her revising potions. Magnus readily agreed. He would have healed her anyway if she came to the medical wing so he's not losing much. He just needs to read up ahead to help her revise potions. Eventually they parted ways and agreed on a time to meet up every week.

[Impact Points+5]

Magnus made a beeline to the library. He planned on waiting till next year before learning the higher curriculum so as to not feel bored during the classes, but since he has a reason now, he can simply learn ahead, at least in potions. Classes were just a way to earn points now anyway. 'Ugh, I have to look for another abandoned classroom. At least I made a good deal today. Wait a minute, will "that" help me? Only one way to find out, I guess. Right after hitting the library,' he thought excitedly.

He collected many potion related books up to the N.E.W.T level as well as any other advanced potion books he could find. He still had the permission slip Madam Pomfrey wrote for him. She never bothered to ask it back so he kept it. This made finding the advanced books easy. Students can find the books if they search hard enough, but that would waste a lot of time and the slip made it all easy.

Just as he was about to go away, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. It was a book placed on one of the higher shelves that seemed out of place. The other books around it were all related to magical subjects, but his one was titled "How to scrub your cat." No book about scrubbing cats could be that thick. He pulled down the book with a levitation charm. It was heavy and when he touched the cover on all sides, he smiled. It was another tricky book. He always made sure to check the books in the library for any sort of hidden tricks. Apart from the nasty hexes that the librarian put on some books to prevent defacing them, some books were hidden using other means. A charm that changes the name or a false cover were the common types. This one seemed to belong to the latter. He didn't remove the cover though. It would make it easy to check it out of the library if it looked normal. A quick [Identify] and the [Instant Read] option showed which 200 points to read it only further proved his guess.

He tapped himself with his wand as he approached the counter. It was a charm to make himself smell like a fresh book. It took him a while to understand what made the librarian, Madam Pince, tick. She seemed to hate everything except books. Roger got the scolding of his life once when he scratched a book cover.

"Good day to you Madam Pince. You seem to be becoming beautiful by the day, just like a book," he greeted her. That's the best he could do on a short notice. Madam Pince looked up from whatever book she was reading and looked at him questioningly. Her eagle nose and parchment like skin tone gave her a stern countenance. "What is it Mr. Webb?"

'At least she's not sneering so that's a win. And she remembers my name. This should go well.' "I need your assistance in checking out some books Madam Pince," he spoke confidently. Madam Pince nodded her head and looked over the books he placed on the counter. She looked at them one by one. Whenever she stopped at an advanced book to stare, he would complement her and she would move on. He had her ticks down by now and he would not allow her to reject any book. Finally, she was done and he placed the books in his sling bag and he was off.

'Done at last! The things I do for the sake of knowledge,' he lamented. It was time for dinner so he went to the Great Hall. The Weasley twins seemed too busy these days as they huddled together wherever they are. 'Probably found some new toy. They'll tell me later anyway, no need to ask.' He ate a meal with his housemates and went back to their dorms later. He took out all the books he borrowed once he reached his bed and placed them on the study table. Of course, the titles of the books were all changed now and looked like different history books. And just as he expected Roger was checking them out from afar. 'Oh Roger, you never learn.'

He picked the false book and got onto his bed. 'Let's see your true face,' he peeled back the cover of the book slowly. It was a fake hard cover stuck over the real cover. Once it was done, the book was revealed to him, "Most Potente Potions."