InsaneJournal

NaNo FanFic Part 27
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Pairings this part: None mentioned
Rating: PG
Notes: I don't have any idea what this was supposed to be before it died.


September 2008, Wendelin's Club, London

Draco was still a member of Wendelin's, despite the wartime uheaval.  The Malfoys had been on the membership roster since the 18th century, and none of the intervening wars had yet been sufficient cause to consider their removal.  The Club had been one of few safe spaces for Draco to stay when he visited England during the years of his exile.  These days he could be guaranteed a front-row seat for all of the Club's events. 

For this particular lecture, he sat with between his father and Severus, and the three of them had apparently intimidated anyone who might have taken the seats on either side, or even in the row behind them.  By the time Luna walked in, in fact, Draco felt like he, his father, and Severus occupied some strange island of silence in the usually lively lecture hall.  After all this time, the stigma still lingered. 

Luna came in with a small gang of bodyguards: Teddy and his three best friends from junior Quidditch.  The miniature Quidditch gang filled the row behind Draco with loud, easy-going commentary on the latest brooms on display in Diagon Alley, while Luna kissed the men hello, even Lucius.  The tension in the room lessened a bit when the world did not end, and Luna sat down hex-free. Eventually even the seat next to Lucius was filled.  Luna leaned close to Severus, the two of them whispering over the latest issue of Potions Today.  Whatever it was that interested them must be exciting, because Severus was not even scowling.

As the speaker mounted the podium, the crowd quieted down.  Severus tucked the periodical into his robes and even the boys behind Draco shut their mouths for a few minutes. 

Doctor Michael Aeolias had recently made headlines for his work combining specialized charms with medical potions.  It was the sort of research that Luna devoured in any reputable journal she laid hands on, and Draco had been subject to many a dinner conversation dominated by the latest breakthroughs. 

Draco followed the gist of the lecture.  Dr. Aeolias had simplified the subject just enough to hold the interest of a layman without completely boring the professionals in the audience.  It was the Question and Answer period after the lecture proper when Draco's attention began to lapse.  He was actually now more interested in the low-voiced Quidditch commentary behind him. 

"There is no recorded successful use of the infacies family of charms with an anti-inflammatory treatment, madam," Dr. Aeolias said quite firmly.  Draco started paying attention again. "It has uniformly failed in all clinical trials.  That is a line of research best abandoned." 

"With respect, Doctor, I disagree," said a gray-haired woman wearing a pin from St. Mungo's on her formal robes.  "The infacies charms have failed when applied to anti-inflammatory potions already bottled. There is one clinical trial here at the Longbottom Center currently researching the effects of such charms on the potion at different points in the brewing process." 

"The efficacy of charms in potions is entirely dependent upon their being applied only once the potion is complete.  To interfere in the brewing process is to jeopardize the potion itself.  This is basic foundational knowledge."  Dr. Aeolias had obviousy meant that to be his final word on the matter, because he called on another questioner.  

"Sir, is it not part of the brewing process with a basic Pepper-Up Potion to cast a charm half-way through the first simmering stage?  There is a basic flaw in the reasoning that any healing potion will be irretrievably damaged by charm-casting mid-brew."  The man doing the questioning was in one of the back rows, so he stood up to be better heard.  He, too, wore a St. Mungo's pin. 

Draco began to wonder if the Hospital had sent plants, and glanced at his father.  Lucius's expression betrayed nothing but polite interest to the casual observer, but Draco recognized the subtle signs of satisfaction and amusement.  Lucius was still not above maneuvering events, and he had the perfect vehicle for this particular sort of action. 

Draco looked to his other side.  Severus had a smirk on his face, and looked quite pleased by the turn of questions.  Luna just looked interested.  It was likely that Severus realized what was happening and approved, but Draco did not think the man had conspired with Lucius.  This time.

Dr. Aeolias was quickly losing control of the lecture.  "We are getting away from the original topic," he said as other hands waved in the audience.  "There is significant progress yet to be made in the treatment of long-term curse damage with charmed potions.  Does anyone have a question regarding curse damage?" 

Luna raised her hand.  Dr. Aeolias looked upon her with something like relief, and Draco chuckled to himself.  The poor man had no idea. 

"Your most recent paper mentions nerve-induction curses and slicing curses, but does not touch on the psychosomatic curses or Unforgivables. Have you seen similar results with those classes?" 

Dr. Aeolias wiped his brow and stared down at Luna.  "The scope of our research is thoroughly covered in the latest report.  Clinical trials for psychosomatic curses are a long way off."

Luna looked disappointed, and raised her hand again before he could call on someone else, asking, "And the Unforgivables?" 

"Unforgivables are not treatable, madam, as is well-known.  Past a certain point of recovery, there is nothing to be done." 

There were several audible gasps in the audience at that, and Luna looked ready to argue, but someone two rows behind her spoke up first.  "It wasn't that long ago that the medical establishment assumed that exposure to the Cruciatus Curse for longer than a few minutes rendered a woman infertile.  We have proof of the error in that statement sitting in here with us.  And wasn't it just a decade ago that Magical Healing published the report that the Imperius curse left no lasting damage, no matter how often it was cast on the victim, or for how long?  We have a ward full of patients that proves that wrong, too!"

Dr. Aeolias nodded.  "And does that not prove my point?  These curses are Unforgivable for a reason, and whatever side-effects have or have not been observed, it remains clear from current research that complete recovery is not possible. We deal with injuries and diseases we have a hope of curing." 

Luna had gone white. Severus put his hand on her wrist, and Draco leaned forward.  The same man who had mentioned the Magical Healing report continued to debate Dr. Aeolias.  "Is that not hypocritical of you as a physician, sir?"

"Stating the truth is not hypocrisy, painful as it may be to hear," Dr. Aeolias replied, calmer now than he had been before.  "We can ease suffering, but not always cure it. That is the unfortunate reality."

"Ridiculous," Luna said, shaking off Severus's hand. 

"I beg your pardon?" Dr. Aeolias looked at her again.

"I said, Ridiculous," Luna repeated.  "It is ridiculous to reject even the idea of a cure out of hand.  To reject anything out of hand, when it is your own research that is proving how little we really know about the relationship between illness and the healing of it!  We are still using potions recipes dating to the Dark Ages, for Merlin's sake, with ingredients that reflect a pre-apparition availability of flora, and a pre-industrial ignorance of basic chemistry." 

"I do not disdain experimental potions, madam. That is not, however, my area of expertise.  I report what I have found in my research, and my research leads me to no viable cure possibilities for Unforgivables or severe psychosomatic curse damage."  At this point Dr. Aeolias seemed almost sympathetic, as if he was at a bedside comforting a relative.  "We must work with what we have."

Draco had to speak up.  "Perhaps you should have qualified your earlier answer, then. Here in London there has been great progress with Cruciatus treatment." 

Dr. Aeolias shook his head.  "Unorthodox, those studies. Difficult to state results based on anecdotal evidence." 

Severus snorted, and that seemed to relax Luna just a bit.  She rubbed her back and shifted in her chair. 

Wendelin's president allowed a couple more innocuous questions before closing the floor. 

Severus leaned back in his chair as the room erupted in chatter, making no move to join the crowds trying to exit. "Where do they find these imbeciles?" he muttered with scorn. Draco hid his grin behind his hand. 

Luna began to laugh.  She was sitting with three examples of Cruciatus recovery and was living proof, as one man had mentioned, that old theories of curse effects were no longer valid. The top of her belly began to itch like mad as if to call attention to its existence; look here, world, it is possible to thrive. "Anecdotal evidence, he says."  She took several deep breaths and grinned up at the potions master beside her. "I can't wait for your research to hit the headlines."

Severus snorted and waved a hand dismissively, but Draco could tell he was pleased. The crowd had thinned enough by then that they could stand up and head into the lounge without too many overt security precautions. Luna took Severus's arm and Draco fell into step beside his father as Teddy and his cronies took point.

"Not a very good night for Doctor Aeolias," Draco commented as they walked.

Lucius smirked, but said nothing. He had very little to say most of the time. Getting used to the silence had taken Draco quite a long time. 

"Are you planning any more career-ending lecture invitations?" Draco held up two fingers to the barman as they entered the lounge. 

Lucius waited for the delivery of his usual brandy, enjoyed the first sip, then smiled at Draco. That expression could still make Draco shiver. Then Lucius said, "Ask your mother."  Draco stared over the rim of his glass for a moment, and burst out laughing. So much for the master planner.