Chapter 2: The Potions Heist

By: SirMixAStories

The dungeon corridors were dark, damp, and unsettlingly quiet. A thin layer of mist clung to the stone floor, swirling around Minerva's boots as she followed Abraxas deeper into the maze of tunnels beneath the castle. She kept her wand at the ready, though the soft glow of the Lumos spell seemed only to make the shadows deeper, as if Hogwarts itself were watching their every move.

"This is ridiculous," Minerva muttered, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Stealing from Slughorn? This is how you plan to prepare for the war, Malfoy? By nicking potion ingredients like some petty thief?"

Abraxas, walking just ahead of her, didn't bother to turn around. His platinum blond hair caught the faint light of her spell, casting a silvery halo around his head that only added to the smug confidence he carried with him like a cloak. "You came, didn't you?" he whispered back, his tone light, clearly relishing the adventure. "Besides, you're here to make sure I get the right ingredients. That means you're just as guilty as I am, McGonagall."

Minerva clenched her jaw, her annoyance only growing with each step. She hadn't wanted to be part of this—breaking into Slughorn's personal storeroom in the dead of night was not her idea of preparation. But the thought of leaving Abraxas to do it alone, unsupervised, was worse. She could already imagine him coming back with the wrong ingredients or, worse, getting them caught by one of the professors.

"I'm here because you're careless," Minerva shot back, her voice low but sharp. "If it were up to you, you'd probably grab something explosive and blow the whole dungeon to pieces."

Abraxas finally glanced over his shoulder, flashing her that infuriating smirk. "Now that would be a sight, wouldn't it?"

Minerva glared at him, though he only chuckled softly, clearly enjoying himself. For him, this was all a game—a thrill, a challenge, something to conquer. She hated how easily he seemed to navigate these moral gray areas, how he thrived on the excitement of breaking rules, while she struggled with the weight of every decision.

They rounded a corner, and there it was: Slughorn's private storeroom. The door was an unassuming wooden slab, but the heavy iron lock and the faint shimmer of protective enchantments told a different story. Minerva halted, her eyes narrowing as she studied the ward.

"You can break through that, right?" Abraxas asked, still grinning as he leaned casually against the wall, clearly expecting her to do the heavy lifting.

"Of course I can," Minerva replied curtly. "But you'd better be quick once it's down. We don't have much time."

Abraxas only nodded, his expression unbothered as if this were just another casual stroll through the castle. Minerva took a deep breath, raised her wand, and muttered the incantations under her breath. The wards shimmered and rippled, protesting her intrusion, but slowly they began to unravel. The final spell sent a faint hiss through the air as the protective barrier collapsed.

Minerva turned to Abraxas, her expression stern. "You've got five minutes. Get in, get the ingredients, and get out. No messing around."

"Five minutes? I could do it in three," he teased, but seeing her scowl deepen, he added, "Fine. Five it is."

He pushed the door open with a low creak and slipped inside, leaving Minerva standing guard outside the door. The flickering light from her wand illuminated the narrow corridor, casting long shadows on the walls. She hated this—the sneaking, the theft—but she had to admit, there was a strange sense of relief knowing that she was here to keep Abraxas in check. Left to his own devices, Merlin only knew what kind of trouble he'd stir up.

Inside, Abraxas moved with ease, his long fingers deftly plucking glass jars and phials from the shelves. His eyes gleamed as he scanned the rows of rare and dangerous ingredients, mentally calculating their value and potency. He loved this part—the thrill of taking what wasn't his, the sense of superiority it gave him over the ordinary, rule-abiding students. What did it matter if a few potions ingredients went missing? Slughorn would never notice.

Outside, Minerva tapped her foot, her nerves fraying. She glanced down the hallway, half-expecting a prefect or one of the ghosts to come gliding around the corner at any moment.

Finally, after what felt like far more than five minutes, Abraxas emerged from the storeroom, carrying a small, leather-bound satchel that clinked softly with glass vials. He gave her a self-satisfied grin. "Easy as pie."

Minerva crossed her arms, eyeing the bag warily. "Did you get everything?"

"Of course I did," he said, handing her the satchel. "You can check if you like."

Minerva opened the bag and sifted through the contents, her sharp eyes scanning each vial and jar. She felt a grudging sense of relief as she recognized all the ingredients they needed: knotgrass, powdered silver, and boomslang skin among others. Everything was there, just as it should be.

She looked back up at Abraxas, still annoyed but slightly impressed. "For once, you didn't completely muck things up."

Abraxas gave a dramatic bow. "Always a pleasure to exceed your expectations, McGonagall."

Minerva rolled her eyes. "Let's just get out of here before someone finds us."

As they turned to leave, Minerva couldn't help but think of Eileen. It was just like her to stay behind, too cautious, too precious to risk getting caught. Eileen had protested coming along in the first place, and Minerva had agreed it was best for her to remain out of this particular escapade. Eileen was brilliant, but she wasn't cut out for breaking school rules—not like this.

Still, as much as she disliked it, Minerva had to admit that without Abraxas's daring and Eileen's quiet intellect, they wouldn't have made it this far. They all brought something to the table, and as infuriating as Abraxas could be, he had a talent for getting things done.

They slipped back into the shadows, the stolen ingredients tucked safely away in Minerva's robes, and made their way back toward the tower, ready for what awaited them next.

Minerva and Abraxas crept back through the darkened halls, their footsteps echoing softly as they made their way to the secluded corner of the castle where they'd agreed to meet Eileen. The cool night air seeped through the stone walls, but Minerva barely felt it; her mind was racing, a mix of relief and lingering frustration toward Abraxas. At least the theft had gone off without a hitch, though she hated to admit that his bravado had helped.

As they entered the quiet alcove just outside the Astronomy Tower, a familiar figure was already pacing nervously, her dark hair falling in loose waves over her shoulders. Eileen, who had been too anxious to join them on their mission, rushed toward them the moment she saw them emerge from the shadows.

"Merlin, you're back," Eileen whispered, her voice thick with worry. "Did anything go wrong? I was terrified Slughorn might catch you, or worse—Filch."

Minerva gave her a reassuring smile, though she still felt a little on edge. "It went smoothly," she said, pulling the satchel of ingredients from her robe and handing it to Eileen. "No one saw us, and we got everything we need."

Eileen let out a breath she'd been holding, visibly relieved. Her dark eyes scanned Minerva's face for any sign of trouble, as though she still couldn't believe they'd made it back unharmed. Tentatively, she reached up and placed a hand gently on Minerva's cheek, her fingertips soft and cool against her skin.

"You must have been so worried," Eileen murmured, her thumb brushing lightly across Minerva's cheekbone. "I should have come with you."

Minerva felt the warmth rush to her face before she could stop it. Her cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink, and she quickly turned her head, hoping Eileen wouldn't notice the sudden heat rising in her. "It's fine, really. Abraxas and I managed."

Eileen dropped her hand slowly, a small smile playing on her lips. Minerva cleared her throat, trying to compose herself, but the faint blush lingered on her pale skin.

Behind them, Abraxas, who had been watching the exchange with growing amusement, sauntered over and leaned against one of the nearby stone walls. He threw himself into a nearby chair with a careless grin, lounging haphazardly as though he were in his own common room. His long legs stretched out in front of him, his arms draped lazily over the sides.

"Well, ladies," he drawled, clearly enjoying the attention, "considering all the hard work I put in tonight, I think I deserve a little reward. How about a kiss for your knight in shining armor?" His eyes sparkled with mischief as he tilted his head toward Minerva, the smirk on his face as infuriating as ever.

Minerva raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You've got to be joking."

Abraxas placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. "Come now, McGonagall. I risked life and limb for those ingredients. Surely that's worth a little gratitude?"

Before he could say another word, Minerva strode over to where he lounged and gave his chair a firm push, tipping it just enough to throw him off balance. Abraxas yelped in surprise as the chair toppled, sending him sprawling to the floor in an unceremonious heap.

"That's your reward," Minerva said, brushing her hands together as if she'd just completed a difficult task. "Now get up and stop being ridiculous." 

Eileen stifled a laugh behind her hand, her worried demeanor fading as she watched Abraxas scramble to right himself, his usual smugness replaced by a scowl. There was something oddly charming about the way he could recover from such embarrassment with ease, as though nothing could truly dent his arrogance. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than it should have, her chest tightening as a small, guilty smile crept onto her lips. She quickly glanced at Minerva, who stood with her arms crossed, ever the picture of authority and control, and Eileen couldn't help the warmth that crept into her cheeks.

The contrast between the two—the fiery determination in Minerva's eyes and the carefree defiance in Abraxas's smirk—made her heart flutter in a way that left her both confused and captivated. She admired them both, in different ways, though the intensity of those feelings was something she had never quite been able to put into words.

"Well, that's gratitude for you," Abraxas muttered, straightening his robes and throwing a glare at Minerva. But the playful gleam hadn't left his eyes. He knew how to push Minerva's buttons, and he clearly reveled in it.

Eileen's gaze flickered between them, her fingers curling unconsciously around the strap of the satchel. The way they bantered, the ease with which they challenged each other—it was something she envied. She often felt like an outsider, watching their fire from the edges, but sometimes, just sometimes, she let herself imagine what it would be like to be part of that spark. Her blush deepened as she realized how intently she had been watching them, but she quickly ducked her head, hoping they wouldn't notice.

Minerva rolled her eyes, her tone laced with exasperation. "I'm not thanking you for enjoying yourself more than you should. Now, if you're done with your theatrics, we have work to do."

Abraxas shot her a look, but his grin was already returning. He dusted himself off, as unruffled as ever. "Fine, fine. Let's get to it then."

Minerva turned to Eileen, her expression softening slightly. "We've got all the ingredients. We can start brewing the potion tomorrow after classes. It's going to take a while—months, maybe longer—but if we're careful, we'll be ready by the time we need it."

Eileen nodded, her fingers brushing lightly over the satchel of ingredients as though confirming it was real. Her thoughts were still caught on the way Minerva's stern expression melted just for her, if only for a moment. The warmth in her chest grew, and she found herself wishing she could earn more of those fleeting smiles, the ones Minerva seemed to reserve for just her. "I'll start reading up on the proper measurements tonight," she said quietly, her voice slightly trembling with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "We can't afford to get anything wrong."

Minerva smiled faintly, and Eileen's heart skipped a beat. That smile—just for her. "Neither can we afford any more interruptions," Minerva added, casting a pointed look at Abraxas.

Eileen's eyes darted to Abraxas, watching how he seemed to shrug off Minerva's sharp comment without a care in the world. He leaned back lazily against the wall, his posture relaxed and confident, and Eileen found herself captivated again. There was something intoxicating about his reckless charm, the way he seemed so untouchable, so different from her quiet caution.

"Eileen," Minerva's voice cut through Eileen's swirling thoughts, sharp but tinged with concern. "You're looking a little flushed there. Are you feeling all right?"

Eileen froze, her heart hammering in her chest as Minerva's eyes fixed on her with that unflinching, no-nonsense gaze. The attention, both soothing and intimidating, made the warmth in her cheeks flare even more. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat, but her voice came out strained and stilted. "I—I'm fine! Just… just a bit tired, that's all."

Minerva's brow furrowed, clearly not convinced. "Are you sure? You've seemed off since we got back."

Eileen nodded quickly, her movements jerky as she clutched the satchel tighter to her chest. "Yes, I'm sure! Just need to, um, get some air. I'll… I'll head to the dormitory now and start on those measurements."

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and made for the exit, her footsteps far too quick to be casual. She could feel her face burning, and all she wanted was to escape the oppressive weight of her own embarrassment.

Minerva stared after her, her lips slightly parted in confusion. "What was that all about?" she murmured, half to herself.

Abraxas, still lounging against the wall, watched Eileen's hasty retreat with raised eyebrows, amusement flickering across his features. He waited until the sound of her footsteps faded before he leaned closer to Minerva, his voice dripping with mischief. "I think Prince has a bit of a crush on us."

Minerva blinked, turning to him, her expression caught between skepticism and irritation. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, come on, McGonagall," Abraxas said with a grin, pushing himself off the wall. "You can't tell me you didn't notice. The blushing, the stammering, the quick exit? It's classic." He crossed his arms, his smirk deepening. "Though I'd wager the crush is more than just a little focused on you, if you know what I mean."

Minerva's eyes widened, her mouth opening as if to respond, but nothing came out at first. Then, shaking her head in disbelief, she shot him a glare. "You're being ridiculous."

"Am I?" Abraxas' tone was teasing, almost sing-song as he leaned closer. "Maybe you've just been too busy cursing me out to notice. But trust me, it's there. And now that I think about it… she did look at you quite fondly when you smiled at her earlier."

Minerva's frown deepened as she glanced toward the door where Eileen had disappeared. "She's just shy, Abraxas. Not everyone is as blatantly flirtatious as you."

Abraxas laughed, the sound low and lazy. "Believe what you want, McGonagall, but I have a good eye for these things. Besides, who wouldn't be charmed by all this?" He gestured to himself with an exaggerated flourish before adding, "I just wonder which one of us she fancies more."

Minerva huffed and crossed her arms. "Whatever it is, it's none of your business. Leave her alone, Malfoy."

Abraxas winked as he sprawled back in his chair, his smirk never fading. "Oh, I plan to… for now. But it's amusing, isn't it? Our quiet little Eileen, harboring feelings like that."

Minerva shook her head again, her thoughts flickering back to the way Eileen's hand had felt on her cheek earlier, the softness of her touch, the way she'd blushed. She pushed the thought away, determined to focus on the task at hand. "We've got more important things to worry about than your little fantasies, Malfoy. Now, are you going to help with the potion or not?"

Abraxas chuckled softly, lounging back again. "Lead the way, Minnie. I'm at your service."

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