Daphne leaned back slightly, absorbing everything Harry had just explained.
“So, you two need to watch what you drink, while I need to be careful with both food and drink.”
“Not necessarily.”
Hermione immediately shook her head.
“We’re assuming the potions work exactly the same way they did before.”
Harry nodded in agreement.
“Which may not be true.”
Hermione folded her arms thoughtfully.
“If Molly has improved any of them—and I think we should assume she has—then food could still be a viable delivery method for the love and loyalty potions.”
Her expression darkened.
“Even if the effects were reduced, we’d still become seriously ill.”
Daphne grimaced.
“Point taken.”
Harry gathered another set of notes and slid them across the table.
“That’s why the detection charms are so important.”
Both girls focused on him.
“We’re not dealing with conventional poisonings.”
He tapped the parchment.
“At least, not primarily.”
“What we’re really worried about are magical substances designed to alter thoughts, emotions, or behavior.”
Hermione nodded.
“Mind-altering potions.”
“Exactly.”
Harry pointed toward a line of notes.
“There’s a general detection charm that can identify the presence of any mind-altering potion.”
Daphne’s eyebrows rose.
“Any of them?”
“It won’t tell us which one.”
Harry clarified.
“But it will tell us something’s there.”
He flipped to another page.
“There are also more specialized charms that can identify specific potions.”
“And Specialis Revelio?” asked Hermione.
Harry smiled.
“That one reveals the magical ingredients present within an object.”
Understanding immediately dawned on her face.
“So by identifying the ingredients, you can determine which potion was used.”
“To a degree.”
Harry shrugged.
“A trained Potions Master could make an accurate assessment.”
Daphne nodded.
“But we don’t need a complete analysis.”
She tapped the table lightly.
“We only need proof that something suspicious is present.”
“Exactly.”
Harry pointed at her.
“Once we detect something, we report it.”
“Then let the experts handle the rest.”
For a moment, silence settled over the room.
Then Harry’s expression became thoughtful.
“Although…”
Hermione narrowed her eyes.
“Although what?”
“There may be another delivery method.”
Daphne frowned.
“What kind?”
Harry hesitated.
“Amortentia can be aerosolized.”
Both girls blinked.
“It can what?” Hermione asked.
“Aerosolized.”
Harry gestured vaguely through the air.
“It can be incorporated into perfumes.”
Recognition flickered across Daphne’s face.
“Oh.”
Harry continued.
“The scent particles carry microscopic traces of the potion.”
He tapped his chest.
“If inhaled, those droplets enter through the lungs.”
Hermione immediately understood.
“The lungs count as soft tissue.”
Daphne shook her head.
“Not really a concern.”
Harry looked surprised.
“No?”
She crossed her legs.
“Amortentia-based perfumes exist.”
“However, they’re heavily diluted.”
Her tone became confident.
“The effects are minimal.”
“A brief attraction.”
“A slight fascination.”
“Nothing more.”
She waved dismissively.
“The moment the perfume is removed, the effect fades.”
“Usually within an hour or two.”
Harry considered that.
“So it wouldn’t work for long-term conditioning.”
“Not remotely.”
Hermione looked thoughtful.
“Even if it wouldn’t control us…”
She glanced between them.
“Would it still make us sick?”
Nobody seemed eager to discover the answer.
Harry sighed.
“Let’s hope we never have to find out.”
The conversation shifted back toward practical matters.
“How exactly does the detection charm work?” Hermione asked.
Harry immediately sat forward.
“Like most charms.”
He held up his wand.
“Intent.”
“Incantation.”
“Wand movement.”
“Magical focus.”
He lowered the wand.
“If performed correctly, any object containing a mind-altering potion will glow bright blue.”
“For how long?” Daphne asked.
“A few seconds.”
Hermione frowned.
“We’ll have to cast it in public.”
“And?”
Harry looked genuinely confused.
“People will notice.”
Harry stared at her.
Then snorted.
“Hermione.”
She immediately recognized that tone.
“What?”
“What was Alastor Moody’s favorite phrase?”
Without thinking, she answered.
“Constant vigilance.”
The realization hit her immediately afterward.
“Oh.”
Harry grinned.
“Exactly.”
Hermione’s eyes brightened.
“With Moody teaching this year, students becoming more cautious wouldn’t seem strange at all.”
“Not even slightly.”
Daphne smiled.
“It actually gives us the perfect excuse.”
Harry leaned back against the sofa.
“Good.”
For the first time all afternoon, he seemed moderately satisfied.
Then another thought occurred to him.
“Hermione?”
“Yes?”
“Do your parents receive the Daily Prophet?”
She looked puzzled.
“Why?”
Harry exchanged a glance with Daphne.
“Because it won’t be long before the Prophet gets hold of the bonding story.”
Hermione’s face immediately fell.
“Oh.”
Harry nodded.
“The moment a journalist learns about it, they’ll publish it.”
“Probably on the front page.”
Daphne grimaced.
“And if Hermione’s parents received the paper…”
“They’d find out immediately,” Hermione finished.
She shook her head.
“Another reason I’m glad they don’t.”
Harry wasn’t finished.
“Once the article appears, there’s something else we need to prepare for.”
“What?” asked Hermione.
“Hate mail.”
The word alone made her wince.
Harry noticed immediately.
“You remember Rita Skeeter’s article.”
Hermione instinctively rubbed her fingers.
The memory clearly remained unpleasant.
“Unfortunately.”
Harry nodded.
“This will be similar.”
“Only worse.”
Daphne sighed.
“I was thinking the same thing.”
Harry continued.
“Last time it was because people thought you were involved with Viktor Krum and me.”
Hermione rolled her eyes.
“That ridiculous nonsense.”
“This time,” Harry said, “it’ll be because of the bond.”
Silence settled briefly.
Then Daphne spoke.
“Starting the day the article appears, Hermione doesn’t touch incoming owl post.”
Hermione opened her mouth.
Daphne held up a finger.
“No arguments.”
She pointed toward Harry.
“He and I will handle it.”
“And any Howlers?” asked Hermione.
Harry’s grin looked positively dangerous.
“Incendio.”
Daphne nodded approvingly.
“Before they can say a single word.”
Hermione sighed.
“You two have clearly thought about this.”
“We’ve had practice.”
That earned a reluctant smile from her.
After another moment she straightened.
“If we’re learning potion detection charms, we should probably learn poison detection charms too.”
Harry nodded.
“Agreed.”
“You can never be too careful.”
The remainder of the afternoon passed surprisingly quickly.
Books were pushed aside.
Wands were drawn.
The three of them practiced repeatedly until they could reliably cast the detection charms without hesitation.
Blue sparks.
Failed attempts.
Corrected wand movements.
Repeated incantations.
By the time they finally stopped, all three could perform the spells comfortably.
Ancient Runes would have to wait.
So would the rest of their homework.
As evening approached, the trio gathered their belongings and prepared to leave.
The Great Hall awaited.
And with it, whatever new complications the day still had in store for them.