The Prince's Tale

[15] Vitality maintenance agent

【"Vitality maintenance agent, a drug that can maintain the life of a patient, has strong toxicity. The effect is the same as the vitality maintenance spell, and it can save people's lives, but the user needs to endure extreme pain. The survival time after taking it depends entirely on The will of the user." - "European Wizarding Pharmacopoeia (Fourth Edition, 1985)"]

Diana's gentle eyes looking at her son seemed to be engraved on my heart.Even I didn't realize it myself, but I really longed for that kind of warm love for a long, long time.It should be said that my long-cold heart has never received that kind of warmth.I went to the Prewett family cemetery that night with unspeakable emotions.

"You never loved me, did you?"

Standing alone in front of the cold tombstone, I asked this question that was destined to be unanswered.I was holding a black umbrella, and the light from the tip of my wand illuminated the words on the tombstone.

Lucretia Melania Blake Prewett

Born on March 1925, 4

Died August 1992, 12

Even if no one knows, I have no regrets

"Is that so, my dear—mother?"

I felt the moisture in my eyes, and I raised my head unconsciously, as if I could store them in this way.The snow has never fallen so freely under the dark night.A wave of mixed emotions welled up in my heart.And the source of all emotions is buried among those long past events.

For as long as I can remember, I have lived on the Prince family estate.At that time, I didn't think I was any different.Like other children of my age, I played and laughed in the garden all day long.

Every detail that I ignored back then is meaningful now.For example, my father’s taciturnity; for example, the mysterious letter from Irene in the potion book; for example, the distant smile that my mother Iris always wore when facing me; Nor go to the banquet.At that time, I only knew that I followed William all day long, like a little tail that couldn't be shaken off.

At that time, the only thing that left a shadow on me was William's yelling at me at Iris' funeral, "You killed my mother!".What awaited him was a loud slap from his father and half a month of confinement.

After that, William became as taciturn as his father.But I was still like before, chattering around him all day long.

My good days ended when I entered school on September [-], [-], and it was also from that day that the secrets that had been hidden for many years began to be revealed to me in the most intense and painful way.

I finally know why Iris has never been so affectionate to me; I finally know why William yelled such a nonsensical remark at me at the funeral.

Because my biological mother was not my father's wife.I am an illegitimate daughter.When the rumors spread the worst, I even hid in the dormitory all day and dared not go out to class.But my situation in the dormitory was not much better.In the dormitory, Narcissa Blake treated me like nothing; Dolores Umbridge sneered at me; Rita Skeeter was willing to talk to me.But after I found out that she distorted the meaning of what I said and told those malicious people outside, I firmly pulled her into the blacklist.

These rumors continued for most of the semester.No one knows how it started, and no one knows how it ended.But the end doesn't mean it didn't exist.On the contrary, I will never forget the mocking faces of those people and the cold arrows they shot behind their backs.

But the past is the past after all.Time has erased many twig ends.For example, I no longer remember how I found out, step by step, that my biological mother was Lucretia.All I know is that I've longed to see her; all I know is that I've never seen her.

I still remember the days when I was watching her door.It was a very hot summer, and I was wearing my favorite white dress with beautiful jasmine flowers embroidered on it. I thought she would like it.I squatted in front of her house every day for ten days in a row.On the last day, I was told that she had gone on an island vacation with Mr. Prewett.

During the heavy rain, I sat on the ground and cried loudly without any scruples.My favorite dress was covered in mud and my well-manicured hair was sticking to me wet.In the end it was William who found me and dragged me home without explanation.I had a high fever because of the rain.Since then, I have never mentioned a word about her.

My father never said anything about her to me either.But he put all his thoughts about her into action: my identical nickname to that person, William and Andromeda Black's engagement, and my marriage to Sirius Black that was still under negotiation and never ended.

I used to long for someone to stand up in my most difficult time, protect me, support me, and tell me that she had to do so.But all the while, I heard nothing and saw nothing.

"You are wrong, child." An old voice sounded from behind.

I turned around sharply with my wand in my hand, almost throwing a Stunning Charm.In front of me was a little old man with silver hair and a stooped body.He looked at me with a smile, but I couldn't see what was funny in that.

"Who are you?" I asked coldly, using this to cover up my gaffe just now.

"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that she has always loved you." He said kindly.

"Why should I believe you?"

"My child, please listen to me tell a story, okay?" The little old man looked at me calmly, "This is not a very long story."

I keep silent.The little old man took this as tacit consent.

"Once upon a time there was a witch. Her eyes were as clear as the clear sky over the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch, and her smile was as bright as the autumn sun shining through golden leaves... At the age of 28, she married the ten-year-old who pursued her. Two years of Ignatius, the two lived a very happy life. Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. Two years later, she was designed to hang out with her first love. Not long after that, she found out that she was pregnant gone."

Having said that, the little old man had no smile on his face.

"At that time, everyone was persuading her to get rid of this child. This child involved two families and four families. Without this child, everyone's life could be on the right track. There are countless pairs of eyes on on her stomach."

"But she didn't do it. She went around and finally convinced the key people. Her husband agreed to give birth to the child. Her first love, who was married, agreed to raise the child and do everything he could to protect it. Children are not disturbed by gossip."

"She made a poisonous oath at the time, saying that she would never meet and recognize this child, which dispelled everyone's doubts. After that, she never had another child. She only had this child just now. I took a quick look at her when I was born—"

"No," I whispered softly, interrupting his memory, "She once wrote a letter to that child after she grew up, and wanted to meet her."

"This is exactly what has puzzled me for so many years," the little old man looked at me softly, "Why? Why doesn't she want to see her for the last time, the child she saved so hard? Child, you know answer?"

I avoided his gaze that seemed to see through me, and turned around to stare at the white snowflakes that kept falling in the night.

……why?Why doesn't she want to see her for the last time, the child she saved with all her pains?

"Because... because that child didn't know what she had done for herself... She once imagined that when she was being pushed out and bullied, a beautiful woman would stand up and hold her hand gently, Tell her she's not a wild child without a mother," I closed my eyes in pain, two lines of tears streaming down my cheeks, "but no one showed up...in her most difficult time, her mother didn't show up, didn't show up...you How can she think that she is loved?" I let out a piercing and strange laugh.

The little old man looked at me pityingly.I really hate that look.

"Who are you?"

"I'm just a gravekeeper." The little old man looked at me and said tactfully.

We held each other for a few seconds.After a while, I looked away, no longer obsessed with his identity.I drew a circle in the air with my wand, and a beautiful garland appeared in the air, and it landed gently in front of the tombstone under the command of the wand.

I saw the inscription on the tombstone again——

Even if no one knows, I have no regrets in my heart.

"Merry Christmas, Mom." I blinked my eyes, then grasped my wand tightly, and turned away from the tombstone and the slightly surprised little old man standing between the boundless night and the white snow.

"Thank you, child." The little old man said after a long pause.Before leaving the cemetery, I looked back.He was bending over and sweeping the snow off the tombstone with his hands.I don't know why he doesn't use a wand.

The mystery was finally solved, and the love and hate in the past few years seemed so childish and ridiculous now.I used to want to know the answer to this puzzle so much, but when I finally found out, I didn't feel relieved as I imagined, nor did I have the strong emotion that hit people's heart directly, only a faint hazy emotion permeated like the morning fog outside the window around.

I sat by the window and stayed up all night.

I don't know if it was because of that night, but the days of Christmas were completely upside down for me.On the evening of the [-]th, I was lying on the sofa under a thin blanket and woke up by the pain in the back of my hand.The owl saw that I had been woken up by it, flapped its wings and flew away.On the desk was a letter signed "Molly Weasley".

I have some impression of Molly, all thanks to her husband Arthur who loves everything related to Muggles.In my impression, Arthur often asked Edward about the Muggle world, and Edward always explained it patiently.

To avoid embarrassment, I had to pretend to be interested in housework spells while the two of them were getting carried away talking.But it didn't take long for me to be really attracted by what she said.Molly is really good at housework and dealing with children, I secretly admire.

I don't know why she wrote to me at this time.I have had no contact with her since Edward's death.I opened the letter, feeling an unspeakable weirdness in my heart, but I still cast a disappearing spell on the letter of belief, and packed up the potions and preparation ingredients that I might use, and apparated to the mountaintop she mentioned.

Arthur Weasley, whom I haven't seen for a long time, is waiting for me at the top of the mountain.He took me to the destination of the trip, the home of Muriel Prewett.

It's a big, grand house that looks like it was built in the last century.It had a very high pointed roof, and the fading red paint on the walls was not very obvious in the night.Before I entered the door, I heard an old lady complaining——

"Those people fill my place... I'm not St. Mungo's here!"

The door slams open, and an old witch in bright green robes nearly hits me on the jaw. "Who are you?" she asked with strong dissatisfaction.

"Hello, I'm Jane Jones. It's a pleasure to-"

"Oh, you're Lucretia's daughter?" She looked me up and down with sharp eyes like eagle claws, "It doesn't look like—"

"Thanks," I said, looking like I had a toothache, "I'm here to see Mr. Prewett."

"Poor Ignatius," the old witch exaggeratedly sighed, Ignatius—the name sounds familiar...

"I bet he won't get any better when he sees you," she said bluntly, interrupting my thoughts.

"I'm not a therapist, but I—"

"Ha! Healer? Do you really think a healer can cure him?" She sneered. "Okay, I'm going to see my gentian, and I don't have time to chat with you guys." She Squeeze your way between me and Arthur.It's hard to imagine that a person of such a large age will have such a tough and strong body.

I looked at the decorative feathers swaying from side to side on Muriel's gown, and wondered. "Let's go in." Arthur said gently next to him.

We stepped into the threshold of warmth.Under the leadership of Arthur, I went directly to a room at the end of the corridor on the first floor.Christmas decorations line the sides of the hallway, orange lights wrapping them in layers of warmth.

"Many of our wounded have been transferred here because there are enough rooms here. If you want, can you come here for medical treatment regularly?" He asked pleasantly.

"Of course." I said with a smile, and opened the door, the smile froze on my face when I saw the person on the bed.

There was a loud slam of the door.The person on the bed turned his head to look at me, struggled a few times to sit up, but failed.I stood where I was, with no intention of going up to help him.

"I know we will meet again, son." The little old man said weakly, lying on the bed.

Unparalleled shock swept every corner of my body, it seemed that everything from the moonstone on the hat to the hem of the robe dragging on the ground was trembling along with my voice.

"So—you're that one? You're her husband? You already know who I am?" I couldn't help adding a hint of questioning to my voice.

"You are her daughter, of course I know," he murmured, "Although you don't look like her on the outside, you are very similar on the inside."

"How do you know?" I asked sharply.

"Maybe you won't admit it, but at least one thing I can be sure of—your stubbornness is exactly the same as hers."

The little old man looked at me quietly, his kind eyes were mixed with nostalgia and love, as if he had passed through several years, and fell on the biological mother who did not know where she was similar to me and whom I had never met.I hate this feeling.

"I think Muriel is right. Not even a therapist can help you, let alone me," I whispered, lowering my head to avoid his gaze, groping around behind my back The doorknob, "See you then." I pushed open the door and left the room as if fleeing.

I don't really want to see him.In my heart, his existence always represents an unpleasant past event, which I don't want to recall or even want to escape.

And somehow, all that resentment in me is now transferred to Ignatius Spewett.Without him... Although I know it's ridiculous, but I can't help but wonder if Lucretia would marry my father, and my life would change...

Time flies by and never stops or changes because of our will.In January, the medicinal material warehouse in the suburbs caught fire accidentally, and many rare medicinal materials were burned. That incident was quickly forgotten by me who was busy.I kept my promise to Arthur and went to Muriel's house every Sunday to treat the wounded, but I never set foot in that room at the end of the corridor, and I never asked about Ignatius Spewett any situation.

One Sunday in March, the Ministry of Magic broke into my pharmacy and conducted a casual search.After I respectfully sent the vicious leader away, I realized that it was already dark and I hadn't gone to see a doctor yet.

I packed my medicine box and hurried to Muriel's house.Something was wrong here, few rooms were lit... I gripped my wand tightly, walked cautiously to the door, and rang the bell.

Molly opened the door for me half a minute later.

"Jane, it's great to have you here." She said, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

"What's the matter? Sorry, the pharmacy was searched today—"

"Old Mr. Prewett is dying," she said, "drinking his Vitality Supplement this morning."

I stared blankly into her brown eyes, as if an invisible hand had grabbed my internal organs.Vitality maintenance agent... How similar is this scene.I took a step and came to the room at the end of the corridor, but my hand stopped suddenly in the air a second before touching the doorknob, as if the handle was a red-hot soldering iron.I suddenly remembered what Muriel said when she saw me——

"I dare say that he won't get any better when he sees you."

"Ha! Therapist? You really think the therapist can cure him?"

……

"I think Muriel is right. Not even a therapist can help you, let alone me, so bye."

……

"He...does he really want to see me?" I looked at Molly flustered and helplessly, and she nodded slightly.With her encouragement, I took a deep breath and opened the door with trembling hands.

There were a lot of people in the room, many of whom I didn't know, but that didn't matter anymore.I slowly approached the hospital bed and watched a relaxed smile gradually appear on the face of the little old man.

How long has it been since I was so restless?The past was played back in front of my eyes. I remembered the questioning of Aurors in the interrogation room of the Ministry of Magic many years ago, the promise I made at Irene's bedside, and the ridiculous and pathetic senselessness I had before Edward died. remedy……

Every step I took seemed to be on cotton.My mind is in a mess, I never thought Ignatius would have such a day...

It seemed that an invisible hand was tearing open my previous wounds again.why?Why do people have to face so many life and death?Why do people suffer so much in their lives?

"In the past few months, I have been wanting to tell you something... I think we should all say sorry to you... She chose to let you come into this world, but she never let you feel the love and warmth she gave ...and I, out of my own selfishness..."

He was still trying to keep his eyes open and look at me.Years of resentment and intolerance intertwined emotions burned my heart like a raging fire.I spoke with difficulty.

"The damage has already been done, so what's the use of apologizing? But... I dare not say that if I stood in your position, I would do better than you."

We watch each other.I know he can't hold on for too long.

"You're as stubborn as she is, and as kind..." He sighed, taking mine with his bony hand. "Good luck, my boy."

I stared blankly at him closing his eyes, feeling his fingers gradually lose their warmth.I seem to have lost the ability to think, and like a walking body, I was led out of this room by others, and came to the warm living room, where I sat around the fireplace with everyone.

It was a long time before I got out of that trance.I found myself sitting in a soft armchair with a cup of yuzu tea with honey in my hand.

"Jane, why are you so late today?" Molly asked when I came back to my senses.

"The Death Eaters suddenly came to search the pharmacy today. They found nothing." Seeing their worried eyes, I added.

"You're in too much danger. Arthur and Bill aren't going to work, and Fred and George's store is closed. Would you consider finding a more secluded place, too?"

I shook my head. "That's it. I'm not like you. I don't have so many worries," I forced a smile, "Okay, it's getting late. I should go back too."

I put on my cloak and returned to the cold night of early spring.The brilliance of the moon is not so bright, and instead of her, stars adorn the night sky.I apparated back to the backyard of the pharmacy, and as soon as I emerged I was hit by several spells at once and lost consciousness.