Spell after spell lanced out, and the swelling pressure with no outlet ebbed away. When the energy from the transmuted flesh had been fully spent, Daphne's body returned to normal. The heavy fullness of a recent meal disappeared as well.
They weighed her again. As expected, not a gram more, not a gram less, exactly one kilogram gone.
"Brilliant!"
Daphne bounced up and hugged Tom, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. "From now on I can eat whatever I want, as much as I want, and never worry about getting fat again."
"Be a lady, Daphne, mind your image."
Hermione hurriedly tugged her away before she could take further advantage, though the corners of Hermione's mouth were curving up.
Both girls pestered him for more of the slimming elixir, but Tom had not brewed much. He promised to prepare enough for the weeklong holiday, which finally satisfied them.
Hermione darted in to peck his other cheek, perfectly symmetrical to Daphne's kiss, then fled before Daphne could react.
"What are you thinking about, sister?"
Astoria found it odd. At times like this, her sister would usually pounce and wrangle with Hermione. Now Daphne stood there frowning, as if she had not noticed Hermione's outrageous act at all.
"I was thinking..." Daphne almost spoke without thinking, then slammed on the brakes and leaned to whisper in Tom's ear.
"This..." Tom gave the tense girl a peculiar look. "Strictly speaking, it should average out. Controlling the distribution is difficult, very difficult."
"Ah?" Daphne drooped, staring at her toes.
Astoria's face flamed. She understood exactly what her sister had asked and rushed her back into the villa.
...
The potion's impact was far larger than Tom had expected. Lady Greengrass arrived the very next day. They chatted for ages without getting to the point, leaving Tom utterly baffled. He thought she was worried he might bully her daughters and had come to keep an eye on him.
Only when the awkward small talk could not continue did Lady Greengrass, cheeks faintly colored, finally voice her true request. She had come to ask for the elixir.
Tom could only laugh and agree. He stayed up that night brewing slimming draughts.
Another day passed. Lady Greengrass returned, and this time she brought a guest, Amelia Bones.
Once Tom had seated them, Bones joked, "Mr. Riddle, I seem to recall that Hogwarts does not allow students to leave during the Easter break. Have the rules changed?"
Tom lifted a shoulder. "Has the Department of Magical Law Enforcement extended its reach into Hogwarts already?"
Bones gave a rueful smile. "I would not dare."
Hmm?
Tom's eyebrow rose slowly. He heard the subtext. "I thought your relationship with Dumbledore was not bad."
"Public duty and private friendship should not be confused," Bones said with a small shake of her head. "Hogwarts... stands a little too high above the fray. The Ministry has long wanted better insight into what goes on in the school. Unfortunately, the Headmaster is who he is."
Hogwarts had always been lofty, but never quite this lofty. Not every headmaster can overshadow an era. There have been middling ones. Right, Phineas?
"That is enough," Lady Greengrass cut off the sensitive line of talk. "Amelia is also here to ask you for the potion. Her salary is not low. Tom, name your price."
Bones lowered her head, embarrassed. Her public image was that of an immaculate iron lady. If word got out that she had come knocking for a slimming draught, many jaws would drop.
Tom did not tease her. A glib remark would only deepen her awkwardness and risk prickling her pride. He did not play the magnanimous host who gives it away for free either. He simply quoted a price of one thousand Galleons per bottle.
Bones was delighted and ordered twenty bottles on the spot. Then she brought Tom some good news.
"As for your Order of Merlin, First Class, I would say it is as good as done. More than half have already voted in favor, and among the rest quite a few are inclined to agree.
"Only a very small number cite your age as an excuse and think it should be delayed. Even awarding it after you graduate would not be too late."
A cold light flickered through the boy's eyes, though Tom hid it well. Neither Bones nor Lady Greengrass noticed.
"Looks like our world still has plenty of hidebound old fossils," Tom said lightly. "Which esteemed seniors objected, exactly?"
Bones looked troubled. "Tom..."
"I am not seeking revenge. Do I seem so small minded?" Tom smiled and shook his head. "I only want to send them a bit of Galleons so they can buy some tonics. After all, that is what a Black did back in the day, is it not?"
"These old fossils will not bend for money," Bones said.
"Leave the money to me."
Lady Greengrass took an elegant sip of red tea. "Donate it to the Ministry. We only need one last push. With the right funds, there will be no more difficulties."
She had opposed Tom donating earlier because there had been no proper reason, and his age made it unseemly. Even if money changed hands, the Ministry would not dare treat the public as fools. Now things were different. He had saved the next generation of the magical world from the basilisk's maw. Awarding the First Class was not excessive.
"Then I must trouble you," Tom said, trading a glance with Lady Greengrass.
They spoke a little longer. Bones had to return to work, but Lady Greengrass found an excuse to stay. She asked, "Something you could not say in front of Amelia?"
Tom rubbed his hands, almost bashful. "Auntie, who raised the objection? Please tell me their names, and if you can, their family trees as well."
Lady Greengrass:
So this is what you call not holding grudges?