Silver-Tongued

As Oz was approaching the Weasley brothers, Ron was the first to notice him coming. Looking over at him, he wore a slightly confused yet annoyed face. As for Fred and George, they looked at Oz with curiosity as to why he was coming over, but it also seemed they had their guard up. Ron was the first to speak up.

"What are you doing here Slytherin?".

Oz completely ignored Ron and walked towards Fred and George instead. This attitude infuriated Ron.

"Oi you slimy git, get away from here now! We don't want you here!".

At this point Oz stopped and turned his head to Ron.

"Oh? You don't want me here even though I might be able to help you out?".

Hearing Oz's rebuttal, Ron was tongue-tied. Fred and George both looked at Oz with caution before Fred started to speak.

"How could you help him? Madam Pomfrey told us that she couldn't do anything but ease the illness until it passes!"

Oz looked at the three brothers and sighed.

"Well... you see... I've seen this kind of thing before. Back when I was in Diagon alley I saw a young girl who went through the same illness in the Leaky Cauldron. The mother there was desperate for help and asked any and everyone around if they could help. It seemed clear to me that she didn't have the money to bring her daughter to the hospital so she was just hoping for someone to help. Luckily for her a man stood up and diagnosed her daughter. Seeing the vomiting and boils, he deduced that it was a certain kind of illness that would pass over time but if you want it cured immediately so you're safer you'd need to concoct a potion for it... The man seemed to be a potions master as well, much to the woman's delight, as he whipped up a potion quickly in front of everyone to cure the woman's daughter..."

All three of the brothers were fully invested in Oz's story at this point. It almost seemed his words were laced with poison as they drew you in and made you believe them.

"I was obviously present at the Leaky Cauldron during all of this... I witnessed the man create the potion step by step. When he finished the potion, he gave a vial to the woman who immediately ran up to her daughter and gave it to her. She trusted the man quite readily to be honest, but again thankfully for her he was a legit potions master. The potion worked and the little girl healed up almost instantly, taking about an hour to completely heal. After hearing the woman shout 'thank you!', I asked the man if he could show me how to do that and he just chuckled, exclaiming he didn't have the time. However, he did have some vials left as the batch he made was big and he tossed me one to keep for a 'rainy day'".

After hearing the end of this story the three Weasley brothers all looked at each other. Ron had a glimmer of hope in his eyes at Oz's story, now understanding that Oz must have the cure to help him.

At that, Oz proceeded to take a vial out of his bag with liquid in it.

"This here is that cure the man prepared... It was honestly a marvel to see him work. His skill was probably up there with Snape's so unless you managed to convince Snape to make you this cure... you'd probably have to deal with this illness for a week or so at best".

Ron tried to reach out for the cure in Oz's hand however just as he was about to reach Oz pulled it away from his reach.

"However though... Ron here said before all this when I walked over with good intentions for me to 'Leave' as 'we don't want you here'. Such treatment when I was only trying to help...".

Fred and George both turned to look at Ron with annoyance on their face. They had to look after their little brother while he was in school for his first year and now he was ill it would be put on their heads if anything more happened to him. To them, getting him cured as quick as possible would allow them to go back to doing whatever they wanted.

Seeing this reaction from the two Oz smiled.

'Well it seems they all bought that story at least... Fred and George though... I guess since they are the 'delinquents' of the Weasley household they don't hold the same prejudice to the extremes as everyone else. I guess my connection to Merlin also helps there a bit too...'.

The twins both sighed at their foolish brother before turning to Oz. George began by asking.

"What would you want in exchange Oz? We don't mind doing an exchange as long as we get this little nuisance cured".

A sly grin crept onto Oz's face when he heard this.

"If you two twins would come over away from Ron for a second I have something I'd like to discuss...".

Both Fred and George looked at each other in confusion before complying with Oz's request and walking away from Ron, the latter of whom was still wearing an annoyed look at the events going on.

The trio of Oz, Fred and George convened over the other side of the medical ward. Oz looked at both brothers before wearing a kind grin.

"Here's the deal fellas. I don't mind handing you this vial that'll cure Ronny-boy over there as long as you let me borrow something that you guys have for a while".

Fred and George both looked at Oz in confusion at his request. Both were probably thinking what on earth they could have that would entice the descendant of Merlin to ask to personally borrow it.

"Ill be blunt boys... I want to borrow the marauders map from you for a while".

Both Fred and Georges eyebrows jumped at Oz's request.

"You want to borrow the map?! How did you even know we have our hands on it!".

Oz stroked his chin at Fred's frantic comment.

"Do I really have to explain...?"

George tapped Fred on the shoulder and sighed.

"N-no... you don't... we don't mind letting you borrow it for a while. Just let us know when you'll give it back!".

Oz smiled warmly at the two twins.

"Don't worry about that guys, I only need it for a little while to study. After I've learnt some things from it, it'll end up rightfully back in your hands...".

At that, Fred reached into his back pocket and pulled out a heavily folded piece of paper. After explaining to Oz how the map functions they gave it to him.

"Thanks for this guys! Here's the cure for Ron over there. Just make the boy drink it and in an hour he will be better...".

Both Fred and George nodded at Oz before thanking him, walking off back to their brother on his sick bed.

Oz didn't bother to wait around to see the results, he just decided instead to leave, walking out the medical ward and heading back to his room in the dungeons to take a look at this map before bed.