Please note, I do not know much about stem cell therapy, it simply a plot point, nothing more.

It was several weeks before he could contact the right people and start his investigation. He was able to get hold of some of his squib contacts and make enquires, then it was the process of starting to collect ingredients, slowly, as some of them were prohibited herbs. Purchasing a cast iron pot and selecting a time to cook the recipe. He also had to find a wizard who would perform the spells, which was harder. Making discrete enquiries, he contacted someone who was happy to do so without question, as long as he got his money.

He also had to investigate on the muggle side as well. Since breaking up with Charli, he had plenty of time on his hands, and started to delve into the world of Biology. His head would swim after just a short time reading the large tomes from the library, and he would make copious notes. He contacted relevant doctors and research facilities until he got the answers he needed. After he had finally assembled the team he needed, and had put certain names on lists, he waited.

Approximately a month later, Freya received an envelope. It was from the Slope institute in London, they were doing trials on a new type of stem cell therapy and had been sent her doctors notes. They felt that since her spinal cord was not fully severed, she would be an excellent candidate for the new drug they were using. It was at the trial stage and ready to go to human trials. She looked at the letter with something like hope and misgivings, almost like one of those Nigerian emails, it was too good to be true and thus, could not be relied upon for a good outcome…

Severus noticed the envelope in the rubbish and tried to find a way to discuss it without it appearing that he had seen it. She was, as he was very private, but he couldn't think of anything so just came out and said it. He hoped his bluntness would encourage her to open up, he needed to know where everything sat, so he could plan accordingly.

He said quietly, "I saw am envelope in the rubbish today, it looked medical, are you ok?" She looked up at him, debating whether she would bring it up or dismiss it as a regular check-up. She finally made the decision to tell him about the trial.

"That's great" he said quickly, but the look on her face didn't give him hope. And, after giving him a dozen of reasons why she shouldn't take part, he sat back, looked her square in the eyes and said,

"So, essentially you're afraid". He saw her flinch and felt bad for her. One thing that living in this world did for him was to give him a small amount of empathy, especially with those he cared about.

She was about to respond in the negative, when she deflated, sat back and said in a small voice, "Yes," she cast her gaze around, she looked at her comfortable home, in a nice suburb, with nice gardens, and she found it hard to speak. "I don't want to do it, simply because if it fails, it is the end, right now, if life continues, as it is now, I can imagine some marvellous medical breakthrough, some miracle cure, and I will be fixed. If,' she said in a quiet voice, "If it doesn't work, because of the rules, I won't ever be able to go through another trial," she stopped, unwilling to admit that failure would be too hard on her. "The letter said the outcome would be slim" so why bother she thought.

He found it hard to respond without clichés and pep up talk that he hated, but it was all he had.

"Seriously? One hurdle and it's over, did Hillary give up on Everest, did Nicholas Flamel give up on the philosopher's stone, did NASA give up after the Apollo 1 fire?" He hoped she didn't question the middle one, it just popped out.

"That's' different" she cried "these people had multiple opportunities, this could be my only one, I may not get another chance after this, and who the hell is Nicholas Flamel?"

He ignored the question. "Then if it's the only one, isn't it better to have tried at least?" He entreated, tears started to fall, silent tears, she looked away but didn't wipe them off her face, he sat beside her and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned in, still sobbing. he gathered her up in his arms and pulled her onto his lap as a child and comforted her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her close as she cried silently, his face, close to her hair, smelled the sweet fragrance of her shampoo, making soothing noises he stroked her cheek.

The sobbing abated, and they sat together in silence, neither willing to break the moment, Severus thought wryly, what is it with men and crying women? She moved a little, Severus sat there, enjoying the comforting feeling of the closeness between them when he also noticed something a little (well maybe not little) pushing itself to his consciousness. He was becoming aroused, he had acknowledged his feelings but had kept them under wraps

He started to feel panicked, and tried to think about something else, but the weight on his lap was becoming problematic. She seemed to notice he was uncomfortable and looked up at him. Mistaking his look of discomfort, she said quietly "My apologies Severus I must be getting heavy, just help me over," he tried not to show the relief on his face, she couldn't feel him. He laughed, and she looked at him, not knowing why she had elicited such a reaction. He saw her face and quickly pecked her cheek, bending his knees to bag his trousers. He said out loud what he had just thought, "Men and crying women, we just can't help ourselves."

The therapy included a day hospital stay, for bloodwork, examinations, tests, which gave Severus enough time to organise his side of the plan. The wizard he hired worked in tandem with him for the particular potion he needed, using his wand and casting the appropriate spells.

"Eh, aren't you that teacher from 'ogwarts?" the man asked when he was stirring the potion.

Severus glanced at him, "Mind your business and get back to work,"

"Never mind, don't get all snarky like, I 'eard he lost 'is magic, because of the snake venom and all that with you know who."

"Just mind. Your. Business." Severus repeated glaring at him.

"That 'ud drive me spare," the man went on, "I'd chuck meself orf a cliff, I would"

"Well that just shows how weak you are" Severus glared again, it seemed to do no good to tell him he nearly had. The potion turned clear, sending the signal it was ready

"There ye go" said the man, "Now where's me gold." Severus paid out the galleons into a sack, and the man left, muttering about heading off to Gringotts. Glad to see the back of him, Severus decanted the mixture into several small vials with eye droppers and popped them in the fridge.

Freya came back from the hospital the next day in a grumpy mood. One of her friends Molly had picked her up in a taxi and had brought her home, she tucked herself on the lounge and decided to read for a while.

At his usual time, Severus came home and saw her there. "Why didn't you let me know, I would have picked you up?"

"Molly had the day off, and I don't get to see her enough," she replied, "Good god, if I have one more lot of blood drawn, I will be classed as officially anaemic, I have been prodded and poked at, put inside one machine after another. I am officially done."

"What happens now" he asked, he moved to the kitchen and started getting dinner ready "Do you have to go back?"

"Not for a while thank goodness," she said in a relieved voice, "They have harvested what cells they need, and are processing them, they have taken extra blood to process as well, then they have to alter the new drug for my needs. The first injection will be in approximately a week." She stretched, "A nurse and doctor will come and administer the injections, as I have to lie still for hours it's better that I do it in my own home, well, that's what I told them anyway."

He smiled, not surprised. He had figured out a way of administering the potion, having checked first it wouldn't interfere with the properties, "Coffee?" he turned to put the kettle on.

Several weeks later she had undergone several treatments of a six-month course. Severus had been administering small doses, so not to arouse any suspicions. He wasn't even sure how well it would work. He wasn't totally hopeful that she would be able to walk again, but anything would be an improvement on her current condition. There was never guarantee that potions and spells would work on muggles. Some did, Obliviate was one of them, and quite a few others but it was hit and miss. He wasn't sure about the medical ones. This one was a variation of one of Poppy's Nerve aid, and he hoped it would assist the therapy or even take its place. Everyone would then think the new drug was successful in her case.

He came home from a tiring day at work, it had started raining and he had got wet coming back from the train station. As he came through the door complaining, he saw her staring at the wall. His heart sank, he knew she had an appointment today for a review on the progress of the new drug.

"Hey" he looked expectantly at her. She didn't look at him, she simply shook her head, "MRI shows no change" he squatted beside her chair and took her hand in his. "Be patient" he said softly.

"I knew it wouldn't work" she couldn't even cry, it had been hopeless from the start. Severus's heart sank. He had been so sure his potion would work. He kept thinking about how he had made a mistake, what had he done wrong? An idea came to mind, what if the dosage was wrong? He gently carried her to the sofa, and without thinking kissed her on the forehead. He cupped her face and looked at her.

"I believe you will get better" he said sincerely, he stared into her eyes, willing her to believe it as well. She broke contact and smiled. "Severus Prince, you are masquerading as an optimist, who would have thought."

"Well then, change is as good as a holiday, time for a cuppa?" he forced some cheerfulness into his voice,

"No thanks, look, really sorry to mention this, but the coffee tastes a bit weird lately, I haven't been finishing them..."

He stopped dead, he hadn't figured on the that, not tasting it himself he forgot the weird taste of the ingredients. ... Ok, plan B, now, what was plan B….

"Sorry I changed the coffee… how about a cup of tea," he had an idea, "I have some amazing chai from this Indian grocer on the corner, how about one of those" he hoped she would try it, it had a fairly strong flavour.

"Sure, why not, can't be any worse than your coffee" ….

From then on, she drank the chai, Severus increased the dosage to make up for lost time, he watched and waited, and made sure she finished.

It was September, and cooling down, Molly had come over for a visit, a previous client of hers they had stayed in touch, sipping the warm chai, she had been here on previous visits, and had been introduced to her new drink.

"You know darl', this is right lovely, those Dahlias, just amazing," She coo'd , "I need to get the name of your gardener."

"Sure, he would be happy for extra work, I just love them, they just feed my soul," she looked around, "Oh, did you put that stuff from the fridge in the drink, Severus always puts some in for me. He said it intensifies the flavour, I was a bit unsure at first, but I got used to it."

"Yeah, put some in yours, I tried it last time, a bit weird really," she replied, "you know, that guy, is just gorgeous, mmph." She grunted "right lovely he is, I don't know why you two haven't hooked up, no don't look at me like that, seriously, you two have a thing going on, you just don't get it, either of you." She went on, "that goth vibe, so, so… Byronesque... tall, dark and handsome, if I wasn't married" she laughed,

"How is Arty?" Freya asked, hoping to distract, "Still complaining?" she looked at Molly, her friend was a little embarrassed, which for her was unusual.

Molly lowered her voice, in a room that just held the two of them was a bit weird. "Well, no actually," she looked up, "You know when I was here last time, I was mentioning how I thought that with peri menopause and all that I would never have sex again... couldn't be bothered." she sounded a little confused, "Well, I cant get enough of that git at the moment, seriously, you know, the weekend after I came here, we were in London seeing his Mam, we left the kids at home, Paige has a new girlfriend and Robbie, well you know, he is going to lose the use of his legs if he doesn't stop playing those stupid games" She looked at her friend, a little mortified, "Well you know want I mean," Freya smiled, Robbie wouldn't come out of his room for days over the school holidays, she was sure he pee'd into drink bottles. "Well" she continued, "We were at his Mam's and you know she's as deaf as a post, we went to bed, and seriously, I got all warm and tingly," she looked at her friend, "I jumped his bones, geez, the old man nearly died of a heart attack, I thought he was going to cark it on me… we've been going at it like rabbits ever since," she laughed, "My kids are right embarrassed, Paigey wont even look at me and Robbie just rolls his eyes and disappears into his room, though thinking of it, not so different."

"Wow" said Freya laughing, "I'm impressed, but you are still on birth control, aren't you? Her friend looked stunned, "Shit" she said, "Hadn't thought of that! "Speaking of legs luv, I know you don't really want to talk about it, but, you know, how's it going?"

Freya took a while to answer. After a pause she started. "For a while nothing happened, we had the tests and the poking around, we had injections and therapy, and nothing, I had my mid-term MRI, and nothing had changed." She hesitated, unsure of how to go on, her friend knew this was difficult, but she was genuinely concerned, "Then" again a pause, "A week ago, I start feeling, I don't know, different," she leaned back and looked up at the ceiling, "I feel…Something... I don't know if it's just I want to find something but… I am not getting too hopeful." She stopped and looked away, and trying to change the subject laughed and said, "Maybe it's the chai!"

"I am dying" he sniffed, "Don't you care, even just a bit" Severus lay on the lounge, his feet over the edge, pillow stuffed at his back, floral duvet, and a box of tissues.

"No" she called, "Not one bit." She travelled over to the lounge, remaining a distance. "Here" she put some analgesics, Cold and Flu, Nasal Spray and a bowl on the table next to him. "Just don't throw up on the floor," she looked at him. He was miserable, he was flushed, red nose, and watery eyed, "I hate this" he yelled as she wheeled herself away.

"You need a bigger sofa" he complained, "I need a book" he whined. She threw one at him. "Everything hurts" he sniffed, considerably… "That doctor is an idiot" Yes Severus, she thought, he went to medical school for years and years and doesn't know what he is talking about. He swung his legs off the sofa and stood up, he leaned on the wall a little,

"What do you need, just let me know" he grumbled at this, "I am going to the bathroom, unless of course you want to help me with that," He leered…

"Just keep away from me" she grinned, "You fall over you're on your own. What do you feel like eating tonight? Do you have anything in the freezer or will I order in." she could hear the tap going, he came out and said, "I really don't feel like anything, there's a bit of curry left over from last night if you want it."

"Sounds good, let me know if you change your mind"

"Just as long as you don't cook" he sat back down, grabbed some of the medication and covered himself back up. He hated this, he hated being infirm. He wished he could go to the Hogwarts infirmary or St Mungo's and get a cure all, but that was long gone to him now. He had used analgesics before, they weren't too bad he thought, the only real difference was that they didn't fix you, just made you feel better for a while. He lay back, utterly defeated. He looked at the book. Portnoy's complaint, Merlin that woman had a sense of humour…. He hadn't dated since Charli, he really wasn't sure why, he looked over at the woman on her laptop, working. Since starting this project, he had noticed both of them had entered into banter that was he thought, a little suggestive. He couldn't put it down to one thing, one comment, but the mood had shifted, and he wasn't entirely sure why.