AN: The world of Harry Potter and all its characters are owned by J.K. Rowling and her publishers. I don't plan on making any profit from this story, it's all in fun.

Thanks for the reviews. Someone inquired about how long I thought the story would be. I'm sorry but I'm not sure yet, hope that doesn't dissuade you from continuing to read and review.

Regards,

Indianpipe

Death in small doses

Chapter II

A class by himself

Neville had insisted I stay for lunch, after the fainting and apparating all that way he wouldn't take no for an answer. We talked about University and living in America, we ate food from his gardens and drank wine a friend of his had made. My body was relaxed but I could feel the pressure of the little container of Fugum Demonum in my blazer, it distracted me from our conversation and so when Neville put forth his question I was taken totally unawares.

"Why don't you come work for me when all this is over? It's a good life here and I'd love to have you."

I only heard clearly the "…love to have you" part. Was it possible that Neville had feelings for me? It's possible, he did ask me to the ball in 4th year, but that was so long ago and he seemed to have such a good time with Ginny, I always thought he fancied her secretly.

He probably just means that he thinks we would work well together and he's probably right. I secretly longed to work with someone who was kind and gentle, understanding, probably because I worked with Snape so closely. Uhh, he was so infuriating sometimes, always looking over my shoulder, evaluating, picking up on any tiny mistake I'd make, with Snape their was so little room for me to show what I could do…but here, I know Neville would give me free reign, I could work on research and have my pick of some of the finest potions ingredients in the world.

"Hermione you're not going to faint again?"

"No" I laughed.

My words spilled out and didn't match my thoughts.

"It sounds very attractive Neville but I'd feel that I was letting Hogwarts down if I leave anytime soon. Although Professor Snape is difficult he did accept me as an apprentice, under the condition that I would help him with his duties. I think that means I'm stuck there for a while."

Neville shook his head in understanding.

"You're very loyal Hermione, it's part of who you are but don't forget that you have to be true to yourself too…just give it some thought. I'm planning on being here for a very long time." He smiled down at me as he recorked the wine and made to clear up.

When had he gotten so…so…un-Neville like…?

I finished my last few drops of wine… " Thanks, I 'll think on it. I really have to go now if I want to present this to Dumbledore before the meeting." I patted my pocket that held the Fugum Demonum. "If we go ahead I'm presuming we'll need more?"

"Owl me after the meeting and I'll start on a new batch straight away." He handed me my things and kissed me lightly on the cheek. "It was wonderful to see you again Hermione, I'm sorry you have to do this alone but I just…..well, I just can't."

"I understand Neville." I nodded my head in recognition of all he had done and lost in the past, and I was truly happy that he had found a place for himself.

I apparated away from "Earthly Delights", uneasy about my future. I was frustrated, true, but I had never really seen myself anywhere but Hogwarts…now that I had another offer I wondered if everything would seem different.

It was quiet when I arrived home, the children would be back from vacation in a few days and there was much to be done. I headed straight for Dumbledore's office, hoping he was free and alone. I wanted his input before I presented to McGonagall and Snape.

Luck was not with me, when the doors opened it revealed Snape and Dumbledore having their usual Saturday sherry, it must have been later than I thought, Neville and I had lingered over lunch to long.

When I entered Snape almost got up from his seat, looking concerned, I was 2 days early and I could tell he wasn't expecting me to walk in.

Dumbledore put his sherry on the little table between them and stood up.

"Miss Granger, everything alright, we weren't expecting to see you until the order meeting tomorrow night?"

"Oh yes, everything's fine…not to worry."

Snape settled back in his chair, "Don't tell me Longbottom bored you after only one day?"

"Severus!" Dumbledore chided, it never did any good.

I flushed pink; this was going to be a nightmare.

I swallowed hard and Dumbledore conjured a chair beside Snape.

"Please Miss Granger, join us, won't you?" He pulled a glass of sherry out from his long sleeve and handed it to me. I took a sip out of politeness but told myself …no more… the wine at lunch had been quite enough.

"Tell us, how is Neville?" Dumbledore asked with genuine interest.

I caught Snape flutter his eyelids slightly in disgust.

"Neville is….happy."

"Very good…very, very good." Dumbledore seemed most gratified.

Snape could contain himself no longer, "well isn't that lovely for him."

This was possibly one of the few points that Harry and Snape agreed upon. They felt strongly that Neville had abandoned the Order and should be avenging his parents.

He took a long draft of Sherry and put his glass down on the table, rather to loudly.

"Now Severus, everyone must be allowed to make his own choices." Dumbledore tried to reason with him, but I cringed at his less than thoughtful choice of words. Making choices for oneself was never a good topic for Snape, he had paid a dear price for making the wrong choice early in life.

I could see he had been silenced effectively and I wondered if more thought had gone into the words Dumbledore had said than I gave him credit for.

This was my cue; I took a deep breath and withdrew the Fugum Demonum from my pocket. Snape was to busy quietly seething to notice but Dumbledore looked on inquisitively.

I began tentatively… " Actually, Neville has come up with an idea…"

Dumbledore must have known by my hesitancy that this was big for he looked more focused than I can ever remember. Snape had turned as well, one eyebrow raised in a mock look of interest.

I described the plan and explained the 'invisible powder', as well as who must execute it, both men were very quiet but I could feel Snape's energy building next to me. I thought I would perhaps move my chair away a few inches but after having told them I literally was paralyzed to the spot.

Snape spoke first and I squinted my eyes a bit, afraid that the words would sting the air.

"Let me see it!" He hated it when he wasn't familiar with something. He opened the lid carefully, and brought the container about 5 inches from his nose, with eyes closed he took a shallow whiff. Dumbledore and I glanced at each other, undoubtedly he was thinking the same as I; if he's investigating this, he might think it has some value as a plan.

I watched him closely, it truly was a wonder how he could detect ingredients by smell, surely many potion masters and experts could discern the main ingredients but Snape could detect many more, that skill alone put him in a class by himself.

He closed the lid and handed it back to me.

"I'm not registering the ingredients." Dumbledore and I both knew the significance of that statement. "But the Dark Lord has a heightened sense like no other…the only hope is that by the time he detects it the effects will have taken hold to a degree that he is more…malleable."

I was shocked that Snape would even accept the idea as possibility. I had to bring up the inevitable question, although I was sure Snape was well aware.

"You undoubtedly would be affected as well." I looked into his eyes, trying to register any truth; it was so hard to decipher how he really felt about anything.

"And I'm sure you and Mr. Longbottom had a jovial afternoon at my expense over that fact!" He grabbed the container back from me and made to leave. " I'm taking this to the lab to run tests…I don't relish the thought of leaving my mental state in Longbottom's hands." He stormed to the door, robes whipping like a flag on a windy day. I conjured an image of one of the original American flags I'd seen in a book recently when I had known I was to be visiting Neville, it had a serpent on it and embroidered below was the phrase '…don't tread on me…'.

I looked at Dumbledore, he was in grave thought. I knew he didn't like this idea, it was an offensive maneuver and that wasn't how he liked to operate.

" I had to tell you… something needs to be done." My offering sounded as though we were addressing as simple a problem as a child breaking a minor rule one to many times and we had been neglectful, but Tom was no child and this seemed the only way to do it without a bloodbath.

"I know…if we go through with this I'm most concerned about Severus. If it doesn't work it could cost him his life." He hadn't said anything I wasn't thinking but to hear it from the headmaster made feel weak. I reached for my sherry and took another sip anyway. "…If it does work it could be even more devastating for him." Dumbledore's eyes narrowed and his tone almost sounded chastising.

Now that last part I hadn't expected. I rested back, sherry half gone and tried to puzzle out what he meant. Wouldn't Snape benefit? Perhaps he would enjoy life a bit, especially if we could defeat Voldemort. I had convinced myself of that before I had told him but now Dumbledore's words made me think that theory had been actually for my benefit instead.