Chapter 5

The next day, the odd trio sat at the kitchen table discussing the next steps. Snape was more relaxed but still didn't like the idea of having Anna's ex-boyfriend in the house. Luckily, Ádám planned to go home before noon that day so the only thing Snape had to do was to be patient. After living almost 20 years as a spy, it shouldn't have to be a problem. Anna felt the tension in the room but tried to focus on their task watching Snape reading the medical records of Ádám's mother.

"Do you understand what you read, Severus?", Anna asked curiously.

"I wouldn't read it if I wouldn't be able to understand it", he answered in a flat tone.

"And since when do you understand medical… words?"

"As you know, my dear Anna" he continued in his teacher voice "we use Latin to create spells. I learned Latin more than I had to in school and if you know Latin, it's easier to understand, as you put it, 'medical words'."

"But", interrupted Anna.

"Of course it does not make me a Muggle doctor but it helps me to understand the condition of Ádám's mother and with that it helps me to find a cure."

"I know, Severus, but I'm starting to have second thoughts. We are not Muggle doctors, not even wizard healers. Although you are quite close to it and maybe in some cases you know more than some healers. Still…" Anna sounded worried.

"I don't want to interrupt your talk", every eye was now on Ádám, so he continued "but my mom's condition is bad. The doctors gave up all hope. She has half a year, a year at most. She's fighting but eventually she'll be too tired to fight. We don't have any choice but you. There's now way you could screw it up, it can't be worse."

Anna sighed. She wasn't convinced.

"We can screw it up. We can hurt her, we can put her in pain without a positive result."

"That won't happen", Severus snapped at Anna and she jumped in her seat. "I can't guarantee that the cure will be painless but we have very effective pain relief potions. So if we don't find an effective cure, we will try at least to ease her pain and suffering as much as we can." His voice was now calm and almost relaxing. He was looking at the table but if he would have looked up, he could have seen Anna looking at him with pure admiration in her eyes.

Ádám had a faint smile on his face.

"Thank you."

Severus nodded and stood up.

"Now, if you don't need me anymore, I go and open up the apothecary. Anna, after you bid farewell to your friend, you should come, too. We still have a business to run."

"I know that, Severus."

"Good." He headed to the door but he stopped for a second before Ádám. "Anna will notice you about the details of the cure as soon as we work out the therapy. I wish you a pleasant trip to home." He nodded again and left. He didn't even wait for the younger man's answer.

[Anna's POV]

"He is grumpy but he has a good heart".

I smiled at Ádám who was looking at me puzzled after Severus left the kitchen.

"He is a very… odd guy. But if you trust him, I trust him, too."

I smiled at him reassuringly.

"If there is someone in the wizarding world who can help your mother, it's Severus." I sighed at took a look at the clock on the wall. "I think you should leave if you want to be on the train station in time."

"You're right, I just grab my back from my room."

Five minutes later we were standing at the front door.

"We didn't talk about the payment", Ádám said in a low voice.

"It can wait until the end of the successful cure. And I'm not even sure if Severus wants any payment."

"And what about you?"

I snorted.

"You can't be serious. Even if… we had some issues… I still have some issues with you, sometime in my life I regarded you as a close friend even if it was one-sided. Because of that I won't be able to accept money from you."

He looked me deeply in the eye. A familiar feeling started to tingle in my stomach.

"You are the nicest person I know." His voice was low and gentle.

"I don't think it's true but thank you", I whispered.

With a surprising move he hugged me and I hugged him back. I really hoped it was a friendly hug from his side. A second later we both pulled back.

"Go before you miss the train. I'll call you with the news."

"Alright and thanks again for everything. Bye!"

"Bye!"

I closed the front door and with a deep sigh I headed to the apothecary. On my way there I put on my robes which I had to wear in the shop. It was dark green with silver embroidery. Severus said the robes accentuated my eyes but I think he choose them because the colours matched the ones of the Slytherin house. The apothecary was quite small and friendly. Along the walls there were dark brown shelves of hard wood full of potions, selves, powders and raw ingredients. The jars were neatly labelled and on every label you could read the name of the shop: the Silver Snake Apothecary. Silver Snake – how very Slytherin, isn't it?

Severus was behind the counter serving a customer who was an old and slightly smelly wizard. He paid for the purchase and left the shop in a hurry. Severus sniffed and made a move with his wand. The smell of lavender filled the room. I stood beside Snape and smiled at him. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I know that we can't choose our customers but I seriously think about putting on some cleansing spells on the door."

"In theory I totally support that idea but it would be kind of rude, I think."

Snape sighed.

"You and your big heart… Speaking of that: did your friend leave?"

"Yes, he did. Do you have a plan for the cure?"

"I have some ideas. However I would like you to assist me."

"Of course."

"Your first task is to think about potions and spells you would use. Do not forget that we can alter potions and spells so if you have some 'unorthodox' ideas, put them on the list, too. I expect the list by today in the evening. You can work on it when there isn't any customer in the shop. I'll do all the brewing today."

"Alright, will do but 'expect the list' – am I now a student of Professor Snape?", I asked teasingly.

He raised an eyebrow.

"You're my assistant in this project so I have to behave as a superior. Do you have a problem with that?"

He didn't get the joke so I took a step closer and lowered my voice.

"I was just wondering… if I don't finish the list on time, will there be any, you know, punishment?"

Slowly, his lips transformed into a cunning smile. He lowered his head and, knowing how it would affect me, he whispered in my ear.

"If you want some 'punishment', just ask for it."

I shivered and closed my eyes. When I opened them again Severus was nowhere to be seen. I sighed, it was time to work.

For the next chapter I HAD to make some research so it would be as relevant as it can be since we still talking about magic. However the lack of reviews makes me sad :(