Half Full Potion

She slowly regained consciousness, and the first thing she noticed was how sore she felt. She groaned softly before rolling onto her side in an attempt to alleviate her pain. Briefly, her eyes fluttered before she tried to open them. As soon as she opened her eyes, the bright light instantly blinded her. She quickly covered her eyes with the back of her hand and released a pain filled moan.

"Ah, good, good, you're finally awake. How do you feel, Professor Sinistra?"

"Professor-what are you talking about? I'm not a professor," she replied before trying to look at the person addressing her. It didn't take long for her eyes to adjust to the light. The woman standing next to her bedside wore a long red dress with a white apron and a white hat of some kind that hid her graying hair. "I-I know you," she said to the woman.

"Well, of course you do, my dear," the woman replied with a soft smile. However, there was badly concealed concern in the woman's eyes. "Can you recall what happened last night, Aurora?"

"Not-not exactly, no, but, well, I was hexed again, wasn't I?"

"Unfortunately, it was much worse than that, my dear. You were in the Potions—"

"Why on earth would I have been there?" Aurora interrupted. Her eyes then widened. "Oh, no, please tell me I didn't cause another accident. Severus will never let me live it down again. He's still upset over last week's incident."

"I do not believe you need to worry about that, my dear," a familiar long white beard wizard said, chuckling as he walked up to Aurora's bedside.

"I didn't kill him, did I, Headmaster?"

"No, my dear, Severus is perfectly well as are you." Professor Dumbledore then glanced towards the witch taking care of Aurora. The two shared a look between each other before the older witch nodded slowly, causing Professor Dumbledore to sigh softly. "It seems as if Severus was working on a deaging potion, and somehow there was an accident. Do you remember any of this, my dear?"

"Not specifically, no, Headmaster," Aurora responded. An idea then hit her about what that look the two shared meant. She quickly conjured a mirror and looked at her reflection. She didn't look any younger than she should have been. After all, she was only fifteen. She sighed contently before glancing up at Professor Dumbledore. "I bet he's absolutely distraught that he was wrong," she said with a smirk. She instantly heard the sudden intake of air from the witch next to her. Her eyes narrowed on both of them. She couldn't understand what that gasp was right about then. It hadn't worked, had it?

"I must say that this is interesting to say the least, my dear," Professor Dumbledore quietly said before scratching his beard. He then glanced over his spectacles and acted as if he was scrutinizing her appearance. Finally, after a few moments, his eyes twinkled before he nodded slowly. "My dear, I am afraid that you are incorrect. His potion did in fact work."

"Then-then—oh my—how old am I?"

"Thirty-five eight days from now," he replied calmly as the woman walked away.

"But that means he's taken twenty years from me," Aurora cried.

"I am sure, my dear, that the accident was not intentional since Severus is also afflicted by it."

"Then he's . . ."

"He has also been deaged, yes," he responded. "In fact, he appears to be sixteen."

"Great," Aurora drawled. "I don't know that much about potions, but shouldn't deaging potions allow me to recall my memories of the last twenty or so years?"

"That is the normal result, yes, but it seems as if this new formula is much stronger than the usual version. I must admit that I am rather impressed. Are you not also?"

"Not in the slightest, Headmaster," Aurora growled. "Can you fix it?"

"We have tried, my dear, but all attempts have failed thus far. However, I am researching the ingredients used, and Filius and I are attempting to recreate the incident so that we may be able to rectify the situation."

"Until then, however, I'm supposed to do what exactly?"

"Well, if I were you, my dear, I'd take this as an opportunity to start over."

"Why? Aren't I happy with my life now?"

"Oh, you are very happy, my dear. In fact, you were to be married later this evening."

"I'm engaged?"

"Technically you are engaged, yes, but you should be in reality married. You see, my dear, I could not marry the both of you legally, but neither of you cared at the time."

"Do I have any children?"

"A daughter, who is currently with Minerva," he responded. "She is aware of the situation and understands that you will need time to adjust."

"Oh, um, does my fiancé or husband or whatever he is, does he know?"

"I believe he is aware that an accident has taken place."

"He doesn't want to see me?" she asked in disbelief.

"I am sure he would, my dear, but we have had to take certain precautions since there is a lot about this potion that we do not know." He then sighed softly. "Unfortunately, to complicate matters, my dear, your parents have arrived and are requesting to meet with you."

"Well, they're probably here for the wedding then."

"I am under the impression that only your fiancé and I knew about the wedding." Professor Dumbledore then flashed a brief sad smile. "He had hoped to surprise you last night by informing you that he had finished the necessary details concerning your wedding. In fact, it is most likely the reason as to why he and you had an argument last night."

"But I want to marry him, don't I?"

"Oh, yes, very much so, my dear, but he had thought if he had you distracted by a habit of his that you find infuriating that he could ensure that you were surprised. Unfortunately, his habit seems to have caused the argument, which I believe is the reason the accident occurred."

"I see. Um, what does Severus have to do with this, though? I mean, it's not like I'd ever marry him." Aurora then laughed as she thought how absurd that would be. He was Lily's, not hers. It was a fact that Lily Evans reminded her of on a daily basis. He was to be left alone or else. Aurora still hadn't learned what the 'or else' part meant, but she wasn't about to risk expulsion to find out. She then noticed that Professor Dumbledore wasn't joining in on her laughter. She quickly sobered up and felt her chest constrict. "You can't be serious, Headmaster," she said. "But he's Lily's, not mine. She'd kill me if we were together. Hell, Severus would join in." He only stared at her, though. "I'm marrying Severus," she whispered breathlessly. "Then, um, something happened between Lily and him, yes?" Professor Dumbledore remained still. "I'm his second choice then. He couldn't have Lily so he chose me."

"My dear, do not think such thoughts. For the twenty so years that I have known the both of you, I never once saw Severus treat you as his second choice. He is content being with you, and I do not believe he would ever wish to be with anyone else. He truly does love you, my dear, so do not consider yourself someone he just settled for."

"But it's always been Lily, though. Everything has always been about her. I mean, if I cast hexes at the little Gryffindor princess, Severus throws a tantrum. If I complain about Miss Perfect in the common room, he storms out. It's always been Lily, Headmaster. He never gave a damn about me."

"That is entirely false, my dear." The steel blue eyes then locked onto Aurora's dark eyes. "Would you then state you are settling with Severus because it did not work between you and Sirius Black your fourth year?"

"Of course not," Aurora cried in outrage. "Sirius was just a way to get back at Severus for spending so much time chasing after Lily." She then shook her head angrily as her words echoed back to her. "I can't believe I just told you that."

"You did not have to, my dear. I am quite the observer so I had noticed the looks between the Slytherin and Gryffindor tables at dinner. I believe there was also a duel that ensued between Sirius and Regulus over it, which I believe Severus finished with a particularly dark curse. I can only imagine how he would have reacted if he had known what had occurred that night between you and Sirius."

"He would have killed Sirius."

"That he would have, my dear, and he will have to learn at some point about that night."

"They're still feuding even after twenty years?"

"Not as much as they used to, my dear," Professor Dumbledore answered. "It is now mostly insults hurtled instead of curses."

"Well, that is better than before I guess." She hadn't been around to see the famous Marauders targeting Severus all the time. Their classes just didn't line up like that. "Who'd Lily end up with?"

"She married James Potter," Professor Dumbledore replied quietly.

"She married that arrogant ass? Oh, it's no wonder why I'm with Severus. I mean, it was so obvious that Potter was chasing Lily. Half of the duels I heard about were probably because Potter was trying to show off to her. Honestly, what witch wouldn't marry a pompous ass like Potter?"

"Aurora," Professor Dumbledore rebuked with a stern look. "Do not presume they remained the same throughout the years. James grew out of that phase of his life. I assure you that they were not the same people that you grew up with, Aurora. They had a son together, Harry James Potter. Unfortunately, poor Harry lost both his parents when Voldemort murdered them. I understand your dislike, my dear, but do not say such things ever again. James and Lily were not the same people you knew."

"Of course, Headmaster, I would never wish that on anyone. I am truly sorry to hear about James and Lily's deaths. However, do not expect me just to forgive and forget what those two did. James used Severus as his way to charm Lily, and Lily used me as her own little outlet to attract attention from James." Aurora then sighed heavily. From what she had seen of the Marauders, though, she at least knew that Severus was their frequent target. "I am sure that their son is not at all like them, but I can't just forget what they did, though, Headmaster."

"Perhaps not, but you can at least try, Aurora."

"Yeah, I can do that." She then inhaled deeply. "I take it I can't see my parents or Severus?"

"Until we know more, I am afraid that you cannot. I shall ask, however, if either Harry or another student would like to deliver your letters for you. Is that acceptable?" She nodded once. "Rest, my dear," he said. "You have had a very enlightening day." He then left, leaving her alone again.