Chapter 9

Mellissa sat down in the chair offered, knowing it could get ugly. Dumbledore said nothing, just utterly amazed she had the guts to do such a thing. It was one of the top five most dangerous potions, and it was banned because of it. Even his late friend, Nichols Flamel, was afraid to brew it. One wrong step and she could have leveled the entire school grounds.

"The Elixir of Pain you said?"

"Yes sir."

"The potion hasn't been successfully brewed in 300 years, you realize?"

"Yes. I made six cauldrons of it."

"Six?!"

"I wanted to help the war heroes. Once they have been stored, it would help cure so many patients of Saint Mungo's. The war heroes."

Dumbledore put his spectacles on the desk and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Does anybody else know?"

"No Sir. Except for the ghosts. But they said they would keep it mum due to the importance of it sir. I put up a special barrier around each of them. My cousin's design, she's brewed this before."

"And what do you have left to do to these potions?"

"Nothing. It just needs to steep for four more days."

"How long would it take for them to wake?"

"Once the potion is ingested, it depends on the pain they've experienced in Life- mentally, and physically." She paused, taking a moment, "With physical pain from the past, it heals the injuries that were caused. For mental pain, the potion lends them strength to not only move past it, but also it gives them peace, knowing it won't have as much as an effect on them in the future."

"And how do you know this? There isn't any solid research on this potion due to the volatile nature."

"My cousin sir. She's brewed this potion many times, unknowing to the recipients."

"Somehow, I believe you," he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose once more. "But you realize that you will have to announce this- and many people will call you a hero, some will call you a horror, knowing how crazy this can be. The school governors will want to take action against you."

"What if…" She drawled, "You wait for the summer to announce it? The potions will already be bottled. I can say I brewed it at home. Nobody has to get disciplined, nobody gets in trouble."

"Miss Wyvern I don't think-"

"It will work. I am begging you. I want a really good career in potions. Especially in the development of new potions. I can't if it was deemed selfish. If I get in trouble, and it wouldn't do if I got expelled. Give me detention, take away points, but please don't ruin my career."

"I will make you a deal. Don't take this lightly, because I don't make deals. Let me talk to the ministry, see if you can take your NEWTS early. If you pass, you will graduate early, and I will be ignorant to the brewing. If not, I will have to take action. You have one week to study. I suggest you use it wisely"

She nodded enthusiastically, and after shaking his hand, she left.

Four days later, the Headmaster and Mellissa headed down to the Ghosts' Hall, bottled all of the potions, count of 4,000 (needed very little per dose.) she took three potions for personal use. Dumbledore held onto the others until she graduated.

Poppy met them in Severus' quarters, to monitor them as they ingested the potion. Mellissa poured the potion down Hermione's body's throat, and Dumbledore did the same to Severus' body. Mellissa concentrated for a minute.

"They will wake in about 10 minutes or so." She said. Poppy had charms on the pair, watching as their vitals slowly went back to normal.

After ten minutes, Hermione was the first to open her eyes. She tried to sit up, but Mellissa held her down.

"You've been asleep for nearly a week, take it easy professor."

"What's going on?"

"You miscalculated, professor. You didn't need the adrenaline. You just needed a bit more fluids in the potion."

"My potion, that can't be."

"Your fluids already had adrenaline in them."

But-"

"You were reliving his life, as he was yours, because of the extra adrenaline. You almost killed yourself."

"So how did we wake?"

"I brewed a potion and it woke you up. The Elixir of Pain."

I appreciate it, Wyvern."

"You're welcome. But you might want to head to your quarters now, unless you want to talk to Professor Snape." Hermione got on her feet, shakily, and walked out as soon as her legs were stable. Poppy protested, but shut her mouth when she received a cold stare.

Severus woke up shortly after she had left. They had the same conversation, and other than a bit more berating, he was happy to be in his own body. Severus went to his bedroom almost immediately. The three left, closing the door behind them. Mellissa was sad. She knew the love Severus had was strong. And Hermione felt the same, but was she willing to let go of her past to accept the future?

Jan. 16, 2005

Hermione was cleaning her quarters. Severus didn't leave it a disaster, per se, but it was still too messy for her. Some things were out of order, and she didn't like it.

The living room was an easy fix; A few waves of her wand and it was righted. Next the library- where she became alarmed. Her false copy of Hogwarts- a History was lying open. She checked her box, and the potion was gone. She hurried to her office, and the wards were down. She blanched. There was a reason she didn't have it just locked and specific wards up. Those were her upmost private journals: her secrets, her thoughts, and her past.

She couldn't really blame him. She did tell him to snoop if he wanted answers. And now he knew he biggest secret. Though, he probably deduced why she didn't want a relationship. She didn't want her daughter to get resentful and angry at her for not keeping her, when she'd have another child.

Anyway she looked at it; nothing could keep her guilt down.

Dumbledore gave them a weekend free from duties to cope. Hermione just busied herself with cleaning so she wouldn't have to think. To think of the last four months in his body.

Around dinner, she decided she wasn't hungry and took a bath. She needed to talk to her friends. Somebody outside of the castle. But now wasn't the time. Hermione took special care examining her body for any signs, even weighing her three times- still the same weight.

She shaved her legs, her armpits, and trimmed. She washed her body three times, her hair twice, before leaving, drying herself and laying down for bed.

Severus, meanwhile, was sulking in his room. Hermione left everything exactly where it was. Nothing missing, nothing changed. As if she had never been here.

Potion ingredients and potions stocked, Pomphrey's potions labeled and grouped. Only one thing was different- a box on the foot of his bed, with a note attached. Happy Christmas- no signature. But he knew that it was Hermione's handwriting.

And the one thing he didn't want to open it because it was the only proof that the last four months truly happened. But his curiosity got the better of him. He'd open it tonight, before his firewhiskey. Until then, he'd just relax.