Severus Snape looked at the section of Diagon Alley that seemed to be in the midst of being taken over by change.

This first change had been the new storefront containing Granger Complete Dentistry and Magical Health Clinic was coming to be a very busy place. The Granger couple only worked two days a week in the clinic but Holly Pomprey was working the other days. She did complete physicals, allergy tests, and ensured that the potions used by patients were proper and up to snuff.

He himself had a potions lab on the premises to check the quality of potions that were brought to him and to brew the potions necessary for the clinic. He was surprised to find that he was working fewer hours for more money than when he was a Hogwarts professor, leaving him more time to research.

And he didn't have to deal with dunderheads everyday.

Also in the midst of a change was Madam Malkin's. Previously, it had been Madam Malkin's Robes for all occasions. Now there was a new sign and two doors for the same building: Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions and Gertrude's Witches' Botique.

Gertrude Bulstrode had convinced her husband to allow her to go into business providing the things that witches might desire for personal wear. There was a strict witches-only policy and many wizards were curious as to exactly what they sold. But business seemed to be brisk.

Also, each shop had a small placard which contained an image of a kitten riding a puppy. In small but proud letters one could read: "This Business is Proud to State that it is WiBeT Approved."

Severus finally entered the clinic and saw what he had been expecting to see.

"Severus! Welcome. The Healers from St. Mungos have arrived." The Welcome Witch was entirely too cheerful at times in his opinion.

"Hello. I see you have arrived. Has Madam Longbottom arrived yet?"

"She should be here any minute."

Severus nodded and said, "Well, let me get a few items ready. Please inform Mediwitch Pomfrey that I have arrived."

A quarter of an hour later, Severus was once again seated in Holly Pomprey's office with his shirt sleeves out of the way.

"As the paper which Potions Master Snape published stated, there has been a recent advancement in magical health care. We have found that a number of people who take potions regularly actually have small but significant negative reactions to some ingredients that are in common use. One of the earliest patients where this was discovered was with Potions Master Snape himself." She nodded at Severus to take up the explanation.

"As you might be aware, it is common practice for Potions Masters and those who regularly brew to take potions to negate any residue fumes which might negatively affect their health. I have done so since I began my path towards becoming a Potions Master when I was 15.

"In helping to perfect magical approaches to proper care of the teeth of the average witch and wizard, I agreed to allow the Doctors Granger to test procedures on myself. One of the tests that they insisted upon was to ensure that the potions and elixirs that were put into use in their clinic were tested to ensure that they had no negative long term effects."

Severus shuddered as he briefly considered how callous the two Muggles were when it came to negative SHORT term effects. He then mentally shook himself out of his musings and continued.

"The Muggles call these negative effects 'Allergies.' The word Allergy was coined from two Greek words meaning 'Strange, Different, Other' and 'activity.' The idea was that some substances do other things beyond what is expected to the human body.

"In being tested, it was found that some of the ingredients used in the Brewers' Potion actually were causing me health problems. Please note these two pictures."

Holly moved to take down a covering for two magical photographs. In the left photo, Severus Snape was pictured as he had been seen my humdreds of students in the last decade and a half. He looked surly, sallow, and had greasy locks: An altogether unpleasant look.

In the photo on the right was Severus Snape as he looked now. His skin was a healthy color; his hair was clean and somewhat lustrous; and, most of all, he didn't look like he was about to kill anyone who crossed him.

"As can be seen, when I removed the use of these ingredients that affected me poorly, my overall health increased. This lead to further testing on different witches and wizards and it was found that the idea of an allergy was not as uncommon as I first supposed. Thus, my recent paper for the Journal of Magical Medicine."

The lead Healer from St. Mungos was very interested. "So, exactly what are we seeing today?"

Madam Longbottom also interjected, "And why am I here?"

Severus nodded. "This discovery can have a direct effect on the treatment of patients. In some cases, potions that seemed to be perfectly acceptable were found to have negative effects in small numbers of patients. Today, Mediwitch Pomfrey will demonstrate the testing procedure on myself. If acceptable, we would like to see similar testing for certain patients at St. Mungo's – especially those who are long term patients and seem to not improve with competent care. It might open up a path to more effective methods."

Augusta Longbottom considered what she was being told even as the lead Healer from St Mungo's asked that the demonstration begin.

Holly Pomfrey applied two sets of tests to Severus. The watching experts were a little leery of the muggle looking metal pins, but didn't otherwise protest.

"Now, we must wait approximately ten minutes for the reactions to take place. On this arm, I applied the tests for the potions and ingredients that Potions Master Snape was regularly taking before. And on this arm, I have applied the same tests for the modified versions he is using now. We should start to see reactions almost immediately."

Even as she explained, the visiting Healers were surprised to find that the first arm was rapidly developing a number of red and sore spots where the pins had been applied. The other arm had two small reactions but that is all.

"What we are doing is applying small amounts of the ingredients used in potions and the completed potions themselves to different locations. As you can see, on this arm, quite a few ingredients are causing the skin to become irritated. The completed potions, here" she pointed to two particularly red marks, "also show negative reactions."

She moved to the other arm. "On this arm, you will see that there are a few minor reactions to individual ingredients. But this spot," she pointed to a clear area of skin, "is where we are testing the modified potions and you see no reactions. This indicates that the negative results from the ingredients are being sufficiently counteracted in the final potions." She looked up at the watching group. "Thus, the newer potions should be – and are according to our research – completely safe for Potions Master Snape to take or use."

She paused. "Any questions?"

Madame Bones was working at her desk reviewing reports from different Aurors and other staff at the DMLE when Minister Fudge waddled into the office. She looked up and asked, "Minister? Can I help you?"

"I hope so." The Minister looked slightly flummoxed. "In my recent meetings with the Muggle Minister, he brought up complaints that he has been receiving regarding the magical side."

"Compaints?"

Fudge sat down heavily and nodded. "A few people have come to him, as has the Queen, about how we're treating our prisoners at Azkaban. He was demanding a review to ensure we aren't torturing them. And if we don't comply, the Queen has said that she will become directly involved, threatening the Statute of Secrecy. I really need you to take care of this as soon as possible!"

Amelia sighed as she sat back and considered that. It was apparent that she had made a grave mistake with Hermione Granger. She just hoped that Susan would refrain from pointing it out repeatedly.