Chapter 10

Hermione stared at the gelatinous reddish brown substance and cringed, "How much of this do I need to drink?"

"Equivalent to a half a cup of tea; or 120 millimeters."

"What?" Hermione asked in disbelief, "You have got to be kidding me." Her gaze fixing on Helena, "Have you smelled this?"

"All week," Helena's voice holding little sympathy, "and unless you both would like to remain stuck to one another, you will need to do so within the next twenty-one hours before the potion loses its potency."

"Where are the doses?" Minerva asked, eyes scanning across Helena's den.

"I can give you them, or you can take them here."

"Side effects?"

"Potentiality of an upset stomach, muscle fatigue, drowsiness and a headache; all these items are in congruence with momentarily being out of phase."

Minerva didn't hesitate, "I believe now will be sufficient." She turned to Hermione, brow arched, "Unless you disagree?"

"No," Hermione stated, eyes turning back to the foul smelling liquid, "but is there any, essence of lemon or something that we can add to this? Doesn't this bother you?" she glanced to Minerva, "I'd think it would be even more so with your animagus senses."

"I would rather not comment," Minerva delicately stated, "Helena, can you procure the necessary dosage?" She reached up, fingers deftly unfastening the top two hidden buttons along the top of her robes while moving over to the bottle of brandy. "Care for a nip before we have the luxury of a less than savory drink?"

"Will it affect the potion?"

"No." Helena answered as she stepped back into the room, "It won't."

"Then yes." Hermione stated and moved forward without hesitation. "I will."

"Obviously, you've been hanging out with Minerva this past week." Helena quipped as she poured off the first amount.

"What gave it away?"

Minerva handed a partially filled tumbler to Hermione, "To freedom."

A spark flashed in brown eyes, "You believe this will work?"

"We'll know shortly." Minerva answered only seconds before swallowing the whole of her drink, "How long after we drink this until we'll be able to disconnect the threads?"

"Ten minutes to a half hour." Helena handed Minerva the potion, blue eyes holding green as she added, "Typically it would be less than five minutes, but with your….history…"

"Hence the time disparity."

Helena nodded and then moved around Minerva to hand Hermione her potion, taking the empty tumbler in return. "Here."

Hermione's face morphed into a frown, "Can I have my last glass back?"

"Hermione," Minerva turned to the younger woman, "are you ready?"

"I am, but…before we do," she turned to Helena, "could there be any adverse side effects for Minerva?"

Helena's eyes widened, "Minerva?"

"I relayed some of my history and therefore, corresponding concerns."

Her shock at Minerva's admittance remained etched on Helena's features as she turned to Hermione, "We don't believe so. But with Minerva's complex blood chemistry, I can't be certain."

"Then," Hermione's gaze shifted back to Minerva, "are you ready?"

Minerva didn't verbally answer, she brought the glass to her lips and downed it in one fluid motion. Hermione followed suite, and as soon as she swallowed it, coughed and gasped. "Ugh…that was disgusting."

"It was," Minerva agreed setting the glass down, "rather unpleasant."

Hermione set her glass down, wincing as she did. "It turned my stomach…I..." she doubled over, "ugh…"

Minerva and Helena were by her side in a heartbeat, "Breathe." Minerva stated as Helena's fingers went instantly to check her pulse.

"Her body is already being pulled across the phasing," Helena glanced to Minerva, "are you feeling anything?"

"No." Minerva answered, as Hermione's jaw rippled and she took another labored breath, "As she's being pulled across the phasing, we should be able to cut her string thereby separating the tether holding us together?"

Helena nodded as she pulled out her wand and with two downward strokes, frowned as the silver band remained steadfast. "Hermione, it might not be working because I'm slightly out of phase with you. You need to try and sever the band."

Hermione groaned again, "The out of phase…is that why…everything feels distorted?"

"Quite." Minerva withdrew her wand, and wrapped Hermione's fingers around it, "I need you focus." Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but Minerva's voice stopped her. "Don't reply, just focus on the spell. It'll take all of your concentration and energy to cast it."

Hermione heard Helena's voice echo the same sentiment, as she focused on the spell and with effort felt her magic pulse, a wave of discomfort and…

xoxo

Helena sighed as she sat back, leaning against the base of the cabinet. "You still don't feel anything do you?"

Minerva shook her head, "No," a frown crossing her lips, "and even if you double the catalytic ingredients, I doubt I shall then either." Her eyes moved to Hermione, "And I don't know if her body would be able to take the strain if we did."

"It wouldn't. And I have to say; even you'd be hard pressed at that dosage." Slowly Minerva's gaze moved to Helena, and instead of the usual stoicism lacing Minerva face – Helena was staring at borderline panic. "Minerva…I…"

"Don't." Her voice laced with desperation, "Unless you've thought of another…" She tipped her head back, tears blurring her vision, "dear god, Helena…I can only think of one other option."

Helena reached across Hermione's body taking Minerva's hand. "I don't have any other options. I'm so sorry, honey."

Minerva squeezed Helena's hand, "Me too." As she met Helena's watery gaze with her own, "I'm going to need you to administer a dreamless draught to Hermione."

Realization sparked in blue eyes, "You mean to make her believe the potion worked?"

"I do." Minerva rasped, eyes falling to Hermione's unmoving form. "Both of our lives don't need to be permanently affected."

"Yours may not be..."

"I made a deal, one that Ulrich will be sure to collect upon."

"He may not." Helena's voice drifted to a whisper as she recanted her previous statement, "How long do you think he'll give you?"

"I don't know. Only that I shall give him an heir."

"He may have taken another mate."

"He can't." Minerva whispered, "Unicorns mate for life."

"But then how are you to give him an…" she sighed, "his son's blood."

Minerva nodded, "Yes."

"Then why now? And how is it possible? You've been married and have had other lovers, so if unicorns mate for life…why or rather how can you have been with others? And if you have a child, how is it an heir for Ulrich?"

"Because, unicorns walk among us." Minerva revealed to a startled gasp, "And I do mean, among us, Helena. There is another whole society embedded within our own. As for an heir, I believe you are aware of the mechanics."

"Would it be…for life?"

Sadness reigned across emerald orbs, "I…before we met." Her voice sounding as tired as she felt as she admitted the long held secret, "After my body became stabilized, I was approached by Ulrich in his…human form, to spend time recovering in a sanctuary that would help me. My parents agreed, as he is…a rather influential wizard. The sanctuary…ended up…I lived amidst them for several years. And am acutely aware of what their mating ritual is, and that…yes, it would be for life."

Xoxo

Hermione jerked awake.

"Hey."

Her head snapped towards Ron's distinct voice, as she croaked out a question. "It worked?"

His smiling face came into focus as he replied, "Obviously. Unless McGonagall is hiding somewhere unbeknownst to me, but," his hand swept over her wrist, "there is no string. So, you are no longer bound by the containment spell." He leaned forward, "Actually, I was hoping you could tell me how you both managed to break the spell, as McGonagall wasn't forthcoming when she brought you by last night. She only said that you'd probably wake up this morning with a bit of a headache, but otherwise, you would be fine. And gave me…" he tapped the letter on the nightstand, "this to give to you."

"We," Hermione frowned as she glanced to the letter while answering his question, "drank some horrible potion Helena concocted, and then…" the details were fuzzy, but she recalled Minerva's hand wrapping hers around a wand, voices telling her… "we cast a spell to dissolve the containment spell." She reached over, pulling the parchment to her, "What time is it?"

"Just after seven. I was going to suggest we…" Ron's words rumbled on about some plans he was already putting into process for their day as Hermione's concentration was pulled to the letter.

Hermione,

Without going into all the specifics, know that the spell has been dissolved, largely due to your efforts. Forgive me for dropping you off at your home last evening, but I surmised that you would like to return to a semblance of normality with all due haste.

And I wished to say thank you for this past week, it was an unforeseen gift to become acquainted with Hermione – and not my former student Miss Granger.

May you have contentment, interspersed with happiness and love. Know that you have my fondest wishes for you and yours,

Minerva

oxox

a/n: :)