Restoration and Cure

In England, Longbottom Mansion...

'Phew, glad that's over with.' Himeko sighed. 'I thank you for your hospitality before Sirius and I leave for home tomorrow.' she said to Reinhardt with the courtesy bow.

'Yes, I thank you as well.' said Sirius gratefully. He was in clean hospital pajamas and slippers after a thorough cleaning for his trial day but he still looked terrible.

'Think nothing of it as what they plan is in our family's way as well.' said Reinhardt. 'How is young Neville in your residence?'

'Still in culture shock.' Himeko giggled. 'Sure our house is big but its no mansion and looked so brand new since it was built only ten years ago...then there's food, he liked it so much he's eating enough for three people and liked our kind of tea. We only cook top-class since Shiro and I are good cooks. Speaking of tea, Neville hoped his family can taste our tea too so he insisted on asking me to take some home and instruct the family elves how to brew it.' she said as she took out a wooden barrel out of her pocket and unshrunk it. 'Ceremonial-Grade Green Tea.'

'Ceremonial?' Sirius blinked.

'Yeah. Its the best tasting kind. Sweet by itself but with a deep flavor Neville drinks it like water when he started.' Himeko giggled. 'This barrel alone costs about a hundred thousand Galleons.' she said, patting the lid on the barrel.

'WHAT?!' the two lords yelped in horror.

'But for your aid in the Feud and helping me save Sirius, I'm giving it for free.' Reinhardt sighed in relief. He thought he had to pay so much money for the family heir's purchase...

'How on earth can tea cost a hundred thousand?!' Sirius whimpered. 'What is that made of, diamonds?!' he howled in horror.

'Well, when you taste it you'll understand why its expensive.' said Himeko wryly. 'It's raised and processed in complex, complicated strict conditions, not to mention after being dried, it's milled by granite grinders and it takes an hour to make just 30g of fine powder green tea. Only the rich and Geisha Districts can afford these.'

So the family tried it out for dinner and it was delicious!

Not only that, tonight's dinner was just-as-different, for the sake of 'Giving you an idea what Neville will eat in his stay with us for health benefits until Hogwarts time for him.' she basically taught the family elves how to eat a balanced meal that hardly required oil and suet. And too much salt for that matter, leaving them a cookbook with her own handwriting with moving drawings as the wizards are capable of.

'But why is it so expensive?!'

Cue Japanese Tea Culture Lecture after dinner...particularly Matcha.

'I don't care for other teas, we only buy the best, really~'

That, and she had to spend an hour or two chatting with the Longbottom Ladies since they wanted to know potential chances of Neville marrying her by knowing how she works...outside of being a trained assassin, that is...

'Oh, before I leave, I would like to visit Aunt Alice and Uncle Frank tomorrow.' she said with a mysterious smile.

'Eh? What for dear?'

'You'll see.' Himeko smiled mysteriously.

xxx

In the hospital...when she visited with Augusta Longbottom, still in a veiled hat of course.

'It won't be a pretty sight.' said Augusta softly. 'My son and daughter-in-law are so near, yet so far...no thanks to that bitch.' she said bitterly.

'I see...I never knew my own parents nor have any memory at all so I didn't feel a thing...the only time I grieved was when my adoptive father died, having him only for five years but he took great care of us both but I recovered. For Neville this must be endless hell. They're a floo away but way too far away.'

'Indeed so...' upon arrival at the Janus Thickey Ward...there they are. Skinny, Gaunt, and staring into space. Their hair was white and wiry-dry.

Himeko knew what was wrong weeks ago, having looked into it.

Cruciatus cannot cause insanity but other factors do...

She placed her hands on their heads and surged with magic.

'Rosette, what are you doing?' Augusta stammered nervously.

'Scanning them before I decide what my best shot was...it seems that their so-called insanity wasn't caused by Cruciatus but a form of mental block-out...in other words, they trapped their own minds and consciousness with their own magic just so they won't feel the pain of the spell, but are unable to come out since they have no idea how to get out! Their mind and spirit are literally trapped with and by their own magic just to not feel a thing!'

'WHAT?!' Augusta freaked out. Not only were they wrong but it was something far worse?

'I'll open a door in three! Two! One!' and she forced her magic in to easily destroy the self-imposed imprisonment...

'M-mum?' Frank croaked out hopefully. 'Did we survive the Lestranges and Jr.?'

'We're not killed?' Alice croaked out. 'This isn't a dream?'

They haven't noticed their appearances yet. But all the elderly witch cares about was that her son was back with his wife.

'HEALERS!' Augusta yelled joyfully as she hugged her son and his wife that Himeko had to step aside a bit.

'Why? What happened Lady Longbottom?!' but the Dowager was too busy crying in joy while smothering the pair in a tight hug that Himeko did the explaining.

'Well it's like this,' said Himeko as she explained to the Healers what happened to their patients that she wound up fixing after studying some books and scanning them herself. 'The rest was easy but considering they're literal statues for over ten years...physical atrophy will be nasty to endure. Especially as their magic is focused on one spot as their own prisons their magic slowed down physical recovery too that rendered potions near-useless they need magical treatment as well.'

The Healers were stunned. They never encountered this problem before! Had they known it was consciousness related, they would have been released sooner in a matter of weeks but they dismissed it as Cruciatus-Induced insanity!

Yet a girl barely eleven accomplished what they could not after quickly figuring out the problem.

'Well...it'll be interesting in how will they take that they're here for ten years and trapped in their own heads for ten years. This is going to suck.' Himeko gulped. 'They think they barely survived the Lestranges and Barty Jr and its still war...how are we gonna explain that? I have no idea what happened in war and what their last memories are...'

'Yeah, this is not going to be fun at all...we'd best get Calming Draughts ready...' the Healer in charge of the Longbottoms gulped.

Indeed, it was an interesting day in the Janus Thickey Ward it was great Calming Draughts existed. But word spread like wildfire that Himeko cured the Longbottoms with no trouble at all and what the real problem had been that they never knew and realized it.

Just that, the pair had trouble accepting they were trapped in their heads for almost eleven years when they thought they were trying to get out for just a few hours. And never got to see their son's childhood.

'Just that, never do untested magicks ever again!' Augusta scolded the pair. And she insisted they be treated at home for their safety.

First the cruelty at court and now a miracle, the Daily Prophet thought.

What else is next, they wonder.

Well, one thing the Longbottoms and Sirius knew was it was Potions next.

She DID say she's an Alchemist...

She exploited both Clock Tower wares and Diagon Alley wares to make a Rejuvenation and Cleansing Elixirs before she and Sirius leave for home.

'Since Sirius is magically OK, he can drink this right away.' Himeko explained to the two family heads and the wives as she put three potion bottles on the table. 'However, for Uncle Frank and Aunt Alice, they must be magically healthy first before drinking this, or they die in a second.' she added as she made visuals to drive home her explanations. She made two white human silhouettes with Xs for eyes and an open mouth with tongue sticking out.

'This is because this potion forces the magic in the body to restore the entire body to its ideal peak condition at the expense of magical exhaustion. And since those two have magic in their heads for years...its like literally making their heads explode in turn, bad idea so wait until their bodies have proper magical flowing levels again.' she said as she made the silhouettes' heads explode terrifying the adults present. 'So make sure the Healers do their damn jobs that magic flow is even all over the body.' the final silhouette was having blue glowing light all over the body. 'Because the current situation, is this.' all the blue light went to the head before she made the visual disappear in a puff of smoke.

'However, for the Cleansing Potion, its OK to take it immediately right now. It cleans you thoroughly and magically.'

'We can't thank you enough for this, Lady Potter.' said Augusta gratefully.

'Mm. Just think of this as about ten years' worth of birthday and christmas presents to Neville from me.' Himeko chuckled. 'Think nothing of it. Oh, and a birthday surprise for this year too before he goes to Hogwarts, might I add. Let's surprise him by having his parents take him to the platform.' she said mischievously. 'I'm feeling a little mischievous.'

'He's staying over at your house, right?' Alice asked her.

'Yup. Undergoing a little workout from my brother not to mention getting him used to eating healthy.' said Himeko. 'So he'll have changed a lot physically when you see him again.'

xxx

'So...cleaning and rejuvenation huh?' Sirius mused as they went to Charing Cross Road together to meet someone. He had taken the Cleansing Potion after Himeko had explained, and he glowed gold quite literally before black wispy stuff came out as if he was releasing black smoke that stinks like hell. And he was plenty filthy that when it was over, he never felt so...fresh. Then the Rejuvenation Potion...at the expense of magical exhaustion that he cannot cast magic for a couple weeks, his withered body from Azkaban became healthy and youthful looking once more. He's 31 now but sure as hell didn't look 31. The Longbottoms were so amazed with the potions that there was hope for the Longbottoms not dying out.

'Yup. The Cleansing Potion thoroughly cleans your body first. Cleans it of its inner filth, along with the degenerative effects of inbreeding. Mental Issues, Weak body, Sterility, all gone. The long explanation is very scientific so that's as simple as I can get. So if you're infertile before, you can now make a woman pop out kids without worries of complications as her internal organs are strengthened.'

'Oh! That means the Black Family will not die after all!' Sirius gasped out. 'I accepted long ago we're doomed to die out.'

'Yes. Aunt and Uncle can give Neville new siblings after they rejuvenate at least. Through rejuvenation, Aunt Alice will be strong enough to pop out kids many times. Neville is practically the last Longbottom child due to effects of Inbreeding to keep lines Pure and wizarding pairs only have a child only barely before menopause happens. Honestly...'

'Well...that happens.' Sirius chuckled.

'However, the Cleansing can only be drunk only once.' said Himeko. 'Let's say Aunt and Uncle drank it. Their genetics and blood have been thoroughly cleansed and healed you can say they're purer than purebloods now. Their children except for Neville who has yet to drink it cannot take the potion until at least the 20th generation down the line if they inbred again. Its that very 20th generation descendant who can drink it then without worry of dying.'

'Ah...that's how it is? How come you never told them that?'

'Pureblood mentality means they'll never accept what they don't wanna believe even if its the truth, so I didn't bother. But if they ask why they can't take the potions again I'll have to be blunt.'

'Ah...'

'So why're we here for?'

'For Moony of course...guy mailed me last night and all.' said Sirius. 'He wanted to come with us.'

'As long as he's no mole who'd give away our location or he'll have to die and you know it.'

Sirius blanched.

He hoped Moony is no mole...

xxx

Charing Cross Road...

One Remus Lupin was nervous.

11 years.

Then this happens.

Sirius was innocent all along.

But Dumbledore who knew the truth let him rot in Azkaban so he and Weasley can plot Rosette's demise while stealing from her in the process.

Rosette's revenge was cold-blooded. Cruel. It had been the talk of any pub he's been to.

While Molly Weasley certainly deserved it due to her reputation with her Howlers, the fact that Albus Dumbledore planned a cruel plan was still shocking.

At any rate, they still are deciding on who the next Headmaster will be. The Staff are still in shock with what happened...and what the sentence was, that Rosette fully-used the power of Blood Feud to milk revenge for all its worth.

Everyone's world was basically shattered.

The lesson here was even a good man can turn evil...if they all gave him a God Complex. Rosette laid that down hard when interviewed by Skeeter of all people, though the woman wrote it the way Rosette wanted it printed, or she wouldn't live long. In fact, she threatened the woman with a knife with a cheerful smile on her face after twisting her arm and tackling her down, still in the ministry!

When asked why she was so violent...

'Er, underage magic so I had to go physical?'

That shut them up. That indeed, is in effect so she couldn't use magic and had to be chaperoned still for protection.

And poor Ursula Fawley. Her head may have been spared as everyone was certain Rosette would've killed her but Rosette settled for 'an intensively harsh re-education' about her job and to 'use her brain' instead of being a pathetic yes-woman as children's lives and welfare are on her hands. 'Make a mistake again and I'll kill you for real, along with whoever is the youngest in your family for your transgression against House Potter and House Black!'

And now, here they are.

He'd know how Sirius looks in his younger days and the veiled hat girl, is Rosette, his missing cub who came back with a Vengeance. She refuses to show her face to avoid being tracked down.

'Hey.' Sirius greeted with a handwave.

Remus could only smile back nervously.

'So, what's it like in society now?'

'Crazy. Upside down. Won't shut up for hours.' Remus sighed. 'Its Albus. Albus of all people and he does this.'

'Everyone over-indulged him. Elated him. Put him on a high pedestal. Kowtowed to his every whim. End result, God Complex who thinks he's above rules and laws.' said Himeko flatly. 'It's everyone's fault why he became this way. Power corrupts absolutely. The higher you go up, the harder the fall. He's the best example.'

'Its still hard to swallow though.' Remus said gloomily.

'At any rate, time for us to go home.' said Sirius. 'Rosette still has school and all.'

'Right...'

'Well, you'll like it at my house at least.' said Himeko. 'It's very clean there, fresh air, good food and peace and quiet.'

'But...is there a place for my-you-know-what?' Remus asked nervously.

'Oh, there's one...just drink this thing first.' Rosette handed him the Cleansing Potion. 'It will help you but we do it in the Leaky Cauldron.'

'Oh yeah, I almost forgot that thing's flashy when it's doing its job!' Sirius exclaimed as they quickly went into the Cauldron.

xxx

'OK, what is this thing exactly?' Remus asked the pair, looking at the pristine-white porcelain bottle.

'Cleansing Potion.' said Rosette. 'It cleanses your body physically, mentally and magically. If it fixed my three patients, so it should you. But the Moony part is up in the air which is why I ask of you to be Patient Zero for me.'

'Patient Zero?' Remus blinked.

'Muggle terminology used to refer to the person identified as the first carrier of a communicable disease in an outbreak of related cases. And also in my own lingo that doesn't apply anywhere, a person who was the first cured with successful treatment. You can be the latter if all goes well. However, once you're cleansed, your descendants cannot take it until the 20th generation wherein its effect wears off. Otherwise anyone earlier than the 20th descendant will instantly die. Just a warning.'

'S-so if my children are bitten by Werewolves, this can't save them?!' Remus sputtered, looking at the bottle he has.

'Yup. I ended up making that thing too strong when my intent was to fix physical and magical corruption and stagnation in the body. Which explains the price on the market if I ever patented and sold it.' Himeko shrugged. 'Well...to get something you gotta pay for it with equal value. Its how this world works. Nothing's ever for free. It fixed Sirius, Aunt Alice and Uncle Frank, it can surely fix you too.'

'Yeah, I never felt so clean in my life either.' said Sirius. 'The Dark Magic mum was so fond of punishing me with just for being a Gryffindor, its remains in me all gone. A little warning, the purging will come out as black smoke that stinks like hell depending on how physically unhealthy are your insides and how affected by dark magic you are, before you glow gold and white, a sign it's done its job. It's why we had to hide in here.'

'Oh...I've got a hard choice...do I take it or not to reserve it for my kids?' Remus choked out, shakily looking at the bottle.

'You suffered enough Moony, because of Greyback, and because of prejudice against Werewolves when you never asked for an eternal life of having a monthly period in the first place.' Remus and Himeko tried to hit him; a punch from Remus and a high kick from Himeko respectively which he dodged each. 'Nya nya! Just drink it already, jeez! After this, say goodbye to being a Werewolf forever!'

It took more convincing for Remus to finally drink it.

Indeed, he emitted black smoke, but unlike Sirius who was so thick with black smoke and stinks so bad, Remus had little of it, but they also saw the silhouette of a wolf leave him in a dying howl...before he glowed the gold-white light.

'M-Merlin...did you see that?' Remus squeaked feebly.

'We did!' Sirius exclaimed. 'We better get checked at St. Mungo's Moony! Just to be double-sure your Lycanthropy is really gone!' he said excitedly.

Himeko looked thoughtful.

'Hummm...it worked...I guess I made it that strong, strong enough to get rid of Lycanthropy...to be honest I never thought this was possible...'

'I hope it did...I hope it really did...' Remus burst into tears. 'For over twenty years, being a Werewolf was hell!' and they apparated with Himeko...

Unknowingly playing into the young girl's plans due to many witnesses present...

One, publicizing Remus is no longer a Werewolf, being cured in public.

Two, Himeko cured him.