"I would like to go on record as saying this is absolutely mad!" Minerva shook her head as she watched Hermione pour the potion into a cup.

"It may be mad, but it's the only way to cure him." Hermione replied. "You're here, and he has extracted his memories so that he can view them later. He also wrote a letter to himself. Nothing is going to go wrong, and he will be a hundred percent again."

"I wish I could share your enthusiasm." Severus interjected.

"Oh come now, don't you trust me?" Hermione asked appearing a little hurt by his comment.

"I trust you, I am just wary of this potion." Severus replied, "You are not the one who will have a decade wiped from their memory upon awakening."

"I know." Hermione sighed, "But it will be worth it when your healed, and you will be able to see your memories…let's just stop talking and get to drinking this!" Servers sunk into himself, his body language was loud and clear: he did not want to drink it. Hermione ignored him and handed him the cup. "There, now go sit on your bed and drink it. You'll fall asleep for a bit, but when you wake up you should be back to your old self again."

"Yippee." Severus replied sarcastically as he rose from his chair and walked to his bed. Minerva was wringing her hands nervously as she watched him swing his legs up on the mattress and peer into the cup. "Well, it's been fun."

"Stop being so snarky!" Hermione laughed as she walked up beside his bed. She leaned over and kissed him on his cheek. "You'll be alright, I love you."

"Yes, well as soon as I awake, I will not know that now will I?" Severus gave her a sideways glance and then rolled his eyes. He brought the cup to his lips and drank it down. "Ack!" He cried as she handed her the cup, "That was awful."

"Well it's not supposed to be pumpkin juice! Now, lay down." Hermione took the cup and sat it on his bedside table. Severus obeyed and lay down, taking a deep breath. "Are you feeling sleepy?"

"Yes." Severus yawned. "Adieu, until I wake my love." He was fast asleep as soon as the words left his mouth. Hermione turned to Minerva.

"Well, now all we can do is wait." Hermione raised her shoulders as she spoke.

"Indeed." Minerva replied as she looked from Hermione to the sleeping Severus.

Hours passed as Minerva and Hermione waited for Severus to wake up. Minerva had fallen asleep in a chair by the fire, Hermione paced the floor nervously. He had been asleep for nearly ten hours, and Hermione was beginning to worry she had botched the potion. She continued to glance over at him to make sure he was still breathing. Each time she saw the soft rise and fall of his chest indicating he was still alive she let out a long breath in relief.

"Is he awake yet?" Minerva mumbled as she began to awaken.

"No, not yet." Hermione replied as she stopped pacing.

"How long is he supposed to sleep, Hermione?" Minerva sat up and looked over at her sleeping friend her eyes were heavy with worry.

"I don't know, the directions didn't say. But I wouldn't worry just yet." Hermione replied. Suddenly Severus began to stir and Hermione ran to his side.

"Hermione…" Minerva attempted to stop her; he would think she was still a student, which would make him angry to see her. Hermione brushed past her and began checking on him.

"Miss Granger?" Severus asked, his voice was as deep and sultry as it had been, and hung like music in the air. Minerva and Hermione smiled as they heard it. "What the deuce are you doing not only out of bed at this hour but in my private rooms? How did you get in here? Twenty points from Gryffindor and another fifty if you do not leave right this moment!" Hermione jumped back as if she had just been stung, but she nodded dumbly and turned away from his bed. Her and Minerva locked eyes, Minerva nodded and pointed to the door. Hermione walked slowly towards the exit pausing as she started to close the door behind her. She glanced back for a moment, and saw Minerva walking over to his bedside.

"You'll be ok." Hermione whispered, closing the door behind her. She walked to the couch in the sitting area and even though she fought the urge to sleep, her fatigue shortly won out and she nodded off waiting for Minerva or Severus to seek her out.

Hermione awoke to someone gently shaking her shoulder. She sat up bleary eyed and looked around, rubbing her eyes.

"What time is it?" She mumbled.

"Hermione! Wake up!" Minerva exclaimed. Hermione was instantly awake and looking up at the Headmistress. "Severus! Is everything ok?" Hermione was worried. Minerva smiled softly and sat down beside her.

"He is fine, Hermione. You're potion worked. Everything is healed up, and he is physically exactly as he was ten years ago." Minerva nodded. "He did not take kindly to what I told him, I didn't think he would. However I handed him the letter he composed and he read it."

"He read it?" Hermione asked hopefully.

"He did. It was quite a shock as you could imagine Hermione. He believed you to be fourteen years old, and out after curfew." Minerva shook her head. "He didn't speak for some time, no doubt digesting the fact that he had not only survived the war, but was now in a relationship with a former student."

"Where is he now?" Hermione asked, as she attempted to stand up. Minerva gently took her by the arm and forced her to remain seated.

"He just returned from my office where he viewed his memories." Minerva sighed. "He asked that I come speak with you."

"He wanted you to speak with me?" Hermione asked, confused.

"Yes. He does not wish to see you yet. He asked if you could return to your own flat and give him some time to let everything settle." Minerva scrunched her face; it appeared to pain her greatly to tell Hermione that he didn't want to see her.

"Oh," Hermione looked to her hands, she began to cry but she looked at Minerva and smiled. "Yes, I'll go. If that's what he wants." Hermione stood up, brushing the tears from her cheeks.

"Hermione…" Minerva started.

"No, it's ok. We knew this could happen. It's fine." Hermione replied as she briskly walked to her room and closed the door. She leaned against the door, her head tilted back and her eyes closed. She felt as if she had just been hit with a bludger to the gut. She took a deep breath before beginning to pack her things. She moved slowly as she attempted to stop her mind from reviewing worst case scenarios.

"Everything will be fine, Hermione." She said aloud to herself. "He needs time, and that's exactly what you will give him. The last thing you want to act like is a harpy that will only make things worse." She nodded to herself as she packed the last of her things, and shrunk her bag down so she could fit it in her pocket. She walked out of her room, to find Minerva sitting where she left her.

"I am sorry, Hermione." Minerva apologized.

"It's fine, really." Hermione shook her head. "I'll just go ahead and leave. You know how to contact me."

"I will keep you up to date." Minerva stood up and watched Hermione walk to the door.

"Good-bye." Hermione said without looking back, she walked out into the sun.

"Good…"Minerva began but Hermione closed the door swiftly. "…bye."