Downside of Aging Potions - Chapter Eleven

Call me morbid, call me pale
I've spent six years on your trail
Six long years
On your trail
Call me morbid, call me pale
I've spent six years on your trail.
-The Smiths, Half A Person

Snape sat in the Library miserably.

He didn't want to be like this. He wanted to be in his old body, in his old class room, snapping at his old students. Who were now his classmates.

He groaned.

"Sloan?" He heard a soft, yet annoyed voice come from behind him. He sat up.

She stood beside him, "Mind if I join you?"

He gestured to the seat next to him.

She sat down and said shortly, "Thanks."

He noticed her breathing uneven and furious. Her face pink. "What happened?" He asked.

She sighed, "On the way... No. It's not important."

"I can tell something is bothering you." He said, an annoying look of knowing in his raven eyes.

She glared then sighed; "I got a bit-umm, upset at Ron on the way down. He was being an asshole. Again."

He looked sympathetic, "I'm sorry. Perhaps he's just... Concerned?"

Hermione snorted, "Concerned? He thinks he owns me. I am so sick and tired of it..." She sighed again.

Snape searched for something to say, but came up with nothing.

"Never mind," she said quickly, opening a book, "I don't want to think of him now."

He watched her scan pages for a few seconds before he looked away and sighed. Perhaps he would look for books on his potions. As he went to get up, Hermione said, "Look at this."

He walked over to her side of the table and read over her shoulder:

De-Aging Potions

De-Aging Potions were first used in the fourteenth century, by early witches and wizards who were just discovering potions. They used the potions, not only to make them look younger, but to live longer. It was proven that the more De-Aging Potion they took, the longer they lived; even if they stopped taking it after a week. Nicholas Flamel who took this potion even before he discovered the Sorcerer's Stone also proved this.
De-Aging Potions are complicated because they can, generally, use any ingredients, as long as Aging Potion is in it. The ingredients needed to make it a De-Aging Potion are: Vampire blood, Essence of bobcat, and/or fish gel. As odd and rare these ingredients are, they are essential.
There is one recording for the counter potion the De-Aging potion, written by Nicholas Flamel himself. However, the whereabouts of this solution is unknown.

She turned her head and looked up at him. He straightened up, frowning.

Finally, he shook his head, "Too bad he's dead."

She shut the book. "Maybe... Maybe we can ask Dumbledore?" She suggested. Dumbledore knew Flamel and he might unknowingly know something. Maybe...

Snape shrugged.

A pissed off sounding 'hmph' came from behind them and they both looked. Hermione instantly wished she hadn't.

"What do want Ron?" She asked.

Ron sat backwards in the chair next to Hermione and said, "Listen Hermione, I didn't mean to offend you with what I said about Snape. I am sorry, okay? Are we cool?"

Hermione gave an impatient sigh, "Typical of you Ron. Come and apologize and think everything is okay. No, we are not 'cool' and I would appreciate if you didn't interrupt me when I am talking to others. It's rude." She said, not even looking up from her

She heard Ron stomp off and smiled satisfyingly and Snape chuckling as he pretended to read a book.

"Asshole." Hermione muttered at Ron.

Snape put the book back on the shelf and turned the chair Ron had sat in back to the table. He sat and said sincerely, "Truly, I am sorry for him." But then he laughed.

She looked at him, astonished and aghast at the same time, "It is not funny."

He stopped laughing but grinned. It was a mischievous grin that made him look even younger. She smiled and looked away, shaking her head.

He sighed, "So. There is only one counter potion for this damn potion. And no one knows where it is." He sat back, "I don't know about you; but I'm in no mood to slave in lab all day trying to figure out what someone already has."

She laughed, "Alright, so we ask Dumbledore."

"Perfect." He said, "But, not now." His face took on a nauseated growl, "I have Transfiguration homework."

Hermione fought a grin and tried to keep from laughing, "I'm sorry."

"No you're not." He growled.

"Well," she said reasonably with a light tone, "You weren't really sorry about Ron, so I guess we're even." She gathered her books and stood, "Have fun with the homework, Sloan."

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