Chapter 21: The Potion Mastery Board
All of the potential candidates for the Potion Mastery Board's current applicants were gathered in the dining hall in London. There were hundreds of people there, socialising with the Board in the hopes to interest the Board members in their projects.
Professors Horace Slughorn and Minerva McGonagall stood by their students. Slughorn, ever the diplomat, did the formal introduction, and Minerva protected her students from being bombarded with excess attention because of their age.
"Necessity is the mother of invention," she said, "and age is hardly a block for inspiration."
Severus stood in his formal robes, which had been an exciting day for him at the tailor in Diagon Alley. Minerva had taken them all to get their formal robes for the event, knowing that presentation was a great hurdle in such events. One could hardly show up in Muggle jeans and a sweater and expect to be taken seriously at the Potion Board's formal dinner.
Remus looked decidedly uncomfortable in his dress robes. The werewolf was not used to such formal attire, nor having so many eyes looking upon him like he was a fish in a fishbowl.
Lily was dressed in a dark crimson and gold gown she had chosen from a slew of others at the store, her desire to show off her House colours telling the world that subtly was overrated.
Hermione was wearing dress formal apprentice attire, her dark black robes hung about her shoulder like silken wings. The formal pins of her Master, her speciality, the seal of Hogwarts, and the more discreet Animagus registry pin were all adorning her collar like the bands of service on a general's chest. Minerva had even pinned her with the regal lion of Gryffindor to mark the House of Hermione's Master, but she had also pinned the emerald and silver snake of Slytherin upon her collar as well, to mark her current House. Hermione had fussed that she was feeling like she was being trussed up like some sort of target, but Minerva had assured her that her looking all official would do nothing but help their presentation.
There were other presenters from Hogwarts joining in on the dinner, and Slughorn was dutifully introducing them to the Board and the other officials as well, but Minerva stayed with "her" cubs, even though her eyes flicked over to watch over the other students to insure they, too, were not being hassled overly much.
It was only one dinner of many, Slughorn had informed them. There would be countless more. The first of those with horrible ideas would be weeded out first, and one by one, the dinners would bring down the candidates to a more manageable level. In the meantime, all the groups were expected to keep up on their work, and by the time all the dinners were done, they were expected to present their finished potion to the Board and then the Board would decide which of the talented and perhaps even lucky people would win the accolades and the coveted apprenticeship.
It wasn't, Hermione knew, that Slughorn couldn't just take an apprentice if he really wanted to. After all, he was a Master of Potions himself and had the right, just as Minerva did, to take an apprentice of his choosing. Slughorn, however, would find the esteem of having one of them as his apprentice after they wooed the Potion Mastery Board and succeeded in creating a successful potion. Each of them would be highly regarded, if it were to come to pass, and taking one of them as an apprentice would only be icing on his cake. Also, if the Board awarded the apprenticeship, that lucky student would not have to pay for the registration fees, robes, paperwork, and countless other things that the Black family and Minerva had already taken care of for Hermione.
Hermione grinned at Severus, her eyes raking down his robes with approval. Severus averted his eyes in a sudden shyness that made Hermione grin even broader.
Lucius and Hermione had helped him dress, drilled him on proper behaviour in public, and the best ways to look intelligent without looking like he was entitled. Severus had taken the impromptu lessons with finesse, grateful that he was less likely to make a fool of himself in public.
They had pulled Remus aside before they left, and given him the same drill, and Remus' eyes were so wide as he tried to imitate the Slytherin Prince, that Hermione giggled into her hand and Severus snickered that finally there was someone more awkward in the prospect of social acrobatics than he was.
Hermione had desperately tried to get Lily to stand still long enough for her to give her some pointers before the dinner, but Lily had turned her nose up at her, saying she was perfectly capable of being polite in public without lessons.
Hermione and Severus pinched the bridge of their nose at exactly the same time. Remus had looked completely embarrassed.
"Lily, please," Hermione begged her. "Just let me give you a few pointers before we go to the dinner."
Lily whirled on her, green eyes flashing. "Do you think me an idiot?"
Hermione's eyes grew wide even though the part of her that was utterly the daughter of Walburga Black was threatening to say some very unflattering things. "I don't think you're an idiot, Lily. I just think you should know a few subtleties before we go."
"I'm perfectly capable of giving a curtsy when someone looks down their nose at me, Hermione," Lily snapped.
Hermione stiffened. Her eyes faded into a silver so pale that they seemed like molten glass. Her fingers twitched, threatening to stretch into talons. She clenched her jaw together, and then her eyes Occluded, her posture drew her up taller, and her jaw aligned, and there was nothing in her expression at all but stony impassiveness.
Hermione Ankaa Black stared down at Lily Evans, with a curl of her lip that echoed her mother and a certain Potion Master that scowled over the cauldron's of countless first year students.
Hermione had turned her back to Lily and ended the "conversation."
"Ah, Master McGonagall," a kindly looking wizard approached the table. "Good to see you again, my old friend."
"Master Barberry," Minerva greeted with a tilt of her head, one equal to another.
"I have not seen you at these wondrous dinners in quite some time, my friend," Barberry said with amusement. "What finally lured you out to us?"
Minerva laughed as the other Master took her into a hug. Barberry looked genuinely happy to see her. "A group of my students, which happens to include my new Apprentice, have been working on a fascinating project, Master Barberry. Have you heard of it?"
Barberry shook his head. "I am not quite curious, my old friend," he said. "Pray, I would love an introduction."
Minerva smiled and placed her hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Master Barberry, this is my apprentice, Hermione Black. She has become quite adept in transfiguration in only her first year. I am positive that by the time she graduates, she will be a Master in her own right."
Barberry's eyes widened. "Apprentice Black," he said with wonder.
Hermione extended her hand, falling into a formal curtsy. "Pleasure, Master Barberry."
Barberry took her hand gently, lowering his head in a bow to press his lips to the top of her hand. "Your family must be very proud."
"They are, Master," she said with a nod as she straightened her posture.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Apprentice Black," Barberry said. "I look forward to hearing your presentation later tonight."
"Thank you, Master Barberry," Hermione answered. "I hope you find it as fascinating as we did researching it."
Barberry regarded her with an upturned chin, but it was not unkind. "I'm sure I will. I expect nothing less from one from the illustrious House of Black."
Hermione bowed her head in respect.
"This is Severus Snape, Master Barberry," Minerva introduced.
Severus bowed his head in deference. "Delighted to meet you, Master Barberry."
"A pleasure, young man," Barberry said. He extended his hand, and Severus took it, clasping it firmly. "I take it you are confident that your project will take the world by storm?"
"We hope so, Master Barberry," Severus answered, directing the credit to the group.
Barberry nodded in approval.
"This is Remus Lupin, Master Barberry," Minerva introduced.
"Lupin," Barberry said, his eyes looking far away a moment. "Son of Lyall Lupin, yes?"
Remus tilted his head in deference. "Pleasure to meet you, Master Barberry," he said formally. "Lyall is my father, Sir."
They shook hands. "It is a great pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lupin," he said with a smile. "It has been years since I have heard from your father, Mr. Lupin. I would appreciate it if you gave your parents my regards that I hope they are well."
"I will do so, Master Barberry," Remus said with an agreeable nod.
"Excellent," Barberry said with a smile. "Have you completed your research?"
"We have, Master Barberry," Remus replied. "We are currently working on the brewing process to make a stable and reproducible distillation."
"That is wonderful progress," Barberry said with a nod. "I look forward to hearing about your project and the results."
Remus bowed his head. "Thank you, Master," he replied humbly.
"This is Lily Evans," Minerva introduced.
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Barberry," Lily said, sticking out her hand for him to shake.
Master Barberry blinked, taken a little aback. He took her hand, turned it to the side, and attempted to place his lips to the back of her hand awkwardly, but the movement of his hand to do so seemed like a shake and Lily pulled her hand back.
"Pleasure," Barberry said at last, collecting his dignity after the strange social awkwardness. "Tell me, Miss Evans, what do you think of all of this?"
"I think it's wonderful," Lily replied. "Especially since it gives all of us a chance to bring something good to the world and further our education."
"Indeed," Barberry said, tilting his head. "And what do you think of the prospect of an apprenticeship?"
"I think it would be wonderful," Lily said. "It would be such a boon to the one of us that is chosen."
Master Barberry lifted his chin and then shook his head. "Indeed it would be, Miss Evans," he said after a moment. "Master McGonagall," he said with a warm smile. "It was a pleasure, as always."
Minerva held out her hand and bowed her head slightly as Barberry took it and gently placed a kiss to the top of her hand. "And you, Master Barberry."
The elder wizard nodded and continued his flitting about the dinner to chat with the various tables.
"Phew," McGonagall said, sitting down in the chair. "You can sit now, children. You have passed the first hurdle."
Hermione, Remus, and Severus sat down with a relieved sigh. Lily was already sitting and looking around the room with curiosity.
"How long have you known Master Barberry, Master?" Hermione asked.
Minerva chuckled. "Since my first year out of Hogwarts," Minerva said. "He was my sponsor when I studied for my mastership in Transfiguration. He is the one that made sure I accepted it, lest he track me down somewhere in the world and come knocking."
The trio widened their eyes, excited to hear the newest story.
"Somehow, Master Barberry managed to get my N.E.W.T. scores in Transfiguration, and he was bound and determined that I not waste my opportunity to excel," Minerva said with a chuckle. "He is the one who set me up to Apprentice with Professor Dumbledore, ironically, and he was also the one who taught me to be an Animagus."
The three sets of eyes belonging to her adopted cubs stared at her with burning curiosity.
"He's also a Master of Transfiguration?" Severus asked.
Minerva nodded. "He is a man of many talents, Mr. Snape. His knowledge of Herbology is renowned, his talent in Potions is considered an art form, and his foundations in Transfiguration is approached by few."
Minerva leaned in. "Tell me, can you guess what he is?"
Severus, Remus, and Hermione stared as politely as possible at Barberry as he walked around the tables.
"Robin," the trio said together.
Minerva laughed. "Very good," she chuckled. "I'll be sure to tell him that his secret is out."
They grinned back at her.
"What is the appeal?" Lily asked suddenly. "Why be an Animagus?"
Minerva leaned back in her seat, tilting her head to the side. "Hrm," she said. "I'm not sure if it can be explained, Miss Evans. It is either something you do because you have a driving use for it or something you are called to do."
"Called to do? Be an animal?" Lily said, shaking her head.
Minerva furrowed her brows. "When I studied to become one, it was something I was driven to do as a master of studies. I wanted to do it because it would challenge me. It was only later when I realised that I quite enjoyed being a cat. It allowed me connect with a part of myself I didn't really admit I had until then. Other people have various reasons, I think. They are quite varied. It takes a great deal of focus, however."
Lily shivered. "I don't know, it just seems… I would never want to stick out like that."
Lily missed the exchanged looks from the trio, but Minerva did not. "It's not for everyone, Miss Evans. I've taught third years about the transformation of human to animal for years, but I can count on one hand the ones that were dedicated enough to pursue it to actually go through the trouble of registering legally and finding a Master to teach them properly. That is why so many fail at it or have… accidents."
"It's the accidents that make me nervous," Lily said. "I wouldn't want… I can't even imagine," she trailed off.
"Ahh, the Board is ready to hear your proposal," Horace said as he approached the table. "Are you ready?"
They all stood up from the table and shuffled after Slughorn, following him into an adjoining room.
"Welcome," said a wizard at the front table.
"We have a scribe here to record everything, and the formula will be registered under your names regardless of the competition," a wizard said, stroking his beard. "We wish to protect your hard work, and it will also keep others from poaching your idea and passing it off as their own."
"Thank you for having us," Hermione said formally, bowing slightly.
"Names of your sponsors?" one witch asked.
"Master of Transfiguration and Professor Minerva McGonagall," Hermione said, "and Professor Horace Slughorn."
"Please, tell us the name of your potion," an elderly witch said.
"Wolfsbane Potion," Severus answered.
Arched brows went across the table.
"Please explain the purpose of said potion," a witch said.
"To balance the solar and lunar aspects of those inflicted with lycanthropy to bring peace to their minds during their transformation," Remus explained.
"When taken, it will allow the werewolf to retain his or her human mind, rendering them safe around humans without the drive to bite and infect them," Lily said.
Murmurs of comments went up and down from the table. Nods were exchanged.
"We do solemnly swear, that the information discussed here shall not leave the room, save for the official registry of the formula and its creators with the official potion registry and the private discussions that will occur in regards to the contest submission," the wizards and witches said the oath with their wands raised. A flash of light was shared between them. "Please reveal your formula."
Severus waved his wand and inscribed the base formula in the air. Hermione took out her wand and began to inscribe the arithmancy validation to the formula. Remus inscribed the work with solar and lunar balancing, and Lily inscribed the herb and plant substitution variations.
There was an active discussion at the front table as the scribe scribbled away furiously.
"This is an impressive formula," Master Barberry said from the front table. "I believe I am not alone in this belief. Master Highweather?"
An elderly witch nodded. "This is impressive work, and I am highly looking forward to see the finished potion at our next meeting."
Murmurs of assent went down the table.
An elder wizard gestured with his hand. "Thank you for your presentation, my young potioneers. We will file the proper paperwork to insure your formula is protected. We look forward to seeing your progress at our next meeting."
"Thank you for having us, Masters," the quartet chimed.
"Please, enjoy the dinner," the elder witch said.
As the four of them thanked the panel, they met up with McGonagall and Slughorn at the doors.
"Great job, great job," Slughorn said, patting them on the back.
"Very good presentation," Minerva said with a happy nod.
As they opened the door, the smell of a glorious banquet caused the quartet to light up with excitement.
McGonagall laughed as the children ran to their seats and sat down, bouncing with excitement. She sat down beside them and nodded to them that they could dig in. Slughorn nodded as he walked down the tables to the other Hogwarts entrants in the contest with a smile on his face.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Hermione sat on Minerva's railing flower planter and let out a joyous string of happy notes, a warble, and then a full song. A breeze blew in off the lake, filling the air with the scent of water and lake plants, and Hermione sang a happy song to herself, the flowers in the planter, and to whoever might be listening.
It was a rare moment when there was no one around, and even her chevaliers were off being social amongst their other circles of friends. It made her happy to know that both Severus and Remus had found friends to hang out with and be what she knew they had not always been able to do in her original timeline.
Remus had, at least, found comfort in the Marauders, but he had never found peace with his wolf. Severus had found friends, if one could consider potential Death Eaters friends, but his teenage life had been far from peaceful either.
"I was not a prime example of social prowess as a teenager, Professor Granger," Snape's portrait had told her. "Asking me how I handled withdrawn students that were being picked on is probably not your best choice. However, if you need lessons in Occlumency, I could at least offer you pointers."
"Why ever would Miss Granger require skills in Occlumency, Severus?" Dumbledore's portrait chimed in.
"Professor Granger," Snape corrected. "And to protect herself from busy bodies like you from rifling though her thoughts like a filing cabinet."
Dumbledore's portrait had made a huffing sound as though that was hardly a good reason.
Hermione, however, had been intrigued. "That would interest me, Severus," she had confessed to Snape's portrait. "Harry did try to give me pointers, but I fear his own skill in the subject…"
Snape curled his lip. "Potter is hardly a candidate for Occlumency success stories."
Hermione turned her head up. "I would like to learn, Severus."
"Very well, Professor Granger. First, pick up that annoying Sorting Hat from the shelf over there and bring it here and we shall begin," Severus said with a sniff. "If you can hide things from that leather monstrosity, you can hide it from anyone…. You'll just have to tolerate its horrible songs until you get it right."
Hermione closed her eyes and sighed. It was going to be a long term.
Hermione sang another chain of happy notes, feeling wonderful for no other reason that it was great to be alive. The sun was shining, the breeze was perfect, and the last meeting with the Potion Mastery Board had gone very well.
Slughorn had deemed it a grand success, and Minerva had treated them and the other teams from Hogwarts to ice cream after the dinner. Despite the greatness of the feast they experienced for the dinner, Hermione admitted that the ice-cream had been her favourite part of the evening. She was pretty sure her friends were in complete agreement.
The other four teams from Hogwarts had done their presentations as well, and Slughorn seemed happy for them as well, and part of her wondered what they were working on. She knew none of the teams were sharing information, but the curiosity was making her itch.
Hermione saw a shadow pass over her head, and she looked up. Bright red and orange feathers carved a swath into the sky as Fawkes flew over. He banked into the air currents and doubled back. With a flutter of wing flaps, he landed in the flower planter with her and warbled a greeting.
Hermione blinked and let out a tentative string of notes.
Fawkes sang cheerfully to her.
Hermione attempted imitation. No one was more surprised than her when it worked.
Fawkes warbled. She warbled back. Fawkes chirped. She chirped back. They echoed each other, mirroring their movements down to the smallest head bob and wing flutter.
Hermione burst into song, and Fawkes answered her, his dark black eyes seemed to sparkle with curiosity.
Fawkes shuffled a little closer, and his head extended and he began to preen her head crest with his beak. The sensation caused her to chip happily. A good head rub could get you you many points to this particular phoenix, and Fawkes seemed to realise that it was the perfect way to get to know the new phoenix that had show up at Hogwarts.
Hermione wobbled back and forth to Fawke's ministrations. When he stopped, she sighed wistfully. He tilted his head at her and chirped.
Hermione slowly reached over with did him the same favour, and the brightly coloured phoenix chirped and warbled happily to the workings of her beak. Within a few minutes, there were two sleepy phoenixes nestled in Minerva's flower planter enjoying the afternoon weather.
After a few minutes, Sagacity landed in the flower box and nestled up next to Hermione, giving a soft hoot of contentment.
Minerva was going to need a larger flower box.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Hermione's eyes widened as she returned to the Slytherin Common Room and saw knocked over chairs, planters, books, and a sculpture. There was a huddle of somewhat terrified looking first years in the corner being talked to by Lucius. Lucius looked furious, or rather, he looked perturbed, which was his equivalent of furious.
"You will respect this House as though it were your home," Lucius said venomously. "You will not engage in frivolous fights as though you checked your brains at the door and act like rampaging drunk Gryffindor. You are Slytherin, not participants in the San Fermin festival running the bulls in Spain."
The group of first years all looked sullenly down at their feet.
"Who started this?" Lucius growled.
All of the students looked away, trying not to implicate their fellows.
Lucius' fist clenched and his jaw tightened, causing the more flighty first years to not so subtly step away from one student in the mob in particular. Lucius narrowed his eyes and glared. "Mayworth," Lucius said with a tight smile that looked more like he was in pain. "Care to tell me why you thought throwing a three hundred year old sculpture at the wall was even remotely a good idea?"
"Aldebrie called me a pansy faced nancy," Mayworth said through gritted teeth.
Lucius raised a brow, turning to Aldebrie. "Did you, Aldebrie?"
Aldebrie gritted his teeth. "He deserved it."
"I did not, you gormless guttersnipe!" Mayworth yelled at him.
The other first years began a slow but not very subtle migration away from the two fighting students.
Lucius glowered as the two started to fight again, only this time their magic was starting to wick around them due to their lack of control. They threw themselves at each other with complete disregard for who was around them. Goblets, bowls, flower arrangements, and books starting whirling around the room.
Lucius cast a spell to stop the two from trying to beat the ever-living tar out of each other, but what stopped them physically was not stopping their out of control magic. It wasn't a specific spell to counter, it was simply out of control magic due to out of control will. Two owls that were just flying in to deliver mail got hit by flying debris, and one owl let out a terrible screech and fell to the floor while the other tumbled in the air and fluttered out of the common room in due haste.
Hermione dove towards the injured owl, dodging flying debris. Her hands scooped up the owl as she passed, ducking behind a pillar as a book barely missed her head. The owl hooted in distress, one wing hanging limply by its side. Hermione hunched over the owl, trying to protect it from further damage even as a book clipped her on the side of the head, causing her to yelp in pain.
Hermione rubbed her head, but remained protecting the suffering owl the best she could with the chaotic magic storm going around her. She managed to shield a little from the magic and flying everything, but she was coming to the fast conclusion that she preferred one on ones duels with Death Eaters to random magic loss of control storms. How did one protect one's self from chaos?
"What is going on here?" Order suddenly slammed into place as an irate looking Horace Slughorn descended upon his House. He waved his wand first to freeze all of the flying debris, and then, seeing where the source of the uncontrolled magic was coming from, slammed down some layered spells that contained the uncontrolled magic storms that were trying to tear his common room apart. Hogwarts itself was built to contain such things, and professors could, when needed, call upon it to contain events such as this, but it wasn't something commonly spoken of, and until Hermione had seen Slughorn to it, she had forgotten completely of the lesson Minerva had once given her on how to call on Hogwarts to contain magic.
Lucius stood up straighter, a trickle of blood moving down his hand and his head where debris had nicked him. "There was an argument, Professor Slughorn, and in my attempt to contain it, their magic went out of control."
Horace did not look very happy. Hermione peaked around the pillar, still cradling the poor owl in her arms, looking at how Slughorn's frown became anger. It was nothing compared to her memories of what the elder Snape was capable of just being in his class, but she had to admit that an angry Horace was something she didn't want a repeat performance of.
Horace seemed to realise something as he glowered down at the stupified students. "Lucius, Mr. Nylander. Take Adlebrie and Mayworth to the Hospital Wing and have her check them out. Such a loss of control is hardly normal this far into the term. I want to be sure it is not something serious before I start reacting to this mess."
"Yes, Professor," Malfoy and Nylander chimed together, hitting the two students with a levitation charm and dragging the affected students by their robes out of the Common Room portal.
"Apprentice Black," Slughorn greeted her softly. "What do you have there?"
Hermione, still cradling the injured owl, unwrapped the animal from her robes and showed her Head of House.
"Oh dear, oh dear," Slughorn clucked his tongue. "Come, follow me to my office, my chambers."
Hermione followed silently. The injured owl seemed to realise that she was there to help him, and snuggled into her arm with a soft hoot.
Hermione entered Slughorn's chambers and boggled at all the moving sculptures and metal devices that were scattered about. There was a pendulum clock, something that looked like balls striking each other, and an odd looking hourglass on his table.
"Please have a seat," Horace said, gesturing to a comfy looking armchair. He rustled around in a wooden supply cabinet that was full of bottles, containers, and miscellaneous.
He came back with a little gauze, some tinctures, and a flask of something that looked absolutely nasty in colour.
"Okay, let's have a look at our little friend," Horace said gently. He took out a cotton swab on a stick and dipped it into the nasty looking flask, blew on it, and watched the colour change from a horrible puke green to a bright orange. He dabbed the swap onto the owl's injured wing, watching it spread a pale orange glow over the owl's damaged wing. He unrolled the gauze and gently wrapped it around the wing, pinning it to his body. "There we go. He'll be right as rain in a few days, but until then, he's going to be a little grounded for a time."
The owl gave a relieved hoot, snuggling deeper into Hermione's robes. Hermione felt a stab in her heart for the little creature. Having been knocked out of the sky by a flying book was probably not what owls had been genetically predisposed to dealing with.
"I didn't know you were animal healer, Professor Slughorn," Hermione said.
Horace chuckled. "I'm not really, but, you live here at Hogwarts long enough and you pick up a few things after so many years. One thing we have a lot of are owls, and all of them are special to us. Some are familiars, some are devoted to our mail, and some seem perfectly fine doing whatever task see fit to give them. I admire them, in my own way. Can you imagine our lives without them?"
Hermione pondered a moment, staring down at the now sleepy owl in her arms. "No, I can't."
Horace saw the scroll still attached to the owl's foot. "Oh my, it seems the poor thing was delivering when he was so horribly knocked out of the air," he said with sympathy. "I'll just take it and give it to another owl so it gets where it needs to." He tugged the scroll of paper free from the owl's leg and smiled. "I hope it wasn't time sensitive."
Hermione shrugged. "At least it wasn't a howler."
Slughorn's eyebrows raised. "Quite right, Miss Black."
"Do you think he's someone's private owl?" Hermione asked. She checked the owl's leg for one of the school markers that designated that they belonged to Hogwarts versus a student.
"No band on the leg," Horace said thoughtfully. "Students usually have some sort of coloured marker on them. Family owls tend to have charmed bands on them to tell someone who they belong to. It is odd to see an owl here that has neither.
Slughorn shook his head. "We don't really have an animal infirmary. Sometimes we give the injured magical animals to Professor Kettleburn or the more mundane ones to the grounds keeper Mr. Hagrid, but…" he trailed off, staring at the owl tucked in Hermione's robes. "Perhaps you would like to care for him for a few days. Until he's better and able to fly again?"
Hermione beamed at him. "I'd love to. Sagacity loves company."
"Ah yes, the huge eagle owl, as I recall," Horace said.
Hermione nodded.
"Well, Miss Black," Horace said. "Just keep the bandages on him for about a week. You can take them off after that. He'll probably take a few days to strengthen his wing up after the bandages are removed, but then he should be able to fly off to wherever he was supposed to go after he delivered that mail."
"Okay, Professor," Hermione said with a smile. The owl on her arm hooted softly.
"You wouldn't happen to have seen what happened to cause that mess in the Common Room, Miss Black?" Horace asked.
Hermione shook her head. "I'm afraid I got there just as things started to fly around." She pointed to the bruise on her head.
"How did I not even see that?" Horace said, horrified. "Do you need to see Madam Pomfrey?"
Hermione shook her head. "Just a little stunned, Sir. I'm fine."
"Hrm, well, just to humour and old wizard," he said, "please go see Madam Pomfrey after you set up your little friend for the night. I'll write you a pass to get through the halls."
"Thank you, Professor," Hermione replied.
Horace grabbed a piece of parchment and scribbled a note down for her. "There you go," he said, handing her the note. "I suppose I should be walking up there myself to see what happened with your House mates as well," he said rubbing his eyes with his thumb and index finger.
Hermione nodded and stood. "Thank you for the help, Professor," she said, bowing her head slightly.
Horace nodded, waving her off casually. "Not a problem. Not a problem. Have a good evening, Apprentice Black."
"I will, Professor," she said with a tight smile, turned on her heels, and walked out of Slughorn's chambers with the owl tucked in the crook of her arm.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Hermione slipped behind her twin on the cramped hospital bed, snuggling into him after she was sure Madam Pomfrey was occupied elsewhere.
Sirius, groggy and half delirious, still managed to gain enough coherency to pull her arms around him. Tendrils of their twin bond wove around them, driving some of the fog away from his mind.
"Hey, sis," he whispered.
"Hey, Canis," she replied softly, snuggling into him.
"Sorry for being a royal git," he apologised.
"You're forgiven for most of it?" She whispered.
"Only part?" Sirius said. She could practically hear his lip quivering.
Hermione snuggled into him. "You worried me sick," she said. I worry over you, and then I wanted to punch you."
"Punch me?" he replied. "Mother would so approve."
"Psh," Hermione snorted. "She might give me an Order of Merlin."
"Touché, sis," Sirius chuckled. "I've missed you," he added sadly.
"I've missed you too," she said, snuffling his back.
"Your friend, the one with the black hair," Sirius trailed off. "Does he… does he treat you right?"
"Severus?" Hermione asked. "Of course he does. He's been nothing but a good friend since day one."
"Peter and James," he said. "They think he's up to something. That he'll hurt you."
"People hurt each other," Hermione sighed. "But that doesn't mean they mean to. Look at us, brother."
Sirius touched her hand. "I know. And I know I shouldn't listen to them for everything. Peter told me you were out skulking around in the hallways the other night. Led me out into the Dark Forest looking for you. I ended up lost and caught by centaurs."
"Sirius," Hermione chided. "You could have been killed out there. Centaurs are really territorial."
Sirius sighed. "I know that… now. Peter was convinced you were up to something, and I wanted to see it with my own eyes because I didn't believe him. I didn't believe him, sis."
Hermione clutched his body. "Next time, just ask me, okay? Before you storm the forest and get attacked by angry centaurs?"
Sirius snorted. "I suppose." He patted her hand. "Madam Pomfrey says I should be good to go to the mind-healer soon. I don't feel like someone stuffed my head with angry cotton."
"Cotton gets angry?"
"The cotton my head does, trust me," he answered.
Hermione shook her head. "Doesn't sound very fun to me."
"Sis," Sirius asked. "Where you out in the Dark Forest Sunday night?"
Hermione sighed. "I was not out in the Dark Forest while you were out there getting almost killed by centaur."
"Ok, I realise that question was stupid," Sirius confessed. "It sounded better in my head."
"Your angry cotton filled head," Hermione said with a sniff.
"Yeah," he agreed.
"Is your friend staying with us over summer holiday?" Sirius asked.
Hermione paused. "I'm not sure, brother," she confessed. "His home life is not," she paused, pondering. "It's not something I'd want to go home to. I can't say more than that."
Sirius seemed to ponder that. "Maybe this summer I can get to know him."
Hermione squeezed him. "I'd like that."
"Can you at least convince him to wash his hair?" Sirius whined.
"Sirius Black," Hermione beat on him with her hands. "It was your House mate that did that to his hair. It hasn't been decent since."
"What?" Sirius dripped disbelief.
"Lily Evans used his head to test her latest shampoo and conditioner project she's working on. Every month it's a different test. Every time she tests it on him, his hair ends up looking… well like that."
Sirius snickered into his pillow.
Hermione shoved him with her hand, causing her brother to cough.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry!" he exclaimed. "It's just… it looks like he never washes it is all."
"At least it smells wonderful," Hermione said thoughtfully.
"What, you go around sniffing the bloke's hair?" Sirius sputtered.
"I'm sniffing your hair right now, Canis, what's your point?"Hermione grunted.
"Oh," Sirius said. "Point made."
There were footsteps approaching, and Hermione leapt from the bed and moved to the nearby one, laying on her back and folding her arms to make it look like she was staring up towards the ceiling vaults.
"Ah, Miss Black, sorry about the wait," Poppy said. "I had to make sure that poor Mr. Anges had his medicine."
"No problem, Madam Pomfrey," Hermione said, sitting up.
"Well, let's take a look at you then," she said, pulling out her wand. She waved her wand over her head and clucked to herself. "Ah, good. I was pretty sure there was nothing when I looked you over when you came in, but I'm sure now that there is nothing we need worry about. You can return to your dorm now."
"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey," Hermione said with a nod.
"Here let me sign your slip so you can return without being hassled," she said, taking the paper slip and scribbling on it before handing it back. "Have a good night, Miss Black. Please get some rest."
"I will," Hermione promised.
Pomfrey nodded as she pulled the privacy curtains closed around Sirius so she could do whatever work she had to do.
Hermione sighed and squared her shoulders, walking back towards the dorms to where her soft bed awaited her.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Dear Regulus,
The preliminary dinner for the Potion Mastery Board contest was really exciting. There were so many people there. We weren't allowed to speak of our projects to anyone but the actual Board, but they registered all of our formulae under our names including the process and theory so even if we don't win the contest, we still have our work recognised and registered for production if we so choose to. We're all very excited!
There were four or five teams total from Hogwarts, and Professor Slughorn thinks that we all have a really good chance of getting into the finals. I really hope we can win the contest, though, brother. It would mean so much to Severus to get the apprenticeship. Can you imagine the career he would have with a potions mastery under his belt before he even graduates?
The next dinner is going to be personal interviews, where they all talk to the group members separately and ask them what they think of the project, what their role is, and what they would do with the mastership sponsorship if they got it. We all have to say what we'd do with it, but Remus and I both know that we'll give ours to Severus if we win it. Not that I think I'll win it anyway, as I'm already fully apprenticed. I have enough on my hands! I don't need to be that greedy either. We'll all get some wonderful recognition if we win, anyway. Enough to open a lot of doors if we should need to. That's not a bad prize to have. I'm honestly not sure what Lily will do if she wins it. We all agreed that it was going to go to Severus at the start, but I can't help but think that now that she's so enraptured with succeeding with her shampoo and conditioner brewing line with her friends that she'll want a chance at it too. She's my friend, so I feel obligated to support her, but we agreed it was going to Severus, and you know what father and mother say about our promises. Mind you, it's not like we made a formal vow over it, but should we of had to? Father and mother always told us that we are nothing if we cannot keep our word and to never promise something idly. Better to say nothing at all than promise something and renege.
I have a new owl. No not forever. I'm taking care of one until he's better. He was injured as he was flying around to deliver something and someone's out of control magic hit him with flying debris. Poor thing. He's roosting with Sagacity. Sagacity seems to think the new owl needs mothering… or fathering as it were. He preens him and keeps him company. He's really sweet, actually, and has a soft hoot. He dropped a primary feather a few minutes ago, probably due to the stress. I'm enclosing it for you because it's really beautiful. I'm sure you'll appreciate it.
Please give my love to mother and father.
All my love,
Hermione (her seal, the phoenix)
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
A/N: Sorry for the delayed updates. I got really distracted between all the homework, all the studying, writing a short called For the Love of Water, and trying to finish up Looks Can Be Deceiving because it was there first! Lol. Until next time! I hope you enjoyed the chapter.