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Chapter Twenty-Five

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The Importance of Being Earnest

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Hogwarts School of Witchcraft Wizardry

Founders Era

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Godric Gryffindor was upset. He was losing to that... snake! Salazar had been hiding for days, and he still had no clue where to even begin!

He had checked all the normal places. His classroom, his private quarters... his home! Nothing. It's not that Lord Gryffindor was a sore loser, it's just... well, he'd never lost before! What was he going to tell people?

It's not like the four of them really ever left the castle these days. Sir Slytherin had no reason to travel. Especially with the state of the world outside the hallowed halls of Hogwarts. No, he was sure Salazar was still here. He was just... really good at this game.

Although, months after the fact, when he'd seen neither hide nor hair of his friend, a glowering Godric Gryffindor had been forced into telling some semblance of the truth. He didn't know where Salazar was. He may have simply walked away, never to return.

What a pity that would be, thought the creator of the Sorting Hat. It was surely unlike him, despite the arguments about the "sort of people" they should let into Hogwarts. Surely he hadn't done that though... Godric would just have to continue looking. Salazar had to show up sometime, right?

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The piles of paper were towering over the occupants of Grimmauld Place, as they sat in the library. Once again joined by their faithful companions the Weasley twins, and their studious brother Percy. Since the Wizengamot Debacle, as it had come to be known, they had been meeting in their spare time to get to the bottom of the bills. The ones that they would be voting on that very night.

They'd made some headway, of course, but it was definitely a learning experience. "Ugh, I'm sick of— words!" Harry bemoaned, slamming a particularly thick tome, before laying his head atop it wearily.

"Seconded!" Sirius echoed, standing and stretching his sore muscles. "Votes tonight, I say we just vote opposite of old Lucy boy." Harry held a hand out, and the men shared a high five.

Hermione smiled fondly at their antics, even while shaking her head 'no', "Sounds like a great plan Sirius! That is, if you don't actually care about the rest of the world."

"So, everyone can just vote how you vote!" Sirius answered, clapping her on the back. "Ah, better yet, just be our proxy and vote for the lot of us!" He grinned, proud of his idea.

The smile on Hermione's face, slipped quickly. "It's not about the vote!" She raged, before backtracking and trying again, "It's not only about the vote, rather, it's also about solidarity. Presenting a united front." She stood quickly, and the boys braced for a lecture, knowing the look in her eyes all too well.

"For instance," she began, looking at Sirius, "Remus was a werewolf, so if a bill comes up about denying them citizenship in the wizarding world, because of something they can't help— How would you react?"

The man looked like he had been hit by a ton of bricks. "For Remus?" Sirius questioned softly, eyes far away, "For his memory, rather... I would staunchly oppose such a heinous thought, much less a bill supporting it."

"And we would stand with you, why? Because we know it's important to you, and because it's the right thing to do. Everybody deserves a chance." She said, nodding emphatically, "So we would sit, we would research..."

Hermione paused to wave her wand, summoning books related to lycanthropy. A few came, sluggishly, as if the library itself didn't want to give them up.

Rolling her eyes she continued, "What is lycanthropy? How does it happen, how can it be controlled, what spells that could help, potions etc.? For instance..." she waved her wand again, specifying potions books mentioning lycanthropy.

A single book flew into her hand, an old textbook known to be the home of instructions for the wolfsbane potion. Which was what she had been anticipating. What she had not been expecting was for a rumbling noise to suddenly be heard, echoing in the distance. A noise that sounded very much like something heavy being dragged across the floor.

The group shared questioning looks, before standing to investigate the noise, but it was growing louder by the second so they waited. Standing, holding their breath, and their wands, in preparation for whatever was coming their way. Whatever it was, it was close now and, by the sounds of it at least, quite large too.

Within moments, the object came into view. "Is that...?" Hermione gasped, clasping her hands over her mouth.

Regulus gaped, "That's your bookshelf, isn't it?!" She nodded, wondering just what was going on.

Being the brave one in this situation, Regulus stepped forward. Knowing that the books on that particular shelf had come from the cursed chest in her room, which was the reason why they were locked up in the first place. What surprised him the most was that one of the books was trying, quite actively, to get out!

He looked at Hermione, gesturing 'one'. She readied her wand, expecting anything. 'Two' he gestured, reaching for the latch with one hand. Feeling it under his fingers he cried, "Three!" flipping the latch and watching as the doors flew open, sending the book flying out to land squarely at her feet.

Curious, she peered down at it. It wasn't really a book, by any standard definition. More like a journal, a torn and tattered one at that. She reached out cautiously, biting her lip as she grasped it in her hand. Opening the cover, she gasped.

"What is it?" Harry asked from his spot behind Percy, as Regulus came to peer over her shoulder.

The man's eyes widened as he read the inscription allowed, "Potent Potions and their Associated Adaptations, Volume III by Hector Dagworth-Granger"

"I've never heard of a potion related to lycanthropy other than Wolfsbane..." Hermione thought out loud, "and that wasn't created by Hector Dagworth-Granger." She flipped through the book briefly, noting it was hand written and riddled with both corrections and additions. "I've never heard of any of these potions. I don't understand..." and then she saw it.

On the last page that had been written, under the title 'Pegasus Tears' was a brief introduction that read more like a hypothesis. Breathlessly, she read in a whisper, "This potion, is intended to revert a person to their original form. Note: Should it be successful, it may have the power to remove permanent transformations including but not limited to: malnourishment, disease, spell damage (i.e. unintended transfigurations), being stuck in animangus form, lycanthropy, vampirism, etc.

Tested: TBD, waiting on willing test subjects.

Associated Adaptation Mandrake Restorative Drought, (see notes) tested 3/27/36-5/15/36, test subjects reacted positively, approved for use by general public 5/20/36."

The sound of something shattering broke the trance, as Sirius fled the room, leaving a trail of broken glass behind him. "I'll go after him," Harry called, already in motion.

Hermione looked at Regulus, then back at the book, neither knowing how to react. In her hands lay the formula to an untested potion that could change the Wizarding World in ways that were almost unfathomable. They were due at the Wizengamot in just under six hours, did they feel ready enough to run with this, or could it wait until the morning?

For Remus' memory? It wouldn't hurt to check it out, Hermione thought. She would have been content to rehash her arguments for the "stuffy old purebloods" as Regulus called them, all night if she could have. But she knew she didn't need to. This... she felt she needed to do.

"To Mungos?" Regulus asked, as if reading her mind. She nodded, suddenly swallowing a lump in her throat. She wished Remus could be here for this. Although he would have hated it, because it was untested and he was so afraid of getting his hopes up for things.

The twins went in search of Sirius and Harry, leaving Hermione, Regulus and Percy, who decided to tag along with, to apparate to the wizarding hospital.

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The halls of St. Mungos has been familiar as they arrived, but the first orderly they saw directed them to a door none of them had ever been through. One that supposedly led to the testing and development portion of the hospital. It was, simply, blank in this particular hallway. Blank white walls, crisp white ceilings, shiny beige floors. And it seemingly went on for-ev-ver!

The most disturbing part, if you asked any of them, was that it was also completely silent. "Where is everyone?" Percy wondered as they approached yet another turn in the hallway, "Or even just one person!" It was like a maze, but full of nothing.

Turning the corner, however, they found a break in the monotony. A single desk, the first object they'd even seen since they passed through the original set of doors, sat in what appeared to be some sort of waiting room. It was empty, although a bell located in the center of the desk was inscribed "RING FOR SERVICE".

Impatiently, Regulus rang the bell.

"Can I help you?" A voice called from behind the group, causing them to jump and spin at the same time. Apparently the witch thought this was amusing, if the look on her face was anything to go by. Creepy magically appearing witches really did not mix well with desolate silent corridors!

Hermione cleared her throat, speaking after her pulse began to settle. "Yes, sorry you startled me!" The witch laughed, making Hermione scowl a little, "Right, we need to see someone about records of testing conducted in the nineteen-thirties?"

The witch raised her eyebrows, then narrowed her eyes, "That's oddly specific Miss. What kind of testing?"

"Potions." Regulus answered in a clipped tone, not liking the way this woman was acting. "Who do we speak with?"

"Through the door on your right," The witch replied, rolling her eyes. "Have a good day."

"Wait—" Hermione called, "Ma'm there is no" She turned quickly to double check, "—door on the right!" Hermione finished despite the fact that the creepy witch had already disappeared.

"Bloody ghosts!" Percy spat, as he turned to walk back down the hallway. Until, that is, he realized there was indeed a door on their right. Now there was, at least, it having magically appeared sometime between the time the ghostly witch had disappeared, and him having made his snarky comment about said ghost. "Oh... okay then."

"Thank you!?" Hermione called, hurriedly opening the door, dragging the boys through it behind her.

Noise! She heard noise, thankfully! They were back into the land of the living, although it appeared to be just as crisp as the former hallway had been. A voice interrupted her musing. "Welcome to the records department, how can I assist you?"

Snapping to attention, Hermione began speaking before looking up, "Yes, hi! We need information on...Pansy Parkinson?"

She had lifted her eyes mid sentence only to discover the last person she would have expected to find in a records office somewhere deep in the bowels of St. Mungos.

"You want records on me, Granger?" The girl snarked, chuckling darkly.

Hermione blushed. "No! No, sorry, records on testing carried out between the years 1930 and 1940. Specifically on a potion referred to as Pegasus Tears." She rushed, then explained, "I Just was surprised to see you hiding down here, it's kind of off the beaten path a bit."

The witch nodded in agreement at the last bit, but chose not to comment. Instead waving her wand in an attempt to gather the information requested. A single paper flew to her outstretched hand, which she read with a frown. "1936 testing requested, says it was awaiting trials when the potioneer died without leaving the instructions for the potion, or even the ingredients to the research team. The trial was cancelled."

Regulus sighed, but Percy and Hermione looked excited. "Is there a way to have the potion tested now?" Percy asked eagerly.

"Not as in right this second," Hermione corrected her overzealous companion, "but can we get the trial restarted?" She watched as the dark haired girl raised her eyebrows.

"Do you happen to have a seventy year old potion lying around?" The former Slytherin snarked haughtily.

Hermione couldn't help it, she laughed. It was good to see that some things never change. "Not yet, but I may have the list of ingredients, and the instructions, if that counts." She quirked an eyebrow, waiting for a response that wasn't forthcoming.

"Is this girl slow?" Regulus asked in no more than a whisper. Causing Hermione to chuckle, and Pansy to blush profusely. Obviously his whispering skills could have used a little work.

"No, she's a Slytherin." Hermione responded in a stage whisper.

Both Regulus and Pansy made sounds of indignation, before Pansy shot a questioning look towards Regulus, then Hermione herself, who sighed as she realized her social faux pas, "Pansy this is Regulus Black, Sirius' Brother. Regulus, this is Pansy Parkinson, we went to school together."

Pansy shrugged, as if this information was no big deal, "Whatever Granger. Sounds like you have everything you need for a trial run. Except test subjects."

The witch turned around to grab the paperwork necessary for the process to begin, then threw one last question over her shoulder, as if she wasn't entirely sure she was doing the right thing. She must be new, Hermione thought, or she's slow, as Regulus suspected. "— What does this supposed potion do? That might be important..."

Regulus was irritated. This witch was tactless and rude. By pureblood standards she was simply sub par. He assumed she was a pureblood by her name, at least. "The potion is named after a play on the healing effects of both unicorns and phoenixes, it's more of an all purpose miracle potion, from the sounds of it. Designed to revert the drinker to their natural state no matter the original cause."

Pansy nodded, smirking at the man over her shoulder. "I see why you're friends. That was a Granger answer through and through," she said, turning back around to gather paperwork.

"She's not my friend." Regulus snapped.

Pansy chuckled in response, "You're being over protective, Mister Black, just like one of her little friends. That girl and her— boys."

"She is mine." He all but yelled, demanding the attention of the insolent wench before him, "I am not just one of her boys. I should hope you can see to it to keep your tongue in cheek from this point forward like a good little girl—lest I let my intended release her ire on you herself!"

He could almost see the roll of the eyes coming, but cut her off with his final words, spoken in a deep, warning tone, "I may be a Black, and thus prone to certain tendencies, but I assure you she is many times more frightening than I could ever dream of being."

Despite wanting to assure him it was fine, Hermione kept quiet. If he wanted to be macho then she would let him. For now. Plus, it was fun, she realized, to watch Parkinson squirm.

The former Slytherin girl paled, knowing she had gone too far, but pride kept her from apologizing. Instead, she set the papers down forcefully on the countertop in front of her, face straight and unsmiling. "Sign." She demanded, sounding bored.

Picking up a self inking quill from a conveniently placed cup, Hermione did just that. When Pansy waved her wand to submit it though, nothing happened. "Did you sign your full name?" She demanded, looking over the paper. It looked right, strangely, but obviously something was missing.

"I'm going to need a bigger line," Hermione groaned, only half joking, before putting the quill to the parchment again. "There," she announced, pushing it towards the other witch again.

Pansy looked it over again, eyes growing wide as she went through the exhaustively long series of names. "That's... unexpected." She commented quietly, waving her wand again, this time successfully. "You'll get an owl with specifics for the next step. I'd suggest starting to brew the potion, if you want it to go faster. As much as you can, at least. The more there is the more testing can be done and the less time it will take."

Finished with her speech, the Slytherin girl waved a dismissive hand towards a door that had appeared on the other side of the room. "No one wants to go through the corridor with the ghost... it's just creepy" she said as Percy bounded ahead to open the door, anxious to be free of the constant white environment. As he had opened it, however, an owl flew in, and deposited a familiar type of red envelope in front of her. Pansy gasped,"— oh no!" as the missive opened itself and an angry, drawl assaulted their hearing.

"Pansy! Where are you!? You have to help me!" The unfortunately familiar voice of Draco Malfoy resonated through the room, "The elves have disappeared, father is starving, he's trying to eat the curtains, I swear, and — they're trying to make me cook! Get over here and make me a sandwich to throw at him so I can run away! Uh— I mean, please? HURRY!"

Feeling sorry for the poor girl, because nobody deserved to be at Malfoy's beck and call, Hermione rolled her eyes and cast a patronus, "To Draco Malfoy," she instructed, "Have your mother call Kreacher, he should respond. He can also probably tell you where your elves are. Hint: they're not in Pansy's office, ferret!"

"Thank you," Pansy sighed as the glowing otter swam away, looking like she was biting a lemon she continued, "I was not about to go over there to make a sandwich for Lucius Malfoy, but I also didn't relish the thought of saying no. You didn't have to do that... but I still appreciate it."

Regulus turned to walk through the door, pulling Hermione with him. Just as she turned her back, Pansys voice broke the silence one last time. "Granger?" She called hesitantly.

The curly haired witch looked back, waiting for her to continue.

"Do you think it, the potion that is... do you think it would work on the Mark?" The dark haired girl bit her lip, as if unsure if she should have asked.

Honestly, Hermione hadn't thought about that possible application. She could, however, see the reason the witch was thinking it could work though. Pondering for a moment, over the particular ingredients in the potion and how they may react with the mark itself, she didn't see any reason why it would hurt to test the theory.

In fact, she thought it just might actually work. The dark mark was kind of like spell damage, she supposed. She nodded absently. "It might, actually. You could keep that in mind when they select the test subjects. Although, the trials need more than just those cases to be deemed complete. In my opinion."

Question answered, Pansy nodded briefly, then focused her gaze on the floor, indicating she was done with her line of thought.

Feeling worn out, Hermione followed Regulus through the door, letting herself be led through Saint Mungos to the nearest apparition point, and then from there, home.

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The group convened in the library once more, Hermione sharing the news with a close eye on a now calm Sirius. Although uncharacteristically straight faced, he took it rather well. Declaring solemnly that he would do all he could to ensure the success of the potion, and the trials, in memory of one of his best friends.

The bright side to all the drama, it turned out, is that everyone understood what Hermione had been trying to say about the process of preparing for the Wizengamot, and researching the bills before voting. You never knew what you'd find to support your side. The downside was that they still asked her to be the representative for their faction, but it was progress, she supposed.

They parted briefly, everyone going their separate ways to prepare for the meeting at the ministry, knowing they were expected to look their best. Reconvening in time to arrive 15 minutes early, at Hermione's insistence.

At the ministry they became aware that they were not the only ones with the idea. Nor were they exactly welcomed with open arms. Not that they expected pomp and circumstance or anything.

Lucius Malfoy, it seemed, had rallied the troops. Greeting his adversaries with a band of merry followers, all producing glares, accompanied by hisses, boos and various slurred insults. "Careful. Line theft and stealing others elves will land you in Azkaban, Miss Granger," he drawled coolly. "We will see you charged!" The faction of former death eaters chanted.

Hermione, however, simply lifted her chin to look into the elder Malfoy's eyes. "Nice to see you too, Lucy! Find your elves yet? Oh, by the way, I must say... I did fancy the mullet more than the atrocious mop on your head currently." And, lifting her left hand in a casual manner, waved as she entered the courtroom regally.

Watching, with more than a small amount of amusement, as his eyes caught sight of the ring on her finger. The one that showed she was a member of, or at the very least intimately associated with, at least one wizarding family, and therefore probably not as guilty as he had previously thought.

His associates noticed too, if the urgent tones of the hushed whispers that followed her into the courtroom were anything to go by.

"Well played," stated Regulus from his place beside her. She simply shrugged in reply, waiting patiently for the festivities to start.

Lords and Ladies, Regents and Heads of Houses, all of the above magical, filed into the courtroom. Several stopping by to introduce themselves, or as was the case of Lady Augusta Longbottom, simply say hello with an accompanying show of support.

The matronly woman growing teary eyed as she laid her hand on Hermione's shoulder.

"I got an owl from Mungo's today... I know it will be a trial, but they seem to think my Frank and his wife will be candidates for a potion you're supporting," She imparted, "It's been so long I hardly remember the last conversation I had with them... but. Well, I'd try anything at this point to end their suffering. One way or another. Please do let me know if you need anything at all Miss Granger." With a gentle squeeze Neville's grandmother walked away, face once again impassive.

Surprisingly, another of her visitors would normally have been firmly in Lucius Malfoy's camp. Yet here was a man that looked startlingly similar to the Slytherin witch she had dealt with at Mungos earlier. "Mr. Parkinson." Hermione said by way of greeting, gracing him with a small smile of encouragement. He would probably suffer within his current social circle for this interaction, small as it may be.

"Miss Granger," he returned, briefly lowering his head. "My daughter visited me this afternoon. She relayed to me a series of events that took place in her office. Thank you for assisting her with her minor problem with that spoiled boy she calls a friend, she was most impressed." He chuckled. "Also, if you wouldn't mind, I would like to partake in the trial she described to me."

He hesitated then, looking into her eyes beseechingly before continuing, "I know we fell on opposite sides of the war, Miss Granger, but it has occurred to me repeatedly since those dark times that these things are not so much black and white as they are shades of grey.

I joined a cause, willingly, thinking it would suit my ideals, however the reality of it was shockingly far from them. I endeavored to keep my family as far from it as I could, but... without going into the gory details, we will just say I have done things I regret immensely.

I would very much like the constant omnipresent reminder of that... man... erased completely from both my person and the world at large."

They stared at each other searchingly for a tense moment, before Hermione opened her mouth to respond. "It sounds like we are in agreement on a number of things, Mr. Parkinson. In fact my friends and I had much the same conversation about the war not so long ago. We too feel we were a bit misguided in our views." She said carefully, stiffening her spine in preparation for her next words. They were a step in the right direction, she believed, but away from the values she had held in the past.

With a final deep breath, she took a step further into the grey, "I will amend the intended trial recipients listed to allow you to participate —should the board at St. Mungos be agreeable to it.

I also believe that there is no such thing as a lost cause, if the person is willing to participate in their own destiny and repentance. However, I caution you, I don't know if it will work for such an application. Or any application at all." She warned, before delivering the proverbial silver lining to the man, "Although an associated potion derived from the original Pegasus Tears potion was tested and proved as useful many years ago for petrification victims.

It's creator was an esteemed potioneer, and had high hopes for this potion, so... I hope it can help you, sir. Even in some small way."

The former Death Eater grinned broadly then, grasping her hand in a firm hold and imparting many words of thanks before scampering off to take his seat. Grimacing at the glares directed towards his person by his former compatriots as Amelia Bones took her place behind the podium, bringing the proceedings to a start.

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What followed was a series of events not nearly as exciting as they'd thought. Madam Bones would bring a bill before the Wizengamot, then Malfoy or one of his crony's would make a point, Hermione would counter with another viewpoint. Occasionally one of her friends would counter instead, leaving Hermione to play devils advocate if they intended to side with the "dark side". Then it would be put to a vote, and the process began again.

All in all, it wasn't a bad experience, just... time consuming. But it seems they had made a few supporters along the way. Madam Bones even commenting on the "breath of fresh air" that had entered the courtroom. Satisfied they had done their very best in this new world, the group departed the ministry, each headed to their respective homes and beds, where they collapsed exhaustedly, bound for dreamland.