Chapter 36

Times are free

"You're holding your wand a little too tightly, try relaxing your grip, like that and – yes that perfect now try it."

It was late in the evening. Most students were in their dorms or in the library finishing final assignments before the curfew was to hit. For Theodore Nott and Téaleon Potter though they were in the Room of Requirements during their weekly meeting. Téa was still dressed in her Quidditch workout gear of sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt having come straight from the pitch to work with Theo.

"Reducto!" Theo growled and as a blue light left the tip of his wand, it smashed into the dummy reducing it to a pile of ashes.
"Perfect!" Téa cried out happy to see her friend who grinned triumphantly.
"You have a natural talent you know that?" he remarked while pocketing his wand and turning to her satisfied with that night's events.
"A natural talent for what?" She asked amusement lacing her voice as she moved to grab her broom.
"Teaching, you're brilliant at it, you'd give Lupin a run for his money." He answered, smirk growing as he noticed the blush now covering his companions cheeks. "You have plenty of patients and you're good at picking up points where people go wrong. You are also not stupid about pointing them out. You do it without wounding my ego.,"

That made her laugh, and he grinned, he liked her laugh. It wasn't often she let it free but when she did laugh around him, he wanted to hear it more. Of course, the thought swiftly made him look away back to the ashes of the dummy. He felt like a fool thinking about things like that. Ever since they started meeting up for their potion assignment and then these "lessons" he had been noticing more and more things about Téaleon Potter.
He had to keep kicking himself whenever he caught himself staring at her too long, and he knew it was becoming a problem. People were noticing, like Daphne. The blonde always got this smirk on her face when she caught him staring at the silver-haired witch.
She began joking that he should just ask her to Hogsmeade already and be done with it. Not that he could ever do that. The girl would never agree to go on a date with him.

"These lessons are fun," came the remark that pulled him from his thoughts making him turn to face her earning a bright smile that had his own lips twitching up.
"They are indeed," he agreed and yet inside he couldn't help but think that she looked beautiful with that smile on her face."We shouldn't head to our common rooms, wouldn't want to be caught out after hours."
"Would not be the first time," she laughed as they walked side by side out of the room. "I swear Snape thinks I do it every night."
"You probably do it regularly and don't deny it." he teased making her laugh.
"Probably, have a good night Theo," she whispered before turning and heading towards the direction of Gryffindor tower.

Watching her leave, Theo turned as well before stopping. He didn't know what suddenly came over him — perhaps he was just tired of Daphne teasing him, perhaps he genuinely wanted to do this but as he turned and called out to the Gryffindor girl she turned to face him in confusion.

"Are you doing anything for Hogsmeade?"

The look of surprise made him almost want to turn and run away but it swiftly morphed into a blush as she shook her head.

"Nothing," she answered making his heart skip a beat. "Why?"
"I — Would you like to go with me? It's Sunday, the day after the final match with Hufflepuff." He remarked feeling a bit foolish for stating the obvious. "You don't have to say yes, I just thought I'd — "Yes," came the soft response that had his eyes shooting away from their downcast look.
"I'd — I would very much like to go with you." She elaborated making his smile grow.
"Really — uh brilliant, I'll meet you in the Entrance Hall say, 10:00? Knowing you Gryffindors, if you win the party will last till about then." He joked making her laugh.
"You haven't been to a party until you've been to a Gryffindor party," she joked before nodding her head. "I'll see you in the Entrance Hall for 10:00." She agreed before turning back around and heading off leaving Theo to watch, his smile slowly growing wider until it felt like his face would split in two.

He really didn't know where these feelings for the silver-haired witch had come from. Or when, but they started sometime after that first Patronus Lesson and only seem to grow as they worked together. Potion class with the Gryffindor was quite enjoyable; she had a talent he hadn't known about and a laugh that made him smile.

"I have a bloody date with Téaleon Potter," he mumbled before footsteps caught his attention.
"Nott, five minutes till curfew. You best head to the dorm," came the sharp remark from Severus Snape that had him looking back to see his Head of House standing there. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"Oh just extra tutoring Professor," he hurried to say not wanting to mention that his teacher was Téa considering the man's hatred of the girl.
"I see, see that you make it to the dorm without being caught," he ordered and with a nod, Theo hurried off.

Slinking through the halls, he avoided Flitwick doing a sweep of the halls before finally arriving in the dungeons. With a quick go through the Hieroglyphic Hall, he arrived at Slytherin Common Room or at least the bare stretch of stonewall in the dungeons that was the entrance to the Common room. A muttered password had the passage revealing itself.
Slipping through, he arrived in the common area to find it mostly empty although one look to the fireplace, and he swiftly spotted his group of friends. They always waited for him after his one on ones with Téa. He'd wager that they were interested in the girl as much as him — well maybe not as much, but they were still quite interested.

"So how did tonight's one on one go?" Daphne was the first to ask as he settled into his chair.
"Quite well actually," he answered his grin unable to leave his face as he thought about the fact he now had a date to Hogsmeade.
"Something happened; you're grinning like you got your favourite dessert," Flora remarked making the others look to him with curious looks.
"Like the cat that got the canary and the mouse." Blaise drawled amusement lacing his voice.
"Well — I have a date to Hogsmeade," he remarked knowing he couldn't hide the information from his group of friends and the smirk that crawled onto Daphne's face had him closing his eyes.
"She accepted to go to Hogsmeade with you of all people? Her judgement truly must be impaired." The blonde-haired girl playfully teased making the others snort.
"I wasn't planning on asking but — it just shot out, and she said yes. We're meeting for 10:00 in the entrance hall and no I don't expect you to spy on us. For all I know, she might think it's just friends hanging out together and not the date I actually want it to be. Bloody hell when did I start thinking like this?" he asked earning snorts of amusement from the group."
"With how you look at her in the Great Hall, I'm surprised the rumour mill hasn't started talking about it." Hestia laughed causing Theo to grumble.
"Just think, she may be in the best mood of her life if they manage to win against Hufflepuff. No idea with she's even good at playing chaser if she does win you might wind up with a kiss." Daphne giggled, at the look on her friends face though they group burst into laughter earning weird looks from the rest of the people in the common room.

Entering Gryffindor common room, Téa finally allowed herself to relax. With her knowledge of the secret passageways, she was happy to be able to avoid members of staff and prefects alike. Of course, it was a miracle in its own right that she was able to think about passageway when her mind was so occupied with other things.

"Hey Téa!" came a shout that had her shaken from her thoughts and turn to find both Ron and Hermione sitting by the fire.
"What has your thoughts in a mix?" Hermione asked as she joined them, setting her broom down.
"I just got asked to Hogsmeade." She answered without much thought earning a frown from Ron and a squeal of happiness from Hermione.
"Who? Is it a date? Did you say yes?"
"Somebody's excited; it's not Nott is it?" Ron questioned shooting his friend a frown.
"I'm a girl Ronald; I may enjoy studying and learning, but it does not mean I don't like talking about my best friend going on a date," Hermione growled.
"Wow, who said it was a date; he didn't — specify I mean I — Would like it to be a date but I don't' know if he'd like it to be a date. Theo could — might like to just go as friends for all I know," Téa exclaimed, eyes widening as her hands moved in a waving manner before her.
"Oh don't be silly Téa; of course it's a date. Theodore Nott doesn't just ask you to go to Hogsmeade as friends; he spends enough time with you for that, this is a date. Oh, this is exciting. You're going on a date with Theodore Nott, wait — what's wrong with Theodore Ronald?" Hermione exclaimed while turning on the red-haired boy who inched back as far as he could.
"He — I don't think he's good enough for Téa, as an older brother figure I have the right to judge." He grunted earning an eye roll from Hermione while Téa laughed at the boy's attics.
"Listen, I don't even know if it is a date and if it is. The last thing I want is Remus getting a sniff of it and telling Sirius who'd come racing to Hogwarts insisting on supervising it. Plus I have more things to worry about then this thing being a date or not, Quidditch, for instance, I have a game to play and other things." She remarked, mind going to the message in her grimoire that still hadn't come true. Then there was Neville's potion, it would be done this week, and she couldn't be more excited. Soon Neville's parents would be getting better, and she was really looking forward to that happy reunion.
"You worry about far too many things to be healthy," Hermione declared a frown marring her features before she shook her head and settled back in her seat.
"I have a lot on my plate, but it's all important." She remarked, amusement lacing her voice before she drew a sigh. "I better go take shower and then get to bed,"
"Resting, that's a good idea, how is chaser practice going?" Ron asked curiously.
"As well as can be, it's not my best position but I'm doing better than I thought." She answered before grinning. "Ginny mentioned she'd like to try for the position next year and I'll be able to retake my Seeker position,"
"I'm sure you're doing better than you think," Hermione assured her before her eyes narrowed. "You're not overworking yourself again are you?"
"Hermione, really I haven't overworked myself. People are worrying about me for no reason, but anyway I need to go. See you guys tomorrow." She called out while walking away.

The rest of the week moved by far too quickly for Téa's liking. With how busy she was, she had to put a hold on her one on ones with Theo. Thankfully the other boy seemed to understand.
With daily Quidditch practice and the end of the year coming faster and faster. The teachers were putting more and more work on their shoulders trying their best to prepare them for their upcoming O.W.L's.
Yet the most exciting thing for the week though was by far Neville's potion. That was why they were both hurrying down to the dungeons' Téa practically skipping while Neville looked curious.
He still didn't know what the potion would do or what it was being used for. He tried looking it up but nothing came out of it especially when he wasn't the best at Potions. Still, his friend looked excited and that was what mattered really, it was clearly going to make something really good happen.

"You're going to be really happy with the results," she remarked as they finally entered the chamber.
"What is the potion for?" he finally asked, earning a laugh before Téa shook her head and waged her finger before his face. "I'll tell you soon enough and I know you're going to be really happy. At least I hope so,"
"Téa what sort of potion would help me and make me this happy? I don't think any potion could help unless it's to help with my horrible memory." He joked before they arrived at the brewing area.

The fire was gone, had been gone for two weeks now and the potion lay motionless in the cauldron. The surface was clear as glass and the liquid inside was like water. There wasn't a lot inside the cauldron, a large portion of it had evaporated during the brewing. With careful fingers, Téa withdrew two vials from her pocket. The vials were very different from what Neville had seen before and what they used in Potion class. They were clear, and the stopper was made of the same material.
"Crystal stoppers," she explained before handing one to him, which he took with slightly shaking hands. "Fill it and cork it, make sure to use the gold ladle."

With that, she grabbed it and dipped the golden spoon into the potion. The surface shimmered like a rainbow before she pulled it out. As gently as possible, she poured the liquid into the crystal stopper. It took two ladies, but the thing was soon full, and she corked it tightly. With shaking fingers, Neville did the same.

"Right now we go see Professor McGonagall," she announced while giving her vial to Neville who looked at her with confusion.
"Why?"
"Because she can give us permission to leave the grounds, or at least you permission to leave the grounds, don't drop those and let's move." She chirped happily making Neville's right eye twitch.

The trip they took to their Head of House' office was a short one, cutting through secret passageways until they arrived at the wooden door. With a firm knock, they waited and weren't disappointed when the intimidating woman opened the door looking curious at their arrival.

"Miss Potter, Mister Longbottom, what can I help you both with?" she questioned, eyeing the crystal vials in Neville's hands.
"Could we speak privately Professor; it's a conversation that I'm sure will take a bit of explaining but for now I just need trust." She announced happily and although hesitant the older witch gave a nod and moved aside to let them in.

As the door shut behind them the Head of Gryffindor walked around her desk and settled down, placing her hands together she looked at her students with a raised eyebrow showing they should speak.

"Since my – return I've been working on a very important project. This project involves Neville here although he doesn't know to what extent. Professor, during my time away I one of my teachers told me of a very special potion." Téa began before removing her journal from her pocket and placing it before the woman who raised an eyebrow before grabbing the leathered book.

Slowly green eyes traced each word, growing wider and wider while her hands began to shake until she looked up at her student with very wide eyes.

"Miss Potter is this — you are not — this is not a prank –"
"No, no prank I can assure you of that. It's an old potion Professor and was only ever used once. I am assuming it was not very well documented at the time, but I was able to brew the potion with Neville. Those two vials contain a single dosage each." She didn't take offence to her Professor's hesitation; she knew why.
"This is — perhaps you should explain this to Mister Longbottom." McGonagall murmured sounding shocked.
"Do you give us permission to go Professor? I want to administer these to them today." She remarked hoping the woman would agree.
"Indeed, I will accompany you both; come we'll use my floo."
"Where are we going?" Neville asked curiously.
"St-Mungos' how is you're flooing skills?" she asked curiously making Neville frown.
"Not the best," he answered sounding very confused. "Why are we going to St-Mungos?"
"Because that's where we need to be, I'll floo with the vials; I've got much better at it and actually walk out. You wouldn't like it if we dropped those." She remarked while gingerly grabbing both vials.
"We must be quick in going now," McGonagall called over and with nods, they hurried to the fireplace and went through with a single shout of their destination.

Arriving in the main hallway of the magical hospital Téa waited patiently for Neville and McGonagall to arrive. When they did, they hurried off towards their destination although Neville was confused.

"Neville a long – very long time ago one of my ancestors was a superb potion Mistress. She invented a potion that wasn't very needed at the time, perhaps because it had never happened before until one person needed it. After, its knowledge disappeared with exception to the notebook my ancestor kept." Téa explained before looking towards her friend who was listening rather amply. "The reason I required your specific help in this Neville is that this potion is going to alter your life forever."
"I don't understand?"
"The cruciatus curse is a horrible curse Neville," she whispered instantly spotting the darkening of her friend's eyes as well as the sadness. "But its effects can be modified; the information was just — lost. I want you to take these vials, and you're going to give them to the two people who you've wanted to know for the longest time. They must swallow it all," she declared while handing the vials over to Neville who had frozen at the site of his parent's room.
"What — I — when — what?"

Standing off to the side, Minerva tried her best not to snort in amusement. The boy was clearly in shock, and she couldn't blame him. His friend had just sprung something world-changing upon him and even she didn't know if she'd react any differently.

"Neville, this-this right here," she declared before trusting the vials into Neville's hands. "These vials hold the potion that will help cure your parents. They'll help them return to the land of the living; they only need one more ingredient and that ingredient comes from within you." She whispered before placing a finger on his forehead.
"Memories, as many memories as you can think, happy memories. They need to know that there is something out here for them to come to. They need to think about the happiest thing in their lives and this potion will help those memories break through the pain that their memory is holding down upon them." She whispered as the boy stared at her like she was the weirdest person in the world.
"I — you — is this — really?" he whispered before she smiled and placed the tip of her wand against his temple.
"Close your eyes and think about happy memories Neville, all you're happy memories, your childhood, everything you want them to see." She whispered, "Things you wanted them there for,"

Gingerly removing the stoppers of each vial, she watched as her friend shut his eyes. Slowly she moved her wand strands of silvery light attached to the tip before gingerly falling into the vials.

This took much time before Neville finally opened eyes, showing the tears that hadn't fallen yet.

"All you need to do is administer the potions, Nev," she whispered before moving aside and opening the door to the long-term mental ward.

The boy didn't move, he simply stared ahead before turning to look at his friend who gave him a smile.

"You can do this," she whispered hoping the boy trusted her.

With shaking steps, he finally moved. Entering the ward with slow steps, he tried to control his breathing while looking around. Instantly his eyes landed on his parent's section, both were laying in their beds, and he slowly moved over. Beside him Téa walked, staying by his side as support.

He couldn't believe what was happening. All his life he never dreamed this would actually happen, then in the span of a few minutes, his friend drops the biggest bomb on top of his shoulders.

The potion he helped brew; the potion he helped make and held in his sweaty hands was a potion that his friend believed would help his parents return to their old selves. He wanted to believe his friend; he wanted to believe that his parents could return and a large part of him did believe, it was a small part of him that wasn't sure. That was hesitant to believe because he didn't want to be broken-hearted that it didn't work.

Still standing at his mother's side, he looked at her. He looked remarkably like his mother; they had the same round face, although hers was thinner and the same eyes. Her hair was short and white. It was washed not long ago because it normally looked wispier.

The woman's eyes stared un-recognizing at him before looking at the vials he held. Perhaps it was the years of taking potions that affected her, but she reached out for the vial and Neville tenderly gave it to her.

He didn't wait to watch her drink it, he couldn't. He turned instead to his father who also reached out for the vial.

Once they both had it, he turned away glancing at his friend who was looking at him with understanding eyes. Moving forward, he swiftly wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. Eyes tightly shut he tried not to cry.

Off to the side; Minerva watched the duo with a sad smile before her eyes turned to her old students. The contents of the vials were gone, and they both had closed eyes, pained expressions covered their faces until they slowly morphed into wilfulness and tender love.

She was about to move closer when Alice's eyes snapped open and there was something-something different about them. They weren't empty, they weren't filled with uncertainty, the pain was still present but the tears were there as well as the life.

Eyes wide with hope, she moved until she stood before the woman's bed. Instantly eyes landed on her and recognition filled them.

"Professor," the woman crocked, yet it didn't matter, the sheer fact that the woman recognized her was what mattered. "How — Neville?"

The question had Minerva turning towards her two young Lions. Neville's shoulders had grown tense before he slowly turned to face his mother, hope in his brown eyes that were also filled with tears.

"Mu- mum?" he whispered hope lacing his voice.
"Where — am I?" came a male voice that had them all turning to Frank who sat in his bed. For a moment he seemed to look around with confusion until his eyes landed on his wife, and they grew wide. "Alice?"
"Frank," the woman whispered, before her eyes flew to her son, slowly recognition filling them as memories of his visits began to come to the surface. "Neville, my — my baby boy,"

Smiling tearfully, Téa gingerly nudged her friend forward earning an uncertain look from him that had laughter bubbling from her throat.

"Don't look at me like that; I have no idea what you're feeling," she laughed making his lips quirk before he looked back to his mother.

He could see recognition inside her brown eyes, she recognized him. She knew who he was and that, that was a feeling he never wanted to go away. One look to his father gave him the same look even if it was slower.

"Mum – dad," he mumbled before walking over. He didn't have far to walk though as his mother shot out of her bed. Uncaring of her fragile state she wrapped her arms around her son's neck.

Neville had to move quickly, wrapping his own arms around her waist to support her fragile frame.
Knowing that they best get the healers, Minerva motioned to Téa of her intentions earning a nod of agreement before she moved away.

"My baby, so tall, so handsome all grown up, you're all grown up." Alice continued to sob, body shaking as her face was buried in her son's shoulder.

Neville was taller than she was, even at fifteen and as Frank stood to embrace his son, Téa could see he wasn't overly much taller than Neville. Watching the three of them hug; Téa had to fight back her own tears.

She would never be able to do what Neville was doing right now, but — she had long since accepted that fact. To see her friend embrace his parents and his parents recognize him; it was a sight she was all too gratified to have helped create. Neville may have lost fifteen years of his life with them, but they had the rest of their lives to make up for it.

"Bloody hell you're going to be tall," Frank remarked, as the Healers hurried into the room looked wide-eyed and unbelieving.
"You can't imagine how many times I've wished for this," Neville mumbled weakly, his emotions on a high. "How many times I wanted you guys to recognize me, to just — know I was your son."
"Oh baby," Alice whispered with sadness, her hands tenderly caressing his cheeks as he continued to hold her upright. "I am so sorry, so sorry that we weren't there for your life, for everything you've been through. We've missed so much,"
"Not anymore, you're here now and that's what counts, Merlin I can't believe this actually worked. I didn't even know she was working on this and — you're a little sneak you know that!" Neville exclaimed while turning to Téa who gave him as innocent a look as she could.
"You tricked me into making this potion — I could have screwed it up!"
"You didn't," she laughed happy that her friend was getting over his shock.
"Good lord!" One healer finally exclaimed making everybody look to them. "This is — what — how?"
"You can ask her," Neville grunted while pointing a thumb at his friend. "She's the one that found the potion."
"It wasn't my invention, an ancestor created it," she answered with a shrug of the shoulders. "I should go, Nev, give you and your family privacy –" yet before she could complete the sentence, Neville had grabbed her hand and pulled her to his side in a bone-crushing one-armed hug.
"You're not going anywhere," he grunted into her ear before turning to his parents who were eyeing her with curiosity.
"You wouldn't recognize her, not with the silver hair but this is Téa, Téaleon Potter," Neville introduced making her cheeks turn red.
"Leo!" Frank exclaimed a happy tone to his voice while Alice's eyes lit up. "Bloody hell the last time I saw you and Neville were in nappies and you had seized a hold of James' wand turning the entire house green."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both," She greeted cheeks burning brighter while Neville snorted with amusement. "Sirius never recounted that story,"
"Black?" Alice whispered face paling slightly making both teens worry.
"Sit down mum, you to dad uh many things have changed in the last fifteen years." Neville hurried to say while helping his parents down. "I don't really know where to start."