Chapter 51:
"There is another ME out there?!" Minerva cried out in a half screech, wringing her hands as she paced the inside of Severus' chamber. "It's bad enough you didn't even tell me she had awakened, but now you tell me there is another person out there that looks like me?"
"We didn't tell you because we had no way of knowing you were you at that time, Minerva," Severus explained matter-of-factly. "You know you would have done the same."
Minerva paced and sighed. "You are right, Severus." She looked towards the bed where Hermione slept obliviously. "How is she doing?"
"Better now that she isn't being interrogated," Snape replied.
"The poor dear," Minerva said with a shake of her head. "I did manage to convince Horace to cover your classes until all of this blows over."
"Marvelous," Severus said with a curl of his lip.
"I know you don't think he's an adequate teacher, Severus," Minerva admonished, "but you have to admit your standards for acceptable potions proficiency is higher for students than most people will ever need once they leave Hogwart's."
"Hermione met them," Snape replied with a raised eyebrow.
"Psh," Minerva said. "You know she is beyond exceptional in her studies."
"Spend some time grading some of the papers I've had this semester, and you will understand why I think Slughorn will do them no favors," Severus growled.
"It's temporary, Severus," Minerva countered. "I know you want to keep her safe. I do too, and you can't teach and guard her at the same time. Especially since one of us needs to be out there making things look normal."
"It is…" Severus began and swallowed as if the next word was painful, "appreciated."
Minerva looked at him and then nodded. "Draught of Living Death," she muttered.
"Aiden said to tell you that… Daniel? Daniel sends his thanks for the extra Wiggenweld potions. I will have to have you two make us a store of them for the hospital wing in case they are ever needed again, though I really do hope not."
"They can have fun trying to administer it," Severus said with a smirk.
Minerva shot a glance at the Potion Master, "Did you really have to traumatize both Potter and Weasley like that?"
"Do you think I would risk not administering it the traditional way, Minerva?" Severus' expression was completely deadpan, but he was utterly calm.
Minerva shook her head. "No, no. I would never want to risk it failing either." She looked into the fire thoughtfully. "Hagrid is helping them trace his steps that morning to see where the trapped jar might have come from."
"I would be more concerned with who placed it there," Severus said.
"Nicolas has been the very image of proper every time I see him, Severus," Minerva said. "If he's the one behind it, he is being the very definition of careful. He hasn't even asked about anything."
Severus tilted his head. "Doesn't that strike you a little strange?"
McGonagall frowned. "How so?"
"Think about the majority of the conversations at the High Table, Minerva," Severus replied. "How is it that he doesn't ask about what every other person at the table would? Even if as a passing gossip?"
Minerva rubbed the space between her eyes with her fingers. "This paranoia is exhausting."
"Try being a spy," Snape said dryly.
"No thank you," McGonagall replied immediately. "Well, I will let the both of you get some rest before we meet up again with the Aurors tonight. What shall we use as a password?"
"Solanaceae," Severus said immediately.
Minerva raised a brow. "I think I preferred Albus' random candy names to whatever that is."
Severus smirked, "It is nightshade, Minerva."
Minerva scoffed at the password and left quietly, shutting the door and the portrait behind her.
Severus yawned and stood, removing his outer robe and hanging it over the chair. He carefully unbuttoned his doublet and cuffs and pulled it off with a sigh. Laying it over the chair with the robe, he walked over to his bed where Hermione lay sleeping. Prince was nestled by her hair on the pillow as asleep as Hermione. He lay next to her, listening to the soft sound of her breathing as he closed his eyes and let sleep carry him into oblivion.
