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Snape stayed with her until late in the afternoon. He returned her to the fourth floor and stayed with her just a while longer, talking about what potions he had planned for the 6th years in the spring.
"I have a potion I need to get back to soon," he said eventually, checking his watch.
"I understand. Thank you for coming to spend Christmas with me, Severus," she said softly, feeling her cheeks grow warm.
"It was Albus' idea," he muttered, looking away from her.
"Well, tell Professor Dumbledore I said thank you," she said, smiling at him and hugging her kneazle.
"I shall. Goodbye Winifred."
"Bye Severus. Merry Christmas."
She watched him leave, then lay down in bed cuddling her kneazle.
He needs a name, she thought as she snuggled the plush. Maybe something Potion-y. I could call him Severus. She chuckled to herself and decided against it. She went through a list of potions ingredients in her head. She pictured the storage closet in her mind and mentally went through the shelves.
Aconite...Antimony...Arnica...Eye of Newt. Newt could be good, like Newt Scamander. Daniel worships him. A pain went through her heart and she took a deep breath. Don't think about Daniel right now. Think about potions and names for your kneazle. Fluxweed...Foxglove...Griffin claw...Hemlock.
She opened her eyes and looked at the plush kneazle. His green glass eyes stared back at her and she smiled.
"Hemlock it is," she whispered and tucked the kneazle under her chin. She closed her eyes and let herself drift off to sleep.
Freddie woke a few hours later, feeling full of energy for the first time in weeks. The ward had quieted down and she opened the curtain around her bed to see everyone was asleep. Miriam was in her office which had a window that looked out on the room. Freddie could see her in there, reading a book, but her eyes were half-closed and she was nodding off.
Freddie felt a mischievous streak and she wished she had her wand. Visiting with Snape had reminded her of something. This was St Mungos, the place where she had wanted to work someday. Somewhere in this building, probably in the basement, there was a team of Potioneers who worked day and night to provide medicine for the hospital. She wanted to go find them.
She pulled the curtains back around her bed and thought for a minute. She peeked out once more at the dozing Healer. She tucked Hemlock beneath her arm, then fucked out beneath the curtains on the other side of her bed.
She snuck out into the hallway and was pleased to find it deserted.
It's Christmas. Most of the Healers are probably home with their families.
She reached the locked door at the end of the hall and stopped. She had no wand. She didn't even know where it was. She thought of earlier, how Snape had unlocked the door so easily, with just a flick of his wand, no incantation.
If I can do magic without my wand without meaning to, maybe I can make myself do it, she thought.
She put both hands on the doorknob and focused. Unlock! She thought forcefully, but nothing happened. Alohamora! Come on...let me out! I really really want to get out of here. Let me out!
She felt the doorknob grow hot in her hand then gasped when she heard the quiet but distinct 'click' of the lock turning.
She let herself out quickly but quietly. She shut the door carefully behind her. Gleefully she headed off down the stairs, Hemlock still tucked under her arm.
She made it down a few flights of stairs before she heard voices coming up the stairs.
"Man, I can't believe we're stuck working on Christmas," said a voice.
Freddie pressed herself into the shadows, wishing she had her wand to cast her Disillusionment Charm.
"Suck it up, O'Brien. We're interns. Low men on the totem pole. Double shifts, night shifts, holidays. That's all we're going to see for the next two years. Get used to it," said another voice.
Hide, I need to hide, I need to disappear, Freddie thought frantically.
"Ugh, I need coffee," said the first intern, clomping up the stairs.
"Yep, then it's back to dangerous bites and bugs," said the second.
Freddie closed her eyes as they stepped onto the landing, knowing she was about to be dragged back to her ward.
"Man, I'm ready for something cool to come through here, like a werewolf bite," said O'Brien as they walked right past Freddie. "When's the next full moon?"
"You're terrible, O'Brien!" said the other intern, laughing at his friend as they continued up the stairs.
Freddie stepped out of the shadows and looked down. Only there was nothing there.
"I'm invisible?" she murmured.
"You hear something?" O'Brien said and Freddie clamped a hand over her mouth.
"You're just tired," said his friend. "Come on, I can smell the coffee already."
Freddie held out her hand, only she didn't have one. She was completely invisible. It was even better than the chameleon-like effect of the Disillusionment Charm. Even Hemlock was invisible.
Freddie grinned wickedly and continued down the stairs. The stairs ended on the ground floor where a tired-looking receptionist checked in patients sporting various injuries and ailments. She watched a man with tentacles coming from his head and wondered if it were a spell or a potion gone wrong.
Remember where you're going, she reminded herself. Look for the Potioneers.
Freddie moved around the reception area, looking for a sign. There were signs everywhere, depicting what went on on each floor, but there was nothing about the brewers, no signs that said basement.
Finally, she started opening doors. The first few led to offices, which were empty this time of night. She was becoming dejected when a door opened and a witch wearing lime-green Healer robes came out, carrying several bottles of potions.
Freddie gasped excitedly and slipped quietly past the struggling witch in through the door before it shut. The door led to a descending staircase, not unlike the Hogwarts dungeons. Clutching the invisible Hemlock, Freddie headed down the stone staircase. It was lit by torchlight and she followed the spiraling steps down until they opened up into a large circular room.
There were dozens of cauldrons bubbling around the room with a dozen or so witches and wizards in blood-red robes tended to them. Freddie inhaled deeply, the scent of potions brewing familiar and comforting to her.
Freddie entered the room quietly. She sat beside the staircase, where she wouldn't be stumbled on. She held Hemlock in her lap and settled in to watch the Potioneers work.
#
"Who is she?"
"Where'd she come from?"
"She wasn't there a minute ago!"
Freddie opened her eyes groggily and found several people in red robes staring down at her. She looked down and saw that she had become visible once more.
I fell asleep, she realized, clutching Hemlock to her chest.
"She's the girl they're looking for from the 4th floor I bet," said one of the wizards.
"Oops," Freddie said, getting up. "Sorry. I just wanted to see...I'll, uh...I'll leave now."
"I'll take you back where you belong," said a kind witch, smiling down at her.
"Thank you," she said, looking past them at the cauldrons. "Um, you might want to add more aconite to that and stir it, before it boils over."
"Huh? Oh, crap," said one of the men, rushing back over to his potion.
Freddie smirked slightly and looked around for the redheaded young man she'd been watching last night.
"The Expectorant Draught you messed up last night – you added eleuthero root instead of elecampane," she told him. "You were trying to figure out where you went wrong. I wanted to tell you."
"That true, Hargreaves?" the witch asked him, and the boy flushed.
"It was a...long night, ma'am," he said, looking down at his shoes.
Freddie felt somewhat smug and she took the offered hand of the witch who was waiting on her.
"So, you like potions, huh?" the witch asked, leading her back up the stairs.
"Yes ma'am. I'm the Potion Masters apprentice at Hogwarts."
"Snape? Really? You must be something then. What year are you?"
"6th."
"Is he still a grumpy git?"
"Uh..." she hesitated but grinned. "Kinda."
"Another year and a half to go, huh? You given much thought as to what you'll do after Hogwarts?"
"Well that's sort of why I went down there last night," she said sheepishly. "I always thought I might come work here. Never thought I'd..."
"Be a patient here?" she asked sympathetically. "Don't worry. I'm sure they'll fix you up soon. And when they do, when you graduate next year, come talk to me. I'm Andrea Hawkins, Potions Master."
"Freddie Gray. Nice to officially meet you."
"There you are!" said a loud voice and Freddie looked up to see a frazzled-looking Miriam rushing towards her. "We've been looking all over for you! I was on the verge of calling the Ministry!"
"Sorry mum. I fell asleep," she said, feeling slightly guilty. "I didn't mean to worry you."
"You're ok?" Miriam asked, holding her, looking her over.
"Yes mum."
"Good, that's good," Miriam said, hugging her close. "Now, let's get you back to bed. Thank you Master Hawkins."
"No problem. Nice to meet you, Gray. Take care."
"Thank you," Freddie said and Hawkins smiled and waved goodbye as Miriam led her away.
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay you guys! I ended up catching a cold – teach me to go out at night without a hat! I'll have another update soon, and we'll soon be back at Hogwarts.