A/N: Thank you all for the many kind comments in your reviews these past few chapters. I'm glad you guys are growing to like Lorien. (Lorien is excited that she has two ships of her own!)

Hey, when you guys read "The Bookcase", did anyone else lose sight of the fact that when Snape puts the moves on Lorien, he's wearing his dressing gown? I forgot myself until I proof-read it again! I guess I was just too focused on what he was doing to pay attention to what he was wearing. *grins*

BTW - Vermithrax is the name of the dragon in Dragonslayer. As I told Atheis, some of you might not know that 'cause you're not an old witch like me.

Welcome Telani! Thanks. Rally, hello and thank you as well.

Nytd pours herself a cup of coffee and stares out the window at her beloved garden, which is more spectacular than ever thanks to help from Lorien and Forsythia Sprout. She's contemplating how marvelous all the perennials look when she suddenly frowns. In the back of the bed there appears to be a large gap. "What on earth?" she says, and walks quickly outside.

When she gets to the garden she sees that there actually is a large space where something is missing. Delphinium? No, still there. Coneflower? No. Monkshood? Missing.

"Why monkshood? The deer don't eat it," Nytd wonders, when suddenly it hits her. Monkshood is Aconite, and all of it is gone. "I'll kill him," she says as she goes inside and heads for the basement.

"Severus!" Nytd calls sharply upon entering the room.

He shoots her a look of warning and she can see he's already begun the wolfsbane potion. She knows better than to interrupt and resigns herself to wait until he is finished to discuss the raiding of her garden.

Quite some time later as Nytd still watches in fascination, she decides that it's a good thing she's already finished the next chapter.

Inspiration ~*~

"Well?" Black asked Lupin impatiently as the dragon's eyes narrowed.

"I...I...don't know what to say," Remus stammered.

The large reptile spun and headed quickly for the door, and Remus gasped and doubled over as the end of the long tail slammed into his ribs. Lorien dashed through the door and was gone.

"Way to go, Moony." Sirius was angry but went to where his friend was now examining a huge red angry welt that ran across his entire abdomen. "She got you good. I can't say as I blame her."

"I know."

"What the hell is it, Remus? All she wanted was a little approval from you and you looked at her like she was some sort of monster."

Lupin sighed and sat down on an exam table. "I know. I guess I just wasn't really prepared for what I saw."

"What else?" Black asked.

"The scales, Sirius." Remus shuddered a little. "It wasn't the snake thing that got to me before, it's the scales."

"Well, it's not like she's slimy or anything!" Sirius scolded Remus.

"I know. I'm sure as far as dragons go she's quite beautiful," Remus stated.

"You didn't think she was beautiful?" Sirius asked with amazement.

Remus shrugged.

Sirius looked doubtful. "I know you better than that, Moony. You face things much more disgusting in class everyday and you deal with it fine."

"Yes, but I'm not emotionally attached to any of them, am I?" Remus snapped a little at his friend. "You really want to know what it is?" he asked.

"Yeah, I really do." Black was still agitated.

"I'll tell you. I guess I'm jealous," he snapped.

"What?" Sirius couldn't believe what Remus had just said.

"Jealous. That she can do that, and it's completely her choice. I don't have a choice. I can watch her change back at will, but I have no control over what she knows happens to me. I can't change back when I want. I'm completely helpless at that point and she knows it."

"It never bothered you when James or I learned to transform," Sirius started. "Don't even tell me you're being insecure because of a witch."

"I guess I am," Lupin snapped back.

"Do you think that matters to her? You know her better than that," Sirius defended Lorien.

Lupin still frowned at him.

"I can't believe I'm hearing this," Sirius said, throwing up his hands. "You're always so calm, so confident. How many times have you been there as a stabilizing influence for me?" he asked. "Moony, you're the best Defense professor the school has ever had. You're so damn smart!" Sirius continued on his lecture. "Dumbledore practically begged you to come back, you told me yourself. The students love you, the faculty respect you, that witch thinks the world of you and they all know what happens to you for twelve hours every month. You're the only one it matters to!"

Lupin looked at the floor. His best friend was right. "It's just that it matters so much to me what she thinks," he said quietly.

Black put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I know. You need to tell her that after she's had some time to calm down."

Lupin smiled and nodded. They both looked again at the long angry mark he bore from contact with the dragon's tail.

Black let out a low whistle. "It's a good thing she actually likes you."

Lorien was in her room pacing in an agitated fashion. She of course had misinterpreted Lupin's silence in the infirmary as a lack of approval, and was hurt and furious after being so thrilled with her accomplishment earlier. She was mad at herself for even telling the two men yet. She had promised time to herself this weekend, but had been so caught up in the thrill of the moment she had wanted to share it with them.

No more! She was not leaving her rooms for the rest of the weekend, and Merlin help the first man that knocked on her door.

She needed to calm herself and she decided on a long hot shower. When she had dried her hair with a quick spell and wrapped herself in her favorite purple dressing gown she went back to the living room. It was early afternoon yet, but she didn't care and she chose a bottle of wine from the rack. She set the glass and the bottle on the table next to the armchair and went to the bookshelf. Her hand automatically went for the worn-looking volume Snape had handed her the other day, and she curled up in the chair for the rest of the day with no one to disturb her.

Sunday she spent a good deal of time walking the grounds of the school and then returned to her rooms to try the transformation again. She wanted to improve her time, and was pleased when the next attempt took her just under a minute. She was anxious to master the instantaneous shift of form that Sirius had so long ago.

That evening, when she sat painting her nails she glanced out the window and noted the waxing moon. She reminded herself to check with Severus tomorrow, even though she knew he was unlikely to forget, and it was then that the idea came to her. She quickly dried the nail polish and headed for the Gryffindor tower.

She thought of Snape as she went. He wasn't going to like this but he was in her debt and she planned to remind him of that if need be. She followed a couple of first years through the portrait hole.

Lorien spotted Neville right away and pulled him aside. "Neville, I have an idea. Meet me an hour after dinner in the hospital wing tomorrow night. Ok?"

"Ok." He agreed but looked puzzled.

Lorien went to where Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting together. "Hi guys."

They all greeted her.

"Hermione, could you do me a favor? Could you see to it that Neville remembers to come to the infirmary tomorrow night an hour after dinner?" Lorien requested.

"Sure. Id be happy to," the younger witch replied.

"Great. Thanks very much." She left the common room.

"Wonder what that's all about?" asked Harry.

Hermione shrugged.

The last Gryffindor students bolted from the potion classroom as soon as their final class was over. Snape had obviously recovered from his near- death experience last week and had been in rare form today. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff had lost a combined total of 60 points in a matter of a few classes.

Snape watched them scurry out the door with a small degree of satisfaction that soon vanished when the anxiety began to return. He began to lay out a large number of components for his work that evening and he continually found his thoughts interrupted by the same question. Would she be here tonight?

He couldn't imagine that she wouldn't. He knew her well enough now to know that she was likely to check with him even though she knew he wouldn't forget something so important.

He decided to stay away from the great hall at dinner. He didn't want to take a chance that she would speak to him there and then not have to come to the dungeon that night. Instead he began the painstaking process of preparing the ingredients and placing them in the order he wanted for the wolfsbane potion.

Lorien looked up as Hermione and Neville walked into the hospital wing a few minutes early.

"You delivered him in person." Lorien smiled at the younger witch.

"I was on my way to the library anyway, so I decided to make sure he made it here?" she teased her companion.

"Great. Thank you. Are you ready, Neville?" Lorien inquired.

"I guess so. What are we doing?" he asked.

"Going in search of a little inspiration," replied Lorien with a smile.

"Where are we looking for that, Mistress Lorien?" he asked casually.

"The dungeon," she stated.

"The dungeon?" Neville looked shaken and Hermione turned from the door. "You're taking him to the dungeon?"

"Yes. There's something I think he should see," Lorien answered the younger witch.

"I...I...can't imagine that th...there's anything I want to see down there." Neville was pale.

"I said 'should' not 'want'," Lorien said, but spoke kindly to the teenager as Neville gave Hermione a panicked look.

"What are you taking him to the dungeon for?" Hermione asked politely.

"Professor Snape is making the wolfsbane potion this evening," Lorien explained. "I think that Neville should see him work outside of class."

Hermione's eyes opened wider and more of the color drained out of Neville's face. "He is? Really?" Hermione began, obviously intrigued.

"Yes," Lorien answered. " Would you like to join us, Hermione? Neville might appreciate it if you were there. I should warn you this will take some time, but it is well worth it."

"Can I? That would be great." Hermione was obviously quite interested.

Neville looked at the two women as if they had each sprouted an extra head as they took him by the arms and led him to the dungeon.

Snape was double checking the amount of wolfsbane he had measured out when he heard the soft knock and the door opened. He smiled to himself but didn't look up, and waited for her to approach him before he acknowledged her presence.

"Good evening," he said softly without taking his eyes off what he was doing. "I see how little faith you have in my memory."

"Actually, I was counting on you being here preparing the potion. That's why I'm here," said Lorien.

"Really?" he asked casually, eyes flicking to hers for a moment.

"Yes, we've come to observe, if that's quite alright?" Lorien answered and then waited for an outburst from the Potions master.

"We?" His glance shot to the two Gryffindors across the room and back. "We?"

She nodded and waited patiently.

"I was not aware that brewing wolfsbane potion was becoming a spectator sport, Lorien," he hissed quietly, considerably annoyed that she wasn't alone.

"Just this once?" she requested.

His eyes went back to the door and then returned to her face. "Granger I can understand, but Longbottom? Are you quite mad?"

"Perhaps. Please, Severus. They've been instructed to be absolutely still."

He glared at her, and she met his eyes steadily until he relented. "Fine. But let me tell you this." His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "One interruption from him, and you will have your work cut out for you trying to make it up to me."

"Fine." She returned to the students and ushered the eager witch and the terrified young wizard to a table closer. Her own gaze was icy as she spoke once more to Hermione and Neville. "Not a word," she said sternly.

Hermione leaned forward on the table and Neville sat as far back in his chair as possible as the water in the cauldron darkened. Lorien divided her time between watching Severus work and observing the reactions of the two students that sat next to her. As Snape added component after component she could see Hermione's eyes following his hands and fluid movements with rapt fascination. She was leaning forward on the table with her chin resting on her hands, and Lorien had the impression the girl was mentally taking notes. She noted that the younger witch's gaze periodically went to the man himself, and Lorien wondered if the Gryffindor's impression of the irritable potion master was at all altered.

She turned to Neville, expecting him to have his eyes squeezed tightly shut and wishing himself elsewhere. She looked at him closer when she realized he was actually watching with timid interest. He had never seen this side of the intimidating wizard, and Lorien was sure that he was amazed that he had survived this long in the presence of the dark robed mage. She smiled when she actually saw him lean a little closer at one point.

Lorien returned to watching Severus work for a few minutes, her eyes watching his graceful movements and then studying his face. She became aware of the slightest movement beyond Neville, and she turned to find Hermione watching her. The younger witch only looked at her for a moment and then returned to observing the Potions master.

When Snape finally picked up the measure of powdered wolfsbane, both Longbottom and Granger were leaning forward to get a better view of what would happen when he added the last ingredient. Lorien watched them and counted to five, smiling when she saw the expression on both faces as the potion shimmered briefly and steam rose out of the clear liquid in the cauldron.

"Come with me," she said quickly and quietly, and led them to the hallway.

"Keep one more thing in mind when you think about what you saw," she began. "As impressive as that was, it's actually what the potion he made does that is even more amazing. Remember that all that work serves a difficult and important purpose." She looked at them meaningfully. "You are free to go."

Neville and Hermione walked out of the dungeon together in silence, each caught up in their own thoughts, until finally they stood by the Fat Lady.

"Well Neville, what do you think?" she asked curiously.

Neville looked at her and smiled sheepishly. "Hermione, that was one of the coolest things I've ever seen."

Hermione put a hand on his shoulder and smiled. "Me too, Neville"

They went through the portrait hole together.

Lorien returned to the classroom to find Severus leaning against the table with his arms crossed and his eyes following her progress as she crossed the room again.

He spoke when she stood a few feet away. "Happy now?" His manner was somewhat sarcastic.

"Yes. Thank you." She kept a polite tone.

"Are you taking this to him?" He jerked his head toward the potion.

"Would you mind preparing the individual doses, like before? You can send them to the hospital wing and he can get it there. That seems to work out best."

He nodded but he noted the odd tone in her voice.

"Good. Thank you," she said. "Oh, and I guess I owe you one more thank you."

"You do?" he asked dryly.

"Yes, for the flowers. They were lovely." She took a step closer and looked him in the eye. "You were a right bastard for sending them to Lupin's rooms, but they were lovely."

He shrugged casually and then spoke softly. "As are you, Sylvanesti."

She looked at him for a few seconds and stepped forward quickly. Snape was caught completely off guard when her lips met his briefly, and she was gone before he could uncross his arms and right himself from leaning on the table.

He stared after the blonde woman for a moment and then he threw his head back and laughed a wicked laugh. He was beginning to like his chances of winning over the Nemorosi witch.

In the Gryffindor common room, Harry and Ron could see that Hermione and Neville were talking about something together in an animated fashion for several minutes before she finally came and joined them where they were sitting.

"So, what did Lorien have in store for poor Neville tonight?" asked Ron.

"She took him to the dungeon," replied Hermione.

"Why?" asked Harry.

Hermione smiled mischievously. "To see Snape make the wolfsbane potion. I went with them."

"She made you go?" Ron asked.

"No. I wanted to go," Hermione replied.

"So Neville wouldn't freak out?" Harry inquired.

"No. To see Snape work. I've always wanted to see him make that potion," she admitted.

"What?" asked Ron. "Doesn't it take forever?"

"That's where we've been the whole time," she replied.

"You stayed the whole time?" Harry was amazed.

"Oh we had to. We couldn't risk breaking his concentration once he had started. You should have seen it. Take the most difficult potion we've made so far and multiply it by ten and you'll have an idea of the complexity..."

"Wait," interrupted Ron, "you actually thought it was interesting?"

Hermione sounded emphatic. "Oh yes. It was fascinating."

Ron looked at Harry incredulously.

"How did Neville handle it? He doesn't look too freaked out," Harry observed.

Hermione decided to tell them. "He thought it was cool."

"WHAT?" cried Harry and Ron together.

Hermione smiled a bit smugly as she got up from the table and headed toward the dorms. "I told you it was fascinating."

Ron leaned closer and whispered to Harry. "Ok, first Snape is kissing Lorien in the dungeon, now he has Hermione mesmerized with the wolfsbane potion. What is it with women and this guy?"

Harry shook his head. "I just don't know."

A/N: You'll notice that I gave Sprout a first name in the Nytd fantasy before the chapter. I use this later in the story and it seems like the perfect name for her. A lot of JKR's characters have 'flower' names. (Lily, Poppy, Petunia, Lavender, etc.) Of course the herbology professor needs one. For those of you that don't know, Forsythia is that flowering shrub that appears early in spring. You'd know it if you saw it. It's hardy, reliable, and has yellow flowers - appropriate for the Head of Hufflepuff, yes?