By The Destructive Duo
tarynsnape@yahoo.com
A few days later celebrations were winding down, and things at Hogwarts were turning back to normal.
Well, as normal as you can get at a wizarding school...
The Snapes, Potters, Weasley and a Malfoy were gathered in the Potter's Quarters, all gathered around a large boiling cauldron. The antidote for the burn that Ginny and Ron had been working on all week was finally ready for the last ingredient, but first it needed to be brought to a frothy boil.
After a few minutes, Hermione was beginning to get nauseated by the fumes, so decided to head out into the living room. Harry, sensing something wrong with his longtime friend, followed. Sitting down in the chair across from her, he leaned forward and his elbows and looked directly into her eyes.
"Mione, something's bothering you." he declared quietly. Hermione sighed heavily, leaning back against her chair and letting herself relax.
"Harry, we've been friends for a long time. I feel I can confide in you and ask for your help when the need arises." Harry groaned inwardly, musing at the number of people who had asked for his help lately.
"You need my help?"
"No, I just said I'd be able to ask for it if the need arises. Right now, I just want to confide in you." She chuckled lightly at the look of relief that washed across his features.
"Oh, ok." Harry grinned sheepishly, leaning back in his own chair. "So, what's up?"
"Well..." she began, but was abruptly cut off as Ron stormed into the room and over to Harry.
"Harry, mate." he panted, trying to catch his breath. "I need a favor."
"OH WHAT NOW!?" Harry exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. Ron, looking slightly perturbed, pulled out a carving knife and his wand.
"I need some skin." He grinned maliciously, advancing on a very frightened Harry.
"WHAT!? No way..." he trailed off, eyeing the blade in Ron's grasp.
"Come on!" Ron whined, stamping his foot like an impatient child who wasn't getting his way. "I need it for the potion."
"Fine." Harry huffed, sticking his left arm out. Ron numbed Harry's arm with a spell, sliced a bit of skin off and then used his wand to heal the cut. Harry, surprised that he didn't feel a thing, grinned and shoved Ron back through the kitchen door.
"Well, that was odd." Hermione giggled, staring at the kitchen door.
"Yeah, quite." Harry replied, rolling his eyes. "Now, what were you saying?"
"Oh, yeah." Hermione shook her head, regaining her senses. "I just..." she started again, only to be cut off by a frantic yell from the kitchen.
"You're all morons!" Draco bellowed, causing Hermione to jump in fright. There was a brief pause before he continued in a much louder tone. "You call yourself a potions master!?" They didn't hear a reply; however, the next thing they saw was Severus being hurtled through the door.
Stumbling slightly, he caught himself on the desk, stood and straightened his robes, trying to look as dignified as possible. Harry and Hermione broke into a fit of laughter upon seeing this, which won them both identical glares. Harry calmed down quickly, looking to Hermione once more.
"Mione?" Hermione looked from Severus to Harry, and back to Severus again before she opened her mouth to speak.
"AHA!" They suddenly heard Ron shout from the adjoining room. Heaving a defeated sigh, Hermione closed her eyes and rested her head in her hands.
"I told you so!" Draco this time, before the everyone rushed into the living room, three vials in hand. Ron looked pleased, Draco positively smug.
"I have here, the remedy for the Dark Mark." Ginny spoke clearly, handing a vial to each Harry, Draco and Severus. Harry and Severus eyed it warily.
"Oh go on! It'll work!" Ron exclaimed, giddily impatient.
"Well, here goes nothing!" Harry declared. "Cheers!" The three men clinked vials before downing the gooey brown substance. Each felt a sharp pain of sting momentarily, as their skin reformed over the burned marks. A collective sigh echoed through the room.
"It worked!" Severus spoke, amazed. "Of all the potions you've ever done, you finally get one right." He smirked at Ron, who blushed furiously at the comment from his former professor.
There was a round of hugs, cheers and liquor when Albus appeared on the other side of the door.
"A party? And no one's invited me?" His eyes twinkled merrily as he surveyed the scene before him.
"Albus! The potion, it worked!"
"Oh, good!" The old man grinned, sending a shower of fireworks through the room with his wand. "Now I know why you were celebrating!" Everyone laughed merrily, all except Hermione.
Once again, it was Harry he noticed.
"EVERYONE BE QUIET!" he roared over the noise, effectively bringing the room to a stand-still. "Hermione was trying to tell me something before you all barged in." he explained more quietly.
Hermione blushed furiously, refusing to meet the inquiring gazes.
"Well? Hermione...now's your chance."
Disclaimer: It's all JKR's. No money is being made.
AN: Thanks to everyone who reviewed. All feedback is apprecieted, good and bad. Whatever will help us to develop as authors.