Disclaimers: Please refer to chapter one for full disclaimer write-up.
When Living is No Longer EnoughChapter Twenty-Four
A week had passed since Hermione's abrupt exit from the headmaster's office and her days had settled into an exhausting routine. Mornings consisted of a quick breakfast followed by a short meeting with Emily Saunton in which details of the girl's home life were relayed to the Gryffindor. No detail was too small and nothing was left to chance. Hermione learned everything she could about Emily's family, her childhood antics, the layout of her home and even her hobbies. She learned to imitate the girl's mannerisms including her facial expressions, body language and even managed a rather impressive imitation of the younger woman's walk. All in all, Hermione felt she was just about ready to undertake her self-appointed task of impersonating the pureblooded Slytherin. She only wished that she wasn't so nervous!
The remainder of her mornings was usually occupied with classes and she quickly marked papers and assignments during her free periods so that she would have her evenings free to assist Severus. Research on the tracking spell had progressed more slowly than she would have liked but she was fairly confidant that she had finally devised a way to incorporate the charm into the formula without threat of detection by Voldemort. All she had to do now was test it.
"You seem distant this evening," Snape said looking at Hermione with no small amount of concern. "Is everything all right?"
Adding the final pinch of tattered fairy wings, she stirred the sickly smelling potion once more before lowering the heat to prevent the cauldron from boiling over. "I'm fine," she replied with a weary smile. "Just tired. I'll be glad when this is over and we can finally get a full night's worth of sleep."
"Agreed," the potions master murmured. Stepping back from the cauldron, he pulled out his wand and placed several protective wards around the room to prevent anyone from tampering with the brewing process. He then placed a hand against the middle of her back, softly propelling her toward his chambers. He would have liked to entertain the notion of taking the young woman to bed, spending a passion filled night with one another, before gently falling asleep in her warm embrace right before the sun awoke to signal the start of a new day. That's what he would have liked but the hectic pace of their race against time ensured that they were both too tired to do little more than sleep. He sighed in frustration but decided that awaking in one another's arms wasn't the worst consolation prize he could have imagined. He watched quietly as the young woman changed into her nightclothes and quickly completed the evening ritual of brushing the chestnut tresses, which hung loosely down her back.
"I wanted to thank you," she said tentatively and began fiddling with the brush in her hands.
"For what?" he answered, confusion evident in his reply.
"For putting up with Harry and Ron the way you have. For being so… nice to them this past week," she answered and raised her eyes to meet the obsidian orbs that stared so intently at her.
Pulling the covers back on the large bed, he motioned for her to take her place next to him. Once she had settled herself on the coolness of the satin sheets, he wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her body close to where it lay cradled against his muscular limbs. Placing his mouth next to her ear he softly whispered, "You are welcome but what else could I have done?"
The effect of his warm breath sliding so sensually across the smooth skin of her ear and neck sent shivers of delight spiraling throughout her body. She never ceased to thrill at his nearness or revel in his softly spoken words of love. Of course, those words were only spoken in the privacy of his chambers with no one but the two of them present but Hermione didn't care. He loved her and if she had her way Voldemort would be gone soon followed shortly thereafter by Lucius Malfoy. Just a little more time and, if they played their cards correctly with the potion, they would be free of the necessity of constant surveillance and security. They would be free to live their lives as they chose.
'But these are contemplations for a later time,' she mused and pulled her thoughts back to the present. Turning her body so that she lay facing the dark haired man beside her she smiled and pushed back a tendril of hair that had fallen across his eyes. "You could have been mean and perfectly horrible to them," she answered sternly though the hint of mischief in her eyes told him that her words were meant in jest.
"Hmm… I suppose I could have," he agreed dropping a small kiss on her forehead. "But then I would have had to contend with three angry Gryffindors and Merlin help me if I dare to upset the Dream Team."
"Right, as if that ever stopped you in the past," she replied and he could her the heavy threads of irony lacing her words. "Admit it, you've never been bothered by our opinions and therefore I fail to see where you would be bothered by them now. After all, we're just a bunch of Gryffindors."
"As much as I'd like to deduct house points for your cheek Professor Granger, I do find myself acknowledging the merit of your statement," he said with a classic Snape smirk. "However I find that my present circumstances have changed and for the sake of what little remains of my sanity, I have merely reasoned that it is easier to attempt a modicum of civility with those dunderheaded goody-goodies than to face the wrath of you and that mangy ball of shedding fluff you call a familiar."
"Oh!" she sputtered indignantly at the Slytherin's line of reasoning, "Crookshanks is NOT a … what was it… oh yes… a mangy ball of shedding fluff! He is an excellent familiar and quite intelligent too."
"Well, the four footed monster has shown the intelligence to stay away from the dungeons," he agreed laughing as her mouth opened to form another comeback in defense of the kneazle. "However what is of even more interest, to myself at least, is the fact that you chose to valiantly leap to the defense of your cat rather than your childhood friends. Could it be Hermione that you might actually agree with my assessment of Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley's character flaws?"
"I am not even going to dignify that with a response," she replied haughtily and turned her body so that her back once again faced him. "Damn the man,' she thought to herself as the beginnings of a small smile spread across her petite facial features. 'Try to pay him a compliment and he turns it around.'
Snape, for his part, laughed quietly at her supposed indignation. Their easy banter never ceased to amaze him and he delighted in the fact that he had finally found someone with whom he could share his acerbic wit. Even better was the fact that the woman lying next to him was more than capable of giving as good as she received. He marveled that there had ever been a time when 'Professor Snape' had intimidated her in the least possible way.
"You are welcome," he murmured softly, referring to her original offering of thanks. Once again pulling her body close to his own he continued, "I find that Mr. Potter's foray into adulthood has at least had the added benefit of rendering his presence to be tolerable. However, in all honesty, I cannot say the same for Mr. Weasley. If it weren't for your long-standing friendship with the young man then I would revert to type and avoid his presence entirely."
Hermione grinned under the cover of darkness as she listened to Severus' newly found opinion of The-Boy-Who-Lived. Clearly, Harry was doing something right considering that the potions master's original opinion was anything but complimentary. Yet again she found her body flooded with feelings of love and warmth for two of the most important men in her life. Their efforts in reaching mutual ground with one another had been considerable but she could sense that a feeling of respect had developed between the two. Not that either one would ever admit it of course but she was grateful nonetheless as it made her life that much easier. It was bad enough that she still felt obligated to play referee whenever Ron entered the picture and while she loved the red-haired man as if he were her own brother, she couldn't help but wish that he would grow up just a bit and let bygones be bygones.
"Ron means well," she replied knowing in her heart that her friend really did have her best interests in mind. "He just has a problem seeing past his own feelings and prejudices. He'll come around eventually. He always does."
"Perhaps," he conceded not wanting to start a major debate with the young woman at such a late hour. "Although I would wager that it won't be any time soon. Especially once he learns of the true nature of our relationship."
Hermione momentarily closed her eyes as the truth of his words washed over her. So far they had managed, by mutual consent, to keep their personal relationship a secret from Ron. To divulge such information when he first arrived would have only led to anger on the younger man's part and he needed to maintain a level head if he was to be effective in his role as Hermione's bodyguard. It was a role he couldn't adequately accomplish if the four of them were squabbling like first years.
"I don't think it's going to matter much longer anyway," the young woman said with a sigh. "He's already suspicious and it doesn't look like the 'working relationship' explanation will hold up much longer."
"Then Weasley will have to do the unthinkable and behave like an adult for once in his miserable life. If not for himself then at least for you" Snape responded a little more harshly than he intended. He didn't want to upset Hermione but he was getting tired of watching his every move when Weasley was around. The cloak and dagger routine had long ago lost its appeal and to have to jump through hoops for the sake of the red-haired sidekick was annoying to say the least.
"Get some sleep love," he instructed and smiled as she wiggled closer until she fit snugly within the curves of his body. "We'll deal with Weasley's delicate sensibilities when the time comes."
Little did they both know that time was approaching quicker than they had imagined…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I'm telling you Harry that something is just not right!" the red-haired young man exclaimed in frustration. "I know she's hiding something and I want to know what it is."
Harry removed his glasses from his face and gently massaged the bridge of his nose. Ron was in one of his moods and the only way he was going to calm down was by talking it out. Harry just wished that he didn't have to take all night in doing so.
"Ron, for the last time, I don't think Hermione is really hiding something and if she is then it's her business. Our job is to protect her, not to pry into her life."
"But Harry, that's just the point," he argued as if the fact should be perfectly clear to everyone. "How can we be expected to protect her if she's hiding things. What if she's hiding something that we need to know about?"
"She's not hiding anything that will affect our ability to protect her," the boy-who-lived answered sharply.
Ron looked at his friend as an idea began to take form in his mind. "You know what she's hiding don't you Harry? She's told you but she won't tell me! That's just typical. I'm always the one to be left out. Some things never change."
"That's enough Ron," his friend replied sternly. "You have never been left out unless it was for your own good. The important thing here is Hermione and we both need to remember that. Getting all worked up about anything else will just defeat our purpose."
"Always the voice of reason aren't you Harry," Ron sneered but sat quietly on the sofa. "Fine, our first priority is Hermione but let me just ask you one thing: How are we supposed to protect her when we can't even get in contact with her?"
Harry looked over at his friend with a look of confusion. "What?"
"Well, she disappears at night to go work on that barmy potion and that's the last we hear of her. Snape said that protection has already been arranged for her evenings but neither one of them has said what that might be. She doesn't answer her floo at night…"
"You've tried to call her late at night?" Harry interrupted. "Why would you do that Ron?"
"Well… we're supposed to be looking after her and I just wanted to make certain that she was alright" he defended weakly.
"Ron, I think that if anyone can look out for Hermione that it would be Snape. He knows more about the Dark Arts, not to mention Voldemort and Lucius Malfoy, than either of us. If she's with him then she'll be fine," the young man said trying to make his friend listen to reason.
"But that's just it! How do we know she's safe once she's left the lab at night? I mean it's not as if they're an item and she spends her evenings with him," he said with a small laugh that ended almost as soon as it began when he saw the look on the other man's face. "Harry… tell me they aren't… well, you know… together or something because that would be just too disgusting."
Harry paused before answering Ron's pleading question. He knew it was going to come down to this and somehow he instinctively knew that it was going to fall to him to smooth things over with his volatile tempered friend. Harry also knew that Ron, though he wouldn't admit it, still harbored more than a slight crush on the brainy bookworm of their group. "Ron, be reasonable. Hermione is a grown woman and if she chooses to pursue a relationship with Snape than it really isn't any of our business to interfere."
"You knew didn't you?" the irate Gryffindor accused. "You've known all along and that's why you've been so nice to Snape. How could you Harry? He's the enemy! Don't you remember what that git has put us through over the years? You told me that you were just being nice to him so that Hermione would feel more at ease having to be around all of us but you never said that she was having an affair with the greasy bastard!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH RON," Harry shouted at his friend. "It's true, I am being nicer to Snape for Hermione's sake. I care about her and she's been through enough lately with the attack on her family and the threats made against her by Lucius Malfoy. She doesn't need us all bickering like a bunch of adolescent children." The boy-who-lived momentarily stopped his tirade as he noticed the blush that crept up Ron's neck during his last comment. He felt sorry for his friend because he knew that the young man was clinging to denial for several reasons. Sighing, he continued, "Hermione loves him Ron and for whatever reason I think he really loves her too. They're alike in a lot of ways and it works for them. Would you really want to deny her happiness based on our experiences as children?"
"No, but she's too good for him," the redheaded man mumbled looking as if his world had just fallen apart. "He'll hurt her and then where will she be?"
"He might," Harry agreed softly "but I don't think so. He has changed somewhat and you can clearly see that he cares for her whenever he glances her way. Besides, Hermione has always been a pretty good judge of character and if she says this is the right thing then we're just going to have to believe that she knows what she's talking about."
"But Harry," Ron whined, "even if he has changed it doesn't alter the fact that he's way to old for her. It would be like dating your father. It's obscene."
"Who are we to say that Ron?" Harry replied quietly. "Besides, given the life span of wizards and witches, a twenty year difference is really not all that much. It's not like she's dating Dumbledore or Hagrid."
Ron blanched upon hearing his friend's words. "Ugh Harry, those are visuals I just can't deal with."
"You know what I mean Ron and remember, Hermione has always been more mature than those around her. I think the age difference is actually a benefit in their case."
"But Harry…"
"Ron, you're going to have accept this whether you like it or not. She's made her choice and she's still our friend. We have to be supportive and that means no hysterics when you see them. Now, they've tried to be respectful and keep their relationship a secret because we all knew how you would react but now that you know you'll just have to come to terms. Besides, I know better than anyone that love can be snatched away without so much as even a minute's notice. Do you really wish for Hermione to waste her time harboring childish grudges and miss out on what might be the best thing to happen to her in her entire life?"
A tear came to the young man's eye at the reference to his recently departed sister. He knew that Harry was right but letting go of the hatred that had been allowed to build over the years towards Hogwart's potions master was not going to be an easy task. He didn't even want to think about the fact that he still had feelings for Hermione, as that would only tear at his heart even faster. 'Why Snape?' his muddled mind kept questioning. 'Why not anyone but Snape?' Looking up from the spot on the floor that he had fixated on he noticed Harry's concerned yet questioning gaze.
"I'm sure you're right Harry but I'm going to need some time," he told his friend. "I'm going to bed. I just can't talk about this anymore tonight."
Harry nodded solemnly and patted his friend on the shoulder. He knew that it would take Ron a while to come to grips with the information he had just discovered. He also knew that deep down, Ron wanted the best for his friends and if that meant accepting that Hermione wanted to pursue a relationship with Severus Snape than he would muster the courage to be supportive of her needs. That was just how the young man was. Unfortunately, getting to that point might take a little more time than usual given the nature of the relationship and the persons involved. The boy-who-lived sighed yet again and shook his head. It was definitely going to be a long week…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next few days passed in a blur as Severus and Hermione spent every possible moment making adjustments to the potion. Sleep had become more or less of an extinct commodity and tempers were becoming edgy all around. The only person who had remained uncommonly calm was Ron. He had been all but silent for the past few days and Hermione was starting to become worried. She promised herself that when she returned from meeting with Voldemort that she would sit down and have a long talk with her friend.
The nearer the Easter holidays drew, the more snappish Severus became. He was worried about sending Hermione on such a dangerous mission. It wasn't that he doubted her courage or her intelligence, as he knew she was amply gifted with both qualities. They were part of who she was and he didn't doubt that such qualities had played a role in his attraction to the young witch. No, what worried him were the infinite possibilities that something could go wrong. The polyjuice potion might not work, the 'reptilian cocktail' might not work, and Saunton, or worse Voldemort himself, might discover her. The potions master's face tightened until his facial features were contorted into a sort of grotesque mask of fear and worry. He had to do something to protect her and that was why he was in his lab at three-thirty in the morning while Hermione was peacefully sleeping back in his chambers.
He had several ideas regarding methods of protection and all of them centered on the potential dangers of her mission. Teaching her some of the more potent hexes and curses of the Dark Arts had crossed his mind but he really didn't have that much time and considering the company she would be keeping he doubted if her newly learned skills would be able to provide the necessary amount of protection she might require. No, he would do what he always did best. He would concentrate his energies on his potion making and he would start by modifying the polyjuice potion so that it would last longer than one hour. It would not do for her to have to excuse herself from Voldemort's presence to imbibe additional doses of polyjuice. Even if she managed to hide the true nature of her absence she would probably be rewarded, at best, with a mild dose of Cruciatus from Voldemort. He didn't even want to contemplate the extent of Edgar Saunton's wrath should she displease the Dark Lord in so much as the slightest of ways.
He added the last of the ingredients to the polyjuice potion and increased the heat to bring the fluid to a full rolling boil. Back in the days of Voldemort's first rise to power, before confessing his crimes to Albus Dumbledore, Severus had been ordered to study the effects and time limitations of certain potions. The Dark Lord had wanted to find ways to increase their potency and effectiveness and Severus had happily secluded himself in his lab doing exactly that. One of those potions had been the polyjuice potion and fortunately Snape had found a way to increase the time limitations from its original timeframe of one hour to an improved timeframe of six hours. His breakthrough had come just before Voldemort's encounter with the Potters and Severus had decided that such a breakthrough was better off hidden from the world. As luck would have it, the Dark Lord hadn't resumed his request upon his reanimation.
An added bonus of fortune was that the adjustments could be made to a batch of polyjuice after the initial brewing provided that those adjustments were made within the first sixty days. Any time after that and the additions would be ineffective as the original ingredients in the potion would have chemically stabilized into an obdurate form.
The potion finally reached a full boil and the Snape used his wand to stir the thick gray liquid counter clockwise forty-eight times. Satisfied with the result he wiped the sticky residue from his wand and then began a series of incantations that caused a myriad of lights to burst forth from the tip of the magical instrument and swirl in a vortex of color before descending to settle within the potion itself. That was the one drawback to the process he had devised. In order to ensure that the longer timeframe of the polyjuice could be maintained, a very concentrated amount of dark magic had to be infused into the base of the amended potion. If the incantations weren't performed correctly then it rendered the entire potion useless. Although Snape hadn't had need to utilize such magic in quite some time, he had no doubts as to the effectiveness of his ability to cast the incantations. The downside to the process was that it left the caster depleted of energy for several hours. Flicking his wand one last time he extinguished the flame under the cauldron and cast a spell that would allow the liquid to cool just enough so that immediate bottling was possible. Once he had bottled the potion and cleared away the mess he returned to his chambers, slipped soundlessly under the covers, and allowed himself the luxury of holding the young woman who slept so peacefully beside him. He had two more things to do to help ensure her safety but he would need to enlist the aid of Minerva McGonagall first…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Okay, that's the last part of the tracking charm," the young witch said nervously. "Now we just need to test it."
"Depending on the outcome of our test, we may find that our research is at an end," the potions master acknowledged placing a long squirming snake on the table in front of them.
"But we haven't found a way to increase the time frame on the potion's effectiveness. If it is not introduced within the reptilian system within twenty-four hours of brewing then it will not work. I can't very well brew the potion in Emily's bedroom the night before Voldemort arrives now can I?" Hermione pointed out.
"No you cannot and for the sake of all concerned please do not follow your Gryffindor nature and attempt such a feat," Snape replied eyeing the young woman with a stern expression. "We can place a suspension charm on the potion. Such a charm can remain in effect for up to ten days so it should suffice for our purpose."
"A freezing charm?" Ron asked looking at Snape in confusion. "Won't freezing the stuff harm it somehow?"
"No Mr. Weasley, the charm won't actually freeze the potion, but will hold it in a suspended state. There is a subtle difference. If we were to place an actual freezing charm on the mixture then several of the more vital properties of the ingredients would be rendered useless," Snape explained trying desperately to keep the sarcasm from his voice.
"Oh," the redheaded young man said sullenly as a dull blush crept steadily up his neck.
"What about the method of delivery?" Harry asked. "Will Voldemort have to drink it?"
"No, he will have to inhale it," Snape answered as his eyes locked with Hermione's.
"I was afraid you were going to say something like that," Hermione groaned. "Any ideas as to how I can get Voldemort to inhale the potion?"
"You are female," the potions master pointed out.
"I'm glad you noticed," the young witch interrupted with a smirk causing Ron to glance at Harry with an expression that all but pleaded to leave the room.
"If you will let me finish Professor," the Slytherin continued, "you are female so it would not be amiss if you were to say… freshen your perfume from time to time?"
"Perfume?" she asked and then realization dawned on her as Snape set down an atomizer. "So we place the potion in the perfume bottle and when I'm close enough to Voldemort I spray this on myself?"
"Precisely although I estimate that you will have to be standing within a foot and a half of the Dark Lord for the potion to be effective," Severus replied.
"But everyone will think she's out of her mind if she sprays that stuff on herself," Ron exclaimed. "I mean, it's perfectly awful smelling. Who would believe its perfume? And are you certain that it won't hurt her?"
"It will only affect reptilian DNA so I'll be fine and as for the smell, we can add some fragrance to the mixture," Hermione answered quickly before Severus could reply. "By the time we're finished it will smell like a garden."
Snape grimaced at that particular comment but said nothing. He merely nodded his head and handed an atomizer to Hermione. "You can transfigure that into whatever shape and color you choose," he told her and used another atomizer to spray some of the potion onto the wriggling reptile.
"Now we wait a few moments for the potion to indoctrinate itself into the snake's system," Hermione told the young men who were watching the entire proceeding with a certain amount of awe. "Ron, Harry, I know this is a strange favor to ask but would you mind taking the snake for a walk?"
"Take the snake for a walk?" Ron repeated incredulously. "Now we're to play nannies to a snake?"
"Hush Ron," Harry told his friend. "Sure Hermione, but why?"
"We need to see if the tracking spell is working," the witch replied matter-of-factly and pulled out a map of Hogwarts that reminded Harry of the marauder's map he had been given during his school years.
"And if the snake shows up on the map and follows the same path we do then you know the tracking charm was a success" Harry said nodding his head in approval.
"Yes, although it will take longer to see if the potion is working internally," she said. "When do you think we'll see an indication of its health appear on the map Severus?"
"I wouldn't look for any significant changes for at least twelve hours," he told her quietly. "Although given its diminutive size the potion should have completely broken down the reptile's vital systems within twenty-four hours at most."
"How long do you estimate it will take to work on Voldemort professor?" Harry questioned.
"Unfortunately that will be more difficult to predict given the complexity of the Dark Lord's bodily systems, his use of magic and potions and his co-dependence on human anatomy," Snape replied thoughtfully. "It could take as little as a few days or as long as several weeks. However, we should be able to track the changes in his health on the map."
A silence descended over the room as each person became lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Harry looked over to his friend and said "Come on Ron, this snake needs some exercise."
"I think you're right Harry," Ron answered and the two men exited the room with one reluctant snake.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
'Severus look!" Hermione exclaimed excitedly pointing to a small red dot on the map. "It's working!"
Snape walked over to look at the slowly moving dot indicated by the charmed map and allowed himself a small smile. His smile grew even wider when the woman next to him let out a happy exclamation, grabbed him around the neck to pull his face down to hers, and gave him a long kiss. It was certainly an aspect of research he had never indulged in before!
"You know that this is only the first step in ascertaining whether or not the potion actually works," he told her quietly, not wanting to dampen her mood too much but not wanting to raise her hopes to a point that she would be devastated if the potion was unsuccessful. "We still have to determine if the potion will track the reptile's health and if it will break down its bodily systems."
"Severus Snape, don't you try to ruin my enthusiasm," she said with a smile. "It will work. I just know it!" she announced emphatically as she returned her attention to the small dot on the map.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
While Hermione was happily staring at the map, the remaining members of the Magnificent Three were roaming the corridors of the ancient castle with one very angry snake.
"Pssahss dsonsss fahssa," Harry hissed to the snake and it immediately quieted.
"Was that Parseltongue?" Ron asked wide-eyed.
"Yes," the boy-who-lived replied still uncomfortable in his knowledge of the ancient tongue.
"Well, don't leave me guessing," his friend replied impatiently. "What did you say to it?"
"I told him to stop squirming and that we would go back to the lab soon," Harry replied and the pair walked in silence for a while longer.
"Harry?"
"Yes Ron?"
"He really loves her doesn't he?"
"Snape?"
"Yeah"
"Yes Ron, I think he really does," Harry said quietly.
The pair continued walking in silence for several moments before Ron spoke again. "Harry?"
"Yes Ron?"
"She really loves him too doesn't she?"
"Yes Ron, she really does," Harry once again replied and the silence continued for a few more moments.
"Harry?"
"Yes Ron?"
"I hope this snake is the only thing they ask us to play nanny to if you know what I mean?"
"Yes Ron, I know what you mean," answered the boy-who-lived trying not to choke on the thought of Snape's offspring running through the halls of Hogwarts.
"Harry?"
"Yes Ron?"
"I think that I'm going to be okay with this whole Hermione/ Snape thing, you know?"
"I know Ron," Harry replied knowing in his heart that the words Ron spoke were actually the truth.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC
Author's Note: Whew! Okay folks, I had serious writer's block on this one so I hope it all made sense in the end. Please feel free to leave a review and let me know what you thought of the chapter. I have a couple of people that I would like to give credit to:
First: The fabulous Fleable (who has several wonderful works listed here at Fanfiction.Net) has been gracious enough to do an illustration of Lucius and Snape based on the opening scene of chapter 12. The scene is of Snape talking to Lucius via the floo network. The link to view this particular piece of art is: the picture can be found in the photos section under fanfiction/ miscellaneous. Thanks Fleab!!!! (on the off-chance that FF.Net strips this link during posting, the site can be found at the Yahoo Groups and is called Pseudologica Fantastica Repository)
Second: I keep thinking that I have seen the idea of the 'suspension spell' although I don't think it was used for potions exactly. I think I derived the idea from Kalina's latest fanfic, Desperate Measures, which can now be found here at FF.Net. (I highly recommend it!) However, on the off-chance that my memory is faulty (and it may be as I read a ton of fanfiction) and I have indeed inadvertently pinched the idea from someone else, please let me know and I will gladly give credit where credit is due!
My many thanks to those of you who took the time to review the last posting. As always, your continued support is much appreciated!
BTW: Draven Cats- Your reviews are never 'unhelpful' and it always makes me happy just to know that people are still reading along and enjoying the story!
~Jules