A/N: A bit short but I've put what I want in it.

Discere = to learn Caecus volatus = invisible flight Concoctio = Digestive



Chapter Seven

The autumn wind blew around Severus as he walked down the main street of Hogsmeade wearing his customary scowl. Students were milling back and forth as they darted from one shop to another with their (parents') hard earned galleons. It was a week before the Halloween Ball and it showed, the students were busy buying fancy dress, and Halloween tat.

Severus opened the door to the bookshop 'Flourish and Blotts of Hogsmeade' and inhaled the musty smell of books; the interior of the shop was done in dark mahogany illuminated by gently torchlight.

Without hesitation Severus strode up to the counter and whispered, "Discere," to the bookshop keeper, an elderly man with a thick mop of white hair and steely grey eyes. The owner nodded and motioned for Severus to go through a small invisible door, which Severus did. On the other side of the door a large room held books that were not available to the general public, rare, old, or, sometimes, illegal books.

The only way to access this private sanctuary was to have a member nominate and vouch for the candidate, if successful the candidate would be on probational membership for the minimum of ten years before being upgraded to a full membership. No records are kept and members generally don't talk about the private stores in casual conversation. Severus himself was nominated and vouched for by his father when he started Hogwarts.

Severus immediately went to the 'new arrivals' table and began sifting through the numerous books. Finding nothing to his taste Severus moved onto the potions section of the room, five large floor to ceiling bookcases were crammed full of books in all shapes and sizes as well as journals and pieces of parchment.

After forty-five minutes Severus emerged from the room with two large books and several pieces of parchment, after shrinking his purchase Severus left the bookshop for the apothecary.

Grabbing a basket by the door Severus walked with deliberate slowness around the apothecary examining the stock and selecting ingredients. When his basket was full Severus went to the counter to pay; most of the ingredients were bought with his Hogwarts tab, whilst the others were paid with his own money. The Hogwarts purchase was left at the apothecary to be delivered to the castle later, Severus' private stock was shrunk and placed with the books.

As Severus was exiting the apothecary a voice called out to him. "Hey, Severus, want to get a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks with some other teachers?"

"No, thank you, Remus," Severus answered without looking.

"Why not?" asked Remus as he strode toward the other wizard.

"My little 'shift' ends in a few minutes and I don't plan on staying." Severus said.

"But its Hogsmeade," Remus said, "we don't get to come here that often,"

"Remus, we are adults. We can come here anytime," Severus said patronisingly.

A look of disbelief graced Remus' face before he looked down sheepishly, "Sorry, just this reminds me of when we use to come down here. Lots of the same people; Malfoy, Potter, Weasely, Goyle, you, me,"

"Remus," Severus interrupted, "could you assist me with something tonight?"

"What with?" Remus asked his interest piqued.

"I'm asking you to help in the capacity of the Defences of the Dark Arts professor,"

"You're not planning to do anything.bad, are you?" Remus asked with a frown.

Severus hesitated, "No. No, not bad," Severus said after a few moments.

"Okay," agreed Remus, "When and where?"

"My classroom at eight this evening," Severus said.

When all the arrangements had been made Severus left in the direction of Hogwarts leaving Remus to head to the Three Broomsticks to met the other chaperones.

When Severus was a sufficient distance away from Hogsmeade, the outline of the buildings were barely visible on the horizon, he took out his wand and pointed it to himself, "Caecus volatus," Severus said softly.

Severus bent his knees slightly, pushed off of the ground and took flight, ascended quickly in a diagonal path. When he was about level with a sparrow Severus gently stopped in mid flight and prostrated himself parallel to the ground, drawing his knees toward himself Severus pushed of again.

The gates of Hogwarts' was in sight before Severus started a gently descent, landing softly at the front door. With a flick of his wand Severus cast "finite incanteum," on himself.

***

Severus watched Hermione as she stared intently into her cauldron she was at the final stage of mixing a complicated concoctio tonic, which was used to relieve pain from all of the organs of the digestion system. The last ingredient, Chincona officinalis (Jesuit bark), was added that caused a small plume of smoke to rise from the cauldron.

Severus smiled as the potion was finished before his face regained its neutrality, Hermione looked up expectantly at Severus.

"I see not all Gryffindors are dunderheads," Severus remarked.

That was the closes thing to a compliment that Severus had every said to anyone, at least outside his own house.

"Now, please cool the potion and place it into the glass bottle," Severus instructed.

As Hermione was tidying up the door opened and Remus popped his head round, "Am I interrupting?" Remus asked.

"No, just in time," replied Severus.

"Hello, Hermione," Remus greeted, "I thought the boys said you were at the library studying?" asked Remus curiously.

Hermione froze before recovering herself, "I.I've been here brewing potions," she said. Remus gave her a quizzical look and she continued, "They don't know I've been coming here. I mean, they wouldn't understand,"

"Remus, stop harassing my student," Severus interrupted, "she has expressed an desire to learn and I am willingly tutoring her. This has nothing to do with Potter and Weasely,"

"Don't worry, Hermione, your secrets safe with me. I understand," Remus said with a smile.

"Thank-you Professor Lupin," Hermione said.

"Now. If your all done, Miss Granger, you may go," Severus said casually.

Hermione looked between her teachers and nodded, bidding them a 'good night' before leaving.

"So what's this about, Severus?" asked Remus, "I've realised that you never told me,"

Severus ignored Remus' question, instead he went to his potion cabinet and bought out a small, clear glass bottle with dark blue liquid inside. The potion was poured into a glass goblet.

"What is the strongest dispelling incantation you know?" asked Severus.

"Finite nox incanteum," Remus replied, "Why?"

"I am going to cast a spell on myself," Severus said simply, "I want you to cast finite nox incanteum after half a minute, then I want you to give me this potion," Severus said as he transfigured a large oval mirror with a simple, silver border in front of himself.

"Okay," Remus said slowly, as he bought out his wand and aimed it at Severus.

Severus also bought out his wand and aimed it at the mirror, taking a deep breath Severus yelled out, "Crucio,"

Remus suddenly jumped up from the desk he was perched on, and watched as the spell hit the mirror and reflected back at Severus who fell onto his side and writhed on the floor.

"Finite nox incanteum," Remus yelled out.

The spell hit Severus in the back, after a few moments the spell disappeared into Severus who stopped writhing. Remus grabbed the goblet and bought it to the Potion Masters lips.

When the goblet was drained Severus slowly opened his eyes, "Headache has gone, pain has subsided but nausea is still there," Severus said quietly.

"Severus Snape, what do you think your doing?" yelled Remus, "Do you know how dangerous that is,"

Severus struggled into a sitting position and looked at Remus, "Yes, surprisingly I do," Severus said sarcastically.

"Why.?" Remus began.

"I have to experiment on someone," Severus interrupted, "and if you haven't forgotten casting an unforgivable on another person is a jailable, or worse, killable offence,"

"But, still, there could have been another way," Remus reasoned.

"No, only if it is tested on a human will it be useful," Severus countered.

The fireplace in the classroom burst to life in explosion of green fire and a figure stumbled from the grate. The smoke and ash cleared to reveal Albus in a silky yellow robe, his face smeared with soot.

"Severus," Albus yelled before he noticed the two men on the floor. Rushing over Albus dropped to Severus' other side. "What happened?" Albus asked concern etched over his face, "the alarm went off in my room,"

"You'd better ask him that," Remus said curtly indicating Severus.

"I was experimenting with a cruciatus relieving potion," Severus said simply.

"Yes, he decided to cast the cruciatus curse on himself," Remus said hotly.

"It's the only way I will know if it had worked," Severus explained.

"Oh, child," Albus said, "that was a very foolish thing to do,"

"I had Remus as back-up,"

"Severus," Albus admonished.

"Albus, dark times are ahead. We need to be prepared," Severus said looking Albus hard in the eyes.

"I know, Severus, I know. But you are a valuable person on our side, and to me," Albus said gently.

"So, can I continue with my experiment?" asked Severus.

Albus thought for a moment before telling Severus, "Yes, but you have to have either Remus or myself to supervise,"

"Okay," Severus replied quickly.

"So, you want to tell me how it's progressing?" Albus asked, the twinkle was back in his eyes and his face relaxed.

"Well, the headache and pain seems to have gone, the nausea is still here. But I'll get a better idea in the next twenty four hours," Severus said before he blacked out.

Remus quickly preformed a health scan on Severus, happy with what he found Remus looked at Albus and said, "I guess someone should tell him that he should needs to add an energy replenisher into the potion,"

Albus nodded then gently picked Severus up and carried him out of the classroom.

After Severus was tucked up in bed Albus instructed a house elf to watch over the sleeping professor.

*****