Disclaimer: Don't own it, unfortunately…..
Mak rocks, plain and simple.
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Chapter Twelve
Reunion
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Alex has left the Headmaster and Potions Master feeling much better mentally. He had guilted his professor into taking him back to New York for the Christmas break and getting their sessions started again. Part of him felt guilty for coning his professor into it but another part that he deserved it. Besides, he did need Alex's help, Madam Pomfrey was always in need of more supplies.
Alex hoped his professor was not fooling around when he had apologized. Alex suddenly stopped mid-stride as the thought passed over him. He didn't apologize to his professor during their talk. Tomorrow he would rectify that, but now he needed to see his friends and apologize to them.
Walking into the Great Hall Alex saw his friends sitting at one of the tables. Hermione, Michael, Allie, and Draco were sitting, anxiously awaiting any news about their friend. Hermione was the first to notice him and she jumped up and ran to him. Alex was engulfed in a tight hug from his girlfriend. "I'm so sorry Hermione," was what he whispered into her ear.
She squeezed him tighter before she released him, noting how thin he was. Tears were sliding down here eyes. "Please forgive me," he asked. He wiped the tears away from her face as she looked at him.
Smiling she replied, "I was so worried about you! Don't you ever do that again!" She then proceeded to punch him hard in the arm.
Rubbing his arm, pretending it hurt he said, "Yes ma'am."
Michael, Allie, and Draco were now around them listening to their conversation.
"Come on, let's sit down." Allie offered.
As they sat down Michael asked the question they were all dieing to ask. "What happened?"
Alex knew this was going to be a long conversation so he decided to just get it over with. "Well Draco and I were talking and he told me that Professor Snape was a Death Eater. At that Michael and Allie gasped ad Hermione and Draco nodded in agreement. "Well, I kind of burst into his lab demanding answers. Needless to say he didn't take it very well. He got angry and threw me out. The next day I tried to apologize and he said some pretty nasty things. I guess it just all got to me and I just said screw it all." He looked at each of his friends before continuing. "Guys I'm really sorry for worrying you and I promise I won't do it again."
"Alright Alex but you owe us big. You better get healthy before our game against Slytherin, we're going to need you." Allie said with a smile.
"Oh alright, for the team I suppose." Alex playfully sighed.
"Yeah you're going to need all the strength you've got to stand a chance against us," Draco said smugly.
"Riiiiiight," Michael said jokingly while rolling his eyes.
XXX
They talked a little longer before the rest of the school entered, returning from the Hufflepuff versus Gryffindor game. From the looks on all the Gryffindors faces they could tell who had won. Draco slipped away off to the Slytherin table before anyone noticed.
Alex kissed Hermione and asked her to meet him after dinner before Harry and Ron pretty much attacked her, telling her all about the game and Harry's outstanding catch of the snitch. She pretended to listen to their play-by-play of the game, all the while glancing at Alex, making sure he was eating.
Alex, was of course eating, another bowl of broth, his friends made sure of it. His spirit felt lighter now that he had cleared the air with his friends. He was enjoying being a part of the conversation.
At the head table, three professors silently kept an eye on Alex. Albus and Minerva were pleased to see he was now talking with his friends and eating again. Severus was watching more discretely than Albus and Minerva. He was glad to see his assistant looking like his usual cheery self. Of course, he would never voice this opinion aloud. He had never particularly liked any of his students, besides those few Slytherins who showed great potential. Even those select few rarely ever got his praise or recognition. He was a hard man to please. He also knew this about himself, which was odd because despite himself he was slightly proud of his assistant.
The boy was an excellent potions maker, but, what really iced the cake was when Alex beat Potter in Quidditch. Severus never cheered at the Quidditch games, unless his snakes were playing, well winning that is. When he saw Alex grab the snitch right out from under Potter it was a very happy day for Severus. He had to school his features not to smile at another of Potter's failures.
XXX
After dinner Alex caught up with Hermione and they went to the Astronomy tower to talk without being interrupted or overheard. They were sitting against the far wall talking quietly. "I have never seen the Headmaster like that," Hermione said. She was talking about the night Alex and Hermione were in the headmaster's office where he confirmed that Professor Snape was a spy.
"Yeah, I've never seen him like that, but, I've only been here a few months."
"He got snippy with me after you left."
"Really? What did he say?" Alex asked as he put his arm around her shoulders.
"Just that the next time I want to divulge secrets, I shouldn't," she said rather indignantly.
Alex laughed lightly at her tone. "Well, on a good note I get to go back home for the break."
"You found someone to take you? Who?" she asked anxiously.
"You won't believe it." He waited until she gave an impatient sigh, before he continued, "Professor cold heart."
She gasped at that. "No way! How did you manage that?"
"He asked if there was any way he could make it up to me and I asked him to take me to New York for the break and to continue with our sessions. He unhappily agreed and voi la!" he said clapping his hands at the last part, "I'm going home for the break."
"Wow! Sounds very Slytherin of you," she joked.
"Well if the shoe fits," he trailed off smiling.
Hermione laughed inwardly at his American phrase. She thought it was cute, which caused her to like him even more. Plus, he wasn't like the rest of the boys at the school. He was smart, athletic, nice to look at, and above all, he was someone who could carry and intellectual conversation.
"What are you doing for the break?" Alex asked as he interrupted her thoughts.
"I'm going with Harry and Ron's family for the break. It should be rather interesting. It always is when the twins are around." Hermione couldn't tell him that she was going to Grimmauld Place, no one could, unless they were the secret keeper, who she suspected was the headmaster.
They talked a while longer about Alex's old school and his mother. Before curfew they kissed goodnight and headed to their dorms.
XXX
Sunday afternoon Alex headed down to the dungeons for his session with Professor Snape. After knocking on the classroom door he entered. Professor Snape was working over a cauldron, completely immersed in his work. Alex watched his professor cutting and chopping ingredients with precision and accuracy. He sat down on a stool on the opposite side of the table where his professor was standing.
Looking at the potion and the ingredients Professor Snape was cutting up, he figured out what potion he was brewing.
"What potion am I brewing Mr. Barneo?" Severus asked.
"The Wolfsbane, sir." Alex knew Professor Snape was brilliant with potions, but watching him brew always left him in awe.
"Correct. Can you tell me which stage I am at?"
Thinking for a few minutes he finally answered. "The thirteenth, and final, stage. You need to mix in the belladonna and let it simmer for another two hours before it can be consumed."
"Correct again. When did you gain this knowledge of the Wolfsbane potion?" Severus finished cutting up the belladonna and placed it into the cauldron.
"I've been reading about it and I've been wanting to try to make it for a while now." Alex silently counted the number of stirs his professor was making.
"Well you certainly know when the next full moon will be. I will of course have to make it then. You can assist me. I believe you are ready." That was as close to a compliment as Severus would ever get, but it was there nonetheless.
Severus looked up in time to see a brilliant smile form on his assistant's face. It made his heart a little lighter knowing he put a smile on his face. All his outward appearances showed nothing.
"Really?" I can help you?" he asked anxiously. He felt like Christmas had come early.
Suppressing a chuckle, he nodded his head in the affirmative. "Of course, these next few sessions will have to be prep for you. Simply reading one book will not prepare you for the actual brewing. You might want to take notes Mr. Barneo."
Alex acted quickly and pulled out a composition book dedicated solely to potions. For two straight hours Professor Snape lectured about the intricacies of the potion and the possible outcomes if the potion was brewed incorrectly. Before Alex left Professor Snape gave him a better book on the Wolfsbane to read and take notes. If the book was not returned in the same pristine condition it had been, Alex was going to die a very painful death.
On his way out, he stopped and turned around, "Professor, I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions about you."
"Stop right there Mr. Barneo," he interrupted, "we have been through this once before. Consider it a closed topic," with that he ladled out five scoops of the potion and put it in a goblet.
Alex nodded and left without another word.
XXX
Severus hated that he had to make a potion for a marauder, but, it was one of the most difficult potions to brew and he had always loved a challenge. He thought about possible ways to improve it, while he made his way up to Remus Lupin's office.
He knocked on the werewolf's door impatiently. Remus opened the door looking slightly worn. His body knew that tonight was the full moon and had started to react to the feeling.
"Severus, please come in." He motioned for him to come in, which Severus did. Remus always called Severus by his first name now that they were colleagues. He had realized long ago that their school days were hell for the Potions Master and he was trying to make it up to him.
"Here is your potion. Try and take it as close to the full moon as possible. Letting it sit in your system for too long might cause it to work improperly, as you are well aware," he said all of that with a sneer.
"So, I'm still your guinea pig Severus?" Remus asked as he turned around with a small smile on his lips.
Raising an eyebrow Severus replied while heading for the door. "If you doubt my abilities don't take it." He left the office slamming the door.
Shaking his head in amusement Remus grabbed the goblet and headed to his rooms.
