Disclaimer: I do not own anything and make no monies writing this.
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Chapter 16
"So, Severus, what did you need my help with?" Hermione asked as the door closed on the lab.
"I apologize for taking you away from your guests, but there are several ingredients to be added and the potion needs to be constantly stirred and, unfortunately, I do not have enough hands myself." Severus gave her a smirk.
"Oh, it's fine. It'll give Harry a bit of time to speak with Godric and Eric alone. I know him well enough to know he wanted to have a "word" with them." Hermione chuckled.
"I figured as much. It is his right as your brother to look out for you." Severus told her.
"Yeah, yeah." Hermione waved her hand while smiling. "I just hope he doesn't piss them off or anything." Hermione frowned with that thought.
"If you ever tell him this, I will deny it and hex you into tomorrow, but Harry has grown up considerably and I believe he will get his message across properly without any offending feelings being brought forth." Severus told her then cocked a brow when Hermione started looking around her lab as if she was looking for something in particular.
"Oh, sorry, I was just looking to see if the floor was covered in ice. You know, Hades freezing over and all." She snarked.
"Very funny, Hermione." Severus deadpanned. "Don't give up your day job." He snarked back at her.
Hermione chuckled at his comeback and nodded her head.
"So, where is this potion you need my help on?"
"Over here. Care to take a stab at what I am brewing?" Severus gestured to the cauldron.
"Sure." Hermione responded as she leaned close to the cauldron and waved a hand over it to get a better whiff.
"Hmm, you're using a gold cauldron, glass stirring rod, low flame and I smell porcupine quill, moondew, mistletoe berry, honeywater, dragon blood, belladonna, billywig sting and ashwinder egg. Are you making a antivenin?" she asked as she looked over the other ingredients on the table.
"Five points to Gryffindor, Ms. Granger." Severus answered.
"Okay, but for what? I see you have powdered lionfish spines, unicorn horn shavings, chopped death-cap mushrooms, powdered octopus, roughly ground moonseeds, steeped lovage leaves, macerated baneberries, ground chizpurfle carapace, sliced deadlyius mushrooms and juice from boom berries."
"After surviving Nagini's bite, I realized the only reason it didn't kill me was your impressive actions. Yes, the potions you gave me helped along with the dittany and bezoar, however, the only reason I didn't succumb to the poison was your quick thinking to syphon it out of the wound, making it diluted and a much smaller amount to hit my bloodstream." Severus explained.
"I see. So by starting with a base antivenin, you are hoping to enhance it with these deadlier poisons counteracted by the healing properties of the other ingredients? How many attempts will this one make?" Hermione asked.
"You are correct and this will be around my thirtieth attempt. I almost had it last time but realized I needed to stir counter clockwise while adding the porcupine quills. Also, the quicker these last ingredients can be added and the mixture be constantly stirred while adding them, the more stable the result. Hence, your assistance is needed." Severus explained.
"Ready when you are, Master." Hermione smirked when Severus cocked a brow at her.
"Cheeky witch, let's begin, shall we?" Severus said as Hermione donned her lab gear and stood in front of the cauldron, knowing her Master would be the one to add what was needed and would tell her the stirring instructions.
It was two hours later when Severus added the juice from the boom berries, the last ingredient. After stirring clockwise thirty times and slashing the rod through the potion northeast to southwest, the burner was turned down to a simmer and Severus called it done for the time being.
"Thank you, Hermione, for your assistance." Severus told her.
"You're welcome and thank you for asking me." Hermione responded as she looked at the potion simmering. It had an almost maroon sheen to it but she was curious what the final color would be. Well, in three days' time, they would know.
Hermione realized, as they were cleaning their work area up, that she had missed brewing with Severus. It still amazed her how beautiful he was to watch. His graceful movements was an art form all its own. After cleaning up the work area and storing the equipment away, Hermione and Severus took off their protective wear and headed back out to join the others.
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As Hermione and Severus walked into the room, it was in time to hear Harry finish telling Godric and Eric about a particular Quidditch game their sixth year. It was one that had had Hermione's heart pounding with the moves Harry had executed in his pursuit of the snitch.
"Laugh it up, Harry. You scared me half to death from the beginning to the end of that blasted game. All so you could show off for that Ravenclaw girl, what was her name?" Hermione chastised her brother but the smile caused it to have no sting.
"Robin Knowles" Harry answered her with a cheeky grin.
"You never did approach her! And after that game I was ready to brain you!" Hermione told him, mock scowling at her brother.
"Yeah, but it was so worth it." Harry smiled at her, "I would have approached her if I had known she was interested in me before then but school was about to be done for the year and then, well, everything else happened." Harry responded with a sad smile.
"Yeah, well, it worked out for the better, I guess." Hermione told him, mirroring his sad smile.
"As enlightening as that was, maybe Hermione would like to share how she lit my robes on fire her first year? I think that is a much more entertaining story myself." Severus smirked at the groans from the two former students.
"Hey! I thought you were jinxing Harry's broom! How was I to know it was Quirrell instead?!" Hermione all but shouted, causing everyone to chuckle. "You won't let me live that down, will you?"
"Of course not, it was one of your finest moments." Severus smirked at her.
"Fine! Be that way then!" Hermione huffed before she went to the kitchen to fix some tea.
"What is this story? It sounds very interesting." Eric chimed in with a smirk in his voice.
"It does sound quite interesting. Why, Hermione, would you set your teacher's robes on fire?" Godric asked, curiosity dripping off his words.
Hermione let out a sigh when she returned with the tea service. "Well, I was trying to save Harry! His broom was acting up and I had noticed that Severus was muttering under his breath and staring pensively at Harry. So, being a little first year, I thought he was the one cursing the broom, trying to hurt Harry." Hermione explained.
"It didn't help that, at the time, Professor Snape had already shown barely controlled hatred towards me." Harry piped in with.
"Exactly! See, I was well within my right to think Severus was the bad guy! Anyway, I snuck over to the teachers area and slunk down to under the bench he was sitting on and lit the edge of his robe on fire, causing him to lose his concentration and, unbeknownst to me at the time, Quirrell as well." Hermione defended her younger self's actions.
"Yes, well, if you hadn't been so much like your father in looks, I might have behaved differently towards you." Severus explained.
"Yeah, yeah, I know but you were a right bastard towards us for years!" Harry said with a smile.
"And rightfully so. How much trouble did the three of you constantly get into while at school?" Severus cocked a brow at both of them while Godric and Eric barely suppressed their smiles. To hear their banter was an enjoyable thing. Even with such a history between the three of them, there was also a respect earned.
Harry laughed aloud as Hermione chuckled, "Too much, honestly." She answered.
"Exactly." Severus schooled his face for a few seconds before a smirk found its way to his lips.
Over the next several hours, Godric and Eric were entertained by the trouble or adventures, depending on who was telling the story, the 'Golden Trio' got up to. However the two ancient vampires weren't fooled, under the laughter and smiles was a tangible relief to have survived such dangerous times. The respect they had for the magical beings before them grew the more they learned. Their world had been even more dangerous than theirs on many levels. Yes, they had their own danger but they hadn't had to deal with the magic these beings were used to wielding.
As the time neared for Godric and Eric to excuse themselves, Hermione suddenly went silent, causing all four males to turn their attention to her.
"What is it min älskling ?" Godric asked with concern.
"Well, the portal has opened back up." Hermione murmured.
"Should we check it out?" Harry asked.
"Um, well, I'm not sure but I think someone is trying to dismantle my wards." Hermione faded off as she concentrated on what was happening.
"Then we should check it out." Harry stated.
"Alright." She responded as they all stood. Hermione grabbed Godric and apparated, Severus took Eric along with him and Harry apparated alone. When they got there, they arrived just before the portal closed but saw no one on the other side. Curious.
After apparating everyone back to the tent, Godric and Eric bade them all good night and departed. Of course, Godric gave Hermione a kiss on the cheek and Eric gave her forehead a gentle kiss causing Hermione to blush horribly.
"You wouldn't happen to have another spare room, would you?" Harry asked his sister.
"Actually, I do. It's up the stairs. Severus has one and you are welcome to the other one." Hermione told him then added, "Feel free to make it your own. You are welcome to stay as long as you need."
Harry hugged her tight and held her to him for several minutes before making his way up the stairs.
"Night 'Mione and thanks, for everything." He called out over his shoulder.
"Night Harry and your welcome, glad to have you here." Hermione answered as she wiped the silent tears away.
"I will be turning in as well. Sleep well, Hermione." Severus told her as he returned the tea service back to the kitchen.
"Good night, Severus. Rest well my Master." Hermione said with a warm smile. Severus returned her smile and gave a small nod as he ascended the stairs.
Hermione looked around her tent and smiled with genuine happiness. Life was wonderful and it was about time too! She couldn't put into words how happy she was to have Harry back in her life. She never thought she would see him again and was glad he had taken control over his life and was doing what he wanted instead of what everyone else thought he should do.
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Over the next two weeks, Hermione enjoyed reconnecting with Harry and Severus as well as getting to know Godric and Eric better. Unfortunately Godric had had to return to his area but the wonderful thing about being a witch was travel. After Godric returned to his office, he sent pictures to Eric to show Hermione and she was able to concentrate on it so she could apparated there, which she did for a few hours each night. Eric always stopped by after he put his time in at the bar and during the day and early night, Hermione would spend with her brother and mentor. During this time, they all three learned more and more about their new world.
Severus ventured out first followed shortly by Harry and then Hermione. It was quite enjoyable being unknown by everyone around them. However, they did have to be careful to not perform magic in front of anyone outside of their circle. It wasn't all that hard, though, due to all three having been around muggles often enough in their old world.
Shreveport, Louisiana was a very interesting place. The culture was so different than what they were used to. It was wonderful and scary and interesting. They could see why Eric enjoyed being the sheriff here. Daisy had also ventured out, charmed to look like a really short human in order to get some groceries to restock the larders.
Hermione had apparated Godric to the tent for the weekends. He had decided to spend his weekends with his child and new friends with Isabel's blessing. It was wonderful to be around them and learn more about them and the world they left behind as well as teach them about their new home. It was while Eric was explaining some of the things that were transpiring that Hermione went suddenly still.
"The portal open again, 'Mione?" Harry asked when he noticed his sister's behavior.
"Yeah. We should check it out, maybe we'll find out who has been trying to break through my wards." Hermione suggested.
"I'll go with you and Harry will stay here." Severus said.
"Why should I stay here?" Harry asked, a bit put out that he was being left behind.
"Do you really want to be there if whomever is attacking Hermione's wards manages to break through them?" Severus quirked his brow.
"Ah, no, not really." Harry conceded. "If you need me, send a patronus."
"We will." Hermione assured before disappearing with a pop, Severus following a moment later.
When they arrived, they were surprised to see Draco Malfoy staring back at them and even more shocked when he spoke to them.
"Can you hear me through the barrier?" Draco asked.
"We can hear you just fine, Draco. What are you doing here?" Severus asked.
"I was hoping you would allow one more person to join you there." Draco answered, his posture stiff and voice steady but his eyes held hope they would allow him through.
"You wish to come through the portal to a new world where our kind is numbered only by four?" Hermione asked, disbelief clear in her voice.
"Yes. I would love to tell you all that's happened but I would much prefer it be done on your side of the opening." Draco told them.
"You are willing to walk away from everything you know and are accustomed to, to come here? What of your mother, Draco? Your fiancé?" Severus inquired.
Draco's face hardened, "They'll be just fine here. I'd rather not deal with them, they've done enough. You should know I plan to leave Britain either way." Draco informed.
"I see. Well, it's Hermione's call. What do you think Hermione?" Severus asked as he turned to face her.
"Well, I don't see why not, I guess. Listen, Malfoy, none of your bullying or bullshite here. You hear me? I won't stand for it. This is a place for a new start, a fresh lease on life, a magical renewal if you will." Hermione told Draco with a serious look on her face and hands on her hips.
"I understand…
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Translation: min älskling means my darling
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