Severus closed his eyes. As long as he could remember, Sirius was always playing a prime role in every poor drama the legendary fourth and Evans would present before the Hog's folks. Completely opposite to his young brother Regulus, whose normal state was pretending a proud and heavy raincloud.
But now it's been a week from the moment of a sudden change in that curly-headed cat of the Gryffindor pride. First he got to the hospital wing. Reg brought him there half-conscious with fever. That evening Severus received an order for extremely rare and complex potion. The note said:
"Severus, come to me immediately.
I've got an important and urgent case for you".
– Professor Slughorn
Young student was confused by the letter but hurried up to dungeons.
Ah, come in! I've been waiting for you! – Said professor Slughorn, - we need to make a very rare cure potion and be quick, if we don't want to be late. It's called Fading Rose.
Fading Rose? Severus had never heard of it before. Even from his mother who taught him how to make a lot of uncommon mixtures. Professor and his most brilliant student started the preparations.
The potion turned out to be… unusual. It had only one ingredient - pink quartz, and a peculiar way of brewing. Despite it was his first time with that cure, Slughorn had been diligently avoiding touching neither a cauldron nor a powdered stone, leaving all the grinding and wand work to the young man, and just giving some verbal directions from time to time.
After about half an hour, when the main part of the process was over, professor suddenly said in a low voice:
This potion is meant for Sirius. I know he doesn't treat you well, as I may say…
"Doesn't treat me well!, - thought Severus, - Oh, professor, you don't know even a one-tenth of his stupid mischiefs and all of these silent looks he throws when the Legend Fourth passing him in the Great Hall!"
But you are the only person who can make the best remedy in his situation, - finished professor.