I am SO VERY SORRY this has taken me so long to update. I hope you guys haven't given up on me. Good news is I have finished the story and will be doing weekly updates for the next 6 weeks. PLEASE think of leaving a comment for me. They give me life.

Chapter 22: Potential Cures

It was late morning and Brixton had just finished breakfast before heading to the greenhouses. She was wearing her new high waisted grey pants and a pink V-neck shirt. She had the three vials of her Cure for Cruciatus Induced Insanity tucked safely in her pocket. She was filled with excitement as she made her way to see her friend.

"Hey, Neville," she greeted as she stepped into the largest of Hogwarts' greenhouses.

"Hello, Brixton!" he smiled as he pulled off his soiled apron. He maneuvered around plants and tables to pull her into a tight hug. "Are you having a good summer so far? What brings you to the greenhouses?"

"I have some news to share with you," she said. "Can I help you with what you are working on while we talk?"

"Sure! Let me get you an apron," Neville responded.

Soon they were both set about the task of transferring Wormwood sprouts into larger pots. Brixton casually asked Neville what all he had to accomplish today. After he told her she realized that they would be able to get it all finished in less than an hour. She decided she would help him get everything done before telling him about the potential cure she had for his parents. She knew that he would want his tasks finished, but that he would also probably want rush off to St. Mungo's immediately. She thought this would be the best way to help Neville get to his parents without him worrying about his precious plants.

While they worked, Neville asked, "So, what is it that you wanted to tell me about?"

Brixton looked over at her friend and said, "I wanted you to hear it from me. Professor Snape and I are dating."

Neville dropped the sprout that he was holding and it fell to the ground, "You what? How? Why?"

Brixton laughed, "Don't sound so flabbergasted. You know we have been spending a lot of time together since he started training me to take over his job. Over time our feelings for each other just grew. You know, he's not the man we all thought he was. He's working really hard at proving himself to be a good person."

Neville frowned, "I know he's made huge improvements in his character, but it's just so hard to see you with him. It's hard to imagine him with anyone for that matter. Does he make you happy?"

"Exceptionally so, Neville. I can't even begin to describe how happy I am when I am with him," she replied with a radiant smile.

"What about the age gap? He's old enough to be your father," Neville replied with an incredulous look on his face.

"It doesn't bother me. In fact, I have never dated anyone else, as you probably know. I went to the Yule Ball with Harry just because he was desperate not to go alone and that was laughable. We would have had a good time if it wasn't for Ron being such a gloomy tag-along. My point being, aside from friendship no student has ever caught my eye. Maybe I was just meant to wait," she said thoughtfully.

"It's a pretty big leap from a fellow student to Professor Snape, you have to admit," Neville gave a small shudder.

"I know he was quite the bully to you, but he is very sorry and I see so much change in him just over the course of the last year. The way he interacts with students during class is still stern but never cruel anymore. I suspect that the stresses of playing a double agent added to his sour disposition. He also is very protective of his Slytherins. He has confessed to me that he feels that the whole house has been poorly misjudged by the acts of its founder and Voldemort. Severus feels that no one has ever been there to protect or guide the Slytherin students away from being prejudice or turning to the Dark Arts. He knows that he would overreact towards punishing other Houses as a result. " she replied calmly, "I hope this won't change our friendship."

Neville stopped what he was doing and pulled Brixton into a tight hug, "I don't have to understand it, Brixton. But, nothing is going to change our friendship. We've been through too much together. Ginny and I couldn't have kept Dumbledore's Army going without you. I know you are a good person and I will trust your judgement as long as you are happy."

Brixton hugged her friend back tightly. She was so thankful for his unconditional friendship. They had gotten very close last year while running Dumbledore's Army together. He meant so much to her and she didn't want her dating Severus to hurt Neville in any way.

After they finished up everything Neville had to do, Brixton asked Neville to have a seat with her. They were perched atop two matching stools when she pulled out the bottles of her potion and set them on the table in front of Neville.

"What's that?" he asked.

"I've given it an official name, but I've been kind of calling it 'Bottled Hope' in my own head. I don't want you to get too excited, but it's a potential cure for the state the Cruciatus Curse has left your parents in. I want to stress that it is only a chance, because it hasn't been tested but even Severus thinks that it is likely to work," she said all of this very slowly. Her heart would break if it didn't work and she got her friend worked up over nothing.

"You have to be joking. Really? How did you get such a thing? Is it safe?" Neville's mouth stumbled over all of his questions.

"I made it yesterday. It was the hardest thing I have ever brewed, but it really might work. I expect it to restore your parent's memory to the day that they were tortured if it works properly. They of course will have to be caught up on everything they missed. Again, this is only if it works. Severus confirmed the safety of the potion himself and it will do no harm if it does not work. I brewed just this tiny amount of it so that you could give it to your parents if you wanted to try it. The third bottle is for the lab at St. Mungo's to study it. If it works I will have a contract written up with them to only charge the cost of ingredients to patients in need. As the ingredients are rare that will make it expensive enough, I don't want it to be totally unattainable for patients. Anyway, I am rambling. What do you think?" she asked.

Neville nodded his head enthusiastically, "Yes! Of course I want to give it a try. They have tried all kinds of experimental things with no results at the hospital." He leaned forward and pressed his lips to Brixton's forehead in a chaste kiss before continuing, "You are brilliant. Thank you for this chance. I have to go now. I want to get to the hospital as soon as possible."

He fumbled with the vials and dropped one, but Brixton reacted quick enough to catch it in the air. She gasped and said, "Careful, Neville," before passing the bottle back to her friend. She watched as he tucked them into his pocket.

"Thank you, Brixton! Wish me luck!" he called as he flew from the greenhouse. Brixton hoped with everything she had that it would work.

After showering up Brixton and changing into a black cotton knee-length dress and black flats she tamed her hair with a spell she had learned from Hermione so that the long dark curls were smoother and more manageable. Thinking of Hermione made her realize that she had not heard back yet from her friends. This had her concerned because she knew that while Luna and George may not respond right away she knew that Hermione would have. Brixton called out, "Dobby" and only had to wait a moment before the little elf appeared with a POP.

"What can Dobby do for Mistress Brixton?" he asked.

"Just Brixton please, Dobby," she reminded him for at least the tenth time.

"Of course, Brixton!" he responded cheerfully. "How may Dobby help?"

"Well, I was wondering about my mail. I sent some owls out a while ago and haven't heard back from my friends yet. I have been at breakfast every morning and haven't seen any owls. Do you know how I am supposed to get my letters?" she asked.

"Dobby put them on Brixton's desk. In the summer we elves deliver the professors' mail since not everyone is here all the time. Dobby made sure to get them to you myself since we are friends. I told the other elves that it would be Dobby's personal job to see to your mail," he held his head up proudly as he told her.

"Oh! Thank you! I haven't even checked my desk as I haven't needed to use it. That is very helpful Dobby," Brixton smiled, "Would you care for some tea?"

Dobby beamed in response so Brixton set about brewing them a pot of tea and gathered some cookies from her cart to share with the elf. Once Dobby was settled in she went to her desk and grabbed the three letters. She asked, "Do you mind, Dobby?" and showed him the letters.

"Dobby doesn't mind at all," he responded and sipped his tea.

Brixton opened and read the letters. They read:

"Brixton,

Thank you so much for the Scar Removal Paste. It worked beautifully and I was able to get that awful word off of my arm. You are wonderful and brilliant. I simply cannot thank you enough. I hope that it is able to help many other people as much as it has helped me. How are you and Professor Snape getting along? I suppose I don't have to call him that anymore, but I still call Remus 'Professor' as well out of habit. I hope you aren't too lonely this summer. We will have to get together in Hogsmeade soon. I am enjoying my time with my parents and I've already started working for the Ministry. I am absolutely loving it. I am so thankful to Kingsley for the opportunity. I hope to hear from you soon.

-Hermione"

"Dear Brixton Winchester,

What a marvelous idea you had to extend the effects of gillyweed. My father and I look forward to trying it out. We leave for Australia tomorrow and will not be back for at least two weeks. I hope you are enjoying Hogwarts still. I imagine you are looking forward to the end of summer so that you can begin teaching. Hermione and I are planning to come see you in Hogsmeade when I get back from Australia. I will have so much to talk about after our travels.

Your Friend Always,

Luna Lovegood"

"Brixton,

Come see me at the shop as soon as possible and we will discuss everything. This paste is brilliant. Just come on in and ask for me.

George"

Brixton turned to Dobby and asked him, "Dobby can you apparate me somewhere? I obviously could walk to the Hogwarts gates, but I don't know how to apparate yet."

"Dobby would be happy to help!" he smiled and jumped up from the couch, "Where would you like to go?"

"Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes in Diagon Alley please. I have some business to attend to with George."

Dobby grabbed Brixton by the hand and in an instant they were gone from the dungeon office and away to Diagon Alley.