Hermione Smiled as she left the Ministry of Magic building, This test had gone better than the first. But then again she hadn't had to worry whether her friends would come back alive like that last time. She apperated to Diagon Alley where Severus waited for her.
"Hello, love," He said when he spotted her, he held a single rose in his hand, so red it was nearly black. "Did it go well?" he asked as they walked. They felt at ease, though they knew they would have to make an appearance tomorrow at the Cemetery, they enjoyed their time together.
"I'll know in a few weeks, there were others taking the test so it will be a while," It had taken near a month for her to get the results of her first test nearly five years before. "So probably just before the end of term."
"That's good," Severus replied, "Do you want to go to the apothecary?" He asked as they headed to Archimedes Apothecary.
******
"Hello, Severus," Ivory greeted them as they entered, "Need anything in particular today?"
"No, we're just looking around," He watched Hermione as she looked at the shelves, She had been so caught up with protecting Cicely she hadn't the time for potions.
Hermione spotted a jar full of opalescent scales, "What are these?" She asked holding up the jar.
"Hippocampus scales," Ivory started, "It's used in potions for blocking hexes. Fairly rare, though, that jar is ten galleons."
She held onto it and spotted another jar, mountain moon flower pollen also used in blocking hexes. She began formulating a potion in her head when she remembered the Water Dragon eggshells she still had. "What can dragon eggshells be used for?"
Ivory smiled at her, "Some,depending on the species can be used in potions for burns or even fire blocking."
Severus wondered what she was thinking about but didn't ask, he smiled as he watched her pull various jars and pouches from the shelves. "Mione dear, have you forgotten anything?" She looked chagrined as she saw that her arms were full and that she had already placed many of the items on the counter.
"No, I think I have everything I'll need... For now." She smiled and turned to the shopkeeper, "I think that this will do for me,"
"Very good," Ivory replied as he tallied up the cost. "Sixty galleons even," She counted out the coins as he wrapped and then shrunk the packages for her. "I'm giving you a discount on the whole lot, Seeing as you've been accompanied by my best customer."
"Thank you," She gave him a bright smile that nearly took his breath away.
"Come back soon," He called out as the couple walked from the store.
*******
"What in the Gods are you going to do with all of that?" Severus asked as they walked down the street
"I have no clue," She gave him a silly grin, "I'd rather be prepared."
"Very well, shall we return?" Severus noted the sky growing dark, "We can apperate back this time,"
"We should be heading back," Hermione said thoughtfully.
******
The apperated at the edge of the Forest and walked back up to the castle, enjoying the sunset as they did. They were startled to Cicely waiting for them by the entrance, "Professor Snape, this came for you today. The owl dropped it in front of me but it's addressed to you," She handed the sealed letter to him.
Severus broke the seal and opened the letter. It had only five words written on it; Bring the girl tomorrow night. "Bugger," he muttered, before looking up, "Miss Rosewood would you accompany us to the headmasters office." She nodded and walked with the couple across the hall and up the stairs.
*******
Albus smiled when he saw the girl walking into his office, "Miss Rosewood a pleasure," He then saw Severus and Hermione walking in, "Though I have the feeling this is going to be an unpleasant conversation."
"Albus, this came today," Severus handed the headmaster the note, "We have no choice but to comply." Severus stated.
"I will tell her grandparents," Albus replied setting the note down, "Miss Rosewood, It seems that you are wanted again,"
"I figured as much," She frowned, "I don't have to go alone do I?"
"No," Severus answered, "Miss Granger and I will be going with you,"
"They won't like her," She pleaded, "They might want to hurt her,"
"I don't think they will," Hermione started, "It's my thought that they won't do anything to make you mad at them, You are their little treasure,"
Cicely frowned, "I can hurt them if they try anything,"
"We know," Hermione said smiling, "How about we go down to the potions classroom and I show you what I picked up today? You can help me formulate something," She smiled when the girl did, took her hand, and walked out of the room, leaving Severus and Albus alone.
"I have no doubt that they will not try and hurt Hermione, Severus." Albus saw the brief flash of concern in the younger mans eyes.
"I keep telling myself that," Severus turned and walked from the headmasters office.
TBC
A/n: there really isn't one today. Butthanks for the reviews.
rens-bombrush & jessica: the first nine chapter hold the original 40 that's why they are so long.
thanks: Dragonfireangel VMP, Lea & maddie
"Hello, love," He said when he spotted her, he held a single rose in his hand, so red it was nearly black. "Did it go well?" he asked as they walked. They felt at ease, though they knew they would have to make an appearance tomorrow at the Cemetery, they enjoyed their time together.
"I'll know in a few weeks, there were others taking the test so it will be a while," It had taken near a month for her to get the results of her first test nearly five years before. "So probably just before the end of term."
"That's good," Severus replied, "Do you want to go to the apothecary?" He asked as they headed to Archimedes Apothecary.
******
"Hello, Severus," Ivory greeted them as they entered, "Need anything in particular today?"
"No, we're just looking around," He watched Hermione as she looked at the shelves, She had been so caught up with protecting Cicely she hadn't the time for potions.
Hermione spotted a jar full of opalescent scales, "What are these?" She asked holding up the jar.
"Hippocampus scales," Ivory started, "It's used in potions for blocking hexes. Fairly rare, though, that jar is ten galleons."
She held onto it and spotted another jar, mountain moon flower pollen also used in blocking hexes. She began formulating a potion in her head when she remembered the Water Dragon eggshells she still had. "What can dragon eggshells be used for?"
Ivory smiled at her, "Some,depending on the species can be used in potions for burns or even fire blocking."
Severus wondered what she was thinking about but didn't ask, he smiled as he watched her pull various jars and pouches from the shelves. "Mione dear, have you forgotten anything?" She looked chagrined as she saw that her arms were full and that she had already placed many of the items on the counter.
"No, I think I have everything I'll need... For now." She smiled and turned to the shopkeeper, "I think that this will do for me,"
"Very good," Ivory replied as he tallied up the cost. "Sixty galleons even," She counted out the coins as he wrapped and then shrunk the packages for her. "I'm giving you a discount on the whole lot, Seeing as you've been accompanied by my best customer."
"Thank you," She gave him a bright smile that nearly took his breath away.
"Come back soon," He called out as the couple walked from the store.
*******
"What in the Gods are you going to do with all of that?" Severus asked as they walked down the street
"I have no clue," She gave him a silly grin, "I'd rather be prepared."
"Very well, shall we return?" Severus noted the sky growing dark, "We can apperate back this time,"
"We should be heading back," Hermione said thoughtfully.
******
The apperated at the edge of the Forest and walked back up to the castle, enjoying the sunset as they did. They were startled to Cicely waiting for them by the entrance, "Professor Snape, this came for you today. The owl dropped it in front of me but it's addressed to you," She handed the sealed letter to him.
Severus broke the seal and opened the letter. It had only five words written on it; Bring the girl tomorrow night. "Bugger," he muttered, before looking up, "Miss Rosewood would you accompany us to the headmasters office." She nodded and walked with the couple across the hall and up the stairs.
*******
Albus smiled when he saw the girl walking into his office, "Miss Rosewood a pleasure," He then saw Severus and Hermione walking in, "Though I have the feeling this is going to be an unpleasant conversation."
"Albus, this came today," Severus handed the headmaster the note, "We have no choice but to comply." Severus stated.
"I will tell her grandparents," Albus replied setting the note down, "Miss Rosewood, It seems that you are wanted again,"
"I figured as much," She frowned, "I don't have to go alone do I?"
"No," Severus answered, "Miss Granger and I will be going with you,"
"They won't like her," She pleaded, "They might want to hurt her,"
"I don't think they will," Hermione started, "It's my thought that they won't do anything to make you mad at them, You are their little treasure,"
Cicely frowned, "I can hurt them if they try anything,"
"We know," Hermione said smiling, "How about we go down to the potions classroom and I show you what I picked up today? You can help me formulate something," She smiled when the girl did, took her hand, and walked out of the room, leaving Severus and Albus alone.
"I have no doubt that they will not try and hurt Hermione, Severus." Albus saw the brief flash of concern in the younger mans eyes.
"I keep telling myself that," Severus turned and walked from the headmasters office.
TBC
A/n: there really isn't one today. Butthanks for the reviews.
rens-bombrush & jessica: the first nine chapter hold the original 40 that's why they are so long.
thanks: Dragonfireangel VMP, Lea & maddie