Downside of Aging Potions - Chapter Five

You have created an unhealthy monster
but you're nowhere but nowhere to be found
so i guess I'll just cope with my provisions
from now until the day they lay me down
-Bad Religion, Chimaera

"I thought you might find this interesting." She offered him the notes. "I've been working on them the last few days." She added as he read through her writing on Orpine.

A flicker of interest passed over his face. "Well done." He said, turning the page, "Very well done."

"Perhaps we should look for it at the apothe... what?" She started to suggest going to the apothecary, but stopped when she him shake his head.

"It wouldn't be in Diagon Alley. Knockturn Alley, maybe. But not in Diagon Alley. This seems like it is a very dark ingredient." He set the notes down, "Where did you find this information?"

"A book called Mystical Elements, why?" She inquired. She didn't know why, but she had a feeling in the pit of her stomach as if she'd done something wrong.

He shook his head, "That doesn't matter. I am going to go search for it." He fetched his traveling cloak and she asked, "May I go with you?"

"Not into Knockturn Alley. It's too dangerous." He said.

"But you'll be there with me, and-"

"Exactly, I'll be there with you. Knockturn Alley is not a good place for us to make an appearance together." He said reasonably, buttoning his coat, "Especially after that episode with the Malfoys.

She frowned, but knew he was right. She sighed, "I suppose... But what shall I do until you return?" She asked.

"How about you work on another potion. But be careful. Technically, you're not permitted to brew dangerous chemicals, but I'll allow it, just this once." His lips curled slightly.

She laughed, "As long as I have your permission."

He used the Floo Network to get to Knockturn Alley, leaving Hermione alone in his Private Rooms.

What would any eighteen year old girl do when in the Potions Master room all my her lonesome? That's right. Hermione snooped.

She really didn't mean to. To snoop, really, she just wanted to look around a bit.

His room was literally spotless. Not a speck of dust on his dressers and tables, not a single crease on his black bed spread. The dusky grey carpets had no dirt tracks on them. She had no idea Snape was such a neat-freak.

Then again... There were lots of things she probably didn't know about him.

As she walked around the bed, her foot hit something that appeared to be a light box. Bending down it investigate, she found a small rectangle about five inches deep and eight inches long.

Hermione sat at the edge of the bed and set the bin in her lap. Way past curiosity, she peeked inside.

At the very top was a silver chain, very small, as if for an infant. Moving it carefully, she picked up the letter underneath it. The message was dated 2/6/1979 and addressed to, 'My Favorite Brother'. She read on.

2/7/1979

My favorite Brother,

I am sorry I had to cancel my trip to see you again.
I'm sure you heard. Mum and Dad died. Don't cry like always do, take it like a man, Severus.
Dad wouldn't want you to be crying for him. Anyway, the Dark Lord killed them. He said they were getting lazy. I can't blame him. They haven't killed a Mudblood for months.
Have you? I think you should really be keeping you head on your shoulders before the Dark Lord takes it away, brother.
Anyway, I will try to see you next month. Until then, be good.

-Septimus

Hermione refolded the letter and put it back. She found a picture frame at the bottom as well, a picture of a lovely woman.

She had dark hair and equally dark eyes. Hermione admired the woman for a few more seconds before she decided she should at least begin a potion so she didn't seem suspicious.

Carefully replacing the box, she left the room and looked back, to make sure it looked the same.

Back in his lab; the picture of the woman and the letter lingered in her brain as she brewed a potion. Not five minutes later, Snape had returned, orpine in hand.

!

Hermione returned to her dormitory a few hours later. They had accomplished nothing.

She wouldn't say it was a waste of time, but she didn't see how Snape thought he could bring back someone from the dead. It had never been done before. And though she conceded Snape had a brilliant mind... There was no way.

However, she couldn't give up on him or he would lock himself away until he got it right. And no one wanted that. Except, perhaps, the entire school.

Slipping into a nightgown, she laid down in her four-poster bed and got lost in the cool sheets.

!

He was so tired.

This damn potion was not supposed to be so difficult. He didn't care if he sounded childish or selfish, he wanted it to work.

Snape growled as he left the lab and went into his room. After the momentary rage had passed and his nostrils shrunk back to size, he splashed his face with cool water.

With a careless glance at the man who stared back at him he wiped his face with a hand towel and stripped to his boxers. He'd long since got rid of that bloody grey gown he used to wear.

Snape laid down and laced his fingers behind his head. He let his mind swirl in his darkness, seeing shapes on his ceiling, reliving past hell; until he rested his thoughts on Hermione.

Granger...

He closed his eyes and had a very pleasant dream.