A/N: I had entirely too much fun writing this chapter. Language for both Rial and Draco. Thank you for being so patient with me while I got over my writer's block!

Chapter Thirteen- 'Assisted' Realizations

Two days after James Potter was announced as the new DADA teacher, Rial headed into the dungeons with his friends for their Potions class. Severus had 'threatened' the class with a difficult potion that would take them an entire month's worth of lessons to brew. Rial had a feeling he knew which potion they were going to cover. There was only one potion a 5th year class could attempt and possibly brew in a month. Veritaserum. The powerful, unbreakable truth potion Severus himself had created.

However, as exciting as the idea was Rial wasn't letting himself get his hopes up. He had wanted to test his Potions ability since summer, when he'd been ruthlessly practicing every potion available in the 1st through 5th year textbooks. Plus his studying for the theoretical potion he was trying to develop since 4th year. It wasn't exactly an easy potion; Masters throughout the magical world had been searching for it since recorded time.

Rial was on his own trying to find the cure for lycanthropy. Not simply because of his father's friend Remus either. There were so many people that suffered from it and the Werewolf Edicts along with their treatment by general magical society was disgusting. Add on the despicable sport purebloods indulged in called werewolf baiting and Rial was determined to make their lives better.

He reached Severus' closed and locked classroom door and leaned against a pillar across the hall, retrieving his 5th year potions text and flicking to the chapter on truth potions. He was well-immersed in the book when he heard voices. Looking through his lashes he resisted letting his lip curl when he saw Zachary and his two cronies Hermione and Ron. Granger was clinging lightly to Zachary and tittered a laugh at something he said.

She was going to get her heart broken. Granger may be slightly pretty, but there was no way James would let his heir marry a Muggleborn. Zachary was 1st generation pureblood, being the son of two magical parents. James was a 4th generation pureblood however and he was more of a blood purist than the Malfoys. Which was rich considering the Malfoys were 9th generation purebloods, ancient compared to the Potters.

Rial went back to his book, unnoticed by the Gryffindors. Just in case he shook his left wrist, freeing his wand from the holster. He'd just finished the chapter and put the book away when quiet chatter announced Theodore Nott, Blaise, Pansy and Draco. For once the Ravenclaw leech named Terry Boot was absent from the blonde's side. Rial rolled his eyes, he still couldn't figure out what Draco saw in him.

After the Hogsmede trip Rial had guiltily told Theo that it couldn't continue. Theo had smiled and said he understood, it would only end up hurting both of them. He'd told Rial that Draco was being an idiot and would come to the right conclusion soon enough or Pansy would drive it into his thick head. Rial had laughed softly; their fiery friend didn't hold back her opinions in the least.

Severus walked into the hallway, eying the for once quiet Gryffindors with a slightly surprised expression. As he passed by Rial leaning against the pillar Rial muttered, "Miracles do happen, Professor."

The edge of Severus' mouth twitched and he waved his wand in a complicated series of movements, opening the door to his classroom with a quiet 'click'. Rial proceeded to his usual seat and folded his legs neatly beneath him, waiting attentively.

Once the class filed in Severus shut the door and said in his silky voice, "This month you are going to attempt a potion normally kept for NEWT level. As this is your OWL year, this potion will help thin out the possibilities for which of you will be staying. Regretfully," he looked at Zachary with a sneer, "we will be saying goodbye to some of you after this year."

"Instructions are on the board, as usual. Today you will be forming the base for your attempt at Veritaserum, the truth potion used by the Ministry. I should not have to repeat this after 4 years, but some of you have thick skulls," Once again his eyes flicked to Zachary. "Make sure you measure your ingredients carefully and read the instructions through ENTIRELY before proceeding."

Rial retrieved a piece of parchment and his quill, carefully writing down the instructions. As he was writing he heard Severus add, "This is an individual assignment, Granger. Do not tell Potter what he should already know."

Once he'd written down the instructions Rial carefully set up his workstation, making sure to place a low-level Shield Charm on his cauldron to prevent any tampering. He brought the ingredient list with him and carefully measured out portions, making sure to double-check the numbers.

Making his way back to his desk, Rial carefully added the first ingredient, beetle eyes. As he added them he stirred slowly and smoothly, Veritaserum required deliberate movements, too jerky of stirring could cause the volatile base to explode. Stirring the correct number of times and no more, he added the next ingredient, dragonfly wings. At the moment the potion was a smoky black color. The next ingredient, a tiny vial of unicorn blood freely given should turn it pure white.

Carefully tipping the small vial, Rial stirred the opposite way from when he'd been before, watching as the potion turned gray, silver and then white. Smiling, he read the instructions carefully. He was to let it simmer for 5 minutes. Since the next ingredient was the sophorous bean he retrieved a small silver knife and cut them at an angle, it released the juices better than a normal one.

The potion turned dark violet. Simmer again for 10 minutes, then add the evenly chopped roots of a licorice plant. Retrieving his normal cutting blade Rial began chopping the roots with a steady rhythm, timing the strokes in his head until he was making a down slice every 15 seconds. Slowly adding the roots he watched it turn the solid, non-reflective black described as the correct color for the base.

Rial began cleaning his station, startled that he had finished with 10 minutes to spare. When another five minutes had passed Severus stood from his desk and said, "You will leave your cauldrons here as the base needs to simmer 48 hours before the next step. At the beginning of the next lesson the potion should be a thicker consistency and dark green in color. You will know then if you made a mistake in your base. If it is anything other than a medium green you will have to start your base over again."

The students made their way out of the classroom, breaking into quiet chatter once they passed the classroom door. Terry Boot materialized just outside the Great Hall and Rial's eyes flared in irritation. He took a sharp right, heading to the Library. If he had to watch Draco and Terry at lunch again he was going to be sick.

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Pansy watched Rial depart with an amused glitter in her eyes. The green-eyed Slytherin had remarkable patience, but Draco's ignorance was going to make him lose his temper soon. She hoped she'd be around to see it. According to the stories if he was anything like his father it would be straightforward and explosive.

She didn't see Rial at all for the rest of the day. Draco let Terry into the Slytherin common room and she watched Blaise's eyebrow arch. The Italian bent his lips to her ear and whispered, "Is he trying to make Rial lose his temper? Or is he really that oblivious?"

"He's really that oblivious," she confirmed.

Blaise shook his head and made his way over to a table with a chessboard. He waved her into the other seat and they began a friendly game as Draco and Terry sat near the fire, talking. Just as Terry kissed Draco the absent Slytherin made his entrance.

Eyeing Rial Pansy had to admit he was absolutely gorgeous, especially in the striking robes. Due to his position as Mediator the badge turned his robes dark green with a silver edge, the green was so dark it was almost black. She watched bright eyes land on Draco and Terry and they narrowed to fiery slits. His free hand tightened into a fist and he dumped his stuff on a spare chair.

He struck with the blinding speed of a viper, taking a fistful of sapphire-edged robes in his hand and bodily pulling Terry to his feet. The accompanying push shoved him half-way to the common room door in an instant. His eyes were almost glowing as he snarled, "What kind of leech are you? This is the Slytherin common room. GET OUT!"

Boot took one look at Rial's murderous expression and took off. Draco had recovered from his initial shock and his silver eyes were hard with anger. "What the hell was that Black?"

"That, Malfoy," Rial snarled, "was my patience with you going out the window. I may not care about you acting like a love-struck 'Puff outside these walls, but I'll be damned if I'll put up with it in our common room!"

Draco surged to his feet, blackthorn wand in hand. "No wands!" Pansy yelped. She was afraid Draco or Rial might cast a curse they didn't mean with their current tempers.

Curtly Rial removed his wand and handed it to Blaise, who had walked up to his side. Draco reluctantly handed his over to her before snarling, "Should we take this out of here?"

Rial mockingly gestured to the door and said, "After you."

Wide-eyed, Pansy and Blaise followed the pair. Rial no more than stepped out of the common room when he landed a solid punch to Draco's face. Pansy's jaw dropped when Draco retaliated, hitting him across the face hard enough to make him stagger.

"ENOUGH!"

Professor McGonagall was striding down the hallway, accompanying her was none other than Professor Snape, whose snarling voice had barked that command.

"What is going on here?" McGonagall demanded.

"Malfoy had let a Ravenclaw into the common room, Professor. It is a joint decision of more than one Slytherin to allow another house inside and he objected to my decision to have the Ravenclaw removed."

Pansy was watching Professor Snape, whose black eyes shifted from the bruise forming on Rial's cheek to the forming busted lip Draco sported. She was astonished to see his lips quirk in a smile he was doing his best to resist. Looking at her two friends Pansy abruptly had the urge to giggle. Her Head of House never expected to see these two in detention for fighting each other. He probably had guessed exactly which Ravenclaw Rial meant as well.

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Oh Merlin! I can't laugh, not now, Severus thought, resisting a snigger. Lucius is going to laugh himself silly over this, Sirius as well. Who'd have thought these two would get into an argument like this?

Looking at Rial's still flinty eyes he shook his head slightly. Rial had phenomenal patience, but Draco's actions regarding Terry Boot had finally run out his tolerance level. Once he was sure he could speak in his normal tone Severus sighed.

"As justified as your actions may be, Rial, internal fighting is not acceptable for Slytherin house. Thus, I will remove 40 points from Slytherin, 20 each. You both shall serve detention with me tomorrow night. Miss Parkinson, why do you have their wands?"

"To prevent them from doing something they might regret later, sir."

"Commendable. Return their wands please. If I hear anything about you two furthering this fight tonight I shall take another 20 points and lengthen your detentions, is that clear?"

Rial's voice was a little unsteady from anger when he replied, "Yes sir."

Minerva made a few comments about the foolishness of fighting and disappeared. Severus stared at the pair with flinty eyes and headed down the hallway. He'd heard the commotion from his private office just as McGonagall had been walking by.

Once back safely in his rooms, Severus laughed until his ribcage ached and his chest hurt.