A Potion Induced Advent's Time
by Healer Pomfrey
Please refer to the content/warnings/disclaimer note above page 1.
December 20
In the morning, Poppy decided to give Minerva and Severus the next dose of the aging potion, which made them 18 years old. "I will cancel today's Transfiguration classes. Please remain here, take a rest and look after Harry," she said, before she made them both drink the aging potion.
"This time the after-effects are worse than the last time. Don't you think so?" Minerva asked, when she came out of her bedroom a few hours later, after taking a long nap.
"I agree," Severus confirmed. "We're getting old."
Minerva rolled her eyes. "You won't become much older anyway, but I still have a long way to go."
Severus thoughtfully cleared his throat, before he motioned Minerva to sit on the sofa next to him, where he had spent the morning reading Potions Monthly.
"What about Harry?" she asked, pointing to Harry's bedroom. "We're supposed to look after him."
"He'll be fine for a few more minutes," Severus replied, impatiently. "I just checked on him, and he is fast asleep. I'd like to speak with you about something."
"Oh right, you said you had an idea last night, didn't you?" Minerva remembered, obediently taking a seat on the sofa. "Somehow it feels strange to be several years older all of a sudden."
Severus smirked. "Exactly. In fact, I really enjoyed my second childhood, and, as incredible as this may sound, considering who Harry is, I have to admit that my second childhood was far more pleasant than the first."
"I agree," Minerva said warmly, placing her hand on his right arm. "I am surprised how gentle and patient Harry was, especially with you, after he had to endure your treatment during his Hogwarts years."
Severus sighed, suddenly feeling very nervous. "Minerva, Poppy said she could age us up to thirty tomorrow evening, right? This is just a suggestion, but why don't we both remain thirty? It would be wonderful if we could remain friends and stay at the same age..." He slowly trailed off, unsurely averting his eyes to Harry's bedroom door.
"Severus," Minerva replied pensively, "do you really think I should do that?"
Severus quirked an eyebrow. "Do you believe I'd make such a suggestion if I didn't mean it?"
"No," Minerva had to admit. "But won't it be strange if I was nearly fifty years younger than before?" 'It would be wonderful to be so young once again though, and since I have my older self's memories anyway, it wouldn't have any advantage to age myself up again, now that Albus isn't with us anymore,' she thought.
During the rest of the day, the two friends discussed the matter, whenever Harry was asleep, and in the evening, Minerva spoke about it with Poppy, who had been her best friend from when they had been first years at Hogwarts.
"I believe that it would be very good for you and also for Severus," Poppy replied, smiling, knowing that Severus had lost his only friend when Lily Evans died and that Minerva still was not able to get over the death of Albus Dumbledore. She was good friends with both Minerva and Severus, and during the last three weeks she had been very glad to see that the de-aged children got along so well, especially considering how they had been quarrelling with each other as adults.
"Minerva, Filius Flitwick asked me if you could go and decorate the Christmas tree in the Great Hall when you feel up to it," Poppy said finally. "Maybe Severus can help you. Filius seems to be quite busy covering for the two of you."
"Oh okay, we'll do that right away," Minerva promised and went to fetch Severus.
メリークリスマス
'I'd love to help them,' Harry thought a while later. On the one hand, he was glad that there were no children running around him, since he still wasn't feeling too well; on the other hand, he found it too quiet in his room. During the last three weeks, he had become used to having Minerva and Severus around. 'Somehow, they're like family. They're closer to me than the Dursleys have ever been.' He slowly scrambled out of his bed, pulled his robes over and dragged himself to the Great Hall to help with the decoration of the tree. 'At least Severus should be over his prank playing phase by now,' he thought as he entered the Hall.
"Harry, what are you doing here?" Minerva asked sternly but let go of the matter when Harry explained that he just wanted to help for a little while.
For a few minutes, he observed how Minerva and Severus decorated the tree with gold, red, green and silver baubles, before he waved his wand at the baubles, adding cats to the golden baubles and lynxes to the silver ones. 'I'd love to become an Animagus, too,' he thought and asked, "Minerva and Severus... Err... sorry, am I still allowed to call you by your names?"
"Not in class, Harry, but if we're alone, you may," Minerva replied, smiling fondly at him.
"Thank you," Harry said, feeling somehow relieved at the thought. 'It will be strange anyway, when they're back to their normal age.' "Would you teach me how to become an Animagus?" he asked, pleadingly.
Minerva and Severus exchanged a glance, before Severus said, "If you're sure that you want to try hard and practise a lot, we will. However, it is not easy. I believe that it is more difficult than Occlumency."
'They're much nicer than they were before,' Harry mused as he tiredly sat on a chair and observed the two young professors finish decorating the tree. 'I hope they're going to stay that way. In any case, I have to think of a good prank to play on Severus when he is back to his normal age. I really owe him one.'
tbc...
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