'We can save him in time, right?' Hermione asked, now very worried.

'Well, I guess we can. We only have twenty hours before Ron will actually die. We can't open the cage, then we would die as well. Here is the only way to abolish the curse, we need to make a potion,' Remus said, pointing at the recipe.

'All we need are those ingredients and then we can just make that potion,' Hermione said.

'No, Hermione, that's the point. This is an extremely difficult potion, I am not able to make that in twenty hours. Neither are you,' he said when Hermione opened her mouth.

'But then we are lost. Damn that Peter…' Hermione murmured more to herself.

'Peter could have freed Ron, only the person who has produced the curse can lift it without a problem. This is all my fault, I shouldn't have killed that guy…' Remus said dejectedly.

'No, no, we are going to make that potion!' Hermione said determined.

'We can't. Not with this little time,' Remus said softly.

'But… There must be something we can do,' Hermione suggested.

'You're right. I know someone who can actually make this potion in twenty minutes…' Remus said, but he didn't sound happier.

'Who?' Hermione demanded.

'Severus. Professor Snape.'

'Let's go then! We need to hurry!'

'I guess we don't have a choice…' Remus sighed and he followed Hermione out after quickly making a copy of the book.

'Please, Severus. It is very important,' Remus begged.

'You know that I am not very eager to help you, right?' Snape said with an unpleasant grin.

'Please, professor, we need that potion!' Hermione tried.

'And why is that exactly, Granger?' Snape asked.

'We can't tell you. All we ask from you is that potion,' Remus said.

'I know what kind of potion this is. I am not stupid. Tell me, who's in danger?' Snape asked.

'Doesn't matter! Just hurry up!' Hermione exclaimed.

'Now that's no way to talk to your teacher, Miss Granger. I suggest you shut your mouth before I give you detention,' Snape sneered.

Remus glared at Snape, but he decided not to argue with him. He had to make sure that Snape would make this potion.

'Listen, Severus. I know that you have the ingredients and I know that you can make this potion. You are the only one I know who is able to make this without problems.'

'And the one who has produced the curse? He can lift it. Why don't you address him?'

'He is dead.'

'That means that they must have died in less than four hours ago. You've got something to do with this, am I right? Who did this spell?' Snape demanded.

'You wouldn't believe the answer,' Remus said firmly.

'Try me.'

'Alright. It was Peter Pettigrew.'

'That can't be. He has died a long time ago,' Snape said confused. 'Stop joking and tell me the truth!'

'It is the truth and now please start on that potion before it is too late!' Remus said frustrated.

'Alright then, but you owe me. I don't know how you can pay me back yet, but I will think of something later, trust me,' Snape sneered and he started to gather some ingredients directly.

Ten hours later, Snape added the last ingredient. Remus was just waiting on a couch with Hermione against his shoulder, who was fast asleep. The fluffy atmosphere had made her very tired. Snape looked at the two suspiciously, but he decided to ignore them and to focus on the potion. Remus only gave the potion master an innocent look.

'It's ready,' Snape said after another hour. Hermione woke up suddenly.

'It is? That is so quick!' Hermione said.

'Thank you, Severus, you don't know how much I appreciate this,' Remus said relieved.

'Before I give you this, there is something you must know about it. There is a possible side effect for the one who drinks it. No, the book doesn't mention it,' Snape added when Remus wanted to have a look at the copy. 'The drinker may become very quick to take offence and therefore aloof.'

'Is that it?' Remus asked nervously.

'For as far as I know, yes. I don't think that the side effect will last forever, though. But the severity of the side effect depends much on the kind of person who drinks this,' Snape said with an evil grin.

'Yes, I get it. Thanks again, Severus,' Remus said and he left Snape's office together with Hermione. What the two didn't know, was that Snape followed them in order to find out what they were trying to hide from him.

Once outside, Hermione gave Remus a worried look. She knew that one of them had to drink the potion, they couldn't give it to Ron without touching the cage. Either Hermione or Remus had to drink it in order to open the cage.

'I'll drink it,' Hermione offered.

'No, I don't want you to! What if the side effect is going to turn out much worse than Snape said?' Remus said.

'I don't care! I'm not letting you drink this! You already have problems with your temper, I am not allowing you to make that worse,' Hermione said determined.

'I don't have problems with…' but Remus stopped when he saw Hermione's look. 'You're right. But I am just worried about you, that's all.'

'I promise, I won't lose my temper around you. Not around anyone,' Hermione said.

'You can say that now, but you can't know that for sure,' Remus said worried.

'Don't you argue with me, Remus Lupin! I am taking this potion and you are not going to stop me,' Hermione said stubbornly. She walked quickly to the Room of Requirement and there she waited for a moment.

'I am sure about this Remus. I love you and I will still love you after this potion,' Hermione promised and then she drank the content of the flask. She made a face because of the terrible taste of it, but then she looked up again.

'You see? I'm fine. Now let's go and get Ron before it is too late for him,' Hermione said and she walked through the door with Remus following her closely.

'Ron?' Hermione asked carefully? 'Ron? We are here, don't worry, I am going to free you.'

There was no answer. Hermione walked over to where the cage was, she couldn't see Ron there. She hesitated for a moment, but then she touched the cage carefully. The cage seemed to melt at her touch, as though she was fire on iron. Hermione melted a very big part of the cage away, so that she could enter it. There, in the far corner, was Ron.

'Remus?' Hermione asked worried. 'Remus, come here!'

Remus came into the cage as quickly as he could and then he saw Ron too.

'Why isn't he moving? He isn't…' Hermione said carefully, not wanting to finish her words.

'No, he is not. Enervate,' Remus tried, but Ron still didn't move.

'Then what is wrong with him?' Hermione asked.

'He has been here for quite some time, he is just weakened. We have to get him out of here quickly. I'll take him to my office,' Remus said and he easily lifted Ron's body up. He carefully dragged him out of the cage, so that they wouldn't touch the bars.

Hermione walked in front of Remus, to lead the way and to make sure that they wouldn't be seen by some students or other professors. That would only cause them annoying questions and they couldn't have that right now. When Hermione wanted to walk to the main staircase, Remus cleared his throat.

'No that way,' he said.

'This is the only way to the third floor,' Hermione said, wondering why Remus had forgotten that.

'I am not a Marauder for nothing, Hermione. I know a quicker way,' he said and he gave her a wink. Then Hermione followed him to a statue somewhere in the corner of the corridor on the seventh floor.

'And?' Hermione asked, waiting for Remus to do something.

'As you can see, I have my hands full. Could you tap on the statue three times and then say scurrilous scoundrel,' Remus whispered.

'Are you serious?' Hermione asked but then she saw that he was serious and she grabbed her wand. Then she tapped on the statue and gave it the password Remus had given her. The statue suddenly began to move.

'Ah, Remus Lupin, it has been a long time, please walk through,' it said and Remus and Hermione entered the passageway that the statue revealed. Then they walked as quickly as they could to Remus' office, where Sirius was still waiting.