Chapter 4: Unicorn Blood

Severus and Krait had not told any of the others about the project they had been working on together; in case it failed. When Krait had waved Harry goodbye at the Burrows she returned to her husband and raised an eyebrow.

"The potion is completed" he said. "Let us go and try it out."

Krait nodded.

"I don't think anything can make matters worse" she said. "Unicorn blood ought to restore anything, oughtn't it? It will work like real unicorn blood?"

"we've been over this a thousand times…Minerva was happy with your transfiguration, though blown away might describe her reaction better….we used the revelaspell on the blood I took from your unicorn form and my wand could tell no difference….it did not change when you changed back….by combining it with a memory potion and your wonderful flower" his voice softened recalling that Krait had made the flower Severia for him "I think we have every expectation of a favourable outcome."

"Which is good, coming from a pessimist like you" grinned Krait. "Frankly though, I think Slughorn's assumption of the inanimate is more impressive than morphing into just another mammal, even a magical one. Wrapping the intellect for that and making sure all the organs return from so radical a change is an impressive feat; and I acknowledge his skill even if I didn't like him much. At least a Unicorn has most of the same body parts as me and a self-awareness to tuck my own thoughts into."

-/-/-

Krait had been to the street entrance of St Mungo's once before, when her weak lungs were sorted out with medical spells; she still found it bizarre to announce themselves to the apparent dummy in a supposed shop window then walk straight through into the reception area. Severus sniffed at the sign directing people to curing of curses.

"I know every member of the curse breaker staff….taught them all. Adequate at best" he sniffed.

"Not everyone stands in your league of understanding dark arts, be fair" said Krait.

"Any one of the MSHG has more latent ability" he said scathingly "Than the ninnies here….our people think outside the box. The dark arts are like a many-headed monster, many, varied, ever-changing; and every time you sever a head another one, cleverer, fiercer, sprouts in its place…they are unfixed, mutating, indestructible. Only by being as flexible and inventive can anyone hope to destroy or undo curses and dark magic. We have practised that…we have a remarkable team, even outside the blood group, people who think on their feet. Not one of the healers here could have stopped the burning to Albus' hand as I could have done even without the Kindred….it required understanding and feeling my way and recognising the subtleties…."

Krait slipped her hand in his.

"But then, would the job be likely to attract those of great calibre when ninety-nine percent of the time they're dealing with taking a jelly-leg hex off little Johnny because he threw stones at the Hag down the road?" she asked reasonably. "After all, dear, if you had to spend all your time dehexing brats that probably thoroughly deserved it, you'd be more likely to send them home with a few more curses than they came with just for irritating you."

Severus laughed.

"Only too true….let's get up to the fifth floor for what we came here for."

-/-

The closed ward contained those cases of magical damage that required long term care or for the incurable cases; Krait had come here before to visit Abigail Greengrasse in her carefully induced coma, and to bring the unconscious girl's infant son Salazar to visit, so the staff were used to her and Severus as a regular attendant. The children were all with David's gran at this time, helped out by Sirri and probably hindered by Beloc who was a prime favourite with Jade and Lydia for the creative amounts of trouble he could get them into. Krait stopped to pat Abigail's hand; but as soon as the staff were distracted by Gilderoy Lockhart's regular quest for more adoring fans – he steered clear of Krait, who had turned partially into a snake and hissed at him when he tried to give her his autograph – the couple hurried to the end behind the curtains where Frank and Alice Longbottom spent their time.

Frank sat on the bed staring at nothing. Alice was thin and careworn, and the last vestiges of her likeness to her son's round, good natured visage were almost gone. Both had white hair. Krait had made an effort to make herself known to them, and she had come sometimes with Neville; Alice at least had seemed pleased he had a friend. How much she had understood of who Neville was exactly Krait did not know; and she hesitated to pry with legilimensy. Now, however, she smiled at Alice and poured out a potion into the bedside goblet, offering it to her. Severus did the same for Frank. Alice smiled shyly and sipped.

"Drink it all down…it's good for you" said Krait softly. Alice did as she was bid; doubtless she was used to such orders from the healers. Severus was assisting Frank. Krait plunged into Alice's mind though the overlarge, vacant eyes and prepared to assist the potion by reconnecting memories long lost as the effects of the potion brought them to the fore.

The difference in the mental pathways started gradually, subtly; then there was a sudden shock of knowledge; and Alice was meeting Krait's eyes with full horror and understanding.

"How long have we been here?" her voice was low and intense.

Krait took her hands in her own tiny ones.

"Sixteen years give or take some, Madam Longbottom." She said softly.

"Neville….my baby….but I've seen him, almost fully grown…." Tears welled up in Alice's eyes. "All this time…."

"Alice?" Frank asked. "That's Severus Snape and he's aged…."

"We've all aged, dearest…." Said Alice. "Sixteen years…..I remember time passing, but it's dim, like a nightmare….."

"Yes…." Frank nodded. "He-who-must-not-be-named…."

"We call him Fishface at Hogwarts" said Krait. "He was thought dead when he failed to kill Harry Potter because of Lily's sacrifice…"

Alice gasped.

"Lily's dead?"

Krait swallowed hard.

"Keep forgetting, you didn't know" she said gruffly. "James and Lily….there was a prophecy, he could have thought it meant Neville or Harry….he chose to believe it was Harry and made him so….Harry survived the killing curse, he and Neville are real good friends, also Ron and Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger, my cousin Draco Malfoy and me, we kind of run around together…."

"MALFOY? I always suspected Lucius of being a Death Eater!" exploded Frank. "And Snape too, for that matter…"

"There's a lot of water under the bridge…." Said Krait as Severus looked down his nose, busy erecting barriers of invisible protection. "Neville doesn't know we were going to try this, we didn't want him to be disappointed….in case it didn't work. We did do right, didn't we, to restore all your memories?"

"There are some that are not exactly comfortable….but you did right" said Frank, grimly. "We need to get up….you said he was thought dead, I suppose that means ah, Fishface is still abroad?"

"Yes….he had a means to keep his consciousness alive while looking for a new body" said Severus. "He is returned, and the dementors have joined him. They are breeding; that's why it's foggy outside."

"That's sobering news" said Frank.

"We must return to work" said Alice.

"Uh-uh!" Krait shook her head. "You must get fit and well first….and preferably as quietly as possible so nobody on the opposition knows you are well again….if you get dressed, we'll keep the staff occupied while you slip out…..to aurors it should be child's play. Go back to Augusta and Neville and recuperate."

"I don't even know your name" said Alice "Though I recognise your face as visiting with Neville, and on your own….you are a kind child, even if you are a Malfoy."

"Name's Krait….official name is Augusta, but Krait is what all my friends call me" said Krait. She stood on tiptoes to kiss Alice on the cheek. "Now, if we give you fifteen minutes…." Alice nodded and Krait and Severus whisked outside and pulled the curtains closed. Krait went to talk to the unconscious Abigail, telling her about Salazar's first word –"NO!" – directed primarily at her own daughter Lilith, whose own linguistic achievements seemed to largely feature Parseltongue. She told her how well Abigail's little sister Emmeline was doing as well, and about various funny incidents at Hogwarts. It was well known that hearing often operated when the other senses were non functional, and Krait fondly hoped that it helped Abigail in her stupor.

The curtains twitched; and Krait and Severus went to engage the duty healers in conversation, including questions about whether Abigail had shown any signs of stirring. She had not; and Severus would have been surprised if she had, for he had designed the charm that held her catatonic himself. Krait sent her snake Septimus off to watch and give the all clear when the Longbottoms were away; and chatted a minute or two more. She and Severus went back to say goodbye to Abigail and greet Gilderoy Lockhart civilly, if distantly whilst the staff did the rounds and discovered the absence of Frank and Alice.

"Did you look in on the Longbottoms?" the healer asked Krait, almost hysterically.

"I did….they seemed to be sleeping, so I came away" said Krait. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing….nothing…." the healer said wildly. "I….perhaps you'd not mind going now…I need to talk to somebody."

Krait gave her the sort of funny look anyone might give when knowing themselves to be fobbed off; but she and Severus shrugged and withdrew.

"And by staying until after they found them gone we establish our innocence" she said to him later.

"We are innocent….of wrongdoing" said Severus.

"But our involvement must not become known in case it gets back to daddy-dear" said Krait.

He nodded.

"You really do have larcenous instincts….if Harry had known you from his first year, he's have got away with far more even than he did…."

Krait chuckled.

-/-

Neville came through the loo network crying tears of sheer joy to throw his arms around both Krait and Severus.

Severus cleared his throat embarrassed.

"I told my dad you've been like a dad to me while he's been ill" said Neville. "I hope you didn't mind…you've been fantastic this last year…."

"Well…..glad I could help" Severus was blushing, but pleased. Neville chuckled a laugh which was half a sob as well.

"You're a big fraud, Severus Snape" he said, hugging him fiercely again. "You do scary so well on the outside, but you've got a soft centre all the while…don't deny it, my blood sings about it…."

"Neville Longbottom, if you ever dare tell anyone, you'll be gutting horned toads from then until your hair goes grey with age" threatened Severus.

Neville laughed.

"I'll keep your guilty secret, Domine" he said, borrowing Krait's nickname.

"Cocoa is called for, and marshmallows in it" said Krait. "It'll be a while for them to come up to date, Neville….and they can never have your childhood back….but we had no means earlier."

"How did you do it?" Neville wanted to know.

"Unicorn blood primarily….but I had to perfect form unicorn" Krait shrugged. "I had to make sure the blood I bled would have all the proper properties….and we added my flower too…"

"That flower is fantastic" said Neville enthusiastically, once he had got over the idea of unicorn blood being Krait's own blood. "You're so good at transfiguration….I can't thank you enough, either of you."

"Stuff" said Krait rudely. "What would any of us not do for our Kindred?"