A/N- So, a few things are revealed in this chapter, including the Minister's shifty behavior of late. Thank you all for the reviews, they are what feeds my writing muse! I appreciate every single one. Enjoy, and perhaps review some more? :)

The next afternoon, Hermione and Severus were in the laboratory, carefully pouring the essence of dittany root into glass flasks. Turning to look at Severus, Hermione arched an eyebrow, giving him a pointed look. "How do you expect to test this? I don't see a subject with a mental illness ready to just ingest an unknown substance because you tell them too," she said sarcastically. In all honesty, she did have a hope it might work, but she found that badgering Severus was more fun than she expected, and was keeping up the act simply because she enjoyed how exasperated he was growing with her.

"There is a simple test to see whether or not it will have the desired effect," Severus said, ignoring her sarcasm. "If combined with the leaf of dittany essence, and it separates without affecting the two ingredients in an adverse manner; the two ingredients are the same as when combined, we will know whether or not it heals damages of the mind."

Hermione's eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hair. "Really? When was that method discovered?"

"I came across it a few weeks ago in a book about ancient potions making," Severus replied easily. "It's how potions masters used to tell the difference between sister ingredients; ingredients that come from the same source but serve different purposes. There is also a spell that reveals the magical properties of a substance, and if I am not satisfied with the tests, I will perform it."

Hermione frowned, as she looked at Severus with puzzlement. "Why even bother with the separation test? If there is a spell that does the same, or more, what's the point?"

Severus glared at her witheringly. "If there wasn't a reason for not doing it first, I would certainly just perform the spell. But it's very difficult, and the wording is very precise. It is also very magically draining, and I would prefer not to have to sleep the rest of the day as consequence."

"A spell that is capable of draining your magic?" Hermione replied in surprise. "I didn't think it existed."

The edge of Severus's lip twitched. "While I thank you for the subtle compliment to my magical prowess, there are spells that exist that would have drained even Dumbledore's incredibly adept magical skills."

"Is that why they tell kids not to practice magic outside of Hogwarts?" Hermione mused out loud. "So there isn't a chance of them trying to perform a spell that far outweighs their magical capabilities?"

Severus nodded. "Yes, that is one of the rare pieces of information about Hogwarts that is not written down in Hogwarts, A History. Bathilda didn't think it was something of worth to the book, and considered in common knowledge, all though very few people know that one of the castle's many magical protective enchantments is to prevent anyone from overshooting their abilities."

Hermione gave Severus a shrewd glance. "How did you find out about it?"

"Surprisingly, one of the first things that happens when you are made Headmaster, is that the castle makes you privy to the secrets it deems necessary for the headmaster, or headmistress, to know."

Hermione nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense, and it explains why Dumbledore was always so well informed about what happened throughout the castle."

"That was one of the perks I did not enjoy about being headmaster," Severus said dryly. "The castle still deems it necessary to alert me to what the teachers are doing occasionally, and the students. It never quite let me go as headmaster, even though it accepted Minerva as the new headmistress without an issue."

Hermione didn't respond, a flush slowly suffusing her face at Severus's words. The castle still alerted Severus to things the teachers were doing occasionally? She wondered to herself if that included the private going ons of inside the teachers quarters. There had been more than one occasion that Hermione had pulled out the muggle-made phallus that Ginny had given her a few birthdays ago. The redhead had listened to Hermione complain more than once about how Ronald never brought her to completion, and how utterly infuriating it was to get the boy to pay attention to anything but his own pleasure. Ginny had presented the object to Hermione in secret, telling her how Fred and George had shown her where to buy it. Hermione had accepted the item with a blush, and shoved it far down into her trunk, vowing never to let it see the light of day again.

It wasn't until a month after Ron had cheated on her that she had finally unburied the almost forgotten gift, and decided to try it out. After experiencing exactly how magnificent the object felt, Hermione had started to use it often throughout the week. She was, after all, a woman. With needs. Her blush deepened still as she thought of Severus knowing what she occasionally did during her evenings alone.

Severus glanced up at Hermione, and wondered at the curious flush on the witch's face. He decided not to comment on it, though, as Hermione was looking more and more uncomfortable as she gently ladled the last of the essence of dittany root into the flask. Severus shook his head, it was most likely the heat emitting from the cauldron. Glancing at Hermione, he noticed how she pointedly did not meet his gaze. Baffled, Severus decided to stop wondering about what it was that had the bushy haired witch so discomforted. "Hand me the flask, Hermione," Severus said suddenly, making Hermione jump. "It's time to try the separation test."

Hermione nodded, and swallowed as she handed Severus the flask, willing herself to stop wondering if Severus knew how she spent a great deal of her private evenings. She chided herself silently, even if the man had been made aware of her private doings, he hadn't mentioned it thus far, and probably didn't think it was worth mentioning. She was human, anyways, it wasn't as if pleasuring oneself was unheard of. Hermione didn't admit it to herself, or even acknowledge it, but a small, persistent portion of her mind was goading about how part of the reason why she had blushed was because Hermione enjoyed the idea of Severus watching as she pleasured herself, but Hermione stoutly refused to listen to the little voice in her head, and shut it down quickly. She had a right to be slightly embarrassed at the notion of the dour potions master being privy to her private moments. Hermione shrugged the little voice off, and promptly forgot about it as she watched Severus pull out the vial of essence of dittany leaf.

Severus hastily summoned a small brass cauldron, placing it in between him and Hermione. "The key to this test is timing it perfectly, so that both ingredients are poured at exactly the same time into the cauldron," Severus said quietly as he uncorked both flasks. He waved his wand, and levitate both glass containers over the cauldron. "It's best if I use magic to empty them, as I do not think my hands alone will have precision we need for this."

Hermione nodded, and watched silently as Severus flicked his wand, dumping the contents of the flasks into the cauldron. Severus counted down ten seconds, and then they both leaned forwards to peer into the cauldron. The brown liquid of the essence of dittany leaf was completely separated from the silvery essence of dittany root. It formed a perfect split in the middle, with not a drop of either liquids mingling with the other. The dark matte brown of the leaf essence swirled slowly, and the silvery liquid of the root essence glittered.

Hermione looked up at Severus, and grinned widely. "It worked! It separated completely!"

Severus released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, and smirked. "You are certainly excited, oh ye of little faith," he drawled. "Just a few moments ago you were questioning my sanity."

"I never said anything of the sort, I was merely doubtful," Hermione sniffed, her tone haughty, all though her expression belayed her attempted tones. Quickly, and without pausing to consider it, Hermione rushed around the counter, and threw herself at Severus.

Severus stumbled back as he was hit by the witch. He stood there in surprise for a few moments and she squeezed him. Lowering his arms carefully, he placed them around Hermione's shoulders, and warily returned the hug. Hermione squeezed him even tighter as she felt his arms around her.

"We did it, Severus! We found enough for a base!" She said excitedly, her voice muffled by his robes.

Severus allowed himself a small smile, and patted Hermione on the back. "Miss Granger, please remove yourself from my person," he wheezed, visibly paling from the suffocating grip of the witch's hug. Hermione's grip on him had managed to make it hard for him to breathe. "I would rather not die of suffocation immediately after making one of the most important discoveries of the age."

Hermione laughed lightly, and let him go, turning towards the cauldron. She looked at it happily. They had done the impossible, they had discovered a new ingredient in a few mere weeks, as well as gathered enough information to potentially start actually creating a potion. Whipping around, she grinned at Severus, her grin widening when she saw the excited gleam in the normally nonchalant professor's eyes. They had done it.

Harry rushed outside his office, holding the note that Kingsley had sent to him. He hurried towards the minister's office, trying to work out the reason behind the minister's vague note in his head. Entering the elevator, he waited impatiently while the cool female voice spoke out, telling him he was on level one. Tapping his foot irritably, he waited until the doors opened enough for him to slip through, and strode down the hallway quickly. Arriving at Kingsley's office, he knocked briskly.

"Come on," a deep voice said, and the door swung open. Harry stepped in, and the door shut automatically behind him.

"Minister," Harry said respectfully. "What's wrong? Why did you summon me?" He said as he took the seat that the Minister was offering.

"Harry, I need to tell you something, and I need you to promise me what is said in this room will never leave it," the minister said wearily, the lines of stress on his face evident.

Harry frowned and leaned forward. "Kingsley," he said, the worry coloring his voice. "What has happened? Is this about Darreth being attacked? I'm still upset it took your office over two days to inform me," he said pointedly.

Kingsley heaved a sigh, and settled back in his chair, avoiding Harry's gaze, and ignoring Harry's subtle rebuke. "Do you recall the Azkaban break out over the summer?"

"Yeah," Harry replied, his brow furrowing. "Dolohov and Avery got out, but we caught both of them before they could get very far, sir, as you well remember. It's impossible that they would have broken out again, isn't it? We heightened security over tenfold."

"Yes, well," the minister shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "No one broke out again," he said hastily as Harry opened his mouth, an angry expression on his face. "But Rodolphus Lestrange had also escaped with Dolohov and Avery on that night."

Harry stared at the tired looking minister, his mouth agape as he tried to register what Kingsley had told him. "You told me that we had apprehended all who had escaped, and that Lestrange was still in Azkaban," Harry started, his voice quiet as he tried to retain his surprise and anger. "You never mentioned that anyone else had escaped."

"Harry, please remember you were barely finished with your training at that time. You were told what I deemed necessary. I had thought your Head of Office would have taken care of the situation, but he was stopped, as you well know, by the tragic turn of events. Lestrange has disappeared."

Harry stood up, his green eyes crackling with suppressed anger. "You're telling me that a Death Eater, a powerful one, escaped, and you didn't deign to tell anyone except one single auror? That should have been a top case priority! It's no wonder Darreth was cursed, he was a bloody target!" He said loudly, as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Harry," the Minister boomed, standing up as well. "Do not pretend you know how to run the ministry. I had my reasons, and Auror Darreth assured me he had it under control. The less people who knew the better, and the Ministry couldn't afford to have its image ruined, especially since it's only been four years since Voldemort's defeat. It would have done worse if it had been made common knowledge," Kingsley said forcefully.

"The Ministry's image?"Harry spat. "Lestrange was one of the highest security, and during his trial he showed no remorse, stating over and over again that he would always be a loyal supporter of Voldemort, alive or dead!"

"Be that as it may, the Ministry has more things to think about than just making sure one lone wizard is locked away. He was stripped of his wand, and as far as my intelligence can tell, he is still without one. There isn't much he can do, Harry, and there was no point in making it into a huge fiasco."

Harry stared blankly at the Minister, the enraged shock plain on his face. "How can you treat an escaped Death Eater so callously, Kingsley? I thought you, of all people, would have made this an urgent priority!"

Kingsley sighed, sinking back into his seat, and looking far older than his years. "Harry you have no idea the stress the Ministry has been under since Voldemorts defeat. The assurance that the other Ministries needed, the political hoops I needed to jump through," he looked at Harry pleadingly. "This couldn't have gotten out, and I was under the impression it would be taken care of. Darreth was confident."

"Oh, one man was confident," Harry replied dryly, his chest heaving from trying to hold back his anger at the minister. "Well, why was I summoned, then, if Darreth has it all under control?"

Kingsley sighed. He had known Harry would be angry, infuriated, even, but he was making this difficult. "Because Lestrange was last seen in the north," he said resignedly. "And that is out of our jurisdiction. But I thought, that if I asked you personally..."

"Ask me what? To be your scapegoat? To go take care of the dirty business, so the ministry can retain its shiny image?" Harry asked angrily. Of all the people, he had thought Kingsley the most capable of becoming Minister, and pulling the ministry's act together. It was rapidly becoming apparent that he was wrong, though.

Kingsley's eyes glinted, and he stood up, towering over Harry. "I admit that I made a grave mistake, Harry," he said evenly as he took a deep breath. "It was careless of me to entrust the recapture of a notorious Dark Magic supporter to a single man. I admit that. I had my reasons at the time, but with the appearance of this curse, it is quickly becoming critical that we capture this man, and eliminate him as a possibility."

Harry glared at the Minister, but felt his anger slowly seeping away. The Minister was right, he didn't know the first thing to being Minister, and as far as he had heard, it was a difficult job. It wasn't his place to judge Kingsley's tactics, as much as they angered him. His job was to catch the Dark wizards out there, not to pretend he knew how to be Minister of Magic. "What do you need me to do, Kingsley?"

"I can't have you going, Harry. If any word gets to Azkaban that you are out of the country, the imprisoned death eaters might rally and try to break out. You're a symbol of fear to them, and a sign of their defeat. They won't try anything with you still in Britain. However; I need to you gather a team of aurors you deem worthy to travel north and try to catch Lestrange. From henceforth, you are considered Head of the Auror office."

Harry inclined his head, accepting the promotion, already running through the aurors he worked with, trying to figure out which were suitable for the task. "Sir, are there any sources linking Lestrange to the curse?"

"Not solidly. After he broke out, he was sighted in the area where the first victim appeared, but nothing since. There is no evidence that he was the one to first cast it, or told someone else to cast it. Although it is highly probable. I personally think it is unlikely, though," the Minister added.

"Why is that?"

"He wasn't close to Voldemort. Lestrange is powerful, though; but I don't think he would have been granted knowledge of such advanced Dark magic as the curse. Of course, I may be wrong, but knowing the facts, it's unlikely that Lestrange was the cause of this curse appearing so suddenly, and so viciously."

Harry nodded, it made sense. "I won't be letting my guard down though," he said, with a pointed glance at the Minister. "But I'll do my best. I had better leave now, I need to start going through the aurors and making the team."

The Minister nodded, and shook Harry's hand as he stood. Harry inclined his head, and turned to walk out, but was stopped by the Minister's voice.

"Harry, again, I must reiterate. Nothing we have said can leave this room, and be sure that when you send the team off, give them the information in the strictest of confidences. Don't let it get out."

Harry sighed, and nodded. Keeping the information from Hermione would be difficult, especially because she was the one working so diligently on a cure. It was the Minister's orders though, and he had to follow; as unhappy as he was about it. Exiting the room quickly, he walked quickly to the lift, and went back to his office. Settling down in the chair behind his desk, he warded the door shut and pulled out the files of the aurors, and starting to read, picking those whom he thought would be best suited to the task.