Chapter 103

The days lengthened dramatically in June, but few students had the opportunity to notice. Final exams, OWLS and NEWTs for some and regular year-end exams for others, loomed in just weeks. The classes began to focus on reviewing material, rather than new subjects, and study groups began to pop up in the most unexpected of places, among them the Gryffindor Common Room. Needless to say, the Gryffindor study group for sixth years had been organized and was being presided over by Hermione Granger. When Draco heard what she was doing, he invited himself to join, and a few classmates from other Houses finagled invites as well, requiring that the group locate somewhere other than the Common Room. Professor McGonnagal agreed that they could use her classroom in the evenings.

The first Monday that the group met, Harry did not get back to their rooms until an hour after curfew. Severus was mildly concerned by his lateness as curfew neared, but concern had progressed to full-fledged anger by the time Harry returned.

"A wee bit after curfew, aren't we, Mr. Potter?" he offered frostily as Harry walked into the sitting room.

Harry took in the sight of his sour-faced bondmate pouting in his chair by the fire, and fought back the urge to smile. There was a potions journal open in his lap, probably unread, and a half-filled snifter of brandy at his elbow, hopefully the only one he'd had. While predicting Severus' reactions when he got in a snit was more art than science, he was hoping that if he took a conciliatory tack, he'd get Severus calmed down.

Perching on the end of the coffee table nearest Severus' chair, he replied "Yes, it is late. The study group decided to finish the topic and run late rather than break off at curfew."

"Do I have to remind you that while the others are already in their dormitory, you had to walk through the entire castle to get from the Tower to our rooms here? I assume you know how to dodge Filch – you've been doing that for years – but there is a reason we don't want students rambling about alone here at night. It isn't always safe and it's not all well-lit. If you fell or were injured because of a misstep, . . . "

Harry decided that the catharsis of venting had run far enough, and broke in before Severus got too far with this line of thought. "I was not alone, Severus. Draco and a couple of the other Slytherin six years were there too, so there was a group walking down to the dungeons."

The image of his Slytherins spending an evening in the Gryffindor Common Room broke Severus' rant. But one of the security features of the castle was that the Common Rooms were disguised and, except for the staff, only students who lived in the House knew its exact location and how to gain entry. Before launching back into his rant, Severus thought to ask "How did they get to your Common Room?"

Harry smirked. "Oh, we weren't in the Common Room. Once Draco said he wanted to come, and we had a few Ravenclaws and then a couple more Slytherins, and there was at least one Hufflepuff in the group, Hermione asked Professor McGonnagal if we could use her classroom. It was too big a group to fit in the Common Room and it got noisy."

"You don't all take the same subjects," Severus observed.

Harry was not going to be riled. He'd just keep explaining until Severus was done with the subject. "That's right. We have a schedule and a leader for each subject, and if someone didn't take the class we'll be reviewing one night, they don't come, or they can work behind a silencing spell if they'd rather be with the group."

"Miss Granger thought of everything" Severus offered sourly.

"Yep, she usually does. Actually, she was happy to have Draco and Sandy Hopwood from Ravenclaw, so they can share leading the sessions. It used to be that she led all the study sessions."

"Even for courses she hadn't taken?" Severus could not help himself from asking. He'd always entertained an image of slothful Gryffindors lounging around their Common Room before exams, hardly taking any time to review the material. He could (grudgingly) see Hermione browbeating some of them to join her in study sessions to prepare for exams, although he'd never expected anything as elaborate as schedules for study groups. But how could she lead a session on a subject she'd not even taken, as much as her classmates might need such support?

It did not seem to have occurred to Harry that she had not been in every course, and was thus hardly qualified to prepare her fellows to take a final in a subject she did not know. He shrugged as he replied, "She knows an awful lot about most things. She led all the sessions before. Maybe it's that she gives us a structure to follow, and we provide the content. It always helped."

"Typical Gryffindors."

Harry decided to go on the offensive. "So, how do the Slytherins handle study groups, then, especially if someone as smart as Draco was thrilled to find out what Hermione was organizing?"

Severus seethed for a second, but had to admit, he'd never actually seen a study group form up in Slytherin House. "Typically, Slytherins study quietly, on their own."

Harry crossed his arms over his chest and looked levelly at Severus. "I think we declare this one a draw."

Severus realized he'd been completely diverted from his original point to Harry, and was now even wondering if there might be something to be said for organizing the Slytherins by classes to work through their notes and prepare for finals. He cast his own appraising glance at Harry, and mimicked him in crossing his own arms across his chest. "How very Slytherin of you Harry."

Harry briefly considered upping the ante and declaring it a victory for Gryffindor, but decided against that.

"Anyway, you know where I am, and I'll be returning here with others, and if I'm late, don't worry. OK? So, what did you do this evening?"

"I got an owl from Lucius. He's arranging for a test of the potion for vampires tomorrow evening at Malfoy Manor. He'll have one of his mediwizards there to monitor and assess what happens, and Aventine will be there with one or two of his clan."

Harry's look darkened for a moment. He was ashamed of that – ashamed of the visceral, negative reaction he had toward vampires. He was confident of Lord Aventine's good faith, and sure that he would bring no harm to him or Severus. But other vampires? Was that safe?

Severus could read the thoughts that ran through Harry's mind, as his expressions telegraphed them so clearly. Who needed legilimency when someone wore their thoughts on their faces like this? "I believe it will be perfectly safe, Harry. We will use a warded room that should provide protections, and there will be three of us ready to react should things not go as expected. The Headmaster asked to witness this, so we'll have three very powerful wizards, and I'd expect that Aventine will side with us. I really expect no problem."

Harry moved to a more comfortable perch on the sofa behind the coffee table. "So, how will you run this test?"

"We will have the mediwizard take certain readings from Aventine and his vampire companions, to verify their status as vampires, and determine if there are other . . . aspects to their physical situations that might need to be taken into consideration. Then, we test the potion."

"How do you plan to do that? How much of it do you think they need to drink?"

Severus picked a piece of lint from his robe as he answered. "I suspect that this might work adequately in aerosol form. It's a very concentrated potion; I've never seen one so strong. I want to begin offering a sniff of it on a piece of cotton. If that is too passive, I will have them inhale mist, and measure out different quantities of potion in the mist. If nothing happens when the potion is inhaled, we'll start offering it by drops. I don't think we'll have to do that, though."

"How will you know it works? What will happen to them?" Harry asked, as he wondered about the uncommon nervousness that Severus was unconsciously demonstrating.

Severus gave him a long look as he sighed before answering. "I am not sure. No one has ever reversed vampirism before. That's the other reason I want the mediwizard there. It is my understanding that Aventine is very well over one hundred years old; as a vampire, of course, he did not age. If he ceases to be a vampire, I do not know if he will simply age from that day forward, or if he will age all at once to his true age. Aside from that rather significant issue, I would expect the red eyes to turn back to their normal color, and once the curse is dispelled from their blood, their humanity will return. They'll want food and drink like the rest of us, things like that."

Harry contemplated Severus for a few minutes, not staring, exactly, but looking at him with a bewildering intensity. Severus wondered if the ravens were talking to him, but actually, Harry saw a path, or a part of a path. Finally, he reached over to Severus, putting his hand on the man's arm in comfort. "You'll do it. I know you will. You'll finish what Silvius Ventus had hoped to do centuries ago, but it will finally be done. Thank you, Severus."

X X X X X X X X X X

Harry was a bundle of nerves Tuesday night through study group. He desperately wanted the evening to end so he could find out how the meeting with the vampires had gone, and if Severus' potion had worked.

He'd seen Severus before dinner, one of the few moments they found themselves with free time at the same time. They were both nervous, and Harry did his best to be upbeat.

"Everything is going to go well tonight, Severus. I am so proud of you, so proud. You're going to make a huge difference tonight. I can feel it."

Severus was tempted to call Harry on his empty platitudes, but decided against it. Instead, he took Harry by the shoulders and drew the smaller man to him, holding him close. Harry slid his arms around Severus' waist, and returned the embrace. They stood quietly for many minutes, each finding comfort and strength in the other's presence. Unspoken between them was the fear, not that the potion would not work, but that vampires could not be trusted in the presence of humans not to attack. Intellectually, they both knew that Lord Aventine had never represented a risk to them or others when he was at the Ministry, but there would be other vampires at this meeting. Could they be trusted, or would they validate the general belief that all vampires were mindless beasts intent on spreading their curse? Neither would voice those thoughts or concerns.

Finally, when they had to leave or be noticeably late for dinner, Severus loosened his hold on Harry and stepped back to look down at his bondmate. With a final kiss, the two left for dinner.

Harry watched later as Severus and the Headmaster left dinner, knowing that they were heading to Malfoy Manor as he was trudging up to the Transfiguration classroom for the evening study group. Fortunately, the subject this evening was Charms, a class that Harry enjoyed (which meant that it was a class in which he had paid attention). It wasn't too taxing, and Harry was easily able to follow along as Hermione led the sixth years through a review of the year's work.

At Malfoy Manor, Severus and Albus arrived in time to finish last-minute preparations with Lucius and a gruff old mediwizard named Dr. Essenveld before the vampires arrived. Right on time, green flames flared in the large stone fireplace in one of the rear parlors recently restored after the Dark Lord's rampage. First through the floo was Lord Aventine, looking handsome and hale, albeit with the telltale red eyes that marked his condition. He was followed first by a stunningly beautiful woman, and then by a somewhat younger and very handsome man, each also red-eyed. Last to join the group was Valerian Ventus, Lord Aventine's non-vampire representative.

Lucius stepped forward, and very formally welcomed them. "Lord Aventine, welcome to Malfoy Manor. You know Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape, and this is one of my most trusted medical consultants, Dr. Essenveld." All nodded at the others; no one ever shook hands with vampires. "Thank you, Lord Malfoy. May I present Miss Claudelle Sansone, and Gregory Haskins, and I believe you may know Valerian Ventus." Lucius and Severus did know their fellow Slytherin, but considering the company, all opted to restrict the greetings to nods.

Severus stepped up to direct the proceedings from here. To the vampires, he said "Thank you for coming this evening and agreeing to be the first to sample the potion I have brewed. We have a table set up over here," as he pointed toward a mahogany table off to the side, "where we can discuss the process we will follow."

After everyone but the doctor was seated, Severus resumed. "First, Dr. Essenveld will conduct some basic scans to validate your current condition and determine if there are any other medical issues of which we should be aware. Then," as he gestured at a stoppered decanter placed before his seat, "we will see if this potion works as I expect it to. Based on the notes left for us by Silvius Ventus, and some other material to which I have access, I believe that your condition is caused by a curse that is suffused in your blood, and I believe that this potion will remove the curse." Severus nodded at that point to the mediwizard, who proceeded to wave his wand over each in turn, while a charmed quill made notes on a parchment. When Dr. Essenveld was finished, he nodded back at Severus.

All eyes were on his elegant hands as Severus removed the stopper from the decanter and poured a small measure into a glass bowl. He then took a piece of cotton and allowed it to absorb the potion. "I am not at all certain that the mere scent of the potion will have any impact on anyone, but the best practice is to begin here. Lord Aventine, do you wish to go first, or will one of your associates do that?" Aventine nodded, signaling that he would be first. "Fine, then. Please hold the cotton to your nose and inhale."

Lord Aventine did as he was asked, but the red eyes that were on Severus the whole time remained red. The cotton was passed along to the others, with similar non-results.

Severus did not appear at all surprised or distressed by this outcome. He now placed a glass funnel into an atomizer and carefully filled the atomizer from the decanter. The top of the atomizer had some dials, allowing Severus to control the amount of potion that went into the mist. "Once again, we begin with the lowest possible concentration. In this case, I would like you to mist the air in front of your nose, and breathe deeply. We'll leave the setting at that level, and you will inhale more in those small increments, at least to start."

Lord Aventine took the atomizer and gave the bulb a good squeeze, and inhaled the mist greedily. Severus' own heart leapt – the vampire's eyes were definitely not as red as they had been, although they were not yet human. "May I continue with more mist, Lord Snape?" he asked with quiet dignity.

Severus had intended to proceed with each taking one dose of mist in turn, but could not deny this man, who had waited so long and ultimately taken great personal risk in coming to the Ministry to secure assistance in getting the notes translated and this potion brewed. The science could be preserved with careful note-taking, and Lord Aventine deserved the right to be the first vampire cured of his condition, if that was to be the outcome. "As you wish. Just allow Dr. Essenveld to scan you with each dose, so we have a record of your progress and can use this to determine appropriate dosing for others."

The mediwizard cast his spells at this point, as his charmed quill made the notes. When he was done, he nodded for Lord Aventine to proceed. Another dose of mist was dispensed, again the vampire lord inhaled greedily, and again scans were made and notes carefully recorded.

Valerian, Lucius and Albus watched nervously as this process proceeded through the third dose with the atomizer. After inhaling the third dose, Lord Aventine's eyes were a rheumy blue, and while he was still a handsome man, he was an older man, and his skin sagged ever so slightly and creased at the corners of his eyes. Dr. Essenveld's final scans confirmed what their eyes told them. "Lord Aventine no longer has any evidence of a curse in his blood. His readings are all clearly human."

Severus let out a breath that he did not realize he had been holding, as Albus clapped him firmly on the back. "Well done, Severus, well done!"

A clear tear, with no tinge of blood, made its way down his cheek at the news, as Lord Aventine slowly stood. He was stooped now, as well, and he walked a bit slower as he made his way around the table. Severus stood as he approached, and took the man's outstretched hand. "Lord Snape, you and Harry Potter have my eternal gratitude. You have completed work left untouched for far too many years, but you have saved me and all others like me. Thank you."

Severus only then realized that he was shaking Lord Aventine's hand – it was a human hand, slowly warming as uncursed blood now flooded through it. Albus had been standing next to Severus, and he moved in, eyes twinkling with pride in Severus and pleasure for the cured vampire, to embrace Lord Aventine and offer his congratulations on this wonderful outcome. "I am sure our host can offer a nice brandy to reinvigorate your blood further, Edward." Lucius, who was absolutely gobsmacked at this remarkable turn of events, realized with a start – that was him. He summoned a house elf and requested that a bottle of the best brandy and snifters for all be brought immediately.

While Albus fussed over Edward and Lucius overcame his shock, Severus got back to business. He wanted to finish the night's work so all could partake in the celebration. He placed the atomizer in front of Claudelle and asked her to follow the process that Lord Aventine had just demonstrated. She nervously squeezed the bulb and sniffed the air deeply. Once again, Severus noticed an immediate change in her eyes, although another dose was clearly needed. Once the mediwizard had nodded that she could proceed, she took her second dose.

This time, Claudelle closed her eyes as she inhaled the mist, and all noticed, when she opened them again, that her eyes were deep brown, and she no longer possessed the perfect, ethereal beauty she'd arrived with. She looked human, with large pores around her nose, and a few broken capillaries on her cheeks. The mediwizard shortly pronounced that she, too, no longer had a curse flowing through her veins.

The atomizer was then placed before Gregory, who followed the pattern set by the other two, although he needed four doses of the mist before he had clear hazel eyes, a slight overbite, and some small acne scars on his face. He was similarly pronounced curse-free.

The house elf who had brought the bottle of brandy had to pop out for an extra glass each time one of the vampires became human. The little creature knew that a vampire could not eat food or drink brandy, so he brought no glasses for the vampires. But the vampires were turning into regular wizards, who needed glasses, and looking quite befuddled, he had to make two separate trips for an extra glass.

Claudelle was sobbing softly with joy, or possibly relief, and Gregory had followed Lord Aventine to the other side of the table to shake Severus' hand and express his heartfelt gratitude.

Valerian was the last to approach Severus, with a question apparent on his face. Severus guessed what he wanted to know. "Silvius, who I assume was your ancestor, was on the right path when his work was suspended. Had he been allowed to continue with his research, I predict he would have reached this point in a year or two. I had the advantage of four hundred years of general advances in potion making tools, and techniques, as well as some private research conducted by a more immediate ancestor of my own, that enable me to conclude this work as quickly as I did. But if this were a potion I was going to submit to the Potion Masters Guild, Silvius would have been listed first as developer." Valerian nodded, pride clear in his eyes.

Severus accepted the thanks and congratulations, but was rather clearly more interested in reviewing Dr. Essenveld's notes and working out a dosing protocol.

"Now, now, Severus. This is a most important and joyous occasion, and you should indulge in a moment of celebration" Albus counseled, as he directed the house elf to give all in the room a snifter of Lucius' brandy. "Our friends, Lord Aventine, Miss Sansone and Mr. Haskins, will benefit from the warmth of the brandy, and we will join them in celebration! To Harry and Severus!" he offered in toast, lifting his glass, and the others joined him. Severus nodded in thanks, and took a few sips of his own drink. It was clear that he was itching to get to work.

Finally, Albus gave in. "What a wonderful evening. Thank you, Lucius, for the hospitality of your lovely home, and thank you, Severus, for allowing me to witness such an event." Turning to the three who had arrived as vampires, he offered "While Severus and the good doctor review their notes and work out how to best deliver this remarkable elixir to others with this affliction, might I suggest that it would be best for all of you to remain where your continued good health can be monitored? And it might be a good idea for you to remain secluded, so you are not spotted out and about, lest word of this cure precede our ability to deliver it to others. Edward, you and your representative can work with Lucius and Severus on how best to get this produced in the necessary quantity and then distributed to those who need it. I'd gladly offer you the hospitality of Hogwarts Castle, but we're very full these days, and I fear there really is no space."

"Albus, most kind of you. We can repair to my own manor, and if Dr. Essenveld is available to continue to tend to us, I would be most obliged, although Valerian could summon assistance if any of us become distressed. It is safe there; I alerted my own house elves to what might occur tonight, and they have made my home ready. I asked them to have roast beef and Yorkshire pudding waiting for us – my, but I have missed that! But, if I may, I would like first to visit Hogwarts tonight for just a few minutes, to offer my thanks to Lord Potter for his role in this."

Severus nodded at this suggestion. For his part, Lucius looked inordinately relieved that no one had suggested that he host this group in his home. He was happy to have accommodated Severus in hosting this meeting, but he was not at all comfortable having three recent-vampires in residence.

As the group departed Malfoy Manor, Albus went through the floo to his office first, followed by Lord Aventine and then Severus.

"We can have a cup of tea and some cake – not enough to spoil your appetite for that splendid dinner you've planned, Edward, don't worry – while you get Harry, Severus, if that is acceptable with you?"

Severus was secretly pleased for the chance to share this wonderful news with Harry privately, although as he walked down to the Transfiguration classroom, he realized he'd be sharing the moment with all the Gryffindors, and sundry Slytherins, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. When he got there, the place was deserted. A quick lumos to determine the time explained why – it was much later than Severus' had imagined. He went on then to his own rooms, where a very nervous Harry was pacing. Severus smiled at the sight.

"Harry, will you join me in the Headmaster's office? He has a guest who would like a word with you." Harry spun at Severus' voice. That one sentence told him all he hoped there was to say. The guest had to be Lord Aventine, and the Headmaster would never allow a vampire into the castle, so the potion must have worked. Harry flew into Severus' outstretched arms with a whoop of celebration, followed by a kiss of gratitude and congratulations. Severus returned the kiss, but broke it off before they forgot that the Headmaster was waiting for them.

"We can floo from here up to my office – that's faster than taking such a long walk," Harry suggested. Severus agreed, and moments later, the two entered the Headmaster's office.

Harry was shocked by Lord Aventine's new appearance. This was obviously Lord Aventine, still a very handsome and distinguished man, but in many ways he looked so different. He was an older man now, stooped and a bit jowly, and with the eyes of an old man, too. But the eyes were definitely not red; now they were pale blue. He accepted the outstretched hand, and gushed "Congratulations, sir! I am so thrilled for you – this is wonderful!"

"No, Lord Potter, it is I who must offer you, and your bondmate, Lord Snape, congratulations and my deepest thanks for your trust and work on my behalf. I and two companions are now cured, thanks to you. I hope within the next few days, Lords Snape and Malfoy, my representative and I can determine how to get this potion to other vampires and restore them to their human state. I did not want to do anything, though, before I came to you to express my thanks."

Harry was clearly moved by the words. He smiled and nodded at Lord Aventine, unable to trust his voice at that moment. Severus suspected a moment of sentimental Gryffindorishness, and gallantly stepped into the breach. "I suspect that you two have more catching up to do, or at least a dinner to attend to, so we will leave you now. Lord Aventine, either I or Lucius will contact you tomorrow to discuss our next steps." With a formal bow, he added "Good evening" as he took Harry's arm and led him back to the floo in his own office.

Harry's voice was back by the time he and Severus reached their sitting room. "Tell me how it went, Severus! I want to know all the details!" he demanded as he sat on the sofa, leaving room for Severus if he was inclined to sit with him. Harry wanted to know, of course, but he suspected that Severus wanted to tell someone, too. This was an enormous accomplishment, and from what Harry understood of the arrangements, it was not going to be publicized at all. At least, he would have one opportunity, before one enthusiastic audience, to tell his story.

Severus did tell it, with gusto and in great detail. Perhaps too much detail, as it turned out. It was already quite late when he started, and Harry had had a tiring day, and then a long night of studying and worrying about how the potion would work. Harry felt a yawn coming on after about half an hour, and while he stifled it, he felt himself fading. Fortunately, he was awake as the story reached the part where Lord Aventine was cured, which was the most significant event, because not too long thereafter, Harry fell asleep. When Severus finally noticed that Harry was sound asleep, he was momentarily peeved although almost immediately, it occurred to him that he was exhausted, too. He pondered levitating Harry into the bedroom, but thought better of it. Instead, he gently gathered him in his arms, and carried him off to bed.

X X X X X X X X X X

Harry was itching to tell the story of the potion's success the next day, but Severus had sworn him to secrecy, allowing him only to speak of it to Hermione and Ron, and cautioning him to be sure they kept it secret, too. Harry normally did not want to intrude on their time together, and lately, he felt even more strongly the strengthening bond between his two best friends, but he couldn't keep this to himself.

As he took his usual spot between them at breakfast, he waited for the conversation to be focused further down the table before softly asking if they'd mind if he spoke to them privately before their first class of the day. "Mione, Ron, could we have a word before Charms? Maybe leave a few minutes early so we could speak privately?"

"Something was going on yesterday, Harry. You were totally distracted all day, and practically not even present by the evening. I do hope you are going to tell us what that was about," Hermione replied. For someone who had stormed from the Divination class muttering that it was all claptrap, Hermione sure did seem to see things others missed. Harry had been thinking that he'd controlled his concern all day, but apparently not from Hermione. Ron seemed puzzled by her comments, so perhaps Harry's act the day before wasn't a total failure.

The trio huddled in an alcove just past the classroom where they would have a few minutes of privacy as students started to gather in the hall. "Severus and Dumbledore tested the potion on vampires last night, and it worked," Harry blurted out. "Malfoy and Aventine are going to work out how to get it where it needs to go, but they cured Aventine. I saw him in Dumbledore's office myself, he was drinking tea and eating one of those cookies. Vampires can't do that, can they?"

Ron looked aghast. "No way would Dumbledore allow a vampire into the castle! How could he do that?"

"I told you, Ron. The potion changed him and he isn't a vampire anymore," Harry argued.

"But what if he was wrong? He could have caused a disaster," Ron persisted.

Hermione had greater trust in Dumbledore, apparently. "I am quite certain that the Headmaster would have been totally sure they were safe before he'd allow someone into the castle, Ron. How did it work, Harry?"

Harry shared the story he'd been told, adding "Malfoy even had one of his mediwizards, like the ones who took care of the Death Eaters after their powers were sapped, checking on them while they tested the potion, and he confirmed that their readings were human."

Ron still seemed unconvinced, but Harry figured that he had been exposed to the standard wizarding prejudice against or fear of vampires all his life, and was thus less willing to accept that one could ever be a "former" vampire. Hermione had her concerns, because no doubt the wizarding fears were written in a book somewhere so she'd read about it, but she was more inclined to accept that where Harry and Professor Snape were involved, the past did not dictate what would happen today. She even spotted a strategic advantage in the upcoming war that Ron had missed.

"Sirius mentioned that there were rumors at the Ministry that Voldemort has been trying to establish alliances with various Dark creatures to fight with him in whatever battles are to come, now that his plan to kill everyone with the sleeping spell didn't work. Most people think of vampires first when they think of Dark creatures. If the vampires are cured, do you think they'd be willing to fight on his side? Granted, they weren't treated well by the Ministry, but there are very few vampires known by name to the Ministry. The prejudice is so strong that most wizards who became vampires simply disappeared from their families, who never disclosed that they'd been bitten. If they return to their families cured, I can't imagine they'd want to identify themselves, after they'd been cured, as having once been a vampire. I'd expect that, once they were cured, vampires would go back to their old lives, or start new ones, as regular wizards."

Harry had not considered that strategic advantage, either, and he was buoyed all day by the realization that this success with the potion was more than just an extraordinary humanitarian success – it was a further wrinkle in Voldemort's plans.

Hermione scheduled the Wednesday study groups to work on topics that Harry had not taken, knowing that he'd miss her sessions in favor of the squib programs, so he did not even have to feel guilty as he settled into his usual spot near the front of the room, and greeted his friends, the princes, as they arrived and took their regular spots nearby. Tonight's program would provide information about Hogwarts, from the Headmaster, and then some of the teachers and a guest or two would talk about the kind of classes wizards-in-training attended. Harry recalled with amusement the near-panic that the presentation on the wizarding economy by Gringott's representative, Griphook, had caused, and wondered what reaction there would be tonight to Firenze when he addressed the group about Divination. He did not have Griphook's frightening Goblin appearance, but Centaurs were unusual. And if either Professor Sprout or the guest joining her to talk about the plants of the magical world brought any interesting specimens, that could be entertaining, too.

As the guest joining Professor Sprout was Eustace Landon, Petunia and Amaranth had again been joined at dinner by Eustace and Thurston. Petunia had decided that the best thing about having those two join them at dinner before these programs was that they prattled on so, it took Amaranth's mind off the program and calmed her nerves for a few minutes. The two Landons went on and on about who knew what, and all Petunia had to do was nod at appropriate times and they thought she was a great audience!

X X X X X X X X X X

Harry spent the rest of the week reading the Daily Prophet with a bit more interest than usual, to see if there was any mention that vampires had been cured. At the very least, he figured that something would be said when Lord Aventine appeared at the Ministry, because his appearance would make to clear to one and all that he was no longer a vampire.

By Friday, he began to wonder if there had been a problem. Severus had assured him that the single batch of potion he'd brewed was adequate for an initial distribution because it was so concentrated, and that Valerian Ventus was known to and trusted by all the vampire clans, so he was the one visiting them with the atomizers that would dispense the cure for their condition. But no one was saying anything, at least in the Prophet.

Draco caught up with Harry between classes, and asked for a word during the break after Potions. He did not mince words when the two of them had their private chat.

"Professor Snape brewed that potion from the notes you translated, about vampirism, and it must have worked."

Harry's mind was racing. He'd not said anything, as Severus had asked him to keep this secret. Had Ron let this slip? It was inconceivable that Hermione would do so, but how did Draco know? All he could think of to say was "What makes you think so?"

"Haven't you seen the Daily Prophet all week?" he demanded. Harry's expression made it clear that he did not have any idea what Draco meant. In his own mind, Harry was wondering how on earth he could have missed something like this, especially since he'd been looking for it. Draco continued "Well, alright, it might not have been as clear to you, I guess I can see that. All week long, there have been stories about members of wizarding families who have been away from home for years, decades even, who have returned. Lots of social notices – people having teas and receptions for relatives who have been abroad, or whatever. We'd always suspected that the people who disappeared had been bitten, and now, all at once, they're all back. I put two and two together. Professor Snape was asked to work on the notes about vampires, and suddenly, all these people are back in society. He must have succeeded."

"Have you spoken to your father about your suspicions?" Harry asked. He'd really rather that Draco's father be the one who told him – Harry did not know the most current information, and if Severus and Lucius still felt this needed to be secret, let Lucius be the one to explain it all.

Draco looked surprised at that suggestion, although he then remembered that the papers said his father had been tasked by Harry with championing the causes of werewolves and vampires. Still suspecting that Harry knew more than he was telling, Draco replied "I hadn't thought to do that. I'll owl him. Maybe he does now."

Harry reported this conversation to Severus later. "The distribution has gone very well. I think Ventus reached all the clans, and was able to get all the vampires associated with the clans to ingest the potion. There are probably a few out there still, but he has other contacts and feels it will be no more than a week or two when he will have reached them all, at least here in Britain."

"How can you get this to other countries? Aren't there vampires in other places?"

Severus was tempted to make a comment about how very Gryffindor that question was, but decided against it. "I have contacts in a number of places, as does Aventine and Ventus, and I suspect even Malfoy will help us out here. We will be able to get atomizers into the hands of the right people everywhere."

"And no one will know you did this?"

Severus smiled at Harry's naivete. "I will not tell anyone, or make any announcement, but I assure you, Harry, people will find out. Draco will ask his father; because his father had a role in this, I am confident he will tell Draco. While he might mention that this is to be kept quiet, Draco will still tell others. The Wizengamot is scheduled to meet in public next week, and that means that Lord Aventine will appear in public, and the change in him is obvious."

"Draco told me that he got suspicious reading the social pages of the Daily Prophet. Lots of people who've been abroad, according to their families, are suddenly back."

Severus looked a bit surprised, but smiled again. "I had not considered that, but he makes a point. There were a number of witches and wizards from prominent families who disappeared,, and their families simply told everyone that they went abroad. Many, including the Malfoys apparently, assumed that at least some of them were bitten. Have no fear, Harry, this will be general knowledge within a month if not sooner."

The buzz started in the castle at breakfast the next morning. Draco had gotten some information out of his father, and several other students apparently drew the same conclusions that Draco had from the events noted in the social pages of the Prophet. That there was now a cure for vampires swept through the castle population like wildfire, and then a second rumor, that Severus Snape was the man who brewed the potion followed right on its heels. That rumor was initially not believed at all among the Gryffindors ("Really, how could that git possibly be behind something as blatantly humanitarian as this? Seamus had demanded at the table one breakfast before Harry arrived), although even they eventually conceded that all elements of the story pointed to him as the likely brewer.

It was still a shock when a brown owl from the Ministry brought a notice that Severus was to be awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class.