Here is Chapter 14.
It's a rather short chapter, but it's necessary to move the story forward. I promise, for the rest of the fanfiction, I'll try to write longer chapters.
To be honest, I'm currently writing Chapter 37.
I'll try to publish more regularly.
Happy reading!
Chapter 14
Mio followed Professor Snape and stepped into the office. In reality, the room was more of a Potions laboratory. A large workbench of dark, worn wood stretched along the wall opposite the door. Several cauldrons rested on burners, ready to be lit. On the left wall, an immense bookshelf made of the same dark wood reached up to the ceiling. With a quick glance, Mio noticed that Snape didn't keep all his precious ingredients solely in the Potions classroom's storage. Against the right wall stood a small desk, more of a fragile table, accompanied by a comfortable chair that was almost like an armchair. The room was magically lit and had no windows. Mio recognized the familiar scent of the space—the scent of Severus Snape, a curious blend of spices, various potion ingredients, and… soap? Hmm, not sure. She was pulled from her thoughts by the owner of the room, who gestured for her to enter.
— As you may have already gathered, Mr. Longbottom and I have begun… collaborating.
— On what exactly? the young woman asked.
— I'm getting to that, I'm getting to that.
The dark-haired man leaned back against the workbench.
— A few months ago, the Master asked me to find a way to protect Nagini. You know that some Horcruxes have already been destroyed, and he fears for Nagini, who is likely one of them. So, I developed a potion to create a protective bubble around her. However… ahh.
He sighed, lifting his gaze to the young woman. She seemed eager to hear more.
He continued:
— However, when I presented the potion to the Master, he confided something rather unexpected—wounds inflicted by Nagini cannot heal. So, we now have an enormous, powerful snake, protected by a rather sturdy barrier, serving as a deadly weapon. That could become a serious problem down the line. So, I started searching for a way to heal her bites.
— And that's where Neville comes in, isn't it? You need ingredients from the greenhouses, but Professor Sprout isn't particularly fond of you these days.
— Exactly.
— I'd really like to know how you managed to approach and convince Neville to help you! He's been hiding pretty well.
— Ah, you mean your hideout in the Room of Requirement? That's not exactly a secret. As for convincing him, I admit I first used a little force.
— And threats? she cut in.
— Mmm, perhaps. Well, I simply used the Pensieve from Albus's office.
— What did you show him?
— The Master explaining Nagini's rather surprising abilities.
— And that was enough? That was enough for Neville to agree to help you—the professor he hates most, the one he fears the most?
In truth, Severus had left out a small part of the story. He had indeed forcibly caught Neville outside the Room of Requirement. He had dragged him to the Headmaster's office and threatened him with torture if he didn't listen. He had indeed shown him the memory.
But what Severus didn't mention was Neville's surprising reaction.
Flashback
The image of Voldemort, holding the enormous snake on his lap, grew blurrier and blurrier until Neville was thrown out of the memory. While he had been initially frightened by his near-kidnapping by Snape, he wasn't all that surprised by the man's memory. His reaction didn't go unnoticed.
— Strangely, you don't seem very shocked by what you just saw…
— Well, not really, admitted Neville.
— No? And yet, you are one of the leaders of Dumbledore's Army—the group that stands against him, against me!
— Yes, that's true, but I also know that your actions… are more complicated than they seem.
Neville paused. The professor was watching him with furrowed brows and a suspicious expression. He continued:
— And besides, I've seen some things…
— Such as? the man asked, now crossing his arms over his chest.
— Such as you, defending Mio when the Carrows went after her. Or… a certain closeness between you and her.
Neville saw Snape scowl at that last remark, so he quickly clarified:
— Well, I don't really know what connects the two of you. I don't even know if anything does. But I trust Mio, and she seems to trust you in some way. So, the memory in that Pensieve, the fact that you're showing it to me—it doesn't really surprise me.
Looking at the young man standing before him, Snape realized just how much time had passed and how far Neville had come from the frightened little boy who was disastrous at Potions. He was still just as terrible at Potions, but he was no longer a scared child.
— What do you expect from me?
— Botanical assistance. We need to create a potion to weaken Nagini.
End of flashback
Surprisingly, young Neville had sensed a connection between Severus and the young woman. But Snape had kept that detail to himself. What exactly tied them together? He didn't know, and frankly, after their recent argument, he had no desire to dwell on the question. It was better not to know.
Snape continued his explanations:
— We've already made several attempts. We tried a potion to alter the snake's venom, but none of our attempts could get through the protective bubble. We also tested various potions targeting the wounds inflicted by the venom—distilled dittany, modified Wiggenweld—nothing was effective.
— And if you managed to get past the protective bubble, would your potion work against the venom? she asked.
— The only way to know would be to try. But it doesn't matter—the bubble is impenetrable. I know that because I created it.
— And you can't destroy it or deactivate it?
— He would notice immediately. The Dark Lord is somehow linked to it.
— Hmmm.
Mio paused, then started pacing around the potion laboratory under the Potions Master's weary gaze.
— What if you claimed the bubble needed some kind of adjustment?
— Pff, he scoffed. It would take an incredible stroke of luck for the Dark Lord to believe that and for it to work.
— A stroke of luck? Or perhaps… liquid luck? she announced triumphantly.
— Well, at this point, it's worth a try.
— Do you have a bottle of Felix Felicis, Professor?
— Me? No. But Slughorn probably does.
The man straightened up and turned toward the workbench where Neville's small package was resting.
— Hmm, I might not need this after all. Then, turning to the blonde young woman, he added: Looks like you've escaped long hours of potion monitoring—you lucky thing.
Mio couldn't help but flash a quick smile. She knew the man—or at least, she thought she was beginning to understand him—and she could tell that this last remark was his version of an apology. Mio knew he would never actually say sorry for the awful things he had told her. And anyway, she had given as good as she got. They were almost even.
Silence fell over the room. Mio lowered her gaze and fidgeted with the bandages on her palms.
— Well, we've made… good progress. That will be all. You may go, he said coldly.
Mio wanted to snap back: That's it? They argue, he confesses his secret plan, she helps him solve his problem, and now she can just leave? Seeing her reaction, he added:
— What? Do you expect some grand declaration of gratitude? Bravo, Miss Weasley, your help has been the most invaluable of all! Without you, I am nothing! he declared, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
— Ugh, stop it, don't ruin things even more, she sighed. I've had my fill of your twisted mind.
Mio turned on her heel and left the office.
— Where are you going? he asked, following her into the sitting room.
— Well, to my quarters… she replied. Seeing the strange look the professor was giving her, she understood and added: Oh, I see. Don't worry, I take back what I said earlier—at least, the part about leaving. I really want to see if your plan works.
Then, opening the entrance to Snape's quarters and stepping through, she added:
— But I take back nothing else—you're still a bastard! A useful bastard, but a bastard all the same!