Chapter 36

The next day Hermione and Severus took the morning off and went to St. Mungo's together. They were quickly ushered into the director's office. It was a huge room with an impressive cherry wood desk and large leather chairs. The plants scattered artfully around the room seemed to make the office alive and comfortable. No expense was spared, and it made Hermione wonder about the man. Budgets were tight everywhere.

Severus visibly bristled at the sight of the tall, stocky, balding man. "Healer Davenport," he said tightly.

"Alishus, Severus. We are all professionals here," the man said, seeming to genuinely be pleased. "Come sit down. What brings you to my hospital?"

Severus explained about the spell and the potion. But he told Davenport he would not share it at this time.

"Why should I allow you to do this unknown procedure on one of my patients? It's an unheard of spell. I have no idea what the potion is made of because you refuse to share the ingredients with me."

Severus stood and glared at the Healer. "This may bring patients out of their damaged states and give them back their lives and return them to their loved ones. What's more important to you, Alishus, your need to know or your patients' welfare?" He could not tell him the spell came from Salazar Slytherin's book because the Healer would have assumed it was Dark magic. But Severus had detected nothing of the sort in this potion.

"You haven't changed at all, have you, Severus? You still think everything is a competition. I am concerned for the welfare of my patients. I do not want to strap a family with a relative who will be worse off. So many things could go wrong: paralysis, mental retardation. Do you think it will benefit family members to have to diaper and tube feed their relatives? With the way things are now, the patients are calm and in no further pain."

"You made everything a competition, Davenport, not I. Were you so unsure of yourself that you needed to best me at everything? You seem pretty successful now," Severus said with a sneer.

"Severus, my job at Hogwarts was many years in the past. Now, I am only concerned about the wellbeing of my patients. You need to give me some idea of what your spell entails, or I cannot let you proceed. It is a reasonable request," he said adamantly.

Hermione watched with increasing fear that they might come to blows. She could tell that Davenport was just as stubborn as Severus, and that scared her.

Severus stood and turned to go, striding away and leaving Hermione behind. Hermione stopped him at the door and whispered harshly to him, "Severus, please, this is for Neville and Harry. You must let go of whatever your past is with this man. Please do this for me and for Neville. You can do this: You are the master. You can prove to yourself and this man what you're capable of. It's not unreasonable for him to ask what you're planning to do to his patients."

Severus looked into her face and realized she was near panic that he would walk away from healing Harry and Neville's parents. She was on the verge of tears, and he hated hurting her.

"All right," he said, squeezing her hand. After they had taken their seats again, Severus explained the spell and even demonstrated a bit of it.

Davenport seemed to come alive with excitement. He was well-versed in spells and could read the nuances in the lights. "Come, I may be the director, but I must have a consensus of Healers to allow this. Give me a moment to call everyone to the boardroom."

The boardroom was different from what Hermione expected. There was no table surrounded by high-backed chairs. The room was circular, and it had a wall of windows looking into a huge greenhouse of potion ingredients. An open door allowed plants to spill into the room, making it an extended garden. Seating consisted of cushy couches and chairs positioned in a circle. There were even several Pensieves among the plants in alcoves. To Hermione's great surprise, an actual pine tree was growing from the floor and was now seasonally decorated in Christmas décor.

"Impressive," Severus admitted.

Although Hermione could see how tense he was by the way he was standing, she didn't say anything.

"Thank you, Severus. That's high praise from you," Alishus said. "We gather here several times a week to discuss our cases and to sometimes share the memories of those working on the most difficult or perplexing cases. It helps us to see what it is they see and why they have made certain diagnoses. It makes my staff more like a family."

"Yes, I guess it does." He knew there was an inherent trust in people who shared their thoughts. They were all people who were of one thought and goal. He looked at Hermione and smiled.

Healers of all shapes, sizes and races started to wander into the room. Besides Wizards and Witches there were Goblins and Fairies. Yet the lime green of their Healers' robes made them a solidified group.

"Come meet Miriam Strout, Severus. She's in charge of the Permanent Spell Damage department. She will have to give her consent."

The woman was friendly, and they had a quick but lively conversation with her. Finally Davenport said, "You will have to share the potion ingredients with her. Did you bring a sample?"

Hermione nodded, patting her robes. She pulled out the vial and handed it to the short, motherly woman.

Healer Strout took it with a sparkle in her eye. "Master Snape, your expertise precedes you. I will be happy to look at this, but I am certain that it will do what you say it does."

"My assistant Hermione Granger helped me prepare the ingredients, and I did the brewing. She was an incredible asset while I was studying the spell. I checked on her as the need arose."

"Well, Madam Granger, if Master Snape has your confidence, I'm sure the potion has been well prepared."

Hermione was distracted by a familiar figure and called out, "Firenze!"

"Miss Granger, it is good to see you again." Firenze bowed in respect. Even he wore a scarf of green tied around his waist where his humanoid and equine halves blended.

"What are you doing here?" she asked curiously.

"Firenze was a Healer in his herd," Davenport explained for him. "We are very proud to have him on our staff."

Firenze explained, "I still can't go back to the herd, and this gives me purpose."

"I'm glad; it's good to see you again, Healer Firenze."

The group was called together, and Healer Davenport explained why Potions master Snape and Hermione Granger had come. Everyone in the room listened wide-eyed as Snape explained in detail the properties of the potion and the spell. Arguments broke out as to who should be able to watch. Severus and Hermione were firm that they needed privacy to properly administer the potion and spell to Frank and Alice Longbottom. Severus agreed to allow Healer Strout to administer one dose of the potion to Alice, and Davenport would give the other to Frank. The spellbook had intimated that more than one person could be returned to himself or herself if they had a full dose of potion and had the spell performed near them.

Finally, Severus asked them to keep this conversation confidential. He didn't want the press alerted before the famous Aurors and Harry Potter were healed.

Once Severus had thanked the Healers for their time, he and Hermione left the hospital and Apparated back to Hogwarts.

As soon as they arrived at the Apparition point, Severus began walking briskly toward Hogwarts. Hermione ran after him and grabbed his hand, which, she discovered, was trembling. "Severus, what's wrong?" she asked, standing before him stopping him in his tracks.

He frowned and tried to walk around her.

"Damn it, Severus, don't shut me out. If we are going to do this, we need to do it together."

He ran his hand through his hair and looked down at her. "I didn't expect to have to have an audience...least of all Alishus Davenport."

"But you agreed," she protested, squeezing his hand.

"Yes, but you saw how Alishus is. He wouldn't have allowed us to help Harry and the Longbottoms unless he is allowed to be there. It's his hospital."

"Why do you think it was so important to him?"

"It's always been about control with him. He and I were first-year teachers together here. He taught Herbology before Professor Sprout came. He always made it a miserable experience to gather potion ingredients from his greenhouse. He still wants me to know that he's in charge."

"Are you sure? He seemed genuinely excited about the procedure. If you had a chance to see something like this for the first time, wouldn't you try your best to be included? You can be the better man here, Severus. Just ignore him. When we are in that room with Frank and Alice Longbottom, it will be just the two of us in our hearts. They will administer the potion, and you will sing them alive. I will be there supporting you every second. You won't even know anyone else is there."

He took her in his arms and held her tightly. "What would I do without you? You are my anchor. How am I supposed to feel love for people I do not even know? I am uncertain that this will work, Hermione."

"Severus? I've never known you to be insecure about your abilities. It was..." She stopped.

"... Raven who was scared," he finished for her.

"Yes, sorry." She pressed her face against his chest.

"Well, I guess we are getting closer. I am becoming someone I don't recognize."

"Is it bad?" she asked, trembling against him.

"No, not all of it. I have him to thank for you." He placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

"No, Severus. You have yourself to thank for me. He was and is you. I know that; you just have to accept it. Maybe then all the pieces will fall together for you."

****

The next evening they stood in the Longbottoms' hospital room. Someone had placed a tiny Christmas tree with blinking fairy lights on the small table between the beds. Neville sat rather nervously in a chair off to the side. Hermione took her place behind him and held tightly onto his shoulders in support. Frank Longbottom lay on a bed in the center of the room, and Alice sat in a wheelchair at his side. She was folding and unfolding a shiny candy wrapper.

Healer Davenport stood poised at the head of the bed ready to administer the potion to Frank. Healer Strout was running her hands over Alice's hair, trying to soothe her. Severus stood at the foot of the bed centering himself and working to block out any distractions so he could sing the words of the spell.

Hermione waited in silence and said a prayer for him as she awaited his signal for the Healers. She tried to send him her good thoughts and saw his face relax a bit. When he opened his eyes, he looked at the Healers and nodded ever so slightly.

Neville sat up a little straighter on his chair and watched the procedure with interest. His body was taut with excitement and fear.

Davenport positioned Frank's head so that his mouth opened a bit, poured the potion down his throat and rubbed his neck to ensure the potion was swallowed without choking the patient. He then stepped back. Strout held a small glass to Alice's lips. Alice grasped it and drank it quickly and then the song began. The timber and pitch of Severus' voice filled the room. The spell of lights wove around Frank Longbottom and formed a cocoon. A second group of lights encircled Alice. She watched, enraptured, and tried to pick the lights from the air.

Severus' voice soared and then faltered. He felt the fear well up inside him and saw the colors start to gray and Frank's body start to convulse. Severus took a step back afraid he'd injured the man further. How could I care for this man who means nothing to me? Who am I to think that I could bring someone back from so long a sleep?

Alice was still working at the strands of elusive wisps of grey with her fingers.

Neville was holding himself in his chair, his fingers white with strain as he gripped the seat at his sides. He didn't want to interrupt the spell, yet he had an overwhelming desire to comfort his father.

Hermione let go of Neville's shoulders and went to Severus and took his hands. "Sing, my love, sing. You can do this. Let my love fill you. Love is all you need, Severus. Sing."

He felt her mind touch his, and he felt her love soar like a giant bird with wings of gold through his heart. It filled him up, and his voice picked up its strength and pitch. The lights of the spell flared brightly, and the weave tightened. Frank Longbottom's seizures stopped, and his body relaxed. The lights started to travel up his body and finally surrounded only his head. The timber and resonance of the song came to its final notes, and the spell lights burst in a cascade like the celebratory fireworks they had seen during spell practice. But this time, darkness fled the man's brain and dissipated into the air around him.

Alice Longbottom was already looking around in curious wonder. "What's happening?" she asked.

Neville, who had been sitting stiffly, petrified with fear, finally catapulted out of his chair and came to stand over his mother's chair. "Mom. It's Neville, do you understand me?"

"Neville, my son? It is you." She hugged him and tears streamed down her face.

Hermione saw Frank's eyes flutter. "Neville, your dad!"

Neville kissed his mom and left her side as Miriam Strout went to her knees beside her and began to whisper things to her, trying to explain what was happening, but Alice halted her with a few words. Hermione wondered what she had said.

"Dad? Dad?" Neville called. "Can you hear me? Please try to open your eyes."

Severus stood stiffly, trying to process the feelings inside him. Hermione withdrew her mind and put her arms around him and held him close.

Neville called again, "Dad, open your eyes."

Frank Longbottom's eyes opened. He looked around, and his eyes focused on Neville's face. "Who?" he whispered.

"I'm Neville, Dad. You've been asleep a long time." He brushed at the tears on his own joy-filled face.

"Neville, no, he's a baby. Alice... my wife... where is she?" Frank asked, trying to sit up.

"She's here next to you," Neville said, trying to stop the flow of tears that streamed down his face.

Miriam pushed Alice's chair closer to the bed, and Alice reached for both Neville's and Frank's hands. "I'm here, Frank." She spoke clearly and with strength.

Frank was blinking, trying to focus and understand what had happened. "Bella... trix." he stammered. "She cur... sed..." His words were slow and broken.

"Yes, Dad. You've been asleep nearly 19 years."

"Nineteen years Neville, you're a man now... my son." Tears leaked from the man's eyes and slipped down his face, drenching the pillow.

Neville leaned over the bed, hugged his father to him and placed a kiss on his father's forehead. "Dad..."

Hermione noted that Frank tried to raise his left arm to grab on to Neville. But when he tried to lift his arm, it spasmed, and he finally let it drop to the bed.

Neville hadn't noticed.

Hermione went to the door, opened it, and motioned to Luna who was waiting outside. She noticed that Severus was leaning against the wall for support. The spell had exhausted him. She rushed to his side to lend her shoulder for support.

The beautiful waif of a girl went right to Neville, who drew her close. "Dad, Mom, this is Luna. We are getting married soon."

"Luna... beautiful... need to sleep." Frank drifted off.

Neville looked around in alarm.

Alishas Davenport called, "Miriam."

The Healer left Alice's side and came closer. Neville moved back. She waved her wand over the unconscious wizard and ran a scan. "He's sleeping," she diagnosed after a moment. Everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief. "Mr. Longbottom, your father has some paralysis on his left side. It's nothing too serious. I think that with potions and muscular manipulation, we can help that in time."

Neville nodded, unable to speak as he continued to stare into his father's face. A tug on his hand brought him down on his knees into his mother's arms.

"Neville, I've watched you for years, but I was trapped in that half existence and unable to speak. Your Luna is a beautiful girl. I'm so happy for you."

Davenport turned to Severus and came closer. "Severus, you and I haven't seen eye to eye for many years, but I have to tell you that was the most impressive spell work I have ever seen in my life. I would be proud to have you work with us on a few other cases of curse-injured patients."

Severus eyed him, amazed at how sincere the man was. That shocked him and also warmed him. "Once we have brought back Harry Potter, I will consider it. Now if you think we are done here and you can take over, Hermione and I need to leave. I need rest."

"Of course, I understand. I don't know where you got that spell, but I would love to see it and see the source."

Severus thought, I bet you would. But he said, "Alishas, if you keep the press away until after Harry is awakened, I will share the spell and maybe its source. Do we have a deal?"

"Of course! The Longbottoms will stay in seclusion. They need time to assimilate what has happened and to gather strength."

Severus arched a suspicious eyebrow. "Why the change of heart? Aren't you jealous of my accomplishment?"

"Severus, I should have explained yesterday. Your sacrifices saved my family. I owe you. Forgive me for the ridiculous, old games," Davenport explained. "There was a Death Eater raid on my family home. My in-laws were killed, but my wife and kids survived. She swore to me that she saw you miscast spells at them on purpose. I didn't believe her until the truth came out after the final battle. I owe you so much."

Severus was touched by the man's gratitude, but his exhaustion was getting more severe with the effort to remain on his feet. He only nodded gratefully at Alishus as Hermione guided him out of the room and the hospital. Severus pulled a Portkey from his pocket.

When they landed, they weren't at Hogwarts but the lair. Hermione watched as Severus slipped to the floor and cuddled a waiting Grendel. She realized the animal had been his only friend for years. As she watched the scene, more tears spilled from her eyes, and she realized that Grendel was somehow able to give Severus some of his strength. She could see the strength returning to his face as the lines of exhaustion vanished.

He reached up to draw her down to sit with Grendel and him. "This emotional overload is rather painful and wonderful at the same time," he told her softly. Severus wound his fingers into hers and held her hand tightly. His other hand was buried in Grendel's thick fur. "If you had not been there tonight, Frank might have died. I nearly lost the spell."

"But you didn't; you finished it. You saved them both from living death."

"We saved them, Hermione. I do not know what I ever did without you."

"You have Grendel," she said, soothing the animal's fur. The great beast began to purr. Hermione laughed. "He has empathic abilities, doesn't he?"

"Yes, you know I need to talk to Hagrid about him. He gave me the great beast. Maybe he knew I would need his abilities over the years. There have been times when I nearly fell into the cave here, bleeding and near death, and somehow when this big guy sat near me or licked my wounds, I healed."

"That's one of those stories you were going to tell me." She smiled. "I knew he was a comfort, but I had no idea about the rest," she said, looking at the beast with new respect and love.

He was running his hand over Grendel's fur. "I can't really live without him or you, Hermione."