Chapter Three

~ Chapter Three ~

Hermione returned to the castle later than she would have preferred, but there was still plenty of time for Narcissa's "girls' night in."

When she knocked on the door, a tingling feeling was closely followed by the door opening of its own accord.

"We added you to the ward. It seemed silly for one of us to keep opening the door for you." Narcissa kept writing with an elegant quill at Snape's desk whilst she spoke.

Hermione raised her eyebrows at the scene of domesticity. Draco was also writing a letter, and she could just see Lucius through the open door to Snape's room, sitting at the bedside and apparently reading aloud.

"Just a moment, and I'll be ready to accompany you." Narcissa smiled, but still didn't meet her eyes.

"Shall I check the potions before we go?"

"No need. I just did. They're both fine." And with a couple more decisive strokes, she sealed the envelope and added it to a small stack. "Draco, do take these up to the Owlery before it gets dark, or there will be no owls left."

"Yes, Mum. I'm almost done."

Hermione found it sweet that Draco could be so obliging to his mum.

As Narcissa turned to her corner of the room, she said, "Why don't you go in and say goodnight to Severus?"

"Good idea," Hermione answered, feeling it was only partially true. Mr. Malfoy stopped reading when she approached, and she mumbled, "Narcissa said I should say goodnight."

"Ah, you're on a first-name basis now."

"Yes."

"That's good. Well, don't let me interrupt you. It's good for Severus to hear the familiar voices of friends. It's keeping him grounded."

"I doubt he'd consider me a friend."

"Maybe not, but you certainly are familiar."

For the first time, Hermione felt self-conscious as she took his hand and began to speak. She knew people had done the same for her when she'd been Petrified. Had Harry and Ron 'grounded' her? She certainly didn't remember anything. Still, something about Mr. Malfoy's gaze on the back of her neck made her keep the visit short.

Emerging from the bedroom, she saw that Narcissa was levitating a small bag behind her. Of course, she wouldn't sling it over her shoulder like a Muggle.

It felt very odd giving the password to the Fat Lady in front of an adult and a Slytherin to boot.

She thought Narcissa must have had a similar thought because, as they settled in her room, the older woman said, "Perhaps you should take quarters in the Slytherin Head Girl's room."

"Wouldn't Pansy stay there if she comes to visit Draco?" Hermione was pretty sure Pansy's things were still there.

"Perhaps you're right. Still, rooms in the dungeons would be much more convenient."

"Well, I suppose I need the exercise." Hermione tried to answer lightly.

"Far be it from me to prevent a young witch from keeping herself fit. Now, where to start with you..." Narcissa tapped one perfectly manicured nail against flawlessly colored lips. "Have you ever straightened your hair?"

"Once. I startled myself every time I looked in the mirror."

"I see. I think we'll start there. Sit." She gestured to the seat at the vanity. "You'll use your wand as you would a flatiron, but instead of heat, the charm will keep the hair straight. Do you have any smoothing serum?"

"Not with me."

"No problem. I do. You are about to experience a closely held Malfoy family secret. Take your wand--use your wand hand." When Hermione did, Narcissa blanched. "That's Bella's."

"Yes. She broke mine." Hermione refused to meet Narcissa's eyes in the mirror. Dealing with Slytherins in private life was turning out to be more of a minefield than a battlefield.

"Have you found it difficult to use?" Hermione nodded. "Well, that is hardly surprising. Bella's wand has always been for dueling and dark arts. I suppose yours was used mostly for charms and transfiguration."

"How--"

"Don't fret. I leave it to Severus to delve into the minds of the unsuspecting, and I'm not for Divination either. I do have a knack for auras. Bella's was dark; yours is bright. Mine is somewhere in the middle. This particular charm might be just the thing. May I hold it?"

Hermione couldn't remember another witch ever asking to hold her wand, but this was this woman's sister's wand to begin with. "Okay."

"Now I can feel it. You've not been using it to its potential because you are afraid of the darkness. Let's see if we can't do something about that. As I run it over your hair, it will be my energy transferring through Bella's wand into your hair. It can't but improve the synergy."

As Narcissa began running the wand over small sections of Hermione's hair, Hermione asked her to explain synergy.

"When my husband and I cast a spell together, such as the Mobilicorpus we used yesterday, the energy produced is greater than just the sum of our individual power. Either one of us could have performed the spell alone, but casting together is... Let me try this another way.

"If any two random wizards attempt to cast together, their auras might conflict or might be neutral toward each other. Neutrality is usually the best one can hope for, although on rare occasions they might find true synergy in the first attempt; that's called affinity if you want to look it up."

Hermione fought her instinct to nod. "But why aren't we taught about this?"

"Anything involving auras is usually sidelined into the realm of Divination. Since you missed your N.E.W.T. year--"

"Oh, I dropped Divination years ago."

"Well, there's your answer, although it is not always taught in Divination either. Teenage girls tend to romanticize it, although it's not so much a way to find your partner as it is to enhance what already might exist between you. And it works the same way in any relationship, such as between friends or siblings, a mother and her child. That's why the potions your mother made--sorry, I'm not sure if there's a Muggle equivalent. Witches often find that their potions work best for their own children. The potion will work as intended for another child who has the same illness, but it may work faster, require fewer doses, or even taste better to her own."

"I suppose Muggle comfort measures are the same way. Even babies know their own mums' voices."

"Right, except instead of her voice, a witch can be identified by those close to her by her aura. They may not do it consciously, but that closeness you feel to your friends may be more than you realize. When you find someone that you 'just click with,' it's your auras that are 'clicking.'" She gave the wand a quick flick and set it on the vanity. "Take a look."

"I've been watching you the whole time, but it's still kind of surprising."

"And the finishing touch." Narcissa squirted a floral-scented potion at Hermione's hair, then ran a comb through it. "That will last until you wash it, which you won't have to for an extra couple of days because the serum and the straightening charm work together to absorb your head's natural oils. It actually looks better the second day."

Hermione remained distracted whilst Narcissa showed her a variety of nail polish and picked the one she thought best, but couldn't let the topic go altogether. "So, what does synergy have to do with potions?"

"Have you ever studied Potions Theory?"

"You know, up until about half an hour ago, I thought I could take the N.E.W.T. in any subject, but now I'm realizing that there is probably more than what was in my text books that I'd need to know."

"That's true, although Potions Theory isn't really something anyone but Potions masters have to know. I only know as much as I do because Severus ate many a meal at our table during his apprentice years, and I couldn't help but absorb from his outpouring of enthusiasm."

"Enthusiasm?"

"Oh, yes. You must have imagined all these years that he stalks around in his personal life as he does in the classroom, but he is different with people he doesn't feel he has to prove himself to. And when he was young, in our glory days before... I suppose your side saw it differently, but those were exciting times for us. We were all so idealistic, but then reality crashed in around us harshly when they started sending us to Azkaban. Anyway, Severus was enthusiastic, eager. He looked the sullen young man to others, but he came alive when there were just a few of us around, and he couldn't wait to share his knowledge.

"He knew I had a knack for auras, and it began as several weeks of discussion on how they related to Potions Theory. The idea is that potions are more than the sum of the ingredients. Willow bark has pain-relieving properties by itself, but it isn't the chemicals in the bark alone that will cause your balm to work. The brewer's own aura encourages the ingredients to perform as intended, and the recipient's aura performs the last little bit."

"Let me see if I can take this to its conclusion," Hermione said, finally starting to connect the dots in her mind. "Potion-making is like casting a series of spells. Usually, it is just one person casting all of them, but if people take turns, it wouldn't work as well because their auras might conflict?"

"That's the general idea. Most auras are somewhat neutral; any natural incompatibilities can be smoothed out just by the practice of two people working side by side and having a common goal. In time, compatible auras can begin to reach out toward each other. Look at that, I'm all done with your nails, and I still haven't really been able to explain it, but it really has to be experienced. Next time I see you with your boyfriend, I'll take a peek at how your auras interact. It might be easier to explain with yourself as an example."

Hermione excused herself to change whilst Narcissa put her beauty supplies away. When she returned, Narcissa applied the balm to Hermione's back. "You shouldn't have any pain until tomorrow night when we'll apply the fresh brew."

Hermione put a robe on and escorted Narcissa out though the common room before returning to try to sleep. The balm was working, and Hermione felt certain her nightmares would be easier to control without the physical reminder of what had happened to her. She cleared her mind, then focused on the image of the tree by the lake.

Her dreams were confusing and exhausting. She was running through the castle, dodging hexes. She was being chased by centaurs. Suddenly, a dark-cloaked figure swept her into his arms. "Keep still, Hermione."

She was stunned to hear that voice use her first name like that, but a moment later, he had Apparated them to the tree by the lake. They stood, his arms keeping her steady for several moments. "Can you stand on your own?"

Hermione looked up into dark, concerned eyes and whispered, "I think so."

He released her and stepped back. Removing his cloak, he revealed his pajamas. At Hermione's giggle, he scrunched up his face until his customary black outfit emerged. "Highly amusing, Miss Granger," he said in a tone indicating he thought it was anything but. Then he sat elegantly on the cloak and gestured for her to join him.

Making sure she wasn't in her pajamas, she sat on the opposite edge, keeping as much space as possible between them. "Thank you for rescuing me."

"I suppose I could say something of the same nature to you."

"I didn't really do anything. It was mostly Draco."

"Still, you are here."

"Are you real?"

"If I weren't, would I know the difference?"

"I suppose not. Still, you seem mostly like yourself, except that you called me by my first name earlier."

"You can thank Narcissa for that. She talks about you a lot."

"Do you visit her dreams?"

"No, her dreams are otherwise occupied."

"Mine should be as well, but you seem to have taken over. Not that I'm complaining. That is... Thank you."

"You've already said that."

"My, but you don't relax your standards for anyone, do you?"

"The mind of Hermione Granger should be sharp in sleep as well as wakefulness."

"Well, the tongue of Severus Snape is just as sharp in sleep as it is awake." She suddenly blushed. "You aren't going to remember this, are you?"

"I think not. I imagine at the most I will have something of a fond memory of you, and I might accuse you of lacing the healing draught with Amortentia."

"Thanks for the warning." She met his eyes until the intensity caused her to look down. "This is a fond memory?"

"A beautiful, young woman was in my arms, and now she sits beside me under a tree by the lake. There is no one around to mar this idyllic image."

"It is peaceful. Is that what you've wanted all this time, just some peace?"

"Peace is harder to come by for me than you can imagine. And by the by, you won't remember this either."

"Why not?"

"Do you ever remember your dreams in such detail?"

"I suppose not, but I will remember you."

"I'd like to think so... Hermione."

A/N: Thanks again to Lauren and Sunshine for keeping me on my toes!