Back to Good: Part 1

Disclaimer: I've borrowed some characters that J.K.R. created. I promise to Scourgify them and send them home when I'm done. Alas, no Galleons are being made.

I'd like to thank my dear friend and beta, Charmed Nay, for going through this for me.

"I've never been more uncertain about anything in my entire life," Hermione said dejectedly, looking back at her book. "What if we fail?"

"Then," Dumbledore said quietly, "we try again."

"Here is the passage again about the single drop of blood. I'd like your opinion on it."

She never noticed the slight shake of his head or the mirth in his eyes.

"The book says that one drop of blood is needed, but it must be dried on the freshly picked, green leaf of a yew tree." She sighed in exasperation. "I've been thinking about this off and on all day. How can the leaf be all that freshly picked if I have to let blood dry on it? I won't be able to use it right away, will I? And... it's not like I can place an enchantment on it. I don't want to use any magic to displace anything. I already lose time by getting the leaf from the yew trees here in the Forbidden Forest...since there are none near home...and then having to Disapparate to the potion."

"I am certain that it allows for the time lapse needed for the blood to dry, which doesn't take very long. So even though it will take a few extra minutes, it will still be what the book considers freshly picked," he said confidently. "If you're worried about saving time, why not bring the drop with you and do it there, Disapparating immediately to your potion after. Then you will have only used time that you'd already been allotted."

Hermione blushed in embarrassment. "I thought about that as well, but I just wanted to make sure. This is too important to mess up." She smiled. "You did say that if I had any uncertainties to let you know." She looked back down again. "Here, one leaf from an oak tree." She nodded. "I saw some of these in the Forbidden Forest. The leaf needs to be dried. I don't have any timeframe with that, so it should be no problem. I wonder which of the trees would have the best leaves? The strength represented by the use of this leaf here is almost as important as the part the yew's resurrection qualities will play. Near the edge are large, thick oaks, but perhaps near the center there are..."

"I would think that those oak trees bordering yours and Severus' home would be sufficient," he said, a small smile playing about his lips.

"Right," she said absently.

"Hermione, we've been going over this every night for the past week. We decided exactly what to use last night after finally narrowing down what exchanges would be made to compensate for the gender problem." He paused, waiting for her to look up. "What has made you second guess our decisions?"

"Well, I was at work today, and I was thinking that perhaps we should take Severus' weight into consideration. While his frame is definitely larger than a woman's, he doesn't weigh very much...especially not after all these weeks. What if doubling some of this is a mistake? Maybe we should only add a portion more."

"I do not believe that the slight excess will harm him." He took the book from her hands and closed it. He pointed to the parchment with the list of ingredients and directions that they'd been working on each night. "Only read this from now on."

Nodding, she said, "I'm just afraid that I will fail him. Failing has always been one of my greatest fears."

"We'll be successful, Hermione...if not this time, then the next." He eyed her for a moment. "Had I known that you and he would truly come to care for each other this much, I do believe I wouldn't have tried so hard to come between you. Each time I visit him, it's all I think about. I wonder if perhaps I should have just let nature take its course without my interference. I just thought it terribly wrong for him or you to..."

After a long silence, she said, "I can understand that you were trying to do what you thought best. Maybe you shouldn't dwell on it. I think that everything that happened was meant to be. Maybe I was intended by fate to have to live with Harry those months, forcing Severus and he to come to a sort of truce? Maybe he wouldn't have..." Don't voice that, Hermione, she chided herself.

Dumbledore seemed to understand what she'd intended to say. "I never doubted that he would end being loyal to me and our cause."

"I'm going to go. Tomorrow I'll start gathering all of the ingredients and getting them ready...well, the ones that I can use at will anyway."

"The new moon will be Wednesday. Do you need any help?" he asked.

"No, sir, thanks anyway."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ONE WEEK LATER

Hermione quickly jotted down the last of the notes that her department head, Croaker, had lectured.

"And I suppose that marks our dismissal," he ended.

As she put away her things, he leaned over the table and peered down at her. For a moment, he simply stared at her.

"Yes?" she asked uncertainly.

"Do you have it?" he asked.

"Sorry?" She had no idea what he was on about.

"The report on the new chronometer and the plausibility of it being completely accurate." He sighed in apparent annoyance. "You do remember that it's due today?"

"You just told me about that yesterday," she said, looking up at him incredulously. For some reason, she had a feeling that this man was out to get her sacked. Lately, he always seemed to have some scathing remark about her ideas or work. If he did praise her, it was minute and likely because others had put in on the work.

"We have a job to do here, Granger, and adults work at faster paces. There are more important things than giving interviews or going out to pubs with your friends each night," he lectured.

"Sir, I do not go..."

"When you do grace us with your presence, you come in here with dark circles under your eyes! I am not so thick as to not know what you are up to. Perhaps you are a bit too juvenile for a job with responsibilities of this magnitude or unable to understand the way of things."

"I was approached for this job by the Minister himself. I took all the required tests even though they'd been waived, and I passed them easily enough," she said. "I am certain I understand things well enough. I'm not some... dunderhead!" She held back a smile, thinking of the word Severus used often when talking about students.

"Just because you are in the Minister's pocket doesn't mean anything to me," Croaker said, smiling nastily. "I'll go straight to him and tell him that you aren't able to hold your own in here. Perhaps if you had to come to work the same way that we all do, you might not think so highly of yourself." He sneered. "Not all of us have an office such as yours, you know. You'd think they would allow longtime employees that benefit!"

"When I accepted this job," Hermione began, rising from her chair, "I explained to him that I was working on another project, which keeps me up very late most nights, explaining the dark circles under my eyes. He agreed that this job would not interfere with it, and we worked out the details of my hours and my office. If you have a problem with that, then yes, go to him." She pushed her chair under the table with a slight bang. "From this moment forward, sir, you are going to stop treating me this way. I really enjoyed this job and the people here until you started trying to make it purposely unpleasant for me."

"We have jobs to do, and no matter what hours you might want to keep, the rest of us have times that we have to be here... and there are deadlines that need to be met!" he bit out snidely. "You have to get your reports to us by deadlines all the same...no matter whose sidekick you are." When her eyes widened in surprise, he went on, "That's right. Some of us aren't all that impressed that you are Harry Potter's mate!"

"Mr. Croaker, you only told me of this report yesterday. If you'd given me a fair warning and a definite deadline date, I would have had it done. You are holding things against me that are not my fault!"

"My working day ends this evening at six o'clock. I'll expect that report on my desk by then, or you..."

"Impossible," she interrupted. "I will have it for you in the morning at the earliest," she said, crossing her arms over her chest to keep from balling her fists. The man was infuriating. "I know I am more than capable to do this job. I've always been a hard worker and took education and duties seriously, no matter my age. It's up to you to recognize that and get past the idea of my office being in my home and the idea that Harry Potter is my best friend. Neither of those influences the quality of my work, which I know is top rate!" She turned to leave the office.

"You can't just walk out of here, Granger!" he called out.

"We're through here, sir. I suggest that the next time you try to sabotage one of my assignments to make me look incompetent you do it a little less obviously!" She moved forward again, only to stop and look back. "And I won't put up with your attitude or the way you talk to me. I'm almost nineteen, not ten. Don't you dare think to try to intimidate me again!"

With that, she quickly left, not wanting her bravado to suddenly waver. She was uncertain if it was wise to speak to him in such a way, but she wouldn't put up with him any longer. Everyone else had readily accepted her. He was the only one who made snide comments about her age and how people so young usually weren't accepted. The worst part was that he was her boss. Boss or not, I shouldn't be talked down to in such a way or let him bully me!

Hermione made her way to her office, pulled out a book and some parchments, and then stepped out into her home. The aroma of dinner surrounded her, making her stomach growl. It felt good to be home. She'd just finished her longest day at the office yet, and it was her most trying.

"Hi, Mum," she said as she entered the kitchen. "Smells great."

"Oh, thanks, dear," her mother said happily.

"You know, you don't have to cook all the time."

"I don't mind at all. It gives me something to do and fills up... the emptiness." The smile she gave Hermione belied the sadness in her eyes. The way her mother dealt with life's twists and downfalls was wonderful. Things did bother her, but she never let them get her completely down.

Hermione went to check on Severus. He was the same of course. "Today was long, and can you believe that my boss finally came right out and said what he's so obviously been itching to say?" She began changing into something more comfortable. "He's not impressed that Harry is my friend. Oh, and I'm in the Minister's pocket." She began laughing loudly. It felt nice to laugh. As she sat next to him, her laughter faded. "I suppose his words did hurt some. I mean, he is my boss. I'd hoped that he would see me for who I am and the work that I am capable of." She pulled Severus' hand to her mouth, kissed it, and then rested her cheek against it. "Will people never take me seriously?"

She put his hand back at his side and stood, stretching out as she did so. "I hope things change. I really had a go at my boss. If nothing gives now, I doubt it ever will, but that doesn't mean I have to stay in that department." A gust of wind came in through the window and blew her parchments about. "Shite!" She quickly picked them up and went to the windows to close them. "Looks like rain."

After closing the drapes, she said, "I'm going to go eat quickly. After, I'll check on the base to make certain nothing is amiss. As of this morning, the color was still light brown, and it's still quite thick and chunky. That's a good sign, though, as it means we're spot on so far." Sighing, she moved to the door, but she paused before leaving. "I was going to go out near the coast to get that bit of dittany that I'll need in a couple of days, but I won't be able to do that until tomorrow. I've got to finish that arsehole's report for the morning. I'm sorry."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TWO WEEKS LATER

Hermione nervously turned down the lamp in the room, allowing a faint glow to remain. "Severus, really, I wouldn't do this, but I have to." The potion called for a single drop of seminal fluid. The idea of obtaining it from someone unconscious didn't sit well with her. It felt wrong. But I will do this! I have to do this for the potion.

Placing the small phial on her pillow, she looked down at his pale face, eerily greenish in color due to the light glow of the lamp and the moon's filtered rays. Deciding against the lamp, she quickly put it out completely, shrouding them in near darkness. She slid in beside him and took a deep breath. It shouldn't take very long.

She moved to her side and faced him, moving her hand beneath his dressing gown. Ever so slowly, it traveled up, rubbing against his skin purposefully, and it came to rest on his slight erection. A few caresses and squeezes had him firm enough. She began to move her hand, praying that it wouldn't take long and keeping her phial at the ready.

Nearly an hour later, she was finally able to get what she needed. She hurried to her makeshift lab and added one drop to the potion as directed. Both hands and arms ached from the constant motion of trying to get him to reach culmination. "Who would have thought it would have taken so long?" she mused. But it made sense. He was not in his state for his pleasure. It was for hers, according to the reasoning behind the spell. He would remain stiff and ready for a long time because it was required of him to be in such a state while she sought her own pleasure.

She shook her head in annoyance, trying to imagine having a shag with an unconscious person. She could never do it. What sort of person would create such a spell? Who would want to...? "People like Voldemort and Malfoy of course," she said, wondering if either of them had ever actually used it. Maybe Voldemort had, but from the way Malfoy spoke of his wife, Hermione was uncertain that he would readily go off and take part in such things.

Frustrated, she made her way back to their bed and fell into a fitful sleep. Being that the next day was Saturday, she had a bit of a lie in, needing the extra sleep. Near noon, she Flooed Harry and asked if he'd been able to get the ingredient for her.

"It wasn't very hard," Harry said, stepping through the grate moments later. "The old witch at the apothecary was a right helpful witch."

"Well, she was quite rude to me when I stopped in, telling me it would be a week when I saw some in the case behind her!" Hermione said, scoffing. "I don't see why people are reluctant to part with it. I don't know that it's all that hard to require."

"Have you ever tried to corner a Graphorn?" Harry asked mockingly. "From what I've heard, they're quite fierce. Don't guess they'd want to part with their horns. Would you?"

"Oh, it's already powdered," Hermione said, dumping the contents onto the counter.

"Yes, the nice old witch did it for me herself."

"What's so funny?" Hermione asked, seeing that he was about to laugh.

"Well, she couldn't let the great Harry Potter be bothered with powdering a Graphorn's horn, could she?" He shook his head. "I'll never get over some people and the way they think."

"At least my boss doesn't hold you in high regards."

"Ah, right! Croaker, the man who dares to not admire the Boy Who Lived or his...what did he call you? Oh, right...sidekick. Maybe I should..."

"Hermione! There is a man's head floating about in the grate!" her mother called from the sitting room.

Giggling, Hermione and Harry went to the room. "Oh, Mr. Croaker, what can I do for you?" she asked, eyes widening at Harry. What a coincidence!

"I just wanted to let you know that I will be out of the office on Monday, so our meeting for that morning has been cancelled. You need not come in unless you choose to," he said with a nod.

"Thank you, sir, I appreciate the notice," she said gratefully.

"Not a problem." The man's head whipped to the side and took in Harry's presence. "Oho! Harry Potter!" he exclaimed. "We've never met! It's a pleasure."

"Oh, I already feel as though I know you," Harry said, nodding at the man. "But I suppose it's good to finally put a face to the man... Hermione speaks so highly of."

"Indeed. Indeed," the man said. "Have a good day, you two!"

Hermione closed her gaping mouth. "That bloody hypocrite! Did you hear that? Not impressed with Harry Potter, is he? Hmph!"

"At least he's not treating you like shite anymore," he pointed out.

She grinned. "Yes, I suppose our little talk that evening took some of the fun out of it for him, knowing he'd not intimidate me."

"Come on. Let's see you add this powdered horn in," Harry said.

"Right."

They made their way back to the cauldron. She added the ingredient in after she'd measured out enough. They both jumped back as a large amount of purple smoke burst from the potion.

"What now?"

"I have to let this brew for five minutes, and then I have to start my stirring," she said.

Harry nodded and sat down. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. I got an owl from Lupin this morning. He and Tonks have eloped."

"I thought she refused to elope?"

"Yeah, I guess he put his foot down. It was that way or no way."

Hermione smiled. "I'm glad for them. I hope that Lupin can be happy. He seemed so down the last time I saw him."

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "Guilt and all that."

"I know," she said. "How do you think Bane is doing?" Hermione wanted to change the subject, not wanting to get into a discussion about her father's death.

"Firenze told Dumbledore that the others have ousted him from the herd, not welcoming him back."

"He deserves it!" Hermione said vehemently.

"They tried to kick him to death first of course," Harry added.

"Oh." She felt a little guilty for her hate of the centaur. "But he lived?"

"No one knows. He's not where they left him. I'd say he's off to his own place and won't be back."

"So we hope," she added. "I've got to stir this fifty times, clockwise."

"Want me to do it for you?" he asked when she grimaced.

"No, it's all right." She began stirring, but she was surprised at how much her wrist was hurting her. What's wrong with me? It's not like I've been writing any more than normal. "Ouch. Maybe you should take over. I don't know what's wrong." Both wrists ached with her movements. "I'm on thirteen."

"Not a problem." He took the stirring rod and began stirring. "You should get that looked at. Did you sprain it?"

"No, they both hurt though. I think it's odd. It's not like I've exercised them or anything. In fact, the only thing..." She abruptly stopped as she realized exactly what the problem was. She'd had to tend to Severus the night before to get his seminal fluid. She'd used both hands tirelessly. Heat flooded her cheeks. Harry didn't need to know about that.

"What is it? Remembered what happened?"

"Oh, er, maybe it was when I... er... was pulling on those stalks of weed in the flower bed. I worked my wrists a bit when I did that," she finished lamely.

"Yeah, that will do it." He continued stirring in silence. "Now what? I'm near fifty."

"You need fifty more, but do it anticlockwise instead."

"All right."

Quickly wanting to change the subject, she said, "So you've still decided to stay away from school?"

"Yes, it wouldn't be the same without you or... Ron there with me."

"Ginny said that Draco refuses to go back, too," Hermione added. "She said that her parents are at odds about her return. Mr. Weasley thinks she should go, but Mrs. Weasley thinks she should stay home, what with the pregnancy. She feels that she can help her enough to prepare her for her N.E.W.T.s." She stopped and shook her head in annoyance.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"Ginny," Hermione huffed. "She doesn't care about her schooling or finishing her education even though she's got over a year left! Says she's going to be married anyway and raising a family! She feels that she doesn't need to worry about a career or any of that right now."

"Maybe she's right," he offered.

"Of course she's not!"

"Why not?"

"Well, because..."

"Exactly," he said. "It's her life. Mrs. Weasley's job was to work at home with the family. Maybe that's what Ginny wants."

"Long ago, Ginny told me that she would never be that way, that she wanted a career, money, and... Oh."

"See? She's going to have money, and maybe her ideas have changed. I don't think any less of Mrs. Weasley just because she doesn't go to an office each day for work. Do you?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, I suppose not. I guess my opinion is influenced by my own decisions in life. I do admire and respect Mrs. Weasley for all she does. Her load's not been easy at all."

"I told Pansy that she didn't have to worry about anything right now either, but she insists on finishing. I don't hold that against her," he said. "I do miss that she's not with me every day any longer."

"There's only a few weeks left." Hermione smiled. "My mother has worked all her life, and now, she's enjoying the time away from work. I suppose she doesn't have to worry about working ever again if she doesn't want to. They saved a lot of money and had insurance on dad." Her eyes watered. "I wonder if thinking about him will ever be easier? I try to push him away from my thoughts because it's easier to deal with. It feels wrong, but it helps so much."

"I do the same thing sometimes," Harry admitted. "I'm done. What now?" He placed the stirring rod aside.

"Nothing. I don't have to add anything else for five more days. After that, it will take another couple of weeks before it's ready."

Harry was at her side suddenly and hugging her. "It will be all right, Hermione."

Being hugged so firmly made her want to cry. It had been so long since she'd been held. She sniffled a little, thinking of her father, Ron, Severus, and so many others. When she finally pulled away to wipe her eyes, she saw that Harry was doing the same and hoped that she'd given him the same comfort that he'd given her.

"Mum wants to go to my dad's grave later to put fresh flowers. I think I'll go with her," she said. "I gave her an excuse, putting it off as usual, but I think it's time to go."

Harry nodded. "Come over later?"

"I will."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TWO WEEKS LATER

Hermione was appalled with her current situation. She'd been invited over for a pleasant family meal at the Weasleys, but it had been anything but pleasant. The Malfoys had also been invited. Narcissa Malfoy had refused to sit down for the first half hour, looking around as if there was a foul odor in the room. Lucius Malfoy had immediately started to offer to "help" them build a more sound home, as theirs appeared to be held together by magic...magic that could falter and harm their grandchild.

Ginny and Draco had been trying to calm their parents down and soothe their tempers the entire time. The twins made snide jokes and seemed to be planning something, as they continually spoke in conspiring tones out of earshot. Harry seemed to be tuning everything out, concentrating on Pansy's presence. She'd been allowed a day away from the castle to spend with Harry.

The current topic of conversation was the worst yet. The Malfoys were trying to coerce the Weasleys into letting Ginny bind with Draco in marriage while the Weasleys maintained that she did not have their permission.

"But, Arthur, surely you don't want your grandchild to be born out of wedlock! What would everyone say?" Lucius said incredulously.

"Times have changed, Lucius. They'll not say..."

"They'll say that the child is a bastard! I won't stand for it!" he said adamantly.

"Don't you dare speak that way about the baby!" Molly said angrily.

"No," Narcissa soothed, "he doesn't mean that is how he feels, but it's how our peers will feel."

"Right," Lucius said, adding, "and we can provide for the best possible care for your daughter and our grandchild."

"Excuse me," Molly said, chest swelling in rage, "I've birthed seven children and think that I know what's best for my daughter and her pregnancy, thanks! How dare you assume that your money and paid nurses are any better than our family's love and support! Why..."

"Mum! He didn't mean that you didn't know what's best. He's only trying to help."

"I can even have her tutored daily so that she won't fall behind in her studies, as Arthur is clearly worried about," Lucius said.

"She's too young to make this sort of decision," Arthur said firmly. "What if she gets married, has the baby, and realizes that she's changed her mind? It'll be a great mess...that's what!"

"Dad, I won't change my mind," Ginny said furiously. "Do you think me so fickle as to not know who I want?"

"Well, you've certainly had a number of crushes in the past. Some lasted longer than this relationship!" Molly interjected, looking pointedly over at Harry.

"I would like my son to have my name," Draco said, drawing all eyes back to him.

"She can give the child the Malfoy name if she chooses," Arthur said.

"I would also like her to have my name, Mr. Weasley."

"You are also young! What if you change your mind?" he asked.

"Never," Draco said, appalled that the man would say such a thing. "I could have had my pick of wives, and I choose Ginevra. Do you think I would put her through all of this with our families otherwise? I love her and will marry her."

"Maybe you are just wanting to do what's right by the baby. This wasn't planned after all," Molly said quietly.

"MUM!" Ginny yelled. "This is ridiculous. I will marry him the moment I come of age in a few months. What does it matter?"

"I am tired of having to go home every night when I could stay in a guest room. I want to be near her and with her," Draco said. He nodded to Hermione. "She used to practically live with Weasley when they were together! I intend on marrying your daughter, and we've obviously already gone quite far. Why try so hard to keep us apart when it's what we both want?"

"If you are allowed to stay here until she is of age and get a real feel of your decision to marry, we can perhaps allow you to stay, provided that you stay in a separate room," Molly said.

"You would do that?" Lucius asked incredulously. "Our manor is clearly more comfortable, and she would be readily seen to at all hours of the day and night."

"Father, if I have to stay in a hovel to prove that I love her and my child and want a life with them, I will do so," Draco said unwaveringly.

The entire room went quiet.

"What is it?" he asked, taking in everyone's shocked expressions.

Ginny's angry voice answered. "A hovel, is it?"

"What are you talking about?" he asked, seemingly confused.

"You just said that you would stay in this hovel if you had to! Is that what you think of my family? Of my home?"

"No, you misunderstand what I said. I was just saying that if I had to stay in one, I would. Not that this was one."

"But it is," Narcissa said. "You needn't bite your tongue, son. If she wants to marry the real you, she should know your real feelings."

"Mother!" Draco roared. "That's not what I meant!"

Hermione couldn't believe the turn of events. Everyone was in an uproar, except for her, Pansy, and Harry. The twins had even jumped up in defense of their home and family. Ginny and Draco were arguing the loudest.

Finally, after several minutes of constant bickering, Hermione used the Sonorus Spell to be heard, yelling, "Silence!" Once everyone hushed and looked at her, she removed the spell and said, "You are all acting ridiculous. Look at you!" After they all guiltily glanced at each other, she continued. "Why can't you just be happy with what you have? Some of us would do anything to have what's right in front of you. I think both families should make some arrangement and try to get along better. It's for your future! Their union was foreseen, wasn't it? You can't fight that."

She nodded to the Malfoys. "You come into their home and disrespect them. I doubt that it's on purpose, but I think you should try harder. So what if they aren't your social equals? I'm convinced that the only people who care about status are those with status...or what they think is status. If it weren't for the Weasleys' support...though your family hasn't always got on well with them...you wouldn't have any status and be looked down upon, mostly. People figure if your son is good enough for Arthur Weasley and his family, then he's good enough for them. Like it or not, this family is more credible than yours in the eyes of the public! Remember who took Draco in when the Dark Lord would have punished him! They did and have never asked you for a single Knut.

"And you, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, you needn't take everything they say so seriously. They can never understand your life unless they've lived it. I doubt that will ever happen. Outward appearances and other such things matter to them, and I suppose they find it odd that it doesn't matter to you. Everyone is different. To Mr. Malfoy, a highly paid Healer is the best care that he could provide for a pregnant daughter while in this home, you've always relied on faith, love, and yourselves, managing the best way you could." She shook her head.

"You all need to work together. Look at Draco and Ginny. See what you're doing to them? They are young, in love, and are expecting a baby. Why make it harder on them?" She smiled at Mrs. Weasley. "He was right, you know. Harry and I were always here. What would it hurt to let him sleep over in a spare room? The Malfoys are right, too. Why not compromise? If they promise to keep them in different rooms, what's wrong with her going to stay there a couple of days per week?"

Sighing, she stood and grabbed her bag. "I'm sorry, but I just can't take any more of this. You all have what you want right here and should be happy. I'm going to go home now and appreciate the little that I have of Severus by sitting and reading to him. Think on that."

Nobody said a word, only looked at each other sheepishly.

"She's right, you know," Harry said finally, holding Pansy close to his side.

Hermione smiled in thanks but jumped as a loud bang sounded. "What the...?"

In the place where Narcissa Malfoy had been was a large poodle, perfectly groomed and barking indignantly, a broken teacup on the floor next to her.

"Oh, sorry," Fred said, surprised that she'd been changed into a dog.

George added, "Didn't mean to..."

"Put that in her cup," Fred finished.

Molly began hollering. "You change her back this instant! How could you? Will you two never learn?"

Hermione quickly fled through the backdoor, not wanting to witness any more arguing. In only a few more days, she would give Severus the potion, and she would have the chance to talk to him and tell him that she loves him. Bloody idiots should just be happy with what they have. It could always be worse.

Southern's Notes: I know that I said there would be one final chapter, but I'm afraid that it would be a bit too much to cram all into one single chapter. I apologize for that. I also think that the next chapter's plot deserves to be alone. All of this build up to it took more time and space than I'd previously intended. I didn't want to bore anyone with much of the actual process of brewing the potion, but I did want to show how Hermione is growing and handling things while it's brewing. Adding anything else here would have given it a rushed feeling, and I would have been working against a maximum word limit anyway.

I'll have something up as soon as I can, as I'm already working on the rest of this. This weekend seems like a good deadline. Lucius pays Hermione a visit and talks to her about things. Then, it's time to give Snape the potion. Will it work? Will she have to alter it and go through it again? If it does work, will he be happy with all that she's done concerning him? We shall see. Cheers.

Luring the Enchantress has won a Multifaceted Award for the Possibility Category, best AU fic. Thanks to any who voted for it and to the person that nominated it. I appreciate that.