Hermione released the breath she hadn't known she was holding. Her jaw was so tense she could feel every grove of her molars. Her eyes held a far-off look to them, as though seeing without truly being aware. Her ears and hands twitched as her feet moved with trepidation. The soft wind teasing her curls.

The Shrieking Shack stood as it always had. Dark, forbidden, and with an ominous aura. Even with the sun shining so brilliantly it still held its own shadow. Hermione could almost smell the rotten wood as she moved closer and feel the sway of its floors. She hadn't known why she had suddenly been sparked with the memory of her dreams. Or why she had acted on them at all. They were merely dreams... weren't they?

Her fingers lightly traced the door frame, the steps it had taken to get there feeling like both an eternity and instantaneous. She pushed the wood aside turning her head up towards the shadows. She knew exactly where she needed to be though she felt lost. Her chest fluttered as she moved towards the room she had sworn never to enter again. The room where the man who had spent a lifetime on the wrong side of heaven and the righteous side of hell had left behind a world that never knew his true sacrifice.

Knees suddenly weak, Hermione leaned down over the blood-stained floor. Her fingers traced the outline of stained wood and dust. She whispered a soft prayer in his name before turning her head towards the corner that had haunted her dreams. At first, the shadow over the space was too great but as her eyes adjusted she could clearly see something. On hands and knees, she crawled towards the broken chair and tilted her head to try and see better. A small glint of something further back than she had seen before, caught her attention and she bent down further reaching into the small space. Her eyes closed as her fingers stretched, her brow furrowing as she felt something cool just at the very edge of her fingertips. A soft spell left her lips and in an instant, she felt something cold and hard snap into her palm.

Carefully, she pulled herself back onto her haunches, her breath somewhat light as she opened her hand. She could hardly believe what was so clearly before her. She had never thought of divination as something worth putting any effort into but how could she possibly explain what was so clearly before her now. The small vial rocked as she shifted, even the bloodstain around the lip was there with two gel-like capsules settled inside.

Her brow furrowed and for a moment, her mind simply turned. Thinking back to the faded dream she'd had at the beach. It was faint, like a childhood memory but the realness of it stayed with her. Though she couldn't rightly recall how it ended she could feel the niggling in the back of her brain that told her she had witnessed something most important. Unfortunately, that detail was just out of reach.

As she came to her feet, her wand slipped into her palm, the other closing tight around the vial. Luna. She needed to see Luna. With that thought in mind, she turned on the spot leaving the space of one of her nightmares behind.

oOo

"It's... beautiful..." Harry breathed with awe. His fingers gently held open the drawing of his mother. He took in every fine detail of the drawing, even her name was written with such grace. The tail of the 'y' stretched out into a wonderfully accurate depiction of her namesake.

"I found it in Severus' things, I believe it is best that you have it," Minerva spoke softly, her eyes taking in the young man before her. Their previous conversation over Drugor's plan had darkened the hope that the pair of them shared.

Harry nodded absently, very carefully rolling it back up. When his eyes rose again he looked at the small bundle of letters, with a small nod from McGonagall, he took them next settling them in his lap. His lips twitched a bit when he released the twine holding them together and slipped the first from the stack, the seal had been unbroken, and when he turned to see to whom it was addressed his eyes were caught on the name settled in the return. They were posted, like muggle letters.

"My mother...sent these?" He turned the envelope around again feeling the glued seal still in place.

"So it would seem, though it doesn't appear that he opened them..." Minerva glanced to the still portrait of the man, her eyes having filled with another memory altogether, "I figured they would be safe with you..."

Harry nodded, settling the letter back into the stack, "Thank you...for everything..." He swallowed thickly for a moment, "But I have to ask... whose blood did you give me?"

Minerva leaned back into her chair, "I'm sorry, this I cannot share with you. Suffice it to say that it was willfully given..."

Harry nodded again gently tucking away the gifts she'd given him, "Do you think Drugor's potion has a chance?"

"I would like to believe so, though I would like to give his design to the new potions professor when he's finished. She has a wealth of medical knowledge that might prove beneficial."

Harry hummed his agreement, "As soon as I have it, you'll have it."

"Good," Minerva crossed her legs pulling her hands into her lap, "A spot of tea then?"

Harry nodded once more, his neck surely tiring of the process but he found himself constantly failing for words, "Has Hermione woken yet?"

"Oh, yes. She went on her way about an hour ago." Minerva absently waved her hand calling for her tea service, "She looked like nothing had even happened."

Harry pursed his lips, "That's the trouble though isn't it?"

"How do you mean?" Minerva looked over the rim of her glasses as she poured their tea.

"She doesn't look ill...and if it hadn't been for these recent events no one would have even known..." Harry couldn't keep the guilt from his words nor from his face, "It's been three years... she's been hiding this for three years..."

"You cannot blame yourself..." Minerva stood, offering out his tea, "This curse...was designed to hide in plain sight..."

Harry took his cup, a scowl forming, "Who would ever design such a thing. What purpose does it possibly serve?"

Minerva sat down beside him on the couch, "You didn't understand the full report did you?"

Harry made a small face before shaking his head. It had been complicated he knew that much. He could understand most of it but not all. He felt a bit sheepish now, wondering how he could have gotten such a high position in the ministry without having such knowledge. Though he supposed that's what Drugor's department was for.

"The curse was modified. It's original design was meant to kill almost instantly. A wound that could never be healed, leaving the recipient to bleed out and die slowly and painfully." Minerva turned her head away for a moment, choosing to be very careful with her words, "The blood curse was added after the fact...as a means to dampen the curse's effects. Modified them, concealed them beneath an emotional trigger. Unfortunately, the result was one that prolonged the suffering in a different way...while it would appear as the wound would never heal, the blood can be quelled but the damage inside would still be present..."

"Drugor said it was like a muggle cancer..."

"A very accurate analogy...but it gives us time...time to try and figure out the counter curse...The original curse was modified for a reason and I suspect it was because the person who modified it had created a counter to its effects..." Minerva took a slow breath, how she wanted to reveal all she knew but in her heart she knew, the knowledge she held would do no good in their present circumstance.

Harry's brows furrowed deep, his eyes boring into the tea in his hand. He just couldn't think of anyone who would have wanted to do such a thing. Still, he had to have hope, "The person...who gave the blood...do they know the counter?"

"No..." Minerva closed her eyes for a moment, "No they did not..."

"Sorry...I had to ask..."

"I know... let's just... enjoy our tea shall we?"

oOo

"Luna?" Hermione entered the blonde's lab cautiously, her eyes turning about the space trying to find the small woman. She had a very bad habit of simply just appearing and she very much hated to be startled.

"Oh, Hermione. How lovely to see you." Just as predicted Luna had seemingly appeared out of nowhere just out of sight to Hermione's left, "Are you feeling better today?"

Hermione turned, trying to keep her pulse from pounding in her skull, "Much...sorry about yesterday...I had meant to send word."

"That's okay, I was busy anyway." Luna continued towards her small workbench leading the older woman further into the fold, "I did manage to make that amulet we were talking about. Though I haven't tested it yet of course."

"Really? That's amazing." Hermione moved closer, her calm returning. Luna instantly gave her the papers she'd taken notes on while she'd made the charmed jewelry. Hermione's eyes instantly ran over the page before her mind shifted gears to something else, "Actually, I was wondering if you had something in here that could...how best to say it...dismantle something and break down its components?"

"Like...a big something or a small something." Luna absently scratched at the back of her head as her eyes ran up the shelves of her numerous artifacts.

"A small something." Hermione took a breath as she pulled the vial from her pocket. She'd made a cork to seal its contents but had done nothing else. She set the aged glass down on Luna's bench, "I'd like to know what these are...or rather what they're made of."

Luna tilted her head, pulling the vial up, "They look like muggle tablets...are you sure they're magical?"

"No idea...I thought if I could dissect them in some way I could find out." Hermione shifted somewhat nervously, "I found them...in the Shrieking Shack..."

Luna's brows rose high into her hairline, her eyes giving Hermione a once over. She could tell there was something more that she wished to say and thus kept her mouth closed.

"I saw them...in a dream..." Hermione rubbed her brow turning to lean her back against the table, her arms crossing, "And when we used the machine here...I don't know why...or how but I kept seeing this vial over and over..."

Luna hummed softly before turning away and down one of the narrow aisles, "Well...your subconscious thinks they're important." She called out as she moved deeper, "So we best take a look!"

Hermione turned her head trying to track the younger's movements. She could hear soft noises and possibly an under the breath curse before a small crash. She pushed herself up to make to follow before Luna suddenly appeared, a bright grin on her face as she held what appeared to be a muggle percolator. She blinked dumbly for a moment before Luna was back at her side setting the old steel down.

"I think this should help. It's pretty old but it's supposed to separate any substance down to its general components. Like...paper into pulp and water or a pastry into flour and eggs."

Hermione gave her a small shake of her head, "It looks like an old coffee maker to me." She chuckled softly.

"Really? I thought the design to be really unique." Luna gave a small shrug and pulled open the top, "Just put it in here and it should break it down."

Hermione curled her lips in, chewing for just a moment before she opened the vial. A small shake had one of the capsules in her palm and with only slight hesitation she dropped it into the top filter. She restoppered the vial before giving Luna a small nod. Her hand slipped the glass back into her pocket for safekeeping.

"Now we wait." Luna gave her a kind smile before pulling the lid closed. There was a small golden glow before a small red light came on at the bottom, "While we do, would you like to try this out?" She pulled a small ring and necklace set from the far corner of her table offering them out with a small gleam to her eyes.

Hermione took a quick stock of how she was feeling. Honestly, she felt better than new, she glanced at the small charm bracelet style watch that Madame Pomfrey had given her. It had been charmed to remind her to eat, a small chirp set to sound every four hours and not stop until she got something in her. She had explicitly told her that her present diet of takeaway and biscuits was not substantial even with someone without her current predicament.

"I have time." Hermione smiled reaching for the necklace, "Should we go back further?"

"Oh, yes. I was going to try the 80s this time." Luna slipped the ring onto her finger as they moved towards the table, "I don't have a particular day in mind so I figured I could just use today."

"Alright...let's see what we can do..." Hermione crawled up onto the table, a deep breath leaving her chest as she laid down, "Hey...Luna?"

"Hm?" Luna moved towards the head as she adjusted the stones.

"Thanks for not questioning me about yesterday..." Hermione glanced towards her as the crown came over her head.

Luna smiled, "Of course, what are friends for?" Her blue eyes sparkled for a moment before she stepped back towards the console.

Hermione gave her a soft smile before letting her eyes close. The soft hum of the machine setting her at ease and though she'd nearly slept for twenty-four hours, she felt herself easily drifting away and into the ether. She tried not to focus on anything in particular, though despite her best efforts, a single thought persisted in the back of her mind.

When her eyes opened she found herself standing inside the great hall. Its bright lights filled with warmth, the soft murmur of students came next and as the scene fully formed she found herself standing at the back of the line of a few of the remaining first years set for sorting. Her eyes instantly turned up towards the high table where she felt herself staring fascinated at the much younger visage of Professor McGonagall. A small wisp of memory floated over her inner eye when she recalled seeing an even younger version exciting Lily's home.

The sensation of eyes upon her rose the hairs on the back of her neck and her focus slowly shifted further down the table, her breath catching in the back of her throat as a very young Snape looked back at her. Well, young as far as sitting at the professor's table. He looked like a first-year in comparison to those who sat around him. His hair was slightly shorter than she remembered it but not too much so, it had a nice layer to it that kept it back from his face. His face was lineless and though she had seen him in his youth it still felt so odd to see in the present setting. The small crease between his brows was still there though, however, not as deep, merely the beginning of a wrinkle that would grow deeper in time. His lips were fuller than she remembered but without their ever-present crease. They were still turned down but nowhere near as intimidating as they used to be.

Hermione licked her own when her eyes traveled lower. While he was still wearing his black cloak the clothes underneath were markedly different. A high collared shirt that partially covered his throat though the rim of it was rather thin. Its white fabric stark against the dark black of what she could guess was a sort of suit jacket. It was buttoned but just underneath she could see the marked v-shape of a vest. It was dark ashen grey, an off-color to the black jacket. It didn't clash but accent the entire ensemble very well. In fact, he looked very well dressed.

Her eyes went back up as the feeling persisted and still found his eyes upon her. Dark, haunted eyes. Deadened, perhaps even a bit afraid. It wasn't until Professor Dumbledore had taken to the pulpit did his eyes shift from her to him as he began his yearly speech. Hermione swallowed nervously as she turned her head, now finding her astral self standing completely alone in the central aisle way. Mindfully, she began to move and for a moment she could have sworn Dumbledore had looked straight at her. The moment passed as she moved towards the dais, staying to the students' side, she moved towards the wall and hid herself away and actually turned her attention to the words being spoken.

"As many of you may have noticed, we have a new staff member with us that a few of you may remember. I'd like to introduce to you our new Potions Professor, Severus Snape. He will be completing the last year of his mastery here with us at Hogwarts and as such has been given the duty of teaching first through fifth-year students. Professor Slughorn will of course be filling in for the sixth and seventh-year classes until the end of this year. After which, we applaud his retirement." Dumbledore paused as the room gave a weary clap. Snape had come to his feet alongside Slughorn but his focus was on a few seventh-year Slytherin students who were giving him disapproving glares. When his own glare fell upon them, accompanied by a subtle turn of his arm they all turned away.

"I'd also like to introduce our Defense Against the Dark arts professor,  Seilena Starlight." A woman possibly in her mid-thirties came to her feet. She held a modest smile in the corner of her lips, her robes were a beautiful mixture of blues and blacks with a long dark dress that held a modest neckline. Her beautiful brown curls were swept back from her face held in place by two golden pins. She had a light fringe over her eyes that swept to the side and when Hermione moved closer she could see that her eyes were two different colors. One a deep green, the other a crystal blue. Her face was smooth and lightly accented with modest make-up, enough to accent her features and bring out the soft freckles that ran the bridge of her nose. After she took a polite bow she sat back down, glancing to Snape who was sat beside her before resting her tremoring left hand into her lap. Snape to Hermione's grand surprise offered a slight twitch of his lip in her direction before pointedly looking down at his plate.

"With all that said, let the feast, begin!"

Hermione stayed in her spot by the wall, though her eyes did flicker towards Dumbledore as he took his seat. A small pain resonated in her chest at the familiarity of it all. Saudade filled her chest and had she needed to breathe surely she would have felt it difficult to do so. As her head turned out over the young faces, her own memories began to play. Turning the beautiful hall into shattered stone, lined bodies, blood, and bereaved crying. She closed her eyes tight, her hand coming up to the stone resting in the hollow of her throat. She wrapped her fingers around it tightly and when the tell-tale pull to her chest began, she felt her anxiety beginning to wash away.

"Hermione?" Luna spoke gently as the woman on the table slowly opened her eyes, her face painted in grief, "Are you alright?"

"Y-Yes..." Hermione cleared her throat before giving her a soft smile, "Sorry...just a little overwhelmed I guess..." She pulled herself up to sit, absently cradling her scarred arm into her lap, her thumb absently rubbing over the poultice, "I was at Hogwarts..."

Luna's brows rose, "Wow, really? What was it like?" Luna glanced briefly at Hermione's arm before moving away to get them some tea, "Was it different? Who were the professors? Oh! What did Flitwick look like? Was he there?"

Hermione blushed softly, she didn't even think to look for the charms professor. She'd been too focused on Snape, "Uh, younger of course." Hermione slipped from the table and towards the small nook, Luna had disappeared into. Her eyes blinked in the small little sofa covered in pillows before she turned her head to the kitchenette that Luna was busy at, "I saw Snape too...he looked...well my age."

"Really?" Luna glanced behind briefly, "What was that like? I knew he was there for a long time too, but he wasn't even in his forties when I started." She pulled down a tin of her favorite comforting tea, "Did he still wear that frock coat?" Luna motioned absently with her hands down her chest.

"Uh, no actually." Hermione moved over sitting down with one of the pillows going to her lap, "He was sort of wearing an old-style three-piece suit. It looked really good on him actually..."

Luna glanced over for a moment a grin forming on her lips, "Well I suppose he would have had to grow into his dungeon persona. Though it never struck me as something he really wanted to be, if I'm perfectly honest."

Hermione looked up from the beaded pillow she was absently picking at, "How do you mean?"

"Well," Luna shrugged as she filled the teacups, "I don't know exactly but to me, he always just looked really sad... frustrated sometimes but mostly sad." She paused as she pulled the sugar closer, Hermione silently held up two fingers when she motioned to it before she continued, "Could have just been me though, he did look at me oddly a lot. And I could swear sometimes he could actually hear what I was thinking." She chuckled softly for a moment, bringing their tea over, her humor leaving her face, "Shame what happened to him..."

Hermione nodded as they both shared a moment of reflection. Hermione took a small sip of her tea instantly recognizing the camomile in the mixture. They each took a moment in their own thoughts before Hermione bucked up the courage to tell Luna about what she had thought about since she'd first introduced the project.

"I watched him die..." Hermione's voice had taken a hollow tone to it, her eyes fixing somewhere on the floor.

Luna tilted her head, her face perfectly schooled. She reached over the small gap between them, her hand gently resting over Hermione's arm. She didn't know what to say to make the brunette feel better she just hoped that her presence and the tea would be enough to comfort her.

Hermione took a slow breath, "I found that vial where he was..." She swallowed thickly, her intended words having turned a direction she had not anticipated.

"You want to go back...to that night...?" Luna's words were a mixture of a question and a statement. When Hermione's head rose, Luna's lips pulled tight in some semblance of a smile, "I understand..." She gave a small squeeze to Hermione's arm, "I want to as well..."

Before either young woman could say anymore, the magical percolator chimed and took both of their attention away from their previous conversation. Luna pushed herself up first, tea still in hand with Hermione quickly moving to follow.

Luna took a long sip of her tea before setting it aside. She pulled her wand from behind her ear before pressing the tip to the now unlit light. It glowed a soft green before going out once more. Luna then immediately pressed the tip of her wand to a scrap bit of parchment where a series of typeface words began to appear. Hermione took another sip of her tea as the words came into view, her brows rising as she read the results.

"It was a potion." She leaned closer tilting her head as she read the listed ingredients, "No...two?" Once the list finished appearing she pulled it closer setting down her cup, "Why do I recognize these?"

Luna leaned her chin against the taller woman's shoulder," Well that's the main ingredient in Draught of Peace." She pursed her lips for a moment, "I think you're right, definitely two potions combined..." She pulled away for a moment before trotting up the small set of stairs leading to her bookshelf.

"I think I've made the other one." Hermione called out but didn't look away from the list, "Do you have books from the Hogwarts curriculum?"

"Yep." Luna chirped as she pulled a few textbooks down, "How advanced would you say it is?"

"Advanced." Hermione looked through the three books before pulling the advanced potions text from her sixth year to the table. She easily flipped through, her eyes bouncing back and forth between the list and the text. It wasn't too long before she chirped with recognition, "This one, Draught of Living Death..."

Luna furrowed her brows for a moment, "That's an odd combination...why would anyone do that? I suppose the bigger question is how they did it..."

Hermione's jaw twitched as her mind suddenly went spiraling in all directions. She was certain she already knew the how and the who. The bigger question on her mind was the why. More so, what would the combination of these two potions actually do? Was...it successful? If so...where was the creator of such a unique invention. She had to know. She had to know.

"Can I keep this?" Hermione picked up the paper, her words somewhat rushed.

"Of course." Luna blinked as the woman rushed past her towards the door of the lab. Leaving behind a curious if somewhat bewildered blonde.