"I did not expect to see you back so soon Miss Granger, are you alright?" Madame Pomfrey had been organizing her stores when the floo connected to the private room had activated. She hadn't at all expected Hermione to have come through, "Are you alright? You look a bit flushed..."

Hermione waved a dismissive hand to her appearance, she'd basically run through the ministry towards the public floo's. Leaving her a little out of breath and far more fatigued than she believed a woman of her age should have been. Regardless, she merely moved towards the medi-witch with the paper in her hand, "What would happen...if..." She took a deep breath rubbing her chest to try and ease its tightness. Definitely out of shape, she admonished, "You combined these potion ingredients?"

Madame Pomfrey ignored the paper, instead she took Hermione's arm to settle her in the chair behind her desk, "Did you run here?" Her cool fingers pressed gently to Hermione's dampened brow.

"I'm fine, just...a little out of shape..." A glass of water was immediately pressed into her hand and she took it without complaint to her lips. While she gulped she raised the paper again, this time the elder witch took it.

"Out shape is putting it lightly Miss Granger," Poppy scolded, "Need I remind you, once more, that the feeling of strength you get after treatment is exceptionally temporary, and the harder you push yourself the shorter time you'll have between?"

"I'm sorry...Truly...I just..." Hermione took another breath her chest gradually easing as her heart returned to a more balanced rhythm, "Get excited..."

"Quite." Poppy harrumphed, refilling the glass for the young woman before actually taking in what she'd given her. She pulled her glasses from her apron before settling at the edge of her desk, her brows increasingly furrowing as she read through, "What is this exactly?"

Hermione gulped down the second half of her water, taking a final calming breath. Settling the glass down she turned and reached into her pocket pulling out the single capsule, "It's this...I had Luna break down what it was made of. That, was the result. Have you ever seen anything like it before?"

Poppy gingerly took the vial from her hand, her head tilting as she turned it in the light. There was a moment where nothing came to mind before her eyes widened in sudden realization, "Yes...yes I have... Though not like this..."

"Ma'am?" Hermione came to her feet as Poppy moved towards her stores. Keeping close behind and a strict eye on the vial. Poppy leaned down towards the bottom of her shelf, digging through a series of boxes before finally pulling one from the very back, "I used to keep some of Severus' potions here for him... Sometimes he couldn't make it back to his own stores..."

Hermione swallowed at the hidden meaning, her hand coming around her waist in a self-soothing gesture.

"I remember asking him once what was in the box but he never let me open it myself. Kept it warded." Poppy finally pulled out a box no bigger than the one she'd given to Hermione. The size of a tissue box, the wood was a deep stained black with no keyhole, "Once I did manage to see something...but I couldn't understand at the time."

Poppy set it on a nearby counter, glancing towards Hermione, "I'm sure the wards would be no challenge for you."

Hermione grinned slightly, pulling her wand from her sleeve. When she drew up the sigils she found herself exceptionally surprised to find the design to be just the same as the one put over his father's memorial. A word-coded lock. Her eyes narrowed for a moment, her wand idly moving around the letters. The code held six spaces and though she had seen an 'L' and 'Y' there were no 'I's. Her lips twitched as she pulled the available letters, moving them, combining and rearranging. There were extra's of course but only so many possible six-letter words. She tried a couple to no avail before something Harry had told her fluttered through her inner thoughts. On a whim, she pulled the necessary letters towards the lock.

"Always..." Hermione pressed the word into place and once it settled there was a sharp pop, the lid partially coming open.

Poppy waited for her to cancel her spell before gently pulling the box open. Most of the vials were opened and empty but there were a few in the back that held what she sought, "There this." She pulled a wide glass bottle up, the inside partially filled with lavender-colored tablets.

"Dreamless sleep." Hermione instantly recognized the tablets from those Eileen had given to her husband. Hermione took the vial tilting it, the tablets were dry, like aspirin and no bigger. Her eyes turned back to the box where she pulled another vial free. It held only three yellow tablets, the same shape but markedly bigger, when she turned to read the label she disappointedly found it had been mostly torn off, only a 'Cr' remaining, "Did you ever see him take this one?"

"Oh, yes that's the one I remember...he would take three or four at a time..." Poppy accepted the vial when it was passed to her, "Usually when he came back under the effects of the cruciatus curse..."

Hermione pursed her lips to the information but forced herself to remain focused. There was one last vial of interest tucked into the very back. It was slim and held only one capsule. Exactly like the one Hermione had found. She pulled it free and brought it closer to the light, a small label rested on the side and when she moved her finger she felt her heart drop into her stomach.

"Death." She turned the label for Pomfrey to see before relinquishing it to her hold.

The medi-witch put both vials side by side, looking at their contents critically, "Yes...they appear the same..." She set both vials down retrieving the paper Hermione had brought, "This is what they're made of?"

"According to a magical percolator...yes." Hermione subtly retrieved her personal vial slipping it back into her pocket, "Luna and I think that it's two potions combined. Draught of Peace and Draught of Living Death...but what I can't decern is what such a combination would do if you were to take it."

Poppy looked up at her, with a small twitch of her lip, "Well my dear... I'm afraid you already do."

Hermione's brows furrowed deeply, "How do you mean?"

"How is it you think I can perform on you the magic that I do?" Poppy set the list aside, "How it is that you wake feeling nothing of what I've done?"

Hermione absently rubbed at the crease of her arm, partially recalling all the complex equipment that her astral self had seen the first time she'd come for treatment. Like most dreams, it was partially blurry but still somewhat informative.

"You...give me this?" She pointed to the vial.

"Not exactly no, but I do give you both of these potions." She set the list down, "In succession. Though the draught of peace has been aerosolized to enhance its effects, the draught of living death is put directly into you via the tube in your nose. Only a minor dose to put you under, while a sleeping draught keeps you in that state. I couldn't do half the things I need to if your heart was beating normally."

Hermione blinked at her in awe and partial fear. Her mind turned slowly for a long moment, "So...in essence...I have to die...to live?"

"In a manner of speaking..."

"So...what would happen if someone was in the process of dying and took this?" She tapped the vial once again, catching something in the corner of the medi-witch's eye. A sort of knowledge that she seemed unwilling to share. Still, she pressed on, "Would they live?"

Poppy choose her words very carefully, "It would...buy time...but it would not keep them completely from death..."

"But...they could cheat death in a way?"Hermione watched the elder very carefully. She wasn't so sure she was talking about herself anymore.

"If the conditions were right...I suppose it could happen." Poppy gave her a critical eye, she could almost feel the young woman's mind turning.

"Can I have this?" Hermione lifted up the slim vial.

Poppy would have asked her why she wanted it but sadly she already knew. Despite her better judgment she nodded her head ever just so. She had absolute faith in Severus' brewing skills and didn't believe that the potion would do anything more than its intended purpose. When Hermione slipped it into her jeans pocket she took a moment to really take her in. Whatever else was on her mind, it was surely stealing away whatever precious time she had left. There just seemed to be no stopping her. Regardless of the risk, Hermione pressed forward with the same vigor and tenacity she was admired for.

"Thank you..." Hermione was about to say more when her bracelet went off, causing her to jump slightly and look down at her wrist, "Already?"

Poppy felt the tension in the room snap and she allowed herself a small chuckle, "Well you did run here."

Hermione looked at her with owlish eyes, "Seriously?"

"How many times must I warn you?" Poppy accented her scolding with a proper fwap of the paper she still held in her hand against Hermione's brow, "Sit. I'll summon us a light snack."

Hermione, properly chastised, moved back towards the desk and sat with a pout to her bottom lip. The chirping continued and even when she pulled the arm into her stomach to muffle the sound it was still present. She suddenly realized how much she was going to hate having the addition to her wardrobe.

oOo

"Luna?" Harry moved into the lab. His eyes turned up to all the sort of curiosities held there. He had had a hunch that maybe Hermione had gone there, to do what he wasn't sure but as it was nearing his lunch break he thought he'd pay her a visit. Ask her to lunch and possibly get to the bottom of what they were really up to.

"Oh, hello Harry. How are you?" Pleasant as always, Luna smiled up at him from her worktable. Seemingly working out something on the copious notes scattered about, "Are you looking for Hermione?"

Harry stuttered for a moment before giving her a kind smile, "Well, yes and no. I guess..." He looked around the space his eyes lingering on the large table set further back.

"She was here but she's gone now." Luna looked back down at her notes scribbling away.

"That's alright... actually would you like to come to lunch with me? I could really use the company..." Harry tried not to look as guilty as he felt. He did very much like Luna and felt as though he were using their friendship as a means to stalk his best friend.

"Sure, just a minute..." Luna didn't look up as she continued to work on whatever it was she was engrossed in, "How's Ron and his girlfriend doing?"

"Fine... they're fine. Going to the burrow today. We're going to have a dinner tomorrow." Harry scratched at the back of his head. Though it wasn't his home he felt rude not to at least offer an invitation, "You're welcome there too, if you want."

"That's okay. I'm visiting Neville this Saturday." Luna finished whatever she was working on, settling her quill in the stand, "Thank you for offering though."

"Of course, how is Neville by the way. I've not seen him in so long." Harry moved slightly as the younger woman gathered her things.

"Oh, he's doing very well. He's set to get his certification soon. Minerva has even offered him a job at Hogwarts when he finishes." Luna smiled brightly as she settled Hermione's hand-me-down bag on her shoulder, "He's very excited."

"I'll bet." Harry led the way out of the lab, "A teacher huh? Who would have thought? I bet he'll be great though."

"I agree, he's very patient. Should be a wonderful experience for him all around." Luna lightly toyed with her engagement ring, "I couldn't be happier for him."

Harry smiled brightly, "So are you guys going to get married before or after he starts?"

"We're going to give it a year, see if we can do the long-distance thing. Though of course I'd be allowed in the castle. The both of us get very focused when we're busy. We want to make it work but we're unsure of how it'll all go." Luna explained as she led them into the main corridor.

"Makes sense," Harry replied cordially.

oOo

Hermione sighed heavily as she looked down at the box of pasta in her hand. She'd remembered rather begrudgingly that the place she called home was remarkably bare of all the essentials. Her light snack with Poppy had been more than she had anticipated and for that, she feared what would happen if she didn't have something substantial sitting about the house when her charmed bracelet went off. Deciding that it was best to visit a magical grocery as it was closer, she'd found herself mulling about house-elves and the stray witch or wizard.

With a roll to her eyes, she dropped the pasta into her basket, it immediately disappeared and the tally of her bill shifted on the edge. It had been quite a shock at first, shopping in the magical world. The baskets were charmed to send anything you bought directly to your home. She needed only place the tracking stone on their counter and everything she put in the basket would appear. The bill would be tallied as she went but even if she didn't carry money with her, her wand would be all she needed to have the necessary funds taken from her account.

Another soft sigh moved her down the next aisle, her eyes looking for quick and easy things that could fill their cupboards. Unfortunately, due to her muggle heritage, it was rather difficult for her to decide what was and wasn't a good thing to buy.

"The cheese crisps are the best." Came a smooth and rather familiar voice. A dark arm came up in front of her vision to take down a bag of said crisps.

Hermione's eyes rose and she had to blink to make sure she was seeing what she was actually seeing, "Uh...thank you?"

Draco chuckled slightly glancing down at her basket, "You know, they have house-elves for that right?"

Hermione tried not to let herself be goaded, "Yes well, I like to do my own shopping."

"Easy there tiger," Draco chuckled holding up a hand in a peaceful gesture, "I was only teasing. You look better by the way, better than when I saw you last."

Hermione's brows furrowed, she couldn't recall seeing the blond wizard recently at all. She was about to speak when he cut her off.

"You know, splayed out on a muggle street." He gave her a playful grin but his words didn't hold any malice.

"Wait...what?" Hermione shook her head, no way she would have believed that Draco bloody Malfoy had taken her to Hogwarts. Didn't seem possible. Instead, she decided to pick back at him lightly, "Well...what were you doing in muggle London?"

Draco grinned wider, how he loved their little spats, "Oh, you know playing pranks on muggles." He rolled his eyes when Hermione took a breath no doubt to accost him for his behavior, "Honestly, you Gryffindors are too easy to rile. I was on my way to buy a present for my girlfriend's birthday. Nothing more, nothing less."

Hermione felt herself deflate before looking down at the bag of crisps he had in his hand. Deciding to get him back at his own game she raised an eyebrow, "Don't you have house-elves to do your shopping?"

Draco smirked wider, "I do, but the girlfriends put me on a diet." He whispered as though it were a secret, "They won't buy me these anymore."

Hermione chuckled despite herself before playfully snatching the bag away and dumping it into her own basket, "Well, for the honor of girlfriends everywhere I shan't let you cheat."

Draco's brows rose with mirth before he rolled his eyes and grabbed another bag, this time he turned away with a genuine chuckle, "Always a pleasure Granger! See you around."

Hermione felt her own sincere chuckle leaving her throat before she shook her head. Slytherins. What was she to do?

In no time at all, she'd finished her shopping and set back out into the street. It was a lovely day for it to be cloudy. The wind was unseasonably warm as she moved towards her favorite bookshop to browse the latest titles. When a soft voice that spoke her name caught her attention.

"Hermione's birthday is soon, isn't it? Were you planning anything?" Luna's soft words were easily distinguished through the murmur of the crowd.

"I was thinking about it, yeah but I'm horrible at planning things." Harry's soft chuckle drifted in and out as they seemed to turn down a street further away from where Hermione presently stood.

Not wishing to face her best friend at the present, as surely he'd noticed her absence last night; she hurried her way into her favorite bookshop sighing contently as the smell invaded her senses. All the stress instantly fell from her shoulders and she smiled brightly at Andrew who greeted her by name.

"Hey Andrew, how are you doing?" Hermione casually leaned on the counter, just letting the atmosphere fill her soul.

"Good good, the twins are going to be the end of me though, fourth years now they are a right mess." He chuckled and shook his head, "Can I help you find anything today?"

"Actually, yes. I was thinking of doing some research into curse-breaking, do you have any recommendations?" Hermione smiled unassumingly.

"Mmm...I might. Let me think for a moment." His eyes turned up towards the ceiling, the second floor of the shop having more exotic and borderline dangerous books, "Are you thinking objects or people?"

"Objects, anything on how to dismantle a curse and create a counter." Hermione idly rubbed her arm with her thumb.

"Well, I did have one book but it's long been sold. I could order another but it might take a few days to get." Andrew scratched at the back of his head, "There are other books of course but I think they're more general."

"I can wait, how much does it cost?" Hermione turned to get into her bag.

"it's pricey, but for you, it'll cost fifteen galleons." Andrew had already begun writing down the order form.

Hermione didn't bulk at the price, money was hardly a problem with the way she saved. Even with the stipend that came from her Order of Merlin, her job easily kept her in the black, and being as boring as she was she hardly spent anything more than what was needed. Even her book collection was modest.

"Thank you," Hermione set the gold on the counter, "How long do you think it'll take?"

"Maybe a week, the publisher usually gets back to me quickly though. I'll owl it to you as soon as it arrives." Andrew handed her the receipt, "Happy curse breaking."

Hermione smiled broadly and tucked the paper into her bag, "I'll do my best." With only a cautious glance out of the front window, she returned to the street. Deciding that she had nothing more to do she started towards one of the aparation points and set off for home.

In no time at all Hermione was moving through the front door of the house she called home. A soft sigh left her lips when she locked the door behind her. However, her peaceful reverie was shattered when Ginny's excited greeting nearly gave her a heart attack.

Hand straight to her chest, she nearly collapsed back against the door causing the redhead to immediately begin a slew of apologies. Hermione shook her head and offered a tight smile before closing her eyes and thunked her head back against the door.

"I'm really sorry, I hadn't expected anyone to be home." Ginny said in a rush, her hand still carrying a box of food she had begun to put away, "Though I guess the groceries should have given me a clue." She held up the box in her hand for a moment as Hermione collected herself from the door, "Why are you home? Don't you work until like five?" Ginny glanced around for a clock knowing full well there wasn't one in the entranceway.

"Took the day off..." Hermione managed, taking another deep breath to calm herself, "Anyway, it is good to see you. I thought you were going to be away for six weeks?"

Ginny grinned a little, "Got the day off too, well Friday and Saturday. Have to go back Sunday." She turned back towards the kitchen with Hermione in tow, "Tea?"

"Please..." Hermione sat herself down, a hand coming up to rub at her forehead. She had really been hoping that she'd have the house to herself. Though Ginny's presence was definitely appreciated as it would surely keep Harry off of her back for a short time.

Settling her bag down on the table she looked longingly at the book just barely peeking out. Snape's book, his book of curses and counter curses. His years as a death eater. Her focus was only torn away when a cup was settled in front of her, "So...do I need to find something to do this evening?"

Ginny blushed brightly, "Maybe...but for now, let's have some girl time."

Hermione shook her head slightly taking her cup, "Girl time?"

"Mhm." Ginny took a healthy drink of her tea before leaning on her arms, "So, tell me. What have you been up to?"