Smile Like You Mean It

Ok, here's chapter 26, my favourite so far!! I love the end of this and start of the next chapter, so I'll try and update again very soon :)

Thank you soooo much to all my lovely reviewers, your comments are what's keeping this story going.

xxx
Aera

P.S. To Mr. Spears, not sure if I did quote Twilight, might have done cause I've just finished reading the series for the 2nd time!
Are they very obvious? I don't really like mixing stories. :)


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Chapter 26 - Prophet's Elixir


By the time Friday arrived, Aera and Draco had made good head-way with the Elixir. They had been careful not to allow their desires to take over when finished each evening, agreeing without words that the risks were too great.

Snape was helping them to finish the potion, sweeping around the classroom with vials and jars in his arms. This crucial stage of the potion required a frightening amount of ingredients, more than Aera would ever have thought could be thrown into one cauldron. Snape had taken it upon himself to measure and lay out the ingredients for Aera to add whilst Draco maintained his position stirring.

There was centaur hoof, lizard skin, a jar full of preserved spiders as big as Aera fist, mermaid scales, gem silica, emeralds, tincture of dragon's horn, oak sap; the list was endless and in the clammy heat of the fire under the cauldron, they sweated and worked on.

It was past eight by the time Snape walked over to the iron cauldron and held up a finger to beckon Aera. She gazed down into the swirling liquid and smiled. This had been what they were waiting for. Colours pulsed in the depths of the potion, making the eye imagine they could see images, shapes. Now and then it would shift as if to form something identifiable, then implode back on itself.

Aera walked to the desk of ingredients and picked up the last remaining component, the catalyst. It was a snowflake obsidian, about the size of her thumb. Approaching the cauldron again she held the stone over it with a ceremonial air. Across from her Draco met her gaze and she couldn't help grinning. This was it. Time to see whether they really were as good at Potions as they thought.

The white-flecked black stone dropped from her fingers, turning over and over in its descent. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Snape give a small, sad smile, but it was gone so quickly she figured she must have imagined it.

The gem hit the surface of the liquid with a small 'plop!' and Aera held her breath. Then there was a hissing noise as the stone fragmented, spreading across the skin of the liquid until it reached the sides of the cauldron. The white flecks flared brightly for a moment before fading, leaving an inky black colour to the Elixir.

"It's done." breathed Snape, relief and unease in his voice. Aera let out the air she was holding, meeting Draco's triumphant eyes.

Snape was already moving about the room, tidying up the various vials and tools they had been using, leaving the potion simmering over a low flame. Draco nodded at Aera, conveying his congratulations without words. She had, after all, been the main creator. She grinned widely at him, her eyes flickering down to the potion between them once more. It had been a complicated procedure. Despite the fact that it had taken only a week to make, it still required attention and care with each step. A single ingredient forgotten, or added at the wrong time would render the potion useless. But according to their notes, they had gotten it perfect.

"Here is your note, Draco." said Snape, interrupting Aera's thoughts. She watched as Snape handed the sheet of parchment to Draco, waiting patiently for hers.

It didn't come. She glanced at the professor with confusion. They were finished, weren't they?

"I would like a word in private before you leave, if you don't mind, Miss Vale." Snape explained.

Aera paused, then nodded. She had not idea what this was about, but he had given her a choice. She could leave if she wanted. Curiosity made her stay.

Draco did not seem as ignorant of Snape's reasons, nor as willing for Aera to remain behind. He shot her a worried glance, then turned a glare on Snape's turned back. Aera frowned, trying to figure out what Draco knew that she didn't. He didn't seem willing to talk however, though his thoughts appeared to be darkening. His hand curled into a fist, scrunching up the note Snape had just handed him. Aera looked at in bewilderment. What in Merlin's name was Draco getting so worked up about?

Snape turned back from the cupboard he had been closing and appeared surprised that Draco was still standing there. "Can I help you with anything else, Mr Malfoy?" he asked in clipped tones.

Draco hesitated, obviously wanting to say something, then thought better of it and shook his head. He spun on his heel, snatching his bag from one of the chairs and stalked out of the dungeon. Snape watched him leave impassively. Aera watched him go with confusion.

She heard the sigh that left Snape's lips when the door slammed shut, though it was low enough that she should have missed it. She met his gaze and wondered exactly what was going on.

"Now, Miss Vale. If you would like to take a seat?" Snape gestured to a chair and as Aera sat he settled himself in another that faced her. She watched him carefully, still trying to deduct what was happening. She couldn't shake the expression of Draco's frustrated and worried face from her mind.

"Sir, what's this about?" she asked, unable to keep it back anymore.

He glanced at the still simmering potion. "I have another favour to ask of you, Miss Potter."

Aera felt her lungs constrict, her heart squeezed into a tiny space. Whatever she had been expecting, it certainly wasn't this. From what Harry had told her, Snape's allegiance to the Light was tenuous at best. Surely Dumbledore hadn't old this man who she was?

She found that her hand was curled into the shape she usually used when casting hexes whilst wandless. Panic threatened to overwhelm her and she fought it down fiercely. Had this been why Draco was so reluctant to leave her alone with their teacher? Did he suspect that Snape was going to betray her?

Snape was staring into her eyes and she hadn't realised. Shit! Harry had also cautioned Aera about Snape's use of Legimancy. She quickly broke away from his gaze, hoping her thoughts hadn't been too easily read.

"Aera." His voice was very soft and despite herself, Aera looked back up into the face of her professor. His expression was one of self-loathing. "I'm not here to expose you to the Dark Lord."

She didn't want to believe him. She had heard nothing but bad things about this man from her friends. Yet most of the time Draco seemed to treat him with civility and respect. Though she refused to admit it, she found herself a little convinced. He settled back in his chair, folding his arms and letting out a sigh.

"I knew your mother during my time in school. You look very like her."

Pain stabbed Aera in the chest. She wasn't sure why the comparison made her so aware of her loss at this moment, but it was undeniable. Hearing Snape say it was strange yet comforting. She was fighting the desire to believe him. And she was losing.

Th . . . Thank you." she whispered.

He nodded shortly. "You're here to try and help your brother."

It was a statement, not a question but Aera answered anyway. "Yes." It was slightly more defiant than she had meant it to be. "If I can." she amended.

"And if I were to give you an opportunity to do just that?"

Aera stared at her professor, not sure what he was offering. She would take any chance to help Harry, of course. But what exactly was he saying?

Snape must have realised that more explanation was needed. "I believe You-Know-Who will preempt any planned ambush against him. Therefore we cannot organise an attack that will succeed. There is a chance, however, that He may not learn of an unplanned assault. I think you may be able to give us a better idea of what is possible."

Aera digested his words in silence. It was clear that this was something Snape had long spent working out. And that he had valuable inside information on Voldemort. Her eyes roamed as she thought and they suddenly fell on the newly brewed cauldron of potion. Snape's strategy fell into place and Aera turned to face him again with wide eyes.

"You want me to drink the Elixir." she said slowly, sure that she was right.

Snape hesitated, then nodded, watching her reaction. At first she was scared, the idea of dreaming about the future was something she had never thought to do. Yet . . . This was what she wanted, wasn't it? A chance to help Harry achieve victory?

"This is because I'm Harry's twin, isn't it?" she asked. "The connection between our minds will allow me to not just see my own possible future but that of Harry's too."

Snape was immediately impressed. He hadn't expected that level of insight from the girl before him, yet he knew he shouldn't be surprised. She was Lily's daughter, graced with the same deductive mind, the same intelligence that he had so admired in her. He was bursting to ask what other qualities she had discovered about the connections in twins, yet this was hardly the time or place.

"That is the general hope. It is possible that you will be able to access Harry's future, but we cannot know for sure." Snape said, feeling a glimmer of promise. So far the girl had not left angrily at the idea of being so used. "That was another reason why I asked you to be part of the pair making the potion. It will be slightly more potent for you than others."

Aera took a deep breath, willing the nervous lump in her throat to disappear. "W . . . when do you want me to take it?"

Snape felt reluctant triumph at her words. This was all he had hoped for and all he had feared. There was a chance that what she saw would be disturbing. He could give her no assurance that she would not see one of her friends, dead or dying. If she saw the upcoming battle there would be certain people who would be sure to be involved, the Granger girl and Harry's side-kick, Weasley. Not enough was known about the Prophet's Elixir to give much idea at all as to what she would see.

"Tonight . . . now, if you will. The Elixir is among the branch of potions that loses its qualities after only a few hours. That is why I kept you here tonight. If you were willing to take the potion, now is the only opportunity you will get unless another batch is made."

He waited for the refusal, for the shock she would feel at being asked to do something so immediate. It never came. Instead, Aera stared at the cauldron calmly for a moment, then stood. "How am I to do this?"

Snape stood with her and motioned for Aera to follow him to the back of the classroom. He held open the door to his private rooms and motioned her through. She hesitated only a second before entering, looking around with detached interest at the interior. As she had expected the walls were lined with shelf upon shelf of books, bottles of intriguing colours dotted between the tombs. It was the study of a recluse, someone who had long ago discovered their preference for the written word to people's company. Aera immediately loved it.

There was a patchy sofa against one wall and Snape nodded towards it. "Have a seat there. I will go get the potion. You will have to drink it whilst it is still hot." He paused. "Remember, the potion will only show a possible future. We cannot always be certain that what it shows will be truth. I will watch over you until you come out of the trance."

Aera nodded, not really hearing what her professor said. She was impatient to get this over with. It must already be nine o'clock, time for her to be back in her dorm, surrounded by friends. It felt unsettling to be sitting here in this small room, waiting for her teacher to return with a liquid that would send her into a prophetic sleep.

She was just beginning to feel nervous when Snape re-entered. He was holding a large goblet in one glove-covered hand. She could see a wisp of steam twisting above the rim of the cup. Snape met Aera's gaze, hesitating before holding the chalice in front of him.

"I have heard that drinking this is somewhat unpleasant. You will have to drink while I hold it. The goblet is quite hot."

Aera nodded and leaned forward. She glanced into the cup as he lifted it to her lips. The inky blankness swirled, hinting at things hidden in the Elixir's depths. Taking one last calming breath she opened her mouth as Snape tipped the chalice up.

The sensation of the potion pouring down her throat made Aera want to pull away. It felt like the liquid was flowing by itself, a life of its own, filling her mouth. She felt a hand press against the back of her head, preventing her from moving back, away from the tasteless fluid that was starting to creep up the back of her throat to fill her nose, her ears . . .

Her eyes . . .


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Severus dropped the chalice to the floor as he used both hands to ease Aera back against the cushions. His self-disgust was unavoidable. Aera's eyes were shut and to anyone it would appear that she was in a calm, peaceful sleep, her breasts rising gently with her breaths. Severus knew differently. She would not move not make a sound whilst in the grip of the trance but the images she experience could be frightening and intense to the viewer.

He moved across the room to sit in his own chair, watching her closely. He would not move from this spot until she awoke, he refused to leave her unprotected for even a moment. It was a vulnerable position he had placed her in.

Watching the tranquility on her face, Severus was struck once again by the similarities between Aera and her mother. So beautiful, so relaxed. It was impossible not to think back to the days when Lily had been cordial with him.

Thinking her name brought back a painful aching in his chest. How odd that it would still affect him after this long. Was there no respite?

He sighed, his eyes never leaving Aera's face.

This had better work.

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Ahhh!! Here we go! I know, I'm a horrible, horrible person for leaving it like this!

If you're eager to see what happens, leave a review and I'll have it up in no time!

xxxxxxx
Aera