I\'ll Forget You

Chapter Five: Please...for a Friend

The snaps of the briefcase closed, followed by a popping sound as Hermione apparated to the anti-apparition boundary. The castle loomed before her in the late afternoon light. She realized happily that after all these years some things never changed. Taking a deep breath, she walked confidently up to the castle and entered through the front doors. She hadn’t mentioned her visit to Dumbledore, and she hoped that he wouldn’t mind. She didn’t plan to be there long, and she just had to find Sev...Professor Snape and see if he would help her or, more importantly, help Remus.

“Here on business or did you finally decide to come and visit us, Granger?” a fairly smooth voice called behind her.

She turned and smiled when she saw who it was. “Business actually, but I might be able to visit for a little bit. How does Ginny like her position here?”

“You can ask me,” Ginny said, coming out of one of the rooms. She kissed her husband lightly on the lips and then went over to Hermione, giving her a hug. “What brings you around to Hogwarts?” She noticed the briefcase. “Surely one of the house elves isn’t complaining to you here. They all love Dumbledore.”

Hermione laughed lightly. “No, I must say that the house elves here are treated very well.” She still couldn’t believe that they didn’t want to be free, but at least they were treated well, and she knew that Dumbledore would offer them whatever they wished. “I’m actually here on a different business matter. I was wondering if you knew if Professor Snape would be in his office.”

Ginny tilted her head slightly at Hermione, wondering why in the world she would want to see him. “He’s normally in his office. He hasn’t changed at all really since when we were students here.”

“Well, I’m not at liberty to say,” Hermione stated. She hadn’t told Remus that she was asking Severus to do this. She had vaguely wondered if he had changed much in these last eleven years. One thing that was certain, she knew that he would not be pleased to see her here after the way she had left things. It was in the past, though, and she had moved forward. “So, Ginny, do you like teaching here?”

Ginny smiled. “It’s great.” She giggled. “I must say that it is better to be a professor than a student. You get to be in charge, and you don’t have near as much homework.”

Hermione made a slight face. “I never minded the homework.”

“That’s because you practically did it before it was even assigned. Well, you would have if you could,” Draco drawled, smirking. He always knew Hermione was a teacher’s pet. Plus, he had heard enough stories about Ginny and her friends to know for certain.

“Ha. Ha.” Hermione said dryly, rolling her eyes. She knew it was true enough. She had begged professors for extra work. She couldn’t help it if she liked to be challenged. “Well, I would love to stay and chat, but I do have business to attend to before dinner.”

Ginny took Hermione’s hand. “We know you do, but don’t be a stranger. We so rarely see you.”

Hermione smiled and gave her friend a hug. “I’ll try to come by more.” She nodded to them both and left. She was glad that Draco and Ginny were together. They were so much in love, and she rarely even saw one without the other. If only love could always be like that.

A slight sigh fell on her lips as she walked down the familiar halls towards the dungeons. She remembered the last time she walked towards his office. A part of her had wanted to stay with him, but he had made it clear that she had to go, and she did. She had had her whole life ahead of her. He was a bitter old man, and she didn’t need to spend her days dwindling away in the dungeons. She had an important business to run. She had people she had to defend. Well, not all of them were people, but still. Her biggest client at the moment was Remus, and she had to help him in any way she could.

She paused at the semi-open office door. Her lips parted as her tongue darted out to wet her lips as a sudden nervousness came over her. She had not seen him since the last time they were so intimate. Things were different now, and she would have to resume the old student-professor formalities. She already felt like a quivering first year and chided herself. She took a deep breath, telling herself that she was just doing her job as always. She raised her hand, knocking on the door and causing it to open just enough to see him at his desk, marking a student’s essay.

“I’m busy right now. What do...?” Severus looked up, ready to admonish the student that had dared to come to his office. His lips slightly parted as he blatantly stared at her. She looked a little older, a little thinner, and a little more worn. He lightly pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, feeling a headache suddenly coming on. “You are not here,” he mumbled.

“Excuse me, sir. I do need to speak with you,” Hermione stated formally, wondering what was wrong with him. She expected him to at least yell at her for coming. Instead, he looked like she was just a figment of his imagination.

He blinked, realizing that the vision had not faded away. “Come in, Miss Granger...or would it be Mrs. Weasley now?” His tone was bitter and harsh, especially when stating the fact that she was married to that dunderhead.

She stiffened when she heard his tone. “It’s actually Ms. Granger.” She walked in and sat down in the chair in front of his desk, lightly setting her briefcase on the floor.

At least she still had some sense, he thought as he was glad to hear that she had not taken Weasley’s last name. He noticed the briefcase. “I assume this is a business visit then.” He had absolutely no clue why she would have business with him. He hadn’t overly mistreated some creature that she was representing.

She nodded. “I’ve come to talk to you about a mutual friend we have.”

His eyes narrowed. “I don’t believe we have any mutual friends, Ms. Granger.”

“Yes, we do actually. I’m sure you have read the Daily Prophet concerning the Werewolf Ordinance.”

He sat back in his chair slightly as it dawned on him who she was talking about. He folded his hands and leaned forward. “I have read it. I am guessing that you are representing Lupin.”

“Yes, I am, Professor.”

“Then how does this concern me?” he asked coldly. Lupin was technically a friend, but he had nothing to do with this new ordinance, even though he disagreed with it. “Do you want me to give a character testimony or something to help his case?” he sneered.

“No, it’s not that at all. Actually I need you to do something that is more...ambitious.” She paused, knowing that she was going to have to be careful with this. “I know that you are the one who makes Remus’ Wolfsbane Potion. You probably know more about it than anyone else.” She paused again, formulating her thoughts as she leaned forward slightly. “Remus’ case is going to be very difficult. It’s very likely that the Ordinance won’t be repealed. He is already to be collared like an animal, and it won’t be long before he will be forced to be caged. I know that you are not so cold-hearted to believe that this treatment is right.” Her chocolate eyes met his dark ones. “I need you to create a potion that will cure lycanthropy. It may be the only thing to save Remus and the rest of the werewolves.”

He stared at her, being drawn into her gaze. Did she really just ask him to create a potion to cure lycanthropy? She might as well have asked him to bring back the dead or something like that. “People have already tried this and failed, Ms. Granger. It’s impossible.”

She bent over and picked up her briefcase, opening it and producing a file that was three inches thick. “I know that they have tried and failed. I’ve done my research, Professor.” She placed the file on his desk. “This includes all the information I have found on the attempt to find a cure for lycanthropy. I believe that this is possible. No one to date has had the ability to do it.” She looked directly at him. “I thought that with your skills and brilliance that you just might be able to solve what others could not. Remus told me that you have made improvements to the Wolfsbane Potion over the years.”

He smirked as he looked at the file. He was tempted just by the sheer fact of what would happen if he could cure lycanthropy. Suddenly, he pushed the file back toward her. “I won’t do it.” Even though he wouldn’t mind the recognition, especially since he had never gotten his Order of Merlin, he was not going to do her any favors. “I believe that is all, Ms. Granger. You know where the door is,” he hissed as he picked up his quill to begin grading papers again.

She glared at him. “Are you really going to be so petty that you won’t even reconsider to do this? I’m not asking for you to do this for me. I have my own job in this case to do. I just thought that you might actually want to help your friend. Remus is your friend after all. He doesn’t even know that I’m asking you to do this. Please help him.”

He slammed the quill down. “I will not do it.” Friendship or not, he didn’t care. He was not going to do this for the sheer fact that it was she who asked.

Hermione stood up, collecting the file and her briefcase. She leaned over his desk slightly, coming fairly close to him. “Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you are so cold-hearted that you wouldn’t even want to try to help a friend. Remus needs your help though.” Her eyes met his, and she realized just how close she was to him. She had to move away. Straightening suddenly, she pulled the last trick she had and turned toward the door, placing her hand on the handle. “I guess I was wrong about you, Professor. You don’t want to help Remus. You don’t want to get the recognition of curing lycanthropy that has never been done. You probably can’t even do it. You are just some second-rate professor at a wizarding school. I’m sure there are quite a few research potions masters who will jump at the chance to do this project.” She turned to leave.

“Wait,” he said suddenly as he got up from his desk, coming over to her. He took the file from her hands and glared down at her as he caught her all too familiar scent – a scent that had haunted him for eleven years. “I’m not doing this for you. I’ll do this for Lupin. Besides, no one else has my skills. You will get this potion for him.”

She nodded. “Very well. I will check in on its progress from time to time. Good bye, Professor.” She gave a curt nod and turned, leaving quickly and walking up the stairs two at a time. She smiled. She had known that he would do it once she threatened his abilities. She didn’t know if he would be successful, but it was worth a chance. She had a lot of work to do on her own concerning Remus’ case. She allowed her plans with it fill her mind as she did not to dwell on the old feelings that resurfaced at having him so close.

He watched her leave again and stood there, wondering what the hell he had gotten himself into. He sat down in almost a daze and leafed through the file. Her research was very thorough, and it gave him a base to start the potion. Placing the file down, he looked at the door again. Her scent still lingered slightly, and he closed his eyes, imaging that she had come back to him.

NO! He was not going to do this again. She had just come to help her client. He was just doing this to help his friend. Besides, it could also further atone for his many crimes. He had always figured that it would take years to atone for them, and he was beginning to believe it. Luckily, the Dark Lord was gone, and now, he was going to have to figure out the impossible. He chuckled slightly as he thought about his damnable Slytherin ambition. It always seemed to get him into these impossible situations where lives were on the line. It was all part of the job, he guessed as he picked up the file again and began to take notes. He kept reminding himself that he was doing this for Remus and not Hermione.


A/N: Please review! It is greatly appreciated.