Ten Years

Disclaimer: I by no mean own the Harry Potter characters. I wish I did.

Summary: It’s been ten years since Hermione, Harry and the other have graduated from Hogwarts and defeated Voldemort. Hermione returns to her ten year reunion and finds that most things have changed, but one thing has stayed the same. What will happen? R/R


Ten Years- Part 7

The sun was setting as Hermione and Severus walked hand-in-hand into Remus’s room. They found Remus sitting in a chair reading a copy of the Evening Prophet. He looked up when he heard the door close behind the couple.

“Hello Hermione, Severus.” Remus greeted as he set aside the paper.

“Hello Lupin. Anything interesting in the paper?” Severus asked.

“Yeah. Draco won his case against his father. Lucius will be receiving the Dementor’s Kiss in two days. I know that has to be a relief for Draco.” Remus answered.

“Yes it is. After all, Lucius killed his mother who was two months pregnant.” Severus said.

“Narcissa was pregnant? I didn’t know that.” Hermione said in shock.

“Yeah. She came to me about three days before she died. She was complaining of her always throwing up. I did a quick spell and confirmed that she was in fact pregnant. She was excited. The only people other than she and I that knew was Draco.” Severus explained.

“That’s so sad. At least Draco gets some justice for his mother. So, is it time?” Remus asked.

“Yes. First I need to run a few tests. Just to make sure everything is right on schedule. Then you will receive the last dose.” Hermione answered.

Remus got up from the chair and laid on the bed. Hermione walked to his bedside. A second later two Healers entered. Severus watched in fascination as Hermione did some intricate and extremely difficult wand movements. The Healers stood on the other side of the bed making notes on the results of Hermione’s tests. Twenty minutes later she was done.

“Everything is going just as we had predicted. Here you go. Healer Walker, Healer Masters, please leave and go to the observation room. Myself and Professor Snape here will stay with Mr. Lupin.” Hermione ordered as she handed Remus the vial with the final dose.

“Mistress Granger, are you sure it’s safe?” Healer Walker asked.

“Yes. Now leave us please.” Hermione answered.

Reluctantly the two Healers left and reappeared a few seconds later behind a glass wall to the right of Remus’s bed. Hermione handed Remus the final dose of the potion.

“Ugh. That stuff tastes worse than the Wolfsbane potion.” Remus complained.

“Sorry about the taste. There’s not a whole lot I can do about it I’m afraid.” Hermione said apologetically.

Hermione walked over to the window and threw the curtains back. She then returned to Severus’s side. Both were holding their wands just in case. The three in the room waited for over an hour for the moon to finally rise. As it did, Remus found himself bathed in moonlight. He then dropped his face to his hands and his shoulders began to tremble.

“Remus? Remus what is it?” Hermione demanded.

“I…don’t feel anything! No pain. No urge to transform. No battle with my inner wolf!” Remus cried as he looked up at Hermione and Severus, tears of happiness falling from his eyes.

“That’s good isn’t it?” Severus asked.

“Yes. But we need to wait a few more hours just to be sure.” Hermione answered happily.

The three sat on the bed, the moonlight dancing around them and talked. Severus laughed when he heard how Remus had told Hermione to pursue him at the reunion party. Remus was interested in Hermione’s lectures. Hermione was thrilled by all the fan mail that Remus had received ever since the Daily Prophet ran the story of her potion and that Remus would be her guinea pig. Before they even realized it, night had turned to day. The sun was rising as Healer Masters re-entered the room.

“Mistress Granger, it’s now eight in the morning. We were checking his vitals from the observation room and found that there was no hint whatsoever of the wolf in Mr. Lupin. All things point to him being cured one hundred percent.” Healer Masters reported.

“I’m…I’m cured? Really…cured?” Remus stuttered.

“We will know in about five minutes. Remus lay back and just relax.” Hermione instructed.

Remus did as she said. Hermione slowly ran her wand over him while checking for and evidence of the werewolf genes in him. Five minutes later she put her wand away, faced Remus and smiled.

“You’re cured!” she cried.

“YES!” Remus yelled as he jumped to his feet.

Remus then grabbed Hermione and hugged her tightly. Hermione returned the hug. Remus released her and softly kissed her cheek.

“Hermione, how can I ever repay you? You have given me the greatest gift anyone ever could. You gave me my freedom and my life back. Two things I thought I would never have again.” Remus said tearfully.

“You owe me nothing my friend. All I ask in return is that you now live your life. Enjoy it.” Hermione replied.

“I will. I promise. And Severus, thank you. It meant a lot having you here. After all, you were the first one to try and help me with the Wolfsbane potion all those years ago.” Remus said as he held his hand out to Severus.

“It was my pleasure. You are finally free Remus.” Severus said as he took Remus’s hand in his.

Hermione and Severus left so Remus could get dressed and then return home. Hermione and Severus walked into the conference room that was set up for an official statement. There waiting was a reporter for the Daily Prophet, several potions magazines and a reporter for The Quibbler.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please have a seat. Twenty minutes ago, I got the final results on the potion. It was a success. The test subject, Remus J. Lupin has been cured completely of lycropathy. This is a major breakthrough in not only potions, but the Wizarding world. It has taken me ten years to research, fund and develop this potion. I’m now pleased to say, there is a cure for those that are infected with lycropathy.

“This potion has four stages. The first stage, will actually cure a person who has been bitten, but not transform for the first time. Stage two, is for those who have already had their first transformation, but still have only been bitten within a year. Stage three, is for those who have been a werewolf from two to ten years. Finally, stage four, is for those witches or wizards in Mr. Lupin’s case. The ones that have been living with the disease since child hood or young adolescents. “I will now answer a few questions.” Hermione explained.

“Mistress Granger, Rita Skeeter Daily Prophet, what is Professor Severus Snape doing here? Did he help you in developing this potion?” Rita asked.

“Professor Snape is here as a fellow Potions Master and as a friend to Mr. Lupin and myself. He was merely an observer. As for your second question, he did not directly help in developing the potion. However, I did base my potion on his formula of the Wolfsbane potion. So, indirectly, he did help.” Hermione answered.

Severus looked at her, pride, love and lust filling his very heart and soul.

“Mistress Granger, Luna Lovegood, The Quibbler, what are you planning on calling this new potion?” Luna asked.

“I have had a lot of time to think on that one. I decided to name it after Mr. Lupin, who is a dear friend. It will be called The Remus Tonic. I figured something short and catchy would work.” Hermione answered with a smile as the reporters and Severus laughed.

Hermione spent over three hours answering questions and explaining more of her work. Finally she and Severus left St. Mungo’s. Outside they ran into Remus.

“Remus, what are you doing here?” Hermione asked.

“I thought I could at least treat you two to lunch.” Remus answered.

“Remus, that’s not…” Hermione started.

“I insist Hermione. Besides, when Sirius left me a generous amount of money in my vault at Gringott’s.” Remus said.

“All right. Let’s go.” Hermione said.

Remus took Hermione’s right arms while Sever took her left. He smiled as he saw they way Severus and Hermione fit perfectly together. They made their way to a nice little Italian restaurant four blocks away. They entered and were quickly seated. As they waited for their meals, Remus pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered one tow Severus and Hermione who both took one.

“I didn’t know you smoked Hermione.” Severus said as he took a drag off of his.

“There’s a lot you still don’t know about me.” Hermione said with a secretive smile.

“So, I gather you will busy for some time now huh?” Remus asked.

“Yes. Starting in September, I will be going on tours of different hospitals, universities and other Ministries throughout the world. Talking and explaining as well as demonstrating the potion.” Hermione answered.

“What did you decide to call it? I mean, you never told me.” Remus asked.

“It’s called The Remus Tonic.” she answered.

Remus just stared at her for a moment, then broke out into a wolfish grin and began laughing.

“I love it. Short, catchy. What did all those Healers and reports say?” Remus asked.

“They all laughed.” she replied.

“So, now that your cured, what do you plan on doing Remus?” Severus asked.

“I’m not sure. It’s so weird. I’ve always lived my life in fear but now that’s over and behind me.” Remus answered.

“I have an idea. We are short a DADA professor. Care to help me out with that problem?” Severus asked.

“You mean it? You want me to teach again?” Remus questioned.

“Yes. After all, you were the best teacher in that subject that Hogwarts has had in a long time. So what do you say?” Severus answered.

“Yes! I would love to!” Remus cried.

“Wonderful. I except you at the castle on August 1st to begin getting things in order.” Severus said.

The three stayed at the restaurant for almost four hours. When they parted company, Severus grabbed Hermione into his arms and kissed her. The kiss was gentle, loving and full of pride for the young witch. Both were gasping for air when their lips came apart.

“You truly are brilliant Hermione.” he whispered.

“I had a wonderful teacher Severus.” she whispered back.

“So, where to now?” he asked as they hailed a taxi.

“I say, we go get our things and then we head to my place.” she answered.

“As you wish my dear.” Severus said.

They quickly gathered their things from the Leaky Cauldron and then, holding hands, apparated to Hermione’s flat in Naples. As Hermione took his things upstairs, he looked around. It was definitely Hermione Granger. He smiled as he saw her returning from upstairs wearing nothing at all. His robes quickly vanished, he took her in his arms and made love to her right their on her living room floor.

T.B.C