Potions,Poisons and Antidotes

Disclaimer: Nope I don’t own Harry Potter or any of the great stuff JKR does.

Hermione stepped out of the International Portkey Terminal in London right behind Severus Snape. It was good to be home after 3 months of training to be an Unspeakable. She had been through a lot in the last year.

First half way through seventh year Draco and a handful of Slytherin’s had gone to Dumbledore asking for sanctuary. Apparently with their parents either dead or in Azkaban they felt it safe to turn to the old wizard for help. Much to everyone’s surprise the Order suddenly had Draco, Blaise, Pansy, Vince, and Greg in their ranks. It took more than a little getting used to on all sides. Eventually, after a small amount of bloodshed from fistfights, the new group became accustomed to each other.

Secondly, the war ended rather abruptly a week before graduation. Vince Crabbe had come into the room of requirement during a training session and announced that his older brother had let it slip that there was to be an attack in Hogsmead that Saturday. The order had setup an ambush for the Deatheaters and got lucky when Voldemort himself led the attack. Harry and Neville had been standing back to back shooting hexes and curses in every direction when Voldemort had challenged Harry. Without hesitation both Harry and Neville shot a bolt of green light. Both bolts hit before the evil wizard was finished with his monologue. When the light faded Voldemort lay dead and the rest of the Deatheaters were unconscious. It was a simple matter to round them up and hand them to the authorities.

The last surprise came the day of graduation. After the ceremony Dumbledore had invited Hermione and her parents to his office. When they arrived Snape was already waiting for them. He explained to them that he was an Unspeakable for the ministry and he wanted to recruit Hermione. She would have to go through the full field training program for three months and then become part of his research team. She would specialize in potions. She would apprentice with him for her Potions Master program. She accepted on the spot.

Now here she was after an even more grueling training program than most muggle military personnel went through. She followed her mentor as the crowds seemed to part for them. She didn’t realize the aura the two of them gave off. Snape was still imposing with his black muggle jeans and black button down shirt and his hair tied back with a scowl on his face. She strode next to him her head up and her eyes alert. She had dressed in the same manner with her hair pulled back in a tight French braid. The pair looked unapproachable and slightly dangerous as their black boots stuck the same rhythm on the tiled floor making hard to distinguish that it was two sets of steps instead of one.

The pair stepped out of the door into the busy crowd and immediately saw the familiar white blond hair of Draco Malfoy. He was casually leaning against a black muggle convertible automobile with his arms crossed. He had on dark blue dress slacks and a dark blue silk tee. They changed course slightly to meet him. Giving them a bright smile Draco said, “Good to see you both.” He shook Snape’s hand and turned that mega watt smile on Hermione and gave her a quick hug. “Let’s go it wouldn’t do to keep the Minister waiting.” Draco said in a serious tone as he walked around to the driver door.

Snape opened the passenger door and guided Hermione into the back seat with a hand on her elbow. He then sat in the front seat and turned to Draco “Why would the minister want to see us? We had planned on meeting everyone at headquarters.”

Draco didn’t take his eyes off the road as he drove through the traffic. “While you were gone the former Minister for Magic was ejected from office and new one was voted in. The new minister thinks that it would be a good thing to bring you up to date on the latest news. We knew that several Deatheaters were never caught because they were not in Hogsmead at the time of the final battle. Well let’s just say that they have been busy while you were gone.”

“I have often said that training without interference from the outside world had definite drawbacks. I take it the former minister refused to acknowledge the threat yet again and the populace threw him out? Who’s the new minister?” Snape asked.

“I’m not allowed to say just yet. You will be pleasantly surprised.” Draco smirked and glanced at Hermione in the rearview mirror. She seemed to be more relaxed than he could remember her being in the past. She was tanned and her body seemed a little more defined.

She returned his look in the mirror and asked, “Where are we going Draco?”

“Malfoy Manor. By the way, your parents are meeting us there.” He noticed her smile at that. Would she be surprised that her parents had started to use their floo connection more? It was not unusual for Jane Granger to floo call Molly or to see them shopping in Diagon Alley. The two were becoming fast friends. Ginny called it a symptom of “empty nest syndrome”.

As they reached a deserted stretch of highway outside of London Draco said, “Hold on.” Suddenly the occupants of the car felt a familiar tug behind the navel and the entire car apparated to just out side the manor gates. From the back seat Hermione said, “Show off”.

A/N: I know the first chapter is a little short. I don’t plan on it being a long fic. Please leave a review and let know if there is any interest in continuing this story. All reviews are welcome. Flames will probably be ignored. Sorry about the lack of a beta.