Writing's On The Wall

Two Months Later

Matt was hunched over the microscope in the lab on the third floor at St. Mungo’s. He peered through the lens for what seemed like the millionth time in the last hour and half. He kept checking his watch, trying to confirm that, in fact, the appropriate amount of time had passed. He checked again, and it still had. This was it.

“Cyrus!” he called into the next room. Cyrus Bolt, Matt’s boss and Healer-In-Charge of their floor, head of the research department, strode into the room. Bolt had decided he wanted to take an active part in the final stages of development, following the dismissal of Zacharias Smith during the courtroom hearing. Bolt had told Matt that this was the kind of thing he had gotten into research and development for and did not mind taking a backseat. Afterall, he himself had assigned Matt the project.

“Yes Mr. Santini?” Bolt asked as he stopped at Matt’s side.

“Take a look at your watch and then this sample.” Matt said as he stepped back from the microscope. Cyrus Bolt confirmed the time and then peered into the microscope himself. There was a visible pause in Bolt’s body language as he adjusted the microscope and then stepped back.

“This is it.” Bolt confirmed.

“We’re sure?” Matt asked, disbelief in his voice.

“Yes, Mr. Santini, I am sure.” Cyrus Bolt smiled and placed a hand on Matt’s shoulder, a smile crossing his face. Matt started to laugh as did Bolt. The two men laughed at what they had accomplished.

“Over a year’s worth of research and development and we did it!” Matt exclaimed. “We actually did it, a temporary cure for lycanthropy!”

“We did. The only dose was given seventy-two hours ago, and the sample reverted to normal human hair and remained as such until after the full moon cycle.” Bolt confirmed.

“When can we move to human trials?” Matt asked, hope filling his voice.

“I would say thirty days. I’ll have to take this to the Ministry, but I dare say, they’ll be expecting it.” Bolt grinned. Matt nodded and smiled.

“I’ll start sending letters.” Matt said and went to his office.

A flurry of owls was sent out from St. Mungo’s seeking volunteers from the werewolf community. The response was not as highly anticipated as they may have hoped for, but several dozen members of the community responded. Some of them were ones that Hermione had interviewed just months before while they searched for the lost tent.

That evening, Matt was quick to pull Hermione into a hug as she came home to their new shared apartment. Although they had only just moved in, there was a lot of unpacking to be done. All the couple had managed to do was unpack their new bed, some clothing and Crookshanks’ cat bed. The place was a mess, but it was their mess.

“Not that I’m complaining, but you’re in an exceptionally good mood tonight! What’s the occasion?” Hermione asked after the pair broke from a heated kiss, her cheeks flushed.

“We did it.” Matt said and rested his forehead against hers. “The improved Wolfsbane potion, it works. Seventy-two hours werewolf free.”

Hermione gasped.

“That’s – that’s incredible! You’ve done! I knew you would!” she leapt into his arms and the pair spun around, happy and content.

“Yeah! We move to human trials next month. And there’s been some responses from your interviewees! How’s that legislation?” Matt said as they got out paper plates from a half empty box to eat dinner.

“It’s coming along nicely. I’ve been asked to make refinements by the Wizengamot but nothing unreasonable. I’ve rewritten it a dozen times, but it should pass at the next vote.”

“When’s the next vote?”

“Six weeks.” Hermione said with a sigh.

“That’s perfect! If the trials go as planned…then we’ll be able to publish before then! This potion will go live! It’ll bolster the need for legislation! This is it Hermione!” Matt was ecstatic as they ate, Hermione smiling the whole time.

Unable to resist themselves, the couple did not get anymore unpacking done but did test out the bedsprings thoroughly.

The following weeks were a blur as Matt prepped his paper on their process with their pictures and various recipes used, including the final formula. Cyrus Bolt was exceedingly happy to submit it to the International Confederation of Wizards as a new potion for peer reviewing. While somewhat lengthy, the ICW did not take long to review their findings as sound. The American hospital, Winnamucca’s in California, was able to reproduce the potion exactly and was ready to replicate their results on the next full moon.

The first night of the full moon proved eventful for the third floor at St. Mungo’s as the volunteers arrived, having agreed to not take their weekly dose of the original Wolfsbane potion. The rooms adjacent to Matt’s lab had been converted to quarters, although spartan, in case the live potion failed. The reinforced silver bars would not give, and they ensured the safety of everyone involved. Additionally, the Ministry sent over Aurors in case something went wrong but were likely to not be needed.

Matt himself was administering the doses of the potion, just before the moonlight streamed in through the windows of the rooms holding the volunteers. Each person was given the correct dosage, based on their normal size. Matt was sure to hold the final dose for Lavender, saving her for last.

“Matt!” called one of the nurses as she skidded to a halt beside him. There was a distinct banging coming from Lavender’s room. “We’ve got a situation!”

Matt gave the second to the last dose and turned, confused.

“What is it?”

“It’s Miss Brown…it’s a bad night tonight. I-I-I think s-she…” the banging increased. Suddenly, there was a rending of metal and a clanging. Matt turned and swallowed. Lavender’s door had come off its hinges. She had managed to finally work it free, and her full form now stood in the hallway.

“Don’t move!” Matt said. The nurse was shaking, frightened out of her wits. Slowly, Matt stepped forward, his wand drawn. “Lavender…” Matt began, holding out his hand. “It’s me…you know me…” he said gently as he stepped forward over bits of metal, wood, and plaster that littered the hallway.

Lavender growled, and lumbered forward, drool hanging in ropes from her malformed jaw. Matt gently flicked his wand, and a piece of debris floated up, Lavender’s gaze shifted for an instant to the movement. A piece of wooden wall, some of the plaster still hanging from it floated to her right. Angrily she swatted at it, but Matt moved it out of her reach before hovering it back again. Lavender grew more impatient with this game, letting out an angered roar.

Lavender swatted again, this time the remnant of the door connected with her paw and flew down the hall, breaking the spell on it. Her breathing was heavy as her eyes locked on Matt, and she snarled. In a movement so quick it was nearly a blur, she lunged forward, loping down the hall at Matt and the nurse.

Matt was prepared for this and charged Lavender himself. She reared up to strike him, her claws out, the blow would be lethal if it landed. Her mouth was opened in an angered roar and Matt uncorked the potion bottle. He had one good chance, as Lavender swiped, Matt fell to his side, sliding on the polished linoleum floor. At the same time as he ducked under the swing, he threw the potion bottle into Lavender’s mouth. Her maw closed over the container, and she tilted her head back, drinking down the potion. She spit the bottle out and roared, turning her giant arm in a swing.

Lavender’s forearm caught Matt in the side as he was standing up, sending him flying into the wall and knocking the wind from his chest. He wheezed as his right shoulder erupted in pain, combined with the sharp stinging coming from his left arm, where Lavender connected, he was having trouble getting his bearings. Matt looked up from his prone position and was not sure if he was hallucinating or not. Lavender seemed to be shrinking, her limbs growing smaller, becoming more proportionate. The canine features retracting and, in a moment, standing in the hallway was Matt’s former classmate, fully human again.

“M-Matt?!” Lavender looked horrified as she ran over to him. “Oh, I’m so sorry! What have I done? I didn’t mean to, I wasn’t myself!” she moaned, tears flowing from her eyes and running down her cheeks, splashing on the floor.

“It’s-it’s ok Lavender. I’ll be alright.” Matt said weakly. “And so will you.” He grinned as the nurse came over and stood over him, before he passed out.

The newspaper headlines the following week detailed the confirmation of the potion’s viability. Winnemucca’s Hospital was able to reproduce the results of the trial. There was even a photograph in the Daily Prophet of Matt, wearing a sling on one arm, waving from a wheelchair, next to an ecstatic Lavender Brown, who was flanked by her parents. Although the scars around her neck would never heal, Lavender would be able to return to a normal life.

Matt earned himself a severe scolding from Hermione about being reckless, but she loved him for it all the same. She reminded him several times of how much she truly loved his courage and bravery. He, in turn, showed her how much he appreciated her putting up with his heroics.

“Whatever will I do with you?” Hermione asked, naked under the sheets of their bed, as she traced a finger along Matt’s bare chest.

“Love me?” Matt suggested as he turned to his side, his hand cupping her cheek as he drew her into a kiss.

“I suppose I can do that.” Hermione said as she sidled close to him, her body pressing against his own.

Matt grinned and wrapped his arms around her, his lips closing on hers.

“And I’ll love you back.” He grinned.

“You know, it does seem like it was quite obvious we were going to get together, looking back on it all.” Hermione observed. Matt chuckled.

“Yeah, it does feel like the writing’s on the wall, doesn’t it?”

Hermione giggled as she climbed on top of Matt and their bodies intertwined once more.