In an Alternate Universe

Chapter 41 ~ Laying Down the Law (Short Chapter)

When Severus entered Hermione’s quarters, he found the witch standing in front of the fireplace waiting for him. She was dressed in a set of green silk robes and her hair . . . her hair was shiny and curly. He just wanted to run his hands through it.

“Professor . . . you look . . . wow,” he breathed, walking toward her, his eyes hot.

”Now just hold on a moment, Severus. First, I need to show you something,” Hermione said to him.

Severus stopped, a bit of disappointment in his eyes.

”But I thought we were going to ‘celebrate,’ he whined.

Hermione shook her head. Gods, he was still such a baby.

”We are, and like adults, Severus. But what I want to show you will only take a moment. Now, come with me,” she said, walking past him. She smelled like jasmine.

Severus followed as if in a dream, sniffing at the witch as she opened the wall and walked through. She led him through the classroom and into the lab. Several cauldrons were simmering.

”Why are we in here?” Severus asked.

Hermione didn’t answer. Instead, she pressed several stones in the far corner and the wall slid up. She entered, followed by a surprised Severus.

They were in another lab, and a cauldron was bubbling.

”You have another lab?” Severus asked her, looking around.

This lab was much better equipped than the other one. Larger too.

”Of course I do,” Hermione replied, walking over to the cauldron and checking it. “I have to have a secure place to do my own projects. Umbrage couldn’t watch me here, although I usually entered in total darkness.”

Severus walked over to the cauldron, eyeing the thick green liquid. The scent reminded him of something familiar.

”What is that?” he asked her.

Hermione looked at Severus soberly.

”Severus, I just wanted to show you that Vargas is quite wrong about me, and that you have chosen a mentor of worth. I have a number of original potions that I haven’t registered, potions that might very well make me a wealthy woman and quite sought after. But I have no desire for fame. I would find it more of an inconvenience than anything. Then there would be the hangers-on, the requests for my attendance at any number of dull, mediocre lectures and the like. I don’t want that, Severus,” she said, picking up a very small glass about the size of a shot glass and carefully ladling in a bit of the bubbling green liquid. She then opened a small piece of parchment, revealing a number of hairs.

Severus could see they weren’t human hairs.

“What are you doing?” he asked her, alarmed as Hermione dropped one of the hairs into the liquid. “That’s an animal hair!”

Hermione smirked at him and tossed the liquid down with a rasp and set the glass on the counter.

Severus watched, his heart pounding as she began to transform, very quickly.

Hermione's flesh bubbled, then suddenly . . . she disappeared.

Severus blinked, looked down, and staggered back.

A chestnut colored cat with amber eyes looked up at him.

”Meow,” it said.

Now this wouldn’t have been surprising except the cat said it in Hermione’s voice.

She leapt up on the counter, sat down and began cleaning her paw.

Stunned, Severus slowly walked toward her.

”Professor?” he said softly to the animal.

”Yes?” the cat said, pausing in its paw cleaning.

Severus’ eyes went wide as saucers.

”You . . . you can talk! And . . . and . . . you’re a cat!” he gasped, pointing a pale finger at her.

”Your powers of deduction amaze me, Severus,” the witch cat purred, lifting its lips a little and showing sharp little teeth. “This is Polymorph potion. It enables a human to turn into an animal but retain the power of critical thought and speech. One of my original discoveries.”

Severus blinked at the cat, completely and thoroughly amazed.

Suddenly, Hermione appeared, sitting on the counter, her head cocked at Severus, her eyes crinkled with amusement at the shock on his face.

”That is . . . is fantastic, professor! You could make a fortune with that potion. Not everyone is an Animagus. You could call it, ‘Animagi in a Bottle’ or something,” he breathed.

“It would be abused like people abuse everything, Severus. I could only imagine the terrible things people would do with it,” she said darkly, hopping off the counter. “You can add any beast’s hair or scale to this and become that beast. A dragon, hippogriff or even a werewolf. It only lasts about an hour and a half maximum. But I am sure that with your talents, you could extend the transformation much as you’ve done with the Polyjuice potion as well as cut down on the brewing time. So you see, Severus, you will be involved in interesting endeavors under my instruction.”

”I always knew that, professor,” Severus said softly, still in awe of her brilliance. “I could tell there was so much more to you. I could always tell.”

Hermione turned away from his eyes. They were full of so much admiration and respect she couldn’t stand it. She wasn’t used to it. It was . . . overwhelming.

”Of course you can’t share anything we do here with anyone. Just because you are apprenticed to me doesn’t mean others won’t try to find out what projects you are working on. They will, believe me. You’re going to have to be vigilant. There are things you’re going to have to do from now on, to protect yourself. Firstly, you will carry a Bezoar stone with you at all times, in easy reach,” Hermione said, her eyes dark.

“A Bezoar? Why?” Severus asked her.

”Jealousy will be high, Severus. Vargas very well might be of the ‘if I can’t have him, no one can’ persuasion. Others will be less than thrilled as well. Potions masters are the ones most likely to slip you poison. You have to be careful about shaking hands as well. Whenever you go out you will need to cast protective spells on your skin so nothing can get through your pores into your system. Be wary of strangers and even more so of those you know.”

Severus stared at the witch. It sounded as if he were in some kind of . . . of spy story. He didn’t know becoming her apprentice meant he’d have to protect himself in this manner. Hermione covered the Polymorph potion with a lid and turned off the flame. She headed for the exit, Severus following, listening closely as she continued talking.

“You will carry your own charmed drinking glass. It will alert you if anything is amiss with what you are about to consume. I’ll provide it for you. Whenever you are out, you will drink ONLY from that glass. Don’t worry about insulting your host. Most Potions masters are notoriously paranoid, and with good reason. If someone refuses to serve you in your own glass, in your presence, then simply don’t drink what they are offering.”

Y"ou will also carry Blood Replenishing and Healing Potions with you as well. My own brew. It is very powerful. You will keep these within reach at all times. I will randomly check to see if you have them on you after this, and if you don’t you can count on being very painfully hexed. I won’t have you dying on me, wizard,” Hermione said to him softly. “You’re my first apprentice. I’d like you to survive long enough to become a Master. Then, you’ll be on your own. Now come on, it’s time for supper.”

Severus followed her, his head spinning with everything he would have to do from now on as well as from the realization of just how powerful and talented a Potions mistress Hermione really was.

And he was going to be with her.

“And celebration?” the wizard asked her softly, wanting her more than ever. Gods, she was an amazing witch.

Hermione smiled, but since he was behind her, Severus couldn’t see it.

”Yes . . . and ‘celebration’ Severus,” she replied.

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A/N: A very short chapter, but something I wanted to include. I wanted to show at least one of Hermione’s accomplishments to show she was a worthy mentor, and I also wanted to show Life isn’t roses for Potions masters and mistresses. Jealousy and danger abound. I wanted to write about some of the precautions necessary for survival. On the outside it looks like paranoia, but actually an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure. Plus, it kind of feeds my eternal hope that somehow Severus might have survived Nagini’s bite. Sigh. Lol. Ah well. Anyway, thanks for reading. More later. ***