April 20th, Sunny

The mandrakes had finally matured under Fred's watchful eye—he'd been checking on them three times a day. Their maturity meant that the restorative potion could now be brewed, and Joey and the others could be cured.

Professor Sprout was overwhelmed by the number of students who volunteered to help harvest the mandrakes. Her eyes glistened with emotion as she handed out earmuffs. "Be careful! Some of them are quite temperamental and might scream!"

Fred, George, and Cedric worked quickly, pulling the mandrakes from the soil. Harry and Ron immediately stuffed them into dragon-hide sacks, while Flami tied the bags securely. The group worked together seamlessly, their movements efficient and coordinated.

Meanwhile, Ryan had been summoned by Professor Snape to assist with the final stages of the potion preparation. "Since you've borrowed every book on restorative potions, I assume you'd like to help," Snape said dryly, handing Ryan a pile of toadstools to process. "Don't make a mistake. The first dose will go to your sister."

Ryan's focus sharpened instantly. He knew Snape's words were meant to motivate him, even if they sounded harsh. As he carefully ground the toadstools, he couldn't help but think how Joey would have reacted to Snape's tone. She'd probably have snapped back at him.

The door to Snape's office opened, and Shafiq walked in. He glanced at Ryan but didn't comment. Instead, he picked up a set of salamander claws and began grinding them into powder without being asked.

Ryan kept his eyes on his work, though he couldn't help but notice Shafiq's presence. The Slytherin was as meticulous as ever, his movements precise and deliberate. Ryan's mind wandered to his father's warnings about Shafiq: "He's dangerous. Be careful."

Snape, observing the tension between the two, broke the silence. "As long as you don't start a duel in my office, I don't care what's between you."

Before either could respond, a silver phoenix Patronus flew into the room, landing on Ryan's shoulder. It spoke in Dumbledore's voice: "Severus, please come to my office immediately."

Snape ignored the Patronus at first, but when it added, "I have two vials of fresh basilisk blood and a bag of scales for you," he paused. Without a word, he strode to the fireplace and disappeared in a flash of green flames.

Ryan and Shafiq were left alone in the office. The silence was heavy, broken only by the sound of grinding. Finally, Shafiq spoke. "How is Joey?"

Ryan didn't look up. "That's none of your business."

Shafiq's expression darkened, but he didn't press further. Instead, he changed the subject. "I heard you have a Gryffindor girlfriend."

Ryan sighed, exasperated. "Why are you so interested in my life?"

Shafiq didn't answer immediately. He looked tired, his usual sharpness dulled. Ryan noticed the change—Shafiq had lost weight, and there were shadows under his eyes. The confident, ruthless Slytherin seemed... diminished.

Finally, Ryan broke the silence. "Joey isn't someone you should be thinking about."

Shafiq's eyes flashed with anger. "You don't get to decide that."

"You don't know what love is," Ryan said calmly, meeting Shafiq's gaze. "Everything you're doing is just selfish obsession. If Joey ever stood in the way of your ambitions, would you choose her over your family's legacy?"

Shafiq's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. Ryan's words had struck a nerve.

Ryan stood, placing the finished potion ingredients on Snape's desk. "You can't have both. So stay away from her. If you don't, I'll make sure you regret it."

With that, Ryan left the office, leaving Shafiq alone with his thoughts.

———

By dinner time, Professor Snape had returned to the hospital wing, carrying six vials of the restorative potion. Madam Pomfrey took them gratefully, her hands trembling slightly. "Severus, you're a lifesaver. I hope you win the Potions Master Medal next year!"

Snape allowed himself a small, rare smile, though it looked more like a grimace. Sirius, leaning against the doorframe, shuddered dramatically. "Now "that's" the Snape I know."

Madam Pomfrey shot Sirius a warning look before turning her attention to the potions. She carefully administered them to the petrified students, including Joey, Hermione, and Mrs. Norris. The last vial was turned into a mist and absorbed by Nearly Headless Nick.

Fred sat on the edge of Joey's bed, holding her hand tightly. He watched as the potion was poured into her mouth, his heart pounding with hope. Ryan stood at the foot of the bed, his expression unreadable.

The first to recover were Nick and Mrs. Norris. Filch burst into the room, tears streaming down his face as he hugged his beloved cat. Nick, meanwhile, seemed disappointed that his head hadn't fully detached.

Fred barely noticed the commotion. His focus was entirely on Joey. He felt her hand grow warmer, her fingers twitching slightly. His heart leapt as her skin regained its normal color, the gray pallor fading away.

Joey's eyelids fluttered, and she groaned softly. Her muscles ached, and her eyes felt heavy, but she was waking up. Fred leaned in, his face inches from hers, waiting for her to open her eyes.

When she finally did, Fred didn't give her a chance to speak. He kissed her deeply, ignoring the gasps and laughter from the onlookers. Joey, still disoriented, managed to twist his ear and bite his tongue, forcing him to pull away.

"My Sleeping Beauty is finally awake," Fred said, grinning despite the pain.

Joey glared at him, her face flushed. "Your Sleeping Beauty almost died from lack of oxygen!"

The room erupted in laughter. Even the other petrified students, now waking up, joined in. Joey sat up, still holding Fred's ear, and scolded him. "You're such an idiot!"

Fred just laughed, pulling her into a hug. "I missed you."

Joey's anger melted away, and she hugged him back. "I missed you too, you big dummy."

The ward was filled with laughter and relief. For the first time in months, Hogwarts felt like home again.