"Leonor?" called Brian when she walked quietly into the apartment. Brian was still encased in bedclothes and only some hair and feet were visible.

"Good evening! Looks like you are still asleep," replied Leonor.

"I'm awake or let's say kind of revived," groaned Brian.

"Are you hungry? Do you want me to cook something?" Leonor relaxed a bit doing the mundane small talk.

"Sounds good!"

Leonor busied herself in the kitchenette. Pasta, tomato, salad and cheese found the way from her previous flat to the new refrigerator while Brian's pantry included only fast food.

"What do you like — Spaghetti Napoli, salad, sandwiches, sausage with curry sauce or squeezed expired burgers?"

"Sausages! You can dispose the hamburgers," called a tame voice and Leonor frowned disgustedly while opening the plastic box with the sliced sausage in a reddish-brown sauce. It reminded her so much of all the unhealthy things she ate while being on duty for nightly surveillances in New York. A wave of Leonor's magic wand heated the box quickly.

"Here you go!" Leonor lifted the blanked and the smell of curry crept into Brian's nose.

"Delicious!" The wizard sat upright and ate hastily. He looked relaxed.

"Are you alright again?" said Leonor. Brian only nodded.

Leonor sat down on her side of the bed and watched. It was clearly the place to be being Brian's fiancée, and he honoured it with a friendly grin. The sun had already disappeared behind the horizon. They spoke nothing, only the smacking noises disturbed the silence until Brian put the plastic box to the nightstand and turned over to Leonor.

"I'm very relaxed." Brian's lips found Leonor with fast wet kisses. Leonor didn't respond to it. Nevertheless, the male body pressed her into the soft pillows. It wasn't hard; it wasn't violent. It was not even passionate. The kisses ended quickly. Brian touched Leonor's breasts under the white cotton shirt but didn't even strive to undress the woman below him. Leonor didn't defend herself — everything was surreal. She could not avoid the situation forever living in a relationship, she accepted the unavoidable. A moment later Brian busied himself to fumble around his boxer shorts with the face hidden in the pillows and the hard-on pressed against the woman's thigh. The effort to get rid of his own pants did not work out. He moaned against Leonor's ear and moved jerkily against Leonor's legs and then it was over with a yelp. A wet discharge brought relief and left a tepid spot on Leonor's white trousers. Brian rolled over to his side of the bed. He grunted something inarticulate as if a marathon race just finished, and he had to draw breath.

"Let's sleep," Brian mumbled contently with closed eyes and completely unaware of a gaping Leonor. He snuggled self-satisfied up into the pillows and a hand found Leonor's forearm before Brian fell asleep.

Leonor watched the man at her side confused. Was that the first-time sex? It had nothing of the romantic bliss promised in all the movies; it happened, and all was over. Leonor had not even lent her body except being a pillow. Why didn't she curse Brian? Because there was no threat in the whole action; it was Brian's way to be aroused — a fast an uneventful love play. Leonor listened to the light snores of the man and the battle inside continued until she made a final decision and closed the lids to sleep edgily.

XXX

Brian fondled Leonor's cheeks, „Leonor! Get up! It's Monday! I'm going ahead. The bathroom is free." He left when she opened the eyes drowsily.

Leonor slept deeper than the decision of the evening before promised. She was happy that Brian was already gone. There was enough time speaking to him tonight. It didn't do any good to start the day with bad news. She only hoped that he kept quiet about the half-intimate events last night. He showed off with such details in the past. However, he never did in Brazil. The witch checked the radio clock and fell moaning back into the pillows. Brian was already delayed, and she would be even later.

Leonor showered quickly, dressed in fresh white hospital clothes and descended into the laboratory to find Luana brewing the antidote for the dragon's venom. The unmistakable smell of sage filled the room.

"Bom dia!"

"Bom dia, Leonor! You are late!" Luana rasped.

"I'm sorry. I overslept," Leonor replied cautiously.

Luana looked up from the dark green liquid and studied Leonor. The laboratory was steamy, and Leonor couldn't help thinking of Severus' dark dungeons. It was the same smell and the dim light when he brewed the antidote for her. Leonor brushed the thoughts quickly away.

Leonor decided to distract herself with talking, "How is the potion developing?" The hope that Luana didn't notice the twisted emotions dispersed like the water vapour from the cauldron.

"What is it? Was the night straining or rather the morning?"

"The morning," said Leonor. She was convinced that it sounded less private and nevertheless, it was true. Having Brian around was new and it didn't add pleasure when a painful truth still searched the way into the open.

Luana huffed and glared intensively. "Confused staff is not welcome in the empire of lab workers."

Leonor stared stupidly into space. Luana started the conversation where they finished the day before. Of course, distracted assistants are dangerous, yet Leonor functioned well in stressful situations, and Luana knew it.

Leonor answered finally after a long moment of hesitation, "To cut a long story short, you are right. I will tell Brian that I do not love him the way he deserves it. I plan it tonight. Do you mind if I use a camp bed and sleep here in the lab until I find something new?"

"Ah! I hope it's no rash action because of my remark yesterday?"

"No. I should have done it weeks ago. I cannot say why I continued the relationship, maybe it was my weaker self, wishful thinking, vanity, cowardice or a bit of everything. You only gave the reason."

"You are determined?"

"My mind is made up. I have to get over it tonight and then I am done with it."

"Well, if I find the laboratory orderly in the morning you may use it for lodging for a couple of days. Let's talk business now," snarled the potions' mistress.

"I checked your work about the antidote of the Hungarian Horntail's venom and the importance of the sage oil is already explained." Luana flipped the pages in Leonor's folder and pushed some handwritten notes to the attention of the author.

Leonor was surprised. The handwriting was familiar and brought an inevitable soft glance into her eyes.

"I didn't find it out myself. I didn't know it was there either," Leonor stuttered thinking hard why Severus never mentioned that note. Or maybe she had forgotten about it? He worked through the scientific draft while Leonor tested the Crutiatus Potion at St. Mungo's Hospital. They shared a rather grim mood during this time.

"Who invented it? It's indeed a difficult conclusion, rare and unusual. I must say it is a smart explanation."

"Do you think it is right? — not that I have a better idea," whispered Leonor.

"I agree to it. The confirmation simmers in the pot over there. The result is not usable without the sage." Luana said it matter-of-factly with a blunt expectation on the stern face.

Leonor moved her thumb over the last piece of missing information written in spiky letters and closed the folder.

"Who found it?" repeated Luana again and pulled Leonor out of the daze with a frown.

"Severus Snape, Potions Master at Hogwarts." It was the first time that the name crossed Leonor's lips since months.

"I never heard of him. He's certainly skilled. I would be pleased to meet him."

"He's a Death Eater, a follower of the Dark Arts, faithful to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. It does not please to meet him."

"If you say it so bitterly," intoned Luana with a suggestion of irony. "Type the scientific work out and I will double check. Anyway, good work. Would there be a chance to visit this dragon research camp? Dragons are not so common in South America and there are some other things I need to do in Europe."

"Surely! Do you want me to make some contacts despite the dangerous times?"

"Yes, please. I know how to hide, no worries." The potions' mistress blinked, showed a manlike smile and probed the antidote.

XXX

The hospital became quiet after seven o'clock. The last visitors left already, and the evening ward round was the last action of Leonor. It was the time of the day when she checked the blood parameters of the toxic substance. The monitoring results improved daily since the antidote was ready. Some patients had already been released and the healing method was distributed to other hospitals to treat new patients everywhere.

Leonor stood on the washbasin preoccupied with thoughts about Brian's later reaction when Luiz approached her.

"The workload is going down, isn't it?"

Leonor startled, "Hi Luiz! It's good that there's a remedy now and that it works so fast."

"Why do you think we needed the international help? Luana is a brilliant potioneer. That cannot be the reason."

"The issue was not the creation of the antidote; it was the isolation of the poison. The Russian healers struggled with that as well."

"And what made the British different?"

"Let's say they have experience with evil methods since Gellert Grindelwald, and they teach the information at St. Mungo's hospital to the aspiring healers. It is told that You-Know-Who distributed toxic potions to weaken muggle-born or half-blood wizards. Brian is a good bacteriologist and excluded an infectious disease speedily. I think that was the key searching into other directions."

"Have you been educated at St. Mungo's Hospital?"

"No," replied Leonor truthfully.

"You did a big part of the work to isolate the toxic reactions. Where did you learn it if not in England?"

When Leonor didn't answer right away, he pressed the matter further, "By the way, my wife likes to invite you whenever you have time. Can we do a knowledge exchange?" The harsh intonation did not fit Luiz hospitable character; he was concerned and grim about Martina's request. He didn't like the idea of Leonor's visit.

Leonor dried her hands carefully, before she looked up to Luiz. There was something in his eyes that screamed for the truth. Leonor knew he questioned because of curiosity and real interest, but also to save his family. He anticipated something at the party and when Martina was adamant in the wish to talk to Leonor then he had to come up with a solution. Martina never gave up easily, not even in her childhood.

"I studied medicine at a muggle university in the U.S. That's why I know so much about blood parameters and how to isolate toxins. In parallel, I was trained by MACUSA and the Auror program of the U.S. It's not so different from what the British do to fight You-Know-Who, except that most wizards are not so adept with the muggle physiology."

"I see, and you travelled South America for your studies?"

"No. I was born in Argentina and Martina was my school mate until I broke the contact. That's why I know Caipora. Caipora guarded my family home. I speak Spanish and a bit Portuguese. I learned about the plants of the rainforest and the high plateaus during home-schooling. Please keep it a secret. It is my right to decide whom I tell it. I would like to speak to Martina soon. She was my best friend. Do you still mind it?"

Luiz gazed in disbelief but only shook his head. The fast and truthful answer had taken him aback. He answered quietly, "Martina is waiting for you. She will be happy."

'Thank you' was all what Leonor said in response before leaving the room quickly. She had to see Brian now or it would be again too late.

XXX

Brian usually finished earlier than Leonor and when she entered, he relaxed already in the armchair with a journal in his hands. He looked up and Leonor sat down on the edge of the bed opposite Brian without saying a thing.

"Did anything happen?" questioned Brian with a frown.

"No, not really."

"You look po-faced."

"I move out. Tonight."

"You are joking. You want to play a trick," grinned the wizard.

"No."

Brian tossed the journal to the table with an unbelieving expression. When Leonor said nothing, he frowned and watched her carefully.

"We just moved in."

"I know." Leonor stared to the carpeting. Two days ago, Brian's shoes lay abandoned at the same spot. Any prank would be lifted by now. The silence became frosty.

"You are serious."

"Yes." Leonor moved her magic wand lazily to close the door of her wardrobe trunk. All was still unpacked. The action confirmed the decision. "Brian, I'm sorry. But it is not going to work with us. I am not the loving woman you are looking for. You don't deserve my desultory behaviour."

"I concluded that you are reserved, conservative," pressed Brian through gritted teeth.

"We became friends. I am grateful for what you did but it is not right. You've been patiently waiting for me to come around, but I don't feel that way. I should have never moved in with you. I gave you hope. It was the wrong decision and you can blame me for the mess."

Brian interrupted Leonor, "And why did you do it if you think it was wrong?"

"I thought that a romance can develop. It cannot. We are friends, good colleagues. We can work well together, but not more."

"We made love yesterday!" exclaimed Brian.

"Brian, we shouldn't discuss that," said Leonor quietly and levitated the trunk.

"You stay!"

"I won't. I cannot give you the love or children you deserve. Maybe you consider going out with that nurse from the intensive care ward."

"And why am I not good enough all of a sudden?"

"It is not about you. It is about me. I cannot have children. There was an accident in my childhood. I should have told you earlier."

"That is why you never date men."

"Obviously." Leonor pressed a chaste kiss on Brian's lips. "I'm sorry. It is better that way. Good luck! Goodbye!" The door closed and snapped into the lock.

The wardrobe trunk hovered in the air and floated slowly into the elevator. Leonor followed depressed. She gave no glance to the watching golden face masks and the traditional decoration. The way down felt light. She was free. One day also Brian will understand. One day Leonor's melancholic blues would go away.

XXX

The next weeks passed without anything special in Brazil. Only the late arrival of the English wizarding newspaper caused the feelings to run high. 'The Battle of the Department of Mysteries' brought the evil of the underground to the light. The 'Second Wizarding War' was now public. Nobody denied the return of Lord Voldemort anymore. Even worse, Sirius Black died in the battle and it came too late that he was cleared of all charges by the Ministry of Magic. Leonor felt sorry for him and that he never had a chance to use the freedom. A tragedy! She thought of Albus, Remus, and Harry — the times became more difficult now.

Leonor slept still on an improvised mattress in the laboratory. Every morning, she transfigured the camp bed into a houseplant to keep the requested 'invisibility'. After a while Luana Borage watered the plant intensively; and Leonor needed several spells to accelerate the drying before she could sleep in the bed sheets once again. Leonor knew it was time to make more decisions and to leave the hospital behind. She had to talk to Martina, finally. The departure of the British healers was pending, only the new regulation at the ministry kept them still waiting for the port key to England.