The Creature's Elixer
He'd been chopping and brewing for hours before he bravely summoned the creature from its lair. His brow slick with sweat, Severus now prepared the final ingredient to be added to the pot of scalding liquid. Despite the gurgles and burbles emanating from the creature, his knife sliced and diced in even strokes like a metronome.
Setting his knife down gently, he lifted the cutting board and scraped the ingredient into the bubbling concoction with the greatest care. He took up his stirring rod and with a determined flourish, he began to stir, each rotation smooth and patient. Finally, after a numerous impatient growls from the creature, he ladled some of the steaming liquid into a large bowl.
With great caution, he levitated the bowl and set it on a nearby wooden table, not flinching when the beast that sat at it sneezed. While keeping a safe distance, he nudged the bowl in its direction with one finger. In a swirl of robes, he turned and retrieved a spoon and placed it in the bowl near the creature. It sneezed again, and this time he did flinch, having pulled his arm out of danger's way just in time. It smiled and pulled the bowl closer, seemingly oblivious as some liquid sloshed over the sides. It took up the spoon and looked down at the contents of the bowl appreciatively.
Severus couldn't help but to hold his breath as the creature brought a spoonful to its mouth. He released it as a sigh when a guttural "mmmm" escaped the creature's lips as it swallowed.
"Severus," it croaked from behind its protective nest of frizzy brown hair, "this is why I'm willing to look beyond that dreadful nose of yours." It quickly shovelled more chicken noodle soup into its mouth.
"Indeed?" Severus inquired as he sat across from it, casting a shielding charm just as it forcefully sneezed again. "You, Hermione, are quite lucky that you're sick and no longer a student, or I'd give you detention for such cheek."
"Oh no," Hermione said, a mischievous glint shining through her puffy eyes, "anything but detention." Severus eyed her warily and visibly gulped as he realised that her scratchy voice was rather seductive.
"Keep it up, and I might just overlook the fact that you're sick and give you detention anyway,' he said, smirking.
Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but instead, she sneezed yet again, not able to stop the snot from dripping from her nose. Severus watched in obvious distaste as she wiped her nose with the back of her arm.
"Then again, perhaps not," he grumbled as she shrugged and took her spoon back into to her hand.
A/N: Just a short and silly little one-shot. I'm fighting a cold at the moment, but an update to my story 'The Magic of Wands' will be coming in the very near future!