The Potions Master
By HPFangirl71
The war had waged for years... One moment they seemed on the verge of winning and in the next they were teetering at the edge of defeat. It was in the midst of this chaos that Hermione Granger found herself yearning for something different in her life. She needed something that would once again make this bitter war worth fighting for.
The members of the Order were all in hiding at Grimauld Place. That is all except for Remus Lupin and Severus Snape. Snape was of course their double agent and Lupin had gone undercover with the werewolves on Voldemort's side. They thought he'd finally abandoned his family to join their cause. Upon his return to the Order, it was vital he be given the Wolfsbane potion to calm him.
Hermione was the likeliest candidate to learn the complicated potion, so Snape was sent to teach her. Despite her displeasure for her former potions master, she was relieved to see an unfamiliar face. She actually found herself anticipating his arrival.
Snape entered the room, his usually dark and brooding self, the passing years had done nothing to quiet his melancholy demeanor. Hermione could sense the foreboding effect his presence had on the room.
"Professor, I appreciate the risk you're taking by being here." she stammered.
"You can refer to me by my given name Miss Granger. After all, you have earned your place amongst the Order."
"Thank you sir… I hope it won't be too hard learning the Wolfsbane Potion."
"It is a complicated potion to brew but I have every faith that a smart witch such as yourself can manage it."
At this compliment, she felt herself blush. Snape had never had anything but harsh words for her when they were at Hogwarts. Maybe it'd been the Student/Peer relationship or perhaps the years had mellowed him after all…
Weeks passed, she diligently studied alongside Snape and was quite successful at managing the potion. Together they administered it to Lupin who quickly became more and more his former self. They grew closer and closer as the days passed. Forming a friendship which bordered on being so much more. But alas, they both knew that all too soon he would be returning to Voldemort under the guise of his double agent role.
Finally, that day came. The day when Severus would be leaving. Hermione knew she couldn't bear the painful goodbye without giving her true feelings away. Instead, she hid away in her room. Mid-afternoon, she heard a quiet knock on her door. Snape let himself in without invitation…
"I came to say goodbye…" He whispered so quietly, she barely heard a word he said.
"Goodbye, then." she said in a rather rushed tone of voice.
"I don't know what will happen to me when I return to Voldemort's terrible realm… I can't promise you a future Mione, so please understand." he said pleadingly.
"I do understand…" she whispered through her tears, as she kissed him goodbye.