These are not my characters, I'm not making any money here.
A/N: Since I forgot to include my disclaimer last night (doh!), and also discovered that Hermione's name got into my spellcheck wrong (doh, doh, doh!), and had to reload it anyways, I've nipped and tucked this chapter a little. This is my first fanfic I've actually had the guts to post and anyone who wants to offer constructive input -well, it's welcome. If you like, you can email at ***redd7@bigfoot.com*** (minus the ***s!)
As they swept down the corridor, Severus Snape was secretly pleased that the girl had learned to walk proud in the last couple of years. He was fully aware of, and cultivated the impression he made on students -and others- with his billowing black robes and hawkish glare. It was a matter of projecting a presence which Hermione had somehow managed to pick up from him. If he was a great black crow of doom, then it was only fair to admit that in her preferred dark red robes and furious halo of reddish brown curls, she was a phoenix itself at his side. A pathway opened up before them like the parting of the Red Sea as they made their way to the Great Hall.
There was no doubt that Hermione was in an agitated state though. She spotted a Hufflepuff picking his nose in the corridor and docked him house points before Snape could, just to irritate him.
"I can't believe I let you talk me into this," Hermione muttered. "This is worse than the time you tried to talk me into slipping that engorgement potion into Harry and Ron's drinks."
"It would have been hilarious. You came so close too..."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "ok, yes, I'll admit it would have been. But it was their Auror's graduation -I couldn't very well have done that to them with them having to go up on stage and all."
"That, m'dear, was the whole point." He let her natter on, recognizing his young assistant's habit of getting chatty when she felt in need of courage. Bad trait for the spy business really, but as he hoped she'd never have need to further refine her espionage skills, he even encouraged her to talk, rather than have her dwell on more serious thoughts and getting nervous. He didn't want her blowing everything because she turned into a twitter-headed idiot from the pressure. "Bloody brilliant potion too. Took me weeks to perfect and I still haven't got a good chance to use it."
He managed to incur another eye roll. "How you managed to target the engorgement there... Maybe after all this we can find way to slip some to Sirius Black." she consoled with a rather baiting grin.
"Hmmph! I *hardly* think he needs any encouragement-"
Once they reached the last corridor, Snape paused while Hermione sidled up closer to the doors. Better for him not to be spotted in the vicinity at all. It wasn't long before she returned to his side.
"He's there, for now."
"Excellent." Severus hurried towards Dumbledore's office while Hermione fell in behind him at a more sedate pace, preparing for her role in the plan.