Chapter 3: Of Potions And Revelations.

The next day was a saterday, and Severus hadn't expected to see Granger again so soon. By all rights she should have been in Hogsmead with Potter, and Weasley.

"Oomph! Oh! Sorry Miss Granger. My fault." Severus exclaimed, helping her up from the floor.

"Oh, that's okay Professor, I should have been... I mean, I didn't mean to..." She stopped, appearing flustered.

Severus had to fight back the grin that faught to escape him. 'She was always so timid... Like a doe caught in the headlights...'

"Quite alright Miss Granger. Now, may I ask why it is that you are not in Hogsmead with Potter and Weasley?"

"Oh, I just didn't feel like it... And I had your essay to finish. I've done most of it, I just need another inch or so on the uses of Gillyweed, Sir."

Severus couldn't keep his surprise from showing. "You remind me of myself..." He muttered, more to himself.

"I'm sorry, Sir? What?"

"Nothing, Miss Granger. I was just noting how very like me it is that you are spending your free time working, rather than enjoying the freedom of the weekend like everyone else." He smiled slightly, causing her to blush.

"Er, tha... thank you Professor!"

Severus smirked inwardly. 'Strike one.' "Miss Granger, have you had lunch yet? Only, it wouldn't do to miss lunch because of homework... and," he added; "I'm quite sure your essay is more than satisfactory as it is."

She flushed again, and looked down, as if embaressed, but he was sure she was hiding her pride. 'Strike two.'

"Sir?"

"Yes Miss Granger?"

"I was just wondering, if maybe, you could show me how to brew the curatio potion? Only, I'm not quite sure how to do it... The instructions were a little confusing."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "And why would you be brewing a curatio potion, Miss Granger?"

She scuffed her feet on the ground, fidgeting slightly. "Well, it's just that, well, Fred and George... They tested some of their products on themselves, and had some rather nasty side affects, and I fuigered that the curatio potion would be able to cure it..."

Severus was slightly taken aback by the admission. "Well, as I am curently doing nothing else, I would be glad to help you with it after lunch, if you want."

Granger nodded. "Yes. Than... Thank you Sir!" And she turned and rushed off in the direction of the Great Hall. Severus shook his head. 'Deffinately a doe...'

After he had eaten lunch, Severus met Granger in his office, as arranged. She imediately set about explaining the effects the Weasley twins were suffering, and he was amazed at her depth of knowledge into deducing the perfect cure. 'She really is the brightest witch of her age...'

Severus quickly sety about helping her brew the potion properly. He found it amazing that she thought him competent enough to help her.

An hour and a half latter, when he had properly demonstrated the corect techniques, and dosage, Severus was struck by how much he found he enjoyed her company. She was one of the few students who respected him for who he was, and who didn't judge him on his sordid past. He had even heard her defending him in front of Potter and Weasley... 'Maybe she didn't hate him that much after all...'

Severus suddenly had the strong urge to tell her everything right then and there... To tell her how he kept wishing he could hold her again, like when he'd taken her to the hospital wing... only, concious... He wanted to tell her how she made his skin itch at the thought of touching her, of running his hands through her hair, of his sudden need to feel her lips on his...

Before he knew it, Severus had crossed the room, and was kissing her fiercely, his hands resting gently on her shoulders. He expected her to pull away, to run out of his office, screaming, but much to his astonishment, she didn't. Instead, she surpprised him, by putting her hands behind his head, and pulling him closer.

Severus saught her permission to go further, and she oppened her mouth slightly for him. Severus slipped his tongue inside, coiling his hands in her hair, running it through his long fingers.

Severus moaned, becoming slightly dizy, as the blood ran between his legs. 'He was going to have to deal with that later...' Severus found himself pushed up against the edge of his desk, and that damned image asaulted him again, testing his resolve. Severus held off. 'Not going to do that... Yet...' Came the unbiden voice in his head.

They parted, Granger disentangling her hands from his hair. She was smiling at him. 'Had she known...?' "I wondered how long it would take you to do that." She told him, her hands now on his shoulders.

"Wha...!? You... you knew about...!?" He couldn't seem to finish the scentance.

"I've known for a while. Well, suspected is more the would I should use."

Severus just stared at her. "Why didn't you...?"

"I knew you were afraid because of yuor reputation, and your morals. Don't be. I'm almsot eighteen now! I think I can decide what I want to do now."

Severus was still staring, dumbstruck. A thought suddenly occured to him. "Did you...? I mean, do you...? How long have you...?"

"Yes. For a while now. Thought I'd be waiting forever for you to do that."

Severus just stood, gaping. She grinned, and kissed him back.

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A/N: curatio Latin for Healing.