Chapter Three
Professor Snape spun around in frustration, not realizing how close Hermione was to him until they both crashed to the floor in an undignified heap.
She let out a startled screech and opened her eyes to see black coal eyes staring back at hers while her previously pissed off ex-professor lay sprawled out on top of her.
A tense moment passed without a word spoken until Hermione noticed a bit of movement beyond her head. Tipping her head back, she saw a sight she never expected. "Is - is that a boggart?"
Looking up at her tone, Snape coolly responded, "No, it's the Dark Lord back from the dead. Now
give me my wand – thank you. Riddikulus!"
They both scrambled to their feet as the boggart – which was a pale-faced Dark Lord for both of them – suddenly went from his snake-scaled, dark green robes to a flamboyant sunflower-patterned dress, complete with large sunglasses and a straw hat.
Hermione let out a snicker. "Really? That's the best you can do? He looks like a frumpy housewife."
The Bogga-mort gave her a glare identical to the Potions master's.
"Forgive me. I wasn't able to get a proper view of your knickers to finish the look."
Her mouth dropped. "Why…you just…I cannot believe…Riddikulus!"
The boggart spun around, this time emerging as a Malibu Barbie. The pink bikini clashed horribly with his pale whiteness, and the long blond locks did nothing to help. Red lipstick and a mixed drink completed the ensemble.
"And am I supposed to believe that's a representation of your knickers?" asked a wry voice behind Hermione.
"You'll never know, will you?" she answered. "And it's quite a bit better than a housewife. That was just sad."
"You may have been able to perform one adequate transformation, Miss Granger, but I highly doubt you have enough imagination to outwit me."
Professor Snape wore a smirk as she turned on her heel to face him. "Oh really? And I imagine anything I can do, you can do better, is that it?"
"That about sums it up. Riddikulus!"
The annoyed boggart spun again, this time emerging with a snort of its own as it wore a drab house-elf towel.
"Oh, honestly. A house-elf? About as creative as the housewife! Riddikulus!"
"Riddikulus!"
"Riddikulus!"
The boggart could barely cease its spin before it was transformed again into something even more outlandish than before.
"Riddikulus!" shouted Hermione as Voldemort became a lurid pink dementor, floating above the ground with less than sinister grace.
Snape almost cracked a smile before shouting himself, "Riddikulus!"
Suddenly, Albus Dumbledore was before them in all of his star-spangled glory. Purple robes with orange and yellow stars and one shiny star bauble hanging from the tip of his long wizard's hat.
Hermione almost giggled before pointing her wand at her dearly departed headmaster. "Riddikulus!"
He couldn't help it. He had tried to get the upper hand. He knew he was better at this than she. He knew without a doubt that if they were in a fair contest of wits, not this macabre spectacle they found themselves in, that he could outperform her with ease.
This, however, was a brief moment of genius. Hilarious genius.
Before them both stood Voldemort, as he had been in his prime. Bald as a newborn, pale as the moonlight, nose slits flaring.
And he was completely clothed in Neville's grandmother's clothes.
Severus' wand lowered as he grabbed his sides in deep, bellowing laughter. The haughty look slowly fell off Hermione's face to be replaced with awe as she watched the other man slowly break down before her.
"Are you quite done?"
Both heads lifted and the laughter ceased as the Bogga-mort put his hands on his hips, cross, and addressed them both.
"I hope you've had your bit of fun, but I'm afraid that it's over for now. You two are here as part of The Challenge. I was merely the first that you shall face this evening. Four more await you, each with a different specialty. The winner shall receive a very handsome prize. These walls are spelled against cheating, and these tasks are meant to test you both. Neither shall be favored. Any questions?"
"Who's behind this?" Snape asked.
"All shall be revealed in time. And now, to your first task."
The boggart vanished. Behind him, a door appeared.
Hermione shrugged at Severus, and they both proceeded through the door.
On the other side, a familiar sight greeted them both. A potions lab.
"Oh, Miss Granger, you are so screwed."
She grinned at him. "On occasion, Severus. Is that another difference between us?"
"Ten points from Gryffindor."
"Hey! What was that for?"
"Cheek."
Hermione huffed and moved to inspect the ingredients on the table. She sighed.
"Too complex for you, Granger?" Severus asked, inspecting the table.
Looking at everything spread out before her, she told him, "Felix Felicis. And we don't have a recipe."
One appeared on the chalkboard in front of them.
"Easy enough," Snape said. "But we still only have one table."
"Budge over then, and hand me that cauldron."
His eyebrow rose at her demand, and they began working together in a comfortable silence. Until–
"You realize you've lost this already, correct?"
Hermione huffed. "Oh, shush. Nothing is decided."
"No, I'm certain this has already been decided. Hand me the asphodel."
Her fingertips grazed his as she handed him the tray, and both fought hard not to look at the other. The steam in the small room was bringing moisture to their faces and making their robes cling to their damp bodies.
"Hand me the gold leaf, Severus, before you lose?"
"Certainly, Granger. Anything you need. Nothing will help you anyway."
The banter continued as they both steadily brewed. All was well until Hermione began to add the clover as Snape reached behind her for the extra on her other side. His chest slid along her back, her sharp intake of breath causing her to drop in almost twice what was required.
"You did that on purpose!" she accused after she had regained her wits.
"Fallacy, Miss Granger. The walls are spelled against cheating, remember? You just aren't a master."
Her glare did not faze him in the least, and both potions were bottled, even though Hermione knew that he was right. He had won this round.
"Things are becoming interesting, wouldn't you say?" asked a soft voice in the quiet room as the occupants watched the proceedings.
The other companion just purred as he laid on the chair's armrest.
"Well, the winner will be decided soon enough."
The cat just continued to purr and watch the events unfold.
"Well," said Hermione, eyeing the new door that appeared. "We've had Defense. We've had Potions. I imagine we'll have three things from three other disciplines as well."
"I knew there was a reason you're called the brightest witch of your age," came the sarcastic reply.
Hermione ignored him as she opened the door. "Come along, Severus," she taunted as he followed her through.
What greeted them made them both stop in their tracks. Large hedges grew from the middle of the room, much like the Triwizard Tournament. Two entrances were along one side, and it was clear they were meant to enter alone. The greenery walls were high, but they did not cover a large area. This wasn't a maze as far as they could see. More just an obstacle course.
"Glad I wore my trainers," mumbled Hermione. "Hand me a bottle of my potion, will you? No better place to try it out."
"I beg your pardon?" asked the man, looking offended.
"The potion you so obviously swiped when you thought I was distracted by my possibly dying cat, bastard, now hand me a vial."
With a glare, he gave her a single vial, leaving three in his pocket, and watched as she downed it all in one go.
"You might as well too. Can't hurt."
"That, I doubt. I shall not imbibe anything you've brewed that does not have proper testing first."
"Suit yourself," she told him and ran into one side of the maze. He shook his head and followed along his own path.
"Wingardium leviosa!" they shouted in unison as they both reached the first obstacle. A large fallen tree over the path was no match for either of the talented wizards.
Hermione and Severus each progressed slowly through their identical courses, knowing at any moment a trap could be sprung.
It appeared as though they had reached a dead end, but as they both stood waiting, they each saw a door in the undergrowth of the wall. "Alohomora," Hermione whispered, passing through her door just slightly ahead of Severus.
He heard her as she pushed her way through the brush ahead of him. This would not do. He picked up his pace.
Hermione heard him moving frantically behind her, trying to get ahead.
Soon, what had started off as an obstacle course became a race for the finish, both determined to not let the other win. Spells were cast so quickly, it appeared as though fireworks were being shot off in the hedges.
Barrier after barrier blocked their path. A huge stone wall was crumbled with Reducto, a key was summoned for another door with Accio, and Snape was fortunate enough to hear Hermione diminish a tornado with Meteolojinx Recanto. He had forgotten that one.
Not that he was ever going to tell her that.
Finally, it appeared as though the end was in sight. Hermione leapt over a few camouflaged holes in the ground which contained creatures that shot fireballs. They bounced right off her due to her potion, and she made a mad dash out of the last doorway. Looking around, she saw Severus wasn't there, and her laughter crowed through the room.
"Ha! I told you I would beat you! Youth versus wisdom, Severus, and thankfully, I have both!"
She waited a moment to gloat as he finished, but he didn't show. "Severus?" she called tentatively.
Walking to his exit, she saw a black heap just beyond the fire breathers. Running to him, she saw that he had been knocked unconscious and his leg was bent at an odd angle where he had tripped over the hole. Without her potion to protect him, the fireballs had singed his flesh raw.
"Stupid, proud, conceited man," Hermione mumbled under her breath as she healed him. The leg was no trouble, but she didn't have any salve for his burns. "Ferula," she whispered, wrapping the worst of them in bandages as he slowly came around.
Brushing back a lock of his dark, greasy hair, she smiled down at him as his eyes opened. "Hey," she said softly.
"Hey," he mumbled in return.
She continued her grin. "Next time, take my ruddy potion."
"Minx."
Hermione helped him off the ground and lead him out of the exit. "I beat you," she couldn't help but add.
His glare held a little less sting as he watched her gloat. Yes, she had beaten him. Fair and square, it seemed. However, though the battle was lost, the war raged on.
"Do you feel up to continuing? I didn't have any healing potions on me or anything so I had to make do with what I learned helping Ron and Harry. Which was quite a lot, actually, but I'm still not a Mediwitch."
"As long as you feel up to losing, Granger, I feel up to carrying on."
Hermione eyed him with a sudden interest. "You know, we don't even know what we're fighting for. All they mentioned was a handsome prize. You're going to feel awfully foolish if you worked this hard only to receive caring for Gilderoy Lockhart as your reward."
Snape paused. "Nonsense. The reward is supposed to be handsome."
As he led through the next door, Hermione thought to herself that Severus would be a fine prize indeed.