Disclaimer: Once again, I do not own any HP characters.
A/N: Really sorry about the lateness of this chapter. But I'm kind of sick so I've been in bed mostly. Glad to see MOST OF YOU liked chapter 3. I like Snape as a school boy too. He's cute. Anyway, here I present Chapter 4
By the 5th week of term, Severus was finally able to hold a conversation with Hermione without turning red after every sentence.
"Severus, I have to talk to you about our lesson plans," Hermione said to him at lunch one day.
"Is there a problem with them?" he replied casually. Inside, his heart was beating a thousand times faster.
"Yes. It seems we're both planning to teach the 7th years about Polyjuice Potion."
"Hmm. What do you plan on teaching them about the potion?" he asked. He could revise his plans if she needed.
"Well, I wanted to go into the major effects of the potion," she began passionately.
She must really like teaching, Severus thought.
"…and then talk about the effects of taking the potion with animal hair," she added, turning a slight shade of pink.
Severus coughed.
"Mmm," he considered. Maybe he wouldn't have to change his lesson plans after all.
"Well-" he started.
"Because if it clashes with your plans, we can teach it together," she said innocently.
Whatever Severus had been about to say was lost. He was concentrating on what Hermione has just proposed.
Teaching. Together. With her.
"Severus? Helllloooo?" Hermione said, bringing him out of the trance.
"Is that a 'no'? Would you prefer I took it out of my agenda all-together?"
He looked up.
"No, no. I mean, it's a yes. Sorry, I just remembered, I left a potion brewing;" his heart was pounding and swelling from excitement. He had to get out of there before he exploded. He got up, and with a quick wave, he left the great hall and hurried to his office.
When he closed the door his face broke out into a smile.
Oh Merlin. This was like going on a first date. Except Severus never actually had any first dates.
Not any real ones.
When he was a student at Hogwarts, he was mostly a joke. No girl ever seriously wanted to date him. Even when he left Hogwarts, he was still undesirable. Thanks to people like James Potter and Sirius Black, Severus looked like spinach compared to pie.
But he swore that would change.
And then he became obsessed with Hermione Granger. That didn't exactly help him in the dating department.
But now, here he was, about to meet Hermione at the Leaky Cauldron to discuss their plans for the Polyjuice Potion course.
He looked in the mirror.
Why wasn't his hair agreeing with him today? And had his nose always been so...big? Was he too scrawny?
"Oh god," he muttered aloud. He was criticizing himself like a teenage girl!
After throwing some Floo Powder in the fireplace he stepped in it.
"Leaky Cauldron!" he shouted.
Then he was there.
"I was thinking we could make it a two day course," Hermione rambled, "Completely essential if they want to pass their N.E.W.T.'s, but maybe we could, you know, make it fun? I haven't got a clue how, but maybe you have an idea?"
Severus stirred his tea. She had been talking non-stop for the past 10 minutes about this and he hung on to every word.
Now he was racking his brain.
"Well, I don't suppose we could actually allow them to brew of take the potion, as it's completey illegal nowadays, but that's all I could think of," he blushed slighty.
Why couldn't he think of anything?
Hermione sighed.
"I suppose you're right Severus, but I just wish there were something…" she broke off and looked away dreamily.
After a second or two she came back around.
"Well, I guess it'll be as boring as ever."
"Well, to tell you the truth Hermione, learning about Polyjuice Potion isn't exactly boring. I mean there's the pain to put into consideration- boys love pain, and the changing your looks part- you know how girls are always complaining about themselves," he stopped, thinking back to that morning.
"Severus, you're a potions teacher. Of course you'll find it intresting. But this is the students we're talking about. Or are you secretly hoping that everyone elses is a fan of the Polyjuice Potion too?" she joked, and pushed him playfully.
He stiffened at her touch.
She pushed him on his lower arm, the part that was hanging next to her. He was not shocked that her skin was so soft, so smooth, it was just the electric like shock that it sent through his body. He resisted the urge to reach out a kiss her, and slowly regained composure.
"Hmm" he coughed, a little roughly, "Let's just think it over and maybe something with come to us."
He had a feeling Hermione had heard the discomfort in his voice, and stood to leave.
"Good bye, Hermione," he said in a voice that was barely higher than a whisper.
"See you at dinner," she said lightly.
He nodded and walked into the fireplace.
"Hogwarts, potions office."
He stumbled out and sat down on his bed, the happiness spreading through him as it had before.
This made him uncomfortable.
A/N: You like? You no like? Tell me! And I can only hope chapter 5 will be up by Thursday!
Love
Mina