Chapter 8 – It All Goes South Before It Even Begins

"He's asleep in my bed, last I checked," Hermione told Harry nonchalantly the next morning. "He got all weepy, saying he couldn't believe she'd said, "No." Never mind that I TOLD him after the first time he went off with Parvati that this is EXACTLY what would happen!"

"Breath, Hermione," Harry interjected wearily when she finally paused. They were sitting at his kitchen table, and Harry was cradling his head gently in his hands. He wished she wouldn't talk so loudly, but didn't dare ask her to be quieter. She was sure to scold him for the drinking if he did.

Besides, she seemed to be making an effort, which was more than his lovely wife had done. He was convinced that she'd woken him on purpose and practically shouted her entire day's schedule in his ear before slamming the door on her way to the Burrow. This, of course, was not how it had happened, but Harry's hangover wouldn't concede the point. He closed his eyes to shut out the thoughts.

The scene when Severus finally arrived with the hangover potion was predictable, though he'd expected it to be Ginny with her hand over Harry's on the table, comforting him. If he paused in the doorway to contemplate that for a moment, it was only for Ginevra's sake.

He put a vial of potion silently on the table, just to the right of Harry's outstretched hands. Hermione, who'd watched him come in, was not startled, but when Harry once again opened his eyes, it took him a moment of focusing on the vial before he realized what it must signify. "Thanks," he whispered gratefully, downing the potion in one go and sitting back in his chair to let it take affect. When he opened his eyes this time, they were clear and he wasn't squinting. Hermione took this as a good sign.

"Alright then, Harry?"

He grinned at her and nodded before turning in his chair to look at Severus, who was leaning against the wall behind him with an amused expression. "I believe I matched you drink for drink, Harry. You owe me thirty galleons."

Harry, now in full command of his faculties again, took in the expression before the words and responded appropriately with, "You were one drink short. You owe ME thirty galleons." They both grinned for a moment before Severus threw a bag down onto the table in front of him, where is landed heavily, chinking a bit.

Hermione just shook her head. She was about to comment on the strangeness of it all when Harry's phone rang. With an apologetic expression, he went to retrieve it from last night's robes, which were conspicuous by their presence in the middle of the living room floor. Hermione and Severus exchanged a knowing grin.

"Potter, it's Malfoy. Have you seen Gran- Hermione today?"

Harry held the phone away from his ear and stared at it as if it had offended him, or at least puzzled him greatly. "Yeah, mate," he answered easily after a moment, "she's been here nursing my hangover all morning." Harry, after a long talk with Severus near the end of sixth year, had decided at that time that he would force himself to treat Malfoy as a friend. His hope then had been that eventually the prideful bastard would come around. It had not yet come to pass, but Harry had learned that patience sometimes had its rewards, and so he continued to speak to him as if they'd been friends all their years at Hogwarts. He had a feeling, too, that it annoyed the blond bully to no end. That was also a plus.

"Do you think you could call off your Weasel, then, because my wand is in his pocket, and he's holding me against my own front door by my collar." Draco said all this into the phone only because Ron was, in fact, holding him against the door of Malfoy Manor with a wand to his head. And grinning evilly, as well.

Harry swore. "We're on our way, don't do anything." He glanced back into the kitchen. "Malfoy Manor," he said, before Disapparating. He never once spared a thought for his flannel pajamas and disastrously tousled hair. He was, however, thinking hard about how to make sure Draco didn't call in the Aurors in the time it would take him to get from the gate to the door. He took off at a run as soon as he arrived.

Severus and Hermione kept pace behind him as they all ran toward the forbidding house that was currently still hidden by trees. Hermione thought that any moment Severus would pull ahead, and they'd have to prevent him from murdering Ron when they finally caught up. However he had no such intentions. The intense look on his face, rather than anger, was only indicative of the many possible scenarios that were playing through his head. The cellular phone had amplified Draco's voice to the point that everyone had heard that Weasley was responsible for their current distress. By the time they'd reached the house, he had it all figured out.

"Ron, don't!" Harry panted. Severus, however, had his wits about him. The first thing he said was, "Accio wands."

Hermione was the only one who didn't stop running at the base of the stairs. Draco and Ron's wands passed her on their way to Severus' hand. She pulled Ron off of Draco far more easily than she'd expected. Apparently he'd already determined that he was in a great deal of trouble. He had not expected that Draco's 'one last phone call' request would be a call to Harry!

"What are you doing?" she demanded angrily. Ron just hung his head. Whatever rationale had led him to this course of action seemed suddenly irrational in the face of her fury. "Draco would have been more than justified to have called the Aurors instead of Harry."

At this statement, Ron looked back at Draco, who was smugly straightening his robes. Draco couldn't help but be pleased that Hermione was taking his side, even if she had turned him away the night before.

"Yeah, thanks, mate," Harry added, casting a dark look at Ron. Severus suppressed a grin even as Draco failed to do so. The look was hidden again quickly, however.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked, turning her attention to Draco. She was still standing close to Ron with her hand on his arm, however. Draco scowled a bit, wondering if the beautiful girls were no longer supposed to fawn over the victim. "Oh, of course you are," she amended at once. She thought he'd taken her concern as an insult. Then, to make up for it, she added, "Thanks for not hexing him."

Harry and Ron both thought this was taking it a bit too far. It seemed clear that Draco had been in no position to hex anyone. They exchanged a look that clearly indicated that they both thought she was bonkers.

"Naturally, I wouldn't hex him, Hermione. Truth be known, I was also worried when he said you'd gone missing," Draco drawled, turning on the charm again at the first opportunity.

"How kind of you," she murmured. Harry could detect no trace of sarcasm, but Severus, who'd begun scowling the moment Draco spoke, relaxed a bit. It appeared that Hermione would not fall for the same trick twice. Draco also noticed her tone and smiled sheepishly in response, something no one present had ever seen him do.

"Do you know what we all need?" Harry asked suddenly. "Breakfast!" he answered himself. Draco glanced at a pocket watch. "It's lunchtime, Potter," he said, a crooked grin on his face.

"It's Harry, Draco," Harry replied glibly, earning an annoyed look from everyone present for various reasons. "And I haven't eaten yet today."

Severus and Hermione shared a glance, silently agreeing to put off the experiment still longer. Draco shrugged, not sure why he was agreeing, except that it was nice to be invited somewhere by people who didn't owe him money.

Ron, however, hung back when they all started walking. Hermione was the first to notice. She trotted back to him, ignoring Severus' inquisitive glance. "What's wrong?" she asked. He continued to look wistfully after Harry for a moment before answering.

"I guess I've embarrassed you both enough for one day. I'd better just go home – " he trailed off, then started again, "-to the Burrow, I mean." Gabrielle was not likely to welcome him home at this point.

"Ron, we aren't embarrassed, but you've got to stop threatening everyone I take an interest in just because you didn't introduce me to him. Terry told me about what happened after your last Quidditch match in November."

Ron winced. He'd been out-of-line that day, too. But he'd apologized, and Terry had promised not to tell Hermione. He thought for a moment that he could, perhaps, justify knocking him upside the head for telling, before remembering that that's why he was in trouble in the first place.

"Right. Well, I'll work on it," he said, flashing her a roguish grin that meant he had no intention of doing any such thing. "But I don't think I can sit there and watch him make eyes at you over breakfast, so I'm headed home." Already in his mind, the Burrow had become 'home' again.

Hermione grinned. "Alright. We'll have lunch sometime this week instead," she offered.

"Done."


Breakfast was, as one would expect, a tense affair. Harry was late, having hurried home to put on some more acceptable clothing. By the time he arrived in Diagon Alley, his friends were seated around a table in the Leaky Cauldron. He plopped himself down and grinned, wondering why everyone was so quiet.

Casting a glance at each person, he ventured a guess. "So, Draco, what'd she say to upset you now?"

Draco scowled harder and Severus did a fair impersonation of Minerva's disapproving cluck. Hermione chuckled, earning a dark look from both of the Slytherins present. "She simply spoke the truth, Harry. That is not something to which Draco is accustomed. Nearly everyone he interacts with lies through their teeth to make him happy," Severus answered when it became obvious that Draco wouldn't speak.

Harry nodded knowingly. He had a few of those kind of groupies, too. They'd tell you anything to get you to talk to them a little longer. He'd become sick of it almost immediately. "You can always count on Hermione for the truth," he commented. He waved to the bartender to come over and take their order.

Severus, however, cast a sly look at Hermione. "Is that so?" he asked quietly. He took great pleasure in the sudden widening of her eyes.

Hermione was just sure that he was about to reveal the letter. All these years, he'd never told. Harry was much less volatile than he'd been back then, but she didn't imagine that he'd appreciate it. In fact, there was a good chance he'd be very upset about the whole thing.

But Harry's no-nonsense tone as he replied, "Yes," seemed to bring the conversation to a close. Severus only smiled knowingly in response, and Hermione, grateful for the reprieve, set about making things up with Draco.

"So what different potions on the market today are made by MSO?" she asked him. This led to a more-or-less pleasant conversation, which interested Harry not at all. It was interesting to note, however, that although Draco knew what his company produced, most of Hermione's more difficult questions were answered by Severus. By the time their food had arrived Harry and Draco were talking about Quidditch, quietly so as not to interrupt the potions conversation that was still taking place.

"No, they never asked me to sign. That was just another rumor the Prophet put out. Fact is, I'm not that great. Being a good seeker in school doesn't mean I'd be able to deal with what goes on in the Pros. And since I didn't play 7th year at all, I don't think anyone even considered me."

"I got an offer from the Chudley Cannons, but I just didn't think I could stand all that orange," Draco drawled, enjoying a brief feeling of superiority. He rarely got to feel that with Harry around. "Besides, once my - - father was killed, I had the estate to think about. My uncle can only do so much. He just doesn't have the right persona to handle things the way Lucius did." They had strayed into an uncomfortable topic. No one knew who had thrown the curse that killed Lucius Malfoy. Whoever had done it wasn't telling for fear of retribution, and with good reason. Lucius had not officially changed sides - hadn't had time to, really - but they did know that he'd kept Severus' secret safe until the very last. He had found him out nearly a year before the end.

"I imagine you've got a lot on your plate with all that," Harry commented carefully. Then they were off, discussing all the various trips and appearances Draco had been making for the last year.

Severus and Hermione, however, were still discussing potions. They'd just about worked out the details of the day's research experiment when Draco looked at his watch and exclaimed. "It's nearly 3. I was due in Madrid 20 minutes ago!"

Once again Severus was shocked to discover how fast time seemed to go when he was talking with Hermione. The witch in question, however, was unsurprised. Even she tended to get bored talking too long about potions. She wanted to be DOING something. "And we've got some empty cauldrons waiting for us," she added, standing as Draco did.

"Alright then, I guess I'm the odd man out," Harry laughed good-naturedly. "I suppose I'll swing by the Burrow and see if I can crash the party. Ron'll be wanting someone to talk to anyway."

Draco nodded, shook hands all around, and Disapparated abruptly. A moment later Harry was gone as well.

Severus shook his head and rolled his eyes, fishing through a deep pocket for the galleons he needed to pay for everyone's meals. He was entirely unaware that Hermione, used to such things with Harry and Ron, was doing exactly the same thing. It wasn't until they each laid the money on the table that they realized what they'd been doing. They exchanged slight smiles.

"It seems you also get left with the bill when everyone runs out," Severus commented wryly, as they re-counted and pocketed some of the money before standing to leave.

"Once in a while – the boys never remember their appointments, so they're always leaving in a hurry."


Severus and Hermione flooed to Hogwarts rather than walking, having already wasted much of the day in what Severus generously referred to as "damage control."

The disused fireplace of the Potions classroom was spotless, but Hermione brushed at her arms out of habit as she moved into the room. It was quite chilly in the unheated dungeons, and she was soon rubbing her arms to warm them. Severus appeared not to notice the cold as he set about procuring the necessary ingredients from his supply cupboard. He was returning to one of the worktables, arms laden, when he heard the whoosh of flames.

Hermione pocketed her wand, having lit a roaring fire, and turned to begin the work. She was startled to see that Severus was plunking down the various bottles and jars haphazardly. As soon as his hands were emptied, he extinguished the fire, scowling at the soot. "I don't suppose it occurred to you that such filth in the air will ruin the validity of these trials," he said scathingly.

Chagrined, Hermione watched as he gathered up the items again. For a moment, she thought he was going to put them all right back where he'd got them, and ask her to leave. Instead, he headed for the blackboard. Upon reaching it, he whispered a password, which caused a door to appear. He turned back to her.

"Sorry," she said, quickly.

He jerked his head, simultaneously flicking his hair out of his eyes, and conveying disdain for her apology as well as her mistake. "We'll work in here, instead."

Hermione shook her head ruefully as she followed him into another room, this one with only one, much larger, worktable. The walls of this room were bare, and there was no heat source to be found. It hadn't taken her very long to get on his nerves. She hoped she could avoid upsetting him any further. After all, if Harry could get along with him, surely she could as well.

"I'm sure you recall that potions respond best when the only source of heat is the flame over which they are suspended. Beauxbaton had several years of record injuries as a result of a Potions Professor who kept her classroom too warm," Severus offered, as he set his many containers down on the table. He remembered very well the lessons from the early days of his friendship with Harry. He'd snapped at her, and she would need to know why, or they would not have a civil word between them for the rest of the day.

"Of course. I wasn't thinking," Hermione replied. Though her tone was a trifle cold, Severus decided that would do, and bent to fetch a cauldron from under the table.

Very shortly, Hermione was provided with a cutting surface and knife, and they each set to work chopping the ingredients as per the instructions Severus had evidently written the night before.

When each of the 16 different necessary ingredients was measured, and rendered to the proper consistency, Severus lit the fire under the cauldron, and added the liquid base. Hermione, who by this time was quite curious about why he'd made certain substitutions and deviations from the usual quantities, was doing her best to hold her questions at bay.

Severus, aware of her inquisitive nature, was thoroughly amused by her silence. He added several ingredients, and remained quiet through several stirring cycles. "Are you so angry with me that you won't speak to me, even to ask what you'd like to know?" he said, nearly an hour after they'd begun.

The hint of humor in his voice was lost on her, and she immediately became defensive. "No. I'm just trying not to be annoying," she said bluntly. "But since you bring it up, why the additional lacewings? Wouldn't it be safer to – "

At the word lacewings, Severus' head snapped up. He had just enough time to wonder WHAT additional lacewings before a huge bubble appeared in the cauldron between them. Knowing there was little he could do at that point, he cut her off with a harsh word: "DOWN!"

A moment later the bubble exploded, shooting the thick, gooey potion all over. From their new position, crouching under the table, Severus and Hermione could see it dripping down the walls in purple gobs, leaving a sickly yellow trail behind. There was a heavy moment of silence, completely unlike those they'd shared previously. Then Severus moved aside and stood stiffly.

With what little dignity he felt he retained after that fiasco, he strode to the door opposite the one through which they'd entered, slamming it behind him. Carefully, so as not to clink the bottle to the glass, he poured himself a shot of firewhiskey and downed it. It had been years since any experiment he'd personally envisioned had failed so spectacularly. And though the word never entered his mind, he was thoroughly embarrassed.

What he DID think was that somehow, some way, Hermione must have chopped too many damned lacewings. And he, so trusting of the quality of her work, had not double-checked before adding them. He paused to contemplate this for a solid minute, but came to no other conclusion. In fact, the only thing he accomplished was to allow the anger billowing up in his throat an extra moment to simmer before he threw open the door to the workroom again.

"How many bloody lacewings did you chop?" He demanded, his voice deceptively quiet. But Hermione had spent too many hours in his classroom to be fooled. She turned from the wall she'd been cleaning and made to walk back toward the table, intending to show him the instructions he'd written.

Severus stepped between her and the table. "Do you not recall?" he asked snidely. "My instructions clearly stated that I needed 6 equal portions of 2 milligrams each. Tell me you didn't just chop 6 lacewings."

This, of course, is precisely what Hermione had done. However, she could see no reason to hang her head in shame. Instead, she tilted her chin defiantly. "Yes, that's what I did, but – "

"IDIOT GIRL!" he roared, finally losing his temper entirely. "The ONE TIME in 8 years that you make a mistake, and it has to be today!" he exclaimed. All thoughts of a possible friendship with her had flown from his head. At this point all he wanted was to be left alone to clean up his mess and try again. In his anger, he failed to notice that the mess had already vanished.

"The one time I make a mistake?" Hermione repeated incredulously. She was already kicking herself for believing that she could 'get along' with Severus Snape. She stormed past him, practically shoving him aside, to reach the newly cleaned table, where she grabbed his list. Turning on her heel, she thrust the list in his face. "Why don't you read for us both exactly what your list says about lacewings?"

Severus snatched the list from her fingers, pinching her fingers as he did so. His eyes scanned the list, noticing for the first time that his admittedly cramped handwriting was a bit difficult to decipher. He'd slanted it somewhat more than usual, and it was quite small, and perhaps a bit messy. Nevertheless, knowing his own writing as he did, he was able to translate those few extra marks between the 6 and the word 'lacewings' as – 20mg. Naturally, he proclaimed this in his patented superior tones.

"It says nothing of the sort!" Hermione exclaimed, taking it back out of his hand. "It says, '6,' and then it looks like you crossed something out before writing – "

"If you had a question about the instructions, you should have asked," he snapped.

"I didn't HAVE a question, because there's a line through the word!" By this time, Hermione was furious. Her face was quite red, and her free hand was clenched into an angry fist. Severus, beginning to see that she was, perhaps, correct, decided to try a different tact. He may even have considered apologizing, but Hermione, after a moment to breathe, continued. "Maybe if you'd bothered to take a sobering potion before you wrote it all out, I wouldn't have had so much difficulty reading it!" she accused loudly.

"And perhaps if you'd been less defensive earlier you would have mentioned it and saved me having to clean up this mess!" he shouted back, glaring and gesturing at the room at large. They stared at one another for a moment in silence.

At this point Hermione's face took on an expression of disbelief. She took a deep breath, and answered in a cold, but quiet voice. "I have already saved you having to clean up the mess. Now I will also save you having to deal with an idiot girl for the remainder of the afternoon." Without another word, she made her way back through the classroom, back through the castle, and back to Hogsmeade, leaving Severus staring rather stupidly around his spotless laboratory.