Chapter 10
After another week, they had not only the new spell to test, but a prototype of the sectumsempra potion as well. They each tested it on inanimate objects, and once tested it on a splinter that Snape had got from one of his lab tables. Lupin brought an aquatic plant in a vase from Professor Sprout, so they could test Hermione's theory of its being more effective with the plant drawing up the potion through its roots.
They all watched as Snape poured the potion into the vase full of water. "It will take a moment while the potion dilutes itself," he said as he stuck slivers of wood through all the leaves.
He watched with a critical eye as the potion mixed itself with water, and when it was all mixed he lifted his wand. "Mind your eyes," he told the other two, and then cast "Saneximosempra!"
Hermione turned her head away and shielded her eyes.
It took a moment or two, but all of a sudden the leaves started expelling the slivers of wood, one right after another.
Lupin caught one sliver out of the air directly in front of his face. "I'd say it works, Severus," he said. "Congratulations."
"Yes," Hermione agreed, trying to pull some slivers out of where they had lodged in her hair. "Ouch!" she muttered.
"Here, let me," Lupin said, reaching for her hair. "I can see what I'm doing better than you can.
"Oh, all right."
"My apologies, Miss Granger," Snape drawled, waving his wand to collect up all the tiny splinters from the floor. "I had not intended for you to be put into a position to be mauled by a werewolf."
Hermione giggled. Lupin growled at Snape.
"See?" Snape went on. "He's dangerous. But don't worry. I've had practice protecting you and your little friends from this particular werewolf, haven't I?"
"Yes, sir," Hermione said, wincing as Lupin tugged a little too hard on one strand. "And I appreciated it even though I didn't say so at the time. But you have to admit, he was a bit more feral then."
"I see no difference," Snape said with a malicious smile.
Hermione's eyes widened in outrage at the remark, but Lupin only chuckled. "I ought to bite you for that," he replied mildly. He gave Hermione's head a little pat. "There, that's done it. And you still have plenty of hair left."
Hermione grimaced. "Pity," she said. "It could have done with some thinning."
Snape frowned. "That would have been the true pity," he remarked. He took a flask of the potion from the table. "Well, come on. We still have to test it on something intangible."
As they left the room, Hermione hung back to whisper to Lupin, "Did I just hear him wrong, or did he actually compliment my hair?"
Lupin shrugged. "If it were anyone but Severus, I'd say yes, but—"
"Are you two coming?" Snape snapped from the stairway.
This time the test worked, and the three of them wrinkled their noses at the smell of marsh gas emanating from the tree.
"Well done again, Severus," Lupin complimented, holding a handkerchief to his nose. "What a lovely stench you've released."
Snape threw him a look. "I didn't release it personally," he corrected. "That's something more up your alley than mine."
Lupin snickered. "Yes, but it would be up my 'alley' anymore, would it, if I'd already released it?" He grinned.
Snape exchanged a pained glance with Hermione.
"Toilet humor," she groaned. "Do males really never outgrow it?"
"Some of us do," Snape assured her.
Lupin laughed. "Sorry, Hermione. Hey, chaps, I think this calls for a celebration. Anyone up for a drink down the Broomsticks?"
"Love to, Remus, but I can't. Students aren't allowed off the grounds." Hermione gave him a regretful smile.
"Bugger, you're right," Lupin replied. "I keep forgetting you're still a student. Well, how about you, Severus?"
Snape considered. "Miss Granger should be celebrating with us, and I do have rounds tonight. Perhaps we should wait until the next Hogsmeade weekend."
Hermione shook her head. "Thank you, sir, but I would rather you and Remus go by yourselves. It wouldn't be as much fun for the three of us when there are 400 Hogwarts students milling around the village."
"Point," Snape conceded. "Very well, Lupin. When did you have in mind?"
"Now."
"Fine. Miss Granger, enjoy your evening off. No one works tonight," Snape ordered.
"Yes, sir," Hermione replied. "You two enjoy yourselves!"
The two men walked down to Hogsmeade together as Hermione climbed back up the castle smiling to herself. She drew near Hagrid's hut and decided to stop in for a little visit. As she approached, she heard a strange hissing noise. Hagrid's loud bark of laughter issued from his hut, followed by more hissing. Curious, Hermione knocked on the door.
There was another loud hiss, and then Hagrid opened the door just wide enough to peek through.
"Oh, hello, Hermione," he greeted. "Nice ta see yeh. Not a great time for a visit, though. Sorry."
"Hi, Hagrid," she replied. Playing a hunch, she asked, "Shall I come back later, then, when your snake has gone?"
Hagrid's jaw dropped. "How—How'd yeh know?"
Hermione smiled. "So it is a snake, is it? May I see?"
Hagrid huffed a little at once again giving away a secret, and looked embarrassed. "Ah, well," he hedged. "The fact is, she's not my snake, per se. She's his. You have to promise not ter tell anyone. Only they might be scared 'cause she's so big, and 'cause she's his, and all."
He opened the door wider and Hermione slipped through…
…and stopped dead in her tracks.
"Hagrid?" she asked in a very small voice. "Is that…?"
Hagrid nodded, beaming. "Hermione," he said grandly, "Meet Nagini."