I step off the train and smile up at the sight of Hogwarts in the distance. It is good to be back. I can't help myself as my eyes search the crowd of students at the Hogsmeade station, looking for a man wearing all black. Although I am not surprised when I don't see Snape, I am a little disappointed. I'm not exactly looking forward to seeing him again, at least for our first meeting. Merlin knows how embarrassing that is going to be. But I am eager to get it all over with so we can go back to brewing with each other in peace.

"Hermione!" Cormac calls my name and I pretend not to hear as I immediately join the throng of students hurrying toward the carriages.

I fill the last vacant seat on a carriage containing Luna and Neville and breathe a sigh of relief as the thestral beings to pull us toward the castle. Seeing Cormac again is perhaps the only downfall for returning to Hogwarts. Well, that and seeing Ron and Lavender suck each other's faces off.

"Hello, Hermione. Have a good holiday?" Neville asks as he moves closer to Luna to give me a little more room on the seat.

"Yes, it was lovely. How was yours?"

Neville shrugs. "It was all right, I guess. I visited my parents which is never very pleasant, but at least I got to see them. Then Gran had a load of people over and made me retell them everything that happened at the Ministry. Again. Her friends are finally getting annoyed with hearing the story so maybe she'll finally give the thing a rest."

"How about you, Luna?" I lean forward so I can see her properly around Neville. "Did you have a nice break?"

"Oh, yes! Daddy and I went looking for the Crumple-Horned Snorkack in Ireland. Lovely country, but probably not the best breeding ground for the creatures. I think they like warmer and drier climates so Daddy promised we'd go to travel around Africa in the summer to find them."

"Well... that sounds like fun."

She nods happily at me and then precedes to spend the rest of the carriage ride retelling Neville and I all the things she saw while in Ireland. After a few minutes, I tune her out. I like Luna, but I don't believe in any of the mythical creatures her and her father believe in. Neville, on the other hand, at least participates in her conversation and indulges her.

When we arrive at the castle, I exit the carriage with a quick wave to Neville and Luna. I spot Ginny's flaming red hair easily through the crowd and fight my way over to her side.

"There you are!" she says as she laces her arm through mine. "I was looking all over for you! Cormac has been hounding me since the train ride to talk to you for him. Did you or did you not return a rather expensive diamond necklace he got you for Christmas?"

I roll my eyes. "Of course I did. I don't want anything from him. One, he is dreadful company and perhaps the most egoistical human being I've ever met, and two, he groped me under the mistletoe at Slughorn's party! In public! And he wasn't even a good kisser!"

Ginny laughs."He couldn't believe you returned the necklace. I believe his expression was one of disbelief, hurt and anger when he told me about it. But, nonetheless, congratulations- you were perhaps the first woman to ever turn him down."

I smirk. "Well, he had better get used to it. If he never cleans up his act or develops a new, and frankly, more likeable, personality, he is never going to find someone willing to put up with him. Not even his pretty face can save him."

"Oh, so you think he's attractive?"

I scoff. "I never said I didn't. Cormac is extremely good looking and unfortunately, he knows it."

Ginny merely smirks.

We enter the Great Hall for dinner and seat down next to Harry. He gives me a one-armed hug in greeting as I slide in beside him on the bench, but doesn't say anything as he is too busy stuffing his face with the food before him.

"So," I say when he has swallowed. "When are you going to tell me all about this fabulous bit of information you learned at Slughorn's party? You seemed like you were about to burst in your letter if you couldn't tell me soon."

Harry glances around us before leaning closer to me. "I followed Snape and Malfoy after they left the party. They were talking about a task Voldemort gave to Malfoy. Snape was telling him he was an idiot and should trust him, but Malfoy wasn't having it and practically told him to sod off. And then Snape told Malfoy that he made an Unbreakable Vow to Malfoy's mum to keep him safe and Malfoy told him that he was just going to have to break it-"

"But Snape would die!"

Harry gives me a look. "Not like that would be a huge loss, Hermione, but yeah, Snape would die. I had to ask Ron about the Unbreakable Vow because you weren't in the train compartment with us. He gave me the brilliant answer of 'You can't break an Unbreakable Vow.' But that's not the point. Don't you see? It's like I've been telling you and Ron all year- Malfoy is a Death Eater! And Snape is helping him!"

My eyes flicker to the staff table where Snape is conversing with Professor Flitwick. "No," I say slowly, my eyes still locked onto Snape. "I don't think so. Dumbledore trusts Snape and I trust Dumbledore's judgment. Maybe Malfoy is a Death Eater- which we don't know for sure, by the way- and Snape was simply offering assistance to get information from him."

Harry groans. "You sound just like Lupin. That is pretty much exactly what he said."

"Well then, what does that tell you? I know how badly you want Snape and Malfoy to be wrapped up in something evil, Harry, but I really don't think that's the case. We can't prove anything about either of them-"

"What about when we saw Malfoy and his mum go down Knockturn Alley back over summer holiday?" he interjects. "You can't honestly believe they were having a mummy and son day at Borgin and Burkes do you? Besides, we heard Malfoy threaten the owner with Greyback, who we know has allied himself with Voldemort. Come on, Hermione, you know I'm right!"

I sigh. "Malfoy is a creepy bloke with a creepy family and creepy family friends. His dad is a Death Eater, Harry, and all of his dad's friends are probably Death Eaters- I'm honestly not surprised he knows Greyback- but that doesn't make Malfoy a Death Eater. Besides, what would Voldemort want with a sixteen year old boy?"

At this, Harry looks stumped. "I'll get back to you on that, Hermione. But mark my words, Malfoy is up to something. And so is Snape. I don't trust either of them and neither should you."

"I never said I did," I say quickly, feeling my face get rather hot.

"Oi, are you two done discussing who is and who is not Death Eater?" Ginny snaps. "Because I would appreciate it if the subject was dropped until we are in the safety of our own common room; I don't want anyone knowing we have some inside information on who the Order has taken an interest in and who we think could be the enemy. Besides, those group of Ravenclaws look kind of dodgy."

"Gin, they aren't even looking at us."

"Irrelevant," she replies with a wave of her hand. "The point is, I'd rather enjoy my dinner without worrying over who may or may not be a Death Eater, as well as who may or may not be listening in."

"Fine," Harry relents. "Let's go back to the common room now, because I bet there is some huge obvious piece of evidence I am missing that completely proves my theory. Maybe all I need to do is walk around for a second- get those creative juices flowing."

"You two go on ahead," I say as we stand. "I want to wonder around the corridors for a little while; get my own creative juices flowing so I can counter everything you say, Harry."

He rolls his eyes and smirks.

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"Asphodel."

The raven caws and I enter Snape's labs, not at all surprised to find them empty; he was still eating at the staff table when I left the Great Hall. I smile when I notice the cauldron I gave him has been moved to the work station he usually occupies when we brew together and make my way to my own table. I want to brew to help me get rid of the embarrassment and nervousness I'm feeling about being alone with Snape again. As easier as things would have been if I never kissed him, I can't bring myself to regret doing it- that kiss was simply miraculous.

Instead of pulling out my potions textbook, I go to the bookshelves on the far wall of Snape's labs and pull one out at random. I want to brew something difficult so I can completely lose myself in making it. After finding one I have never brewed before, I enter the storeroom and gather up the supplies I'll need. I place them out on the table and record what they are on a spare bit of parchment so I remember to pay Snape once I'm finished. And then I set to work.

Just as I go to add the smallest amount of Acromantula venom as possible, Peeves bursts into Snape's lab singing 'Weasley is Our King' at the top of his lungs. I shriek and jump, causing the venom to fly out of the vial and splash my face and neck, with some of it entering my open mouth. I instantly fall to the ground as the venom slides down my throat, the toxins already doing a number of my wind pipe.

"Uh oh, did the itty bitty Gryffindor fall down in fright?" Peeves sings as he notices me withering in agony on the floor. When I only gasp as a reply and do not give him a witty retort, his eyes widen. "I didn't hurt you, no, not I," he says. "You made that stuff get all over you by yourself."

I try to tell him to go get Snape, but with each passing moment, I am finding it harder and harder to breathe. I know that within minutes the toxins in the venom will have completely destroyed my windpipe, as well as burn my skin as badly as a fire. I am going to die all because some stupid Poltergeist likes playing pranks and just so happened to startle me while I was using an extremely dangerous- and equally expensive- potion ingredient.

"Peeves! What have I told you about entering my labs?"

I choke at the sound of Snape's voice, praying he notices me before I pass out from my lack of oxygen.

"Miss Granger? What on earth are you doing on the floor?"

"I didn't do it, Snapey," Peeves sings. "The girl jumped and dumped the vial on herself all by herself."

"Out!"

Snape's face appears in my line of vision, just as I stop breathing. He swears and pulls out a small stone of an inner pocket of his robes. When he opens my mouth and shoves it down my throat, I lose consciousness.

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My eyes flicker open to see a stone ceiling above me. A quick look around the room and I find that I am still in Snape's labs, only instead of being on the hard ground, I am on a couch with a black blanket pulled up to my chin.

"Good, you're awake." Snape's voice comes from the opposite side of the room and I search the shadows for him.

I attempt to sit up, only to find Snape crossing the room rather quickly and pushing me back down against the cushions. "Do not move from that position until I tell you to do so; you are conscious now and I intend for you to stay that way, understood?"

"Yes, sir." I shift under the blanket and my eyes go wide with I can feel no clothing barrier between my torso and the softness of the fabric. "Um… Professor Snape, why am I not wearing my shirt?"
"I had to dispose of it to make sure that I was able to find all of the bits of your skin that came in contact with the venom," he says matter-of-factly, without the slightest hint of embarrassment or uneasiness. "I had to cover the burning areas with a special paste to ensure they would not become worse while I focused on mending your windpipe. Are you having trouble inhaling or exhaling?"

I shake my head slowly. Snape has seen me without a shirt on. Or a bra. My face immediately turns a deep red, judging by how hot it feels. Oh dear Merlin, I want to crawl into a hole and never come out or see the light of day again. I cover my face with my hands so I don't have to look at him.

"Do not do that!" he snaps, pulling my hands away.

I understand immediately as my face begins to burn and I bite my lower lip to keep from crying out. Snape swears and walks calmly to the nearest work station. He takes his time returning with a cauldron; no doubt so I'll learn my lesson and not touch my face again. I watch with tears forming in my eyes as he dips his right hand into the potion. When he pulls it out, a green paste covers his skin.

"Now don't move," he warns.

He is surprisingly gentle as he runs his fingers over my cheek, the paste almost instantly removing the pain of my burnt skin. I close my eyes against the feeling of his hand on my face as he moves to my other cheek to recover my burns. His touch is feather light and soft, seeming more like a caress than a healing touch. I have to force my mouth shut to trap the sigh threatening to burst past my lips.

When Snape pulls the blanket down to my collarbone, I squirm, but he says nothing. After dipping both hands in the potion, he rubs circles into my neck, easing the pain I wasn't aware of that was building in my throat. Again he is gentle for a man who is always so hard and mean. I have to keep myself from groaning when he pulls his hands away.

"You can return to your common room in a half-hour after I am certain the bezoar removed all the poison from the venom and that your burns have healed nicely," he says as he steps away from the couch and cleans his hands on a towel.

"I wasted all of your Acromantula venom," I say softly.

Snape sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Yes, you did. But, I would rather you be alive and have no Acromantula venom than have you death and all the venom I could want. I can buy more from my supplier at a later date, but since I hardly use it anyway, I can easily get by without stocking some in my stores."

"I'll pay for it-"

"If I wanted your money, I would have told you," he snaps. "Just pay for the other ingredients and do not worry about the venom. It shouldn't even be at the castle anyway- much too dangerous."

A thick silence fills the room and I swallow hard.

"Professor?"

"What?"

"Um… why did you tell me the password for January?"

"I don't follow."

I bite my lower lip. "After the… incident before we went on holiday, I assumed I would have be given access to your private labs anymore, but you still told me the password for January. I was simply curious as to why you did."

"Do I need a reason, Miss Granger?"

"I… I suppose not."

Snape nods and throws me a piece of black fabric. "Transfigure that into a shirt," he says.

I do has he asks and transfigure the fabric into a plain black t-shirt. I pull it over my head and use the blanket to hide my torso as I do so. I needn't bother; Snape has turned around the moment I transfigured the shirt. When he faces me once more, I take a deep breath and stand.

Snape doesn't help me, although his body does seem to lean toward mine. I make my way to the door and stumble a few times.

"Can you make it back safely?"

I can hear the challenge in his voice. As much as I would love to wipe the smirk that I know he is wearing off his face, I really do need his help. "I'm not sure, sir."

Snape lets out an exaggerated sigh before coming to my side. One of his arms snake around my waist as he pulls the other around his neck. He helps me toward the door and from there back the Gryffindor common room. I thank Merlin and every god I can think of that it is past curfew and no one can see me being supported by Snape. Although, I did start leaning into him halfway through the journey.

"I trust you can take it from here," he say when we stop outside the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

"Good night, Miss Granger."

He detangles himself from me and I have to deliberately stare at the Fat Lady so I won't turn to watch him melt into the darkness around us. After waking her up and entering the Gryffindor room, I let out a sound that is something between a groan and sigh. When I imagined being alone with Snape after coming back from break, that was definitely not how I pictured it.