Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story and make no money - love these characters to death though!

Note: Okay we are finally getting over the angsty parts. . . after this chapter things shall begin to heat up for our two protagonists. Thanks for all of the positive feedback and tips so far, it has been publishing this story and your input that has helped me find its end.

Chapter 13 Stay Safe

The next 6 weeks went on in a very similar way for Hermione and Severus. On the professional side she would report to him everyday at 10am and generally stay for the next 6 to 8 hours depending on what ingredients she would have to prepare and how long it took her to do it. On the positive side she had not made any massive errors and aside from being his normal snarky self, it had been relatively easy to get along with this mystery of a man she called her Professor. She had learned a lot from him and he had shown a tiny bit of patience as he showed her how to mix, boil and prepare these complicated ingredients.

On the personal side she couldn't help be but drawn to him in a strange way. More than a few girls in her year had found the "old bat" of the dungeons attractive, call it his severity or the way he walked so upright and elegantly as he held lecture. Hermione couldn't deny she'd fallen briefly into that club at some point or another, but she had always been too focused on keeping Ron and Harry out of trouble and in school to really dwell on the topic – now she had time to dwell on it.

He was not handsome in the traditional sense but there was an air about him that was captivating. He was intelligent, strong headed and not easily swayed – though caught between two masters he was his own man for sure. He was witty with his own sense of humor, if one could call it that and yet his eyes held something she could not quite describe. She'd seen it for the first time in Hogsmead a few weeks ago and she continued to see it from afar as he watched her work. To most perhaps it would see a bit odd, having a man 20 years her senior observe her as he did, but it made her feel like she was interesting, desired even. Was it proper lust? She could not be sure, but the way he looked at her, touched her inhabited a place between an acceptable distance and invading her personal space that made her hair stand on end – her mind wonder towards the "what ifs".

She had never had sex and fumbled around only a little with boys. However she had read quite a bit on the subject and even downloaded some movies when she was at her parent's house for summer. She had a very good idea of what to do, how to do it and what she liked. . . . and perhaps that's why Snape held a sort of fascination for her. A man with sexual experience, dominant and willful - dark. She knew what was required of Death Eaters, rumors of sex parties with kink as top on the list. . . . while it had repulsed the likes of Molly Weasley, it had struck a chord with her.

She sighed and smiled at herself in the mirror. She tied her hair back as she often did and smoothed her robe. Today they would brew the potion, it would be a long process, going late into the night. She made sure her tank top was low cut and her shorts short under her long school robes. She didn't expect anything to come of it, but she could at least dream right?

Severus had been busy tearing up other rejection letters when he heard her knock at his door. "Enter" he said. She came in as she had every day since he had been sent to this God-awful place and sat patiently at her desk, waiting for him. He liked to make her wait, to have her eyes placed on him so tentatively.

"Come Miss Granger, we are brewing. Allow me to show you how we begin. It's important that we stir the potion every hour on the hour until 3 am. Do you have any questions?"

"Well. . . "

"Good, let's begin." He cut her off, to which she sent him a sideways glance. His smirk was enough to make her flush red with anger. He did like to see her little temper flair, the redness that came across her cheeks combined with the amber of her eyes made Severus' heart beat a bit faster.

It was 10 pm, they had settled into a rather nice routine of reading some books by his small fireplace and discussing some of the projects the 5th years had proposed. He did enjoy discussing these things with her and was surprised at how much the young lady had matured during his absence. Sure, she was still trying to prove herself but the desperation in her ways was gone. There was a cool confidence mixed with a sort of sadness, and yet she was fiery and opinionated. He had enjoyed their discussions and witty banter over the last weeks and this evening was no different. He even found himself being pleasant with the girl, something he would have not thought possible 9 months ago.

It was then that the familiar stab of pain came to his arm and he clutched it out of instinct, opening up his shirtsleeve to expose it. The Dark Lord was calling him, which had not been expected. He didn't like unexpected, unexpected meant bad. He looked up to notice Hermione staring at his dark mark, her mouth slightly open in shock. He sent her a glare and pulled his shirt over his tattoo.

"I'm being summoned, you must continue the potion. You must do everything to the letter or we have wasted 6 weeks of our lives we will never get back – do you understand how important it is that you get it right?" He was nervous, upset and with that he was basically yelling and growling at the girl. He hadn't noticed that he'd grasped her hard by the shoulder and pulled her so they were face to face.

Hermione struggled to gain composure. His grip was painful his temper unexpected and she fought the urge that came to look away from him or to punch him. . . both would have suited her. She nodded only, too shocked and concerned to answer him.

He grabbed his cape and mask and turned to her, her doe eyes staring at him in amazement, eyeing him in his Death Eater robes. Severus couldn't tell if she was on edge by this or drawn to him. . . . could have been 50/50 either way. He started to make his way out then turned again, something in him wanted to memorize her face if this be his last night on earth – give him something pleasant to picture during his possible torture. "I will return Miss Granger."

"Be safe." Was all she managed to squeak out before he turned on his heel and left without saying another word. She was suddenly taken by fear, the fear of whether he would return or not, of whether she could brew this difficult potion under these circumstances. She steeled herself and looked at the hourglass, it was almost time to add and stir.