Disclaimer: All of the characters belong to J. K. Rowling.

Chapter 11:

She had waited for Neville to wake up, and accomplished to make him believe he had been awake all the time, she handed him his wand by saying "Snape came when you were in the restroom, don't you remember?" and then they both walked back to their common room. They had parted ways, and excusing herself with her friends, assuring them she was too tired because of all the cleaning, she rushed to her room, a lot to think about.

Did the man just imply she held a sexual interest in him? A need for reproduction as he said. Wasn't that stepping over the line for a teacher? Everything else made sense, except for that. She didn't consider herself particularly frigid, but she was no expert in the topic either, the closest she had being to starting her sexual life was with Ron a few months ago, but she felt like things were rushing, ending up the relationship before anything too serious happened.

She shifted in the bed, Snape wasn't the only one she kissed, there was Harry too. How did she feel about Harry? Was it really just something physical? She considered eating the food and asking Ginny to keep her company in her room, just to prove she was more than just an animal in heat. She felt so ashamed, how was she supposed to look him in the eye the next day? Because of his comment she had started to see him as a man, and not just a professor. Her mind was full of memories of his fingers against her face, his scent of herbs and his smooth and silky voice. She went to sleep, having dreams she was never to comment with anyone, because they were just beyond embarrassing.

It was another morning in the Great Hall, more lively than usual, mainly because of a recently exploded tickles bomb, which still affected some students near the Huflepuff table. Hermione avoided it and sat next to Ginny, reaching for an apple, which she had discovered to be the easiest edible to pretend to eat.

"Hey, Hermione, why didn't you tell us about Snape?" Ron's words startled her, causing her to choke with a piece of apple and accidentally eat it. Coughing to try to get it out, she surrendered and looked back at Ron.

"I'm sorry, what? What about Sn- Professor Snape?" She tried to keep calm, while looking at Ginny with murdering eyes.

"About your special potion lessons or something like that."

"Neville told us last night, we asked him if something happened because you were looking so tired. He said you were taking special potion lessons with Snape." Harry said.

"Oh, that…" Hermione looked back at Ginny who was looking rather offended. "I am sorry, guys, he offered the lessons to me about a week ago, I wasn't sure if to accept so I didn't want to tell you and then back off… but I guess it is official now."

"Congratulations, Hermione, I cannot think of anybody else more appropriate to spend their evenings learning about potions." Ginny's tone went unnoticed for the boys, but not to Hermione, who was still in no mood for insinuations, so she just pretended to smile as much as she could.

"Thank you, Ginny, I am really thankful for this opportunity to improve my academic experience."

"And what an experi- Ouch!" Her left arm got slapped by Hermione, who simply couldn't stand the tone of her words.

"What do you do in those lessons?" Harry asked while eating a sandwich, more as a theme for conversation than really intrigued by it.

"Yes, Hermione, tell us what you do in those lessons." Ginny wasn't stopping; Hermione wondered how long they could continue with this dynamic with the boys not noticing anything.

"Well, we… I, I assist him with the preparation of complicated potions."

"What potions have you prepared?"

"All of them." Ginny was getting her nervous and her brain was not working in the best way possible, besides, half of it was still worrying over the piece of apple she ate, would that be enough to make her go wild?

"All of them? What do you mean all of them?"

"All of the… potions he had in the list for the first week, they were potions from first year so they were pretty easy to prepare, you know, to remember the basics."

"Didn't you just say you assisted him with difficult potions?"

"Guys, guys, give her some space, she's being taking extra lessons, together with the other extra three classes that you don't have AND an explosion yesterday… how is your arm, Mione?" Ginny saved her; Hermione guessed it was an apology for the previous teasing.

"Well, now that you mention it, it still hurts, so I think I should go to the hospital wing. Could you please tell Professor McGonagall?" She stood up while the boys were still wishing her to recover soon. Of course, she never intended to really go to the hospital wing, she just wanted to get to her room and rest till the apple made effect or till she was sure there was no danger of acting weird in front of anyone.

The classes were about to begin, so she rushed, however, something was weird, she could've sworn she heard a giggle behind her. She turned around, but no one was there, so she just shook her head and continued walking. When she got to her common room, she was about to went upstairs, when she noticed purple painting on the floor, it was most likely because of a prank, turning around to see no one was to be blamed, the prefect decided to simply clean it herself. A few seconds later the Fat Lady painting was open and two young Gryffindors entered the room. Interesting thing was the moment they saw her using her wand to clean the mess; both boys changed their expressions and tried to act normal.

"Classes are about to begin, may I know what you two are doing here?"

"We were… we just forgot something, our books, yes, we forgot our books."

"What year are you in?"

"Third year, ma'am."

"Third year is currently learning about snargaluffs in herbology, which means you are in no need for any book."

"We didn't know that."

"… Well, now you know, go before I take points from our house because of intentional lateness." The boys looked at each other and then reluctantly left by the Fat Lady Portrait. Hermione wasn't stupid, they were up to something, could it be related to the joke on her? She was determined to interrogate them later, when the fear for the potion was gone.

The young witch went upstairs and closed the door, it had previously taken about an hour to make effect, but she was starting to slowly feel numb, she considered it to be her imagination, so she sat in the edge of her bed, trying to clear her thoughts. It was impossible; the one thing she could think of was the potions master voice. Her legs slowly melted till she was sitting on the floor.

"This cannot be happening to you, Hermione, focus in some other thing, you should be studying transfigurations, remember the topic from last class… we were remembering the incarcerous spell." Her thoughts were quick to picture Snape using the spell on her, with completely not academic reasons. "Why did he have to say such a thing?" Everything was just fine till his comment on her sexual needs related to him; that together with his smirk and smooth voice was enough to drive her crazy, apparently.

She spent the next three quarters of hours trying to keep the potions master out of her thoughts. After that time, she suddenly found it easier to focus, with the numb feeling in her fingers leaving her body. "It must have been because of the potion… he is a professor, Hermione, from now on, you will only see him as that." The girl stood up and went downstairs to her following classes.

The rest of the day went normal, eating alone with Ginny before visiting Snape, she told her about the two boys that were following her earlier, who, by the way, were obviously avoiding her at all cost.

"That is serious, Hermione, those boys must have put something in your food, and as you usually go to classes they saw an opportunity when they saw you going to the common room."

"I know, but they have been avoiding me all day, besides… I am not exactly sure what to tell them, I have no proof they actually did anything."

"But they were following you and giggling, weren't they? I would punch them in the face for much less than that."

"That is clearly not enough, Ginny. What am I supposed to say? Hey you two, stop poisoning my food?"

"Well… yes, for starters, then you could mention how messed up they are for doing it, and of course, perverted, because they were counting with you being alone, who knows what were they planning."

"Ginny, please, I feel like their mother here."

"I bet Snape doesn't feel like your father… maybe your daddy." Ginny giggled.

"Oh for Merlin! You didn't… Ginny, seriously, stop with that, it is not funny."

"Oh, of course it is funny… because it is true." She giggled again and then stopped at seeing Hermione's frowning expression. "I'm sorry, Mione, but this is the closest to a girl chat about boys we have ever had, we didn't even talk much about Ron when you were his girlfriend."

"Because you are his sister, it would have been kind of weird, besides, he is not a boy, he is a man… and a professor, I remember you."

"Well… I guess you are right, Snape is not my brother."

"That's it, I'm leaving." Hermione took her books from the table and stood up, quickly getting them inside her backpack.

"Are you going to your extra potion lessons?" The smile in Ginny's face was quite a good contrast for Hermione's nagged expression. The brunette didn't even care to answer, she simply took her bag and left.

Hermione was actually a bit thankful to Ginny for mocking her, her frustration and anger was keeping any weird thoughts away, even standing in front of his door, she simply knocked, thinking in how badly she was not interested in him. The door opened, as she was so focused in Ginny's words, she continued to knock, actually knocking Snape's chest.

"…I wonder what I have done to deserve this greeting."

"I'm sorry, sir! I didn't think you would open the door so quickly!"

"I was actually looking for a book next to the door." The man lifted his left arm, showing a small book. "If you are done knocking the door or me, you may come in." He turned around and marched to his desk, sitting behind it and leaving the book on it, but focusing his eyes on the young witch, who was still standing in the door. This didn't go unnoticed to the potions master, who looked at her with narrowed eyes and his fingers intertwined on the desk.

"I can assure there is no trap waiting to catch you, Miss Granger." After this the girl rushed to the desk, leaving her bag on the floor.

"I'm sorry, sir, it has been quite a long day."

"You need to stop apologizing for everything; that was actually the first you did when I came back."

She was about to excuse herself once more; suddenly realizing this, she simply answered "Welcome back, sir."

The man remained silent, unsure of what to answer, struggling with multiple options: what he would've said before the war, what he would've said before getting to know her, and finally what he wanted to say now. That was the moment he realized things were getting slowly out his hands, it had been a long time without things being this difficult; aware that as a teacher there was a clear line to draw, he spoke "We should focus." He sat back on his chair. "As you mentioned before, I attended a meeting yesterday to address this pranking contest among students."

"Gryffindors mostly, I apologize for the faults of my house, as a prefect I have failed to control them."

"Not necessary, Miss Granger, it used to be a Gryffindor problem, but it has quite extended, I am to apologize for Slytherins at this very moment, students of all houses seem to have gone insane, Flitwick and Trelawney being proof of it."

"What happened to them?" The girl placed her hands on the desk, worried for both teachers, even if she never got to like Trelawney, that didn't mean she deserved any harm.

"Flitwick fell victim of some fashion makeover, his hair turned blue in a much fancy Mohawk. Meanwhile, Trelawney was only able to express herself buzzing like a bee. I assume that for this time the problem must have already been fixed. Sad if you ask me, that was quite a unique staff meeting. I could only imagine Dumbledore commenting on how good Flitwick's new look was and asking for a round of applauses instead of searching for a solution." The girl could also picture that, Dumbledore was without a doubt a very wise, but peculiar headmaster.

"What about Professor McGonagall? What did she do?"

"Though I am positive McGonagall's amused face was as visible as mine, she did not show nearly as much compassion. Starting next week, there will be implemented new measures against these pranksters."

"New measures? Like what?"

"Well, depending on the magnitude of the joke and the objective of it, the consequences could go from detention to suspension, and this one is new: expulsion. As sure as I am that coloring anyone's hair is not going to cause more than one month detention, I am almost certain that poisoning another student's food must be at least worth a month suspension."

"How about kissing a professor?" The man let go a sigh to the question.

"You are the victim of that joke, Miss Granger, I am certain that McGonagall will not punish you for that, as neither did I." The girl moved on the chair, the man's words let a question running through her mind.

"What if a student kissed you just because? Not because of any potion, would you give her… or him detention? Suspension?" The girl gulped "Expulsion? Just hypothetical, of course." The man let the silence settle in the room, what kind of question was that? After a long wait, in which Hermione repented for even being there, the man answered.

"I hardly consider that to be a real issue."As the girl opened her mouth to insist, the man added "But let's pretend that in a highly impossible scenario this happen, I guess I would take the student to the hospital wing for a psychological analysis, something wrong in her or his mind, and after that, I think a year detention would teach others what. not. to. do ."

"Would that detention be attended with Mister Filch, alone in the potions classroom or… here, with you?"

The potions master leaned on the desk, his elbows in the wood. "This conversation is clearly leading nowhere; mind if we move on?"

"Of course, sir, please continue." She moved on the chair once again, feeling her cheeks slightly pinker than usual. The man leaned back, and opened the drawer to his right; he took a flask from it and placed it in front of the girl, without taking his eyes off of her.

"Any idea what these are?" her eyes inspected its content; it was full of small smooth pebbles, all of them with a white milky color.

"I think I've never seen them before."

"I'd like to say I am disappointed, but it is actually not a surprise."He paused for a moment, nodding to the desk. "Before explaining any further, I'd like to ask you… if you were to drink this potion that troubles you so much, and if it was unavoidable to make effect in the middle of the Great Hall, let's say… during breakfast or the Halloween fest, what would be the last thing you would like to do under any circumstance?"

Hermione felt suddenly awkward, while she thought in a variety of scenarios that could happen, she had a clear idea, but she was not sure how to properly express it to its complete extension, "I… I would really like to avoid kissing anyone; I don't think I could handle the shame, all the stares, and the questions… if it was Ron, it would be really awkward, and If it was Harry, it would be a real scandal, he wouldn't fall for the same explanation again, I'd rather punch someone, kick my juice, sleep in the middle of the table, dance in Professor Vector's soup, anything would be better than kissing anyone… or worse." The man raised an eyebrow "You know what I mean." He nodded and then looked at the small bottle.

"I had the feeling you were to say that… these are supposed to lower the libido. I suggest you take one a day in the morning, more than that could be dangerous for your health."

The girl looked at the bottle, to the man, to the drawer which he took them from, the bottle again, and even when she meant to finally look to his eyes, she stopped herself feeling the red increasing in her cheeks, getting even to her ears, causing her to stare at the wood of his desk.

"Don't do that, girl, don't you dare give me that judgmental look. I do not drink, have or ingest every potion or substance in this place. "His voice was clearly disappointed and upset.

"I didn't mean that, sir. It is just… I can't remember this potion, did I forget it? Or we have not learnt about it yet?"

"No, I have not taught you about these, neither will I, since I hold no intention to discuss the matter ever again with McGonagall, Dumbledore having craved his ideas into her long ago. Something about it being dangerous for your proper development into healthy adults and the importance of it being addressed by the family and not us… as if I were asking to lecture you on sexual positions or something, being absolutely nobody in the staff willing or qualified to do such a thing. No, it is not important how simple its preparation is, or how I think they would be perfect for forth year students, no. I simply provide Poppy with them, as the students seem to go to her for such matter."

The girl listened to him with much attention, understanding him; she has felt it so many times, the frustration of giving pieces of advice, of knowing better, but being ignored. "I understand, sir. I actually think it would be a good idea, it would have made puberty much easier and Merlin knows I could've used it for the past weeks." There was silence, and when the girl started to feel it unnerving she spoke "Hum, professor! There is something more, I-I… you don't want me to apologize anymore, but there is this thing you said the last time, that I'm having problems to ignore…"

"I'd appreciate if you could be a bit more specific."

"Yesterday, before you left the classroom, you said something about hum…" She was clearly struggling in her chair, her face getting redder with every word. Her uncomfortable movements started to unnerve the man as well.

"Speak, girl."

"It is not proper of me to show such an inappropriate behavior, especially with a professor. I'd like to clarify that I never intended to show that hum… need, as you s-"

"Save your excuses, Miss Granger, I never asked for them. I am quite aware of the situation and myself "He stopped to make up his mind, he was not prepared for this conversation, and he would rather be doing anything else but being the responsible adult dealing with it." I just happened to get in the room in the perfectly wrong time, I don't know who you were thinking of when the potion made effect with me or Potter and neither I want to know. I don't blame you for it, so your excuses or apologies are not necessary or welcomed." The girl stopped to think for a minute… She hadn't considered that, was she thinking in someone or something in particular when it happened?

"Thank you, sir, for understanding." He nodded and then continued.

"By any means, I trust you will benefit by these new measures, since I believe the fear for expulsion will refrain most of the attacks to you. However, I must warn you, I don't consider them to be nearly over, since whoever is doing this to you is not from third year, and has gotten too far to quit now."

"What do you mean? You told me about the pranking contest among third year students, I thought-"

"It used to be among third years, as I explained, it has extended to half of the student body."

"Then… how do you know it is not someone from third year?"

"Potions always have a clear purpose, to stay awake, to calm down the nerves, heck if there is even one to empty your stomach so you can continue eating, but this potion… it has no use but to embarrass someone to death, which leads me to think this is an entire new composition." Hermione looked at him, her mouth slightly open with much interest. "You saw it yourself, Miss Granger, the dangers of adding the wrong amount of ingredients… potions are not easy to prepare, leave aside create, this is definitely not a student from third year, nor fourth, they must be most surely from sixth or seventh year, someone particularly advanced."

"But… why? Why me? Are you trying to tell me I am being used as a guinea pig? I don't know anyone from seventh year who would like to… not even in Slytherin, not even Draco, I cannot think of anyone." She started to panic, feeling her breath stuck in her chest. The man just smiled softly.

"Feeling humble today, Miss Granger? I must admit that if I were to select someone from the complete student body to test this specific potion I would also pick you. Think about it, do you know anyone else famous for their self control and good behavior? If I were to test a potion with the unique purpose of driving someone wild… wouldn't you be the ultimate proof of its efficiency?" Her mouth fell open in disbelief; did her professor just say he would experiment on her?

"But I have not done anything to deserve this, I have always- I mean, I have not- This is-"

"Exactly, you are well known for always being politically correct, and kind to others, you have always done what you have been supposed to do, you have not done anything wrong… you were the perfect objective, and as you have not shown yourself under its effect, whoever is doing this must think you are still controlling the potion's effect, so they will continue to give it to you, stronger every time."

"What do you mean stronger? What else could they be expecting?"

"Think about this; the first time you were under its effect was for about ten minutes, and then you managed to regain control, last time I knocked you unconscious, afraid of what you could do if I allowed you to go any further… Now, think in Longbottom, I bet he didn't have half of the doses meant for you, and there I was hiding my hand during the staff meeting because I had no explanation for the bleeding."

Hermione was extremely confused, and she started to feel more overwhelmed with every explanation. She had spent all of her school days planning, scheduling, concealing, and she had expected to relax after the war, at least a bit, to let go of at least a small part of her responsibilities, but here she was, being pushed to her limits.

"I… I don't understand." She felt all her stress building up in her throat. "Is this just going to get worse? I don't know-"She muted, focusing all her strength in her knuckles, firmly pressed against her knees. The man was right, she had a control issue. She always had a plan; she always knew a spell, charm, potion or way for every situation, but not for this one. She did not know what to do, what to say, how to regain control, if control was the problem to begin with. She was taken out of her thoughts by a glass carefully placed in front of her.

"It is just water; I think you have already had enough potions or elixirs for a lifetime." The girl took the glass with a shaking hand and drank its content, then she displayed it on the desk, only to focus her eyes on her knees once more. The man remained in his place behind her, unsure of what to do as well. "I honestly believe you should look for emotional support from someone more qualified, perhaps Minerva, she is well natured, or Poppy, she is trained for it." The girl was quick to shake her head.

"Could I ask you for a favor? It would be really helpful right now."

"Anything." The man had no idea what to do, so he was grateful for any instruction or guide, one that didn't involve kicking her and her problems out his office.

"Could you give me a hug?"

The potions master stood still, he was tempted to answer with the bitter expression he would use for any other student, but he found himself unable to do it. She didn't deserve it, she was scared and overwhelmed, and this time, it was all because of her good nature, this must be the opposite of karma. Spite of this, he could not access to her request either, his mind was quick to remember a book read a long time ago, about a man who looked for the company of vulnerable women, having as only goal to get them to bed, with the girls growing attached to a man who never meant to love them back, most of the cases started with a comforting hug. "I do not consider that to be a good idea."

"Please, I won't do anything weird, I am not a creep." Though the girl's head was still hidden under her bushy hair, the man could still notice her broken voice between soft sobs. He kneeled next to her, unsure of how to proceed, he had never hugged a student before, and though the girl herself requested it, he found it hard to perform while still trying to draw the line as a teacher, especially with her feeling so small between his arms.

She noticed the man's movements, followed by his arms around her waist; she twisted the upper part of her body to hide her face in the space between his shoulder and neck, being careful not to harm him where his wound should be. She immediately noticed the man's discomfort, as he tensed with her touch, so she hesitated to embrace him and ended up with her hands clawed to his coat, not directly in touch.

"You are not a creep, never think of you like that again."

"You say that, but here I am, acting as a crybaby in front of my potions master, forcing him to hug me out of pity."

"I do not pity you, Hermione, neither I am forced to do this." The man felt a chuckle coming from the girl, her breath in his neck.

"Do you realize, sir, you just called me by my given name?"

"Bite me, Granger." Now she giggled, causing jolts, not only in her, but him. Did he really just say that to a student? Everything felt surreal for the man, who was starting to feel his arms numb because of the lack of movement. He had decided to not move an inch, unsure of were exactly to touch her, what would make her feel uncomfortable.

"I dare you to say that to Neville." Both of them remained like that for some minutes. Hermione felt the awkwardness of the whole situation dissolve in giggles and soft smiles. Meanwhile, Snape relaxed his body, his insecurities gone together with her delicate movements. Till finally the girl moved apart, looking for his eyes. "Thank you, sir, I am feeling much better know."

He didn't answer, he just stood up and stepped back, allowing her to do so as well. "This can not last forever, Miss Granger, you are to finish your studies in a few months. This cannot follow you outside Hogwarts." She knew he was trying to comfort her, but his words had quite the opposite effect.

"You are right, sir. Though, I really will miss Hogwarts."

"You will not miss Hogwarts, it is nothing but an old castle. You will miss your classmates and the constant recognition for your work, both will leave Hogwarts to follow you, as parasites some of them if I may add." The brunette smiled softly.

"Some of them won't." she reached for the bottle previously offered to her, and kept it in her hand. "Professor McGonagall will stay here at Hogwarts, together with my common room and my first adventure. Professor Flitwick will stay here, with the Great Hall, Hagrid and Fang… Hogwarts is my home, sir, not my house, and when you leave home, there are things that simply cannot follow you… Like you." There was silence again, as the man questioned his sanity, then she just chuckled looking to the desk "I am acting weird again, aren't I? Saying silly things… I should probably get going, I was just wondering, do you think that perhaps you could teach me about these? I don't even know their name." She held the small bottle in front of the man, with all the milky pebbles inside.

"That could be arranged, maybe tomorrow evening. I believe it would be positive to teach you about them, not because of their use only, but because it is what we are supposed to be doing."

"It will be nice to not lie to my friends for once in a while."

"Are you really going to tell your 'friends' you are learning how to prepare those?"

"I hardly think they would ask that much info, but if they do, I will tell them I asked you for it."

"… I trust you will avoid the topic." She smiled and walked to the door, when her hand touched it she stopped, and hesitated for a few seconds, till the girl turned around, to call for the man a final time nervously.

"Professor, there is one last thing I… I would feel bad if I don't say it now, I think you deserve to know."

"I'm listening."

"I did not know it had an influence on it, so I didn't give it much of a thought earlier, but… I believe-" she stopped, gathering her bravery, proper of her house "I believe the day I kissed you, and the night I kissed Harry- I think both times I was thinking of… you." She fixed her eyes on him for as long as she could, suddenly fearing the man could actually say something back, she bent as a sign of departure "Good night, sir." And with that she was gone, leaving the man as confused as she was the evening before.

He was sure that if he were not Severus Snape, the most despised old geezer, and she were not Hermione Granger, the most advanced witch of her age, that would definitely sound as a confession.