Chapter Twenty-Six—A Good Day for Veritaserum
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Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville stood stock still in the back of the room. They glared at their teacher. Professor Arachne was holding out a bag to the students and making them draw numbers.
She had decided that today everyone would partner off and duel simultaneously. The room already had pock-marks from the first period class. One student desk was still smoldering in the corner.
Somehow Professor Arachne had rigged it so that every Slytherin was paired with a Gryffindor to duel. Harry and Pansy Parkinson glared at one another. Goyle grinned stupidly at Neville—Neville stood confident, assured that Goyle would not be a problem, even for him.
Hermione and Millicent Bulstrode were fated to be dueling partners once again. Ron stood against Scabior Jr. while Draco Malfoy faced Lavender Brown. Poor Lavender was shaking.
"Everybody ready?" Arachne smiled from behind her desk. "Duel!"
The Slytherins struck immediately.
Hermione easily disarmed Millicent and Harry hit Pansy with a jelly-legs jinx and an Obscuro before disarming her. Goyle used several punching curses to make Neville stumble backwards but the shy boy held his own.
Lavender fell to the ground. An angry Ron Stunned Scabior so hard he flew backwards into Arachne's desk before aiming a hex at Malfoy.
Millicent dashed at Ron and tried to wrestle him to the ground. Malfoy ended up hexing both Ron and Millicent with a boil curse.
"You bastard!" Millicent shouted at Ron and Harry shouted at Draco.
Harry jumped over the wrestling students and started dueling Malfoy. Neville and Goyle continued to fire hexes at one another while the rest of the class dissolved into shouts and random curses.
A chandelier shattered above them and rained down glass on the fighting seventh-year mob.
Hermione shielded them all from the glass before Nott punched her in the stomach.
She fell backwards and released the glass.
"You would punch a girl, you bastard?" Parvati screamed before she hexed the Nott boy into the wall.
Hermione sat on her knees and wheezed. A pitch black spider crawled up on her legs and she screamed. The spider began to weave a web around her arms. Other girls in the class screamed; Ron screeched loudest of all. Spiders crawled over everyone, conscious or not, and bound their arms to their sides with shadowy, sparkling webs.
Professor Arachne stood on top of her desk, wand raised like a conductor's baton.
Bruised and battered students looked up at their teacher helplessly, several on the floor. "Impressive dueling, everyone." Arachne smiled haughtily. "I think that's all for the day—some Gryffindors look like they need a break."
Hermione glared at her professor. If she was envious of the woman before, now she absolutely loathed her. The shadow spiders disappeared in puffs of smoke. The class stood up and limped out of the room, Gryffindors roaring.
The Slytherins smirked and helped their fallen comrades hobble down the hall.
"We beat the hell out of those Slytherins!" Seamus Finnigan roared. "What's she playing at?"
"How dare she make us duel them!" Hermione puffed. "And she doesn't give us any homework or any tests! She's a terrible teacher!"
"Actually, I agree," Parvati said. "At first I was glad we didn't have any homework to do but this is ridiculous! We have NEWTS and she's not teaching us anything!"
"Millicent hulking Bulstrode punched me in the face!" Ron snapped. He then turned to Lavender. "Are you alright? Does anything hurt?"
"I'm fine," she said, gingerly rubbing her head.
"That is it!" Harry fumed. "We're having a DA meeting—tonight!"
All the Seventh year Gryffindors nodded before separating to their different classes.
The Room of Requirement was filled with shouts at eight o'clock. Severus and Minerva stood to the side, allowing their frustrated students to vent.
"Professor Roberts has got to be a Death Eater!" a Hufflepuff sixth year shouted. "She's evil!"
"Just because you're a bad teacher doesn't mean you're a Death Eater," Hermione replied bitterly. Secretly she agreed with the Hufflepuff. There was traitor in the school and Arachne Roberts could definitely be it. Or even Carlos Estrella. He had been the one to replace murdered Charity Burbage, after all.
Severus and Minerva stepped in.
"No doubt you all have heard about the Snakes inside the school," Professor Snape began coldly.
"How can we not have heard?" Seamus asked. "They write Death Eater sayings all over the walls!"
"And trip people in the corridors!" Colin Creevey added angrily.
Lavender said, "They also hang wanted posters around."
The students nodded and muttered. There were only sixteen members of the DA against an unknown amount of Snakes. Severus knew that Draco was actively recruiting students and turning some of them into full-fledged Death Eaters. The DA needed to retaliate in much the same way.
"We need more members," Minerva declared. "We need to train more of the students to defend themselves—and from what I hear, Professor Roberts is creating a dangerous situation instead of helping to relieve it."
"She is!" Dennis Creevey squeaked. "I get hurt every day in that class!"
Parvati nodded eagerly again. "Hermione was punched today!"
Everyone turned to look at Hermione. Snape glared angrily.
"I'm fine, everyone!" Hermione said nervously.
Minerva nodded briskly. If Hermione said she was fine, she was fine. Girls had to be tough in this business. "Do not make a spectacle of yourselves, but if you hear anyone saying they're scared, offer to bring them here to train."
"But don't bring anyone you have any suspicions about," Harry warned harshly. "Obviously Hermione has a good way to keep out traitors, but we don't need any of that drama getting in here. Only trust-worthy people will enter this room, alright?"
The group nodded and some raised their fists in determination. They could trust everyone in this room. They would fight together against You-Know-Who and protect one another.
Hermione clapped her hands. "We're going to practice defensive spells tonight then!" Poor little Dennis Creevey especially.
Severus kept glancing at Hermione during the training session. She seemed to be okay. How dare some little twit hurt Hermione? Severus scowled. He then glanced to check on Hermione again. Today the young woman looked exceptionally pretty.
The Head Girl personally trained Dennis Creevey how to defend himself. Her shiny curls bounced on her shoulders as she dueled mousy Dennis.
She smiled at the little boy. No one in the room compared to Hermione's brilliance or her effervescent coaching of the novice students in the DA. In Potions class the girl always bobbed around the room, offering to help somone. Severus wouldn't let her grade papers—she would be too nice. Yes, he had been nicer to students but his grading style hadn't changed one bit.
As the meeting ended, Severus approached his Potions assistant. "Are you available this evening?"
Hermione turned around happily. She loved whenever he asked if she was available to help him. "I am. What do you need help with?" Hermione loved being the only one he asked for assistance.
"Poppy gave me another long list of potions and I believe she'll need them sooner rather than later, since every student in the school takes Defense."
Hermione grumbled as she and Severus exited the Room of Requirement. The doorway melted into the bricks behind them, a blank wall once again.
"It's not much of a Defense class anymore—more like swing-your-wand-and-see-how-many-of-your-classmates-you-can-Stun-time."
"I noticed that she doesn't give any exams," Severus said easily as they walked down the hall.
"She doesn't! How can we have a class where there aren't any exams or any homework! It's ridiculous!" the swot cried.
Severus chuckled. "I agree."
"Of course you agree, you give out homework every night."
"Maybe I should give more to make up for Roberts's deficit?"
"That would just create more grading for you, Severus," Hermione teased.
Severus opened the door to the second floor stairway for the girl. "Hermione," he said as he followed down the small, secret staircase.
"What?"
"You look different."
Hermione was thankful that Severus was behind her and couldn't see her blush. "Do I?"
"Yes. I don't know what it is, but something is different about you lately."
The two walked side by side in the cold hallways of the dungeons. Hermione tried to casually avoid his eyes. "Is it a good different?"
Severus's heart nearly stopped. His cheeks turned pink and he was glad that Hermione wasn't looking at him. I suppose it's a good different—you look lovely but I'm not going to say that—what do I say? Minerva tends to get upset in these sort of situations—why do women have to ask such direct questions about their appearances? he panicked.
"I suppose so," he said lightly.
Hermione grinned to herself while she straightened the bag on her shoulder. Her skirt fluttered about her thighs and the thigh-high knee socks brought extra attention to the barely exposed strip of leg. Her buttoned white shirt was tailored to fit close to her body instead of being so loose she had to tuck it in. Her hair was no longer a frizzy mess, but a beautiful set of shining tresses. Ginny had even taught her a few little make-up tricks (and mentioned that Muggle means are more effort but more effective than wizard's charms or spells).
Ginny is a genius!
The girl's heart swelled with happiness. Severus was looking at her like the other boys looked at Professor Arachne.
Severus opened the door to his office and let Hermione pass. Suddenly he had a terrible thought: What if Hermione is purposely making herself look pretty? Severus's heart dropped. The Head Boy, Anthony Goldstein, had been spending a lot of time with Hermione lately—did she fancy him?
Of course Severus was a practical man and never thought that he and Hermione would be or ever could be an item but it made his chest tighten, to think about other men touching her.
What if it's Estrella?
Severus opened the door to his private laboratory a bit more forcefully than he intended.
Charity Burbage was killed for that bastard and now Hermione likes him? He roughly pulled ingredients out of the cupboard while Hermione set up the cauldrons. It was no secret that Estrella was interested in Hermione—he doesn't even know her!
"What are we making today, Severus?" Hermione asked as she leaned over the cauldron eagerly.
Severus turned around swiftly and masked his anger. "Poppy needs Strengthening Solution, Skele-Grow, and boil reducer. And I will be making Veritaserum for the Order."
Hermione's eyes lit up when she heard Skele-Grow—she clasped her hands in front of her chin when she heard Veritaserum.
"Will you teach me how to make Veritaserum?" she begged. "Please?"
Severus eyed her coldly. He was still fuming over the idea of her pining after Estrella. Veritaserum vapors tend to make the brewer very forthright—and Hermione was already chatty by nature…
"I suppose so," Severus said.
Hermione was aglow with happiness. Severus memorized her happy features in awe. If he had known it would make her that happy he would have taught her how to brew it long ago.
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An hour later, the private lab was sweltering hot and hazy with fumes. Hermione pulled back her hair and rolled up her sleeves. Severus's black coat had been discarded long ago.
The professor ran a hand through his long, black hair and sighed. He glanced at Hermione. Had she always been so pretty? Certainly not, she's been a child most of the time you've known her! his subconscious sneered at him.
Hermione stirred the bright blue Strengthening Solution for a solid five minutes before she hopped over to the Veritaserum. All she had to do to finish the truth-potion was to stir until it turned clear.
None of the other seventh-years could say they brewed Veritaserum! she thought smugly.
Without prompt, Hermione asked, "Do you know what other teacher annoys me?"
Severus looked at the back of her head, bewildered. They hadn't been talking about any teachers.
"Professor Estrella," she said as she continued to stir the giant cauldron in front of her. "He acts like Muggles are scum that we should exterminate or something! I bet he's never been within ten metres of a real Muggle!"
Severus crossed his arms and leaned on the table behind him. His left arm hurt from stirring Potions all week. "You don't like him?"
"All the other girls treat him like they did Gilderoy Lockhart—except Professor Estrella is more competent than that fool." The Veritaserum was a cloudy white color. "Except he always says rude things about Muggles, and talks about wizard supremacy. I guess that's a pureblood ideal through and through but it shouldn't be said in a classroom! Teachers are supposed to be impartial!"
Severus grinned at the girl behind her back. So she didn't like Estrella.
"I think he might be the traitor," Hermione said quietly over her shoulder. Her large brown eyes looked at Severus questioningly, wanting confirmation of her theory.
Severus looked back at her stoically. "I agree."
"Or it could be Professor Arachne," Hermione sneered, returning her eyes to the potion.
"It could be, I suppose."
"What do you think of her?"
Hermione held her breath and waited for Severus's response.
Behind her Severus ruffled his hair again. "She's annoying the hell out of me." He stopped. "I shouldn't have said that about a colleague."
Hermione burst out laughing. "It must be the Veritaserum," she said. "Why does she annoy you?" Her tone was light but she really really really wanted to know the answer.
"She won't leave me alone!" Severus started as he walked to the other side of the room. "She's as bad as Sybill!"
Hermione grinned at her professor sideways above the cauldron. "All the other boys in Hogwarts would like it if Professor Arachne gave them so much attention."
Severus gave her an exasperated look. "Well all the other boys in this school are dunderheads."
Hermione laughed. "I think she's pretty," she goaded. Now she was just fishing and hoped she caught a bite.
Severus waved his long pale hand. "Yes, yes, that's what everyone says."
"You don't agree?"
Severus crossed his arms again and peered at the girl curiously. "Are you jealous, Hermione?"
Hermione's hand on the stirring rod jerked. "Why would I be jealous of her?" she sputtered.
The man shrugged. "I don't know, you've been talking about her quite a bit."
"Luna talks about crumple-horned snorcacks a lot too, but that doesn't mean she's jealous of them," Hermione snapped.
"It was merely a question," Severus conceded.
Hermione huffed and pulled out the stirring rod. The Veritaserum was clear and her face was red.
Of course I'm jealous of Arachne! She's pretty and she's hitting on you! And she's an adult and pretty—how am I supposed to compete with that?
Severus walked Hermione back to her room after midnight. As they neared the Head room, Anthony Goldstein walked past.
"Hi, Hermione," he grinned. He nodded to Professor Snape. "Professor."
"Hi, Anthony," Hermione responded. She then returned to her conversation with Severus. Severus noticed the boy looked put-out.
"I think he fancies you," Severus pointed out. On the inside he cringed. He had just established Estrella was not a threat but now he had to compete with Goldstein? Why was his life not fair?
Hermione stared up at him. "He does? I didn't notice."
Severus grinned at her incredulously. "How could you not notice?"
The girl thought about it. "I don't know, I guess I'm not interested, so I just thought of him as a friend."
On the inside Severus cheered. He opened the door for Hermione and stepped back. "Good night Hermione," he said smoothly.
"Good night Severus," Hermione answered happily.