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Freddie took a dose of Calming Draught that night and slept deeply until late the next morning. When she got up she felt well-rested and stronger than she had before.

Maybe that milkshake thing really did help, she thought to herself as she got dressed. Severus knows what he's talking about. He's a smart man.

She left her dorm, ignoring the stares as she passed through the Common Room. Not today, she thought to herself. I'm not letting them get to me today. I know I didn't do anything wrong.

She went down to Snape's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in, Gray," he called from within.

She opened the door and found him sitting at his desk, writing on a piece of parchment with a quill. There was another milkshake sitting on his desk, waiting for her.

"How did you know I was up?" she asked, taking her seat and picking up the drink.

"I know everything," he said haughtily, not looking up from his writing. "How are you today? Are you...better?"

"I thought you knew everything?" she teased.

He 'hmphed' at her, a smirk playing on his lips.

"I do feel better," she admitted after sipping her drink a moment. "I took a Calming Draught before I went to bed last night and I slept well."

"Where did you get a Calming Draught?" he asked, glancing up at her.

"Miriam gave it to me."

"Who?"

"The nurse from the loony bin."

"Ah. The one you call 'mum'."

"Mm-hm," she said, taking a long drink of her shake. "What are you working on?"

"Lesson plans for this semester. Are you ready for classes to start back tomorrow? Are you prepared?"

"Yes sir. I read ahead in all of my textbooks. I think I'll be alright."

"You will be," he said with a nod. "You're a smart girl."

"Thanks," she said, feeling her cheeks grow warm. "What are we working on today? More nonverbal spells?"

"Not quite yet. I have to finish these. Do you wish to restart your Felix Felicis?"

Freddie winced slightly, thinking of all the weeks of work that had gone to waste.

"Maybe I could try something else?" she asked tentatively. "Something different. If that's okay?"

"That is fine," he answered smoothly. "Pick something and let me know what you decide."

He gestured vaguely at the books on his shelf.

"Really?" she asked excitedly, getting up from her chair.

"As they say- have at it," he said, turning his attention back to his work.

Freddie browsed the titles on the shelf, still sipping her milkshake. She pulled a few books off the shelf and took them to her chair. She pulled her chair closer to his desk so she could lay the books out in front of her. She began to flip through them and noticed Snape's dark eyes flick to her several times.

"I can go read in the lab if I'm bothering you," she offered.

"You are not bothering me," he responded, then paused a moment. "Could you drink quieter?"

"Sorry," she said sheepishly and put the empty cup on his desk. "I'm finished anyway."

He picked up his wand and vanished the cup.

"Do you want another?"

Freddie shook her head no and began flipping through the next book. Snape returned to his work.

They spent the next 15 minutes in silence, each working separately. Freddie had found several potions she'd like to try. There was Potion No 7 that was an experimental poison. It would be difficult to brew and she was tempted to choose it, but she'd need venomous tentacula essence and as far as she knew they didn't have any.

Belladonna Poison would be interesting...so would Amortentia...or Beautification Potion. That'd be fun to test.

"So," Snape said after a while, setting his quill down and putting his work aside. "What have you decided?"

"I can't choose! Potion No 7 would be cool, but we don't have venomous tentacula essence do we?"

"No," he said, standing up from his desk. He walked over to the shelves and pursued the vials before picking one up. He brought it over and set it in front of her. "Potion No 7."

"Oo," she said, picking up the glass bottle and examining it. "You made this?"

"I did. Do you recall our trip to Knockturn Alley?"

"Most of it," she replied, blushing as she recalled her drunken antics.

"I used the venomous tentacula leaves to make that," he said, leaning against his desk. "What else have you got?"

"Well," she said, picking up one of the books. "Beautification Potion – it would be fun to brew and even more fun to test."

"You don't need that," he scoffed, taking the book from her and closing it.

She looked at him curiously. Did he mean to say I'm beautiful?

"Next?" he said persistently.

"Belladonna Poison or Amortentia," she said, pointing to the two open books.

He quirked an eyebrow at her.

"What?" she protested. "It's not like I want to use it, it would just be a challenge. I've always wondered what it smelled like – plus I've never brewed anything in a gold cauldron before."

"Hm," he said, crossing his arms and looking down at her. "If you ruin my gold cauldron, you're paying to replace it."

"I'm not gonna ruin it," she said, swatting his leg playfully. "So, Amortentia?"

"Get to work, Gray," he said, walking back around his desk to sit down.

"Yes sir!"

Freddie went into the Brewing Lab. She got the gold cauldron from the supply closet. Then she started gathering ingredients.