A/N: OK, I'm back from holiday in Australia and despite the lure of shops and haunted jails I actually got some writing done! I hope you all enjoy this chapter.



Part 6

At lunch time a grim faced Severus made his way to Dumbledore's study, having been summoned there by a parchment note (regarding a mission) that had popped into existence onto his cluttered desk. The note had announced its presence with a ghastly sickly-sweet tune by some odd Muggle called Disney that had lived on a steady diet of sugar, in his opinion.

No doubt he was to be sent on another mission for Hogwarts, to walk again amongst the Death Eaters whom he had pretended to rejoin a while ago so as to listen to plots and secrets. Despite frequent setbacks by Potter over the years that reduced him time and again to a bodiless form, Voldemort had nevertheless steadily increased in power. Severus had heard recently that Voldemort had taken over the body of Lucius Malfoy and he smiled ironically. No doubt Lucius hadn't been asked for his opinion in the matter.

It was easy, too easy for Severus to pretend he was a loyal Death Eater that had returned to the fold. Lured to Voldemort's side years ago by his own youthful arrogance it had cost him a lot to break away when he saw the inevitable end of the path he had been on. He had been left….empty somehow inside, and only Dumbledore had been willing to give him a chance and had offered him a job as Potions teacher.

But as the years had gone by, he had somehow got used to feeling empty inside, concentrating only on his work - until she had come along. He had even thought himself incapable of genuine laughter until Hermione had made him laugh this morning. A reluctant smile hovered around his mouth. It was absurd really, it wasn't as if the remark had been wildly funny, but he had found himself laughing. Her face had looked taken aback for a second, before she had smiled back at him.

Severus shook his head in exasperation. Here he was, thinking of her again!

On reaching Dumbledore's office he knocked on the door twice, schooling his face to look impassive.

"Enter!" came the reply and Severus opened the door and swept inside the office. The elderly headmaster, sitting at his desk writing glanced up and gave him a benign smile.

"Prompt as always I see, Severus…sit down, do!"

Dumbledore casually indicated the chairs in front of his desk and Severus sat down in one, feeling vaguely uncomfortable as he always did in this light and airy office. All that fresh air Dumbledore liked didn't seem natural.

"No doubt you're expecting another mission amongst the Death Eaters" Dumbledore said briskly.

"Yes" Severus said levelly.

"Well, this time it is closer to home. Last night I had the Mirror of Erised returned to its former quarters here."

Severus had barely enough time to feel relief at first before he nearly fell off his spindly chair at the last words.

"Are you serious?" he demanded. "Why would you bring that troublesome object back? Why, I've lost count of the number of Slytherin students I've had to pull away from the blasted thing – each hypnotised by their own deluded visions of being Ruler of the World."

Dumbledore looked at him calmly. "To drain it of its power of course, before Voldemort gets his hands on it. I suspect he wants it now for his own schemes and I require your assistance."

Severus stared at him in disbelief. "My assistance – to drain it? Its very nature would prevent it from happening!"

"It can be done." Dumbledore asserted gently. "Your task for now is to find the relevant book in the library that contains draining spells for powerful objects. I confess my wandering mind has forgotten where it is."

Severus grunted reluctant agreement and then looked at him suspiciously. "Who else knows the mirror is back?"

"Three people" Dumbledore said gravely. "Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, who fetched the mirror and has sworn to secrecy (Severus snorted at that) and Miss Granger who alas! was too curious for her own good on one of her own late night study periods. However, I believe she will be discreet."

"Miss Granger?" Severus said in surprise yet secretly pleased he had finally found out what she had been hiding from him last night. He also found himself admiring the fact that she had stood up to him then and had refused to tell him. Other students in the same situation would have started babbling their whole pathetic life stories.

"Yes, Miss Granger. The student of whom you have often said drives you insane because she always does well on every tough assignment you throw at her?" Dumbledore said softly. "The student you're so fond of….and who is fond of you in return I believe?"

"What?!" Severus nearly shrieked then said in an uneven voice before he could stop himself "She's fond of me?"

Dumbledore beamed at him. "Dear me, yes. Anyone with eyes to see can see that nice bond of light developing between the two of you. I had nearly given up hope for you."

"What?!" Severus nearly shrieked again, his thoughts in turmoil. He didn't *love* her of course, no that was impossible. She couldn't love him either….that was impossible too. He calmed himself down with an effort.

"You're reading too much into things, Albus!" he snapped. "Miss Granger is a…clever student I keep an eye on but I'm certainly not….fond of her as you put it."

But as Severus said those words he realised in shock that he was lying. Looking into the sad, gentle eyes of Albus he knew that Albus wasn't fooled either. Heaven help him…he did love Hermione. He realised in amazement that he had for a while now, when he first realised that she had a bright mind and spirit that would not be easily broken…

Dumbledore, who saw the younger wizards suddenly vulnerable face turn white, then red, then white again took pity on him. "It's not the end of the world" he said kindly. "I think you two would be good for each other."

Severus stared at him and his dark eyes were bleak. "Good for each other?" he said numbly. "How could I be good for her?"

Excusing himself abruptly the Potions teacher hastily stood and left the room.