If you believe that I own it, I have a straightjacket I don't mind loaning out.

Ch. 5 Loose words in the classroom

Double potions, with the Slytherins, ah hell. Hermione managed to crack her eyes open to the barely risen sun. She shifted, or rather, tried to when a cat hissed its indignation at being moved and jumped free. Crookshanks glared evilly at her, being rather pissy as he was upset from his perch. Instead of trying to placate the hissing cat, "Mione growled back, to no avail. The Head Girl sighed heavily as she put on her course school robes. At least it would be the last year of the itchy, scratchy wool jumpers, skirts and oxford shirts that held sway in her closets. At least she had casual clothes on the weekends to break up the monotony.

After finishing with her morning rituals of waking, Hermione applied a bit of makeup and headed out the portrait hole. When she made it to the main hall, the girl realized just how many Slytherins sat at their house table. She ignored the look of curiosity on Zabini's face and sat down next to Ron, who had already dug into his plate. He looked up and smiled brightly at Hermione then started to say something. "Mrnuh Mmmrhumahg…" The girl to his left quirked an eyebrow in response.

"Sorry, Mione. What I meant to say was how has your morning been?" at first, Hermione thought that Ron might have found out something from last night. She felt her pulse quicken, but he was just making pleasant conversation. The redhead smiled as if encouraging her to speak. Hermione felt relief wash through her like a flood.

"Oh! It's been, ah, good. Standard Monday morning, I guess you could say." Apparently Ron found nothing wrong with her rather forced enthusiasm and he quickly launched into a commentary of the last quidditch match. Normally, Hermione would have been annoyed at the talk of her less than favorite sport but she was extremely happy for the shift of conversational topics. In fact she was just about to start eating while listening to Ron's animated chatter when Harry and Draco strolled up to the table. Harry greeted Hermione with an energetic nod, though his blond haired boyfriend looked over her in a way that set her slightly on edge.

Whatever Draco found to be so interesting, it didn't make itself apparent to her, after all, nothing had seemed odd in the mirror this morning. It would have said something. Soon enough the talk changed from quidditch, of which Hermione was extremely grateful, to Snape's potion class, of which she was not. Why did he always pop up? As if mentioning him drew the man, Snape appeared to sit at the staff table. With a troubled glance his way, Hermione nearly squeaked. As it was, Ron felt her tense beside him and turned to her. "What's the matter? Something wrong?"

She shook her head in a no and let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Nothing's wrong," She managed to stammer out, "It's just that he seems to come to his name. I mean, you just started talking about him and he shows up. It's odd." Hermione managed to get out a self-depreciating sort of laugh..

"You're right about that, 'Mione. At least we know he'll be there if we call for him!" Harry grinned at his own half-joke and laughed a little. "We'll have to be getting to his class soon enough, though. Lets see if we can put up with those evil Slytherins and their fearless leader." While Draco grinned a bit for Harry, he looked to Snape then Hermione as if putting together a puzzle.

"Yeah, we'll have to be back in his class soon enough, I for one wish I could get out of his class." Draco stared more intently at Hermione, then masked it when she looked up at him.

Ron put an arm around Hermione's slim shoulders, "Aw, come on, 'Mione! I though that you liked brewing potions in that stuffy dungeon of his."

For an answer she just shrugged her shoulders. Sensing the need to let it drop, Harry steered the conversation to George and Fred's new joke line, letting Ron excitedly tell the group about new antics. Hermione nodded a bit and said little, barely picking at her food while Ron gabbled on like a gander. Draco watched concernedly as she evaded talk, his compassion overriding his normal stoicism. Mentioning that classes were about to start, he pulled Hermione over on the pretest of homework. "What is going on, Hermione?"

"What do you mean?" For some reason, she was on the edge of tears. The girl who was about to cry was the one who hadn't cried in a year.

"I know something is wrong, tell me." Oh, Goddess! Her mind screamed, He knows! Draco knows. Goddess! In answer Hermione launched herself into Draco's shoulder with a sob. Draco held her gently patting her back absent-mindedly. So this was complicated, was it? Normally he wouldn't have believed rumors, especially when the source from whence they came was Zabini, but now the familiar whisperings had taken a deeper meaning. Was this weeping Hermione a sign in favor of the Slytherins talk? He decided to take a leap, it was now or never. "It's Snape, isn't it?"

Hermione backed away.

"Break it off, Hermione. There's Ron and there is our professor…" Draco let the words trail off, but they seemed to hang there, like an ominous black rain cloud.

"Break what off?" Hermione had found her voice and spat her words like venom. "Something with Ron or Snape? What exactly are you referring to?" Suddenly she didn't seem to be the same girl that Ron was so enthralled with.

"I don't care, Hermione. Just don't have both. You can't." He looked the Head Girl over, she seemed to shrink to a smaller size.

"I only want one." The only question was which one?

Draco shifted from one foot to the other as if debating something. With a shrug it seemed that the decision was made and he took her arm. "Well, we have class to get to."

Just a sigh and a lose of strength, but something echoed through the air behind them. The thought was palpable, which one?

~o0o~

Severus didn't let himself look at Hermione, but he knew it was futile. They had both gone in too deep last night. If it weren't for that damn Zabini…and when he looked over to his less than favorite student he knew that he had told all of the Slytherin House. To Hell the little beast! He once again didn't look at Hermione and didn't notice that she wasn't looking at him. It was obvious to Draco that the "I'm not looking at you" looks were obvious that they both wanted to look completely to their heart's delight.

It truly wasn't Draco's place to interfere with their denial and so decided to let them fight or rather, ignore each other out. This would be a long, difficult, drawn out process of denial and counter-denial. When one wanted a forbidden fruit, one never admitted it, did they?

As Snape assigned the new potions work and the various students paired up, Draco saw Hermione sidle up to Ron, yet she sent a look Snape's way that one would have to be blind to not understand. *You bastard!* it screamed, *you miserable whoreson bastard! You did this.* Although underneath the pain it spoke too, with a voice that could only be in pain. *Why? Why have you made me feel this way?*

If Hermione was intuitive as Draco, or merely had looked up at the object of her pain, she would have seen his eyes sending out their own message. *Because it's wrong we can't.* Then another look at the young woman spoke even more. *And you've made me fell the same way. I don't want to hurt you, but it's better this way, that way you can't know that I care for you.* But as neither of the two looked at each other, this exchange was never marked and both were miserable instead.

Draco sighed inwardly, they'd never be free, they had both crossed the line. [1] He put his mind forcibly to the potion he was brewing with Harry and returned to grinding scarabs. It was up to the yearning lover-birds now to make up their minds. Looking at Hermione and Snape, Draco decided that was an unlikely probability. Fortunately that wasn't his problem, and he didn't have to worry. Even though Malfoy didn't think it was his business, apparently someone else did.

"So, Draco," Zabini chose the moment when Harry went to go get more supplies to appear like an unwanted relative. "What do you think of Granger and the professor? Personally, I was expecting it to happen sooner or later. You know how those Mudbloods go after pureblooded wizards. Little slut, isn't she? Her she is going after our Head of House and dating that Weasley!" Blaise knew he was saying it loudly enough for Hermione and her boyfriend to hear. It was just carefully planned taunting, one had to give him that.

"Blaise, stop," Draco really thought that Zabini would never sh7ut up.

"But…Draco, come on, she's such a little whore. No one cares about Mudbloods, except maybe weasels!"

"You're right, Zabini, I do care for Hermione. No one would care for you anyway." Ron spoke through gritted teeth while Hermione tried to pull him back. Looked like a fight might happen from those two and once again Snape was going to turn the blind eye. Was it merely his normal maliciousness this time or was it jus the desire to not get involved

"What is it now, Weasley? Are you trying to do something? Oh, I see, your little trollop is trying to keep you back! How does it feel to know that she's cheating on you?" He turned back to Ron just in time to see freckled knuckles careening towards his face. Ron had opted for the extremely satisfying feel of physical violence over sending a curse or hex his adversary's way. Apparently it was definitely stress relieving by the way that it looked as Ron beat the living crap out of Blaise. He screamed out over and over that Hermione wasn't a slut, and Zabini never got a word in edge-wise.

As tempted as Hermione was to see Zabini get his face punched in, she had duties as Head Girl to be a role-model. By that she was obligated to break up the fight. Hermione raised her wand and petrified both, too bad that it was also at that particular moment when Snape decided to as well. The total effect of both spells hitting the brawling boys caused them to pass out. It wasn't the perfect solution to the problem, but it would do.

Without waiting to let the professor take charge, Hermione went into Head Girl mode and checked her fellow students. When she determined that it wouldn't hurt either Ron or Blaise, she brought them back to consciousness with the reviving potion that he class had been brewing. Good thing that it had been brewed properly, she'd hate to have a strange situation on her hands. Both boys regained actual brain functions quickly enough and both eyed each other warily. Now was time for punishment. "Twenty points from each of your houses for fighting. Mr. Zabini, I suggest that you go to the Hospital wing," Hermione paused, preparing herself for something that no student had done since Percy Weasley. "and you will have detentions tomorrow. I will speak to your Heads of House."

Ron looked dumbfounded, but then again, she was Head Girl, Blaise Zabini just stared at her in private fury. Snape finally made an appearance at her side, which almost made her jump. She couldn't forget last night and his presence. "Another five points from Slytherin for instigating the fight with a classmate." The entire class gasped, this was unprecedented, Severus Seth Snape just took points from his own house! They were meager in the grand scheme of things, but they were still taken away. What was going on here?

Blaise wasted no time and retreated to Madame Pomfrey's with a hand over his nose while Ron gathered himself together. "Mr. Weasley, you will be informed about your detention. You and the rest of the class may leave now. I need to talk with Ms. Granger. I expect you will keep out of any trouble?" Ron nodded at his teacher but sent a worried look to Hermione, who just shrugged in response. His look was decidedly worried, but he acquiesced and, along with the rest of the class, Ron gathered his things to leave.

When the last Gryffindor straggled out of the room, Snape went and shut the door. As he hesitantly walked back, Hermione willed herself to be calm, willed herself to not fall back into his spell. She knew it was futile, she had wanted him for too long for that. If only she could have been strong enough in the first place. Severus gestured to a chair and brought one over for himself, at least he didn't sit behind the desk. She was thankful for that.

The dark man put his head in his hands in a very un-Snapeish gesture then looked back up to Hermione. "I don't know why…why this has happened. I can't decide what to do about this. Hermione, you're driving me mad." He seemed sincere enough.

"I know what to do: we forget about last night and discuss what detention Zabini deserves."

"You may be able to forget about last night, but I can't. Don't pretend that you didn't feel it, you can't lie that well to me."

Hermione stood up, on the edge of rage. "I don't have to lie, nor do I have to stand for this! It meant nothing to me, nothing!" She managed to get herself under some semblance of control. "I will leave Mr. Zabini's detention to you." With that she took up her things and left the room. She would be very powerful when she left the school. If for no other reason, it would be because she had the power to leave Severus Seth Snape dejected and utterly forlorn as none had done before.

~o0o~

"Ah, Miss Granger, I've been meaning to talk to you! I have a proposition that I think you might be interested in. How would you like to brew for me a very special potion?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled like his current robes, most likely charmed to catch the light. Hermione didn't let her current mood show through to one of the men she highly admired and smiled brightly in return.

"If you don't mind me asking, sir, but what kind of potion is it?" Might as well know what she was getting into. Hermione knew that the Headmaster would eventually make her want to help him, even if the desire hadn't lain dormant anyway.

The white haired man leaned in with a sly look around, as if he were letting in on a big secret. He smiled broadly underneath his beard and whispered loudly to the bushy haired girl in front of him, "It's the Kokopeshi Pellia!" Hermione was nonplussed. That certain potion was extremely difficult to make, and while it would give the drinker an immense amount of control over the heightened magical state that the potion brought with it, it could also make someone lose restraint in the sheer un-harnessed power. She was flustered that Dumbledore would entrust her with this arduous task, flustered and pleased, until she remembered everything about it.

"Headmaster? You have no idea what an honor it would be to brew that potion, but wouldn't the actual strength of the potion be cut in half with only one person involved?"

"Well put! In fact I had thought about that, I was thinking that you and Professor Snape should pair up on this one, like you had done before. You made quite the pair, you know." Did the old man mean for that to sound as it had, was he implying something beyond the literal meaning of his words? Somehow his smile had broadened, threatening to split his face. Albus Dumbledore may have enjoyed playing the doddering old fool, but he certainly wasn't one. The obvious looks and thinly veiled tension between his employee and star student were blatantly obvious to anyone with a slight insight. They would make such a good pair, those two, if only they would get over the trivial things.

While Snape was an honorable, maybe even admirable, man, he could be a bit asinine a times. He just wouldn't let himself see that a relationship with a student, which could possibly be a scandal as rumors went outside the school, might be beneficial. Maybe even fruitful, magic forbid. Hermione was at times too studious, living too much in her books and incantations to really notice the people around her. It was true that she knew they were there, she couldn't equate things out as to why people didn't do what they should and put forth their best effort. An idealistic child, but that was what would make them such a good match! The morose and slightly downtrodden man with the whimsical and ideal upstanding girl, it would work wonders for both.

Not as if they would see quickly, though, as Hermione's near lose of temper gave evidence. "Excuse me, sir, but Professor Snape?! You must be joking with me. I could not possibly-" She stopped herself just in time, it would have been horrible to let herself slip up about her attraction to a certain dark eyed professor in front of the Headmaster. That could have been disastrous!

Albus firmly took the figurative reins of the conversation and asserted his authority. "Yes, your potions professor, Severus Snape. You both are the most competent at potions in this area, certainly in this school and would be the most obvious choices. You two might want to start work on it as soon as possible, it does take an awful amount of effort to complete." Letting off a little he patted Hermione's shoulder, "You know, it won't be so bad, the magical community could consider it as if you were his apprentice and you could get your Potion's Mistress title quickly out of Hogwarts."

'Mione had to listen to reason and her desire for knowledge overran her current loathing for Severus, so she swallowed her pride and agreed to the professor's suggestion. She would work with Snape, whether it killed them or not. Now that was going to be difficult.

End Ch. 5

AN:I actually got that many reviews! (Faints to the floor, picks herself back up) Thank you. I hope you liked the most recent installment of this story, I had to rush to get it out, but hey, it's amazing what a little encouragement will do for your muse! Once again, to all my faithful readers, thank you!

Eternal Queen: Yes, I'm evil, but I love what I am! I'm glad it's special for me. ;-)

Dragon Rose: I'm glad it's one of your favorites, it makes me very happy. I agree with you on the consentual thing, I absolutely abhor anyone who is a pedophiliac and I do not wish for it to sound as if Snape is such, that's why I set it in 7th year. And I know that I certainly wasn't the first, nor will I be the last to have a crush on a teacher, so it is totally natural.

Potions Mistress: You'll have to see who she likes, because I know it will eventually be full HG/SS, but I need a bit of tension to pull it off. Blaise was just talking to some anonymous Slytherins, they have no important part in the story so far, so it's not a big deal who they are. I just really wanted to put in that part. On your other q's: I have no idea of Flitwick's first name, but I do know that Sprout's is Esmerelda. I hope that helped a little. And don't worry, all will be revealed in time as to Ron and Hermione's relationship!

Aconite: Thank you for reminding me of the potion, I had it in the back of my mind, but I couldn't figure out how to tie it in. You gave me the idea to start with it and now it will most likely become a major theme in the story. The reminder was extremely helpful, and as for Snape, you will just have to see.

AnnebelleElizabeth: I'm trying to make it as thick as soup!

To the rest of you (hello, not sure yet, AngelD, ), I appreciate your reviews, many could just forgo them and say to heck with it, but actually taking the time to type one out makes me extremely happy. Have a great day/evening/night/whatever time it is when you read this, and come read again! Once more: ten (10) more reviews and I'll update sooner!