Snape had been waiting for Hermione to return so that they could continue their work. Although she was an excellent assistant, she tended to have the same bad habits that he himself had; not eating, not sleeping. After pushing her (not nagging. Snapes don't nag!) three times to go to lunch, she finally did. Soon after, a house elf appeared with his own lunch.

He noticed throughout the day that the effects of the potion were beginning to wear off. It was just the volume of the voices in his head (I hear dead people) that gave him that conclusion.

After finishing his lunch, he continued with his experiments. Soon after noticing Hermione returning. As she was entering the dungeons, he heard it.

'Oh my Gods. Help!'

Snape snapped his head up, noticing the panic in her voice. He was about to fly out of his seat when she continued. 'Sorry Professor. It's just Draco!'

Sitting back down, slightly annoyed, he snapped, 'Than perhaps I should hurry, Miss Granger.'

He went back to his work, hearing the conversation through her thoughts, although not that well. He found it odd that Draco seemed hopeful that the potion had worn off completely. So he asked, 'Miss Granger. What is the meaning of this?'

'I'm not sure, sir. But I intend to find out.' She replied.

Draco said something that he didn't completely catch, but was sure he did not like.

'Miss Granger, we don't - what did he say?'

He didn't repeat himself, despite Hermione's subtle clue to do so. Instead, he could sense Hermione's heart speed up slightly. If what he was getting from Hermione's side was accurate. . .well, he just didn't want to be witness to it.

"I'm going to stop this now!" He growled.

When she told him to wait, he could tell a plan was forming. He couldn't tell what it was, and so snapped at her again.

'Miss Granger. I refuse to be witness to a student's sexual encounter!'

Again, she insisted that he not interfere. He could faintly feel a memory forming, but the most he could really sense was Draco being tied down and Hermione doing things to him. He didn't know how it ended, and he didn't want to.

'I will not stand by any longer.'

When she either didn't hear him or ignored him, he really began to get angry. He got up, not being able to sense her plan, and left the office to search for her. He knew she had to be in an empty room near the entrance of the dungeons. The events were coming in bits and pieces, but he did sense Draco reaching for Hermione's clothing. He was about to pick up speed when the headmaster appeared before him.

"Ah, Severus. How goes the research?" He asked.

"It would be going a lot better if my assistant wouldn't waste time." He snapped.

"I'm sure she'll be along shortly." Albus replied, with a knowing grin and twinkle in the eye. (Damn. When does the old coot not grin and twinkle?) "I just wish to discuss your findings with you a moment."

'My, you're taking a long time to get up here, Professor.' He heard her giggle. Even more annoyed, he growled at her, 'I've been held up. I'll get there soon enough.'

'The potion must be wearing off.' He heard her say. She must have made the same observations that he had.

'I believe so, Miss Granger.' He replied.

Snape gave Dumbledore a brief explanation of his findings. Finally, he said, "I apologize, Albus. But the research and experiments should not be held off any longer. The potion is already weakening."

With that, he swept off to find his assistant. Having to focus on her thoughts, he could just make out the conversation.

'You're not really going to leave me here for some 'poor soul' to find, are you?' He heard Draco say.

'No.' She replied. But was thinking, 'Something worse.'

'I'm gonna leave you here to get yourself out of this.'

SCREEEEECH!

Snape slammed on the brakes in front of the door. He stared at it and missed what she said next. She opened the door as he remembered to scowl, saw Draco tied down on the floor down to his boxers, and said to her, "I hope you had fun, Miss Granger. You've been keeping me waiting."

She looked at him and said. "Professor. Of course I had fun." And she swept past him. He was about to follow when he heard Draco call out, "Little help here."

Snape was still annoyed that Draco had wasted his time, so he replied, ""Mr Malfoy. You have just wasted time that could have been spent working." He reached for the doorknob and decided to let Draco sweat about the situation for a while longer. "And, you have just tasted what she could do when provoked. I will be working with her for the rest of the day. Do you honestly believe I wish to be the target of her wrath?" And he stalked off to his office, closing the door behind him.

~@~

Walking back to his office, Snape couldn't believe what Hermione had just done. Although he was highly amused in the end, he couldn't understand the level of anger he had achieved. Usually (although this situation was anything but usual) he would be rather annoyed, and simply scared the students and deduct house points.

'Lets not think of that now.' He thought.

"Think of what, Professor?" Hermione asked as he entered the room.

"Nothing of importance." He replied.

"What did you say to Draco?" She asked, she asked, a bit worried he would snap at her.

"Nothing of importance." He again said.

Simply shrugging her shoulders, they continued their work.

~@~

By the end of the afternoon, both Hermione and Sanpe were rubbing their eyes from their concentration. Work had been productive, and they spoke of possible future projects. Snape had no idea that by the end of this, he would be asking for her assistance again. Even though she was his best potions student, he never thought he could work well with another. However, while they worked on their individual projects, he found he could forget she was there and she wouldn't care. In fact, it seemed that she too occasionally forgot he was there, as tough as that was for a student.

The potion had finally worn off by dinnertime (Everybody. . .DAMN!!!), and they ate with amicable conversation.

"Professor?" She asked.

"Miss Granger, while you are assisting me after school hours, you may call me Severus." He said. "Tell anyone and your NEWT's will be the last of your concerns."

"Ah. I'll try. If we are to be informal, please call me Hermione." She replied (Betcha didn't see that one coming!!). "I was wondering, now that we can recreate the potions accident, are we going to work on repeating it so that there is no explosion?" She asked.

"I'm not sure of the benefit of it, Mis-Hermione." He said. 'Well, I can think of one.' He laughed in his mind, absolutely thrilled that he could go back to his fantasy creating after hours. 'Now I've got two potions to use for. . .uh. . .later.' He thought excitedly. (I hope no one forgot the tactile heightening potion from earlier. If you did, shame on you! I swear, this is the only story that puts shame on the innocent minds.)

"Well, I was thinking that it could be used by Aurors for spying activities."

Snape thought for a moment. "I suppose it could. If only this happened before the end of the war."

Hermione nodded, knowing this was a slightly volatile subject with the potions master.

"But than again, I don't' think I'd really want to know what was going through Voldemort's or Malfoy's head, if anything." Snape continued with a mock cringe.

Hermione smiled at that.

"I expect you will not be able to assist me againHermioH until you catch up in your other classes." Snape continued. "Is Monday good for you to resume?"

Hermione was slightly disappointed at having to wait so long. "That's plenty of time. Thank you Prof - Severus." She said, a bit awkwardly. Both at saying his name (YEAH! SAY MY NAME B-um. Nevermind.) and trying to sound happy.

"Well, I'm sure you wish to get back to your dorm. We're done here." He said, pointing at the clock. It was past 10.

"All right. Thank you for the opportunity. I really appreciate it." She said as she got up and left the office. "Good night." And the door closed behind her.

"Goodnight. . .Hermione." He said, grinning at the empty room.

~@~

Meanwhile, in a cool, empty classroom.

"Hello? Is anyone out there?" Draco called out. "Hermione, this isn't funny anymore."

His eyes darted around the dark room. In a hoarse whisper, he muttered, "I want my mommy."



A/N:

Awwwww. Well, everyone has bad days, and this is Draco's. Apparently the punishment for him was a popular. I suppose his ego should be kicked down a notch or two, or. . .more.

MadAboutHarry: There isn't anything wrong with slash. I've read some, but I just don't do it. It's just not me. Besides, Harry has Ginny, Draco has a thing for Hermione, and Neville. . .well, apparently Danny7 has taken claim.

Lucky_719: Their plans? Well, you'll find out eventually. I'm glad the story is a pick me up for ya. I hope your week improves. Just remember, no matter how bad a day gets, it could always get worse. (Man, I don't think that helped much. You probably want to beat me up now. Just don't knock any sense into me.)

Dreamer22: Kinky, are we?

Herbie: Is he a sucker? I always thought he was a. . .oh, nevermind. (Get your mind out of the gutter Aras! Now! Why is Herbie looking at me funny? I don't have shmush on my face do I? Damnit! I think I do!) STOP LOOKING AT ME!!! I mean, hello! Thanks for reading. . .*innocent face*

There's a boo boo in one of the paragraphs near the end:

"I expect you will not be able to assist me againHermioH until you catch up in your other classes." Snape continued. "Is Monday good for you to resume?"

I don't know how to get rid of it since in my document it doesn't show up at all.

I really tried to fix it. . .really!