Standing outside the potions classroom Tuesday evening Hermione took a deep breath.  Alright this is going to be fine she told herself.  Don't let it get to you Granger.  She knew Severus had no idea about her crush on him and the only awkwardness would be on her part.  The work she was doing was too important to allow that. Squaring her shoulders she opened the door.

"Oh, sorry," she squeaked shutting the door quickly.

"Damn it Rowena, get off," Severus growled.

Rowena got off of his lap where she had been straddling him, kissing his neck.  She had been trying to persuade him to scave off his session with the student coming this evening and take her into Hogsmeade for a drink.

"Really Sev," she said smiling slyly, "I am sure the girl saw nothing she hasn't probably done herself."

"That is not the point my dear," Severus purred, his scowl dark as he watch Rowena.  "It is about proper behavior.  This happens to be an academic setting if you haven't noticed."  His tone was one he often reserved for people like Longbottom.

"You do not have to remind me," she pouted.  "This stuffy old place, really Sev how do you stand it?"

"I stand it because this is what I choose to do, I made myself clear when I told you this before we wed."

She returned his scowl.

"Out!" he barked.  "This will not happen again."

"Fine." She turned and flounced into his office, flooing herself to their private chambers.

Damn this was the reason that the staff at Hogwarts was single.  Dumbledore had only allowed Rowena to stay here with the expressed understanding she would move out by the end of January.  Severus had tried to persuade her to stay with his mother, her mother, buy a house, but she would not hear of it.  He would have to remind again that this was only temporary and if she wanted to stay close maybe they could find a place in Hogsmeade.

"Come in Miss Granger," he said as he opened the door. 

Hermione rushed past him, hurrying to the front of the room. She avoided meeting his gaze as she busied herself with her books and papers.

Severus noted Hermione's flushed face and felt a slight twinge of guilt over embarrassing the girl.  Surely she was not that naïve? he mused, a slight smile on his lips as he watched her attempts not to acknowledge he was in the room.

"So Miss Granger, have you worked out the properties on the potion you suggested?"

Hermione had been working on an idea that would help the minds of those put under the Unforgivables.  Several incidents had occurred from those who had spent long bouts under the Imperius Curse. They had started having periods of blackouts, often wandering away or doing things they had no memory of later.

 If it were possible to reroute the electrical charges these spells had caused, then perhaps the victims could return to a normal state of mind.  This was the theory. 

She had studied Muggle medicine that worked on the brain and together she and Severus had broken down the components the medicines used.  If they could translate these into the magical realm, for it would take magic to undone the spells, they might have a chance.

"I believe so Professor," she said handing him a long parchment with her results.  She stole a glance at him as he read through her work.  The fire in his eyes made her heart leap, glad at least they still had the work.  His mouth was set and she couldn't help wonder how it would have been like to kiss him, just once, but knew that his wife was the only one to have that privilege now. 

The work Granger, think about the work.

He looked up at her and smiled slightly.  "Excellent Hermione."

Had he just called her Hermione? Surely not.

"Thank you Professor, however you will notice that the one element I cannot figure out is the enzyme needed to meld the rest of the ingredients together."

"That is what these sessions are for Miss Granger.  Perhaps together we will find it.  I suggest starting by brewing the base.  It will be a matter of trial and error to find the needed ingredient. I believe we are looking for a basic enzyme found in a bodily fluid."

"Exactly," she said excitedly.  "But which one?"

His eyes held hers a moment, the excitement in them reflecting his own over the anticipation of her project. "We shall soon see," he said giving her a smile.

The evening passed quickly in companionable silence as she prepared the base for her potion while Severus looked through various books on potion ingredients and their uses. 

"Finished," she said finally around ten.  Severus came over to examine the potion.  "It needs to simmer overnight. I will come by in the morning to bottle it." 

"That will not be necessary," he told her holding up a ladle of the liquid and smelling it.  "I will be here for the first years class and will do that."

"Thanks," she said giving him a small smile.  He truly had changed she thought, Severus Snape offering to do something for a student.

"I will see you Thursday evening then," she said hoisting her book bag and heading to the door.

"Hermione."

She stopped with her hand on the door. No mistake, he had said her name again.

"I forgot to thank you for the gift you sent at Christmas…"

"You'rewelcomeprofessor…see you Thursday," she blurted, hurrying out the door.

Severus stared at the door a moment amused.  What had gotten into her?

****

Hermione's face was burning as she made her way back to her room.  She had forgotten about sending him those Christmas presents.  Her thoughts had been centered around her feelings of his marriage.

Throwing her book bag on the bed she picked up Crookshanks who had meowed a welcome to her and hugged him. "Crooks, I am such a fool." Crookshanks purred loudly kneading her arm.

She had found the perfect gift for him at a bookstore at the university.  As they had looked through journals of the newest developments on treating the mind, Severus had shown great interest in an article by Christopher Manning, an Australian Psychiatrist who had developed a theory that if through manipulation of the chemicals in the brain, man could have access to the vast part of the brain that was not used.

"The possibilities are endless" Manning had written.  "Those with brain injuries, mental illness, and retardation could have access to parts of the brain that would allow them to become fully functioning humans once more."  Manning also believed that within these recesses lay the information for what would be deemed as mystical powers, ESP, telekinesis, and so much more.  Severus had been enthralled over the Muggle and wanted to know if it were possible to find more to read about the man's ideas.  Hermione had promised to look when she went home over the holidays.

The book had not been the gift that had brought a flush to her cheeks. It was the one she had found in a second hand store near the college. 

She and her mother had been walking down the sidewalk, discussing going to Diagon Alley, as Hermione needed new dress robes for a spring ball.  Dumbledore had announced before the Christmas holidays that a ball would be held the night before the Easter hol in celebration of a new spring, a new beginning without the threat of Voldemort.  The last set of dress robes she had bought had been during her fourth year and were much to small. 

They had passed the little shop and Hermione had grabbed her mother's hand pointing at a dress displayed in the window.  The dress was a deep rose with a empire bodice, a full flowing skirt that split to reveal an underskirt of burnished gold that was embroidered with symbols that Hermione recognized to be runes.  The sleeves were tight ending in a point that would fall over the wearer's hand. It looked similar to dress robes and Hermione loved it. 

When she had taken the dress into a small bathroom to try on, she had saw the label sewn into the back.  LaMorgana Originals.  So it really was dress robes, Hermione thought elated, recognizing the name from Witches Weekly.  A very expensive set, though she doubted the man running the small shop realized what he had.

The gown fit perfectly and the color suited her.  "Lovely," the old man had crooned, glad the young lady was so please with the dress.  He was afraid he would be stuck with the odd looking garment.  Surely it had been designed for a play or a costume ball.

Hermione had taken the dress to the small counter to be boxed while her mother examined some pieces of pottery.  It was there in the small glass case that she had seen the pendant. 

"May I?" she asked, pointing to it.  The old man opened the case and handed it to her.  It was very heavy and she could almost sense the antiquity of it.  About two inches in diameter it was silver with a detailed etching of a dragon gracing the front.  The lifelike creature stared at her, its eyes chips of emeralds.  Whoever had made the pendant was very gifted as she could make out each tooth inside the gaping mouth of the beast.  It was exquisite.  Turning it over she saw an inscription. 

"I believe it is ancient Gaelic," the old man said.  "Don't know what it says though." 

"It suits him," she said mostly to herself before she asked the man how much it was.  Her face fell as he told her the price.  It was almost twice what she had left to spend.  Sighing, she shook her head and handed it back to him. 

Noting her disappointed face after the look of sheer delight when she had said 'it suits him', the man felt generous.  It was Christmas after all.  Actually the necklace had been in the same crate as the dress the lady was buying and he felt that she should have both. 

"Oh, did I forget to mention that this piece is on special this week?  Half off the price."  He smiled broadly at the grin that crossed her face as she paid for the pendant tucking it carefully in her pocket before her mother came to the counter with her purchases.

****

"Oh my Crooks," she said wide-eyed. "Do you realize that he probably got my gifts on his wedding day?"

She knew he would have been pleased with the book. He probably had thrown the pendent in an ash can.

****

It was almost midnight by the time Severus made his way to his chambers.  After Hermione had left he had went to the library to get some books from the restricted section for them to look through. 

Gods he had missed this, he thought wryly.  The challenge she had presented in developing a new potion had reminded him about his own love for the art.  He was skilled, could brew any potion to perfection and because of the routine of teaching he had lost the edge he once had when he had been studying at the university.

She had made him think this term with her excitement over her potion and ideas had started flowing through his mind.   His interest in creating new potions had been sparked once more thanks to Hermione.

Of course, he thought sarcastically, it helps to have an intelligent mind around to bounce theories off of. 

Rowena was intelligent, he had no doubt but for some reason she refused to allow herself to reveal this.  Severus suspected her father had a lot to do with this; Keep yourself beautiful and dumb my dear, that is the only way to snare a man.

And manipulative! Severus chuckled.  Her subtle attempts of coercing him into agreeing to her desires were almost pathetic, but then again, she was trying to manipulate a master in that field.

Entering his rooms he saw no sign of her, noting the bedroom door was closed.  After a glass of brandy he went to the door.  It was locked. Severus grew irritated as he tried several spells it.  Well at least she knows her spells, he thought, deciding she needed to learn a few other things as he blasted the door off its hinges.

She was sitting up in bed looking a bit shocked as pieces of the door flew to land on the bed.  Severus walked calmly into the room and undressed sliding into the bed.

"Get out Severus," she said coldly, her eyes flashing at him. 

He had meant only to ignore her and go to sleep but she had dared to say that to him. Grabbing her roughly, he kissed her hard; bruising her lips, kissing her until she was gasping for breath beneath him, though her hands had started a familiar exploration of his body.  Breaking the kiss, he brushed her hands away.

"No one tells me what to do Rowena," his voice was low and dark.  "Nor keeps me from what I want."  Her face was flushed and her eyes full of desire.  "And right now I do not want you."

Turning his back to her he settled down to go to sleep, leaving her to stare daggers at him.

***

Fuming, Rowena sat there her arms crossed across her breasts.  Damn this wasn't going to be easy.

Severus Snape was not a man that she could manipulate with her charms or sexual expertise in the bedroom and she found herself almost at a loss of what to do.

She had been aghast when her father had told her whom he had arranged a marriage with.  Severus Snape, Potions Master and ex Death Eater.  That had been her first inkling of trouble. 

Her talents for making men do as she desired had been honed to a fine art by the time she was 21.  It had been her father's idea that she should offer herself as an 'escort' for wealthy men.  He had gotten the idea from a Muggle who was his 'financial advisor.'  It had appalled her at first, but soon she found she enjoyed the attention and the lavish gifts the Muggle men bestowed on her. And it kept her father happy.

Sighing she knew her father was very displeased with her so far.  Merlin's beard, she thought angrily, they had only been wed for two weeks.  Still her father owled her daily wanting to know when he could expect some monetary payment for finding her a suitable husband.

How was she going to get to Severus?  The man was not going to be easy, she thought smiling. She always did like a challenge.