I was giddy most of the day Tuesday. I felt that my detention had gone superbly well, after the first fifteen minutes. So I hadn't achieved my goal of having a real, intelligent, non-teacher/student conversation with Snape, but I had made several breakthroughs. First of all, the extra potions work. This new development would probably mean several nights in the Potions classroom per week, providing me the perfect opportunity to get to know the man behind the scowl.

Secondly, Snape had acknowledged my "good night." I felt that that was my greatest achievement, and, at the risk of sounding like a schoolgirl with a crush, I decided to find Professor McGonagall that night and tell her all about it. First, however, I had Potions, and then my little chat with Snape.

Everyone was used to my slow cleaning process, so I found myself alone in the classroom with Snape again. I set my perfect bottle of Migraine Reliever next to the others on Professor Snape's desk, and waited as he cleared away his materials from our class and prepared for his next.

"Professor Snape, did you want to talk to me?"

"Just a moment, if you please." He arranged some notes on his desk, then reached for my bottle of potion. He produced a spoon, and helped himself to some of my Migraine Reliever.

"Is there something wrong with my potion, sir?"

"Miss Granger, has it ever occurred to you that I might just need a dose?"

"Oh, sorry, sir," I said, but inside I was beaming. He trusted my potion enough to take it for his own headache!

"All right then, Miss Granger, about the extra work you are so anxious to get started with. Here is a list of potions that you will be working on." He handed me a scroll of parchment and waited while I looked it over. I nodded, recognizing some of the names, and looking forward to trying out the new ones. "You will research the ingredients yourself. If there are any rarer items that you cannot obtain, you may ask me. Ask, Miss Granger, not help yourself." He paused and watched my face as the realization sunk in.

"So, you knew it was me?" My mind flickered back to the ingredients I had stolen from Snape back in second year to brew the Polyjuice Potion.

"Thanks to your confession just now." He smirked at me and continued. "You will turn in your potion for the week each Friday. Friday I will give you a relevant written assignment for each. Understood?" I was confused.

"Where will I brew them, sir?"

"I don't care, as long as it is not during class time."

"I thought…I thought I would have some kind of laboratory set up or something." I was disappointed. I thought that Snape would be supervising, or helping, or whatever. Now I was finding out that I had to do it all on my own, without even a chance to work on my other project, my project to get to know Snape.

"Miss Granger. I offered you a chance to get extra NEWT practice. I offered you ingredients from my private stores. I will not offer you an invitation to invade my private space!" He spoke with fury bubbling just beneath the surface. I sensed that he was holding back his anger for my sake. I suppose he had a right to be a little angry with me, especially considering how I had just confessed that I had stolen from him.

"Yes, sir," I squeaked, rolling up the parchment and scurrying out of the classroom. As was becoming a difficult habit to break, I stopped at the door and turned to Professor Snape. He looked really tired, and I thought about his spying activities for the Order. "I hope your headache feels better, sir." I looked at him, still sunk back into his desk chair, looking less intimidating and much weaker than usual, and that same spark of compassion that I had felt after Harry had told us about the whole underwear scene flared in my chest.

"I'm sure your potion will kick in shortly. Have a good afternoon, Miss Granger." He looked at up at me, and I grinned at him. He didn't smile back, of course, but his eyes softened a little. That settled it. If I had had any doubts about my project before, now my dedication was cemented. I was going to make Snape smile, no matter what. If I had to dress up in a jester's outfit and tell jokes in front of the whole class, then I would.

I slipped out of the room just in time to bypass a loud group of second-years coming down the hall. I had Care of Magical Creatures next, and I hurried outside. Hagrid gave me a sideways look for being late, but I just grinned. Harry and Ron must have thought I was batty. I hardly paid attention during the lesson, which was my last of the day, and hurried back to the castle to talk to McGonagall.

"Hermione, wait!" Ron and Harry called in unison. I stopped and turned to them.

"Where are you going in such a hurry, Mione?"

"We haven't talked to you in ages. What's up with you?"

"Sorry…I guess it's just all the NEWT-levels I'm taking. It's got me pretty distracted. I'm supposed to meet Professor McGonagall to go over some Transfiguration tips."

"Well, don't let us keep you, since the NEWTs aren't until next year!!!" called Ron as I hurried off again.

"Yeah, we're just your friends, no big deal!" yelled Harry. I did feel bad for having neglected them, but just now I was having an idea. A great idea. And I needed to talk to Professor McGonagall.