Author's notes: See Disclaimer on Chapter 1

Thanks for the reviews! They've prompted me to write the new chapter a bit earlier than I originally planned. I appreciate any and all feedback!

A few individual responses:

Sammis – Sorry, but this won't be a time travel fic – although I do enjoy those, myself!

Katie & Dragonlover – Aw, c'mon, Krum's not so bad! But don't forget, I'm a rabid SS/HG 'ship fan, so don't worry too much wink.

J.S. Sumner – Thanks for the valuable feedback – I will try not to leave so many gaps, or at least explain them a little better, in the following chapters. This chapter will fill in a lot of the back story between HG and SS.

Thanks to all reviewers!

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Time Does Not Heal All Wounds

Chapter 2

Later the next evening, Severus Snape sat alone at a corner table in a dark room. The Leaky Cauldron was busier than usual, even for a Saturday night. Undoubtedly some Quidditch match, Severus thought to himself, sneering a little at the animated discussions around him. While he admittedly enjoyed a good match, he never was able to understand the interest some had in the constant retelling of past feats and tactics. It was one of the many things he and Hermione had had in common.

He winced a little at the thought. He had successfully avoided thinking of her for quite some time – until the discussion last night. Now he found that he couldn't get his mind off of her, off of them. Absently swirling the amber liquid in his glass he settled back in the comfortable chair, deep in thought.

Deep in memory.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~Seven Years Previous~

"The lab is finally coming together. Hermione has been working nonstop to prepare for your projects – she's quite eager to help," Albus informed Severus as he directed the Potions Master down the stairs to the basement of 12 Grimmauld Place, headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix.

Severus nodded coolly, though he was secretly pleased. Hermione Granger was one of the few students he could tolerate, although he had been unable to show her that due to political reasons. Although she showed a dreadful lack of intelligence where her choice of friends was concerned, she was very talented in Potions – bordering on genius. When the threats against muggleborn witches and wizards began increasing during her final school year, she opted to stay after graduation and assist the Order before pursuing her university studies at the London Wizarding University. Of course, in true Gryffindor fashion, she didn't stay to preserve her own skin. Rather, Hermione was concerned that her presence at her parents' home could bring the wrath of the Death Eaters on her loved ones. She was quite likely correct.  And, talented witch that she was, even she would be unable to protect her family alone against a Dread Squad.

Albus' voice interrupted his musings. "Well, Severus, I'll leave you to it, then.  You know how to contact me if you require anything." With a final nod in farewell, Albus left.

Severus made his way down the stairs. Before he could reach for the handle the door to the lab opened, revealing his assistant. She gave a tentative smile in greeting, waving him into the room. "Hello, Professor. I hope everything is to your specifications."

Sweeping an intense gaze around the lab, Severus replied, "Everything appears, on the surface, to be sufficient."

Hermione blushed slightly. "I want to thank you again for allowing me to assist you, Professor."

Severus allowed a smile to come to his face. "I should be thanking you, Miss Granger. And after you see the amount of work I expect from my assistant, you may well find yourself rescinding that thanks."

Hermione grinned, seeming surprised at the formidable Potions Master's pleasant demeanor. "I doubt that, Professor. This is a dream come true of sorts for me – I'm hoping to gain my Potions Mistress title someday and working with an experienced Potions Master, even in secret…"

Severus cut her off with a wave of his hand. "Yes, I actually wanted to speak to you about that. I have informed the head of the LWU Potions Department that you will be working with me this summer. He will mark your time here as Apprenticeship Hours – my colleague has assured me that no other details will be recorded in your transcript for your safety."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Thank you, Professor! I didn't expect to receive any credit for this work, not that I minded, of course. It's an honor just to be involved."

Professor Snape simply nodded in response, trying not to notice the way her flushed cheeks and wide smile brightened the dark basement lab. "Let's get to work."

The next few weeks passed quickly. They worked well together, Severus admitted, much better than he had anticipated when Albus first informed him of the Granger girl's offer. She was thoughtful, precise, and confident without falling into the dangerous trap of overconfidence. She was also a surprisingly pleasant companion – a valuable asset since they were often alone for days at a time, while the other Order members came and went on various tasks. Sometimes he thought her company might be a little too pleasant, as he was having a difficult time dealing with the rising… tension… he felt in her presence.

He found himself eagerly looking forward to the long simmering times necessary with many of the potions they brewed. He savored any opportunity to talk, debate, and share ideas with this surprisingly insightful young woman whose eagerness and enthusiasm had not yet been tempered by the weariness that age brings. And he found himself sharing in her enthusiasm, much to his astonishment.

Also astonishing to him was her ability to deal with the black moods that enveloped him at times. On more than one occasion she was even able to bring him out of said mood with a well-placed word or two – something that no one other than Dumbledore had ever been able to do. That included any of the women with whom he had had… dalliances…in the past. 

Some of their debates became rather heated. Hermione was used to being correct, and once she became more comfortable around him (finally agreeing to call him by his given name, at his request), she did not hesitate to argue with him over ingredients and timing, among other things. The Slytherin in him secretly loved to see her eyes flash and her voice rise while he remained composed and soft-spoken, preferring to use the intimidatingly soft voice that he had cultivated over the years. Gryffindors did get so riled up when you faced their heated anger with cool calmness.

"We need to add the canine claw powder AFTER the third counter-clockwise stir. Then we can add the feline powder. I'm right – you KNOW it!" she was infuriated, fists clenched.

"You are incorrect, Miss Granger," Severus smoothly replied, intentionally using her student title.

"No, I'm not, Severus," she hissed. "Don't be so damned stubborn!" This last statement ended in an infuriated holler.   

He quirked an eyebrow at her, watching her face redden charmingly. "Hermione, feline claw powder added after the canine claw powder would lessen the effects of the feline powder. The canine powder already present in the base would overpower the weaker feline powder before it had a chance to absorb."

"But…"

"Yes?"

"We could just add a pinch extra of the feline powder to overcome the negative effects of the canine. The canine powder is the most important element in the potion, it should be added first," she was calming down a bit, her mind working.  

 

"Wasting supplies, Miss Granger?" he asked sardonically. "The order in this particular potion will not have any effect. You have never been introduced to the type of incantation we will be using. This particular incantation renders the order of ingredients unimportant where the binding of their magical properties to the base is concerned. However, the absorption prior to the binding can still be affected by the order."

"So ingredients added first won't bind stronger in this potion, because the strength of the incantation will ensure that all ingredients are bound equally," Hermione exclaimed, eyes shining in excitement rather than anger. Gods, she is beautiful, he acknowledged silently. Excitement, anger- all her varied emotions showed so clearly on her face. If only… he came back to himself when he heard her continue, "But the book didn't mention that effect of the incantation…"

"Books only know as much as the writer tells them, Hermione. And most writers do not tell them everything. It would be beneficial for you to remember that," Severus said in a serious tone. Hermione nodded thoughtfully. 

Severus eyed his assistant for a moment. With a small smile, he asked, "So, tell me, Hermione… at what point in this discussion did you realize you could be wrong?"

She flushed, and answered, "About halfway through."

"And yet, in your inimitable Gryffindor style, you refused to withdraw from certain defeat," he teased, laughing out loud at the look on her face. "And you told ME to… what was it? Not be 'so damned stubborn', correct?"

She smacked his arm with a smile, "Oooh, quit it. You know I'm right sometimes! Tell me, Severus - do you TRY to be infuriating, or does it just come naturally to you?"

"A lot of things come naturally to me, Hermione," he said softly, looking at her intently. She froze, seeming unsure how to respond. He kept his gaze on her and slowly leaned forward, his hand coming to rest near hers on the worktable. She looked down at their hands on the table, before her gaze slowly drifted back up to meet his.

Hardly daring to breathe, he cautiously reached out with his other hand and pushed an errant curl back behind her ear. He let his hand linger, one finger lightly caressing her jaw line then traveling across her slightly flushed cheek, to lightly draw a line along her bottom lip. Her eyes drifted shut, and – greatly daring – Severus leaned down and captured her lips with his.

Soft, warm, sweet, intoxicating… his mind was blank, all of his reality focused on where their lips connected… a kiss which was rapidly deepening.  Unconsciously, his arms came up to wrap around her, to bring her vibrant body closer to his…at this, though, she gasped and stiffened, finally opening her eyes to stare at him with an unreadable expression, trembling.

He pulled away instantly in consternation. She was still frozen in place. His mouth tried to form words, but nothing came out. In dismay, he grasped her still trembling hand and fell to one knee in a desperate attempt to show his sincerity.

"Hermione, I'm sorry…" Suddenly he stopped in confusion and looked up into her eyes intently, trying to read her expression. Upon kneeling, his sensitive nose had picked up the unmistakable scent of feminine arousal.

She looked at him urgently. "Severus…" The desire was now plainly showing in her eyes. She grasped his hand forcefully, pulling him up and snaking her arms around his neck.

As she reached her mouth to his, she whispered, "Apology NOT accepted." He smiled against her mouth for a moment, and then both were washed away in a wave of passion as their lips met again.

No more potions work was accomplished that night.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A particularly raucous group broke into Severus' reminiscing. Looking up with a glare, his eyebrows drew together when he recognized two of the group. Exactly what I need tonight – Potter and Weasley. He shook his head, and was turning back to his drink and his thoughts when something the Weasley boy said rose above the noise of the crowd.

"Yeah, it was great. But it sure wasn't anything like watching you play, Viktor! You were the best!"

Krum. Perfect. Irritated, he downed his drink in one swallow and stood, gesturing to catch Tom's attention. The bartender, finally noticing the group that had just come in, nodded at Severus and waved him off, mouthing "On the house." Relieved and grateful, Severus gave him a last nod and walked to the door. Tom was one of the few people who knew the entire story – well, his part of it, at least.

Tom sighed heavily as the door closed. Now, there was a story that no one would believe. He had taken note when Severus walked in earlier and it certainly looked like he had something weighty on his mind. For once, Tom regretted the busy crowd. Maybe I should have talked to him. Oh, well – by the looks of it I imagine he'll be back tomorrow. And with that, he turned his mind back to his many thirsty customers.