Shahrezad1 – What IS Snape doing? Tsk, tsk, you expect me to reveal all my secrets so soon? I'm only halfway into this story!

AddisonRae, Jade, Jade Merlin, Mademoiselle Morte – Why thank you, ladies. *bowing* Here's your next chapter.

Chaosdreams – you actually went and looked up the translation? Wow, you ARE motivated. Ahh, don't tell anyone, ok? It's kinda important later…

Kurtfan – There's nothing like a good cliffhanger to make my day…. *sigh* I know this one isn't quite as nice, but still…

Chapter 14

Sonora smiled at Draco as he stood in front of her desk. "Did you finish the reading I gave you?" she asked him as she began to sort through the papers on her desk.

"Yes," Draco said. Sonora thought she caught a hint of resentment in his voice. He still hadn't forgiven her for pairing him with Mr. Potter for his final, she thought wearily. That conversation had been several days ago, and the final was tomorrow. Hopefully it would all go without a hitch and he would get over his temper.

For now, she ignored it. "Then explain to me Potions with Intent," she said, sitting back and fixing her eyes on the boy.

Draco took a breath, the resentment fading a little from his eyes as he turned his attention to something he seemed to truly enjoy. "Potions with Intent are potions that will only work for one specific person, and have to be brewed by someone who intends them for that person," he said.

Sonora nodded, pleased. He had done his reading. "Give me an example," she said.

Draco seemed to flush a little, and she had to resist raising her eyebrows in surprise. "Love potions," he said.

Sonora stifled a smile. Teenaged boys and love. They went together like oil and water. "Go on," she said.

He dropped his eyes and elaborated. "Umm… like the True Heart Potion. The brewer has to brew it for one person, and have the intention of wishing that person to discover their true love. Otherwise it doesn't work."

Sonora smiled. "Very good," she said. "What about another type of potion?"

Draco seemed to think. "There are some defense potions," he said slowly. "Brewed to protect people from allergies or mice or things like that."

Sonora nodded. "Very good. And one more…" she trailed off. Actually, there were two, but she wasn't about to bring up Dark Potions.

Draco stared at the top of her desk as he seemed to be wracking his brain. "I don't remember," he finally mumbled.

Sonora chuckled. "Never mind, you did very well to remember all that. You must have paid a great deal of attention to the footnotes to remember the True Heart Potion," she said with a smile. His eyes raised to hers again and she tried to convey her encouragement. "The third kind is seldom used, simply because they are rather outdated. Healing potions," she told him.

The boy nodded, eyes lighting. "They were used in the Middle ages, before healing charms were really developed."

"Excellent," Sonora said, very pleased indeed. "Five points to Slytherin for your attention to detail, Mr. Malfoy." Once again, Draco seemed to flush with pleasure at his gaining points. Sonora had been careful not to dole points out every time he succeeded in a task. She wanted him to feel he had truly earned every point.

"What I am working on," she told him, gesturing for Draco to take a seat, "is building a Potion with Intent. At first," she reminisced, scowling a little as she remembered those early failures. Including the one that had taken off the roofs of that village in Siberia. "At first I didn't realize what I was trying to create required that level of specificity. And once I did, my task became that much harder."

She leveled a look at the boy. "Why would that be?"

Draco took a quick breath. "Because the brewer has to be absolutely clear on his or her intention," he said, eagerness in his voice. "If they're not really sure or really specific about what they're trying to do, it won't work and lots of times backfires."

Sonora beamed. "You really have an aptitude for this, Mr. Malfoy. Very well done, indeed." She didn't miss the way he flushed again. "So, now my difficulty has become adjusting the ingredients to the proper proportions for a single Intent. Because I am working with a highly volatile mixture, that has cause some… difficulties." She remembered Severus turning purple and chuckled.

Looking at Draco again, she winked. "Someday, ask Professor Snape about the time he walked in and startled me while I was working." Draco's mouth fell open at that and was quickly snapped shut.

"Here is what your task shall be," Sonora said, shaking off the pleasant memory. "While you're here over break, you will take notes while I attempt to refine this mixture. I'll need your help in preparing ingredients, some of which you will have to read about before you touch." She gave him a stern look. "On no account are you to touch my cauldron, for any reason. Is that clear?"

He nodded, not looking as if he minded the restriction that much. "Please, Professor," he said, seeming unable to keep it in. "What are you trying to create?"

Sonora paused, studying the boy. His father, Severus had told her, was Voldemort's right hand man. Could the son be trusted with her information?

Not yet, she decided reluctantly. He would have to prove himself first. "I can't tell you that right now," she said quietly. "Suffice to say it is a sort of defense potion. One that could save lives, if done correctly." The boy's eyes widened at that, and Sonora regretted telling him even that much. But she was trying to win the boy's trust…

"Anything you learn, Draco, must be kept in strict confidence," she said softly. "I have guarded my research for four years. I am trusting you to not send all that to waste."

His face flushed once more. "I won't, Professor," he said, and for that moment, his eyes were clear, eager, excited and totally honest. It was one of the few times Sonora had ever seen him let go of his guards of pride and ingrained prejudice. She beamed at him.

"Excellent," she said. "Well, then, go on and study for your finals. Everything is ready for tomorrow here."

Draco got up but lingered a minute at the classroom door. Sonora looked over at him as she reached for her cane. "Yes, Mr. Malfoy?" she said.

The boy opened his mouth and then closed it. He flushed scarlet and looked down at the floor. "Thanks," he muttered, and then was gone.

Sonora was left to stand and stare at the empty doorway. She slowly started to smile. Perhaps this boy was beginning to find his way, after all.

~~~~~~~

Severus came stomping into the dungeons, muttering under his breath all the things he'd like to do to the Weasley twins. Beginning with removing their tongues and ending with locking their legs, he thought darkly. Frankly, it wasn't fair that they continued to target him even when not in his classes.

Sonora looked up at him as he slammed the door behind him. "Oh, dear," she said, sounding a little too amused for his taste.

Severus glared at her. "Not one word!" he ordered, pointing his finger.

She just sat there at her desk and covered her mouth with one hand, eyes laughing above it. He snorted and stomped over to his office, flinging the door open hard enough to make the glass vials rattle on the shelves. Behind him, he could hear choking sounds and sourly reflected that Sonora should have gotten her share of amusement tonight.

He rummaged through his supply of antidotes. He'd come up with quite a wide variety of them, thanks to Fred and George Weasley. Pulling out a purple bottle, he unstoppered it and swallowed the contents in one gulp.

He sighed with relief as he felt the potion begin to work. The horns protruding from his head began to shrink, and the forked tail sticking through the back of his robes sizzled for a moment before vanishing in a puff of red smoke.

Raking his hands through his now normal hair, Severus stepped back out into the classroom and fixed Sonora with a deceptively mild glance. "So you found my predicament funny, did you?" he said in a smooth voice.

Sonora was busy wiping away tears. "Oh dear, Severus, if you could have seen…" she sighed.

He walked closer, being very careful not to alarm her. Oh, he'd get her for laughing at this one. "Actually I did," he said. "They slipped something into my drink while I was in the Great Hall. It's currently decorated with quite a wall of mirrors for that blasted Ball tomorrow."

Sonora began to snicker again. "They're terrible, really," she tried to tell him, but her sincerity was a little suspect as she was laughing while she talked.

Severus just smirked, and then leaned down and scooped her up in his arms. "We'll see how long you laugh at me," he said as she gave a squeak of surprise as he tossed her over one shoulder.

"Severus!" she exclaimed, laugher still ringing in her voice. "I was working…"

He snorted as he strode toward his bedroom. "Madam, I can promise you it'll still be there in the morning," he said with a smirk, and a pat to her posterior as she hung over his shoulder. "Meanwhile, I have something else that requires your attention."

Her laugh now was a little husky, but still with that clear, ringing happiness that so seemed to characterize her. "Well, then, in that case," she said. Severus jumped a little as he felt her hands on his own rear end. "The least I can do is take a look," she finished.

He chuckled now, himself, a little thickly. He'd been waiting all day to get back to her arms. "At the very least," he murmured before dumping her on his bed and following her down. A second later, he lost himself in a haze of murmured soft words and kisses. If he could stay here all his life, he would die a happy man.

~~~~~~~

Sonora carefully watched her class work. This was their last exam of the term, and she knew they were all chaffing to be done. At the same time, she didn't want any inattention to detail causing accidents. Severus had selected a tricky potion for the fifth-year finals, one intended to form artificial limbs for amputee patients.

Her eyes wandered over the pairs of students. Miss Granger was working with Mr. Snyder from Slytherin. Mr. Weasley had been paired with Mr. Thomas. Mr. Longbottom was frowning over his cauldron with Miss Parkinson. So far, there had been no fights, no calamities. Just rather stifled conversation in low voices as partners tried to pass her class.

Her eyes moved to Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy. The class had frozen when she had announced that pair, and Mr. Weasley had looked like he was going to explode. Mr. Potter, however, had shook his head at his friend and very quietly and calmly gathered his things and taken his seat next to Draco. Mr. Malfoy had been dead silent through the whole process.

And now… both boys were looking reserved and avoiding each others eyes. But they were also working well, both having seemed to have decided that the best thing to do would be to get the task completed as quickly as possible.

Sonora smiled as she watched the students work. Other pairs would sometimes glance up at her, sometimes glance at the unlikely star pair in the middle of the room. Perhaps they would all learn something from the boys' ability to look past differences and perform well.

She glanced at the clock. Only a few minutes left. "Five minutes," she warned the class. The muttering inched up a little as students began to rapidly recheck proportions and temperatures and color of liquid.

Sonora let her mind slip a little as she watched. Tonight was the Yule Ball, and then tomorrow students left to go on break. Only a few would remain at Hogwarts over the holidays. Draco Malfoy was one, and she had been informed that Mr. Potter and the Weasley children were several more. There was a handful of Hufflepuff second-years, and two of the Ravenclaw seventh-years would remain. All in all, it should be a fairly pleasant holiday, she thought.

Of course, one of the problems floating about Sonora's mind was what to do about Christmas. She had had no opportunity to do any shopping since she'd arrived at Hogwarts. She'd have to see about taking a trip down to Hogsmead before the holiday arrived.

Sonora glanced at the clock again. "Your time is up," she announced and ignored the soft groan from various parts of the room. "Please remove your cauldrons from the heat and fill the bottle you have been provided with. Do not forget the Unbreakable Charm and to seal the bottle tightly." There was a flurry of activity as the students did so. Sonora watched, glancing at various bottles. Most seemed to have the proper color and consistency, although Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Finnigan looked a little suspect. Mr. Longbottom's bottle, she noted with pleasure, was the right shade of pink.

"Once you have finished, clean your workspace, and you are excused," she said. Sonora smiled at the class. "Enjoy the Ball tonight, and have a very happy holiday break tomorrow."

It did not take long for the students to vanish from her room, calling trailing "Happy Holidays!" at her as they went. Sonora gathered herself and stood, before beginning to limp across the room to collect the bottles of finished potion.

"Would you like help with that, Professor Stone?" Miss Granger stopped to offer. Mr. Weasley was already at the door, hovering impatiently.

Sonora smiled at the girl. "Not to fear, Miss Granger, I have every intention of floating these bottles right onto my desk for immediate grading." The girl blushed. "You'll see the grades posted before you leave tomorrow."

Mr. Weasley muttered at his friend from the doorway. "Geeze, 'Mione, it's not like you've failed or anything."

Miss Granger turned and scowled at her friend as she moved toward him. "Just because I want to know how I did, Ron…"

Sonora turned her attention to the table where Mr. Potter was finishing gathering his things, and Mr. Malfoy was silently cleaning the table. "Gentlemen," she said softly. "Well done." Both sets of eyes met hers, and she nodded at them before continuing on the back of the room.

As the last of the students slipped away, Sonora cast a quick labeling charm on the bottles before murmuring "wingardium leviosa," and landing the bottles in neat, precise rows on her desk. The door opened as she was doing so, and Sonora glance up to smile as Severus entered the room.

"Well? Any bloodshed?" he asked, ducking a line of bottles and dropping into his own chair.

Sonora chuckled. "Oh, ye of little faith," she said, somewhat smugly as she began to limp toward her desk. "Not one incident."

Severus' eyebrows rose. "That is impressive," he murmured. He rose and pulled out her chair as she rounded her desk. "Did they all pass?"

Sonora rolled her eyes at him as she came to a stop next to him and her chair. "Does it look like I've graded them yet?" she asked.

He gave her a smirk. "I figured you'd have passed them all on principle," he said.

"Jerk," she told him, before reaching up to grasp the front of his robes firmly. He bent his head and kissed her, lips firm and warm against her own, making her sigh in pleasure.

She wouldn't have moved at all, except there came a knock at the classroom door, and Sonora jumped, letting go of Severus' robes and loosing her balance for a moment. Severus reached out and easily caught her as the door opened.

"Professor Stone? Dumbledore said I would find you down here," a familiar voice began before stopping.

Sonora turned to face the speaker, and felt her face light up. "Mr. Lupin!" she exclaimed, pleased. "Oh, I'm so glad to get to see you again!"

Mr. Lupin smiled at her before his glance flicked to Severus, standing still and quiet behind her. "Please, call me Remus," he said, eyes dropping to hers again with a kind look. "I am here at Hogwarts for a few hours or so, and wanted to see how you've recovered." His eyes fell to the cane in her hand and he frowned. "I would have thought you'd be done with that," he said.

Sonora grimaced as she limped toward him. "I had a… setback," she admitted. "I'm afraid this is permanent." She gave him a sunny smile. "No matter," she said. "I never did get to thank you, you know."

Remus chuckled as he took her hand. "I think you had other things on your mind at the time." His eyes moved once more to where Severus had been standing. "Severus," he said in a pleasant voice. Sonora could hear the edge beneath it, and wondered at it. "It's always a pleasure to see you, as well."

"Don't bother, Lupin," Severus said in a cold voice. Sonora turned to look at him in surprise. His face was cold and hard and his eyes flat. "I have work to do, and no time to exchange meaningless conversation." And as Sonora watched in amazement, he turned and strode off to the dark confines of his office.

Remus shook his head. "Severus always was charming," he said, voice a little dry. He turned to smile back down at her. "Actually, Dumbledore also asked that I bring you up for tea," he said. "Apparently the teachers are gathering for some post-exam cheer and he wanted you and," his eyes flicked back to the office door, "Severus to join them."

Sonora forced a smile. "I'll just go tell Severus, and then I'll be right with you," she said. She could feel Remus' thoughtful eyes on her back as she limped quickly across the room and slipped through the office door.

Severus was sitting in his office at his desk, scowling at a row of third-year potions. "Severus, the headmaster wants…" she began, trying to figure out his dark mood.

He shook his head abruptly. "I am in no mood for holiday cheer," he growled, not looking at her.

Sonora frowned. "What's the matter?" she asked.

Severus didn't look at her still. "Not one thing," he said, voice cold.

Sonora studied him another moment as he seemed to ignore her standing there. His back was stiff, his eyes flat. Finally she sighed, a little baffled, a little hurt. "I'll be upstairs with the other teachers if you want me," she said softly. Leaning over, she pressed a kiss to the top of his head, before turning and making her way back out of the office.

~~~~~~~

Severus knew Sonora was confused, knew she was concerned and cursed himself. But there was no way he could pretend to be pleasant around Lupin, and damned if he'd try. Moreover, he'd looked up as that door had opened and had seen the slight widening of the other man's eyes as he'd entered. Lupin had cast him a look of such intense disapproval, such anger and disappointment that it had startled him.

He threw his quill across his desk and stared moodily at the half-graded third-year potions. Sonora was doubtlessly enjoying herself immensely with the werewolf, Lupin being such a hero in her eyes.

His office door flew open with a crash as he picked the quill up again and Severus looked up, considerably startled as the man in question stalked into his office. "What," Lupin said in a quiet, precise voice, "do you think you are doing?"

Severus felt his hackles rise just at the sight of this man he'd despised since childhood. "I can't see that my affairs are any of your business," he sneered. "And since I don't recall inviting you in, you may take yourself out of my office. Immediately."

Lupin didn't budge, predictably. "You'd put her at risk, for what?" he demanded, voice getting more cutting. "A roll in bed?"

Severus could feel his blood start to boil and he gritted his teeth. "You don't want to go there," he warned in a silky voice, feeling his control start to fray.

"Don't I?" Lupin said, eyes narrowed. He leaned closer, and Severus nearly backed away at the look in his eyes. He had never seen the wolf in Lupin's eyes, not snarling at him through a thin veneer of control like it was right now.

"Let me make something perfectly clear, Severus," Lupin continued and Severus didn't move, didn't budge an inch. He refused to give him the satisfaction, despite the pounding of the blood in his head. "I will not let you take someone as innocent as Sonora down with you."

"And you think I would?" The words slipped out despite his clenched fists, clenched teeth.

The werewolf's gaze sharpened. "You've never proven me wrong before," he said, voice cold.

Severus matched him, fury trembling in his limbs. "You've never known me," he said, voice dark as winter. "Don't presume to know what my actions will be."

Lupin stepped back and surveyed him with a disdainful look. "Are you claiming you mean her no harm?" he asked, scorn in his very posture.

The quill snapped in two in Severus' hand. "I will not hurt Sonora," he said, knowing he was close to the edge of his control.

"There are more ways than fists or wand to hurt someone," Lupin said, without a change in voice or posture. "And you have never hesitated to use them on your students. Why should one small, innocent woman be any different?" His head was beginning to pound. "What makes her different from any student in your classes, any one of your peers? Excepting the fact that you've taken her to bed, of course…"

And with that, Severus' control snapped. "I will not hurt her!" he shouted, rising from his chair, ready to lay his hands on the other man. "Damn you, I love her!"

There was dead silence for a moment as he stared at Lupin. Lupin's face had gone still and quiet, the wolf still lurking in his eyes. "Ah," the other man said softly.

Limbs trembling, Severus could not believe he'd let those words slip out. He turned away abruptly, somehow unable to stand the sight of the man who'd forced him to say it. It was too rare, to precious a feeling to him, and to have it dragged out by someone he had despised for years…

"And how will you keep her from being caught up by what you're doing for the Order?" Lupin's voice asked softly. Still with that edge of steel in it. "Protect her from Voldemort and your fellow Death Eaters?"

Severus refused to answer. He'd given the man too much already. He remained, standing, staring at the opposite wall. Unfortunately, Lupin had never been a stupid man, and Severus had been foolish enough to leave the book out the last time he had worked on the potion.

He heard the rustle of pages behind him. "Is this your answer?" came a slightly incredulous voice. "This potion hasn't been brewed successfully in hundreds of years." There was silence for a long moment. "How long have you been working on this?" Lupin finally asked. This time there was a difference in his voice, a certain something that Severus had only ever heard in the Headmaster's voice before. If he didn't turn around, didn't see the contradiction in the man's face, he could almost hear a hint of respect.

It was that hint that seemed to loosed his vocal chords and force him to speak when he would rather keep silent. "Two months," he muttered.

There was silence again. "You really do love her," the werewolf said. There was no surprise in his voice, nothing but a statement of fact.

Severus clenched his fists. "Yes."

He heard the rustle of pages again and the sound of the book being set down on the desk once more. "Then I'd suggest you get your sorry self into some dress robes," said that maddeningly calm voice behind him. "Sonora has already gone up."

Severus jerked around, hot words on his tongue, but Lupin was already gone. He stared at the doorway and then rubbed his hands over his face. He looked down at the closed book on his desk and shuddered despite himself. Would it work? Would it be enough? Was the risk something worth taking? Could he take a chance with Sonora's life like he was?

The nausea rolled in his stomach at the image of Sonora lying broken and lifeless at his feet, simply because she'd been his. He shuddered again. And then the image switched to the one he treasured so closely, as she stretched out her hand in the dark of his bedroom that first night together.

With a moan, Severus sank down into his chair and buried his face in his hands. What was he going to do?