Chapter 4.
Disclaimer: As usual I own nothing. It doesn't stop me from playing with the characters though!
Thank you to all the reviewers. I'm trying to post as frequently as possible but I write a chapter, write 2 more, and then decide I don't like the first so I start all over. I now have 10 different versions of this story.
.........................................................
"Harry stop glaring at Ron." Hermione whispered.
"I said I wouldn't tell a professor what he's been doing." Harry said, moving his gaze from Ron to Hermione. "I never said I'd like it. Or him."
The door flew open and with his cloak billowing behind him, Severus glided into the room in his normal fashion. He strode to the front of the room and turned to inform the class in a silky tone
"Today we are working on a concealment potion. Done correctly it will act just as a disillusion charm but it has one advantage, it can be done silently whereas you speak to produce the charm."
His eyes moved around the room before continuing
"I have paired everyone with another student and expect you to work with each other for the next few lessons."
He ignored the murmurs of surprise from the students and tapped twice on the board where the names appeared.
"But.. Snape never assigns partners" Harry whispered to Hermione "What do you think is going on?"
Hermione shrugged before saying "Maybe he wants us to see how professional potion masters work. I don't think they always work with the same people. It's practice for N.E.W.T's I bet"
"Maybe your right" He conceded before scanning the board to find his name and moving reluctantly away from Hermione to join Hannah Abbott. He looked to make sure Ron wasn't assigned to Hermione and almost dropped his books when he saw her partner was Draco Malfoy. Ron, he saw, had noticed the pairing and was watching the two of them through narrowed eyes. Harry happened to glance at Snape and blinked at the malicious smile that flashed on his face while watching Ron. Harry shook his head. He decided he must be seeing things. A second glance showed him Snape glaring at the class in general. He decided he must have imagined it and turned to smile at Hannah.
Draco, watching Ron's anger build out of the corner of his eye, silently laughed in admiration of Severus' Phase 1. He turned his most charming smile to Hermione which she returned shyly after a moment of astonishment. When she bent over to read what ingredients were needed Draco gently put his hand on hers and whispered in her ear about how he had done this before but his timing was always a problem. Hermione, not noticing the avid attention from Ron, smiled back innocently and informed his that was what she was best at and not to worry.
When Hermione walked to the supply closet, Draco put an adoring smile on his face and pretended to only be watching her. He had a silent laugh as Weasley practically growled at him. Draco almost felt sorry for Seamus Finnigan who was his partner. Ron wasn't paying the least bit of attention to his potion.
45 minutes later and a few light touches to an unwary Hermione, Draco knew not only was Rons potion a disaster, but Phase 1 was complete. Draco looked up at Severus and nodded slightly.
Snape moved in.
"Weasley. What is that?" He asked coolly
Ron glanced down at his potion that was giving off a sickening scent of old gym socks
"It's a concealment potion." He answered reluctantly
"No Mr. Weasley... it's not." Snape said cuttingly "Was it not clear to you in the instructions that you DO NOT stir until the potion turns red?"
With a quick wave of his wand, Rons potion disappeared.
He turned to Draco and Hermione
"Now this potion is perfect" he said in gentler tones, surprising the class. "Everyone else, bottle a sample and leave it on my desk."
Severus stopped Draco and Hermione from going to the front. he said to Draco
"I was wondering if you wanted to help with the project we discussed. Your potion today turned out better and tells me you would be an asset."
Draco pretended to squirm, making sure Ron was listening
"Actually Sir, I'm still having timing problems. Hermione was most of the reason I improved."
"Indeed" Severus purred. He pretended to contemplate for a moment.
"Miss Granger? You are close to professor Lupin are you not?"
"Yes Sir I am" Hermione answered a little confused.
"I'm making the potion he takes again as he has almost run out. Would you be interested in assisting me along with Mr. Malfoy since you two seem to work well together."
When Hermione hesitated Severus continued
"I would like to have at least two people know how to make this potion in case I am ever unable to. I'm sure Professor Lupin would feel better knowing someone close to him can make it for him."
Hermione's eyes softened and she eagerly agreed to help.Severus noticed a hint of her old excitement in her answer.
"Good. How about you and Mr Malfoy be down here at 7."
"I'll be here Sir." Hermione promised.
Severus smiled inwardly at the look of suspicion and fury on Weasleys face.
Time to begin Phase 2
.........................................................
Hope you all like it so far. Next chapter, detention for Ron and the Baron helps Severus rock Rons world on it's axis.
Disclaimer: As usual I own nothing. It doesn't stop me from playing with the characters though!
Thank you to all the reviewers. I'm trying to post as frequently as possible but I write a chapter, write 2 more, and then decide I don't like the first so I start all over. I now have 10 different versions of this story.
.........................................................
"Harry stop glaring at Ron." Hermione whispered.
"I said I wouldn't tell a professor what he's been doing." Harry said, moving his gaze from Ron to Hermione. "I never said I'd like it. Or him."
The door flew open and with his cloak billowing behind him, Severus glided into the room in his normal fashion. He strode to the front of the room and turned to inform the class in a silky tone
"Today we are working on a concealment potion. Done correctly it will act just as a disillusion charm but it has one advantage, it can be done silently whereas you speak to produce the charm."
His eyes moved around the room before continuing
"I have paired everyone with another student and expect you to work with each other for the next few lessons."
He ignored the murmurs of surprise from the students and tapped twice on the board where the names appeared.
"But.. Snape never assigns partners" Harry whispered to Hermione "What do you think is going on?"
Hermione shrugged before saying "Maybe he wants us to see how professional potion masters work. I don't think they always work with the same people. It's practice for N.E.W.T's I bet"
"Maybe your right" He conceded before scanning the board to find his name and moving reluctantly away from Hermione to join Hannah Abbott. He looked to make sure Ron wasn't assigned to Hermione and almost dropped his books when he saw her partner was Draco Malfoy. Ron, he saw, had noticed the pairing and was watching the two of them through narrowed eyes. Harry happened to glance at Snape and blinked at the malicious smile that flashed on his face while watching Ron. Harry shook his head. He decided he must be seeing things. A second glance showed him Snape glaring at the class in general. He decided he must have imagined it and turned to smile at Hannah.
Draco, watching Ron's anger build out of the corner of his eye, silently laughed in admiration of Severus' Phase 1. He turned his most charming smile to Hermione which she returned shyly after a moment of astonishment. When she bent over to read what ingredients were needed Draco gently put his hand on hers and whispered in her ear about how he had done this before but his timing was always a problem. Hermione, not noticing the avid attention from Ron, smiled back innocently and informed his that was what she was best at and not to worry.
When Hermione walked to the supply closet, Draco put an adoring smile on his face and pretended to only be watching her. He had a silent laugh as Weasley practically growled at him. Draco almost felt sorry for Seamus Finnigan who was his partner. Ron wasn't paying the least bit of attention to his potion.
45 minutes later and a few light touches to an unwary Hermione, Draco knew not only was Rons potion a disaster, but Phase 1 was complete. Draco looked up at Severus and nodded slightly.
Snape moved in.
"Weasley. What is that?" He asked coolly
Ron glanced down at his potion that was giving off a sickening scent of old gym socks
"It's a concealment potion." He answered reluctantly
"No Mr. Weasley... it's not." Snape said cuttingly "Was it not clear to you in the instructions that you DO NOT stir until the potion turns red?"
With a quick wave of his wand, Rons potion disappeared.
He turned to Draco and Hermione
"Now this potion is perfect" he said in gentler tones, surprising the class. "Everyone else, bottle a sample and leave it on my desk."
Severus stopped Draco and Hermione from going to the front. he said to Draco
"I was wondering if you wanted to help with the project we discussed. Your potion today turned out better and tells me you would be an asset."
Draco pretended to squirm, making sure Ron was listening
"Actually Sir, I'm still having timing problems. Hermione was most of the reason I improved."
"Indeed" Severus purred. He pretended to contemplate for a moment.
"Miss Granger? You are close to professor Lupin are you not?"
"Yes Sir I am" Hermione answered a little confused.
"I'm making the potion he takes again as he has almost run out. Would you be interested in assisting me along with Mr. Malfoy since you two seem to work well together."
When Hermione hesitated Severus continued
"I would like to have at least two people know how to make this potion in case I am ever unable to. I'm sure Professor Lupin would feel better knowing someone close to him can make it for him."
Hermione's eyes softened and she eagerly agreed to help.Severus noticed a hint of her old excitement in her answer.
"Good. How about you and Mr Malfoy be down here at 7."
"I'll be here Sir." Hermione promised.
Severus smiled inwardly at the look of suspicion and fury on Weasleys face.
Time to begin Phase 2
.........................................................
Hope you all like it so far. Next chapter, detention for Ron and the Baron helps Severus rock Rons world on it's axis.