Disclaimer: Severus Snape, Hermione Granger, and the rest of the gang do
not belong to me. Wish they did, but alas they don't.
A/N: Yellow Snowdrop, is the folk name for Adder's Tongue.
Toxic Part 7
Deep within Voldemort's stronghold, Lucius Malfoy paced before the fire. "Milord, you must believe me. Severus was with that filthy little Mudblood, Granger."
"Malfoy, where is your proof? Now is the time when you must put aside your differences with Severus." The Dark Lord paused for a moment, wondering if Severus had jumped ship or not. Malfoy could be over stating things, as always. The Malfoy's always had a flare for the dramatic.
"Summon McNair." Malfoy waited for no further instruction, he left the room to seek out the other Deatheater.
Nagini was curled up next to her master's chair, his only loyal severant. Perhaps, after all these years he had been wrong about one of his chosen. The one he trusted above all others. Perhaps Malfoy was suspicious for no other reason then his envy for the man he accused of treachery. Yet there was a chance that Snape had turned on them.
Never, until this day, would Voldemort have thought, Severus Snape would belong anywhere but by his side. After all who would take such a self- conscious, sniveling, greasy git under their wing. He had given Severus a home, a place to belong; for such a gift he was owed the utmost loyalty.
Yet after Voldemort's first bout with Potter too many Deatheaters to count turned tail. 'Fools all of them. But they were taught their lesson.'
Voldemort's thoughts couldn't be any truer; after his fall his true servants went to Azkaban. Once he returned to power they had been rewarded; those who sought safety with his enemies were punished. Such was the end of Peter Petegrew.
The fool had thought that coming back to The Dark Lord when he was found out, would gain him a lighter punishment. How little Peter knew of his master, the little help he had been was not enough for Voldemort to forget his transgressions.
The Dark Lord was stirred from his thoughts by the sound of footsteps. The door to the study opened, in walked Malfoy closely followed by McNair. Voldemort motioned to the darker of the two Deatheaters, "Come closer McNair." Pointing to the door his eyes in Malfoy's direction, "Leave us."
Lucius, the ever-obedient "lap dog" did as he was bid. A slow smile played across Voldemort's thin lips, as the thought of how easy it was to lead such fools, flitted across his mind.
McNair came to kneel before his master, "Milord, you summoned me?" His eyes never left the spot on the floor in front of the Dark Lord's feet.
"Rise." There was a tense pause, there was a way to say such things, and yet at this very moment Voldemort had brooded enough to want blood. Calming his bloodlust the Dark Lord finally spoke again, "I need you to keep an eye on Severus. You are to report his every move back to me. Where he goes, who he sees." Voldemort's serpent like eyes narrowed into slits, and he fell silent.
"Yes, Milord." McNair bowed his way out of the room knowing he had been dismissed.
Voldemort would finally root out all those who sought to destroy him from within. He wasn't being paranoid, he was being perceptive; after all who wouldn't want the power he wielded? Only a fool.
At that moment, Severus Snape, the most feared professor at Hogwarts, paced the Headmaster's office. It seemed to Albus that something more than the problem he had been told of bothered the young man that stood before him. Something that went deeper than just the spying and double life, perhaps it had something to do with Severus' new living arrangements.
"Severus, you need to take a seat. Pacing will not solve this problem we are faced with." Dumbledore's twinkle was gone, now there was only worry.
"Albus, you must know what this means?" Severus met his eyes, searching for some kind of reason.
"I do." The Headmaster wore a grave look, a look that spoke volumes to the Potions Master.
"You can't mean for me to make such a potion?"
Never had Severus questioned Albus' judgment when it came to the war. This caused the Headmaster to pause, to wonder what it was that had changed the man before him seemingly over night.
Albus Dumbledore never thought this day would come. The potion was so obscure that no one thought Voldemort would think of it. But he had, and now he wanted it. The Dark Lord would be restored to full power once he drank this potion, and would become Tom Riddle once more. That moment might spell the end for the Wizarding world, as they knew it.
"Yes, Severus. You and Miss Granger will brew this potion. Give Voldemort what it is he seeks."
"Very well. I must go retrieve a few things before I leave." Severus Snape left the Headmaster's office, heading for his dungeons.
Snape just couldn't process what had just happened; the world must have gone mad around him. Should he lay his life and Hermione's life in Albus' hands? The old man could really be crazy like everyone said; or just crazy like a fox.
He walked around his storeroom in a daze, there were things he needed if he was going to go through with this. Snape also needed to collect his thoughts. Too much had changed in mere moments.
Would she think he had gone back to the dark side? At that moment he remembered the night Hermione saw him in his Deatheater robes. 'Merlin, she was so frightened.' Would she ever look beyond the masked Deatheater within his soul?
Severus packed the last supply away and shrunk it all to fit in his pocket. Going over to the grate in his private chambers he flooed into Grimmauld Place.
Gently he leaned over her sleeping form, to whisper softly in her ear. "Wake up, Miss Granger."
Hermione mumbled something as she turned over. "What was that?" Severus was loosing his patience; they needed to get started with their work.
"Oh, Severus. Yes, right there." Her voice was husky, and full of lust. The book besides her bed was glowing with a golden light, as her words slipped past her lips.
"Granger, you silly girl." Severus was shaking her by her shoulders now.
She rubbed her eyes sleepily, "Professor, did you have to wake me now? I was having the most wonderful dream." Hermione said as she rubbed her eyes sleepily.
"As important as beauty rest is to someone like you Miss Granger, we have work to do." He stalked out of the room, robes billowing behind him.
Severus' harsh words had roused her from her half-sleep state. It seemed to Hermione that he was in a hurry to get to work, yet after the last comment he had made he could wait. Slowly she pulled her robe on over her crop top and sleep shorts. With one last glance at her warm bed, she left to follow Snape into the lab.
Hermione entered the room as quiet as possible, as everyone knew Severus Snape was worse than Madam Pince, when it came to silence. Just in the short time they had been working together Hermione noted how enthralled he became when he worked.
It was a stark difference from doing homework with Ron and Harry. There was no idle banter. No rows about Quidditch. Only a welcomed silence in which Hermione could study Severus without interruption.
"What are we making, Sir?" Her voice was not above a whisper, and her eyes rested on Severus' face.
"The Headmaster thinks it best to provide The Dark Lord with a certain potion. Be that as it may, you will need to start preparing these, Miss Granger." Severus pointed to a glass bowl filled with Yellow Snowdrop root.
Hermione felt his eyes follow her as she moved to the seat opposite him. Taking up the mortar and pestle, she started on her task. It felt good to busy herself after the dream she had just had. With Severus sitting this close to her, his scent invaded her senses; causing her dream to invade her mind.
"Professor Snape, may I ask a question?"
His eyes never left the open book before him, "Just one, Miss Granger?"
'Was that a question or a statement? How did I ever have such a dream about this snerky git?'
Severus cleared his throat impatiently, "Well, Miss Granger, the question?"
"Oh, yes, sorry Professor. What are we brewing?" Her eyes shone with a thirst for knowledge.
Hermione noticed the moments hesitation before Severus gave her an answer, "The Elixor of Rebirth." There was a matter-of-fact tone to his usually silky voice, which made Hermione uneasy.
'Why on earth would Dumbledore want Voldemort to have such a potion?' The Elixor of Rebirth restored those who were close to death to their original state. This could not be a good idea. No this was worse than a bad idea; this would mean that Voldemort would be back to full strength.
"Miss Granger, you are not working." His voice came from right behind her, and then she felt the world start to spin.
Severus covered her hand with his long lean fingers, and started to grind the herbs within the mortar. His body was pressed close to her back and Hermione felt every hard muscle and plain. 'Merlin, he was a big man.'
Hermione leaned back into his body, taking comfort in the fact that he was making the first move. Severus smelt of winter and magic, and reminded her of the old ways; the ways of magic that had long been forgotten. Bonfires, harvest moons, ritual, and oral tradition.
She was lost in this world wind of emotions. Hermione hadn't even remembered what it was she had been doing, all she knew was that if Severus let go of her hand now; she would no longer be doing it. A soft whimper escaped her as he bent his head and brought his lips against her neck.
As quickly as Severus had started the world spinning, he stopped it, as he pulled away and went to sit across from her once more.
"Do you think you can work under pressure, Miss Granger?" There was a hint of a double meaning beneath the surface of his words; and the smile that pulled at the corners of his lips, didn't help the blush that crept up her cheeks.
"It won't be a problem Sir." Hermione didn't bother to look him in the eye. She was way too nervous now.
There rest of their brewing went along without event and in silence. She was glad when she entered her room, and sat down on the bed. Hermione was all ready to finish up her sleep that had been interrupted, when Professor, her owl, tapped at the window.
Once inside he held his leg out to her, as she untied the letter from it, he nipped at her hair, a habit Hermione had grown found of. Turing over the letter she noticed it was from Ginny.
IMione'
I was wondering if you wanted to go shopping for a birthday present for Harry with me. You must say yes, you have been cooped up with Professor Snape too long, and you need a girl's day out.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Ginny/I
Hermione had forgotten about Harry's birthday with all that had been happening at Grimmauld Place. So with quill in hand she set to work drafting two letters. One was to Dumbledore, for permission to go. Hermione knew that Severus wasn't going to ok such an outing. She could just hear him now, "Miss Granger, there are more important things then a silly little outing to shop."
Well that answer wouldn't do, besides maybe the Headmaster would allow them to have a little party for Harry here at headquarters. Nothing big, but nice all the same. Perhaps even Snape would join them.
Her letter to Ginny was an easy one:
IGinny,
I have written to Dumbledore asking permission. Hope to hear back from him within the week. Besides I have an idea to make this a birthday Harry won't forget. Tell you when I see you.
Love,
Hermione/I
"Come here Professor." Hermione's voice was soft. And the black owl came as if obeying a siren's call. She tied the letters on his leg, and stroked the feathers on his head for a while. "Ok, now you must go to Dumbledore first. Then to Ginny." With that he took off out the window and out of sight.
A/N: Yellow Snowdrop, is the folk name for Adder's Tongue.
Toxic Part 7
Deep within Voldemort's stronghold, Lucius Malfoy paced before the fire. "Milord, you must believe me. Severus was with that filthy little Mudblood, Granger."
"Malfoy, where is your proof? Now is the time when you must put aside your differences with Severus." The Dark Lord paused for a moment, wondering if Severus had jumped ship or not. Malfoy could be over stating things, as always. The Malfoy's always had a flare for the dramatic.
"Summon McNair." Malfoy waited for no further instruction, he left the room to seek out the other Deatheater.
Nagini was curled up next to her master's chair, his only loyal severant. Perhaps, after all these years he had been wrong about one of his chosen. The one he trusted above all others. Perhaps Malfoy was suspicious for no other reason then his envy for the man he accused of treachery. Yet there was a chance that Snape had turned on them.
Never, until this day, would Voldemort have thought, Severus Snape would belong anywhere but by his side. After all who would take such a self- conscious, sniveling, greasy git under their wing. He had given Severus a home, a place to belong; for such a gift he was owed the utmost loyalty.
Yet after Voldemort's first bout with Potter too many Deatheaters to count turned tail. 'Fools all of them. But they were taught their lesson.'
Voldemort's thoughts couldn't be any truer; after his fall his true servants went to Azkaban. Once he returned to power they had been rewarded; those who sought safety with his enemies were punished. Such was the end of Peter Petegrew.
The fool had thought that coming back to The Dark Lord when he was found out, would gain him a lighter punishment. How little Peter knew of his master, the little help he had been was not enough for Voldemort to forget his transgressions.
The Dark Lord was stirred from his thoughts by the sound of footsteps. The door to the study opened, in walked Malfoy closely followed by McNair. Voldemort motioned to the darker of the two Deatheaters, "Come closer McNair." Pointing to the door his eyes in Malfoy's direction, "Leave us."
Lucius, the ever-obedient "lap dog" did as he was bid. A slow smile played across Voldemort's thin lips, as the thought of how easy it was to lead such fools, flitted across his mind.
McNair came to kneel before his master, "Milord, you summoned me?" His eyes never left the spot on the floor in front of the Dark Lord's feet.
"Rise." There was a tense pause, there was a way to say such things, and yet at this very moment Voldemort had brooded enough to want blood. Calming his bloodlust the Dark Lord finally spoke again, "I need you to keep an eye on Severus. You are to report his every move back to me. Where he goes, who he sees." Voldemort's serpent like eyes narrowed into slits, and he fell silent.
"Yes, Milord." McNair bowed his way out of the room knowing he had been dismissed.
Voldemort would finally root out all those who sought to destroy him from within. He wasn't being paranoid, he was being perceptive; after all who wouldn't want the power he wielded? Only a fool.
At that moment, Severus Snape, the most feared professor at Hogwarts, paced the Headmaster's office. It seemed to Albus that something more than the problem he had been told of bothered the young man that stood before him. Something that went deeper than just the spying and double life, perhaps it had something to do with Severus' new living arrangements.
"Severus, you need to take a seat. Pacing will not solve this problem we are faced with." Dumbledore's twinkle was gone, now there was only worry.
"Albus, you must know what this means?" Severus met his eyes, searching for some kind of reason.
"I do." The Headmaster wore a grave look, a look that spoke volumes to the Potions Master.
"You can't mean for me to make such a potion?"
Never had Severus questioned Albus' judgment when it came to the war. This caused the Headmaster to pause, to wonder what it was that had changed the man before him seemingly over night.
Albus Dumbledore never thought this day would come. The potion was so obscure that no one thought Voldemort would think of it. But he had, and now he wanted it. The Dark Lord would be restored to full power once he drank this potion, and would become Tom Riddle once more. That moment might spell the end for the Wizarding world, as they knew it.
"Yes, Severus. You and Miss Granger will brew this potion. Give Voldemort what it is he seeks."
"Very well. I must go retrieve a few things before I leave." Severus Snape left the Headmaster's office, heading for his dungeons.
Snape just couldn't process what had just happened; the world must have gone mad around him. Should he lay his life and Hermione's life in Albus' hands? The old man could really be crazy like everyone said; or just crazy like a fox.
He walked around his storeroom in a daze, there were things he needed if he was going to go through with this. Snape also needed to collect his thoughts. Too much had changed in mere moments.
Would she think he had gone back to the dark side? At that moment he remembered the night Hermione saw him in his Deatheater robes. 'Merlin, she was so frightened.' Would she ever look beyond the masked Deatheater within his soul?
Severus packed the last supply away and shrunk it all to fit in his pocket. Going over to the grate in his private chambers he flooed into Grimmauld Place.
Gently he leaned over her sleeping form, to whisper softly in her ear. "Wake up, Miss Granger."
Hermione mumbled something as she turned over. "What was that?" Severus was loosing his patience; they needed to get started with their work.
"Oh, Severus. Yes, right there." Her voice was husky, and full of lust. The book besides her bed was glowing with a golden light, as her words slipped past her lips.
"Granger, you silly girl." Severus was shaking her by her shoulders now.
She rubbed her eyes sleepily, "Professor, did you have to wake me now? I was having the most wonderful dream." Hermione said as she rubbed her eyes sleepily.
"As important as beauty rest is to someone like you Miss Granger, we have work to do." He stalked out of the room, robes billowing behind him.
Severus' harsh words had roused her from her half-sleep state. It seemed to Hermione that he was in a hurry to get to work, yet after the last comment he had made he could wait. Slowly she pulled her robe on over her crop top and sleep shorts. With one last glance at her warm bed, she left to follow Snape into the lab.
Hermione entered the room as quiet as possible, as everyone knew Severus Snape was worse than Madam Pince, when it came to silence. Just in the short time they had been working together Hermione noted how enthralled he became when he worked.
It was a stark difference from doing homework with Ron and Harry. There was no idle banter. No rows about Quidditch. Only a welcomed silence in which Hermione could study Severus without interruption.
"What are we making, Sir?" Her voice was not above a whisper, and her eyes rested on Severus' face.
"The Headmaster thinks it best to provide The Dark Lord with a certain potion. Be that as it may, you will need to start preparing these, Miss Granger." Severus pointed to a glass bowl filled with Yellow Snowdrop root.
Hermione felt his eyes follow her as she moved to the seat opposite him. Taking up the mortar and pestle, she started on her task. It felt good to busy herself after the dream she had just had. With Severus sitting this close to her, his scent invaded her senses; causing her dream to invade her mind.
"Professor Snape, may I ask a question?"
His eyes never left the open book before him, "Just one, Miss Granger?"
'Was that a question or a statement? How did I ever have such a dream about this snerky git?'
Severus cleared his throat impatiently, "Well, Miss Granger, the question?"
"Oh, yes, sorry Professor. What are we brewing?" Her eyes shone with a thirst for knowledge.
Hermione noticed the moments hesitation before Severus gave her an answer, "The Elixor of Rebirth." There was a matter-of-fact tone to his usually silky voice, which made Hermione uneasy.
'Why on earth would Dumbledore want Voldemort to have such a potion?' The Elixor of Rebirth restored those who were close to death to their original state. This could not be a good idea. No this was worse than a bad idea; this would mean that Voldemort would be back to full strength.
"Miss Granger, you are not working." His voice came from right behind her, and then she felt the world start to spin.
Severus covered her hand with his long lean fingers, and started to grind the herbs within the mortar. His body was pressed close to her back and Hermione felt every hard muscle and plain. 'Merlin, he was a big man.'
Hermione leaned back into his body, taking comfort in the fact that he was making the first move. Severus smelt of winter and magic, and reminded her of the old ways; the ways of magic that had long been forgotten. Bonfires, harvest moons, ritual, and oral tradition.
She was lost in this world wind of emotions. Hermione hadn't even remembered what it was she had been doing, all she knew was that if Severus let go of her hand now; she would no longer be doing it. A soft whimper escaped her as he bent his head and brought his lips against her neck.
As quickly as Severus had started the world spinning, he stopped it, as he pulled away and went to sit across from her once more.
"Do you think you can work under pressure, Miss Granger?" There was a hint of a double meaning beneath the surface of his words; and the smile that pulled at the corners of his lips, didn't help the blush that crept up her cheeks.
"It won't be a problem Sir." Hermione didn't bother to look him in the eye. She was way too nervous now.
There rest of their brewing went along without event and in silence. She was glad when she entered her room, and sat down on the bed. Hermione was all ready to finish up her sleep that had been interrupted, when Professor, her owl, tapped at the window.
Once inside he held his leg out to her, as she untied the letter from it, he nipped at her hair, a habit Hermione had grown found of. Turing over the letter she noticed it was from Ginny.
IMione'
I was wondering if you wanted to go shopping for a birthday present for Harry with me. You must say yes, you have been cooped up with Professor Snape too long, and you need a girl's day out.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Ginny/I
Hermione had forgotten about Harry's birthday with all that had been happening at Grimmauld Place. So with quill in hand she set to work drafting two letters. One was to Dumbledore, for permission to go. Hermione knew that Severus wasn't going to ok such an outing. She could just hear him now, "Miss Granger, there are more important things then a silly little outing to shop."
Well that answer wouldn't do, besides maybe the Headmaster would allow them to have a little party for Harry here at headquarters. Nothing big, but nice all the same. Perhaps even Snape would join them.
Her letter to Ginny was an easy one:
IGinny,
I have written to Dumbledore asking permission. Hope to hear back from him within the week. Besides I have an idea to make this a birthday Harry won't forget. Tell you when I see you.
Love,
Hermione/I
"Come here Professor." Hermione's voice was soft. And the black owl came as if obeying a siren's call. She tied the letters on his leg, and stroked the feathers on his head for a while. "Ok, now you must go to Dumbledore first. Then to Ginny." With that he took off out the window and out of sight.