Hermione had just finished up her morning class and was about to head down
to Severus' office when Robin walked into the classroom.
"Good morning." Robin said cheerfully.
"I'm hoping." Hermione replied, straightening her robes for the umpteenth time that morning.
"What's wrong, Hermione?" Robin asked. "You seem worried this morning."
"I'm meeting with Severus now and-"
"Oh. I gets it. Say no more." Robin interrupted. "But make sure you don't have anything extra than you usually do. You don't want him thinking you put the extra effort in and build up his ego so soon." Hermione glared at her.
"What are you talking about? I was just going to try and convince him that I can handle more courses." Hermione said.
Robin eyed her for a moment. "Right." She drawled.
"I don't care if you don't believe me." Hermione said, grabbing the papers off her desk, and depositing them in her office. Robin followed her. "Besides, he wouldn't be interested anyway."
"I wouldn't say that." Robin replied.
"And I'm sure you will grace me with your abundance of knowledge on the subject." Hermione replied, straightening the piles of grading on her desk.
"Like in class, Miss Granger, you are correct." Robin smiled. "I was speaking with Korun this morning. He was passing by your quarters last night just as Severus came out of your rooms."
Hermione's cheeks tinted slightly. "Nothing happened. He just came to see why I wasn't at dinner."
Robin held her hands up defensively. "I'm not judging. But Korun says that Severus stood outside your chambers a little longer than necessary."
"And what would he define 'longer than necessary', Robin. A second could be considered longer than necessary for some."
"A couple of minutes in the very least. And apparently he had a glazed over look to him."
"Is that why you thought-?"
"Mmm hmm." Robin replied looking over the crowded desk. "You know, if you really want to convince him that you can handle the extra work, you may want to start by having your marking done and your desk clear."
"It will be tonight. I was just researching a few things last night, which is the reason I was not at dinner, by the way." Hermione replied.
"Oh yeah. Korun was telling me about he project with you as well. Hopes that it will help ease some of the tension between you."
"Korun tells you a lot of things, doesn't he?" Hermione asked. "Sounds like it's my turn to tease you."
"Ugh. Please." Robin said. "My family's known his for years. He's more like an uncle to me. That's just disgusting."
"Well, what if I told you that Severus is like a brother to me? Would you stop your insinuations?" Hermione asked.
"Nope. I'd just start in on the inbreeding jokes." Robin smiled mischievously.
Hermione shook her head. "I give up. Just get out. I have to get going."
Robin complied, giggling all the way.
~@~
"Enter." Severus said, not looking up from his parchment. Hermione walked into the office, and sat down across from him at his desk waiting for him to complete whatever he was doing. Finally he put down his quill.
"You wanted to ask me something?" He began.
"Yes." Hermione replied, and took a deep breath. "I was wondering if it would be okay for me to take on an additional course." Severus looked at her, facial expression unchanging.
"Do you believe you can handle it?" Severus asked. "I don't want to be after you all the time to remember to eat and sleep, Hermione."
"I understand. But I'm up to date on my workload, except for my grading last night, which can be done tonight. My homework for the other courses are completed, and they're not due for another week." Hermione said.
"I don't know, Hermione." Severus said. "I want you to have some time for yourself. I don't want you to lock yourself away with the excuse of homework and forget to live."
"I understand. I just feel the need to at least have my degree in the subject I teach. It would make me feel a little more qualified, and would give me more credibility." Hermione argued. Severus looked a bit more convinced, but it didn't mean he would break down. "What if I did it on a trial basis?"
"Meaning?"
"I take on the class, and if it seems like it's too much, I can drop it later." Hermione said, hoping she didn't sound too pleading. The silence dragged on for a bit.
"And you will drop it if I think it's too much for you." Severus said.
"Well, I'll argue with you. That's a given." Hermione said, smiling. "But I'm sure if it really looks like it would be too much, I would. If I can't offer a valid explanation, I would."
More silence. Finally, he relented. "Agreed. But I want it in written contract." Hermione started. "I trust you, Hermione. But when it comes to your academics, I've seen the way you are. I'd rather not risk it."
She nodded in acceptance, and the contract was made. After both parties signed it, Severus got up from his desk and called down to the kitchens for lunch. Once it arrived, they sat down by the fire. "Have the dreams come back?" He asked.
"What dreams?" Hermione asked. Than realized he was referring to the dreams of Harry and Ron. "Occasionally. It hasn't happened in awhile. But I won't say that they'll never return."
"It happens." Severus replied in understanding. "And how are your classes going?"
Hermione sighed. "The times are happier, yes. But the older students are still plagued with distrust of each other. I feel sorry for the younger years. They won't understand the animosity as much."
"I agree. In fact, I've been thinking of adding some extracurricular activities to help them to interact more. It might help with interhouse relations." Severus said.
"You're sounding like Dumbledore." Hermione replied with a slight smile. Severus felt honoured at the comparison.
"Thank you."
"You miss him." Hermione said.
"Of course. For years, he was the only one who'd listen to reason and see what was going on. He was the only one who acknowledged it and could get people into action. He's pulled me back from the edge many times." Severus said.
Hermione reached out and grasped the hand resting closer to her. "And I'm grateful for it." Hermione replied.
~@~
The weeks were going by, and soon it was nearing the Christmas break. Hermione had a bit of trouble in the beginning with the added coursework. But soon she had a routine. Although, she still did have a few days of trouble here and there.
Meeting with Severus at lunch became a regular occurrence. And it did not escape the notice of Korun and Robin. At dinner, Hermione and Severus would often be graced with knowing looks from the pair, and they would often brush it off. They would tire of their teasing soon enough.
The project with Korun also progressed. Hermione and Korun had some promising results, and some rather interesting debates with some of the new thesis' that were coming out. They were finally on a first name basis, and Severus would join them sometimes and put in his own views.
It was the week before the Christmas holidays that found success for the potion they were researching. Hermione had added the final ingredient, and looked excitedly at the result. "Korun!" She said. "I think we've done it!"
Korun came over from his calculations and looked over her shoulder. "I believe you're right, Hermione." He replied.
Picking up a vial, he put some of the potion into it, holding it up to the light. "It has the correct consistency, and the colour is exactly what we've been looking for. What did you add to it?"
"Rum." Hermione replied.
"Rum? You put alcohol in it?" Korun asked.
"Yes. It needed an alcohol base as part of the enhancer, and I had some rum that was 40%. It didn't need much, though I suspect that it will add to the popularity of the potion." Hermione smiled.
"Well, it worked. However unorthodox the contents." Korun smiled. "We should test it."
"What will we use for the test subject." Hermione asked.
"Me."
"You?" Hermione asked in surprise. "Are you sure? It could be dangerous."
"Only one way to find out." Korun said, taking the vial to his lips, and downing the contents. The potion sent a shiver through him, but when he opened his eyes, he seemed to have his clarity in tact.
"How do you feel?" Hermione asked.
"With my hands." Korun replied, causing Hermione to shake her head and smile. "You know what I meant."
"I don't feel anything." Korun said seriously. "I'll try to move something. That quill on the desk there." He pointed his hand towards a desk at the back of the room where Hermione left her quill and parchment earlier, and the quill flew to him.
"Well, I'd say that's a success." Hermione said.
"Well, we still need to do testing to see how long this is going to last. By my calculations, the dose I took should last a few hours."
"I'll write down the observations." Hermione said, going to the parchment on the desk.
"It's going to be rather difficult without a quill." Korun said. Hermione turned around.
"True enough." Walking back to Korun at the front of the room.
It happened too fast. Hermione didn't even know what happened until it did. Before she was halfway across the room, Korun held out his hand. She watched as her wand flew out of the pocket of her robes and into his hand. He threw it to the side, grabbing his wand, and placed wards on the classroom before pointing it at her.
"What the hell?"
A/N:
Again, I feel apologies are in order. I said I'd try to have a chapter up a week. But I had technical difficulties - technically, my computer was being difficult. I was without MS Word for about a week, and just got it back. Let's just hope it doesn't happen again.
I would also like to thank all my reviewers. I appreciate the honesty and the constructive criticism, and I hope to hear more.
~@~Aras~@~
"Good morning." Robin said cheerfully.
"I'm hoping." Hermione replied, straightening her robes for the umpteenth time that morning.
"What's wrong, Hermione?" Robin asked. "You seem worried this morning."
"I'm meeting with Severus now and-"
"Oh. I gets it. Say no more." Robin interrupted. "But make sure you don't have anything extra than you usually do. You don't want him thinking you put the extra effort in and build up his ego so soon." Hermione glared at her.
"What are you talking about? I was just going to try and convince him that I can handle more courses." Hermione said.
Robin eyed her for a moment. "Right." She drawled.
"I don't care if you don't believe me." Hermione said, grabbing the papers off her desk, and depositing them in her office. Robin followed her. "Besides, he wouldn't be interested anyway."
"I wouldn't say that." Robin replied.
"And I'm sure you will grace me with your abundance of knowledge on the subject." Hermione replied, straightening the piles of grading on her desk.
"Like in class, Miss Granger, you are correct." Robin smiled. "I was speaking with Korun this morning. He was passing by your quarters last night just as Severus came out of your rooms."
Hermione's cheeks tinted slightly. "Nothing happened. He just came to see why I wasn't at dinner."
Robin held her hands up defensively. "I'm not judging. But Korun says that Severus stood outside your chambers a little longer than necessary."
"And what would he define 'longer than necessary', Robin. A second could be considered longer than necessary for some."
"A couple of minutes in the very least. And apparently he had a glazed over look to him."
"Is that why you thought-?"
"Mmm hmm." Robin replied looking over the crowded desk. "You know, if you really want to convince him that you can handle the extra work, you may want to start by having your marking done and your desk clear."
"It will be tonight. I was just researching a few things last night, which is the reason I was not at dinner, by the way." Hermione replied.
"Oh yeah. Korun was telling me about he project with you as well. Hopes that it will help ease some of the tension between you."
"Korun tells you a lot of things, doesn't he?" Hermione asked. "Sounds like it's my turn to tease you."
"Ugh. Please." Robin said. "My family's known his for years. He's more like an uncle to me. That's just disgusting."
"Well, what if I told you that Severus is like a brother to me? Would you stop your insinuations?" Hermione asked.
"Nope. I'd just start in on the inbreeding jokes." Robin smiled mischievously.
Hermione shook her head. "I give up. Just get out. I have to get going."
Robin complied, giggling all the way.
~@~
"Enter." Severus said, not looking up from his parchment. Hermione walked into the office, and sat down across from him at his desk waiting for him to complete whatever he was doing. Finally he put down his quill.
"You wanted to ask me something?" He began.
"Yes." Hermione replied, and took a deep breath. "I was wondering if it would be okay for me to take on an additional course." Severus looked at her, facial expression unchanging.
"Do you believe you can handle it?" Severus asked. "I don't want to be after you all the time to remember to eat and sleep, Hermione."
"I understand. But I'm up to date on my workload, except for my grading last night, which can be done tonight. My homework for the other courses are completed, and they're not due for another week." Hermione said.
"I don't know, Hermione." Severus said. "I want you to have some time for yourself. I don't want you to lock yourself away with the excuse of homework and forget to live."
"I understand. I just feel the need to at least have my degree in the subject I teach. It would make me feel a little more qualified, and would give me more credibility." Hermione argued. Severus looked a bit more convinced, but it didn't mean he would break down. "What if I did it on a trial basis?"
"Meaning?"
"I take on the class, and if it seems like it's too much, I can drop it later." Hermione said, hoping she didn't sound too pleading. The silence dragged on for a bit.
"And you will drop it if I think it's too much for you." Severus said.
"Well, I'll argue with you. That's a given." Hermione said, smiling. "But I'm sure if it really looks like it would be too much, I would. If I can't offer a valid explanation, I would."
More silence. Finally, he relented. "Agreed. But I want it in written contract." Hermione started. "I trust you, Hermione. But when it comes to your academics, I've seen the way you are. I'd rather not risk it."
She nodded in acceptance, and the contract was made. After both parties signed it, Severus got up from his desk and called down to the kitchens for lunch. Once it arrived, they sat down by the fire. "Have the dreams come back?" He asked.
"What dreams?" Hermione asked. Than realized he was referring to the dreams of Harry and Ron. "Occasionally. It hasn't happened in awhile. But I won't say that they'll never return."
"It happens." Severus replied in understanding. "And how are your classes going?"
Hermione sighed. "The times are happier, yes. But the older students are still plagued with distrust of each other. I feel sorry for the younger years. They won't understand the animosity as much."
"I agree. In fact, I've been thinking of adding some extracurricular activities to help them to interact more. It might help with interhouse relations." Severus said.
"You're sounding like Dumbledore." Hermione replied with a slight smile. Severus felt honoured at the comparison.
"Thank you."
"You miss him." Hermione said.
"Of course. For years, he was the only one who'd listen to reason and see what was going on. He was the only one who acknowledged it and could get people into action. He's pulled me back from the edge many times." Severus said.
Hermione reached out and grasped the hand resting closer to her. "And I'm grateful for it." Hermione replied.
~@~
The weeks were going by, and soon it was nearing the Christmas break. Hermione had a bit of trouble in the beginning with the added coursework. But soon she had a routine. Although, she still did have a few days of trouble here and there.
Meeting with Severus at lunch became a regular occurrence. And it did not escape the notice of Korun and Robin. At dinner, Hermione and Severus would often be graced with knowing looks from the pair, and they would often brush it off. They would tire of their teasing soon enough.
The project with Korun also progressed. Hermione and Korun had some promising results, and some rather interesting debates with some of the new thesis' that were coming out. They were finally on a first name basis, and Severus would join them sometimes and put in his own views.
It was the week before the Christmas holidays that found success for the potion they were researching. Hermione had added the final ingredient, and looked excitedly at the result. "Korun!" She said. "I think we've done it!"
Korun came over from his calculations and looked over her shoulder. "I believe you're right, Hermione." He replied.
Picking up a vial, he put some of the potion into it, holding it up to the light. "It has the correct consistency, and the colour is exactly what we've been looking for. What did you add to it?"
"Rum." Hermione replied.
"Rum? You put alcohol in it?" Korun asked.
"Yes. It needed an alcohol base as part of the enhancer, and I had some rum that was 40%. It didn't need much, though I suspect that it will add to the popularity of the potion." Hermione smiled.
"Well, it worked. However unorthodox the contents." Korun smiled. "We should test it."
"What will we use for the test subject." Hermione asked.
"Me."
"You?" Hermione asked in surprise. "Are you sure? It could be dangerous."
"Only one way to find out." Korun said, taking the vial to his lips, and downing the contents. The potion sent a shiver through him, but when he opened his eyes, he seemed to have his clarity in tact.
"How do you feel?" Hermione asked.
"With my hands." Korun replied, causing Hermione to shake her head and smile. "You know what I meant."
"I don't feel anything." Korun said seriously. "I'll try to move something. That quill on the desk there." He pointed his hand towards a desk at the back of the room where Hermione left her quill and parchment earlier, and the quill flew to him.
"Well, I'd say that's a success." Hermione said.
"Well, we still need to do testing to see how long this is going to last. By my calculations, the dose I took should last a few hours."
"I'll write down the observations." Hermione said, going to the parchment on the desk.
"It's going to be rather difficult without a quill." Korun said. Hermione turned around.
"True enough." Walking back to Korun at the front of the room.
It happened too fast. Hermione didn't even know what happened until it did. Before she was halfway across the room, Korun held out his hand. She watched as her wand flew out of the pocket of her robes and into his hand. He threw it to the side, grabbing his wand, and placed wards on the classroom before pointing it at her.
"What the hell?"
A/N:
Again, I feel apologies are in order. I said I'd try to have a chapter up a week. But I had technical difficulties - technically, my computer was being difficult. I was without MS Word for about a week, and just got it back. Let's just hope it doesn't happen again.
I would also like to thank all my reviewers. I appreciate the honesty and the constructive criticism, and I hope to hear more.
~@~Aras~@~