A/N: Hi everybody. If you're wondering what happened to RedOrchid's "Love Potion no. 9", look no further. This is the same story, the continuation of it at least. According to the rules, you're not allowed to have the same material in several places, well, this way I'm not. Chapters 1-30 are on my old account (which has been disactivated with the wonderful motivation 'Main Reason for removal: ""' I have no frigging clue as to what happened.) and the following chapters will be updated here. I'm also putting the entire story at Ashwinder, so look there for the beginning of the story as well as if somebody decides to remove these chapters without an explanation as well. Sorry for the inconvenience, but until Fanfiction actually sends me an explanation, there's nothing I can do. /RedOrchid.

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Ok, so recap for those who haven't followed the story so far: Hermione made a potion to snare Ron. The potion made everybody who had any kind of amorous feelings for her reveal them. Ron, Harry, Neville and Snape are all under its influence. Harry and Hermione have just discovered that they have a mystical connection, and with the help of Ginny (who's with Harry) and Snape (who's with Hermione) they can create a light which might be able to destroy Voldemort. Ron is out in a cave because he thought he saw Harry and Hermione doing the naughty and flew away in rage. Neville is out in the greenhouse, working with a plant that might save his parents' minds. Hermione's off to a date with Snape (wearing very pretty clothes), oh, and Dumbledore, Harry and Neville know everything about their little affair. Last night of the potion is here...

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Chapter 31 - Carpe Nocem

She stepped out of the fire and out on the stone floor. Looking around the room, she noticed that a table for two had been placed next to the enchanted window, which showed a panoramic view of the Hogwarts grounds under a star-filled sky. One ornate chair stood on either side of the table, on which a white, linen cloth had been spread. Several sparkling crystal glasses were lined up next to each set of plates and cutlery, and in the center was a crystal bowl filled with red, floating roses. She counted the forks and realised that the table was laid out for a formal five-course dinner. A stand holding a bucket of ice stood on one side and innumerable candles were placed around the room. A soft violin concerto was playing in the background and, looking over at the bed, she saw that the thick, deep-green bed-spread had been covered with red rose petals. What the fuck? Was she really in Snape's chambers? It looked more like some romantic 15 year-old girl's fantasy to her...

Hearing a sound, she turned around to face the door to the office and felt her jaw drop when she saw the man coming towards her. He was holding a bottle of champagne, which he deposited in the bucket next to the table and covered with a linen napkin before walking over to her.

-"Hermione, you look absolutely stunning." Snape's voice was low and husky as he reached down and took her hand, which he brought to his lips for a tender kiss.

She was too shocked to speak. Not only had his bedroom transformed itself into a showroom for Romantic Fanatics 'R' Us, but he himself... She would have giggled if she wasn't so shocked. He was wearing dress robes of silver-grey raw silk and his hair, totally non-greasy now, was tied behind his nape with a black ribbon. On his face, the sarcastic smirk he usually wore had been replaced with a look of open admiration and an appreciative smile. What the hell had happened to the surly Potions Master, she wondered.

Smiling, he lead her over to the table and pulled out her chair for her. He then proceeded to open the bottle of champagne and fill both their glasses before he sat down. He clinked his glass to hers and they both sipped the cold, bubbling liquid in silence.

-"Welcome to my table" he said, with a tip of his head.

-"Thank you," she replied, hard pressed to hold back her laughter now. "I'm delighted to make your acquaintance, sir. You must be Severus' Nice Twin." His eyes glittered at the comment.

-"Indeed? What could possibly make you doubt my identity? You don't mean to imply that this - he indicated the room and his clothes with a sweep of his hand - is a bit, oh, I don't know, out of character perhaps?" She did her very best to keep a straight face.

-"Oh, no, not at all! I always assumed that there was a fluffy little romantic soul under all that black fabric." She smiled at him mischieviously "What's next? Pink, fluffy teddy bears on the shelf? A serenade to my exquisite beauty?" His smile widened.

-"Well, I was considering putting a charm on the roses so that they would read sickly sweet sonnets to you while we ate, and make the bubbles in your champagne glass form messages of love as they rose to the surface..."

-"And you decided not to? I'm so disappointed!" She put on a full pout and looked up at him through her eyelashes. Damn, that smile was hard to hold back!

-"Maybe I could make it up to you? A rainbow over the table? Glittering hearts twinkling across the room? A unicorn over by the bed?" The mock concern in his voice made her laugh out loud.

-"Thank you, I think I'll manage."

-"Thank god, I'd like to be able to eat something tonight." He waved his wand and the top plate was suddenly filled with what looked like a shrimp and crayfish sallad, with different kinds of lettuce, croutons and a lemon vinaigrette on top.

She took a bite. It was absolutely delicious. She wondered whether he'd conjured it up himself or had had the house elves make it. Putting down her fork, she looked up at him, taking another sip of the champagne.

-"So just what is the purpose of this little charade anyway?"

-"There are several, actually."

-"Care to elaborate?"

-"Well, the main objective is to convince Dumbledore of the purity of and our mutual investment in our little liaison, and I thought a chaste, courteous romantic dinner would satisfy him more than the other more, well, carnal activities I had in mind for this evening." There was a devilish glimmer in his eyes now.

-"Is he watching us?"

-"Perverted old bat, isn't he?"

-"But he can't hear us?"

-"Obviously, as I'm talking to you about things I wouldn't want him to overhear."

-"How long will he watch us before he leaves us alone?"

-"Oh, I'd say until what he sees makes him feel like a dirty old man." They both chuckled at the comment.

-"How about right now?" she whispered, stroking his knee with her own under the table.

-"Appearances, Miss Granger," he said with a would-be-stern look. "We should at least make it through the main course before we submit to temptation. We're supposed to show some self-control and purity of mind here."

-"Of course," she said lightly. "So while we sit here and enjoy our food and pretend to be the disgustingly perfect well-behaved couple, why don't we use the time to talk about some things a little more important than puppies and flowers?"

-"Any particular topic in mind?"

-"Yes, actually. What happened after Dumbledore called you to his office this afternoon?" She looked more serious now and felt nervousness bubble in her stomach.

-"Nothing I hadn't already foreseen." was his short answer. "He did his fatherly routine and I countered with the 'I'm-not-aware-of-my-own-feelings' aggressive routine. He then, through a lot of talking and protesting, 'made me realise' my true feelings about you" he grinned and speared a shrimp with his fork, putting it in his mouth. "Then, naturally, I had to do the 'No-this-can't-be-happening-to-me'-charade, which, after some tea and fatherly advise, turned into mute acceptance. I think I handled myself quite well." He smirked.

-"So basically, you lied to him" she didn't look too happy.

-"I thought that would be more benefactory to us than telling the truth. Gryffindors like Albus are so sentimental."

She sat silent for a while, eating her salad and sipping her drink, gathering courage for the questions she knew she must ask.

-"So what is the truth?" she managed, looking up at him nervously.

-"That's a very wide concept, would you care to be a bit more specific?"

-"Do you love me?"

-"Does it matter?"

-"Of course it does."

-"Really? In what way? Or let me rephrase the question: In what way would our relations be different if I did?" He looked at her with intense eyes. She found she couldn't answer the question.

-"I never could understand why you Gryffindors are so obsessed with the notion of love." he continued, sipping his champagne thoughtfully. "You seem to think that as long as there is love, everything is just fine." He leaned a bit closer. "Well, is that your opinion? Does love always equal happiness and a good life? Think of what you've experienced this past week..."

She remained silent for a long time, thinking things over. The second course appeared on their plates, a creamy saffron and salmon pasta with fresh parmesan sprinkled on top. Snape refilled their glasses and they shared a silent toast before digging in. When half the pasta was gone from her plate, she finally spoke.

-"I guess the question of love is only important because of what it might symbolise."

-"Go on"

-"I think most people see love as a guarantee that the other person will do certain things, like remain loyal, be nice, try to please the other person, avoid infidelity and such..." she tilted her head to the side, trying to read his reaction but failing miserably, as usual. "It's like in the books - declaration of love equals perfect, happy life, ever after." He snorted.

-"And that doesn't strike you as a bit naive?"

-"I hadn't really thought about it until now. I always just assumed that was how it would work... but now that I think about it, it does seem quite naive."

-"The notion of love is often tied to our expectations in life, that is true. So tell me, Hermione, what do you really want? And don't think in terms of what you ought to want, think about what you would really want." He'd stopped eating, she noticed, and a shudder went through her as he grabbed one of her hands across the table, caressing the fingers in the same way as he'd done nearly a week ago in the Potions classroom.

-"Well..." she swallowed hard, trying to ignore the heat that was spreading in her through the combined efforts of his touch and the wine. "I'd want to keep studying after my NEWTS, like doing an apprenticeship. I'd like to work somewhere where I could change things, make things better. I had considered going into the Ministry of Magic, but after last year, I don't find that option very attractive anymore. Hmm... I want to keep seeing my friends as much as possible, though I imagine we'll lead very different lives once we leave Hogwarts... Ron wants to play Quidditch and Harry wants to be an Auror. I don't know what I want to be... possibly a Healer or maybe a Professor." she broke off, not knowing what to list after that.

-"How about the typical dreams of young girls? Husbands and babies and picket fences and all?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

-"I don't know. Parvati and Lavender talk about things like that all the time, and Ginny seems to have a pretty clear picture of what she wants as well. I don't know. I never really liked babies and I don't think I'd want any. I might change my mind in say, ten-fifteen years or so, but I can't see myself having more than one or two. I've spent too much time with the Weasleys to consider having a large family. And I hate picket fences." she smiled, drawing a chuckle from him. Suddenly, something hit her. "Hey, is this one of those 'where is this relationship going'-conversations?" she threw him an accusatory look across the table.

-"Hardly, as we don't actually have a 'relationship'. We just sleep together a lot."

-"I like sleeping with you."

-"I noticed that." He grinned and filled up her glass a third time. She was starting to feel light-headed. It was a nice feeling.

-"You're very good in bed."

-"Thank you."

-"I don't want us to stop just because the binding breaks." There, it was out, now she awaited his reaction.

-"No? And what if Dumbledore tells you that your behaviour is unpardonable and that he'll expell you if you ever come near me again while still in school?"

-"He said it himself, he can't expell me while Voldemort is still out there."

-"That is true, but he could give you a year-long detention with Filch, scrubbing the Entrance Hall with a tooth brush. Albus can be rather inventive at times, and I'd rather not find out the punishment he'd have in store for me." He shuddered and downed his drink in one go.

-"We could be careful, only meeting in places where he couldn't discover us," she tried, wanting to find a solution.

-"Wouldn't work. He can observe the entire school if he so chooses. If he's set on keeping us under observation, I doubt that we would escape. No, the best option, should we decide that we want to keep this going, is to convince him that our relations are vital to that little clever piece of magic you and Potter dug up and continue as we were with his blessing." He laughed "God, he'd hate that!"

-"Are you saying that I need Professor Dumbledore to sign a permission form, giving me the right to shag my teacher whenever I feel like it?" she asked with an innocent look in her eyes.

-"Yes, something like that" he said, an evil grin on his face.

They sat in silence for a while, each thinking about the situation they were in. Severus had already pondered the problem for a while and come to the conclusion that if Dumbledore followed his sense of propriety, he would express his "deepest regrets" and stay away from Hermione. He'd be sorry to have her gone from his bed, but really, she was only a girl. He'd gone on for 38 years without her and would no doubt survive another century or so. His body would be disappointed and he'd no doubt frequent certain establishments in Knockturn Alley quite regurlarly for the first month or so, but then, things would go back to normal. The effect she was starting to have on him was disquieting and he knew his brain would be quite relieved to get rid of her, despite violent protests from other parts of his body.

The revelation of their magical connection had shocked him more than the fact that Dumbledore had found out their secret. Dumbledore had explained the ancient magical ritual to him and he'd felt a trickle of undiluted fear go down his spine. If the Dark Lord ever found out about this, and found out that he knew about it, that would be the end of him. Twenty years of careful plotting would go right down the drain and he would be dead before he could even reach for his wand. His plan of not choosing a side had been taken away from him - Fate had decided that he would make a choice and play a pivotal part in the last battle. He would not stand on both sides - or nobody's side if you wanted to see it like that - he would either complete the circle of the Four and go with the Light or break the circle and thereby rob the Boy-Who-Lived of his most powerful weapon. Either way, he would make a difference and if the side he chose lost, he would have burnt his bridges.

He understood Dumbledore's dilemma probably better than anyone, and certainly a lot better than Hermione and her arrogant side-kick would. To them, this was a question of moral principles and school rules. He knew that that was a small concern for the headmaster. Naturally, Dumbledore would be very opposed to one of his teacher having a sexual relationship with one of his students, but it was the fact that he was that teacher and Hermione was that student which really troubled him, he guessed. The chances of Hermione getting out of her "relationship" with him unscathed were miniscule and Dumbledore knew enough of his sometimes cruel character to know that he wouldn't spare the girl pain if he ever faced the choice between her happiness and his own. He was a selfish man, whose cynicism had grown with every year of corruption and betrayal that he'd seen. She was a very young, very inexperienced and very giving girl from the House that valued love, heroism, bravery and personal sacrifice for a higher cause as the highest virtues. It could only end in one way, and it would most likely not be very pretty.

He'd told her the truth in the bathroom as he was doing up her hair. He was not, and would never be, a nice man. This dinner was a charade, complete with pretty clothes, pretty manners and pretty conversation. It was not the real him.

For a second he wondered what the "real him" was. He'd played so many roles and played them so well over the last 30-35 years that he had a hard time making out what was an act and what was part of his underlying character. He didn't even know if he had an underlying character anymore, something that was part of some mystical essence, that would never change, would always be him no matter what he went through. He frowned to himself. He'd always found the theory of every person as a tabula rasa highly attractive, but he'd never really made up his mind on the subject...

-"You never answered my question." The somewhat timid voice broke his train of thought and he focused his attention on Hermione.

-"Which question?"

-"Whether or not you loved me." He could tell she was nervous and it was painfully obvious what kind of answer she was hoping for. He sighed.

-"Really, Hermione, what difference does it make? What do you want from me?"

-"I don't know, I-I guess I just want to know how you feel about me"

-"Are you sure? It might not be what you want to hear." He eyed her intently, wondering just how far her Gryffindor courage would take her. She sipped her wine and nodded, meeting his eyes.

-"Alright then," he said, filling her glass with a rich red wine to go with the main course (filet mignon and garlic potatoes) that had just appeared in front of them. "Remember that you brought this upon yourself." He drew a deep breath and could almost see how the tension in her mounted with each second. He surpressed a smile.

-"The truth is - since I assume that's what you're asking for, even though it's probably not what you want - that I've had a very pleasant week with you. Physically, we are very compatible and I've enjoyed our bed sports. I like pleasing you and your reactions to me are both satisfying and arousing. Your love too is very gratifying. I also must admit that I find your company quite tolerable. I'm a very private man and you annoy me very little, infinitely less so than most women I've met. You have a practical mind and you respect my privacy. You don't nag me - with the exception of tonight - to get to know my feelings and you don't try to remodel me into a knight in shining armour. Those are all things that I greatly appreciate. I can assure you, had you had the enfuriating ways of most women, we would, after the first couple of days, have met only once a day for fifteen minutes to fulfill the requirement of the True Bond, and I would by now have no more interest in you than i would in the average one-night stand."

He paused to take a sip from his glass and study her face. The expression was guarded and didn't show much emotion. She looked concentrated, like he was lecturing on some new, magical substance which greatly interested her. Perhaps he was, he mused.

-"I am myself very much surprised with my reactions to you. Your honesty and emotional generosity fascinate me and there's something about you that keeps my interest alive. Physically, my desire for you is very strong, which this magical connection between us illustrates. Intellectually, you're decent conversation and share many of my interests. Though you may not be among the most beautiful women I know, you have a very strong and attractive charisma - most sensual as a matter of fact." He tilted his head to the side and watched her face, trying to discern her thoughts.

-"Believe me, Hermione. Were you just a pretty face, we wouldn't even be here. I've slept with many women a great deal prettier than you and I've always grown bored quickly. The magical ritual you and Potter discovered today suggests that we would be a very good match, and perhaps we would be. I have no plans of domestic life, however. Not now, not in the future. I've never felt the need to produce an heir and I doubt that I ever will. I don't like children, which is a big reason for why I'm such a pleasant teacher, as you've undoubtedly noticed." She smiled at that and he took another sip of his wine, preparing for the final blow.

-"It all comes down to a few simple facts really. I've known Dumbledore for many years, and even though he is a sentimental old man, he won't give up the best chance he has at victory against the Dark Lord to protect you. He will sacrifice you for the cause, assuring the life of his wonderful Harry Potter. He will swear us to secrecy and discretion and leave us to our own devices. It will weigh heavily on his conscience, but he will bear it, telling himself that perhaps, this will lead to good things in the end. That perhaps you will change me into a happy, loving man and he can come by to play with our children one day. That I will realise how lucky I am to have you by my side. That we are, in fact, soulmates and that you can't fight fate. He will monitor your happiness and you will appear happy out of fear that if you're not, he will change his decision and take me away from you."

-"How is letting me be with you giving me up as a sacrifice?" Her eyes showed some fear now, mixed with hope from his words about Dumbledore's probable decision. He leaned forward and cupped her chin with one hand, gently stroking her soft cheek with his thumb, his lips but inches from hers.

-"Because, my dear, the fairy tale won't happen and the loving future will never come. There won't be a glittering ring, a grand wedding and children running around in the sun. Life with me will be in the shadows, in the darkness of the night and of the soul. You will be my mistress and we will enjoy each other in every way, drawing every drop of pleasure from our bodies and minds and eventually grow restless, bored, apart. With your practical mind, you might be able to surpress your longings for a time, perhaps even for many years, but the time will come when you'll want a normal life, away from the dungeons, without secrecy. When you'll want a man to introduce to your parents, to be accepted and liked by your friends, to walk with his arm around you down Diagon Alley, proud to show his love for you to the world. Eventually, you will want the kind of self-sacrificing, identity-merging love you know I could never give you." He caressed a shivering lip with his thumb and then wiped away a tear that was rolling down her cheek.

-"And when that day comes, and realisation hits you, you'll run crying away from me, clutching a shattered heart and cursing yourself for choosing the wrong man back when you were little more than a child and throwing your youth away. And I will resume my life as it was before you came into it, putting our time together behind me like a strange but pleasant dream. This is the truth, Hermione. You'll be the lamb led willingly to the slaughter, sacrificing your chance of true happiness for the good of the world, to save your best friend and to pursue an impossible love where you'll never know if the next day will be the day when realisation hits or the day when I grow bored and discard you. Now tell me, will you accept that sacrifice?"

-"Without hesitation" The words were little more than a whisper and the look he saw in her eyes then almost frightened him. It was loyalty and defiance, hope and fear, and pure, undiluted love such as he had never seen before.

Mesmerised, he stared into her hazel depths which seemed to promise him the world, before they were slowly covered with shimmering lids and black lashes and he felt her lips claim his in a fierce, unyielding kiss...

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A/N: Let me guess, you want the next part? Well, tell me what you think of this one and I might give it to you sooner. :-) I'm especially interested in what you think of Snape in this chapter. Until next time...