A/N- Yet another piece of the story :) Yay for chapter four lol. Anyways, the next chapter should be up within the next week. Hope you enjoy!
As for the questions-
Lillinfields- Definitely Het. The pairing will be eventually with Hermione.
Meyer- When Severus talked to Voldemort it was in a flashback before he had come to Dumbledore. Voldemort is dead, but the remaining deatheaters are still recruiting and are trying to find a replacement for their fallen lord. Hope that answers your question.
Disclaimer- I own the Diary's Milk Potion and the Mendella Tether. Yup, that is all, the rest belongs to J.K.Rowling.
***********************************************
Chapter 4- Lovely…The only one from Gryffindor who was worth my while was Granger, as odd as that might sound. In truth the only thing that I did not like about the girl was the fact she was a Gryffindor and the other being that she hung out with Harry Potter- the-boy-who-I-cannot-stand. Everyone assumed I hated the girl but it was quite the contrary actually. I admired her, her mind and her desire for knowledge, she reminded me a bit of myself at her age in that respect. Unfortunately I was also attracted to her, an impossible situation really. For one, she was my student, and I was old enough to be her father. I groaned, I'm sure she was sent here to torment me…
Soon the class filed in, mostly fifteen minutes early, and the last of them came in at about eight minutes before class began. At this moment I had to work very hard to suppress the smile that daunted behind the edges of my mouth, threatening to spring itself loose. Oh how I love these students… and this was only their second class. I had decided the last class to allow the students a free class- for study- for their other classes. I figure that since I shall be taxing them quite vigorously all year, I should not dump on them the immense workload on their very first day of class. So I will start them out now on their second day of class. I stood as tall and brooding as I could muster and then headed to my podium.
"Welcome to Advanced Potions, class. I DO hope all of you are ready and willing to work hard for this cla-ass" My voice had been barely above a whisper, but the fluctuation was apparent. Bloody Hell… I cleared my throat and continued on. "Un-like your previous classes with me, I will expect much more work from you, and as always, handed in promptly. Though I should say, judging from you who are in this class this should not be much of a problem. For once, this one and only time I shall say this, but everyone seated within this room is by far the best students I have had this year." I briefly passed my gaze to Draco who held himself proudly to my usual silent compliment to him, and then quickly risked a glance to Ms. Granger, who seemed somewhat sell-shocked from the compliment paid to her. I smirked. "Potions is by far a very serious subject to attend to as these are still very dark times we live, to spite the fact that He who must not be named had been defeated." I paused and passed my eyes over the class who was intently listening to me and walked out from my podium and stalked in the front of the class.
"You fortunate few have grasped the meaning and importance of this subject than others…" I lingered upon this word intentionally, "who have failed to grasp what the importance of learning such a beautiful art such as potions. You will have an intense workload, and the things we study and do will be much more difficult than any of you are used to." Every single one of them, all eight of them I should say, gained a big toothy grin. Oh yes, I will adore this class… Four Ravenclaw, two Hufflepuff's hehe… Oh Merlin I really should get over that. Also one Gryffindor and one Slytherin. It would figure that my own house would only produce one interested in potions. Draco Malfoy, one of the three goals left to my life…
"Now then, who can tell me the use of powdered baby Mandrake Root in a potion and cite an example?" For a moment there was complete silence and no hands were volunteering themselves. I had been a left over question from my other seventh year class and I asked, perhaps, in hope that one of these students would know the answer though it was not in any of their books for THIS class, at least not on the subject I had them read. Just as I was about to give up and sigh, I seen a familiar hand slowly raise into the air- one that had not risen in at lest a year prior. I smirked as I raised my brow to her. "Ms. Granger, enlighten us, if you will." A brief look of shock passed her features a moment before she regained her composure.
"Yes, Baby Mandrake Root, or Micro Mantrigora in powdered form is used in potions to help open the minds of the subjects. Although it is less potent than the adult form of the same plant, it is still a very useful ingredient but is not used often in potions due to the tendency it has to produce side effects to the potions that it is used in. An example of a potion that uses this is a lesser-known potion called the Diary's Milk Potion, and is used to connect the minds of the subjects, it is also used in the Mendella Tether, though its use in this potion is not fully known, it does produce a peculiar side-effect." I nodded my approval to her.
"Thank you Ms. Granger for your explanation, and you are quite correct. In case any of you might be wondering, there will be no points awarded during this class for research, behavior or correct answers, for in THIS class, it is what I will expect from all of you. However, inappropriate behavior, tardiness or lack of work WILL produce a detention or in severe cases loss of points." I glared momentarily at an in particular Hufflepuff who occasionally lacked in work in previous classes and then continued on. "Now then, will you all open your texts to page 439, Mr. Malfoy, if you will, start the reading on the third paragraph from that page." So the class continued, an interactive ray of discussion and answers and possible solutions to problems in works from my other classes. Yes, definitely a bright bunch, this one. I could already see the possibilities with them…
All too soon the class ended and I reluctantly let them go with a homework assignment of five neatly written pages of research on the need for perfect timing in potions due the beginning of next class." They gathered their things and left my class, some more slowly than others and for some reason Ms. Granger lingered. I stayed sitting at my desk ruffling through the messed up clutter also known as 'homework' that still needed grading. I soon seen a shadow playing across my desk, obviously the girl wanted my attention. "P… Professor Snape… Um, I was wondering if I might speak with you…" The girl trailed off and I allowed my eyes to lazily wonder up to her.
"Yes Ms. Granger, what is it you wish to say?" She stuttered a moment and then cleared her throat.
"Yes, well…" She bit her lip… Oh for the love of Merlin.
"Will you continue with what you were going to say, for if you are not I have papers to mark do… to grade." I gave her a hard stare as she composed herself.
"I was wondering if you… you know, your voice sounds different." Just by the sheer unexpectedness of that statement, I am sure my shock must have shown on my face before I was able to school it back to its normal sneer. I stood from my chair and loomed over her as to be as threatening as possible. I had not realized that this age thing had also affected my voice and I had no intention of letting the school brain figure out my little secret. I lowered my voice into something just above a whisper.
"Please, in the name of Merlin, the me THAT is NOT what you have stayed behind to say." Her eyes grew wide a moment.
"Oh… Oh my, I… I really didn't think I said that out loud…" I groaned, and then nearly brought my fingers to the bridge of my nose… an irritating habit really. I stopped myself from finishing the motion, as it would actually reveal my illusion. I swear this girl existed solely to annoy me, nearly as much as Longbottom and Potter. Well, perhaps NOT as much as them, but still… I flopped my hand down to the side as I noticed the hopeless look that entered so many faces just before they were brought before a gather of deatheaters. My stomach churned a moment and I sighed. Damnable conscience.
"Listen Ms. Granger, you have no need to be afraid of me, you are in the most advanced potions class this school has to offer at this time. You are free to ask me any questions, so please just ask…" Do not ask me why it is I spoke this so softly to her. Perhaps it is because of the look she had, or the fact that I had just had that dream, but I felt a small weight lift from my chest as she smiled at me. See? I could be nice when I actually desired to be…
"Of course Professor Snape. The true reason I've come to speak with you is the fact that I wish to research further on a potion called Asvriedare, a potion that-" I held up my hand to pause her speech.
"I know fully well what the potion IS Ms. Granger. It is a potion that heals mutations on the body and some lesser cancers." I paused, now fully interested in what she might say to the question I was to ask her, "May I ask WHY you have the desire to research this in particular potion?" I suppose I spoke to harshly this time as a panicked look crossed her lovely features briefly. Lovely… I shook my head of that in particular thought and tilted my head at her.
"I… I'm sorry to have bothered you Professor Snape, it was just a curiosity is all…" She started to say something else, but then quickly turned to run out of the classroom, at least that was my best guess at that type of reaction occurred often with me. I groaned softly, damn the young female species.
"MS. GRANGER!" She halted mid-step and quickly turned on the ball of her feet to once again face me. "I did not give you permission to leave yet, now have I?" She quickly shook her head. "I did not think so." This time it was I that turned from her. "Come here after dinner and I will give you a pass to the restricted section along with a list of books you will need to research this, but in return for this… 'Privilege', I will desire a ten page report on this potion." She gave a half laugh and I heard her footsteps as they neared the door. I heard the door start to open, and then it paused. In my horrid curiosity I looked over my shoulder and seen her standing there staring at me with a smile on her face. I raised a brow and she spoke softly.
"Thank you Professor Snape, I will be here promptly after dinner."
"I will expect it." I hissed over my shoulder and then she gave me a curt nod, and then continued to quietly leave the classroom.
*****************************************
A/N- Thanks for reading another chapter. Please review, I love to get them, and I do read them all.