Severus stalked back and forth, pacing in front of the fireplace in his room. It was barely nine and so far this morning, he had already checked on the potions, though he knew none of them required so much as a stir; had finished grading all his exams; and had thoroughly cleaned and reorganized his storage closet. He had only been able to sleep a little over four hours, and he desperately wished he could sleep more. Usually he loved the Christmas holidays because there were no students around, but now, several days into it, he wished for the normalcy of his classes, so he didn't have to feel as if he were constantly waiting.
Waiting, waiting to see Hermione. He had supposed she would spend more time in the laboratory now that classes were finished, but if anything, it seemed she was spending less time there. She would usually come in once in the morning, then a few hours in the afternoon, and maybe a few more in the evening.
He decided to attend breakfast, which he normally skipped, and he knew in part it was to see Hermione, though he had no idea whether she ate breakfast. He pulled on his robes and stalked to the Great Hall, stopping on the way to talk briefly with one of the Slytherins, a sixth year named Hannah, who was staying over Christmas. There were two other Slytherins staying, a brother and sister that were fourth and first years respectively, but he did not see them.
As he entered, he scanned the table on the floor. Albus, Flitwick and Hooch were there, as well as five of the students that were staying over, but did not see Hermione, and he was somewhat disappointed. Dumbledore waved him over as he approached, and Severus obliged by sitting in the seat beside the Headmaster.
"Good morning, Severus! How are you enjoying your holiday so far?"
He snorted by way of reply. "I need to go to Diagon Alley."
"Christmas shopping?" Albus asked with a hopeful smile.
"Hardly. I need potions supplies."
"I would rather you not go, Severus, you know why," he said, concern in his voice, but finally the old man conceded. "If you must go, take Hermione with you."
Severus scowled, even though he had anticipated the old man's response. "Very well," he sighed, but he couldn't fool Dumbledore, who looked at him with arched eyebrows and a slight twinkle, though the wizard didn't say anything. Severus couldn't help but wonder if Minerva had talked to him about their conversation a few days ago.
He suffered through some small talk with Albus while he drank two cups of black coffee, then excused himself. He went to Hermione's room and woke up the witch in the portrait that guarded her door. Grumbling, she went to look for Hermione, and came back momentarily.
"I hope you're happy," she groused at him. "Had to wake her up too."
Seconds later, the door opened, and a disheveled, not quite awake Hermione appeared, wearing a t-shirt and shorts, her bushy hair out of control.
"What do you want? It's too early."
"I need to go to London and Albus has requested that you accompany me. I apologize for the early hour, I did not realize you were still asleep." When she said nothing, he added, "We can go later, if that is more convenient."
"No, it's alright, now's fine. But you'll have to wait while I finish up my Christmas shopping," she said finally, ignoring his scowl. "Let me get dressed. Come on in, I'll be done in a second."
He entered, pulling the door shut behind him, watching her return to the bedroom. He browsed her bookshelves, looking for new additions since the last time he had been here. He pulled out a book on curses and countercurses and, sitting down with it, began to read.
Fifteen minutes later, Hermione emerged from the bedroom, wearing a light blue sweater and khakis, her hair pulled back into a clip, although a few defiant wisps of hair still floated about her face.
"Alright, let's go," she said, walking to the door, not waiting to see if he followed.
She walked briskly through the castle, aware of his presence behind her. They did not speak until after reaching the front doors.
"Where do you need to go?" she asked him as the doors opened to reveal a fresh layer of snow.
"The Apothecary."
"Is that it?" When he nodded, she asked, "Why don't you just give me a list?"
"While you might be capable of brewing potions, I trust no one with regards to selecting potions ingredients."
She rolled her eyes at him as she stopped and faced him at the edge of the path to Hogsmeade.
"Fine, why don't we make this a challenge? You give me the list, and I'll purchase the ingredients. If everything is satisfactory, you buy me lunch."
"And if it is not satisfactory?"
"Name your price," she said boldly, watching his face for reaction.
He crossed his arms and stared at her, thinking intently. He smirked, just barely, as he answered, "We switch positions for a week. You teach potions, and I teach DADA."
"A day," she countered. "A week is hardly fair, since I only get lunch if I win."
"Very well, a day." He started down the path, Hermione following closely behind. "How much shopping must I endure today?"
"Endure? In case you've forgotten, I'm doing you a favor by going with you. You think Albus would have let you go on your own?" He scowled but didn't answer. She sighed. "Just a few things, actually. Something for Molly Weasley, and for Harry and Minerva. I need to go into Muggle London for my parents' presents, but I'll do that another time."
"Why should you make a second trip when we will already be in town?" he asked with a quick glance in her direction.
"Because I'm sure you'll be like every other straight male in the world and bitch and moan the entire time I'm shopping. I'd just as soon do it on my own."
"Try me."
Hermione frowned at his flowing robes in front of her. He wanted to go shopping?
"You really want to go shopping?"
"Not especially."
"Then why--"
He cut her off before she could even finish the question, his voice hard. "Because I have been holed up in this damn castle since the term began and I need to get out."
"Wait, you haven't left the castle since Russia?" she asked incredulously.
"Albus forbid it, or have you forgotten?" He omitted telling her that Albus had previously approved his leaving with Hermione's supervision, which Severus had stubbornly refused. "Until now, I have been sufficiently stocked with supplies that I did not have reason to leave."
They walked in silence for a moment, Hermione unsure of what Dumbledore would say if he found out they went into Muggle London. Against her better judgment, she made her decision.
"If you're going to go into town, you'll have to change out of your robes," she said finally as Severus slowed. "I can transfigure them into a long coat, which should be enough."
"That will be acceptable. We are now far enough to apparate. Where shall we go first?"
"Do you want to get your supplies now, or on the way back?"
"First is acceptable."
"Then we go to the Apothecary. See you there."
With two distinct pops, they disapparated and appeared in Diagon Alley, in front of the shop, a few meters apart from one another. Severus strode over to Hermione and withdrew a sheet of parchment from his robes and handed it to her.
"Your list."
She accepted it wordlessly and opened the door to the shop. A barrage of smells assaulted her at first, until she grew accustomed to the various odors of the ingredients. She glanced over the list, noting a few items that she would have to ask for at the counter.
Severus stood back and observed as she browsed through the rows of the shop. She was very methodical in her shopping, and very thorough, as well. He had known before accepting her bet that she would be as discerning as he would have been. He moved to stand behind her while she looked at the various types of black beetles.
"Are you sure that is what I would choose?" he purred, leaning over her shoulder as she began to choose some Egyptian beetles. "Those are rather expensive."
She inclined her face towards him and smirked at him, saying, "They are the best, which is what you always use."
He smiled at her back as he retreated, and she proceeded to the counter to finish up the list. The kindly old wizard at the counter helped her and totaled the entire purchase to twelve galleons and two knuts. Hermione looked expectantly at Severus who nodded to the old man.
"Put it on the Hogwarts account, Professor Snape?"
The old man loaded everything into a small brown bag, obviously charmed to hold much more than its size would permit. He then passed it to Hermione, who thanked him and turned to Severus.
"Well?" she asked expectantly as they left the Apothecary.
"It would appear I owe you lunch."
Hermione grinned at him, somewhat surprised that he would concede so easily; she had expected to fight for her free lunch.
"Thank you. Are you sure that's all you need?"
"Yes, you may proceed with your Christmas shopping."
He followed her to Flourish & Blotts, where she found a gourmet cookbook for Molly, Magical Feasts in Minutes, and for Minerva Feisty Felines and Clever Cats: A Magical History of Cats Through the Ages. Severus snorted at that one, but could offer no acceptable alternative.
After purchasing the books, they went to Dervish & Bangs so that Hermione could find something for Harry. She finally settled one of the new models of Sneak-o-scopes she had seen in Hogsmeade; the one she chose was a beautiful gold ring with red rubies embedded in the shape of a lion. Having finished her Christmas shopping in Diagon Alley, they headed to the Leaky Cauldron, with Severus somehow getting stuck with carrying all the shopping bags.
Hermione stopped outside the entrance to the pub and removed her cloak and withdrew her wand. She closed her eyes, murmuring an encantation, and with a flick of her wrist, the cloak changed into a long gray coat. She immediately put it back on over her sweater and pants and turned to Severus.
"Robes?" she asked, holding out her hand. He complied, and she repeated the process, but left his black. Before giving it back to him, she scrutinized his clothing. "You'll stand out in that suit. Let me see the jacket."
Scowling, he started with the many buttons, until he finished and gave it to her. She transformed it into a regular suit jacket, then handed it back. He shrugged it on and felt rather naked without buttons up to his neck.
"You still don't look quite right," she said, moving towards him. He inhaled sharply as she unbuttoned the top few buttons of his starched white shirt, now visible under the open jacket, ignoring the look upon his face. After he put on the long coat, she stood back and gave him an appraising look.
"Not too bad, Professor," she said with a grin.
"If you are finished," drawled Severus, secretly pleased at her reaction.
They went through the Leaky Cauldron, Hermione saying a quick hello to Tom, who greeted them from the bar, and out the front door into London. Since it was only two days until Christmas, the streets were crowded with chattering Muggles loaded down with shopping bags. They went first to a bookstore where she browsed the books on dentistry, while Severus looked about the store with great interest. It was his first time in a Muggle bookstore and he was fascinated. Hermione picked out a few books for her father, one on dentistry during the Renaissance, another filled with dentistry anecdotes. She paid for her purchases, then had to retrieve Severus from the Chemistry section.
"Have you read any of these books on Mug-- on chemistry?"
"Of course. I even have a few that I found helpful with potions," she said, looking at him with interest. "If you want, I can loan them to you."
They went down a few shops to a boutique that sold women's clothing, Hermione ignoring his protestations. Half an hour later, she stood at the counter, purchasing a silk scarf and a pair of earrings for her mother. His eyes narrowed as she handed the woman at the register a plastic card labeled "Gringotts."
"What are you paying with?" asked Severus, and Hermione hastily elbowed him in the ribs.
"I told you, I paid off the credit card last month," she said testily, raising her eyebrows and giving him an I'll-tell-you-later look as the woman handed the card back.
As they left the shop, he turned to her. "Was it truly necessary to bruise my ribs?"
"You nearly gave yourself away in there. I was paying with a credit card, a Muggle invention that Gringotts recently adopted, especially for the Ministry." When he stared at her dumbly, she continued, "I can use this credit card in the Muggle world as payment, and Gringotts automatically withdraws the amount of purchase from my account. They even handle the exchange rate as well."
"So instead of paying with money, you use the card."
"Well, it's still paying with money since it pulls the money out of my account, it's just not using actual cash. It's very convenient when traveling abroad."
It was almost noon when they returned to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch. They talked little during the meal, which Severus paid for without complaint. Afterwards, as they entered the alley behind the pub to return to Hogwarts, Hermione stopped, realizing she had forgotten something.
"I need to go by Flourish & Blotts before we go back."
"Again?" Severus asked with a frown. "You've already been once today."
"I know, but I forgot, I was supposed to pick up a book for Anne. I promise, it will only take a minute."
"I doubt that. I have seen you around books," he said, a corner of his mouth slightly upturned. "Very well."
"Really, it won't take long."
Minutes later, they were in the bookstore and Hermione had located and purchased the book Anne had requested. As they were leaving, a notice on the board beside the doors caught her eye. Curious, she stopped to read it.
Due to unfortunate circumstances, Moyra Faldco will not be appearing in January for the book signing. This event will not be rescheduled. We regret any inconvenience this may cause.
Hermione frowned deeply, her mind racing. Moyra Faldco had been the author of Extending the Life of Your Potions, the book that had featured Hermione's own stabilizing potion, the one Draco had somehow got from Harry. Something was bothering her, but she couldn't place it.
Moyra Faldco.
She gasped as it came to her.
"What is it?" Severus asked as he waited at the door.
"We've got to get back! Now!"
"So now you're ready to go back?" he grumbled as she raced out the door.
By the time he made it outside, she was already disapparating. He followed suit and when he apparated on the path to Hogsmeade, she was already running away from him.
"Granger!" he yelled at her retreating figure.
She slowed enough to call over her shoulder, "I'll meet you in the dungeons, I have to find something!"
Hermione sprinted off towards the castle without waiting for reply. Severus took his time walking back to the castle, still carrying all the bags, deciding not to attempt to decipher her sudden and strange behavior. When he arrived in the dungeons, he went straight to the workroom and found her pacing back and forth, muttering under her breath.
"Would you care to explain what is going on?" he asked, setting the bags down on the floor.
She didn't seem to notice him. "I can't believe I was so stupid! I should have caught that ages ago!"
"What?" he asked, approaching her. "What should you have caught?"
Hermione finally heard him and turned to face him. "This. You were right."
He frowned, not understanding, when Hermione handed him a book which he recognized from before, Extending the Life of Your Potions, and a sheet of parchment. He quickly read the parchment, which was a letter from Ron Weasley detailing how to get in touch with Harry while he was out of country.
"Are you planning on telling me what this is?" he asked, his patience wearing thin.
She started pacing again as she said, "That's the book with my potion in it, the one Draco sent you. It's written by Moyra Faldco." As she spoke, Severus again looked at the parchment. "The sheet is the contact information for Harry, which includes sending a letter addressed to one M. Faldco."
"Fuck."
"It gets worse."
"Moyra Faldco is an anagram," he murmured, rubbing his temples with his free hand.
"Right. For Draco Malfoy."
___
A/N:
What do you know, it's ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER! Sorry, but I just can't help but write 'em lately! ;) But, to ease your worries, w/ all the problems w/ ff.net lately, I should have a good deal of ch 16 written by the time I actually get ch 15 posted. Sorry Codie, I tried to get it up in a week, but ff.net wasn't cooperating.
Psyche, you are partially right about the Wilde references. I had just seen The Importance of Being Earnest (LOVE that Colin Firth; Rupert Everett isn't too shabby either) and really liked the name Algernon for a wizard so it just happened that way. As far as Anne, that was just a coincidence, nothing to do w/ Oscar. I hadn't really planned on re-publishing "Subterranean Homesick Potions Master," so didn't think about changing it ... I really like the name. And as far as Berkeley, I like to keep things the same, since it's almost an alternate timeline story, since Voldemort was defeated and Hermione got to go study potions. But you're the first person who's actually noticed, so I must say, you pay attention to details! :)
As always, I LOVE reviews so PLEASE let me know what you think. Also, I have author alerts turned on, or so I think, so if you click on that menu in the bottom left corner, you know, the one that says "Submit Review" -- hint, hint -- you can choose to add me to your Author Alerts. And if anyone does this, please let me know if you are alerted when I post ch 16.
Thank you so much for reading this far. I hope it's been entertaining!