New Realizations

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"What is it?" He heard her voice reply muffled through the door.

"It's Severus Miss Evans, I thought we could have a chat, if that's okay with you." He said with a hint of questioning in his tone.

"Oh sure. Come right in." She said pleasantly. She obviously enjoyed his company as much as he enjoyed hers.

As he entered her office he was surprised at how homey it was. His office was nothing close to homey, it felt more like a dungeon than most would think possible when somebody was living there. Her office was filled with photographs, nick-knacks from all over the world as well as certificates of merit hanging on the walls. The fire was lit and the room was tinted from its original neutral mocha colouring to a more orange tint. He liked it and was just about to comment on it when she said, "Are you going to sit down or would you prefer to stand and gawk at my office while I sit and watch." She said smiling at him coyly.

He paused for a moment with a mock thinking look upon his face and said finally, "Hmm, I think...I will sit." He sank into a comfortable armchair and relaxed his tense muscles.

"Hard day?" She said curiously. "Too many ingredient combinations for your mind to handle?" She said, again smiling.

"Much worse, but let's talk about something else." He said changing the subject quickly.

Seeing that he didn't want to talk about it, she said, "I have a confession to make. I'm not proud of this and I hope you wont think less of me because of it. I am hopeless with potion-making."

He repressed a smile and said in his coldest voice, "If you cannot mix a potion than you have no control on your life. You have no patience, no concentration and no ability to follow instruction. People like you disgust me, you are filth."

She looked completely horrified. She had said it only as a change of conversation and thought it was only a light comment anyway. She had no idea that he was this serious. Her thoughts were interrupted when he began to break out into laughter. "What are you laughing at?" She said puzzled.

"I'm joking you gullible prune." He said through his laughter. "You should have seen your face! I thought you would know by now that I am an expert in causing fear."

She picked up a cushion and tossed it at him. "I cannot believe you would be so cruel! They warned me about you."

"Yes I'm sure they did." He said proud of his successful joke.

"Well anyways, would you like some tea?" She said moving on. Snape assumed it was because she was embarrassed for being so gullible. He wasn't far from the truth.

"Yes, thank you." He said. They drank tea and talked well into the night of many things including one conversation involving Snape's clothing, which Rhea thought extremely hilarious, Snape did not.

When Snape headed back to his room he felt lighter. He was happy. Not only was he happy for making a new friend, but happy that he had someone else to go to other than Dumbledore, someone that trusted him and liked his personality. He thought about the promise he had made her. He was to teach her to become a 'great potion's master' as she had put it. Thinking of it made him smile.

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Hermione reached the library and tried desperately to forget about the book that she had found. "I have to finish my work." She uttered quietly to herself. She looked up to see Harry sitting at the next table, she hadn't even noticed because he was trying to hide himself behind a large leather-bound book. "Hello Harry. What are doing here? I thought you had to see Snape." She said, already knowing the answer.

"Well, I went to see him but he didn't have time for me and then I thought I could go back to the common room but I...I..." He tried to think of an answer but could not and finally trailed off. Hermione smiled at him in understanding and he smiled back. "So what are you doing here Hermione? I thought you would want some time alone with Ron."

"To tell you the truth Harry, I never really...I don't know how to say this..." It was strange that it was more difficult to tell Harry than it had been to tell Ron. Maybe because both he and Ginny and expressed to her how happy they were for her and how glad they were that things were working out with her and Ron.

"I understand Hermione. I was actually surprised when you agreed to go to the dance with him but I'm not going to lie, I was happy at the thought of you two getting together. How did Ron take it?"

"Pretty well considering." Hermione said almost whispering. She still felt the pangs of guilt that she knew so well.

"Are you sure you're all right? You look…"

"I'll be fine Harry. I'm just glad that I am finally being honest."

"Well, as long as you're OK, I'm going to go see how he's doing." Harry said as he picked up his books gave Hermione one last questioning glance as if to say "are you sure" and headed out with a compliant nod from Hermione."

"Bye Harry." She said as he left. "Now back to work." She said to herself after Harry had left.

"Talking to yourself again Granger? Not a good sign." A familiar voice said from beside her.

Hermione lifted her gaze. Her eyes trailed up a strong torso toned from many years of strict Quidditch training covered by a Hogwarts uniform with a proud looking Slytherin emblem and house colours decorating it. She reached his neck and looked past his lips, which were stretched into a perfect smile and looked straight into the bright blue eyes of Draco Malfoy. For some reason she wasn't as disappointed as she thought that she should be. He did have a quick wit similar to her own and was very intellectual. She thought for a moment, It might even be interesting to have an actual conversation with him. She had only ever really had Ginny as an outlet from Harry and Ron and sometimes Lavender.

"Wow Granger, not so quick tonight are we?" He said, still smiling.

Hermione replied simply, "What do you want Malfoy?"

"What do I want?" Draco paused for a moment in a suggestive way. Seeing no response he continued, "I thought we could compare notes on the major potion's project. We both know that we are the best in the class. I thought it might be a good idea if we teamed up so we can both do the absolute best that we can."

"I suppose that would acceptable." Hermione said, seeing the logic in what he had said. They compared what each had done so far and discussed many theories and thoughts and also had several debates, which weren't as heated and childish as would be expected of the two. Many students in the library were shocked to see such a display of kinsmanship between the two.

After near two hours had passed and both were satisfied with the final copies of their projects, they decided that it was time to call it a night. Hermione said goodbye to Draco and had to shake her head in disbelief afterwards. She could not believe how different he could be when it came to schoolwork. It's understandable though, Hermione thought. He wants to do the best he can so the most logical way to do that is to team up with me, like he said. She could completely relate to the feeling of wanting to do the best that she could. You could say that it was her weakness. She reached the common room shortly and headed straight for her dormitory.

Draco was more than pleased with himself. It had gone better than he could ever have expected. Phase two was complete, initiating a relationship. The only trouble was, as they talked and debated pleasantly over potions theories, he had actually been enjoying himself. It was hard to think of, but he liked being in her company. She was not self-absorbed like Pansy and most of the other Slytherin girls, nor was she an airhead and a complete bore to talk with. She didn't give him instructions and harsh rules and punishments like that of which he had been provided with all of his life, nor was she deprived of love, like his mother and smothering him. It was an interesting change to his life, and he liked it.