Ok, people I finally updated Final Test! Calada Tower is going to be in a two part thing. Sorry it took so long for me to update. It's official I work WAY too much....Taking most of your advice I've gotten a Beta, Laureril! Thanks a bunch! Couldn't have done it without you...ok not as well anyways. Tell me what you think!.

Final Test:
Calada Tower

Hermione slid into one of the nearby desks. Severus trudged over to his desk at the front of the room. The two scholars stared at each other for a bit. The silence was so thick that you could almost see it. They sat looking at each other until it seemed like hours had passed before Hermione just couldn't take it any more.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. Severus was taken aback.

"For what?" his voice was like silk. Why didn't he act like himself when he was around her?

"For what happened," a blush crept up Hermione's face. "It's not your fault that the Maiden enchanted the Knight," he said. Hermione all but fell off her chair. He thought she was talking about not getting into their rooms? Is he thick or something?

"That's not exactly what I was talking about," she whispered. Severus looked away from Hermione. He knew what she was talking about. He still didn't know why he had let her kiss him the second time. The whole event up in the tower had left his brain in shambles. Kissing her hadn't made sense to begin with! Maybe they were standing too close or maybe it was just a reflex. He had never done anything like that. Never! 'But I did.'

"Explain something to me, please," said Hermione, pulling Severus from his thoughts. He turned and faced her again. "And what is that?" he asked. "Tell me about the tower," she said.

"You told me you knew of it." he answered.

"I know what I said," she snapped. "I-I can't remember what it was about it that... made it so special."

Severus sighed. "Calada Tower is much like the anicent ring." Hermione looked at him. What ring was he talking about?

"Ring?" she asked.

"The Calada Ring. The muggles think it's just a pretty piece of jewelry. The symbol of the ring stands for loyalty, friendship and... love." he whispered the last word. "The Calada is a very old symbol. In fact the four founders created it. They each brought something to the castle."

"I don't understand."

"Am I to believe that our Miss Granger doesn't understand something?" his trademark sneer formed on his lips.

"I never said that I knew everything," she responded annoyed. "Just because you think I think I know everything doesn't mean that I do!"

"It was a joke," he answered. Hermione blushed again.
"It wasn't very good."

Indeed." There was a comfortable silence between them. "Explain something to me." Severus said suddenly. Hermione, who had been inspecting a jar on a shelf full of what looked like fairy wings, turned and acknowledged him. He was staring at her.

"If I can." He took a deep breath.

"What is going on between you and Potter?"

'Did he just ask me that?' she asked herself.
'Did I just ask her that?'

"Harry and I are just friends. The boy doesn't know how to act his age, and he's really clingy." she answered. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason," he said nonchalantly, "Just making sure your relationship with Potter doesn't get out of hand."

"Please! Harry and me?" she asked, vaguely gesturing to herself. "Harry is really not someone I'd want to be in love with." With that said Hermione couldn't help herself and she started laughing. Severus looked at her. He didn't realize how stupid his comment was. "He's Harry!" she choked out. "Goddess he's like my brother!" Hermione laughed a little more before she calmed herself down. She took a deep breath and sighed. "Thanks."

Severus was taken aback. What had he done? "Your welcome?" he asked.

"It's been a while since I was able to laugh like that. I know I'll be feeling it later but hell it's worth it." she unconsciously rubbed her side.

Severus noticed and asked, "Does it still bother you?"

"What?" He pointed towards her side and Hermionie realized that she was rubbing it.

"Oh!" she squeaked. "No, not really. Only about every time I breathe and while I'm awake." she giggled again. Severus couldn't help but chuckle a little, too. She seemed to relax around him.

Severus stood from his chair and walked over to his supplies closet and started looking for something. He kept his back to her while he searched. Finding what he was looking for he walked back over towards his desk, but instead of returning to his desk, he walked over to Hermione. He picked up one of the student's cauldrons and placed it on the desk next to her. She looked over the rim of the vessel at him.

"What are you going to make?" she asked.

"Something that will help you." was all he said.

He placed the cauldron over a fire he started with his wand. Slowly he poured water into it. He walked back over to his supplies closet to collect more jars. Hermione watched him work. His hands gently handled the ingredients and worked quickly. She could tell that he prided himself on how well he handled himself in the lab. His hands worked the knife with ease. Hermione wanted to know what he was working on.
In fact, since he had only perfected this potion recently he hadn't thought of a name. He had been working on a new pain potion over the summer and finally made one that could relieve pain all day with only one dose. He had tested it on himself after a mishap he had with one of Hagrid's "pets."

Hermionie's eyes followed his slim fingers as they deftly separated the sliced dandelion root from the rest of the prepared ingredients. The man had a way round the potion's lab. He knew how to use herbs and other items to make something useful. She had considered becoming a potions mistress but knew the only way she would be able to do that would be to study for years and years. Not that she had a problem. Granted, in theory, she knew how to mix most of the potions in the restricted section of the library, but that didn't mean that she knew everything.

'Gods his hands must be very talented.' she thought. 'In more ways then one.' A blush crept up her cheeks.

"Something the matter?" Severus asked, seeing her brighten as he added moonflower to the potion.

"No, just thinking of something."

"Care to elaborate?" This caused Hermione's face to turn three more shades of red.

"Trust me when I say, you don't want to know." she tried to hide a laugh. She cleared her throat. "You never did tell me the reason behind the tower." Severus added another plant to the potion and turned around. He had a reason for not finishing the story. In all honesty, he didn't know what drew him there, but it had to be the power of the tower.

"What do you know of the founders?"

"That they wanted a place to teach young witches and wizards magic. They became the names of the four houses. Slytherin wanted to make it so only Purebloods could learn and when the others wouldn't hear of it, he left."

"Yes." he nodded. "The tower was built before he left. They created the tower to draw magic to the castle. It brought only the most...how should I put this... devoted to the tower itself."

"Devoted?"

"Devoted to the craft, school, heart..." that statement made Hermione remember what she had read. That tower drew powerful magic from the heart of the castle. It was considered a gift to be able to look upon the grounds from that point of the castle. It was no surprise that it had shown itself to Dumbledore, but why would it show itself to Severus? Or her?

"Why can't you see it from the grounds? From where we were standing it would seem like you could see it from every point."

"It's protected. As I said, only the most devoted can see it." he turned back to the potion that was now boiling.

"Then why did it show itself to me?" she asked in little above a whisper.

"Because, Miss Granger, You have one of the purest hearts this school has seen. You threw yourself in front of Potter to save his life. You would, no doubt, do the same for anyone. You are a very powerful witch and I for one wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of one of your hexes." This comment made her blush, once again.

"Then why did it bring us up there earlier?" Soon she would ask about the kiss.

"I don't know." he sighed.

"Then why did you kiss me?" she asked quickly. Severus didn't know if he heard her right.

"The question can be turned back at you." he turned around again.

"I asked you first." Hermione walked around the desk and stood in front of him.

"I asked you second." 'Not the most mature remark.' he mumbled to himself. Hermionie hadn't heard. "Was it a fluke?" she asked. "Or was it just a game to play? To see how long you can tease me and then pull away?" Hermione quickly covered her mouth.

"I can tell you, Hermione, I had no intention to kiss you this evening."

"Nor I." Their bodies were close once again. Severus wanted to pull her into his arms and she wanted him to. He looked into her eyes. They just stared at each other. He was drawn to her, and she to him. Hermione looked away first. "Was I bad?"

"Huh?" he gulped.

"The kiss. Was it bad?" she blushed.

For the first time he blushed in front of her as well. "Um...no."

Hermione stepped closer. He would have stepped back but the desk was behind him. "You called me Hermione," she whispered. He didn't even know he had called her that out loud. He nodded. "What do you think of me, Severus?"

Cliff hanger, much? Sorry couldn't help myself. Is it the tower or is it their attraction to one and other? The next chap will tell it all, only it's not ready just yet....sorry. But it will be soon. Promise! Review please.