Chapter Six—Potion Brewing

Hermione had just begun thinking that a relationship with Snape might not be so bad after all. He was entertaining, intelligent, and though he wasn't handsome he had some redeemable qualities—that silky voice for one. She wondered what it might sound to have him say her name without the usual sneer attached to it. That is until she showed up to class the next week and heard what he had planned for her. Inventory in the middle of the year! She knew he was only trying to assert his authority, to assure her that just because they had had dinner did not mean things had changed in regards to her apprenticeship but really, the man tended to go overboard.

As she sat counting bottles of potions ingredients, she wished she would never hear him say her name again, ever. She could have a job at the Ministry or be working for Fred and George doing research. But instead she was stuck conducting a mid-year inventory for a man so vile she had run out of names with which to describe him.

Potions weren't her only interest. Surely she could have an apprenticeship just as easily in Transfiguration or Arithmancy. But there had always been something about Potions that had challenged her. Or maybe it was just Snape. He was the only one who criticized her essays or took off points for the slightest mistakes; he demanded perfection from her.

Well screw perfection, her back hurt!

She was just finishing when he came up behind her.

"Here, have some tea," he grunted, placing a cup on the work table. She stared at him in surprise. Common courtesy was not something she expected from him, let alone the forethought to offer her some tea after six hours of nothing but counting ingredient bottles.

"Thank you," she replied, taking the cup. But if he thought that some tea was going to pacify her then he had another thing coming; although it did help some. Sipping the hot liquid, she wondered what dinner and a lecture would warrant for her next week. Grading first year exams? Scrubbing cauldrons? Was it even worth going if she was to be subjected to more of his positioning?

Finishing her tea, she straightened the last few bottles and then gathered up her stuff to go.

"I'll need you to stay late tomorrow night," he told her as she put her hand on the doorknob. She whipped back around, her eyes flashing with anger. It was one thing to have her inventory the supply closet but to make her stay late! She had gotten the bloody message and she fully intended to make sure that he understood.

"Really, sir…"

"I'll need your help making the Wolfsbane potion. It's almost the full moon. You wouldn't want your friend to be without it, would you?" he sneered, interrupting her before she could properly start her tirade.

She stood there mouth open, unsure of what to say. She didn't like the way he had referred to Remus but she was too excited about helping him brew the potion to really notice. Before now he hadn't let her brew any of the more difficult potions, especially not the Wolfsbane. "You must crawl before you walk, Miss Granger," he had told her snidely her first week.

"Yes…of course," she managed to stammer, "Goodnight then Professor."

&&&

He wasn't sure why he said it. He hadn't been planning on it, but recently it seemed that his mouth had a mind of its own when it came to Miss Granger. Not that she wasn't qualified to help him with the potion, she certainly was, but he didn't want her to know that.

He pictured her standing next to him as they brewed the Wolfsbane. She would undoubtedly be curious and pushing her way closer to get a better view. Perhaps their hands would brush as they added ingredients or maybe he would stand behind her, smelling her hair.

What was he doing, he thought suddenly. It was one thing to escort her to dinner, casually chat about potions and colleagues but now he was daydreaming about her?!? He needed a large glass of firewhiskey and soon.

He quickly learned that some fantasies are just that—fantasies.

"What are you doing, you damn girl?" he snapped the next night as she went to put the next ingredient into the cauldron.

"I'm adding the snapdragon root, sir," she retorted, obviously wanting to call him by a different name.

"Not now! It's supposed to be added after six minutes not after four. If you put it in now you will ruin it," he said, using his most vicious sneer, "Can't you read?"

"Maybe if you're handwriting was better, it wouldn't be a problem," she said vehemently, taking back the snapdragon and placing it on the table. He glared at her. This was not how he had envisioned this night. But then he supposed he had been foolish to think that spending an evening in a damp and dark dungeon brewing a difficult potion would be an opportunity for romance, and especially with someone like Miss Granger.

Hours later they finally finished the potion. Somehow, beyond all reason, both Severus and Hermione were able to maintain all four limbs and Lupin would have his Wolfsbane. Though by the end of the night neither one was talking to the other except for the few times it was absolutely necessary.

Well this should make for interesting dinner tomorrow, he thought to himself as he poured a large glass of firewhiskey for the second night in a row. He considered taking her to another nice restaurant just because the thought of eating a less than excellent meal with a sulky and irritable Granger didn't seem worth the effort. But neither was he sure he wanted to reward or encourage her impertinence.

Draining his glass and staring into the fire, he remembered why he had avoided dating in the past—it was much too complicated. At least there was the lecture. Hopefully it would be interesting, but if nothing else he could count on at least an hour without having to listen to her talking. Or if they continued in tonight's fashion it would be an hour without exchanging deadly glares.

A/N: I hope to finish this by Christmas, as it is a Christmas story but I can't make any promises. I have the ending written but there are at least two more chapters before we get there and I leave at the end of this week to travel around a bit. I'm taking the laptop with me but I can't be sure of internet access…but I'll try. Joyeaux Noel, Feliz Navidad, and Merry Christmas!