Hermione Granger was sitting in her chambers, readying herself for the luncheon at the Weasley's. She hadn't been sure about going, but Molly insisted. She was dressed in her deep red teaching robes. Hermione was teaching Potions at Hogwarts, as Severus had finally attained the DADA position he had been vying for.
Hermione pulled her brush through her hair one last time before placing it on her vanity and walking out of her bedroom, she made her way through the sitting room to the fireplace. Grabbing a hand full of floo powder from a crystal dish on the mantle, she tossed the powder into the fireplace shouting "Severus Snapes Quarters" as she stepped into it.
"Severus?" She called as she stepped out, brushing herself off.
"In here." His voice sounded from across the room, where a door was open. Hermione walked into his private library. Severus was sitting in a midnight blue plush chair, reading a book.
"I'm going to Molly's now, when I get back we can figure out that last ingredient
we're going to need."
"I'll be here. Good luck." He said looking up from his book, giving her a look of pity.
"Thanks, I really hope Harry won't be there."
"Don't count on it. The boy might as well live there. I don't now how Molly can stand it."
"Molly loves playing the role of mother hen. If she had her way I would spend more time there and Ginny wouldn't have her own flat."
"True. You better get going. Bring back a slice of whatever pie Molly made for desert for me." He said, turning back to his book.
"Sure." Hermione said smiling. "I'll be back in a few hours." With that said, she walked out of his library and back to his fireplace, who she flooed to the burrow.
When Hermione arrived in the Burrow, she took a deep breath before she turned and walked in the direction of muffled voices. As she stepped outside into the warm summer air, she was flocked to by a bunch of Weasley children. Smiling she bent down and picked up a little girl who looked something like a mini-female version of Bill.
"Hi Sarah." She said, tickling the child on her stomach. Sarah giggled. Hermione turned and looked by her feet, where another small child was pulling at her robes.
"Hi Marcel, I see you too." She said addressing Bill's young son, and Sarah's twin brother. Bill gave her a big grin, he had married Fleur Delacour, and just three years after they were married the twins were born. The other children at her feet were the sons and daughters of the other elder Weasley brothers. Percy had one son, who was turning out to be a lot less stiff than his father had been, and Fred and George each had a son as well. Their sons looked strangely alike, thought that may have had something to do with the fact Fred and George had married a set of identical twins.
"Come on you guys and girl," Hermione smiled at Sarah "Aunt Hermione wants to go say hi to your mummies and daddies." Hermione turned and led the group over to where the adults were standing.
"Hey Bill, I have something of yours." Hermione said, as she passed Sarah over to him. Bill smiled as he took his daughter.
"Hey Hermione. How are things up at the school?" Asked Fred breaking his conversation with Bill to give her a grin.
"Alright, I suppose. Where's your mum, I need to go say hi and let her know I'm here."
"She's over on the pitch, probably yelling at Ron and Harry for flying too high."
"Great." Hermione muttered, as she smiled her thanks and walked over to the quidditch pitch. She really hadn't wanted to deal with Harry.
"Hermione!" Molly exclaimed as Hermione walked onto the pitch. "Oh good, you made it. Ginny told me last night you weren't sure if you were coming. I'm so glad you did."
"Yup, I'm here."
"So tell me dear, how's your job? Are you eating well dear? You look awfully skinny. You're not overworking and under eating are you? That isn't very healthy. Come with me, I'll get you something to snack on." Molly, steered Hermione over to a large table set up with tons of food.
"Molly, I'm fine really." Hermione laughed, but took the skewered cheese Molly was offering her anyway.
"Here, have some pumpkin juice too." Molly poured her a cup full. "Now tell me, how are things going at your job?"
"Okay I guess. The kids all leave tomorrow, thank Merlin."
"What are you doing for the summer holidays?"
"Severus and I are working on an experiment, so I'll be spending a good portion of the summer at his manor. That's where his personal lab is and he has most of the ingredients we'll need in stock."
"That sounds nice dear. Will you be staying there overnight too?"
"Probably. The potion will take a few weeks to brew and will need almost constant attention for the first few days. I'll be staying overnight for at least a week; more if we mess it up."
"After that, then were will you stay?"
"With my parents most likely or back at the school if they are busy."
"Oh. Well, it sounds like you're going to have quite the exciting summer. What is this potion supposed to do again?"
"I can't say Molly, you know that. When it's done and Sev and I get the credit for inventing it, then I'll announce it to all of you. He and I agreed that we don't want any chance of someone scooping our hard work."
"I understand dear. So, the students leave tomorrow? How many more exams do you have to give?"
"Just one- the advanced potions class, hopefully it won't be to err…eventful, like with the first year's exams."
"What do you mean?"
"Two cauldrons exploded. The first one to go off caused the second one to go off because contents of it landed in the other girl's cauldron. I thought she was going to cry."
"A perfectionist like you dear?" Molly asked, smiling kindly.
"Afraid so. Severus never stops teasing me about her. 'Now you know how I felt all those years'. I almost feel sorry for what I put him through, then I remember that he was right old git and deserved it." She smiled fondly at the memory.
"Sounds like you've found yourself a good friend dear." Molly replied with a knowing smile.
"He has helped me out a lot with my experiment; you know attaining the ingredients and looking over my notes."
"That sounds nice dear. We'll talk more later dear; I think its time to feed everyone."
Hermione and Ginny were sitting under the shade of a large tree enjoying stomachs full of Molly's cooking and chatting about nothing in particular, when Harry walked up to them.
"Hermione, can I talk to you…alone?" he asked
"We'll talk more later." Ginny said getting up and brushing herself off. After she had walked out of ear shot, Harry sat down next to Hermione, occupying the space Ginny had just left.
"What can I do for you Harry?" Hermione asked, feeling very nervous all of a sudden.
"Please go with me to the ball Hermione. We'd have so much fun. Ron has a date, and so does Ginny. We could all go together. Please?"
"I already told you no Harry. I can't. I'm going to have exams to grade and other work to be done. I don't have time."
"Can't you skive off your responsibilities? Just for one night Hermione? You would have so much fun; we would have so much fun." He took her hand.
"Harry…" Hermione sighed, and pulled her hand back.
"There's someone else isn't there. You can just tell me if there is. Who is it?"
"There's no one else Harry. I just don't have romantic feelings for you. I don't know why, I just don't."
"All of a sudden you don't love me anymore? It's your new job isn't it? Just because you're a teacher doesn't mean you can't have a family too. Just give us another chance Hermione, I promise I won't mess up this time."
"Why should I trust you Harry? You're the reason I took this job and I'm glad I did. I love my job, I love teaching and I don't want to start a family. Not with you. I can't even trust you. I was a good friend, and didn't tell people when I caught you in bed with that little whore. If you want me to keep my silence you'll stop bugging me. If you loved me so much you never would have cheated on me!"
"And if you would have just got over it and slept with me I never would have been tempted!"
"What did you just say to me?"
"I…I'm sorry Hermione. I didn't mean it. Hermi" Harry's words were cut off by Hermione slapping him across the face.
"Don't you ever say something like that to me again. Just because I wasn't ready to sleep with you, didn't give you the right to sleep around. And tell me, why now three years later are you so set on getting back together? Did your little whores realize that they could do better? Don't bother talking to me until you can grow up. Tell Molly…I don't care what you tell her, make up something plausible for why I'm gone." Hermione said before disapparating.
Appearing in Hogsmeade, Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes as she walked towards Hogwarts. She arrived safely and quickly she made her way to her chambers, watching her feet to hide her tears from the students that littered the hallway. She looked up just in time to smash into Severus.
"I thought your many years here would have taught you to watch where you're going Professor Granger."
"I'm sorry Severus." Hermione said, looking up into the face of her friend. Severus frowned at the tears making their way down her face.
"What happened?" He asked softly before shooting a look up and growling at the students who had stopped to watch the exchange. After they had scurried away, he took her hand and led her down to his quarters. Once she was settled onto a comfortable couch, she told him everything that had transpired between herself early.
"That bastard! Who the bloody hell does he think he is? He better run the next time I see him." Severus muttered. Hermione laughed through her tears. Shaking his head Severus walked over to his kitchenette where a tea kettle began to whistle. Pouring them each a cup, he sat down next to her. Hermione took a sip and then leaned into him, more tears falling.
"I don't even know why I'm wasting my time crying over him."
"Frankly, neither do I; though I suspect it has something to do with you being a woman." He said as he brushed some of her hair out of her face. Hermione giggled and smacked his arm lightly.
"So what did you do while I was gone?"
"I figured out what the last ingredient we need is, and I attained it." Severus said smugly.
"Really?" Hermione exclaimed excitedly, sitting up.
"Yes. Would you like to know what it is?"
"Yes! Tell me!"
Severus laughed. "Phoenix tears, for their healing property."
"But won't those cause a bad reaction with the unicorn blood?"
"It shouldn't. We only need a bare minimum of the unicorn blood if we'll be adding the tears last. I was only able to get a single vial full from Fawkes, but I think one or two drops should be plenty." He pulled a vial full of the iridescent tears from his robes.
"That makes sense." Hermione replied, taking the vial from him. Getting up she walked over to a closed door which sprung open as she approached it. Walking inside, she opened up a cupboard in the very back of the potion ingredients storage room and placed the vial next to several others. Frowning for a moment, she pulled her wand out and muttered, causing the words "Phoenix Tears" to appear in writing on the vial. "Excellent." She said happily. Turning around she found her self face to chest with Severus.
"I'm thinking we can start work the night of that silly ball at the ministry. I hope by then all of our marking will be finished."
"Hermione nodded. "It best be. I'm going to go freshen up, then try and get some marking done. See you at dinner?"
"Unfortunately, yes, Dumbledore insists I start taking my meals in the great hall now that my days of spying are done."
"Well, good for him. It's good to have some human contact every once in a while you know."
"Oh hush woman. Go and get your marking done." He grumbled. Laughing, Hermione walked over to his fire place, and flooed back to her rooms.
