Disclaimer: No rights to Harry, but I do get to write his pov in my story. I also get to shamelessly promote other fics like Funnykido's 'Face Fear: Are you afraid of the dark?' which is a series of romantic stories about what happens to different Hogwarts couples when the lights go out. I slithered my way into getting to write alternating chaps w/ Funnykido, and hope you'll give them a looky loo along with my Mary Sue, Marauders Love You! parody/romance. Ta, Thanks!


Chapter 29- New Year Resolutions

Platform 9 3/4 was full of parents waving off children sad to see the holidays end. The five Gryffindors waiting to embark were exceptions. They actually looked forward to returning to school, and had a spring in their steps that many of their school-mates lacked. Boarding the Hogwarts Express, a boy with unruly black hair said, "See you later" to his best mate before heading toward the last compartment of the last carriage on the train with two of his friends in tow.

The red-haired Gryffindor watching his friends start down the corridor called, "Yeah, see you." and walked behind Hermione toward the Prefect Carriage. On impulse, he reached out and grabbed the brunette's arm, smiled at her questioning look, and pulled her into a small storage room that he'd enviously noted others use before. Leaning back against the door, he grinned, "Come here 'Mione." She tossed her fluffy soft hair and tried not to smile,

"Ronald Weasley, we're expected to attend the Prefect meeting shortly." She moved close and looked up into his face, "What could be more important than punctuality?"

He said huskily as he bent his head to hers, "Snogging". Her arms crept around his neck. Her lips returned his kiss. She agreed. He'd always known she was smart.

Waiting beside Hermione for the meeting to begin- the girl's idea of punctuality being ten minutes early- Ron was content to feel her arm pressed against his and to remember New Year's Day. He, Ginny, and Harry had greeted 'Mione when she stepped out of the fireplace. The girl's amber eyes had lit up when she saw him, but she'd hesitated to hug him. The boy had wrapped his arms around his friend and immediately known why the girl had thought twice about it. He'd wished one of Gin's mistletoe balls was floating overhead. Reluctantly, he had stepped away, but not before sliding his hands down Hermione's back. She'd blushed and looked at Harry, who was telling her about their holiday. She listened attentively, but kept slanting sideways glances at him. Every time her eyes flickered over, his confidence had grown. Ginny took the other girl off to her room for some girl talk when Harry suggested a game of Wizard Chess. Ronald had lost. He couldn't concentrate on the game for trying to figure out where to take 'Mione to get some privacy.

His room was out- Harry wasn't sleeping there anymore since the twins flooed back to London that morning, but the ghost-like memory of another person hung round the space, and he'd feel weird kissing another girl there. When Zabini had visited Ginny before Yule, Ron had been staggered when the girl slithered her way into his room and somehow made him spill that he hadn't kissed 'Mione because he'd never kissed anyone and was afraid he'd botch it. Blaise offering to show him how, so he wouldn't worry about his first kiss with Hermione, had made him feel like a bludger had hit him in the head. Not as stupid as some people liked to think, the boy who'd never admit to secretly enjoying being called Mr. Freckles had taken her up on the offer.

The Slytherin had been right- kissing wasn't hard to get the hang of. He'd sure gone from basic to advanced in a few short minutes. Ron's lips curved smugly. Realizing that it wasn't very gentlemanly to think about kissing one girl while planning on trying to kiss another one, he'd turned his attention to where to go once more. It would be better if they weren't in the house...the tree house! That was private, and once he got her up there...

"What are you looking so happy about...I just kicked your arse mate!"

He'd shrugged,"Happy the game's over, Harry."

Hermione had gently teased him about losing over lunch. He'd checked to see if anyone was watching before winking and saying meaningfully, "I was distracted." The pink blush that spread across the pretty face across from him made Ron realize why Blaise got such a kick from yanking his chain. It was ace. In 'Mione's case, he hoped it paid off. The afternoon had seemed interminable to the boy who wanted to drag the brunette away from the endless round of games and toss her up into the tree house. Finally, Ginny, the best sister in the universe, had challenged Harry to a game of Wizard Chess and allowed the other two friends the opportunity to 'take a walk'. Trying not to walk too fast, Ron led the girl to the side of the yard where a huge oak had a tree house melded magically into its trunk and thick branches.

Hermione climbed up and called down that she'd conjure a blue fire in the can she'd found on a shelf. The boy practically leaped up into the space. Once it was just him and the girl he'd been thinking about for so long, Ron hadn't known what to say. So he didn't say anything. He just cupped her cheek with his palm, tilted her head, and lowered his mouth to hers. The lips he kissed were different from the full ones he remembered, but he felt his heart jump and her lips move and forgot everything except this kiss- which was perfect. The way she'd wrapped her arms around his neck had encouraged him to prolong the kiss. He didn't know how long they'd stood snogging before Ginny had called from the back door to come have tea. It didn't matter. It would never have been long enough. Hermione had smiled,

"I thought about you Christmas Eve, wished I was with you, doing this."

He'd smiled back, "Me too."

They'd agreed that they shouldn't tell anybody they were together just yet. Harry was acting really moody and uncommunicative lately and they didn't want to strain their friendship any further. Hermione suggested waiting until Harry was back to his old self before admitting they were a couple, surely it wouldn't be longer than a few weeks, and it might even be fun.

Standing in the Prefect Carriage thinking about the fun they'd had in the storage room, Ron grinned. His smile faded when Hermione showed him a section of the Quibbler and said,

"Look at this. Zabini and Malfoy tell everyone they're just friends and then let this type of picture get taken? I thought Slytherins more cunning than that."

Ron felt his temper flare. Malfoy, putting his hands on someone else's girl, taking advantage of someone yet again, what a bloody surprise...he'd like to shove the paper down that git's throat. The cocky boy came strolling into the carriage like he hadn't a clue why everyone was looking at him like he was shite. After the Head Boy left to go try and pick up a third year- the rest of the prefects joked that anyone older wouldn't give him the time of day- Ron told Malfoy to hold on. Of course the prat had to mouth off, act like he didn't know what the Gryffindor was talking about. The picture shoved into his hands shut Mr. Perfect Hair up. The snake had been speechless. A first...he hadn't even argued when Ron told him he was low, and a few other adjectives that made Hermione frown in disapproval.


Listening to Ron tell Malfoy off for being such a snake, even after the other boy had crumpled up the paper, thrown it back and swept out of the carriage, made Hermione frown. It wasn't due to the language. It was the depth of feeling behind it. The teen that had made her logical mind lose all sense of time and place in the storage room shook his temper off, and smiled apologetically at her. She smiled back, relieved. Ron just despised Malfoy- didn't they all?

After performing their Prefect duties, the pair entered the last compartment and sat across from the others, with the brunette sitting across from Ginny. Harry and Neville told them about what they'd heard through the compartment wall- that Boot wasn't happy about the article, and he and Zabini might be breaking up over it. Ron looked disgusted and explained what he'd said in the Prefect Carriage. Hermione reasonably pointed out to the boy beside her that maybe he'd been right about Zabini, the photo looked bad, and if Boot dumped her, who'd blame him. The uneasy feeling came back as Ron stared out the window without replying.

Ginny had a fit over the logical conclusion and flounced out. Maybe it was just red-headed temperament to be passionate about things. Hermione's eyes narrowed. She didn't like the thought of Ron being protective about Blaise. Was he just being a Weasley, or was there something more? Determined not to become some jealous, paranoid girlfriend, Hermione tried to chat with Harry...but he was in that strange mood again. Introspective and quiet, not wanting to talk. With a sigh, she asked Neville about the books his grandmother had given him for Christmas. The boy's pleasant, round face lit up as he launched into a lengthy spiel on the wonderful world of Herbology. The train pulling into the station was a relief to everyone.

Entering the castle, Granger saw the Weasley siblings talk briefly before Ginny brushed past her brother, almost running in her haste to get to Gryffindor House.

"What's her hurry?"

The corners of Ron's mouth turned down.

"I don't know. She accepted my apology for acting like a prat on the train, but I think she's still mad."

"What does she have to be mad about, you didn't say anything."

"Yeah, I know I didn't...that's why she's mad."

Sometimes Weasleys were the most irrational people on the planet. If this particular Weasley wasn't also the sweetest, most loyal, and sexiest, she'd be driven spare. As it was, Hermione had to take a deep breath and remind herself that this was why she and Ron were going to be so good together. They each had strengths the other could benefit from. Blue eyes were smiling down at her while slightly calloused fingers steered her into an empty classroom. The mouth that she'd dreamed about for so long touched hers in a kiss that proved that they weren't just good together, they were amazing. Crookshanks' protesting in the carrier made the girl pull back and say, "I guess we're being told to break it up."

Ron didn't give her cat quite the baleful glare he'd thrown the feline's way during the 'Scabbers' incidents, but it was close. She giggled and he grinned,

"Wait. I'll get you alone, without your cat..."

Was that supposed to be a threat? Promises, promises, more like. They walked together to the Gryffindor Common Room, where Harry waited impatiently.

"Where've you two been?"

Snogging in a classroom Mr. Nosy, why? Gracious...that thought sounded very much like Ginny. Had the other girl's personality rubbed off on her? Answering, "Walking here", she marched up to her room, internally smirking at the nonplussed look. Returning downstairs, she found Harry talking to Ron in a corner using a low voice.

"I went and saw Dobby. He gave me the hair, told me the password's 'Siren', and that Snape left the castle and isn't expected back until after dinner. This is the perfect time for me to go."

"I dunno. I've got a weird feeling- something seems a bit off."

She said, "I think you should go. What if he changes the password?"

They turned and looked at her. Ron thought a moment and said,

"Hermione's usually right. I'd trust her brain over my gut, mate. Yeah, do it. Just don't miss dinner, okay?"

Harry's face was a contradiction- apprehensive and excited all at once. She reminded him, "You don't have to go if you don't want to."

"I want to. I have to know. I'm going...wish me luck."

She stared at the friend leaving the room in a black cloak that was a double of Snape's. Underneath it he wore a black shirt and trousers in the same size as the Potions Master. The ill-fit was concealed by the cloak, and soon enough, they'd fit perfectly. Her eyes met Ron's. He shook his head.

"He's been obsessed with getting into Snape's rooms; ever since my brothers gave him that Polyjuice...I hope he's not too disappointed if he doesn't find anything."

Hermione nodded her head in agreement. Strange how she didn't mind how bouncy her hair was when Ron looked like he wanted to sink his fingers into it... They sat together on a sofa, considerately leaving more than enough room for another person to join them on the end, although there were plenty of empty sofas in the large chamber. Relaxing with the warmth of the tall body close beside her and the fire in front of her, Hermione's eyes almost closed before opening abruptly. The little know-all in her mind had just mused, 'Interesting how well Ron kisses- who'd he learn from?' She realized that she had no clue. 'Mione hadn't thought he'd ever kissed anyone, supposed she'd have to use what little knowledge she'd gained from Victor and covert reading of Teen Witch magazine articles to make their first kiss nice.

Instead, Ronald had smoothly kissed her socks off and she hadn't even questioned how he was able to do it so well. She refused to believe Weasleys were natural born great kissers who instinctively knew how to twirl tongues. The skill had to have been learned somewhere...from someone. Who? Her inner list queen stuck up her hand and said, 'Maybe Lavender, or Pavarti, I don't believe it's Fleur, although I'd OWL her to be sure...Luna's a long shot...the loony seems to like Harry, but she does hum 'Weasley is our King' a lot, and used to laugh at everything Ron said, funny or not. No one else is on the list of possible snogging partners, unless you count the one girl you thought he didn't like.' Hermione decided to casually converse with the girls in question- and OWL the other, and subtly find out whose lips had kissed Ron's first.

She wasn't jealous; she just wanted to learn for learning's sake and for a fair exchange of information. He knew about Krum, it was only fair she knew about...whoever. Yes, she could ask him directly, but she didn't want him to think that it bothered her to picture his lips touching another girl's- even though it did. Mostly, she wanted to rule out a girl she'd thought Ron didn't like, even though she'd caught him looking, and Harry had mentioned her visiting The Burrow, and Ron hadn't... If it turned out to be Blaise Zabini, that would bother her a great deal, and she'd have to do something about it.


Striding toward the dungeons, Harry ignored the doubts that had plagued him since he'd first come up with this idea for another 'experiment'. Even today, returning to school, he'd been torn between following through and giving up. After he'd seen Lorelei on the entrance steps directing students and she'd looked up, seen him, and smiled, though, nothing could keep him away. His steps quickened while he descended the stairway into the shadowy underground corridor. Harry knew he'd been distracted and moody lately, not wanting to chat, sometimes going on broom rides for hours and generally worrying his friends.

He couldn't help it. That bloody Polyjuice potion had given him the idea to take the chance to kiss Lorelei if he got it. He wanted to kiss her and feel nothing...to laugh his arse off over ever thinking about it in the first place. It had happened with Ginny, it would happen with the other woman too. Wouldn't it?

In a darkened doorway around the corner from Snape's quarters, the boy unstoppered the flagon, and grimaced at the never forgotten cabbage smell of the potion. Wanting to get the whole thing over with, he gulped the black sludge down, shuddering as the gut-twisting, skin melting and re-shaping in another image feeling overtook him. When he was able to breathe normally again, Harry looked down at his hands. They were the Potions Master's. How Lorelei could stand for these long, sallow fingers to touch her... He shook his head to remove the revolting image. Long black hair slid past his cheek. Shaking the oily strands back with a jerk of his head, the boy appearing to be a man felt his face harden as he walked determinedly toward Snape's guardian painting.

He sneered at the knight looking at him enquiringly, "Siren". The painted man's "Yes, my liege" caused his upper lip to curl. Ducking into the private rooms of his professor, Harry was taken aback. There wasn't a pickled animal in a jar anywhere. There were a lot of books, a chair by the fireplace and a long black sofa, with a fuzzy black throw draped over one of its arms. He walked over and rubbed the soft material between two fingers- this was proof Lorelei came here, and so was the book on the sofa table: The Princess Bride. A small desk stood in a corner so Harry quickly searched it. Nothing, and there were no secret drawers, either. He prowled the room, looking in books, behind paintings. In the bedroom, he avoided gazing at the large bed and concentrated on searching the bedside table and dresser and wardrobe. No luck. The bathroom was the same story all over again.

Scowling, Harry returned to the lounge, and hovered by the desk. Dobby had told him that the house elves gossiped about Lorelei being seen going into Snape's chambers several times during his mysterious absences. He looked at the clock on the mantel. He had another half hour left before the Polyjuice Potion wore off. The teen's now acute vision kept a watch on the door while he tried to give the impression that he was a malevolent bat that had just swooped back into his cave for something before leaving again. A square parchment on the desk caught his attention. He hadn't flipped that over before. Turning it over now, he gaped and held it up to see the details. It was a drawing of a mermaid on a rock in the ocean- it was Lorelei.

"So that's where you hid my drawing. Afraid I'll snatch it back, are you?"

The woman he'd come here to see was inside the doorway, taking off her teaching robes while the portrait swung shut. He watched in silence as she let down the long, spiraled curls of her hair and kicked off her shoes. She was wearing a simple black wrap dress that clung to her curves. Every muscle tensed when Lorelei slipped her arms around his waist and said,

"I thought you weren't supposed to return until after dinner. Are you back early, or just going out?"

He had to make his brain function. He had to. Heart racing, Harry lifted the corners of his/Snape's mouth, "Going out...unfortunately."

She laughed, and the seductive sound reminded him of why he'd really come here. To kiss her and get the idea of it being some mind-blowing experience out of his system so he could move on- to a girl his own age. His breathing accelerated and his heart thudded nervously when he met her eyes. He couldn't do it if she was looking at him! An idea struck. He said, "Close your eyes." She did so with a smile and a delicately upraised eyebrow. Something from his subconscious made him say, "I want you to pretend...that I'm kissing you for the first time..." She nodded, head tilted, lips parted.

He felt her shiver in anticipation. His hands were trembling when they slid up her back and into her silky hair. Harry swallowed with difficulty, and then bent his head to hers, barely brushing her lips. At his first, gentle touch, her lips pressed softly back, returning the kiss. Slender hands slid up his chest and held onto his shoulders while she moved closer. His lips pressed harder, eager to deepen the kiss. Feelings overwhelmed and the boy forgot that Lorelei thought she was kissing Snape, not him.

Stumbling back, he broke the kiss. Harry needed to get away from her and the experiment that had gone bad in a way that felt too good. He rasped, "I have to go, I didn't mean to...I'm sorry..."

"I'm not...and you can come back and make it up to me later." She blew a kiss and smiled, "Go on; leave so you can return...I love you."

Harry stared...what should he say to that? He smiled, "I love you too." He left the chamber.

Outside in the corridor, he felt the first twinges of the potion wearing off and ran toward the stairs. Back in the Gryffindor Common Room, Hermione was leaning with her head resting against Ron's shoulder, eyes closed, while he stared into the fire. At Harry's entrance, blue eyes looked up, glanced around to make sure none of their housemates were in hearing distance, and brightened curiously as he asked,

"So, did you learn anything?"

"Nothing...either Snape isn't double-crossing the Order, or he's too smart to leave evidence where anyone could find it."

Ron had a strange look on his face. Hermione, who had opened her eyes and listened in silence, asked hesitantly,

"Did...anything...happen that we should know about?"

He widened his eyes, "No, nothing...I better go get changed for dinner...I'll meet you in the Hall, okay?" Not waiting for a reply, Harry walked quickly to the stairs and took them two at a time to get away from uncomfortable scrutiny. Inside his room, he gathered clothing and headed for the shower. Inside the bathroom, he stopped and stared at himself in the mirror. His hair stuck out wildly. He looked as if he'd been...snogging...or making out...or any other description that didn't begin to describe what he'd felt. What a mess he was in. He'd have to take a cold shower, act cool, and remember not to look at the Staff Table during dinner.


The portrait fell back to cover the entrance, but nothing could cover the shock on Lorelei's face. It reverberated throughout her body. She had a mad impulse to run after the person who'd just left, but couldn't move. She felt frozen to the spot, cold shivers racing down her spine, but forced herself to take a step toward the door, stopping when her toe nudged something that made a clinking sound. The trembling woman bent down and picked the item up. She bit her lip as she sniffed the small empty flagon and confirmed her fears beyond a shadow of a doubt. Whoever it was she'd kissed, and touched had not been Severus.

She'd known when he had smiled at her so...sweetly...and said 'I love you too' so easily that either her lover had miraculously overcome the emotional scarring that still made him more comfortable showing than saying, or it had been someone else, using Polyjuice Potion to...what? Search Snape's quarters for something? He didn't keep any important papers here, he wasn't that imprudent, and anyone who knew him should've known that. And how did the imposter get one of his hairs, know the password...most importantly, why did the man stay when she entered. He could've left immediately and she'd never have been the wiser. Instead... Lorelei desperately tried to work out the puzzle of who and why. It didn't make sense.

"Are you alright, mate? You've been quiet all through dinner."

Tonks' concern made her lips curve even while she lied to her friend, "I'm just worried about Severus, but I'll be fine."

"Want to go for a bevvy at the Three Broomsticks?"

"No thanks, but you go on, have a drink for me."

The spiky black-haired...for tonight...professor laughingly promised to have two…. Lorelei smiled despite herself and decided to leave off thinking about disturbing things long enough to finish the meal. While Tonks and Hagrid debated whether or not the students would benefit from adding a mooncalf to the Magical Creatures curriculum, Lorelei glanced around the chamber and saw Harry looking her way. He blushed scarlet and looked down at his plate. What was wrong with the boy tonight? Usually, he smiled...sweetly...before turning away.

Her stomach somersaulted. No...that idea was insane... She stared until he met her gaze again. His eyes behind round glasses seemed to wonder what she was staring at, but... She brought out the flagon she had put in her pocket and casually held it, as though she had no clue what it really was- like it was something she'd merely picked up. His pale, wide-eyed face lost all color before affecting a 'What's that?' look and glancing away once more. She didn't like the suspicions that were invading her mind. Rising, she bid her friends good evening and headed for the kitchen.

"Lorelei is visiting Dobby in his kitchen! Dobby is ever so pleased!"

"Winky is pleased also."

Smiling at the pair who did indeed look delighted, the woman's ebony eyes gazed deeply into the house elf's emerald green as she crouched down, placed her hands on his shoulders and asked, "Have you given Snape's password and hair to anyone, Dobby? You can tell me, I won't be angry, I just have to know." He looked away guiltily but shook his head,

"Oh No, Dobby is not doing that."

"But Dobby..."

"Quiet Winky!"

The siren was forced to use the Irresistible Voice, "Did you give someone Snape's password and hair, Dobby?"

He struggled not to tell, but in the end nodded,

"Yes."

She had to know, "Who did you give them to?"

"Harry Potter."

How was it possible to be relieved and dismayed at the same time? She nodded and thanked Dobby, using her Voice to ensure he and Winky forgot the episode while ensuring that he'd never do it again. Waving goodbye to the elves who now thought she'd merely come by to say hello, Lorelei exited the kitchen and reflexively turned to walk back to her quarters.

Her mind whirled with a barrage of thoughts. Had Harry meant to kiss her or had she made him do it by throwing herself at him? Had she corrupted an innocent boy or had he never been innocent to begin with? Severus was always making those comments...The thought of her lover made her stomach lurch. She couldn't tell him. He'd kill Harry, or at the least try and have him expelled.

She had to handle this herself. Should she confront the boy? What could she say? Somehow, Lorelei didn't think 'Harry, because you grew up without a mum and now an older, attractive, woman has shown that she cares, you're confusing caring with romantic interest.' was going to be received with a 'Wow, I never considered that, I'll never try to kiss you again!'

Oh Merlin, maybe if she pretended it never happened, he'd get over his crush and move on to a girl his own age. Yes, that sounded good. Ignore it and the whole thing would go away. Closing her eyes, Lorelei did something she hadn't done since childhood, when a shark had upset her so terribly her father had comforted his 'little seal' with a simple mental exercise. She visualized putting the episode into a chest. Dropping it into the deep, blue sea in her mind, she gratefully 'watched' it sink to the ocean floor.


Observing his class of Gryffindor sixth years, Professor Snape reluctantly admitted that they were becoming almost proficient at simple potions, and a few might even be capable of advanced ones. Granger certainly was leagues ahead of most of the class. Not that he'd tell her that. She already had too high an opinion of herself. The students had only been back at school for four days, but the professor noted a marked improvement in attitude and attention to detail. Holidays were very disruptive, and if he didn't need them more than his pupils, Severus would recommend they be discontinued.

"Professor?"

Longbottom was actually asking for help. Perhaps the time away wasn't as deleterious as he'd thought if it meant the boy would follow proper procedure and ask his teacher instead of his classmate when he had a question. "Yes?" The round-faced youth almost dropped his ladle over the impassive utterance. Sighing, Snape raised a brow imperiously, to calm the boy down.

"Uh, sir, is my potion supposed to be smoking like this?"

Rising from his chair, he barked, "Did you add the adder's tongue before or after the fern seed?"

"After"

"What do the instructions tell you to do Mr. Longbottom?"

"Er...oh...add before...I'll just blow this smoke away, then."

"No!"

It was too late. The bane of his dungeon had blown the smoke from his failed 'Elixir of Secrets' around the class and now the students were starting to blurt their most private thoughts.

"I cheated on my History of Magic test"

"I spat a spitball into McGonagall's hair."

"I think Justin Finch-Fletchley is hot."

Rolling his eyes as the harmless, if embarrassing side effects wore off, the actions of three of his students drew Snape's attention. Granger, Weasley, and Potter were all standing with their hands clasped over their mouths, looking like 'speak no evil' monkeys. He almost smiled, but caught himself in time. His thin, clever lips did curl slightly. The Dream Team might think they were smart, but the Elixir only wore off once a person's secret was revealed, so the moment they lowered their hands, they would be compelled to blurt out whatever they tried to suppress. The rest of the class bottled, labeled and left their flagons on his desk. The trio stood miserably keeping their secrets to themselves. Propping his feet upon his desk, the Potions Master waited for the little nuisances to crack. It should prove quite amusing. Granger broke first. While attempting to bottle her solution while keeping her lips pursed tightly, the Elixir proved stronger and she blurted,

"I kissed Ron!"

Smirking, the professor accepted Ms. Granger's flagon and watched in barely concealed amusement as she scurried out of the room with a beet red face. Mr. Weasley obviously felt that since his girlfriend had blabbed, he may as well join her because he looked apologetically at his friend, bottled his potion, and exclaimed miserably,

"I kissed 'Mione...lots."

My, my, were the two friends concealing their little romance from the center of their universe? How interesting. The red-head glumly said 'Sorry, Harry' before leaving the class. Into Snape's mind popped the phrase 'And then there was one'. He grudgingly admitted that Potter had lasted an impressive length of time against an Elixir whose compulsion was stronger than most minds could handle. The boy was a natural for Occlumency if he ever matured enough to combine discipline with that amazing willpower. Idly wondering just how long the boy could hold out and what secret could be so damning that Potter would rather be in pain than express it, the professor was prepared to wait and see. Lorelei entered while the boy stared defiantly at the man who was enjoying himself immensely and said,

"Severus, I need your advice on something. Why don't you excuse...Harry...?"

"He hasn't finished bottling his potion."

The meddling woman promptly moved to the boy's cauldron, filled a flagon, and wrote Potter's name on the label in her fine hand. Plopping the sample down with a thud on his desk, she asserted,

"There. He's done. Let him go. His secret should be allowed to remain just that- his."

Scowling, the dour man waved Potter off with a shooing motion. The Gryffindor left, still covering his face. Pursing his lips, Snape accused petulantly, "Confess...you were afraid that the sweet, innocent boy would blurt out his guilty crush on you."

Her look of horror made his lips twitch. "Ha. I knew it. My eternal gratitude for sending him off- I would've hexed Potter into next week if he'd dared mention your name."

Sitting on his lap, Lorelei rested her head against his shoulder. She said,

"I don't care about him or anyone else...I only love you."

He couldn't prevent a smug grin. "Of course you do...I'm irresistible."

She smiled at his use of words she'd once used to describe herself and played his part,

"Really?"

Severus waved his wand to shut and ward the door. A smile played at the corner of his mouth while his lips met hers. She leaned into the kiss and responded with a passion that ignited his own and proved that they were both irresistible to each other.


A/N: Yes, Harry's quite confused. Just wait and see what he does next chapter! I was shocked! heh. Remember to make my day and Review!