A/N..It's been a REALLY long time, but I haven't forgotten about you! So, Her first night on the Extra Credit Project. If Snape seems a little OOC…well… I tried… Same coding goes for Snape's thoughts, boldbad, italicsgood

Severus Snape returned to his classroom in anticipation of Hermione Grangers arrival. He didn't know what to expect. Should he tell her?

Of course you shouldn't tell her! You want to kill her don't you!?

No you don't. You love her and should do something about it…

Yeah, like ignore it. She'd laugh in your face and you know it. This friendship thing is the worst idea you've ever had!

No it isn't. You deserve some happiness too. You risk EVERYTHING for the Order and she knows it. She might even love you back!

Sure…sure she does, you just believe that…

"I will tell her something, but not everything. I want to be her lover, the one she longs for day and night, but being her friend would suffice if I can have that." He said aloud.

There was a knock on the door. "Enter." Severus called. In response, Hermione walked in.

"We are going to set up some ground rules now. That way we are on the same level." Severus started, "While in this room, and ONLY in this room, during your project, you may call me Severus. While working on the Wolfsbane potion, we shall be equals. You may use my private workroom only when with me, and NONE of the materials may leave with you. You may, however, access my library without me. Simply enter the normal library and walk to the far north wall and say essence of Belladonna. The wall will split very much like the wall does when you enter Diagon Alley from The Leaky Cauldron. Have you any questions?"

"If I am to call you S-Severus, then you should call me Hermione. So, let's see if I understand correctly, we are equals, even though I may not enter your private workroom alone, but I can access your private Library whenever I wish to with the password essence of Belladonna. Right?

Still trying to ignore the fluttering in his heart at how right is sounded when she said his name, he replied, "Correct."

"So, What exactly are we working on. Just the Wolfsbane or improvements to the Wolfsbane, or an overall cure for werewolves, or what?"

"While our goal in the long run is to develop a cure in general, any improvements we can make would also be of great help to the final goal."

"Ok, I understand. When, where and how do we start?"

"We start tonight, brewing the main Wolfsbane. I will work on Professor Lupin's and you may work on the batch that we will use to experiment on."

"Ok."

Severus handed the recipe to Hermione and began to work on his batch. Once in a while he would steal a sly glance her way, taking in her beauty. Not once did she catch him as she was entirely focused on her work.

The two worked in peace until finally the first two stages of the potion were complete.

"The potion will need to sit for an hour and thirty minutes before you add the Aconite. Then as you have no doubt read, it will need to sit for 36 hours. Would you like to peruse my library while we wait?" Severus asked.

"Actually I was wondering if you would answer a few of my questions?"

"I won't garuntee anything, but you can try."

"Well, why did you pick me to help you with this? Why not Malfoy or Nott, or even Parkinson?

Why a Gryffindor whom you loathe?"

"Answer me this, would Malfoy, Nott, or even Parkinson be able to provide what will most likely be valuable insight? Would they be able to help me without running off and telling their fathers what I am working on? Fathers who wouldn't think twice to run off and tell Voldemort everything."

"Oh. I get it. But why not Terry or Padma, or Hannah? People from house that you can actually tolerate. Why a Gryfinndor? Not just a Gryffindor, but best friend of Harry Potter, mudblood, Gryfinndor?"

"NEVER call yourself a mudblood again. Especially in my presence. Why did I pick you? Who else would diligently work on this project? Who else would have already researched the Wolfsbane, and who else could provide valuable new ideas?"

"Ok then…I get it now…So do you have any ideas to try?

"I have a few but it is best they wait until later. You really should get back to your dorm. I'll complete the third stage,"

"Ok, good-night Severus."

"Good Night Hermione." He replied as the door closed.

You will kill her and you know it.

She'll be fine.

No she won't. They'll find out and she will be killed. Tortured and killed.

You can protect her…..