Chapter Five: Plans and Potions

The moment everyone had finished breakfast, Dumbledore turned to the Head Students and began his speech with no hesitation.

"Severus, as you are aware we begin every year with a dance open to fifth years and above." At this, Severus nodded and Hermione wondered when the tradition had been cancelled.

Dumbledore continued, "Traditionally, the faculty plan the party and the entertainment, but we feel it would be better if it were planned by students. You two have been tasked with planning the party and its entertainment. It will be held in the Great Hall, as always, but other than that, you have free reign. Please keep the music in good taste, however, as it will be closely monitored by the staff. In addition, you two are expected to go together, and no arguments with me about the subject will change over two hundred years of tradition.

The second thing I have for you to do is restock Madam Promfey's potion supply. Since I happen to know you two have deft hands when it comes to making potions, especially simple ones like she requires, this will be easy for you to accomplish. Please come and see me when you two are done with the plans and potions. I leave you to your tasks."

With that, Dumbledore took his leave of the pair. Hermione and Severus eyed each other wearily. They sat in silence for a few more moments before Hermione finally ventured a comment.

"Should we start with the plans or the potions first?"

Severus replied, "We can work on tentative plans while the potions brew; most of the potions require ample periods of settling between ingredients. We can kill those two proverbial birds with one proverbial stone. I suggest we get started this morning."

Hermione, satisfied with his idea, nodded in agreement. She and Severus left the Great Hall and continued down to the dungeons in silence. They both knew that they were going to have to talk today, but while Severus was continually telling himself to be nice to her, Hermione was trying to figure out a way to break through his icy barrier without seeming too intrusive. They both gave up their mental pursuits the moment they reached the Potions classroom.

All of the ingredients and instruments they would need were laid out on a table with a note from Madam Promfrey on exactly what potions she needed.

Severus spoke first, "It must be nice having what essentially amounts to slave labor around because you're lazy."

Hermione couldn't help but snicker at his comment. She agreed, and was wondering why they had been tasked with something that was clearly stated in the job description of the current Potions Master.

"Who is this esteemed Potions Master that has so generously given us the opportunity to do his work for him?" Hermione asked of Severus, wincing at how snarky she sounded.

Much to her surprise, Severus laughed. Well, it wasn't really a laugh, more like an amused snort, but Hermione figured that it was a start.

"His name is Professor Fitzwilliam Brandon. It would seem his mother was obsessed with Jane Austen, and named him as such. It has been noted by some of the girls in our year that he shares neither Fitzwilliam Darcy's intelligence and good looks nor Colonel Brandon's sweet manner. I wouldn't know however, I prefer the Brönte sisters, especially Wuthering Heights."

Hermione looked at him in shock. Not only had he given a witty reply to her question, but he had just admitted having a taste for Muggle literature. Severus seemed to know what caused her delay in replying and spoke before she could.

"Is it so very hard to believe that I find pleasure in Muggle books? Do you honestly believe that all Slytherins hide down here in the dungeons reading nothing but Dark Arts books?"

Hermione saw an opening and took it. "Do you honestly believe that because I am in Gryffindor I will make the same mistakes that others have? Do you honestly believe that you know who I am because of a crest on my robes?"

Severus stared at her. "Very Slytherin of you, I must say. You're good at turning the tables around on someone. I suggest we both keep our opinions of each other's house to ourselves, and try to get along, at least while we're stuck planning the party."

Hermione, struck by just how backhanded the compliment he paid her had been, said, "So, let's get to work, and then so we can get the worst of the two tasks over – planning the party."

With that, they began working on the healing potions in earnest. Severus noticed she worked with the same air of concentration he did. It made him feel slightly better about her because he could see she took this as seriously as he did. Maybe there was something redeeming about the Gryffindor.

'NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT, I FORBID IT!' yelled a voice in his head. He was already becoming too cozy for his own good with the girl. It was time to make sure he would never be her friend.

"I suppose," he sneered, "that you'll want some sort of … muggle music involved in the dance."

"I was thinking that," stated Hermione cautiously. "It would have to be good music though. I can't stand disco or pop music." She smiled mischievously; it was now Severus' turn to be surprised. "I was thinking that we could play some punk music."

Severus stared at her long and hard before answering. "You mean to tell me that you like punk music? I find that hard to believe."

Hermione shrugged at his comment, "Just because I don't have multiple piercings or a tattoo doesn't mean I can't like the music. I love that I can listen to something and feel such… anger at the injustice that is the system. I love that I can let loose and yell and scream with those artists because I feel the same frustration they do. I may not look the part, but I feel the part… and that's what truly matters."

Severus' mind ran a million miles a moment. How had she been able to how she felt about the music and have it be the same thing he felt? The voice was back, warning him of allowing her in because of one superficial similarity. For the moment, Severus heeded the voice, if only out of habit. He finally found his voice and spoke.

"So, what's your favorite band then?"

Hermione stared at him thoughtfully. She had to remember that her favorite bands weren't out yet, and wouldn't be out for a while (oh thank Merlin she had packed some Nine Inch Nail vinyls into her trunk… not that she could share that with anyone else, but it was at least a small comfort).

"I really enjoy a couple of American bands," she said carefully. "There's the Misfits, they're pretty new, and there's this band called Black Flag… they haven't even got anything out yet, but I have a bootleg you might like. Of course, I really like the Sex Pistols, the Clash, and the Ramones, but a lot of people like them. I really like discovering new bands that I can keep to myself for a while, or share them with only really special people…" Hermione drifted off, unsure if she had made a fool out of herself or not.

Much to her delight, Severus nodded in agreement. "I think we can sneak some of those bands into the rotation, as long as we stay away from the Sex Pistols, they're too raunchy for faculty tastes, or anyone with a political agenda like The Clash. I say we use add in 'Blitzkrieg Bop' and 'CoughCool Blank' to appease our own tastes and start the party, with the Misfits track being first of course. We'll get a wizarding band to play the rest of the show so there won't be too many objections."

Hermione was enthusiastic about the plan, and wrote down everything. Once they had gotten past the subject of music, the rest of plans flowed like champagne on New Year's Eve. They decided to go with an underground club feel, so that way the students could feel like they were outside of the school walls. Severus thought it would be a good way to get them to relax and enjoy themselves more. Hermione agreed.

They finished with the potions, bottled them up, and sent them (via house elf) to Madam Promfrey. As they were cleaning up the laboratory, Hermione started another thread of conversation about the party.

"So, we're going together then?" Hermione fervently hoped she sounded casual, but had the sinking feeling she did not.

Severus nodded slowly. "We have to dance the first song together, and the last song, which is usually picked out by the Headmaster. I promise I won't cramp your style, if that's what you're worried about."

Hermione shook her head violently, "No, I was just curious. Where I come from, there has only been one dance, and it was a formal affair. I'm enjoying talking to you, and I don't think going with you will 'cramp my style' at all."

Severus simply stated, "You have obviously not met the rest of your fellow Gryffindors. I am a much-hated individual amongst them. I assure you, once you begin… fraternizing with them, I will very much cramp your style." With that, his barriers were up higher than before, as if his speech somehow reminded him of how horrible Gryffindors were.

Hermione was wise enough to notice this change in demeanor, but decided to push it just a bit further. "Does that mean you have no faith in who I am as a person? Even after spending all day talking with me? Do you have no faith that I like you for who you are, not because you're the only person to talk to at present time?"

Severus shook his head nonchalantly. "I have faith in no one, but especially none with red and gold on their chests." With that, he walked out of the room to find solace in silence, wall in place once again.