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CHAPTER 4

HERMIONE AND HER POTIONS MASTER

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As far as she was concerned, it was horribly embarrassing. Excruciatingly humiliating. Honestly awkward. Disgustingly…

"Come in," she said as two sharp knocks interrupted her thoughts.

Mrs. Snape sailed in with her 'son' in her right arm. Hermione blushed some more as her eyes fell on 'Professor Snape'.

"I didn't know that you had studied basic Dark Arts," she said, putting down the white squirrel on the bed near Hermione, who flinched as she imagined the squirrel glaring at her. She was damn sure that the squirrel was glaring at her and if it could, it would yell like a banshee.

"I have not."

"You don't need to sound so scandalized. It is rather good to have a thirst for knowledge. Anyway, I am unable to turn him back into a human. Are you sure that there is no other way?"

Hermione shook her head. "The counter-spell to this Charm is not a spell but… a potion." She looked towards the squirrel ('It's still glaring at me'). "Professor Snape had been personally researching this idea when I became his apprentice." She pointedly looked away from where she knew the squirrel was still glaring at her.

"And the potion is in the Head Office of the Animagi Department."

"Ummm… well… I doubt Percy Weasley would let it out of his sight."

Mrs. Snape stared hard at her. What was with these Snapes and glaring?

"I won't want to be with you when he turns back."

And she left on that sour note.

Hermione sighed. Snapes.

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The Dark Mark was glowing black. That was what was strange about it. If it was glowing black, then it should have been hurting – like mad. But it was not. Plus, she doubted even Voldemort had the patience to press it for so long that it would remain black twenty-four hours per day. Come to think of it, Voldemort wasn't an exceptionally patient man. In fact, his reserves for patience lasted for such a short time that she was sure that whatever was left of his patience must have suffocated in its reserve due to claustrophobia.

"What the hell am I thinking?"

Forcing the strange thoughts out of her head, Hermione put the silver bowl containing nuts-and-milk in front of 'Professor Snape'.

She was bloody damn sure that it was STILL glaring at her.

"I am sorry okay," she said, eyeing it warily. "I didn't mean to…" She waved her hand, shrugging.

The little thing looked down at his food and then up at her pointedly.

"What? You were eating chocolates before. This doesn't make a great difference, does it? Plus, I can't get you more chocolates. You ate ALL my chocolates. How can you be so heartless? What if I had died of hunger? Who'd have turned you back into a Professor again?"

It was glaring at her.

"Ummm… okay, so you aren't a Professor yet, but I am going to break into Percy's house tonight. So you…"

"WHAT WAS YOU DOING?"

Hermione turned abruptly as she heard the high-pitched yell.

A house-elf was looking at it with horror.

"WHY IS YOU TRYING TO POISON MASTER? MISTRESS SNAPE!"

"Poison?"

Hermione picked up the bowl and inspected it closely. There were no visible signs of poison… oh…

She flicked her wand over the bowl. Nothing.

"There's no…"

"Miss Granger."

"Mrs. Snape?"

"You… you Mudblood! How can you put that in front of MY son?"

Was the household throwing a fit because she had given him nuts and milk – milk and nuts (that was the correct way of putting it)?

"Your son, madam, is currently not in a position to enjoy… crab soup. I mean he doesn't even like crab soup."

"Whether he is in an Animagus form or not, he can fully enjoy a decent meal!" said Mrs. Snape sharply.

"Sure he can," said Hermione soothingly, "at least, that is what he must have told you. But then, you see, I did a very thorough research for my spell – and I know that it is best for a witch or wizard to feed on what the Animagus form eats while they are transformed. Otherwise it might lead to complications such as…"

"Shut up! You don't understand a pureblood…"

"The rule, the book said, stands true for all wizarding community, regardless of their parental lineage – and books are never wrong," interrupted Hermione coldly.

"And YOU do not INTERRUPT ME when I am TALKING," she hissed angrily.

Hermione was about to shoot a sarcastic reply, when all the anger vanished from her face – instead there was incredulity… and disgust.

'Professor Snape' was happily supping.

Hermione beamed at him. Good squirrel!

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Hermione had started 'dressing' for breaking into Percy Weasley's house over three hours in advance. She had calculated correctly. It took exactly two hours fifteen minutes and eighteen seconds to put up her hair in a sleek bun at the nape of her neck. She didn't want to leave stray curls which they would lead straight to her.

Now came the tough part – dressing.

She was seated in front of the mirror. 'Professor Snape' had promptly fallen asleep after his meal. He had been asleep for over three hours now. When she had begun straightening her hair, she had just once glanced at him. Assured that he was asleep – and it was absurd to shy from fixing her hair in front of a sleeping squirrel – even if it was your former Potions Master you were sort of in love with.

But dressing – you know, taking off your dress, standing there in just your underwear and then putting on new clothes – was clearly out of equation.

What if he decided to finish his nap just when she was half-naked? As if she wasn't embarrassed enough already… confessing her love for him… petting him…

'Don't even go there.'

Bathroom it was, she thought. Then again, there was a teensy-weensy problem. She had no idea where the bathroom was. There wasn't one attached to her bedroom. And even if there was, well, her hostess had refrained from telling it to her. There was no way she was going to go and ask her about it right now. The woman looked ready to kill when she left her room three hours ago.

She'd have to wake him up and put him outside the room.

She got up and advanced towards the bed. She had even extended her hand towards the white furry creature.

What if he bit her?

She quickly pulled back her hand.

He won't bite her – and even if he did, she knew a lot of Healing Charms. No, there was no way she was going to lift her Potions Master…

'He's just a squirrel.'

'Wasn't much of just-a-squirrel when he glared at me…'

She reached out a trembling finger and gave a quick prod.

Merlin! The man – squirrel… was asleep like a log or hog. Whatever.

She'd change super fast. He had been asleep for so long – she was sure that he would remain so for five more minutes.

In any case, there was no way in smoking hell that she was going to pick him up and deposit him outside the door of her room.

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Severus had been to a couple of bachelor's parties when he was in college. Since those had been mostly attended by Death-Eaters, one would assume that there would be a lot of bloodshed and sadomasochism. Surprisingly, it was not so. They were rather… Muggle in their nature. He wasn't about to explain to anyone as to how he came to know about the nature of Muggle bachelor's parties.

There had always been stripteases. That was his favourite part. There was something extremely erotic about watching a woman undress in a rhythm.

He didn't know that it was an equal turn on without the beats and beer and buxom blondes.

Although it was rather… strange to be a squirrel and to be turned on by a human. Were squirrels turned on by humans? Right. He wasn't even going to spare it a nanosecond.

Wow.

At least we'll have no qualms about her being an ex-student and all that jazz.

She's got a cute ass.

You're drooling. You don't want to embarrass yourself more now – what would Granger think if she found a squirrel drooling over her?

And her breasts – when did she grow up? Don't put that on! You're better off without it, Granger.

Am I really such a big pervert?

Loving her won't be a big problem – I hope we hop in bed soon after, though. I can't wait to run my hands down those creamy thighs.

I wasn't such a big pervert until I developed double personality.

That is what denial does to you. Damn Granger, you're hot.

And I am seriously depraved. Knockturn Alley is going to be my first stop after I am back.

He tightly closed his eyes as soon as she finished buttoning her overcoat and turned around. She had probably thought that he was asleep. Good. Let her maintain that impression. He could do without the embarrassment.

He noted the absence of her usual perfume as she sat down next to him – and proceeded to jab a finger at him. Odious girl!

"Professor."

When he opened his eyes, she said, "I thought you might want to accompany me. You've got me out of some truly sticky corners."

He hopped on to her outstretched hand as an agreement.

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She had put on Muggle clothes – a full-sleeves black shirt and black jeans. Of course she was going to use Concealment Charms and a lot of other spells, but the occasion just called for a black attire.

"What's this?"

Mrs. Snape was regarding her with a critical look.

"What do you mean, madam?"

"What's this you are wearing? I thought you were going to that Weasley's!"

"That is exactly why I am wearing this."

"Where are your robes?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Let's be practical here. I am going to STEAL a vial from the most edgy man in the Ministry. Why would I want to wear a robe of all things? Do you know how easy it is for a robe to hook on to most unsuspecting things and drop them just when you don't want it to happen?"

Mrs. Snape looked extremely contemptuous.

"Where is Severus?"

Hermione put her hand inside her enlarged overcoat pocket and brought out the white squirrel.

Mrs. Snape was horrified. "You can't take him around in that cavalier fashion! He's MY…"

"Son," interrupted Hermione. "But I seriously don't care. He's alright there. He'd have gotten out of there if he wasn't. And I am not wasting any more time here."

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Percy Weasley resided in a Ministry financed house in one of the exclusively magical residential areas of London. Hermione had been to his place a couple of times during the course of her project, hence, there was absolutely no difficulty in locating his house.

She, too, lived in a Ministry house, hence, she was aware of the protection charms they had. As for the personal touch he might have added to them…

It wasn't too difficult. Harry was an Auror and of course, she had read all his books, too.

In fact, it was really rather simple to get inside the house. The tough part was to search for a small vial filled with a plum potion.

'Let's think… if I were Percy Weasley, where would I put something important?'

She headed towards his bedroom but stopped abruptly as she reached the door.

She didn't even want to think about it. If she had doubted before if an-elephant-has-stuck-up-my-ass Percy Weasley had a sex life… well, she was paying for it now, wasn't she?

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She had retreated to the sitting-room and cast some STRONG Silencing Charms.

"My ears! My brain! Poor me!"

The squirrel had gotten out of her pocket and was currently beside her.

It wasn't glaring at her, though. Even Snape won't want to walk in on Percy Weasley shagging a man. Yep, that was what had unsettled her THAT much. She was sure that it was a man who had called his name. What was even more unsettling was that she was slowing beginning to realize why that voice sounded so familiar. She just wasn't going to admit it. No, no way. She won't admit it until… until someone forced Veritaserum down her throat.

Had Snape realized who the other man was? Maybe that was why he seemed so green… no, that was just the green night-lamp in the room.

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Over an hour had passed. Hermione was dozing off when she felt something pricking her hand.

Professor Snape.

He removed his paw as she sat up and looked at him.

Right. Time for some action.

Ack! Mental images!

Removing the Silencing Spells, she ventured towards Percy's bedroom once again. All seemed quiet now. THANK MERLIN!

Opening the door just enough to slip in, she first peeped inside.

At least they had had the decency to throw the covers on their body before dropping off to sleep.

Unlike the sitting-room, the bedroom had a blue night-lamp which served her purpose just as well. She had declined Mrs. Snape's offer of the Hand of Glory as she knew that the arrangement of the bedroom won't be essentially different from her own. The bracket for the night-lamp was just above the bureau and side-table – where she suspected the vial to be.

Her senses were alert to every sound and movement now. Percy was snoring lightly. Someone was listening to radio next door. A door banged afar. If she concentrated really hard, she could even hear the sound of Muggle traffic which would be moving unaware of the colony of wizards and witches. She felt the squirrel move in her pocket.

By some stretch of imagination she even heard her heart beat wildly.

She stared for some time at the black head just visible from under the covers. She knew it well. It had broken her heart when he had admitted that he thought he was gay… that he had thought so for some time. It hurt to know that he had been secretly – deep down somewhere – been admiring Cedric Diggory when she thought that she was the sole person to have caught his attention. Boys. Men.

But he had found happiness, it seemed. Strangely, with Percy Weasley.

She started as she felt him move. He turned over so that she was now staring right at his face.

Blinking hard, she turned to the task at hand.

Meticulously, she went through the drawers in the bureau and the side-table. She had put on gloves. The Muggle way was better, in her opinion. Magic could be traced.

Eventually, she found the vial in Percy's briefcase. Rather anticlimactic, but then Percy was really rather predictable. She had known which charms he'd have used for extra-protection. She had known that it would be somewhere in his bedroom. She had known that he would place some charms around the bottle which she would remove before touching it.

All in all, there was no need for her heart to beat so fast that for one wild moment she thought it would burst and reveal her presence there.

When she stood up straight, the bottle in her pocket, she was startled to find herself staring in Viktor's eyes.

Quickly getting over the initial shock, she reasoned that she was still cloaked with Concealment Charms and there would be no way he was seeing her. He had just woken up. Plus, won't he be screaming and hexing if he found a supposedly Death-Eater in the bedroom?

Viktor seemed to have better senses of magic though. He seemed sure that there was someone about.

"Percy," he said quietly, shaking the redhead out of his sleep.

"Tired… sleep…"

"Someone's broken through the wards, Perce."

Percy looked up at him blearily. "What?"

"The wards – they've been broken. I think someone has broken into the house."

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: I might reveal a "secret hobby" of Severus Snape in later chapters. There are some clues to it in this chapter. Can you guess the hobby? Note that it isn't a very Muggle hobby. It is something only a wizard could do! In fact, I haven't seen that hobby in any other story and I rather pride myself on thinking it up. Can you think it up?

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