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Chapter 24
The NEWT level morning potions class was murmuring waiting on the professor to arrive. He swooshed, robes billowing, catching a scent of Hermione's lilac musk perfume as he strolled by.
"Attention! New year, same class. It has been decided that the test brewing the memory potion will be re-administered." He paused for effect. "It was evident by the illness uniformly experienced that the potion was brewed correctly and that no failures be awarded due to defective spell ingredients. Therefore, the test will be performed again tomorrow. Can anyone tell me what the defective ingredient was?"
No hand was raised.
"Come now, one of you must know."
Hermione shyly raised her hand. "Miss Granger?"
Her honey eyes twinkling at him, she answered, "Sir, the asphodel was a night bloom variety, when it should have been a day bloom variety."
"Ten points to Gryffindor. Now open your texts to page 235 for review. Quietly with your partners."
Snape sat down with a book and surreptitiously and observed the class. Hermione held her hand out and Harry reluctantly plopped a galleon into her hand.
What's that all about? Snape wondered.
Hermione, sporting a bruise along the top of her right cheekbone (from where the cookie plate had clocked her) looked to Draco and Blaise, who were silently clapping at her. She smirked, raised an eyebrow, and wiggled a finger at them and their textbooks simultaneously shut. Grinning evily, she in turn started silently clapping then demurely turned to her book to read. "Show off" Draco mouthed to her.
Make that "attractive show off" Mr Malfoy.
When class was over, Snape said, "A word, Mr. Potter."
"Go ahead, I'll be right along," Harry told Hermione, who walked outside and waited outside the door.
"Mr. Potter, I assume you're familiar with muggle phrases?"
"Excuse me sir? Uh, yes I guess so."
"Would you happen to know what the term full throttle means?"
"Sir, it means going towards something at full power."
"Ah, I see. That is all Potter. Dismissed."
Snape watched and listened as Harry met Hermione at the door.
"What was that all about Harry?" she asked.
"He asked me if I was familiar with muggle phrases then asked me what full throttle meant. Is that weird or what?"
She suddenly dropped the book she trying to put in her bag.
"Hermione, feeling alright? You're flushed suddenly," Harry wondered.
They walked away.
That was priceless! Snape mused. Her lilac musk scent lingered in the room.
At lunch, Snape thought Hermione was in another world. She looked it. She picked at her food and stared around the great hall, lost in thought.
The potions test should go well tomorrow. When is that ministry interview again? Full throttle? How the hell could he have known about that conversation? I can't believe I kissed Blaise. I wonder if Severus really enjoyed his gift. This chicken is quite dry. Come on, get a grip Granger.
She was shaken out of her wonderings by Ron who was waving his hand in front of her face, "Hello? Earth to Hermione!"
"Yes Ron?"
"Quidditch practice today? Are you coming? The weather's mild today."
"Sure. It should be fun. See you in class."
For sheer entertainment value, the professors observed quidditch practice. Snape watched as Hermione and Ginny huddled together, giggling over something.
"Ginerva Diane! Hermione Jane!" Ron yelled.
They both flipped him their middle fingers.
"Now that I have your attention, can we practice?"
They flew around reviewing strategies and practicing maneuvers. The beaters had bat drills, and the chasers had quaffle passing drills. After an hour, Ron blew his whistle.
"Gather around!"
Hermione flew to Ron hopping off her broom when she was about five feet from the ground. Snape watched as she took off her sunglasses and ran her hands through her windblown hair. Stretching her arms, she removed her jacket to reveal a tight tank top. She did a few neck rotations, trunk twists and toe touches. She nodded at Ron from time to time.
Snape again was mesmerized. She was a bundle of beautiful energy.
i I'm going to have my lucky, undeserving hands full. Such vitality and sensuality! How Potter and Weasley can keep their hands off her is quite beyond my comprehension. /i he thought.
When practice was over, Ginny and Hermione headed towards Hermione's room.
Hermione's room
In her room, the two again took seats by the bay window. Hermione sat in the window and Ginny stretched out in her chair, feet propped up on the other chair. At that point, a face peered unnoticed through the fire that was crackling. He listened in on the conversation that he hoped was about him. He got his wish.
"I'll have Dobby bring dinner here." She summoned Dobby and gave instructions.
"Okay, Hermione. I need some girl talk. I've been stuck around nothing but males the past two weeks. I can't talk smut with my mum. You can apparently sing smut to your mother however."
"Only because she has no idea what that song means! Are the lot of you ever going to let me live that down?"
"What part? Getting fall-drown drunk, hexing yourself, or singing "Chasers Do It Better" to your parents?"
Well Hermione, you had quite the holiday! The brightest witch of her age hexed herself? Chasers do it better? Snape thought with amusement.
"Need I remind you Ginerva that I can hex you with a flick of my finger?"
"Point taken. Let's move on."
"Thank you."
"So, he's apparently the one now?" Ginny asked.
"If you are talking about Severus, then yes."
"Are you smitten?"
"Yes. Quite."
"Is he?"
"I sincerely hope so, or I'll feel like the biggest dumb-arse in history."
"Dad said he saw you and McGonagall at Diagon Alley during the holiday. Were you two talking about Severus?"
"Well, yes, the conversation drifted that way. I'm curious Ginny, did you slip a truth potion in my drink when I went to the loo?"
"No, it's just the effect I have on people."
"Uh huh. I see."
"What does she think?"
"What does who think?"
"The Queen of England, Herms. McGonagall of course. Duh."
"She's happy for both of us. She implored me to wait until graduation before making a move. The headmaster supposedly had a little chat with Severus as well. There's this tragic story about the previous-"
"I know, sixteen years ago. Dad told me."
"Oh. To make a long story short, for both our sakes I will behave myself until I am no longer a student here. I got the whole "propriety and appropriate" lecture from McGonagall. Five long months Gin I'll forced to admire him from afar. I hate tip-toeing through the tulips! Don't be surprised that the second that diploma is in my hands, you see me throw myself at him."
And what a day that will be indeed! Snape thought happily.
"I'm glad you warned me. My camera will be at the ready. So Herms, what will you do until then?"
"Do?"
"Yes Herms, do. Surely you've thought about it."
"Please don't laugh, but yes I have had some erotic dreams about him. I wake up in a cold sweat feeling like I need to be thoroughly shagged. I usually just take care of it myself," Hermione said with a dismissive wave of her hand.
Ginny put her hand over her mouth.
Take care of it yourself? Oh sweet Merlin! I'll need a cold shower after this! Snape thought.
"Oh Ginny, don't be such a ninny. I am a normal young woman with normal needs and desires. Although sometimes I get so bothered that I think I might just grab some random bloke around here, and sneak into a broom closet for a quick shag-and-run. I've done without a decent shag for far too long."
At that comment, Severus fell backwards out of the fire, coming back to reality in his own room. Time for that cold shower!
"I know that there's plenty of blokes who would be happy to oblige," Ginny said yawning.
"On that note, this episode of smut has come to an end. Tell the boys good night for me. Thanks for the talk Gin."
"I'm sure the Queen of England will be very happy for you two," Ginny quipped over her shoulder as she left the room.
Bouncing bludgers, does Draco have his hands full! Hermione thought.