A/N: Oh my god, I love you guys. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for reviewing! I'm so thrilled! I think that Lucivar may be my new best friend! Kay calming down. I'm sorry for the lameness that was chapter eight, I didn't even give it a title. But now I shall attempt to do better with…. (DA DA DA DAAAAAA)

Chapter Nine: Teasing

Lesser men might have had a rather obvious reaction to Hermione the next morning. As it was Severus only maintained his manly rank because of his heavy robes. Just another reason why it was better to be the frightening man who sweeps through the school, than the man who can't keep any control in the classroom or out and can't hide his… appreciation of certain outfits.

Hermione's outfit was a thing of beauty; especially in the male perspective. Her skirt was short, skimming her thigh about five inches above her knees; enough to show off her legs, especially when she sat down, but long enough to save her from potential embarrassment in the lab. Her hair had been swept up and pinned so that the excess reached back down to the top of her neck. Her shirt was a white button up that accentuated her small stomach and her voluptuous breasts, the first two buttons unbuttoned. She wore only one necklace for jewelry, and it rested just above the first done up button.

Severus didn't realize that he had been enjoying the view so long until Hermione spoke. "I hope you don't mind that I didn't wear my robes. It's just that it's been getting so hot down here while we work."

Severus's brain caught up with his libido and he scowled. There was no way that he was going to be played that easy. "Of course, I too have felt a little rise in the temperature. I suppose I shall dispense of my robes." He watched Hermione watching him as he slowly peeled off his robes, glad that his body's reaction to Hermione was no longer apparent.

Underneath of his bulky robes was a black collared button up, and black slacks. He reached up to his top button and exposed the top of his chest, and rolled up the sleeves. Considering that a small amount of skin had actually been exposed, Hermione was surprised to feel herself heat up instantly. God that man knew just what buttons to push. At least, Hermione knew that Severus was willing to play this game with her.

That meant that subtleties could be skipped. She was a Gryffindor after all, so why not make it more fun?

For a time they worked on the potion, adding certain elements specific to an animagi shape. After the third explosion they decided to break for tea.

They both sat in a thoughtful silence. Hermione nibbled absently on a biscuit for awhile, and Severus continued to stir the hot liquid while staring into the fire.

"School starts soon." He pointed out glumly.

"Yes, Ron is getting his lessons together." Hermione said with exasperation. Ron had gotten no better at completing his work in a timely fashion after graduation. As it had taken Hermione a week to complete all of her lesson plans she knew that it would take Ron at least the three remaining weeks of holiday, and most likely a good portion of the beginning of the school year.

"I assume yours are already completed?"

"Since the beginning of the summer." Hermione confirmed.

"Yes, I always have mine done early." Severus said before looking her in the eye, as if he knew the real conversation would start soon.

"How did you decide to work on an animagus oriented potion?" Hermione asked in the manner of an old friend asking about a good book.

"Well," Severus let a little evil glint enter his eye. "I suppose I could answer, but I think we'll have to reinstate the rules from last night."

Hermione giggled. "I agree."

Severus seemed to get more comfortable, which worried Hermione. Why would the man be so much happier with free reign over questioning? What exactly had she gotten herself into?

"Well, I was never a poor student" he began. "In fact I was the top of my class. So I never really experienced trouble until seventh year, in Transfiguration. We were allowed to take classes with the teacher on weekends to learn to turn into an animagi, and I was never able to." He shrugged "I guess it's not that important really, but it was the only thing I had ever tried at and failed. Now that I have the resources I suppose my ultimate goal is to feel like I've done everything I can."

"An admirable goal."

"I'm pleased you think so." Severus looked at her face. He could tell that she was nervous. 'Good,' he thought 'she knows how the rules in this game work, and she knows I'm playing for the home team.' He decided that he'd start with something simple to a) throw her off of his Slytherin and therefore self-serving thoughts and b) because he was honestly curious. "Did you have the opportunity to take such a class with Minerva, I had never heard that you had mastered that particular feat, has it perhaps eluded you as well?"

"I suppose you never heard because it was old news by the time that the 'golden trio' nonsense got around. I begged Professor McGonagall early on in first year to begin working with me. She relented and by fifth year I had my shape down. By that time Dumbledore was worried enough to ask me to keep it a secret, and I suppose after Voldemort died I never got around to registering."

"How positively criminal." Severus drawled.

Hermione flashed him a brilliant smile, "Perhaps if you had attempted it for a little longer you could have gotten a shape as well."

"Really, you know as well as I, that it only took you five years because you began so early on in your career. Had you waited like the rest of the students do than you would have had a much quicker time of it."

"Not so." Hermione answered. "How am I to know such a thing when it never occurred?" She tapped her finger on her bottom lip in a moment of pondering. "Perhaps you never found your muse, your center."

"Well, I never was a very balanced child." Severus agreed. "What is your shape anyway?"

"My, isn't that a touch personal? It's quite the insight to one's personality after all." Hermione looked at the Severus from under her lashes, "besides I think it's my turn for a question."

"Well…" She bit her lip nervously as if considering how wise it was to ask. "Well, you know all about me and Harry, but I know so little about you. So um… well instead of a question how about you just tell me something. Anything about you."

"I think that may be cheating, but it could have been worse I suppose."

He sat for awhile, sipping his tea and thinking. Hermione tried not to fidget. Finally Severus spoke up. "Well, I suppose that I should start with telling you about my family…"

A/N: Oh you guys… I started this chapter awhile ago, I swear. But this has not been a good time for me. See last Tuesday (the 15th) I came home, (because of course I was here first, when there's a problem) and the pipe leading to the upstairs bathroom had burst. There was water dripping everywhere, making it all the way down to the basement… it was gross. And then Monday (the 21st) I got into a car accident. The other driver is fine and I am to, if you ignore the cuts and bruises, but I've been having a week from hell so please excuse the un-timely manner in which this chapter was delivered. There wasn't much teasing I know, but I promise soon I've got good things happening. Please stick with me for awhile and we'll see if we can keep it going. Thanks you guys! Love from Teacherspet.