As the staircase moved upward my stomach twirled. There was no denying the fact that I was nervous. I had been summoned to the headmaster's office, for a reason I didn't know. Had I done something wrong? Was it the late nights in the library? How had they found out? I always used the invisibility cloak! It wasn't that bad. I could be like over half the population of the school and be sneaking out to meet with some other delinquent to fulfill the desires of my raging hormones! No, I snuck out to be with my first, and to this point, only love. My books.

I know I'm a teenage girl and should be looking forward to sneaking off with a boy to "experiment". But to be honest, none of them appealed to me. They all seemed so immature and rather gross. Sure I had made out with Ron once or twice last year, but I found my self drifting off and reciting incantations and potions ingredience while his hand was up my shirt. I was just un excited. And I thought through all of this "Isn't he done yet?"

I know, that's not normal either. Or so I found out when I tried talking to Lavender and Parvati. They were quick to tell me I was doing something wrong, and that I needed to "get into it more". I simply asked if there was a book on the subject. They handed me the Kama Sutra and started giggling.

Ok, so back to the present.

I sat down in the room and immediately started fidgeting. In Dumbledore's office stood Professor McGonegall and Professor Snape. The headmaster let out a chuckle as he observed my nervous habit.

"Ms. Granger, there is nothing to be nervous about. You have done nothing wrong. Actually we brought you here to ask a favor of you. You see were in a bit of a bind and need help with…."

"Albus this is insane! I do not need the help of a student!"

"Severus, the measure of a man includes whether or no he asks for help when it is needed. Or if he is bull headed about it."

"She will not agree anyway."

"We will let her decide that Severus. Now, as I was saying. We have need of an assistant to Professor Snape. Not just an ordinary assistant. The Order is in need of several potions before the war starts. We would rather be prepared and so we are starting now, in anticipation that the strike will come after the school year. Being that it is already second semester, you can understand our need for help. You would be making potions, some rather difficult ones, and it would not interfere with your school work, it would be 5 nights a week for 3 hours. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. From 7-10. You are the most qualified and trusted candidate, as you show a great understanding and talent for potions. What do you have to say?"

I thought about it for a few moments, very much aware of all the eyes boring into me. It was a great chance to further my knowledge of potions, and it would help the order greatly. What else could I say?

"Headmaster, it would be an honor to help the order and to contribute to the war effort in any way possible. And I would be delighted to learn of new potions while I still have the opportunity."

"Well spoken Ms. Granger. Seeing as today is Monday, and it is leading on towards almost dinner, we will begin tomorrow at 7."

"I will certainly be there headmaster. I will look forward to tomorrow evening Professor Snape."

"Don't be so certain Ms. Granger."

"I have no doubts"

He only nodded his head in response. This was going to be an interesting end to the year!

The next morning I awoke and dressed in the same manner as always, fussing with and cursing at my hair. I was covered from neck to toe, shirt buttoned all the way, arms covered by a sweater, knee length skirt a tad too long and knee high socks a tad too high. It was what I preferred. I saw no reason to show off my body the way other girls did. Who did I have to impress? If I could I would have worn a boy's uniform with pants and a tie. Outside of school, I was almost all covered, wearing pants, shirts, sweaters and jackets, gloves. The whole deal. And to be made to wear a skirt wear was almost humiliating. When I did wear skirts and dresses they always came to my calf, if not longer. My favorite skirt was a floor length black velvet skirt.

Classes were the usual drone of incompetent students and dull work. Teachers taught things I had already taught myself. They assigned essays that I could write in my sleep and most likely would write in a half comatose state.

At dinner, Harry and Ron droned on about Quidditch for a time until they realized I wasn't even making remarks about better uses of time.

"Mione what's up?" Harry asked

"Yea, you're being unusually quiet."

"It's nothing, just had a lot on my mind."

"What else is new, it's all those books you read." Harry joked, noting the book sitting next to me.

"Or is it dreading your time with the great bat?"

"Ron! He is Professor Snape, and you know I don't like you talking about him that way. And I am not dreading it; I'm looking forward to the challenge."

They both looked at me quite open mouthed at my statement. I let out a sigh and left to the dungeons. It was 10 minutes till 7, but I would wait. I sat down next to the door and started to feel cold. I transfigured my skirt to be my favorite black one and my top to be my long-sleeved poet's shirt with ruffles in the front and multi layered bell sleeves (buttoned to the neck of course). I also got my bell sleeved black over cloak and my boots. Yes this was good and warm. As soon as I was done, Professor Snape showed up and un locked his door with a wave of his hand.

He took in my appearance and let a smirk grace his lips.

"Going for a matching look Ms. Granger? You might want to be careful; people will begin to think I've made you a vampire as well."

"No sir, this is how I usually dress, outside of Hogwarts anyway. As for the students making comments, I could care less. Goodness knows what they already say about me."

"I think I quite prefer this to the schools uniform. It suits you better."

"Professor, was that a compliment?"

"Don't expect it to happen regularly, and if you repeat it, I will deny it completely."

"Understood, sir."

"Good, now, we will start with the rudimentary potions, healing and restorative potions, we will begin complex potions when I am satisfied with your progress."

"What will we begin first sir?"

"A standard healing potion, we will need many of them, I am sure you realize why."

"Yes sir. Might I ask why I was chosen for this task?"

"You have the highest grades in my class and you already know of the Order and its operations."

"I would have thought I would be your last choice sir."

"You were"

"Oh."

We worked diligently on our potions, each over a large cauldron. With the heat of the fire and the steam, I began to sweat. I pulled my hair back into a quick bun and removed my outer robe. I looked over and noticed Professor Snape had also removed his outer robe. Man he has a nice body.

Wait

What?

I've never thought about a guy this way before. What brought about this change? Yes he was academically prestigious. And he did have a certain dark appeal to him, and as it seems, a good body under all his robes. But he was unpleasant to be around. I looked at the clock and realized we had already been here for two of our three hours. Ok, not entirely unpleasant.

"Ms. Granger, you can stop staring at me now."

Shit. Caught.

"I was just, ummm, wondering where you got your robes." That was a crappy lie if ever I heard one.

"As hard as I know it must be to resist staring at my person" he said scathingly and sarcastically with a smirk in place "You must focus on the potion at hand."

"Terribly sorry sir, it won't happen again."

We finished our potions and bottled them into a row of vials, had to be 50 out of each cauldron. Once the lab was cleaned, I began to put my cloak back on, once again feeling the chill of the dungeons.

"Ms. Granger"

"Yes, Professor"

"Your work here is much appreciated"

"It is my pleasure sir"

"Ms. Granger"

"Yes, Professor"

"I really didn't mind you staring all that much"

"I wasn't interested in where you got your robes"

"Yes well, see you tomorrow evening"

"Sir?"

"Yes Ms. Granger"

"How come you never smile?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you smirk, but never smile. Are you ever happy?"

"I do not believe that is any of your business"

"Yes of course, terribly sorry sir, I over stepped my boundaries"

"Goodnight Ms Granger"

"Goodnight Professor"

As I left, little did I know, I missed a true and genuine smile from my Professor.

Ok, another chapter up just as promised! So some mild flirtation this chapter, it will probably be the same next chapter. I'm eager for them to get together, but want to pace myself.

Thank you Transylvanian for the review!

Next chapter up sometime soon, maybe tomorrow or the day after. Depending on how inspired I get!

LFJ