Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.

Chapter Ten

Snape's Desire

"Hi, I'm Harry."

"I know; I'm George."

"I know." Harry and George smiled wide smiles at each other and started laughing. Harry continued, "I wonder if you read minds too- Professor Trelawney would love you. Did you also know that I need a Potions tutor?"

"I have to confess that I didn't know- don't tell Professor Trelawney," George said teasingly, "but I do happen to be a pretty good potions-maker. Could I be of any help to you?"

Harry thought, "yeah, baby!" but simply asked, "when can you start?"

"Let me talk to Professor Snape first. We're working on something together, and I have to be sure I'm not overextending myself," George explained. "I'll get back to you later today." George was sure she was going to tutor hot Harry Potter, she couldn't refuse those gorgeous green eyes, but thought it best to at least give her supervising professor the impression she was asking permission.

"She's going to be my tutor! She's going to be my tutor!" Harry walked breathlessly back to the table to report to Ron and Hermione.

"Gee, Harry. Could you be anymore excited?" Hermione asked.

Ron just looked disgusted. "I'm glad you're all over that little romance with- MY SISTER."

"Listen, Ron. I know you're mad, but Ginny's having a baby with someone else. Did you hear me? Ginny's having a baby- with someone other than me. Ron- Ginny and I have never even been together. I'm turned into a dog, for God's sake, and then come back to find out that my girlfriend is pregnant. I didn't even know we were having problems. How do you think that makes me feel? If she's having somebody's baby, she's obviously moved on. Time for me to too, wouldn't you say?"

Ron looked dejected. "Sorry, Harry. I guess I owe you an apology. This whole thing with Ginny has me out of sorts. Harry, if you were the fajza, I'd feel a lot better about everything."

Hermione touched his arm reassuringly. "It's okay, Ron. Harry understands. Why don't you two just let it lay for a while. Harry'll try not to be too excited about George, and you try to calm down about Ginny."

"Sounds fair," said Harry. Ron nodded.

George had already headed for the Potions dungeon to seek out Snape's approval- as equally excited as Harry had been. She stopped dead in her tracks just outside the door. "Five hundred twenty five thousand, six hundred minutes. How do you measure; measure a year?" Someone was singing softly to himself- half words, half humming- obviously oblivious to her presence.

"Ah, hm," George cleared her throat, trying to get his attention without embarrassing him. "Professor Snape? Professor Snape? Are you here?"

"Oh, Georgia, ah, yes, yes. I was just, ah, working on a new formula."

"I'm sorry to interrupt. I'll come back later," she said, moving back toward the door.

"No, now is fine. Anything for you, Miss Georgia," Snape rushed to her side, taking her arm like an old-fashioned suitor. "What can I do for you, my dear?" he said, leading her into the classroom.

Georgia was a bit taken aback, but was excited to move into her topic of discussion. "We've been working hard on the potions manual," she began.

"Yes, and we still have much to do. I think we need to work every day after your classes have ended, at least until we're done. Then I'm sure we'll have to start working on the promotional material and a tour. Book readings and signings- quite a lot in front of us. As you Americans say, 'no pain, no gain.'"

"Actually professor, I was going to tell you that I'm planning to take on a tutoring student. This person really needs my help, and I think it will give me a break from the book and worrying about my own studies so much, and, and..." Georgia moved through her explanation as quickly as possible.

Snape turned an evil eye on her, disbelieving what he was hearing. "I don't think that's wise. You've made such good impressions in the short time you've been here, and have your whole career in front of you. Tell her you can't do it."

"Him. You mean tell 'him' I can't- anyway, I can't. I've already committed."

Snape had until this very moment been denying even to himself the enormous crush he was harboring for his young, talented student. He was conflicted, yet could no longer still pretend to himself that he was not extremely jealous of anything- or anyone- who would take Georgia away for any precious amount of time. 'Five hundred, twenty five thousand moments so dear.' While Snape was fully aware of the inappropriateness of a professor pining for a young student, having never had feelings like these before he was reluctant to push them aside. If he couldn't actually have a relationship with her, he would have to settle for quality time spent sharing all-things magical. He envisioned a role for himself as her nurturing mentor, confidante, teacher, sponsor.

"Who is 'him', Georgia?" Snape demanded to know who was vying for her time and attentions. Worse, he was already wondering if she fancied this despicable student who was so pitiful as to need rudimentary tutoring in his most noble art of potion-making. Better to charge in and find out who this interloper was- the better to advise Georgia and therefore manage this relationship. "Perhaps I can tutor 'him'. Perhaps I can devise some sample tests and practice labs for 'him'. Anything to help you, of course."

"Harry Potter. Harry Potter's his name. I assume you know him- or at least know of him, Professor?" Georgia innocently answered.

"Potter?" the word spit out of Snape's mouth like an acidic combination of wolfsbane and thistle.