-1Author Note: Thank you all for the reviews! I'm sorry about that last little bit. Just something inside me wanted to hear everyone gasp. HEHE! It's all good, as you will see. Enjoy!

The weekend was nothing but a haze of books and parchments. Hermione knew she would get detention, possibly worse, but right now, she didn't give a damn.

She went through her proofreading making sure all the clues were properly in place, then tucked her finished essay into her backpack, and headed for her first class…potions.

"Your essays are to be on my desk in five minutes. You then have the next forty minutes of class to prepare a perfect batch of the potion in question, Veritaserum. You will not have time to complete it, but it will be at the proper moment of progression when you turn it in. Is that understood?"

A few murmurs of "Yes, Professor Snape." lingered in the air for a moment. Hermione reached into her bag and took her paper out. She looked down at it smirking then got up to place it on his desk.

"I hope you find my essay enlightening, Professor."

He cocked that eyebrow of his at her. "I'm sure, Miss Granger, that whatever you could possibly have to say in that essay, I already know. I am the Master of this subject, am I not?"

She looked him square on. "Then perhaps I shall just prove to you that I can accomplish better the results that you have laid before the class and make the finished product. You could test it if you wish."

He smirked at her. "Please try, Miss Granger. By all means, prove that your vast knowledge surpasses my own." He motioned for her to take her place and begin.

For the next thirty-five minutes, Hermione worked feverishly over the cauldron. She added a few extra ingredients to speed up the chemical processes, so instead of taking the usual full moon cycle to complete, it could be done in less than an hour. She added moonstone to simulate the moon's cycle, and sliced jobberknoll feathers to enhance memory.

At precisely three minutes before the bell was to ring, the Gryffindor know-it-all had a finished, viable specimen of Veritaserum sitting in front of Snape.

"If you don't believe me, drink it. We can have the Headmistress test it, if you don't trust us."

"She is too cheeky for her own good."

"Miss Granger, I do believe your tone will get you in trouble one of these days. I suggest you watch it."

She glared at him and went to her seat. She snapped her eyes back to meet his as she sat down rather hard.

He picked up the vial. The entire class went silent as he examined the contents. The sample did look the way it should when completed. "Very well. I shall go to the Headmistress as soon as this takes effect." And with that, he tipped the sample into his mouth and swallowed. He narrowed his eyes at her and smirked. "The taste is wrong. I do hope that you try harder next time."

The bell rang.

Hermione started gathering her books and gestured for Harry and Ron to go ahead without her. The room seemed to empty rather quickly. She saw her chance as soon as the last student left.

"What did you do to me that night we were in the wreck?"

"I don't remember."

His head jerked up and met hers. It was the first time Hermione had ever seen him with a slight look of fear. He realized in that moment what she had not only done to him, but what she had accomplished. She sped up the cycle of Veritaserum. It was revolutionary!

"What have you done?"

"Added a few things. Be sure you don't remember, Professor." By now, she had her hands splayed out on his desk and hovering over him in a very intimidating manner. Just as she said the words, his head began to hurt. His vision became slightly blurry. He shook his head to clear it. Hermione saw his movement and knew it was time to drill him.

"How long have you wanted to rape me?"

"Never. I never wanted to rape you." His jaw dropped. "I raped her?"

"Why did you do it then?"

"I didn't."

"You're lying! Did you take the antidote to the Veritaserum?"

"No, I did not. I am out of that particular potion now. I was to have the class brew more next week."

She decided to accept his fast response as truth and continued.

"If you didn't rape me, then what happened? I do not remember."

He head began to swim. His eyes were playing tricks on him. He glanced to the wall in the back of the room and saw what looked to be a muggle movie playing out on the stone. He could see the two of them lying on a bed in an intimate embrace. She seemed willing.

"I believe we were intimate. But I am sure that it was a mutual encounter."

She sat down.

"How can I see what happened? I had Remus erase it! What is going on?"

"What did you add to the Veritaserum?"

"Moonstone to speed up the process and jobberknoll feathers to enhance memory."

He looked at her studiously. How did he never see that combination?

"It seems to have worked, Miss Granger. I can see the events as if I am in a pensieve. Perhaps you would prefer to have a look for yourself?" He passed her an empty vial and gestured to her cauldron.

She took his lead, gathered the same amount, and drank it. She went back to her seat in front of the professor and waited. She didn't need to wait long.

"Why did you allow me to kiss you?"

"I wanted you to." She covered her mouth with her hands at her confession. Her eyes were wide.

"I see. How long have you wanted me to kiss you?"

"Fifth year. I don't seem to recall an exact time, but…" Her words were cut off, as the wall behind him seemed to light up with a scene from her mind. It was a time at Grimmauld Place. Severus and Sirius were arguing over the table. She saw how strong Severus looked. How fierce and steadfast he was. It made her realize that he was just a man after all.

"What do you see?"

"You and Sirius fighting at Grimmauld. You were…powerful." Her eyes took on a dreamy state and her voice softened as the word slipped across her tongue.

His eyebrow shot up again as he leaned forward and steepled his fingers.

"If it was mutual, sir, how long have you wanted me?"

"Too long."

A silence ensued as they looked at each other, both trying to comprehend what this means. What could this lead to? Another bell sounded, and Hermione jumped from her seat.

"I have to go."

"Perhaps you should."

Hermione reached for her things and started for the door. With a small cry she realized that her essay was still on his desk. She ran back towards him, shoved another less critical copy into his hands, jerked the old essay off the stack of others, and bolted from the room.