Chapter Nine

Something Wicked This Way Comes

The Great Hall was loud as usual. Harry, Ron and Hermione took their seats, talking about nothing important. Then Ron finally broke down.

"What's up with Ginny, she has not seemed right since the train?"

"Don't know." Harry replied

"I'll try to talk to her later, Hermione offered.

"Thanks, Hermione." Ron replied

They all finished up lunch and Hermione jumped up.

"Where you going so fast we have a free period?" Harry asked

"You might have a free period but I have a class." She replied in a huff.

"Ahh," Ron said, "time for old bat round two for you."

"You know Ron, would it kill you to look at him as a Professor and not a threat to your personal happiness." She reprimanded him in a hushed voice storming off in a huff.

"Bloody Hell Mate, maybe I should learn to keep my mouth shut especially when she is trying to help me with my sister." Ron admitted.

Harry stood with a shrug of his shoulders. "Come on I want to go out to the Quidditch pitch and practice a bit."

Hermione rushed down the stairs to the dungeon. She was excited about her first advanced potions class. Entering the room she took in a deep breath smelling the sweet scent of a potion brewing on a workbench behind Professor Snape's desk. The room was devoid of any other students or the professor for that matter. The class was today right, she thought as she checked her parchment. Seeing that it was she took a seat at the table right in front of the professor's desk and waited for everyone else to show up. Hermione's mind started to wonder. She should have been nicer to Ron just now. Then again he should have not said what he did about Professor Snape. Granted they did not get along well but Ron should pay closer attention and maybe Professor Snape would be a bit kinder to him. Snape was a smart, deep man. Not an easy man to be friends with but one that deserved respect. Hermione came out of her thoughts with the sound of voices entering the room. Looking up she saw Dean Thomas, Terry Boot and Michael Corner enter the dungeon. Almost right behind them were Ernie Macmillan and Blaise Zabini. The door suddenly slammed shut behind them. Professor Snape in the time it took them all to look at it to enter the classroom from his private chamber. The class jumped collectively at the sight of him.

"How nice of you all to arrive seconds before the bell. This is advanced potions and I expect you all to get here in a timely fashion from now on or I will start deducting points from your houses. As for you Miss Granger, Five point awarded to your house for being the only one here who seems to own a watch."

Hermione almost fell off her chair with this statement. Professor Snape had just openly gave Gryffindor points with at least one student from every house present to see it.

"Thank you Professor" She managed to squeak out with a small smile.

To her utter amazement he too had a small smile on his face. Something stirred inside of her for a moment and was gone as he swept away towards his desk.

"I want all of you to brew me a cauldron of Veritaserum and before any of you get ideas of keeping any for yourself, be warned I will make you drink it and have you blabbing your inner most secrets to the whole school. There is no need to talk, Begin."

Everyone at once took out the items needed to create the potion, preceded to the shelves to get the ingredients they needed. It became apparent to Hermione as she worked on her potion that she was the only girl in the class. Was it really possible that no other girl did well enough on her O.W.L.'s or maybe they just did not signup? Glancing up at the clock she saw that class was over in about 10 minutes. This must have been Professor Snape's cue to start making everyone nervous. He moved from table to table, staring into some cauldrons, barely looking into others. He stopped in front of Hermione, his dark gaze moved from her expectant face to her potion and back again several times, by the time he stopped Hermione was flush in the face from all the attention.

"Thomas, Corner, Zabini you may bottle your potions I will be able to make them useable. Everyone else just clean it up it will be no use to me. Everyone except you, Miss Granger, Yours is useable the way it is."

Hermione felt the flushness in her face move over her entire body. That was the 2nd time in this class and the 3rd time today he had told her she did something right in front of other people. Everyone moved to do as they were instructed and finished just before the bell rang. When it did everyone booked, everyone but Hermione. She was still trying to finish up her shaking hands and overheated state slowed her down considerably. When she finished she placed the potion on his desk, the desk he was sitting at. Turning to leave he stops her.

"Miss Granger, have you ever had this potion?"

"No Sir, she responded.

"Do you trust me as a professor?"

"Yes Sir, she responded carefully.

"If you would like to try it I promise I will only ask you questions such as your name. All things that are already common knowledge, I offer this to you because I truly think you have the ability to be a great potions master. It would help you on the way, knowing what it felt like to be under a powerful potion. I promise you no harm will become you. You will only be under it for a few minutes. What do you want to do?"

Hermione's eyes shifted around at rapid speed, her breath slightly labored. She wanted to do this so badly. For herself, him and her career, but something screamed at her not to do it. Snape looked at her with dark patient eyes his hands clasped before him on the desk. Finally she decided.

"I'll do it Professor, I trust you."

A smile came to his thin lips "Good, Good" his hands unclasped and he took the stopper out of the potion bottle. "Please sit down and tilt you head back slightly. I will give you just enough potion to put you under. After you get to feel it I will release you from it as easily as you went under. Are you ready Miss Granger?"

She took a seat at the table right in front of him

"I'm ready," she said with a slight quiver in her voice.

Tilting her head back her lips slightly parted. Professor Snape came to her placing his one hand to support her head he brings the potion to her lips. Hermione takes in a deep breath as he slowly pours a small amount of the liquid in her mouth. It had a sweet taste almost like candy, for some reason she could not bring herself to swallow.

Without letting go of her head, Professor Snape places the bottle down and gently rubs her throat with his free hand willing her to ingest the potion. After a moment he was successful and she took it down. Removing his hand from her throat he gently tipped her head back to a normal position. Hermione sat dazed unable to focus on her surroundings. Snape took this time to both lock and soundproof the door magically. Pulling Hermione to her feet he stands just inches away from her.

"How do you feel Miss Granger?"

"I feel light and happy" she replied in a very even tone

"What house are you in?" he prompted

"Gryffindor."

What is your favorite pastime?" he asked

"Reading."

Do you think any of the students as boyfriend material?" he questioned slowly

"No."

"What about staff?" he pushed on

"Yes."

"Who?" he said with a bit of hope in his voice

"You." she responds with out batting an eye

Snape was overjoyed not an easy task to accomplish.

"Do you want me to kiss you? He said as calmly as possible

"Yes"

Snape waited no longer he took her in his arms protectively and placed his mouth on hers. Gently probing with his tongue she grants him access to her mouth. Together they stood for several minutes that way. Exploring the danger and lust between them. Finally Snape pulled away his better sense taking over. Stepping back slightly he smoothes her hair and shirt. Then walks behind his desk for not one but two bottles of potion from its drawer. The first being Amortentia, a powerful potion that would make her fall for him. Not that it really seemed she needed it but he wanted to make sure, this chance would not be repeated. The second was the antidote for the Veritaserum with a touch of Forgetfulness Potion just to be safe. Helping her back to her seat he tilts her head back and gives her the 1st potion. Lust got the best of him and he kissed her one more time before he gave her the 2nd potion to wake her from this state. As the potions entered her bloodstream he took the spells off the door and waited for her to come out of it. A moment later she looked up at him. The small smile on her face said many things.

"Welcome back, Miss Granger. How do you feel?" he inquired

"I'm ok, a little light headed." she said slowly

"That is normal it will pass very soon. What do you remember?" he asked

"I remember up to the point when you helped me swallow the potion, after that all I have is a blank but I could feel like I was floating and was very relaxed. What did you ask me while I was under?"

"Simple things like your name, house, favorite pastime. All things I already knew but had you tell me anyway. Now Miss Granger, I must stress that you keep this a secret from everyone. There are strict laws against the use of the potion but I thought you deserved the chance to try it. You must not even tell Potter and Weasley. Do you understand?"

"Yes Professor, thank you for the chance I will say nothing. She replied

"Very good, now you must be off if I'm not mistaken you have a class with Hagrid you best not be late. Good day Miss Granger."

"Good Day Professor Snape, thank you again."

Hermione collected her stuff and left quickly so not to be late for Hagrid's Class. Meanwhile Professor Snape was lying on his bed in his chamber. He had no more classes for a few hours so he locked his doors and curled up on his side. Staring deeply into a mirror across from his bed he saw himself there and envisioned Hermione next to him, naked, pure and ready for him to teach her what a true wizard could do. Closing his eyes he kept the image and fell asleep to very entertaining dreams.