Chapter 25

Hermione awoke the next morning feeling as if she had slept on rocks. What's more, she felt like she didn't sleep but two hours on those rocks. She made her way to the bathroom and said good morning to Elmer, only to remember that he wasn't there any longer. Oh yeah…better go check on him, she thought.

She washed her face and changed her clothes, noting as she did that she carefully selected clothes that flattered her.

She reached the lab and unwarded the door. The room was dark so she lit the lamps and peered over towards the table. There sat the black pewter cauldron and a slight hissing noise came from it. What made her heart drop was the steam. It was emitting a blue steam from the top.

Hermione turned to leave the lab only to run head long into the Professor's chest. He stood still and watched her eyes.

"Sorry Professor. I was just gong to owl you." he followed her into the lab, noting the deflated sound of her voice and caught the vapor rising from the cauldron. He frowned when he saw the color. How could that be? They should see the mint green mist. How did this happen? He knew he shouldn't have left a potion unattended that long.

"Did you do anything to it after I left?" his eyes cut to her in an accusing manor. He almost smiled at the look of indignation on her face.

"Of course not! I am just as learned in the procedures as you are Professor. I may be a Spells Mistress, but I studied Potions too. We just made a mistake somewhere." Severus snorted and began pulling out his books as Hermione began reviewing the notes from the day before.

Hermione placed her nose above the cauldron and sniffed. It was sweet but something was missing…something they didn't do…

A few hours went by as Hermione and her former Professor argued, debated and then rationally discussed the possibilities. Severus thought that the love potion was the wrong type. Hermione was sure it was the correct one, but possibly it was the original potion's properties.

Severus was willing to accept that his potion was correct, and all too willing to accept it as her mistake. They began dissecting the base potion further and came up with the same conclusions each time.

An hour later they stood side by side, Hermione looking a wreck and Severus looking cool and collected. However, his chest was heavy with an emotion he couldn't put his finger on. What was that? He was actually satisfied that that the potion didn't work. He didn't realize it, but he was thankful to have more time. More time to think. More time to be here. More time to be with her.

"Professor…maybe we have overlooked something all together?" he didn't respond to her question. He knew this potion already. He knew the mixtures were perfect and he knew that the catalyst was what they had looked for. But somehow…

"Professor? What if…oh see… here read that!" she handed his copy of Merlin's Methods and he read. But he really didn't need to. She had already memorized the passage he intended to read. "It says that on occasion, when attempting a complicated potion that had properties of a protective nature that some ingredients must be added. The catalyst. But what I find that is interesting is that it says ingredients, Ingredients. Meaning…more than one catalyst.' Severus smirked at her and turned around. He was busy trying to prepare another potion.

"I really don't think so Ms. Granger."

"Why not? Because I pointed it out?" Her eyes were like little flames as he turned to look at her. What a cheeky thing she could be sometimes. He was searching for the vial of Healing draught and he noticed it was sitting in front of her, so he reached over her shoulder. Noting as he did so, how close he was to her face and clasped the vial in his hand.

"Another catalyst is not what you need Ms. Granger" he was pulling the bottle from the table when he felt her viselike grip on his arm.

"What did you just say?"

"I said…another catalyst is not what you need. Now kindly loosen your grip on me, your hand is as strong as a snake-" he stopped talking and looked at her. Her face was full of rapture and a brilliant smile was forming.

"Professor…my dream…remember? You said…"Not what you need' in my dream! I bet…oh Professor…that's it!" he was so confused he had no idea what to say. He watched her pace the room and wring her hands. She was muttering to herself and had a dazed expression on her face. She was working something out but he couldn't put a finger on what she meant or where she was going with it. He felt stupid. He was just standing there, with a vial of Healing draught in his hand.

"Ms. Granger?" she didn't look at him as she said, "Shhh!" and waved her hand dismissively at him. He was seething. How dare she tell him to be quiet and wave her hand at him like that! But a part of him, that little voice in the back, told him to watch her. Watch her think. Watch her express one of the most brilliant minds in the Wizarding World. Watch her act just like you do.

Ten minutes passed before she turned to him and smiled.

"A binding potion professor. We need to bind the potions together. The Love potion is not the only thing we needed! The binding potion will be the active catalyst that activates the protective potion with the healing potion. The love potion has a simple role of adding a sweet smell Professor…"

He looked at her for a very long time. A part of him berated himself for not seeing it before. He had been bested by his own pupil. Well, former pupil. He was a little proud as well. Proud of her because he had to take some credit for those brains of hers. He watched her smile broaden and he slowly began running it over in his mind. Yes…she probably was correct. But mixing a potion with that many ingredients was heavy stuff and he now saw the need for his expertise.

She looked at his face and waited for something. He knew she was waiting for him to say 'well done' or 'you're right Ms. Granger.' But it went against everything he ever stood for, especially when Ms. Granger was involved. One could hear that they are beyond intelligent, too many times.

He nodded his head and began writing down his thoughts on the potion as she stood there. Unbeknownst to him, her elation had fizzled and her emotions were raw. She had just solved a puzzle they both had been working on for days. He couldn't even tell her well done? She felt tears sting her eyes as she sniffed a little and went to inventory her potion stocks for the next batch of brewing.

"Ms. Granger.' Hermione didn't turn around, but she stopped to listen, half turning her face. "I would wager all the Galleons in Gringotts that you are right. I suppose I should say good job?" He arched an eyebrow as she turned around to meet his eyes. She fought off the tears as he breathing became ragged.

"You can say whatever you wish professor." he heard the emotion in her voice and his mind went back to a time when she told him off for never complimenting her. Her admission that she worked hard for his approval and never receiving any.

"Ms. Granger, you don't need approval from me. You know that you are a brilliant witch, capable of doing many things.' there, he said it. She lowered her head and he saw a slight nod. Then she turned her back to him and began rummaging through her stock of ingredients. "But just this once Ms. Granger, I will say that you impress me." She didn't stop what she was doing so he turned back to his notes.

Unbeknownst to him, her sad face had changed into a wide grin.