Disclaimer: Don't own it, unfortunately…..
Mak rocks, plain and simple.
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Chapter Six
Spying and a Visit to Hogsmeade
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During their afternoon session Severus spoke as he pulled ingredients out of the supply cabinet. "The headmaster told me your house has formed a Quidditch team."
Alex was adding jobberknoll feathers to the Veritaserum potion. "Yes, we did. I think we will surprise a few people."
"Really? Did you try-out?" he asked trying not to sound too interested.
"Yes. I made seeker." He said grinning slightly.
"Hmm. Well I guess we will just have to see how well you do against Slytherin."
"I heard about your team. They can't seem to beat Gryffindor to save their souls." Alex knew he was egging his professor on and that he might get points deducted, but he didn't care. He was greeted with a glare and a snide reply, "I'm sure Slytherin will have no trouble beating you and as far as Gryffindor is concerned they have just gotten lucky."
"Well, I've been told they haven't beaten Gryffindor in four years. Have they had a lucky streak for four years?" he asked innocently, not looking at his professor.
"Yes," came Severus's simple reply. Alex decided to leave well enough alone, he had gotten his jab in and he was happy he came out alive. A little later they were back to Quidditch; with Severus talking about the teams in England. He steered the conversation toward Alex's team wanting to see if he could get some information that would benefit his Slytherins. "Hufflepuff's keeper, Mr Hopkins, is an atrocious flyer. How he ever made the team is beyond me."
"That's good to know, I don't think we have that problem though." Alex was slightly distracted trying to remember the number of stirs the potion required.
Severus took this opportunity to enquire more. "Oh really?"
"Yeah, Michael is the number one keeper in the Northeast, so he's pretty good." Alex realized what he had just let slip. He knew his professor would give that tid bit of information to his team.
"I believe their main problem is the caliber of their brooms." Severus hoped that the team didn't have the newest model of brooms. If they didn't it would give Slytherin a slight advantage.
Alex knew he needed to get on another subject, and quick. Trying to rack his brain on a topic that would get his professor off his back he asked contemplatively. "What would happen if we added powdered unicorn horn instead of powdered bicorn horn?"
Severus heard Alex's question and set out answering it. Walking around the desk he began his lecture on the differences and what could possibly occur using the unicorn hair instead of the bicorn hair. He was so involved he was pacing in front of the desk and waving his hands slightly as if he were lecturing to an auditorium of potions masters instead of a single fifth year student.
Alex smiled knowing he had successfully distracted his professor and let Professor Snape continue to talk about the question for the rest of the session. Severus was walking to his rooms when he finally understood why Alex asked that question. The boy had sneaked that question in trying to distract him! How very Slytherin of him he thought with a small happy smirk.
Severus sat in his favorite chair gazing at the fire, thinking about his assistant. In one week he had shown a side of himself that few had seen. He knew it was only a matter of time before Alex started telling his friends about their snarky professor. There will be hell to pay if he does.
Severus didn't know why he was acting like that around a student. Maybe I'm losing my touch, he thought as he took a sip of his fire whiskey. No, there was just something about that boy that made him able to let down his guard.
There were a few things that perplexed Severus when it came to the boy. Where did he get the natural talent for Potions? Why did he feel so comfortable around the boy? And why does he seem so familiar?
Since Severus was feeling in an honest mood, he knew the reason he liked the boy. He had nerve. He had more nerve than any other student he had ever taught, Alex talked back to him in class and then glared at him.
Severus snorted as he thought of that. He doesn't fear me. Yet. I wonder what he would think if he found out I was a Death Eater. Shaking his head he stood up and stretched. If Albus knew I was civil to one student he might demand I be civil to them all. Hmph, like that would ever happen.
XXX
Monday morning found Harry and Ron scrambling to get their potions essay finished. When Hermione came down the stairs they desperately begged her for help. She shook her head, "No, I told you to work on it yesterday, and you two didn't listen. When did you start on it?"
They couldn't meet her eye; Harry finally spoke up, "Uh…around 11 o'clock, last night."
"Honestly! You two deserve whatever Professor Snape gives you! I'm not helping you one bit! Maybe next time you will listen to me." With that said she stormed out of the common room.
She was still fuming when she descended the stairs headed toward the Great Hall. Alex was waiting for her; he looked up when he saw her coming down the stairs. He was smiling, but noticing her bad mood, it quickly changed to a frown. "What's wrong Hermione?"
Stepping down the final step she told him about Harry and Ron asking her to help them with their essays. He took her hand and they walked toward the Great Hall. "You shouldn't let them get to you like that. I think you did the right thing though; it's probably what they need to start taking their studies seriously. From what you've already told me about them it seems they depend on you too much."
Before they entered the Great Hall Hermione kissed his cheek and thanked him for making her feel better. Before he could reply, Professor Snape's billowing robes caught their attention. "Ms. Granger, you are a prefect, ten points from Gryffindor. There are no public displays of affection in the hallways, as you are well aware. Five points from Tituba for your participation Mr Barneo as well as another five for your choice in partner."
He started to turn around as Alex leaned close to Hermione and whispered, "Ten points well worth it."
Snape spun around glaring, "What did you say Mr. Barneo?"
He looked innocently at his professor saying, "I didn't say anything, sir."
Snape narrowed his eyes at them then stalked off towards the teacher's entrance of the Great Hall.
XXX
Hermione ate breakfast with Ginny and Neville. Apparently Harry and Ron decided to skip breakfast to work in the library while they feverishly worked to finish their essays. Ginny said they hadn't slept all night and that they were going to be lucky to even pass the assignment. Neville who had worked two long days on his essay agreed that Hermione did the right thing by not helping them. She sighed, "Yeah, but they probably won't speak to me for a while because of it."
"Hermione, they will get over it. Besides, they can never stay mad at you for too long, they will need help again sometime soon." Hermione was grateful that she was friends with Ginny because she always knew how to cheer her up.
After breakfast, Neville, Hermione, Alex, and Michael walked down towards the dungeons as Ginny headed up to Charms. Harry and Ron made it to class with seconds to spare. Professor Snape came marching in as Harry and Ron were sitting down. All in all it was a pretty eventless class, with Gryffindor only losing 40 points. Alex thought the potion was easy to make but he wasn't thrilled they had to write two feet on how to properly brew the potion, thanks to Neville.
The rest of the day flew by with ease. The evening found Harry and Ron in the library sitting at a table with Hermione, Alex, Neville, and Michael. They had apologized to Hermione and promised to take school more seriously.
Tuesday was Tituba's first Quidditch practice. Hermione had asked how they had managed to get their brooms from their old school and Michael explained that they never left their brooms lying around and that they wore them on a necklace. "You never know when you are going to need your broom Hermione," Alex added. She smiled as they flew into the air.
Hermione was sitting on the bleachers reading for Transfiguration when she noticed a figure out of the corner of her eye. She tried to see who the person was but only managed a peak at their robes as they descended into the shadows and out of the stands.
XXX
Severus knew his Quidditch team needed as much information about the teams as possible if they wanted to win the House Cup this year. He had already been to the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor practices and found they still played as they always did. However, since there was a new team thrown into the mix, he needed to gather twice the information on them so his Slytherins were prepared.
The first thing he noticed when he arrived was that they were very organized. Their captain was of course a team member, but they were being led by a coach. He thought that was odd because none of the other teams had a coach, per say. Their coach was leading them through various exercises to get them warmed up and prepared to play.
They took to the air and ran intricate patterns that took Severus a few minutes to get the hang of. It appeared that the team was working on hand eye co-ordination drills. He was starting to get bored watching them do drills after twenty minutes. Not much longer they started to actually play. Severus found that they played well with each other and seemed to know where the quaffle and bludgers were going without speaking.
Noticing the know-it-all sitting in the stands watching he decided he should leave before he was seen. He stalked away and up towards the castle. On his way he ran into the headmaster, who had finished his visit with Hagrid. "Good evening, Severus. We're you coming from the Quidditch pitch?"
Knowing he was caught, again, he still kept his cool. "I just decided to go for a walk. I needed a bit of fresh air. You know how the dungeons can be a bit drafty."
Albus started to chuckle and they started walking toward the castle. "So, how does the new team look?"
Rolling his eyes slightly, Severus replied, "I don't know, I was enjoying a walk by the lake."
Albus knew he wasn't going to catch Severus that easily so he just let it go. They walked in companionable silence until they entered the castle and went their separate ways.
XXX
Wednesday evening Alex was working on the Pepperup Potion with Professor Snape. They were working in companionable silence when a knock came on the door. "Enter," Severus said irritably. He hated being interrupted when he was working on a potion, plus he had been enjoying working with someone who didn't need to chatter the whole time. He looked up to see Pansy Parkinson come into the room. "Sir, I was wondering if I could ask you a question about the essay."
Severus looked at Alex, who spoke first, "I've got it under control sir."
"Very well. This shouldn't take long. Ms. Parkinson, if you would follow me to my office." They walked out of the room as Alex kept stirring.
Alex had finished the potion thirty minutes ago and was wondering if Professor Snape was alright. He was halfway out the door when he saw his professor walking towards the classroom looking ready to kill. "Professor Snape, is everything alright?"
Sighing heavily he walked into the classroom and closed the door. Mumbling he said "That poltergeist needs to learn his place, the Bloody Baron needs to reign him in much further or keep on him more. Apparently, Peeves was terrorizing my students by drenching them with syrup in the common room. I'm going to kill him one of these days," he finished tiredly running a hand through his hair.
"Sir, isn't he already dead?" Alex was smiling, trying not to laugh at his professor, who was looking a bit disheveled. He saw his professor's lips turn up slightly, in a half smile. "Perhaps, you could convince Moaning Myrtle to give him a hard time or at least bug him more. I've heard they don't like each other too much."
Severus turned his head and looked at his assistant who had a mischievous glint in his dark eyes. "Hmm, you might have an idea there. I will think on it. That poltergeist needs to learn his place, and soon."
"Good luck with that sir," he said as he was walking towards the door. "By the way, I bottled the potion. It's on your desk."
Severus looked at his desk and saw the potion bottled up. "Thank you Mr. Barneo."
"Goodnight sir. See you tomorrow in class." Alex said as he shut the door and headed towards his dorm.
XXX
Saturday, the fourth through seventh years were standing outside the castle waiting for the carriages. Hermione had promised to spend some time with Ron and Harry. They decided to head towards the Three Broomsticks for some butterbeer. They were enjoying their time together when the Slytherin Quidditch team strode into the establishment. They sat down in the booth in front of the trio. The Slytherins had not seen the Gryffindors or else they wouldn't have been talking strategy so loudly. Ron and Harry couldn't help but listen in.
Of course all good things must come to an end, especially if you're friends with Neville Longbottom. He had been getting a butterbeer when he spotted his friends sitting in a booth. Wanting to say hello, and chat, he headed towards them. He didn't see the chair leg sticking out from the table and toppled over it, sending him into the trio's booth.
The Slytherins heard the crash and quickly found the spies. "Potter. Weasel. What are you doing eavesdropping on us?" Malfoy questioned angrily.
Harry stood up replying, "We really weren't eavesdropping you were talking loud enough for the whole pub to hear."
"Watch it Potter, wouldn't want anything unfortunate to happen to Gryffindors golden boy."
"Is that a threat ferret?" Ron said clenching his fists and turning a nice shade of red in the face.
Draco smirked, turned around, and walked out of the bar with the rest of the team.
"What a git! Threatening you like that! The nerve!" Hermione wanted nothing more than to deck Malfoy again. Finally, she said, "Come on guys lets try to enjoy the rest of the day."
XXX
After dinner, Hermione and Alex were sitting on the steps of the school talking about their day. Hermione could only smile and laugh at how animated Alex was about Hogsmeade. He loved Zonko's and couldn't say enough about it. After a while they sat leaning their backs against the steps. Hermione had her head lying on his shoulder and Alex had his arm draped over her shoulder. They were both gazing at the night sky enjoying the view.
"Hermione?" Alex asked.
"Yes," came her lazy reply.
"Would you go to Hogsmeade with me on our next trip?" He was nervous about asking her but he knew he was starting to like her as more than a friend and he desperately wanted to know if she felt the same way.
Hermione wasn't expecting him to ask that. She looked up at him as he gazed down at her. She knew she wanted to be with Alex and maybe this was his way of seeing if she liked him. Smiling up into his beautiful dark eyes she said she would love to accompany him to Hogsmeade.
Alex's smile got a little wider as he leaned down. He brushed his lips lightly against hers. They parted for a brief second before they kissed again, this time with a little more passion. Hermione slipped her arms around his neck as he wrapped his around her waist.
They were interrupted by a slight cough behind them. They jumped apart and turned to look behind them. Gazing up at the sky was the Headmaster. He looked down smiling with a twinkle in his eye. "It's a beautiful evening for star gazing, don't you agree?"
"Yes, sir," they both answered quickly.
"It's ten minutes until curfew and as much as I hate to disrupt your…..star gazing, I suggest you head in before a more unpleasant staff member finds you out after curfew."
They both knew who he was talking about. Grinning, they stood up and wished the headmaster a goodnight as they walked into the school. Before parting they shared one more kiss.
