Dungeons. Snape leaned on his chair. Smiling. Thinking about that night, about the dance he and Hermione share together.

A memory he won't forget, even after his dying.. he will die as the happiest man in the wizardry world.

He still could smell her scent around him. Jasmine. A perfect scent to a perfect girl. He didn't hear someone knocking at the door, not even he realized someone had already entered his office.

Dumbledore stood watching Snape. He too realized Snape was smiling. He never saw Snape smile for the first time he sat his foot to Hogwarts in his first years.

Never.

Not until this.. he witnessed something incredibly that he wanted to ask why. "Severus..?"

Snape jolted from his dream. Dumbledore saw he was shaken, stuttering.. as their eyes met.

"Headmaster".

"Are you smiling? I can see that. Who made you smile care to share". Dumbledore wink. "Miss Granger I believe.."

Dumbledore shaking his head. "That girl always makes someone smile, even you, my boy. Well, they say she's annoying, but brilliant among the others. I do believe you refer to Miss Granger as insufferable ``know it all last year".

Snape gulped. "She knows it all who saves Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley's life. She will risk anything for her best friend".

"That's.. I don't like to hear, Headmaster. Forgive me if I am rude.. she is not supposed to be, how many times I warned her, still.. she didn't listen. Yes, I agree with you headmaster.. she is brilliant and she will risk her life for something valuable".

Snape eyes on Dumbledore. "The value of friendship".

"That you never had..." Dumbledore circled around Snape's office. "I'm here to talk about the seconds tasks that will be in for the champions. I believe there's a value that will be missing until the champion finds out what it is".

"Which means...?

"Yes, Severus". Both men stare. "Everything 's fine".

Bridge outside the Hogwarts. Hermione and Harry walk. "Harry, you told me you'd figured the egg out weeks ago. The task is two days from now".

"Really? I had no idea". People are looking their way. Harry lowered his voice. "I suppose Viktor's already figured it out".

"I wouldn't know, we didn't actually talk about the tournament. Actually we didn't really talk at all, Viktor's more of a physical being. I just mean he's not particularly... Mostly he watches me study. It's a bit annoying actually".

Hermione glances at Harry, studying him, as if debating some troubling notion. "You are trying to figure this egg out aren't you?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry looks at Hermione.

"I mean these tasks are supposed to test you, in the most brutal way they're almost cruel. And um, I'm scared for you. You got by the dragon mostly on the nerve, I'm not sure it's going to be enough this time".

There is an awkward silence. Hermione leads her own way towards the lake. As she arrived there, she saw Snape from far away staring at the water. Hand inside of his pocket, he's like been dreaming in his daylight.

She can see the giant squid waving its tentacles below the water. Snape doesn't seem bothered by that giant squid.

Gently she approached Snape. "Professor?"

"Yes.. Miss Granger". said Snape without turning to her. "What is it?"

"What are you doing?"

"What do you think I've been doing?"

"You are dreaming in the daylight. The squid is waving, it doesn't seem you saw it with your eyes".

With that, Snape's eyes moved to the squid under the water. "I watched the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan play with the squid, you know Miss Granger.. this squid is harmless".

"I know. I've read about it. Fred, George and Lee tickled its tentacles even though it received a toast from Harry. Ron thought the squid would harm Krum while he's bathing in the lake. But no.. it didn't threaten anyone".

Snape nodded his head. "It can change color, and is also able to change patterns at will".

Hermione studied him. "Professor.. about that night.."

"I know. You've been an stupid girls dance with her old git potions teacher middle of midnight. And you regret what you did".

"I didn't say that.." Snape black eyes round. He turned to her. "I didn't say I regretted dancing with my potions teacher at midnight. I'd just want to say.. you deserved it".

"Don't pity me, Miss Granger. I used to work alone".

Hermione sighs, saying again. "No one deserves to be alone, especially you, Professor. I'd just like to say that our dancing was incredible that night. Krum might be physically handsome but he's not like you Professor".

"The potions teacher who got better moves than others, even though it was his first dance to know how to".

Hermione smiled. "You made my life, lived like a Princess in real life". She blushed. "I expect you know what Princess is".

"I am Miss Granger. You are the Princess in real life. Gryffindors know it all. My Gryffindors know it all".

Hermione bit her lips. "I don't know what you mean by that Professor, but urm.. I appreciate your words". She turns her feet and walks but then she stops, pacing Snape back.

"I can't wait to fight with you again, Professor".

"Indeed". He smiles, watching Hermione walk back inside the castle. Snape then studied the giant squid that suddenly changed color followed by Snape's mood.

A happier man in the wizardry world.

Library night. A ghost drifts from lamp to lamp, blowing them out, empty aisles as if someone's moving.

Harry, Ron and Hermione sitting at a table piled high with spellbooks and the golden egg.

"Harry, tell me again".

"Come seek us where our voices sound".

"The black lake, that's obvious".

"An hour long you'll have to look".

"Again obvious, though I must admit it is potentially problematic".

Potentially problematic? "When was the last time you held your breath under the water for an hour, Hermione?"

"I had an uncle who could stick his head in a pickle jar. Ears and all".

Harry and Hermione turn, see Ron toying with the egg. He looks up, withers.

"Right. Not helpful".

"Look Harry, we can do this. The three of us can figure it out".

Just then, Mad-Eye Moody appears in the doorway.

"Hate to break up this scholar session but Professor McGonagall would like to see you in her office. Not you Potter, just Weasley and Granger".

"But sir, the second task is only hours away and..."

"Exactly. Presumably Potter is well prepared by now and could do with a good night's sleep. Go. Now!"

Harry frowns, watches them go.

Black lake. Morning. The Weasley twins are shouting, busy taking bets. Harry is walking along with Neville, he has some green plantlife in his hand.

Viewing tower. The champions wait. Fleur looks imperious, oblivious to the Beauxbaton girls that buzz about her.

Karkaroff whispers to the impassive Krum. Cedric rolls his neck and stretches. Harry, tower draped over his neck, casts a dubious eye at the slimy green coil of leaves undulating in his palm.

Dumbledore over a loudspeaker. The cannon fires, the crowd roars and the champions enter the icy water.

Moments later. Hermione comes up to Harry with a towel, as he casts a spell which propels him towards the surface, he flies out and lands on the deck where the crowd are.

"Harry!"

"Hermione.."

"Are you alright? You must be freezing!" Hermione kisses Harry on the head.

"I finished the last Hermione".

"Next to last. Fleur never got past the Grindylows".

Corridor night. Harry is walking along, consumed with his own thoughts, when he hears voices, sees twin silhouettes glimmering at the end of the corridor.

Snape and Karkaroff.

Karkaroff's left arm is extended, sleeve pushed past his elbow. As he reaches for Snape's arm..

"It's a sign Severus, you know what it means as well as I".

The door opens and they see Harry. Instantly, Karkaroff drops his sleeve and exits. Harry starts to turn away, when..

"Potter! What's your hurry?" Harry stops, watches Snape stride forth. "Congratulations, your performance in the black lake was inspiring. Gilliweed, am I correct?"

"Yes, sir".

"Ingenious. A rather rare herb Gillyweed, not something found in your everyday garden. Nor is this.."

Snape holds up a tiny crystal vial. "Know what it is?"

"Bubble juice, sir?"

"Veritaserum. Three drops of this and You-know-who himself will spill his darkest secrets. The use of this on a student is regrettably forbidden, however should you ever steal from my personal stores again, my hand might just slip.."

Tipping the bottle. "Over your morning pumpkin juice".

"I haven't stolen anything".

"Don't lie to me. Gilliweed might be innocuous, but boomslang skin? lacewing flies? You and your friends are brewing polyjuice potion and believe me I'm going to find out why".

Severus closes the door in Harry's face.

Wooden bridge. Ron and Hermione stand on one side of the bridge, while Harry stands on the other.

"What d'you suppose it was? On Karkaroff's arm?" ask Ron.

"Dunno".

Hermione frowning in thought. "Boomslang skin and lacewing flies? You're sure those were the two ingredients Snape mentioned?"

"Positive. Why?"

"Well, he thinks we're brewing Polyjuice potion, doesn't he?"

Harry looks into the distance, sees Neville, nose buried in Herbology book, walking across the grounds.

"You better talk with Snape?" Ron asks Hermione.

"Why?"

"C'mon Hermione. Everyone talks about you and Snape. You and Snape are kind of having a bad decision.. a relationship between a student and teacher".

Ron makes a face, he about to throw up as he thinks about Hermione together with Snape. He couldn't even think if it actually happened.

"That's disgusting. How could you, Hermione. If you want a good relationship or with Krum I don't care but Snape? That old git, how many times he tries to snog you".

"RON! We never snogged nor did we.." Harry looked at her. "What? I need to talk to him".

"See... you heard her, Harry. Talk with Snape? She must be mental". Ron scratches his head. "What will you tell him, Hermione? Oh, my sweet Snape, Mr. Weasley is being bad to me, cast him with your love spell..

Harry suddenly burst out laughing. Hermione smacks him on his arm. "I didn't say nor I will. He points to us for stealing his herbs".

"So? We did that before, that was your idea. Wasn't bad though, funny to see you transformed into a cat, and you got tail, coughing fur ball".

Ron laughs. "That's not funny! Urgh!" She turns, wheel to the dungeons.

"She wants to snog Snape really badly".

In The Dungeons corridor, Hermione caught students bolt out from the potions room. She managed herself bursting inside, slammed the door shut.

Snape stands in one of the cauldrons, looking up as he hears the door being slammed shut. Hermione approached him.

"Miss Granger? And a pleasant surprise to see you in my class. Missing me?"

"YOU!" Her finger pointed to him. "How dare you point at us stealing your herbs". She stood closer to him. "We didn't steal anything!"

"Of course you do, you steal herbs from here. You made Mr. Potter blew one of the cauldrons and you went there.. that room".

Snape point. His face leaned closer to her. "I'm saying that because you say that you can't wait to fight with me, Miss Granger".

"By stealing? Is not fair.. right now everyone thought we had a specific special relationship. Ron says we are snogging!"

Snape smirking. "Mr. Weasley always doubts me. Is he jealous if we two snogged? ``

"NO! But this is bad! We cannot... no! What will Dumbledore say if he finds out. The Ministry? We're forbidden to have a relationship except for student to student. Not student to teacher".

Snape stares at her. He closed his eyes, scented her scent. Lavender again. She likes the blossom flowers. He will pick it up and display it on top of his desk.

Admiring the flowers, they bloom, grown healthier like her. He wanted to kiss her so badly.

"It could be arranged. Student to teacher didn't sound that bad. Anything else you want to say, Miss Granger?"

She shakes her head, Snape snickering.

"No.. then go back to your friends before somebody sees you and me in here alone. You don't want Mr. Weasley or others to think that we really.. snogging".

Hermione grunted right in front of him. Then out from his potion class. Snape waved his wand cleaning all the mess his students had done.

Then he sighs. "I really need chocolate iced for my thirst".