"So," Professor Severus Snape began as he placed the small file aside, "you want to explore a potential biological origin to magic." He stared at the young woman in front of him who sat clutching the strap of her book bag.
"Yes, sir." Hermione agreed earnestly, "All magical creatures have one thing in common: body matter. Well, except for Dementors and ghosts but both of those are made of-"
"Cytoplasmic vibrations. Yes, I know. There was an article in Potions Procured last month that talked about it. You should take a look before you jump to body matter."
"But your article didn't mention anything about cytoplasmic vibrations, sir. Your paper talked about variations to the Wolfsbane administration."
Severus raised an eyebrow. Apparently the chit read more voraciously that he had predicted.
"Really?"
"Well sir, while I think your idea is a wonderful theory, it fails when you take into account the crystallization properties of the full dozen aconite leaves. And the comments about injection sound like-" Hermione stopped.
Severus shifted in his chair. Apparently the chit was actually a genius as well. Damn.
"like a Pureblood hypothesizing? I basically am, Miss Granger. I may be a half-blood, but I was never fully exposed to the Muggle lifestyle as a child. I'm afraid I have no intensive knowledge about such treatments."
"But considering the high temperatures that Wolfsbane is put through, using a gold needle is just irresponsible, Severus!"
A silence fell. Severus counted to 50 again, but neither in Latin nor backwards this time; he was having too much fun watching the horrified shock pass through Miss Granger's system.
"Actually, Hermione," Severus watched with half-lidded eyes as the woman in front of him straightened imperceptibly.
"Yes, Severus?" His name came out husky and low.
Obsidian eyes met garnet. Forcefully clashing stones struck hard- damn it. He really needed to learn more words that couldn't easily be turned into sexual innuendos. Severus shifted again, which somehow resulted in him moving forward towards Hermione. She wasn't taking this sudden tension any better, he was gratified to see. Or at least that's the sign the deep breaths and her heaving bosom seemed to indicate. Fuck. She had noticed him staring at the edge where her blouse split and the barest hint of a curve showed. Severus wondered idly whether if it would better to simply fuck her than try to finish this interview. He cleared his throat importantly – conveniently ignoring that he had told Albus that Fudge sounded like a chicken when the Minister did it.
"How much do you want this job?"
"More than I want any single thing in the world but one, Severus. My resume is the first page in the file; my research and recommendation letters underneath." Severus's mind dallied briefly towards the image of Hermione underneath him when Hermione stood up, suddenly much more confident than the typical apprenticeship applicant should be. Severus pulled his chair closer to his desk as he began to ask another question, but he was interrupted.
"No, I haven't taken any type of confidence or intelligence stimulant; yes, I'm serious; no, I'm not an idiot nor a little girl; and yes, I completely understands the risks and," the chit had the nerve to stare directly There, "the benefits of such a partnership."
Hermione picked up her bag and her copy of Severus's book. "If that's all, Severus?"
"That weren't – wasn't – what I was going to say."
"Really?"
How in Merlin's underpants had she managed to perfect that single arched eyebrow move in two minutes? It had taken him three weeks! Severus had the sinking feeling that he wasn't in complete control of the situation anymore.
"I was going to ask you what that one thing you want more in the world is, Hermione."
Severus was very sure something was Very Wrong when she began to smile.
"You." And she was gone.
Severus didn't know what had hit him.
A/N: A special thank you to Dolphindreams for the idea about writing her interview. And wordwitch, I hope you liked the reference to your favorite part of the last chapter.
I honestly hadn't planned a sequel to "A Little Hope" but when as I replied to the reviews, it seemed most of you wanted one. And my inner muse decided to be nice to me and came up with this. Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed! Review!