Chapter 5

If I were as rich as the lovely Ms. Rowling then I would buy more things then I need to. But alas, since I am not, I just have to rely on begging my dad until I annoy him enough to buy me a book I have to own.

'Great. Abso-freakin-lutely brilliant.' Were the thoughts of one Professor Severus Snape. No, there wasn't a Longbottom in the building or even a Potter, but he had just done the most stupid thing he had done in a long while. In trying to unnerve Hermione Granger he had just made life a lot harder (no innuendo intended). He was working in way too close conditions with a beautiful lady, whom he just happened to be in love with. Yep, the little potions workspace was just a little too small. Every time he reached for an ingredient he managed to brush up against her and she would do the same thing to him.

He eventually got tired of the lack of conversation

"So are you going to turn on your radio, or are you going to leave me to figure it out for myself?"

He asked in mocking tone.

"Since you appear to be incompetent in doing so I guess I will"

But as luck would have it, as walked past him to turn on the radio she pressed up against him and they both froze. They were both kinda stuck and didn't know which way to move. She tried moving to her left, but in doing so she just pressed herself against him even harder. The worst part of it all is that no one was saying anything. They were just looking into each other's widened eyes, and in Hermione's case blushing.

'Oh dear lord, what did I do to deserve this?' The little voice in his head asked him. But instead of voicing these thoughts aloud he put his hands on her shoulders and scooted in the opposite direction, trying to ignore his rapidly beating heart.

"Sorry about that. I suppose I should make more space in the work station."

"That's okay sir, here let me turn on the radio. I got a new CD that my cousin Shannon sent me, is that okay?"

"Sure Hermione that is fine. I know very little about muggle music, but can you see if you can keep it semi-edited this time. I don't know who that Eminem is, but he needs to watch his mouth."

Hermione stifled a giggle and popped in her new CD. She had come out of her shell the past month and had even started singing out loud in front of her professor after he assured her that he wouldn't mind. She was actually pretty good, but didn't believe it. The first strains of music started to play and she smiled, her cousin knew exactly what she liked as far as music went.

Severus looked over at her curiously but she just smiled before she started singing.

Doctors have come from distant cities
Just to see me
Stand over my bed
Disbelieving what they're seeing

They say I must be one of the wonders
Of god's own creation
And as far as they can see they can offer
No explanation

Newspapers ask intimate questions
Want confessions
They reach into my head
To steal the glory of my story

They say I must be one of the wonders
Of god's own creation
And as far as they can see they can offer
No explanation

O, I believe
Fate smiled and destiny
Laughed as she came to my cradle
Know this child will be able
Laughed as my body she lifted
Know this child will be gifted
With love, with patience and with faith
She'll make her way

By that time she was really into it and Severus had stopped all pretense of work to stop and listen. It was times like these that he realized why he liked Hermione so much. She honestly had no idea how she affected him, it was crazy. She could sing like and angel and it made him slightly smug to know that she was comfortable enough around him to do it. Of course Hermione was still working, she could multi-task, but she hadn't noticed Severus's halt yet. He just smiled as she continued.

People see me
I'm a challenge to your balance
I'm over your heads
How I confound you and astound you
To know I must be one of the wonders
Of god's own creation
And as far as you can see you can offer me
No explanation

O, I believe
Fate smiled and destiny
Laughed as she came to my cradle
Know this child will be able
Laughed as she came to my mother
Know this child will not suffer
Laughed as my body she lifted
Know this child will be gifted
With love, with patience and with faith
She'll make her way

As the next song came on, Severus vaguely heard something about Billion Dollar Babies but was paying most of his attention to Hermione who was working quickly and efficiently at first, but soon came to a stop as she realized that her ex-Professor was starting at her in a strange manner.

What?" she asked looking confused

Do you seriously think you sing badly? That was beautiful." His expression didn't change, but she saw the finest hint of a smile in his eyes.

Hardly" she replied in a manner that suggested that he was lying

Fine, believe what you want to believe, but I know the truth. You can too sing, and you know it." Severus suddenly realized his resemblance to a four-year-old and added in his most teacher-like voice "Now get back to work, we have a lot of important potion making to do."

Unfortunately Hermione wasn't affected and giggled before saying in her most school-girlish voice, "Yes Professor, I'll do anything you'd like Professor, as long as I can get an A."

At the look that came over his face she stopped and thought about what she had just said. Just as she started to blush Professor Snape said,

"Anything? Now really Miss Granger, I never knew you were the type. Hmmmm, perhaps I evaluated you wrongly."

"Well Professor, I didn't know you had such a dirty mind, I was thinking like cleaning out cauldrons, not whatever you thought…."

Severus almost looked embarrassed until he caught the look on her face. It was a mixture between teasing and the little bit of embarrassment she still felt about the 'A' comment.

"Well we'll see about that. I think you can finish the rest of the potion on your own then." Severus stepped back to watch and make sure she was doing everything right. Of course she was doing everything perfect as usual, that is until the last ingredient. She started to put the powdered root of asphodel in to early; a mistake that was common but would have caused the potion to explode everywhere. Thankfully Severus had good reflexes because at the last minute he pulled her hand away, a little too forcefully apparently, because it caused Hermione to be pulled up against him. Not that either one of them minded.

"Oh gosh," she breathed out still pushed against him," I almost really messed that up didn't I?"

"Yeah you sort of did Hermione."

When did I start calling her Hermione to her face?

When did he start calling me Hermione? And why does she affect me like this?

"Well thank you" she said still shocked by him calling her Hermione to her face.

"No problem, but you should probably add that root now."

As she went back over to the cauldron she had a faint smile on her face that Severus didn't see. If he had he might have realized how much he affected her too.

---------- ok so not up to my usual standards, but I just wanted to get this chapter up. Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it and……… well happy something to everyone else.