Disclaimer:- I neither own nor earn anything from this story, except the plot everything else is borrowed.

sSs

A/N:- Huge thank you to FalconLux, who did an extraordinarily fast beta job with this chapter. I think she may be part Roadrunner she was so quick.

So, trumpet fanfare please. Here you go everyone – one sexy Potions master returns this chapter. I hope you enjoy, and please remember people, if you ask me questions in your reviews please sign in so I can answer them. Thank you.

hHh

Chapter Six - The difference between Aspen and Willow leaves.

Skipping lunch, Hermione's new found, but fledgling confidence saw her though the refit of the Potions classroom furniture. It was now close to five in the evening; her jobs had taken her all day.

The Potions storeroom for the students had been demolished and would need restocking, as would much of the equipment. Hermione decided not to worry about that at the moment. There was a separate storeroom containing ingredients for infirmary supplies, and fortunately it had survived the blast unscathed.

The private lab and store room had also survived intact, although the latter stood emptied, presumably by the disgraced teacher, before she left. Surveying the extent of the devastation, Hermione shivered. It was a wonder no one was killed - certainly several had been injured, and the one who'd created the concoction that had exploded, seriously. Fancy leaving second years to brew unattended; the Arithmancy professor shook her head.

Knowing there was no need to scout these rooms for personal items, Hermione had merely told Loopy to do the same as she had done in Binns' old rooms in order to get on with the potions. She was past the point of caring, and the tired witch was happy to delegate.

The stand-in Potions brewer had five successfully completed Potions in vials, and five more brewing. However, the Arthritis Potion had beaten her three times so far, and the fourth cauldron-full seemed intent on doing the same thing.

Her bravado had abandoned her once more, and she was now almost beyond reason. "Damn it! I just don't know enough to fix whatever it is I'm doing wrong." There were tears of exasperation leaking from her eyes. It had been a confusing, emotional and exhaustive day. Hermione hadn't thought to eat, so here it was a little past five in the evening, and she'd only had two cups of coffee and half a slice of toast and jam all day.

This time she found she truly was at the end of her tether. It never occurred to her that she was lightheaded because she hadn't eaten, nor that she couldn't see what she was doing because she was exhausted and there were tears streaming down her face.

Her hand hovered over the quickly spoiling potion and she placed the Aspen leaves into the mix. Only the ingredient she'd grabbed in her panic was Willow. As soon as they hit the mixture out of their correct sequence, it started spitting angrily at her. This startled her more and her brain went numb. All she could think was, This didn't happen last time.

Hermione didn't hear the door to the quarters open, or notice the quickly approaching footsteps. All she registered was the panic in her head. Suddenly, she heard violent bubbling, and her brain couldn't cope anymore. Sobbing, she backed away from the cauldron, her head spinning as she slid down the wall.

Skilful black eyes assessed the situation quickly, and striding to the bench, he vanished the offending brew. He recognized each Potion's identity and stage of brewing at sight, and walking from cauldron to cauldron, Severus saw to each remaining potion, all the while keeping an eye on the woman huddled, sobbing in the corner.

Finally, when he'd made certain nothing else would go wrong, the concerned master turned towards the woman collapsed on the floor. She was so caught in her own misery that she hadn't even recognised his presence. Squatting in front of her, Severus gently grasped her by her upper arms and drew her to him. "You know, you may be the brightest witch of your age, my darling, but even you are only human, Hermione."

Hermione's rapid intake of breath between sobs told him her surprise, but it didn't take long for her to revel in the offered comfort. Curling her hands into fists and clutching the front of Severus' robes, Hermione buried her head in his chest and sobbed harder. "It's been an awful day… I couldn't do it… I tried four times, and I don't know what's wrong," her muffled voice cried between heaving breaths.

"Shh, love, don't cry," he encouraged, enclosing her tighter and resting his chin on the top of her head as he balanced precariously on his hunches.

"But everything's gone wrong. Minerva and Filius need that Potion and I can't brew it!"

Severus kissed her hair and chuckled at her ludicrous claim. "Although I can see ten perfectly brewed potions here as well," he crooned into her ear.

This was all so surreal. Severus found his head spinning, having Hermione in his arms, along with the absurdity of this chain of events. Taking a steadying breath, his voice came out hoarse as he asked, "What was the potion giving you so much trouble?" It wasn't quite possible to tell from the remnants of the ingredients what she'd been attempting to make.

"Arthritis potion," her tiny and shaky voice replied, drawing a shuddering breath her voice still quavered as she whispered, "I didn't think you'd come back," and she snuggled further into him.

"Wild hippogriffs wouldn't keep me away," Severus confessed huskily, tightening his arms around her. Hearing her sigh and feeling his body starting to betray him, he desperately needed to order his thoughts. The raven-haired wizard had been planning to ask Hermione to keep him company after dinner, but this was all so quick and unexpected. He didn't want to scare her away with the strength of what he was feeling.

Severus had merely come down here after his meeting with Minerva to assess the damage to the classroom and see what was needed. Entering his familiar quarters, along with the overwhelming sensation of home that had enveloped him, he'd heard sobbing, and had, of course, investigated.

The last thing he'd expected to encounter was the woman who had been constantly on his mind ever since he'd said goodbye to her the previous evening. Getting to his feet, he pulled Hermione with him. "Well here's what we're going to do; you sit here." He sat her at the desk, and conjuring a cloth, he wet it. "I'll finish these potions, then that's enough until later. You look exhausted; after you've had a decent meal and a rest I'll assist you, and we'll work out where you're going wrong." Hermione managed a shaky little smile, and nodded her head as he offered her the cloth for her face. She was craving his warmth back, but satisfied herself with the cloth at present.

"Good," Severus proclaimed. Then turning away called. "Rook."

"Sir!" The excited elf almost did a dance when he appeared, before remembering himself and bowing deeply. "Rook is being so happy to see you, sir. How can Rook serve his old master?"

"That's quite enough of the old business," Severus stated irritably.

"So sorry Master, Rook will be going to the kitchens and slamming his fingers most painfully in the oven door, sir," the elf said earnestly.

"I would be much obliged if you didn't," Severus returned, flinching. He even heard a weak, snuffy titter of mirth from Hermione. Indicating the woman at the desk, Severus requested, "Please bring Professor Granger tea and a sandwich."

"Yes sir, thank you, sir," the elf was back momentarily with the requested food. He placed the items in front of the still disorientated and snuffling Hermione.

Severus had moved to her completed, cooled potions and was casting a discerning eye over one of the vials of calming brew. "You need to take this, darling girl, here," he held it out to her, then immediately went to one of her brewing potions to add the next ingredients. "Better?" He inquired, watching her as he stirred, Hermione nodded. "Very well, now eat!" His command made her shiver deliciously.

"I bet you haven't had a thing since breakfast," he scolded with a stern look. "If you had anything then." She heard him mutter under his breath and had the grace to blush and give him a guilty look. "I'll take that as a no then." Shaking his head, he smiled. "You haven't changed a bit, have you? You still get yourself entirely flustered and everything goes out the window."

Hermione's blush deepened, but she was gratefully munching her way through her sandwich, while Severus continued with his lecture. They had seamlessly fallen into comfortable and affectionate banter regardless of the ten-year gap in conversation, which had only seen them reacquainted last night.

Severus tended the next two potions while he talked and she ate. Finally he couldn't stop the question. "What were you trying to prove here this afternoon, anyway?"

One potion was finished, as Hermione shrugged. "Poppy needs almost everything, look at the list," she sighed. "She only let drop this morning that the last professor," she said with some distaste, "wouldn't brew for the hospital. I just thought I'd do as much as I could today, just in case the next one refused as well," Hermione added weakly. Severus' expression became unreadable.

With the sustenance of food, Hermione's mind was starting to click back into action. Although she was very flustered by this turn of events, she was extremely happy to see him. The Gryffindor witch watched him working in silence for a while, cradling her tea in her hands. Finally, her curiosity got the better of her, and blinking owl-like over the rim of her mug she asked, "What are you doing here?"

He immediately countered, "Well, I could ask you the same question. Imagine my surprise when I entered my new... err old quarters to find the delightful, but obviously exhausted Hermione Granger cowering on the floor of my private lab, while appearing to be running some obtuse Potions marathon," he smirked at her.

Hermione stuttered. "Y-you mean you're… but you hate children," she asserted, without thinking. Before studying her mug of tea intently, uncertain if she'd said the wrong thing.

Severus laughed. Long gone were the days of the vindictive git who assassinated anyone daring to make a personal comment about him. He gave her a serious look then raising a raven brow he smoothed, "I find there are at least two reasons why I'm willing to submit myself to the dunderheads once more." He saw Hermione blushing crimson, but listening avidly.

"One, there is an intriguing Arithmancy professor on staff here who fascinates me. I'm thinking closer examination of this witch may prove beneficial to us both," this sentence was completed in a low purr that had Hermione flushing an even deeper shade of red while shivering in her seat.

"That's very interesting," she managed to counter shakily, even if her voice did sound about an octave too high. Watching as he completed the third potion, she cleared her throat, "And the second reason?"

He pursed his lips, then cocked his head to one side. "Oh, and an old friend was in need of a competent Potions professor, and I do owe her a great deal for preserving my sanity that awful year while I was the forced headmaster of what amounted to a concentration camp."

Hermione couldn't contain herself any longer and jumping out of her seat, rapidly closed the distance between them. "I'm so happy you're back," she gushed throwing her arms around his waist and nestling in close.

Severus chuckled, and enclosed her with one arm while he kept working. "I'm happy to be back if it means you keep doing this." He watched a pretty blush spread on her face again as she coyly glanced up at him. Severus had never liked pink, but he now found himself loving this particular shade. Smiling in return, he squeezed her tighter.

The Potions master's eyes became dark with desire; they hadn't left Hermione's while he spoke. Hermione suddenly realised what he was about to do, as his head started to dip. Reaching up her eyes fluttered shut. Their lips met for a delicious but all too brief moment. Hermione's eyes remained closed, and his lips met her once more, this time softly coaching hers from their stillness. Severus brushed a path from her lips across her jaw to her ear, where she heard his hot breath whisper. "Does this development bother you?"

Hermione didn't have to think about that. "No," she squeaked, her knickers rapidly dampening again.

"Good," his voice was a seductive purr.

"Why?" she managed.

Severus chuckled. "Because I intend to kiss you often… all over, and I was just making certain it was all right with you." His pause had had the desired effect. He could smell her arousal; the heady musk was exquisite.

Their conversation had been a murmured one against Hermione's cheek, and Severus now used this advantage to blow in her ear as he finished speaking. He felt her shiver and a tiny moan escape her lips. "O-oh y-yes, perfectly," she stuttered.

"Excellent," he stated, and pulled her possessively against him. He turned his attention back to tending the potions.

Standing nestled against the scratchy wool of Severus' frock coat, Hermione's mind was immediately flooded with what she'd seen in the images she'd poured over that morning, and her activities with her dirty bedroom mirror. Her blush was deep crimson and her knees went weak while her heart throbbed wildly in her chest.

Hermione fiddled with the buttons on Severus' coat, as she contemplated the thought that maybe, finally she might just have what everyone else, deliberately or not, had held over her. After what seemed an age, she chanced a glance from under her lashes at the man holding her. She found him intent on his work.

However, he seemed to feel her gaze and glancing down, smiled, making her knees go even wobblier. She instantly looked back at the buttons. Which made him chuckle darkly.

Any further contemplation was interrupted when the floo flared. The Potions master's eyes narrowed as Lucius arrived in the doorway. "I just came down to see what you were up to, now I'm finished with Minerva. I can see you already have your hands full. I'd be happy to help you with that," he grinned, knowing the effect his words would elicit. At Severus' scowl, Lucius changed the subject and cackled, "Is there any whisky?"

"I'm sure, if there is, you'll sniff it out. I should imagine the sitting room would be the place to look though," Severus offered, snarkily.

Lucius took the hint and bowing his head, left for the sitting room, mumbling something about it not taking long for the bat to lodge up your arse again. This brought Hermione's eyes back to Severus' enticing dark orbs, and she wanted to grin at the death stare he was levelling at the back of Lucius Malfoy as the latter sauntered without a care into the sitting room. Hermione leant up on her tiptoes, and bravely pulled his head down for another kiss. Severus' features softened in response to her gentle coaching, and willingly granted her request. "I personally think you're completely charming," she murmured against his lips.

Severus hadn't really been upset with his friend, and Lucius' comment hadn't been meant to inflame, but Severus was still happy that Hermione had attempted to smooth him. "I thank you, my Lady," he whispered in her ear. She giggled, as he danced her backwards towards the last potion, which he extinguished the flame under, finding it complete.

His hands now free, he turned his whole attention to her. Graceful, long fingers slid up into her mess of curls to hold her head steady while he softly caressed a row of kisses across her brow. Feeling her trembling in his arms, Severus smiled.

Hermione's eyes were already closed when he lowered his lips to hers once more. Sensing his approach, she released a flustered gush of air, just before their lips met.

This caressed a currant of her sweet breath across his face, and he sighed. His lips hovered above hers. "Not too much for you?" His low rumble elicited a charming little squeak to the negative, and she shook her head minutely to make certain he understood, so Severus set about kissing her hungrily.

Now this was a revelation for Hermione, she'd never felt anything quite liked it, and quickly discovered she like it very much.

His lips caressed hers, softly to begin with, testing and teasing. It didn't take a genius to work out that she was completely inexperienced. But, he noted with pleasure, very eager to please. Severus decided however, after a few moments that further explorations needed to wait until they were alone, without a curious and probably randy Malfoy in the next room. The man certain is a slave to his desires, which in itself was not a bad thing, Severus thought. However, he instinctively knew that what needed to happen at the moment, had to be without any input from Lucius; Hermione was his. If they decided to play with Lucius at some later date, then that's all it would be, occasional playing.

Finally, he said, while planting kisses along her jaw, "I did promise I'd turn up to dinner to finalise agreements with Minerva, so she could have the contract drawn up for my new tenure, and you need a good meal."

"Mmm," replied Hermione, "but I kind of like this as well."

Severus tightened his hold. "That goes without saying," he kissed her brow. His hands were now caressing languid strokes up her back. "Do you wish to freshen up before we go up?"

Nodding, Hermione sighed, and reluctantly left his arms. Glancing back at him as he turned to finish bottling the potions, she smiled and scurried out the door. Her only acknowledgement to Lucius, as she raced through the sitting room and into Severus' bedroom, was a flustered squeak.

She was too fretful at the thought of him knowing what they'd been doing, and heard a knowing chuckle from the blond wizard, who was sitting casually in an arm chair, one ankle resting over the opposite knee. He saluted her with his drink as he watched her scurry past like a little dormouse, and none of this helped her composure.

Hermione spent some minutes in the bathroom wanting to pinch herself. How could things have changed so much in an hour? Grinning at her reflection, she was surprised to find this mirror seemed to be very ordinary. After splashing water on her face and patting it dry, the flustered witch released her hair from its clip and smoothing it with her fingers, remembered how Severus' fingers had felt tangled through it.

If she concentrated really hard, she could still feel the echoes of his touch; she then pulled it back into as much control as she could. Hermione had long ago realised that her hair was actually quite nice. She'd grown to like her curls and now didn't bother to try and straighten them. Finally, she went to the loo and cleansed herself thoroughly with a spell.

On walking back out into the sitting room, Hermione heard Lucius say to Severus. "... so I allowed the illustrious Headmistress to talk me into taking the position temporarily," his eyebrow slid up to meet his perfect silky blond mane.

"Are you the new History professor?" Hermione saw both men turn to look at her; she hadn't meant to blurt it out like that, and instantly went red again, but she would never have expected Lucius Malfoy to want to teach.

"Is that a question or an accusation, my dear?" Lucius chuckled.

"Oh, err a question. I'm sorry I didn't mean to sound rude." He saw her confidence start to falter, and quickly moved to rectify the problem.

"You didn't," he gave her a Cheshire cat grin. "Just think of it as my contribution to the glorious advancement of eager young minds," he said with a dramatic, theatrical air.

Severus snorted. "Do you want to tell him or shall I?" he scoffed, encircling Hermione's waist with his arms from behind; they both laughed.

"Oh shut up, you pair. Didn't you say something about needing to be at dinner," Lucius said, scowling.

"Mmm," replied Severus, "I believe we did. You go ahead; we'll deliver these to the Infirmary before we come." He floated two crates from the lab, which he'd obviously packed while Hermione was in the bathroom.

As Severus helped Hermione on with her cloak, he couldn't help the impulse to see that perfect shade of pink once more. "Did I tell you how much I like this coat," Severus said and watched her colour rise again. He bent down and whispered in her ear. "How long have you had the fantasy of dressing like me, ay?"

Her blush deepened, and Severus pulled her hair aside to kiss her neck, as she mumbled something about seeing it online and liking it. "You'll have to show me this Internet very soon, it sounds like a wonderful resource for items we might need," he purred into her ear.

Her nervous little giggle made him chuckle darkly. "You are just exquisite; completely perfect. You know that, don't you?" He turned her, placing light kisses on her neck and up to her mouth. Hermione plastered herself against him, and was soon sighing her pleasure into his mouth, which was music to his ears.

His lips felt so right and her whole world narrowed to what they felt like against hers. Severus ended their kiss when he felt her hips starting to buck lightly against him. Damn responsibilities, he thought hotly.