Redefining Nothing

Ch. 2: Experiments

A/N: Thanks to all for the wonderful reviews on the first chapter. I'm actually quite happy with the way that this one is turning out and hopefully I'll be able to keep it going.

"You're WHAT?!?!?!" Ron gasped choking on his pumpkin juice.

Hermione sighed. "I'm helping Professor Snape with one of his experiments."

"Why?" Harry asked sounding shocked and disgusted all at once.

"To make up the credits I missed while I was in the hospital wing." She explained pateintly. "Now, I'm going to be late, so exuse me."

Because of the boys' demands for explainations she practically had to run to the dungeons. When she arrived at the door she entered the classroom and knocked on the door that led to his office.

"Come in!" The voice sounded muffled.

Hermione entered the room. To her surprise it was empty. A door she hadn't even known existed was open on a dark hallway.

"Through here." A voice called from the blackened hallway. Hermione hurried after it. At the other end of the surprisingly short hall was a thinck door. Taking a deep breath Hermione opened the door and stepped inside. If she'd thought his office was odd, well it ahd nothing on his dimly lit lab. A multitude of jars stood on dozens of shelves glinting in the dim blue-grey light that seemed to have no source. Several cauldrons sat maong neat piles of ingredients on two large work tables. Snape hovered alongside one table.

"Good morning, Miss Granger." He said casually, and surprisingly politely, as she entered the room.

"Good morning, Professor Snape. I'm sorry I'm late I-…."

"Don't apologize, Hermione. I slept in anyway. I wouldn't have been ready for you if you'd arrived five minutes ago."

Hermione couldn't decide what shocked her more: that Snape wasn't angry with her for being late of that he'd used her first name. "Thank you for letting me come, Professor."

"You're welcome." He smiled slightly. "Oh, and Hermione…." She looked up at him curiously. "I don't like to be called Professor on the weekends. Severus will do for today."

Hermione was so startled she was speechless. It felt like a cloud of butterflies had moved into her stomach. Somehow she kenw that a line was being crossed today, she just asn't sure what it was. "Well, what are we doing today, Severus?" She asked cautiously.

His smile widened. "Shall we begin and find out?"

She nodded contentedly and they go to work. To the surprise of both parties they found that they worked in great unison. They had similar work ethics and ways of thinking. They didn't talk much, but the silence was by no means uncomfortable. It was a very complex potion, but to Severus' pleasure Hermione seemed to understand it perfectly.

"I need three-fourths a cup of diced beats." Severus said. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her reach for the potion's instructions. Her brow furrowed slightly. "But, Severus," she said mildly, "if we add only a quarter cup of beets and half a cup of quartered pin root wouldn't it enhance the droziness properties."

He pulled the recipe towards him. He looked at it and pondered for a moment. "I think you might actually be right." He said, trying not to show his surprise at never having thought of that before. "We shall try it."

Hermione smiled and they worked a while longer in silence. "What exactly are we making?" She pressed finally.

"Professor Lupin's draught." Severus said.

"Oh." Hermione said quietly. "I'm glad I could help." She added.

"Your extra droziness agent will most certainly make him more comfortable." Severus said trying keep the conversation flowing. In the silence his heart was beginning to pound uncomfortably again.

"I do hope so." She sounded worried. "I'd hate for him to suffer."

"He won't." Severus promised. "That's why we're doing this. You're helping, Hermione, I promise."

At about noon they finally completed the draught and set it to simmer for the alotted time. Severus observed the time and withheld a sigh. He really didn't want her to leave yet. "Well," he began slowly, "you have two options. One, you can go eat with your friends. You've more than made up your credits. Or you can eat here with me and help me with my own research after lunch." He held his breath wating, hoping, for the answer he wanted.

Hermione didn't even have to think about it. She really didn't want to face the boy's just yet. Besides she enjoyed the mental exercise and she was having a shocking amount of fun. "I'll stay. I'd love to help you with research."

Severus smiled. It was almost blinding when he really truly smiled. Secretly Hermione wondered why he didn't do it more often. "Shall we see about getting some food." He offered.

Hermione nodded. She didn't trust herself to speak coherently. She followed as he led her out of the lab and back down the short hallway. But before they reached his office he turned through another door that she hadn't seen before. Her guided her down a short flight of steps and through an archway. Suddenly they were in and spacious and well lit, if plain kitchen.

"Welcom to my home." He said simply.

"I didn't even know all this was down here." Hermione said as she gazed around in wonder.

"That's to be expected. Most teachers don't know it's here. I don't expect that any students do. Besides the obvious exception of yourself." He smiled again.

As Severus tried to contact the kitchen house elves to get lunch sent to them, Hermione purused his personal library. She gazed at the titles in wonder. Many of the theories they presented were foreign to her. She vaguely heard Severus arguing behind her. He had flooed his head into the kitchens. From the muffled things she could hear he was arguing with a house elf about the cauldron over his head. Chuckling, she selected a book titled 'Apparation Draughts'. She sat dwon on the sofa in the sitting room attached to the kitchen and began to read.

"Did you find something you'd like to borrow?" Severus asked silkily.

Hermione jumped. She hadn't heard him approach. She napped the book closed. "Oh, um, no…Just killing time."

"Lunch is here."

"Great." Hermione said enthusiastically. "I'm starved!" She stood up from the sofa. To her alarm Severus didn't step back out of her personal space. Rather, when she stood he was much too close. Just breathe. She told herself sharply. He'll move. Don't act stupid. There are no feelings for you there.

Severus could feel her tension as she stood ther between him and the couch. Be careful which lines you cross Severus Snape. She most likely has not feelings for you. But he couldn't help himself; with her this close, some line had to be crossed. He raised his hand to stroke her cheek.

Hermione couldn't believe it when Severus' hand me her cheek. It was smooth, warm, and gentle. He rubbed lightly and she looked up to meet his eyes. She needed to see what he was feeling. What she found was not at what she'd expected. His obsidian blakc eyes were filled with adoration. She almost choked. She couldn't believe that this was her frightening Potions Master. Her heart was pounding as she leaned into his hand.

Severus' hand slid to her neck. Her skin was unbelievably warm and soft. Part of his brain screamed a warning that his was wrong. That this was his student. But another part, the dominant part, argued that she apparently wasn't objecting. Tenderly he kissed her.

Hermione couldn't believe that he was actually going to kiss her. When he did she melted. She wasn't sure how long it lasted, but it wasn't long enough.

After a minute of shear bliss, Severus pulled away from her. "I'm sorry Hermione." He said breathlessly. "That was inappropriate of me."

"Don't be sorry." Hermione said almost in a pleading tone. She raised her hand to his hair. "Please."

"We shouldn't…." Severus started as his conscience made an attempt at winning out.

His words registered in Hermione's brain. It suddenly struck her that she had just kissed one of her Professors in his chambers and now she was in his arms. "You're right. This is so wrong." She started, to move away from him.

"Our lunch is still waiting for us." Severus offered blankly.

"I'd probably better go." Hermione said offering him a somewhat sad smile. "Thank you Severus. I quite enjoyed assisting you."

"You're most welcome, Hermione" He said cordially. He watched as she moved completely away from him and out of the door. When he heard the snap of his outer office door he sank onto the couch. It was still warm from when she'd sat there.

Hermione power walked to her dorm room. It was as though a surrealistic fog had settled on her brain. She'd really kissed Professor Snape and more importantly she'd really enjoyed it. It was not something she would have wanted to dream of a week ago. But ever since Ron had noticed the way he looked at her she'd found feeling for him. Now to her great astonishment she found that she did fancy him.

She was still wondering happily at his as she ducked through the portrait hole. Almost immediately Ron and Harry assaulted her.

"We wondered it you were coming back at all." Harry said, sounding relieved. "Was it terrible?"

Hermione just looked at him for a moment. Then she spoke. "No, it wasn't terrible. I actually learned loads." She said brightly.

"Learned?" Ron asked incredulously. "Are we talking about the same Professor Snape?"

"Yes." Hermione sighed. "We worked on Professor Lupin's potion. I found a way to improve it for him." She said proudly.

"I don't believe this!" Ron exclaimed. "You enjoyed working with the Greasy Git!!" His tone was accusitory.

Hermione's temper flared. "Yes, Ronald, I enjoyed it! Is that so terrible!? Did you ever stop to think that maybe Professor Snape is a half decent man?!"

"Pssh, No!!" Ron scoffed.

Uncomfortable, Harry tried to change the topic to stop Hermione's response. "There's a Hogsmeade trip next Satudray." He offered happily. He was secretly looking forward to the time with Ginny. He banked on Ron wanting the time with Lavendar to provied a distraction.

"Oh, great!" Hermione threw up her hands. "How exciting!" Her tone dripped with sarcasm. With that she turned and jogged up to the girl's dormitory.