A missive from Professor S. Snape to Mr L. Malfoy

19th October 2002

I am absolutely thrilled to tell you, dear friend, that Miss Granger and I have made a breakthrough. She has just this minute left my office, after six hours of intensive research and discussion, and we believe that we have discovered the cause of your illness. A potion which, completely against your earlier claim that I brewed all of the Dark Lord's potions, I did not make. Mortuus Mentis it is called, and it is a very complex potion. I am intrigued as to who brewed it for him and, with any luck, I can locate the brewer and discover if there is a known antidote. In the meantime, Miss Granger and I will attempt to create one of our own. Do not give up hope, Lucius! I have every faith that we shall cure you of this ailment.

May I just take the opportunity to apologise if my writing is near illegible. Miss Granger brought a particular bottle of vin rouge which, despite my protestations, we drank together over lunch. You know that I have a weakness for a fine wine Lucius which, might I remind you, was encouraged by yourself. This is just a simple explanation for why my hand is shaking so terribly, and my words perhaps a little more expressive than you are accustomed to.

A missive from Miss H. Granger to Mrs G. Potter

19th October 2002

Firstly Ginny, I'm going to apologise for how ridiculous this letter will be. I'm absolutely steaming drunk, owing to a boozy lunch with Severus whilst we did some research and then my date with Seamus. The latter being the reason why I'm writing to you so late and, might I add, in such a state of intoxication!

I went to wait outside the muggle restaurant in London, as arranged by Seamus and your husband. Seamus was half an hour late, owing to the fact that he had another date first, which had lasted a little longer than he had expected. I probably should have escaped then (you know I hate tardiness and, obviously, I was slightly put out by the idea that he has several witches on the go!) but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, you don't get anything if you don't try, do you? So we went inside the restaurant and ordered the food etc. etc. He bought a bottle of wine and, despite my insistence that I be the one to choose, he selected our beverage. It was truly horrible; a bottle of cheap plonk that I could barely bring myself to drink. I did though, evidently, and now I'm ridiculously drunk.

Seamus was nice, of course. We talked about lots of different, interesting topics, and there were no clear breaks in the conversation. He's good looking too and, I have to admit, his Irish accent is bloody gorgeous. But there was just something missing. There was no spark at all. I just could not bring myself to find him interesting. He just doesn't meet any of the requirements on my list; there's no spark, he isn't witty, he doesn't stimulate me intellectually as well as physically, and I just didn't feel comfortable around him. I suppose it was emphasised even more, after having just finished an afternoon in Severus' company. I mean how could Seamus ever compare after Severus? He's witty and scintillating and he keeps me on my toes – everything's easy with him too, you know? Or rather you don't, as I think I'm one of the lucky few to whom he has extended his rare but brilliant kindness.

Severus is so unlike any of the other men I've ever had an acquaintance with. I find that I can easily settle down to some hard work with him, and yet we are also able to maintain a lively and enjoyable conversation. He isn't as ugly as everyone says he is, either. I shall admit that his nose is a little on the large side, and he does frown an awful lot, but he's handsome in a very unusual way, I think. Oh Merlin. Oh Merlin! Have you seen what I've written? Severus meets every requirement on my list! Every single last one of them! I think…oh bloody hell! I fancy Severus. I fancy Severus Snape. What the bloody hell am I going to do, Gin?

Attempted and unsent missives from Miss H. Granger to Professor S. Snape

20th October 2002

Severus, due to unforeseen circumstances I can no longer…

I've come to the conclusion that I am madly in love with you and, therefore, you and I can no longer be colleagues.

I am slowly going insane and so, as such, am no longer in the right position to aid with Mr Malfoy's similar problem.

I am sure you are unaware of this fact, but I have a very specific list of requirements and, much to my surprise, you meet all of them…

Whilst I would very much like to continue seeing you, in both a professional and personal manner, I find that it is impossible…

Severus could you, in any way, shape or form, stop seeing me as your former irritating student and, instead, view me as a sophisticated young woman with whom you would like to drink more wine and, possibly, have passionate sex with?

A missive from Miss H. Granger to Professor S. Snape

20th October 2002

Professor S. Snape,

I do believe that you and I should meet again, in order to begin our developments of the possible antidote to Mr Malfoy's problem. Will this upcoming weekend be agreeable to you? It is my ardent belief that we should try and solve this issue as soon as possible, in order to help Mr Malfoy before it is too late and put everyone's minds at rest. Perhaps it is best if we meet on some common ground – I have arranged it with the Research Academy and we are free to use my office there. I think, in less relaxed surroundings, our minds shall be more focused on the work and less on…other things.

Yours faithfully,

Miss H. Granger.

A missive from Mrs G. Potter to Miss H. Granger

21st October 2002

Oh Merlin indeed, Hermione! I couldn't believe it when I got your letter! I had to stuff it in my dressing gown pocket and run upstairs before Harry could get a hold of it. Can you imagine what he would say if he did? His best friend Hermione Granger, head-over-heels with the greasy bat of the dungeons! I'd never believe it, if you hadn't written it down yourself!

I have to admit though that, after thinking about it these past few days, I'm not really surprised. You've spent a lot of time with Snape over these past few years and, although it's only been research, you seem to have become friends. He fits everything on your list too, and he appears to have become the benchmark that other men just can't seem to reach. Now that you've finally realised what it is you want, well, perhaps you can just go out and get it? Do you think there's any chance that he could feel the same way for you? He did buy you those wonderful quills and, if you ask me, those aren't exactly the kind of gift you get for a work colleague. The more I write about it, the more I can see it working. I bet you thought I would be dead-set against it, didn't you?

Ron is acting so oddly at the moment, even more oddly than usual. Mum's convinced herself that he's got some secret wife stashed away, but I don't think it's anything as complex as that. He'll disappear for a few hours and come back looking sheepish and a little bit flushed. Honestly, you should be glad you're an only child – brothers are impossible to understand! Even though you'd think I'd be an expert by now, what with having six brothers to deal with!

Author's Note: Thanks for all of the reviews of the last chapter! I hope you enjoy this one too!