A/N:

I'm dedicating this to my friend Ashley who is leaving for Ireland today! Even though I know she will never read this!

I own nothing

Read/Review/Enjoy!

I'm looking for a beta I desperately need someone to proof read this as I'm sure you can tell!

As I said before this is my first fanfic so I dont really know too much about getting one!

Chapter 4: Flames

Hermione woke up the next day on a mission. She was going to try and find out what Dumbledore had in store for Harry. As she had planned she waited until then end of the day to bring it up to Snape. So when she sat down for their usual evening chat she did so with a look of determination on her face. Upon seeing her expression Snape made a noise and said "Oh god what do you want?"

"What do you mean?"

"When ever you make that face you always want something." He said gesturing to her face.

"Oh well yes you're right I do want something."

"And what would that be Miss Granger?"

"Well as you know Harry is coming to stay for the rest of the summer in a few days."

"Yes I was aware." He said with a look of pure disgust.

""Well as I'm sure you also know Dumbledore is taking Harry somewhere and I was wondering if you knew what he had planned."

"I do in fact yes."

"Can you tell me?" Hermione said with a pleading look in her eye.

"Absolutely not."

Hermione immediately deflated. "I thought you would say that. I am just so afraid that Dumbledore is going to take him somewhere dangerous and Harry might get hurt. Ron and I think that whatever they are going to do might have something to do with the prophecy. I know we don't know what it said but what the Daily Prophet said sounds like it really could be true."

"Oh yes I forgot Harry is now The Chosen One" he said in mock admiration. "Do not worry Miss Granger while I cannot tell you what they are doing I will tell you that what they are doing is not dangerous. You will get your precious Potter back in one piece."

"Professor, Harry hates all this publicity he really does! He hates being called "The Chosen One" that I believe is his least favorite out of all the names he is called."

"I will have to remember that when school starts up again." He said with a smile.

"You will do no such thing. I told you that in confidence you are not allowed to use what I tell you here to torture my friends!"

"Fine! Fine! If it bothers you that much!" Snape said reluctantly he knew that if he didn't give in then she would go on and on until he did. He would just have to remember not to use the insult in front of her. "By the way tomorrow we are going to go supply shopping. We will not have to get up as early for this as most shops don't open until nine. Meet me at the floo at eight thirty."

"Okay!" Hermione took that as her dismissal and got up to go downstairs to find Ron to tell him what she had learned this evening.

vvvvvvv

"I thought that we could go into this bookshop before we go home. That way we wont have to socialize until eight this evening. We will have to put all our supplies away and then do inventory." Hermione said to Snape. They had been out most of the morning and had just had lunch it was time to go home but this was the first time Hermione had been out of the house in weeks and she wasn't about to pass up an opportunity to go to a bookshop. Yes there was a garden and a library at Grimmauld Place but she hadn't been off the property in weeks and it was starting to get to her. They had finished their shopping and were walking in the direction of Flourish & Blotts

"Yes that does sound quite appealing. I guess we could go in there for a little bit."

When they stepped into the shop they went their separate ways Hermione went to the transfiguration section while she assumed Snape went to the potions section. After about forty-five minutes she decided to go find Snape to see if he was ready to go. When she got to the potions section she saw him reading in a big squishy green armchair. Hermione took a moment to look at him. He was of course wearing his long black robes with about fifty buttons down the center with his black dragon-hide boots peaking out from under them. When she looked at his face she realized that in a way he was kind of beautiful in an unobvious sort of way. His black hair was for the most part tucked behind his ears and he had a look of complete focus it was the same look that he had when making a potion or when he was listening to her she realized and blushed at this. She cleared her throat to make him aware of her presence. "Miss Granger as you well know I am a very astute man did you really believe that I would not notice you staring at me? You also shuffle your feet when you walk it is very distinctive and therefore I could hear you coming from a mile away." He said with a triumphant smirk.

Hermione blushed from being caught staring at him. "Oh sorry Professor I just didn't want to disturb you. I think we better get back we have been here almost an hour now."

"Yes I suppose you are right." He got up and went to put the book he had been reading back on the shelf. Hermione tried to see the title of the book he was reading. Unfortunately Hermione was pretty sure that he knew she was trying to read it and that he had decided to block the title with his hand purposefully so she wouldn't be able to read it. Because they were flooing back to Grimmauld Place their return would not go unnoticed. And sure enough when Hermione stepped out of the fireplace she was immediately greeted by Mrs. Weasley and Tonks. "Oh hello Hermione! You're back from your trip I see. Did it go well?"

"Oh yes Mrs. Weasley it went splendidly!" she said smiling at Mrs. Wesley and Tonks.

"Well I hope that Severus is giving you the rest of the day off he works you too hard!"

"Sorry Molly but I don't think that will be possible. Miss Granger has to now sort out all the items we purchased today. It we take a couple of hours at least."

"How could putting things away take hours?" She said in skeptical voice.

"Well after she is done putting everything away she will then have to do inventory. And after that she will be assisting me with a rather difficult potion."

Mrs. Weasley looked at him as though she didn't really believe him.

"Its true Mrs. Weasley I do have quite a lot to do this evening but don't worry I should be able to come down to dinner this evening."

"Well alright then." She said looking at Snape as if he had just said something scandalous.

Snape rolled his eyes as he left the room making sure that Mrs. Weasley couldn't see him. As he closed the lab door behind him he said, "I don't know why all of the sudden my work ethic is a problem. When Jarvis was my assistant nobody cared how many times a week we came down to dinner they certainly didn't care when I made him work long hours!"

"They are just worried about me they think that I am being overworked and that I'm not having much fun. They don't realize how much I love my job."

Snape looked at her unbelievingly.

"No really I do! I have learned more this summer about potions, herbology, charms, and the dark arts than I did all last year!"

"Well why don't you tell them all that! Then maybe it would keep Molly off my back!" He said collapsing into his armchair.

"Well I have actually told them all this but they don't seem to believe me."

After a moment Hermione realized that the conversation was over and she went to start putting everything away. After she was done with the inventory she went over to where Snape was writing a letter to someone at his desk. "Sir I finished the inventory did you want me to help you with a potion or did you just make that all up to get me out of having to socialize with Fleur this evening?"

Snape looked up from what he was writing and said, "Well you don't have to help I just thought you might want to observe the making of this particular potion."

"Which potion would that be sir?" she said excitement bubbling up inside her.

"Veritaserum. The Dark Lord has me making it for him on a regular basis and I am on the last step this evening."

"Oh wow! Yes I would love to stay!"

He stood up swiftly and started yelling off ingredients for her to gather from the closet.

When she came back he had a huge silver cauldron with a violet liquid simmering under a low flame. Hermione quickly handed him the ingredients and she watched as he swiftly but precisely sliced everything. Hermione had never seen anything so graceful in her entire life. Watching Snape make this extremely complicated potion with such ease was awe-inspiring. When he had finished he conjured up a stool and sat down next to where Hermione was sitting. "All we have to do now is wait for the liquid to turn clear and then its done."

"Professor?" Snape turned his head and looked at her.

"Has he ever forced you to take veritaserum?"

"Yes he has." Snape hadn't been expecting such a personal question and answered truthfully purely out of surprise.

"How did he never find out that you were a spy then?"

"I am completely immune I started taking it in high doses after I joined the death eaters. I had seen what happened to people under the influence of veritaserum too many times to not take that precaution I knew eventually he would want to interrogate me and eventually he did and luckily I was ready."

"Oh I wasn't aware that one could become immune to veritaserum."

"No not many people do know that. You are now one of the privileged few." He said with the tiniest of smiles. Suddenly his face had changed to one that was in extreme pain and he was on his feet grabbing his forearm. "I must go. You finish the potion for me. It's simple when it turns clear it's done you don't have to do anything! When it turns clear decant it and put it in the store closet. I must go." As he was heading out the door Hermione whispered, "Be careful." But he didn't stop she wasn't surprised that he hadn't turned around or said anything she knew he had to put up his mental walls and start building safe images up in his mind otherwise it could mean his life. So Hermione just sat there looking at the potion watching it slowly loose all its color until it was completely translucent. She carefully decanted the liquid into the glass containers she had placed aside earlier. She slowly walked over to the closet and put each one in gently on the shelf to make sure none were disturbed too much. When she closed the door to the closet she leaned back against the door and just started to cry. She cried and cried and cried by the time she had run out of tears she was on the floor. While she knew that Snape was a spy and had to go to revels where Voldemort would obviously be she had never witnessed him getting summoned before. His situation had only become real to her today. She was extremely thankful that she had not reacted like this while he was still in the room she could just imagine the look of utter annoyance on his face if he saw the spectacle she was making of herself. After a few minutes of deep breathing she picked herself up off the floor and made her way over to her bedroom to get ready for dinner.

By the time she made her way downstairs everyone was already eating dinner luckily there was a seat free in between Mrs. Weasley and Kingsley. As she walked further into the room heads turned up followed by greetings Kingsley looked up and gave her a smile and gestured to the seat next to him. On her way she grabbed herself a plate and sat down next to him. Kingsley tried to start a few conversations with her but she would only reply with one or two word answers. After awhile Kingsley got the hint and let her be. After she was finished with her dinner she excused herself and went into the library. After a few minutes of re-reading the same sentence over and over again her thoughts were interrupted by Kingsley coming in and sitting down next to her on the couch. "Hermione what's wrong? Something is obviously the matter you barley said two words throughout the whole dinner."

Hermione then proceeded to tell him everything about what had happened tonight. "Oh Kingsley I was just so scared for him I never really thought about it because he NEVER mentions it." She said barely holding back her tears. Kingsley leaned over and hugged her, "Shhh Hermione everything is going to be alright Snape is a pro he knows what he's doing."

"Thanks Kingsley I think maybe I just needed to talk about it. I'm sure you're right I know he will be fine. She said giving him a watery-eyed smile as she stood up. "Well I better go to bed. He will kill me in the morning if I'm late!" she laughed.

The next morning she woke up earlier than usual. She got dressed and ready for the day and then made her way downstairs to get some food. "Hermione you're up earlier than usual this morning." Said Mrs. Weasley brightly.

"Yes well I thought I would bring Professor Snape some breakfast I know that he didn't get in until very late last night."

"Say no more let me just get the plates ready for you I'll make sure to give you all of his favorites!"

"Thanks Mrs. Weasley that'd be great!"

Hermione walked into the lab intending to knock on the door leading to his bedroom but was surprised to see him sitting at his desk reading the newspaper. As she made her way over Snape peered out from over the newspaper his eyebrows raised at seeing the tray.

"Dear me Miss Granger is all that food just for you or are you starting a new organization called S.F.E.S. The Society that Fills Elves Stomachs." He said trying extremely hard not to laugh but failing miserably.

Hermione herself could barely hold back the laugh but luckily she was able to control it.

"No actually I thought that I would bring your breakfast to you this morning." She tried to say casually.

"And this has nothing to do with you witnessing me being summoned last night?"

"No not at all I was just down in the kitchen already and thought that while I was down there I might as well bring you your food too."

"Mhmm." He said skeptically.

"You do realize that that wasn't my first time being summoned this summer don't you? I get called at least once or twice a week."

"That much! How have I never noticed your absence? I'm with you all the time!"

"Hadn't you ever wondered why we have Sundays off?"

"I thought it was to give us both a day off."

Snape chuckled. "Miss Granger do I really seem like the type of person that wants or needs a day off? I haven't had a day off in many, many years." He said reclining back in his seat. "We have Sundays off because Saturday nights are spent doing very unpleasant things. Things that usually don't end until very late in the morning. It has become quite hard sneaking back in at eight in the morning without anyone noticing." He said casually sipping his tea. But Hermione knew better than to fall for this image of calm she knew that he was testing her to see how she would react to this new piece of information. To see if she would freak out and turn to bits or if she would be able to hold herself together.

She sat down in the chair next to him and grabbed a piece of bacon. "So why did he summon you? It seemed like you weren't expecting it." She said as bored a tone as if she could have been asking for the time.

"The truth?" he said.

"The truth." She said with a determined look on her face.

"It was because of you actually." He stated before he took a bite of toast.

Hermione had not expected this answer. "What do you mean." She said surprised.

"Well yesterday when we were at Diagon Alley people must have seen us and it got back to the Dark Lord that I had a little shopping buddy in the form of Miss Hermione Granger. He asked me what I was doing with you."

"Well what did you tell him!" Hermione was on the edge of her seat.

"I lied of course. I said that you found out that I was going shopping in Diagon Alley and that you had begged to me in front of half the order and that I had no other choice but to say yes. I said that you had been cooped up in Grimauld Place the entire summer and that you were desperate to get out."

"Did he believe you?"

"Do you really think I would be sitting here telling you all this and breathing if he didn't?"

Hermione instantly felt stupid of course he had believed Snape. "Yes of course that was a stupid question. Sorry."

They finished the rest of their breakfast in comfortable silence.

As Snape went to get up Hermione decided to ask him a question to lighten the mood a bit. "Umm Sir?"

He looked down at her. "What is it Miss Granger?"

"I was just wondering if….if you knew when the O.W.L. results would be in?"

He was silent for a minute then suddenly he burst out laughing it was the first real laugh she had ever seen from him. It made him look years younger. Hermione imagined that's what he would look like all the time if he weren't living his current life. Hermione smiled he looked almost happy. Almost truly happy.

"Thank you Miss Granger I needed that." He said finally calming down and wiping tears from his eyes.

"Well do you?" she asked again.

"No I'm sorry Miss Granger I do not know when they will be arriving."

"Oh okay then." She said solemnly.

"Oh by the way Miss Granger I advise that you take a break at five today because we will be working late tonight.

"Oh?"

"Yes, tonight you will be helping me prepare the wolfsbane for Lupin."

"Really? Ohmygoodness! That is a very advanced potion indeed!"

Hermione was ecstatic all day the only thing that she could think of was about what she was going to witness tonight. Not many people knew how to make the wolfsbane potion certainly only a handful in all of England! And she was going to help make it tonight!

Around seven she went back to the lab after having an early dinner by her usual timetable almost jumping out of her skin with excitement.

"Hello Sir is there anything that you need me to do?"

Snape was in full concentration mode and was in the middle of pouring some silver liquid into the cauldron. "Yes I need you to get me the aconite from the store room."

When Hermione returned he was counting his stirs after three clockwise stirs he would do four counterclockwise stirs and then repeat. He repeated the process five more times before he finally finished. "Okay the next part is very complex you must add the aconite at precisely the right moment and then I will have to stir it for half an hour. Then we add more aconite and stir for another half hour we will have to add the aconite two more times after that. And then we will have to wait until it cools and then we have to add three unicorn hairs and then it will be finished. I will stir first and then you will stir then I will stir the third time and then you will stir the fourth time is that clear?"

"Oh yes sir. Are you sure you want me to stir? What if I do it wrong?"

"Then I will correct you."

It was ten to ten and it was currently Hermione's turn to stir, luckily she only had ten more minutes and then all they would have to do is wait for it to cool and then add the three unicorn hairs. Hermione arm felt as though her arm was about to fall off but there was no way she was going to say anything. Another ten minutes passed and she was finally able to stop. Hermione collapsed in her armchair and watched as Snape added the last dose of aconite.

"And now we wait." he said letting out a big sigh as he collapsed in his own armchair. In order to stay awake they talked about pointless things just to keep the other from falling asleep. Hermione had just told him a story from her childhood that had made him chuckle a little when "WOOSH! There was a blaze of fire and before Hermione even had time to blink Snape was already out of his chair and running towards the source of the fire. Hermione soon realized that it wasn't really a fire it was Fawkes!

"Hermione you are going to have to finish the potion I have to leave!"

"What no! I don't know how to!" At that moment Fawkes shrieked it was a sound Hermione had never heard before it was a sound that brought utter pain and despair to her soul. Something was very wrong.

"In ten minutes it should be cool enough to add the hairs! Just add three hairs and its done! I will check it once I return!" And he was gone, disappeared somewhere in the ball of flames. And it was silent.

Snape had been right in believing that she could finish the potion. Once it had cooled she had added the hairs and it had turned the correct shade of yellow. Hermione sighed in relief as she realized she had done it right. Quickly she decanted it and put it on Snape's desk for him to inspect later. And went to her bedroom to get ready for bed. Once she was in bed she went over the events of the night in spite of all she had seen one main part kept coming to the forefront of her mind. Severus Snape had called her Hermione. He had been caught up in the action of the moment and obviously hadn't even noticed that he had made the slip. But still he had called her Hermione.