A/N: Hey Guys! Sorry that this one took me so long it was literally torture to write! I just couldn't seem to finish it.
I'd like to send a big thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter QueenofDemons68, priestess-yukii18, maj, Kayleigh-FanfictionAddict-21 , LK-HoGwArTs-hEaDgIrL, gwendlyn, DarkestAngel13, TheTragedyIs13 , Justagirl019, & whenthesnowmelts!
So what did you guys think of Mr Rickmans performance?
As always Read, Review and Enjoy!
The Pulventriculo Plant
It was official, the past four days had been the longest days of Severus' life. Every time he saw Hermione he was unsure of what to do, or what to say. He couldn't bring it up, that was for sure. Hermione's occlumency lessons had stopped without discussion, and she had stopped her habit of lounging in his library until all hours of the night. In other words he was miserable. He missed his friend, and wasn't sure how much longer he could take their clipped sentences and tense working hours. If it doesn't get better by the end of the week I will put us both out of our misery, and dismiss her. Why had he even done it in the first place? That was the real question, he thought to himself. Was it just because no one had ever cared as much as her? If he really wanted to be honest with himself, Severus knew the real reason for his actions, he was in love. He breathed a deep sigh of discontent as he accepted the truth. He was in love with Hermione Granger, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Deciding to turn in early for the night, Severus got up from his seat, extinguishing the fire as he walked towards his bedroom. He knew there was only one way to deal with the situation, total and utter denial. Closing his eyes he tried to clear all thoughts from his mind, eventually falling into a deep, deep sleep.
"Severus! Severus! Wake up! It's important!" Hermione said in a frantic whisper.
"What is it." Severus said grabbing his wand, ready for an attack.
"No, it's nothing like that." Hermione said forcing his wand hand down.
"Then why on earth are you in my private quarters at this time of night?"
"Sorry I didn't think you'd be asleep already, it's only half past ten. I would have come down sooner but people would have asked questions, I had to wait until everyone went up to bed."
"Maybe I didn't make myself clear. Why are you here." Severus ground out. Being alone in his bedroom with the women, no student that he had feelings for, was definitely not a good idea.
"Oh! Right, sorry. I've done it! I think I've found the missing ingredient!" Hermione said practically jumping up and down.
"What is it?" Severus said, sitting up suddenly.
"The Pulventriculo plant! It's not a very commonly used plant, as it is very difficult to grow, and there are many suitable substitutes, but only that plant could survive against Nagini's venom!"
"It's so simple. How could I not have thought about it before." He said, getting out of bed heading for his wardrobe, all thought of awkwardness washed away by the rush of adrenalin now pumping through his veins. "I will leave now. There is no time to waste, it takes many months to grow, I will be gone until tomorrow evening at least."
"Months? But what about the prophecy, you don't have months." Hermione said, suddenly crestfallen.
"We don't know that! This is the only lead we have, I must act. Meet me in the lab tomorrow around nine, I will explain what is to be done next." Severus said, and with a jerk of his head he left Hermione alone in his bedchambers.
The next day went by very slow indeed, the only thing on Hermione's mind was Severus and whether or not he had been successful in obtaining the Pulventriculo bulbs. He hadn't been at breakfast or lunch, which Hermione had expected. Rumours were already flying around the school that he had been poisoned, and was currently fighting for his life on the fifth floor of St Mungo's. At dinner Hermione began to hope that he might appear, she had no such luck however as his seat remained empty. She sighed in dissatisfaction as she made her way back to Gryffindor tower.
Harry and Ron knew that something was up and thought it better not to ask, instead just letting her be alone with her thoughts, they didn't even question her when nine o'clock rolled around and she left with a not too convincing. "I think I'll just go to the library. Don't wait up."
As soon as the portrait to the secret passage was closed Hermione made a run for it. She couldn't wait to hear news of Severus' last twenty-four hours. Had he been successful in aquiring the bulb? Or even a plant? Had he even returned? Hermione wouldn't have been surprised if it would take longer to procure one.
"Severus?" Hermione said looking around the lab quickly. Not seeing any sign of him, she continued into the library, she was about to call his name again when she was silenced by the sight that greeted her. There, asleep on the couch, was the feared Potions Master. Rolling her eyes and letting out a sigh she turned to leave, knocking into the door slightly as she went, she couldn't wake him, he probably hadn't slept since last she saw him.
"How long will it take you to realize that you are neither stealth nor quiet?" Severus said with a smirk.
Hermione cringed, "Sorry did I wake you?"
"If my wards hadn't alerted me first, I'm sure you would have," Severus said derisively.
"Well it's not as if I was trying to hide my being here." Hermione said good naturedly
"Be that as it may I've witnessed you in stealth mode, its not much different." Severus said with a wry smile.
"So are you ever going to tell me how it went?" Hermione said, not able to stand not knowing a moment longer. "Were you able to get a bulb or a plant?"
"I was not able to get a plant, they are in very short supply and if you want quality they are in even shorter supply. I was however able to get some bulbs from a very reliable contact that I have."
"You did, oh Severus that's brilliant!" Hermione said rushing over to sit next to him, she didn't hug him, not after what had happened the other night. "Then why did it take you so long to return?" Hermione asked trying to avoid the tension.
"This contact I have is in the muggle world, there are certain ways of communication and transportation that were cut off for me. I also had to stop by my house and get some ingredients we needed." Severus said moving over to stand by the fire.
Hermione, upset by the obvious display of disdain to be near her he was showing, sank back into her chair, you're sure this contact can be trusted?"
"Yes. It is a man that I have known for years and a contact I made through muggle means. I also use an alias when working with him, he has no idea what my real name is or what I really look like." Severus said pouring himself a drink.
"That's brilliant! How do you always think of everything?" Hermione blushed realizing that she sounded like some adoring adolescent fan.
"It's my life, if I don't think of everything, I don't get a second chance." Severus said coldly, luckily not noticing Hermione's embarrassment.
"Im sorry, it was silly of me to say." Hermione said hesitantly, not knowing where to look.
"Think nothing of it." Severus said, still not looking at her. The plant won't be ready until late September, in which point I might be very busy and unable to make the anti-venom," he said with a deep sigh. "This is why I think it best we stock up now, while we can. Make as many batches of the anti-venom and put them is a long-term stasis. It will save me a considerable amount of time in the fall. I thought that-"
"But what about me? Surely if you're busy I would have the time." Hermione said looking at him confused.
"As you said before, I plan for every possible scenario, who knows where we will be in September, there is no guarantee that either of us will be here." Severus said taking a gulp of fire whiskey.
"I suppose, but it's hard to imagine Hogwarts without Severus Snape, I hope at least that doesn't change." Hermione replied looking down at her hands
Severus snorted at hearing her last sentiment, "I don't think anyone else would agree."
"Perhaps." Hermione shrugged. "But I'm smarter than all those people," she said with a wicked grin. "So when do you want to make all of these anti-venoms? During the summer when we will have more time?"
"No. No that could be too late. I want to have them made by the end of the month." Severus said, leaving no room for discussion.
"All right, I'll leave it up to you when you want to do it, just give me a days notice." Severus nodded his understanding, looking down at the empty tumbler in his hand. "I think I'll go now, you look awfully tired. I'll see you tomorrow." Hermione said getting up to go.
"Tomorrow." Severus said barely above a whisper.
A week had passed since Severus had returned with the Pulventriculo bulb. Hermione, Ron and Harry had just returned to the Common Room after supper, when they noticed a crowd of people standing around the notice board, all trying to get a look at what had been posted.
"It's about our apparition test!" Ron called out to them over the crowd, she and Harry had taken advantage of the distraction and had claimed the most coveted table and chairs in between the fire place and window. "It's on April 21st." Ron added, making his way through the crowd.
"April 21st? That's so soon! I've barely had time to focus on it!" Hermione said, worrying her lip into nothingness.
"Relax Hermione you'll do fine." Harry said comforting her.
"Yeah I know you'll be brilliant. It's me you should be worried about," Ron said looking a bit green at the prospect of the test.
"Don't get too upset about it Ron, it doesn't matter," Hermione said hypocritically.
"That's not what I'm upset about, I just remembered I haven't finished my essay for Snape on Dementors." Ron groaned.
"Come here," Hermione sighed. "I'll help you with it."
"You're the best Hermione, honestly I don't know what I'd do without you." Ron said sighing in relief as he sat down next to her.
Three hours later found the trio alone in the common room, "And... done!" Hermione said putting the finishing touches on Ron's essay. It had taken her extra long to write, afraid that Severus might recognize her writing style and attention to detail, she had had to rewrite every passage a few times until she was convinced that Ron would be able to pass it off as his own. Just as Ron began to thank her again profusely for writing it, he was interrupted by a loud and familiar Pop!.
"Creature!" Before the house elf could say a word there was another loud Pop! , "Dobby!" Harry said, seemingly not surprised at all to see them.
"Harry what on earth are they doing here?" But it was no use Harry was fully ignoring Hermione now, and by the look on Ron's face he wasn't going to answer her question either.
Hermione was aghast at hearing that Harry had had Creature and Dobby follow Draco all over the school. What if he had seen them? He would recognize both of the elves, and know immediately that Harry was behind it.
"Don't look at me like that Hermione, it was the only way I could know for sure where Malfoy was going when he was off the map. I'd have thought you'd be happy-" Harry began.
"Happy? Why on earth would I be happy about you assigning a tail to Draco Malfoy! If you're right about him being a Death Eater, then you should be staying as far away from him as possible, not putting yourself in the thick of things!" Hermione said her face turning redder by the second.
"But that's what I was doing!" Harry protested.
"Harry, Draco knows both Dobby and Creature, if he had seen either of them following him he would have known right away that you were behind it. And if you think that Draco was responsible for almost killing Katie Bell I would think you'd be smart enough to know not to risk your life or theirs!" She said gesturing to the two house elves in front of her. Harry now realizing the potential harm he had put the two elves in went pale.
"Im sorry Hermione, you're right. I didn't think about the consequences. But now that we have the information, I'm certainly not going to waste it." Hermione rolled her eyes in frustration, There was no getting through to this boy! She thought angrily to herself.
"Hermione please, I need help getting into the Room of Requirement, can't you just help me?" Harry begged one morning at breakfast. It had been two weeks since the house elves had appeared in the Gryffindor common room, Hermione had heard almost nothing else but theories about what Draco was up to in the Room of Requirement.
"No I will not!" Hermione snapped. "You should be spending all your time working on Slughorn, stop focusing on Draco! Nothing good can come of it. Dumbledore has everything under control, just let the Order deal with it."
"But Hermione-" Harry began, but was interrupted by Ron.
"Just leave it mate, you know how Hermione gets when she has made up her mind about something."
"Listen to Ron Harry because he's right, my mind is made up on the matter." Hermione said sternly, leaving no room for argument. They were momentarily distracted by the morning post, Hermione glad to have something else to do took her morning paper greedily, hand the owl a bit of bacon to show her gratitude. Opening the paper she gasped as she read the front page.
"What? What is it!" Ron said practically jumping out of his seat at hearing her gasp.
"It's all right, well not really. Mundungus Fletcher has been arrested." Hermione said reading the article underneath an unflattering photo of her least favourite Order member.
"What for?" Harry asked.
"For... impersonating an inferie during a robbery. And a man called Octavious Pepper has gone missing, oh dear how terrible." Hermione mused.
"For impersonating an inferie? Is that even possible." Ron asked.
"I'm not sure, I can't imagine it being very convincing though, especially knowing Dung." Hermione reasoned. "Listen about this weekend, I'm not going to be around much, Not at all really, Professor Snape and I will be working through the whole weekend until late Monday evening."
"But Hermione that's abuse that is!" Ron said attempting righteousness but failing miserably as his morning meal fell onto his lap.
"What I think Ron is trying to say," Harry said grimacing at the display. "is that that seems like an awful amount of hours to be working. Isn't that a bit dangerous?"
Hermione sighed, nothing was ever easy when it came to the boys and Snape, "We will be taking shifts, there's a cot in the lab that we will take naps on,-"
Ron interrupted then saying, "Hold on, you'll be sleeping with him in the room?"
Hermione who was now completely fed up with this conversation sighed again and said, "Yes Ron I will be sleeping in the same room that he will be working in, I don't see what the big deal is."
"Don't see the big-" Ron cut his sentence short slamming his fork down louder than he intended. "Hermione don't you think it's a bit- a bit odd? I mean don't you ever worry that he might you know take advantage of-"
"No! I do not. You are being absolutely ridiculous Ronald. Besides when would he find the time? Hmm? The potions we will be working with are highly volatile, one can not get distracted even for a moment." Hermione said crossing her arms over her chest. "Why don't you go sit with Lavender, at the rate her neck keeps whipping back over to us she's going to pull something! And you wouldn't want that affecting your snogging sessions now would you?" Hermione at this point was so angry, instead of waiting for him to move she grabbed a piece of toast and her bag and made her way out into the hallway. "Stupid prat." she muttered to herself, taking a bite of toast.
Hermione jumped when Professor Snape came up alongside her, seemingly out of nowhere, keeping stride with her. "What has the Weasley brat done now?" Severus said under his breath, making sure no one would overhear him.
"It's nothing to concern yourself with, honestly just petty accusations. It just can get a bit tiring sometimes." Hermione said brushing a stray strand of hair out of her face.
"Poppy gave me a list today of all the potions she needs brewing." Severus said casually.
"Okay. See you tonight then? We can get started on that list." Hermione said under her breath.
"Yes that would be best. I'd like everything done before Friday, I think it best if we don't meet on Friday as I would like to start at four of Saturday. How does that sound to you?
"That sounds fine to me, anything else?" Hermione whispered, nearing her first class of the day.
"Yes, stop writing Weasley's papers." Severus said trying to hide a smirk. Hermione who had an evil grin, said nothing. "Your lucky I can't prove it, but do it again and I may just have to use unconventional methods," he said in his most threatening Potions Master voice. Hermione wasn't fooled though she could practically hear him chuckling.
"I've no idea what you're talking about." Hermione said now biting her lip.
"Do not think because you are my assistant that I will not embarrass you in front of the class. I've given you fare warning, remember that." Severus said, just before they separated, he, off to his classroom, she, off in the direction of the Transfiguration classroom. She had missed this part of their friendship. Ever since their almost kiss, things had been awkward, they both being unsure of how to interact with each other. It seemed that this breakthrough that they had had with the antidote, was also the antidote for their friendship.
Walking into the room Hermione noted that she was as usual the first to arrive, just then the door to Minerva's office opened, "Ah Hermione, just who I wanted to talk to!" Minerva said walking over to where Hermione sat. "I just received word that you would be missing another Transfiguration class on Monday."
"Yes is that all right? I know I've missed a few already, and I'm so sorry about that, Im sure I can work it out with Professor Snape so that I don't miss your class. I know that I'm missing-"
"Hermione calm down it's fine." Minerva said putting a comforting hand on Hermione's arm. "I just wanted to make sure you're handling the workload, you're going to class during the day, working in the lab until all hours of the night, you have your apparition exam coming up, and on top of it all you still show up to class ahead of everyone else. You're allowed to feel overworked."
"Thanks Minerva but I'm fine, honestly I am." Hermione said at the disbelieving look Minerva gave her.
"You'll tell me if it gets to be too much though." It wasn't a question.
"Yes ma'am." Hermione said quietly. They were interrupted then by the sound of scuffling feet coming down the corridor, it seemed that the rest of the Great Hall had finally caught up and were making their way to class. Minerva gave her a wan smile as she got up to return to the seat behind her desk.
Hermione woke Saturday morning to a pitch black sky, the sun, she knew wouldn't rise for at least another two hours. Ah the glories of being a potions assistant. She thought to herself wryly. Hermione had gone to bed as soon as she returned from supper last night, getting many strange looks from her fellow Gryffindor's knowing her to be quite a night owl. It was half past three and she felt fully rested, sneaking out of the dormitory as quietly as she could, she made her way down to the common room and opened the portrait hole. "You're up far too early my dear. If you keep working this hard, the house elves will have to hire you," the Fat Lady said through a yawn. Hermione just rolled her eyes as she made her way down to the portrait of the lion.
"It's only half past three, eager to get started, are we?" Severus said taking a bite of his breakfast as he sat reading over his notes for the anti-venom.
"I thought I'd come and have breakfast with you actually," Hermione said sitting down across from him.
"There's cereal in the cupboard, and eggs on the counter, take your pick." Severus said, his voice still it's morning grumble. This was one of the real reasons Hermione had come down early, she loved hearing his scratchy morning voice, he was a slow starter in the morning if there was no need to act otherwise. She found him quite entertaining, the grumbly, grouchy man that he was in the morning. There had to be something wrong with her, that was the only explanation. She thought to herself.
"What time did you go to sleep last night?" Hermione inquired, looking at the dark circles under his eyes, though they weren't abnormal for him, he almost always had them.
"Who are you, my mother?" Severus said taking a bite of his toast.
"I am a concerned friend, and as someone who is about to spend the next three days working on highly dangerous potions with you, I think I have a right to know." Hermione said bringing her bowl of cereal over to the table.
With a deep sigh Severus answered, "I slept five hours, that is plenty. You know I wouldn't risk it, if I thought otherwise."
"Five is acceptable, thank you for telling me." Hermione said going back to her breakfast. "By the way have you seen Crookshanks at all? He didn't come to bed last night or the night before that." She said looking up at him concerned.
"Yes, I have in fact. The mangy beast won't leave my side. He's been sleeping down here with me. He's still asleep in my bed I think." Severus said blushing at admitting he let her cat sleep with him.
"Hey that's my familiar that you're talking about!" Hermione said in false outrage.
"Well let's see you try and explain to Minerva why your students familiar is now living in your personal quarters." Severus said slightly enraged.
Hermione started chortling, "Oh Severus. Did that actually happen?" She said covering her mouth with her hand trying to hide her smile.
"Yes, just last night. We were talking by the fire, both sitting in a chair and out of nowhere he just comes and sits on my lap. Minerva of course recognized the thing right away and started asking me all sorts of questions."
"What did you say?" Hermione said still trying not to laugh.
"I made up some shite up about him liking to chase the rats. She seemed to believe it, thank Merlin." Severus said as he cleaned up the remnants of their breakfast.
"I am sorry though, that must have been a bit awkward, to say the least." Hermione said sympathetically.
"The last thing I need is Minerva nosing about my business." Severus grumbled.
"Let's get to work shall we?" Hermione said changing the subject. "We're already a few minutes behind schedule."
"Severus, take a nap. You've been working now for twelve hours without a break. Will you at least eat something?" Hermione pleaded. She, herself had only had two twenty minute breaks and that was to eat.
"I need to get as many antidotes finished as possible." Severus said wiping the sweat away from his brow.
"The whole point of me being here is so that you can take breaks. If I'm going to have to spend this whole weekend arguing with you I will go to Dumbledore, Now. Take. A. Break." Hermione said threateningly.
Letting out a dramatic sigh Severus reluctantly put a stasis charm on his cauldron, "It has to sit for fifty minutes,"he directed. "That should give you just enough time to finish adding the wormwood to your cauldron and then you can move onto mine and transfer it into a gold number three cauldron. After that-"
"Severus," Hermione interrupted, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath to control her annoyance with this man. "I know. I have done this once or twice." She said derisively. "Now go get something to eat and drink," she said in a kinder but no less bossy tone.
An hour later after Hermione had moved Severus' potion to the gold number three cauldron, she sighed in relief as she now had ten minutes before she had to begin working on the next step to her cauldron. Glad that she had had the foresight to spend the first hour preparing all the ingredients, she revelled in the feeling of doing nothing as she sat down for the first time in five hours. Honestly, she didn't know how Severus had done it all by himself these past years, true he had had Jarvis the previous year, but before that he had never had an assistant. She smiled, looking over at the sleeping form of her new friend. All she could think about as she watched him breath deeply in and out (a sure sign that he was in fact asleep) was, Why me?.