Chapter 5 - Play The Game
End of year exams were over in a whirlwind of stress, concern and worries. But for the most part, Hermione Granger felt relatively confident that she had received good results. During the last two days of school Hermione vowed to spend as much time as possible with Harry and Ron, instead of with a certain potions professor.
They spent the majority of their time relaxing beneath their favourite beech tree by the lake. This time reminded her of how much her friends meant to her and the extent of which she would miss them during the holidays. As she waved goodbye and watched the seemingly horseless carriages pull them from her sight, she allowed a single tear to fall down her cheek. Suddenly feeling the cold breeze against her face, she decided to retreat to the castle and her comfortable bed.
The following morning Hermione awoke at 8:00am. She spotted a small piece of parchment lying on her bedside table. She picked it up and read the perfectly formed writing. "Miss Granger. On the conclusion of your breakfast please make your way towards my quarters to assist in creating various medicinal potions for Madam Pomfrey. Professor Snape." Hermione grinned before hurriedly getting dressed and tying her unruly hair into a ponytail. She ate a rushed breakfast of porridge and banana before heading towards the dungeons. After knocking on Snape's door and hearing the customary deep silky voice telling her to enter, she stepped inside. Severus Snape was seated behind his large desk, a cup of tea clasped in his hands. "Miss Granger." Hermione smiled in recognition. "Take a seat. We will begin shortly." Hermione lowered herself onto a chair facing the professor.
After a few moments of silence Snape placed his now empty cup on his desk and cleared his throat. "Shall we proceed to the laboratory?" Hermione nodded. They both stood and Snape lead her to one of the doors leading out of the room. It opened to a surprisingly clean yet small room. It was quite different to the classroom workbenches. The walls were lined with the most amazing potion ingredients Hermione has ever laid eyes on and the immaculate workbench had space for two cauldrons.
While Snape got to work setting up his cauldron Hermione stood awkwardly in the doorway. Snape looked back towards her and rolled his eyes. "When I asked if you would assist me these holidays I was under the impression that you knew how to set up a cauldron." Hermione's cheeks blushed bright pink. "Sorry Professor." She hurriedly prepared her workspace. Snape turned towards her. "To begin with we will prepare the potion most commonly known as 'Skele-Grow'. It is slightly complex but nothing beyond your ability. The instructions are in this book." The potions master placed a copy of 'Advanced Potions, Procedures and Ingredients' on the bench between them and flipped to the appropriate page.
As he began the procedure Hermione merely stood smiling behind her cauldron. "Is there a problem Miss Granger?" Hermione feigned surprise. "Oh, I am sorry Professor. I was just waiting for the traditional 'you may begin' that you usually give." She grinned slyly at him. The sides of Snape's mouth twitched upwards. "You may begin." Hermione giggled and set to work.
By the time they had completed creating the Skele-Grow both Hermione and Snape were rather hungry. The professor saved them the trouble of a trip to the Great Hall by effortlessly conjuring a simple yet delicious meal of shepherd's pie and chips. They ate quietly before Snape said, "So, erm, is that what young muggles are wearing these days?" Hermione had a huge struggle with controlling the outburst of laughter that had threatened to escape her at the sound this question. She looked down at what she was wearing as she hadn't paid much attention to it when she had hastily dressed herself. She was adorned in sensible jeans and a white t-shirt with a red love heart stretched across the chest. "I wouldn't have thought you to be interested in the fashion choices of young muggles, Professor Snape." She said cheekily. The potions master let out an extremely rare chuckle. It was incredibly deep and made Hermione's spine tingle. "You'd be surprised Miss Granger."
The next two weeks passed incredibly quickly for Hermione Granger. Each day was filled with the creation of various potions and witty exchanges between herself and a certain potions master. One such day found Hermione leaning over her heavily steaming cauldron. A small section of her hair had fallen out of the previously prepared ponytail. Snape, who was standing next to her, cast his gaze in her direction. Without thinking, he extended his arm and tenderly brushed the hair behind her ear. He let his hand linger on the side of her face for a few moments before withdrawing quickly. He embarrassedly mumbled something about not wanting any hair in his potions. Hermione tried to catch his eye but he obviously did not wish for her to do so. Never the less, the young woman felt the heat rising in her cheeks for reasons other than her steaming cauldron.
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I quite enjoyed writing this chapter. It's full off happy moments. But I'm going to apologise in advance for something that will happen in the next chapter. I can't say anything else without giving away too much.
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