PART 11

The potion wasn't quite up to Hermione's usual standards was first thing that sprang to Severus's mind as he looked into the cauldron.

He tried not to breathe as the noxious fumes rose from brew.

"You wouldn't by any chance have left it brewing – unattended – whilst you were poking your nose in upstairs were you?" Severus looked down at the flushed Hermione with a sneer.

"I thought there was an emergency up there," she replied.

"Evanesco," Severus said with a flick of his wand, causing the potion to vanish. He'd have to find the time to make a batch himself if he was going to get through the holiday with his sanity intact.

"This won't harm my grade for last year…or next year…will it?" Hermione asked nervously.

Severus smirked slightly at the thought. It hadn't actually occurred to him to do that. A few more lessons like this and the swollen-headed girl could actually find herself with an acceptable grade instead of her usual outstanding.

Unfortunately Minerva would never allow him to get away with it and he knew it. Not that he had any intention of telling Hermione that.

"I can try again," said Hermione in a rush as she glanced at her watch.

"There's not enough time to complete it," Severus replied. "I suggest you go get your book and read up on where you went wrong. I'll consider letting you try again if you come back for another lesson."

"I'll do it right next time," Hermione promised as she pulled the book from the shelf.

Of course she would, Severus reflected. She'd memorise the potion formula before she arrived at Spinners End…which was why next lesson he knew he'd have considered that she try her hand at another potion.

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Severus settled back into his favourite chair, a glass of nettle wine on the table beside him, the crossword in front of him and the wizard wireless turned to his favourite station.

Peace and quiet at last.

He glanced at the clock and saw that he had at least a couple of hours, hopefully three or four, before his unwanted houseguest returned.

He hummed slightly to himself as he contemplated the clue for one across.

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The meeting with the Dark Lord hadn't gone quite as badly as Wormtail would have thought. He was still alive which was always a bonus. Though he had to admit that the meeting had spiralled downwards somewhat once he'd tried to request another position instead of that of Werewolf Tamer.

The only thing on his mind as he left however was how to get back at Snape for signing him up for the job in the first place. He knew he hadn't ticked any option for duties this summer, but the Dark Lord had produced the form immediately he'd requested another job. There was no other explanation…Snape had put him up for the job.

He was still fuming as he apparated to the riverside near Spinners End. He told himself that it was his anger that caused him to misjudge his aim by the half dozen feet that landed him right in the middle of the river with a splash and a squeal.

He scrambled to the wrong side of the riverbank and began the long journey to the nearest bridge, trying to ignore the laughter of the muggle boys who suddenly seemed to be swarming the vicinity.

"Don't you have anything better to do?" he yelled at a couple of particularly annoying hecklers who had taken to trailing after him.

"School holidays mate," one of them shouted back. "Couldn't you afford the couple of quid for the swimming baths?"

Wormtail swore softly as he squelched his way down the footpath.

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Severus had finished the crosswords in both the muggle newspaper and the Daily Prophet, enjoyed his favourite show on the wireless and was contentedly dozing in the armchair when Wormtail returned.

The slam of the door pulled him out of a particularly pleasant dream and he opened his eyes to see the particular unpleasant sight of Wormtail dripping water and mud all over his newly cleaned carpet.

"Werewolf Tamer?" Wormtail screeched. "You…you…you…"

"No," Severus replied with a smirk. "I'm the Potions Master, you, Wormtail are the Werewolf Tamer."

Wormtail screamed long and loud whilst stamping his feet and waving his fists about.

Severus looked at him in amusement before finally leaving the little rat to finish his tantrum and clean up the mess he'd made.