Severus Snape settled down at the High Table for breakfast. He nodded at Hermione, who was the Arithmancy Professor and for some reason chose to sit next to him every day.

"Good morning, Severus. Did you have a good night last night?" she asked.

"Yes," he answered. "I got everything ready to finish the potion this afternoon, then I can cast the spell on it."

Hermione got a faraway look. "What a wonder it will be if it works," she mused. "A potion that will give a glimpse into the future."

"Yes, hopefully, it will be successful. The Ministry is paying a pretty penny for this to be developed in the hopes of being one step ahead of criminals."

"Well, if anyone can do it, it's you."

Severus hurried and finished his breakfast, hiding his blush behind his curtain of hair. He stood after a few minutes, said goodbye to Hermione, and made his way from the Great Hall. He'd be able to cast the spell in an hour. He had a lot to get ready for before that.

oooOOOooo

Severus stirred the cauldron in front of him. He counted his stirs. The brew had to be stirred counterclockwise for 20 stirs, then clockwise for the same number of stirs. He heard a knock at his door but ignored it. Soon Hermione had entered and waited off to the side until he was done. At twenty, he removed the stirrer and placed it beside the cauldron.

"It's ready," he said to Hermione.

"Perfect! Can I be the first one to try it once you cast the spell?"

Severus eyed her. "I will test it."

"Well, that doesn't seem right. What if something happens to you?"

He eyed her again. "You doubt my potions prowess?"

"Oh, of course not, but it doesn't seem wise to have the person who created the brew be the same person who tests it."

He shrugged. "I'll think about it, but don't get your hopes up."

"Well, think fast; aren't you about to cast the spell?"

He arched an eyebrow at her. "I am."

Hermione stepped back and centered herself as Severus pulled out his wand. He pointed it at the cauldron.

"Visionare," he chanted, and orange light shot from his wand and into the potion.

A bright light exploded within the cauldron followed by the cauldron actually exploding, sending Severus crashing to the floor covered in gold potion and pieces of metal.

"Severus!" Hermione cried as she ran to him.

She shot her Patronus out of her wand as she approached.

"Go tell Poppy there's been an accident!" she called to it as she knelt before Severus.

His eyes met hers, but he was unable to say anything or move.

"Severus! Hold on. Poppy's coming. You're okay. You'll be okay. You have to be okay!"

She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. He wanted to say anything but he just couldn't. His eyesight started getting fuzzy and little bursts of light were gathering in the corners of his vision. All of a sudden everything went black.

oooOOOooo

Severus opened his eyes and realized he was in the Infirmary. He looked to the right and saw Hermione sitting in a chair next to his bed. She was curled in a ball, sleeping soundly.

"Hermione?" he called out to her.

She startled awake, her eyes wide. She smoothed out her hair, which was sticking out on her right side where she'd been against the chair.

"Oh, thank Merlin, you're awake," she said.

Rising from the chair, she moved and sat at the edge of the bed.

"How do you feel? What do you remember?"

"The potion exploded. I was thrown to the ground, then everything went black."

Hermione nodded and urged him to go on.

"I feel… tired and achy."

"Poppy had to remove several metal shards from your chest, arms, and legs. The blast cracked a couple of your ribs. She said you'll be okay once the Skele-gro fixes you up."

Severus felt his chest. He could feel where the breaks were and the potion was doing its work. Poppy bustled in at that moment.

"Oh, good. You're awake. You've been unconscious for hours."

She helped him to a sitting position and waved her wand around him.

"Most of your wounds are healed. I want you to stay here until tomorrow so the Skele-gro can do its work."

"Poppy, I…"

"Not a word, Severus Snape. You will stay here in this bed until I say you can get up and go."

"Fine." He gave a disgruntled huff and scowled at her.

Poppy smiled smugly at him. "I'll check on you later."

Severus watched her go.

"I swear that woman loves ordering me around!"

Hermione chuckled.

"Watch it," Severus warned. "I am in no mood for frivolity"

Hermione grinned, but her eyes started to water. She tried to covertly wipe her tears away, but he'd seen them.

"Why are you crying?" he asked in puzzlement.

She grimaced as tears ran down her cheeks.

"You almost died," she said in barely a whisper.

"But I didn't."

"I didn't know that when Poppy was fighting to save your life!"

She got up and started pacing.

"All I could think of was you lying on the floor. Your heart stopped for a millisecond, you know. If Poppy hadn't been right there, you'd have died!"

She was hyperventilating.

"Hermione, calm down, please! Come sit back down."

She wiped away more tears as she sat on the edge of the bed. She looked at Severus, her eyes as big as saucers.

"I thought I'd lost you."

"Hermione, I'm okay."

She leaned forward and hugged him lightly, avoiding his chest area so as not to hurt him. The action surprised the hell out of him. She held him as close as she dared for a bit before pulling back.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," she said as her cheeks pinked and she looked down.

"I wasn't uncomfortable, just surprised," he admitted.

"You must think me a fool."

She stood and was quickly making her way out of the Infirmary.

"Hermione, come back!"

She stopped.

"Come back here," he called again.

She turned stiffly and returned to his bedside, this time standing ramrod straight and refusing to look at him.

"I didn't know you felt this way," Severus said. "I care very much for you, too. I just didn't think you had such strong feelings for me. I didn't think it possible."

Her eyes glanced over at him.

"You… you have feelings for me?"

He nodded.

"I've been attracted to you for a long time now. I just didn't think that you were interested," she explained.

He motioned for her to sit down on the bed next to him again. She did so, and he grasped her hand in his.

"I've been interested," he divulged. "I just thought…"

"What?"

"You're young and beautiful, Hermione. Why would you ever be attracted to me?"

She smiled shyly at him.

"Well, I find you to be attractive, brilliant… funny. Good qualities, really." She shrugged. "I don't care about the age difference. I actually find I like older men."

"Lucky me…" he whispered.

"Are you being serious?"

"Oh, yes," he said.

Pulling at her hand, he urged her to lean into him. His hand came up and caressed her cheek.

"I have wanted to do this for quite a long time," he said as his eyes met hers, and he pulled her to him.

His kiss was tentative, but when she replied with enthusiasm, he intensified it, begging for entrance. She opened up to him, and he ravished her, his tongue dancing with hers. They pulled away from each other after a time.

"Better than I imagined," he murmured.

"So much better," Hermione agreed before capturing his lips again.

oooOOOooo

Poppy waved her wand over Severus' chest. She nodded before she spoke.

"They look good. Now, they're not healed fully, mind, so you'll need to take it easy, but I don't see any reason why you need to stay here. Come right back if the pain increases or you start running a fever."

"Thank you, Poppy," Severus said as he gingerly stood. "I appreciate your care."

Madam Pomfrey beamed at him. "Feel better, Severus," she said before turning and going back into her office.

Hermione had been sitting on the chair next to his bed. He turned and looked at her.

"Shall we?" he asked.

He reached out for her hand.

"Severus, you're in a hospital gown…"

He looked down and frowned. "Well, where are my clothes?"

"In the drawer over there." Hermione pointed to the dresser next to the other side of his bed.

He grabbed his wand and magically switched out the gown for his clothes. Hermione raised a brow.

"Nice wandwork."

"Thank you. Now let's be off."

He grabbed her hand and tugged her out of the Infirmary, quickly making his way down the hallway.

"Where are we going?"

"I thought we could go to Hogsmeade and grab a bite to eat."

Hermione stopped and tugged at his hand.

"Oh no you don't! Poppy said you needed to take it easy. We're heading to your room. If you want we can have some food brought in to you."

He gave her a withering look. "Party pooper."

"I'll tell you what. Let's plan on dining there tomorrow. Your bones should be fully knit together by then."

He gave a quick nod. "I'll hold you to that."

They made their way to the dungeons and Severus' quarters. Once they were inside, Hermione ushered him to bed and propped him up with pillows. Severus felt odd with the attention she was giving him and wanted to snap at her that he could care for himself, but he didn't want to hurt the blooming relationship that was growing between the two of them so he shut his mouth.

"Now, what shall we have for lunch?" she asked.

Severus called to his House-elf, "Winky."

The House-elf appeared quickly.

"Yes, sir?"

"Can we get some Roast beef and mash?" He looked at Hermione and arched a brow.

She nodded.

"For two," he continued.

"Right away," the House-elf said, bowing low before popping away.

She was back quickly with their meals, conjuring a table with a snap of her fingers and setting the plates down there. Two glasses of Pumpkin juice appeared, and the Elf was gone. Hermione rose to bring Severus his meal, but he held up his hand.

"I'd rather eat at the table," he told her.

"You're sure?"

"Merlin, woman, I just have some healing ribs, I'm not an invalid!"

Hermione bit her lip as she moved back to the bed, helping him get out of bed and moving him to the table. They sat down to eat and were quiet for a few moments as they did so.

"I apologize for snapping. As you can imagine it's been a trying couple of days, but I shouldn't have been nasty."

Hermione looked at Severus and gave him a frown.

"Really, Hermione, I'm sorry."

"Okay," she told him. "Please don't be short like that with me when I'm trying to help you."

"I will be more careful in the future."

She gave him a crisp nod. "Thanks." She took a bite of mash before continuing. "Why do you think the potion exploded?"

Severus put his fork down and crossed his arms.

"I'm not sure. I had tested that spell multiple times before, and it never was strong enough to cause an explosion. It must have interacted incorrectly with one of the potion ingredients."

"Which one do you think it was?"

"It could be one of several. I'll have to cast the spell on each ingredient to see which one it doesn't agree with."

He noted Hermione's concerned look and held his hand up.

"I will erect a shield so I don't kill myself, I promise."

Hermione smirked at him. "Thank you. I would hate to lose you when I've just found you."

"That would be tragic, wouldn't it?" he snarked.

She frowned. "Of course, it would!"

He eyed her for a few moments. It was surprising to him still that she cared so much for him.

"Thank you," he said softly and returned to his roast beef.

Hermione reached out and grasped his hand.

"You believe me, don't you?"

He squeezed her hand.

"I do. I am just not used to people caring about what happens to me. It's… uncomfortable."

"In a bad way?"

He shook his head. "No, no. I'm just surprised that you would feel this way."

She leaned in toward him. "Severus, I truly care about you. That means I want you to be happy and healthy and not blow yourself up."

He smirked at her and gave her a grateful look for lightening up the mood.

"I do appreciate that," he said.