A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Sci Fi September You've been avoiding everyone for a couple days and I noticed your arm seemed paralysed or something and I wanted to talk to you except when I grabbed said arm to stop you from running away it came out... oops

Word Count: 623

She first noticed it when he was walking down the main path of the compound. His arm seemed stiffer than usual. She frowned, not thinking much of it. Maybe he'd injured it collecting some samples. He'd done that before, hurt himself trying to get something that was more dangerous than he'd originally thought. It wasn't until about a week later, she became concerned.

"Severus, are you in here?"she asked, poking her head into his lab. Glancing around, she could tell it was empty and that he hadn't been there recently. Frowning she nipped out and headed down the path that led to his office. She realized she hadn't even seen at meal this morning. Finding his pod, she knocked loudly on the door.

"Severus? It's me, Hermione. I was wondering if you were alright?" she called. There was no answer. "Severus?" she called, knocking again. This time she heard some noise coming from behind the pod. She knew he had a tiny hydroponics house set up back there so she started around.

"What do you want?" Severus asked, suddenly appearing in front of her.

"To talk to you, about things."

"Those things are not longer important, Miss Granger."

"We're back to that then?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "I thought we'd decided to go by first names, since I'm no longer your apprentice?"

"Fine, then, Hermione, you may leave," he stated, twirling around to face back away from Hermione. She frowned, reached out, and grabbed his wrist. She felt a pop and looked down realizing she was now holding Severus' arm in her hand. He stopped and looked back at her.

"There, now you know. Now, can I have my arm back, I need it to complete my research."

"What happened? Don't tell me you were always like this, Severus. I know that's a lie," she stated, handing him his arm.

"Fine, since you insist on talking, we shall talk. However, we will do it as civilized people – at a table with a pot of tea."

Hermione nodded following him inside. True to his word, he motioned for her to sit at the table as he put on the kettle. Hermione sat, watching him.

"Do you remember the expedition last month?" he asked, pouring the tea. Hermione took a sip.

"Which one?"

"Vulcan Three."

"You went to collect some samples of a sulfuric acid that you believed might have a key to solving one of the blights?" she asked.

"Correct. I, however, became exposed to the same acid I had planned to collect. The doctors managed to contain the reaction to only my arm, but by then it was too late. The last tests showed the chemicals had started reacting again. They had to amputate my arm. This is the replacement," he said, rolling up his sleeve and showing Hermione the cyborg arm.

"But it comes off?"

"Yes, for cleaning and repairs. I'm not the man you knew, Hermione. I'm not even sure if I'm even a man at all."

"Because of one metal arm? Severus, you are being ridiculous. You're the same man as before, only now you don't have to worry about getting your fingers smashed or chomped, or injured by those things you consider 'plants'," she laughed.

"Really? You don't care about the fact I'm part machine?"

"No, I don't. I mean, You're still you. You're still the same scowling, grumpy, brilliant man I fell in love with. Now, how about you and I stop playing this game of avoiding me and we can finally go over my research for the Titan Project?" she asked, giving Severus a smile. He returned it easily, as Hermione wondered if his new robotic arm and hand were as good as the original?