A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Word count: 834

"What do you mean it's locked?"HerSmione yelled, pounding her fists against the heavy metal door.

"Standard protocol, Miss Granger. When there's a chance of a leak, of contamination, the lab automatically locks itself down to prevent the potential spread of the substance."

"How long?" she asked, pacing back and forth by the door. Severus watched her for a moment, before taking a seat back at his lab station.

"About five hours to check the whole building for contamination. More if they find anything. Let's just hope this is a false alarm and we'll be free to go home by dinner time," he stated.

"Dinner time!? I have things I need to do, Mister Snape. I have five other labs I need to check in with today," she nearly screamed. Severus smirked.

"You'll just have to postpone those then."

"How the bloody hell are you so calm? We're locked in your lab with a potentially dangerous pathogen in the building. We could be sitting ducks!"

"It's more than likely nothing, Miss Granger. These lock downs happen on a semi-regular basis, usually it's nothing more than a misplaced or mislabeled petri dish. Why don't you have a seat, Miss Granger, your pacing is quite distracting," Severus stated, returning to the solution in front of him. She glared at him, but parked her arse on the seat across from him.

"What are you working on?" she asked.

"I highly doubt you would understand it even if I was inclined to share my current work," he replied.

"Really? I have a degree in molecular biology, one in chemistry, and three in theoretical sciences."

"Interesting, and you're wasting that time working at the ministry overseeing people like me?"

"The ministry has taken an interest in your work, yes. No, they didn't tell me anything, other than I was to make sure that Slytherin Labs is following the correct procedures."

"As you can see by the locked door, we are," Severus stated. "Hand me the left flask please?"

"Here," she said, handing it to him gingerly. "Going to tell me what we're working on?"

"We are working on nothing, I am merely having you assist me to keep my mind off the fact you're an annoying little ministry worker who shouldn't be here."

"I have every right to be here! I turned down a job here!"

Severus' head snapped up and looked at Hermione in a new light.

"You turned down a job? Here?"

"Yes! What part of that don't you understand?"

"And yet you stayed with the ministry?" he asked, setting aside what he was working on.

"There's something not right there, something crooked. All the labs I've been asked to oversee are working on similar biologicals. I think the ministry is planning on a way to weaponize them. I mean, it's just... a feeling, but..."

"You think we're about to be at war, with biological weapons?"

"I do," she whispered. Severus nodded.

"Good, you're not a complete dunderhead then. You're right, by the way. I've heard something similar from some of my contacts. Now, what are you going to do about it?"

"That... I don't know, sir. I don't know how far the corruption goes, I don't know who the enemy is going to be."

"Doesn't matter. There's a man I trust in the minister's office. Kingsley Shacklebolt. He's on our side, Miss Granger. Take everything you have to him. He'll make sure it gets to the right people, and he'll make sure you're protected," Severus stated, pulling a flash drive from his black lab coat. Hermione nodded taking it.

"Why are you helping me? I thought you greatly disliked ministry workers?"

"I do. However, I can tell you're telling me the truth about everything, and if I find the information has fallen into the wrong hands, I'll know exactly who to blame," he stated, meeting her eyes. Hermione met his gaze. The fact she was now putting not only herself, but also Severus in danger, did not escape her.

"We still theoretically have several more hours before the lock down is lifted, what should we do to pass the time?" she asked, her heart pounding in her chest. She wondered if danger turned this man on as much as it did her.

"They will be sweeping the building, checking all the rooms for both people and whatever triggered the alarm, Miss Granger. As interesting as I believe your proposition is, I do not believe it would be wise. You can however assist me on completing this compound, it might end up being a key ingredient in something useful later?"

"Alright," she sighed, turning her attention back to the vials and beakers in front herself.

"After you report back to your superiors, and deliver my drive to cement your position in the resistance, I'll be taking dinner, well hopefully dinner, at the Hogshead, I invite you to join me," he stated. Hermione nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips as the pair started working on Severus' project.