Chapter 20

Disclaimer: Not mine. I just borrowed them for a while. I promise to put them back when I'm done. Oh, nope, no money either...just for fun.

I want to give a great big thank you hug to EverMystique and DutchessOfArcadia for combing through this and helping me clean up my many mistakes. I really appreciate it more than you can possibly know.

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Potter survived the first task, thanks to Miss Granger and I, Severus scoffed as he removed his robe. Rumor has it that even Moody had felt the need to give the boy a bit of advice, he sneered, unamused, as he pulled out a clean robe. His morning class had ended with Mr. Walters coating half the students, and himself, in bright yellow goo. Quite a feat for a novice brewing a nonvolatile potion, with relatively benign ingredients, that was supposed to be blue.

However, considering that the term would officially end after Double Potions with the fourth-year Gryffindors and Slytherins this afternoon, he was in relatively mild temper.

Today he'd show the class the Itch-Relief Salve, which he knew that only Hermione would be able to brew with any efficacy. That is if she remembered his trick of pressing the secretions from the sopophorous beans rather than slicing them.

He dressed carefully, making sure his hair lay flat, and proceeded to the Great Hall. Several students were milling around, loitering in clusters along the walls of the Entrance Hall, the girls hoping to catch some bloke's eye and be asked to go to the Ball, while the guys congregated in small groups, trying not to appear as if they were talking about the girls. It was a futile game to be played.

Severus knew that only those brave enough to ask a girl surrounded by her friends would get partners. He was so glad he didn't have to partake in such foolery. Severus scowled at the students, making all the Hogwarts and Beauxbatons students scuttle into the Hall.

He noticed that Viktor Krum was watching Potter, Weasley, and Miss Granger cross the Entrance Hall as they headed to lunch with a predatory look. Severus motioned for the students still lingering on the stairs to hurry along as he casually observed the famous Quidditch player.

Krum's lips stretched into a smile when Miss Granger nodded to him in passing, then scowled as several girls approached him, giggling like besotted idiots. Krum quickly followed along behind the trio, his eyes locked on the back of Miss Granger's head in a manner that made Severus' scowl darken.

All through lunch Severus kept an eye on Krum, making note of his preoccupation with Miss Granger.

"He's such an excellent student," Karkaroff said as he set down his cup.

"I'm sure he is," Severus replied nonchalantly.

"He's taken an interest in one of your students, I think. A Miss Granger, Harry Potter's friend," Karkaroff stated.

Severus turned to glare at him. "I doubt she'd be interested in him," he stated, his eyes narrowing. What is Karkaroff up to now?

"Well, the girl has said yes. In fact, he's even sent her a gift. A dictionary, I think. Surprising she'd need a dictionary if she's supposedly your brightest student," Karkaroff said dismissively.

Severus' mind was distracted as he observed Viktor Krum and Miss Granger, trying to see what she saw in him besides the obvious fame, while Karkaroff extolled Krum's achievements, both academically and professionally. He was round-shouldered, although that could be just from his posture as he bent over his plate to ignore the Slytherin girls sitting next to him. When he did look up, Krum's hooked nose, thin lips, thick eyebrows, and hunched posture made him look surly. Hardly an impressive countenance. Krum asked Hermione and she said yes. So, she likes the rich and famous after all. Figures.

He watched Hermione as she ate, talking with the two imbeciles she called friends. She's too young to be infatuated with boys. Her bushy hair was pulled back by a ribbon, and her bag, laden with books, sat under her seat, but she was still the same little girl he knew.

"... you've never seen a more deft wizard," Karkaroff stated, drawing his attention away from Miss Granger.

Severus turned to look at Viktor Krum again. "I'm sure he is," he stated. Severus noted that Krum, his scowl growing darker each time Miss Granger laughed at one of her friends, was also watching Miss Granger.

Ludo Bagman leaned toward Karkaroff. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone fly like him...they'll write books on the stunts he's pulled. Practically reinvented the Wronski Feint and the Llewellyn Dive!"

Severus tuned out the two wizards as he ate, his gaze flicking between Miss Granger and Krum discreetly. While Miss Granger seemed oblivious to Krum's scrutiny, the girls at the Slytherin table were not. Soon even their attention was diverted elsewhere.

Severus was stationed in the Entrance Hall to make sure that only the eligible students were entering the Great Hall. He stood inconspicuously in the corner with the doors and marble stairs in full view. He'd already memorized the list of Hogwarts third-years that had managed to procure partners for the Yule Ball. It was no surprise that Miss Weasley's name had appeared on the list, with her penchant for older wizards.

He watched amused as Mr. Weasley, in rumpled, antique dress robes, loped down the stairs with Mr. Potter and approached the Patil twins. Both boys looked uncomfortable in their formal attire. Hardly surprising, he mused when a vision in periwinkle blue caught his attention.

Miss Granger descended the stairs with as much poise and grace as any pure-blood debutant, and a smile so radiant it took his breath away. She disappeared in the crowd for a moment, but he saw glimpses of her as she walked across the Hall for the oak doors, stopping to smile and wave in his direction.

"She's lovely, isn't she?" Minerva asked as she approached him.

"She's a child," he said dismissively to hide his smirk at the ring of thistles around the brim of her hat and turned to watch the others coming into the Hall.

Minerva chuckled softly. "Don't look so sour, Severus. It's a party," she murmured, laughing at his darkened glare. "You look nice. Although, it would've been nice to see you in a color other than black. Albus wanted us to all look our festive best."

He turned to face her fully. "I'll have you know that my waistcoat and cravat are green," he said coolly. His Slytherin charges entered the Entrance Hall. Malfoy and Parkinson both nodded in greeting as they passed into the Great Hall to find their seats.

But Minerva had started laughing at his statement. "Oh, Severus, I never implied... oh, dear... that you should wear..." She stopped laughing and wiped away a tear. "It's so dark, it might as well be black."

He scowled at her and turned to look at the students.

"Well it's time to collect the champions and their partners."

"Indeed," he said, not bothering to look at her, knowing she was still smiling humorously as the huge oak doors opened and the Durmstrang students filed in, several breaking ranks to greet some of the students that lingered in the Entrance Hall. He exhaled sharply when he saw Miss Granger walking on the arm of Viktor Krum, smiling as if she was already having the time of her life.

"Good, there they are," Minerva said, pointing demurely and turned back to Severus. "I shall see you inside."

He nodded curtly as she moved away from him.

"Champions, over here please," Minerva called out, and Severus watched Krum lead Miss Granger over to queue for their big entrance.

Severus' seat assignment had him seated at the end with Ludo Bagman and Karkaroff and in direct view of Miss Granger, Mr. Krum, Mr. Potter and Miss Patil. All through dinner, Karkaroff babbled on about Mr. Krum's intelligence, bravery, magical skills, and his lucrative career. Severus could hardly enjoy his prime rib.

As soon as the plates vanished, the music started. Severus slipped from his seat and moved to an inconspicuous spot on the side of the room. He crossed his arms as he watched Miss Granger dancing with Mr. Krum, appearing to have a wonderful time. At least the boy was keeping a respectable distance in proper form during the slow dances. Finally unable to watch her dance any longer, he moved along the wall to the refreshments table to make sure no one spiked the punch.

Not long after the Weird Sisters had started to play their more popular music, Severus saw Miss Granger having a heated argument with Mr. Weasley. He smirked in satisfaction as she stormed off, leaving a befuddled Mr. Krum talking to an agitated Mr. Weasley and a bemused Mr. Potter.

Severus decided to ignore the boys and try and find Miss Granger, casually walking across the room in the direction she'd flown to. Unfortunately, Mr. Krum had more success than he did in finding her.

Miss Granger was sitting on a bench, sliding the edge of a ruffle between her fingers. She looked up at Mr. Krum with a weak smile when he sat down next to her. "Vos your friend, er, makes you unhappy?"

She nodded and accepted the butterbeer he handed her. "He's being a royal prat." Mr. Krum titled his head and she sighed. "I don't really want to talk about Ronald."

Severus drew back, deeper into the shadows and watched them. In this light, and with the way Mr. Krum was leaning toward Miss Granger, Severus was shocked by the apparent likeness between himself and Krum in basic appearance. Minus the foot deformity and posture...we are similar in build, same hair... hooked nose, and narrow face...

He sneered to himself as he looked at Miss Granger smiling at Krum, and remembered how she'd smiled at him that way when she stayed with him as a teen. Every time she'd gotten a spell right or when I'd teased her, she smiled at me like that... Miss Granger's laughter floated back to him. It's not the same as when I was young, he scoffed, watching her get a dreamy sort of look on her face. It reminded him of the time he had read to her on her bed in his lab, and he turned away. He's still not good enough for her. He's just a dumb jock!

He moved through the shadows in the grotto, startling young couples and deducting house points. I couldn't have had her then; she didn't belong in my time. And I certainly can't entertain any thoughts of her now.

He spied Hagrid sitting next to Madame Maxime and cringed. He turned, taking another path, and bumped into Karkaroff. "Not now," he hissed, trying to evade another dialogue on Viktor Krum's attributes.

"But the Mark, Severus, have you noticed? How can you not. He's back, returning... You have to have noticed,"* Karkaroff rambled in a harsh whisper as he followed him.

"Of course I have," Severus stated offhandedly in a soft angry hiss, angry that he was risking everything to discuss their Marks here, in the Grotto, where anyone might overhear them. "I just don't see what there is to fuss about, Igor."*

"Severus you cannot pretend this isn't happening,"* Karkaroff persisted, thankfully keeping his voice down but looking around as if expecting the Dark Lord to materialize out of the shadows. "It's been getting clearer and clearer for months."* He leaned closer, and Severus cringed at the smell of Firewhiskey on his breath. "I am becoming seriously concerned."*

Severus took a step back from the wizard in disgust, but Karkaroff matched his retreat persistently. "I can't deny it..."*

Severus brushed him off. "Then flee," he said curtly. "Flee...and I'll make your excuses. I, however, am remaining at Hogwarts."* He turned and strode away, startling Miss Fawcett and Mr. Stebbins when he blasted the rose bushes near them. He covered his momentary surprise by deducting house points and giving them both detentions.

He spotted Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter and snarled at them to move on after Mr. Weasley's lame excuse that they were 'walking,' hoping those two meddlesome brats hadn't overheard Karkaroff's fears. Karkaroff and his damn cowardice. Of course I've noticed that my Mark is getting darker! I'm not blind and it itches, irritatingly so. Severus blasted the roses off several more bushes, but neither the shocked exclamations of the startled couples he exposed, nor the deducting of more house points, nor the doling out of detentions lessened his growing temper.

He turned on the path to return to the Great Hall and spotted Miss Granger saying good night to Krum. For a moment he was thrown back in time. She had the same shy tilt of her head, the same wistful expression that she had given him eighteen years ago when she'd had to say goodbye to him. Severus felt like his feet had become mired in mud as he stood and watched, unable to turn away or keep from staring at her. She looked up at Krum, who was leaning toward her much too intimately, and Miss Granger smiled. Krum lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles, politely enough.

"Good night," Miss Granger said, still holding his hand. "I had a good time."

"I did as vell," he replied and leaned closer, hesitated for a second, then kissed her cheek. Miss Granger turned her face, returning his affection with a quick kiss to his cheek.

Severus turned back to the Hall. Well if he's her choice, I see no reason to be bothered with her, he thought with a dark scowl, giving her up as a lost cause.

The first month and a half of term hadn't been a very good one for Hermione. Rita's article after the Yule Ball had outed Hagrid as being a half-giant, and truthfully anyone who saw the man could have no doubt that he was, except that Hagrid was the kindest, gentlest, most caring bloke Hermione had ever known. He'd accepted her as a friend as soon as they'd been introduced. When Harry and Ron had abandoned her over a lousy broom, Hagrid still treated her kindly.

Sure she'd enjoyed Professor Grubbly-Plank's lessons better, much better, but Hermione's friendship with Hagrid would mean an undying loyalty to him, even if she had to deal with frightful and dangerous creatures. Besides, with Hagrid around, the risks were minimal. Mostly.

But Rita Skeeter was a real scandal-mongering sensationalist, who didn't care whom she slandered as long as her unabashed, self-promotional tripe was eye-catching and attracted readers. In Hermione's opinion, it was nothing but nasty gossip. At least the Headmaster had convinced Hagrid to return to work. But she was tired of the Blast-Ended Skrewts and rather wished they'd burn, sting, or suck each other to death and be done with it.

Then there was Ludo Bagman. Hermione didn't know what to make of the man. He was always popping up, frequently followed by goblins or avoiding Fred and George, and his interest in Harry made her suspicious. He was in charge of the tournament, and according to Harry, he'd been offering to help him cheat.

Now, however, Hermione was getting desperate. This was the second time that the library was not helping her find an answer to a problem or solve a question: how to help Harry breathe underwater. She put Physical Shapeshifting Through Transformation back on the shelf and pulled down the next six books. She sat down at the table next to Harry and began to speed-read through the first book. Most of the spells were N.E.W.T level and would be impossible to teach Harry in only a few hours. That and she wasn't about to risk depleting his magic this close to the second task. At this rate I'll have read the entire Charms and Transfiguration section by the end of the month! Or at least this tournament, she thought with a sigh as she set the book aside and took the next one.

"Find anything?" he asked hopefully.

She shook her head as she turned the page. "Most of this shelf seems to be N.E.W.T. level. I don't think I could do them yet, let alone teach you how to in..." She looked up at the clock and sighed again. "Only two hours until curfew..." Harry looked crestfallen so she reached out to give his arm a reassuring squeeze. "I haven't given up on you. We'll find something, Harry."

She wished that she could've run some of her ideas off Professor Snape, but he had been ignoring her, except in class when he'd once again been his snarky, demeaning, and derogatory self. Hermione had tried desperately to appease him, but he wouldn't even look at her and had ordered her to leave if she'd lingered at all after class. She piled up her books and headed to the shelves to exchange them.

At nine-thirty Hermione was following Professors Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonagall, along with Ron, Cho, and a French girl, who looked like she could be Fleur Delacour's sister, to a small house magically erected on the lakeshore. Hermione looked at the shack and then at her Professors with a rising sense of anxiety. "When do we, er, have to..."

"At dawn, Miss Granger," Professor Snape said smoothly. "You'll be placed in a state of stasis for the duration of the task."

She stopped dead in her tracks. "An hour... under water... How?"

Professor Snape stopped and stared at her. "Three," he replied, quirking an eyebrow at her as she gaped at him open-mouthed. "You will be given a potion that will allow you to rest comfortably as your body is well oxygenated for the procedure. In the morning you will be given potions and placed in a state of hypothermic hibernating stasis."

"The temperature of the water will induce hypothermia, but..." She looked down at the lakeshore where Madam Maxime was reassuring the small French girl and Dumbledore was conversing with Ron. She assumed that Cho was already in the shack, being put to sleep. Somehow, the explanation just didn't seem plausible to her. "But hibernation...it's only sleeping...breathing! I'll drown!"

"No, you will not," he said coolly, then stepped closer to her. "Don't you trust me, Hermione?"

"Of course I do," she replied automatically and looked up at him. There was something in his expression, something angry yet sad. "I...you made the potions?"

"I am the one who devised the manner in which you will be placed in this state of magical stasis," he stated, his eyes narrowing for a brief moment as he watched her face.

"Then I trust you," she replied, meeting his gaze and trying to relax her nerves. He won't hurt me. He won't let them kill me. "I'm just...no one said anything about how we were going to be doing this."

He raised his arm toward the shack. "Shall we continue?"

Hermione was directed to a cot between Cho and Ron. "Do I undress?" she asked.

Madam Pomfrey looked up from Ron's bed. "No dear, only remove your shoes."

Professor Snape covered her with a blanket and picked up a phial from the small bedside table. "Drink," he said softly.

Hermione complied without reservation, looking up at him with total trust as she swallowed the potion. There was an immediate warm sensation from her head to her toes, and she closed her eyes to enjoy the feeling.

She heard him moving around, and knew that he was in the room, working on his potions. The stone walls of the dungeon classroom were chilly, but the covers were warm and plush. She could hear the soft thuds of his boots as he moved about, obviously trying to be quiet and not wake her.

"Miss Granger," Severus said softly, nudging her shoulder.

She wanted to roll over and curl up next to him, feel his arms around her like he'd done last night when she'd fallen asleep next to him.

"Hermione," he said her name in that melodic voice of his. "Hermione, wake up."

She forced her eyes open, squinting at the bright light from the candle by her bed. Severus was looking down at her, a slight crease between his brows that told her he was worried about something.

"Drink this," he urged her, tipping a glass to her lips.

It was a strong tea, and she could taste the orange, sweet cinnamon, chicory, peppermint, anise, ginger, and rosehips...

"Stop analyzing and drink it," he said, sounding slightly annoyed. "You'll need the concentrated nutrients."

"This isn't the potion that will make me hibernate?" she asked against the lip of the glass.

He smirked at her. "No, but a necessary one."

Hermione tried to raise her hand to hold the glass, but her arms felt weighted down and impossibly swollen and huge.

Professor Snape carefully wiped her lip with his thumb. "Stop trying to fight it, Hermione. Drink."

She swallowed obediently and he smiled slightly. "That's my little Gryffindor. Now this one." He poured a bit of a minty, menthol-tasting potion in her mouth that made her lips and tongue go numb. He was watching her eyes intently between each carefully measured mouthful. He wiped her puffy-feeling lip, and tipped her head up to finish the last of the potion.

Strong chamomile and orange oils and hibiscus and ginger flowers filled her nose, and Hermione wanted to sneeze.

"Relax, Hermione, give in to the potions," he said smoothly as everything faded around her except his voice.

Severus watched Hermione's face become slack and levitated her body as Filius turned the cots and shack back into pebbles. Beside him, Minerva, Pomona, and Madam Maxime were likewise tending to the other victims as Poppy did a quick diagnostic check on each of them and added her delayed revival charm. Poppy nodded to him as the light of her charm infused into Hermione's body.

He quickly and carefully floated Hermione to the lake and to the Mermaids waiting to take the victims. Severus was worried that they were taking too long. Hermione...the victims...had to be completely submerged before the potions took full affect.

He looked up at the castle, seeing the library in his mind's eye. He knew that the bloody boy hadn't figured out the clue on the egg. Severus himself had searched the library for weeks to find a way for Hermione to survive being underwater for three to four hours.

He'd known what the challenge was since the first day of term; he'd created the potion that would put the victims into a suspended state until the victims broke the surface of the lake and the revival charm made them take their first breath. It was a very complicated potion, a Dark Arts combination actually, that called for mixing asphodel in an infusion of wormwood with powdered moonstone, syrup of hellebore and Death Adder venom. Three of those ingredients didn't react well to the venom. Effectively he had mixed the Draught of Peace and the Draught of Living Death with Death Adder venom in a concentrated gillyweed secretion base. Even the sopophorous beans reacted strongly with the venom, and their combination was potentially deadly, especially to females due to their higher estrogen levels.

The first potion that they had given the victims to increase the oxygen in the blood worked well with the Bubble-Head Charm for a short period of time. He had experimented with the potion for the Order members to fight the Inferi the Dark Lord had placed in rivers and lakes in the seventies. But while it didn't prevent drowning, it did increase the amount of oxygen in the blood and brain.

He was reluctant to leave the lake for breakfast, opting to remain on the lakeshore. The soft ripples of the surface, eerily black did little to soothe him as it had on his walks in the past. The waters were clear along the shallows, but he couldn't see into the depths. He stood on the dock and waited, keeping his concerns concealed behind his expression of indifference. He almost felt relief when Hagrid appeared with the school boats and the students erupted from the castle as the doors opened.

Severus turned as the students and teachers piled into the boats and sailed over to the stands. He stayed close to Poppy and joined the officials on the lakeshore. Unfortunately, Karkaroff was also sticking close, rather than taking his seat with his students.

Minerva was standing next to Dumbledore and indicated for him follow her to the side. Severus followed, ignoring Minerva's glare. "He got the message," Minerva whispered.

"In time?" Dumbledore asked, turning to look at the castle.

Minerva shrugged. "I suppose so, Albus. Pomona said that Mr. Longbottom has the book, Magical Water Plants of the Mediterranean, and I was in the staff room when Alastor insisted on discussing the task and mentioned that Mr. Potter should use gillyweed while that house-elf in the soccer shorts and maroon sweater...Dobby, I think his name is...was cleaning. I don't like helping Mr. Potter cheat, but I do know he had fallen asleep in the library."

Dumbledore turned back to Minerva and Severus. "Ah, good. Well then, shall we find our seats?" He clamped a hand on Severus' shoulder. "I wanted to let you know that Kingsley said that the Oxygenating Potion is working famously in the trials."

Minerva gave them a quizzical look as Potter bolted down the path crying out, "I'm here! I'm here!"

Severus watched closely as the champions all took their places. After Ludo Bagman moved away from Potter, most likely to reprimand him for his late arrival, and made his announcements, he watched Potter carefully as he took off his shoes and socks.

Potter removed a glob of gillyweed from his pocket. Severus was glad that he'd had the foresight to order fresh gillyweed of the highest quality and had placed it in a clear jar on a low shelf in his store room, then asked that house-elf Dobby to dust the shelves and containers.

His thoughts turned back to Hermione as he stared out at the placid lake.

~ T. B. C. ~

Author's Notes:

Yes, I changed a few things regarding the events and dialogue that took place in the grotto during the Yule Ball when Karkaroff confronted Severus. An asterisk denotes what is a direct quote or copied from the book. I wanted to give this scene a bit more insight since this is a canon Severus moment.