Chapter Six: Slytherin cunning is applied

(i) Thank you ever so much for the kind reviews. I'm really pleased to hear your opinion of the story.

(ii) The characters and world of Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling. I make no money from this, just endless enjoyment.

(iii) And last, but by no means least, a big thank you to my lovely beta, Chelsea.

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That night, Severus hardly slept. He kept analysing the words of the prophecy, trying to rip apart the logic of Minerva's observation that the most likely candidate for his mysterious lover was Miss Granger. As the hours crept towards dawn, Severus was forced to concede defeat. Miss Granger was universally acknowledged in the staff room as the Gryffindor Princess. He even held the responsibility for coining the moniker, along with the other more widespread one bandied among the student populace of Know-It-All. Resigned, Severus decided that he would take Minerva's advice to heart and devise a suitably Slytherin way of getting to know the girl without letting on that he was doing so. He would verify the claims made by Minerva as to their compatibility before taking the ridiculous prophecy seriously.

The next morning, Severus called Horace Slughorn in for a meeting. Once the portly wizard had been comfortably plied with tea and cake, Severus said, "Now that the term has officially begun, I think it is time to put Miss Granger to work. She can start handling all of the basic brewing for the infirmary, but under close supervision, of course."

At Horace's moue of distaste, Severus sighed. "I know you don't like the idea of overseeing the brewing, Horace, but someone must make sure, at least in the beginning, that she is supervised."

"I've not undertaken complex brewing in years, you know that," said Horace frankly. "I'm too old, and I don't get about the laboratory as easily these days. Teaching is different; I don't have to do anything other than observe. Miss Granger is another matter entirely. She will ask me incessant questions and expect me to demonstrate technique. I would never hear the end of it."

Severus had known Horace would disagree. In fact, his plan rested on the Head of Slytherin's dislike of extra work. Over the last two years of his tenure as Potions professor, Severus had done all of the brewing for the infirmary. Smirking inwardly, Severus sighed dramatically again. Then he said, "Oh, all right. I will oversee the girl to ensure that all is well."

Slughorn was very grateful. Smiling broadly, he said, "Thank you, my boy. I do appreciate it. These old bones just aren't what they used to be."

Severus nodded. "I do appreciate you staying on another year. It would be difficult to replace you, especially given the great losses we have all suffered these last few years." Severus stroked his lips with his index finger, pretending to be lost in thought. Then he sighed once more and said, "I will oversee the marking done by the girl, to ensure that standards aren't dropping."

Horace was, of course, gratified. He was happy to do as little as he could.

Once Horace had left, Severus sent one of the house-elves with a note to Miss Granger, asking her to come in for tea that afternoon. Operation Lion Hunt was about to commence.

Hermione was extremely nervous about being called into the headmaster's office. She hoped she was not already in trouble. Her first day as a teaching assistant had gone by rather quickly. She had helped the weaker students and prepared the ingredients needed for Professor Slughorn's classes. Thankfully, there had been no classes higher than the fifth years, so she had not had to deal with her peers. Tomorrow though, there was a seventh year Gryffindor-Slytherin class, which Hermione was dreading.

Upon entering the headmaster's office, she was greeted by an almost casual Snape. He had discarded his robes and was dressed in his customary button-down frock coat.

Seeing her slightly nervous entry, Severus smirked. He let his eyes rake over her figure as she stood awkwardly in front of his desk, awaiting his invitation to take a seat. She was no obvious beauty, but there was a quiet elegance to her appearance. She would never be buxom or voluptuous, but her curves were pleasing. He noticed that the year on the run had given her face, especially her eyes, an added maturity. Her bushy hair had finally grown long enough to be neatly pulled back and tamed into a chignon. This was the first time Severus had looked at Miss Granger as a woman. He had always seen her as the annoying Gryffindor Know-It-All.

Severus had not lied when he told Minerva he was no child molester. He had never paid the slightest attention to his students, even when his more sophisticated seventh years occasionally made a flirtatious play for him. A few cutting remarks and all coyness generally vanished. But as Severus took in her warm, amber-coloured eyes, her rosy cheeks, her mane of honey brown hair, he realised that if he pursued her, bedding her would not be a hardship. The robes she wore were in no way provocative, but they showed off her tiny waist and creamy skin to excellent advantage.

"Come in and have a seat, Miss Granger," said Severus pleasantly.

Once she was seated, he indicated the elegant porcelain tea service and asked, "Would you care for some tea?"

Hermione blushed and nodded. "Yes, Headmaster, tea would be lovely."

As Hermione sipped her tea, Severus leaned back in his chair and smiled. He saw her eyes grow wide at his relaxed posture and smirked inwardly. Gryffindors were so easy to manipulate. In as pleasant a tone as he could manage, Severus said, "Miss Granger, how was your first day of classes?"

Hermione began to relax at his gentle tone. Reminding herself that she had done nothing wrong, she said, "I think it went well. I'm a little worried about tomorrow, though; there's a joint Gryffindor-Slytherin seventh-year class."

Severus nodded. "You need to be firm from the very start. Don't let them get away with anything; dock points, give detention and ensure you establish your authority on day one. I was very close to your age when I took my first class. Start as you mean to go on, and it should go well. If there are any problems, come directly to me. I shall, of course, oversee your marking of all potions assignments each evening, at least for the first couple of months until I am sure that you are being harsh enough."

At this, Hermione smiled. "I remember your marking, sir. I won't be lenient."

"See that you don't, Miss Granger," said Severus with another smile. "Hogwarts has had outstanding potions results for years. We must strive to maintain standards."

Hermione nodded earnestly. She felt privileged to see Professor Snape relaxed and at ease.

Hiding a smirk, Severus said, "Now that you are an auxiliary member of staff, you might as well get used to calling me Severus. I see you've already made the transition in the case of Minerva and Filius."

Hermione blushed and nodded. "It may take me a while, but I shall try, sir... I mean, Severus," she stammered shyly.

"Splendid, and I shall refer to you as Hermione," he said.

Hermione blushed again. Hearing his honeyed tones glide over her name felt ridiculously intimate. It made her feel as though she had never really heard her name spoken before. Hermione had not expected tea to be a friendly meeting. She had been thinking that it would be far more official. She was pleasantly surprised that Professor Snape...Severus...was treating her like an adult, like one of the staff.

Seeing Hermione's bright and open smile and her shy blushes made Severus feel magnificently male at the way he had been able to manipulate her into informal association so easily. A little softening of his tone, an invitation to use his name and she was practically eating out of his hand. A better man may have felt a twinge of guilt, but Severus was not one to let his conscience stand in his way.

Letting his eyes sweep across her figure that was displayed rather fetchingly in her rust-coloured robes once more, Severus decided to push his advantage further. He was curious to see how far down her blush went. He was not a nice man, and taking advantage of an innocent young woman did not really fill him with any sense of remorse. "You know that Horace is staying on at Hogwarts as a favour. He is keen to retire and wants to do as little as possible this year. I shall not only oversee your marking, but I will also oversee all the brewing that you undertake for the infirmary. If there are any problems with potions, come to me. I've even asked Andromeda to take over as Deputy Head of Slytherin so that he has no responsibilities in that respect."

Hermione felt pleased that Severus was sharing staff information with her. She realised that he did not have to bring up the topic of Slytherin management. Unable to control her blush yet again, she said quietly, "I think I will learn more from you, anyway, sir."

Severus wondered if she realised her double entendre. He certainly planned on teaching her much more than she realised. Smirking inwardly at his surprisingly lewd thoughts and his almost instantaneous bodily reactions, he raised his eyebrow at her.

Hermione blushed once more. "I don't mean any disrespect, sir, but Harry certainly learned more from you when he was using your sixth-year potions textbook than he did in class." It was only after she had spoken these words that she realised what she had let slip. She gasped and clapped a hand over her mouth.

However, Severus did not react in anger, as she expected; instead, he laughed, low and deep. "Really, Hermione, we all realised immediately what was going on. The staff did find that amusing."

Hermione was shocked. "Amusing? You mean they knew?" she asked shrilly. Even as Hermione responded to his comments, she realised that this was one of the very few times that she had heard Professor Snape...Severus...laugh. He had a beautiful laugh: rich, earthy and very sensual. Where did that thought come from? wondered Hermione in bemusement before bringing her attention back to the man in front of her.

Severus used his index finger to caress his lips, watching as Hermione's eyes followed his movements. Realising that she was already aware of him as a man on an unconscious level, given her ready inclination to blush, he smiled to test his hypothesis. And, as expected, Hermione blushed prettily once more.

Severus couldn't resist a smirk. "Of course they knew. It was obvious. Besides, I made such a to-do in the staff room that they were left in no doubt about it."

Hermione giggled, then looked pained when she realised she was laughing at Professor Snape... Severus.

Severus chuckled darkly, which seemed to ease Hermione's conscience and made her giggle again.

Gosh, he's got a sexy laugh, thought Hermione before blushing furiously at the thought that she found something about Professor Snape...Severus...sensual and now sexy.

Something changed in him as he watched her open countenance. He wondered when he had last made a young woman blush and giggle. Feeling supremely in control of the direction of their association, he smirked inwardly at his success. However, he did not want to give away his hand this early in the game. Taking on a more serious tone, Severus said, "Hermione, you must work as hard as you can to ensure that Andromeda has as much support as possible for Muggle Studies. She has not taught before, and although she is more than competent, handling the practical aspect of Muggle Technology, for example, will be difficult. Young Teddy is bound to take up a lot of her time, despite the attentive care of the house-elves."

"Of course, sir," said Hermione immediately. "I'm more than willing to help in any way I can."

"Excellent," said Severus. "I've already spoken to Andromeda, and she is aware that you helped update the syllabus."

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