From Assistant to Friendly

July 20, 1997

The school year had finished, Harry was once again ensconced in Grimmauld Place, and the potion was at its final stage. In less than two weeks, Harry would turn 17, and everyone was starting to worry what the Dark Lord would do once Harry was of age.

Hermione sat at the workstation with Snape, watching him adding the ingredients they had just gathered. As soon as the delicate work was done, she said, "Professor, may I ask you a question?"

Still focused on the potion he was stirring, Snape said, "You mean another one? When has permission ever stopped you before?"

Hermione wrinkled her nose and huffed. "Is it working? Did we do everything right?"

Snape snorted and said, "Those were two questions, and yes, it looks right so far. Was that it?"

Hermione leant closer, trying to peer into the cauldron. "Actually, no. I was really wondering if you knew what You-Know-Who might do once Harry is 17."

Snape's expression settled into a blank mask and he meticulously removed the stirring rod, watched the potion drip off the end, then wrapped it in a clean towel before laying it on the tabletop. Finally, he lifted his gaze to meet Hermione's.

"I wish I knew exactly what he'll do, Miss Granger, but he has been courting ideas from Death Eaters for weeks now, so who knows what he will decide?"

Hermione bit her lower lip, brow furrowed in thought. Over the past year, she and Snape had developed a friendlier relationship, actually being able to engage in conversations, but anytime it came to his Death Eater spying, she never knew how much she could push before he retreated into his former cold aloofness.

"I had an idea, but I don't know whether it might work."

"Well, how would I know unless you tell me? Spit it out, girl!"

"All right... now that the potion is ready for Harry, what's to stop us from using it right away and going after You-Know-Who?"

Snape's expression darkened and he uttered a clipped, "No. That is not a good idea. At all."

"Why not?"

Leaning forward, he growled, "Mr. Potter hasn't even finished school. There is much he still needs to learn if he is to go against the Dark Lord. Besides, the longer we wait, the stronger you all will be when you join together via the potion. We must wait."

"But that's the thing...you managed to convince You-Know-Who to wait this past year, can't you convince him to wait another year?"

Lips curling, Snape snarled, "And how do you propose I do that, pray tell?"

Hermione took a deep breath and said, "Tell him about the potion."

Snape's brows shot up and his eyes widened in incredulity. "Are you mad?"

Hermione lunged forward and clamped a hand on his wrist in her earnestness. "No! Listen...if you tell him about the potion, then he'll want to use it too, right? But you said yourself first off that he couldn't use it effectively because he can't love. So, if you tell him about it now, then that would give us another school year at least for Harry and the rest of us to learn what we need to know while you make another potion for him to use!"

She paused, gasping for breath after reciting all that without stopping. Snape stared at her in wonder. She could see him making rapid calculations, his eyes unfocused and darting back and forth. After a long silence, he zeroed in on her again, and she twitched at the intensity of his gaze.

His voice was barely above a breathy rasp as he said, "Miss Granger, you are indeed the brightest witch of your age. Do you know what you've just done?" Hermione, owl-eyed, shook her head. "You may have just handed us the method we can use to not only defeat the Dark Lord but to also destroy his ranks of Death Eaters in one fell swoop!"

Hermione jerked back in astonishment. "I did?"

Snape shot to his feet, pacing and gesticulating wildly in his exultation. "The potion will not function for the Dark Lord, yes, and Mr. Potter will be able to destroy him once you and Mr. Weasley are joined with him through the potion. But, the Dark Lord will undoubtedly use his tendency toward excess and bind as many of his Death Eaters to him with the potion as he can, thinking to use their combined powers. And once he finally dies, all of those who were tied to him will be left as Squibs...practically obliterating the Death Eater movement all at once!" He paused, his head thrown back as he let loose a great bellow of delighted laughter, leaving Hermione completely gobsmacked. "You darling, brilliant girl...what would I do without you, Hermione?"

He finally looked at her again, seeing her face blotchy from going pale and blushing in quick succession. Her dazed look brought him back from his transports of triumphant joy, and he realized what he had just said out loud. His radiant smile wilted in horror, and he quickly averted his face, shaking his hair forward to hide his warming cheeks.

"I beg your pardon, Miss Granger. I quite forgot myself. I do hope I haven't offended you."

Hermione blinked rapidly, gathering the wits that had been scattered at the sight and sound of Snape laughing so uninhibitedly. "Certainly not, sir. I'm pleased to have been of use to the cause. Do you really think it could be so perfect?"

Snape cleared his throat. "With such a desirable outcome, it is my job to make sure that the Dark Lord believes and follows the plan. I will do everything in my power to persuade him."

Hermione dared to grip his arm again and murmured, "I have every faith in you, sir."

Snape's insides squirmed again, and he covered her hand with his, clasping it to pull her along with him. "Let's go. We need to tell the headmaster the news and have him call an Order meeting."

Hermione jogged to keep up with his long strides, trying not to acknowledge how much her pulse was racing at the feel of her hand captured in his grasp.

***** *****

July 31, 1997

Harry's 17th birthday party was held in Grimmauld Place, and the dark house was filled with laughter and conversation. It wasn't until later that evening, long after the cake had been served, that Snape appeared, black eyes gleaming with accomplishment. He made a beeline to Hermione where she stood leaning against the wall, giggling as she watched Hagrid and Lupin attempting to sing a drunken duet.

Her smile fell away at the sight of Snape charging toward her, but returned in blazing force at his hissed, "It's done; it worked! The Dark Lord wants me to start the potion at the next full moon. We have another year to prepare!"

Fortunately, Snape's face was hidden between Hermione's bushy hair and the wall when she launched herself at him, hugging him, and no one could see the look of sheepish satisfaction that flashed over his face before he studiously crafted an expression of stern reprimand and pried himself from her embrace.

"Miss Granger! Are you drunk?"

Hermione laughed, utterly unaffected by his scolding tone. "Nothing of the sort, Professor! Unless you count being high on life...does that sort of euphoria count? Because I don't think I could be more thrilled at what you've done...again! It's the best present ever, and it's not even my birthday! And I'm not even going to apologize for hugging you, sir. You deserve much more than that."

Snape swallowed at her declaration, wishing he wasn't reacting to the adoration shining in her eyes. Coughing slightly, he rumbled, "Yes, well, let's just leave it at that, shall we? Where is the headmaster; I need to let him know what's happened."

Hermione continued beaming at him and said, "Last I saw him, he was in the library with Tonks and McGonagall. I'll go find Harry and Ron and tell them how amazing you are."

Snape snorted. "I doubt that will stand you in good stead, Miss Granger. You'd be much better served just telling them what happened, without making any assertions as to my character."

Tilting her head and smirking, she murmured, "Fine. I'll just keep how amazing you are all for myself. See you later, Professor."

Snape watched her bounce away, disappearing through the door and leaving a very flustered and flattered Potions Master in her wake.