Chapter Three

Disclaimer: Of course I own nothing here you recognize. Only JKR can claim that honor. I just like to borrow them, because what can I say? They make for excellent fan-fiction!

A/N: I finally got an idea on how to continue with this! (I know, I know... But, better late than never, right?)

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Chapter 3: Brooding and Cackling

Severus came to with a pounding headache rattling his brain. Glancing around, he was disgusted to find he was laid out on the floor directly inside his rooms. With an angry sneer, he rose and moved to the loo. Turning on the water, he stripped and entered the shower. Washing himself thoroughly, he then got out and used a towel to dry off.

Entering his bedroom, he opened the closet and pulled out his usual robes. Once they were on, he stared at himself in the full-length mirror beside his bed. With an approving nod, he turned and was struck with the urge to laugh. For some crazy reason, just the idea of trying to beat the know-it-all and his favorite Slytherin to class before they made Potions a joke brought a smile to his face.

His steps slowed, and he curiously turned and made his way back to the mirror. Taking a deep breath, he leaned close and stared hard at his reflection. Something was out of place, but he was having trouble figuring out exactly what it was.

Suddenly, he leapt back from the mirror. "A-ha!" He pointed an accusing finger at his reflection. "I knew it!" He panted angrily at his image. "You may not be a hysterical, laughing baboon this morning, but you're still a smiling idiot!" Pacing the length of his room, he tried in vain to force his mouth into its usual sneer. When he felt he had succeeded, he approached the mirror once more and glared at his appearance. Looking himself dead in the eye, he nodded. The eyes looked cold... fierce. Check.

His gaze moved down to his nose... He rolled his eyes. Well, not much I can do about that poor excuse for an olfaction, but at least it doesn't give the smile away! Squaring his shoulders, he continued his inspection. When his eyes fell to his lips, he clenched his teeth and jumped up and down several times. "Damnation! Blast! Merlin's beard is full of creepy crawlies!"

Giving up, his shoulders slumped. His eyes held an expression of unhappy countenance, but his mouth was open in a big, toothy grin. There just was no escape from it! "I'm cursed!" he

muttered softly.

Well, it couldn't be helped; he may not be able to teach his class, but he'd be buggered if he wasn't going to supervise their sorry attempts at taking his place. Moving to his closet once more, he grabbed his invisibility cloak, which he rarely used, and donned it.

Unlike Harry's poor excuse for an invisibility cloak, Severus' was much better. He had no reason to cower beneath it to stay hidden. It was as long as he was tall, and it had a hood that allowed him to leave his face uncovered, as the hood cloaked him entirely.

Giving in to the urge for once, he allowed himself a deep chuckle at his ingenious plan. Miss Granger and his godson would be teaching the class this morning, but he'd be there to ensure they didn't allow the students to destroy the classroom.

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Hermione sat behind the desk, looking over her last minute notes. Everything was in order. The supplies had already been counted and set out for the students to gather as they needed. The directions were on the board. While she was directing them as to the appropriate cutting and preparing techniques, Draco would supervise their progress to ensure no one would slip up, resulting in a repeat of the last incident, which had left Snape in his current predicament.

Draco strolled into the room looking every bit the pureblood he knew he was. When Hermione glanced up, her jaw fairly dropped at the sight of him. He caught her stunned expression before she was able to mask it and smiled knowingly. So, she isn't completely immune to my charms, now, is she? he thought with relish.

Pretending not to notice her reaction, he moved to the desk and sat down beside her, calmly waiting for the students to begin filing in. Hermione spared him a glance before asking, "Are you ready for the lesson, Malfoy?"

Turning to look at her, he let his most practiced, stunning smile spread across his lips. "Yes, Granger. I'm more than ready." As he turned back to face the front, he added just loud enough for her to hear, "For that, and some other things as well."

Her head snapped sharply in his direction, and her brow furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Draco inclined his head and winked at her. "All in good time, my dear Miss Granger." He had taken a potion this morning to make himself more confident in her presence. It was working. He felt as if he could take her in his arms and kiss her senseless and no ill effects could come from it.

He knew better, however. His common sense demanded that he wait until the time was right. As much as his body wanted to claim her now, his mind knew it would be ill advised to try to make his feelings known to her now. He had thought all night about his dilemma, and he had decided that his godfather's outburst about his secret attraction to her and how he acted on it in the past could work to his advantage.

After all, she knew that he had masturbated with visions of her dancing through his mind, but she was still being civil to him. Perhaps she would not be completely against his advances were he to pursue her.

He watched her return her attention to her notes. Out of curiosity, he watched her openly. At first, she pretended not to notice. He let his eyes roam her face, lingering on her lips. A blush settled on her cheeks, and she set the quill down and turned to glare in his direction. "Yes?"

He shrugged. "Oh, nothing. I'm sorry. Did I break into your train of thought?"

Her eyes flashed. "Oh no, it just seems you have something on your mind. Care to discuss it?" she questioned.

Draco leaned closer to her and whispered, "Oh, but you're wrong, Granger. I don't have something on my mind. I have someone on my mind, and I would very much like to discuss it... when the time is right."

Merriment danced in his eyes, and Hermione almost swore out loud at the implication she could hear in his voice. This couldn't be happening! The Slytherin had turned seven shades of red the other day when his secret activities were thrust into the limelight by Snape's outburst. Now, he was propositioning her. She knew he was! Wasn't he?

Clearing her throat, she moved away from him. "This is neither the time nor the place for this conversation, Malfoy." She gestured to the students that were now filing into the room. "We have a class to teach. I don't know about you, but I would rather prefer that Professor Snape be proud of our attempts, and not disappointed."

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Sitting at the back of the class, invisible to all, but privy to every word that had been exchanged between the two, Severus got an almost evil gleam in his eye. Oh, so you have decided to court Miss Granger, have you? he thought. If you botch this class, Draco Malfoy, I'll teach you a thing or two about humility.

He glared at the blond that was acting so different from the way he usually did. Where was all his pureblood attitude? He had been horrified when Snape had told him he knew of the feelings he harbored for the princess of Gryffindor. He had begged him not to tell his father. Lucius Malfoy would have been furious had he ever found out.

Leaning against the far wall, he gritted his teeth to ensure they stayed closed and gave no hint of sound as the lesson began...

... As Hermione began explaining the workings of the potion, Draco circled the room like a vulture. He imitated Severus the only way he knew how. His nose was slightly upturned, and he sneered at any student brave enough to look in his direction. Meanwhile, he watched them carefully to be sure that no one was trying to be Longbottom.

When the witch giving the verbal instruction glanced in Malfoy's direction, she couldn't keep from smiling. Why don't you just tell each of them to pretend you're Snape? she thought with a shake of her head.

Snape wasn't missing the display either. It made his blood boil. How dare Draco behave this way? He was being disrespectful, and Snape wasn't going to stand for it. The anger boiled to the surface, and he found himself beginning to chuckle softly. His eyes widened as he realized too late what was happening. Moving to the doorway, he tried to exit before anyone would hear his disgusting laughter, which was growing in volume.

When he reached the door, he tried to open it quietly only to find it locked. Merlin's balls! Pulling again, he began to chuckle that much louder as his frustration and anger grew. The door stuck. Cackling like a hyena, he grabbed the door with both hands and pulled frantically. This can't be happening! Not again! He scowled, but swore as he felt his mouth twitch in an idiotic smile.

In his urgent attempts to open the door, his hood had fallen free of his head as he laughed hysterically, revealing his hair and face to the view of the students. He belatedly noticed that the class had grown quiet. Even Granger had ceased her instruction.

Aware that the horrifying smile was still plastered to his face, he turned so that every person in the room was staring at him, dumbstruck. With effort, he was able to calm himself down to a half-hearted smile as he faced them.

Fighting to cover up his humiliation, he smiled at Hermione. "You are doing very well, Miss Granger." A good-natured chuckle came from his traitorous mouth before he added. "One hundred points to Gryffindor."

A cheer went up from half of the class as Severus turned to face Draco, who was looking as if he was ready to faint. "You are incredibly arrogant in your portrayal of me, Mr Malfoy. I dare to say that you have made a mockery of my class with your acting." He let himself laugh when he felt it bubbling to the surface instead of fighting it. "Perhaps you should give up becoming a Potions master and instead look into acting lessons." His laughter grew as he stepped closer to Malfoy. His smile was still plastered to his face as he whispered in a low voice, "Seventy-five points from Slytherin."

Gasps went up around the room as Severus turned and made his way back to the door. Gripping his wand tightly, he let his laughter once again grow as he flicked his wand in the direction of the door. "Departorum!"

As he left the class, he gave up trying to smother the fanatical laughter that erupted from his mouth. Cursing Longbottom again for his ineptitude in Potions, he made his way to the infirmary.

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