Confrontation

A/N: Thanks to everyone who is reading and many thanks to those of you who have reviewed :) Happy Friday everyone .

'A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.' ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Severus paced around Minerva's office, watched by the portraits around the room. They had seen him pace before when he was numbered amongst their own, and they well remembered the darkness that had held him so constrained. They exchanged concerned glances with each other, and some stared accusingly at the sleeping form of Albus Dumbledore. On the odd occasion that he did leave his frame, Dumbledore became main topic of conversation. Opinion was divided as to whether he was a genius or a manipulative bastard, but one thing they all did agree on was that he had treated Severus Snape very shabbily indeed.

'Severus, please sit down.' Minerva sounded exasperated.

He stopped mid-step and looked at Minerva blankly before acquiescing to her request. He had explained to her in the simplest of terms the danger that Granger was messing with, but in her wisdom the Headmistress had desired to hear her pet Gryffindor speak for herself. That had been ten minutes ago and still, they waited. He glared across the desk at Minerva and crossed his arms.

'Oh, for goodness' sake, Severus.' Minerva stood and walked around the desk to stand directly in front of him. With a wave of her wand she conjured a large glass of Ogden's finest and handed it to him with a wry smile. His worries were genuine, she knew that. But Hermione had no scrap of evil intent in her body, she was sure of it. Severus took the glass after a moments' pause and Minerva clasped a gnarled hand on his shoulder reassuringly. 'Just relax, dear boy.'

Against his better judgement, Severus softened in the face of Minerva's genuine concern and sighed deeply.

'I cannot bear to see this project falling into the wrong hands, Minerva. Granger probably hasn't even considered...'

'Considered what?' Hermione Granger silently closed the door to the stairway and approached the desk with her wand sticking out of her jeans pocket and a frown on her face, both seemingly aimed at Severus. Her stance was already defensive, and Snape looked away from her hostile glare to contemplate his drink.

'Hermione, please take a seat. We have been talking about your Mastery project, as I'm sure you've already gathered.' Minerva rested against the desk, clearly placing herself between her two professors.

'Yes, I did. I would be interested to know exactly what Professor Snape feels my research is lacking.' Hermione sat down with a resigned slump, and her lips pressed together firmly.

'Severus has explained to me the nature of your project, but perhaps if you tell me how you see it, and some of your motivation behind it? It sounds quite extraordinary.' Minerva moved back around to her chair, seemingly content that her colleagues wouldn't hex each other immediately.

'As I'm sure Professor Snape has told you, I am trying to increase the effective length of Polyjuice Potion, in the first instance. This in itself would be a great benefit and enable users to remain in form for many hours at a time without having to constantly re-dose themselves. The second part of the Project involves a Charm cast while taking the potion, which I hope will imbue the user not only with the physical characteristics, but also the personality traits, of the person they are intending to be.'

Minerva sat back and smiled proudly at Hermione, and Snape couldn't hold back a snort.

'Honestly, Minerva. Granger may have been one of the Golden Trio but here and now she is an employee, and a green one at that. Stop pandering to her like you did when she was a student and cut to the chase,' he said. There was no bite to his words, but he was frustrated beyond belief at the special treatment Granger was getting. If it had been him presenting this idea, he would immediately have been mistrusted and made to jump through hoops to prove his innocence yet again. Minerva looked at Severus over the top of her spectacles and seemed to be scrutinising him closely. After an uncomfortable moments' silence, she frowned and sighed deeply.

'Very well. Hermione,' she said, her tone more serious as she addressed the witch. 'Can you explain to us why you chose this particular project? On the surface, while to my limited knowledge and experience it appears commendable, it doesn't seem to have a purpose.'

'I know it's not a healing potion, and it won't change the world, but I still feel it has validity. I have experienced Polyjuice potion in the past...' Hermione was interrupted by a particularly unpleasant snort from Snape, and she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before continuing. 'Obviously there was the time in second year, which I have already been ridiculed for far more than was justified, if you ask me. But we also used it when we tried to hide Harry's escape from Little Whinging. The Polyjuice potion started to wear off far too early, and we were very lucky that Harry managed to get away before he'd been spotted. It was dangerous and foolish, and we lost Moody in the process. If we had all changed to our normal forms too soon, Harry would have been a sitting duck, and we wouldn't be sitting here now.'

Hermione voice had softened to a whisper, and Severus shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He remembered that night all too well, and his own role in it. He downed the last slug of Ogden's and tried to push the memory of hexing George Weasley to the back of his mind. Granger seemed to realise who she was sitting beside, and when Snape looked up he saw her staring at him.

'I'm sorry, Professor. I forgot that you were there too,' she said softly.

Severus stared at her in shock, and nodded to accept her apology. He said nothing, not knowing what to say anyway.

Minerva coughed lightly to remind them she was there. 'And the Charms?' she prompted.

Hermione sighed and rubbed her arms as if she was feeling suddenly cold. Her face seemed to pale, but she spoke clearly. 'While Harry, Ron and I were searching for Horcruxes, I had to Polyjuice myself as Bellatrix Lestrange,' she said.

Severus sat forwards at this, and slight growl coming from the back of his throat. He had never known the details of their search, only that it had obviously been a success. This was news, and disturbing news at that. He had known they were reckless, but this... He shook his head.

'After taking the Polyjuice, I practiced in the mirror, trying to get her mannerisms right. I had seen enough of her at Malfoy Manor to know how she operated, and I felt sure I could pull it off,' she said, her voice starting to shake. 'But I couldn't. She was too different, too far removed from anything I could imagine. I didn't respond like her, and I didn't want to. I nearly gave us away more than once. I could have cost us everything...' Hermione's hands began to tremble, and she put her head down as the memories finally overwhelmed her.

Severus looked at the younger witch with newfound admiration. He had been aware of her torture at the hands of Bellatrix. The mad witch had always taken too much pleasure in Crucio, and to have been let lose on the Mudblood Granger would have felt like Christmas to her. He shuddered, but acted swiftly. Waving his hand, his empty glass refilled itself, and from his inside pocket he withdrew a calming draught. He always kept them on his person when he was teaching first years, because there was always one who needed it. He pushed the glass and the vial along the desk towards Granger, who looked up warily through her curls. She actually smiled at him half-heartedly.

'Not going to berate my Gryffindor sentimentality, Professor Snape?' She sniffed and took the calming draught gratefully.

'I think under the circumstances, that can wait,' Severus replied quietly. 'Having been on the receiving end of Bellatrix's wand, I feel some empathy.'

'She hexed you?' Hermione asked, her eyes wide in disbelief.

'Oh yes. The Dark Lord liked to reward her from time to time, and I was her favourite toy.' He ground his teeth together in memory and said yet another silent prayer of thanks for Molly Weasley and her quick wand.

'She was a mad bitch,' Hermione muttered with feeling, and then she let out a short gasp as a faint, pink tinge flushed her cheeks. 'I am so sorry, Headmistress.'

Minerva chuckled and pushed her glasses on more firmly. 'No need for an apology, my dear. I quite understand. Bellatrix was always on the hysterical side, even at school. I think Molly Weasley did us all a great favour.'

The room was quiet then, with all three professors silently contemplating the Headmistresses' words. It was Severus who finally broke the silence.

'If I may ask a question?' He turned to face Granger and addressed her directly. The witch seemed surprised and wary, and Severus supposed he deserved it. He hadn't been the easiest of colleagues, and suddenly his Granger-baiting seemed childish and immature. He wasn't the only survivor, and he made a mental note to be mindful of that fact in future.

'Go on,' Hermione said quietly.

'Who do you see using this, if it's a success?' His brows narrowed as he watched her formulate her answer, her teeth troubling her lower lip in a gesture he recognised well.

'I was hoping to patent it and go into a contract with the Auror office. I'm still undecided on that, however. The one thing I want to be sure of is that it doesn't end up in the wrong hands.' Hermione said firmly.

Severus was convinced in the first telling. She had never been good at bluffing, even as a student. He let out an audible sigh of relief.

'Well, Severus. I believe you have your answer?' Minerva's voice was light again, and she smiled warmly at them both. Severus nodded, but a sense of weariness had suddenly washed over him and he stood.

'My thanks, Minerva, Professor Granger,' he murmured. He gave them both a brief bow and left for his quarters.

***

Hermione sipped gingerly at the firewhisky left by Professor Snape, and then asked the question that had bugged her since she had arrived.

'Headmistress, why is Professor Snape so concerned about my project? I would have thought that he, of all people, would be able to see it for what it is,' she asked quietly. To say the Professor had confused her was an understatement. She was used to his snide remarks and at times, his untoward temper. But he had been different during their conversation, and Hermione sensed there was more going on than she knew.

Minerva McGonagall removed her spectacles and laid them on the desk, and conjured a glass of firewhisky for herself. She raised her glass before downing it in one, and Hermione couldn't stop a grin escaping. Minerva fixed her with an amused stare.

'Scottish blood needs whisky every day, Hermione, especially mine.' She paused and glanced back at Dumbledore's portrait. Sometime during their meeting the wily old goat had disappeared, and Minerva shook her head. He had avoided Severus since he had returned to the school, and no amount of berating or cajoling would make him actually talk to the man. With a sigh, she turned back to answer Hermione's question.

'Severus is a changed man, Hermione. I know he may not appear to be on the outside, but he was ever the skilful spy, as you know. Part of that skill was disguise, and he uses his mask, even now. He would never say this to you, but he is scared.'

'Scared?' Hermione looked at the Headmistress aghast and laughed in disbelief.

'I know it is hard to fathom, but believe me. Voldemort may be dead, but we all thought he was dead the first time. Severus is absolutely terrified that he, or another, will return. Your project, in the wrong hands... well, you can understand his concern.'

Hermione stared as she tried to understand what she was being told. It hardly seemed right, but then, of course it was. Professor Snape projected an untouchable persona, scattering first years, and first year Professors, in his wake. She had thought it was the war that had made him so prickly. It never occurred to her that he was creating an image, acting a clever charade.

Without a doubt, Hermione didn't know Severus Snape at all, but she now knew they had something in common. They were both damaged by the war.