Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Severus emerged from the greenhouses; his pockets stuffed with Potions ingredients. Pomona had been carefully cultivating wormwood for him, and the plants had finally matured enough to be harvested. With this harvest he would be able to brew up quite a large batch of Draught of Living Death. Although not used much, he liked to keep a small store. His stores had been somewhat depleted, and those that remained had been on his shelf for a very long time. It was time to restock.

Absorbed in his thoughts, he walked along absently. That was why he was startled to hear a greeting from somewhere close in front of him. His head snapped up and he saw an unfathomable sight.

Jacob Perry and Hermione Granger were arm in arm only a few meters in front of him. Jacob had called out the greeting, but Severus ignored it as he took in the couple before him. Yes, there was no doubt that these two were a couple. They were arm in arm with one another, and Granger was smiling brightly. Severus scowled at the sight, but nodded to them as he hurried past them.

She's been here all of what? Five days? And she's hooked up with Perry? The woman wastes no time, does she?

He snuck a glance behind him, only to rue his actions. Granger and Perry were kissing. Severus' stomach turned in knots. His hopes for something with Granger evidently folly, he turned around and quickened his pace.

I was foolish to put credence into that potion of hers. Utter nonsense. Why would she want me when she could have that man? He's practically perfect.

Severus was surprised at his dismay. Evidently, he'd come to care for Hermione more than even he had been willing to admit. He sighed. It seemed that he would never find someone who could possibly care for him.

---

Harry and Ron gazed across the table at Hermione and Jacob. Ron grinned at the couple, who were holding hands. They had just told their two friends of their relationship.

"That's brilliant!" Harry finally said.

"Yeah," Ron concurred. "We were hoping you two would get together a long time ago."

Hermione frowned. "That was a different Hermione, guys."

"Yes, but we still hoped," Harry continued. "You two are perfect for each other."

"You really think so?" Hermione asked.

Both men nodded.

Hermione broke into a huge grin. "Thanks. I must admit, my transition has been a bit easier with him, even if it's only been a few days."

"So, what else is going on?" Ron asked.

"I wanted to throw something out as an option for us with Malfoy," Hermione began.

"Go on," Harry encouraged.

"As you know, I'm a Potions mistress. I've been working on a potion that can predict the future. It's not perfected yet, but I've tested it to work up to a week in the future successfully. Maybe we can use it to find a solution as to how to capture him."

"How will we know if it works right?" Ron asked. "And how far into the future can we look?"

"I wouldn't go farther than two months at this time. I just haven't had enough tests to prove that it will work farther into the future than that."

"Can you control what part of the future you'll see? I mean, is there any guarantee that we'll see something about Malfoy?"

Hermione frowned. "No, there's not. I've found it's quite random at this point."

"Do you have a way to concentrate the visions to be centered on a certain subject and timeframe?"

"That's my ultimate goal. Thus far, that hasn't worked. The last test... the week long one... showed me this meeting, actually. It was the conversation we just had about Jacob and me." She shrugged and looked down. "Maybe I'm being a little too pushy about this."

Harry shook his head. "No, it's an excellent idea. We just need to wait a little longer. We need proof that it will work in a six-month block, and that we'd be able to concentrate on a specific time. Also, we need to be able to concentrate it to only show what we want." He looked to Hermione. "How long do you think you'll need to perfect it?"

"Well, I'll need at least two months. I'll have to test the validity of the stronger potion. Hopefully in that time I can narrow the scope of the visions."

"All right," Harry said. "We'll leave that in your capable hands. As for other news, Percy thinks we might be able to infiltrate a party that Malfoy plans of having in four months. It's to celebrate his coming into office. He plans on having it at the Manor. His defenses will be low, and it will be the best opportunity to attack."

"Do you really think his security will be low?" Jacob asked. "I would think he would beef up security because of the exposure in his home."

"Percy says he's counting on the wards to keep any low-life from getting in," Ron explained.

"So, how do we get in?" Jacob asked. "We would definitely be categorized as low-lifes to Lucius Malfoy."

"Percy, of course, has the guest list," Ron explained. "We'll choose some obscure people on the guest list to kidnap, then we'll Polyjuice ourselves to resemble them. Once we're all there, we'll attack Malfoy. He'll never know what hit him."

"It sounds risky," Hermione mused.

"It will be, but it's the best chance we have right now," Harry said.

Hermione nodded absently. "I want in on this," she said finally, looking at Harry with determination.

"Hermione..."

"Don't Hermione me. I am stuck here, unable to contribute anything but ideas. I want to be involved. If I'm Polyjuiced, no one will know who I am. I will be just as effective as any of you."

Harry met her gaze. She held her breath as she watched her friend debate everything in his mind. Finally he nodded. She sighed in relief.

"You're the most stubborn woman I've ever met, you know?" Harry chided.

"That's why you love me so!" Hermione agreed with a grin.

---

Hermione knocked on Severus' door.

"Enter!"

She opened the door and smiled at Severus. He glowered right back at her.

So this is how he will be today. All right. I can handle it.

She put on a happy face as she walked over to his desk and pulled up a chair in front of it.

"Good afternoon, Severus. How are you today?"

Severus scowled. "What do you want, Granger?"

"It's Hermione." She looked at him, daring him to say something other than her name.

Silence ensued for several minutes. Severus stared at her, and she stared right back. She thought she caught something other than animosity in his eyes, but it was only a fleeting something, gone before she had time to marvel at it for long.

After what seemed like an eternity, he spoke. "Hermione... what do you want?" he growled.

Hermione couldn't help herself. She laughed. Severus' glare was murderous, but that made her laugh even harder. After she'd calmed herself, she deigned to give him an explanation.

"You know, all that snarl is quite humorous, Severus."

He gave her an incredulous look.

"It's like you're some bloody one-dimensional character in a bad novel." She leaned forward and looked directly into his eyes. "I know there's more to you than the grouch you show to everyone else. I've seen it, Severus Snape. I don't know why you are the way you are, but it grows tiresome after a while. It would be nice to see the real you for a change."

Severus rose to his feet and slammed his hands on his desk. "This is the real me, you daft excuse for an educator."

Hermione shook her head. "No, it's not. I refuse to believe that this is all there is to you." She rose herself and moved in toward Severus. "I've seen your better part, Severus. Don't forget that."

He shrunk back from her, but in an instant, he'd regained his dourness. "The man you knew is not me! I am not kind, nor am I best friends with anybody. Wake up! We are two different people." Despite his terse words, his voice had not risen one iota. If anything, it got softer and more menacing.

Hermione shook her head. "You're wrong, Severus. There's more of him in you than you know. If you'd just let someone in, I think you would see that."

"What did you come here for, Hermione?"

She stared at him for a while, willing him to change before her eyes. Deep within her, she knew that wasn't possible. Maybe in time, though.

She sat back down. Severus straightened and lowered himself back into his chair, all the time giving her a wary look.

"I need to know what you saw when you took that potion, Severus," she explained.

Severus shook his head. "That is private."

Hermione moved to the front of her chair. "I'm not trying to pry, honestly. I think this potion can help us against Malfoy, but I need to test its accuracy."

"I will not tell you what I saw."

"Please, Severus. You said something about a love potion. Did you see something romantic?"

Severus stood abruptly. "That is enough. I will not tell you anything."

"Severus, how can I test the potion if I don't know what you saw?"

Severus gave her a smug look. "I'll tell you what. If what I saw comes to pass, which I highly doubt it will, I will tell you immediately. You can't do anything until that time comes anyway, correct?"

Hermione nodded reluctantly.

"Then we have an agreement?" Severus asked.

"I suppose I have no choice."

He smiled. The smile wasn't a pleasant sight.

She rose from her seat. "Always the Slytherin, aren't you?"

His grin widened.

"Fine. Please let me know when the vision comes to pass."

"Don't worry," he said sarcastically. "You'll be the first to know."

---

Hermione held the vial in her hand. The red potion almost glimmered at her. She'd prepared another batch of the Fortune Telling Draught. She really had no choice but to try it herself. If Severus decided not to tell her anything, she would at least know that this brew worked and she could extrapolate from there. She was used to testing the potion herself, she would do so again. With a sigh, she gulped down the entire vial.

The room became cloudy. She was still in her room, but on the other side of it. She faced Jacob. He was frowning at her.

"I'm sorry, Jacob. I just don't feel what I should feel for you," she said sadly.

"You're sure you don't want to give us a little longer?" he asked sadly.

"I've been trying to feel that way, honestly, but it just isn't there."

Jacob looked down and tapped his foot. "It's Snape, isn't it?"

The room solidified around her again, and she returned to the present.

What? Of all the horrible places to end a vision! What was that all about? Why will I break up with Jacob? I enjoy his company too much to just let him go. Did he say something about Snape?

Hermione shook her head vigorously. Two months... She would have two months with Jacob and then break up with him. Could the vision be true? If the potion was working like it had before, then yes, it was absolutely true. But she wouldn't know for sure for two months.

Now what do I do? I'm going to break up with Jacob, so do I keep going out with him now? Do I try to outguess myself for the next two months?

Suddenly, the wisdom of creating such a potion didn't seem very wise at all.

Maybe this isn't something I should continue developing. In the wrong hands, people could change what is to happen. Or they could become so paranoid they'd drive themselves crazy.

She gazed at the small vials of potion in a line at the back of the counter.

These could be our answer to overthrowing Malfoy, though. I'll just have to continue. Once we're done, I'll decide whether to proceed with this potion.

She retreated to her bedroom and got ready for bed. After a little while she'd slipped underneath the covers. She sighed as the smooth sheets and fluffy comforter settled upon her. Wrapped in such warmth it wasn't long before she'd fallen fast asleep.

---

She was in the lab, brewing with Severus. Her Severus. He wandered over to her and smiled as he gazed into her cauldron.

"It looks perfect, Hermione, just like always."

Hermione giggled a little. "Thank you, Severus, but really, you don't have to gush over it. I can see that it needs a little more salamander legs."

His hand rested comfortably on her shoulder. "Allow me..." He reached around her and took a few legs and dropped them into the cauldron. She glanced at him and muttered 'thank you' before beginning to stir. Within a few minutes, the potion was the perfect shade of lavender. She removed the stirrer and turned toward Severus.

"Hermione..." Severus said softly.

"Yes, Severus?" Hermione asked, a bit puzzled by the softness in his voice.

"There's something I've wanted to do for a while."

"What's that?"

His hands came up and caressed her arms. He looked down at them and followed his hands as they moved up and down. Finally he looked back up at her. Slowly, his lips came closer to hers until they were kissing. A thrill went through Hermione. All too soon they had pulled apart.

"Hermione, will you be mine?"

She opened her mouth to answer and...

~~~~~~

Hermione's eyes opened slowly. She could almost feel Severus' lips still on hers. Reaching up, she circled her mouth with her fingers. Tears sprang up in her eyes. He was gone forever. In his place was the nasty man that hated everyone. Oh, how she missed him. How she wished that the dream she'd just had really had happened. But then her disappearance would be doubly hard to bear.

Jacob suddenly came to mind. When she thought of him, she didn't feel the same way she did when she thought of Severus. Could that be why she'd seen what she did in her vision? Would she go about forever holding a candle for a man who didn't even exist in this world?

Well, he existed. There just was no way that he'd ever think about her like that!