Potions and Consequences

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Potions and Consequences

Hermione woke up with a start, feeling like something heavy weighted her down, and started struggling. Suddenly something fell off her bed and landed with a soft th-wump followed by a high-pitched "Ouch!"

She threw open her bed hangings and stared at a tiny house-elf sprawled on the floor, struggling with a large box and what appeared to be yards and yards of fabrics. "Elbee is sorry, mistress," the elf said, scrambling to right herself and collect all the fabric at the same time. "Elbee is a bad house-elf to scares mistress, buts Mariah forgots mistress' box, and miss is to..." The house-elf stood finally, holding the fabrics and the bottom of the box to her naked body, and gazed down in disbelief. "Elbee is missing her towel!"

"Wait! I..." Hermione started to say and then sighed as the elf, the fabric, and box all suddenly vanished at the same time. Shaking her head, she slid out of bed and headed for the loo.

Several owls swooped down on Hermione at breakfast, each carrying various envelopes, some with small baubles or bows holding the ornate envelopes closed. "Oh, wow!" Veronica exclaimed, picking up one from the Burkwalters. "I can't believe you got an invitation to their party!'" She looked up as Hermione opened another one, this one from the Ramirez family. "Are you going?"

"I don't know," Hermione replied, picking up the next one – a gold embossed envelope with a fancy red seal on the envelope closure. She turned to glance at Ginny. "Did you get one?"

"If I did, it would go to Harry's, not to me," Ginny said with a shrug. "We're an official couple since we signed all the Bonding forms, so all our invitations would be addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Potter. But since I'm still in school – I'm still considered a minor. It's how it's done."

Hermione dropped her hands on the table still holding the envelopes. "If that is how it's done – why am I getting these and Severus isn't?"

A haughty, imperial looking Eurasian eagle owl with yellowish-orange eyes landed delicately on the table in front of Hermione and lifted a well-manicured foot out to her, which held a letter tied with a green ribbon.

"So, whose owl is that?" Veronica asked. "I mean, who would actually manicure their owl's claws?"

Hermione shrugged. "I've no idea..." she started to say as she untied envelope and stared at the elegant parchment. "Narcissa Malfoy?"

"Mrs. Malfoy?" Ginny asked as Hermione handed the owl a bit of toast.

"She what?" Wendlynne asked in shock. "You're invited to the Malfoys' party?!"

The owl leaned from the proffered toast as if affronted, and Veronica handed it a bit of bacon. "Particular bird," she grumbled as the owl took flight.

Hermione opened the letter and scoffed.

"All right, you've got to let me see it," Ginny said and leaned over to read the letter.

Mrs. Snape,

As I'm sure you are aware, there are many functions and festivities this holiday season. As Severus' Bonded mate, and therefore the new wife of the Headmaster of Hogwarts, you should be properly presented to wizarding society. If you'd grant me the honors, I would like very much to serve as your sponsor for your introduction to society. I realize you're not exactly a debutant, but this is your first winter season and much like a coming out of sorts. Therefore, as it's your first time being introduced for the Winter season, you should wear the colors of Capricorn: brown, gold, dark green, purple, and white – preferably in this order, hence the enclosed.

"Enclosed?" Ginny asked as she looked up at Hermione confused while Hermione looked about her plate to see if she'd dropped anything. "What does she mean, 'enclosed'?"

Veronica shrugged. "I didn't see anything drop, and that letter was all that the owl had with her," she stated helpfully.

Hermione continued to read the letter with Ginny leaning into her so she could see it too.

The gems of Capricorn are: amethyst, garnet, malachite, tiger eye, and turquoise – each of which I am entrusting to you with pieces from my own collection, since I'm unsure if you possess any of these gems stones.

"Jewelry?" Ginny whispered softly so as not to be overheard.

Hermione shook her head with a shrug. "Maybe Severus has them," she whispered back, never taking her eyes off the letter.

The eleventh of Dec. is the Ministry of Magic's Holiday Ball.

A must attend for Severus. It is on a Friday, as usual, which never gives anyone much time to prepare oneself. However, if you need assistance I'd be more than happy to oblige. I suggest you wear the brown robes with the gold and silver lamé under dress. I've lent you the amethyst set which would be a lovely compliment.

The nineteenth of Dec. is the Burke's Christmas party.

A lovely affair and Mrs. Burke invites all the right people. I happen to know you and Severus are on the guest list as are the Potters and the Longbottoms. I suggest that you wear the gold brocade, and wear the garnet set I've lent you. You should wear your hair up with these earrings; because they are antique, you might get your get your hair caught in the prongs, and I'd hate to lose a stone.

As you know, Winter Solstice is the twenty-first of December and runs to dawn. During the Winter Solstice the Moncrieffs are holding their Winter Solstice Gala, and it's not one to be missed. It's quite noteworthy, always enjoyable, and we look forward to attending every year. I suggest the dark green for the gala, and I have lent you a lovely malachite choker and earrings to wear that are stunning with the robes.

We are, of course, hosting our annual Christmas Ball on the twenty-fifth of December and our New Years Extravaganza on the thirty-first since we will be hosting some honored guests this season. Draco has indicated that you may know them: Viktor Krum, Kazimir Maschke III, and Konrad Vondran, three friends of his from the Triwizard Tournament, and as your sponsor, it is my privilege to invite the Potters, Longbottoms and Mr. Ronald Weasley to attend as well. Should you have any other friends you'd like included to our guest list, please let me know as soon as possible so I may make suitable table arrangements.

As much as she'd like to see Viktor and Kazimir, she wasn't certain about all these parties, especially the ones hosted by people she didn't even know. She has my social calendar all listed out and what I should wear! Who does this witch think she is? Hermione decided that if Severus was going to drag her to their party, she'd request that Alestra, Wendlynne, and Veronica be invited, too, with a plus one each.

I suggest you wear the purple robes for the Christmas party with the tiger eye jewelry. (No one wears amethyst with formal purple dress robes; it's just not done.) Or you should wear gold jewelry if you have some. The white robes will be most appropriate for New Year's since the event will be a black and white ball. Wear the turquoise or amethyst jewelry with the white robes.

The MacDougals' party is on the twelfth of Dec. It's a notable event, worthy of attendance if you're invited.

The Crouchs' affair is on the eighteenth of Dec. We never attend.

The Bodes, Savages, Plumptons, and Burkwalters also have parties, but they generally conflict with other events and as such we don't attend.

Mishelle Greengrass hosts a lovely tea mid week after Christmas. I'm certain that Astoria is intending on inviting you, Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Longbottom.

Note that it's proper to spend Christmas Eve and the following morning with your family. You and Severus are more than welcome to spend it with us as we do consider him extended family. We'd be delighted to have you.

I do look forward to presenting you to the wizarding society and will be on hand for any concerns or needs that may arise.

In your service,

Narcissa Malfoy

Ginny looked up in awe. "Okay, that's just weird," she stated. "So... where are these robes?"

"You know as much as I do, Ginny," Hermione replied with a shrug and put the letter on top of the pile of invitations.

Veronica looked at the letter and her eyes went wide. "Wow!" she exclaimed and looked up at Hermione. "Mrs. Malfoy wants to be your sponsor for the season?" she asked as Hermione untied the silver ribbon on a frosty white envelope. "Odd. If she's sponsoring you for the season you'd think..."

"What?" Hermione asked, tilting her head and narrowing her eyes in suspicion.

"You and the Headmaster, aren't you Bonded? I mean, I know you're not official or anything... and you're technically still a student even though you're a legal adult..." Alestra paused as she turned to look at the staff table – most likely at Severus. "I mean, you're getting invitations, but really shouldn't they be sent to your sponsor?" The girl turned back to face Hermione and the creases between her brows deepened slightly. "She then in turn would discuss them with you – the two of you would decide – only you're not a debutant, you're a Bonded wife..."

"Oh right!" Veronica piqued in, "So the Headmaster should be getting them, and then you'd decide with him which ones to attend. Well, with him and Mrs. Malfoy now, I suppose."

Hermione dropped the opened invitation on the table. "If that is how it's done – why am I getting these and Severus isn't?" she asked again, snatching up and brandishing three of the invitations in her fist. "Am I – does that mean Severus and Mrs. Malfoy are going to decide where I spend my Christmas holiday?"

"I don't know. I was hoping..." Ginny said and turned her head.

Hermione's anger ebbed at Ginny's remorseful tone. "What, Ginny?" she asked and turned in the same direction as Ginny, realizing that she was possibly looking at Severus, too.

Ginny turned her head back to look at Hermione. "Doesn't your letter from Mrs. Malfoy explain it to you? She did send you a list of your expected appearances." She glanced away and sighed before looking at Hermione again. "I was hoping you and Headmaster Snape would be staying with us, but then you've accepted the Malfoys' invitation, haven't you?"

Hermione shook her head. "No. No! If – I had hoped to spend Christmas with you, Harry, and your family. I mean, even Charlie will be coming to spend Christmas with you and Harry, and I was really looking forward to your mum's dark chocolate peppermint mousse." She looked past her friend to quickly glance at Severus and caught his eye. He raised an eyebrow as if to ask her what she wanted. Hermione lowered her gaze to her friend. "But I don't know what Severus will expect. What I want and what he wants... Oh, bugger."

"Yeah, my sentiments exactly. I know Harry is expecting you, but I think you'll have to discuss staying with us with Severus first," Ginny stated and reached for her cup.

"Yeah, I know," Hermione said with a heavy sigh. "Besides, I have a feeling that he'll want me with him at his house over Christmas instead of allowing me to stay at Harry's or the Burrow with your family. Bugger that."

"Hermione, what is it about his house? Why are you so uncomfortable there?" Ginny asked, setting down her cup.

Hermione shrugged. "It's depressing. I know he's made changes, but the place just doesn't feel like... like... a home," she admitted.

"Well, then let's do something about it!" Ginny exclaimed, her expression lightening up. "We have the afternoon free, and don't tell me you're not caught up with your schoolwork because I know you too well."

"Gin, I can't," Hermione said sternly. "I mean it's not like sneaking down to the Three Broomsticks or Honeydukes to get treats for a party – he lives in... er... northern England. Manchester, I think, if I remember it right."

"But you've been there, right? You can Apparate us to his house?" Ginny persisted.

Hermione now knew that there'd be no dissuading her now. Ginny could be downright tenacious if she set her mind to something. "Of course," she finally admitted. "Look, I don't want to be expelled."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Yeah right, like your husband would expel you." She turned in her seat. "Why not go. You can show me how horrible it is, and I can give you my honest opinion."

Hermione glanced up at the staff table again and saw Severus watching them. "I can't believe that you are talking me into this," she said and rose to go. "How are we going to possibly get away with it?"

"By using a few drops of Felix Felicis. He did give you a vial of the potion, right? Let's use it, and it will all work out perfectly," Ginny stated softly, getting up as well. They hurried up to the dorm room to change.

As soon as Hermione neared her bed, she stopped short and gaped at the sight; five gorgeous robes hung on her wardrobe doors with dyed-to-match ladies shoes lined up on the floor. She saw four flat wooden boxes sitting on her bed and gasped.

"Well, now we know what 'hence the enclosed' meant...," Ginny said and gasped as Hermione opened one of the boxes. "Oh, that's pretty."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at the Tudor style necklace and earrings of gold and tiger eye as Ginny reached out to touch it. "Yeah, but a bit much, don't you think?" Hermione said as she handed her the box and opened another. The second box held a Georgian style set, the necklace made up of nineteen beautiful malachite cabochon stones surrounded by gold cannetille, with matching drop earrings and a bracelet.

"Wow, they're gorgeous!" Ginny gasped.

"Extravagant," Hermione stated. She sighed and closed the box as she looked at Ginny. "Why would she do this?"

Ginny sat down on Hermione's bed. "Did you ever think that maybe – just maybe – they're trying to be nice? I mean, ever since the Bonding, the Malfoys have been acting – I dunno – nice. You told me about the lunch with Mr. Malfoy, and that dinner we all went to... Maybe they've changed. I know I did after being used by Tom Riddle. Imagine what he put them through. People change – even Malfoys can change."

"Oh my – where did all the robes come from?" Alestra asked, standing at the foot of Hermione's bed with Veronica and Wendlynne behind her.

Hermione looked up at her. "Apparently, Mrs. Malfoy; she sent me dress robes and shoes," she said with a crinkle of her nose. "I'm not sure why she'd send me her robes. I don't really want to wear her hand-me-downs. Besides, Severus bought me a lovely black robe to wear."

"If she's your sponsor, they're not second hand; that would be unheard of!" Veronica stated, and Alestra nodded in consent, adding, "And for you not to be properly attired would reflect poorly on her."

Wendlynne walked up to examine the lovely gold brocade, decorated with thousands of tiny black crystals and hand-tatted black lace, with a look of awe. "Besides, these robes – they don't look worn – they look new," she stated and sniffed the fabric. "And they smell new – no fancy potpourri or the Refreshment Charm."

Alestra laughed softly, examining the strapless, dark green velvet robes. The elaborately embroidered velvet was cut to reveal a triangle of gold silk on the bodice and opened down the front of the skirt to reveal the gold silk underskirt. "Sorry, but I know you don't keep abreast of the latest fashions, Hermione. You're into books – not brocades and silks. These are current fashions, I'm sure of it, very expensive ones and good quality."

Hermione sighed and looked at Ginny. "I know. I really should give them the benefit of the doubt. They have tried to be nice to me – even Draco asked for a fresh start." She picked up another box and stared at the lovely amethyst pendant and earrings set in a silvery metal that shined like moonlit silver. "I suppose I should send her a thank you letter."

"It's a start," Ginny said as she opened a box revealing the malachite and gold necklace and dangle earrings. "Besides, she went to all this trouble."

Hermione laughed and tucked the boxes in her trunk for safekeeping. "I suppose I should be grateful. I wonder how Severus will take all this?"

Ginny shrugged, stood up, and smiled. "Let's go check our potions, before we go, you know," she said, adding, "out," in a whisper. "They should be ready to bottle this morning."

Feeling apprehensive about leaving school without permission, Hermione pocketed the tiny vial of Liquid Luck and followed Ginny out.

Once down in the potions lab, Hermione leaned over to check the Anamnesis Potion in the second cauldron and smiled. It was the perfect shade of early morning turquoise blue with a soft peach glow emanating from deep within the cauldron. It even smelled right.

She'd been absolutely amazed that very little sap had exuded from the Pontorinia leaves when she'd shredded them instead of cutting them, although why she had to use a glass stirring rod instead of the standard wooden one still eluded her. Nevertheless, all three batches had turned out perfectly.

"Let me see," Ginny asked, peering into the cauldron and then checking the book. "Oh, it even has the sunrise glow, doesn't it? That means it's perfect!" she exclaimed as she peered into the third cauldron. "All three of them have it!"

"Yes," Hermione agreed, walking over to look at Ginny's cauldrons. "Severus really had a talent for potions, even back then." Ginny's Invisibilis Draught had the look of a fathomless black void, or the darkest night, as if it was absorbing all the color from everything rather than casting even the slightest hint of reflection. Even the light from the glow orbs above them didn't reflect on the surface of the potion but seemed to disappear into the potion's depths.

"What did you expect?" Ginny turned and cocked her head slightly.

"I know he got Outstandings on his Potions O.W.L. and N.E.W.T." Hermione said as she leaned over to check the second potion on Ginny's worktable. Her second potion was perfect. "I know that Harry's mom used to experiment in class – Harry told me. But Severus told me that whenever he'd tried to experiment, Professor Slughorn would admonish him for it."

"That may be, but still," Ginny stated, watching her intently. "I mean look at what the man has done – all the potions he brewed for the school, for Dumbledore – for my Dad!"

"For your Dad?" Hermione asked, turning away from the third cauldron. "What do you mean, for your dad?"

Ginny scoffed. "Who do you think saved my father when he was dying from that snakebite from Riddle's familiar – that crazy Healer who tried to sew my dad back together?"

"I thought – but he – it was Severus?" Hermione stammered. She'd just assumed it was the Healers at St Mungo's.

"Yes, Severus. He brewed the potions that saved my dad's life, and the time Ron was scratched by the Acromantula fang his second year, and when you were a huge cat," Ginny stated. "He's also the one who healed Draco when Harry cut him with that curse, and when Seamus blew his nose off his face in Charms, and when Neville changed his feet into rabbits trying to make his slippers warmer... and when Percy was cursed his fifth year... Oh, and when Fred and Gorge poisoned themselves all those times during their fourth, fifth and sixth years, inventing stuff, and..."

"Okay, I get the point," Hermione stated. "He also brewed the potions to try and save Dumbledore's hand from that curse on Voldemort's ring – the one that was eating him alive... and identified the curse on the necklace that almost killed Katie Bell."

"And you're surprised that he improved a few potions?" Ginny scoffed as she checked the last cauldron.

"Ginny, he was our age!" Hermione exclaimed, and Ginny shot her an incredulous glare. She tried to find the words to explain what she meant. She gently touched Severus' old Potions book. "Libatius Borage wrote this book over ninety years ago, and it's still the standard of N.E.W.T. level potion making today. But it's only a redraft from the original Advanced Potions, Draughts and Elixirs by Nicoletta Antoinette Quinn written in 1728," she said and looked up at Ginny. "And Borage only made four changes in the book, only four preparation changes in the directions of four potions. That's it – one hundred and eighty years and only four changes."

"Okay?" Ginny replied with a shrug.

Hermione shook her head. "You don't get it. Before that, according to Hogwarts: A History, the Potions textbook at Hogwarts was The Codex of Advanced Magick Potions: the Ancient and the Modern by Avery Bowen of Groton which was written in the early 1600's. Other than modernizing the language from the previous text, Complētus Encyclopaideia of Potions Britanniae edited by Mariano Vellez de Conceicao, which had been published in the 1400's, there isn't much of a difference. A few of the potions had been modified by Potions masters over the course of two centuries and there were some new potions added to the text, but mostly Avery Bowen standardized the use of the common pewter cauldron and implemented the use of the standard measures of weight that are still preferred today."

She let out a sigh. "All I'm saying is that major Potion achievements are exceptionally noteworthy because it's very rare for a Potions master to make such improvements to existing potions as to be noteworthy."

She picked up Severus' book off the workbench. "And almost every potion in this book has annotations for making the potion easier or improving the efficacy or strength of the potion – almost every single one! I checked, there are three he didn't make changes on: the antidote for Draught of Living Death, Felix Felicis, and Veritaserum!"

"Exactly." Ginny said leaning against Hermione's workbench with her arms crossed. "Yeah, and look at all the things we've done at our age?"

Hermione hung her head. She'd read through the book over the last week, and his work in the book was amazing. And the spells! He'd invented dozens of protective and defensive spells – even if a few were rather dark and their intent grotesque. He was truly brilliant, and it scared her. "Nothing in comparison to this," she said, laying her hand on the cover.

Ginny laughed. "Don't sell yourself short like that. You're really smart, Hermione, bloody scary sometimes. There isn't a spell you can't do or a potion you can't brew. You even figured out how to reverse the Inferius Curse on a living person to save Severus' life, and you don't think you're exceptional?"

"Yeah, books and cleverness," she said with a sigh, then whispered, "There are more important things."

Ginny walked over and touched Hermione's arm. "You're so modest about everything you do. It's what makes you so easy to be around; it balances your bossiness," she said with a smirk, and then her expression became thoughtful. "But really, you're always trying everything you read, pushing yourself to be the best as if you have to prove yourself – to prove to everyone else that you belong. You're a witch, Hermione. No one can take that away from you. No one is going to kick you out and tell you it's a mistake. You have the right to be here and the right to be who you are."

"Thanks, Gin," Hermione said as she hugged her friend. "That means a lot." Twin hot tears slid out from under her lashes.

"Now, let's bottle our samples and take them to Professor Reynolds," Ginny suggested when Hermione stepped back and wiped her eyes.

Professor Reynolds looked up as they entered his office. His eyes narrowed as they approached. "What is this?" he asked as they set down their samples.

"The Invisibilis Draught and the Anamnesis Potion," Ginny stated, pointing to the vials in question.

He set down his quill and crossed his arms. "Okay, how are they different from the directions in the book?" he asked, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Hermione explained the variations they'd used on each potion. "Well, Ginny primarily brewed the Invisibilis Draught, and I did the Anamnesis Potion."

"And just how many times have you brewed these potions," he asked coolly.

"We each made three," Hermione stated, thinking that three samples each of both potions should be certainly obvious.

"You experiment on both of these potions, came up with the variations you just mentioned, and brewed these six samples, all in under a week?" he asked, leaning back slightly as he locked his gaze first on Hermione, then Ginny, and back.

Ginny nodded, but she was clenching her hands together in front of her. "It took a week to brew them, yes. We did all three cauldrons at once," she replied, and his expression hardened.

Hermione cringed. He suspected them of cheating; she could see it in his eyes. He knew that they'd finished too quickly to have actually made the findings themselves. Tell him – it's Severus' variations...

"Mrs. Potter, Mrs. Snape, neither of you girls have demonstrated the instinctive knowledge of how ingredients combine and interact within the cauldron in your class work to have me believe that you came up with the changes so quickly on your own, so I have to ask – how did you two solve this so quickly?" he asked.

"We found them in an old Potions book," Ginny stated before Hermione could say anything.

Hermione cringed. She couldn't lie, not about this. It was Severus' discovery, and she couldn't take credit for his work. "We used an old copy of Advance Potion Making that belonged to Severus. Slughorn gave it to Harry by mistake his sixth year, and, well, we have it," she confessed, then quickly amended, "It still met the conditions of our pact. Although they are technically Severus' experiments – they work. The potions are improved versions, both of them." She knew she was right, even if they'd not actually taken the potions yet.

Professor Reynolds' eyes narrowed. "Very cunning of you," he said, in a less than scathing tone. "However, since it's not your work but Severus' by your own admission, you will brew both potions again – thrice! Mrs. Snape, you will brew the Invisibilis Draught; and, Mrs. Potter, you will brew the Anamnesis Potion. You will both do a proper validation of his work and thus credit him as is his due."

"Not a problem," Hermione agreed. It was the least they could do.

Professor Reynolds rose to his feet, his hands pressed down on his desk as he leaned forward, asserting his authority. "And you will not be included in our discussions of the Médousa Potion until you do."

Hermione recoiled in shock, fighting back her feeling of indignation. "That's not fair!"

"Those are the terms of our pact if you recall; your own words." He looked at her thoughtfully and then amended his statement. "And you will have to tell Severus that you're using his variations of these potions."

"Yes, sir," Hermione and Ginny said in unison. Instead of breaking any more school rules, they opted to spend their break by starting the next round of potions and documenting what they'd done so far on the potions they'd just turned in.

*

More invitations began to arrive at lunch. Hermione now had over a dozen. However, her attention was drawn to the staff table where Professor Reynolds sat deep in discussion with Severus. Unable to put it off any longer, Hermione skipped her revision time that afternoon and went to Severus' office to tell him about the potions.

When she entered his office, he was seated at his desk, although he didn't seem to be working on anything. Worse, he had the air of someone who'd been waiting for her. She swallowed the nervous lump in her throat and ignored the Bludger-like feeling in her stomach. Her gaze stopped at the box where he generally placed his outgoing mail and was amazed at the number of invitations in it. "Have the Malfoy's sent you one?"

"It arrived yesterday, and I've already replied," he said smoothly.

Her gaze snapped to his. "Without asking me?"

"I was under the impression that you already knew of her intents," he said softly. "Narcissa's letter indicated she'd lent you jewelry? Where is it?"

"Locked in my trunk," she replied, realizing that it might be a bit risky to keep them there. Merlin! They're old – and valuable, aren't they? I should've used protection charms... "She said that she wants to sponsor me for the season."

"I'm aware of that as well," he said and called for Mispy. The house-elf appeared immediately. "My wife has some valuable jewelry on loan to her in her trunk, retrieve it for me."

"Four boxes," Hermione corrected him, wincing when he turned his head sharply, and his eyes focused on hers. She fidgeted slightly but held his gaze. "There are four of them; she sent me... four..." She turned her attention to the house-elf to clarify what the elf should look for. "In flat, wooden boxes."

"I want all four of them," he said with firm authority.

It made her feel better knowing that he'd hold onto them for her, but his demeanor was unsettling. He was upset, and she wondered if it was because Reginald had already told him that she and Ginny had used his improvements on their potions. Hermione waited in silence, trying not to fidget under his cool gaze, and tried to consider the best way to approach the subject of using his potions variations.

The house-elf returned and handed Severus the four wooden boxes. "I'll hold on to them," he stated and set them on the corner of his desk. "Knowing Lucius they will be quite expensive." He opened the top box and smirked at the Tudor style necklace of gold and tiger eye. He snapped the lid closed.

"Where did you want to spend Christmas?" she asked, mentally kicking herself for her cowardice.

"Either here or at our home. Narcissa will be very busy preparing the Manor for her parties, and she already has guests from out of town," he stated, looking up at her curiously. "Where did you expect to spend Christmas?"

"At Harry's, of course," she stated.

He let out a sharp bark of laughter. "Of course you did. Out of the question."

"According to Mrs. Malfoy, it's traditional to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day with your family," Hermione stated. "Maybe we could visit Mr. Prince, if you'd like."

"He hasn't invited us." His lips twitched, but the next instant his expression was blank. "Besides, I'm Headmaster. There will be students in the castle that will need supervision."

"He's family," she stated, surprised by his cool indifference. "Don't you want to spend Christmas with your great-grandfather?"

He narrowed his eyes into a scowl. "I won't impose..."

"Oh, for crying out loud! You'll drop by to annoy his Healer and exchange potions, but not suggest to him we'd like to visit for the holiday?" She couldn't understand why he was refusing. "What if we only suggest spending Christmas Eve with him?"

Severus raised his eyebrow, and his mouth twitched. "We?"

"Yes, we. Send a letter to him saying we'd like to visit." She felt her face flush with embarrassment. She'd yelled at him; but then she couldn't believe he was being so obtuse. "It's either him or Harry's – although I do believe that everyone is arriving at his place on the eighteenth."

Severus' face twisted into a sneer. "Everyone?"

"The Weasleys," she said as if he should have known that. "If you don't want to impose on Mr. Prince, then I'll simply send Harry our acceptance..."

"No, you will not," he said and a tick showed in his cheek.

"All right, then I propose this," she snapped at him. "You want me to play nice and let Mrs. Malfoy parade me around like a porcelain doll, then we're spending Christmas Eve with Mr. Prince and Christmas day with my friends. Harry is like a brother to me, and the Weasleys have accepted me into their home – they're like my magical family, since my real parents are in Australia and don't even remember me. You want a relationship with me – then get used to being around them. They are part of the package, Severus, whether you like it or not."

Severus nodded. "Fine, this year we will spend Christmas Eve with Mr. Prince and Christmas day with your friends. That's if Mr. Prince is up to having company. But he will decide what time and for how long. In addition, you will reside with me at Malfoy Manor, in my rooms, Christmas night through New Years day."

"I'll attend her parties, and possibly consent to stay in your rooms at the Manor on Christmas night and New Years Eve – but not during the week," she bargained hoping he'd consent. "What about all the other parties?"

"We will select three of the events," he stated. "I hate parties."

"Hardly surprising," she grumbled.

"And you'll stay with me either here or at our home for the rest of the holiday," he stated, crossing his arms.

"IF that includes spending Christmas Eve at Harry's," she said defiantly. "Mr. Prince may not be up to having us all day Christmas Eve, so I suggest spending the afternoon with him, and dinner. That should be enough time, don't you think? Old people like to eat early, so after dinner we go to Harry's, and stay there until the Malfoy's party. Besides, she said that Harry and Ginny were invited, we can all go together."

A deep chuckle escaped his throat. "Assuming my great-grandfather even wants us all afternoon or will invite us for an early dinner. Until recently we weren't even close," he stated, smirking at her. "Or that Potter will want me at his house for more than two minutes. You're assuming quite a lot there."

"Fine," she agreed. "Maybe I should write Mr. Prince and request that we visit?"

Severus raised his eyebrow, and his mouth twitched. "You do that, wife." He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his desk with his fingers laced together. "Now wasn't there something you wanted to tell me, or was this the only purpose for your visit?"

She purposefully avoided looking at any of the portraits. "Ginny and I followed the directions for an improved version of the Invisibilis Draught and Anamnesis Potion we found," she confessed, her mouth suddenly dry and her tongue failing her as his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"And where exactly did you get the directions for these improved potions, dare I ask?" he asked coolly.

"In a book that," Hermione started to say, then inhaled to brace herself for the outburst her confession would bring.

But he cut her off, his eyes narrowed into a scowl as he growled, "Which book?" before she could finish her sentence of, 'that Professor Slughorn gave Harry.'

She took a breath to try again. "Advanced Potion Making, by..."

"I see." Severus interrupted her again. He stood up and looked down at her, his expression blank, but his dark eyes were furious. "I'm quite familiar with that particular book, Hermione. How did you know the changes would be viable and not extremely dangerous?" He crossed his arms, obviously expecting an answer – or for her to lie to him.

She couldn't look away from his dark eyes. "They were from Harry's Potions book, well, they're actually your improvements; Ginny and I..."

"You were going to try and pass off my experimentations as your own?" Severus snarled as he leaned forward, his hands pressed down firmly on the desk and his cold, angry eyes glaring at her.

She recoiled slightly at the venom in his voice and the anger that literally radiated off of him. "No! Of course not! I was only told produce an improved version of the Anamnesis Potion, Invisibilis Draught, Astuteness Draught, and Fearlessness Elixir, and we did. Well on two of them at any rate; I never said where the improvements would come from."

His face twisted into a sneer. "That's a clever twist of your own words, very cunning of you," he said softly in a less than scathing tone.

"I thought we could validate them like we did the Polyjuice Potion," she stammered.

"Without my permission!" He sneered and pointed at the door, his other hand still in a fist on his desk. "Go get my book."

"I don't have it," she stated only to be interrupted again.

"Then get it from Mr. Potter," Severus snarled, his impatience making his tone sharp.

"I can't," she stated, about to add 'He doesn't have it – Ginny does,' but Severus had leaned forward so he that he was glaring her in the eye and interrupted her again.

"So we go see Potter and get. My. Book. Back."

"We can't," she snapped and instantly regretted her tone. His face became a mask of indifference, so like the look he used to give her when she'd been his student. "It won't do any good to go see Harry about the book..."

"You are testing my patience." Severus snapped at her, his dark eyes narrowed in anger. "Where is my book right now?"

"Because Ginny has it," she finally managed to say.

Severus' face relaxed and he snorted. "Then we will go see Ginevra."

She gasped and she automatically said, "No!"

"No?" he asked, his nares flaring slightly as he inhaled sharply.

"No. I need that book," she managed to squeak.

"It's my book!" he snarled.

Her feelings of indignation got the best of her good senses and she snapped, "Yes, and the annotations in that book are bloody brilliant! Do you know that? Absolutely bloody brill..."

"Thank you, but I..." he growled, only this time she cut him off.

"You're welcome – brilliant! Why on earth didn't you ever validate your findings?"

"Li – I never got around to it." His eyes had a haunted look for a mere second before they hardened again. "I was too busy saving your, Potter's and Dumbledore's worthless hides, and the rest of the magical world, from the Dark Lord!"

"Oh, sod off it!" she snarled at him. "You had thirteen years to publish your work before all that started – well, okay actually ten before Harry and I even arrived at Hogwarts! That's ten years of working under Dumbledore where you could've easily had your work validated."

"Being a teacher took up all my time – seven years of students, that's twenty-four lessons to teach each week: first through fifth years, I had ten one-hour Potions lessons, and ten Double Potions lessons, plus two one-hour advanced Potions lessons with two advanced Double Potions lessons to teach, plus three hundred eighty papers to grade every week, seven hundred and sixty potions to evaluate from three hundred and eighty inept students, lesson plans to prepare, ingredients to stock and maintain, detentions to supervise, assisting Madam Pomfrey with her potion requirements for those occasional student mishaps, Head of House duties, letters to parents for the dunderheads who defied the school rules or who became hurt, quarterly reports regarding student progress for the School Governors and the Department of Education, not to mention Dumbledore's little projects, and staff meetings."

"And yet you still found time to be a spy," she snapped back at him.

"Don't get cheeky with me! My spying started when I heard that thrice-damned prophecy and the Dark Lord chose to go after the Potters, and then ended when Lily died," he stated, "one whole bloody year, seven months, and eighteen days!"

She was surprised he hadn't counted the hours. "And resumed when Voldemort came back the end of our fourth year," she said sadly.

"Don't say his name!" he snapped automatically.

"Fine. But I'm not afraid to say his name!" she snapped back. "Maybe you'd prefer I call him Tom Riddle, the Dark Lord, or You-Know-Who. Is that better?" He scowled darkly at her, but she was beyond caring. "It still doesn't negate the fact that you had time to validate your work before You-Know-Who Riddle returned. So you had to spy again for – what? Only three more years?"

"Yes, three more years," he stated coolly. "After that night in the graveyard, I was required to make reports to both Dumbledore, about the Death Eater activities, and to the Dark Lord regarding Potter and Dumbledore's activities – a conniving, manipulative old bastard and a narcissistic, megalomaniac dictator."

She ignored his sarcasm and the shocked outcries from some of the portraits. "So wouldn't you like to have all your experiments finally validated?" she asked, hoping to get him to relent. "To get the credit for your brilliance?"

"You should've asked me," he growled.

Hermione took a deep breath to calm down. "You're absolutely right, I should have. I didn't and I'm sorry. It was thoughtless of me. However, I never intended to take credit for your work; I only intended to use your improvements so I could work with you on the Médousa Potion."

"Why is it so important for you to do this?" he asked softly.

"Because I want to do something significant," she said with an exasperated sigh, not caring if she sounded pathetic or not. "And I want to do it with you! Something we can do together! I want you to..." She choked on her words, unable to say it, and closed her eyes for a moment. It was just too desperate a need.

"To what, Hermione?" he asked, his expression completely unreadable to her. His dark eyes searched her face as if he really wanted to know.

Damn him. He should know; I've been trying to get it for years now, ever since my first Potions lesson. "To respect me!" she exclaimed, fed up and not caring anymore. "I know you don't. I know you don't think I can help because I know that you and Professor Reynolds think I'm not capable, or intuitive, or smart enough, but I am. I can be of help to you." She turned to walk away. "Oh, forget it, it's useless." I'm just a know-it-all to you – a silly little bookworm. When she reached for the door latch, he slapped his hand on the wood to prevent her from opening it. "Let me go," she said with a defeated sigh.

"No."

She hung her head. "Please." She refused to cry. She was not going to cry.

"No," he said softly. "Look at me."

She shook her head. If she did – she'd cry. She wasn't going to cry. "You've won, all right? I'll..."

"You can help us with the potion," he said softly.

She turned around to look at him, ignoring the tear that escaped and ran down her face.

"But with the research. You will not experiment with it – do you understand? Research and validation of the potion only and only once Reginald and I – okay – we figure it out," he said firmly. He cupped her face with his free hand and wiped away another tear as he leaned on the hand still pressed against the door. "I won't risk you over a potion." He leaned over her, making her press her back to the door. "I can't put you in danger."

"I know," she whispered, looking at the buttons of his frockcoat. "My black knight protector."

"I'm – I want to be more than that to you."

She looked up at him through her fringe, and his lips curled back into a semblance of a smile. "Living with you is going to be a challenge, isn't it?" he asked with a slight smirk to his lips

"You're no picnic either, you know," she said, smirking back at him.

"And you'll never be boring," he said, shaking his head.

"What about the other potions?"

"You and Ginevra may validate my improvements. Same arrangement as before," he said, using his authoritative tone. "Reginald will notify the School Governors, the Department of Education, the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers, and the Academe of Potion Masters and Brewers, just like before."

"And what if I want to validate all of them?" she asked, looking up at him intently. "You've got annotations for ways to improve most of the potions on the seventh-year list. What if Ginny and I used your book for them?"

He smirked and made a soft snort. "A bit of overkill, don't you think?"

"You deserve credit for them," she replied earnestly. "Besides, as you so eloquently put it, I'm very good at following directions – even yours."

"That remains to be seen," he said with a scowl that had no harshness behind it. He stood straighter. "Very well, you and Ginevra are to meet with me tonight to discuss this. If you are to validate my potions, Reginald and I will supervise you. And you will have to be diligent in your records."

"Like I wasn't before," she grumbled.

"Hermione," he growled softly. "Most of those who would approve or disprove your validation of my work know that I was a Death Eater. Few would accept my work except that the witches validating it are very well known, respected in their own right as heroes of the war and have all the right connections." She looked up at him aghast, and he chuckled. "Did you really think that I hadn't wanted to have my work validated? But my past associations and reputation preceded me and still haunts me today."

She nodded as she considered what he'd said. "So it's because it's Ginny and me doing the validation..." She looked up and her lips quirked into a smirk. "That's why you let us use your variations on the Polyjuice Potion! Because I am Harry's friend?"

"And one of the youngest to receive an Order of Merlin First Class as well as other honors and awards from the Ministry of Magic for your defense of the wizarding world. You helped defeat the Dark Lord and saved life as we know it, received special awards for services to the school – thrice, not to mention you're known to be the brightest witch of your age..." He reached out and stroked a strand of her hair. "And you've already been published for your own achievement regarding the reversal of the Inferius Curse..."

She knew she was blushing at his words. Even her face and neck felt like they were burning.

He wrapped a curl around the tip of his finger. "You and Ginevra have both earned recognition for your scholastic aptitude, even if Ginevra isn't quite the bookworm you are. You were top student of your year – for six years running – all six years, and Ginevra has repeatedly been in the top ten percent of her year, every year. She, too, is a recognized war heroine, recipient of the Order of Merlin Second Class, received special awards for services to the school – twice as well as other honors and awards from the Ministry of Magic... Need I go on?"

She didn't know what to say. She simply stared at his buttons again.

He assumed his authoritative-teacher's pose: holding the edge of his robes as he crossed his arms with his feet set slightly apart and his back rigid. "If you and Ginevra decide to validate my work, I will ask Reginald to have you excused from the normal curriculum and put in independent study. You'll brew the potions, as many as you like, and record your findings. Reginald will monitor your work and validate your research so he can give you accreditation... as your superior respondent academia. I will supervise and monitor your brewing, and, as I did before, I will submit a paper of my discovery to the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers and the Academe of Potion Masters and Brewers."

"So, you get credit for the discoveries, and Ginny and I get credited for the validations," she said with a nod.

"Precisely," he stated. "Now, we only have to get Ginevra to agree to the terms and accept the proposal."

Hermione chuckled. "Oh, I'm quite certain that she'll agree. In fact, I can guarantee that she'll accept."

"All right then," he said, relaxing his pose. "I will meet with Reginald this afternoon and make the arrangements with him regarding your independent study." He glanced at the clock. "You have a lesson to attend, don't you? Your revision break is nearly over, I believe."

She stepped forward and hugged him, and he wrapped his arms around her. "I think it was time well spent," she stated, adding, "Well, most of it, at least. We did sort out a lot," when he frowned at her.

He tipped her face up with his fingertips. "And I intend to hold you to it – all of it," he said with a grin just before he kissed her.

~ T B C ~>

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Author's notes:

I want to thank Arabellabloodgood, my alpha-reader, and my betas, EverMystique, von Hardenberg, and DuchessOfArcadia, for giving this a read and helping me clean up all my mistakes. I really appreciate it very much.

Thank you also to Jay for my beautiful banner. I really love it!