Repaying The Life Debt Chapter 12: Her Eleventh Week

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Her Eleventh Week

Chapter 12 of 21

Severus was angry with himself. Things had been going along so well all day he'd offered to answer any of Ms. Granger’s questions. He simply wasn’t prepared for what she’d ask.

This is my response for the Dictionary Drabbles Fun Challenge for June 7.

General Drabble/100-Word Alternate Universe Epilogue What Epilogue? Potions Under Duress 24,381 Words 21 Chapters Complete

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I wish to give the accolades due to my beta, Southern_Witch_69, for checking this over for me. Thank you, and I just want you to know I appreciate it very much.

June 7

It had been a busy day. Nine difficult potions had already been completed and bottled, ready for delivery. He’d been pleased with her; she had worked very hard, and her resulting potions were once again meeting his exacting expectations. However, what had started as an offer for tutorial questions and answers was turning into a personal conversation. “Look, it is my prerogative to countermand any offer I have given you,” Severus said, trying to control his annoyance. He didn’t really like talking while he worked, but he’d opened himself up to her innumerable questions. He just hadn’t expected her questions to become personal.

“If you don’t like it here, why live here?” she persisted.

He looked at her with a smirk. “Who says I live here? This is where I work.”

Hermione turned her head sharply to look at him, and her stunned expression amused him. “You have another house?”

He carefully measured out the armadillo bile, forcibly controlling his expression into his usual indifferent mask. “Yes.” Think on that – the Hogwarts greasy git owns property. You know so little about me, my dear.

“But you’re here five to six days of the week,” she stated, still surprised by the revelation.

He moved to stand behind her as she picked up his new suntoku knife. “Yes, occasionally the potions I brew require attendance and long hours – so I sleep here, as you very well know, since you are with me here as well.” It didn’t escape Severus’ notice that Hermione’s hand was slightly tremulous when he leaned over her shoulder to check her progress. “Your point?”

“I don’t think I understand,” she replied, her voice slightly flustered and choked.

“Careful or you’ll cut your finger. Blood will ruin the potion, even a miniscule droplet,” he admonished. He took her hand in his and adjusted the way in which she was gripping the handle. “It works best if you pinch the bolster.” He leaned in closer to show her the proper technique. “What isn’t there to understand? This is my father’s house. This is where I do my experimentation,” he stated, practically in her ear.

“What was he like? What were your parents like?” Hermione asked, looking over her shoulder to look up at him, bringing her face too close to his for comfort.

For a split second, Severus entertained the idea of kissing her, just moving his head one inch to capture her mouth with his, and their lips touched – a soft brush with a sensual sweep. He released her hand quickly and stepped back. “I would have assumed that Potter told you everything already.”

Hermione let out a slow, labored breath. “Not everything. No, I don’t think so,” she stammered, her cheeks tinged pink from blushing.

His lip curled in a slight smile at the effect his proximity had on her. “Did he or did he not divulge every detail, every fact he gained with you and Weasley?” he asked, scrutinizing her carefully forced movements as she finished her potion.

“Well, yes,” she replied, her head lowered so as to not look directly at him.

He bristled momentarily at her confession. “Then you already know my father was an abusive drunk and my mother was a harridan, when she wasn’t lachrymose, except for the nights when he’d pass out drunk, and then Mum would read to me.”

She had stilled, watching him as he spoke, and then turned her attention back to her cutting. “No, if Harry knew anything about your parents, he never said anything to me,” she replied, apparently nervous under his stare. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…”

“Don’t be. It’s a bagatelle,” he said dismissively. “I’m going to rescind my offer; no personal questions. You may ask questions related to Potions, potions ingredients or their interactions – only.”

“I have one more,” she said, turning to him bravely.

“Oh, of course you do,” he said smoothly, suppressing his sigh.

“Why did you kiss me?” she asked brazenly.

He was unprepared for that particular question, and he was certainly not going to give her a truthful answer. “If you’ve completed the last potion, reshelve your unused ingredients and finish putting up the supplies. Then you may leave,” Severus stated, sounding like a potentate as he finished shredding his lemongrass for his potion.

Hermione watched him, her warm brown eyes searching his face with an expression that almost reflected regret. “The containers in the storeroom are completely refilled, and the Plimpies are fed to repletion. I should be able to start another potion if you like, sir.”

Of course it’s regret. I’m an old man making advances at his young apprentice. How cliché! He simply nodded, watching his own potion, his mind awhirl. What in the world has gotten into me? That’s the second time I’ve kissed her.

She set her cauldron on the cooling racks to be bottled and then picked up the last request sheet, scanning the directions and list of ingredients. “I think I could get this one done up to where it would simply need to be set to simmer, possibly…”

“You don’t have time to finish the last potion tonight. It is a tricky potion with multiple steps with quick timing, and the cauldron will be overly full; therefore, it cannot be left overnight on stasis for completion. It must be watched as it simmers, so it will be left for Monday.” He sounded curter than he’d intended, but the fact remained, she’d asked about the kiss. But which one, the one last week or just now? Probably both. He ground the poppy seeds a little harder than was necessary, trying to avoid her stare. This cannot happen! I am not going to seduce the girl. End it – just put an end to this and go back to your quiet, normal life – the one you deserve! “Go. I’ll see you again on Monday. Now go.”

Hermione nodded and turned to leave. “All right, sir. I’ll see you on Monday. Have a pleasant night.”

Not bloody likely! Damn bloody horntails – I wanted to kiss her! Again! “Good night.”

~TBC~

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Authors Notes:

The word list (swiped from the past week's list from dictonary.com) :

1. harridan

2. countermand

3. bagatelle

4. lachrymose

5. tremulous

6. repletion

7. potentate

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harridan \HAIR-uh-din\ , noun:

A worn-out strumpet; a vixenish woman; a hag.

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countermand \KOWN-tuhr-mand; kown-tuhr-MAND\ , transitive verb:

1. To revoke (a former command); to cancel or rescind by giving an

order contrary to one previously given.

2. To recall or order back by a contrary order.

3. A contrary order.

4. Revocation of a former order or command.

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bagatelle \bag-uh-TEL\ , noun:

1. A trifle; a thing of little or no importance.

2. A short, light musical or literary piece.

3. A game played with a cue and balls on an oblong table having cups

or arches at one end.

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lachrymose \LAK-ruh-mohs\ , adjective:

1. Generating or shedding tears; given to shedding tears; suffused

with tears; tearful.

2. Causing or tending to cause tears.

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tremulous \TREM-yuh-luhs\ , adjective:

1. Shaking; shivering; quivering; as, a tremulous motion of the hand

or the lips; the tremulous leaf of the poplar.

2. Affected with fear or timidity; trembling.

------------ ---

repletion \rih-PLEE-shun\ , noun:

1. The condition of being completely filled or supplied.

2. Excessive fullness, as from overeating.

------------ --

potentate \POH-tuhn-tayt\ , noun:

One who possesses great power or sway; a ruler, sovereign, or monarch.

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Shadow

I really enjoyed this story. You have a real gift for taking those words and weaving them into your plot seamlessly. Well done.