Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I am Steve Vander Arse. I am plotting to take over JKR's world. Psyche! Or is that Sike!? Anyway, have fun with this tragedy, I mean, parody.

Thanks go to poor ladyinthecloak who valiantly offered to snicker at beta this for me.

A week later, Hermione was sitting in Snape's chair looking over their notes while he went up to get something from the infirmary. Collin Creevey came in. "Hello, Hermione."

"Howdy, Collin, what's up?" she asked cautiously. What was this little bloke doing here?

"Well, I just wanted to show you something, and oddly enough I thought you might be here."

Hermione blinked. "I have er... detention. Yeah, that's it."

"Yes, he does give you detention often, doesn't he?" Collin grinned. "I think the old bat has a crush on you. Look at this."

He pulled out a still portrait from a folder and handed it to Hermione. It was a picture of her sitting in the Great Hall. Snape was about five feet behind her, looking at her. He had the softest expression that she had ever seen on his face. Her stomach tingled. Could he really look at her like that? And, if so, why didn't he do it where she could see it? She cleared her throat.

"Collin, I think you are mistaken. Either he was looking at something else or smiling about something he'd recently heard. Surely this hasn't anything to do with me!"

"Or smiling because he knew he would be seeing you later on that evening in detention. I just wanted you to be on the look out, that's all. Don't need no old professor trying to get his hooks into you," Collin said sweetly, obviously worried. "You want that picture?"

She nodded. "Yes. I'd like to keep it."

"Thought you might," he said with a smirk and turned to leave.

She slipped the photo into a notebook and went back to reading. Or trying to anyway. That photo had done something to her. Could her professor actually have a 'crush' on her? It wasn't possible. They had become great friends. He had even slacked off on everyone in class. Well, mostly. Neville still seemed to irk him beyond reason. She did realize that she found him more appealing than ever before. He was just so cute in a brooding, older man sort of way.

"I have it," he said, walking into the class.

And she noticed she loved the way he walked. It was as if each step was filled with purpose, power, and dares for anyone to challenge him. And his robes. Oh how they billowed out behind him! Sweet Nimue's cousin's uncle! It was as if he was some dark angel come to take over the world.

"All right, but I was reading this. Something just doesn't seem right. It's like if we add that, it will react adversely with this, its counterpart." She pointed to the notes. He didn't say anything. She looked up into his face. He had a blank expression. "What?"

"I hadn't thought of that," he said simply, apparently in awe of her brilliance.

She smiled, pleased with herself.

"I think though if we reduced the amount of the first one and added this amount, it could work."

"But the first one is stated exactly in the step process. If we alter that, we alter everything. There's just something else," she said, more to herself than anything.

"I have an idea," he said and walked into his office. While he was in his office, he took a large sip of scotch from his bottle. That was the third time she'd pointed out something that should have been rather obvious to him. He didn't mind though. They worked well together. She was quite pleasant company. If he was in a sour mood, she would keep quiet. If he felt like talking, she would talk. He'd caught her staring at him often. He could only imagine what she thought when she saw him. Could she possibly be interested? He found the small vial that he had come in for. "Let's try this," he said.

"Awareness. Clever," she agreed. "Maybe just a few drops, and then I will test it."

"You will not be testing anything here. Only I will be," he told her sharply.

"Prof... Severus, you always test everything. I think it is time to give your body a break. I trust you will take good care of me if this doesn't work. Just lay me on your couch until I wake up," she said, waving her hand as if the answer had been there the whole while.

She wants to give my body a break, does she? Wants me to lay her on the couch, eh? he thought wickedly. He'd love to be the caretaker for once. That much was true. But would he be able to stop himself from kissing her as she had kissed him that once (though he was not supposed to know she had done it)?

"We'll see."

They added a few drops to the already bubbling potion. "Now, one drop of this," he instructed her as he stirred. She did as he asked. He stirred it once more and turned down the fire. "It needs to simmer for five minutes."

"Will you let me try?" she asked. She hoped that he would. She hated seeing him in his weakened state. He was too strong and too vital to be knocked down so much. She wouldn't mind being a tester.

"Hermione... is there any possibility that you could be pregnant?" he asked suddenly. He saw her cheeks redden. He hoped this discussion would lead to something else.

"No, I am not," she said positively.

"Precautions don't always work though. Do you want me to do a scan on you just to be sure before you take the elixir?" He had to keep a smirk in check as she turned an even deeper shade of red.

"Trust me. I'm not," she said and then shrunk back a little as he leaned in closer.

"How can you be so sure? Tested yourself lately, have you?" He raised an eyebrow.

She bit her lip. He loved that. It made him want to bite it for her.

She looked down. "I've never... I haven't done anything of the sort... to, you know... get that way."

"I find that hard to believe, Hermione. Someone as pretty as yourself, you must have a beau or two," he pressed.

"No, really. I've told you before. There was only Harry, and we never... never did that." She brought her eyes up to meet his. What's he really asking me this for? she wondered. He should know better than that. She never went around school with anyone. And had he called her pretty? She must have misunderstood.

"What about Mr. Creevey who was just in here with you moments before I came back?" He smirked at her shocked expression.

"He was just here to..." She couldn't tell him.

"To what?" He shook his head as if in disgust, though he wasn't. "Was he asking you on a date then?" He wanted to laugh at her outraged expression.

"Certainly not! He was here to give me a photo. Thought I might have wanted it, that's all," she said heatedly.

He loved to get these little rises out of her. Photo, eh?

"I see no photo, Hermione. Are you being truthful? You can talk to me, you know," he said in an unbelieving tone.

He saw her face turn red as she opened up her notebook and handed him a photo. He had to force back a shocked sound. It was of her... and him. Was that how he looked at her when he thought nobody was watching? He'd have to remember to have a talk with Creevey, the little bugger! "Why did he think you would want this?"

"He didn't say, sir. Just said he thought I might." She looked away.

He must have said something else. He'd find out exactly what it was one way or the other.

"Really? Is that all? I might just ask him where he gets off coming into my class after hours to deliver photos of me to my assistant," he threatened.

"He doesn't know I am assisting you. He, like everyone else, thinks that I have detention. Again. So, he thinks... he thinks that you like me," she said softly, not looking at him.

"Why would I give detention to someone that I liked? And, by the word liked... does he mean, romantically interested?" He knew he was pushing it a bit far, but this was working out better than he had thought. Maybe he would give Creevey points for this.

"Well, everyone feels that my detentions are unfair. For no reason. So, yes, I think he believes that you... would like to know me better in... a romantic way," she said in a tight voice and seemed to tense as if waiting for a verbal assault. When none came, she spoke again. "Then he saw this photo, and he said that you were like looking at me like... you liked me."

He handed the photo back to her and went to check the elixir. "It's done simmering, and now we will let it sit for five minutes," he announced needlessly. When he turned around, she was gaping at him. "What is it?"

"Well, aren't you going to tell me to get out?" She seemed shocked.

"Why would I do that? Are you not going to test my... our elixir?" he asked in mock innocence.

"But I told you the rubbish he said. You aren't angry at me?" She looked afraid to hear his answer, but she also looked like she wanted to hear it.

"Hermione, I don't care what little children say about me. No, I don't like that he or anyone would speculate about my personal feelings toward anyone, much less a student, but I have other matters at hand." He pointed to the elixir behind him. "It is not your fault. And, trust me, I will deal with him later."

"Please don't get him into trouble. He was just..."

"I say, Hermione, do you want what he said to be true?" he asked suddenly.

She blinked. How could she answer that directly? He was more or less a human lie detector, what with all his knowledgeable ways to detecting falsehoods. He even did it in ways thought to be incorrect--at least to Muggles! She went with the best and near honest answer that she could muster. "I don't know."

This time he blinked. She must. Victory. He had thought so, but he chalked it up to wishful thinking. "Hermione, don't you find me a bit old and dark for your taste?"

"No. Wizards live long lives. You are still young, just not as young as I am. I am a bit mature for my age anyway. And besides, I used that Time-Turner back in my third year, so it totally added a whole year to my age. As far as dark, I rather like it. I feel... safe here. And you like the things that I like, but I know it's what you said. I'm just a... child. Just don't stop letting me come here, I rather like it," she said softly.

Now that he had heard what he wanted to hear, he didn't know what to say. She seemed confused about it. He didn't want to push her. What could he say? She looked as if she felt rejected already just by his silence. He knew what to say.

"Hermione, if ever I were to choose anyone, it would be you. I find you irresistibly attractive. Not just your looks. Your brains. Your courage. Your loyalty. I commend all of those things." He tipped her face up, and he saw fear in her eyes. "I'll never stop you from coming here. I like you here."

She smiled softly, and he could have kissed her. Could have, but didn't. "Thanks, Prof–Severus."

"Are you ready?" he asked, nodding at the elixir.

"Yes, let's do this."

"Hermione, I don't like the idea of you taking something like this. Let me take it."

"No, please, let me contribute something more here." Her eyes were pleading with him.

He didn't say anything. He simply poured a small amount of it in a glass, and then he handed it to her. She took it in one gulp. He sat down and looked at her for any signs. His quill was ready to record her stages.

"I feel like I know what everything is around me. That's the awareness, isn't it?" He nodded. "I can feel my skin as if it is alive."

He wrote down the things she was saying and the way she looked. She looked at the candle next to her. "Nox," she said. The candle flickered. "Nox." This was said more firmly. It went out. She jumped for joy! "Did you see it?"

He smiled. They were definitely getting closer. "I think we may be on to something here," he allowed, though he knew the potion wasn't through yet. They had been let down too many times before.

"Wingardium Leviosa," she said. His inkbottle rose a few feet into the air. She smiled broadly. "Finite Incantatem." The ink dropped down to the desk and spilled. "Sorry, Professor," she said sheepishly. "Scourgify." The mess cleaned itself up.

"You are doing very well with your verbal commands. Tell me how you feel right now," he said.

"I feel like I could rule the world. I feel... I feel tired. I would like to sleep, I think," she said, suddenly drowsy. He got up and put his arms on her to steady her.

"We just need to get you a bit from my vial to strengthen you, but make no mistake. We are close. We just need to figure out precise amounts to add in," he said softly. "We'll be done soon."

She leaned into him fully. "I am glad, but sad."

"Why?"

"I don't want to have to stop coming here," she whispered, closing her eyes. He just held her to him for a moment. Her head seemed to belong on his chest. How could this girl... this know-it-all... this slip of a chit... have come to touch him as she did? He scooped down to pick her up. She barely weighed a thing, though he knew she ate. He saw her every day at meals. Usually, she ate quickly and scurried off to the library.

He brought her to his office and laid her on the couch. She looked so lovely when she slept. He kneeled down before her and moved strands of hair away from her face. On impulse, he pressed his lips to hers. Soft lips. He pulled away quickly to go search for his vial of strengthening potion. He brought it back to his couch and noticed the way her robes had crept up. He could see her bare legs. Nice. Ooh, and look at those sexy ankles. Mmmm. He shook his head. Now was not the time.

"Hermione, I need you to drink this." She didn't move. He lifted her head a little and brought the vial to her mouth. With a finger he pried her mouth open and let a small portion go in. She choked just a little, but it went down. Her tongue swiped at his finger, and he felt a jolt all the way down to his manhood. He felt desire pulse through him. He wanted her. This girl: Hermione Granger. But what was it he felt exactly? Lust? Love, dare he say? No, it wasn't that. It was lust, yes, but also kinship. He cared for her, but love? Not yet, if ever. But maybe.

"Severus..." she whispered, just to say it. She savored the way it sounded on her tongue.

"I am here," he said softly.

"We almost did it," she said, not opening her eyes.

"Yes, almost. You just rest a little while," he commanded softly.

"Can you stay with me?"

"I will."

She slept on the couch for a while as he dozed sitting on the floor next to her. That was how Harry found them. Severus heard someone clear his throat. He opened his eyes.

"I would like to talk to you," Harry said.

"Potter, what are you doing out at this time of night?" Snape asked, irritated.

"I want to talk about Hermione." Potter looked vicious.

Snape looked to where Hermione was lying behind him. Still sleeping. He got up and walked to the door. They went into his classroom. Severus closed the door so that Hermione could not hear them.

"What's wrong?" Snape asked innocently.

"Why is she still here? Sleeping on your couch?"

Demanding little snot, wasn't he? "Potter, as you well know, we are working on your elixir. Tonight, she insisted that she try it. I must admit we have come closer than before," Snape drawled. "Is there some particular reason you are so worried about her?"

"I'm afraid for her, Snape," he said quickly.

"That's Professor Snape, Potter," he sneered. Severus narrowed his eyes real dangerous like. "And why on earth would you be afraid for her?"

"Because... because I think she loves you. I don't want you to hurt her," Harry said, watching him closely. Could Snape, of all people, care about Mione? His Mione?

"I would never hurt someone I care for," Snape said quickly.

"That's not good enough. How do I know you care about her?" Harry demanded. "I love her. I want her to be happy. If you can guarantee that you can make her happy, I will support any relationship between the two of you."

Severus wanted to swat the brat. As if he needed his approval to become involved with Hermione. Of course, some sort of truce on a personal level with Potter would be to an advantage. The Slytherin smiled. "I do care for her, Harry." He watched Harry step back at hearing his first name. "Right now we are just testing the waters. Being friends. If it develops, it develops."

"It's important to me. She needs something stable. Of all the men here, I do think that could be you. It may as well be you if anyone. You both like the same things. I think you would give her what she needs," Harry said softly. "I am just afraid you'll be killed and leave her alone. I don't know if she could handle that."

"We all take that risk," Snape pointed out.

"Not like you do," Harry said simply.

An emotion swelled in Severus' chest. It meant a lot to hear Harry Potter say that, almost as if he was appreciated for what he did. Yes, he did put his neck on the line every time he went off to meet with the Dark Lord, didn't he? Any time that he went could be the last time.

"Just... just love her. She's beautiful, smart, emotional, caring... She's everything I ever wanted."

"Harry, thank you for... thank you for this. Though I don't know why I am being nice, as I have been accosted in my own dungeons!" Snape smirked. "I can't say that I love her, but I can say I care for her, and it's the first time I have felt anything on an emotional level since your..."

"Since what?" Harry said. "Sorry, didn't catch that?"

"Since before you were born. I just mean to say it's been a long time is all," Severus said cautiously. He'd almost let his relationship with Lily slip out. He could never do that. "And, Harry, just how did you know exactly where we were?"

"A spare bit of parchment," Harry replied with his own smirk. He was trying to get into Snape's mind. Severus could feel it. He always had his blocked though, so no illegal entry for him.

"Don't trust me, Harry?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Just checking," he said. "Please don't tell her I told you this. She would kill me. I know she'll never tell you. But I wanted you to know. That way if you didn't feel something, I could maybe dissuade her somehow."

"I'll not tell her," Severus agreed. Harry threw his cloak over himself and disappeared. Snape watched his classroom door open and close. Damn! He could have taken points for that! He must be getting soft. He turned back to his office.

It felt though as if something had lifted from his heart. Harry approved. Harry. The Boy Who Lived. Lily's son. All these years he had looked at Harry and saw James. James who'd married Lily. But he was Lily's son as well. He'd never thought of it that way. Though he would never tell Harry anything, he did feel better now that they had made a personal truce of sorts. They worked well together on Order of Phoenix issues, but that was it. Thanks to Hermione, he could finally make peace with that part of himself. The part that never forgave James for taking Lily. The part that never forgave Lily for choosing James.

Severus knew he'd have to stop referring to the boy as Hairy Pooter, which normally gave him mental joy. If they were to have a truce... that would be uncalled for.

Hermione was just sitting up when he came back in. "Are you all right?"

She stretched like a cat. "Yes, I felt so weak though after that. Is that how you felt?"

"Something like that," he admitted. He looked at her slightly tousled hair and sleepy expression. The things he could do to her...

She tried to stand, but fell back onto the couch. "Oh, my..." She giggled. "Can I just stay here then?"

He gulped. How could he sleep soundly with her in here? No. "Yes." Damn. "But you can have my bed." Eh?? He saw her eyes grow big and her lip being bit again. "Not comfortable there?"

"Well..." she stammered. "I mean to say..."

"Hermione," he smiled softly. "I would be staying on the floor."

"No, I will just go back to my own room then," she said quickly. She looked afraid. He could see her shaking. He'd not push her though.

"I'll bring you," he offered. She just nodded. He stood up quickly and picked her up.

"Oh!" she gasped. "I can... I can try to walk."

"Nonsense," he drawled and headed for her dorm. He made it there quickly. Her slight weight didn't worry him in the least. It seemed all those hours of working out had paid off. Once at the portrait, he tried to put her down, but she was too shaky to stand. He looked into her eyes. She was more nervous because he was holding her. That was the cause of this. He smirked. "Want to say your password?"

"Mudblood," she said. He raised an eyebrow and looked at her questioningly.

"Draco and I thought it would be safe to say nobody would guess that, as I would not stand for it. Sometimes we use ferret and the like." She grinned sheepishly.

He simply chuckled and went through the hole. Once again, Draco was sprawled out near the fire with a girl. "Ten points from Slytherin!" Snape said wickedly. Draco shot up, eyes wide, trying to cover his crotch with his hands. He was too shocked to say anything.

Snape in our dorm! Holding Hermione.

His mate sat up, and Snape grinned evilly. "Thirty points from Hufflepuff!" She began scrambling to get her clothes together. Severus made his way to Hermione's room. The door was open already, and he could see dreadful Gryffindor colors. He kicked the door closed behind him. Instead of bringing her to the bed, he brought her to the bathroom and set her down. "Do what you have to do. I will be right outside this door if you need me."

Hermione watched the door close and nearly fainted. Severus Snape! A gentleman! Poor Malfoy and Susan though! Well, it would serve Draco right. He might want to use the bed now. How unfair, though, that he'd taken more points from Hufflepuff than from Slytherin. Quickly, she brushed her teeth, washed her face, used the loo, and dressed in her spare pajamas that she had in there. She always kept an extra set of clothes for just in case. Unfortunately, they were a tad skimpy. Small, dark green, silky sleep shorts and a matching silky halter-top.

She pulled her hair up in a ponytail and walked to the door. She paused. He was interested in her. It was all over his face, but he was holding back. School rules and all. And she had as much as told him that she was interested. He had said she was irresistibly attractive. Then he went on to name her qualities. So, he didn't think she was a raving beauty, but neither did she. But at least he had the maturity to see past outside appearances or bloodlines. He was still attracted to her. She smiled.

Just as she turned the knob, the door opened, and she almost fell on him. He said, "Did you call for me?"

"No," she replied. Had she said his name out loud?

"I am sorry, but at least I see you are... dressed." He was taking in her sleep attire and her pulled up hair. She reddened just a bit. "I approve of the color. It would match nicely in my own rooms."

She smiled shyly. Did he mean for her to be in his rooms wearing this? "I like my house colors, sir, but I've always had a thing for dark green."

He smirked and picked her up. She still seemed so unsteady. Pulling back the blanket and sheets, he placed her on the bed gently. His eyes never left hers as he placed his lips against hers for just a moment. Then he pulled the bedding up over her. "Good night, Hermione Granger."

She was stunned. He had kissed her! It was only a chaste kiss on the lips! But it had surprised her just the same! His lips were soft and warm and felt much thicker than they looked! She wanted to feel them again, but said nothing. She stifled a yawn. "Good night, Severus Snape."

He nodded and left her bedroom. As he closed the door to her room, he grinned wickedly. This courting was playing nicely. Courting, was it? Hmmm. He would have to go back and dissect everything he and Potter had talked about. He looked toward Draco's room. There was a crack in the door. Snape figured he was watching to see how long he'd stayed in Granger's room. Hoping to catch him in the midst of a dirty deed, was he? Snape sneered at the partially open door, and it promptly closed. Draco must have thought he had seen him. Snape chuckled and made his way back to the dungeons. Unfortunately, he'd not be able to sleep for a while. Just thinking of her in that bed, in those sexy clothes. His colors. The way she looked as he put her down. Hubba hubba. Her eyes half closed in a dreamy state. He would like to see that again. In his own chambers.

Soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Whoot! Chapter End ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AN: Protector Harry at your service.