The Potions Master's Mistake

By Louise Hilton

Chapter 3 - Making Memories

A bell tinkled lightly as Severus opened the door to the Apothecary's shop. It was early morning and most of the shops in Diagon Alley were not yet open, but Severus knew the Apothecary's hours well enough to be there within a few minutes of opening. He liked to be there when it was quiet.

On this morning, however, he was not the first customer. A familiar witch stood at the counter, talking to Henry Livre who stood behind it. Livre was paying close attention to her, watching her with the same expression on his face that Severus had often seen on the boys at school when they had looked at her.

"I also need some of the fairy teeth, Nile water and spruce sap," she was saying. "Do you think it makes a difference whether you use fresh or dried nettle leaves?"

Severus waited patiently. Seven years in his classroom, and even now she had left the school she was still asking questions. It had annoyed him for most of her time at Hogwarts, but in the last couple of years she had learned to control her tendency to show off, and he had come to respect her thirst for knowledge.

"That all depends on what you're using it for," Livre told her. "Now, from these ingredients, I'm thinking you're brewing a pain-relieving potion, so I'd definitely go with the fresh. The potency would be the same but fresh helps the effects of potions last longer."

"Fresh, then," she agreed. "What about the Cloverweed? I've never used it before. Would you recommend using the whole plant or just the leaves?"

The apothecary scratched his chin. "I usually crush the whole plant, but I can't think why you'd want to add it to a pain-reliever."

The two of them had been engrossed in their conversation, and neither had appeared to notice Severus, but he decided to speak up.

"I believe that the Cloverweed would have the effect of helping to ease the worries of the drinker," he said, "especially if combined with an agent such as gryphon claw to lower the boiling temperature before the final simmer."

The witch turned and smiled brightly at him. "Professor Snape," she said, "it's good to see you."

Severus gave her a slight nod. "Miss Granger."

The apothecary gave him a cheerful greeting, but his glance never left the witch before him for too long. "Good morning, Professor! I have your order all ready for you. I'll just package up this young lady's items and I'll get it for you."

He continued to weigh out and package the items on Miss Granger's list as he talked - entirely to her.

"I know that most of the shops don't open for another hour or so, but there are a few of us that are early birds. I don't usually have many customers at this time of day, but there are some like the Professor here who like to pick up their orders early."

"Actually, Mr. Livre, I have several things I wish to add to my order," Severus told him. "I realize that it may take a while."

Livre received Miss Granger's money but seemed to hold onto the package for a moment, as though reluctant to have her leave. And the young witch seemed to be in no hurry. Livre turned to Severus. "I see you have a list, Sir. Organized as always. If you have other things to do in Diagon Alley, I'd be happy to put this together for you and have it ready for you to pick up when you're done.

Severus had nothing else he needed to do, and his main wish was to leave as quickly as possible, before the street got too busy with the students he would be seeing in only a few days at the start of term. Perhaps staying in the shop to glare at the apothecary would hurry up his work. He was about to say he would remain when Miss Granger spoke.

"Professor," she said, "I need to wait until Flourish and Blotts opens, and I was about to get a coffee. Would you join me?"

Severus hesitated. The idea of going for coffee with a student was absurd, then he remembered that she was not a student any longer. The idea of him going for coffee with anyone was unheard of, but it might be interesting to talk about potions with someone with her level of skill and appreciation of the subject. He glanced at the apothecary, who looked mortified by Miss Granger's invitation.

"Certainly," he told her.

She smiled and turned to thank Livre, then headed out of the door that Severus was holding open for her.

He felt awkward and uncomfortable. He simply was not the kind of person who interacted socially with people, and now to be walking through Diagon Alley with a former student was unknown territory for him. How did one 'chat', exactly?

"Was I correct about your reasons for adding Cloverweed to your potion?" he asked as they walked.

Miss Granger laughed softly. "Of course you were," she told him. "I hadn't thought about using Gryphon claw, but it would help a lot. I'd read about changing boiling points in 'Advanced Alchemical Achievements' but it hadn't occurred to me to apply it like that."

Severus couldn't help but be impressed. He knew of only a handful of potioneers who would make it through even the introduction to that book, but Miss Granger was an exceptional student. No, not a student, he reminded himself.

They reached the coffee shop and he held the door open for her. He was glad when she chose a table that was not in front of the window. The idea of sitting drinking coffee with her made him feel extremely self-conscious - he didn't need to be on view by people passing.

They ordered two coffees and he searched for something to say.

"You seem to be continuing with your potions studies independently," he commented. "Do you mind if I ask the purpose of your current concoction? It seems to have a rather specific aim."

A sad smile crossed her face. "It's for a muggle friend," she said. "I wouldn't try to interfere with muggle medicine, but her cancer is causing her a lot of pain. She's scared, and she's worried about her daughter and grandchildren. She probably only has a few months left, and I just want to make things easier for her."

"Who is she?" he asked.

"Her name is Mrs Shaw. She was my teacher in junior school. Well, she actually retired before I was born, but she still came in to help in classes. She was very kind. But then I've never met a teacher I didn't like."

She gave him a smile. He had been beginning to feel a little more at ease, but her comment caught him off guard. He had never really considered himself the kind of teacher that was liked by students. But then, coffee had been her idea. She surely wouldn't have suggested it if she disliked him.

He struggled to find a response and he had the distinct impression that she deliberately gave him time to be uncomfortable before she continued.

"I told her daughter that I was making a herbal remedy, and that she should mix it with her tea."

"You're very kind, Miss Granger," he said softly, not quite sure whether he was referring to her care for her friend or her comment about teachers.

"Professor," she said after a moment, "I'm not a student any more. Do you think you could call me Hermione?"

He coughed and took a sip of his coffee.

"I will try." He felt that etiquette dictated he should ask her to call him Severus, but he just couldn't do it. It would be difficult enough to use her first name.

She changed the subject. "When Flourish and Blotts opens, I have a new book to pick up. Well, it's an old book, actually. It's called 'Remedies: a potioneer's encyclopedia'."

He looked at her in surprise. "A very old book indeed. I have a copy myself. Not a first edition, unfortunately."

Miss Granger - Hermione - gave what was almost a giggle, and her eyes twinkled. "Then I'm lucky that I managed to snap this one up before you found it."

He raised his eyebrows. "Very lucky," he agreed. "That would have made a nice addition to my collection of first editions."

As they talked, Severus found that he was enjoying her company. They ordered more coffee as they discussed the books in his collection and it was refreshing to talk to someone who knew many of the titles and could appreciate their worth.

When she asked whether he read only potions books, he felt pleased to be able to tell her of his other interests and to discuss other subjects.

Her own library seemed equally eclectic, though understandably smaller. There was one area where her knowledge and her book collection vastly outshone his - fiction.

"For some reason, Hermione," he explained, trying out her name for the first time and attempting to make it sound comfortable, "the wizarding world does not produce much in the way of literature, and I have little access to muggle works. Flourish and Blotts has only a limited selection."

"I'd be happy to lend some to you," she said, brightly. She gave him a sly smile. "And perhaps I can borrow your first edition of Seruma Solute's 'Comprehensive Guide to Potions and Lotions'?"

At this, Severus heard himself actually laugh.

"Perhaps I can borrow your new acquisition," he countered.

"Deal!" laughed Hermione. "But not today. I get to read it first! Shall we walk over to the bookstore and I can pick it up now?"

Severus looked around the coffee shop uneasily. It was busier than it had been before, although he had not noticed anyone else arrive.

"I do not usually stay in Diagon Alley this long, especially just before the start of term. I only come at this time of year so my ingredients are fresh for the new year," he admitted. "I feel … uncomfortable… running into students."

"Then I'm glad I'm not a student," she said with a smile.

Severus had the appalling notion that he might be blushing.

"I have an idea," she said. "It won't take me long to read my new book a few times. How about we meet for a coffee a week on Saturday. We could trade books."

He hesitated, then pushed himself out of his comfort zone.

"I would like that," he said.

They agreed on a time and location - Mme. Puddifoot's in Hogsmeade, as it was not a Hogsmeade weekend for the students.

"I've just remembered," she said, suddenly, opening her bag. "I never go anywhere without books, and I do have one fiction in here that you might like."

"It does not surprise me in the least that you have books in your bag," he commented with a wry smile.

She pulled out a thick paperback and held it out to him. "Have you read it?"

He looked at the title: Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson.

"I have not. Thank you, Hermione. I shall return it when we meet."

"Goodbye, Professor," she smiled. "I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I'll see you next Saturday."

Hermione headed off in the direction of the bookstore, and Severus walked towards the apothecary Livre's shop.

Had he really just spent over two hours talking to Hermione Granger? The girl who had annoyed him so much for years? He had not only enjoyed her company, but he had smiled and even laughed. He did those things so rarely that he was surprised the muscles in his face even knew how.

He tucked her book into an inner pocket of his robes as he stepped inside the shop, hearing the bell tinkle.

There were a number of people inside the shop now - likely all picking up school supplies. A sixth-year boy nodded to him and muttered a brief greeting. Two third-years broke off their giggling as they saw him and hurried away to the safety of their parents, and a pair of twin boys with the unmistakable look of new first-years gazed up at him in awe.

"Ah, Professor Snape," called out Livre as he saw him, "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten your order."

Was it his imagination or was the wizard's smile less friendly than it had been?

"The customer that was here earlier ... " Severus suspected that he was trying to sound casual. " … is she a student of yours?"

"No," he responded, succinctly.

"She's a … erm … fascinating young lady. Beautiful, too."

Severus looked at him in silence, then turned away and left.

~~~ SS ~~~ SS ~~~ SS ~~~

Severus met Hermione twice in Hogsmeade before he decided to speak to Minerva.

They had exchanged several books and discussed them at great length and he had found himself smiling more and more often in her company. The last time they met, he had asked her to call him Severus and he liked the sound of it when she complied. Having never thought of it until Livre had mentioned it, he had decided that he wholeheartedly agreed with his assessment that she was beautiful. Everything from her bright eyes to her graceful hands and her incredible intellect was beautiful.

He knocked at Minerva's door.

"I would like your advice on a personal matter, Minerva," he said, without preamble.

"Then you had better come in, Severus," she said with a smile.

He sat down in the chair opposite her desk and was surprised when, without asking him, she placed a glass of whiskey in his hand.

"I would like to ask you about the propriety of a relationship with a former student," he said slowly, looking at his glass instead of at her.

"I see. Would this be a student who has only recently left the school?" She waited for his nod before continuing. "Did this relationship begin before she left Hogwarts?"

His eyes snapped up to meet hers, genuinely shocked at the idea.

"No!" he insisted. "I never thought of her that way at all. We barely said a word to each other outside of lessons. And not much even during lessons. I could never think that way about a student."

"I'm glad to hear that," she said.

"At the moment, there is no relationship. We met by chance in Diagon Alley and we've met for coffee twice in Hogsmeade. I don't even know if she's interested in being more than friends and I don't know if it would be right. I think many people would disapprove of a teacher in a relationship with a former student. And she's half my age."

Minerva looked fondly at him. "Severus," she said, "I cannot tell you whether or not you should pursue a closer relationship with Miss Granger, but as your colleague and as deputy headmistress, I will say that although it would be unconventional I would not consider it unethical. As your friend, I will say that the two of you are well-suited."

He started when she said Hermione's name, but then smiled at her words. "Thank you, Minerva."

By the time he left the office, his thoughts were entirely focused on the next day's coffee date.

~~~ SS ~~~ SS ~~~ SS ~~~

It took two more meetings before their fingers began to touch over coffee, and another before they were walking in the quiet paths around Hogsmeade holding hands as they talked.

In November, wrapped in thick cloaks and with a light snow falling around them, they stood in the small park on the outskirts of the village. Severus brushed a snowflake from her face and lightly caressed her cheek with his thumb. She looked up into his face, smiling her beautiful gentle smile. Tenderly, he bent to bring his lips to hers for the first time.

~~~ SS ~~~ SS ~~~ SS ~~~

Minerva Mcgonagall heard Pomona Sprout chuckle as they headed back to the school from the Three Broomsticks. She followed her gaze to where two figures held each other in an embrace.

"That's the way to stay warm," Pomona observed, then sighed. "Ah, young love."

A moment later, she stopped in her tracks. "Wait!" she gasped. "That couldn't be … Is that Severus? Who is he kissing?"

Minerva turned back to where her friend had stopped, staring. "That would be Hermione Granger." She took Pomona's arm and began leading her along.

"But ...Hermione Granger?"

"She's not a student any more, Pomona. Can you think of anyone else who would be Severus' equal for intellect and passion for knowledge?"

Pomona spluttered, trying to find words. "I did notice him smiling the other day," she said, eventually. "I assumed he was ill."

They turned a corner and the lovers were out of sight. Pomona seemed lost in thought.

Minerva smiled to herself, happy for her friend. The memories she had removed from Severus' mind were still safe in her office. She had long suspected that her final decision would be not to return those memories, and she felt that this confirmed that decision.

In time, Hermione might choose to tell Severus how long she had had feelings for him, and if she chose not to, that was her prerogative. In the meantime, the fantasies that should have remained private would be replaced by memories that they would create together.

Ah, young love, she sighed to herself.