Triangle of love

A/N: this is my first story so please have mercy... reviews are welcome!

disclaimer: I own none of these maybe just the plot... This applies to every chapter hereafter.

Chapter 1

"Today we will be brewing a potion that is part of your seventh year curriculum," Severus Snape sneered at his seventh year Potions class, cursing Albus for his insistence on pairing Slytherin and Gryffindor on Monday mornings, an exasperating batch, to say the least. "It is called the Polyjuice Potion. Many great witches and wizards have trouble brewing this nasty potion." Severus eyed Hermione Granger. He knew about the incident that occurred when she was in second year.

Hermione shifted uneasily in her seat as Snape sneered at her. Glancing at her best friends, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, she sent them a helpless look. Does he know?

Unfortunately for the students he called the Golden Trio, the small action did not go unnoticed by the Potions Master. "Potter!" he barked. Glaring at the Professor Snape, The Boy Who lLived gulped any nervous feeling he had knowing that whatever he did, the Professor would most likely dock points from their house.

"What are the ingredients needed for the Polyjuice potion?" Snape said, not more than a whisper. Unbeknownst to the trio, Snape was testing them. If Potter knew the answer, his suspicions will be confirmed that they were the ones particularly Miss Granger who stole boomslang skin from his personal stores. Being a Potions Master for almost twenty years now, he had a good sense of smell. There left a feminine scent in his personal stores the day it disappeared. He inwardly smirked as he had been waiting for this. It was a perfect place to vent his frustrations on. The revels and even the Order meeting were particularly taxing.

Harry sighed inwardly in relief. He could still remember Hermione reciting the ingredients from Moste Potente Potions way back in their second year. Almost as if it was only yesterday, he started answering the Porfssor's question with what Hermione kept reminding them their second year. "The ingredients are lacewing flies, leeches, fluxweed, knotgrass, powdered horn of a bicorn and shredded skin of a boomslang. And of course, you'll also need a bit of whoever you wish to change into." he breathed.

Snape inwardly grinned with malice. Perfect. "That little speech of yours confirmed my suspicions. Detention Miss Granger for stealing boomslang skin from my personal stores." Snape smirked. So convenient, good thing I waited all this time to punish them for it. The look on Potter's face was priceless.

Harry was surprised at the mention of Hermione's name but not as surprised as Hermione herself. " Professor, you must be mistaken. I----" Hermione started.

"Miss Granger, if I ever hear another word I will take fifty Points from Gryffindor. Understood?"

"Yes sir"

Ron was fuming with anger. His face was almost as red as his hair. If he did not want to destroy his bastard persona he would have laughed at loud at the comic look on the redhead's face. Five… Four… Three… Two… One.

"But sir! You don't even have proof that she took something!"

"Detention Weasley and 50 points from Gryffindor." Snape smirked. He could always count on Weasley to entertain him. He never failed to let his temper get the best of him.

Ron scowled, ready to have another retort. Fortunately for the Gryffindors, Hermione nudged him, giving him a look saying It's not worth it.

On the other side of the room, several Slytherins were particularly enjoying the torment their Head of House put on their least favorite Gryffindorks. Draco Malfoy was one of the said Slytherin. "Better make that 100 Professor. Those three will without a doubt cause more trouble, sir."

Hermione sent a death glare at his direction.

"That's enough. I will assign your partners. As you dunderheads probably don't now, the Polyjuice Potion will be completed in a month. You will be working together for that time period and I expect no scuffles to break out." Snape eyed them disdainfully.

"Crabbe, Longbottom!" Neville paled. He was bracing himself for a month of distress and stupidity.

"Patil, Zabini!"

"Bulstrode, Weasley!

"Potter, Goyle!" Harry groaned and Snape heard it. "Ten points from Gryffindor Potter!"

Draco snickered as Harry was glaring at their Professor's back. He continued the names. Hermione fidgeted when her name was called with none other than Draco Malfoy.

Snape was amused at Hermione's reaction. "Miss Granger, is there a problem?"

Hermione bowed lest her anger be unleashed on their most unforgiving Professor. "No sir."

"I think it would be amusing to see our Head Girl and Head Boy working together. Wouldn't it?" It pleased Snape that no further comments were said. Unless of course if you count Draco's scowl.

Draco scowled.

"Now get your ingredients and get to work!" Snape barked.

Not budging from his seat, Draco glared at the Head Girl. "I hope you didn't expect me to go there Granger."

Hermione scowled, hating this day more and more. She gathered her thing and dumped them at Draco's table.

"You better not mess this up Malfoy." Hermione retorted.

"I'm not the mudblood here. Us purebloods never mess anything up." smirked Malfoy.

Knowing better not to cause any more trouble, Hermione kept her mouth shut. Hermione sighed as she thought that a long month was ahead of her. She just wished that Draco could be a bit more amiable. Maybe then he would be easier to get along with.

Snape heard the exchanged between the Head Boy and the Head Girl. Even as hard as they pretend the war isn't upon them, they cannot deny that the petty arguments they have within Hogwarts was nothing compared to the anguish they would most likely endure in the battlefield.

Voldemort was still undefeated. Albeit, he was quiet recently, he was most likely waiting for the right moment to strike. Since it was Potter's last year, Dumbledore asked him to keep a closer watch on the Trio. Added to the responsibility of watching his own Slytherins being recruited to the Dark Side, he had a very hard job, indeed.

Being a spy certainly has taken its toll on him. Though he wasn't much at Voldemort's good graces, he was still able to stop minor attacks he was being informed with. With most of the Order placing the blame on him as more families were attacked, it was getting hard to keep his façade up. Questioning his loyalties will get them and himself nowhere.

Looking at Potter, Weasley and Granger, he wanted them to know that his hard work will be all for naught if they kept up with their dangerous ways. Death Eaters were more than willing to serve their heads on the platter for the Dark Lord to feast on.

It couldn't be denied that the Granger girl had so much potential. He couldn't understand why she remained friends with Potter and Weasley. She could be greater without them. He always thought that Potter and Weasley were pulling her skill down. He hardly thought them good influence on her. She should have known better than go frolicking with evil. He sighed, that must be what friendship is. Through association with Potter, she had been a number one target of the Death Eaters. Voldemort's cohorts were aware that she is the brain of their escapades.

His gaze, remaining on Miss Granger alone, she couldn't help but notice that she wasn't a girl anymore. She turned out to be a lovely young woman over the years. In that moment of weakness, he allowed himself to really look at her. Her waist length brown curls that weren't as bushy as before swayed with each movement she made. Her hands were delicate and so precise in the art of Potion-making. Her cinnamon- colored eyes was enough to send him to distraction with its changing colors to go with hr emotions. And that sensual mouth, dear God that mouth of hers could drive a saint to lustful thoughts.

Severus stilled. He inwardly slapped himself for thinking those thoughts. If Minerva McGonagall knew what he was thinking of that student of her she would castrate him herself. He was thinking too much of the female student as it is.

He believed that the Hermione Granger wasn't aware that she had been turning quite a lot of heads over her direction over the past few years all over Hogwarts. He had caught a number of boys from different houses, Slytherin included staring at her along the corridors or even in the Great Hall. He even caught a few younger students staring at her picture under their desks during his lecture, knowing that that damned Creevey boy was probably the one manufacturing it. He knew she didn't care what others think of her. She has her own little world with her books. He admired her intellect and thirst of knowledge even if he proved otherwise, not that he would admit it to anyone, of course.

He didn't know why Malfoy should mind being her partner. She was a diligent student and a promising Potions Mistress. He shifted his gaze towards the platinum blonde boy. Somehow, he pitied Draco Malfoy. He knew what Lucius expected his son to be. Lucius complained to him that Draco should be given something to think about. Draco has been hesitating to join the group of Death Eaters. The knowledge alone would've displeased Voldemort more than anything else. The reason why Lucius kept it from the Dark Lord is that his displeasure on the Malfoy family would make his wrath turn on Lucius. Nobody particularly enjoys the Cruciatus. Lucius being the right hand man of Voldemort was expected to continue the Dark cause.

Then suddenly, Draco did something unbelievable. For some reason, Snape's insides clenched. Snape caught Draco glancing at Hermione with an uncomfortable flicker in his eyes...