Chapter Eleven – We're Done Now

Hermione came back from a nice chat with Ginny in their Transfiguration classroom on Tuesday evening to find Severus in the living room, reading a letter. A tawny owl sat next to him, clearly waiting for something.

"Oh, Hermione. Good that you're here. Could you take the owl to the window? I think she needs to go back to the Owlery. Arsenius sent his reply", Severus added absent-minded. The letter must have been fascinating.

Hermione shrugged and took the owl into the bedroom. She opened the window and let the owl fly away.

When she came back into the living room, Severus just finished reading the letter and handed it to her. He took the large envelope and found the crystal phial inside.

Hermione looked down at the parchment.

Severus, my dear old friend,

it's been a long time since I've heard from you last and I hope that your letters will come more frequently from now on. I would love to hear about your research projects. You have to tell me if my book is helpful in class. You are the most skilled Potions Master that teaches with it and you have to tell me: Do the students get along with it? Is the description of brewing clear enough for first years? Are the selected potions easy enough or too advanced for their age?

I know you wouldn't lie to me just to stay friends or not to hurt my feelings. I'm planning on writing another schoolbook about potions and could use your advice.

About the potion you asked me to brew: It's ready and I send it to you with my best wishes for a successful curing. Whoever was unfortunate enough to be the victim of a Love Potion has my sympathy. You only have to heat the potion in the phial enclosed and – as you certainly know – it has to be drunk while still warm.

Sincerely,

Arsenius Jigger

Hermione looked up. Severus was watching her. "I suppose we head over to the Potions classroom and prepare the antidote", she said. He nodded.

They didn't talk while walking the short distance side by side. They both knew what they had to do – and they didn't like it.

+~*#

"Poppy, calm down", Dumbledore said. Madam Pomfrey was pacing in his office, hands clenched to fists and with a furious scowl.

"No, I won't calm down, Albus. How could you let that happen? She's only a child and he's… he's… you know how he is. He will hurt her – maybe he has already hurt her." Madam Pomfrey shook her fist at no one in particular. "Besides, this is highly inappropriate. She's a student, for Merlin's sake!"

"I know that, Poppy. If you let me finish my explanation, I could give you a reason why I tolerated this 'relationship'", Dumbledore said, smiling calmingly. He stood up and walked over to Madam Pomfrey. He took her hand and let her to one of the armchairs in front of his desk. "Now, sit down and listen to me."

Reluctantly, Madam Pomfrey sat down on the edge of the armchair.

"Good. Now, all of this started as an accident. Neither Miss Granger nor Severus intended to have a relationship. Mr. Longbottom accidentally created a strong Love Potion and Severus and Miss Granger had to surrender to it. It's very potent and it's not easy to overcome the strong emotions it creates. Both of them have tried, though. But the inevitable happened and they called for me. It is evident that both of them wanted to end the spell and they asked me to call you. But – as you know – you weren't available. The required antidote is a complicated and skill-demanding potion and no one at Hogwarts – except for you and the affected – is able to brew it. But they will receive the antidote in a few days, I suppose, and everything will be fine again", Dumbledore said. When Madam Pomfrey opened her mouth to say something, he raised his hand. "Wait, Poppy, I'm not finished. I know, of course, that Severus and Miss Granger's relationship is inappropriate. But if you could only see beyond that…" He sighed. "I know you know the facts. But you didn't see the two of them react to one another. Severus is much more open and balanced. He hasn't shouted for days. I'm aware that part of that is because of the potion's effects, but part of it is because of Miss Granger's presence. She's intelligent and has a thirst of knowledge not unlike Severus. They get along great and I've heard them talking about potions and research and scientific studies as if it were only small talk. So I decided to ignore the physical part of their relationship – which won't be a problem anymore once they took the antidote – and hope for a friendship to develop."

Madam Pomfrey just stared at him. "You can't be serious", she finally said. "Teachers and students aren't supposed to be friends."

"And why not?" Dumbledore's questioning eyes stared into Madam Pomfrey's.

"Because… because students have to respect their teachers", she said. "How can Hermione possibly respect Severus any longer? After all, they… were very… intimate."

"Ts, ts, ts, Poppy. Jealousy doesn't suit you. I'm confident that, one day, you will understand the way I handled this situation and why I did so. For now, however, I wish from you to go to your rooms and leave Miss Granger and Severus alone until they received the antidote. As for the rest of the school year, I expect you to treat Miss Granger like everyone else, should she come to the Infirmary."

"Yes, sir", Madam Pomfrey replied. "May I go now?" She stood up.

"Yes, of course. Take a nice hot bath and a good night's sleep", Dumbledore said warmly.

Madam Pomfrey nodded and walked out of the room without another word. Dumbledore looked pensively at the door and sighed. Absent-minded he stroked Fawkes head and murmured, "No, jealousy doesn't suit you, Poppy."

+~*#

Outside of Dumbledore's office, Madam Pomfrey paused and then took off towards the dungeons.

+~*#

Draco sat next to Pansy on the sofa in the Slytherin Common Room, waiting for Goyle to arrive. 'I just hope that he doesn't mix everything up', Draco thought and stole a glance at his watch. Pansy didn't notice; she was again talking about a shopping spree with her mother and her older sister.

Suddenly, a loud 'thud!' could be heard and Goyle stumbled into the Common Room. He seemed to be out of breath.

"Draco", he gasped. "You… have to… come to… the boys' bathroom… in the fourth floor. One of our first years… he's being attacked by… some Gryffindors. They locked the door!"

He'd told Goyle to call him out to the boys' bathroom in the fourth floor so that he could escape Pansy and finally start his plan to find out what Professor Snape was suffering from and what that mudblood Granger was up to.

"Why, thank you for telling me, Goyle. Pansy, I'm terribly sorry, but as Head Boy I have to go. I'll see you at breakfast." He headed for the door and was out of sight in no time. And, like he'd guessed, Pansy came running out of the Common Room, shouting, "Draco, wait for me. I love to see you handle things, especially when you get to punish Gryffindors." He shook his head. Pansy was one of the most simple creature he'd ever met – along with Crabbe and Goyle – and he just didn't understand why his father wanted him to marry her. If he was lucky, his father wouldn't be able to force him into this marriage – that depended on the length of his stay at Azkaban. He'd just have to think of a plan to get rid of Pansy.

Still deep in thought, Draco arrived at the entrance to Professor Snape's quarters and was greeted with an unusual sight. Madam Pomfrey, the Hogwarts' mediwitch, stood in front of the portrait, cursing. The man in the picture just grinned and said, "Why, a lady such as yourself shouldn't know those words." He sounded very amused.

Madam Pomfrey shot daggers out of her eyes at the portrait. "If you want to keep your place, you'd better shut up, or I'll depose you. Maybe a nice little spot in the attic, if you like", she said in a sugary voice. It sounded dangerous. Draco was used to Madam Pomfrey being rational and calm and in charge of everything at the Infirmary. To see her this… agitated seemed just completely wrong. She took a step towards the portrait. "I hear there are some ghouls up there that like to throw pretty portraits like yourself out of the highest towers. Maybe we won't ever find you again…"

Draco froze on the spot. Maybe this wasn't a good time to interrupt Madam Pomfrey. He could always come back later. He slowly walked back towards the stairs, keeping an eye on Madam Pomfrey. Unfortunately, he didn't see the suit of armour this way and walked straight into it. It made a loud, screeching noise and caught Madam Pomfrey's attention immediately.

"Draco Malfoy", she spat. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to speak with Professor Snape", he said, straightening his composure. He was a Malfoy and surely wouldn't feel intimidated by a crazy witch threatening a portrait.

"Hmpf", she snorted. "Good luck." She gestured for him to come forward.

He stood in front of the portrait and tried the password he'd heard a few days earlier. Nothing happened. "Why doesn't it work? It's the password!"

"I thought so, too. Obviously, it has been changed in the last few days, maybe even today, because the Headmaster didn't mention it." Madam Pomfrey looked furious.

"Why did you want to go into Professor Snape's chambers?", he asked, curious.

"None of your business", she snapped. "But why did you want to speak with him?"

"He's our head of house and there have been some fights in the last few days. It seems that the lack of his presence makes the students… more aggressive." Draco was surprised how plausible that sounded. Madam Pomfrey just grunted and turned away.

"Come on. You are quite good at Potions, right?", she asked. Draco nodded. "Good, you can help me, then. I'll brew the antidote myself, right now. We'll see how much longer they'll--" She looked back over her shoulder. "Come on, Mr. Malfoy. I don't have all night. We need to go to the Potions classroom and brew an antidote for Professor Snape."

"Antidote?", Draco wondered. But he quickly followed Madam Pomfrey. Maybe he wouldn't have to talk to Snape to find out what he wanted to know.

+~*#

"So, that's it", Severus said. He extinguished the fire and filled the potion in two glasses. "We only have to drink it and everything will be back to normal." He sounded sad.

Hermione looked at the acid green liquid and hesitantly picked up one of the glasses. "How long will it take to work?"

"About an hour", Severus replied and picked up his glass.

Simultaneously, they raised their glasses and downed the tasteless potion. Hermione shuddered. "It's cold", she exclaimed.

Severus nodded.

"But it says we have to take it while still warm!"

Severus nodded again. "It was still warm", he said. "Here, feel the glasses." He took her hand and handed her his glass. It was still warm. "It's how it works. The potion is still warm, but once inside the body, it cools down in seconds to eliminate the other potion. That's how antidotes work", he explained.

"Feels strange." Hermione sat down on one of the tables while Severus cleaned the cauldron he used to heat the potion.

"Hermione?" Severus had finished and came up beside her. She looked up. "I wanted to give you something. Before we…" He broke off and searched for something inside his robes. When he pulled out his hand, he held a little black cylindrical box.

She took it and examined it closely. It was rather heavy and didn't seem to open. "What is it?", she asked.

"You will see", he said mysteriously. "Whenever you need me, you can use it. It will lead you straight to me and open every door you come across. You just have to say 'lead me to Severus' and it will come to life. And if you are in danger, you can send it to me. Say 'get Severus' and it comes to alarm me. So keep it close to you."

"Oh, thank you", she said and hugged him closely.

"I just don't want anything to happen to you", he whispered into her hair. Reluctantly, he stepped back.

"I had a dream about us in this classroom, once", she said, smiling seductively.

"Yes, I can remember that one." He smiled.

"So tell me, Severus, what way would you like to spend the time until the antidote begins to work?" She began to play with a strand of her brown hair and licked her lips. "I could definitely use another happy memory."

Still smiling, he closed the distance between them and kissed her deeply.

+~*#

Severus sighed. He held Hermione closer to his body and savoured every detail of her – her smell, the feeling of her skin, of her body next to his, the way she responded to him.

They lay together on a blanket he had conjured up, still a bit sweaty and exhausted – in a good way exhausted. He could feel that the antidote had finally kicked in. He still liked Hermione – very much, in fact – but it wasn't all he could think of any longer. He managed to think of her as the student she was and not as the woman he loved.

"So, the antidote works", stated Hermione. Her head still lay on Severus' shoulder, and she didn't move to change that.

"I think so", he replied. "Maybe we should--"

He didn't get to finish the sentence because Madam Pomfrey and Draco Malfoy came in that moment.

"What the hell are you doing in here?", Madam Pomfrey asked with a shrieking voice. Draco just stood there, shocked.

Hermione and Severus were already covered in their robes, but it was evident that they were naked underneath.

"Didn't you lock the door?", Hermione hissed and frantically tried to dress under her robe.

"Of course I did", Severus snapped back. "But remember, students wouldn't bother to come here after classes. And even if they would, if they found the door locked, they'd leave. None of the other teachers ever come down here, except for Dumbledore. How should I have known I had to ward it additionally?"

Severus stood up and took out his wand. Madam Pomfrey and Draco just stood there, staring at them. 

"I'm sorry to do so, but I don't see another way", he said and pointed his wand at Madam Pomfrey and Draco. "Obliviate!"

Their expressions didn't change much. They still looked dumbstruck and confused, but now their eyes were glassy.

"You two will forget everything that has to do with what you saw in here. You, Draco, will go back to your room and go to sleep. And you, Poppy, will go to your chambers and sleep, too."

Madam Pomfrey and Draco turned around and left without another word. Severus turned back to Hermione, who had finished getting dressed, and said, "I have to tell Dumbledore about this. Do you think you can go up to your dormitory alone?"

Hermione nodded. "Of course. I have to get Ron, anyway. The Headmaster wants to alter his memory, too."

Severus nodded and collected his things. "I'll use Floo Powder and I will be gone before Mr. Weasley arrives."

For a few moments they stood there, looking at each other.

"Hermione, I think it would be best if we didn't see each other except for classes, at least in the near future. But I would appreciate your help with some of my research projects in some weeks' time, when we have a little more… distance", Severus said. He walked over to Hermione and hugged her shortly.

Hermione just nodded and walked out of the classroom.

+~*#

Hermione paced in front of the gargoyle guarding Professor Dumbledore's office. She was waiting for Ron to return. Dumbledore would tell him that she and Severus had suffered from a Swelling Solution and that he'd had a bad day last Saturday because a prank some third year Slytherins had played on him.

After what seemed like hours, the gargoyle moved aside and Ron stepped out.

"Hey, Hermione. Glad to see your back to your normal size", Ron said and hugged her. Hermione smiled and sighed inwardly, relieved that everything seemed to be all right. "You have to tell me sometime what Professor Snape looked like. It's a pity you weren't allowed to take photos. I'd love to have one of him, with his head as big as a pumpkin." Ron laughed. "You are so quiet. Are you all right?"

"Yes", Hermione said. "I'm just a little tired. Let's go back to the Common Room."

"Okay."

Together they made their way towards Gryffindor Tower. Halfway up the stairs to the fourth floor, Ron nudged Hermione in the side. "Look", he whispered. "Snape!"

Hermione followed his gaze. Professor Snape stood a few feet away, talking to one of the portraits. "Let's just go before he notices us", Hermione whispered back.

They went up the stairs, but Snape seemed to have heard them. He turned around and his eyes met Hermione's.

"Mr. Weasley… Miss Granger", Snape said, snarling a little. "What are you doing here, at this time of the night?"

"I had to see Professor Dumbledore, and now we are on our way back", Ron said.

"Well then, don't let me delay you", Snape said and stared at Hermione. 

Ron went down the next corridor before noticing that Hermione wasn't following. Maybe Snape wanted to harass her because she saw him bloated like a balloon, so he went back to check on her.

Keeping a little distance, he cold hear what they were talking. But they didn't say a thing, just looked at each other. Until, finally, Snape lowered his gaze.

"Goodnight, Miss Granger", he said without his menacing snarl.

"Goodnight, Professor", she replied and walked away slowly. Snape followed her retreating form and then shook his head. He, too, turned and walked away.

Ron stood there behind the column and thought about their strange behaviour. But then he shrugged and ran to catch up with Hermione.

The End