Chapter Text
Chapter One - Urgency
Hermione was chewing her bottom lip nervously. She was not one to let fear guide her, as a former part of the golden trio, she had conquered a multitude of challenges. This felt different, there was a sense of interest and mystique that made her heart race and her palms sweat.
She gave her reflection in front of her a disapproving look, while whispering “What has gotten into you?” She thought back, when did this crazed feeling emerge? She splashed cold water on her face and wrist. Pearls of water running down her arms and neck.
The moment that started this unusual feeling for him was about two months ago. The Potions master had asked for her help to collect a rare specimen of an insect to improve his healing potion for scars. Surely, he did not lack the skill and expertise to locate it himself. But it was a dangerous endeavour, as a sting of the mortiferum vesparum could prove lethal if an antidote was not injected right away. This at least explained the need for an assisting hand.
But why did he ask her and not some Slytherin seventh or eighth grade student? Well, it was a potentially life-threatening mission to collect this insect. It only made sense, that a student's life should not be endangered. Hermione on the other hand has proven herself time and time again to survive anything that was thrown her way. Not just survive, but also protect and save others - especially her best friends, who sometimes lacked her foresight.
Logically it all made sense - she was his colleague, who was brave and smart enough to help him, without the wrath of Madame Pomfrey having to treat a student that would potentially get hurt while helping Snape.
Hermione was teaching the younger students about Arithmancy, while under the wing of Professor Vector from the beginning of this term. Arithmancy, however, had nothing to do with helping to collect lethal ingredients…
Nearly two months have passed since their mission to retrieve this deadly wasp, but she was not able to forget him. The closeness that their journey provided must have driven her to this madness.
She is a woman in her mid-twenties and he is double her age. He was not exactly popular, but this did not matter to her. He was a former death eater and spy. This did not matter either, especially because he has proven his loyalty to the light side. He had risked his life to stand up to the one that shall not be named.
He was not typically handsome, but his natural elegance and wisdom made up for this. She would always choose character over beauty. She did not consider herself beautiful, just merely average and quite bookish. But her own character made up for all her external shortcomings.
“It’s getting late - I should head to bed now, so I can get some proper rest for tomorrow's lessons, I should not spend anymore mental effort on what can not be and may never be,” Hermione thought as she pulled herself away from the sink next to her lodgings.
Hermione picked up her night dress, as it was a hot summer night, the air pregnant with humidity. The dress was of a light green colour, made of satin. It had been a gift from her best friend Ginny. Ginny had told her that this colour suited Hermione especially “Green really is your colour! Let me buy this for you…who knows who might get to see you in this,”Ginny had exclaimed on their shopping spree, before Hermione joined the Hogwarts faculty to gather everything she may need in this new chapter of her life. Ginny was well aware that Hermione's love life was quite lacklustre - of course Hermione had been with Ginny's brother Ron for some time, but they both knew they were not a good match emotionally and intellectually.
Ron had some growing up to do, he did come a long way from when the both first met. But no amount of growing up could match Hermione's emotional and cognitive intellect. Hermione was unsure whether Ron was quite over her, but she needed to look out for herself first, no man would come between her and her career.
Hermione picked up her book about the History of witches in mediaeval europe. A topic that enraged her like nothing else. Men had always been jealous of a powerful and smart woman and used their weak egos and brutal ways to make sure not to let women rise to the top. Hermione read a few pages, but was not able to concentrate as the air was humid and heavy and her mind kept drifting off to a certain colleague. Calling him a colleague still felt foreign. But that’s what he was, even though she wished he was more than that to her.
She decided it was of no use to stay in bed, and slipped on her beige cardigan over her night dress. Pulling on her socks and oxford shoes, Hermione grabbed her wand and left her chambers behind.
The portraits were sleeping soundly and the castle was calm and serene. Without the loud and giggling students the castle had a fairy tale feel to it. The castle was much colder than Hermione’s chambers, which she welcomed with a shiver down her spine. Her fingers traced over the winding staircase bannisters, wishing it was something - rather someone else. “Get it together, Granger!,” she whispered again, talking to herself again - a habit that she had started rather recently, about two months ago…
“Miss Granger…what a surprise to see you up so late! What are you up to now?,” a familiar voice suddenly came out of nowhere.
Hermione had not seen or heard Snape come around the corner. She nearly shrieked, but was able to hold her tongue, Hermione was grateful that she was spared this embarrassment.
“I am no longer a student, so I am free to roam this castle whenever I please, Professor Snape,” Hermione tried to keep her voice stern but it came out rather breathy.
“Forgive me, I am getting used to this - your days of causing mischief are not forgotten, and frankly are not that long ago - at least in the long span of my career here. Now, may I ask what keeps you up so late?,” Hermione was barely able to make out Snape's features and the emotions behind it, but she was able to hear the smirk in his reply.
Becoming painfully aware of her night dress, Hermione pulled her cardigan around her tightly.
Snape was thankful that it was quite dark so Hermione would not be able to make out where his eyes were wandering. Hermione is truly a stunning woman - inside and out, he thought to himself.
“I can not sleep - summers are not my favourite, my chambers lack the coolness of these halls. May I ask you the same?,” she whispered back.
“Have you forgotten you are a witch? Surely with your intellect you’re able to cast a cooling spell in your chambers? I can also recommend a rather muggle device, if you prefer that - it’s called a ventilator,” Snape replied dodging her question in his usual condescending demeanour, which has only gotten worse since Hermione became his colleague.
“Well, thank you for that insight, but I prefer not to catch a cold from these spells and devices. Now, may I leave to seek some fresh night air?,” Hermione almost rolled her eyes.
“Very well...I was just about to head back to my quarters. I have been up working on the healing potion all night…,” Snape exhaled while sounding rather annoyed.
“Is something wrong with the wasp species we gathered? It was quite the endeavour, I hope it works out…maybe I can…somehow…give my expertise to it? Not that it matches yours of course, but two heads are better than one. If that would be alright with you, I have some spare time tomorrow -,” before Hermione could finish she was cut off.
“-tomorrow my potion will be spoiled already. Come with me, if you think your ‘expertise’ is somehow greater than mine,” Snape had already pulled Hermione by her shoulder, pulling her towards the stairs that led down to the potions classroom, which was located next to his personal laboratory.
Hermione had only seen his laboratory, when she helped him to carry the wasps container and gear into it. But she remembered how fascinating it looked, with all the vibrant vials - and suddenly remembered that it was much smaller than any spaces they had shared before.
Hermione blushed again, but before she could give it any thought that she was alone with Snape at night, without any prying eyes of students or fellow teachers, she heard the door creak open to his lab. Snape extended his hand to let her enter his lab first.
“Please take a look at the potion in the cauldron, Miss Granger. I’ll be right back to gather some more ingredients,” Snape said assertively to Hermione.
The door closed behind him, giving Hermione some time to realise where and with whom she was. She was not only fascinated by Snape's lab but by his endless knowledge on Potions. His mastery was more erotic than a perfectly shaped face for her, and his fingers were so skillful whenever he brewed. She wondered if these hands would ever handle herself in that way.
Hermione stood in front of the cauldron and looked inside. She knew the Healing potion should have a dark green colour and a grassy, medicinal smell once it was done. What was infront of her did however resembled a greyish-muddy colour and smelled rather unpleasant.
Could it be that Snape had to start over anyway? Doesn’t this mean that they could have waited till tomorrow afternoon?
This realisation made Hermiones feel the heat burn in her cheeks for the second time this night.