Fighting It

Severus and Hermione had quickly finished their detentions without anymore interruptions. They fell back into their routine. Hermione was almost sad to have her detentions end. However, she was happy to have her freedom back. She hadn't had time to study like she should have been already. Minerva was obviously keeping a very very close eye on the two of them, but all she would see was the same old rivalry between the two. However, there was a knew found respect she saw between the two. She was unsure if that respect was in romance or just a neutral respect.

Hermione found it very annoying by the Transfiguration's Professor watching her talk to Severus all the time. They never mentioned Drea again, though she knew that Severus would tell her if something terrible had happened. After all, she was the one that thought of Lucius as the main suspect. If she hadn't thought of him, then Severus would still be wondering who, not why. Every time that Severus would run into Hermione in the halls, he would tell her to watch were she was going. Sometimes she would ask questions about the homework, which they would talk on the way to his destination, or ask for more work, to which he gave more.

He was always glad of a student's interest in Potions, honest interest, not just going through the motions. Even if it was Granger that was the interested one. Out of an unintentional habit, the started meeting out in the Entrance Hall every afternoon and walk to the dungeons together for Potions class early. They would talk about different potions and argue about small differences that could potentially make a potion more permanent or not. Such as the potion Severus had just begun inventing himself.

It was a potion to permanently increase mind strength and end the permanent damage to the brain. Such as the Longbottom's. It would mean the world to Neville to have his parents memories back. They were arguing about whether Acrumental Venom would help or harm the potion. Hermione was all for it, however Severus thought it would cancel out the healing properties of the moonstone. They really had no way of telling until it was done. They were each brewing their own batch in silence, keeping to the basics, however using different ingredients at times. It wasn't a bet. It was just to see who was better. Just a simple competition. And Severus never back down from a competition.

Harry and Ron found it odd that Hermione was spending every free moment in the dungeons, claiming to have her detentions extended for running into Severus too many times in the hall. They never believed her, but since she knew more complex spells than them, they didn't push it. They did, however, start following her one night, hoping to find some answers. They were really slick though. Severus never walked the same corridor twice in one week, he always seemed to disappear in front of them, and Hermione never was ever seen going into the dungeons. It was maddening.

Hermione and Severus were meeting in his private chambers. It was the most quiet and they could talk and be themselves. They had become friends without even trying. And to Severus, he was glad he'd found a friend. Especially one as smart as Hermione. He wasn't thinking about Lily as much anymore, which he wasn't sure if that bothered him or made him thankful. He always pushed that thought out of his mind.

"Potter and Weasley are getting on my last nerve," Severus boomed, walking into his chambers to find Hermione already there working on her potion. Cheater. She smiled at him.

"Oh, and the last seven years they've been on your good side?" Hermione asked sarcastically, but with a hint of humor.

She had a point. He sneered, but said nothing. He went to his potion, which was a light green color. It was a pretty green, if he had a son, he would want the nursery to look that green. He shook his head severely. That was enough of that.

"How's your potion coming along?" He asked casually, adding a little more bezoar to his own.

"I believe its almost done. Just let it brew for another half hour and we will see," she said, smiling almost smugly.

In truth, he was impressed. If it worked, then she would get a reward and a chocolate frog card for her achievement. He was doing it just to pass the time. He had many smaller potions that he had made and already tried out on house elves that he knew worked. He didn't want the money, or attention. He'd made the choice several days ago that he would show his study to Hermione and ask her if she wanted to publish them. She could have the fame and fortune that came with it, he just never had the chance to tell her yet.

"Good for you, how are you going to test it?" He asked, intrigued on how her approach to house elf testing would be. He'd already gotten into a SPEW battle with her that ended in very harsh words and a very sore Snape. She was a very bright witch when it came to spells.

"I'll ask a house elf to, with pay of course."

"You will have to do memory damage to them, though." he told her softly. He didn't know if she remembered or not.

She was quiet for the longest. "I know."

Severus stopped stirring his potion. She looked upset at the mer thought of hurting another being. "Perhaps I could take it to St Mungo's. They have people there that have memory problems. Some family would be all to eager to have their loved ones tested. Even if they die, it'd be better than not remembering their family."

"Yes, that might be good." she replied, going to sit down on the couch.

Severus stirred for a few more moments before going to sit too. They sat on the same couch, Hermione doing extra work for Severus, while Severus graded third years essays. This was what Severus had always wanted. Just a friend to spend time with. A friend that didn't mind the silence of studying together, or both reading different books. He couldn't help but steal glances at Hermione every so often. Something was going on between them. And Severus was frightened to admit that he liked where it was going.

Thirty minutes had gone by and Hermione was about to go check on hers again when the door opened with a bang. She groaned inwardly as Albus stepped inside, his blue eyes harshly sparkling. She was unsure if that was anger or happiness, or both. She wasn't sure she liked any of those possibilities, either.

"Headmaster," Hermione greeted fondly, turning to check on her potion. It looked okay. She just wasn't sure if it was done or not. If it didn't work, she would start over. Simple.

"Albus," Severus greeted in a bored voice, not taking his eyes off the essay in front of him.

The little dunderhead clearly didn't listen to the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane. He rolled his eyes as he corrected it. He probably should stand up, put on his outer robe to cover his chest. He'd taken it off, with Hermione's permission, since he didn't want to scare her off, ten minutes earlier. He was now in his bottoms and socks. He normally walked around like this, but showing it to a former student, that could be considered a current student, it was a bad idea. Severus was done with following the Ministry rules and the Headmaster's rules too.

"Severus," he greeted in a warning voice.

Hermione wanted to melt into the stone behind her. She wanted to run back to the common room, but she knew that he would be offended by that. Also, she needed to see his input on her potion.

"Granger, how's your potion," Severus asked, still ignoring the old wizard.

Hermione wanted to correct him, like she'd taken a doing to lately to try to break his habit of calling everyone by their last names. But it wouldn't seem right with the Headmaster right there. "Not sure, could you check it, please. It looks done to me, but I could add some boomslang skin, or some sophorus bean juice."

Severus finally put his essay over and stood up. He walked around the table to check the potion. It was a slightly dark green than his was at the time. They must be on the right track. He smelled it. It had a peppermint smell, which would help with the taste, for kids. They couldn't test it themselves. "It looks good to me. Did you write down your ingredients and instructions?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes, copied them twice, one for me, and one extra for possibly the Healers to check with the patients family to see if they are allergic to any of the ingredients. I read somewhere that some witches and wizards develop either an allergic reaction to certain ingredients after permanent brain damage or become immune to the healing properties of ingredients that could help them. Which would make the potion unworkable. They will need to test the potion several times on different people to see if it does in fact work." She was thorough. He was impressed.

He nodded. "Good job, Granger, finally your over accomplishing brain is put to use," he said in an amused voice.

She smiled and laughed a little. Both forgetting that Albus stood at the door, still watching them with softer eyes. He knew what was happening, and didn't know if he would be able to stop it. He also knew he couldn't let it continue with him knowing about it. What a conundrum they had.

"I'll owl St Mungo's tomorrow and keep you informed on our mail. I expect them to return my owl no later than lunchtime, so I'll send the same owl with the response to you, wherever you are. Well done, Miss Granger," he said, giving her a small smile.

Hermione felt happy with herself. She got a smile and a well done from Snape. More than anything she got in all her previous years combined. "What about yours?"

"I plan to add more, see if that will help. I did put boomslang skin and sophorus bean juice already. So, it will have to brew overnight. I might be making something completely different, thought." he told her, starting to vial her potion.

She started helping. "Well, if my potion works for some of the damage, then yours could work for the other half of the damage. After all, clearing brain damaged cells of remnants of spells are hard, but getting the fully functions and memory back is just as hard. Half that battle is won by the healers, we just have to find a way to regain the functions of the brain."

She was right, once again. Half the battle was over, the harder part was still to come, though. And Severus wasn't sure if it was all about their project or not. He cleared his throat, his mind starting to wonder. She would stay until every single bottle was labeled and every vial filled, if Severus knew her. He stepped back, finally starting to know Albus in the room. He wanted Albus gone. He wanted to talk to her, get to know her more. And he couldn't do that with the Headmaster there staring at them as if they were locked in a passionate kiss.

Without a word, Severus nodded to Albus, for him to head into his office to talk privately. Hermione would be okay alone, and would still be there when he got back. At least he hoped. Albus went in the office and turned around slowly to face Severus.

"Severus," he warned shaking his head. " I told you to keep your distance."

"Albus, I won't keep away from intelligent conversations, which is why I enjoy her company. Nothing has happened, nothing will happen, I just want a companion that doesn't mind the silence of books and potions and quills. Not talking, just silence and enjoying the thought of someone else in the room. Is that so much to ask, Albus, after all I've done for you? After all I've sacrificed for you?" Severus asked harshly. He leaned against his desk staring at the Headmaster. He respected the man, and was thankful that he had helped him save Lily's son. However, the man was more insufferable than Hermione was when she was a child.

"Severus, you know where this will go," Albus simply said.

Taking a deep breath to keep calm, yes, it has come across his mind, but he had pushed it away every time. That kiss that happened last week in detention was a mistake, and neither talked about it again. No one other than the two of them knew about it, and they didn't intend to let anyone else know. "I can assure you, Headmaster that will not happen."

"Then, Severus, what is this?" Albus waved his hand to Severus' bare chest and bottoms.

Severus looked down at himself and shrugged. "I always were this in my private chambers. And yes, I did ask Granger for permission. I didn't want to scare her off. As I have stated, I enjoy her company, and her company only."

Albus moved to the door, clearly knowing this conversation was going nowhere. "Severus, just know, love comes in many forms, and once it comes, it won't go away." With that, he left Severus alone.

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