Polyjuice Passion

A/N~ Part of my list of interesting topics.  Here is one to enjoy.  There will only be three chapters... So enjoy this short story.

Part 1

Severus sneered at the empty spot on the shelf.  The shelf marked 'boomslang skin' in his potions stores was empty again.  He was suspicious that Potter and gang had taken from his stores in several years ago.  He was all but sure that it was Potter again six years ago, but it turned out that it was the lately departed Dark Lord's henchmen.  Now he was certain that Hogwarts new Defense Professor had really done it this time.  There was just something about that boy that seemed suspicious now more than ever.  If it wasn't the quick glances, it was the constant startling of the boy whenever he entered the room.  The boy blushed as if he was guilty of something constantly.  Guilt, he had to be guilty, that was the only explanation.  Severus smiled to himself, he would beat the boy at his own game.

Harry on the other hand, just down the hall was berating a seventh year Gryffindor for getting into the Potions stores.  He had found the boy picking up his spilt bag, and ingredients he knew were not approved for student possession outside the classroom were scattered all over.  

"Brian, I had more faith in you than this.  Boomslang skin, moonstone dust?  Both of these are highly volatile and can't be used outside the classroom.  I am confiscating your entire bag, and its contents.  You will have detention for two weeks with Hagrid and Grawp.  Expect more once Professor Snape is made aware of your escapades." Harry was stern, and his glasses had slid down his nose delivering an even harsher picture.  The sandy haired boy grimaced and strode off towards the tower.

Harry sighed and collected the bag and contents.  Once at his office he deposited them, not really wanting to start the investigation into what the student had been planning. A knock sounded on his door and he straightened himself. "Come in." he said with his best professor voice.

"Harry." Hermione said in greeting.

Harry looked up at his friend and the new charms professor.  "Hey. Just found a student getting into trouble, how’s that for a day?"

Hermione quirked her eyebrow at him and sat down opposite.  "Have you been using that old potions book again, Harry?"

Harry stared at her for a moment, and groaned.

"You know how I feel about the book, it’s my only thread to what I can't have, and of course I have been reading it over and over.  I told you, I hope to figure out a way to impress him. He has thought of everything though, I can't even come up with a simple potion or recommendation to improve on his work." Harry sighed and he covered his face in his hands.

"Why would you look?" She asked, concern etched across her pretty face.

"I told you last week." Harry said eyeing the witch, "If I can do something in potions that can impress Severus, maybe he might actually start to be interested."

"I'm sorry Harry, so much going on with classes, it seemed to have slipped my mind.  Remind me what ingredients you needed again."

Now Harry was sure something was off with Hermione, she usually never forgot anything.  Classes had been rough for them both since this was their first year teaching, so it could be a first for her.

Harry sighed, he needed to get it all out this time, and maybe she could suggest something.

"Look, I'm not trying to create a potion.  I am just trying to find something I can do to impress Severus.  You know how much I like him, and I know he would never see me romantically and all, but I want to at least try to impress him and maybe we could be friends.  So can you help me?  I have poured over everything in his book, maybe something you know the Potion's community is working on that I could try my hand at?" Harry was practically begging now.  She was much better at research than he was, his practical applications were great, but not his historical knowledge.

She seemed to be gaping at him, and he sighed again, defeated.

"I know, I know... You said to give it up... I just can't.  You didn't when it came to Ron all those years and look at you two now?  Practically living together now..." Harry stood as Hermione started choking... He had not seen her drink or eat anything, maybe she had before she came in.

He rounded the table to pat her back when she leaned away, brown eyes wide in shock then quickly masked with calming look...

"I'm fine, must have swallowed wrong." She stood quickly and turned towards the door, "I'll think on it..."

She was gone before Harry could call her back.  He put his head in his hands and sighed once more before eyeing the pack on his desk...

Harry scrawled a quick note to Severus about a student stealing ingredients and needing to see the man.  He waved it out the window and pulled out a stack of papers that needed grading.

Severus stared at himself in the mirror, the brown hair was shrinking and returning to his normal black, his legs were elongating and everything that was once wrong, was now right.  Except for his mind...  It reeled with the information from an hour earlier.  Severus fingered the note in his hand, his fingers long and stained once more.  So Pott, no Harry, had not stolen from him.  The curious glances were nothing more than glances of interest.  That was new.  Disdain he was used to, hatred even, but not interest.

Severus pondered his new colleague for a moment.  The boy…  He shook his head, no Harry was a man, in all ways that mattered now.  The man had defeated a Dark Lord, saved the entire wizarding world, saved the life of a dark potion’s master…  Harry was a man.  What if the interest was only fleeting?  Severus stared at his sallow appearance, his dark hair hung limp against his face.  He saw nothing in the mirror to garner any attraction. Green eyes danced in his mind and he smiled… He could see an attractiveness in Harry.  It had taken the boy’s ingenuity in saving his life that made him see Harry as himself and not his father or mother, but could he find interest in Harry?

The form was nice, the eyes of course held a unique attraction.  He had rarely thought in a romantic way on anyone, there had been no reason.  He would have to test the depth of Harry’s resolve, he would not allow anyone to take him for a fool.

~TBC  Please rate and review.