Evening Schnapps

A/N: I want to thank my wonderful, loyal and encouraging fans. For the past month, Real Life ™ has risen up and smacked me right between the eyes. My direct boss fell seriously ill and I ended up falling 6 weeks behind in school, as a direct result of her demands on me. Her mom (owner of company) has stepped in and, after getting her daughter into a care facility, is allowing me the time to concentrate on getting caught up. As of this weekend, it finally happened. As a result, I was finally able to start writing again. Finals are in a few weeks, so I cannot guarantee weekly updates, but will do my best.

J.K. Rowling is the owner of all except specific characters, situations, and plot bunnies that are unique to this story. I make no money, but lots of satisfaction from taking out her characters and playing with them for a while before putting them back.

Many thanks to my ubber-beta SignoraAligheri, and my sweetie Evan! They just prove that you really can’t do anything in this world without people looking out for you.

So, keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times, and here we go!

Chapter 13- A Plan Interrupted

Severus woke up the next morning, lying on top of his covers, still dressed in his shirt and pants. He opened his eyes and frowned, trying to assess what was wrong with his room. Blinking, he realized that he was backwards, sleeping with his head at the foot of his bed. He lay still for a few minutes, gaining his bearing in light of the ridiculous position he found himself in. Finally, he pushed himself up off the bed and sat with his feet dangling over the edge. He remembered the release of the night before and raised his hand to his head. There was no headache, only a trace of sensitivity along his eyebrows where Hermione had pressed her fingertips. It had felt as if his skull was being crushed, but he could not deny the results. He had slept the night through, without potions, salves or copious amounts of alcohol.

Standing up, he walked over to the bathroom and opened the taps on his bath. As he soaked in hot water heavily scented with rosemary, he thought about his experience the night before. She had been strong; strong enough to hold his head still when he began to struggle. But after the excruciating pain, her gentle, long, smooth touches across his forehead and scalp had soothed the remnants of the pain away and released him to peaceful sleep. Feeling the warmth of her presence surrounding his face, along with the soft touch of her cloud of hair drifting against his cheeks and throat had been both soothing and exciting.

Severus stretched and sighed, settling deeper into the warm bath, feeling the waters swirl around his skin. Closing his eyes, he pictured her half silhouetted face hovering above him, and for a moment he could feel the warmth emanating from her skin. As he lay floating in the warm, scented water, he could feel the air stir with her warm breath over the skin of his face. He felt his imagination seize upon the erotic sensation, and was afraid to move as his skin felt the warm breath move across his face and down his chest. As Severus concentrated on the air currents playing across his chest and belly, he felt the fine hairs raise, giving him a chill. He let his head fall back into the tub, water covering his chest, face and ears, leaving only his mouth, nose and eyes exposed. Listening to the muffled sounds of his breathing and water movement echoing in his head, he again returned to the image of Hermione drifting over his face. He felt the skin of his scrotum prickle and tighten, and sat up with a start.

Scowling, he looked down and watched the water slosh around his thighs and partial erection.

Sighing, he let the fantasy go, he knew he could never attract a woman. Fantasizing wouldn’t help matters. It was better to just ignore the part of his psyche that craved the touch of another.

Reaching for a washcloth, he began bathing in earnest and finally, rinsed and clean, stood up and stepped out of the tub. He took care to pat his face dry, not wanting to rub the sensitive spots above his eyes. Wrapping his towel around his hips, he moved out to the bedroom to dress and go to breakfast.

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Hermione sat in her rooms, working on grading an essay she had set for her sixth years. She sipped her coffee and absently took bites of the delicate souffléd eggs and warm brioche the house elves had brought for her. She had returned to her rooms when Severus had fallen asleep the night before, after she had tried the acupressure technique Gabriel had used on her several times.

Gabe had spotted her sitting in the corner at Muriel’s bar, squinting into her textbooks before her very first Muggle finals week. Because of her double load, she had to be prepared for nine final exams in the next five days. She had been studying her notes and texts for days without break. Her eyes and head were screaming at her, but she wouldn’t let herself stop. She was driven to perform, to know all that was available for her to learn.

Earlier that term, she had Apparated up to the small mountain town from her dorm room and had looked for a small pub where she could tuck herself in a quiet corner and concentrate on studying, away from her rather annoying roommate. She had quickly discovered that there were advantages to this method of study; someone else made sure that she had food and drink while she worked. The bartender had taken a shine to her, and made sure that the local bar crowd left her alone. Muriel would warn off potential suitors, and Hermione would study, sipping her scotch and nibbling on her salad.

Gabriel had observed her and made quiet inquiries with Muriel. Then, after receiving her blessing the night Hermione was studying for finals, he accompanied Muriel over to Hermione and introductions were made. At Muriel’s prompting, Hermione had agreed to allow Gabriel to take her to the back room. He had first explained to her and then shown her the acupressure he wanted to use to help her rather obvious headaches. It had worked, and in time, she found herself seeking Gabriel out, looking for relief from the rare, but severe, headaches she would get during studies. Their friendship had grown from those visits.

Hermione finished both her grading and her breakfast, pushing back from her desk, she stood and stretched, feeling her muscles tremble and burn as she stretched herself out to the limit of her body, curling her fingers and toes. She could feel an ache deep along the front of her thighs.

“It’s been too long since I’ve been outside,” she moaned quietly. “If that short little hike yesterday could make me sore.”

She was starting to feel the effects of being cooped up in the castle, after being accustomed to strenuous activity on a daily basis. She’d have to make time for some real hiking, and soon, but for now, it was time to get ready for the school day, and Mondays were always long days.

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Severus looked out over his seventh year Slytherin and Gryffindor Advanced Potions class. It had been a busy few days. On Monday, he had met with Minerva for a drink and a talk before leaving for his rounds. He explained his idea to her and had gained both her approval and her cooperation. On Tuesday, he had met with Hagrid in his hut at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. He patiently explained the situation and the plan to the half-giant. They spent several hours going through the plans together, making sure that nothing could go wrong. Now, the time had come to implement the plan.

“Today, we will be going into the Forbidden Forest”, he growled at the students. “You will be working in pairs and collecting the elusive Violet Wood Mushroom. As you know by now, this valuable fungus is used both in the Veritaserum and Calming Draught formularies, and is only found in certain forests on the north sides of particular softwood trees. Hogwarts has been a prime collecting point for many centuries, although we have encouraged commercial concerns to collect at more remote regions, so that conservation efforts can help protect the fungus at this location. You will each find the name of your assigned partner on the card in front of you.”

He stood as small parchment name cards appeared in front of each student. He listened with delight as the students groaned in unison, each Gryffindor was paired with a Slytherin.

“Silence!” Severus scowled darkly across the classroom. “Leave your belongings here, only your wands and the collecting bags you see next to the door are to come with you. Move.”

As the students made their way down to the edge of the forest, Severus watched from behind as they sorted themselves into two separate groups, according to their Houses.

‘It is as Hermione said,’ he thought to himself as he watched Maddox and Tybalt move along in the center of their respective circles. ‘Perhaps today will change that.’ He had been quite busy putting his plan into action. He hoped that today’s events would cement the bond Hermione had fostered between the boys, and that today would see the beginning of a new era in Hogwarts history.

As they passed the outdoors classroom and paddock, he looked up and saw a serious-faced Hagrid looking back at him. The half-giant gave him a barely perceptible nod, and returned to lecturing his second year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw Care of Magical Creatures class on the finer points of feeding Red-toed Miniature Skrewts. It had taken Minerva and Hagrid several years to agree on the creatures Hagrid thought exciting enough, and Minerva thought safe enough, for the students. The Red-toed Miniature Skrewt was a close cousin of the Blast-ended Skrewts that had terrorized Hagrid’s first class of students. These actually ate, granted they ate coal, but they produced a fine fertilizer rich in minerals and greatly prized by Professor Sprout. The only danger was the creatures’ habit of belching fire and setting the coal ablaze.

“A’right then class,” he heard Hagrid saying as he passed through the trees at the edge of the forest, “lets go and get tha’ coal from tha’ bin behind my cabin.”

‘Yes,’ Severus thought, as he passed into the trees, ‘today should be a good day.’

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Hermione finished up with her fourth-year Gryffindor-Slytherin class and considered her afternoon. She didn’t have any classes to teach for the rest of her day, and had no plans beyond dinner and meeting with Severus in her study after. They had not had time to speak, in the past two days. She didn’t appear in the Great Hall for breakfast often, and he had skipped lunch and left dinner early both nights. She didn’t think too much of it, as he was always a busy doing things he saw no need to explain to others. She just wondered how his headaches were fairing.

She had sent an owl, with a letter for Gabriel, to her parents, along with a note asking them to mail it for her using the Muggle post. She knew that her headaches at University had been caused by eye strain and too much studying. However, they had never reached the levels that Severus was experiencing. She tried the acupressure Gabe had used only out of desperation, and hadn’t really thought it would work. But she had seen the strain leave his face as she stroked his forehead and soothed his scalp. Finally, she watched as he drifted off to sleep. The last thing she had done, before leaving, was to press her lips against his skin. She still didn’t know what possessed her to do that, she suspected that it was just a motherly reaction to a friend who had finally been brought a moment of peace.

Hermione pressed her fingertips to her lips and remembered the contact. It had been no different a kiss than one would give a sleeping child, but she found that the moment was imprinted on her mind. His pale skin had been feverish, but the moment was so intimate that she found herself drawing comparisons to the fevered skin of her few lovers in moments of passion. For a fleeting second, Hermione felt a rush in her belly, before clamping down on the feeling. She had no business thinking of her friend that way.

She stood up suddenly, having decided that what she needed more than anything else was an afternoon out and some exercise. It had rained on Monday, and been cold and blustery Tuesday. Today, the damp cold crept into bones and drove people inside to seek the warmth of glowing hearths. But, she was deep in cabin fever and needed to get out. She knew it might rain again later, but had absolute confidence in her ability to care for herself, and get back to warmth in time for dinner.

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Severus moved quietly through the Forbidden Forest, observing his students. He had gathered them together in the first clearing, and then split them into groups. Once everyone was standing at the shoulder of their assigned partner, he had sent them questing for the mushrooms. He, after making sure that the students were following instructions, and not dueling with each other, drew his robes around himself and stalked through the dark forest after his prey. He found them kneeling at the base of a gnarled old tree trunk, quietly cutting the flat, violet-gilled mushrooms and placing them in the collection sack. They were working in a kind of uncomfortable silence. Not openly hostile towards one another, but neither were they enjoying their company as they had the night he spotted them laughing with Hermione. When they finished, they moved on deeper into the forest. Severus moved silently over to the tree trunk where they had been collecting.

Her ran his hand over the cuttings, the boys had harvested well. They had sliced the mushrooms off cleanly, leaving no waste, but also left enough of the base to help feed the next flush. It belied their apparent discomfort with each other. Had they been nursing any ill will, the cuts would have revealed their anger. It was well done.

‘This shouldn’t be too hard, after all,’ he thought to himself, smirking.

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Hermione walked through the halls on her way to her rooms. If she were going to risk the weather outside, she would need better clothes. When it came to inclement weather in the deep wilderness, magic didn’t hold a candle to waterproof boots with Vibram soles, silk-undergarments, fleece, and Gortex pants and coat.

Walking into her rooms, she stopped at her desk and dropped off the armload of scrolls her students had turned in. She might have to do some grading tonight while she visited with Severus, but she didn’t think he’d mind. He often did the same in her presence. Both seemed to have the ability to multitask, and doing so in each others presence seemed to be an indicator of their growing comfort with their developing friendship. As she turned towards the back of her suite, she noticed the empty perch sitting to the side of her desk. She looked at it for a moment and shrugged, completing her turn.

She moved back into her bedroom and waved her wand, unpacking a small crate from the back of her armoire. She undressed and dressed quickly again in the sturdy Muggle clothes she had sent from the States not long after she got settled in, the rooms were cold. She didn’t see the point of keeping a fire burning when she was in class all day. Once dressed and warm again, she tucked her wand into her bun and headed out into the cold afternoon.

Working her way along the corridor, she passed through students with ease. As the after lunch crowds made their way to their classrooms, she made her way out onto the lawn overlooking the lake. A gust of cold air flashed across her face, making her nose chill and she let out a sneeze. She smiled and began moving across the lawn to the lake.

In time, she worked her way around to the far side of the water and began hiking up the hillside. As she climbed to the top of the hills, she looked out across the valley. The dark clouds hung flat, killing shadows and promising a lasting rain. She lifted her nose to the wind and smelled the air, reveling of the feeling of it rushing up the hillside and hitting her. It felt like it could almost lift her into the air where she was standing.

‘Yes,’ she thought, ‘this is what I needed,’ as she turned and walked down the other side.

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Severus watched the young men gathering the mushrooms, from the cold and silent, dark woods. He had drifted in and out of the massive trees, being careful not to let the pairs of students see him. Unless, of course, they were misbehaving, then he swooped in swiftly and silently, scaring the life out of the recalcitrant students and heaping point loss on each side evenly. He received more than one mutinous look from his Slytherin students, but he caught their eyes and he watched with satisfaction as they backed down. Experience with their harsh House Master had taught them that he rarely punished them without reason. If, for some unfathomable reason, he saw fit to punish them for arguing with a Gryffindor, then they would do their best to avoid such an argument in the future.

As Severus looked on, the two boys moved deeper into the woods, they were traveling farther than their classmates. He was pleased; this was how he had hoped it would go. They were chatting quietly, stopping occasionally to harvest more of the fungus. Away from their Houses for a time, they had cautiously rekindled their budding friendship. A slow smile crept across his face.

‘Perfect,’ he thought. Twisting the smile into a sneer, he moved across to stand directly behind the boys.

“And what exactly do you think you’re doing?” He raised his voice just in time to see them jump; he had succeeded in startling both of them.

Tybalt cocked an eyebrow at Severus and began to say something, but Maddox stepped in and spoke first.

“We’re collecting the Violet Wood Mushrooms, sir,” he said calmly, “just like you told us to.”

Severus appraised Maddox evenly, the boy was accustomed to speaking with his Head of House, and while he had a healthy respect for the unpredictable and acerbic teacher, he held no fear of him. Still, it surprised him that Maddox had deflected attention away from the Gryffindor; it was a subtle move, but a protective one.

‘Good,’ he thought.

Without warning, there was a loud crashing coming through the forest at them. Severus whirled and placed himself between the students and the danger. The crashing noised cut through the cold forest gloom and when it was just about on them, there came a voice.

“Profess’r! Profess’r!” Hagrid broke through the woods and ran up to Severus. “Profess’r Snape! Thar’s a problem! You’ve got to help me, I don’ know what to do!”

Severus looked up at the huge, hairy man. He was as close to tears as Severus had ever seen him.

“What is it,” he asked with a sneer, “one of your precious Skrewts have heartburn?”

Hagrid looked down at him with wide, red-rimmed eyes.

“No, Profess’r Snape,” he said, glancing nervously over at the boys. “It’s jus’ tha’ Caitlin Hollingsworth has gone missing! We were behind my cabin gettin’ coal, and she mus’ have wandered off. I jus’ don’ know wha’ to do! I’ve been looking for over an hour and it’s going to start raining soon!”

Severus whirled around on the boys.

“Leave the collection bags, start searching to the north, send up red sparks of you find her!”

He looked down at their earnest faces and sneered, “She is only a second year Hufflepuff, hardly able to care for herself. We will be forced to abandon our lesson to help one of the… lesser Houses. Don’t stop looking until she is found. I’ll get the other seventh years searching. Now, go!”

Severus whirled around, robes flying, and stalked off to gather the other students and coordinate their efforts. Glancing back, he motioned for Hagrid to follow him.

He saw the boys hang the collection bags on a branch and noted with approval their frugal act, it assured that the valuable fungus could be saved later.

After gathering together his students, and telling them what was happening, he sent them all off to the south, west and east. He sent Hagrid back to his second years and set off to the north himself.

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Hermione looked over the valley and down into the forest. It was getting very cold in the early evening. She smiled to herself. It was almost like looking down on her mountain home in the spring. She looked over at the hillsides and saw the smooth white patches of melting snow stand out over the dark hills. Nestled in the long valley between the hills was the Forbidden Forest. Dark and foreboding on a sunny day, it looked positively ominous under the dark sky. Hermione felt an uneasy, unsettling wave breeze through her and she felt herself shudder. Something didn’t seem right. She didn’t feel as comfortable out in the wild as she usually did.

Looking down into the dark forest, she spotted a light, and watched as it disappeared before she could lock her eyes on it. A few moments later, another faint light winked a few times, before going out. As it became darker, she noticed more lights moving around the forest.

‘Something’s happening,’ she thought, ‘and in the Forbidden Forest, that’s bad. Very bad.’

She turned and began her descent to the valley floor.

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A/N: I have some looooong responses here. Sorry for the lack of brevity, but it’s been a while…

Domine- Snape, with a chub, in the bath… Sounds like the making of a Hairy Navel to me! (Much better than a Harry Navel in my book) Sorry about the long delay. I’ll do my best to keep you tipsy in the future!

Moyra- Even when I could not write, getting your ‘knock, knock?’ check-ins kept me going, at a time when I didn’t think anything else could. Thank so much for the encouragement, hope you enjoy the most recent offering. As for the long warm-up, it’s a specific requirement of the challenge. ;) Don’t give up on Minerva, she’ll be back.

Ruby wolf- Thanks sweetie! As an amateur writer, who writes for stress relief and to chase the plot bunnies away, it’s really cool to hear praise!

Heartlight- I’m still alive! AND, the rugrats haven’t killed you and run away with all your colored pencils! You should come over for dinner this weekend! Miss you!

Kris- Evil Cliffies are my especiality! >:D

DoomGreen- Thanks, it’s one of the reasons I’m kind of slow, each chapter has to be checked and rechecked for detail and consistency. Labor intensive, but worth it. The OCD in me causes my eyelid to start twitching if I make a mistake. As for describing the vomit in detail… EEEWWWW!!!! *dances around room twitching at the gicky thought*
Squishy!!!

Bill and Pickles- I can’t believe you live in Pennsylvania! I was in Philly from Oct 21-25 for GSA (Geological Society of America) annual meeting. There is this Dutch Kitchen place in the Reading Station Public Market. Off the hook Chicken Pot Pie! Seriously the best I’ve ever tasted. Mmmmmmm. Bill, as for working 2, so you can provide a roof and food and a stay-at-home mom for your kids, Good On Ya! Pickles, amazing work! My mom stayed at home with us, until we went to school; then she worked mornings, until we were in high school; then she returned to work full-time. There was only so much house keeping she could do, and got bored. Anyhow, I’ve been careful to not say what’s with the pain, but you are way off on the allergies. But, suffering from them myself, I can certainly sing the praises of Alavert.

Amsev- I think I might have an unconscious desire to reign as the Queen of the Evil Cliffie! ;)

Lily- Now you don’t have to wait until the Thanksgiving break! Thanks for the heads up on the back up at Sycophant Hex, but I’m most likely going to have to wait before I get a few chapters to them. I need to do a little reformatting, and I have found a few typo’s missed during beta and proofing I want to fix first. I’ll likely get those going over the break.

*whew* Finally, all caught up!