Ensnaring The Senses

a/n: the werewolf/metamorphmagus problem is not in anyway canon. Just my little plot twist for you all to enjoy. juls

~*~

Hermione groaned as her alarm clock let off its cheery beeps to wake her up. It had been a long night and she was tired. Also scared for Remus and Tonks. She blearily reached for her wand and shot a spark out it, knocking the clock to the floor.

Slowly she arose from her bed, stretched and headed to the bathroom for her normal routine of shower, hair taming and dressing. As she brushed her teeth she remembered that she was going to substitute teach for Severus today.

“Dobby!” Hermione called out as his pop announced his arrival.

“Yes Miss Granger, you be needing Dobby?” The house elf looked at her.

“Yes, would you please bring me some toast. I don't have time to eat in the Great Hall, I have to figure out Professor Snape's lesson plans before the students arrive.” She jumped as two quick pops happened and Dobby appeared with a plate of toast, eggs and bacon and a cup of steaming coffee.

“Thank you Dobby, but really, only toast was needed!” Hermione said as she took his offerings.

“Yous be needing your strength Miss Granger, if yous be teaching Professor Snape's classes.” Dobby nodded and popped out once more. Hermione ate quickly, cleaning the plate as if to prove Dobby right. As the last morsel disappeared and she set the fork back on the plate, it poofed back to the kitchen; she swore she heard the elf's giggle as it happened.

“It was good, Dobby. Thank you!” Hermione whispered and she heard the elf's laughter again. As she passed her bed she looked down at the alarm clock with a sigh and with a flick of her wand and a mumbled 'reparo' it flew back into place; once again as if brand-new.

Hermione opened her wardrobe and looked over her robes trying to look for a proper 'teaching' one. As her hand reached for the black one she shook her head 'no' and grabbed a dark blue one instead. Her hair tamed magically and dressed in what she hoped was a professional look, she headed for the Dungeons and a quick look in on Tonks before heading to the Potions classroom.

She knocked lightly on the door, and a tired Remus opened it with a wane smile. “Morning, Hermione. She seems better, and Severus is here also.” He said as he ushered her in.

“Good, I was hoping I wasn't waking you but I wanted to check on her.” Hermione followed Remus as he went to the bedroom. Tonks smiled up at her as they entered.

“Wotcher, Hermione.”

“Morning, Tonks. You look so much better than last night.” Hermione bent to hug her before looking at Severus. He looked tired, as if he had had no sleep.

“The potion seems to be working. I'll be back later to give another dose.” Severus nodded to the three of them as he walked out.

“He's still upset?” Remus asked.

“I think it's the thought of Azkaban. What is so horrible about you both having a baby?” Hermione asked.

“When I petitioned the Magical Beings Department for permission to marry, they were going to refuse because Tonks is a Metamorphmagus. If she had been a normal wizard or a Muggle there would have been no problem. They still hold this antiquated view of werewolves and their dangers to society. The Wolfsbane potion has done a lot to forward our cause, and with Severus's newer formula it allowed me to actually get a job. Jobs are still few and far between for the average werewolf, but Minerva likes me.” Remus smiled for a moment. “The Ministry fears that if Tonks and I have a child, he'll be too strong for them to control if the werewolf and Metamorphmagus genes meld together. There is no chance that any child I'd sire would be a werewolf.

“So now I am faced with the love of my life ruining hers. If the Ministry finds out, it's Azkaban and the child as a laboratory experiment once it is born.” Remus sighed as he drew his hand through his hair, mussing it more than it already had been.

“Remus, the Ministry knows werewolves aren't born, they are created by bites!” Hermione exclaimed.

“Not when you have Dolores Umbridge running the department now.” Remus informed her. “She was demoted to a less valuable position after Voldemort's fall, and who cares how Magical Beings are treated anyhow?” He remarked bitterly.

“We all here do! Everything will work out, Remus.” Hermione hugged him lightly. “Get some sleep, you and Tonks need it.”

“Thanks for listening, Hermione.” He said as he closed the door with a soft click behind her.


~*~


Hermione entered Severus's classroom and pulled out the thick book he kept his lesson plans in. It was worn from years of use but well taken care of. She flipped through it to find the 'Day Four, first Years, Class Period One' page.

I can handle this! She decided. Boil cure potion., she sighed with relief. Hermione began writing the ingredients on the board as she waited for the students to arrive.

“Good morning, class!” She said as they took there seats. “I'm Miss Granger and I'll be substituting for Professor Snape today while he substitutes in Defense Against the Dark Arts for the Lupins. Turn your textbooks to page 12 and lets begin.”

Hermione watched as they opened their books, shuffled to the page and then drew out their cauldrons. She saw Jamie and Cissa with their heads close whispering. “Any questions?” Narcissa's hand popped up.

“Yes, Miss Granger?” Hermione said.

“Mu-Miss Granger, what's wrong with the Lupins?” Narcissa asked worriedly, she knew that tonight was the full-moon, but that would affect tomorrow not today.

“I'm sure they'll be happy to tell you later. We are making the Boil Cure potion today. One parter from each table fetch the ingredients needed from the cabinet.” Hermione turned, missing Cissa's sullen look of reproach.

“While they are getting the ingredients, you others set a low fire under your cauldrons.” Hermione remembered this lesson fondly, it was the one she had met Neville in and he had gotten boils from cause he added the porcupine quills incorrectly.

Hermione walked around the room and watched as they silently crushed, chopped and added the ingredients, “Now,” She began to say. “Take your cauldrons off--” A hiss from Jamie and Cissa's cauldron was heard as acid green mists swirled from it. “Merlin, step back!”

The classroom hurriedly backed up to the door as the cauldron melted and the potion inside slithered into a pool on the floor, the green mist swirling and the potion bubbling.

“Anyone get splashed by that?” Hermione asked as she took her wand and cleaned up the spell magically. A murmurings of 'nos' and shakes of heads as she carefully looked them all over before sighing. “What I was about to say, was to take your cauldrons from the fire before adding the quills. This at least shows you what happens if you don't follow the directions from the text book to the letter. Take your seats again and those who still have their potions, add your quills after taking them off the fire.”

“I'm sorry, Jamie.” Cissa whispered to the Gryffindor as they regained their seats.. “I won't be in such a hurry next time.”

“It's okay, Cis. We've all year to make this up.” Jamie patted Cissa's hand as he looked dejected. He would have to owl his dad and mum for a new cauldron.

“Cap your potions in your vials, mark both your names on them for Professor Snape to grade later.” Hermione said a few minutes before class was over.

Cissa pulled on Jamie's hand to hold him back as the rest of the students filed out. When the room was clear except for them and Hermione she walked up to her mum.

“Is there anyway we could possibly redo that later?” She asked as Hermione shook her head 'no'.

“Professor Snape doesn't redo anything, dear. I've had to learn that myself the hard way. Potion making is an exacting science, so hurrying through makes mistakes that are hard to make up later. Lesson learned?” Hermione asked, as her daughter's face fell.

“Yes, Miss Granger.” Cissa nodded.

“Come on, we are going to be late for Defense.” Jamie urged.

“See you later, mum.” Cissa took Jamie's hand and they hurried off.


~*~

Cissa and Jamie flew through the halls and landed in their seats just as the bell went off. Cissa sighed as her father arched his brow at them questioningly. “In future Miss Granger and Mr Potter, coming to class breathless is not allowed.” He warned them.

“Today's lesson is the bat-bogey hex.” Severus said as he wrote the name on the board. “It's an excell-- There a problem, Miss Granger?” He looked at Cissa as she let out a soft giggle.

“No, sir.” Cissa tried to hid the grin behind her hand as Jamie slapped her on the knee beneath their desk.

“Mr Potter is there a problem with your seating? Perhaps if I moved you two apart we could actually have class.” Snape sneered down at the two of them, trying to distance himself as parent.

“No, sir. Everything is fine. We were just remembering my mum, she uses that spell a lot.” Jamie explained.

“Yes, I will agree Mrs Potter has a well-deserved reputation with this spell. Now if you both have calmed down, let's begin.” Severus turned with a whirl of robes as he continued. “This hex is good for a short term distraction and a means of escape. Your opponent will be kept occupied with bats flying around their faces.”

Severus watched as they set themselves with partners and he began to instruct them in the spell. When he was satisfied on their performance he sat down to grade them. He had a feeling that Jamie had first hand knowledge of the spell as he ducked it from Narcissa's cast and her spell went awry and hit the Boggart cabinet by the wall.

“As Mr Potter has been demonstrating the ways to avoid spells casted upon you, we shall get a little practice in on that also.” He nodded. As the pairs practiced, he smiled. These student have been well prepared by their parents who fought in the Final Battle. Severus thought.

Severus ducked and rolled as a miscasted spell headed his way and looked at the caster. “Miss Granger, 5 points from Slytherin. All other students 5 points each. Class dismissed.”


~*~


Severus was glad it was luncheon time. He was hungry from missing breakfast this morning because he had checked in on Tonks before heading to the classroom. He sniffed in appreciation at the aromas that surrounded him as he sat down to fill his plate.

“How did Potions go, Hermione?” He asked as he ate, his fork making small pings on the china.

“Well, one pair of students managed to melt their cauldron, failing the Boil Cure potion.” Hermione commented as Neville coughed and drew his foot tighter under his chair in remembrance. She giggled as Severus glared at Neville.

“So I have more dunderheads to babysit. Their names please.” Severus asked as he picked up a slice a pie and added a portion of ice cream on it.

“Narcissa Granger and James Potter, Sev.” Hermione said as he waited for his reaction. Severus scowled as he pushed back his plate.

“Must have been Potter's fault.” He mumbled as he tried to excuse Cissa.

“No, actually she added the quills, not Jamie. It was an accident, and the class learned what happens when you don't follow directions, Sev. No harm done.” Hermione said.

“We'll see, it happens again I'll split them up.” Severus stood up. “Walk with me, Hermione?” He offered his hand to her with a small smile. She took it and stood up beside him.

“Where to?” She asked.

“Thought we'd check in on the Lupins.” Severus said as she nodded. They walked the hallways and stairs down to the Dungeons. Severus knocked sharply on the door as they arrived.

“The Professor Lupins be eating, sir and madam.” Dobby grinned up at them as he ushered them in.

“Thank you, Dobby.” Hermione said as they entered and went to the bedroom. Tonks still laid upon the bed with a tray across her lap and Remus sat with a small table pulled up next to it.

“You look much better!” Hermione said as she smiled at Tonks.

“Wotcher, Severus and Hermione!” Tonks greeted them, a big grin on her face. “And yes, I feel a lot better.” Remus stood up and took the tray from her as Severus walked up to the bed and examined her with his wand.

“We seemed to have nipped the adverse reaction with the potion in time. I'll prepare more for next time just in case though.” Severus said. Remus tugged at his arm and drew him to the sitting room while the witches talked.

“I'll need you to, well you know, tonight.” Remus said, a melancholy look on his face.

“The Ministry still observe this little unnecessary ritual?” Severus asked as Remus nodded. “I created a stronger Wolfsbane potion so that it wouldn't.”

“Umbridge holds the werewolves with contempt, and refuses to change it. I think she'd really would just like to chain us all up and throw away the key if she fully had her way.”

“Why haven't you gone to Arthur about this? He's the Minister now; he'd make changes.” Severus asked.

“I haven't wanted to bother him with all the other reforms he has been putting through to prevent another Dark Lord from rising to power. What's a few werewolves compared to that?”

“Well, with the baby it's time. I'm going to call an Order meeting this weekend. We have way too many friends for this bigotry to continue.” Severus stated as Hermione walked out of the bedroom.

“I'll be back later to sit with Tonks after classes. I'm very glad the potion worked.” Hermione kissed Remus on the cheek.

“As am I, Hermione.” Remus hugged her and looked at Severus.

“I'll be back also for our small stroll. Remember what I said.” Snape nodded as he took Hermione's hand in his. As they walked towards the Potions room, Severus pulled her into a small alcove behind Salazar Slytherin's statue.

He ran a gentle hand through her hair and pulled her close, breathing in the scent that ensnared him. “I am sorry for being angry earlier.” He lifted her chin with his fingers and kissed her lightly.

“Thank you, Severus. I'm sorry I had to draw you into this.” Hermione tangled her fingers into his hair as she kissed him back.

“I'm calling an Order meeting this weekend. Time to make changes.” Severus said, pulling them from behind the statue to continue on to the classroom. “My time away has blinded me to the lack of changes made after the War.”

“See you later?” Hermione asked as he walked away.

“Yes, madam. Make sure you think of a wedding date.” Severus added as he disappeared into the shadows.