an awfully big adventure...

Hermione twirled in her robes, her hair down and slightly curled around her shoulders. She looked into the mirror reflection and forced a grin on her face.

Snape would pay for humiliating her earlier. Miserable greasy git. Bastard.

She felt her pride fighting for reassurance, but could not find any. She swallowed the tears that threatened to fall. Snape had humiliated her. Sure, she had no proof he liked her, let alone had feelings for her…but he had seemed sweet and almost…gentle.

No more thoughts like that now. She knew it was stupid to hold such affection for a Professor, how stupid to fall for a teacher. No. Not fall for, merely have a crush on.

She looked to her reflection and decided that after careful deliberation, a trip to Hogsmeade was just what the doctor ordered. A night out with Ron might prove to be a useful thing.

He had obviously disregarded studying, claming since it was Valentines they do something to celebrate, and automatically decided on dinner.

She stepped out of her head girl’s room, pulling a cloak around her shoulders and heading off for the Library where she and Ron were to meet.

Her shoes echoed down the hall and she felt so very alone, her usual habit had been to pop in on Snape, just to see how the Potion was coming or chat…but that hadn’t been often, the man was intimidating.

In her careless thoughts she ran into a figure in front of her, Hermione quickly brought her attentto tto the contact and uttered a string of apologies.

“I’m sorry Professor.” She said finally, before McGonagall laughed and held up her hand in a faux surrender.

“No matter Hermione, it happens.” She eyed the young girl carefully, she looked absolutely crestfallen. Perhaps she had been hoping to run into a certain Potion’s master?

“Oh, hello Professor. And Happy Valentine’s day.” She said forcing a smile that Minerva detected straight away.

“You look a little down for Valentine’s Day, Hermione.” Minerva said softly, “What’s the matter?” she asked solemnly. Hermione blinked a moment, her smile faltering momentarily and then reappearing with vigor.

“Nothing Professor, what gave you that idea?”

Minerva looked around her and motioned for Hermione to follow her, which she as a dutiful Gryffindor did.

They waltzed into Minerva’s office, and she shut the door, nodding her head in the direction of a nearby chair, which Hermione took gratefully.

“Hermione you are a grown woman,” Minerva said as they were comfortably seated across from each other. “Able to make her own decisions, and old enough to know when to act on decisions.”

Hermione looked to Minerva quizzically, “I’m not sure I follow-“

“Hermione, I can tell by your face something’s troubling you, its in your eyes and your smile.” She sighed at this, “Your still young Hermione, young enough to act on desires…young enough to make mistakes...young enough to consider love…”

She trailed off, her eyes still on a very embarrassed Hermione. Good, she had gotten the message. Hermione now shrugged childishly and smirked.

“Er, thanks for the advice Professor.” She said forcing the humiliation from her cheeks. Evidently the Professor knew about her crush on Black…or Snape.

McGonagall stood and with a reassuring pat on her shoulder as she made her way out, she added.

“Just think about the whole meaning of Valentine’s day Hermione. It’s about love. Love proclaimed and love returned… promise me you’ll think about it.”

“I promise, Professor.”

With that Hermione made her way out of the office and down to the Library where a very dapper Ron was waiting with a bouquet of flowers. He looked very dashing and handed her the flowers with a small kiss on her hand.

Maybe liking Ron wasn’t so bad…he had liked her before the Potion, and he certainly was willing. If only he could keep his hands to himself sometimes…but time could change that.

“What kept you?” he asked innocently as they made their way down the hall and to Hogsmeade. Hermione smiled and a laugh sounded out as she took his hand in hers and recalled McGonagall’s confusing speech.

“Something I don’t even understand myself.”
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Minerva made her way down the Potion chambers, humming to herself as she anticipated the night before her, it was Valentine\'s after all.

But now as she approached Severus’ door she felt a heavy hand on her heart. She had been witness to the altercation between he and Hermione. If no one else, she saw what was there.

It was warm outside his door though, evidently they had been at work a while, and her suspicious were confirmed as she opened the door to two figures hunched over a large cauldron bubbling as Snape barked orders to Black.

It was almost endearing as she saw Black scurry about to collect supplies, or strike another candle, as the surrounding ones were growing dim.

Minerva sashayed behind to the two mumbling figures, and cleared her throat. Loudly.

They jumped apart as they heard her, and whipped around. Snape gave a hopeful look over his shoulder and seeing it was Minerva gave a scowl of displeasure.

“Ah Severus.” She said gleefully, trying to be pleasant although the sight of the miserable git did little to save her sanity or manners.

“What can I do for you, Minerva?” Snape asked feigning politeness. Black looked to McGonagall a moment before noticing her discomfort, he took this as a sign and responded by telling Snape he was going to get more supplies.

When he was dismissed, Minerva turned her attention back to Snape, who had his back to her now.

“Severus. Look at me, please.”

Snape didn’t respond automatically, more at his leisure he twirled slowly to face her, with arms crossed and a scowl on his pale face, shadow ridden in the dark.

“What?”

“Why are you doing this?”

Snape was confused and raised a dark eyebrow. “Pardon? I’m afraid I don’t follow.”

Minerva sighed impatiently, “Listen Severus, you don’t have a lot of time here. Stop being a prat and go to her.”

Snape stepped back from her whispering urgency. He held up his palms as if trying to keep her away. “What in God’s name is wrong with you?”

She sighed now angry, this was proving to be more difficult that originally planned.

“Severus Snape, you like Hermione Granger, get over it.”

Snape looked all around, slamming the door and telling her over and over to shut up. He swept up to her and started yelling like a mad man in her face, not caring that Black could probably hear every word from the storage room.

“Are you mad? An eighteen year old Gryffindor? Surely you’re joking! I should call up St. Mungo’s right now and have them come for you.”

“I’ve seen you go too long with such misery, Severus.” Minerva said compassionately, looking at him with somber eyes and tears that threatened to fall.

“At first I thought you were lusting over Black…then I saw how you were around Hermione and you seem so natural together. Why fight it?”

Severus looked to her piteously, “Why the sudden caring Minerva?” he asked suspiciously, “Why now? Why not a month ago? Why now of all times?”

Minerva looked to him callously, “I wasn’t sure if I should even bother coming to you.”

“But…” Snape commented coldly, as McGonagall shot him a look ore vre venom and continued fiercely.

“Because tonight I believe Miss Granger is going to make up her mind.”
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“Thanks for the dinner Ron.” Hermione said gingerly patting her mouth with a napkin and smiled at Ron who was looking to her moonily.

He had treated her to a play in Hogsmeade and then turned around and offered her dinner and dessert at the three Broomsticks.

She had agreed, only if he’d let her pay her way. He didn’t seem to thrilled with the idea, but finally relented. Hermione didn’t feel right taking his money, especially when she was well enough off.

Now at the current moment they were finishing dinner as Ron told Hermione about his future plans, involving Quidditch and other things that relatively bored Hermione. Ron was very sweet, but a horribly boring speaker.

Ron. There was a choice she was uneasy about. True, he was under the effects of the potion, but he had harbored feelings for her prior. And perhaps, perhaps he could be the solace to her pain.

But she thought about it carefully, Ron would still be able to do everything he enjoyed…but have Hermione along with it. Really, it wasn’t so bad…some people went their whole lives without love. Now that she thought about it, she’d probably be doing Ron a favor.

Ron smiled at her and asked her if she wanted dessert, but she was too busy thinking about something else, her eyes glazed over.

No, that was selfish. How could she even consider using Ron like that? She felt nothing when she kissed him, she felt nothing when he held her, she knew making love with him would become a chore.

But she felt so alone and vulnerable…no one wanted her, not Black…even without the potion he had never thought of her as anything but a girl. Surely not Snape…for now he couldn’t stand the sight of her, she was sure.

Ron placed a kiss on her lips and she stirred from her dream and placed a smile on her lips. Ron was a sweet boy, and he did have good intentions…But, was this out of desperation? She looked to Ron’s gentle face and smiled more sincerely now.

Perhaps Ron was the right choice.
_______________________________________________

It was an hour after McGonagall’s infamous entrance and Snape was furiously working, breathing unevenly, truly, madly in a rage. Black looked remorsefully to Snape, his gaze watery in the dark candlelight.

“Are you alright, Snape?” Black asked uncertainly, Snape gave an exasperated sigh and shook his head.

“I’m find…just…tired.”

Black nodded, as if he actually believed this lie. He watched Snape furiously labor over the cauldron, his eyes rimmed with red as he had been working for several hours straight. They worked in more silence when out o nowhere Snape finally broke the silence with a short few words.

“I appreciate your assistance Black.” He said softly, and looked to his old enemy.

Black felt his breathing go uneven…this was a compliment if he ever heard one…but it wasn’t enough. Snape’s eyes were still miserable…he was thinking of her. Jealousy surged through him…but now it was intermingled with pity.

The man before him was working hastily, haphazardly putting things into the concoction. Black handed him the wolfsbane.

They worked again for several moments, the air filled with tension and Snape muttered under his Black randomly, telling Black to hand him this and that.

Black sensed how forlorn he was, how every thought was dominated with images of her. He knew because he was the same way about him.

\"She\'s eating at the three Broomsticks.\" Black said softly, breaking the silence. Snape\'s dark eyes glittering dangerously glanced over to him.

\"Who, may I ask?\" He said offhandedly, trying to look preoccupied with the two vials in his hands. Black sighed heavily as Snape looked deeply at the vials.

\"You know exactly of whom I\'m speaking.\" Black said roughly. His own emotions feeling all mixed about inside what he was saying. Snape shrugged, not realistlistening but feeling the blows of his anger.

“I think…” Black said softly, not sure he was going to be able to choke it out. “I think you should go to her.”

Snape looked to him sharply, causing him to flinch. Snape always believed that Black had harbored some feelings for Hermione somehow, always trying to throw him off…pretending to like him to get in with Hermione behind his back…he knew his tricks.

But now…he was openly giving up Hermione, so that he himself may pursue her…how surprisingly selfless…especially with the way he had been treating him lately.

He turned to face Black head on, as they were at equal height. Black waited for Snape to punch him, yell at him, and tell him to mind his own business…

“Thank you Black.”

What?

Snape nodded to him briefly, as Black nodded back in shock…Had Snape just thanked him?

He nervously waited for him to dart off, run to the Three Broomsticks and claim Hermione as his forever…but he returned to the cauldron and went back to work, Black was about to speak when Severus beat him to it;

“Thank you, but it’s futile.”


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author\'s notes: I just wanted to thank all of you for your kind reviews, and that I\'m glad you\'re enjoying the story. cheers. holden.