Doubts and Desires

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Chapter Sixteen: Impossible


Hermione walked downstairs to the dungeons. She was carrying a stack of parchments that had more experiments that they could try to perfect the anti-killing potion. She tapped on the door with her foot, unable to shift the multitude of parchments enough to open the door.

Severus heard the tap as he lay out various ingredients. He knew exactly who it was as he went over and opened the door. “I think you missed a parchment,” he drawled out, noticing how laden down she was with them.

She huffed and glared at him as she sat the parchments down on one of the tables. “Very funny,” she stated dryly. “I just want to be thorough.”

“Of course.” Severus smirked, knowing that that was his Hermione. She was always thorough in everything she did. His dark eyes raked over her body, knowing that he would much rather be working on her than this bloody potion for Albus. He was frustrated with the secrecy that the Headmaster had placed on this project.

She noticed how he was staring at her after she had organized the parchments. She walked over and kissed him lightly on the lips. “Get back to work, Professor.” She curtly turned on her heel and began to take notes on the potion.

He glared at her but turned and began to expertly dice the Ague Root. “You know that we are going to have to start testing this out.” His gaze went over to the caged mice.

Her eyes fluttered over to the cage. She frowned and sighed, not wanting to harm the mice. The potion had to be tested though. “I know.” She looked along the list of ingredients that they have added to the potion. The premise they were using was based on a strong anti-hexing potion. “You have Figwort on here. When did you decide to add it?”

“This afternoon,” Severus stated, now adding the Ague Root and beginning to stir the potion clockwise for five minutes.

“Why?” she persisted.

He stiffened slightly, not liking to be questioned. “Figwort will balance out the Ague Root, stabilizing the potion,” he stated in a professorial tone.

“Oh,” she stated, feeling like a lowly first year again. She thought that they were going to work out the potion together and be included in all steps. Obviously she was wrong though. “What would you like me to do, Professor?”

He silently glared at her, not liking her tone. “I believe I have everything covered at the moment. You could look over those parchments.”

“Fine,” she said flatly as she went over and sat down on the edge of the desk. She roughly took one of the parchments and began to read through it.

He continued to stir the potion, finally finishing with stirring it. He then allowed the potion to simmer as he prepared another ingredient.

There was a sharp knock on the door. “Hermione, can you get that?” Severus then continued to grind the ingredient in a powder.

She huffed slightly and got the door. “Good evening, Albus,” she said, opening the door and inviting him in.

“Good evening, Hermione, Severus. I came to check on how the potion was progressing,” Albus said, looking the lab over.

“Well—“

“It’s progressing rather well, Sir,” Severus broke in on Hermione. “We have compiled a list of ingredients that are known for protection as well as have healing powers. We are combining them with the anti-hexing potion to strengthen it in hopes to make it powerful enough to reflect the effects of the Killing Curse.”

“Have you tested it yet?” Albus inquired, glancing over at the cage with the lab mice.

“N—“

“Not quite yet, Sir. Once the potion is finished, we will test it and make adjustments as necessary.” Severus finished with the ingredient and added it to the potion, stirring it in counterclockwise.

Albus nodded. “Good. Will it be ready soon?”

“The p—“

“This potion will be ready to test tomorrow afternoon. Now, depending on the results, we will have to make the necessary adjustments. With the various testing, the potion should be completed in a few months.” Severus finished stirring the potion and allowed it to simmer.

Albus pondered this for a moment as he seriously looked at both of them. “The sooner the better. I can not press on the both of you the importance of this potion. Please try to perfect it as soon as possible.” They nodded rather solemnly. He patted Hermione on the shoulder. “Good. I will leave you two to your work.”

“G—“

“Good night, Albus,” Severus said, giving him a curt nod before turning back to his work.

“Good night,” Hermione said, showing Albus out. She then shut the door. She then turned sharply and glared at him as she stormed over there and hit him on the arm. “What was that all about?!”

He turned, looking at her in surprise that she had smacked him on the arm. “What do you mean, Hermione?”

“What do I mean?” She huffed. “Every time I tried to explain something you continually cut me off like I wasn’t even here!”

“Oh, that….” He turned back to his work. “Albus was addressing those questions to me, Hermione. You are my assistant.”

She crossed her arms. “Oh, I see how it is,” she said flatly as she went over and began to organize the parchments.

“What?” he asked as he added the last ingredient for tonight. The potion would need to simmer on low heat until tomorrow, and then it would be ready to test.

She glared at him. “Nothing.”

He turned the heat to low and looked at her. “What is it, Hermione?”

She suddenly turned toward him. “You! That’s what! You are completely impossible to work with! It’s bad enough we have this potion that’s practically impossible, but you act like I’m just around to hold the parchments and do research. You don’t even trust me or my judgments.”

“Me? I’m impossible? Well, little Miss Know-it-all, you are the one who acts like I don’t know what I’m doing. I am the Potions Master here,” he stated angrily.

“Yes, I know you are…and I’m just your lowly assistant.” She suddenly pushed all the parchments into his arms and turned away from him, storming over to the door. She opened it and looked at him. “I thought I was more than just an assistant to you. I thought I was your partner. I guess I was wrong. Good night, Professor.” She left and slammed the door which slightly shook one of the shelves by the door and caused a beaker to fall and break. She did not stop until she had gotten to her quarters, locking them, and collapsing on her bed, crying over what happened.

He stood there, the parchments falling out of his arms. “Damn,” he cursed. He huffed. “Women,” he stated as his voice was tinged with anger still. He waved his wand, cleaning up the glass. Then, he picked up the parchments, setting them on his desk and not bothering to straighten them up. He checked on the potion again and went to his private quarters. He sat down in his chair by the fireplace, thinking over their argument. “Impossible,” he muttered, spending the night alone for the first time in a few weeks.


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