an awfully big adventure...

Snape looked reproachfully to Sirius, his back straight as he sneered at him angrily. He had always hated Black, and nothing was going to change that, ever since that day with Lily and James. He wondered briefly why Sirius was looking at him with a look usually reserved for attractive 7th year girls.

Black was leaning on one elbow with his chin in his palm, looking at Snape dreamily with a strange smile on his tan face. His hair was swept back in a dashing sweep and Snape always felt self-conscious when around him, he had ever since they went to school together.

Snape was as many knew, not an attractive man at first glance, a hook nose, sallow and greasy complexion marked with dark beady eyes that seemed to peer out from holes in his face. He walked with a rigid and miserable stance, that all were turned off of.

Sirius on the other hand had dark hair and eyes, but a handsome and rugged face, with an air of confidence that all the girls seemed to fancy.

Snape snuck a glance at Hermione, who surprisingly enough looked absolutely horrified as she looked from him to Black. But why? She was enamored with the man? And why had he come over in the first place? Just to get a rise out of her of course…but why?

Because he loved it when he did.

He loved her angry face and unmistakable flash of her eyes accompanied with an angry scowl that reminded him so much of his own. The rush of adrenaline as he anticipated what she would say next, catch him off guard…it was all too enthralling.

But now, Hermione was sweating bullets, her fringe falling into her eyes as she looked from Snape to Black, and Snape felt the fury of years ago as he recalled the time with Lily, James and Black. Black had always been the ladies man, quite the prick as Snape recalled with angry fervor. But as Snape stole glances at the ever worried Hermione, the question remained;

How could a girl as sweet as Hermione Granger fall for such an insolent idiot?

Surely, he himself was a brilliant and educated man, and she wanted to squander her own affections on a man not worth them. What would they have to converse about?

Wait…wait…wait. Did he just call Hermione sweet? Oh, no. This was not right at all. Suddenly Snape’s languid voice cut the air.

“What is wrong with you, Black?” he said slowly moving away from him across the table; Black was still looking at him with almost hearts in his eyes. He smiled wistfully again and he grinned openly at Snape.

“Nothing.” Black answered shortly, as if he’d just been mortally offended. Snape narrowed his eyes at him, and Sirius seemed to love that. Hermione didn’t know quite what to say, and walked off to sit with Ron and now…Harry.

Harry waved to her, looking merry as he consumed his dessert.

“Hey ‘Mione.” He said with a careless smile, his hair ruffled and he looked more like his father than ever. “Why were you chatting with Sirius?”

Hermione’s face blanched, “I wasn’t talking to Sirius.” She squeaked as Ron shot her a warning look. Harry looked confused.

“I saw you. You, Sirius and ugh…Snape, were all chatting. What about?”

Hermione didn’t answer as her mind was at a loss and Ron shrugged his shoulders in a helpless sorry. She looked to Snape suddenly, he was frowning and holding his hand up to his cheek as he leaned over his dinner, trying to shield himself from Black’s rather obvious gaze.

Snape’s dark eyes suddenly traveled to Hermione unintentionally catching her eyes, and when he felt her own eyes meet his he flicked his away back down to his dinner.

Suddenly Harry’s face broke out into a wide smile as his green eyes twinkled, he looked to Hermione with a wise smile.

“It’s a surprise party, isn’t it?”

Hermione shook her head in a fog at this, what the bloody hell was he on about? “What?” she asked in real confusion. Harry laughed though, taking she and Ron by surprise.

“I know you won’t admit it Hermione.” He said with a boyish grin, “That’s what you were planning with Black, and I don’t know why, but Snape as well. You’re really a good friend Hermione, I’ll still act surprised. But, I’m just too clever to fool. Better luck next year.”

Well, at this point even if Hermione had been in the process of planning Harry a party she certainly would have reconsidered. But this was all too trivial, and thankfully this would throw Harry off her trail.

Hermione made a frantic motion with her head to Ron to follow her out the door and he nodded surreptitiously as Harry went back to his dessert.

They made their way out of the hall, Snape’s gaze on her back, and Black’s gaze on Snape. They reached a secluded spot and Hermione was trying to think about how to be rational about the whole situation.

“What happened?” Ron asked wide-eyed and nervously biting his lower lip, Hermione tried to remain calm and answer his question without screeching. She looked to him with a worried far off look and answered in quick hushed tones.

“Black didn’t see me first when he opened his eyes.” Hermione said timidly, “He saw Snape.”

Well, if there were any time NOT to laugh, this would have been it. But, Ron as it was could not contain his obvious glee.

“OH! This is too rich! HAHAHAHAH, Snape’ll bust a ruddy blood vessel!”

“RON!” Hermione said loudly, trying to get him to focus on the dilemma. “Don’t you understand? Black is now completely in lust with Professor Snape. Tell me, can you think of anything that could possibly go wrong with that?”

Ron was still giggling but managed a shaken, “Er…professional discretion? Er…Snape and Black aren’t gay? Well actually, who’s to say…and well, Harry’ll kill you if they get married.”

At this he started laughing again, but stopped when he saw that his friend was near tears. He stopped laughing suddenly and put a serious look on his face.

“Hermione,” Ron said trying to be logical, “How long does this potion last? An hour? Month? Year?”

Hermione obviously didn’t want to answer as she gingerly deliberated over how exactly to phrase her most embarrassing mistake.

“It’s permanent.”