The Chocolate Frog Cards of Love

The next few days were interesting to say the least. Hermione and Severus were talking to each other. No, I don\'t mean talking as in yelling, I mean talking as in having a civil conversation.

The day after the potion theory talk, Severus actually acknowledged her when she came to breakfast. That was enough to send one whole end of the table into a flurry of whispers. I smiled to myself. Maybe things would be getting more interesting.

That evening, I set another part of my plan into motion. A couple of owls later, and I had a rather large collection of Chocolate Frog cards; all featuring me. Okay, maybe this classifies me as a dirty old man, but I just want to see two people happy.

Getting the cards where I wanted them was another matter. The classrooms were easy enough, seeing as how I already had cards there, but placing them in every room of their personal quarters was another matter. I didn\'t plan on visiting them everyday, but just enough to see what their feelings were.

I started with Hermione. I must say, as attractive as she is fully dressed, a robe clad Hermione is much better. There are wizards who use their portraits and frog cards to get their jollies. I hadn\'t even considered that until I saw her.

I shook myself from those thoughts and thanked her for the tea she offered. While she was preparing it, I quickly levitated on card to a lofty perch overlooking her living room. I accepted the cup and asked her about her classes.

After a few moments of small talk, I got down to the real reason I had come for a visit. Well, not the \'real\' real reason, but one that I was sure she would believe. I asked her about a book that I was sure she had and asked if she would be so kind as to lend it to me. When she was searching her bookshelves, another card made it\'s way to it\'s place inside her bed chambers. Another spell, set one into her bathroom, but one more incantation made sure that the cards blocked my entrance if she was in a state of undress.

She returned with the book and I gratefully accepted it. We talked of Harry and Ron and of times past before I took my leave. Phase One accomplished.

Phase Two was going to be harder. Severus would suspect I was up to something and could possibly have some sort of anti-meddling spell cast on his chambers. I exaggerate sometimes, but you know how he is. This might take a bit more work.

Still, I made my way down to the Dungeons, and to the \"Lair of Snape.\" As I expected, he was suspicious of what my intentions were. I assured him that I was only here for a visit and he allowed me to enter.

The conversation went from classes, to students, to other things that were of no importance to me at that time. I reminded him of a staff meeting being held the next afternoon and listened to him complain about how it was a \"colossal waste of his time.\"

I assured him that the meeting wouldn\'t last that long and reminded him that he had no where else to be at that time. Then I started to stand, hoping his \'affection\' for me would help me complete my mission.

I decided to act everyone of my 156 years. I stood, bones creaking and cracking, and unbalanced myself. Sure enough, Severus was as quick as I thought and steadied me. He made me sit while he looked for a potion to help with my balance.

While he was gone, I set one card to his bathroom and bedroom; bearing the same spells I had used on Hermione\'s cards. I placed one in the living room above the fireplace and then sent one towards his storage closet. Another was sent to his office and I waited.

He came back with a potion I was familiar with. I had taken it on occasion after the war. I had been wounded badly and didn\'t want the world to know. I thanked him for his consideration and quickly drank the contents of the vial.

After it took effect, I stood and thanked him for his hospitality. He walked me to the door and offered to see that I made it to my chambers. I declined, and thanked him again. Once the door shut behind him, I practically skipped up the stairs.

Part One of the plan complete.

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