In The Life Of A Potions Master

A/N: I would like to thank Dryad for betaing chapters 5&6. I would also like to thank all of you for readin thus far and thank you for your kind reviews. Good reading. Druid

Chapter 6

Hermione sat in the sitting room alone with her thoughts. She had just seen a very different side of her husband. She wouldn’t have ever thought that he would have wanted to take care of Harry Potter let alone cry over his loss. What worried her was the emotions at the end of the dream. There was just so much loss, so much hate. She had considered waking him and begging him to forgive Harry.

She knew that was not the issue though. He had just lost so much in his life and she was getting a first hand view of it all. She was on an emotional roller coaster; by day she was happy with her husband and friends, by night though--by night she was filled with dread over going to sleep, she feared what damage she would see her husband being put through the next time she closed her eyes.

She had to say that there was one good thing out of all of this though. She could truly say she knew Severus Snape. For six years she had thought him mean, sarcastic, greasy and oddly eno att attractive. But through these dreams she was startio uno understand the man that stood behind the wall of snark. The man that carried his shield of sarcasm and cutting comments. He had lost everyone he cared about, everyone he had ever loved.

She jumped up as a haouchouched her shoulder spinning her around quickly. She calmed when she saw Severus standing there the soft light of the small dungeon windows illuminating his pale skin.

“Do you think you could do that again love? I would very much like to put a sky light in for you and it seems a most efficient way to open a hole in the ceiling.” He chuckled lightly as he moved around the chair.

“Sorry Severus. I was just thinking about something.” Her voice was quiet.

‘You do realize I can hear your thoughts love, I know what dream you had,” his voice echoed in Hermione’s mind.

“How?” she asked.

“It’s the spell it binds us.”

“Then why can’t I hear your thoughts?”

Severus laughed lightly at her question. He had been a spy for so many years it had become second nature to block all but the simplest of thoughts. Even now he was keeping Hermione out. Not out of fear but just because it was habit. He cleared his mind and dropped the shields he kept in place.

Hermione’s head began to swim with information, potions ingredients, students’ names, thoughts about his past, his possible futures. Even his most basic fears flooded Hermione’s mind. She quickly dropped into the chair behind her and gazed at her husband. Over all his thoughts, all his musings, even all his potions, she was e. Se. She was the center of his thought
He
He was worried she would have trouble with such a cluttered mind. He was worried about what his teaching schedule would do to their marriage. He was worried she would hate him for the dreams. She looked at him, her eyes flashing lustfully.

“Severus Snape, I think you have become a pervert.” She grinned.

“Could never happen, I am far too strict to allow my mind that much leeway,” he said as his lips curled into a smirk.

“Your mind may be ct bct but your head isn’t.” She eyed his groin appraisingly.

“Oh and just what do you plan on doing with this information Miss…”

Severus grabbed his arm and fell to the floor. Hermione could see blood running from under his fingers and a bright red light emitting from the closed digits. Severus was screaming loudly and Hermione was scared. She quickly grabbed her robe and ran to the floo. Grabbing a hand full of powder she threw it into the fireplace and called out for Albus Dumbledore’s office.

“Head Master I need you quickly!” she half screamed half cried.

Albus came running down the stairs a light blue terry cloth robe swaying in his hasty movement.

“What is it Hermione?” he asked out of breath.

“Severus, I think it’s the dark mark.”


Hermione paced her sitting room nervously. She knew Severus had put his protections back in place the instant he had felt the pain rip threw his arm. She had no way of knowing what was happening inside her own bedroom. If he had only left his mind open to her she could just listen.

She kicked a couch cushion for what seemed like the hundredth time. It gracefully flew threw the air striking Albus as he left the bedroom. Normally she would have been mortified but she was far too angry and scared to think of what had just happened.

Albus picked up the cushion and replaced it on the sofa. He sat down, a worried look corrupting his normally grandfatherly face. “He is sleeping Hermione. He said he was being summoned.” Albus looked at her; she could see the dread written on his face.

Hermione turned on her heels anormeormed to the door. She threw the door opened and stormed in; her wild brown curls bouncing with the force of each step. She looked at her husband; he was fighting with Poppy trying to stand. He looked up and saw her and settled.

“You’re not going!” She set in at once. “I’ll not let you go and get yourself killed!”

“If I don’t go we will never know what is happening,” he stated simply.

“You want to die, you want to be tortured? I can do that here! But I’ll be damned if you think I am letting you go back to that mad man. You’re mine now, you gave yourself to me. Voldemort and Albus can go screw themselves! You belong to me and I belong to you.”

She looked into his eyes. Severus felt her pushing into his mind. He was amazed by the sheer force of it. He felt himself open to her; his thoughts naked to her searching mind.

‘You’re not leaving me. If you go I go!’ Her ultimatum echoed through his mind causing him to wince.

‘Over my dead body,’ was his simple reply.

‘SAME HERE!’ she bellowed.

Severus pushed against Poppy’s force field. He gathered all his strength and moved the charm, breaking under forcforce.

“I won’t take you.”

“Then you’re not going. I’m not losing you.”

Severus stopped dead in his tracks. He looked at Hermione and the tears in her eyes and his heart skipped. He moved to her in a few short strides and took her hands in his.

“Fine you’re coming with. We have to see what we can find out.” He swallowed hard. “Transfigure one of my teaching robes to fit you before we go. Are you sure you want to do this?”

She kissed his softly and looked into his eyes. “Where you go, I go. I’m not losing you.”


They had been in the woods for an hour already. Hermione waszen zen through; even the warming charms were of little good. She looked up again. It was an unbelievable sight. Azkaban prison stood like the hand of death against the black sky. It was deathly cold and that only added to the towering fortress’ look of dread.

She was amazed the Sirius had survived such a place. It was easily forty stories tall. The walls were dark grey and black the only entrance a solid wooden door bound by iron. The tops of the walls were guarded by gargoyles of all shapes and sizes making the prison look like an inescapable hell.

“They are inside the prison. You realize that no one has ever broken in to Azkaban. They more than li hav have brought the dementors with them as well. I don’t see how we can even hope to get any information.” Severus shook his head and returned his gaze to the towering prison.

“Well we are going to have to cross the sea. Maybe there is a secret passage we can use. To bad Sirius is dead we could just ask him how he got out.” Hermione looked at Severus. “You’re turning blue love. I think it is time for another warming charm.” She cast a warming charm on him and one on herself and sat back against a tree.

Severus’ eyes suddenly lit with an idea. He stood slowly from his spot on the frozen ground finding his body most unresponsive. He turned to Hermione and gave her a heart melting smile. “Let no one ever say being a Gryffindor know it all is a bad thing. We are going back to Hogwarts.”


Harry Potter was on his way to the dungeons. He didn’t know what had made him speak at Hermione’s wedding but he had suddenly found himself standing; words coming out of his mouth that just didn’t feel like his own. Even Ron had stood up; he was now cowering in his room scared of Snape’s hexes.

Harry knocked on the door and got no answer. He knocked harder and still there was nothing. Finally he pulled out the Marauder’s map and activated it. He searched the castle coming up empty. Then he saw the grounds. There on the hill by the lake he saw Hermione and Snape.

He grinned to himself at the thought of a romantic Snape. The man was pure evil inside a classroom. Who would ever know he had a soft side? Moreover who would have known it would have been for the Gryffindor Know-It-All? He dispelled the map and folded it, replacing it in his pocket and set out to the lake.

Hermione followed behind Severus; it seemed like a lifetime ago that she would have followed him for a detention or special class. Yet some how the way they were walking made her feel just like that all over again. She grinned to herself; Severus had no clue what he was in for later she mused.

She watched the flowing black fabric trail behind her lover and grinned at the thought of her seventh year fantasies. At the time she hadn’t understood why Severus had been so set about waiting for her graduation. However after seeing his memories she was starting to truly understand

They came to the hill were they had been married. She looked out over the lake and smiled. She watched him sit and frowned.

“Severus, love, you said we were going to get information. Now I know you love that squid but I don’t think it has any information for us.”

Severus looked at her questioning face and laughed. “Hermione, we are not here to talk to the squid. Although the squid is far more intelligent then the person we seek.”

“Thanks Snivellus.” Hermione jumped at the unexpected voice. “Hello ‘Mione, how have you been?” The Pale grey ghost of Sirius Black floated over the small hill smiling down at Hermione.

“Um, good Sirius. Severus does Harry know about this?” She turned for Sirius to Severus and back again.

“No dear. Mister Potter is hard of hearing and does not trust me in matters dealing with the mutt here.” Severus smirked.

“So what brings beauty and the beast to my door step?”

Severus just scowled and began. “We need to know how you got out of Azkaban.”

Sirius looked at Severus and Hermione and laughed. “Well people can say what they like about you Severus, but you are funny. Why the hell would you want to get in there? It’s obviously not for your honeymoon.”

“No Sirius you bumbling idiot it is not for our honeymoon. The Dark Lord has taken the fortress and we need information.” Hermione wasn’t sure how, but Sirius always managed to get the basest of emotional responses from Severus. It was truly quite amazing to her.

“No fucking way Snape. Harry killed the prick. He can’t be…. You don’t think he actually would do that do you?” Sirius looked at Severus with wide eyes and a look Hermione was sure was horror.

“Yes Black I do. He had me brewing some of the necessary potions for the transformation but I didn’t think he would use them for this.” Severus sounded distant; his eyes betrayed his level of thought to the untrained.

“Severus, Sirius, would you mind telling a lady what the hell you’re talking about?” She looked from the ghost to the flesh and quickly suppressed a grin. She really needed to wash her mind out with soap for thinking so lewdly at a time like this.

“‘Mione, he turned himself into a lich. You know, the undead.” Hermione’s eyes grew wide with understanding.

“But doesn’t that mean he can’t be killed?” She asked suddenly vary afraid.

“No Hermione it means he is now very, very hard to kill. All we need to do is find and destroy his phylactery and he will be no more. We don’t even have to bother Potter.” Severus finished then looked back at a sudden voice.

“Don’t have to bother me with what sir?” Harry came strolling up the hill. He stopped the color fading from his skin leaving him white as fresh snow. “Sirius?” was all he could manage to get out.

Severus watched trying not to be amused as Harry ran up to the apparition of his god father and tried to hug him. Harry fell flat on his face; much to Severus’ surprise Black broke into a fit of barking laughter. Even Hermione and Harry were laughing.

“Alright there Harry?” Si ask asked.

“Just great, the ground here is really soft.” He said through another wave of giggles.

Hermione helped him up and unwittingly put her head in the ghostly crotch of Sirius who began to laugh even harder. Eveveruverus couldn’t contain himself any longer at the sight.

“Hermione, love, if you are going to screw around on me at least do it with the living.”

Hermione looked up and blushed scarlet. She quickly moved her head and began to giggle girlishly. They found the tension of the situation quite broken and talked over the problem for several hours before a plan was worked out. Severus and Hermione had gone to tell Albus what they thought and the plan they had come up with leaving Sirius and Harry to talk.


Ses was was sitting in his living room thinking Albus had taken the news of Voldems res return for the second time quite well. To be truthful he had never seen the Head Master that angry in his life. He had tossed his office with an enraged wave of his hand. Spinning nick knacks and magical instruments went sailing through the air in a whirlwind of aggravation.

Hermione and he had ducked under a table to avoid the flying destruction that rained though the office. It had been quite a show in Severus’ mind, but then he had only seen Albus any where near this angry once before. He wasn’t sure this plan would work but he was truly hoping it would. He wanted this to be the end of the mad man he had called master.


He looked around his empty quarters and sighed. He was having a quiet night tonight. Hermione had gone to Hogsmeade with Harry. Harry had begged for the better part of an hour for Hermione to hear him out. In the end friendship had won out and Hermione had gone along with Potter for a butterbeer and desert.

Sevewas was actually glad to have a few hours on his own as it gave him time to prepare a little surprise for Hermione’s return. He wasn’t sure what was coming over him but he suddenly felt like a teenager again. A not all that unwelcome experience he thought. He felt young and alive for the first time he could remember. He thought that perhaps hs ges getting a second chance at happiness and nothing was going to take it from him this time.


Hermione returned late that night. She looked at the clock and the black marble mantle and sighed it was just past one in the morning. She started toward the bedroom dropping her clothes as she went. She could just pick them up later, she thought to herself. She entered the bedroom but found the bed empty.

She began to search her and Severus’ quarters and found nothing. She looked in the classroom and found it em Fin Finally she tried Severus’ private lab. The lab was in its usual state of perfection save the large cauldron sitting in the middle he fhe floor. She walked toward it slowly and looked it over. It was a plain pewter cauldron used for bulk brewing. Severus often used a cauldron of this size when he was brewing potions for Madam Pomfrey. The lid was on but slightly open and there was no flame on.

She walked over to the worktable next to the cauldron and looked over the papers laid out on it surface. He was brewing a batch of healing potion from what she could gather from the chicken scratch he called writing. She examined the notes and found that it should still be over a flame.

“Oh Severus, that is so unlike you. Gods love, were are you?” She asked the empty room.

She lit the flame under the cauldron and headed for the door. She was startled by the sudden scream from with in as the lid flew off a naa naked Severus Snape jumped out. He ran to the large wash sink set against the wall and jumped in quickly turning on the cold water. He looked to Hermione and scowled.

“Did it ever occur to you to check a cauldron before you light it?” He asked as he extricated himself from the sink.

“Well why the bloody hell would I think my husband was sleeping dam damn cauldron? What were you doing in there anyway?” Severus could see her working at not laughing to which he was grateful. He could also see her concern.“I w“I was waiting for you.” He stared shortly. “And for your information Miss Granger I have been in said cauldron since eight thirty this evening when you were supposed to return home.” He grabbed a hand toand and began to dry himself off.

“I’m sorry love. Harry told me he felt odd at the wedding and before he knew it he was just spouting off at the mouth. I std atd at…”

Severus cut her off before she could finish, “at the library doing some research.” Hermione nodded guiltil
“Y
“Your not mad are you Severus?”

“No just sore and burnt.” He said dejectedly.

Hermione burst into laughter when she saw Severus give her a small pout and his Black eyes tried to quiver as if he would cry. Severus smiled and moved to her wrapping his arms around her and pulling her to him.

“How about we go to bed, I’ve had a nap but that has to be the most uncomfortable cauldron in the wizarding world.” He kissed Hermione’s forehead and led her to their bedroom.

Severus lay down and watched as Hermione removed what little remained of her clothing. He pulled her to him once she was under the covers. He let out a long slow breath of contentment as he lay quietly with his wife. After some time Hermione broke the silence.

“Do you really think we can beat him this time?” She asked quietly.

“Yes we can, liches are evil unleashed and even his own followers won’t be safe from his wrath for long. We have the advantage.” He wrapped his arms around her a bit tighter and tried not to think. He wasn’t sure they could beat him was the problem. He wasn’t even sure they would survive long enough to know what would happen at the battle. If this plan didn’t work the wizarding world was just screwed in his opinion.


Albus Dumbledore paced his office deep in thought. It wasn’t often he got angry enouo tho throw things but this had been one of those times. That damn Riddle had done it again. Every time he thought he had won the battle and it was over his former student found some other way to return. In his mind he knew that Tom would do what ever it took to stay alive and finish what he had started.

Albus threw his candy dish against the wall and watched the lemon drops scatter across the floor. He was truly getting too old for this war. Worse to him was there simply wasn’t anything he could do but trust the plan and keep his school running smoothly. Too many things were about to change and now Voldemort was back. He really didn’t think this year could get any worse.


Voldemort had indeed called his Death Eaters to him. Much to their delight he had taken on his new form. The revel at Azkaban had lasted well into the night and all had enjoyed them selves with their lusting.

It was the end of the evening that had put fear inte Dee Death Eaters. Voldemort had turned to them and called names one after another. He had assembled thirteen Death Eaters in total. Each one had betrayed Voldemort in one form or another. Some had given information to the ministry, some to Dumbledore. Some had even run during the battle that had ended his life and started his new one.

He turned to his disloyal followers and waved his hand. The assembled Death Eaters gasped as they watched the group fall dead with the simple gesture. Most feared failing him now in anyway. He smiled wickedly to himself as he thought about how much harder they would work now. He knew they were now motivated to carry out his will with more precision that before. This time the wizarding world would be his.