The Chocolate Frog Cards of Love

The next night was Potions Night. I made my excuses with the rest of the staff and retreated to my chambers. After a brief rest, I ventured into the cards again.

This time, I started with Severus. Had I not witnessed it with my own eyes, I wouldn\'t have believed it.

Severus Snape, the over grown, greasy, bat of the dungeons, was actually worrying about his appearance.

Not in the typical way, but I could tell. His starch, white shirt was lying on his bed as he picked the imaginary lint from his trouser legs. I shook my head as I watched.

\"Good for nothing House Elves. Can they not do anything right? I send my clothes to be cleaned, not covered in filth.\"

He gave the trousers one final look and then turned to the bed. He gently picked up the shirt and slipped it on. He sighed. \"You would think one of them would know the smoothing charm. Why does Albus hire these incompetent creatures?\"

He smoothed the shirt as he buttoned it and then looked at himself in the small mirror in his armoire. He shrugged and then pulled on his frock coat. After those buttons were closed, he picked up his teaching robes and looked at them. In what I like to call one of his better moments in judgment, he decided to forgo those.

I smiled. He was ready.

Once I knew Severus was taken care of, I started to Ms. Granger\'s chambers. My spell stopped me, so I knew she must be getting prepared as well.

I waited.

And waited.

And waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Just when I thought that she would be late, the spell allowed me to enter the card. It looked as if Gladrags and Madam Malkin\'s had exploded over the room. Apparently Ms. Granger had taken the time to worry over her appearance as well.

I made it to the card in the lab a good ten minutes before Hermione arrived. I watched Severus give the room and Hermione\'s experiment a once over and nod his head in satisfaction. It could have used a house elf cleaning, but it was as good as it was going to get.

The knock came a tad later than it did every night. When the door opened, I was pleased to see Severus respond to the lovely lady on the other side.

She had dressed simply tonight, but her beauty shown through. Her hair was pulled away from her face in a very sensible fashion, though the way it framed her face was magnificent. Her shirt was a simple lightweight blouse that showcased her beautiful body. Her trousers were what the youngsters called \'blue jeans\' and even they fit her to a T. Overall, she was the picture of demure beauty.

\"Sorry I\'m running a little late, Severus. I was caught by a few students in the hallway.\"

\"You are right on time, Hermione. Come, everything is just as you left it.\" He turned and led her through to the lab. \"If you don\'t mind, I had hoped to observe and assist this evening.\"

She smiled. \"That would be wonderful. Thank you, Severus.\"

After that, it got boring. He would send her covert glances and turn before she could catch him. I saw her on more than one occasion lick her lips when he reached for an ingredient on the topmost shelf.

I sighed. Those children would never do anything about their feelings unless someone helped them. It looked as if that someone was going to be me.

Oh, this was going to be fun.

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Again, I apologize for the lack of lemons. I promise, there are unripened ones in the next chapter. Maybe if you ask nicely, I\'ll post the next chapter in the next few days! Thanks again for reading.