Accidental Encounters

Chapter Nine: An Accidental Encounter

Professor Snape? Collapsed and alone in the dark wilderness? It couldn’t be. But the man now gently stirring beneath her certainly was none other than the feared Pos Mas Master himself.

Hermione’s mind raced quickly through the possibilities. There was a glass beaker on its side, several feet from where Snape lay. Its contents were as thick as cold honey, and roughly the same colour, and it was creeping slowly from its glass home. Automatically, she muttered a spell that stored the beaker and its contents in a safe vault at headquarters. Next to the beaker was another small glass vial, but it appeared to be empty. Still, there could have been traces in it, so she magicked it away as well.

The conclusion hit her quickly. He was a Death Eater, and one with unclear loyalties at that. It had to have been another attack cleverly disguised as an accident. Well, Hermione wouldn’t let this one get swept under the carpet too if she could help it.

But for now, there was a more pressing concern. She had to get this man out of here. He was shifting and groaning on the grass under her, but he had no visible injuries, not even a stain around his mouth. He looked, to be honest, simply a little winded.

She weighed up the situation. If Death Eaters were involved, which was highly likely, he probably shouldn’t be whisked off to St Mungos, or even the Hogwarts Infirmary. Aside from the furore this would create, Hermione was quite sure that the man wouldn’t appreciate such action. Instead, she would take him somewhere quiet, until she figurut eut exactly what was wrong. She’d decide what to do from there. So, her mind made up, Hermione took hold of Snape and apparated away.

***

Lying on her sofa, Professor Snape looked no more the formidable Potions Master she remembered than a vulnerable little boy. She had tucked him up in a woolen blanket and sat down on the coffee table to watch him. Only seconds passed, though, before Snape opened one eye and gave the most frightful frown. He looked quickly around and, realizing that he was tucked up in Hermione’s living room, he began to furiously kick the blanket away.

Hermione had automatically grabbed hold of his arms, and was trying to steer him back onto the sofa, but this seemed to annoy the man even more. He shook her off and began to pace the room. She never had a chance to say anything, though, because she had barely opened her mouth when he spun around to face her, his face a thundercloud.

“What have you done with my experiment?” It was a demand, actually, not so much a question.
“Experiment? What experiment?”
“The one I was conductin the the field, foolish girl!”
“Oh…” Hermione realized immediately the awful, although not entirely implausible mistake she had made. She weakly explained as much to Snape, but he dismissed it straight away.
“I demand you return my work to me. It is of vital importance.”hat hat is it?”
“None of your business,” came the curt reply.

Hermione bristled. She wasn’t a student. She was an adult, doing her Ministry job, no less. She would not be spoken to this way. A plan formed in her mind, and she took a deep breath before slyly saying, “Suppose I don’t have your experiment anymore?”
“What do you mean, you don’t have it? I must have it. That work is of vital importance.”
“Really? Then tell me why you weren’t testing it in your dungeon?”
He sighed and glared at her a second before answering, “Because. I needed the full moon to cause the reaction.”

Hermione’s curiosity was piqued. Only the most complex potions required the elements to activate the mixture. What on earth was the man cooking up?

“Alright. I’ll give you your work back if you tell me what you’re doing?”
“I refuse to be blackmailed,” came the even reply.
Hermione couldn’t help snorting. “With all due respect, Professor, I don’t really feel you are in a position to bargain. As it is, I have every right to know because the Ministry will be expecting a report on this …. incident.”

Snape looked momentarily aghast, as though he had only just realized Hermione’s exact role in his accident. He bowed his head for a second, and then looked up to her and spoke in that quiet, dangerous voice. “Fine. I will tell you if you promise to conceal the details from the Ministry.” Hermione considered this for a moment, and then simply nodded.

Snape took this as an agreement, and sat down on the sofa with a heavy sigh. Hermione echoed his movements, sitting at the other end of the sofa.

“I am working on an antidote for the Intimoritus Potion. It is no longer enough that I am simply a double agent… It is no longer enough for me to lay my life on the line as I constantly attempt to assure Voldemort of my loyalty.” His voice broke slightly. “Anything I do there is no longer enough. So I must do more.”

Hermione almost put a comforting arm around him, but feared that doing so would shut the man up forever. He wasn’t focused on her anymore though, and he continued to talk. “I must now work even more actively. I have been dedicating my every spare moment to the antidote, but I believe I am only halfway there. The ‘accident’ tonight was merely another component trial of this.”

He stopped suddenly, and Hermione noticed how tired those blue-black eyes werehe lhe longed to do something about it. Without even realizing she had opened her mouth, she heard her voice say, “Let me help.”

Snape, who had been sta at at the coffee table, started suddenly. He turned to face her and declared emphatically, “No!”
“Let me! I must be one of the most qualified people to do so, after you of course.”
“Absolutely n
“I
“I am also involved in this, and I want an antidote as much as you do.”
“I have given you my answer. Now kindly assure me of the Ministry’s continuing ignorance to my research, and I will leave.”
“But, Professor –“
“No!”
“Severus…. please!” Hermione reached out to touch his forearm.

Snape had stood to leave, but stopped as he heard his name, and felt her touch. Fully expecting to be rebuked for her use of his given name, Hermione dropped her hand and shrunk back. She seemed to have struck a nerve though, for Severus merely nodded. This time it was his turn to examine her features. He stared at her before finally muttering, “Alright. I will owl you with the details. Also, you will need to come to Hogwarts to help with the practical component. Now, will you please give me my work back?”

Hermione couldn’t help bursting into a smile. She practically skipped to the door, and summoned his vials. For his part, Severus found himself resisting a small smile as he saw the glee on her face. Never had anyone looked so thrilled to be allowed to work beside him, the horrid and hateful Professor Severus Snape.


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A/N: To those who were fretting – never fear! I would not dream of killing off our Potions Master (well, not at this point, anyway. I don’t want to spoil the story by making any promises!)

On this, I truly appreciate any reviews that anyone finds the time to give. They help me with my writing, and they are quite an encouragement to continue. This is actually my first fic, so if you have the time, please tell me how I am doing. Thank you very much.

And now, back to your scheduled entertainment…