The Conference

Author's Note

Harry Potter and the other characters you recognize here are the property of J.K. Rowling. I'm making no money on this writing.

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Severus stood quietly in the registration line, wishing this usually boring affair was over already. It was Thursday afternoon, and everyone was getting signed up for the workshops and presentations. He didn't know why he still came to the Annual Potions Conference. It was always the same. He would come with a well prepared presentation, and do a workshop as well, but none of the other presenters would bring forth a single bit of knowledge that he didn't already possess. They were lazy in his opinion, but that wasn't the worst of it. He hated the ball even more than the idle colleagues he was forced to mingle with. Each year he would sit at the table and either chit chat or watch the other conference-goers dance. The women who came there knew his reputation well. Not a single one dared to ask him to dance, or even speak to him for that matter. In over ten years, it had gone on this way, and each year he left disappointed.
The truth was, he was an excellent dancer, and he had a closely kept secret that no Witch knew about him. That secret would drastically change a woman's view about his nasty reputation if she knew what it was.

He watched as person after person in front of him got through the registration process. Finally, it was his turn. The chubby, middle-aged wizard who was behind the table smiled at him and said, "Welcome, Severus! It's so good to have you back again. We're all looking forward to your presentation, as always."

"Thank you, Reginald." he replied casually and signed his name neatly on the sign-in parchment.

"You have a room to yourself, as you requested." the wizard informed him and handed him a key card, "I do hope you'll enjoy yourself for once."

"Don't count on it." he sneered and signed his name again to the parchments for workshops and presentations. Suddenly he paused when he noticed that there was a new presentation this year, one that actually sounded interesting. The topic was 'Potions For Passion: Unleashing The Sexy Witch Within'. Admittedly, the title was a little hoaky, but part of his duty as Hogwarts' Potionsmaster was to keep the students from getting knocked up, and aiding male staff members who had 'problems' in the bedroom. It was the least favorite part of his job, but Severus Snape never did any part of his job half-way. If the presenter indeed had some new idea, he wanted to hear about it.

"Who's teaching this workshop?" he asked Reginald after signing his name to the list.

"I've never heard of her before." the wizard replied, "She's some genius from the University."

Severus nodded. "Maybe some new blood is just what this conference needs. My mind will die of atrophy if I have to endure many more of these miserable affairs."

Before the other wizard could think of a comeback to his insult, he left the table and glanced at the door to see a group of young Witches coming in. He froze in his tracks as he caught sight of the one he recognized. It was none other than Miss Hermione Granger, the insufferable know-it-all. He hadn't seen her since she graduated, but he knew her current Potions professor, Donald Lawry, very well. Donald had said she was the brightest student he had ever seen since Severus himself had graduated. He was hardly surprised to see her here at the conference, since Potions was her major. What was shocking was her appearance. The plain-looking, wild-haired girl he had taught had been replaced with a curvaceous beauty. Her auburn curls were neatly styled and her face was nicely made-up. Her clothing had changed drastically as well. She wore a tight fitting pair of faded jeans with a chain belt at the waist and a white midrift shirt that had the words 'Sexy Witch' written in red, cursive letters across the front. Her stomach was tanned and toned. This was definitely not the Hermione Granger he remembered.

She smiled and led the other girls in her company over to him. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Professor Severus Snape, the smartest wizard alive."

"THE Snape! The one you're always talking about?" the girl to the right of her gasped.

Hermione gave the girl a cross look and muttered, "Shut up, Debbie, or I'll hex you."

Regaining his composure, Severus extened his hand and said, "Good afternoon, Miss Granger, ladies."

Hermione shook his hand and said, "I was hoping you'd be here, Professor. This is our first time at the conference. Is it interesting?"

"It's abysmal if you ask me." he sneered, "Good day, Miss Granger."

With that, he walked away and headed for his room, hardly believing what he had just seen. Who would have thought Hermione Granger the bookworm would end up looking like a model. This was going to be a strange conference this year.

"What a jerk!" Debbie exclaimed as he walked away, "He completely blew you off, Mione."

"I'm afraid he takes some getting used to." Hermione chuckled.

"I don't know what you see in him, Girl." a blonde Witch in their group said, "He's nearly twice your age, and it doesn't look like he's even interested."

"Maybe he's gay." another girl interjected.

"He's NOT gay!" Hermione protested.

"Are you kidding?" Debbie said, rolling her eyes, "He'd have to be to not have a reaction to you, Mione. You're a knockout."

Hermione pouted. So her outfit didn't have the desired affect on her former teacher. Tomorrow, she'd do better. "Come on, let's get signed in." she said and prodded the other girls into the registration line. She had come here with one purpose, and she intended to fulfill it. Come hell or high water, she would have her fantasy of sleeping with Professor Severus Snape.