Chapter 7: Back To Business

Defense Against The Dark Arts class, Hogwarts...

Professor Remus Lupin's brown eyes scanned the remarkably full classroom. He had decided to return to Hogwarts to continue teaching at the behest of Dumbledore who had told him that Severus Snape would return to teaching Potions once he was reinstated. He had not thought it was a good idea initially given the history he had with The Potions Master and his on-going bout with his werewolf transformations. The Headmaster wouldn't hear any of it stating that it was the best place for him and the appeal of having Severus brew Wolfsbane Potion at the ready sweetened the deal for him. He made the decision to return and that was that. Harry Potter had been among the first students to welcome him back after they did some catching up and he planned out his syllabus for the up coming term. It had been an all together pleasant experience when he walked through the halls.

Now he had been walking through his class room taking in the atmosphere of young mind hard at work.

Professor Lupin had seen a great deal of the young wizard Sebastian Prince this term. With Professor Snape on sabbatical Slughorn had enlisted the young man to brew the complex Wolfsbane potion for him on occasion. The young man had been as skilled as the potions Professor and quite kind in terms of his work. The first time the young man had given him some of the potion he brewed himself it had not tasted as bitter or as gritty as when Snape had made it.

Lupin had suspected that Snape made it taste that dreadful on purpose just to get back at him. Knowing Severus Snape's very Slytherin approach to revenge there was no doubt in his mind that, that had been true. Interestingly, it had seemed that young Sebastian Prince had taken quite a liking to him. The young man was always full of questions surrounding his condition and making notes for improving his brew of Wolfsbane potion. He had even asked if he could see his transformed state.

The raven haired Slytherin's curiosity had amused Lupin and he had agreed on night to allow the boy to see his transformation. He had been under the influence of the Wolfsbane potion so the young man had been quite safe and he had seemed a good deal impressed when Lupin reverted back to his human form. The young wizard even asked him wither the transformation it self caused the pain or the human mind rebelling against being in the form of a beast. Lupin couldn't say for sure but it only made the boy more intent on studying him.

Presently, Sebastian had been taking notes on various defenses against malicious spells. Lupin had figured he would start the class on something simple en-light of the war with Voldemort. Everyone had seen enough horrors at the moment and he thought it best not to send them all into post-traumatic stress attacks as it were. Draco had been beside him taking casual glances at his notes. He had not been copying him so much as he was concerned about his complete focus being on these strange subjects.

The act was subtle enough that Lupin ignored it.

Hermione Granger's own notes had been just as extensive and she had been engrossed in her work as well. On occasion she would glance up at Sebastian who had been seated on the opposite end of the class but close enough so that she could see him. Her mind had been wrestling with the image of his pale hand clasping hers that day in the infirmary and the detail she put into her note-taking.

They had not spoken much since that day but whenever they had class together they would take turns stealing glances without the other noticing. Ginny Weasley had been sitting next to Hermione during this class and had been watching both her and Sebastian since they entered the room. She had long suspected that this would be the outcome of their little war when he first arrived.

"See anything you like Mione?" whispered Ginny.

Hermione looked at her stunned.

"I-I have no idea what your talking about." she said defensive.

"Sure you don't." replied Ginny teasing.

Hermione blushed under the scrutiny of her friend's gaze.

"It seems you have a thing for green and silver." said Ginny unable to resist the quip.

Hermione blushed more and looked down at her notes.

"Shhh." she said "Ginny."

Ginny smiled warmly and turned her attention back to her notes.

"I won't tell." she said sweetly. "But he does have nice eyes."

Hermione shook her head.

Lupin had heard every word due to his keen werewolf hearing. He hid a small smile as he looked back n forth between Harry Potter's friend Hermione Granger and the raven haired Slytherin Sebastian Prince. He made his way back to his desk and tried to look busy and every bit the professional his position made him seem.

This was going to be quite interesting.

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The Library, Hogwarts...

Being surrounded by books had put a smile on Hermione's face as she scowered the titles looking for something that would hold her interest. A worn book with a beaten blue cover had caught her attention. The title of it had been: The Theology of Potions, By Matt Launer. It had been on the third shelf and a bit out of her reach but she was determined to go for it. She reached for it without so much as a second thought and found herself suddenly pressed against the bindings of other old books. She looked up and saw a pale hand reach the book she was after. She smiled to herself as the source of the pale hand spoke to her.

"Fancy meeting you here Granger." said the voice of Sebastian Prince.

Hermione turned around to face him. He had been standing very close to her. Hermione took in the scent of herbs and earth that came off of him as his lean frame blocked her in and she found herself pressed against the bookshelf.

"Sebastian." she said trying her best to appear casual.

"I suppose you were reaching for this book." said Sebastian in a bored tone.

Hermione nodded slowly.

"I-I was yes." she said finding her voice after a minute or two.

"And I suppose you want it." said Sebastian with a look in his eyes that could only be described as amusement. "How interesting."

Hermione glared at him.

"Give me the book please Sebastian." she said.

Sebastian dangled the book over her head making her look up at it.

"I seem recall the last time you and I met under these circumstances." he said rather smugly. "You spelled the book to hit me in the face."

Hermione looked rather proud as she glared at him.

"A move that I wouldn't mind repeating if you don't give me the that book." she said defiantly.

"No." said Sebastian in a bored tone. "I think I'll keep it."

Hermione grumbled.

"Give me that book Slytherin Git." she said annoyed.

Sebastian laughed.

"What do you plan to do to me if I don't?" he asked. "There will be no flying books and meddling teachers to save you this time."

Hermione looked at him for a moment. Sebastian Prince had been smug for far too long. She suddenly thought of a way to get back at him and wipe that arrogant smirk off his face. The raven haired Slytherin had been so comfortable in his assured victory that he had not noticed the hint of mischief in the amber eyes of the sandy brown haired Gryffindor witch.

In an instant, she leaned forward and pressed her soft pink lips against his unassuming pale ones capturing them in a chaste kiss. Sebastian looked at her effectively stunned by her feminine wiles but not so much so that he would let his guard down and drop the book like she hoped. He blinked rapidly for a moment as if trying to process if it had indeed been true that she had just kissed him.

Hermione gave him an sweet innocent smile.

His obsidian eyes flickered with an emotion she had not registered and before the young Gryffindor witch knew it the raven haired Slytherin had her pressed her up against the books once more. His pale lips capturing her an assuming softy pink ones in a heated display that he had not even had any control over. Hermione closed her eyes feeling the sudden sweep of emotion that radiated between them. This had not been what she expected when she initiated the kiss but it had been a far better result than she could have dreamed of.

As if driven by impulse, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his already pressing body tighter against hers. He seemed to melt into her embrace as if he couldn't get enough of the contact.

"Hermione." he said breathlessly against her lips.

She had been silent dizzy from the haze of their emotions. It seemed to have been going quite well until he swiftly pulled away from her in a sudden gesture that snapped her out of her haze. His obsidian eyes had been wide with what appeared to be absolute horror as he looked back at her. He handed her the book and made his way out of the library without a word. He had not even looked back at the confused and expression on her face as she stood there holding the book.

Hermione had not known what went wrong but it seemed like she had upset him in some way. She checked out the book but had no interest in reading it when she made her way back to Gryffindor tower. Whatever this was between her and Sebastian, she felt it had just gotten a lot more complicated.

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Head Boy Room, Slytherin Dungeons...

Sebastian Prince entered his rooms in quite a hurry. Despite his ability to keep his composure, his heart was racing and his palms were sweating profusely. The air felt hot and it was somehow difficult to breathe. His mind had been racing as his eyes scanned the room. He had relaxed a little when he found that he had once again been alone. What's happening to me? Could this all be because of Granger? The raven haired Slytherin took off his robes and made his way over to the bed wearing only a long sleeve white shirt and trousers.

No sooner had he sat down, the door opened up and Pansy Parkinson strolled in. She had not been that impressive in the way of looks with her pug-like face and her short hair a bob-cut style with bangs. Her dark eyes swept over Sebastian for a moment. He stood up feeling uncomfortable with her being alone with him. The added image of him sitting on his bed without his robes on made the situation awkward.

"Sebastian." she said with a slight gleam in her eye. "Is that a wand in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"

The raven haired wizard looked at her for a moment. Then looked down at his trousers to see what she had been on about.

"Oh bloody hell." he said feeling even more uncomfortable.

The incident with Hermione in the library had been more stimulating than he let on. He had barely registered the effect of her kiss when he noticed that he had been aroused. Pulling away and leaving quickly was all he could do to salvage the remainder of whatever it was that was happening between them. He had been so lost in his conflicting emotions that he had forgotten about it. Until now.

Pansy chuckled playfully.

"Got wood over some chit huh?" she asked raising an eye brow.

Sebastian grabbed his robe off the edge of his bed. Pansy didn't seem to mind being around him in this state but he was not interested in her open-minded approach.

"Is there a reason you are here?" asked Sebastian needing to change the subject.

Pansy continued to stare at him for a moment.

"I came to see Draco." she replied still not taking her eyes off him. "I didn't know I'd be treated to such a spectacular show."

Sebastian tried his best to ignore the compliment.

"Well, as you can see Draco is not here." he said bitterly. "You can leave now."

Pansy smiled and walked over to him.

"You know something Sebastian, with a trouser snake like yours I can see why your in Slytherin." she said with amusement.

"I hate you." replied Sebastian looking away from her.

Pansy laughed.

"Cheer up." she said casually. "It's a compliment...many of girls would kill to have a go at a bloke like you."

"I'm not interested in many of the girls." replied Sebastian.

"Of course not." said Pansy sarcastically. "Just a certain sandy brown haired Gryffindor witch with a near-on fetish for books."

Sebastian's eyes widened.

"H-How..." he started.

"You talk in your sleep." replied Pansy.

She left him with a laugh and headed out the door. Sebastian glared after her.

"I hate her." he said in a low voice to no one in particular.

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Head Girl Room, Gryffindor Tower...

With a loud THUD!, Hermione slammed her books down on her personal desk and crawled into bed. Ginny Weasley looked up from her latest homework assignment at her friend. Hermione sprawled across her bed and buried her face in her pillow. She had wanted to scream but having Ginny within ear shot had deterred her of the notion. She couldn't understand why Sebastian had just taken off like that and not said a word. He wouldn't even look at her. Had the kiss been that bad? Did she do something wrong when she initiated it? Most boys his age would have been more than happy to be snogging in a library. Why was he so difficult? And Why did she have to feel so strangely about him?

Hermione let out a frustrated grumble.

"Trouble in paradise?" asked Ginny observing her.

Hermione looked at her friend.

"Paradise?" she asked.

Ginny shook her head.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing." replied Hermione.

"It doesn't look to me like it's nothing." replied Ginny.

Hermione turned her attention back to her pillow.

Ginny fought back a laugh.

"Would this nothing happen to be a certain...Raven haired, obsidian eyed, Slytherin Git?" she asked.

Hermione sighed and looked up at her friend.

"I kissed him." she blurted.

Ginny had been shocked.

"You what?" she asked intrigued.

"I kissed him." repeated Hermione. "In the library I was getting this book...then he showed up...we were arguing but not really...he wouldn't give me the book...so I kissed him...but only to take that smug look off his face...but then...then he kissed me back and it was...unexpected and it...well he suddenly looked at me strangely and just took off."

Ginny shook her head.

"I don't understand what I did wrong." said Hermione.

Ginny signed.

"Maybe you didn't do anything wrong." she said helpful. "Maybe you did everything right."

Hermione looked at her confused.

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

Ginny sighed again. Hermione was a brilliant witch and a model student but when it came to social norms she was defiantly out of her element. When it came to boys she was completely off the grid.

"Mione, Sebastian had to leave because he liked you a little too much." said Ginny. "He must have gotten off on the kiss you gave him and didn't know how you would react to..."

Hermione looked at her friend for a moment.

"To what?" she asked.

"To him getting excited." replied Ginny not at all wishing to spell out any more of this than necessary.

Hermione looked at her and then processed what she had been told. Her eyes widened. She had not even considered the possibility of something like that happening. Sebastian had been so much different from the other boys she knew. It was hard for her to take into account that he had still been a boy just like the rest of them.

"Oh." said Hermione suddenly blushing.

Ginny laughed.

"What am I going to do with you Hermione?" she asked.

Both girls started giggling as the thought of Sebastian Prince getting an erection from kissing in the library came back to them. Hermione had felt a thousand times better now that she knew he had not taken off because he didn't like her. It had been the just the opposite.

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Charms class, Hogwarts...

The glaring blue eyes of Ronald B. Weasley had been locked on the raven haired Slytherin Sebastian Prince and Hermione as she demonstrated the proper technique for the new Acutus memoriae charm they were studying. The Slytherin had learned his lesson and had no wish to lose any more of the memories that he already had simply because he wanted to avoid "foolish wand waving". Hermione had been teaching him with a new hands on approach that he found less embarrassing and quite stimulating to be sure. Ron Weasley had been quite perturbed when he saw just how much touching the tutoring required.

"Ron." said Harry Potter looking at his friend intently.

Ron blinked and turned his attention back to Harry.

"You're suppose to be doing the steps." said Harry seemingly annoyed.

Ron let out an exasperated breath.

"I am Harry." he replied "I just can't ge the hand of this."

The red haired wizard's ears perked at the sound of Hermione laughing with Sebastian Prince and Ron turned his attention back to his wand. He flicked it rather violently as he said the incantation.

"Acutus memoriae." he grumbled.

Nothing happened. Ron sighed in frustration. He concluded that he was never going to get the hang of this new spell. Harry tried his best to be supportive but he had known the real reason Ron wasn't getting the spell was because he was too busy trying to watch what Hermione and Sebastian were up to.

Meanwhile on the other side of the classroom, Hermione touched Sebastian's hand softly. He smiled as she continued to instruct him.

"You've almost got it." she said encouraging him. "Loosen your grip a little."

Sebastian had begun to move his wand in the precise motion that the spell required and the light blue glow emitting from his wand had been the indication that he had been on the right track.

"Ron loosen up." said Harry. "You can't cast the spell if your all bunched."

"Acutus memoriae." said Ron more clearly.

Still nothing happened.

"You're not focusing Ron." instructed Harry.

Ron grumbled to himself for a moment. His eyes fell on Sebastian and Hermione once more. They looked like they were getting a little too chummy. She continued to touch the Slytherin and they shared a few laughs. The scene unnerved Ron. He had not liked the boy since the first day he met him. How could she like him after what he had done? How could she be so nice to such a git? Was he not the one that hexed her all those time and had the whole school laughing at her? What was wrong with her? Why couldn't she be that close with him? Why did she have to go and befriend a Git like Sebastian Prince?

With another failed attempt behind him Ron tried yet again. He had been so frustrated and so angry about Hermione and Sebastian's apparent gravitation toward each other that he blurted the spell without thinking or using the proper hand movements. Harry had not been prepared believing this to be yet another failed attempt.

"Acutus memoriae, Sebastian Prince."said Ron with intent.

Suddenly a light blue glow emitted from the tip of his wand. Ron had been excited believing that he had triumphed at last. The glow hovered above the tip of the wand in a spinning ball and then suddenly shot straight across the room. Professor Flitwick had been instructing other students when this all occurred and had barely any time to react when the ball headed straight for Hermione and Sebastian.

"Look out!" shouted Harry racing toward them.

"Hermione get out of the way!" shouted Ron.

"Rouge Spell!" shouted Professor Flitwick.

Sebastian had just enough time to look up from his attempt before the ball flew at him with incredible speed. Draco had hopped over his desk in an effort to get to him but he had been too slow. Hermione had been flung back as Sebastian shoved her out of the way out of protective instinct. She had been the closest to him when the ball of magic pierced through his chest and disappeared inside his lean body.

"Sebastian!" she shouted as he collapsed onto the floor.

Professor Flitwick had made his way over to them.

"Out of the way child." he said looking over Sebastian.

Hermione gave the Professor room and he waved his wand over the raven haired Slytherin. Harry looked at Hermione. He had been just as worried about Sebastian as she had been. Draco growled from where he stood and suddenly snatched Ron up by the collar. The red haired wizard had hardly blinked before he was shoved up against a nearby wall face to face with a snarling Draco.

"What did you do Weasley?" he asked irate.

"I-I." stammered Ron helplessly.

"I demand to know what you did to Sebastian!" said Draco with his rage building. "Answer me!"

"It was an accident." said Ron defensive. "How was I suppose to know it would do that?"

"That's a load of bullshit and you know it, Weasley." replied Draco glaring at Ron with intent. "You sent the spell directly at him!"

Ron struggled to come up with a good excuse. He had been angry went he cast that spell and he had purposely said Sebastian's name in the incantation. He had no idea that it would actually work let alone hit him like it did. While the two young wizards traded barbs, Sebastian came to. He sat up feeling more than his fair share of grogginess and looked around the classroom.

"Is there a reason you are all looking at me and not working?" he asked sounding a good deal like Professor Snape.

His words had been so similar that most of the students went back to their work on impulse. Hermione looked him over grateful to Professor Flitwick for restoring him. Sebastian got to his feet and picked up his wand.

"I believe we were practicing." he said looking in Hermione's direction.

She gave him a small smile.

"It seems that everything is in order." said Professor Flitwick in a rather nonchalant manner.

He returned his desk with a little pride in his hobbled walk.

Draco had not been done with Ron. He had been only seconds away from letting loose his anger when Sebastian's voice put an end to his intentions.

"Let him go Draco." he said coolly. "It was an accident."

Draco turned his attention to Sebastian.

"Are you crazy?" he asked. "This prat sent the spell after you on purpose."

Sebastian studied Ron for what seemed like the longest time. Hermione and Harry watched him awaiting the outcome of this incident. A small smile spread across Sebastian's face in a slow manner.

"Let him go." said Sebastian turning his attention back to his wand work.

Draco sighed and released Ron letting him drop to the floor. Ron sat there for a minute catching his breath. He had been sure that Sebastian would want some kind of recompense for what he had done. He'll probably kill me. Maybe he'll let this go because I'm friends with Hermione. Who am I kidding there is no way he is going to let this go. Ron thoughts had been going a mile a minute by the time he realized it.

Sebastian had been watching him. His obsidian eyes focused and his expression had been impassive.

"You are absolutely right Mr. Weasley." he said in a slow manner.

Ron's eyes widened. Did he just hear my thoughts? No way. He couldn't have. Could he?

Sebastian gave him a wicked smirk in response.

Hermione looked Sebastian over once more as they began to get back to work.

"Are you alright?" she asked with concern in her tone.

Sebastian smiled at her.

"No need to worry Gryffindor." he replied in a smooth manner. "Let's just say that Mr. Weasley has given life a new perspective for me."

Hermione looked at him confused. He was being quite cryptic. It had not been something he had done before or she would have noticed. There was something a bit unsettling about all this. Perhaps he hit his head a little too hard. I'll bet a good nights rest would do him some good. The image of Sebastian kissing her in the library suddenly filled her mind. She turned red as she looked at him and shifted her gaze. He smirked at her then continued his lessons. She could almost swear that there had been an air of "knowing" in his demeanor.