Severus arranged all the potion ingredients required to make the potion, on the table. "Now, Miss Hamilton here are the instructions follow them correctly."
"Uh..Professor, I haven't made a potion before."
"Didn't you learn it in school, Miss Hamilton?"
"I well, I went to a muggle school"

He starred at her, "What?"
"I did go to Beauxbaton for one year, we did make potions but I cant remember it."
"Great you want to be my assistant and you don't know a thing about potions. I hope it isn't the same for other things."

"No, professor! In the last three years I have tried and gained all the knowledge I could in transfiguration and charms and DADA."
"And where did you learn them?"

"I visited Asia there is a secret society of Wizards there they helped me understand these, potions was the only thing I opted out, I mean how important can a potion be?" she said only to realize what she did. "I mean I thought, but of course potions are very important, extremely important." She said with a forced smile.

"Alright, I will show you how to make it, watch carefully."

He moved towards the table. "Only three petals of Dreaming glory." He said and put three petals in the cauldron. He then took a vine and made a few vertical cuts across it, "This is Nightmare vine, four drops of the juice from the vine. Then stir it three times clockwise and five times anti-clockwise. Let it simmer for 10mins." He said stirring the ingredients with a metal spoon. After a few minutes he took out the liquid and filled a glass vile with it, "When the potion is done it will change to a purple colour such as this, once it does bottle it. Also add a few leaves of mint just before the 10 minutes are up."

Celestia was still unsure but she followed his instructions, he observed her carefully. "Miss Hamilton the way you're making this, it looks like you do know how to make potions." She looked at him then at the potion, Then why can't I remember it, She thought.  After about 2-3 hours, she had already filled 50 bottles with the potion. "Professor, isn't it a bit too much?"
"A batch of this will be sent to St.Mungo's." she nodded and continued.

"Miss Hamilton, I think that's enough for now. You should head to the great hall for lunch."
"Thank you Professor." She looked at him and smiled and walked towards the door.
  "What? No Jackass today?" he asked looking at her raising an eyebrow his fingers crossed and his elbows resting on the edge of the desk. She stopped in her tracks her eyes widened, "I...it was.... I am ....sorry.."
"Go on Miss Hamilton or you will miss lunch." She felt so mortified at what she had done. She walked out silently towards the hall.

After lunch she returned back to the potions classroom. She didn't say a word just walked towards the table and started making the potion, about one hour in, the temperature in the room had increased because of the heat from the cauldron fire [or Severus Snape you never know! ;) ] , Celestia tied her hair up in a bun. Severus was busy working on the other potions, he turned to look at Celestia, what caught his attention was scars on the back of her neck, similar to the ones he had, on his neck because of the bite from Nagini.

"If I may, Miss Hamilton what are these scars on the back of your neck?", she turned to look at him, "I honestly can't remember." He narrowed his eyes, then got back to his work.

It was about 11pm both Severus and Celestia were very much immersed in their work they had missed dinner. Severus looked at his watch, "Miss Hamilton, its quiet late, we have missed dinner as well."
"There is a place where we could get food." She said as she grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the classroom. "Hold on." She said.
"Miss  Hamil..." she apparated them to The three Broomsticks. " Miss Hamilton, we could have gone to the kitchen or called an elf what are you..."
"Oi professor, calm down and come on the fish and chips here are to die for not to mention the pot pies." They walked in and sat on one the tables. Rosemerta came to take their orders, "Celly, where have you been for the past few days haven't seen you around."
"Yes, Rose will tell you everything but first get us something to eat, my regular and for Professor...."
"Regular for you as well Severus?"
"Yes, thank you."

Celestia looked at him then Rose, "Also double shot firewiskey please, what about you professor?"
"The same." Rosemerta took their orders and made her way towards the kitchen.
"So you come here often , Professor?" he looked at her.
"I used to come here often."
"Well, I have been coming here since a year."

After eating they sat there for sometime finishing their 4th shot of firewhiskey. "Why do you drink so much, Miss Hamilton?" she looked at him and smiled then had a sip of her drink, "It makes my problems go away." she took a sip then looked at him, "Nah it doesn't seem to work, you're still here!!" She started laughing, but when she saw behind him her laugh vanished, there she was Rita, she gestured her to come out. "Excuse me professor." She got up and moved towards the back door and stepped out.

"What do you want now, if he sees you here with me then.."
"Don't worry love, here take this." She said handing her a bottle with a pink shimmering liquid. "What is this suppose to be?"
"Only the strongest love potion ever made, Amortentia .Give him this one drop a day and he will swoon over you in no time and then you will be able to get the information I need."
"But, this is not what we talked about, I will search the information on my own, I don't need this!" Celestia said handing her the potion.
"I don't want to repeat myself darling, keep the potion and use it!" Rita said and she gave her the potion and she walked away from the back alley of the pub. Celestia starred at the potion in her hand, What should I do ?

Celestia pocketed the potion and walked back inside. "Shall we leave Professor?" gesturing towards the door. Severus nodded and got up from his chair. "Professor, is it alright if we walk back?"  he nodded again in response.

They made their way out of the pub and started walking towards the castle. They walked in silence. "Miss Hamilton, you're awfully quiet!"
Celestia looked up, "Uh, nothing of that sort, I just need fresh air."
Severus looked skeptically. "Of course." She smiled at him then looked down and continued to walk. Soon the castle came into view. They walked towards the dungeons. They reached their rooms. "So, professor, we did have an actual date didn't we?" she said with a smile.
"Good night Miss Hamilton." Severus gave her an annoyed look then turned and walked into his room.

Several days went by Celestia tried her best to get Severus to soften a little and to give her the information but in vain, she didn't want to use the potion on him, it wasn't right to do so. Two days back Celestia received a letter from the Press Club it was about their annual ball, Celestia thought the only way to get to Severus is to invite him so she walked towards the potions classroom. When she was about to enter she heard two voices coming from the other side of the classroom door. The voices weren't clear she could only hear parts of the conversation. She tried to listen.

"Severus, please I need you...."
"Remus have you thought of it...."

"Please, Severus.."
"Your married what will your wife think...."

"Tonks has no problem, in fact she said......"
"Alright, just this once....."

Celestia opened the door and entered to see Remus hugging Severus, when they saw her they both bolted apart from one another. "Sorry professor I didn't know I was interrupting something, I will come back later." Celestia walked towards her room and sat on the sofa with a glass of firewhiskey.

So Severus Snape is gay... and its Remus Lupin who's......and Tonks is in on it, his wife.....Merlin!! No wonder  nothing worked on him, he is gay! She thought as she gulped down her drink.  "Now what do I do?" she turned and took the vial out of her pocket, "I don't think I have a choice now!"

Suddenly a letter came from her fireplace, she opened it.

Meet me near the Black Lake.

Celestia sighed and walked towards the black lake. She sat down on a tree stump.

"Any news, darling?" Celestia looked at her Should I tell her he's gay or should I wait?

"Miss Hamilton, I asked if there is any news on Snape?"

"Uh..No I have been working on my other assignment for the Daily Prophet , so no news."
"What assignment?"

"Well, Mr. Cuffe has given me an assign......." Rita started laughing.

"Oh my poor darling, don't you get it, it was me who  gave him the idea to send you here, I threatened him and it worked."
"So it was you who did it, what if I go and tell him about you."

"But love he already knows, and I know his dirty secrets. And yours as well so get back to work and use that potion." Celestia sat there thinking.

"What should I do now?"
"About what Miss Hamilton?" the same silky-smooth voice came from behind her , the one voice she didn't want to hear at present...Severus Snape

"Nothing that concerns you professor." She got up.
"Oh please don't leave on my account." He said and started walking towards the castle.

"Wait!" he stopped and turned. "Its not you, I..." she sighed what was she going to tell him, that she was planning his annihilation just a few moments back, with an evil witch.

"Then what is it Miss Hamilton?"
"I will tell you but on one condition, Actually two."

"What are these conditions?"
"Well, firstly please stop calling me Miss Hamilton, my name is Celestia!" he looked at her and nodded.

"And before I tell you the second you have to have to agree to it first." He looked at her, Oh damn those black eyes, wait Celestia what the hell are you thinking snape out of it I mean SNAP .. "Okay I agree, now tell me."
"Huh..."

"I said I agree now tell me."
" Okay so every year there is a Press Club Ball, its for all the journalists and reporters around the world they have a meet. This year its in London.."
"So?"

"I need a date for the Ball."
"So?"

God why is he acting so dumb. She thought.

"Well, I don't know anyone here so, will you like to accompany me to the ball?"
Severus stared at her. "NO"

"But you agreed to it!"
"Well now I disagree."

"Please, we will go as acquaintances!"
"Why should I even go with you Miss Hamilton?"

"You agreed to call me Celestia and I helped you restock your potions.."
"The ones YOU BROKE?"

Celestia sat down on the stump, "Forget it, sorry I asked."

Severus turned and walked towards the Castle but stopped mid-way. He turned to look at her, he walked towards her. "Just this once, Miss Hamilton."  Celestia jumped up and hugged him. "Thank you, thank you so much!"

"Also , Miss Hamilton what you saw in the potions classro..."
"Don't worry professor, your secrets safe and it's a free country!! Also my name is Celestia!!" She said as she winked and walked passed him towards the castle.

What has a free country got to do with this? He thought.

(AN)

Hi Guys, so I have a question for you all.. Q)What inspires you to write? For me its just everyday things that inspire me sometimes the smallest of things around me also help or a hearty conversation with my Best friend!! Also the one thing that helps me write is Pirates of The Caribbean Theme song, 'He's a Pirate' I think that song just makes you believe everything is possible, so which is that one song that helps you inspires you? If you like my story please do vote and comment! Thank You so much.

Love,

Ria.