It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 43

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have reacted like that," Emma finally managed to say, after pulling some tissues from her pocket and drying her tears.

"It was a perfectly reasonable reaction when you were reminded of what's going to happen at the end of today,"  Draco said, tilting her chin up and kissing her.  "Minerva didn't know she would upset you, she was just being practical about today's schedule . . . occupational hazard of being Deputy Headmistress."

Emma smiled, nodding.  She looked around and shivered.  "This hallway gives me the creeps.  No offense . . . but it's not the Slytherin Common room.  That, at least, had some charm." She shivered again.  "And it's cold, too, even now in the summer.  It must be freezing in the winter."

"Indeed it is.  Well, let's take a look at the Potions lab, shall we?"  Draco opened the door and swept his arm, ushering her into the darkened classroom.  Taking his wand, he lit the wall torches and the fire in the hearth, noticeably warming the air.

"Wow.  This looks very similar to our set, but it is so much bigger," Emma observed, as she walked between the tables.  There was a row of small windows along one wall, through which the morning sun was shining.  On the back wall were multiple shelves lined with jars and packets of potion ingredients.   The wall where the door was located had a big blackboard in front of which was positioned a desk.  There was another door on the last wall, that Draco pointed out to Emma. "Severus' office."

"Ah."  Emma nodded.  "I wonder why he wasn't at breakfast?"

"I always have my breakfast early, Emma," came the reply from behind them.  Severus Snape stood in the door to the hallway.  "I'm an early riser, and during the holidays, the meal schedule is rather casual, shall we say, concerning breakfast.  Luncheon and dinner are usually at a set time, but breakfast," he shrugged, as he walked into the room. "It's optional and the House Elves don't mind doing individual service for the residents. Or 'Room Service' in Albus' case."

"Good morning, Severus," Emma smiled, as she went over and gave the somber man a hug. "This classroom is fantastic! "

"I'm glad you approve, Emma," he replied, with a small smile.  "Draco."

"Severus," Draco nodded hello.  "Oh, by the way, while I'm down here, you wouldn't happen to have a bit of 'Invigoration Draught'.  I'm not keen on trekking all the way up to the Hospital Wing to get some from Poppy."

"Why would you need that particular draught?   Late night?"  Severus smirked, but then caught Emma blushing, beet red, out of the corner of his eye and received a withering look from Draco.

"Actually, I had a good night's sleep," Draco responded, after taking a second to calm down. "However, I think our guests will need it this evening.  When we leave, we'll be going back to yesterday morning at Dan's house and they'll be going through another whole Saturday . . . so we can't have them falling asleep at noon, face first in their soup,"  he added, which made Emma smile.

"Oh, that wouldn't do at all!" she giggled, walking over and putting her arm through Draco's, kissing him on the cheek.

Severus eyebrow shot up but he turned and walked over to a cabinet by the fireplace, opened it, reached in and came up with a small vial.  Closing the cabinet door, he turned and handed the liquid filled container to Draco.

"I should think two drops should be sufficient.  That will give about twelve hours of extra staying power, but Emma, I don't think you or your friends will feel anything amiss; it will just seem like you've got a lot of extra energy for the day."

Emma nodded, "I'm sure it'll work perfectly, Severus . . . that's why you get the big bucks"

Draco barked a laugh when he spotted the totally puzzled look on Severus' face.

"She means she knows you're the best Potions maker in England."

"Ah, well, in that case, thank you, Emma," Severus bowed.  "I'm assuming you are taking a tour of the castle first, then heading outdoors?"

"Indeed we are,"  Emma nodded.  "We're each going to see the particular places that were of interest to us and then meeting up to go to Hagrid's."

"And this was your first stop?"  Snape questioned, with a twinkle in his eye.

"I'm not Hermione, Severus!"  Emma laughed.  "Although I do want to see the library, this was first and closest, so here we are!"

"Well, have a good time wandering the halls and I shall see you at lunchtime, then."  Severus replied, as Draco took Emma's hand and led her out of the classroom.  She waved goodbye and then the two of them started up the steps, watched by the Potions Master.

'This is not going to be easy, letting her go,'  Severus thought, shaking his head. Using his wand to put out the torches and extinguish the fire, he then closed the classroom door and walked away, further into the depths of the dungeons.