A Likely Story

The first chapter of this story was written as a reply to the "Highly Unlikely" challenge on The Potion's Master's Muse. This Christmas-themed challenge involved having the Potions master do something highly out of character while keeping him as in character as possible. As the story continues after Christmas, it travels from 12 Grimmauld Place to Muggle London to Hogwarts with a multitude of canon characters. There's some politics and some romance, with the emphasis always being on a snarky Snape. It takes place parallel with OoP and slightly beyond.

Snape makes it back to Hogwarts safely after being summoned by the Dark Lord, but these repeated summonses are taking a physical toll and he won't let anybody help him. Also: why you should get a Potions master to check wild mushrooms before you eat them, especially if you picked them yourself, and what Snape really thinks of Voldemort's appearance.

Snape and Tonks go shopping for plants in Knockturn Alley. Then they go to 12 Grimmauld Place for some Sirius/Severus snark. And sandwiches.

Snape makes a mean Hangover Potion. And there's an Order meeting, in which Dumbledore prevents Snape from telling Sirius what Umbridge is doing to students in detention.

Snape finds out why you lift with your legs, not with your back.

Snape convinces Tonks to look at her real face, with some help from Dobby.

Tonks begins her undercover work in earnest and discovers Potions class to be different from an adult perspective.

Another Order meeting at 12 Grimmauld Place brings another confrontation between Snape and Sirius. And Tonks helps Snape with an emotional problem.

Tonks helps Snape with a pest control problem at Spinner's End.

Tonks accompanies the Order to the Ministry while Severus goes into the Forbidden Forest. This chapter also features the last communications between Sirius and Severus.

Remus and Severus clash over Tonks' hospital bed, and Severus meets with the Dark Lord in the aftermath of the battle at the Ministry.