At the Shore of The Heart

Severus was in his private chambers. Although it had been almost seven years since he had left them, he had settled in as if he had never been away, and as he slid his books onto familiar shelves, they almost sighed with happiness at being back where they belonged. Severus had that feeling too, and he surveyed his rooms with sentimental pride. The only addition was his wedding photograph, which sat beside his bed this time. He didn’t look at it every day now, but he was always aware it was there, out of the corner of his eye. He didn’t think of Lucy every hour of the day, either, and felt an odd tinge of regret that he was becoming so occupied with his teaching that it was pushing her from his mind. But he accepted it, just as he accepted that reminders of a certain know-it-all met him around each corner of the school. Both situations he had to learn to live with.



He gathered up the parchments and his wand, left his rooms and walked the short journey to the Potions classroom, where he was about to introduce a new group of first years to the art of Potion making.



He shoved open the door dramatically, hair and robes billowing behind him as three rows of frightened faces looked up at him. He smirked and took a deep breath.



‘There will be no foolish wand–waving in this class,’ he began.





******





Minerva looked at Poppy over the frames of her spectacles and frowned.



‘It’s such short notice, Poppy,’ she muttered.



‘I’m sorry, Minerva, but it cannot be helped. I refuse to let just anyone care for Herbert. He is my only sibling and he refuses point blank to go into St Mungo’s for fear he will never come out again. It has to be me,’ she stated firmly.



‘Very well. I shall have to write to Chief medi-wizard Arkwright and see whom he can provide for us in the interim. Promise me you will let me know if you have to remain longer than planned,’ Minerva sighed deeply.



‘I will. And thank you,’ she smiled softly at her friend. Minerva just nodded as she whipped out a piece of parchment and readied her quill.





******



Chief medi-wizard Arkwright was pacing behind his desk as Hermione knocked. He plastered a caring smile onto his face and bade her to come in.



‘Hello sir,’ Hermione smiled at him.



‘Hermione, please’ he gestured to the leather chair in front of his desk, ‘be seated.’



Hermione sat down, feeling a little non-plussed and wondering why she had been summoned. It was almost two months since she had started back at work and everything had gone smoothly, or so she thought. She watched suspiciously as the Chief medi-wizard flounced his garish robes and sat in front of her, his smile still fixed to his face. His smile never quite reached his eyes, and for that reason Hermione had never warmed to the man.



‘How are you finding it, being back on the ward?’ he said smoothly. He started to nod slowly before she had even opened her mouth.



‘Everything is in order. It’s just business as usual, sir,’ she said, her voice expressing what she hoped was efficiency and control.



‘Yes, yes,’ Arkwright put his fingers together, ‘and how are you, Hermione? I am aware that you and Healer Penrose are no longer keeping company.’ He pursed his lips together and Hermione almost laughed at his obvious disapproval of their break-up.



‘I’m fine, thank you,’ she said quickly, not wishing to discuss her personal life with her boss.



‘Yes well, I wondered if you fancied a sabbatical of sorts,’ he said, aware that he had overstepped his boundary a little.



‘A sabbatical? But I have just taken 6 months leave,’ Hermione looked at him in shock.



‘It would not be a holiday. Perhaps you should read this,’ he handed her the parchment and she immediately recognised the writing.



She scanned the letter quickly and a small smile played on her lips.



‘You want me to go to Hogwarts? But it’s almost Christmas, I will be needed,’ she said softly.



‘Without wishing to point out the obvious, we did cope quite well while you away. Not that you were not missed, naturally,’ he nodded in her direction and smiled slightly obsequiously.



‘I’d love to go,’ Hermione smiled brightly, ignoring his comment. Excitement started to build inside her. She hadn’t been to Hogwarts in years, and the thought of seeing the school, and her old teachers again, was making her feel warm inside.



‘Excellent!’ Arkwright clapped his hands together.



Hermione smirked. He had known she wouldn’t refuse his request, but she let him have his little victory. She would be spending Christmas at Hogwarts and that was the best thing that could have happened to her.





******



Minerva waited expectantly by her Floo and her face split into a wide smile as Hermione stepped out of the green flames.



‘My dear girl, look at you,’ she smiled and grabbed her for a huge hug.



Hermione closed her eyes and trembled a little at such an outward display of affection. It had been quite some time since someone had held her.



Minerva pulled away and looked at her with concern.



‘Are you quite alright, Hermione?’ she asked her.



Hermione swallowed a little and then laughed. ‘Sentimental, that’s all. Is it lovely to be back,’ she glanced around the office with a smile.



‘I have prepared rooms near the hospital wing, you know where I mean, of course,’ Minerva smiled at her warmly.



‘Yes, I remember,’ Hermione smiled. ‘I’ll go now and get settled in, I think.’



‘And we shall see you at dinner?’ Minerva asked her.



‘Of course,’ Hermione smiled and turned to walk out of the office.



Before she could leave, however, the door opened, and the current Potions Master of Hogwarts walked in briskly, almost colliding with her.



Severus stopped and stared at her, and a lump formed in his throat as he realised just how much he had missed her. She looked more beautiful than he remembered.



‘Hermione,’ he breathed softly, not breaking her shocked gaze.



Hermione stared at him for a full minute, not believing her eyes, and pushed past him and out of the door, closing the door hard behind her.





************



oohh... well at leat they are in the same place now - this story is a bit predictable don\'t you think? Oh well...here\'s racing towards a happy ending as per usual!