WLTM

Hermione pushed open the door of the shop and walked through to the back, shrugging off her cloak and hanging it on the hook near the door of the lab. His cloak was already there as usual. He always started early on a Monday. Checking her hair was securely tied at the nape of her neck, Hermione pushed the door open and walked confidently into the room.

‘Good morning, sir,’ she smiled at Severus, who was sitting by his work bench perusing a particularly interesting article on distilling the essence of bezoars as an antidote for poisoning, thus making them last longer.

‘Miss Granger, ‘ he smiled a little and nodded at her.

Hermione walked to the corner of the room and took two mugs down from the shelf. She looked at them and smiled, remembering the look on his face when she had transfigured them in her first week. She spooned coffee into the green Slytherin mug which bore the emblem of his house and put a peppermint tea bag into her own red and gold mug, resplendent with a roaring lion motif. She waved her wand and filled them with water and another flick had them steaming hot. She lifted them and carried them over to where Severus was still reading, ready for their Monday morning discussion.

Initially their meetings had been purely functional. Sort out their schedules to ensure all of their private clients received their orders on time and ensure that one of them was able to man the front of the shop each day for passing trade. However, over the past year or so, their discussions had been less about work and more to do with touching base again after the weekend.

It had become a ritual and they had formed a camaraderie of sorts, talking about their shared love of potions, and the research they would love to do if they had the time. Occasionally, they would attempt to do the crossword in the Wizard Times, a highbrow broadsheet that Severus insisted on buying but rarely read. In fact, for a long time Hermione had suspected he only bought the paper for the crossword and she was thrilled when she had found a book full of them on the shelf in Flourish and Blotts. She had wrapped it for him as a birthday gift and he had been touched, although he didn’t show it too much. She had also brought in muggle cream cakes and insisted they took a proper break to celebrate. He had been too embarrassed to tell her he had actually forgotten it was his birthday.

‘Here you are, Sir, ‘ Hermione handed him his coffee.

Severus took it without looking up and paused slightly, murmuring ‘Thank you, ‘ and bringing the hot liquid to his lips. Finally, after two sips and a shake of his head, he thrust the magazine towards her.

‘Tell me what you think of this, ‘ he looked at her, his eyes dark.

Hermione quickly scanned the article and her eyes went wide as she reached the end.

‘You get a mention.’ She raised her eyes to his and saw the nerve jumping in his cheek.

‘I know. Without my permission or knowledge. It would appear I am to be a scapegoat for my use of bezoars, ‘ he grumbled a little.

‘Well, you did become famous for using them, Sir. The normal wizarding community would never have realised how useful they were if it hadn’t been for you. More people would have died,’ Hermione’s logic was spot on as usual and he gave a deep sigh.

‘I have grown quite tired of being famous. The perks were useful for a short time but now, I just want an ordinary life, ‘ he looked at her, his face blank and showing no emotion.

Hermione laughed softly, ‘I think you would be bored with ordinary, Sir.’

‘You’re probably right. I know I’m boring myself right now. I’ll do the morning shift out front if that’s OK with you. I have an appointment and need to leave early today.’

He stood and shook his robes around himself a little, taking his coffee with him.

‘No problem, Sir, ‘ Hermione smiled at his disappearing form. She shook her head and giggled.

Severus Snape have an ordinary life? Never.

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Hmmmm... soo, they already know each other. A new character in the next chapter. Extra house points if anyone can guess who she is meant to be.