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The Witching Hour
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Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
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Adult ++
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13
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18,529
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Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
13
Views:
18,529
Reviews:
53
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
The Opening
Chapter 2-The Opening
In the months following her divorce, Hermione continued to work at the ministry, and made certain to keep in touch with Molly and Arthur. However, she still avoided the rest of the family like the plague, but only after trying unsuccessfully to make amends. It seemed as though aside from her ex-mother and father-in-law, and Ginny, the rest of the family was against her. It was not that they did not think Ron had been in the wrong; they admitted that he had, but they were still angry that she had not stayed and tried to reconcile their marriage. She did not regret leaving Ron after what he did to her. He deserved no better from her. The fact that her former brothers-in law had not approved of her decision did not worry her in the least, it was not theirs to make. She could not be upset over their ignorance and failed attempt at redemption, they loved them and wanted their marriage to work. I just wasn’t possible to make everyone happy and remain true to herself. In the end, she decided to put herself first for once in her life. However, she was concerned that she had lost her friendship with Harry in ll of this. She had attempted to contact him, but each letter she sent was returned in tiny burnt up pieces. Even though he had not spoken with her, his actions screamed betrayal. She could have cursed Ron a thousand times over, for all the good it would do. His lies had lost her a friendship—that was unforgivable.
In the mess that was Hermione’s life, she kept what Kingsley said in the back of her mind, and thought on it in times of quiet respite. That small sentence, “What do you want?” ate at her like a worm to an apple. One day whilst lying on the bed in her seemingly permanent residence above The Three Broomsticks, she realized that she could no longer ignore the quiet chant of displeasure that was ever present. Rising from a restless sleep, she crossed the room and sat at the small desk by the window. It was a clear cool summer night. A gentle breeze was rustling through the trees and the street below was bathed in the soft glow of the moon. She looked above at the moon and something deep within her soul longed to call out to it, to release some of the pent up frustration. As much as she tried, she could barely contain the utter feeling of loathe. Her life was seemingly in shambles and her career no longer gave her a feeling of satisfaction... she just felt trapped. Reaching into the top drawer of the well-worn wooden desk, she pulled out a self-inking quill and parchment and did what she always did when things had become too much to handle on her own, she wrote. Instead of the normal journal entry, however, this would be different. She wrote the words Kingsley had said to her in February: What do you want? She honestly did not know how to answer that question. The only reply that she could think of was not this. Not this life. Not this job. There were things wrong in this life, too many, if she was honest with herself, and that was not good enough for her. She had always strove for perfection and she had been happy in doing so, but this current situation was far from perfection. Something needed to be done and soon, before she lost herself completely.
She could change her job, but would that really be a good decision? If she did, what else would she do? Moreover, would that other position make her happy? She had spent the better part of six years and taking difficult exams, plus years of arduous work to get what she currently had; this was all she knew. Everyone expected that she would go far, and that somehow she would make things magically in the wizarding world better, and she had, but now she was exhausted. When she rose the next morning, she would go and talk with Kingsley
nce more. Maybe this time she would have some answers for him.
She awoke much earlier than was normal for her and went downstairs to the pub to eat breakfast at the bar. Whilst sitting there, she watched Madam Rosmerta serve the other patrons and wondered to herself if she had ever wanted anything else in life, if this was her second chance, and if she was truly happy. Rosmerta caught her watching and took a seat next to her.
“Good morning, Hermione. By any chance, is there something on your mind, dear? You seem awfully distracted lately, and I wondered if you might want someone to talk to, or if you just need a friendly ear. After all, it is part of what I do here, and I am always around for those in need.”
“Thank you, Rosie, am I really that obvious? It seems as though I am always thinking about something, doesn’t it? My mind never seems to get a rest; it is exhausting. You are right though, I have been distracted, and by something that should be small, but alas, it is not. Have you ever wondered how a sentence with so few words can linger like a cancer? Such a simple sentence was said to me not so long ago, and I cannot seem to forget it. Sure, I can keep busy and try to ignore it, but every time I try to rest, there it is, waiting for me as a child would its mother. A silent, but ever-present chant, asking: ‘What is it you want?’”
“Whoever said that to you, dear, had a reason for doing so, I can tell by the look on your face when you said it. It holds more than a little importance if you cannot stop thinking about it. It seems to me as though you are trying to make sense of your life, and what you want in it, but you do not know what that is, do you? Even though you have probably been wrestling with that question for months, the answer still eludes you. The answer is like the wind: you can feel it there, but you cannot see it or capture it in your hands. There is one thing experience has taught me and I can tell you to do aside from continuing to ponder that question with endless answers. What you want and need may not be so far out of reach for you. In fact, it may be right in front of your face, all you need to do is look. Sometimes, you have to stop thinking so much, and just let go. Let your hair down, and go have fun.”
“I never looked at it like that, Rosie. I always assumed that I could figure things out on my own if I thought and researched things enough. Maybe this is one of those things that cannot be thought out or planned. Maybe I do need to just let go for a while and let the answer come to me. It is a good piece of advice; it strikes me as though it was given to you at one point.”
“You and I are a lot alike, Hermione. I know that you do not see it, but I was once a driven young adult like you. Though not exactly young anymore, I am still driven, I daresay my motives are not the same as yours, but they should not be, we are different people after all. I was a couple of years younger than you when that advice was given to me, and I used it well. I was working too hard, constantly stressed out, and I never made time for myself. Finally, it caught up with me, and Dumbledore, the wise man, gave me that advice. I am glad that I took it. Things worked out for the better in the end because I did.”
“Rosie, may I ask you something?”
“Certainly. What’s on your mind?”
“I was wondering, are you happy? I mean truly happy running this pub? What if you could have the chance to do anything else, would you?”
“Interesting line of questioning dear, but believe it or not, I am truly happy here. There is a certain freedom in running a pub that I would not trade. Granted, it involves a lot of physical labour, and you counsel people as well if that is what the job calls for. Over all, it is enjoyable, I never know whom or what I am going to encounter from day to day. I never fail to be surprised, and best of all, I always have fun. In my opinion, everyone should find a job that they are good at and enjoy, they would be happier and that would make my job easier at the end of the day. It would be a win-win situation for everyone. But sadly, for some stupid reason, you have people that end up working at jobs they hate, or they like their job, but they lack the necessary skill set required. It is always something. I am assuming that you belong in one of these categories. Now, which one is it? I believe you are far too intelligent to lack any necessary skills, so if I was a betting woman, I’d say that you hate your job. Maybe you loved it in the beginning, but that was before things started to fall apart, ay? Sometimes it takes osing everything to find what your heart truly desires.”
“How nice it must be to actually enjoy your job. So either we are extraordinarily alike or you are part seer, I am not sure, maybe both. For you seem to understand my mind as well as I do.”
“I assure you, I do not claim to be a ‘seer’, I am merely intimately acquainted with human nature and motivation. If I have seen this once, I have seen it a thousand times, dear. You are not the first person in need of some serious soul-searching, and you will not be the last. Now, I must be getting back to my other customers, my dear. Just think about what I have said and follow your heart.”
Hermione finished her breakfast and went off to work, with more advice swimming in her head, mixing with Kingsley’s words from their last serious discussion. Instead of having less to think about, which was her intent when she began talking with Rosmerta, she had more. The strange thing was that even though she had more to think about, she felt like a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She felt like her heart was lighter than it had been in years. It was an odd feeling considering she had yet to piece everything together. There was now a glimmer of an answer, where before there had been none. Now there was hope.
The work-day had come and gone without incidence, in fact, it was unusually quiet. Perhaps when Abigale was fired, it let the others know that inappropriate behaviour would not be tolerated, but then again, that was months ago. It was a Friday, so that could be the case as well. On the way out of her office after hours, she ran into Kingsley. It appeared as though he was leaving just as she was.
“Working late again, I see. What keeps you here until past 8pm anyway? I did not know that anyone stayed that late outside of me.”
“Ah, you know how it is, Kingsley. I had to tie up some loose ends before retiring for the weekend. I did not want to come back on Monday with a full in box as well as uncompleted work from the week before. I figured that I would just stay late, finish it, and then not have to worry about it later or take it home. Even a know-it-all like me needs a break. How about you? Are you headed home?”
“I do eventually plan on getting home, but it will not be for a while yet. I thought that I would go for something to eat first and I figured that since you were still here, maybe you would like to go with me? Even if you have already had something, maybe you could come along anyway and keep me company?”
“Thank you for the invitation, I believe that I will take you up on that. I have not had anything to eat since my early lunch and my stomach is talking to me. So, tell me where are we headed, dear Minister?”
“I thought that I would take us out for a treat in London. Roman’s is open late, and the cuisine is excellent.”
“I have never heard of it. Is it a wizard or muggle restaurant? If it is the latter, I will need to change out of my robes.”
“Actually, they serve both, though removing robes is a good idea. Unless, of course, you enjoy the stares that you will undoubtedly receive if you do not.” Since they were near her office and were wearing muggle clothing underneath the robes, they decided to leave the excess clothing on the hangers on her door.
Once they arrived and were seated at a table by a large window with a nice view, they continued to talk and share pleasant stories. Hermione had a sneaking feeling that Kingsley had a reason other than catching up on each other’s lives for taking her out to dinner. She had been wrong in the past concerning him, so she decided to let things flow as
naturally as possible. When Hermione fell silent, Kingsley took a moment to study her facial expressions, that was when he saw it, she knew that he had another reason for coming here tonight. Wow, the woman caught on quick. Rather than continue to wait, he thought it would be better to go ahead and let her know what he was thinking.
“Hermione, you seem different today, is everything okay with you?”
“Yes, I am fine. Thanks for asking. When you said that I seem different, what do you mean by that?”
“I assure you, I mean no harm in it, but you do appear to have a lot on your mind.”
“I do, but it is not a bad thing. I feel as though things seem clearer even with the added advice.”
“I understand that feeling. Speaking of advice, have you given any more thought to what I said back in February, and if you have, what conclusion did you reach? I can tell that you have thought about it some and have made a tentative decision. Now tell me, how far off am I on this?”
“Not too far, Kingsley. I have done a lot of thinking in the last months and have even gotten an opinion from someone else. Your words have come to haunt me, and in a way they got me thinking what it is that I really want. I know that I am unhappy in this life, but it is not something that I cannot change, the only thing is, I am still unsure of how to go about said change. I know that I have a great job, and I have worked hard to attain it but it no longer makes me happy. So I obviously need to change that, but honestly, what else could I do? I know I would not mind continuing to work with people, but I want something more hands on, if that makes any sense. I am aware that I help others in my current position, but I want to have something that becomes a small source of happiness in people’s lives.”
“I was wondering how long it would take you to figure out that your job does not suit you, and that it is no longer enough. On the other hand, maybe it is too much and that may be the major source of unhappiness in your life. I know that your divorce with Ron was the majority of your problem, and the added stress of separation from your closest friends and family made up the rest. Now that you have part of that taken care of and I am proud of you for making amends, you still have a way to go and you know that. If you don’t mind, I am going to make a few suggestions to you, though you do not have to take them if you so choose, but at least think about it.”
Hermione merely sat there and listened to him speak. His voice had a calming effect on her and the words he spoke made sense, though she had to keep an open mind whenever discussing her personal life with him. He told her like it was and never minced words, and to be honest, that was part of the appeal of being friends with him. He had never once led her in the wrong direction as of yet and they had been friends for a decade.
“My first suggestion is for you to talk to Ron, when you are ready of course.” Hermione looked at him reproachfully and rolled her eyes. “Don’t look at me like that, ‘Mione. I am recommending that you put closure on that relationship. The last conversation that you had with the man was the night you left. I am not telling you to reconcile with him, because we both know that is not a good idea, but letting him know that you have moved on is. I would not tell you to do something that I have not done myself before. I ended up talking with Colette about six months after we divorced. We did not get back together, though after we talked, we were able to set our differences aside and move on in a way that was healthy for both of us. We are not friends, but we are not enemies either. All that exists between us is a handful of happy memories and blessed indifference. I also think that if you are really unhappy at the MLE, then you should find something that will make you happy. Maybe go out on your own for a while, have your own business, and do something fun. If you have that ultimate fantasy job in the back of your mind, and you think it is something worth pursuing, then go for it. Now is the perfect time to rise from the ashes of your past and be the woman you want to be. Don’t spend the rest of your life regretting not going after what you want. I do not want you to end up being one of those people that let their lives and dreams pass you by. That is no way to live and you know it.”
“I do not know when I will be ready to talk to Ron, it could still be awhile. I am over the fact that he cheated on me and that we divorced, but it is the lies that I am still having to deal with. Molly, Arthur, and Ginny have sided with me in this and know that Ron lied, but my ex-brother’s-in law, as well as Harry refuse to hear me out. I do not mind the former very much, but losing Harry was a low blow. He and I had been friends for years; we were like siblings. I am having trouble coming to terms with him not wanting to meet or even discuss what went on. If he decides that he cannot be my friend after hearing me out, I can deal with that, but the outright refusal at my attempts is heartbreaking. How could Ron do this to me? I am not even that spiteful and he cheated on me for Merlin’s sake!”
“Just take your time, Hermione. You will know when you are ready to speak with him, and in the mean time, all you can do is wait until you have enough courage to face him. Remember that when you are ready, go in with an open mind, and be careful to reveal only what you want him to know and nothing more. The idea is to come to terms with this, not to become best friends, and not to become enemies. Aim for that nice grey area, so that you both can move on. I am sorry that the male Weasley’s do not believe you, but keep in mind, that is their battle, not yours, and I can say the same for Harry. It is sad that he refuses to speak with you because of lies, but you have made several attempts to explain, and that is all you can do. Right now it would be best to give him space. I feel certain that when he sees reason, he will come around. I cannot say when, simply because I do not know, but he will. I know his silence disturbs you, but you need to move on. In addition, you should be prepared in the event that he chooses to permanently end the friendship. You cannot let his decision devastate and ruin you. Hermione, you are stronger than that and it is about time that you start showing it.”
“I... you have a point. I just do not like the idea of having to continue my life without Harry in it. We have been friends since we were children, it only seemed natural that we would remain close all of our lives, but maybe not. I guess that sometimes people just grow apart. You honestly would not be disappointed if I were to no longer work at the Ministry?”
“I want you to be happy wherever you go. Sure I will miss being able to see you so frequently, but you have to do right by yourself. I take it you have an idea that you are tossing over in your mind. That is why you asked if I would be disappointed.”
“Yes, actually I do. As absurd as it may sound considering whom it is coming from, one of the things that I would like to do is to open a club. I have no idea where I would get the galleons to pursue such a venture, but I do have a name in mind. I would call it The Witching Hour.”
“If that is what you want to do, then go for it. Continue to work at the MLE until you find a financial backer or talk to someone at Gringott’s about a loan. If you can receive funds, then find a location, and go from there.”
“Thank you, Kingsley, for everything. I feel better already. For the first time in many years, I feel as though I have hope and that this could be the beginning of something good. It is not just a new beginning for me; it feels as though I am starting out in the world for the first time. I know that this is my second chance, but it feels better than that.”
Hermione was pleased that Kingsley had asked her to dinner that night; it truly was the beginning of something special for her. Not only had he helped to put her life into perspective, but he gave her the idea for something greater than she could have ever imagined on her own. He had been right on so many accounts and she was happy that he was in her life in the capacity that he was. She could not have a better friend. First thing on that Monday morning, she had made an appointment with a representative from Gringott’s and took the meeting on her lunch break. She came out with a new lease on life. The goblin that she met, Damon, had agreed to finance her, so now all that was left was to choose a location, and open up.
The next few months had flown by and her 28th birthday had just passed when she finally had everything in order for the club. She chose premises in Hogsmeade, chosen vendors, and even hired a couple of employees. The opening was set for Halloween night at 9 pm. Of course she had chosen a later opening time because of the allure it would have to members of Hogwarts staff. Surely those that remembered her and wanted to see her would come to congratulate her, or at least to say how shocked they were. Either way it would be fun.
Halloween arrived and she was a bundle of nerves. Opening time was upon them and she was nearly ready to faint, especially when she looked out and saw the crowd that lined the street. The line was so long that people had to take their place at the end of the line on the next street over. Apparently the publicity for The Witching Hour had been magnificent; she had not expected such a large turnout. She went ahead and gave the door man, Bruce, the nod to let everyone in. Tonight would be their most expensive night because of the live act she had managed to hire. Thanks to her brilliant negotiation skills and her refusal to say no, she booked The Weird Sisters months in advance. The only catch was that she had to charge ticket prices. This did not necessarily agree with her considering there was already an admittance fee, but she would get a cut of the ticket prices, and it was only a one time thing.
Down in the main area outside of the grill, she had a stage as well as a dance pit, which included coloured lights that flashed with the music, and she had even designed a charm to produce lightning that would not strike anything. Towards the back, there were tables and places to sit. The temperature was nice, and the club was now completely packed. Suddenly the lights dimmed to a neon blue and the band began to play. Things were so loud that she barely noticed when her old professors had come to talk. Finally, when she had a moment alone, she decided that she needed a drink. Leaning against the bar, with her back to the crowd, she ordered a scotch. She never even noticed the man that was standing at the back of her, appraising her looks.
Severus Snape had come to the opening of The Witching Hour. He had no clue what inspired that idea other than his need to escape the castle on Halloween. It was after curfew and he was free from the ever-annoying children until Monday morning. Once his office hours were over, he changed out of his robes and into black, well fitting trousers, a silver studded belt, a Marilyn Manson fitted tee shirt, and big black boots. He tied his hair back in a black thong, put a spike in his ear and went on his way. There was a sense of freedom being out of his school attire, not that anyone would recognize him; even if anyone had, they would be too shocked to say anything. He had no idea that one of his former students would be the one to open this new club.
He walked into The Witching Hour and headed straight for the bar. A nice hard drink was what he needed after an arduous week filled with insolent children hexing each other, sending students to the hospital wing with bloody robes, as well as injuries that could not be explained. This would be his well deserved escape, even if it were only for a few hours. As he approached the bar, he saw a beautiful woman with chestnut coloured hair that lay in soft curls down her back. She looked amazing in a seemingly painted-on black dress that accentuated her nicely rounded curves. The view was certainly mouth-watering from where he was standing, but what he really would like was to get that drink, and maybe a date with that woman.
After receiving his drink, Severus tapped the mystery woman on the shoulder and she turned around to face him. He could not believe who he saw. It was the former know-it-all, Hermione Weasley. Wow, she certainly had turned into something delicious. He had to take into check the erection that was beginning to tent, and remind said body part that this was a married woman.
“Nice to see you Mrs. Weasley.”
“Mrs. Weasley is my ex-mother-in-law. I would appreciate it if you would call me Hermione.”
A/N: I would like to thank all of you that took the time to review my story, it means a lot to me! I also owe a huge thanks to my best friend, who I dub the dark knight, for giving me the idea for this, and also to carols_cross, who continues to share ideas with me. I feel that I must also thank my wonderful beta, Snape's_mistress. Without her, this story would be rubbish.
In the months following her divorce, Hermione continued to work at the ministry, and made certain to keep in touch with Molly and Arthur. However, she still avoided the rest of the family like the plague, but only after trying unsuccessfully to make amends. It seemed as though aside from her ex-mother and father-in-law, and Ginny, the rest of the family was against her. It was not that they did not think Ron had been in the wrong; they admitted that he had, but they were still angry that she had not stayed and tried to reconcile their marriage. She did not regret leaving Ron after what he did to her. He deserved no better from her. The fact that her former brothers-in law had not approved of her decision did not worry her in the least, it was not theirs to make. She could not be upset over their ignorance and failed attempt at redemption, they loved them and wanted their marriage to work. I just wasn’t possible to make everyone happy and remain true to herself. In the end, she decided to put herself first for once in her life. However, she was concerned that she had lost her friendship with Harry in ll of this. She had attempted to contact him, but each letter she sent was returned in tiny burnt up pieces. Even though he had not spoken with her, his actions screamed betrayal. She could have cursed Ron a thousand times over, for all the good it would do. His lies had lost her a friendship—that was unforgivable.
In the mess that was Hermione’s life, she kept what Kingsley said in the back of her mind, and thought on it in times of quiet respite. That small sentence, “What do you want?” ate at her like a worm to an apple. One day whilst lying on the bed in her seemingly permanent residence above The Three Broomsticks, she realized that she could no longer ignore the quiet chant of displeasure that was ever present. Rising from a restless sleep, she crossed the room and sat at the small desk by the window. It was a clear cool summer night. A gentle breeze was rustling through the trees and the street below was bathed in the soft glow of the moon. She looked above at the moon and something deep within her soul longed to call out to it, to release some of the pent up frustration. As much as she tried, she could barely contain the utter feeling of loathe. Her life was seemingly in shambles and her career no longer gave her a feeling of satisfaction... she just felt trapped. Reaching into the top drawer of the well-worn wooden desk, she pulled out a self-inking quill and parchment and did what she always did when things had become too much to handle on her own, she wrote. Instead of the normal journal entry, however, this would be different. She wrote the words Kingsley had said to her in February: What do you want? She honestly did not know how to answer that question. The only reply that she could think of was not this. Not this life. Not this job. There were things wrong in this life, too many, if she was honest with herself, and that was not good enough for her. She had always strove for perfection and she had been happy in doing so, but this current situation was far from perfection. Something needed to be done and soon, before she lost herself completely.
She could change her job, but would that really be a good decision? If she did, what else would she do? Moreover, would that other position make her happy? She had spent the better part of six years and taking difficult exams, plus years of arduous work to get what she currently had; this was all she knew. Everyone expected that she would go far, and that somehow she would make things magically in the wizarding world better, and she had, but now she was exhausted. When she rose the next morning, she would go and talk with Kingsley
nce more. Maybe this time she would have some answers for him.
She awoke much earlier than was normal for her and went downstairs to the pub to eat breakfast at the bar. Whilst sitting there, she watched Madam Rosmerta serve the other patrons and wondered to herself if she had ever wanted anything else in life, if this was her second chance, and if she was truly happy. Rosmerta caught her watching and took a seat next to her.
“Good morning, Hermione. By any chance, is there something on your mind, dear? You seem awfully distracted lately, and I wondered if you might want someone to talk to, or if you just need a friendly ear. After all, it is part of what I do here, and I am always around for those in need.”
“Thank you, Rosie, am I really that obvious? It seems as though I am always thinking about something, doesn’t it? My mind never seems to get a rest; it is exhausting. You are right though, I have been distracted, and by something that should be small, but alas, it is not. Have you ever wondered how a sentence with so few words can linger like a cancer? Such a simple sentence was said to me not so long ago, and I cannot seem to forget it. Sure, I can keep busy and try to ignore it, but every time I try to rest, there it is, waiting for me as a child would its mother. A silent, but ever-present chant, asking: ‘What is it you want?’”
“Whoever said that to you, dear, had a reason for doing so, I can tell by the look on your face when you said it. It holds more than a little importance if you cannot stop thinking about it. It seems to me as though you are trying to make sense of your life, and what you want in it, but you do not know what that is, do you? Even though you have probably been wrestling with that question for months, the answer still eludes you. The answer is like the wind: you can feel it there, but you cannot see it or capture it in your hands. There is one thing experience has taught me and I can tell you to do aside from continuing to ponder that question with endless answers. What you want and need may not be so far out of reach for you. In fact, it may be right in front of your face, all you need to do is look. Sometimes, you have to stop thinking so much, and just let go. Let your hair down, and go have fun.”
“I never looked at it like that, Rosie. I always assumed that I could figure things out on my own if I thought and researched things enough. Maybe this is one of those things that cannot be thought out or planned. Maybe I do need to just let go for a while and let the answer come to me. It is a good piece of advice; it strikes me as though it was given to you at one point.”
“You and I are a lot alike, Hermione. I know that you do not see it, but I was once a driven young adult like you. Though not exactly young anymore, I am still driven, I daresay my motives are not the same as yours, but they should not be, we are different people after all. I was a couple of years younger than you when that advice was given to me, and I used it well. I was working too hard, constantly stressed out, and I never made time for myself. Finally, it caught up with me, and Dumbledore, the wise man, gave me that advice. I am glad that I took it. Things worked out for the better in the end because I did.”
“Rosie, may I ask you something?”
“Certainly. What’s on your mind?”
“I was wondering, are you happy? I mean truly happy running this pub? What if you could have the chance to do anything else, would you?”
“Interesting line of questioning dear, but believe it or not, I am truly happy here. There is a certain freedom in running a pub that I would not trade. Granted, it involves a lot of physical labour, and you counsel people as well if that is what the job calls for. Over all, it is enjoyable, I never know whom or what I am going to encounter from day to day. I never fail to be surprised, and best of all, I always have fun. In my opinion, everyone should find a job that they are good at and enjoy, they would be happier and that would make my job easier at the end of the day. It would be a win-win situation for everyone. But sadly, for some stupid reason, you have people that end up working at jobs they hate, or they like their job, but they lack the necessary skill set required. It is always something. I am assuming that you belong in one of these categories. Now, which one is it? I believe you are far too intelligent to lack any necessary skills, so if I was a betting woman, I’d say that you hate your job. Maybe you loved it in the beginning, but that was before things started to fall apart, ay? Sometimes it takes osing everything to find what your heart truly desires.”
“How nice it must be to actually enjoy your job. So either we are extraordinarily alike or you are part seer, I am not sure, maybe both. For you seem to understand my mind as well as I do.”
“I assure you, I do not claim to be a ‘seer’, I am merely intimately acquainted with human nature and motivation. If I have seen this once, I have seen it a thousand times, dear. You are not the first person in need of some serious soul-searching, and you will not be the last. Now, I must be getting back to my other customers, my dear. Just think about what I have said and follow your heart.”
Hermione finished her breakfast and went off to work, with more advice swimming in her head, mixing with Kingsley’s words from their last serious discussion. Instead of having less to think about, which was her intent when she began talking with Rosmerta, she had more. The strange thing was that even though she had more to think about, she felt like a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She felt like her heart was lighter than it had been in years. It was an odd feeling considering she had yet to piece everything together. There was now a glimmer of an answer, where before there had been none. Now there was hope.
The work-day had come and gone without incidence, in fact, it was unusually quiet. Perhaps when Abigale was fired, it let the others know that inappropriate behaviour would not be tolerated, but then again, that was months ago. It was a Friday, so that could be the case as well. On the way out of her office after hours, she ran into Kingsley. It appeared as though he was leaving just as she was.
“Working late again, I see. What keeps you here until past 8pm anyway? I did not know that anyone stayed that late outside of me.”
“Ah, you know how it is, Kingsley. I had to tie up some loose ends before retiring for the weekend. I did not want to come back on Monday with a full in box as well as uncompleted work from the week before. I figured that I would just stay late, finish it, and then not have to worry about it later or take it home. Even a know-it-all like me needs a break. How about you? Are you headed home?”
“I do eventually plan on getting home, but it will not be for a while yet. I thought that I would go for something to eat first and I figured that since you were still here, maybe you would like to go with me? Even if you have already had something, maybe you could come along anyway and keep me company?”
“Thank you for the invitation, I believe that I will take you up on that. I have not had anything to eat since my early lunch and my stomach is talking to me. So, tell me where are we headed, dear Minister?”
“I thought that I would take us out for a treat in London. Roman’s is open late, and the cuisine is excellent.”
“I have never heard of it. Is it a wizard or muggle restaurant? If it is the latter, I will need to change out of my robes.”
“Actually, they serve both, though removing robes is a good idea. Unless, of course, you enjoy the stares that you will undoubtedly receive if you do not.” Since they were near her office and were wearing muggle clothing underneath the robes, they decided to leave the excess clothing on the hangers on her door.
Once they arrived and were seated at a table by a large window with a nice view, they continued to talk and share pleasant stories. Hermione had a sneaking feeling that Kingsley had a reason other than catching up on each other’s lives for taking her out to dinner. She had been wrong in the past concerning him, so she decided to let things flow as
naturally as possible. When Hermione fell silent, Kingsley took a moment to study her facial expressions, that was when he saw it, she knew that he had another reason for coming here tonight. Wow, the woman caught on quick. Rather than continue to wait, he thought it would be better to go ahead and let her know what he was thinking.
“Hermione, you seem different today, is everything okay with you?”
“Yes, I am fine. Thanks for asking. When you said that I seem different, what do you mean by that?”
“I assure you, I mean no harm in it, but you do appear to have a lot on your mind.”
“I do, but it is not a bad thing. I feel as though things seem clearer even with the added advice.”
“I understand that feeling. Speaking of advice, have you given any more thought to what I said back in February, and if you have, what conclusion did you reach? I can tell that you have thought about it some and have made a tentative decision. Now tell me, how far off am I on this?”
“Not too far, Kingsley. I have done a lot of thinking in the last months and have even gotten an opinion from someone else. Your words have come to haunt me, and in a way they got me thinking what it is that I really want. I know that I am unhappy in this life, but it is not something that I cannot change, the only thing is, I am still unsure of how to go about said change. I know that I have a great job, and I have worked hard to attain it but it no longer makes me happy. So I obviously need to change that, but honestly, what else could I do? I know I would not mind continuing to work with people, but I want something more hands on, if that makes any sense. I am aware that I help others in my current position, but I want to have something that becomes a small source of happiness in people’s lives.”
“I was wondering how long it would take you to figure out that your job does not suit you, and that it is no longer enough. On the other hand, maybe it is too much and that may be the major source of unhappiness in your life. I know that your divorce with Ron was the majority of your problem, and the added stress of separation from your closest friends and family made up the rest. Now that you have part of that taken care of and I am proud of you for making amends, you still have a way to go and you know that. If you don’t mind, I am going to make a few suggestions to you, though you do not have to take them if you so choose, but at least think about it.”
Hermione merely sat there and listened to him speak. His voice had a calming effect on her and the words he spoke made sense, though she had to keep an open mind whenever discussing her personal life with him. He told her like it was and never minced words, and to be honest, that was part of the appeal of being friends with him. He had never once led her in the wrong direction as of yet and they had been friends for a decade.
“My first suggestion is for you to talk to Ron, when you are ready of course.” Hermione looked at him reproachfully and rolled her eyes. “Don’t look at me like that, ‘Mione. I am recommending that you put closure on that relationship. The last conversation that you had with the man was the night you left. I am not telling you to reconcile with him, because we both know that is not a good idea, but letting him know that you have moved on is. I would not tell you to do something that I have not done myself before. I ended up talking with Colette about six months after we divorced. We did not get back together, though after we talked, we were able to set our differences aside and move on in a way that was healthy for both of us. We are not friends, but we are not enemies either. All that exists between us is a handful of happy memories and blessed indifference. I also think that if you are really unhappy at the MLE, then you should find something that will make you happy. Maybe go out on your own for a while, have your own business, and do something fun. If you have that ultimate fantasy job in the back of your mind, and you think it is something worth pursuing, then go for it. Now is the perfect time to rise from the ashes of your past and be the woman you want to be. Don’t spend the rest of your life regretting not going after what you want. I do not want you to end up being one of those people that let their lives and dreams pass you by. That is no way to live and you know it.”
“I do not know when I will be ready to talk to Ron, it could still be awhile. I am over the fact that he cheated on me and that we divorced, but it is the lies that I am still having to deal with. Molly, Arthur, and Ginny have sided with me in this and know that Ron lied, but my ex-brother’s-in law, as well as Harry refuse to hear me out. I do not mind the former very much, but losing Harry was a low blow. He and I had been friends for years; we were like siblings. I am having trouble coming to terms with him not wanting to meet or even discuss what went on. If he decides that he cannot be my friend after hearing me out, I can deal with that, but the outright refusal at my attempts is heartbreaking. How could Ron do this to me? I am not even that spiteful and he cheated on me for Merlin’s sake!”
“Just take your time, Hermione. You will know when you are ready to speak with him, and in the mean time, all you can do is wait until you have enough courage to face him. Remember that when you are ready, go in with an open mind, and be careful to reveal only what you want him to know and nothing more. The idea is to come to terms with this, not to become best friends, and not to become enemies. Aim for that nice grey area, so that you both can move on. I am sorry that the male Weasley’s do not believe you, but keep in mind, that is their battle, not yours, and I can say the same for Harry. It is sad that he refuses to speak with you because of lies, but you have made several attempts to explain, and that is all you can do. Right now it would be best to give him space. I feel certain that when he sees reason, he will come around. I cannot say when, simply because I do not know, but he will. I know his silence disturbs you, but you need to move on. In addition, you should be prepared in the event that he chooses to permanently end the friendship. You cannot let his decision devastate and ruin you. Hermione, you are stronger than that and it is about time that you start showing it.”
“I... you have a point. I just do not like the idea of having to continue my life without Harry in it. We have been friends since we were children, it only seemed natural that we would remain close all of our lives, but maybe not. I guess that sometimes people just grow apart. You honestly would not be disappointed if I were to no longer work at the Ministry?”
“I want you to be happy wherever you go. Sure I will miss being able to see you so frequently, but you have to do right by yourself. I take it you have an idea that you are tossing over in your mind. That is why you asked if I would be disappointed.”
“Yes, actually I do. As absurd as it may sound considering whom it is coming from, one of the things that I would like to do is to open a club. I have no idea where I would get the galleons to pursue such a venture, but I do have a name in mind. I would call it The Witching Hour.”
“If that is what you want to do, then go for it. Continue to work at the MLE until you find a financial backer or talk to someone at Gringott’s about a loan. If you can receive funds, then find a location, and go from there.”
“Thank you, Kingsley, for everything. I feel better already. For the first time in many years, I feel as though I have hope and that this could be the beginning of something good. It is not just a new beginning for me; it feels as though I am starting out in the world for the first time. I know that this is my second chance, but it feels better than that.”
Hermione was pleased that Kingsley had asked her to dinner that night; it truly was the beginning of something special for her. Not only had he helped to put her life into perspective, but he gave her the idea for something greater than she could have ever imagined on her own. He had been right on so many accounts and she was happy that he was in her life in the capacity that he was. She could not have a better friend. First thing on that Monday morning, she had made an appointment with a representative from Gringott’s and took the meeting on her lunch break. She came out with a new lease on life. The goblin that she met, Damon, had agreed to finance her, so now all that was left was to choose a location, and open up.
The next few months had flown by and her 28th birthday had just passed when she finally had everything in order for the club. She chose premises in Hogsmeade, chosen vendors, and even hired a couple of employees. The opening was set for Halloween night at 9 pm. Of course she had chosen a later opening time because of the allure it would have to members of Hogwarts staff. Surely those that remembered her and wanted to see her would come to congratulate her, or at least to say how shocked they were. Either way it would be fun.
Halloween arrived and she was a bundle of nerves. Opening time was upon them and she was nearly ready to faint, especially when she looked out and saw the crowd that lined the street. The line was so long that people had to take their place at the end of the line on the next street over. Apparently the publicity for The Witching Hour had been magnificent; she had not expected such a large turnout. She went ahead and gave the door man, Bruce, the nod to let everyone in. Tonight would be their most expensive night because of the live act she had managed to hire. Thanks to her brilliant negotiation skills and her refusal to say no, she booked The Weird Sisters months in advance. The only catch was that she had to charge ticket prices. This did not necessarily agree with her considering there was already an admittance fee, but she would get a cut of the ticket prices, and it was only a one time thing.
Down in the main area outside of the grill, she had a stage as well as a dance pit, which included coloured lights that flashed with the music, and she had even designed a charm to produce lightning that would not strike anything. Towards the back, there were tables and places to sit. The temperature was nice, and the club was now completely packed. Suddenly the lights dimmed to a neon blue and the band began to play. Things were so loud that she barely noticed when her old professors had come to talk. Finally, when she had a moment alone, she decided that she needed a drink. Leaning against the bar, with her back to the crowd, she ordered a scotch. She never even noticed the man that was standing at the back of her, appraising her looks.
Severus Snape had come to the opening of The Witching Hour. He had no clue what inspired that idea other than his need to escape the castle on Halloween. It was after curfew and he was free from the ever-annoying children until Monday morning. Once his office hours were over, he changed out of his robes and into black, well fitting trousers, a silver studded belt, a Marilyn Manson fitted tee shirt, and big black boots. He tied his hair back in a black thong, put a spike in his ear and went on his way. There was a sense of freedom being out of his school attire, not that anyone would recognize him; even if anyone had, they would be too shocked to say anything. He had no idea that one of his former students would be the one to open this new club.
He walked into The Witching Hour and headed straight for the bar. A nice hard drink was what he needed after an arduous week filled with insolent children hexing each other, sending students to the hospital wing with bloody robes, as well as injuries that could not be explained. This would be his well deserved escape, even if it were only for a few hours. As he approached the bar, he saw a beautiful woman with chestnut coloured hair that lay in soft curls down her back. She looked amazing in a seemingly painted-on black dress that accentuated her nicely rounded curves. The view was certainly mouth-watering from where he was standing, but what he really would like was to get that drink, and maybe a date with that woman.
After receiving his drink, Severus tapped the mystery woman on the shoulder and she turned around to face him. He could not believe who he saw. It was the former know-it-all, Hermione Weasley. Wow, she certainly had turned into something delicious. He had to take into check the erection that was beginning to tent, and remind said body part that this was a married woman.
“Nice to see you Mrs. Weasley.”
“Mrs. Weasley is my ex-mother-in-law. I would appreciate it if you would call me Hermione.”
A/N: I would like to thank all of you that took the time to review my story, it means a lot to me! I also owe a huge thanks to my best friend, who I dub the dark knight, for giving me the idea for this, and also to carols_cross, who continues to share ideas with me. I feel that I must also thank my wonderful beta, Snape's_mistress. Without her, this story would be rubbish.