A Matter of Circumstance

Chapter 28 ~ Severus Goes Shopping

Ron’s appearance at Hogwarts prompted Severus to stop by the Three Broomsticks to check on Hermione. Rosmerta, who was wiping down the bar looked up at the pale wizard as he strode through, speaking to no one and took the stairs as if he owned the place. With the amount of galleons he was paying out to put Hermione up, he practically did.

Rosmerta shook her head. It would be far cheaper to just marry the witch. Snape didn’t exactly have prospects lining up for him and Hermione was a good witch. It was sad to see her in this state. If it were Rosmerta, she’d hit him with an Imperio spell and by the time the bastard came out of it, he’d have a ring on his finger and through his big nose. The innkeeper put away her bar rag and walked into the kitchen to see what the cooks were up to. They’d better not be eating.

Severus pulled out his key and let himself into Hermione’s room. The witch was dressed in her nightgown and sitting on the end of the bed. She looked small and lonely. The Potions Master couldn’t help thinking it seemed that despite her surroundings, Hermione looked as if she were incarcerated. The witch looked up at him.

“Hello Severus,” she said, “How did the flat hunting go?”

He could hear the sadness in her voice. The wizard turned an armchair to face the bed, then sat down, his dark eyes resting on the witch. Her swollen breasts and rounded belly filled the nightgown out, and despite her demeanor Hermione had that soft glow of motherhood surrounding her.

“I am going to return to the realtor. I’ve decided to…to see if I cannot procure a house rather than a flat,” the wizard said.

Hermione looked incredulous.

”What landlord will rent me a house, Severus? If I can’t get a flat…I surely won’t be able to rent a house!” she said, blinking, her eyes growing wet.

Severus frowned at her.

”Don’t start blubbering, witch. It doesn’t help anything,” he said gruffly, “I am relatively certain I will be able to find a landlord willing to house you. Just trust me.”

Hermione sniffed and just looked at him. Severus looked around the room. The curtains were drawn, leaving the room rather dark. Dark was fine for him, but not for Hermione. He stood up and strode over to the two large curtained windows and yanked the curtains aside. Hermione blinked rapidly as light flooded the room. Severus turned to face her.

”You don’t need to sit in here in the dark,” the wizard said to her, his black eyes glittering, “Have you been downstairs at all today?”

Hermione shook her head.

”No. I think Rosmerta prefers if I take my meals upstairs. I don’t want to cause problems,” Hermione replied.

Severus walked back to the armchair and sat down, glowering.

”With what I’m paying that witch, you should have a banquet spread before you in the center of the restaurant and a golden throne to sit on,” Severus snapped, angry that the witch was hiding in her room.

“It doesn’t matter, Severus. I don’t really want to be around people anyway…and the food…” she began, then stopped.

“What about the food?” the wizard asked her.

”I…I don’t really have a taste for it. I tried a bit of their fish and chips last night…I really had a craving for it…but it has skin on it under the batter and the chips didn’t taste good,” Hermione said, “And they don’t have pickles either. At least at my flat I could go out and get what I wanted.”

Severus looked at Hermione. This wasn’t good. If she wasn’t eating well the baby would suffer. He looked at the cooler in the corner, then back at Hermione.

“Make me a list of what you want to eat and I will purchase the items for you,” he said, frowning at her.

Hermione gave him a bright smile.

”Really, Severus?” she asked him.

Severus scowled.

“Of course really,” he snapped, “Now make the list before I change my mind. I am only doing this because you have to eat properly for the baby to be healthy.”

He watched as Hermione rocked back and forth, then managed to stand up and, waddling slightly, walked over to the writing desk and sat down heavily, pulling a parchment toward her and picking up a quill. She looked thoughtful then began to write.

And write.

And write.

Then she turned in the chair, her eyes hopeful.

”Would you bring me some fish and chips?” she asked the wizard.

Severus sighed.

”Yes, I’ll bring you fish and chips,” he replied darkly, a bit put out that he was becoming an errand boy for the witch.

”Oh Severus…you’re wonderful!” Hermione gushed, “Now…you have to go to the Golden Hind in mid London and get the haddock…not the cod. I don’t like the cod. And don’t let them give you ketchup for the chips. I like vinegar and salt. And they have a delicious salad that…”

Severus listened as Hermione rattled off what she wanted, a look of disbelief on his pale face as the happy witch gave him instructions. He had thought he could get the fish and chips anywhere. He should have known it wouldn’t be that simple. For a moment he was tempted to tell her she’d take what he brought her…but it would be a waste of money if he bought her the food and she wouldn’t eat it.

Muggle London. Shit. Good thing he kept a few pound notes on his person or he wouldn’t be able to purchase her food. It was Saturday and Gringotts was closed. He didn’t have anyplace to exchange galleons for pounds.

Hermione pushed up from her chair and duck-walked over to the wizard, handing him the long list. Both of the wizard’s eyebrows rose as he looked at it, then the small cooler.

“You aren’t going to be able to fit all of this in that cooler,” the wizard said.

Hermione waddled over to the nightstand, picked up her wand and pointed it at the cooler.

”Engorgio!” she said, then looked at Severus with a smirk, “Problem solved.”

The cooler was now huge, taking up almost a third of the wall space.

Severus shook his head and stood up, studying the list a bit more before looking at Hermione, who was still smiling at him in a much better mood than when he first arrived. He had made the witch happy.

”I’m going to stop by the realtor first and make arrangements to view possible houses tomorrow, then I will retrieve your items…and…chips,” the wizard said, trying to sound snarky.

It didn’t come off too well as Hermione walked up to him.

”Thank you for being so kind to me, Severus,” she said softly, standing on her tiptoes with some effort, the wizard leaning slightly so she could kiss his cheek. Severus couldn’t help but see the love in her eyes and stared at her as if mesmerized for a moment before he snapped out of it.

”I’m only doing what is necessary,” he said straightening, “Once you have the child, you’ll take care of your own needs.”

Hermione blinked up at him, no love lost. In fact, her eyes were a bit hot.

”I want you to stay with me tonight,” she said to the wizard, “I miss you, Severus. I’m so lonely. Please say you’ll stay. I don’t want to contact Ron or Harry. It will look bad to have so many wizards coming up to my room.”

Severus scowled. He certainly didn’t want Ron coming to visit. He might end up staying the night. The Potions Master was not about to foot the bill for a conjugal visit by another wizard. Hermione had expressed she was lonely and had a sexual history with Ron. It was possible she’d accept a substitute if he didn’t stay.

“We’ll discuss it when I return,” Severus said to the witch.

”I don’t want a discussion. I want you,” Hermione said, her voice husky now.

She licked her lips and her eyes dropped to his loins for a moment. Severus felt a throb in his trousers.

“We'll see,” he said, turning before his robes began to tent, “I will see you later, witch.”

With that, he left.

Hermione smiled after him then dropped into the armchair.

”Oh gods. Fish and chips,” she breathed happily, picking up a magazine and starting to leaf through it.

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Severus stopped at the realtor’s office and as he surmised, the agent was singing a different tune when the wizard said he wished to purchase a house as soon as possible. The agent quickly took down his information and with a flick of his wand found out that the wizard had excellent credit and financing would be no problem.

“Three bedrooms, at least two baths and a large yard, not a lot of close neighbors,” Severus said, “I want to view them tomorrow. Is that possible?”

”Oh yes, Mr. Snape. I will line them up today if it takes me all night,” the greedy agent replied.

Considering the wizard’s situation, the agent was sure this was a sure sale. He wasn’t going to mess it up. Severus rose and thanked the wizard. As he walked toward the door, the Potions Master stopped and turned toward the agent.

”It is quite likely I will have Miss Granger with me. She doesn’t know I am purchasing a house and believes I will be renting the home. Make sure she doesn’t think anything different,” he said to the agent, a note of warning in his voice, “And I expect you to treat her properly and with respect despite her condition.”

”Yes, oh yes Mr. Snape,” the agent simpered.

Severus’ eyes narrowed for a moment, then he left the office.

”He’s sure going through a lot of trouble for that witch,” the agent said to himself as he pulled out the parchment of listings, “He’s single. I just don’t see why he doesn’t marry her.”

He began making a list of possibles according to Severus’ specifications.

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Severus went shopping for Hermione and purchased the items she wanted. Sliced ham, sliced beef, mustard, tomatoes, rye bread, Swiss cheese, pickles, carrots, celery, nothing that had to be cooked. Milk, orange juice, bottled water, grapes and apples as well as energy bars were included on the list. The Potions Master thought he might give her a potion or two for stamina, something that wouldn’t affect the child. The energy bars were just as bad as candy bars in his estimation.

It took the wizard about forty-five minutes to make the purchases. He paid for them, reduced the items and put a stasis spell on them, then headed to muggle London to buy Hermione’s fish and chips.

The Golden Hind was located on Bond Street and a crowd stood outside waiting for it to open. On Saturdays the restaurant was only open from six until nine in the evening. As the wizard waited, he noticed a number of customers carried brown bags containing beer and even wine. He wondered if there was a corkage charge.

The food certainly smelled good. Suddenly the doors opened and the crowd slowly made its way in, greeted by friendly staff. The young woman at the door didn’t bat an eyelash as she greeted the dour robed wizard. She just gave him a smile and welcomed him. She probably thought Severus was an old Goth or something. There were all kinds in London after all.
The Golden Hind was an unassuming little place with busy service and signed celebrity photos hanging on the walls. Art deco fish fryers, a floor of checkered linoleum and simple wooden tables and chairs added a nostalgic air to the place, but the ventilation wasn’t that good. The Potions Master was going to reek of fried fish when he left. Thankfully he was a wizard however and could scourgify the scent away. Muggles weren’t that lucky and would advertise their supper until they got home, washed and changed clothes. Yet, by the crowd…they thought it was worth it.

Severus placed his order, deciding to purchase two meals to go, watching as the chips were fried on the spot in one of the art-deco fryers. The haddock looked flaky and flavorsome. A sliced gherkin and the obligatory mushy peas were added to each meal, along with a few slices of lemon. The Potions Master made sure they added a cup of vinegar and a few packets of salt to Hermione’s meal. He preferred ketchup on his chips.

Meals in tow, he exited the restaurant, found an alley, cast a silencing spell on himself and apparated to Hogsmeade…and Hermione.

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”Oh my gods this is so good,” Hermione mumbled around a mouthful of fish as she sat across from the Potions Master practically inhaling her food.

Severus had to agree as he neatly consumed his own meal. The homemade tartar sauce was absolutely delicious. He’d have to frequent the Golden Hind again. The fish and chips were well worth the trouble.

When the wizard arrived, Hermione happily put her food away, filling the cooler. Now she could snack as she liked and not have to order meals from the kitchen. Severus was glad about that as well. The cost of the food was far too much in his estimation, particularly if the witch half ate it. He had saved money stocking the witch’s cooler.

“Tomorrow I would like you to accompany me when I look for accommodations for you,” he said to the witch non-chalantly.

Hermione stopped eating.

“Really, Severus?” she asked him.

”Of course. You will be living there after all. It makes sense for you to pick out where you would like to live,” the wizard said with a bit of exasperation.

Hermione smiled at him. She seemed to be doing that quite a bit. The wizard thought he preferred her smiles to the sober looks she usually gave him, but he’d be damned if he showed it. This was business after all.

“What kind of specifications did you give the agent?” Hermione asked him.

”Three bedrooms, two baths and a large yard. No close neighbors for privacy,” the wizard replied.

”Three bedrooms? Why?” Hermione asked him.

”Because most likely you will be staying there for a while. An extra bedroom can come in handy, or be converted into something else…a lab perhaps,” the wizard replied, “Assuming you will be continuing in university after you have the child. I suggest you do.”

Hermione frowned.

”Of course I am, though…” she said, faltering.

”Though what?” the wizard snapped.

”I don’t know how good a job I’ll be able to get as a single mother,” she replied, “Or if I’ll be accepted into any field…though I suppose I can continue at Hogwarts working in the subdungeons. It would be steady work. There’s a lifetime’s worth of documents to be cataloged and sorted.”

Severus looked at the brilliant witch. Yes, it would be steady work but it would be a real shame if Hermione couldn’t experiment with working in other fields. Her education was well-rounded and her talents could bring something important to the wizarding world.

But he didn’t say anything other than, “Just complete your studies.”

They finished their meal in silence, Hermione rubbing her round belly with satisfaction.

”Oh, that hit the spot,” she said, her eyes turning on Severus, “Thank you.”

”You have to be fed,” the wizard said shortly, his eyes resting on the witch.

“Are you going to stay with me tonight, Severus?” Hermione asked him, “I’ve left a bit of room for dessert…”

The wizard arched an eyebrow at her.

”Dessert? I didn’t bring dessert, witch,” he said to her.

Hermione licked her lips as she eyed Severus as if he were something edible.

”Oh yes you did…believe me,” she purred, “Wrapped in billowing black robes.”

Severus looked at her soberly. The witch was trying to seduce him. Well, she wouldn’t have to work too hard at it. After all his running about, he was ready for a bit of “appreciation.”

The Potions Master wiped his mouth with a napkin and rose from his chair, walking around the table to where Hermione was seated, standing close to her.

“Would you like to ‘unwrap’ dessert, witch?” he asked her silkily, the tent in his robes apparent.

Hermione’s eyes fell on the expanded fabric and a hungry look crossed her face. She began to unbutton the lower part of his robes.

“I think I’ll just ‘peel’ the wrapper back for now,” she breathed, opening his robes then reaching for the wizard’s belt buckle.

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A/N: Thanks for reading. ***