An Offer She Couldn't Refuse

Chapter Three:
Alright, Then


Hermione sighed. She could agonize over this all night and not get a wink of sleep, but in her heart she knew what she was going to do already. Slowly, she made her way back to her room, mentally composing the letter she would write as soon as she arrived. Of course, she would not send it until the morning; she did not want to seem… well.

“Perennial,” she whispered to the Fat Lady, and crept through, tiptoeing through the common room, sticking to the shadows to avoid any type of attention.

Opening and closing her door softly, Hermione was careful to put strong wards up. She did not want to be distracted by anything for this. How was she going to tell her friends what she would be doing? Another problem for another day.

She collapsed on her bed, summoning parchment and paper, as well as a book to write on then began writing the letter she had composed and memorized on the walk back.

Professor-

It is my decision to accept your offer. All of it. My only condition is that I must be able to break contract whenever I choose to move on. If -you- can accept -this- I will be prepared to start immediately after graduation. Also, given the nature of our arrangement, I believe I would be more comfortable if you would call me Hermione from here on out.

-Hermione

Carefully she placed the parchment on her nightstand and used her wand as a paperweight, sending the quill to its inkwell.

Now she could sleep in peace.

Severus Snape, however, could not. The events of the evening kept playing back before his eyes, whether they were open or closed. His own startling uncertainty, and in his eyes, glaring vulnerability, was disconcerting. He couldn’t figure out his feelings, and he hated that. Slytherins were supposed to be simple, selfish people; but that description did not fit him. It never had.

-You know, Severus, sometimes I think we sort too soon.-

“Damn it!” he spat to the dark room. He turned over, violently punching his pillow, and laid on his stomach for a while, contemplating his aging body.

He had confessed too much tonight. He had never seen a lady socially, never had a lover. Of course that did not mean he was inexperienced—quite the contrary, actually. But he would not go there, not immediately. He would not overwhelm her. He wanted her to be comfortable, to like him, to come to him of her own accord.

Because he sought her favor.

Bloody hell.

He was tempted to think right off that this occurrence was a first: after all, he had never sought the Dark Lord’s approval out of anything other than a will to survive and he had never sought the Headmaster’s approval—he had been far too… distracted… to be calculating at that time. His memory was starting to go somewhere he had absolutely no desire to revisit again—EVER. And this was the first time he remembered feeling that way.

He was over her. After three decades and then some… it was over. He was torn between the urge to grieve the loss of this… obsession… and celebrating the light feeling that was the weight of the world removed from his shoulders.

Tempted to ponder over the events that led to this sudden realization, it occurred to him that he had no desire to return to the weight, the strain, and the darkness that had been his life under her influence. Out with the old, in with the new. Relieved of his responsibilities over Potter, the Greater Good, and everything, he knew there was no going back.

Completely exhausted by the heft of the midnight philosophizing, Severus Snape drifted off into a sleep that could only be described as deep.

It seemed as though no time had passed at all when the sun was up and an owl was pecking at the window. Damn Albus and his flights of fancy.

“Everyone should have a window, Severus. What if there were an emergency, and I couldn’t get in through the door?”

To himself, Severus whispered, “Then you probably wouldn’t be able to get in through the window, either.”

The Headmaster chuckled and created a window in the Potions master’s bedroom, of all places.

The owl pecked with ever-increasing impatience.

Removing the parchment, Severus checked the clock. It was not even six-thirty.

He knew what this correspondence had to be, and his stomach hit the floor.

To no one in particular he chanted under his breath, “Please, please, please,” as he unrolled the parchment.

His breath caught after the first line. She would accept him. All would be well. He would have her.

As he made his way to the graduation proceedings, everything seemed better, brighter. He was unsure whether this was because the Dark Lord had been defeated (admittedly, the entire world looked better after -that- event) or because of his great personal triumph.

His streak of good luck was due to end at any time, and right on cue, the Headmaster intercepted him.

“I assume you have made arrangements to accomplish what we talked about,” Dumbledore said in an undertone.

“She sent notice of her acceptance of an assistant’s position this morning. Everything will be taken care of. You should know, however,” Severus added in an undertone, “that she mandated the term of her employment be whatever she decided. This might prove a problem; you know Gryffindors and their flights of fancy.”

Dumbledore’s only response was a twinkle in his eye.

“You see no problem with this?” Severus whispered, desperate for a response.

“For now, I do not. Should she wish to terminate her employment… prematurely, I will deal with the situation at that time, depending on what else we know.”

“That is dangerously simple.”

“That is the best kind of plan. And now, we will go to the ceremony, all are in place at this time. They are waiting for us.” He turned on his heel and walked off with far too much speed and bounce for a man his age.

“They are waiting for you,” Severus said softly, turning to follow.

The Headmaster ascended the platform and began to speak in a magically enhanced voice.

“Students, graduates, and families, allow me to say a few words before we commence the commencement. Bravery, instinct, intelligence, rightness, conviction…”

Hermione heard no more. Her mind was working so fast she swore there must be smoke coming out of her ears. Professor Snape had sent her a reply owl saying that during the ceremony, the house elves would pack and move her belongings to her new quarters. He would escort her as was convenient certain she had plans to celebrate.

She did not want to celebrate; she wanted to get started already.

The next thing she knew, her name was being called and she was walking up, taking the parchment from the Headmaster, hugging Professor McGonagall, and returning to her seat. As she walked, she caught Professor Snape’s eye and nearly tripped. She maintained the eye contact until it was obvious, then focused on her path.

As she sat, she realized that she was in something of a daze, but it was pleasant and she maintained that state until the name-calling ceased and Dumbledore began to speak again.

“And now that the commencees (come n’ sees) have commenced (come n’ said), I give you Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’s most famous class to date.”

Hermione applauded vaguely, clapping muffled by the program in her hand and the diploma under her arm.

Harry sidled up to her looking apprehensive. He probably wanted to talk about the Weasley’s party. Ron had invited Lav-Lav and Hermione had been pretty sore about it.

“I guess you aren’t going, then,” Harry said, looking put-upon.

“No,” she responded sharply, “actually, I have to make preparations to enter my new position. I’ll be working here at Hogwarts until I decide to pursue something else.”

“Really? Well, good luck. I know you’ll be great. I’ll let you make the announcement when you’re ready, then.”

“Thanks, Harry,” she said, sounding very genuine. She meant it. He was a good friend, if a bit hot-headed at times and she loved him.

Still standing in front of her chair, Hermione watched people drain from the grounds. Dumbledore started herding his staff back to the castle, intentionally leaving Severus behind.

Finally, Hermione got up the strength and presence of mind to walk to her former professor’s side.

“I am ready when you are, Professor.”

“Severus.”

“Pardon?” she said, sincerely shocked.

“You are correct. It is appropriate to be on a first name basis, I believe.”

He was met with stunned silence.

“Would you like to see your new quarters?” he asked, in the interest of moving along.

“Very much, Severus,” she replied with a smile.

He swept off with her following close behind.




A/N: Blessings on all reviewers! You are dears.