A Maid in the Devil's Manor
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
51
Views:
39,413
Reviews:
483
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
51
Views:
39,413
Reviews:
483
Recommended:
1
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.
Albus Makes an Offer
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 32 ~ Albus Makes an Offer
Severus stood scowling in the center of the Great Hall, levitating and attaching golden bells to the rafters. The bells were to be charmed to ring after each student received his final marks and diploma. The Potions Master could only imagine how annoying this would become after the fifth or sixth student. But it was what Dumbledore wanted. He was also in a foul mood because once again the House of Gryffindor won the House Cup, beating Slytherin by only ten points.
He was in the process of raising another blasted bell when a hand clamped down on his shoulder, startling him and causing him to lose concentration. The bell clattered to the floor as he spun to see who had dared touch his person. His narrowed black eyes meet the twinkling blue bespectacled eyes of Albus Dumbledore.
The Potions Master released the lungful of air he had prepared to use for his bellowing response to having his personal space invaded, as Albus looked on, smiling benignly. The Headmaster looked up at the hanging bells. He beamed.
“Excellent job, Severus, just excellent!” the Headmaster said to the dark wizard.
“Thank you, Headmaster,” Severus said half-heartedly.
The Headmaster looked at Severus piercingly for a moment.
“I’ve heard word that you’ve opened the Manor again, Severus,” Albus said. “And that it is a place of life and light again.”
Severus really did not want to talk about this with the Headmaster, but he couldn’t very well walk away.
“It was time, sir,” the Potions Master responded.
Albus blinked at Severus slowly.
“Yes, Severus, an interesting time too, I see. The Manor opening seems to coincide with your arrangement with Miss Granger,” the Headmaster said, clasping his hands behind his back.
For a moment, Severus was ready to accuse Albus of spying on him, when he realized the Headmaster must have read Rita Skeeter’s article.
“Yes, sir,” he said tightly.
“I understand Miss Granger has no employment or home at this time, Severus. She could come to Hogwarts. We would find something for her to do and draw a small salary. She could also stay in one of the staff rooms…” Albus said, his head cocked and eyes twinkling.
Severus’ heart went cold. If Hermione heard of this, she might leave the Manor, reverting to working on the project on the weekends and being beyond his influence. He had to dissuade the Headmaster from offering her a job at the castle.
“Headmaster, Miss Granger is working on a very important project and is currently domiciled at my Manor. I am serving as her Patron, and providing for her current needs. I would very much like Miss Granger to remain at the Manor for the duration of the project,” the Potions Master said evenly. “The work is extremely important, sir.”
The Headmaster considered him.
“Is this the project Miss Granger refused to reveal to the Ministry board?” he asked curiously.
“The very same, sir,” the Potions Master replied.
Albus brought his hand to his beard and stroked it. “Any chance you might let your old Headmaster in on it?” he asked.
Severus shook his head.
“I’m sorry Headmaster. I am afraid I cannot do that. Miss Granger has me bound under a Wizard’s Oath. I could not tell you if I wanted to. But I assure you it is a project of great worth, and requires Miss Granger’s full attention.”
The Headmaster looked at Severus sharply.
“Am I to assume, Severus that you do not want me to make the job offer to Hermione? It would take her off your hands. We all know how you detested the young woman when she attended Hogwarts,” Albus said, his eyes somber now.
The Potions Master hedged a bit. The old wizard was digging now. He wouldn’t get Albus’ cooperation about this unless he gave up a little something. He sighed.
“Her...Miss Granger has matured, Headmaster. She is not as nearly as detestable now as she was as my student. In fact, I find her quite … bearable, sir,” Severus said a bit tightly.
The Headmaster’s eyebrows raised up so high they threatened to disappear into his hairline.
“Bearable, Severus?” the Headmaster said, looking rather astonished.
“Yes sir. Quite bearable,” the dark wizard replied, meeting the Headmaster’s eyes steadily.
The Headmaster looked thoughtful, and began to stroke his beard again. He looked up at his Potions Master.
“You know, Severus…the Hogwarts budget is a bit low this year. I think I misspoke when I initially offered Miss Granger a salary and lodgings. I really don’t think we can affordable additional staff this year. Forget I said anything, my boy,” the Headmaster said, “No need to mention this to Miss Granger.”
Severus let out a breath in relief.
“No, sir,” he replied.
Albus turned to go.
“You’ll have to excuse me Severus, I have to go and retrieve the cherubs. Good thing I have a locater charm on them. Someone let them loose in the vicinity of the Forbidden Forest this morning. Can you imagine?”
Severus leveled his dark eyes at the Headmaster.
“No, I can’t sir,” he said, wishing he had known about the locator spell.
Albus strolled away from the Potions Master, thinking. The former spy had said that he found Miss Granger ‘quite bearable’.
Quite. Bearable. Hm.
For the dark wizard, that was almost a declaration of love.
***********************************
Hermione had a very non-productive talk with Eli about his behavior toward Ron and Harry. The elf was adamant that part of his duty is to protect the home of his Master from those which would invade it, and to protect the things that he holds dear.
Here, the elf looked at Hermione intently.
Harry and Ron tried to force their way past Eli and into the Manor to search for Hermione themselves, not realizing the power Eli had. Harry should have known better. He was friends with Dobby after all, and Dobby was also very powerful.
“They gets what they gets,” Eli had said stubbornly, refusing to apologize for his treatment of them.
“You are just as stubborn as your Master!” she said in exasperation.
The elf beamed from ear to ear at the great compliment he was paid.
“Oh, thank you, Miss!” he cried, his hands clasped together in joy.
Hermione snorted. That was not the reaction she wanted from the elf.
“Just go, Eli,” she said, waving her hand at the elf in defeat.
Eli joyously winked out to tell the other elves what Miss had said about him.
*****************************
Hermione was just about to enter the lift and get down to her lab and some serious research, when there was a knock on the main door. She paused as Eli winked in by the door and opened it a crack, looking upward. He drew his head back in the door and looked at Hermione. He looked displeased.
“The Plant Wizard is here, Miss,” Eli said sullenly, then he brightened, “He is too early. Shall I sends him away?”
“No Eli! What’s wrong with you today?” Hermione said, walking toward the front door. “Let him in. He needs to finish my lab.”
Eli opened the door wider. Neville walked in, trailed by ten wizards, all university age.
“Hi Hermione,” Neville said, beaming at the witch. He looked her over.
:”You look great in your lab coat,” he said.
Hermione twirled.
“Thanks,” she said.
Eli frowned. He didn’t like Neville because he perceived the wizard had a crush on Hermione. But Neville had the crush ever since she hit him with the Petrificus Totalus spell in the common room in their first year. He was harmless.
“Ok, what are you doing here, and who are all these people?” Hermione asked him.
Neville pulled Hermione to the side, so the young wizards wouldn’t hear him.
“Well, I got my advance from Professor Snape, and I hired someone to temporarily run the store for me so I could finish up your Ecolab as soon as possible. These blokes…”
Here Neville gestured at the group of wizards craning their necks as they inspected the Manor.
“…are Herbology majors from the university. They are getting extra credit for helping me set up the lab. All they know is we are setting up a swamp-like system. So it's free help. Hopefully we can have the Ecolab finished by Thursday, if not sooner…if it’s all right with you. I know your other labs are ready and you are probably ready to work, but I can spell the Ecolab so they can’t leave it, and you can spell your labs to be hidden. I think it can work Hermione. What do you say?”
Hermione wanted the lab finished as soon as possible.
“I say go for it, Neville,” she smiled at him.
“Great!” said Neville. He turned to the students.
“Come on, you blokes. This way,” Neville said with much more command than Hermione would have thought him capable of.
The students filed after him into the lift. Hermione joined them, grinning as the young wizards exclaimed and grabbed each other in terror when the lift dropped, Neville standing coolly against the wall checking his nails.
Hermione emerged first, and cast a personalized ward on both lab doors that would only allow her to pass through freely. Then she disillusioned both doors so there appeared to be only smooth wall. She walked back and told Neville all was a go.
Neville led the young men into the Ecolab. They exclaimed at the coolness of the lab site and were anxious to get to work and see the completed project. A lot of noise started, and Hermione placed a silencing charm around the door.
Finally, she managed to get in her lab and get down to some serious work.
*************************
A/N: Ok. Am still at work. People have got the message and are avoiding me. I am wearing my best Severus-inspired scowl as I type, and it is quite effective in keeping the dunderheads away. I just hope my face doesn’t get stuck like this. Anyway, I’m trying to get the last lab out of the way in a believable manner so Hermione can get to work and Severus can get back to the Manor. Dumbledore just blatantly blackmailed Severus into telling him he has a thing for Hermione. Too bad about the cherubs, Sev. Good try though. Lol. Please review.
*******************************
Chapter 32 ~ Albus Makes an Offer
Severus stood scowling in the center of the Great Hall, levitating and attaching golden bells to the rafters. The bells were to be charmed to ring after each student received his final marks and diploma. The Potions Master could only imagine how annoying this would become after the fifth or sixth student. But it was what Dumbledore wanted. He was also in a foul mood because once again the House of Gryffindor won the House Cup, beating Slytherin by only ten points.
He was in the process of raising another blasted bell when a hand clamped down on his shoulder, startling him and causing him to lose concentration. The bell clattered to the floor as he spun to see who had dared touch his person. His narrowed black eyes meet the twinkling blue bespectacled eyes of Albus Dumbledore.
The Potions Master released the lungful of air he had prepared to use for his bellowing response to having his personal space invaded, as Albus looked on, smiling benignly. The Headmaster looked up at the hanging bells. He beamed.
“Excellent job, Severus, just excellent!” the Headmaster said to the dark wizard.
“Thank you, Headmaster,” Severus said half-heartedly.
The Headmaster looked at Severus piercingly for a moment.
“I’ve heard word that you’ve opened the Manor again, Severus,” Albus said. “And that it is a place of life and light again.”
Severus really did not want to talk about this with the Headmaster, but he couldn’t very well walk away.
“It was time, sir,” the Potions Master responded.
Albus blinked at Severus slowly.
“Yes, Severus, an interesting time too, I see. The Manor opening seems to coincide with your arrangement with Miss Granger,” the Headmaster said, clasping his hands behind his back.
For a moment, Severus was ready to accuse Albus of spying on him, when he realized the Headmaster must have read Rita Skeeter’s article.
“Yes, sir,” he said tightly.
“I understand Miss Granger has no employment or home at this time, Severus. She could come to Hogwarts. We would find something for her to do and draw a small salary. She could also stay in one of the staff rooms…” Albus said, his head cocked and eyes twinkling.
Severus’ heart went cold. If Hermione heard of this, she might leave the Manor, reverting to working on the project on the weekends and being beyond his influence. He had to dissuade the Headmaster from offering her a job at the castle.
“Headmaster, Miss Granger is working on a very important project and is currently domiciled at my Manor. I am serving as her Patron, and providing for her current needs. I would very much like Miss Granger to remain at the Manor for the duration of the project,” the Potions Master said evenly. “The work is extremely important, sir.”
The Headmaster considered him.
“Is this the project Miss Granger refused to reveal to the Ministry board?” he asked curiously.
“The very same, sir,” the Potions Master replied.
Albus brought his hand to his beard and stroked it. “Any chance you might let your old Headmaster in on it?” he asked.
Severus shook his head.
“I’m sorry Headmaster. I am afraid I cannot do that. Miss Granger has me bound under a Wizard’s Oath. I could not tell you if I wanted to. But I assure you it is a project of great worth, and requires Miss Granger’s full attention.”
The Headmaster looked at Severus sharply.
“Am I to assume, Severus that you do not want me to make the job offer to Hermione? It would take her off your hands. We all know how you detested the young woman when she attended Hogwarts,” Albus said, his eyes somber now.
The Potions Master hedged a bit. The old wizard was digging now. He wouldn’t get Albus’ cooperation about this unless he gave up a little something. He sighed.
“Her...Miss Granger has matured, Headmaster. She is not as nearly as detestable now as she was as my student. In fact, I find her quite … bearable, sir,” Severus said a bit tightly.
The Headmaster’s eyebrows raised up so high they threatened to disappear into his hairline.
“Bearable, Severus?” the Headmaster said, looking rather astonished.
“Yes sir. Quite bearable,” the dark wizard replied, meeting the Headmaster’s eyes steadily.
The Headmaster looked thoughtful, and began to stroke his beard again. He looked up at his Potions Master.
“You know, Severus…the Hogwarts budget is a bit low this year. I think I misspoke when I initially offered Miss Granger a salary and lodgings. I really don’t think we can affordable additional staff this year. Forget I said anything, my boy,” the Headmaster said, “No need to mention this to Miss Granger.”
Severus let out a breath in relief.
“No, sir,” he replied.
Albus turned to go.
“You’ll have to excuse me Severus, I have to go and retrieve the cherubs. Good thing I have a locater charm on them. Someone let them loose in the vicinity of the Forbidden Forest this morning. Can you imagine?”
Severus leveled his dark eyes at the Headmaster.
“No, I can’t sir,” he said, wishing he had known about the locator spell.
Albus strolled away from the Potions Master, thinking. The former spy had said that he found Miss Granger ‘quite bearable’.
Quite. Bearable. Hm.
For the dark wizard, that was almost a declaration of love.
***********************************
Hermione had a very non-productive talk with Eli about his behavior toward Ron and Harry. The elf was adamant that part of his duty is to protect the home of his Master from those which would invade it, and to protect the things that he holds dear.
Here, the elf looked at Hermione intently.
Harry and Ron tried to force their way past Eli and into the Manor to search for Hermione themselves, not realizing the power Eli had. Harry should have known better. He was friends with Dobby after all, and Dobby was also very powerful.
“They gets what they gets,” Eli had said stubbornly, refusing to apologize for his treatment of them.
“You are just as stubborn as your Master!” she said in exasperation.
The elf beamed from ear to ear at the great compliment he was paid.
“Oh, thank you, Miss!” he cried, his hands clasped together in joy.
Hermione snorted. That was not the reaction she wanted from the elf.
“Just go, Eli,” she said, waving her hand at the elf in defeat.
Eli joyously winked out to tell the other elves what Miss had said about him.
*****************************
Hermione was just about to enter the lift and get down to her lab and some serious research, when there was a knock on the main door. She paused as Eli winked in by the door and opened it a crack, looking upward. He drew his head back in the door and looked at Hermione. He looked displeased.
“The Plant Wizard is here, Miss,” Eli said sullenly, then he brightened, “He is too early. Shall I sends him away?”
“No Eli! What’s wrong with you today?” Hermione said, walking toward the front door. “Let him in. He needs to finish my lab.”
Eli opened the door wider. Neville walked in, trailed by ten wizards, all university age.
“Hi Hermione,” Neville said, beaming at the witch. He looked her over.
:”You look great in your lab coat,” he said.
Hermione twirled.
“Thanks,” she said.
Eli frowned. He didn’t like Neville because he perceived the wizard had a crush on Hermione. But Neville had the crush ever since she hit him with the Petrificus Totalus spell in the common room in their first year. He was harmless.
“Ok, what are you doing here, and who are all these people?” Hermione asked him.
Neville pulled Hermione to the side, so the young wizards wouldn’t hear him.
“Well, I got my advance from Professor Snape, and I hired someone to temporarily run the store for me so I could finish up your Ecolab as soon as possible. These blokes…”
Here Neville gestured at the group of wizards craning their necks as they inspected the Manor.
“…are Herbology majors from the university. They are getting extra credit for helping me set up the lab. All they know is we are setting up a swamp-like system. So it's free help. Hopefully we can have the Ecolab finished by Thursday, if not sooner…if it’s all right with you. I know your other labs are ready and you are probably ready to work, but I can spell the Ecolab so they can’t leave it, and you can spell your labs to be hidden. I think it can work Hermione. What do you say?”
Hermione wanted the lab finished as soon as possible.
“I say go for it, Neville,” she smiled at him.
“Great!” said Neville. He turned to the students.
“Come on, you blokes. This way,” Neville said with much more command than Hermione would have thought him capable of.
The students filed after him into the lift. Hermione joined them, grinning as the young wizards exclaimed and grabbed each other in terror when the lift dropped, Neville standing coolly against the wall checking his nails.
Hermione emerged first, and cast a personalized ward on both lab doors that would only allow her to pass through freely. Then she disillusioned both doors so there appeared to be only smooth wall. She walked back and told Neville all was a go.
Neville led the young men into the Ecolab. They exclaimed at the coolness of the lab site and were anxious to get to work and see the completed project. A lot of noise started, and Hermione placed a silencing charm around the door.
Finally, she managed to get in her lab and get down to some serious work.
*************************
A/N: Ok. Am still at work. People have got the message and are avoiding me. I am wearing my best Severus-inspired scowl as I type, and it is quite effective in keeping the dunderheads away. I just hope my face doesn’t get stuck like this. Anyway, I’m trying to get the last lab out of the way in a believable manner so Hermione can get to work and Severus can get back to the Manor. Dumbledore just blatantly blackmailed Severus into telling him he has a thing for Hermione. Too bad about the cherubs, Sev. Good try though. Lol. Please review.