A Working Relationship

A Working Relationship


Disclaimer: All canon characters are the property of JK Rowling and those with whom she has agreed contracts. This story was written for practice not profit.

A Difficult Situation


Severus and Hermione were so stunned at Lucius’ appearance that it was several seconds before they moved apart.

“What the fuck are you doing here Malfoy?” snarled Severus. “My fireplace is strictly internal access only.”

“I can see why,” drawled Lucius, looking Hermione up and down insolently. “A Mudblood Severus. You must be desperate. At least you’re making her rinse off her stench before you let her in the bed.”

Hermione was so incensed she was beyond speech. Severus, fearing an explosion, addressed her directly.

“Hermione,” he purred smoothly, “Take yourself to bed now. I’ll be through in a moment. Lucius and I need to chat.”

She gaped at him. He cupped her right breast in his hand and squeezed it gently. “There will be consequences if I have to repeat myself,” he added softly.

She flushed and fairly fled the room, slamming the door behind her. Even with the door closed she could hear the men chuckling. Her face was burning with humiliation and the rest of her was shivering after the cold shower and the stress she had undergone that evening. Even worse she could feel a wetness between her legs that had nothing to do with the water and everything to do with the Professor’s words and his touch. She couldn’t believe she was responding in this way. This was Professor Snape for heaven’s sake. Oh God! What would he say if he knew? Just how would he cut her down with that familiar sneer? She couldn’t carry on working with him after this. He was a legilimens after all. What if he read her mind?

She paced up and down the room, wishing she had her wand to cast a warming charm. However it was still in the lab and she couldn’t leave the room until Malfoy was out of the way. Turning she noticed a thick looking blanket draped over the large armchair by the bed. She wondered if he would be angry with her if she used it. Then she decided that he could just learn to deal with it. She was cold and she couldn’t stand there all night in only a towel. She picked the blanket up and unfolded it. It was large and soft and nicely perfumed with lavender. She wrapped herself up in it and snuggled down in the armchair. By the time she realised there was an enchantment on the blanket she was too tired to care and fell to sleep immediately afterwards.

That was how Severus found her later that night. He stood and watched her for a moment as she slept. He considered waking her but couldn’t bring himself to disturb her peace. He walked over to his bed and turned back the covers with his good hand. Using his wand he levitated her into the bed, positioning her carefully with her head on the pillow, and replaced the covers.


“Is she all right?” asked Professor Dumbledore when Severus returned to the sitting room.

“She’s making good use of that blanket you gave me. She’s fast asleep so I put her in the bed. I’ll nap out here tonight… what little rest I’m likely to get. She’ll need an elf to bring her some clothing in the morning. Her robes are damaged beyond repair.”

“We have much to discuss Severus. Are you able?”

“I am. Where shall we start?”

“I think we ought to start with your summons.”

“I was called very early tonight. I haven’t had to go before midnight in months. He’s in a new place. I don’t know where. It’s third re-location in the past four weeks. He’s not letting on about why he’s on the move…. Or at least he’s not letting on to me. It was a small gathering… again that seems to be a new pattern forming. I thought at first that I would be having a private audience but Bella and Wormtail were both there. No Lucius though… not at that point.”

“Were they present for the whole of the meeting?”

“Bella was. I think she’s taking the role of consort, although I’m not sure how much consorting is possible in that form of his. Wormtail was sent to the house and didn’t return when I was there. My Lord wished to talk about the elixir.”

“He’s set on it then?”

“He is. He perceives himself as being lodged between mortality and godhood. I was asked to give an account of my progress. I gave him a sketch of my ‘thinking to date’. I miscalculated though. He saw instantly that my current line of enquiry would prove fruitless and I had to give him my hand to stamp on. Three broken fingers this time plus an extended bout of the cruciatus curse. Miss Granger had made me a brew to mend the bones. The hand will be fine tomorrow. He was angry. He grows increasingly erratic. I fear that I will not survive long enough to complete my work for you.”

“He still needs you Severus. He would be a fool to eliminate a man of your talent.”

“I’m not sure he’s thinking clearly. A god is permitted to be capricious, is he not? I wish I had a more certain method of devising his limitations in his current form. In some ways he’s as I remember but he’s no longer human. His body is supernatural; a construct built out of magic to house a diseased soul. I wish there was more I could do.”

“You have done more than I ever had a right to expect you to do. Fill me in about Hermione and Lucius. What has happened there?”

“I have to say that I had almost become grateful for this arrangement. She has given very little trouble in return for a lot of hard work. I would not have come as far as I have without her assistance. When I returned home, I was uncoordinated after my earlier trials and I managed to knock a boiling cauldron over her. Fortunately I was able to freeze it almost instantly, but it was still acidic. She went into the shower and afterwards I healed a burn on her breast. Lucius caught us and, seeing me touching a half naked eighteen year old in that fashion, drew his own conclusion.

Lucius cannot live without an audience. Living ‘in exile’, as it were is warping him. I truly think he’d done the whole thing just to annoy me. He wanted to reminisce about the old days and I had to sit for a full hour remembering things I only wish I could forget. I had to insult Miss Granger unforgivably to keep my cover. I couldn’t persuade him to tell me how he arranged to get access to my floo. I’m going to have to ask you to sort that out. I dread to think what might have happened if he’d managed to get in here when Hermione was alone.”

“How did you manage to get her to safety?”

“I groped her and ‘sent her to my bed to wait for me’. She can’t be down here unchaperoned any more.”

“Severus, I’m sure she won’t hold it against you. She knows you had to think on your feet to protect your cover.”

“How can I ever look her in the eye again?”

“Sort it out in the morning Severus. I’ll put it out that you’ve had to go to London on urgent business. Let her sleep in and then you can talk. She might be able to provide you with help on the project for Voldemort. Put it to her and see what she says.”


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Hermione slept right round the clock. When she first stirred she tried to will herself back into sleep again but she became aware of how she was dressed and where she was. She sat up in a panic, heart pounding. Seeing the clock she relaxed a little, thinking that Professor Snape was bound to be teaching. Then it struck her. The only ways out were through Slytherin or the classroom and she had no clothes. Anxiety knotted in her stomach as she rewrapped herself in the towel and made her way to the bathroom.

Of course as soon as she stepped out of the bedroom door she encountered Professor Snape who was as fully and formally dressed as usual.

“Excuse me,” she muttered and shot past him with her head down. Severus cringed. Then he remembered the clothes the house elf had delivered earlier. He retrieved the pile and knocked on the bathroom door.

Hermione stood very still and listened carefully.

“Miss Granger! I have found you some clothing!” he called. “The Headmaster has given us the day off to resolve any difficulties stemming from last night’s events. He also wishes me to talk to you about expanding our collaboration for the Order. I’ll leave the clothes here and order some food.”

He thought the difficulties could be resolved did he? Thought Hermione as she turned on the shower, thankfully a warm one this time. Perhaps he was ignorant of her reactions after all. He couldn’t know everything. If she was calm enough and grown-up enough he’d never find out. They could carry on working together as though nothing had happened. After all nothing had happened really. He only healed the burn and the rest was an act to fool Lucius Malfoy.

Twenty minutes later Hermione emerged from the bathroom fully dressed. She walked into the sitting room to find Severus seated at a breakfast table laden with food. She walked over to sit down opposite.

“I’m ready to talk,” she said.