A Maid in the Devil's Manor

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 4 ~ Coming to Terms


Severus suggested that they go out to an early supper, where they could hash over the details of their arrangement while enjoying a celebratory meal. Hermione countered his idea with making a meal at her flat, but after Severus perused her meager supplies in the cooler and cabinets, he vetoed the idea. Plain spaghetti and canned sauce was not his idea of a decent meal.

“Miss Granger,” he said with an edge to his voice. “I happen to like meat and vegetables, neither of which your poor stores have in evidence. Plus a glass or two of good wine wouldn’t hurt my palette a bit.”

Hermione was mentally counting the few sickles she had on hand. She really couldn’t afford to go out to eat. She had been spending quite a lot of money on her project. Her account at Gringott’s only had the exact amount of galleons in it to keep the goblins from closing it completely. She looked at the Professor.

“Well, where would you want to go to eat?” she asked him tentatively.

Severus instantly determined what the problem was. She assumed she was going to have to pay for her meal.

“Miss Granger,” he said tersely, “I need to make one thing clear to you right now. This meal and any other we share will be purely under the heading of business, and considered an investment in the future of our association. Since I have much more money than you, I shall cover the costs of these occasional outings. So there’s no need for you to hedge.”

Hermione blinked up at him. How had he known what was going through her head? Was her situation that obvious? Well, he had looked through her cabinets and noticed the lack of food. He probably just put two and two together.

“Besides,” he added, “I have never, ever taken a woman out to eat and gone ‘Dutch’ as I believe the muggle term for splitting the cost is termed. Though your independence is admired by some, in this case, Miss Granger, I must insist you curb your desire to handle everything on your own concerning how we deal with this project and our interactions, otherwise we will have a difficult association. We are partners, but the brunt of the costs will fall to me. So please, let’s just go. I’m famished.”

Hermione conceded. She asked the Professor to wait for a moment while she changed into more traditional garb. He sat down on the sofa to wait. While Hermione changed, he thought about her obvious financial difficulties. With him now covering the costs of her project, she would have a little more money to work with. Until he got her fired, that is. Once she was situated in the Manor, she wouldn’t have to worry about meeting monthly bills. Though he would have to find some way to give her some spending money for her personal needs. He didn’t want anything to distract her from the work. Perhaps she could ‘oversee’ the running of the Manor while domiciled there, though the house elves were quite adept at it. There was an idea.

Hermione returned from her room, her hair brushed out and shining, wearing a nice set of dark blue robes. Yes, she looked presentable. She walked over to her desk and plucked out a few sheets of parchment and a couple of quills. She reduced them and stuck them in her robes pocket. She turned to the Professor.

“Ok, I’m ready,” she said.

In response, Severus offered her his arm. She hesitated.

“Miss Granger,” he said tiredly, “Please take my arm so we can apparate to the restaurant. Really. I’m not going to bite a hunk of flesh out of you…unless you continue to irritate me.”

Hermione scowled at him, but took his arm rather stiffly. Severus stifled a smirk. She really didn’t like him in control of the situation. She had no idea how controlling he could be when he wanted his way. He pulled her arm tighter against him, knowing it would aggravate her. It did. Her amber eyes flashed up at him angrily.

“Must you hold my arm so tight?” she asked him, tugging a little bit.

“Yes,” he replied, smirking. Then they disapparated.

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Severus brought her to a nice little restaurant where they were immediately seated. Hermione looked around. It seemed like a place where business was conducted. Many of the patrons had papers spread out on the tables, and were conversing in muted tones. As the waiter brought them water and menus, Hermione removed the parchments and quills from her pocket and returned them to proper size. She placed the parchment in front of her and looked at Severus expectantly.

The Potions Master had his large nose firmly pressed into the menu, his black eyes scanning it. He must have felt Hermione’s gaze on him, because he looked up at her. He noted the parchment.

“Would you mind terribly if I ordered our meal first?” he asked her, “As I told you in the flat I am famished. After I order and we have a glass of wine, we can get down to details.”

Actually, Severus wanted Hermione to have several glasses of wine, in the hopes that he could slip something past her in the contract.

“Fine, Professor,” she said, picking up her menu and looking at the prices. She swallowed. The atmosphere might be relaxed, but the prices were phenomenal. Severus noticed her eyes widen as she scanned the menu. He plucked it out of her hand.

“Miss Granger, I will read you the selections and you can tell me what you want,” he said evenly. Hermione screwed up her mouth to protest. He waved a long finger at her in negation.

“You will eat what you want based on your desire and not the cost,” he said tightly. “I will not have you ordering a salad because it is the cheapest item on the menu. By the sad state of your cooler, I can tell you need a decent meal. How you manage to keep that busy brain of yours functioning properly on such a terrible diet is beyond me. Now, listen to what they have here…”

Severus read off the menu. Hermione listened carefully and selected what she wanted.

Spaghetti. With meatballs.

Severus glared over the table at her.

“What?” she said, her eyebrows raised, “It comes with a side order, salad and garlic bread. That’s meat and vegetables, plus a grain. It’s what I have a taste for.”

Severus continued to glare. The young woman was insufferable. He silently prayed to the gods for the strength to get through this arrangement without ending up in Azkaban for killing her out of aggravation before she concluded the project.

Hermione on the other hand, was delighted she had pissed him off. His insistence on controlling the situation rankled her a bit, and she was glad to have at least struck a winning, if underhanded blow for her independent streak.

Severus continued to scowl as he placed the orders with the waiter. He was having a rib-eye steak with potatoes and green beans. He also ordered a never-ending carafe of Coteaux du Layon, a sweet French wine from the Loire Valley. The wine arrived first, with two glasses. He poured both of them a healthy glass.

“This is normally a dessert wine,” he commented as he inhaled the contents of his glass, “but I find it delicious at any time.” He sipped the wine and savored it a bit, before swallowing and giving a small sigh of approval.

Hermione sniffed her glass, then downed it. She smiled. It really was good.

“Sweet,” she said, as Severus refilled her glass. He nodded.

They sat there a while, enjoying the wine and waiting for their food to arrive. Hermione was beginning to relax.

“So, Professor, tell me about these labs,” she said.

Severus stiffened a bit, but managed to hide it as he looked at Hermione, trying to decide what to reveal about them. He immediately decided not to tell her the horrible history of the laboratories, and to give her the short version.

“Well, my father had the labs built for me when I was in my fourth year at Hogwarts, so I could continue my studies when school was out for the summer and over the holidays. I used them quite a bit until I became Potions Master at Hogwarts. Since I have an adequate lab at the castle, I simply stopped utilizing the majority of them. I have one lab I use at the Manor. The other three are just there, unused,” he said diffidently.

“I see,” Hermione said. She would like to know more about the kinds of experiments he conducted in his youth. She knew he had been a deatheater, and had left out a lot in the telling. Those labs were probably used for dark purposes. But she wouldn’t call him on it. If he wanted to share more later on, he would. But somehow, she doubted it. That kind of sharing was between close, trusted friends. What they had right now was an uneasy alliance. It would in all probability remain that way.

Their meals arrived, and they both tucked into it, not saying a word until they had finished their plates. Hermione was much hungrier than she realized, and Severus watched her as she swiped up every bit of sauce with her garlic bread, and unashamedly suck her fingers afterwards.

“Your table manners are atrocious,” he commented, watching her pull each digit from between her pursed lips with a small pop. Not a very lady-like act at all…

“Thanks,” she replied. Hell, the food had been good. She poured herself another glass of the sweet wine.

“Would you like dessert?” Severus asked her.

“No, I’m good. I think we should get started on this agreement,” Hermione replied. Severus dabbed at his mouth with a napkin, poured himself another glass of wine and settled back in his chair, scrutinizing her.

“All right,” he said, “I think that you should work on the project in the evenings and on weekends at the Manor. I will set the wards so you can apparate directly to the labs from your flat.”

“That would give me no free time!” Hermione responded, “I would rather work on the project on the weekends, with the option of doing some work during the week, when I feel up to it.”

Severus looked at her.

“You know this project is very important Hermione. It will be a great accomplishment. I would feel better if you would at least dedicate one night a week to its pursuit. I think the perfect night would be Friday,” Severus countered.

Hermione frowned. “How do you know that I don’t have my Friday nights tied up. I might have a date or two to go on,” she said challengingly. She hadn’t had a date in over a year, but there was no need to let the Professor know that. Severus looked taken aback. He hadn’t thought about her having a social life, much less her possible involvement with a man. Shit. This could make things much more complicated.

“Ah, I’m sorry Miss Granger. I hadn’t thought about your personal life. Are you currently involved with anyone?” he asked her, his black eyes meeting hers intently. He held his breath.

Hermione thought about lying, but eventually he would probably find out the truth anyway.

“No. There’s no one right now,” she said, a bit glumly.

“Good,” he breathed, then realized his error as Hermione’s eyes hardened.

“I meant good that your private life won’t be disturbed by your working on the project, Miss Granger, not that you aren’t currently involved,” he said a bit lamely.

Hermione sighed.

“It’s all right, Professor,” she said. He noticed her eyes lost a little of their shine. Obviously not being in a relationship bothered the young woman.

He himself hadn’t been involved with anyone seriously since his youth, and that ended up rather badly. On occasion he would visit the brothel in Knockturn Alley to relieve his carnal needs, but he was used to being alone, and couldn’t imagine himself in a relationship. What woman would have a man like him, with his past, his dark nature and his baggage? No woman. He had given up on any hope of happiness years and years ago. All he wanted was to redeem himself in some way for his crimes. Miss Granger was his best hope at doing that. Still, he felt he needed to say some words of comfort, if just to get her back on track with the project.

“Miss Granger, I am sure that you will find someone in time. You have always kept your priorities in order, not allowing yourself to fall into the errors other young women make, and that is marry the first wizard that…er…attracts them,” he said uncomfortably. Then with more conviction he said, “Miss Granger, you have great things to do in this world. Of that I am sure. To be burdened with sentimental nonsense would only deter you from your path right now. When you have done what you are meant to do, I am sure you will find happiness.”

Hermione looked at the Professor. She fought to keep her lip from trembling.

“I’ll probably end up an old maid, snuggling up to my bunson burner,” she said dejectedly.

Severus was tempted to laugh. The young were so dramatic.

“I doubt that,” he said reassuringly. “Now, back to the issue at hand. How about that Friday?”

After a bit of haggling, Hermione did give up her Friday to the project.

“I also think you should have personal rooms at the Manor, so you can spend your weekends there and not have to apparate back to your flat each night. This way you can work later. There are plenty rooms available near the labs.”

Voldemort used to stay at the Manor in close proximity to the labs. Those rooms were available. They too would have to be thoroughly cleaned.

“My own rooms? That seems a bit much, Professor,” Hermione said.

“Not at all. It will be good time management. You can keep a wardrobe there, eat, sleep, bathe and be entirely comfortable, able to work at your leisure…not too much leisure mind you. The rooms are already there and empty. It makes perfect sense to utilize them while you are at the Manor. You can apparate back to your flat on Sunday night or early Monday morning,” he said persuasively. It really didn’t sound that bad, but Hermione wanted to have some say.

“All right, let’s keep that as an option,” she said.

Try as he might, Hermione would not make staying at the Manor on the weekends a condition, so Severus accepted the option, for now.

They continued on, Severus adamant about establishing an account for her needs, so she wouldn’t have to request funds from him whenever she needed supplies or equipment. The amount of money he would make available to her made her gasp.

“That’s way too much money, Professor!” she cried, causing patrons to look around at them.

Severus scowled and said in a low voice, “Miss Granger, are you trying to ruin my reputation? You make it sound as if I am offering you large amounts of money for some unknown reason. Most will put their own spin on that…no doubt a rather lecherous one, so could you…would you lower your voice please?”

Hermione noticed the patrons looking at them and whispering.

“Sorry,” she said, taking a sip of wine.

“Now, the amount may sound excessive to you, but I assure you it is not. It won’t put a dent in my holdings. I want to be sure you can get the very best of supplies and equipment. That requires money. And when you find the defense, the resulting residuals we will share will more than make up for any expenditures I put out, so no more gasping over the amount I am willing to invest,” he said, his brow furrowed.

Hermione never realized how rich the Professor was. He was a Lord after all. He lived simply at Hogwarts in the dungeons, but he didn’t have to. He preferred to. She didn’t realize that the Manor held so many bad memories for him, it was easier to live at Hogwarts than his ancestral home. He had less nightmares, less impetus to drive his mind back to reliving those evil times spent in the service of Voldemort. His modest rooms at Hogwarts were clean of blood, devoid of death. He could sleep for most of the night.

“Very well,” Hermione conceded. That fact that he would recoup his money in the event she was successful made the large expense account bearable.

“But I will not use those monies for personal purposes,” she said. “I want that clearly in the contract, to assure you the expenditures will be for the project only.”

Drat her Gryffindor sense of fairness. Severus wouldn’t have minded if she used some of the money for her personal needs. He wanted them covered so she could concentrate on the work. He didn’t want her worrying about anything. The wine wasn’t doing the job he’d hoped.

“Fine,” he conceded.

Hermione wrote down the terms they’d agreed on.

“I want to leave this contract open for addendums,” she said, “in case something comes up we haven’t covered.”

Damn it. How did she get so shrewd?

“Agreed,” he said, having no suitable reason to disagree with this request without eliciting her suspicion.

She wrote it down, and looked over the agreement. She signed it and passed it to Severus. He read it over and also signed his name. There was a blue flash as the contract was finalized. He slid it back over to Hermione, who quickly duplicated it and gave him the original.

“It’s done,” she said.

Severus slowly stuck out his hand, looking at her intensely. Hermione looked at his long, pale fingers, those fingers that were so precise when chopping, cutting and brewing.

“It is customary to shake on a deal, Miss Granger,” Severus said softly

Hermione looked at him, then slowly reached out and grasped his hand. His fingers closed around hers. The Professor had a masculine grip, but it was not a harsh one. In fact, she instinctively knew that this hand was capable of great gentleness when moved to do so. She could feel the slight calluses from his years of Potions work.

Severus in turn, noticed how warm, soft and small Hermione’s hand was in his own. There was some slight callusing on the palm and fingertips, but that didn’t take away from its femininity. This was a hand that was going to do great things for the wizarding world. Indeed, great things for him as well.

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A/N: Okay, they have met and made a basic agreement. Please note Hermione can handle her liquor in this story. J But Severus is intent on getting her sequestered in his Manor by hook or by crook. Anyone notice me sneaking in some little potentially delicious moments between the two? Please review.