Through the Looking Glass ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 56 ~ The Courtship

So began the clandestine relationship of Miss Hermione Granger and Professor Severus Snape. They decided to keep their courtship a secret, because although there were no rules at Hogwarts forbidding a teacher to be involved with a student that was the age of consent, with Minerva now in charge, that could change quite quickly. Snape wanted to leave the school quietly, not in the midst of scandal.

However, the dark wizard could not help letting some signs of his affection for Hermione slip. Actually, slip wasn’t quite the word. Most times, those slips were more like full fledged avalanches. Snape was rich now, and although he couldn’t publicly be affectionate with Hermione, he could bestow gifts upon her and in the beginning, he did. Generously. A bit TOO generously.

And all the gifts came by owl post during meals.

There were necklaces of platinum and emerald, rings, bracelets, earrings and all types of little expensive trinkets Snape believed witches appreciated. Of course, Hermione returned them all, (except one demure necklace she really liked) scolding him in private, but she had a difficult time explaining, or trying not to explain who was sending her all of the expensive, fancy gifts.

Ron was her worst interrogator, because he was extremely jealous about it.

”All right, Hermione, who’s your sugar daddy? He has to be loaded!” Ron would demand at breakfast as the other Gryffindors craned their necks to see what wonderful gift had arrived by owl this time.

“Ron, you prat! I don’t have a ‘sugar daddy!’ Leave me alone!” Hermione would snarl back at him, trying to put away whatever bauble Snape sent.

It was hell not to scowl directly at the wizard, who would calmly eat his meal without apparent interest. But he was interested, and highly entertained, which was why he kept sending her gifts. Just to see her deal with her housemates. Plus, he’d have to snog her to complacency when she came to him privately, raging about the continued deluge of gifts.

There was a method to his madness.

”Come on, Hermione. If you don’t have a sugar daddy, you have a wizard that really likes you. Who is it? Why won’t you tell us?” Harry asked her plaintively. “He can’t be a student. Not sending you gifts like that.”

”I can’t believe you send them back, Hermione,” Parvati said enviously. “If it was me, I’d be so covered in jewels and rings, I’d look like a Maharanee.”

”Well, I don’t do jewelry,” Hermione replied.

Draco Malfoy knew where the gifts were coming from. Snape. It had to be Snape. But he didn’t say a word about it to anyone but his father, who just shrugged it off.

”Severus is so blasted ugly, sending gifts is probably the only way he can get a woman, Draco. Just be thankful we Malfoys don’t have that problem,” Lucius told him.

Lucius wasn’t the least bit surprised that Snape was going after someone as young as Hermione. Women were much easier to handle at that age. They could be properly trained. He had a couple of Lolitas himself on the side. They were quite tasty.

Finally, after a really bad row where Hermione threatened to end the courtship, Snape stopped sending her extravagant gifts. But he didn’t stop sending gifts completely. After treating Hermione’s hand one evening, which had cramped up severely from extensive writing, he ordered a very special gift for her. Of course, it arrived by owl in front of everyone. The box was small and long.

”I bet it’s another jewel encrusted necklace,” Ron muttered blackly.

”It better not be,” Hermione said angrily as she opened the box. A green feathered quill and silver ink bottle floated out of it and hovered in front of her.

“Hermione! That’s a Quick Quotes Quill, like Rita Skeeter uses!” Ginny Weasley exclaimed. “It’ll write down whatever you say!”

Hermione smiled, very pleased. Now, this was a gift she could use.

Snape saw the smile and knew he had hit pay dirt.

Fifty points for Slytherin.

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Snape used the Time Turner to spend a week at Spinner’s End, studying all the materials Hermione had collected for him. He thought it wiser to leave the school rather than risk paradox with the Snape that was currently teaching classes. They would be bound to run into each other if he remained in the dungeons.

He and Hermione spent hours getting to know each other as individuals during the months ahead. They never went farther than kissing, although this was more due to Snape’s self-control than to Hermione, who was more than ready to take the wizard down to the mattress. But the Potions master wanted to wait until she graduated. It just seemed . . . proper.

”Bother proper!” Hermione would hiss at him, then attack him, usually the both of them tumbling to the sofa, which he had replaced with a nicer one.

Snape would fight her off and send her back to Gryffindor tower stating that she had sexually assaulted him and he wasn’t going to stand for such treatment.

Poor Hermione.

It was quite easy to find private time to spend with the Potions master with no one the wiser. She’d simply stop by his office after her Head Girl rounds. It was the perfect cover. She just had to watch out for Filch, the nosy old bugger. She never stayed longer than an hour. Snape wouldn’t allow it and said it would attract attention.

They discussed his upcoming venture, and even went out to scout a location for the shop. They left Hogwarts at different times and met up in Knockturn Alley. After visiting a few locations, they decided on Hogsmeade, rather than in Diagon or Knockturn Alley. There were far too many apothecary shops there already.

Now that Snape no longer served the Dark Lord, and had Hermione in his life, he began to fill out a bit. He was still pale, but it wasn’t an unhealthy pale. Without the constant stress of spying and being tortured regularly, he ate better, and his food digested well. Of course, Hermione had a hand in his new diet. Snape was almost a total carnivore. Hermione was such a pain in the arse about his eating habits, he dubbed her “The Food Nazi.” But, he gave in and now rabbit food (salad) and vegetables were a part of his daily menu.

What men wouldn’t do for the women they loved. Make no mistake about it, Snape was in love and knew it. He was resigned. Well, he had served two lords for a very long time. At least Hermione was a pleasant little dictator, with fringe benefits. Still, no one would know how smitten he was based on how he treated her in public. He was as snarky and unpleasant as ever.

Hermione wrote Snape’s business plan. In fact, she wrote several business plans, just in case. She even accompanied him to Gringotts bank to apply for the loan. Once again, Snape found himself before Griphook, who tried to convince him to use his own funds at first, then, once he’d shown a profit, he could consider taking out a loan.

Hermione frowned blackly at this approach. Griphook was trying to lower the risk of loss to the bank. It was a well-known fact that the first couple of years were usually a struggle before a business got established, and Snape didn’t even have a business background.

“Professor, I think you should take your business and your money elsewhere!” she piped in. “I’ve heard the elves are starting a bank and offering quite a few perks to draw in customers.”

Griphook looked horrified.

Snape looked thoughtful.

Hermione looked smug as she eyed Griphook, watching the swarthy goblin change colors at the very thought of Snape closing his huge account.

”No—no I was simply suggesting—“ the goblin said hastily, backpedaling with the best of them.

”You were simply trying to avoid the chance of loss. We know all about risk assessment,” Hermione said to him. “First, you told professor Snape he couldn’t get a loan because he had no money, now you’re telling him he can’t have a loan because he does have money!“

Snape just listened. Hermione had taken over, and she was making some very good points. Griphook’s ears swiveled nervously. She was right of course.

Hermione looked at Snape.

”Can I negotiate for you, professor?” she asked him.

Snape nodded, and Griphook went pale as Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, leaning forward in the chair she sat in.

”All right, this is how it’s going to be. The professor has a lot of money tied up in this bank, and you’re making money off of it as we speak. He doesn’t bloody need your loan, he can afford to open his shop without you grubby little misers, but he does need credit. Here’s what you’re going to do, or he’s going to remove every blasted Knut!”

Hermione arranged the loan, and at almost no interest, considering how much Gringotts made off Snape’s account anyway. There would also be no penalty for early repayment. There were a few extra odds and ends that she covered as well. Griphook was shocked by how much she knew about the banking business and how loans worked. He was glad when the little witch walked out of there. He felt thoroughly fleeced.

As they walked down the stairs of the building, Snape said, “Thank you.”

Hermione smiled up at him.

”Thank you. I really enjoyed that,” she said with a wicked grin.

They began to walk up Diagon Alley.

”Ah, Hermione, I’ve been thinking—I wonder if you would consider working with me when I open the shop,” Snape said.

”As an employee?” she asked him.

Snape nodded.

”No,” she replied.

Snape was shocked. Hermione was so invested in his dream that he believed it would be a no-brainer she would work for him.

”If I worked for you, you’d sack me every time we had a disagreement. I’m not willing to give you power like that. And don’t tell me you wouldn’t do it. I’ve been your student for seven years. I know what it’s like to be—subjected to you in a position of authority. When I graduate, I’m leaving that behind, Severus Snape. We’re going to be on equal footing.”

Snape’s lip quirked.

”I see a bit of negotiation is needed,” he purred at her silkily.

”Purring at me isn’t going to help this time, Severus. We’re in public. You can’t snog me into complacency here,” she said firmly.

Snape couldn’t help thinking that once she graduated, his approach to getting her to comply with his wishes was going to change. Dramatically, although some snogging would still be involved. His black eyes glittered for a moment.

”However, I’d be willing to be a partner. I really think you need me to do the negotiating for you when it comes to your purchases. You aren’t aggressive enough,” Hermione said.

Snape almost chuckled. She had no idea how aggressive he could be if necessary.

”And you are?” he asked her.

”You saw it for yourself. Griphook was quaking in his suit,” Hermione replied.

”Very well,” Snape said. “You will be a partner. I doubt, however, that you’ll be a silent one.”

”I want it in writing, and the details as well,” Hermione said, ignoring his little jibe.

Snape arched an eyebrow at her.

”Why, Hermione, you make me feel as if you don’t trust me,” Snape said, frowning slightly.

Hermione gave him a small smile.

”We might be involved, Severus, but you’re still a Slytherin, and Slytherins are inherently self-serving. I have to stay on my toes,” she responded. “It’s just business.”

Snape gave her a thin smile in return.

It might be just business to Hermione, but to the Potions master, having her as a partner would be a very distinct pleasure.

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A/N: I just thought a bit of how they interact with each other was necessary to the story. I kind of took a cue from how I imagine Severus was with Lily when they were friends and he was in love with her. I think he let her take the lead, as in leading him around by his nose, and was generous with her as much as he could be. So, I can see him being a bit retiring and accommodating with Hermione. Thanks for reading.