For Severus, the end of the war had finally bought with it the accolades and tributes he'd thought he wanted.
It also bought with it a deep anxiety and nervousness that had him resembling his former seventeen year old self. Even his one-time persistent stutter had begun to make its appearance again which did not lend itself to long lectures on potions or defense. So Severus had taken his medal and allotted hero ministry stipend and begun his own business.
Hours of brewing and utilizing owl post assured he didn't have to see or speak to anyone. To anyone else it would have seemed he was wallowing or somehow hiding from humanity when in reality, he just didn't see the point of embarrassing himself in public.
So now after five years of hiding he found he had no choice but to visit the Ministry. The summons had arrived three weeks prior. His reticence to appear had resulted in an official Ministry warning of arrest if he didn't comply.
The sky that was overcast when he left the dilapidated Spinner's End, was pelting down rain by the time he arrived at the ministry. His voluminous robes were completely soaked and his long hair stuck to the sides of his face obscuring most of his vision. He struggled with the wet robes in an effort to retrieve his wand which resulted in his newly acquired glasses to fall off his large nose.
The venom from Nagini's attack had affected his optic nerves and the glasses were now a constant reminder of his inability to duck fast enough. No matter how big said nose was he could not manage to keep the damned things from falling any time he bent down. Not even a sticking charm would work. This was just another reason he hated being in public.
His glasses crashed to the ground; he cursed and knelt to retrieve them. The action of kneeling led to the contents of his bag to spill out onto the Ministry atrium floor. He felt as clumsy and uncoordinated as a first year. Silently, Snape sent up a prayer to whatever deity was on duty that he be summarily struck down and put out of his misery.
He managed to wrestle his papers back into their place and was reaching for his glasses when the soft clicking of heels drew his attention. Looking up he saw a pair of very shiny black heels that led up to a shapely leg clad in what looked like the softest silk stockings Severus had ever seen. Not that he had seen many, but he imagined the texture against his skin and he shivered involuntarily. Severus could see a brief glimpse of garter at the skirt's slit and wondered if by chance whoever it was wouldn't notice him. Instead the woman attached to said leg bent over gracefully and picked up his glasses. Slumping slightly from his wet robes he managed to stand.
"I think you dropped something Professor."
"T-T-Thank you," he stammered, still not making eye contact with the woman. He just reached out a work worn hand to retrieve his glasses placing them again on his face. Once he had put them on he could see that he was looking onto the face of his former student Hermione Granger. Waiving her wand his clothes and hair dried instantly, the condensation upon the lenses was gone, and even the small tear in his bag was repaired. He chanced a look at her and saw she wore her ministry robes open, her muggle style skirt and blouse easily visible. She was elegant in ways Severus could only imagine. Long chestnut curls were pulled back slightly away from her face and her arms crossed at her chest. Her long manicured fingernails tapped her forearm as she waited for him to set himself to rights.
"There, that should do it. Really professor, I know you abhor foolish wand waving, but a simple drying charm can work wonders," she said, a bright smile lighting up her face.
He didn't want to meet her gaze. He didn't want to see her obvious disgust. He tried to look anywhere but at her, even keeping his eyes downcast, waiting for her to depart.
"So I guess I'll see you around Professor, or should I say Severus?"
"S-S-Severus will be f-fine M-Miss Granger."
She placed an elegant finger under his chin and tilted his face up to where he could meet her gaze, properly. The long dark curtains of silky black hair still obscured most of his face but this way she forced him to look at her.
Gone was the swotty bookworm and in her place stood a strong and confident woman. She seemed to exude sensuality and Severus could feel his mouth open as he gaped at the change.
Once she had made sure he'd looked at her, she turned heel and left, her long dress robes billowing behind her.