A/N: Another response to another challenge. This will be a five chapter series in response to ToManyLetters' ring around the boyfriend challenge. Being said to be playing 'Ring around the boyfriend' means that you are going through boyfriends rather quickly. This challenge focuses on a character of my choosing with five characters of ToManyLetters choosing.
This has been loosely beta'd but the following four chapters haven't been. Feel free to point out any huge mistakes and I will fix them.
This story disregards the epilogue entirely and a lot of the Deathly Hallows.. The prompt for this chapter is Compromise.
Warning: This challenge does include woman/woman pairing and smut.
Disclaimer: Nothing you recognise is mine.
It had been five years since the fall of Lord Voldemort. The year that had been leading up to the Final Battle had been a long one for the Golden Trio. Jumping from campsite to campsite, trying to find the remaining horcruxes while still staying alive. It was with relief and great sadness that the war had come to a close. Both sides had suffered many losses, the light lost Dumbledore, Kingsley, Tonks, Fred and the Creevy brothers to name a few.
The few remaining Death Eaters had been rounded up and put into Azkaban for life. Dementors had fled the prison, so the Ministry sent aurors to guard the prison until they had trained enough wizards and witches to guard instead. There were only two Death Eaters left that were free to walk as free men, Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy. Snape's contribution to the Order of the Phoenix had been secretly documented by Albus Dumbledore with a series of memories. This left little doubt as to which side Snape had really been on.
Draco Malfoy's freedom had been a little harder to gain. He had only turned to the light side in the last few months of the war in order to gain help for his mother. Only Harry Potter and Hermione Granger had known of this and as Harry had been in St. Mungo's at the time of Malfoy's trial, Hermione had been left to do all of the convincing. She had been put under veritaserum and had her memories watched by the entire Wizengamot in order to prove his innocence.
The Final Battle, as it had come to be known, had almost ripped the castle apart. The year following the battle had been dedicated to restoring Hogwarts and making the transition between a time of war to a time of peace. This was no easy feat, the public was still overly cautious and the Ministry was still in upheaval. They needed a leader but there were few left that could ease the public.
The public had cried for Harry Potter but his health had needed his attention, so the next choice had been Remus Lupin. He had scoffed and denied at first but when it became apparent that nobody else was asked for or would step forward, Lupin put aside his reservations and filled in.
The Wizarding World had finally begun to resemble what it had been before their recent dark times after only a few years. Hogwarts was rebuilt successfully with the help of many volunteers, the Ministry was passing and changing laws that were very much needed and the public was once again becoming calm.
Harry had made a full recovery with the help of a team of Healers. His hardest battle had been learning to walk again, but with the support of his friends, he had overcome that hurdle as well. Ron and Hermione had contributed many hours to help rebuild Hogwarts. The two had moved into number 12 Grimmauld Place on Harry's request and had finished the cleaning started by the Order.
Living together and working side by side had finally kicked some sense into the two, and they had finally begun dating. Now, a little under five years together, they were happy and settled into committed life.
"Hermione, are you almost ready?" Ron bellowed up the stairs.
"Yes Ron, I'll be down in a minute," Hermione replied.
Ron walked down the hall and back into the kitchen; he grabbed a bread roll and moved onto the living room. Looking around he tried to spot Harry and Ginny until he heard a small – and very female – moan from the couch.
"Honestly you two!" Ron called out as he turned and exited the room.
He started pacing in the hall while waiting for the couple and Hermione.
He heard a little "Ahem" from the stop of the staircase and turned to see Hermione. She was in a wonderful gold dress that finished just above her knees. It was gathered by a simple black sash just under her bust and was teamed with a thin black dress robe.
"You look great 'Mione," Ron said with a smile.
"Thanks Ron," she replied sheepishly.
The two couples made their way to the Fourth Annual Peace Celebration Ball. After a small speech was made by Minister Lupin, the guests were free to eat and drink their fill and dance the night away. Ron and Hermione danced together for a few songs until Harry cut in. As Hermione was dancing with Harry, Ron was approached by Luna, shortly followed by Padma and then Lavender. Hermione was approached by a few ex-students as well but decided to decline Seamus as he was a little too intoxicated for her liking.
Making her way over to the punch bowl she spotted George and gave him a wave. As she was about to ladle some into a glass a pale hand stopped her, looking up she was met with the penetrating stare of Severus Snape.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you Miss Granger," he said in his smooth baritone voice.
"Why not, Professor?"
"Because I just saw Mr Weasley pour something foreign into it."
"And? A little alcohol never hurt anyone."
"If it were simply alcohol I wouldn't have stopped you Miss Granger, however, it must be something of his own creation as it was neither alcohol nor a potion I am aware of."
Hermione, finally understanding which 'Mr Weasley' Severus was speaking about, nodded in understanding.
"Aah, trust him to think this Ball was the perfect place for an experiment. Thank you Professor."
"You're welcome Miss Granger."
The two stood in silence that was growing increasingly awkward by the second. An elf came close with a tray of champagne which the two accepted.
"So, Professor, what have you been doing since the war ended?" Hermione asked attempting to break the uncomfortable silence.
"I decided to open an apothecary," he answered shortly.
"That must be more fulfilling then teaching more dunderheads, I assume?"
Snape turned to Hermione with a raised eyebrow. "Yes, much more fulfilling. I hear that you contributed to the rebuilding of Hogwarts?"
"Yes, as well as helping Harry recover. It was nice to take a year off to help and just... be, almost relaxing."
"Did you continue your education further Miss Granger? If my memory serves correctly you never took your N.E.W.T's at Hogwarts."
"No, I was rather busy that year, as it turns out. I took them the year after the war; I needed something to keep me sane, other than rebuilding and helping Harry."
"Just being wasn't enough for you?" He questioned with a sneer.
"Apparently not."
"And after that, did you delve into further education?"
"Yes. I've recently completed my final examinations."
"For what, Miss Granger?"
"My double degree in Arithmancy and Potions."
"Aah, you always were an ambitious one. Did you gain a mastery in either of those Miss Granger?"
"In Arithmancy I did, my Professor at the university agreed to let me be his apprentice whilst completing my final year, I should have been returning to complete it this year but as it turns out it was deemed unnecessary for me to complete the final six months. Unfortunately a Potions degree, as you well know, takes four years alone so hopefully I'll be able to get an apprenticeship placement for Potions this year."
"If that was a hint you are as subtle as an elephant."
"A hint?" Hermione muttered, comprehension washing over her. "Oh, no, not at all! I just rambled on and on, something I tend to do a lot."
"Right, well, as luck would have it my store is getting a lot busier than I anticipated and I have been trying to find an assistant of whom I could trust to do an above adequate job."
"Are you offering to teach me Professor?" Hermione asked dumfounded.
"I am offering you an apprenticeship, following a referral from your Lecturer, an interview and a display of your skill."
"That would be fantastic, sir. When could we meet?"
"When is it convenient to you Miss Granger?"
"Well my exams are over but I have a full weekend and Monday morning. So would either Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning suit you?"
"Monday afternoon would be perfect; I shall send you an owl tomorrow for time and place."
"Thank you sir."
He gave a curt nod and disappeared into the crowd.
The following day of the ball was filled with a rather large and infamous row between Ron and Hermione. Ron, never maturing quite enough, had been furious upon hearing who would be Hermione's mentor. Hermione had become enraged at Ron; this was her chance to gain her double mastery like she wanted.
In the end, the couple had come to a compromise; Ron would let it go if they moved to Diagon Alley. This would allow Ron to be closer to the Weasley Wizard Wheeze's shop and hopefully Snape's apothecary. Hermione hadn't wished to move; she was rather attached to Grimmauld place and had been able to put off living with just Ron quite successfully for the past few years.
The next few months had reverted back to normal between the two until one day Hermione came home late; three and a half hours late. Ron had come home and started dinner as per usual. However, when Hermione hadn't arrived by 6pm like usual Ron had started to panic. He sent Pig out and received a quick reply.
R,
Helping with a very important and volatile potion that I told you about yesterday. Be home very late.
Love H.
Ron cast a stasis charm on Hermione's meal and made his way to bed. The next few months passed by with many nights like this. Ron did not like this and stopped saving Hermione meals, that'll get her attention, he thought. Hermione didn't seem to notice as every morning after a late night she would wake up, make him a lovely breakfast like usual and act like nothing had happened. She would plant a kiss on his cheek and leave for the day.
Ron let this continue, and started saving her meals again until she began staying until at least 7 every night and working every other Saturday.
"Hi honey," Hermione called from the floo.
"You're home early," Ron called back from the kitchen.
"Yeah, the busy season is over according to Severus so I can start to come home at a normal time mostly," Hermione responded.
Ron still couldn't quite get his head around Hermione calling him Severus or the fact that she didn't mind his company but there are some things you just don't question with Hermione; especially when they ended in a row and an uncomfortable night on the couch.
"That's good," he responded while stirring.
Hermione wrapped her arms around his waist from behind and stood on tip toes to give him a kiss on his cheek and nuzzle his neck.
"Smells delicious, what are you making?"
"Beef stroganoff and rice," he replied turning around and embracing her.
"Mmm, I've missed this," she muttered into his chest.
"Me too, hopefully you can keep on getting off work early."
"Hopefully but now that the busy season is over, Severus has time to teach me the more complicated potions that we've had to put off."
"So you're going to be spending more time with him?"
"Yeah, but there's only a little over a year left and then I'll be free."
"Free? Really Hermione, because from where I see it you'll never be free."
"Ron, of course I'll be free. I'll be able to find a good job or open up my own Apothecary."
"Where, though? You've said countless times that Snape has the majority of England's business."
"Well, you said that you and George wanted to open a new store in Scotland or something."
"Yeah, but George would open it. Not me."
"Well, you never said that. I mean, I could probably continue working with Severus, he'd let me research-"
"But you'd still work late hours."
"Well that's what happens when you work in this field, it's unavoidable. If I weren't working with Severus you wouldn't mind so much."
"Of course I wouldn't. I get that he was good in the end but he still joined the Death Eaters in the first place and I just don't trust him. I know you and Harry do and that's fine but I don't. At least I'm polite to him, I never call him names. I would just rather you work with another Potions master."
"Well I don't want to, and the closest one is in Northern Scotland so that's not really a good solution, is it?"
"I just can't deal with this anymore Hermione!"
"Deal with what?" She said quietly.
"This, us, it's not working."
"I know," she replied after a pregnant pause, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "It's just compromise after compromise."
"I know."
"So, what are we saying here? Are we going to work on it or..?"
"I don't know. I just don't know what we should do."
"I know what we're supposed to do."
"What?"
"I'm supposed to quit my job so you can be the provider. We're supposed to get married and have a bunch of kids."
"That's not what you want though, is it?"
"No, is that what you want?"
"I want you to be happy and when I get married I want it to be with someone who will stay at home with the kids."
"Oh."
"I would get married to you in a heartbeat 'Mione, you know that, but we wouldn't be truly happy."
"I know," Hermione said quietly, shutting her eyes and letting the tears flow. "It's just; everyone expects it and I don't want to lose you."
"You won't lose me. We'll be friends, best friends."
"After a while, I don't think I could be around you so often so soon."
"Okay but you know that I love you, right?"
"Yeah and I love you too."
Ron enveloped Hermione in his arms again and lent back against a counter, running his hands up and down her back. Hermione let out a small laugh which peaked Ron's interest.
"What?"
"I just don't think anyone will believe we ended things so amicably," she said, her laughter overtaking her.
Ron joined in on the laughter and nodded his head.
"Not a single person," he replied.
"And I was always told compromise's saved relationships."
"Same. I guess we aren't your average couple."
Hermione started to laugh again at this. "Not at all."
So that's the first chapter done. Four more to go, what do you think so far? Thanks for reading.