"Bloody hell," he sighed as his eyes opened. The rotten snake truly hadn't killed him. Years had passed and here he was still breathing. After all this time he still hoped the days would stop coming, the dreadful existence he's forced to endure. Quickly he goes through the same ritual, get up, piss, wash, dress, breakfast. Routine never suited him but, he could never seem to evade it. The only difference were his robes, he'd left them behind in the crushed walls of Hogwarts. Soft v-necks and jeans suited him greatly.
An owl sat waiting rather impatiently at his kitchen window. He let it in feeding it bacon scraps as he read the note.
Professor,
I hope you're doing well. It's been a while since I'd last seen you and I was wondering now that I've finished with my studies if I could join you in your potions business? Well, you see I've had offers from the Ministry and of course Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. I can't work their now though, can I.. Oh! I'm rattling off. Sorry, sir. I was hoping you'd let me at least have lunch to discuss it?
Hermione Granger
The little bookworm wanted to work with him? All the years he tormented the twit and she never learned to keep her distance. Well, he devised, it's a free lunch and I could use the help around the lab. He scrawled a quick response with plans for the next day.