This story was born by the need to fulfill my need for Snamione fanfiction and partly due to a one shot that currently lives on my hard drive. I have yet to find a fanfiction that is as long as my need for Snamione and when I find one as long as I like my fanfictions to be, it is never the story I want it to be. I was going to post it, but I decided that making a series would be much more fun. I love Snamione more than any other ship in the Harry Potter universe and if anyone knows any really good fanfictions that fit that ship, please send me links. I have started a community for them and I would like to give them all a place to live. I am looking for friendship fics, romance fics (But only ones where Hermione is of age), time travel fics, either where Hermione goes back in time or ones where Severus goes forward in time.

On another note, I am currently unsure what direction Miles Apart is going to go into. I haven't decided on how I'm going to block out the story. I'm currently torn between making it a series as well and having each of Brooke's years be a story or just having one very long story. Also, I'm not sure if I'll have an 'after the war' story, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there. I also don't know if Alexis is going to go into hiding during the catastrophe of year seven or if she's going to be at Hogwarts with the Carrows. As I'm sure we all can guess, I'm 95% sure Brooke is going to be joining Harry, Ron and Hermione on the hunt for horcruxes. Let me know what you all think.

I also really want to thank everyone who reviews and follows my stories. I am not paid to write my stories and some days I don't write at all because of lack of initiative. Your support and want for more chapters keeps me going and keeps me motivated to write and to create new stories. I wouldn't have any stories if there was no interest for them, so thank you all so much. It truly warms my heart.

Love,

Erectopatronum

The sun shined down on the stones of Diagon Alley, warming them and the people who passed through the streets. The shop keepers were keeping their shelves full to the brim, and patrons were walking in and out, bags stuffed full with different wares. Now that the war was over, and the Death Eater trials were through, the streets were once again a safe place to move about freely. And everyone was taking advantage of the good weather.

Hermione Granger was no acceptation.

After she returned to Hogwarts the year after the war and completed her education, the brightest witch of her age immediately started applying to mastery programs and universities for wizards, ready to move on with her life. Then, after several letters of acceptation, Hermione ran into none other than Ronald Weasley, who now had stepped into his late brother Fred's shoes in the joke shop. With the pressures of war no longer looming over them, the pair fell easily into a relationship. Hermione often thought their relationship was as easy as slipping on a pair of gloves, and she loved to comfort it gave her.

Ron had his own flat, and Hermione had her's, but more often than not, Ron was over Hermione's, spending time with her in between her classes and during his lunch breaks at the shop. Nearly a year into her year and a half mastery program, they started sleeping together, a feat that made Hermione giggle, still nearly two years later. Even though Ron teased her relentlessly about picking potions and transfiguration as her masteries of choice, she didn't let that stop her from doing what she loved. She was good at both, and had graduated the top of her class three months before. Now all she needed was to find a job in her field. Yes, she worked for the ministry in the Magical creatures department, making laws that protected house elves and werewolves, but that was just a job that paid the bills.

But today, she was looking for new potions books to add to her collection. Her small, delicate hands moved over the spines of the books, the tips of her fingers barely touching the bindings. She practically itched to fill her arms with all the books in the store, but unfortunately she didn't have enough space in her small apartment. One day, she vowed, years ago, she would have a home, a proper home with a library in it to house the tremendous amount of books she already owned, and the ones she would purchase in the future.

But first, she needed to get the dream job before she got the dream home. She rounded the bookshelves and passed the corkboard where small business owners and those who were conducting research posted wanted ads. She liked to check every now and again, but there was rarely anything on potions, and if there was, there was only an unpaid internship. Most of the internships clashed with her actual paying job, and while she would love to drop everything and just learn from a master. But she loved having a roof over her head and eating a little more.

Nevertheless, she moved to view the colored papers with little interest. It was the plain white paper that stood out to her however, among the bright neon on the board. The ad was for a potions assistantship for some little company called Prince Potions. Hermione had never heard of the company, but the promise of payment drew her in. She took a copy of the ad and went to the counter with her purchases, ready to go home and try to find a place to fit them all.

*H*G*

Hermione was busy trying to push the 16 book in place, and didn't hear her floo activate. Which resulted in her shriek when hands clamped around her waist, spinning her around to face whoever entered her home, wand clamped in her hand.

"Ronald!" Hermione smacked his chest with the tome in her hand. "Don't do that!"

Ron didn't even look sorry for scaring his girlfriend. "I thought you had heard me, 'Mione. After all, you're normally not in the living room at this time a day." He tightened his hold and kissed her forehead. "Can you ever forgive me?"

Hermione pulled out of his grasp and returned to her shelving. "I suppose if your apology comes with dinner and help with these books." She waved her wand and expanded the shelves around her, making it easier for the books to slide into place.

"How about tonight? Just you and me, maybe we can go to that little Italian place we like so much." Ron leaned against the shelves, watching her tuck title after title away. He handed her the last few books, crumpling up the bags when he was done.

"I'd love that." She finished her shelving and then returned to her boyfriend's embrace. "I found an ad for an assistantship."

"That's fantastic! Are you going to apply?" Ron moved her to the sofa, pulling her into his chest.

"Of course," She tucked her head under his chin. "I'd be a fool not to. I need to find a job in my field. I mean, I like the ministry, but it's not what I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to work in a lab, making potions and selling them. I hope that I get the job."

"Well, whoever owns this company has to hire you. You were top of your class, after all." Ron rubbed his hand up and down her arm. He didn't regret not going to school after the war was over, but he found that working for his brother George was comfortable and they worked well together. Granted, he had wanted to play for the Chudley Cannons but his sister had gotten to play for the Hollyhead Harpies and he decided that one Weasley sibling playing internationally was enough for his mother. After Fred's death, Molly liked everyone to stay as close to home, and nearly panicked when Ginny left for Scotland to start her training. But his sister came home as often as she could and was always there for Christmas and birthdays, which made his mother less worried.

"I think I'm going to fire off a copy of my resume right now. Maybe if I get it in now, I'll be first pick for the job." Hermione pulled herself from Ron and went to her kitchen table, pulling parchment and her resume from the folder she kept it all in.

"Like I said, you're going to get the job. Whoever runs this company is a fool not to hire you." Ron went to the range and set the kettle to boil.

"I'm not assuming that I'll get the job, Ron. They might hire me and change their mind because of my ministry schedule. I can only work from 3:30 on and then weekends all day." Hermione scribbled on the parchment, writing her cover letter to the owner. Folding up the papers and tucking the ad into the envelope like the ad said to do, she gave the envelope to the owl she purchased during University, praying to whatever god was listening that she got the job.

*H*G*

Hermione sat at her desk in the Ministry, drumming her fingers on the desktop. Before her was a decree from Kingsley preventing werewolves from being denied jobs. Appropriately named the Lupin Law, she was reading it over to make sure there were no loopholes for employers to discriminate. As she reached for her quill to sign, her assistant came over to her with a stack of mail.

"Hermione?" She poked her head in the office.

"Yes, Jillian?" Hermione continued her previous motion and signed the law.

"I have your mail." She handed her the large stack, making Hermione frown. Most of her mail for the past few years was letters of gratitude for her services in the war, which she didn't feel she deserved. She simply did what was expected of her, and protecting and helping Harry was one of those things. Flipping through the letters, she stopped at an emerald green envelope, with Prince Potions in the return address. It had been nearly two weeks since she applied for the position and she was nervous as the days had gone by without hearing anything. Ripping it open, there was a thick letter tucked neatly inside.

Dear Miss Granger,

I have to say, I was most surprised when I received your application. To be honest, I had hoped I would never hear from you or your friends for the rest of my days. To add to my shock, after reading your resume, there was no record of your personal achievements, but only those of your academic career. I would have expected you to at least include your Order of Merlin, First Class. In addition, I was expecting a few pages for your resume, but seven pages of academic achievement is nothing to sneeze at. (I would cherish the complement because I don't give them often.)

However, it was the addition of valedictorian to your resume that caught my eye. In fact, it was the only reason I wrote to you in the first place. I also saw that you went to the same University as I did and had the same professors. Therefore I took the liberty of contacting them and asking them of your academic performances. Rest assured, you got rave reviews. Regardless of my feelings toward you, you at least have a good sense of potions mastery, at that is one of the most important things I'm looking for in this job. Now, bear in mind, I am not handing you this job, for I am not one who will fawn over the brains of the golden trio.

I will, however, grant you an interview. Come today, at 5 o'clock sharp. Do not be late. If you can prove yourself, you may get the job.

My address is 33 Spinner's End, Cokeworth.

Sincerely,

Severus Snape

She read the letter over and over, trying to wrap her mind around the fact that she applied to Severus Snape's potion company. She had no clue it was him at the time, but now it made sense. His mother's maiden name was Prince and he wasn't teaching currently. Minerva had given him time off to settle down and recover from Nagini's attack. Hermione and Madame Pomphrey had worked day and night to save him, trying everything they could think of. Thankfully, after Dumbledore died, Fawkes had turned his alliance to Minerva, and became her familiar, meaning that they could try phoenix tears and not just bezoars. They had managed to stabilize him, but if Augustus Pye hadn't been called and helped the two women, the dour man would have died.

Then Hermione, Harry and Ron built his defense in court with the help of Minerva and Flitwick. They all testified on Severs' behalf, saving him from a life sentence in Azkaban. After Severus had been cleared of all charges, he vanished from the Wizarding world, or so Hermione thought. But she had been granted an interview. She thought about telling Ron, but decided to keep it quiet, in case she was denied the spot. It would also protect Snape and where he had disappeared to.

Regardless of who the employer was, Hermione really wanted this job. Snape was one of the best potions masters in the wizarding world, therefore it would be quite the feather in Hermione's cap to add assistant to Severus Snape to her resume. The ad had simply said paid job, so Hermione wondered how much she would be making, and hoped that it would be enough to start saving to move out of her apartment and into an actual home.

Ron could move in and they could marry. She wondered why he hadn't proposed to her yet, but she wasn't going to press him. She didn't want to scare him away. They both were trying to save up money after all, and a wedding would drain their savings. She assumed that's why he hadn't said anything. They had been together nearly three years and she was happy with him, which she was shocked at.

When they were at Hogwarts together, Hermione had thought him to be self-centered and uncaring, but he had matured and made her feel so loved. Her success was his success and vice versa. Granted Hermione went farther in work because she didn't co own a shop but she respected what her boyfriend did, and he loved it so much. He was always coming over and crowing about some new product he invented, and she always loved to hear his work stories.

She sighed and pushed back her chair. She was nervous about seeing Severus Snape after four years. She hadn't been prepared for him to speak to her old professors but she couldn't be shocked. After learning they were alumni of the same university, it would make sense for him to reach out. She just hoped she made a good impression.

*H*G*

Hermione pulled her hair into a loose ponytail and smoothed down her skirt. She dressed in the clothes she normally wore in her labs at school, to show that she knew how to dress for work. Sensible flat shoes were on her feet, a long colorful maxi skirt to cover her legs but still remain cool. And a black fitted tee shirt completed her outfit. She stood before the stairs of the Spinner's End home, trying to calm herself.

She took a deep breath and climbed the stairs, knocking on the door with her knuckles. After a tense moment, the door opened as far as a chain would allow and a sliver of man was seen. The door shut and then opened quickly. Hermione was greeted with the man she had worked night and day to defend and heal, and she thought she would be able to see him as an equal, but seeing him here, she was nearly reduced to her first year self.

"Miss Granger, punctual as usual." Severus stepped back. "Come in then and let's this over with." His tone was dry and bored, as though he dreaded seeing her.

"Thank you sir," She slipped past him and into his sitting room, gasping at the shelves of books around her.

"You can gawk later, I think," Severus moved to the armchair before the fireplace after he shut the door. "Have a seat." He snapped his fingers and a tea tray appeared on the coffee table, tea pouring into the bone china.

She tore her eyes away and settled on the plush seat, smiling her thanks and sipping the dark liquid.

"There is cream and sugar." He gestured to the tray.

"I know, but I prefer black." Hermione settled back onto the couch and cradled the cup. Suddenly a midnight black feline jumped onto her lap, shocking her and making her jump.

"Hello, where did you come from?" Hermione moved her tea to her left hand and stroked the cat with her right.

"Dover, get down," Severus snapped his fingers at the cat. In return, the cat flicked his tail and curled up on her lap.

"It's alright, sir. I have a cat of my own." Hermione carefully placed the tea on the table and used both hands to scratch the sides of Dover's face. "Why is…. His? Name Dover?"

"The cat is male, yes. And I found him as a stray when I was at a conference near the White Cliffs of Dover. It seemed fitting. He's prone to using his claws to hold you down so he can bathe you, so for that I am sorry. I haven't been able to break that habit." He took a sip of his own tea, watching the feline. "Feel free to push him off if he's bothering you."

Hermione smiled and watched the cat snuggle into her stomach. "Crookshanks is the same way. I have more scars from my cat than from the war, I think. It'll be fine." She looked up at him and noted he was watching her closely. "Is everything okay?"

"Every person who's come to be interviewed for this position has been hissed at and hated. Though, for some reason, Dover likes you of all people." He cleared his throat. "Well, why don't we get started?" He put his reading glasses on and picked up a quill and parchment. "Why do you want to work for me?"

Hermione chuckled. "When I applied, I had no idea that the company was owned by you. I applied because every other position is an unpaid internship, and takes up full days. I have a job already, but it's not in my field and I need to keep it or replace it with something to pay my bills."

Severus jotted down something in his notes. "And you work for the ministry, correct?"

"Yes, sir I do." Hermione winced as the cat in her lap dug his claws into her leg.

"What are the hours?" Severus looked up at her hiss.

"9am to 3:30 pm. I have Friday through Sunday completely free." Hermione carefully dislodged the claws from her skirt.

"And the pay?"

"200 gallons a month." Hermione resumed petting the cat, in order to keep him content and his claws out of her leg.

"Hmmm," Severus wrote that down and rubbed the feather end of the quill against his lower lip. "So you were valedictorian, graduated with highest honors and you returned to Hogwarts to complete your education. But, what is lacking is anything about your personal achievements. How am I to know that you can balance your work life, social life, and other hobbies if all you included was academic achievements?"

"Well," She took her tea again and sipped the hot liquid. "I was in a book club, which I'm sure is not surprising. I was in the theater club, which is much more surprising, I think. I regularly went out with friends, I tried to learn the drums, but that didn't go well. I quit after six months. I tutored students in potions and transfiguration, which was the job I had while in school." She scratched the cat behind the ears, hoping she had impressed her ex professor.

"Well, I think I have enough." Severus checked to make sure the ink was dry and folded the paper in half.

"So?" Hermione drained her cup and allowed the cat to kneed her leg.

"So?"

"Do I have the job?" Hermione decided she was going to be forward and make sure he knew what she wanted.

"Honestly, Miss Granger, I really don't wish to work with you. You annoyed me when I was your professor and the very fact that you had to save me from Nagini's bite and then proceeded to keep me out of Azkaban, which is somewhere I should be right now, I don't like being indebted to someone."

"How many people have you interviewed, sir?" Hermione gave him a cool look.

"I don't understand why that matters." Severus leaned back in his chair.

"How many people have you interviewed?" Hermione repeated, waiting for him to answer.

"Around 30, why?"

"How many of them have my credentials?" Hermione shifted in her seat, maintaining eye contact.

He sighed, and removed his reading glasses. "None, Miss Granger. And before you ask, none of them have graduated yet either."

"Well, then it seems to me that even though you do not like me, and you don't wish to work with me, I am your best bet. I have graduated top of my class, I know how you like to have things organized in a lab, and I actually qualify for an assistantship." Hermione waited for him to react.

He frowned and unfolded the paper before him. Reading it over, he closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them again. "Fine, you have the job. Do not make me regret this, Granger. Be here tomorrow, 4pm, not a minute later."

"Yes sir. May I ask about salary?" She ran her fingers through the cat's fur before her.

"I assumed we would get there. I'll match what you make at the Ministry. You'll be here 4-9 pm Monday through Thursday and 9-8pm Friday through Sunday. For the first month, don't even think about asking for time off. Consider yourself on probation. If I don't like how you work for the first month, there will be no second chances." Severus removed his reading glasses and tucked the parchment away, giving her a look. "You're free to take your leave."

Hermione tried to push the feline to the floor, but Dover gave her a glare and refused to move. Hermione laughed when Severus tisked and she pulled the cat to her chest, standing up. Placing the cat on the floor, she moved to the bookshelves that lined the room, Dover following her as she walked, hoping she would sit again.

"Miss Granger, what are you doing?" Severus waved his wand and vanished the tea tray to the kitchen.

"You said that I could look at the books later." Hermione's fingers ghosted the spines, her eyes full of light.

Severus observed her silently. He had never seen anyone so taken with books before, but he knew how much she liked to read from their time together as teacher and student. At least her essays reflected that she knew how to research. His eyes raked her clothing as she stretched up to pluck a tome from the shelf. Her shoes were sensible, and wouldn't render her useless. They were close toed, which was better than the other girls who applied. They often wore short skirts and heels, clearly never worked in a potions lab a day in their lives. Her skirt was long which covered her legs, but she wouldn't be too over heated in the lab. She knew what she was doing, he had to give her that. Not that he would ever tell her that.

Hermione was oblivious to his stares. She was more taken by the book in her hand about traditional and modern potion brewing methods. She hadn't asked if she could read his books, but when she was given the opportunity to read, she never took it for granted. She resumed her place on the couch, and Dover leapt back into her lap, the book laying open on the cushion next to her.

"I wasn't aware you were staying." Severus commented dryly, arms crossed.

"I'm sorry for being so forward, sir. I'll just-"

Severus cut her off. "I assumed you would want to leave as soon as possible. The books will still be here tomorrow." Severus plucked the book from her hands and laid it down on the side table.

Hermione nodded and carefully moved the cat off her lap once more. "Sorry Dover. I'll be back tomorrow." She said her goodbyes to Snape and thanked him for the job before leaving the house and apparating away to her apartment.

*H*G*

Hermione sat at her kitchen table carefully writing a note to Ginny and Harry, who now lived together in Grimmauld Place. She wanted them to come out to dinner with her and Ron, to celebrate her receiving the job. Ron had agreed to sacrifice his night alone with Hermione to make her happy. Once she was done with the letter, she cast it through the floo network and waited anxiously for their response. Her hands shook slightly, wanting the message to turn out to be positive, as she was sure that her friends' response to her being employed by Severus Snape was not going to be as cheerful as she would like. While she and her friends did in fact save his life and keep him from Azkaban prison, Harry and Ron still did not like him.

After 20 long agonizing minutes, Ginny's slightly charred note plopped onto Hermione's threadbare hearth rug. She ran over to it and ripped it open, nearly tearing the parchment inside in her excitement.

Hermione,

Of course we'll join you and Ron tonight, do you even have to ask? We'll see you around 7:30, yeah?"

Love,

Ginny

Hermione looked at the clock that rested on her mantle, with the time reading 6:45. She looked down at her clothing and noted the black hairs that Dover had thoughtfully left on her skirt, and she used her wand to whisk them away. When she had come back into her apartment, Crookshanks had batted at her skirt and meowed in protest, disliking the other cat's smell on his mistress' clothes.

While she wanted to take a shower, she had no time, and settled for washing her face and putting on her usual eye makeup. Crookshanks followed her into her bedroom and settled on her vanity, batting her eyeliner cap around on the table, clearly set on keeping her home longer than she wanted to be.

"Crooks, please. Knock it off." Hermione took the cap away and slipped it over her eyeliner once more. "I know you're upset over the other cat hairs but Snape has a cat too. I'm going to have hairs on me that aren't yours now."

Crookshanks stared at her with his bright yellow eyes, clearly not happy. The half kneazle was very particular about who he liked or disliked. He merely tolerated Ron and didn't attack him when he came to visit, but he didn't allow the red head to touch him. She briefly wondered if Crookshanks would allow Snape to touch him but she shook the thought away. The only way for that to happen would be if Snape came to her house and hell would freeze over before that happened.

She pulled her hair down from the ponytail it had been tied in and pulled it into a bun on the top of her head, a few curls hanging down, framing her face. Gathering her clutch, Hermione prepared to take her leave, excited to see her friends.

When she got to the restaurant, she joined her friends at the table they had procured. "Hey!" She smiled brightly and plopped down in the seat that was empty for her. She took the glass of wine that Ginny had offered her, taking a grateful sip.

"So, you had the interview today? How did it go?" Harry took a sip of his fire whiskey.

"I got the job!" Hermione nearly spilled her wine when Ron threw his arms around her. "Ronald, stop that!" She laughed.

"I knew you would, 'Mione!" Ron nearly shouted. "So who runs the company, anyways?"

"Well, you're not going to believe it, but Snape does." Hermione took another sip.

"Snape? Blimey, Hermione. You're working for Snape?" Harry coughed, nearly choking on his drink. Ginny thumped him on back, shaking her head at him.

"I'm sure Hermione will be fine, guys. How much are you making? Ron said it was paid." Ginny asked. "Hopefully it's enough to save for your own house."

"He's matching my ministry salary." Hermione couldn't stop smiling at her friends.

"So you'll be making 400 gallons a month?" Ginny gasped. "Why didn't I apply for this job? Hermione, you might be the richest women in the order, if you're putting away 200 gallons a month."

"I know. It's a real start for a house. With my war stipend, and this job, I could get a house in about a year and a half."

"How much was your stipend?" Ginny took a long swallow of wine.

"About 700 galleons. I got more because I helped Madame Pomphrey with the injured." Hermione shrugged. "It's currently collecting dust in my vault."

She had gotten 300 more galleons than the others, but it was the effort she had put in with the healers to save as many as possible. Lavender Brown would have been dead if Hermione hadn't gone back for her after the battle was over. Healer Pyre and Hermione had managed to heal her from the fall and the attack from Greyback, and she had only had minor scarring on her stomach left over. St. Mungos had thrown in the extra money, to give her their thanks. She hadn't asked for more money, or any money for that matter, but everyone had gotten something. Even Severus Snape.

Hermione figured he had used his money to start his business, but she could always be wrong.

*H*G*

Hermione lightly skipped up the steps to Snape's home, knocking on the door just as she had the day before. After a few moments, the door opened and Hermione had to bend quickly to catch the cat before he escaped. Gathering Dover in her arms, Hermione gave her new employer a smile as she walked passed.

Severus shut the door, shaking his head. "He bolted for the door as soon as you knocked. I've never seen him more attached to anyone before." When he turned, he saw Hermione looking at the shelves again, the cat sitting on her shoulder, like a deranged parrot.

"You are aware that I have actual work for you to do and that I'm not paying you to read my books." Snape gathered his files from the table next to his armchair and made to leave the living room. Hermione turned to face him, reaching up to steady the cat.

"Yes, I know. I was actually trying to figure out how you charmed your shelves to stretch this far. Mine are maxed out I'm afraid." Hermione started to follow him out of the room and down the hall.

"I'm sure that's what you were doing." Severus started to open the door at the end of hall, then paused. "Dover isn't allowed in the lab." He raised an eyebrow at the cat who lightly jumped to the floor, padding over to the cracked door to Hermione's left. "That's my study." Severus said, answering her questioning gaze. "He has a bed in there. Now, let's get started."

Hermione followed Severus down into the basement of his home, feeling the magic press against her skin. "Protective enchantments, I assume?"

"Yes. I can't be too careful. This is a muggle neighborhood after all." Severus pulled out his wand, waving the stick to start cauldrons marching to their burners.

"What happened to 'there will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations?'" Hermione sat on a stool, watching him spread out the documents before each cauldron.

"Don't be cheeky." Severus ground out, flicking his wand again, ingredients laying themselves out on the table.

"If you can do all this with magic, why do you need an assistant?" Hermione swiveled on her stool. She didn't want to shoot a gift horse in the mouth, but it made no sense watching him set up.

"I'm well behind in my work." He pointed to the files on the desk in the corner. "Those are from about six months ago."

Hermione stood and started to leaf through the folders. "So what do you want me to get started on?"

Severus laughed. "You," he pointed to the desk. "Can put those in order of importance. I will be brewing these."

"And when I'm finished?" Hermione sat down and opened the first folder.

"We'll see when you finish. That's six months' worth of potions."

Hermione made a face at his bent head and started to read the files, sorting them into piles starting from the potions that were ordered the farthest back. Those for St. Mungos' went first, then the ones that stocked Apothecaries, and then those ordered by private citizens. As she flipped through the pages, Hermione could tell that the dour man had made quite the business for himself. Most of the orders fetched 300 galleons or more. She wouldn't be surprised if he never went back to teaching with the money he was raking in with these potions.

"You're the one providing St Mungos' with wolfsbane?" Hermione's eyebrows raised as she read the parchment.

"Yes, I am." Severus plucked the parchment from her fingers. "I actually need to fill this order today in fact."

"I can help." Hermione perked up. "I made that all the time in school."

"If you finish sorting the orders, Miss Granger." Severus turned back to the cauldrons and his ingredient prepping.

"But sir, how is this helpful?" Hermione put a few more in the 'Urgent' pile.

"I don't have the time to go through all the files, sort them and brew the potions. Currently, I am not taking any more orders until I fill the rest of these." He used a sharp razor to shave a unicorn horn, thin slices falling into neat piles. "Therefore, it is easier to hire someone to help me sort my orders, then fill them with me."

They worked quietly for a few hours. Hermione had finished the last folder as 9 o'clock rolled around.

"Sir, I finished the folders." She brought him the pile of Urgent potions. "These are the ones that need to be filled as soon as possible."

Severus leafed through the orders and cut the pile in half, handing her one of the piles. "You can handle these, I assume. Be here tomorrow, 9 am. We'll see how many of these we can get through."

*H*G*

Hermione flooed to her apartment, kicking her shoes in the direction of her bedroom. Crookshanks wound around her ankles, crying out to her in his need for love and food. "Hey Crooks. I know, you usually eat dinner at 5, I'm sorry."

She led him into the kitchen where he jumped onto the counter. Hermione pulled open the cabinet where she kept his food, and dumped it onto a dish. She placed it on the floor by the water dish, laughing when he jumped down eagerly to eat.

"What should I make for my dinner, Crooks?" Hermione pulled open her refrigerator and gazed at the contents. "I need to go shopping. Maybe I'll go before work on Monday." Hermione shook her head and pulled out a pack of chicken.

With a wave of her wand, Hermione had chicken and carrots chopping themselves while she made pie crusts. Placing the dough in a muffin tin, she put the chicken and carrots into the dough, along with peas and gravy, using the rest of the dough to cover her homemade pot pies. She put them in the oven and poured herself a glass of white wine, allowing her familiar to jump onto the table and curl up next to her.

"I'm not looking forward to these late nights, buddy." Hermione scratched him behind the ears, enjoying her wine slowly. "Maybe Severus will let me bring you to his house so I can feed you on time. Or maybe I can take a short break and come back. I don't know, but I'll try to figure something out. Or we might have to get used to late suppers."

When the timer went off, Hermione stood and took the pan out of the oven, plating her meal and carrying it to the table. With a wave of her wand, the dishes started to wash themselves, and a smaller plate flew out of cabinet and landed before her cat.

"I know you like chicken, Crooks." She waited for the meat to cool before giving her cat the treat, rubbing the top of his head when he gobbled up the chicken. "I hope you'll forgive me for being late?"

Her cat responded by trying to steal more of her meal. Hermione laughed and placed her cat on the floor of her kitchen, shooing him from the room.

"Let me eat in peace, please." Hermione then picked up her fork and ate, savoring the first thing she had eaten since noon. Usually her Thursdays were ended with dinner with Ron or Ginny, but for this month, she would have to hope that they were alright with late suppers or not seeing her for a few weeks. Hermione wasn't horribly mad, however. Working for Severus Snape was a dream come true. It was the crown jewel of her resume, and her old professors back at University were singing praises for her, excited that one of their students got the job. Apparently, they had been sending people over to the dour man's home and there had been no luck until Hermione.

Though, the late nights were going to be the death of her. She usually was done supper around 6, and read a book until 8, when she went to bed. She knew she was what most would call, an old soul. Ron often complained about her habits, but she didn't care too much about it. She ignored his comments and she brushed off her university friends' laughter about her habits as well. She had never had much of a social life, and she didn't really care. It was only at University when she branched out, and even then, she wasn't too adventurous. The theater club was as adventurous as she got, and she loved the performances they did, but she wouldn't make a career out of it like some of her friends' did.

When she was done and all the dishes were washed up, she padded to her bedroom to shower and change. She hoped that the next day at Prince Potions was going to be more action packed than it had been today. She didn't want to be paid to sort paperwork. While Harry and Ron would love to make the salary she did for the minimal work she had put out today, Hermione was unable to do such a thing. Her goal was to ascend and make something of herself and the world around her. Being Snape's glorified secretary wasn't what she had in mind for her assistantship.

The next morning, Hermione was up bright and early, ready to start the day with zeal. Dressing herself in her usual lab clothes, she strode to the kitchen, intent on tea and feeding her cat before he started to squawk. With the use of her wand, her breakfast and that of her familiar were made in short order. Hermione glanced at the clock and noted she had a little more than an hour before having to be at Snape's home so she savored her morning and the time she had to herself. Ron and she had dinner plans after Hermione got out, and she was grateful that he was willing to meet so late in the night. Though to everyone else, it seemed that dinner at 9 on a weekend was average.

Crookshanks finished his meal and jumped onto his mistress' lap, intent on depositing as much hair on her clothing as possible. He still hated the new animal that had left foreign fur two days in a row. Hermione could only laugh, and she had teased Crookshanks about the need to claim her as his to an animal he would never meet.

"Alright Crooks, I'll be back later," She pushed him to the floor after kissing the top of his head. She twisted her heel in a practiced way and reappeared on Snape's front door step, knocking just as she had for the past two days. When the door creaked open, she was already prepared to catch the cat, hoisting the animal to rest in her arms once more.

"Goodness, does he do this to you when you come home?" Hermione dumped the cat on the sofa, addressing Severus who latched the door.

"Yes, unfortunately. I would have a floo system, but when you want to remain undetected, you can't exactly be open to visitors." Severus moved to the kitchen, and Hermione was hesitant to follow. She didn't know his morning routine just yet and didn't want to bother him so early. So in an effort to remain quiet, she took up the book she had left on the table and allowed the cat to curl up on her legs.

Severus had entered his kitchen and fully expected Hermione to follow him with a flood of questions, but she had stopped in the living room, and when Severus leaned against the door jam and observed her, his morning tea in his hands. She was lost in her reading material, oblivious to Severus watching her. She had matured considerably since he had last had prolonged contact with her when she was 16. She still had a 'bossy' attitude about her, but she knew what she was doing, he had to give her that. Her marks in University were remarkable, and he never gave any sort of compliment to anyone.

He had been surprised when he got her application, but her resume was impressive. She had the brains and wit to be a great potions mistress, and all she needed was a place to prove herself. Severus hoped that eventually he could pass the orders off to her and he could continue his own research, which had to be put off until he could catch up with the orders he had. Since the end of the war, Severus had become something like a hermit, not seeing anyone or going out of his house more than he had to. Everything from his potions ingredients to his weekly groceries were ordered to his home, and he only left for the conferences he attended, which was how he found Dover. He had taken to the cat as the feline's nature was quite like his own. Since then, he hadn't seen anyone from his past, until these last three days.

Never would he ever thought that Hermione Granger would be in his home, working for him, none the less. He hadn't liked her when she came to Hogwarts when she was 11, and she was a know it all, worse than he had been. She had kept the trend until she left school and even now, she was trying to be a sponge for knowledge. Though there was something about her now that made him slightly curious. Just how much did she mellow out since Hogwarts? Why would she stoop to the Weasley Boy's level and date someone far below her academic level? The last Severus had heard, the youngest Weasley boy had joined the remaining twin in his joke shop. It wasn't exactly a job that required much skill.

Severus returned to the table and to his paper. With the end of the war, the Daily Prophet had become a paper worth reading again. There was no more Azkaban breakout reports, or Voldemort controlled articles. Severus was considering getting his Dark Mark covered up by a Muggle artist, but he had no clue of what he should get etched on his arm forever. Perhaps, if the assistantship worked out, he could ask Miss Granger for advice.

Severus shook his head. He had no interest in getting close to her. Though there was some part of him in the back of his mind that told the rational part of his brain that maybe trying to become friends with Hermione Granger wouldn't be a horrible idea. She was smart and had cared enough about him to go back for him after the battle, making sure he didn't die. Severus fingered the two scars on his neck as he thought of the attack.

He sighed. Perhaps, he might actually take his mother's advice and just let events take place and see what happens, instead of trying to have total control of everything.

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