A/N: It's a really autumn-y rainy day today, and it made me think of our favourite surly Slytherin. Disclaimer about the plants in post chapter notes.

Please bear with me during the expositional chapters, there's quite a lot to set up, as the plot became more complex as I expanded this story. :D

Flash forward: "From where he was standing he could only see a semi-circle of anxious faces avoiding his gaze, and although they had called out her name just a second before, Ms. Granger was nowhere to be seen. His body moved forward of its own accord – his legs realizing that there was something wrong before his brain had fully processed the scene in front of him."

Unsure What Altruism Is

265. Amaranthus Caudatus (Amaranth, Love-lies-bleeding). Being a widely applicable plant, Amaranth can be used to speed up healing – when dried strings of flowers are worn around the head – and to strengthen a disillusionment charm - when worn around the waist before casting the charm. It is often used to symbolise hopelessness and will attract those who wander into forests in a hopeless mental state. Older texts mention the plant can be useful in calling forth the spirits of those that have passed, particularly effective when there was a strong emotional connection to the one who has passed, as well as in potions for softening the blow of a broken heart or emotional rejection.

Over the edge of his nose he watched the raindrops race each other down the outside of the windowpanes while his own steady breathing created small foggy spots on the glass, quickly fading after each new breath. The gentle trick-trick-trickling on the roof of the tower comforted him, companionship in loneliness.

The air was fresh with the first autumn rain, and the sky painted with promises of a large change to come. While he scoured the Hogwarts grounds through the window, a small tuft of smoke made its way into the air from Hagrid's cottage.

This damnable month better be over as soon as possible. He leaned against one of the rickety desks, but then his boot almost snagged the circular room's washed out red carpet. Annoyed, he used a whispered incendio pianissimo to light some torches in the chilly room. The war has been over for 4 years now. Ever since the insufferable Granger, Weasley and Potter managed to levitate his sorry arse back to the castle before he lost all his blood, and gotten an irresponsible cocktail of experimental potions into him every month had been difficult. He hated feeling like he owed them.

A gaggle of soft steps along the hallway at the bottom of the tower signified that the morning lessons had concluded and students were rushing to the great hall for lunch. The war had instilled a cold that went into the marrow of his bones, and he had not yet found anything to even remotely begin thawing that ice.

Humming to herself, completely unaware of the lit candles and the man next to the window, Hermione made her way up the tower stairs and with a contented sigh, took a seat on a threadbare sofa as the rain pelted the windows.

This year, in her early twenties and bored with her ministry job, Hermione was looking for something different. When she'd told McGonagall, the elder witch had offered her an interview for one of the two vacancies for E.L.F.'s - or Examination & Learning Facilitator. The position meant that she was expected to watch over students preparing for their O.W.L's and N.E.W.T's, set practice exams, and point the students in the right direction if they were struggling.

To Severus, her return was more like the ghost of christmas past coming to haunt him. Her intrusion left him quietly seething at oblivious the woman in front of him. Even more frustrating, this room was not a part of his chambers, offices or classroom, nor was it off-limits for staff or students, and therefore he couldn't punish her.

Because there were little pressing exam issues at this time of year, McGonagall had suggested she'd intern with one of the professors, to broaden her horizons and maybe even help her figure out what she'd like to do to further her career.

Hermione had tentatively brought up the subject with Severus during dinner at the head table a week ago, gently probing if he'd ever had any interns. Severus knew what she was after.

When he pondered the subject before he went to sleep, he realized accepting her as an intern was a nice way to quiet his unquiet conscience about her help in saving him. Even though he was seething at her current inattentiveness - how dare she not be vigilant? - there was just... something about her that was different now.

The wind howled around the high tower and Hermione flipped to another page, still unaware of Severus.

Clearing his throat and straightening up he addressed her. "What is your business Ms. Granger?", he asked, a pause punctuating each word.

Her head shot up like a doe in the headlights. "I- am sorry sir I wasn't aware, normally there's no-one here and I- " She scrambled to grab her books. "I'll leave."

"Did I tell you to leave? I think I asked you a question."

"I just assumed that - "

"You will stay. Put your things down." He walked over to close the trapdoor to the stairs. "I have been meaning to talk to you."

Though he made his statement as if it was nothing out of the ordinary, it made her nervous.

"I have considered our recent... conversations. You are well aware I'm not inclined to honor favours. Considering you are very fond of pretending you know everything, I have a proposal for you."

She missed the mischievous glint in his eyes as he spoke. "You came to me a while ago expressing your interest in the field of Potions. Naturally, I will not just provide something without anything in return. I have considered our options carefully. I have decided to offer you an assistantship, lasting for a minimum of three months."

Her heart swelled at this opportunity, but she knew she would do well to keep her excitement hidden. "But?", she asked hesitantly.

"Nothing but. This is the deal. You will spend Sunday and Wednesday evenings with me, preparing ingredients for the coming week, assist me in brewing and teaching, and performing other tasks an assistant would be expected to perform."

"...and if I do well you will also be willing to act as a reference should I need one?"

"Providing you do well do not behave like the know-it-all you have the tendency to be."

After all these years Hermione was more or less used to his sour mood. Though it would cost her loads of time, it seemed a rather good offer, almost suspiciously so. The ease with which he agreed to act as a reference was startling. A reference from the respected and notable - after Harry had set the record straight - Severus Snape. Her survival instinct was still sharp after having spent so much time on the run, and something in her gut said she should think carefully before entering into a deal with him.

"Would you be willing to let me think about it for a few days?"

Her hesitation surprised him, he'd expected her to jump at a chance like this. "Offers like these don't come by every day Ms. Granger..." He stood and made his way towards the trapdoor.

As he walked away from her she turned up her nose. I'm not playing mind games with him. "Then I suppose you won't have an assistant the coming months."

With a swish of his sleeve the candles were blown out, the afterglow of the wicks producing little turrets of smoke that spread a haze around the room. "You have two days to decide, after that you'll have to find another option." And with those words the trapdoor was open and he was making his way down the stairs below, disappearing into the crowds that filled the hallways, his cloak billowing behind him.

I've got some ideas to continue this, if there's any interest. Please review so I know, one word will already help! :D I sort of need those to stay motivated enough to write on.

Draco will probably be there in the next chapter. This might become my first long fic, I've got two shorter ones up already.

DISCLAIMER: I know you're probably smart enough but just to be sure: Do not experiment with any of the plants in this story. While a lot of research went into this, most of it is primarily fiction. Do not play around with any of the plants mentioned in the story there is no guarantee they do anything described and some are also highly toxic without it being mentioned explicitly, or might be dangerous when ingested, burned or spread throughout a space. No rights can be derived from anything connected to this story. You know the drill. Hugs and kisses, Liminalish.