Thank you all so much for reading the first chapter, and now the second chapter! I do not own anything of course. Enjoy!
Getting Settled:
I took a deep breath before stepping into the shop. Around the walls were shelves filled with vials of potions, potion supplies, as well as potion books. Professor Snape was standing behind a counter lifting a box of empty vials onto the counter.
"You're early," he said.
"Yes," I said, "I've always been a morning person."
I took my cloak off and put it on the coat rack near the counter.
"I'm sure you can see how the front is organized," Professor Snape said, "I'll show you the back."
He lifted the box of vials and went through a door behind the counter. I followed him through the door. The room was twice the size of room out front, with a large counter in the middle for making potions. Two cauldrons were set on the counter with potions brewing in them. He placed the box between the two cauldrons.
"Here is where we will make all of the potions," Professor Snape said, "these are ready to bottle, if you will take that potion," nodding to one.
We silently started filling the vials as I took one potion while he took the other. I glanced up at my former professor and our eyes locked for a moment before we returned to bottling.
"I had a chance to look over your paper last night," he said, "the things Muggles use, what was it called?"
"My resume?" I asked.
"Yes," he said, "You got an O on your N.E.W.T.S in potions."
"Yes," I said raising an eyebrow.
"You never wanted to do anything else with it, why work in a potions shop?"
"Oh I don't know," I said smiling, "I love making potions, and I love to help others in making them, you know?"
He nodded seeming to understand.
"What about you?" I said, "Why a potions shop?"
He was silent for a moment as he filled his last vial.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want," I said.
"I always have wanted to run my own shop," Professor Snape said, "make potions and help people with them as you put it."
I grinned as he carried the cauldron to a large sink in the corner. It seemed, even this early in the game that Snape and I had much in common and would get along just fine. The day went fast was worked around the shop making potions and selling potion supplies I enjoyed the work. Professor Snape was patient with me as I learned how to work the store. Before I knew it we closed the store.
"I suppose I should show you your room," he said.
"That would be great professor," I said.
"Severus, please," he said.
"Severus," I said liking how that rolled off my tongue.
I followed him up the stairs into the flat above the shop. We entered into a nice sized living area with a kitchen and dining area off of it. Through the living area was a hall way.
"Here is your room," Severus showed me, "across the hall is your bathroom."
Inside the bedroom was a double sized bed with a dresser and a large closet. It was perfect.
"Shall I bring my things over tomorrow?" I asked.
He agreed and I went to the small hotel room to stay for the last night. I felt happy and content as I fell asleep. It was not to last though. I was back at my childhood home. I heard the front door blast open; I grabbed my wand from my night stand before running down the stairs. I heard them in the kitchen, talking to someone who was begging. I saw a flash of green light before I reached the doorway. Three clocked figures stood over two bodies. My mouth went dry and my eyes grew wide. On the floor were my parents, their eyes wide open and unmoving.
I sat up in bed suddenly waking from my nightmare, sweat pouring off my body as if I had been running for a long time. Tears filled my eyes. Blinking them away I slowly lay down again and fell into a restless sleep. The next morning came far too early. I tried to go back to sleep, but after failing to go back to sleep I groggily got up to make coffee. As it brewed I impatiently drummed my fingers on the small amount of counter space they gave me in the 'kitchen' of my hotel room. I smiled at the thought of the new kitchen I would soon get to use.
I quickly got dressed and packed up my meager belongings. I made my way to the shop. When I got there I muttered the incantations to get into the shop before I made my way up the stairs. I quietly opened the door and shut it behind me. I walked to my room. On the bed were clean sheets folded and placed on the end. I shut the door and began to unpack my things. When I was nearly finished the bedroom door burst opened with a bang causing me to jump. In the doorway stood Severus wearing nothing but a pair of pajama bottoms with his wand pointed at me. After a few moments he lowered his wand.
"I'm sorry," he said, "too many years in the war…I'm not used to having someone in the house with me, not yet at least."
"It's, alright," I said looking at his well defined chest before looking to his face, I could feel myself flush.
"I'm sorry sir, I shouldn't have come over this early," I said.
After an awkward moment Severus stepped out of the room mumbling to himself. I took a deep breath and finished unpacking. The next couple of weeks allowed us to work into the routine. I enjoyed my work immensely. Every morning I woke up early to open the shop. Every evening I made dinner for myself. One thing that I did not enjoy was how lonely I became at night. Severus often times worked late, I found myself wishing that I could spend evenings with him or someone for that matter.
I could hear the door bang open again. I walked down the stairs of my parents' house, part of my mind was screaming for me to turn around and run away. I could not bring myself to do it. The tale-tale green light flashed before I reached the kitchen door way. There were three figures standing over my dead parents. Once more I bolted up in my bed. I was breathing hard; sweat covered my body, which always happened after that dream. I lay back down. Sleep did not come to me; I got out of bed and put on a dressing gown. I made my way to the kitchen to get some tea.
I found Severus already there at the kitchen table with a cup of tea in front of him reading a book. He raised an eyebrow at me.
"Bad dream," I explained, "I couldn't sleep."
"I'll get you some tea," he said standing.
I sat down while Severus got me my tea. He sat down after placing the cup in front of me. I rapped my hands around the cup warming my cold hands. I observed Severus as he continued to read his book. He looked so calm, so much younger, and some would even say handsome. Throughout our work I did not have much time to talk with him, wishing we did. Was he only different in his physical appearance? I thought back to my time with him at Hogwarts. He seemed much kinder now, not that he was completely different. It was almost as if he still held up many layers around himself that kept people out. I glance to the cover of the book he was reading feeling surprised by the title.
"Pride and Prejudice?" I asked.
He raised an eyebrow as if the question my own.
"I just don't see many other wizards reading Muggle books," I explained.
"My father was a Muggle," he said, "My mother was a witch and she wanted me to know about both worlds. She exposed me to as many Muggle things as she could including books."
"As did both of my parents," I said, "they were both Muggle born as well. They thought I should be exposed to both worlds."
For the next half an hour we discussed many of the Muggle items or experiences our parents introduced us to.
"I also enjoy cooking without magic," I said.
"Most would find that very tiring," he said.
"Yes it can be a very long process," I said, "but it's rewarding. My mum and I every year for Christmas would make dinner without magic. I enjoyed that time with her greatly. If felt rewarding putting that much time into our work."
"Enjoyed?" he said picking up on the fact that I had hinted that I had not done it in recent years.
"Yes," I said, "they, both of my parents, were both killed during the war."
"I'm sorry," he said.
"It's alright, I said, "we all lost loved ones during the war."
A strange look briefly came over his face, one of pain and regret.
"It's a bit late," he said, "we should get to bed."
We departed to our separate rooms. As I feel asleep, feeling peaceful, I thought of what could have caused him the look of pain that I had seen just a moment ago.
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