A/N: The following chapter has not been beta'ed. I take full responsibility for any boo-boos that you may find.

Disclaimer: Still all hers, not mine.


The Therapist on Cmelak Street

Part II

Hermione was not the kind of witch who would make the same mistake twice.

A month after she met her newly acquired therapist in his office, she was determined to be on time for her second scheduled session. Her solution included spending the Sunday before the appointment visiting the homes of every staff member on her team.

"Hello! I am here to collect your notes from last week." She recited her scrip with a forced smile that didn't reach the corner of her eyes. "I couldn't find it at your desk so I trust that you have it with you somewhere? Oh don't look so surprised. I forgot to bring you an Easter basket a few months ago so I thought I would fix that error today. Your belated Easter bunny will do your Monday task for you. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!" None of her staff questioned their team leader's strange demand - they had seen worse when it came to perfecting their reports. All of them handed Hermione their notes form the field, except for one young father, who hadn't had time to jot down any notes. From him, Hermione collected a phial of silvery memories.

It wasn't an easy task to do five people's work all by herself, especially when one fifth of the material was raw memory and the rest of the notes were barely legible. But Hermione was determined. She somehow managed to call upon the persistence from her days at Hogwarts and stayed up the entire night finishing the report. By the time she showed up for her meeting with her supervisor, she had a four-foot-long roll of parchment summarizing all the events involving magical creatures in the country from the previous week.

"Bloody hell! What happened?" Her boss, a middle-aged man with little hair left on his head, stared at the report in disbelief. "Did I miss any urgent calls from the Auror's office? What caused the spike in incidents? The full-moon isn't for another week, and I thought the giants were quite pleased with their new territory in the northern mountains!"

"Oh no, Mr. Bottomly," Hermione blinked innocently at her supervisor, "there haven't been any urgent calls. In fact, we had a below-average week - only twelve incidents. But you see, I understand how the reports provided by my team have been subpar in the past, so I thought I would prepare a thorough report myself for a change. By the way, do you think our department has the funding to supply every member a multi-function quill that could ensure legible handwriting? Okay I get it... not a question for today." She shrugged as she watched her supervisor's face darkening with anger. "So... Would you like to give me a list of points to follow up?"

Mr. Bottomly groaned at the report before him. There was a reason for the department to recommend Granger's early promotion a couple of years ago. All the supervisors had thought the first day when Miss Granger was promoted to team leader was the last day they would have to read a report penned by her. "Team leaders are not supposed to write reports." He grumbled impatiently. "I'll have to read through it first, don't you think?"

"Certainly." Hermione nodded pleasantly. "Would you like me to sit here and wait as you read?" She stole a glance at the clock.

"No no no." The balding wizard waved his hand impatiently. "Get out of here and give me some quiet time. I'll get back to you later this afternoon."

Hermione smiled politely and excused herself from her supervisor's office - that was exactly what she had hoped for.

She stepped out of the fireplace in Snape's office at two o'clock sharp.

But the wizard was nowhere to be found.

"I hope he's not trying to get rid of me and offer this time slot to another patient." Hermione murmured to herself crossly, hoping her self-imposed overtime last night was not going to be wasted. She opened the office door and peeked out into the hallway, just in time to spot the same older woman whom she met in Snape's office the month before.

"Oh hello," the older woman was coming out from a small room, carrying a tea set. "May I help you, miss?"

"Uh yes," Hermione frowned, "I'm here to see..." Suddenly Hermione realized she hadn't asked for the proper way to address her therapist. She wasn't sure if she should call him Dr. Snape, Mr. Snape, or Healer Snape. And if he had put a taboo on his name, should she be calling him by some alias too?

"Are you here to see Severus?" the older woman smiled as she walked closer to Hermione. "Right! I remember you. Is he expecting you today?"

"I... I hope so." Hermione answered uncertainly.

"Well he is in the building somewhere, but must have just stepped away from his office." The woman nodded. "He does that sometimes. Not very good at keeping track of his time, is he? Well why don't you wait a bit in his office? I just brewed a fresh pot of tea. Would you like a cup?"

But even the most delicious Earl Grey could not keep the sleep-deprived witch awake for very long. Before long, Hermione gave in to the calling of the comfortable couch, and drifting off to a faraway land... until a large hand shook her by her shoulders.

"Hmmm...?" She yawned and stretched her arms.

"Insufferable!" A voice drawled.

Hermione was greeted by Snape's big nose as she opened her eyes. She lifted her head drowsily, and let out a yelp when her eyes met his deep dark ones. "Oh I'm so sorry! What happened? Did I fall asleep?"

"No. You ate a poison apple and were delivered here by seven unwilling goblins." The lips of the black-haired wizard curled up into a sneer.

Hermione rubbed her eyes and frowned, slowly processing the words that had just reached her ears. And then, a small giggle escaped her. The giggles quickly bubbled into a hearty laugh. "Oh sir," Hermione said between her chortles, "That was a good one. I can't believe I just heard a joke from the serious potions mater! No offense! I just didn't expect you to actually have a sense of humor. I am beginning to think you are just as normal as everyone else."

"That's enough insult." He rolled his eyes and snarled. "Explain - who gave you the permission to be in my office and drool on my couch?"

"Your secretary, Mrs. Alexandrov, let me wait for you here. But I most certainly did not drool, sir." She batted her eye lashes innocently.

"She is not my secretary." Snape huffed as he walked around her and sat down behind his desk. "On the contrary, she's my employer."

"My parents used to call their office manager their boss, too." She nodded with a knowing smile. "How have you been, Severus?" Her smile widened when she didn't experience any trouble saying his name. "That's a relief." She sighed happily. "I didn't realize you are so casual these days. If not because I heard Mrs. Alexandrov addressing you by your given name, I really wasn't sure how to call you."

"I have no time for small talk." the wizard replied impatiently. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Oh I'm so sorry that I fell asleep." Hermione sat up at the edge of the couch and explained nervously. "I was too tired from working through the entire night. I did make it on time, sir, even though you did not. But that's okay, I think we can just call it even. Although I want you to know that I put in quite some effort to be here on time. Monday afternoons are not the most convenient schedule for me, to tell you the truth. But I must say it's all worth it. The potion that you gave me last month was fantastic. I was able to rest much better, and didn't feel any side effects..."

"Miss Granger," He cut her off suddenly, "You have made a rather big mistake."

"Oh no," the witch's eyes widened with fear - he was trying to fire her! "On the contrary Severus, I think coming here to see you is the best decision I've made in a long time. For some reason, knowing I won't be judged for what I'll say in your office makes me feel so much better. What's in your potion by the way? I can't quite tell by the color and the scent."

"You expect me to just give you answers to whatever you ask?" He narrowed his eyes. "What is this? A Ministry interrogation?"

"Certainly not," she chuckled. "And I agree - it would have been too greedy to ask you for the recipe, wouldn't it? I completely understand that the potion is your proprietary product. I wouldn't expect you to just hand me your secrets. I guess it's just an old habit. I'm sure you haven't forgotten how I used to like asking question."

"True. I haven't been fortunate enough to part with the memories from those painful years." He pressed his lips into a thin line.

"My apologies." She shrugged. "I've definitely toned that down in recent years, if you must know. I understand how annoying I can be with those endless questions of mine. My boss has made it painfully clear with colorful language for multiple times already. Speaking of our history though, I must tell you that I was actually holding it back quite a bit with you back at school. If you were as approachable then as you are now, I would have come to visit your office a lot more often. I have always been impressed by your knowledge. Can you imagine how much more I could learn from you by coming to visit you after class?" She winkled her nose and sent the wizard a bright smile.

"I would hate to imagine the consequences." Snape scowled.

The witch giggled in response.

The wizard let out a deep sigh and said gravely, "In all seriousness, Miss Granger, don't you think you should be at a different place?"

Hermione gasped and looked down at her wrist watch. "Oh I totally forgot the time! It's half past three already! Sorry that I took up so much of your time. Yes, you are absolutely right! I'd better go back and see what my boss has waiting for me." She got up from the couch and stopped in front of his desk. "And by the way, please call me Hermione. That would make me feel better by calling you by your given name." she smiled warmly at the wizard, "I don't know how you do it, Severus, but knowing I have you to help me with my issues alone has probably cured half my illness, or condition, or whatever you want to call it."

Her appreciation was responded by his deep dark eyes staring intensely back at her.

"Have a good day, Severus." She nodded politely and began to make her way to the fireplace.

"It's holy basil and yacon root." He suddenly called out from behind.

"I'm sorry, what?" She was taken by surprise.

"I said holy basil and yacon root." He repeated plainly. "Half and half ratio, bring to a boil, simmer for twenty minutes at sun rise and twenty minutes at mid-night, repeat for three days. You can give it a try yourself. Also, pay attention to the smallest detail to avoid further mistakes. Good day, Miss Granger."

She smiled brightly at him as she stepped into the green flames. Pay attention to detail? She thought to herself. Is he warning me of something that's about to happen? Since when had Snape turned into Trelawney?


Hermione paid attention to the smallest detail for the entire month following her second appointment with Snape, but nothing drastic seemed to be happening. He can't be always right, I suppose. She thought to herself as she stepped through the floo connecting to his office.

Snape was once again absent from his office. But Hermione wasn't the least concerned - after all, even his secretary had commented that he had a habit of losing track of time. The young witch had learned from her mistake and decided if she settled down on his couch she would likely to fall asleep again. Pacing around his office, Hermione's attention was quickly drawn to a couple of books laid open on his desk and a long role of parchment containing detail notes concerning exotic plants from the Himalayan mountain range.

"It's you again." His cool voice coming from behind almost made her jump.

"Oh I'm sorry," Hermione hastily put down the notes that she was reading and moved away from his desk quickly. "What did you say? I didn't even hear you come in. This is fascinating!" She pointed at the books, struggling to peel her eyes away from his notes. "I have never heard of all the magical qualities of the yartsa gunbu. Are you going to include this as an ingredient to an existing potion or are you developing a new one? I did try your holy basil and yacon root recipe. Works like a charm! It looks like yartsa gunbu may have complementary qualities to holy basil. I saw your notes here making reference to plants with Indian heritage. Are you considering creating something with those two ingredients?"

"Questions after questions." He walked around her with his hands behind his back. "I see little has changed since our last meeting."

"My apologies." She chuckled softly and reluctantly moved away from the desk. "You have to understand that there is nothing as remotely interesting as this at my work. These must be very rare books, I don't recall reading anything like this at the Ministry library. Well but then again, the Ministry is really not known for its research, is it?" She shook her head and sighed. "I once suggested that I can perform some research for the department on the subject of the history between centaurs and werewolves but was immediately turned down. I was proposing to do that on my own time! And it would have helped making our policy more relevant to those magical creatures. It still upsets me to think that no one was interested in hearing my ideas."

"This is the third time that you show up in my office complaining about your work." Snape settled down behind his desk. "How you dislike your job is clear as day. What is truly baffling me is that why you had chosen to work for the Ministry. And after all these years, why are you still there?"

"Because..." Hermione stumbled on her reply. It wasn't because she didn't have the answer. But somehow it felt as if there was an invisible barrier preventing her from pouring those reasons out.

"Well?" Snape arched a brow and prompted.

The young witch took a deep breath. I guess going through therapy is not supposed to be easy. She thought to herself and sighed. "The reason why I chose to work for the Ministry and why I am still there is because I believe this is the right thing to do."

"Right thing to do?" The wizard frowned. "Are you telling me wasting your talent in the bowel of the Ministry is the right thing to do? Who told you that?"

"Well..." Hermione blushed. Did he just call her talented? "Well, no one actually said that I should work there, but they did imply." She drew a deep breath to calm her racing heart. "Arthur advised me to be patient and consider my current position as a way to pay my dues. He did share with me his early days at the Ministry, which sounded quite familiar comparing to my current job. Minerva did mention something about it was a pity that the war had disrupted all of the higher education programs in the country. But she also told me that when she was my age, she spent years working on a not very glamorous job at the Ministry. And then there is my boss, also his boss. They both told me that I'm still young and need to accumulate more experience."

"What a bunch of bullock!" Snape snarled. "Did you ask Arthur Weasley how many mouths were waiting for him at home when he first started working at the Ministry? Did you ask Minerva why she has the habit of finding all the excuses she can to avoid visiting the Ministry offices? You really should demand her to share with you her true sentiment about being an under-appreciated paper pusher working for the Ministry. And your boss, and his boss for that matter," he sighed, "of course that's what they will tell you. How old would you say they are?"

"Hmmm," Hermione frowned, "middle-aged? Maybe in their fifties? Sixties? I'm not sure."

"In other words they have at least another half a century to get a steady paycheck from the Ministry doing the bare minimum of work. These are wizards we are talking about. Don't expect any early retirement from that lot. Do you foresee any promotion opportunities for them?" Snape leaned back into his chair.

"Not particularly." Hermione thought hard. "But it seems like they are quite comfortable with their routine. Both of them have had their positions for more than fifteen years."

"What happens to the smartest witch of her age?" Snape crossed his arms before his chest. "Is that still not clear enough to you? You have no future at your current job. Your superiors will not recommend a promotion to have you rise above them and make a bundle of changes that will make their lives miserable."

The wizard's comment brought silence to the room. After studying her hands on her lap on a long time, the young witch looked up and asked, "So which department would you recommend that I transfer to?"

"None of them." He huffed as he leaned forward. "You should not be working at the Ministry. How old are you? Twenty-five? Twenty-six?"

"Twenty-seven, actually." She didn't know why her cheeks felt a little warm. "And if we count the time that I added to my age by using the time turner, I'm more like twenty-eight."

"You've been wasting your time, Miss Granger." Snape looked at the witch intensely. "McGonagall was right about our higher education programs being disrupted during the war. But that's only within the wizarding world. Why haven't you considered muggle universities and research institutes?"

Hermione glared at the wizard before her in surprise. She had not been expecting such a recommendation. "A muggle university?" She gasped, "I'm surprised you would even suggest..."

"Why?" His eyes narrowed. "Please don't tell me because of my history you still believe I discriminate against muggles and their education system."

"Oh no, not at all." She shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "I would never think of you like that, especially knowing the truth about your past."

"Then why are you so surprised?" He tilted his head. "Education is education, no matter which form it takes. A brilliant mind cannot be wasted doing mundane tasks. You won't learn anything new pushing parchment at the Ministry."

"That's kind of what my dad was saying years ago, too." she murmured. "But I'm afraid we are not on talking terms anymore."

"Finally a reasonable voice and you refuse to listen." He arched a brow. "Is this when you will start telling me about your Oedipus complex?"

She frowned at his words and looked back down, purposely ignored the sarcasm in his tone. "It's complicated, Severus." She paused for a long moment before beginning her explanation. "I did study on my own the years following my NEWTs, and I even studied for the muggle's BioMedical Admissions Test as my dad had suggested. The truth is that I did alright on my BMAT. Because of that my dad thought I should either go to med school or apply for a post-graduate research program. That's the problem though, because both options would have been in the muggle world. I am a witch, I don't belong to their world. That's that part that my dad cannot comprehend. He couldn't understand my hesitation to re-enter the muggle world."

"Your hesitation is understandable." He commended coolly. "However, being a muggle-born, I doubt you will have much trouble getting used to the customs in both worlds."

"But that's not the only problem." She sighed, "You might think, based on my behavior from Hogwarts, that I don't care about what others think. Yes, I was the bookworm. Yes, I stood by Harry and Ron's side when they were the underdogs. In reality however, I care very much about how others think about me. I worked hard at school because I knew from the beginning that the more I'd learn, the better I'd fit in. I want to be accepted, Severus. And I doubt that would happen if I go to some muggle university and get a college degree."

"I didn't say you can't come back." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. "You can always apply the research skills you can learn from the muggles in the wizarding world. Although they don't provide their own training program, St. Mungo's would never turn down a skilled researcher."

"Perhaps." She hesitated. "But that won't happen until years in the future, after I finish whatever training I can find in the muggle world. I don't know how my friends will take it. What if they think I'm too different? I don't want to be different. I want my friends' approval. I just want to be an ordinary witch, ordinary among my peers."

"But you are not." He cut her off, his voice cool and quiet. "You are not as ordinary as those wizards and witches who attended school with you. You cannot compare yourself with those Neville Longbottoms, Ron Weasleys, and Lavender Browns. So what if they don't understand your experience in the muggle world? Why let other people's judgement bother you? If you are standing tall and straight, would you think you are a hunchback if you see your shadow is misshapen?" After a small pause he added, "Trust me. I'm speaking form my own experience. Do what is right for you, not what others think is right for you."

Hermione gaped at the wizard before her. True, she had come to the recognition that Severus Snape was a different person from the intimidating professor she once knew years ago. However, she had never expected to hear such sincere complement and encouragement from him. "I really didn't expect any this to be coming from you." She finally murmured softly.

His looked her intensely for a long time, with something different dancing in his dark eyes. "I am only telling the truth." He frowned. "And besides, I probably would have said anything to get you out of my office at this point."

"Oh," as a natural reflect Hermione looked down at her wrist watch. "My time's up again! Well," She sighed, "I thank you for your recommendation. It means a lot when it comes from you. And I will give it some thoughts." She picked up her hand bag and got up from the couch. "Thank you, Severus." She smiled at the wizard.

He didn't speak for a long moment. "You are welcome," he finally said, "Hermione."

She felt his eyes on her as she made her way to the fireplace. She wished he would call her back and let her know that they could extend their session for a longer conversation. But he didn't. She turned and looked at him one last time when she stepped into the floo, and felt her heart sputter when she saw him still looking at her.


A month felt like a very long time. Not a single day did she not think about the way he looked at her when she left his office.

It only took three days for Hermione to have her decisions made and turn in her resignation at the Ministry. After that Hermione contacted several biochemistry research institutes run by local muggle universities and because of her BMAT scores from a few years ago, she was offered a position as an assistant researcher at a local research lab by the end of the month.

She couldn't wait to share her good news with Severus; and she blushed furiously when she realized she was counting the days to see him again.

Hermione couldn't help but smiled when she stepped out of the floo in his office. He was right there, sitting in a wing-backed chair next to her couch, reading.

"Hello." She greeted him softly.

He looked up from his book and blinked at her a few times but didn't speak. When she finally got close to him he said in a low voice, "you really are here."

"Of course I am." She chuckled as she sat down on the couch next to him. "I have good news." She smiled brightly at the wizard. "I have decided to follow your advice and take a slight detour with my career. I will start working for a biochemistry research program at a London-based university starting from next month. I think this will give me some experience working with research projects involving biological matters, which may be useful for potion research. After getting my experience there I will contact St. Mungo's and see how I can apply those skills in the wizarding world."

"That's a sensible approach." He nodded his approval.

"And I think your recommendation might have been all I needed to get out of my depression. Even Ron commended yesterday that I looked so much more cheerful now. And Ginny thought I got a new boyfriend."

"Did you?" He asked with a light concern his voice.

"Did I what?" She was taken aback by his sudden question.

"Did you get yourself a new boyfriend?" He glanced up at her and clarified his question.

"No." Hermione let out an uneasy laugh. "I have quite a long list of criteria for my next significant other. In Ginny's words I'm too picky. Apparently it is quite difficult to find a fellow who is loyal, supportive, and intelligent. Someone very much like..." She swallowed the last word in her sentence. There was suddenly something in the air that made her feel nervous. "What are you reading? Another book on Himalayan plants?" She decided to change the subject.

"I'm moving further east. This is actually a book on ginseng from Japan and Korea." He answered softly.

"That sounds interesting." She took a peek at the cover of the old volume, but couldn't help her glace from sliding to the long pale fingers holding the book.

"I was considering creating a line of potions with heavy eastern influence." He began again, "from my recent research I believe the traditional potion ingredients have been omitting the herbs from the Far East."

"That sounds like a great research topic." She gasped. "I wish I could work with you on that. And maybe I still can? I don't have to go to work for another month, you know."

He responded with a frown. She felt her cheeks starting to burn.

"Will you really..." He paused without finishing the sentence and swallowed.

She felt a need to take a deep breath as she watched his Adam's apple jump slightly.

"I didn't think you would be interested." He said without looking at her. "I am not the best research partner."

"I doubt that's the case." She countered softly, feeling an invisible force pulling her towards the wizard.

"You have many other better options to spend your month before your new job." He cast a downward glance and stared at the book in his hand.

"I think working with you on a research project ranks rather high on my list of options." She tilted her head, trying to search for his eyes.

She bit her lips when her eyes met his. There was that emotion that she had noticed in her previous visit, but much stronger. She could feel his desire. The vulnerability she found in his dark eyes made her heart race. It felt only natural for her to slowly get down onto the floor and moved closer to him. He didn't move. As if being pulled by magic, the witch reached forward and placed a kiss on his lips. She heard him let out a soft sigh as she pulled away.

"This is a mistake." He whispered. "You may regret this someday."

His words set off a string of siren in Hermione's head. "Oh my god! I just kissed my therapist! I'm so sorry! I crossed the line, didn't I?" She jumped away from him, covered her mouth with a hand.

"No, that's not what I meant." He shook his head quickly. "I'm not..."

"I know! It's wrong!" She cried. "I didn't mean to compromise your integrity. Oh my god, you have such a reputation among your patients and I almost ruin it!" She grabbed her handbag from the couch and began to run for the fireplace.

"No," he called from behind. "You misunderstood."

"Yes I know!" She didn't want to hear another word. "I misunderstood your treatment method." Tears streamed down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry." She sobbed, "I thought we could be friends. No, I'm sorry; I thought we could be more than friends. But I'm so sorry..." she was no longer sure exactly what she was sorry any more.

She cried all the way into the floo, not giving him a chance to finish his words.


Hermione was at the Potters for their monthly tea that following weekend. Ginny brought out a plate of freshly baked madeleine like she had always done for her friend, but Hermione didn't touch a single one of the buttery treats. It wasn't until later that night when the young couple put James to bed the wizard finally expressed his concerns to his wife, "Do you really think the therapy is going well with Hermione?"

"It's hard to find out." Ginny frowned. "If there is anything we can do I'd say we should have mum talk to her."

An invitation to the Burrow was delivered to Hermione the very next day. The young witch knew better than to turn down a dinner party hosted by the Weasley matriarch.

TBC