Chapter 3

Ginny paced up and down her small lab, today was the day that Severus Snape would visit to oversee her new invention. She hoped for what felt like the fiftieth time that morning that he would be helpful, a thought one did not connect with the surly Professor. If Hermione was able to work with him and convince him to assist maybe he had changed since the war.

Ginny herself had changed since the war, her family often lamented how quiet and withdrawn she had become since the loss of her brothers and Harry's abandonment. Time had done little to heal her wounds, yet she felt some excitement with this project it giving her a sense of purpose she had being lacking.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, she had a little under ten minutes before he was due to arrive. Feeling rather clever she had managed to convince George to go scouting for a new location for their second store guaranteeing he would be out of the store for the afternoon. She had offered to close up the store, encouraging him to take Charlotte out for a nice dinner and he had eagerly accepted the offer.

Drawing out her walk to the main entrance of the store Ginny decided to wait there as it would be common courtesy to meet and welcome him. She tried not to fidget, she was an adult now not waiting to receive detention at school. The door opened with a harassed looking mother being dragged by two young girls, Ginny smiled a greeting. She waited as the door closed but no one else entered. A few more minutes trickled by it was now five past one o'clock.

At ten past one Ginny gave up waiting by the door and wandered around the floor of the store staying close to the entrance so she would spot him when he entered. A quarter of an hour had now gone by and she gave up waiting, feeling defeated. He had worked for half his life at Hogwarts and teachers were known to be punctual.

Ginny tried to shake off the feeling of disappointment she would just need to have to keep trying to complete the project on her own. She walked downstairs to her lab, deciding she shouldn't waste any more of the day. She had brewed a sample this morning and applied a stasis charm, she might as well try tweaking the potion with some of the suggestions from Hermione.

The quietness of the room was soothing compared to the noise upstairs and laughter of customers. Ginny grabbed some gloves and popped on the apron she had borrowed and never returned from George featuring glittery writing stating kiss the chef, it still had the ability to make her giggle. Ginny studied some of the ingredients wondering which one she should try first, when she heard the distinct rustle of a heavy cloak and steps behind her.

Turning around Ginny gasping aloud as Severus Snape's form was now in front of her. He was a formidable sight in his buttoned up black robes, his looks had barely changed. The hooked nose was as prominent as ever however his hair no longer appeared greasy.

"Well Miss Weasley, it took you long enough to get here" Severus folded his arms glaring at his former student.

Ginny stared at him, unsure of when he had arrived and how he had located where her lab was. She retorted "I did not see you enter the store Sir and I have being waiting upstairs for over twenty minutes" she faulted before adding "Ah well thank you for coming I realise your time is valuable." She was pleased she had managed to get through part of her rehearsed speech. Her heart was pounding at the turn of events.

"Yes, it is valuable I'll give you two hours for this preposterous assignment. I suggest you spend your time and money on more valuable project such as security. I was able to enter the store and walk around without the hint of detection." Severus replied, a slight smirk at his lips.

Ginny gaped at him "We have numerous wards in place, you must have used a more complex disillusionment charm, besides I doubt you tried to steal anything as you would have being in for a real shock as we have some rather inventive anti-theft wards"

Once a month a teenager would attempt to steal some products only to walk away having to explain why the word thief was inked on their foreheads and large sirens sounded. That could have being amusing if Severus and attempted to take anything. He answered with silence.

Ginny motioned towards her cauldron and the array of ingredients "Well Sir I believe I have the base of the potion right, I just cant identify the right catalyst to change the structure in red hair." She went on to give a detailed explanation of her project, showing him her research and recipes for previous attempts. He read over her work in silence for a few minutes, took even longer to inspect the potion and the new ingredients.

"Before I assist you, I must understand why you are trying to invent this drivel? Why your basic idiot of the Longbottom variety can master a simple charm to change hair colour"

Ginny felt anger bristling through her "Well Sir not everyone is willing to aim a wand at their own hair and risk baldness, besides your missing the point this is harmless fun mainly aimed at children who as you know aren't brandishing wands spelling out workable incantations at such a young stage. Plus have you never wanted to play a joke on a friend?"

She faltered, how was she to know if Severus Snape had ever had a friend. Ginny began to fidget wishing she had brought a plain apron, she had wanted to appear professional yet the gaudy print was not helping. Was she to explain to the caustic man that this project had given her a new sense of purpose, that she wanted to prove to George that she belonged in his business and to honour the genius of Fred. She simply added "There are some personal reasons as well, so have you any suggestions?"

Severus sighed and returned to the cauldron. "Lets begin with tweaking the base, and try those two ingredients"

They spent the next hour working almost silently, she had to give him credit the man knew how his way around a cauldron. Ginny watched as his long fingers caressed an ingredient and he skilfully chopped it, his movements so precise. She was in charge of stirring he had recommended a complex new pattern that she was following and the consistency was now changing.

Severus moved behind her peering into the cauldron "Satisfactory, now I will add to the potion do not stop the stirring configuration it should require 16 full revolutions before we see if it will combine."

Ginny blushed but was thankful that all he could see was her back, his satisfactory comment was akin to a glowing praise. His presence felt large behind her and as he moved to add the ingredients the lab was indeed so small that he could only approach the cauldron from behind her, she went to move to the side but that still afforded him little room. He reached around her, she swore she could almost feel his breath over her ear, "Don't loose count Miss Weasley my times almost up."

Ginny had stirred sixteen times yet the potion did not change, disappointed she mentioned this to Severus. He resumed standing behind her inspecting the potion his hand briefly settled over hers as he took over the stirring rod "I will take over now."

Carefully side-stepping her old Professor, Ginny was surprised how flustered she felt from the innocent contact. His hand had felt amazingly warm and slightly rough from the odd callus. She almost tripped as she moved out the way, watching him work for a few minutes. It was now well past three o'clock, her two hours were over. Severus stopped stirring and inspected the potion.

"It needs to rest until tomorrow, than you can begin testing. I suppose you can mail me the results after all this is a highlight of my career. I might add it to my speech stoppering death and now hair colourist"

Severus than left the small lab Ginny followed wishing to say thank you but he had gone, his disillusionment charm already in place. Ginny cleaned up the lab, and reapplied charms to the filled paperwork that shared space in the lab making sure it was reduced to a fraction of its size, she didn't want anything damaging the new solution. She felt a little bit distracted unsure of how her time with the Professor had gone, whilst he had made a few derogatory marks on the whole he had being rather helpful.

The rest of the day appeared to drag, his presence had been so exciting. George bounced into her office eager to discuss a few sites he had liked and they chatted. He soon left to surprise Charlotte with a romantic dinner leaving Ginny to close the store, it could be quite eerie when it was empty of staff and customers. Perhaps the Professor had a point, they might need to improve the warding for the store.

Later that night Ginny readied herself for bed, she had plans to return to work early in the morning so she could begin testing of the potion. She had spent most of the evening trying to think of a way to say thank you to the stern Professor but so far had no ideas. Settling down in her comfortable bed she fell into a deep sleep.

A persistent tapping sound woke Ginny from her dream, she remembered only parts of it and was embarrassed to admit it had being quite sensual. Callused hands had roamed all over her body focusing on the her heat between her legs as she had worked in her lab stirring a cauldron. She had never done anything of the sort so her imagination was obviously working overtime.

Glancing at the clock she confirmed it was just after midnight, she flopped back on the bed eager to return to the dream shocking herself. The tapping continued, looking at the window a dark bird was waiting with a letter. Ginny popped out of bed recognising it as Severus Snape's owl wondering why he had sent a letter so late. She pondered why the owl hadn't simply delivered the letter through the slot in the front door but thinking of its owner he was not a man prone to politeness.

As she opened the window, the owl flew off leaving the letter on the sill. The letter was short stating I will be at the lab precisely at nine tomorrow, wait for me before you begin testing I have a new idea signed Severus Snape. How bizarre she lamented, why had he thought of her project this late at night when he had been so quick to make fun of it.

She returned to her warm cozy bed, remembering the feel of his hand and comparing it to her dream lover finding them unerringly similar. Ginny surmised maybe George was right it was time to move on from waiting for Harry if a slight touch from her former sour teacher could leave her senses tingling. Thinking of Harry was like getting hit by a cold shower, she had done so well over a day had gone by without the thought of him. She touched the cool ring twisting it around her finger, sure the time would come soon enough when she would be confident in the decision to remove it.

A/N: Well he's arrived. I don't think he would look good as a blonde :) Thanks for reading, as always happy to hear suggestions.