My Dear Miss Heart
Chapter 3

5 months later

Severus sat in his shop in Diagon Alley relishing the quiet afternoon. The Christmas holidays had begun two days ago for the Hogwarts students and many had been coming and going ever since to either have their equipment repaired, sharpened or replaced. He'd spent the days talking to many of them too as they told him how different Hogwarts was now that the war was over. He as happy to learn that everything was passing quietly with only the occasional fight in the corridors to disrupt the happy routine the school held.

Seeing some of the faces had been hard, but he hadn't let any of them know that. To his surprise Miss Lovegood had avoided talking about the war and Hogwarts altogether and focused on asking questions about potions and their properties. It had been a welcome break after a while.

He was just making tea when the door opened again. He looked over his shoulder to see Miss Granger walking in. Her hair was soaked which told him it was raining outside. She sneezed.

"Tea, Miss Granger?" he asked surprising himself. He blamed Lucy. He'd never offered a Gryffindor apart from Minerva and Albus tea before.

"That would actually be great, thank you, Severus," she smiled and wiped rain from her face. "How is business going?"

"Well, as you can see," he said. He'd taken over of the old apothecary when the last owner retired a couple of weeks after Lucy started living with him. He was thinking of expanding the place as the shops on either side were empty still. People were still picking up the pieces after the war and many places were still empty. At the moment he only sold ingredients and potions, but he thought that he could sell plants too. A few books as well.

"Good," she smiled.

"Tell me, Miss Granger have people become careless in my absence at Hogwarts? I do not believe as many cauldrons needed replacing when I taught the subject. Tell me Longbottom has not been allowed to pursue the subject."

Hermione laughed. "I think everyone's still so happy that the war is over that they feel the need to express themselves in their potions. Seamus is still taking the subject, and you must remember how much he likes to blow things up."

"I see," he replied and passed her a cup of tea hoping that she liked it without sugar because he'd just run out.

"Thank you, Sir. I hear you have a ward. A little girl?"

He wondered why she was making so much conversation. True he was able to converse with her about academia as she was so brilliantly intelligent, but he was not accustomed to making small talk – with anyone apart from Minerva and Filius and could just about handle it with Hagrid on the rare occasion they saw each other. Still he knew that this particular witch would not rest until she had an answer. Besides she might prove useful yet. "Her name is Lucy Heart. She turns eight on Christmas eve."

"Ouch, how are you going to handle that?" Hermione asked knowing that no one liked to have their birthday overlooked just because it was so close to Christmas. Her mother was the same.

"Do I look like I've experienced this before, Miss Granger?" he asked trying to hide his anger. Hermione thought there was some fear in there too.

"You've never cared for someone so young, have you?"

He didn't dignify that with a response. It didn't deserve it even if it was a rhetorical question.

"You haven't put Christmas decorations up have you?"

"No."

"Good. Leave them until she's gone to bed on Christmas Eve. That's what Dad and I do. You might get away with holly, but I'd leave the rest until after her birthday. As for presents, just ask her," she shrugged. To her it was simple stuff, but Severus was a singular man who was still doubting his ability at looking after a child. "Every kid loves a broom too."

"Don't be ridiculous," he instantly said and glared at her a little. "She has a proclivity for falling out of trees as it is."

"All children do, Severus. Even I did for a while until I broke my leg."

He tried to imagine a young, frumpy Hermione Granger climbing a tree, but couldn't. It was just wrong.

"I just made sure I didn't fall out after that."

"You are filling me to the brim with confidence," he drawled.

She sighed. Never did she think she'd be giving her snarky potions professor child care advice. "What I mean is, sir, you have to let her be a child even if she injures herself sometimes. It's all part of growing up."

"Why exactly are you here, Miss Granger?" he asked.

Ah, that was more like it. "Christmas presents. Ron and Harry need some stuff of their auror kits." She got off the stool she'd conjured for herself and began to look around the shop sure to leave her tea on the counter because she knew how much he abhorred drinks in his classroom even when it was prescribed by Madam Pomfrey and she could only imagine how protective she was of his shop.

"You're out of wolfsbane," she frowned.

"I will order some if you need it."

"No, just surprised." she shook her head and then proceeded to gather the ingredients she needed and took them to the counter to pay. "We're having a boxing day party at the burrow. My parents are going to be there too. Mrs. Weasley asked me to invite you and Lucy if you want to come?"

The Weasleys. His heart constricted. He'd cursed off George's ear. Fred had died. Molly and Arthur had shown him the most kindness out of everyone in the order. He hadn't seen them since they'd left the castle to bury Fred. He wasn't sure he could face all of them at once. At the same time though he knew they deserved thanks for their kindness and understanding. Molly had stayed by his bedside for a time when he was recovering to help him get better. He wanted to thank her.

Hermione, though he hadn't said anything or let any emotion show on his face, understood. His impassive mask, for once, spoke volumes.

"Lucy is not find of crowds," he managed to reply. "Or loudness. Perhaps I will visit in the evening."

"Okay," dhe smiled as if she wasn't worried about him. "Well if you need any help looking after Lucy just ask. You know Mrs. Weasley would be more than willing to look after her."

"I have a family of elves to help already. Free elves," he added onto the end as an after thought.

Her eyes lit up. "That's great!" she said but stopped herself from going on because she could tell that he wanted some peace. She put the right amount of money on the counter. "Well, I'll be off. Happy Christmas, Severus."

He nodded and asked her to wish her family well. Then she left.

Minerva came in ten minutes later. She'd been talking to Hermione in the street and knew what was wrong with him and that he needed distracting. She stood in front of the counter and waved her hand in front of his face for a moment before he even realised she was there.

"Minerva –" he began but she cut over him.

"Come with me," she said and with her wand flipped the sign on the shop to closed. It was Wednesday and he finished early on Wednesdays anyway.

"I close in five minutes, Minerva, can't this wait?" he didn't bother asking what was going on. She was a Gryffindor and she looked determined. There was no point arguing.

"I don't see a shop full of customers, Severus," she kindly replied and walked back out. "Bring plenty of money with you."

He sighed and picked up his pouch of money which he slipped into a pocket. Then he followed her out of the shop and locked up as usual. "Where are we going?"

"I'm going to help you buy your little Lucy some presents," she said and linked her arm though his so that he couldn't escape and heard him cursing gossiping women. She chuckled slightly. "Perhaps gossiping women are a gift, Severus. Would you know what to buy her otherwise?"

He also hated it when gossiping women were right and cursed them again and then strictly told her that he was not buying her a boom of any kind.

They went into a toy shop first and she persuaded him to get her some figurines that would decorate her window sill and talk to or sing with each other. Then there was the gobstones set, colouring quills, a toy horse that would walk around a little which he was sure she wouldn't like and so put it back, and then a few picture story books.

In the book shop he found some books that had stories told in mermish which he thought she would like and brought all fourteen of them and supposed he could give her seven on her birthday and the other seven on Christmas. She also seemed to like plants more than almost anything else and so got her a children's herbology book that came with some seeds and a guide of how to grow a garden and some tools which he would have to enlarge for her. He got some other things and then Minerva dragged him towards Weasley Wizard Wheezes.

"No," he said stopping in his tracks. "Absolutely not."

"Severus, every child needs to pull a prank or to," Minerva sighed in irritation. She knew he'd be difficult about this.

"No they do not."

"Yes they do! It's a right of passage. How many pranks did you pull on Lily?"

He deflated as she knew he would.

"Fine. But only one thing and I'm deciding what."

"I expected no less," she replied and waked forwards again with Severus reluctantly walking with her.

"Severus! Minerva!" George called down to them with a smile and hurried down the stairs. "What a surprise. I was just about to close," he shook Severus's hand and kissed Minerva's cheek. "What can I do for you?"

"Minerva wishes me to buy something for my ward," he stiffly replied hating the idea more and more as time went on.

"Ah, I know just the thing," George said and reached over to a shelf next to him as Minerva walked off to have a look around.

Severus watched as the boy pulled a large box off the shelf. It had small fireworks in it as well as skiving snack boxes and some other items.

"Everyone's been after it. Nearly out of stock. The fireworks can be loud or silent and none of the stuff in there has long lasting effects so no cleaning up required. The perfect gift for entertaining little kids during the holidays. Only two galleons."

He agreed to buy it just to get out of there quickly. Minerva walked back over to them with a mischievous look being masked over. He wondered what she was up to.

They walked out and when they were in the fresh air she said, "You seem to have brought things for their useful value, Severus."

"Why else would I buy them?"

"Simply because Lucy might like them," she simply replied. "There must be something she wants just because."

"I have not asked her."

She shook her head slightly. She'd figured that would be his answer. "Then ask her. By no means get her everything she wants, I know you won't spoil her, but indulge her a little. For now I think it's time to take everything back to your house. I'd like to meet her."

"Of course," he said his heart lifting with pride. No one had yet asked to meet her and he knew she would be glad of some new company, but he always felt awkward when the thought of 'perhaps I should invite him back to the house to meet her' arose in his mind. "I will Apparate us there directly," he said and re-arranged the bags he was holding so that he could grip onto her arm and get them safely there.

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J.K. Rowling wons Harry Potter