The next meeting was an interesting one for Severus, it was Draco's second meeting and seemingly very different from the first, he was on the highest reward system going, he had been helping Harry in all of his classes and was making great progress on stopping his self- harming. Draco's mother was seemingly M.I.A. since she had said goodbye to him two weeks ago, her account had been emptied and her passport gone. When Draco had been told about this he had shut himself away and was put on close observation when he began to hurt himself, his stay now had a departure date and it was in two weeks' time. He had been found a foster family with only one other child and he was six years old, Draco had met them briefly yesterday and they seemed to get on Ok.
"He has made great progress" Bill said approvingly looking at his file. "He's on the highest reward system possible and has been more or less a teaching assistant in his groups, his last school was a very expensive primary school it seems and even the hardest work we can offer him is completed within minutes. He and Harry still often fall out and fight like cat and dog but it is more a case that they each now have a 'safe' person to blow off some steam on each other. I feel that he will be ready to move on in two weeks. Andi as his keyworker what do you think?" Bill asked.
"He certainly has made great progress but I'm not sure if he's going to be able to cope in a foster family, from talking to him he is used to a very posh life, his family had over five million pounds in their account before his mother took it away. I think that Draco won't be able to cope on the out in the real world. I would like to spend time with Harry and Draco together, as much as Draco can help Harry in his schoolwork I think Harry can help Draco adapt to the real life Draco's about to experience with his foster family, and especially how to look after himself." Andi suggested looking around the room as she spoke.
"I agree Andi. Just make sure they still get one-to-one time with you too but that sounds good, lets try tonight. Severus if you can stay behind, everyone else you may go." Bill said and as he finished all that could be heard was scraping chairs and the shuffling of papers.
Severus sat wondering what was going on. Bill sat down with a heavy sigh.
"Harry has been with us for six weeks already as have you. I have some bad news for you, we have found a replacement for our missing staff member and we have decided that once Harry leaves you will end your contract also." Bill said looking regretful.
Severus for his part had been expecting this since the day he had arrived he was only agency staff after all and surprised he had been here this long. He nodded his head towards Bill silently letting him continue.
"I really wish I could have kept you on Severus, you've become a really good part of our team, the kids get you and respect you. When you first started I thought you were going to be a disaster with them but your not. I have tried to pay off the agency to keep you on full time but they have declined so we have no choice, we have managed to arrange it so that you can stay as long as Harry is here, it would be unwise to have you leave while he is still here, he needs stability, especially with the uncertainty of where he's going to go when he leaves. I just wanted you to be the first to know." Bill said regretfully.
"I knew it was coming Bill, it is no problem, I am used to it." Severus said standing to leave.
"I'll miss having you around Severus, enjoy the next 4 and half months, keep up the good work!" Bill told him sombrely as Severus made his way out of the door. It was Severus' day off and time for his weekly conversation with Albus, he was getting very bored of meetings.
Severus always had Saturdays off, they would always be the same, team meetings followed by a walk into town where he would meet with Albus at a local park and trade information. He disliked being away from St Brutus' and would often find his mind wondering to how Harry was getting on without him. Once he had told Albus of the comings and goings of the week and Albus had given him theories and plans Severus would take the long route back to the centre admiring the beauty of the area before settling down on the sofa in the staff area to share his sarcastic personality with Andi who would allow him to be as snarky and mean about the world as possible with only a giggle in return. It had been this way for six weeks and he hoped that his Saturday routine would continue.
This Saturday after his meeting with Albus where the old head teacher gave away surprisingly less than usual he had his routine changed. Severus and Andi were sat on the sofa putting the world to rights when Andi placed a hand upon his knee and within that moment something within Severus stirred. Pulling a cushion onto his lap he realised that no woman had made him feel like this since Lily had all those years ago, he had dated but no woman had this effect on him.
He looked up shocked but with a ghost of a smile on his lips, leaning in slightly he met Andis mouth with his and they shared a gentle first kiss. Andi and Severus pulled apart when they required more oxygen finding each other smiling. Severus's rational brain told him this should not be happening and that he was here on a mission, his man brain was telling him to take her back to his room and his gentlemanly brain told him to invite her for dinner but his heart was telling him that he had fallen hook line and sinker in lover with the much younger woman who had short blonde hair with insanely bright colours, wore band t-shirts and jeans which made her legs look like they were carved by art with hoodies which showed her quirky personality. Oh God he was in love with a woman half his age!
