AN: Took me forever to upload this! Stupid glitches in this site. Hopefully this uploaded, although I suppose if you're reading this you already know if it has or not. Anyway, thanks so much for putting this on alert, favoriting, reading, and of course, reviewing! I appreciate all of the support!

I don't own anything you'd recognize.

"Headmaster Snape," Hermione called as she rapped on the door.

"Enter," Snape replied, closing the Odyssey with a snap.

Hermione toed open the door and stepped inside, struggling to keep a large garment bag from sweeping the floor. Snape was still dressed in his blue hospital gown, but freshly washed hair and a clean bandage indicated that he was preparing for his release. Hermione's attention turned to the book in his hands. "Are you still reading that?"

"For the third time," Snape answered a bit defensively.

Hermione smiled, "Professor McGonagall and I would have been happy to bring you others if you had just asked."

"I have been quite content, thank you very much. I find that a second and even a third reading often deepens one's understanding of subtleties that might escape notice the first time around."

"Looking for anything in particular?" Hermione asked conversationally as she set the garment bag on the chair beside his bed.

Snape straightened himself uncomfortably and answered, "Not really."

Hermione took his evasiveness as a cue to change the subject. "The Mediwitches said you could be released today."

"I've already signed the paperwork," Snape answered. "I was waiting on Minerva to pick me up. Where is she?"

"There was a transfiguration emergency, a thirteen year old boy who decided to try his hand at an animagus spell. He makes a fine-looking warthog, but can't seem to transform himself back."

"He did this at the school?"

"No, he tried to do it secretly at home. From what I understand, his parents are better skilled at Divination than they are at Transfiguration. The tea leaves did not look promising for a home cure and they were afraid that if they'd taken him here to St. Mungo's, he would have been in trouble with the Ministry."

"I see," Snape answered. "Let's hope he has learned his lesson. I don't relish trying to explain the presence of a warthog at Hogwarts this autumn."

"Indeed," Hermione stifled a giggle. "Minerva does send her regards, and plans to brief you as soon as she is free. She'd like to go over the book inventory with you today, if you're feeling up to it."

"It will be a relief to focus on something productive for a change. How has the rest of the staff reacted to her announcement?"

"Once Professor McGonagall explained her reasoning, they understood. Many are deeply sorry about how they treated you."

"I am not interested in apologies," Snape replied. "I am interested in getting the school up and running again."

"I believe we're all on the same page there." Hermione noticed a stack of parchments on the bedside table. "I don't suppose those are offers of support from wealthy donors…"

"I wish," Snape replied wryly. "No, these are letters from my… fans."

"Really?" Hermione replied with a touch of amusement. "That didn't take long. Of course, if that stack is any indication of your popularity, we should have no difficulty recruiting new students for Hogwarts."

"Sadly, those letters aren't from parents." Snape frowned. "They are mostly from alarmingly bold witches who would like to become parents."

"I see," Hermione giggled, envisioning Snape being mobbed by a throng of admirers. Her expression sobered when the scene shifted to the image of a particularly stunning red-headed witch beckoning an all-too-willing Snape into an empty classroom.

'Where did that come from?' she wondered. Clearly she needed to get a grip on her imagination. Shaking the image from her head, Hermione stated, "I brought you a set of robes so you wouldn't have to go home in a hospital gown."

"Much appreciated, Miss Granger."

With a deep breath, Snape pulled himself up and turned until his feet dangled over the edge of the bed. He stretched and flexed his legs before tentatively edging one foot to the ground. The frigid floor made him wince, but he soldiered on until both feet were firmly planted. With great effort he pushed himself up from the bed, stood, and took a few wobbly steps towards the chair.

"Would you like some assistance, Headmaster?"

Snape smiled dryly, his lips twitching in an effort to contain his amusement. "I think propriety would dictate that I had better dress myself, Miss Granger."

Hermione blushed profusely. "I meant with the garment bag, Sir."

"Of course you did, Miss Granger." Snape elevated the bag with a stroke of his wand. "But that's what magic is for. Now if you'll excuse me for a few minutes…"

Straightening his back, he made his way to the lavatory to change.

'I can't believe it,' Hermione mused. 'He can even make a hospital gown billow.'

"Are you sure you wouldn't like to floo into the Entrance Hall?" Hermione asked.

"I am quite positive, Miss Granger. I do not wish to speak to the other professors at this time."

"But as Headmaster, you're going to have to speak with them sooner or later," Hermione reasoned.

"Not until I have something of use to say. I'd like to assess the damage to the school first-hand and privately without having to suffer apologies and emotional scenes. I don't have the patience for that today. Besides," Snape smirked, "I need to ascertain that my quarters are indeed green and silver, as requested."

"I've assured you that they are."

"But Minerva's absence does not quell my suspicion."

Hermione smirked as she took a handful of floo powder. "It's probably better for you to go to the Headmaster's office first, anyway. You will need some time to settle in. Perhaps you will be ready to talk to the other professors after you've had a chance to acclimate yourself."

"Perhaps," Snape muttered as Hermione activated the floo.

"Headmaster Snape's chambers!" she called.

They stepped into the fireplace and re-emerged in a dark room dominated by a canopy bed draped in emerald satin. To the left of the bed was an ebony chest of drawers. Across the room was an ebony wardrobe, the door partially open to expose a collection of dark robes. The room was stark, but it had a simple beauty about it. Snape glanced around in barely suppressed relief. "Well at least she got the colouring right."

"I'd think you'd be quite pleased with it."

"It will do."

"Would you like to see your office?"

"I suppose I should."

The two stepped through a connecting door into the Headmaster's office. Snape smiled as he glanced around. "It's exactly as I left it except…" Snape carefully scanned the walls, "Where is Dumbledore's portrait?"

"It was destroyed in the fire along with a few others," Hermione replied. "We're looking for someone to repaint it, but so far we haven't had much luck."

"I will see to that as soon as I am able." Snape took a seat behind his desk, leaned back, and stretched. "It's good to be out of that hospital bed."

"I'll bet it is," Hermione smiled as she reached into her pocket for a tiny box. "The Healers and Mediwitches said you shouldn't eat solid food for a few more days."

"The mush they insist on feeding me is horrendous," Snape groaned. "I'd almost rather starve."

"I have an alternative."

Snape watched with interest as the box slowly grew in Hermione's hand, causing her to flinch after a few seconds. "It's ice cream."

"Looks like you must have cast quite a cooling spell on it."

"I did," she answered, placing it on his desk. "I bought chocolate. Vanilla seemed too plain and I didn't think you'd be the sort to enjoy strawberry..."

"Chocolate is fine," Snape replied as he peeked into the box. "For the record, my favourite flavour is mint."

Hermione frowned. "I've never cared for mint."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "Odd, coming from the daughter of two dentists."

"I use cinnamon or if I'm desperate, spearmint toothpaste. Peppermint makes me ill."

"Fascinating." Snape eyed her thoughtfully. "If you'd be so kind as to provide us with two bowls and some spoons, I think we can agree to share the chocolate."

"I'd love to," Hermione smiled as she transfigured a paperweight and a coaster into the proper vessels and filled them with the creamy dessert.

Picking up a spoon, Snape closed his eyes and savoured his first taste of home.