Chapter 28: An Unexpected Offer
Hermione went home immediately after work, despite Harry's invitation to join him for a drink.
She was surprised to find Enid perched on one of her kitchen chairs when she arrived. Crookshanks slunk out from under the table and yowled his complaint at Hermione. He had not yet accepted the bird as his future housemate.
"Oh, shush, you," Hermione admonished him. She peered into the open bedroom door.
"Severus? Are you here?"
There was no answer, and she felt deflated by the silence.
"Well, then... Enid, what are you doing here?"
Enid never appeared in the flat without Severus. The phoenix cooed softly and preened herself, still perched on one of Hermione's chairs. Crookshanks wound himself around her ankles, impatiently waiting to be fed. Hermione waved her wand at the cupboard and filled his bowl. She then sank into a chair across from Enid as Crookshanks tucked into his dinner.
Moments later there was a soft knock at the door. Hermione jumped up and flicked her wand at the latch. The door opened, and within seconds Severus removed his Disillusionment Charm.
"Good evening, Miss Granger," he said, smirking at her.
"Where have you been?" she asked, walking over to him.
"Mmm... errands... napping..." he murmured, taking hold of her waist.
"Napping?" she asked incredulously.
"Indeed," he affirmed, pulling her closer and looking down his nose at her.
He was still wearing his nice black robes. Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.
"So you went back to your flat and took a nap... then put your robes back on?" she asked.
One corner of his mouth rose and he said, "I thought you might... appreciate it."
Hermione most certainly did, if the tension in her body was any indication. She pushed her fingers into the hair at the base of his neck and pulled him down for a kiss.
"Why is Enid here?" she asked.
"I can hardly account for the preferences of our phoenix bird," he said. "She finds herself in a highly unusual – I daresay unprecedented – living situation. Perhaps she knew I'd be here before supper. She was perched on my bedpost when I fell asleep earlier."
"Hmmm," Hermione hummed, kissing him again. They did not speak for some minutes.
"Come to the bedroom... Mr. Snape," she said, pulling lightly at the front of his robes.
"For what purpose, Miss Granger?" he asked in the same tone of voice that had undone her in the Leaky Cauldron at lunch.
"There were a few things missing from our agreement earlier," she said. "I'd like to... review the conditions of our contract."
"I hardly think your bedroom an appropriate setting for such a discussion," he replied, his hand moving from her shoulder, down her back, and over her hip as he followed her.
He pushed the door shut behind them, as if that would stop Enid should she choose to interrupt them.
"If we are to work together, while being secretly engaged, we'll have to agree on a few things," Hermione said, matter-of-factly, as she plopped down on the bed and pulled him down to join her.
"Namely?" he asked.
"There will be no area of the shop off-limits..." she began, and he looked curious as she paused.
"For... physical... affectionate... experimentation," she said.
"The sales floor?" he asked.
"We'll buy some very nice, heavy curtains," she said.
"Surely the lab will be reserved for brewing purposes only," he said.
"Surely not," she replied. "Those nice, sturdy tables deserve a thorough test of their strength."
"I see," he said, his eyes falling half-shut as he ran a hand over her half-reclined body.
"Furthermore," she said, "There will be no such understanding that I am only there to work. I shall thoroughly and passionately enjoy your company as I please."
"Very well," he conceded, smirking once again.
"Finally, you will give me every reason to believe you are deeply, desperately in love with me and demonstrate your desire for me routinely during the work day. I shall do the same for you."
"Enough, witch. I understand your point."
He kissed her and pulled her down beside him on the bed. A bit of wandless magic, and they had disrobed, clinging to one another in the suddenly cool air of the bedroom.
They emerged a short while later and conjured up a hot meal. Enid was still perched on the kitchen chair, by all appearances asleep.
Severus stayed the night, and after a few glasses of wine, Hermione led him to the bedroom once again, where they celebrated the official beginning of their relationship and the end of living in secrecy.
Later, alone in the loo before they turned in for the night, Hermione heaved a great sigh and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was a tangled mess, which she quickly tied back into a braid.
I have to tell him, she thought unhappily.
He appeared to be dozing off when she returned to bed. Hermione slid under the sheets and pressed her body against his side. His arm found its was over his chest and rested on her breast, the corner of his mouth turning up slightly. She lay her head on his shoulder and sighed.
"Is something the matter?" he asked sleepily.
Hermione did not answer for a moment. She sighed again.
"Actually, there is," she said quietly. He exhaled and turned his head to look at her.
"What is it?" he asked, sounding more alert.
"Well, it's Gallus," said Hermione, ready to get the day's surprise off her chest. "He came back to the Department of Mysteries today, unexpectedly, of course... he showed up in the storage room after lunch."
Severus shifted his shoulder slightly under her head. Hermione sat halfway up and leaned on her elbow.
"He was disappointed that I'd gone to lunch with you," she said. Severus' eyes were closed, but a brow rose at her words.
"Because he wanted to take me out on a lunch date. He fancies me, apparently."
Severus grunted and then groaned and rolled to his side to look at her.
"Indeed? He professed feelings for you?"
"Well, sort of," said Hermione. "He said he'd hoped to take me out and that he'd missed me while he was away... and then he touched my shoulder."
Severus raised both brows at her.
"I told him we're friends, and he left."
Severus still said nothing, and looked rather amused.
"The poor sod is terribly unlucky in love," he said at last.
"I'd like to remain friends with Gallus," said Hermione. "I hope he feels the same."
She sighed.
"I feel awful for not realizing how he felt. He seemed terribly embarrassed before he left."
Severus looked further amused and said, "Short of Legilimency, you could not have known his feelings. By your account he is a reserved sort of man, who gave you no reason to believe he felt anything for you until now."
Hermione shrugged and said, "I don't believe he did... but perhaps I might have saved him the embarrassment, if I had paid closer attention. I might have made it clearer that I'm – er – not interested in anything beyond friendship."
Severus placed a large, warm hand on her upper arm and said, "As far as he knows you are unattached and you like him well enough. He'd be a fool not to fancy you, amazing witch that you are."
She smiled at the compliment and said, "I don't suppose I'll see much of him before I leave the Ministry. Perhaps some day in the future we could resume our friendship."
"Perhaps," said Severus, a contemplative look on his face.
"You're not upset... are you?" Hermione asked.
He kissed her and said, "I am not."
"Really?" she asked.
"Should I be?" he asked calmly, lying back against his pillow.
Hermione resumed her place by his side, resting her head on his shoulder once again.
"No..." she trailed off, marveling at the difference between his reaction and what Ron's would have been. A single tear leaked from her left eye and trickled to the edge of her nose. She was again reminded of how grateful she was that time had intervened in her relationship with Ron.
Was it simply a matter of maturity, or would Ron forever be prone to jealous outbursts? Was it insecurity that made him mistrustful? Even before Gallus, Ron had been suspicious of any wizard Hermione spent time with, besides Harry. Whatever it was, Hermione was relieved that Severus' faults lay elsewhere.
She sighed and rubbed her face.
"Goodnight," she said, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek.
Hermione rolled over and settled into the bed. Her mind would not quiet itself, though, and she lay awake for a while thinking about Severus, Ron, Harry, and Gallus. Harry's formerly fierce and often stormy emotions had settled greatly after the end of Voldemort. Marriage to Ginny seemed to have aided his transformation into a calmer, more even-keeled version of himself. Ginny retained the Weasley tempestuous nature, but had more trust in Harry than any other living being.
Ron may have met his match in Irene, who was a strong personality... yet she had a disarming way of talking sense into him that Hermione had never learned to employ. Whenever she and Ron had disagreed, the result was an argument in which Ron remained stubbornly defensive to his position and Hermione became increasingly incensed and frustrated by his refusal to admit that she had a valid counterpoint. He would scoff at her logic, no matter how sound, and make ridiculous excuses as to why it didn't matter, which had infuriated her.
Gallus was still a mystery. Hermione felt strongly there was much to his past that he had not shared with her, and perhaps a more to his relationship with Margaret than he'd explained. Was he the person she thought she knew? Would she ever know?
As she finally drifted off to sleep, Hermione saw Enid appear and settle down for the night on the back of the chair in front of Hermione's small vanity. The sight of the majestic phoenix watching over them as they slept made Hermione smile, a warm feeling washing over her as her eyes fell shut.
Hermione spent the next day at work ready to jump out of her skin with anticipation. She tried to work, but her usual attentiveness was lacking. Her mind wandered relentlessly back to Severus, their future together, and her impending resignation from the Ministry. Before leaving for work that morning, she had found the contract for her "apprenticeship" on the kitchen table while Severus was in the shower.
She planned to hand in her notice by the end of the week.
Gallus did not make an appearance, as she expected. Hermione spent a long, lonely morning alone in the storage room. Margaret was going out for lunch with one of the secretaries from the Minister's office, and even though she extended an invitation to Hermione, Margaret seemed relieved when Hermione said she planned to grab a quick bite to eat while running a few errands.
Margaret would have a lot more to gossip about soon, when Hermione informed her she would be leaving the Department of Mysteries to become Severus Snape's Potions apprentice.
"Did you know Gallus is back?" Margaret called after Hermione as she left the office.
"Er – yes, I did. Actually, he stopped by yesterday to say hello."
Margaret smiled and said, "I knew he was sneaking back there to see you. He was nearly late to his meeting."
She raised an eyebrow at Hermione expectantly.
"That's unfortunate," said Hermione. "It was nice to see him back, though he's been away again this morning."
Looking somewhat disappointed in Hermione's lack of enthusiasm or embarrassment, Margaret shook her head and said, "More meetings, I believe. There are always so many of them when they get back from one of their little adventures."
Hermione shrugged and said, "I suppose it's something far more important than looking over my shoulder as I work. Well, I must get going... have a nice lunch, Margaret."
With no real destination in mind, Hermione left the Ministry and headed to the bookshop, where she quickly passed her entire lunch break and had to stop at Blue Witch's Food Cart on her way back to the Ministry. She stuffed her wrapped lunch into her beaded bag and returned to her storage room, where she ate sitting on a stack of old reference books.
Hermione struggled to complete the work day. She left the storage room a few minutes early, and stopped in her tracks as she walked into the front office.
Gallus was leaning on Margaret's desk, having a chat. He noticed her immediately and straightened his posture stiffly.
"Hello, Gallus," Hermione said pleasantly, smiling a bit as she approached.
"Hermione," he greeted her. "I'm sorry I couldn't join you in the storage room today."
He did not look very sorry at all.
"It's all right," she said. "Don't worry, I didn't find anything out of the ordinary."
"Well... good," he said, shifting his feet slightly.
Margaret did not bother to hide her curiosity as she looked from Hermione to Gallus, then back again.
"I, ah, suppose I'll see you another day, then," Hermione said, taking a few steps forward toward the exit.
"Yes," Gallus agreed. "Have a nice evening, Hermione."
"Thanks... you too."
Hermione left with Margaret's eyes glued to her back. The sooner Hermione left the Department of Mysteries, the better. She had a feeling that Margaret was none too happy about the prospect of Gallus and Hermione becoming a couple, for all that she claimed to be over the breakup. It would be easier for everyone once Hermione was gone.
She went straight home, pulled out a piece of parchment, and began writing her letter of resignation. Enid was not there, and the only sound in the flat besides the scratching of her quill was the occasional inquisitive fluttery meow from Crookshanks, who watched her from the doorway.
Once finished, Hermione sat back and watched the ink dry, feeling immensely relieved. As she carefully folded the letter and placed it into an envelope, Crookshanks rubbed against her legs.
"Yes, I'm done," she said, smiling at him. "I know it's dinnertime."
Severus returned late that evening.
"Are you free tomorrow evening, my dear?" he asked as she stood from her spot on the sofa and stretched.
"Tomorrow? Yes... it's Friday I'm going out with Ginny and Irene," Hermione said, giving him a curious look.
"Why?" she asked.
"I'd like to show you the shop," he said simply.
Hermione stared at him and asked, "The shop? In Hogsmeade? When did you go see it?"
"This morning," he said. "With my pockets full of gold. As I suspected, it was the best option, and too good of an opportunity to pass over."
"It's all settled then?" Hermione asked in surprise.
Severus gave her a cautious look and nodded.
"Indeed. I've already moved my brewing supplies in, and I'll have everything else in order by tomorrow evening," he said.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him for a moment, which prompted him to continue, "The brewing space could not be better."
Finally, Hermione grinned and said, "Of course I want to see it!"
Severus walked over and stole a kiss from her, looking relieved.
"I've written up my resignation letter," she said. "I'll hand it in tomorrow."
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest, resting his chin over her shoulder.
"Where's Enid?" Hermione asked.
"At the shop," he replied. "She's already claimed a corner behind the counter."
"So we'll have a shop bird," said Hermione. "Poor Crookshanks will be so disappointed once I move in... forever stuck with her as a housemate."
They moved to the sofa and made themselves comfortable, Severus kicking off his boots as Hermione stretched her legs across the cushions until her toes just touched his leg.
"If you'd like to meet me at the other flat tomorrow, we can finish packing up our belongings and take them with us to Hogsmeade," he said. "Unless you'd rather I do it while you're at work."
"Oh, ah... no, I'd like to be there," she said.
"Very well," he said.
He picked up her foot and began rubbing it, putting just the right pressure on just the right spots. Hermione sighed happily.
"You're so good at that," she said after a while. He switched to her other foot without replying. He seemed lost in his thoughts.
Hermione was about to ask him what he was pondering, when Crookshanks decided he needed to be in her lap and bounced up onto her abdomen.
"Oof! Crookshanks!"
Hermione waited until he'd settled down and tucked his bottlebrush tail under himself before gently resting a hand on his soft back. He began purring loudly as she lightly petted him. She lay her head back against the arm of the sofa and before she knew it she had fallen asleep while Severus finished massaging her foot.
She woke some time later to see him sitting with his head resting on his hand, staring at the rug in front of the sofa.
"Severus?" she croaked, causing Crookshanks to stretch and rearrange himself on her stomach.
Severus sucked in a breath and looked at her.
"Ready for bed?" he asked, smirking a bit.
"I suppose," she said, pausing for a beat before asking, "Are you all right? You seem lost in thought this evening."
"There is much to think about," he said. "I have much to do yet before the shop can be opened."
Hermione scooped Crookshanks up and leaned forward.
"Let me help you, then," she said. "Nobody needs to know I'm there – we're good at sneaking about together."
He smiled slightly and placed a reassuring hand on her leg.
"Don't worry about the shop just yet," he said. "You must keep up appearances with your friends and coworkers for the time being."
"Hmmm... yes, but I could do more... do something."
He chuckled lightly and replied, "You'll be doing plenty as soon as you've officially come on as my apprentice. It is no easy task, opening a new Apothecary."
"Fine. I suppose you're right," she said, yawning. Crookshanks made his escape as she sat up and swung her feet off the sofa.
"Oh-" she said, as Severus pulled her back down beside him and planted a kiss on her lips. He then swept her up and carried her to the bedroom, waving his hand at the lamp as they passed, causing it to flicker off.
The next morning, Severus was puttering around the kitchen before Hermione woke up. She groggily wandered out of the bedroom to find him putting breakfast on the table.
"I could get used to this," she said. "I usually just have toast, you know."
"I know," he replied, pouring the tea and gesturing to her chair. She sat down.
"This is lovely," she said, as he joined her.
"An early morning is much improved by an actual breakfast," he said, digging into his own plate without fanfare.
"I won't argue with that," Hermione said, stirring her tea.
After a few minutes, she cleared her throat and asked, "What have you planned for today?"
"Errands... errands... packing... and errands," he replied.
"Mmhmm... well, perhaps you'll tell me more about these mysterious errands while we're at the shop later," she said.
"Perhaps," he replied, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"I'll be over after I feed Crookshanks," she said, finishing her breakfast and checking the time. She waved her wand over her plate and then sent it to the cupboard.
"Thank you for breakfast, my love," she said, hurrying back to the bedroom to get dressed for work. Not long after, she kissed him goodbye and set off for the Ministry, her resignation letter tucked into her robe pocket.
Hermione's heart pounded as soon as she set foot inside the Ministry building. By the time she reached the Department of Mysteries, she was practically shaking with nervousness.
"Good morning, Hermione!" said Margaret brightly when she arrived.
"Good morning," she replied. "Erm, Margaret, do you know if Mr. Goode is going to be in the office today?"
Margaret frowned and said, "I believe so. He's just gone back, you might be able to catch him before he disappears into the restricted offices, if you hurry."
"Thanks," said Hermione, walking briskly down the hall to Goode's front office. The door was ajar, though the lights were off.
"Mr. Goode?" Hermione called, peering hesitantly through the crack in the door. The was a thud from inside the office, and a lamp came on. Richard Goode appeared and opened the door wider.
"Miss Granger?" he asked, looking confused. "Forgive me, I was expecting... someone else."
He seemed to collect his thoughts and then said, "Is there something the matter?"
"Not exactly," said Hermione. "If you have a minute, may I speak with you, sir?"
Mr. Goode looked down the hall and seemed to consider the question for a moment before answering.
"Yes, of course. Come in... have a seat."
He hurried around his desk and seated himself opposite her.
"Now, what is it, Miss Granger? Have you found something else of note? I apologize for taking Gallus away for so long recently... he was needed on another project."
"Oh, no, I haven't found anything else in the storage," said Hermione, feeling as if her heart would fly right out of her chest as she prepared to pull the letter out of her pocket.
"Actually, I need to speak with you about this," she said, placing the letter on his desk. As he reached for it, she took a breath.
"It's my resignation," she burst out. "You see, I've – "
"Your resignation?" he asked, eyebrows raised. "That is a surpise, Miss Granger. Indeed. We'd hoped to keep you here in the department for a full career. Gallus has said great things about your work, your interests, and your intelligence. Not to mention the glowing recommendations we have from your professors."
He peered at her suspiciously.
"Tell me, what is taking you away from us so soon?"
Hermione took another breath and said quickly, "I've accepted a Potions apprenticeship with Severus Snape. He's to open an Apothecary. I'll stay on here a few more weeks and get the storage room as close to completion as possible before I leave, if that suits you."
Goode continued to peer at her, his eyes widening just a bit in surprise.
"I heard that you had lunch with Mr. Snape," he admitted. "So, he didn't waste any time snatching up Hogwarts' brightest upon his return! I did not realize you had an interest in the field of Potions, Miss Granger."
"Yes. I find it challenging and intriguing," she said. "At the risk of sounding conceited, there is not much that truly challenges me in other areas of magic. In Potions, there is still much waiting to be discovered and invented. I find it exciting... and I simply cannot pass up the opportunity to work with S – Mr. Snape. He is an extraordinary Potions Master. I always regretted never getting to take his classes at the advanced levels."
"Indeed," muttered Goode, looking blankly at her letter. "Well, we knew you'd not be content to stay in the storage room much longer."
He sighed and placed the letter on the desk.
"So, I'll give you something to ponder. If you decide to stay, you'll be out of the storage room by the end of the month. I doubt it will even take you and Gallus that long to finish the task. After that, you will begin training as an Assistant Analyst for the Department of Mythical Objects and Ancient Prophecies, which is, in my opinion, one of the more challenging and interesting areas we cover here."
Hermione gulped and opened her mouth to speak, but Goode continued.
"I'll give you this letter back for now," he said. "Once you've had some time to think about it, let me know if you still want me to file your resignation."
Hermione took the letter from him, feeling numb. She folded it back into her robe pocket and stood up.
"Thank you, sir. You've certainly given me a lot to think about. Will you be in the office at the end of the day?"
Goode laughed and said, "That I cannot say, but my dear, you needn't make the decision in a day. Take your time. I daresay Mr. Snape will need a few months to get back into the swing of things, set up shop, and start brewing. Sleep on it for a week... or two."
Hermione forced a small smile.
"Thank you, Mr. Goode."
He waved her out of the room, and Hermione walked out feeling a crushing weight in her chest.
She had only a few weeks left in the storage room regardless of whether she stayed at the Ministry or went to work with Severus. Should she pass up the opportunity to gain access to a few more of the Ministries deepest secrets? It was a tempting offer. Was Goode being honest about his prior intention to promote her so quickly, or was he simply trying to convince her to stay? Did it matter?
After work, Hermione rushed out of the office, waving a hurried goodbye to Margaret as she passed. A quick stop home and Crookshanks was fed, though none too happy to see her leave again. She arrived at the flat a bit out of breath.
Severus was standing amid a couple small stacks of boxes when she entered, waiting for her. Hermione looked around at the bare flat.
"You've done it all without me!" she cried.
"You can help me transport the boxes," he said. "Let's first make a pass through to see if I've missed anything."
He walked over and took her hand, leading her back to the bedroom, which had nothing in it now. Hermione felt tears begin to threaten her eyes.
"There wasn't much in here in the first place," she said, glancing around. Everything had been freshly cleaned, it seemed. She went to the bathroom and checked the closet and the cabinets.
"Looks like you got everything," she said, with a lump in her throat. She had not spent much time in the flat lately, and the memories of their time living together before completing the time loop came rushing to the forefront of her mind.
They soon returned to the living room and stood next to the boxes again.
"I suppose this it, then," said Hermione, looking at him, then glancing around them.
"Goodbye, old flat."
Severus gave her a look that said he thought she was being a bit too sentimental, but he kissed her gently.
"You won't miss it," he said. "Not once you see our new abode."
Hermione smiled at him and asked, "What have you been up to, anyway?"
He simply picked up two of the boxes and waited for her to do the same. They creaked and groaned, and were obviously fitted with extension charms and weight-displacement charms.
They checked the empty hall before exiting. Severus locked the door and carefully tucked the key into his pocket.
"I'll return it in the morning," he said. "Take my arm, Hermione."
She hoisted the boxes onto her hip and put her arm through his bent elbow. Seconds later, they landed in the back garden of a stone building with darkened windows. A fence overgrown with vines surrounded them and the tall grass bent gently in the breeze.
"The garden needs work," Hermione commented lightly. She let go of his arm and studied their future home and shop. The upper level was topped by a crooked, dramatically sloped roof. A tall chimney was silhouetted against the fading daylight, and the moon hung above it, already shining in the clear evening sky.
Severus began walking toward a nondescript narrow wooden door that was set into the stone above a few rickety wooden steps. It clicked open as they approached and he led her inside.
"Watch your step," he warned her, as they stepped down onto a lowered stone floor. Hermione landed heavily and immediately put down her boxes, anxious to have a look around.
"This is just a mud room," he said, lighting his wand. There were shelves along one side and a small closet on the other. A row of hooks hung on the wall opposite them, beside another narrow wooden door.
Severus opened the door and Hermione followed him into the next room, which was much larger and very dark, until Severus lit the sconces on the walls.
"The kitchen!" Hermione exclaimed, looking around. "It's so large!"
It was far larger than the flat's kitchen, to be sure, but perhaps rather modest for the size of the house. There was a window over the sink and another one beside the square breakfast table in the corner. They were covered in dark, closed curtains at the moment. The walls were the same exposed stone as the outside of the house, a solemn, dull gray.
"This way," Severus said, walking through the darkened archway across from them. It led to yet another narrow wooden door, but to the right there was also a narrow wooden staircase, which Severus began to climb.
There was another door at the top of the landing, and a few more steps up to the right led to another door. Just as Hermione was beginning to feel uncomfortably claustrophobic, Severus pushed open the door in front of them and light hit their faces.
Hermione gasped as she squinted into the room Severus has just entered. He stood watching her from a bright and airy living room with a high, vaulted ceiling, lined with tall, arched windows, which at the moment were pretending that it was midday outside. All the wall space between the windows was covered in bookshelves, many of which were already full. Their old sofa looked out of place sitting in the middle of the room with a plain wooden coffee table in front of it.
"Did you do this?" she asked, spinning around to see the entire room. "That is a lot of Charms work, Severus!"
"I did not," he admitted. "All is as I found it, after spending most of a day working out the enchantments on the door. Watters surely wasn't the one responsible for this magnitude of remodeling, so it must have been a previous occupant. As far I a know, he never let a soul into his home, and took the secret to the grave."
Hermione frowned and said, "Nobody discovered it after he passed?"
Severus shook his head and said, "The enchantments were such that until dismantled, one would enter the room only to find a modest living area upstairs."
Hermione looked around again and asked, "Do you suppose Mr. Watters even knew this was here?"
"That is a question that shall likely remain unanswered," said Severus. "Come, there's more."
He led her across the room to a hall which opened to a luxurious bath on one side, and two large bedrooms on the other. All the rooms featured the same tall arched windows lined in stone, just like the living room.
"I'm speechless..." Hermione said, taking it all in. "It's wonderful, Severus! Who would have imagined you'd be getting all of this with the old, dreary Apothecary downstairs!"
"You haven't seen downstairs yet," he replied.
"Lead the way," she said, gesturing toward the door.
Severus took her back down the stairs and opened the door at the bottom.
"This is the workroom," he said, lighting the room as they stepped inside.
The space ran the entire length of the building and was wide enough that wooden posts sat in the middle of the ceiling, four total from one end to the other. Exposed wooden beams went across the ceiling above them and the stone walls were lined with shelves on one side of the room, and long wooden tables on the other. In between the wooden posts were more tables set up with cauldrons, scales, and brewing implements, as well as a few stools.
The shelves went all the way up to the high ceiling and had a ladder on a track attached to them.
"Wow," was all Hermione could say, as she ran her hands over the tables and shelves. "You are right, the space could not be better for brewing."
Severus then led her out to the shop floor, where Enid was perched behind the counter. Dusty, largely empty shelves lined the walls. The shelves behind the counter were covered in glass-paneled doors. Here and there, old bottles and vials still sat, forgotten, their labels curling off.
Hermione stepped out into the middle of the shop and looked around. There was a spiral stair at the far end that went up to a balcony with a brass railing. The walls up there were lined with shelves as well.
"Plenty of storage," she commented.
"Indeed," Severus said, placing a hand on her shoulder. She turned to look at him.
"It's perfect," she said. "But what is behind that other door upstairs?"
"Guest rooms, another bath, and a closet," he replied.
"The kitchen needs work," she said. "It must get terribly drafty."
"I think we can manage that," he said.
Hermione wrapped her arms around him and said, "I love it, Severus. How long before you have it open for business?"
"Mmmm..." he rumbled against her ear. "Two weeks, perhaps less."
Hermione tightened her arms around him.
"My supervisor at the Ministry offered me a promotion today when I tried to hand in my resignation," she said into his chest.
The hand which had been lightly scratching small circles on her back paused.
"Tried?" he inquired.
"Well, he gave it back to me," said Hermione. "Told me to take a few weeks to think about it."
Severus had not moved a muscle.
"What is the new position?" he asked after a moment.
"Assistant Analyst," she said. "For Mythical Objects and Ancient Prophecies."
"Intriguing..." he intoned, pulling back to look at her. "And you intend to accept?"
Hermione shook her head quickly.
"No. I've made my decision already."
He gave her a stern look and said, "You must take this recent development into account."
"I have, Severus. I want to work with you. I want to pursue Potions."
He continued to study her seriously.
"Tell me you don't desperately want to know which myths and prophecies from wizard lore might be just as real as the The-Boy-Who-Lived," he commanded.
Hermione held his gaze for a few moments before speaking.
"I don't care to know any more than I already do about mythical objects and ancient prophecies. I've had more than enough experience with both for one lifetime."
He looked mildly pleased, which meant he must be positively bursting with happiness at her sentiments.
"Very well," he said. "I imagine that if you happen to change your mind, the Department of Mysteries would be glad to take you back."
Hermione sighed in exasperation and said, "I'm not going to change my mind... however, I suspect you are correct."
She smiled mischievously.
"Which is why I left my resignation on Mr. Goode's desk on my way out today."
