It was everything they'd been expecting and worse. They'd taken the Floo offline, but that didn't stop the owls. Friends, colleagues, strangers—everybody had something to say to them. George sent them the latest Daydream Fudge, which was kind. Draco had written a treatise on the weather, which actually made Severus smile. The Guild sent them official notices of suspension before they'd even made it out of bed.

Severus owled his clerks and brewers, telling them they'd be closed at least for the week, that he'd pay them their average hours in the interim, and that he'd be in touch, then he posted a giant CLOSED sign on the door and refused to answer any knocks.

"This is absurd," Hermione said, handing him his mug so that she could wrap both her hands around hers. Good, hot tea. It was supposed to be soothing, and it did feel nice on her hands, but she still felt caged-in and adrift. There was a crowd outside the shop, people just loitering and watching the windows.

"Any news from the school?"

"Flitwick said he'd send them home if he thought it would help," Hermione said. "It's probably better for them there, though."

"The wards will keep the press out."

"So will ours," she said, bumping his hip gently with hers.

"Do you think it would be better or worse if I went out there and starting cursing them?" he asked.

Hermione laughed.