AN: Thank you all for the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
Hermione needed to make her next meeting with Severus special.
For the last week, they'd met every day in the library, research materials in hand. She always arrived earlier than he did, just to see the look on his face when she sat in his chair. Her presence in it was just as much an affront to him as the day she'd first begun the practice, a fact which never ceased to amuse her. The last couple of days he had managed to have the foresight to bring his own chair, even if he grumbled about it not being as comfortable as the chair he had yet to officially claim.
If she only sought Severus' friendship, she would be pleased with the pace of their progress. Yet, she needed a love connection, and it needed to come sooner rather than later. She needed time to build the foundation, but not so much time that Ginny grew impatient and began threatening to withhold her payment. So far, the red head was pleased with Hermione's progress. Still, Draco would want results soon. Malfoys were infamous for their tempers if their investments did not bring them the profits they had sought.
In order to progress to becoming romantic interest, Hermione needed an expert in what Severus enjoyed, someone who could give her insight into what would help her capture the potions master's heart. Fortunately, there was such a person who was all too eager to have tea with her.
"You've done a great job with the place." Neville scanned the room as he stepped inside. "There isn't a box in sight."
"Thank Merlin I was able to put them all away." She shut the door behind him.
"It looks much nicer in here without them."
"Yes, but I need to organize the bookshelves. They are complete chaos right now."
"I don't know." He glanced at the three bookshelves to his right. All of the books were in single rows. None were jammed inside. "They look fine to me."
"To the untrained eye maybe, but they need to be arranged alphabetically by the author's last name," she replied. "I was so eager to put them away I threw them on the shelves. Once things calm down with my research and planning for my class I'll arrange them more logically."
"How is your research going?"
"Quite well."
"Has Severus been giving you too much trouble?"
"He's actually been quite pleasant to work with."
"That's good to hear. I was hoping you two would find a way to work together."
The teapot whistled.
"I was hoping we could find a way to work together too." She said as the friends strolled towards the kitchen. "I was not looking forward to one of my colleagues openly despising me for the next few decades."
"Severus never despised you."
"You could've fooled me. He has been openly hostile towards me from the day I walked through these doors." She removed the teapot from the stove.
"Severus can be a little abrupt at times."
"And snarky all of the time."
"Yes, but he usually means well."
"'Usually' is the operative word.
"True," he said. "But if he had more friends he'd be happier."
"If he would be a little more pleasant to others he may have more friends." Hermione poured tea into two blue cups.
"True, but he's had such a rough life it's hard to blame him for being a little suspicious of others."
"He is far more than suspicious of others. Most of the time, he is downright hostile."
"He likes to test people." Neville sat at the table. "If you can tolerate his foul moods, you're worthy of his time. If not, then he has no use for you other than to further whatever project he may have in mind."
"How did you learned to tolerate his foul moods?" She set the two cups on the table.
"I didn't learn to tolerate them as much as wait until he was able to lower his guard against me."
"How did that happen?"
"I was put in a position he could relate to."
"How so?" She took a sip of tea.
"When Hannah ran off to New York with Astoria, I was devastated. You, Harry, Luna, and Ginny supported me as best you could, but there were evenings when it was hard to be alone."
"I'm sorry. I wish I could've been there for you more."
"There's no need to apologize. It was never your job to ensure my emotional well-being." Neville sipped his tea.
"How did Severus help you?"
"About a week after the scandal broke, they ran an article in the evening edition of The Daily Prophet speculating on how I could've driven Hannah away with my meekness and how terrible a lover I must have been if she would run off with a Slytherin."
"That article was so vile." She shook her head. "You should've sued Rita for slander."
"Sadly, she's gotten away with much worse," he answered.
"She shouldn't be able to."
"I agree, but it matters little now." Neville said. "Back to the story, upon reading the article I retreated into my rooms and stared at the wall. No more than a half hour later, I heard a knock on the door. When I opened it, Severus was there with an Ogden's Finest in his hand. He told me that I could use a drink, but I shouldn't get sloshed on my own. We spent the entire night commiserating on our situations. By the time he left, I was much more at peace."
"So you became friends after that?"
"Yes."
"That seems so," Hermione bit her lower lip. "Easy."
"I don't know if having your name slandered all over Wizarding Britain would count as easy, but I was grateful that Severus was able to overlook our history and become my friend." He took another sip of tea. "This tea is amazing, but the way."
"Thank you," she replied. "I got the blend in Australia when I was last visiting my parents."
"How are they?"
"They are doing quite well. Right now they're on a Caribbean cruise," she said. "They're thrilled I have my new job and are eager to hear how things go."
"I know you'll do an amazing job."
"I'm hoping so." She exhaled.
"If you need any help, I'll do whatever I can. I may not know Muggle Studies, but I do have a few teaching methods I've learned over time."
"I will take you up on that," she said. "Believe it or not, Severus is helping me with the content of my course."
"I was wondering when he'd stop whining about Muggle Studies and start helping the professor teaching it to improve the curriculum."
"He's been an invaluable resource," she said. "Which is why I would like to find a way to thank him."
"Don't churn out dunderheads and he'll be eternally grateful."
"Yes, but I'd like something more concrete." She ran her finger over the rim of the cup.
"What do you mean?"
"Right now, we're researching some potentially new antibacterial potions, and perhaps some quicker treatments for bacteria diseases."
"Severus mentioned that once," he replied. "It's very important work."
"It is," she said. "Which is why I want to find a way to thank him. Do you have any suggestions?"
"Well, if you want something small, Severus has always liked Tolberone."
"Tolberone," she muttered.
"He also likes cinnamon tea."
"I don't know how feasible tea will be given that he refuses to drink with me."
"Hopefully that changes."
"Hopefully," she said. "But what if I want to give him an experience?"
"What do you mean?" He took a sip of tea.
"What would be his ideal environment to relax with friends?"
"Probably a bookstore or a library."
"Fortunate for me I like them, so that would not be hard to manage" she answered.
"Indeed."
"Would he ever want to go out for dinner?"
"Only in muggle areas."
"Why muggle areas?"
"He has his reasons." Neville's expression warned her not to delve further into the issue.
"Fine, what is his favorite kind of food?"
"He has a fondness for spicy Thai."
"Thai?"
Neville nodded.
"I never pegged him for a Thai person."
"There's a lot about Severus most people don't know."
"So if I want to treat him, I should give him Tom Kha Kai as a main course and a Tolberone for dessert?"
"Assuming he'd go out with you, yes," Neville answered.
"I hope he will someday," she said. "It would be nice to have a change of scenery other than the library while we discuss our ideas."
"I never thought you'd get tired of seeing books."
"Oh, I could stay in the library forever. I was just thinking a change of scenery may be in order sometime soon."
"Getting out would help Severus, He spends too much time in this castle. It isn't good for him to be as secluded as he is."
"Does he ever leave Hogwarts?"
"Only when he's dragged out kicking and screaming."
"I hope that if I go out with him I don't need to drag him out." She took a sip of her tea.
"I hope you don't need to drag him out either."
"Indeed," she muttered.
A comfortable silence fell between the friends. Hermione's mind began wandering towards a potential date. She knew a few Thai restaurants in London, or if he wanted to get exotic, Australia. How to lure him out though…
"It's nice for Severus to have another friend."
Hermione's attention returned to Neville.
"He's lonelier than he lets on," Neville continued. "He may keep the world at arm's length, but deep down, he wants to be valued for who he is."
"I value him," she said as her body went cold.
"I know you do, and I know you'll make great friends, assuming he stays out of his way."
"I hope we are great friends too." Her stomach ached as she wondered how great a friends they could be when all was said and done.
"So," Neville folded his hands. "Other than working with Severus, what else have you been up to?"
"As you can see, I've been unpacking." She raised her head and forced herself to smile.
"Is this starting to feel like home?"
"It is," she replied. "It's really starting to feel like home."
As the conversation continued to Hermione's present situation, her mind wandered to Severus. How good a friend could Hermione be if she was only trying to date him to escape a debt? Was there a way to salvage their friendship once she received her payment? How hurt would she be if Severus expelled her from his life?
She wasn't sure she wanted an honest answer to these questions.
