AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!

Severus wanted nothing more than to lie in bed and gulp down a bottle of amãgire. The feeling of bliss and the daydreams which would play in his mind courtesy of the potion would be a welcome distraction from the front page of The Daily Prophet. Drinking one vial would not affect Ms. Sorelia's Friday shipment. He always made extra given how profitable the potion was and how finicky the potion could be when improperly brewed.

If the stakes were lower, he would teach the potion to Ms. Granger. She needed to learn more advanced potions, even the ones which were illegal to distribute. Brewing the potion would help her understand its affects, as well as educate her on how to make the antidote. Most potions masters would safely discard the hallucinogenic once their student completed it or mix it with the antidote to cancel out the effects. Few would consider profiting from such a potion. Then again, few were Severus Snape.

The door slammed, almost knocking off the bell atop it. Ms. Granger stormed to the counter, muttering a few choice words under her breath.

"I see you're in a cheery mood," Severus noted from behind the counter.

She glowered at him.

"Care to share what has you in such a fine mood this morning?"

"I just evaded four reporters on the way here!" She stood in front of the counter. "I was almost late because they couldn't take, 'I have to get to work' for an answer. If I see one more camera I will smash it until there is nothing left!"

"Do you believe you were followed?"

"I don't know. Probably," she took a deep breath. "Knowing my luck, there's a reporter about to enter right now."

"I do not see anyone outside, but just in case." He pointed his wand at the door. "stai departe de reporteri."

The door glowed green.

"Thank you, although that probably wasn't in your best interests. They probably would've bought something if you'd let them in."

"They also would've distracted you, putting you at risk for exploding your cauldron, thus putting this whole place in danger of exploding."

"That wouldn't do, would it?"

"It would take you much longer to complete your apprenticeship if you have to spend a year of it rebuilding my apothecary."

"Which is time and money I don't have." She shook her head.

"Indeed," Severus drawled as he examined her. Not since the war had she appeared this exhausted. One would've swore she spent the night arguing with Ron instead of receiving a proposal from him. So much for being the happiest couple in Britain.

"I would congratulate you," he began. "But you do not appear to be pleased with your recent engagement."

"You saw the paper then?" She put her face in her hands.

"I did."

"How did I appear?"

"Unhappy."

"It was that obvious?"

"Not to anyone who didn't know you," he said. "But I've seen you when you've perfected a difficult potion, or when you've mastered a new skill. That was not the expression you gave the reporters."

"At least I managed to smile."

"It wasn't a genuine smile, but yes, your lips did curl upwards."

"It wasn't supposed to be this way." She looked at Severus. "Ron knew it wasn't supposed to be this way."

"What do you mean? I thought you wanted to marry Mr. Weasley."

"I do, but the proposal was supposed to be private."

"Private?"

"Yes," she said. "He knew I wanted a nice romantic moment where it was just the two of us, where I could focus on the love I had for him when I said yes, not trying to keep my temper under control because of all the damn cameras in my face."

"Did he know that?"

"He did." She glanced at the ring. Severus could've sworn he saw a small cut where it had been shoved onto her finger. "We've talked about marriage a few times. A few times he asked how I wanted our engagement to go. I always told him it should be between us, where the only focus was on our love."

"Instead, it was a publicity stunt."

"I don't want to call it that. I'd like to think Ron got too excited when he decided to get engaged that he told someone he shouldn't have. Word got around, and there we are, on the front page."

"You cannot tell me you honestly believe that is what occurred."

"What do you mean?"

"Mr. Weasley adores the cameras and has never shied away from an opportunity to be the center of attention. Given those facts I am nearly positive he orchestrated that stunt."

"I'm not sure of that. It's plausible he knew nothing would happen at all."

"Given the way he was beaming, it seems obvious he was expecting them. He certainly wasn't averse to all the attention lavished upon him anyway."

"No, he wasn't." She shook her head. "He took what should've been a beautiful moment and turned it into one of the most horrid moments of my life."

Severus hummed.

"Ron tried to show me the pictures this morning, but I couldn't look at them. I forced myself to smile and told him I was late for work."

"Judging from the fact you were on time I assume it did not deteriorate into too much of an argument."

"It's hard to argue with someone when you're barely speaking to him."

"You never seemed to be one to give the silent treatment."

"This isn't the silent treatment as much as it is me biting my tongue until the moment to discuss this comes up."

"He doesn't know how you feel about all of this?"

"No, I wanted to wait to discuss this when I could speak with him civilly. I didn't want to ruin his good mood. He was so happy too and," she let out a groan. "He's probably telling his family all about it right now."

"You look as if that's a problem."

"I don't want to deal with them right now. I don't want to pretend I'm happy when the reality is all I want to do is scream at Ron."

"Your true emotions will come out at some point though," he said.

"Yes, but not right now."

"Then when?"

She blinked.

"When do you plan on discussing your feelings with Mr. Weasley, or do you intend to tell me everything and suppress your true emotions until they boil over?" He asked.

"I need the right opening to discuss this. Ron was so happy. I think he thought the engagement was appropriate."

"If you wait to speak with him, the opportunity will never come. You'll keep putting things off until you're on the altar in front of a horde of reporters saying, 'I do.'"

"I would die if that happened." The color left her face.

"Then fight for your life and ensure it will not happen."

"It's not always easy…"

"But if you want to live a happy life and have that partnership you keep prattling on about, it's necessary to express yourself every once in awhile."

"Do you mean to tell me the professor who demanded absolute compliance is now advocating for self-expression?"

"So long as you stay out of my classroom and do not almost get eaten by a werewolf, I do not mind a little self-expression."

"You know." Hermione raised an eyebrow. "When I started working for you, I never suspected you would be giving me relationship advice."

"I want you to be happy, however that appears," he said.

"I never thought you'd say that after you fought so hard with Minerva not to hire me."

"The witch cowed me into submission. I am simply making the best of a terrible situation. Do not read anything more into it."

"It hasn't been that terrible." She swallowed. "Has it?"

"No, you've been an adequate companion." His expression lightened.

Severus' heart warmed at her grin. It was far more genuine than anything she'd ever flashed at a reporter.

"That being said." Hermione put her hands behind her back and fidgeted. "I need extra hours."

"Extra hours?"

"Yes."

"I hardly thing burying yourself in work is going to resolve your problems with Mr. Weasley…"

"It will resolve this one."

He shut his mouth.

"I don't know how much Ron's ring set us back, but I imagine money will be tight due to." She glanced at the ring. "This."

"You are probably correct."

"I was wondering if I could work overtime on a few extra evenings…"

"No."

She startled.

"I mean." He cleared his throat. "There are some evenings I will not be able to supervise you. It would be unwise to leave you alone in a lab."

"You mean you actually leave the lab every once in awhile?"

"I do not spend every waking hour in my lab."

"So you do have a social life."

"Hardly, I simply like reading without fearing anyone is in my labs."

"Are you protective of your equipment?"

"Let's just say if you knew what it cost you would be protective of it as well."

"I will take excellent care of things," she promised.

"I do not doubt that, but my answer remains no," he said.

"Why? Do you doubt my capabilities?"

"Not at all. Still, if something were to happen I would be fully responsible. It's best that I stay with you in order to prevent an accident."

"I suppose it would break our contract if I was injured due to what could be perceived as your negligence."

"It would also appear as if I was using you solely for my financial gain, which would go against the rules of the apprenticeship."

"Very true."

"That being said," he stood up straighter. "There are some evenings I can forego my literary escapades and supervise you. A few weekends may not be out of the question either, assuming you desire to do that."

"I need the money, and to be quite blunt, I need some time away from Ron."

"I will allow you to work some weekends for more money, provided you do not use this as an escape from Ms. Weasley," he frowned. "Merlin knows the last thing I need is Molly coming into my store and screeching about how I am taking her future daughter-in-law away from her son."

"I am not eager to hear her reaction. Knowing Molly, she's already planning the whole wedding." Hermione slouched and shook her head.

"If you do not want that, you should step in and stop her."

"Yes."

"I mean it." Severus locked eyes with her. "You are more powerful than any witch I know, Ms. Granger. Do not be afraid to wield your power."

"I know I have power. I'm just shaken by the ambush."

"Who wouldn't be?"

"Not Ron apparently."

"Ronald wasn't ambushed."

"No, he wasn't." She admitted.

"With all that out of the way, you are here to master potions, not receive therapy." Severus' tone was that of a professor.

"I may need therapy after all of this is said and done," she muttered.

"Indeed." I may need therapy after seeing you waste your life on this dunderhead.

"Still, that's my business, not yours," she answered.

"Indeed," he stepped out from behind the counter. "Now, I take no delight in your distress, but your emotions could provide us with a valuable learning experience."

"How?"

"There are days you will feel less than capable of brewing, whether due to emotional turmoil, illness, or having your favorite robes set aflame by some troublemaking first year."

She nodded.

"You will need to learn to compartmentalize." He led her into the lab. "I use occlumency, but we do not have time to learn that today."

"Could we learn it later?"

He glanced back at her.

"If I'm your apprentice, I should learn everything you have to offer, even if it is slightly outside the scope of potions," she said. "In my mind, that includes occlumency."

"I suppose if you're going to be working later some evenings we may as well make the most of our time together."

"So you'll teach me occlumency and legillimency?"

"Legillimency too?"

"Why not? I do want to learn everything I can."

"My my you're a greedy little witch," he purred.

"No, just one eager to learn." She had a little bit of a blush.

"Indeed you are," Severus answered. "Very well then, you can learn legillimency too."

"Yes." She looked at him as if he'd just promised her a raise.

"Indeed." He couldn't help but relax.

There was hope for Hermione yet.