Thanks once again to TheFrenchPress for the photo inspiration for this chapter, which y'all can see if you follow me on ao3.
Thank you all for your continued support on this story. It means the world.
She was working in her lab when he arrived.
"You should know better than to keep beverages in a potions lab."
She spun around, nearly dropping a pipette, large goggles still covering her eyes. Severus stood in the doorway to the lab, arms crossed over his chest, pulling slightly at the straight lines on his coat.
"It's not a potions lab," she replied.
He glanced around. "No, it is not." Her eyes lingered on his hands, his stance, his hair, watching him take in her space. "But you did well ridding it of the magical residue. I imagine that would not interact well with your muggle potions."
She fought the side of her mouth that wanted to tug up in a smile. "I'm surprised to see you here," she said, redirecting.
"It's Friday."
"Yes."
"It's still this week."
"Technically, yes."
He shrugged, looking over the lab instead of at her. "It was important you did it for yourself, Miss Granger."
Her cheeks reddened; he still knew her well. She placed the pipette onto the table and removed her goggles.
His eyes roved the dark red lines the glasses had pressed into her skin. And looked away again. "What is all of this?" he asked, gesturing towards the lab equipment she had throughout the space. Microscopes, beakers, slides—even a computer to document it all.
"As close as I could get to potions in the muggle world," she said. "Experimenting, inventing, studying." Her words carried an air of sadness and resignation.
He noticed. "Was it worth it? Leaving?"
Her eyes broke from his as her hand fell towards her stomach. She caught it before the habit she'd never quite broken became apparent, leaning on the table instead. "No," she said, "nothing quite worked out as I imagined." She looked up at him again resolutely. "But I suppose nothing does."
"In my experience," he said gently. "That is true."