"I eat just about everything Severus. I try things before I decide if I don't like them." Hermione stated getting ready to take a bite of her food.
"Well, that will make life easier, Love." Severus grabbed his cheese-stick and took a bite.
"This is all amazing Severus. You have a knack for cooking. Must come from being a Potions Master. Knowing what goes well with what."
Severus chuckled at her statement. Always the know it all. He thought to himself. He nodded his head at her and continued to eat.
They ate the rest of their dinner in silence. They quietly observed each other and noticed little things about each other that they had never noticed before. Severus noticed that Hermione always touched her nose with her pinky finger with every bite. Hermione noticed Severus always clinked his silverware on the edge of his plate when he was done taking a bite.
When both had finished eating Severus suggested that they move into the study and discuss her schedule as his assistant. When Hermione stepped into the study she gasped. All the walls were lined with bookshelves and all the shelves were full.
"You are welcome to read any of the tomes within this room. I just ask that you use cation with the books on the west wall top shelf. Not that you would ever dream of harming a book."
Hermione blushed at his statement. She walked around the room and was amazed to find several books she had never heard of there for never read. She ran her fingers along some of the spines of her favorite books. She reached the shelf closet to Severus's chair and gasped again.
"You have quite the collection of Muggle literature here. I am surprised. I never took you for the type." Hermione said pulling a book from the shelf.
"My father was a Muggle, Hermione. Do not let my involvement with the Death Eaters cloud what you think you know about me. We all make mistakes. Some more serious than others."
"I never meant it like that." Hermione was slightly ashamed of herself.
"Before we get started there are a few things you need to know. First any discussion about Lily Potter is off limits as are the memories I gave Potter. Second, my biggest regrets in life are my involvement with Voldemort and killing Albus. And lastly, we will not discuss my role in the War. While there may come a time in the future the last item might need to be discussed, now is not the time. Is this clear to you?"
"Yes, Severus. I am sorry for my comment. Shall we get to the reason we came in here?"
"Yes. I brew several potions a day and at a time. The first few days I will have you making simple potions. As you earn my trust and show me you are capable, you will move on to more difficult potions and more of them. From time to time I will require you to assist me with the potion I am brewing. Wednesdays are research days and we do not work on the weekends unless we are behind."
Hermione thought about everything he said and agreed.
"That is very reasonable. I would like to propose something that will help with the every day aspects of our lives. I propose that we switch off days for cooking, and whoever isn't the cook cleans up. Unless the person who is supposed to make dinner is at a critical stage of a potion than the other will cook. While I deem myself I decent cook I don't think I can cook as well as you so I hope you will forgive me for any burned meals or dinners that we simply can not eat."
Severus smirked at Hermione standing there with her hands on her hips staring at him. The girl he remembered was a force to be reckoned with. The woman before him looked drug through the dirt and back and then left to dry. He hoped with a few months of stability he could get her looking healthy again and full of life.
"I agree. I have no orders to fill this week so we will start Monday. That gives you a few days to settle in and for us to get used to each other."
"Thank you sir. Now if we have nothing left to discuss, I would really enjoy a long hot shower and to go to bed. Do you need me for anything before I do so?"
"Go and enjoy a bath. I will send up some salts that will help. If you do not object to me doing so?"
"That sounds wonderful. You know where I will be."
Hermione walked up the stairs and to her room to gather a few things for her bath. When she walked into the bathroom she was assaulted by the most wonderful smell she had ever encountered.
"Severus, what did you put in my bathwater?" she yelled.
"Nothing dangerous I assure you." he said. He smirked to himself.