Disclaimer: The characters, settings, etc. of the Harry Potter series are not mine. I just play with them.
Of Love and Livelihood
Part Four
On the thirteenth day of his exile, Severus left London and returned to his home. He apparated to Hogsmeade and stalked up the path from the village to the castle, scowling all the way. He entered Hogwarts just as the students began pouring out of the Great Hall from breakfast, and was very pleased to see the looks of terror on their faces when they caught sight of him. He quite enjoyed the way they cleared a path for him as he made his way through the halls and down to his dungeons.
When Severus turned the corner into the hallway that held his classroom, office, and chambers, he was not surprised to see Dumbledore standing beside his classroom's door, waiting for him. Severus was surprised, though, to note that the old man looked rather nervous.
"Good morning, Severus!" Albus said cheerfully, giving him an overly large grin. "Did you enjoy your vacation?"
Severus glared at him. "I've never been more bored in my entire life, Albus. It was so bad that I almost missed the hordes of brats and the exploding cauldrons."
"Oh," said Albus as his eyes darted from one side to the other. "Well, erm. You see, Severus, I am afraid I may have some bad news."
"You may have some bad news?" Severus growled. "Either you do or you don't, and I suggest you spit it out because I am in no mood for games today."
Severus was happy to note that Dumbledore looked suitably unnerved by this proclamation. "The Board of Governors has decided that they want to keep you under review for a bit longer. They also want to keep this new fellow on the staff temporarily. They have decided to let him teach your Tuesday and Thursday classes while you keep the rest of your classes. They believe they will come to a final decision as to who will take the position of Potions Professor by the end of term."
Severus raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. This news was potentially both good and bad. His competitor, as it were, would be stuck with all of his first and second year Potions classes. A lack of experience would render his dealings with these classes disastrous. Severus remembered only too well how difficult it was in the beginning of his career to attempt to explain to young children the hows and whys of Potions making. Thus, his competitor could only fail. Which meant, of course, he'd have his job back completely in less than a month.
Unless, for some reason, he actually did well. Snape nearly shuddered at the thought.
-----
"So what's his name, then?" Hermione asked as she turned the page in one of the periodicals Pince had finally delivered to Severus.
"Lucilius." Severus replied from his end of the couch. He watched Hermione read as he slowly sipped his firewhiskey.
"Lucilius," Hermione repeated. "That is quite lovely. Certainly rolls of the tongue, doesn't it?"
Severus frowned. "Yes," he replied. "Much like 'Severus' does, I imagine."
"No, no," Hermione said, shaking her head. "Lucilius is much smoother than Severus."
He took a rather large sip from his glass. "Indeed."
Hermione raised an eyebrow as she glanced up at him. "No need to be jealous, Mr. Snape. Just because I think he has a nice name doesn't mean I am going to desert you to sleep with him."
"Mmm," he replied.
Hermione smiled and scooted closer to him on the couch. "Paranoia again, Professor?" she asked as she rested her head on his shoulder and pressed her lips to his neck.
Severus sighed and placed his hand on her thigh, rubbing his thumb back and forth over the rough denim of her jeans. "Maybe, Miss Granger."
He felt her kiss his neck once more. "I'd never leave you, Severus," she whispered. "I never will."
And Severus suddenly knew that this was it. This was the moment when he was supposed to ask for her hand in marriage. He stood from his seat, walking a few paces toward the fireplace. He turned around to look at her, and saw that she was watching him from the couch.
"Hermione," he said. She looked at him expectantly, but he found he could say nothing more. He couldn't do it, not just yet. He wasn't quite ready to propose.
However, a knock on the door to his chambers saved him from having to say anything more. "Enter," Severus called in the direction of the door, tearing his eyes away from Hermione.
The door opened quickly, and Draco Malfoy stepped inside the room. Severus watched as his godson looked quickly from him to Hermione and back to him. "Severus," he said as he closed the door, "how are you?"
He shrugged. "I'm breathing, Draco."
"I came as soon as I heard you were told of the new arrangements," Draco said, and Severus noted that the man sounded worried. "You…you haven't done anything rash, have you?"
Severus frowned at his godson. "Like what, exactly?"
Draco gave an awkward chuckle and shrugged. "Oh, nothing in particular, Severus, Ginny had just mentioned to me that her mother had heard from Minerva that you nearly killed Dumbledore over something silly like a comment about Hermione spending the night. So, who knows what you might do in this situation, right?" Draco broke into another peal of laughter, but halted abruptly when no one else laughed with him. "Erm, anyway. Are you all right with the arrangement? I voted against allowing Tom to take on the first and second year classes, but I'm afraid I was out voted."
"Tom?" Hermione asked from her spot on the couch.
"Yes," said Draco. "Tom Lucilius. He's the man who the Board is considering giving Severus's position to."
"Tom," Severus said, giving Hermione a little grin. "My, how that just rolls off the tongue." He was quite pleased to see her smile back at him.
-----
Tom Lucilius was charming. Severus was not sure he was surprised at this, though. It seemed only logical that the man who was vying for his position would be his polar opposite. Tom Lucilius had blond hair that was just a few shades lighter than his lovely golden hued skin. He had bright blue eyes, a tinkling laugh that rivaled Dumbledore's, and a brilliant smile he shone on everyone.
Severus did not know if he was a very good teacher. He did know, however, that the students liked Professor Lucilius and that the first and second years had actually taken to looking forward to attending Potions classes. At least, that was what he heard Sprout telling McGonagall over dinner his third evening back in the castle.
He had only spoken to Tom Lucilius once. And that was to demand what the hell the man thought he was doing when Severus happened upon him going through the personal stores of his office. Lucilius had blushed becomingly, offered his hand to Severus, introduced himself as the new Potions Professor, and inquired quite politely after Severus's identity.
"Severus Snape," he replied, taking Lucilius' hand in his own. "The old Potions Professor."
"Oh," said Lucilius, his smile faltering and his eyes betraying his wariness. "How nice to meet you, Severus. I suppose you might be curious as to why I'm in your office."
"Yes," Snape replied. "And going through my Potions stores."
"Erm," Lucilius said, momentarily losing some of his grace. "I needed some very particular ingredients for a Potion I plan on brewing with the second years and I am afraid that they weren't in the Student Cupboard. I thought I'd come find them here, you know, in the Potions Professors' stores. Being one of the Potions Professors myself, I was thought I was entitled to go through them."
Severus had leant against the doorjamb then, allowing his eyes to bear into Lucilius'. He waited until he saw the man gulp before he spoke. "Those thoughts are incorrect, Professor."
Lucilius gave a weak chuckle at this, but was prevented from responding by the flames of the fireplace suddenly turning green and Hermione stepping out of the hearth.
"Clean as always, Severus," she said as she inspected her black cocktail dress. "I really do love that about your fireplace," she added as she finally looked up, a smile adorning her face. The smile was quickly replaced by a look of surprise when she registered that Snape was not alone in his office. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I? You did remember, darling, that we're having dinner with my parents?"
"Of course," Severus replied, doing his best not to roll his eyes in exasperation. "Hermione, this is Tom Lucilius."
"Ah," said Hermione, giving Lucilius a tight smile. "How nice to meet you, sir."
"The pleasure is all mine," Lucilius replied, and Severus noted that the man seemed to have regained his sway, for he was once again flashing his brilliant smile in Hermione's direction, and Severus did not fail to notice the way his eyes trailed down her form. Not that he could truly blame him; that dress did wonders for her figure.
Hermione gave a small nod of acknowledgement before redirecting her attention to Severus. "Are you coming along now, darling? Please don't tell me you have some Potion experiment to work on with Mr. Lucilius-"
"Professor Lucilius," the blond man interrupted. "It's Professor."
Hermione inclined her head slightly in acknowledgement before turning her attention once again to Severus. "As I was saying, I really hope I didn't wrestle myself into this tiny little dress if you planned on spending the night with Mr. Lucilius here."
Severus smiled at her, enjoying the choking sounds that came from their companion. "I'll be along presently, my dear. I just have to rework the wards. Apparently they aren't strong enough to keep out unwanted visitors."
"Ah," said Hermione. "Well, I'd be glad to wait for you."
"Thank you," Severus replied before turning his attention back to Lucilius. "It was nice meeting you, Professor," he said to the stunned looking man. "But I'm afraid I must ask you to leave my offices immediately."
Severus watched as Lucilius's jaw dropped and he made a sound very reminiscent of the giant squid's mating call. "But I am the Potions Professor! These are the Potions Professor's offices!"
Severus frowned. The man was truly trying his nerves. "No, you are a Potions Professor. I am the Potions Master of this school, and these offices and these stores are mine. So, I will ask you once more to leave before I am forced to assist you."
"Severus," Hermione said from her spot beside the fireplace. He disliked the warning in her tone.
"Honestly, Miss Granger," Severus said, turning his gaze on her. "You act as though I'd kill him."
She raised an eyebrow in response, and Severus supposed Lucilius saw this for he squeaked rather loudly.
"Listen!" he said, his voice a good bit higher than it normally was. "Snape! I will not be intimidated in this manner! I am an educated man who knows plenty about the art of Potions making, and make no mistake, I will have your job by the year's end!" And with that, the man turned and flounced out of the room.
Hermione snorted gently once he'd gone. "An exit worthy of the Potions Master himself."
Severus turned to glare at her, and she smiled back impishly.
-----
Severus did not mind dining with the Grangers. They didn't really say all that much to him, apart from inquiring after his health and one or two polite questions about his classes. Severus spent most of his time on such evenings focusing on consuming his food and wine while Hermione and Mrs. Granger prattled on and on for hours.
Occasionally, one or both of the women would direct a question at Mr. Granger who would usually respond with a delicate grunt. Severus, having spent a good few evenings in their company, had reached the point at which he could easily understand and translate Mr. Granger's grunts. There were three: the brusque, loud affirmative, the low, softer, and longer grunt of disapproval, and his gentle grunt of indifference.
Severus was chewing on a forkful of peas when he tuned into the conversation long enough to hear Hermione ask her father something about wedding preferences.
"Weddings!" both he and Mr. Granger exclaimed simultaneously. Severus was glad to know he was not the only one severely taken aback by this question.
"Yes," Hermione said, looking only at her father and ignoring Severus's outburst. "I was wondering if you had any particularly strong feelings about my having a Muggle or Wizard style wedding."
Severus gaped at her and could see her father doing the same from the corner of his eye. Mrs. Granger seemed quite content to stare down at her plate and smile at it. Hermione, however, was giving her father that look of curious innocence. In the years Severus had known her, she had perfected this look and had used it to her advantage in numerous situations.
Mr. Granger just stared at her in response. Hermione grinned at him before turning her attention to her mother. "What about you, Mum? Any preferences?"
"Oh," she said, "I will be fine with whatever you and Severus decide upon."
Severus heard an indignant sputtering noise issue forth from his mouth.
"Yes, darling?" Hermione said, turning to look at him. "Did you have something to add?"
Severus opened and closed his mouth four times before the word finally formed itself. "Marriage?"
"Mmm," Hermione said as she raised her wine glass to her lips, smirking at him. "Indeed," she added after she'd taken a sip. Immediately, she turned her attention to her mother. "So, how is old Mr. Thomas doing? We didn't see him in his garden when we arrived. Has there even been much activity next door since Mrs. Thomas passed?"
-----
Ron handed Severus the bottle of firewhiskey. "It's just how she is, Severus. It's nothing personal. It's just war."
Severus shook his head as he took a sip straight from the bottle. "But in front of her parents! She's made it practically obligatory, hasn't she?"
Javier had the gall to snicker, and Severus glowered at him in response. "Oh come on, cousin. It could be worse, couldn't it?"
"No," said Draco from his corner chair. "No, it couldn't. She's made her intentions known which means she has expectations. Expectations that Severus will have to live up to now."
Severus shuddered and took another, larger sip from the bottle. "Goodness," he said once he'd swallowed. "What have I gotten myself into?"
"Well," said Potter, "I don't envy you, mate."
Severus tried to ignore the fact that Harry Potter had just called him 'mate' as he put back more whiskey. "Indeed."
"All you need is a plan of attack, Severus," Ron said. "A strategy."
"Strategy," he echoed, nodding slowly.
"And we'll help you!" Javier exclaimed, grinning jovially at him.
Severus was far too busy giving him a grateful look to notice the rest of his companions glaring at Javier with a fervor and disgust that would have impressed even him.
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Note: Thanks for reading!