Disclaimer: Yes, I'm the owner of all things Harry Potter...I'm also the President of the United States, the Queen of England, sole heir to both Donald Trump's and Bill Gates' fortunes, the first woman to land on the moon...oh, did I mention that I am delusional?

Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! Christine - excellent questions, and I thought about doing the whole B&N-esque kind of thing, and even having Snape help out after a while or something, but then I opted against it. Your last question will be answered next chapter, I believe.

On to the next chapter...

"Ah, back so soon, my boy?"

Severus' back tensed as the old man's voice hit his ears. He couldn't even make it ten steps into the Entrance Hall before being accosted by the geezer.

"Obviously," he replied in a clipped tone.

Dumbledore merely smiled at his typical behaviour. "And how did you find the new shop and its owner?"

Severus knew that Albus would not leave him be if he did not just simply answer the old man's nosy inquiries. Might as well just get it over with before he tries to follow me down to the dungeon. I'll never get rid of him if that happens.

"The shop was well-stocked with a variety of works, though it lacked many of the more useful early editions of quite a few books."

Dumbledore chuckled at the younger man's bored review of the new shop. The old man was well aware of the need to read between the lines when it came to his Potions Professor – and he knew that comment was high praise coming from Severus. His eyes twinkled merrily as he spoke again. "It has only just opened, Severus. Give it time."

Severus merely huffed at the thought that he should give the store time – he was well aware that the shop was perfect the way it was…he just could not bring himself to admit as much to Albus, or anyone for that matter.

"And what do you think about its owner, my boy?" Albus had to contain his chuckle as Severus rolled his eyes.

"I found Jane to be a moderately pleasant young woman, if a bit too eager. She seemed somewhat familiar, but I could not recall ever meeting a Jane that looked like her before."

Albus' eyebrows rose at the name 'Jane', but Severus seemed not to notice.

"Yes, my boy, she is quite a pleasant young woman," Albus replied absently. Just what, exactly, transpired at the shop this morning? Albus wondered. He would have to find out from Hermione later.

Severus eyed the Headmaster as the old man suddenly turned and went on about his business. It wasn't really strange behaviour for Albus, but Severus felt like something was up. Shaking the feeling away – he chalked it up to the fact that Albus was just getting more ridiculous every day – he went about his business as well.

Two months passed and The Book Worm was soon overrun with students purchasing their books for the year.

Hermione watched the crowded shop from her staircase – it was charmed like always, so it made a wonderful observation point. The students were not, surprisingly, destroying the store – as was her experience from her days of school-shopping. Instead, they were behaving in a most considerate manner towards both the books and the three employees she was able to hire prior to the mad back-to-school rush.

Hermione was quite impressed with her new employees. All three were older, having already retired from their careers. Mary used to be a librarian and just wanted to work part-time. The other two – Jacob and Jenny – were husband and wife and also wanted to work part-time. Between the three part-timers, the shop was more than covered so that Hermione could have some time off for herself once in a while.

After watching the crowded store for nearly a quarter of an hour, Hermione made her way down the staircase and appeared to have emerged from thin air in the midst of a few first year students and their parents. She smiled at their looks of surprise before making her way to the front of the shop.

Once she reached the counter and greeted Mary, who was working the till, Hermione noticed a flash of black out of the corner of her. When she turned to get a better look, Hermione met the dark eyes of one Severus Snape.

He was standing near one of the display tables, idly holding a hard-backed book in his hand. He quirked an eyebrow at her – his way of greeting her, she assumed – before he turned to glare at a few passing sixth year students.

Hermione understood then why the numerous students were being so well-behaved: their most-feared professor was watching them like the proverbial hawk.

She continued to watch her former Potions Professor out of the corner of her eye until Mary indicated that she needed assistance.

As she helped Mary at the till, Hermione's thoughts drifted to Severus.

He had been coming to the shop frequently since that first time on opening day, she noticed. Not always did he purchase a book, but it seemed like he browsed the shelves for longer at a time each visit. The more she saw of him, the more she felt the pull of that long forgotten (or so she thought) schoolgirl crush.

They always chatted briefly during his visits, but each time, their brief conversations lasted a bit longer than the one before. Each conversation gave her insight to the man behind the surly professor's mask. He was much more than he let on when she was his student and it made her ache to know more about him.

And the only drawback to the whole situation? She felt truly horrible that she continued to let him believe that she was some unknown woman named Jane, rather than former Head Girl of Hogwarts and war hero, Hermione Granger, bane of his existence for seven straight years.

She just hadn't found the right moment to tell him who she really was...wait, that's not true...she just enjoyed seeing a different side of him, a side that she never would have seen if he knew she was Hermione Granger straight from the beginning and she wasn't ready to give that up just yet.

And that is exactly what she told Albus when he came to see her the day before.

"Good morning, Headmaster," Hermione greeted the bearded man as he entered the shop that morning.

"My dear, how many times must I ask you to call me Albus?" He chuckled merrily as Hermione's cheeks coloured sheepishly. "Now," he looked around at the shelves and tables full of books, "you've done a wonderful job with the shop, my dear. I am quite impressed."

He moved to stroll leisurely around the store, stopping occasionally to peer at a particular book. Hermione followed behind him, knowing from past experience that he was working up to a delicate discussion about something.

Sure enough, as he passed by the section of potions-related texts, he turned to face Hermione, a solemn look on his face – she knew what was coming and braced herself for it. "I understand that my Potions Master has visited this lovely establishment quite a few times." Albus paused to give Hermione a moment to assess where this conversation was going, even though they both already knew.

"Right. About that..." Albus held up his hand to halt her explanation.

"I can understand why you made the decision to give Severus your middle name – he truly did not recognize you – but, you must understand that he will be furious when he finds out that you purposely mislead him. He does not take being deceived lightly." His tone was sincere yet stern.

"I know, sir. I will tell him the truth soon, I promise." Hermione looked, and felt, properly chastised.

"Please do." After a moment's silence, he added, "It might not be my place to tell you this, but I think that he is quite taken with you, if his numerous visits to your shop are any indication, and I would hate to see him get hurt in any way."

Hermione nodded absently, her mind suddenly overwhelmed with the knowledge Albus imparted. Severus Snape was quite taken with her, Hermione Granger, Gryffindor Know-It-All. Wow.

Albus watched the young woman with knowing eyes as she absorbed what he just told her. After a few moments, he took his leave and left Hermione to her thoughts.

The sound of a small stack of books slapping down on the counter snapped Hermione from her thoughts. She shook her head briefly to clear her mind and looked up to see...

"Severus," she breathed before clearing her suddenly dry throat. "How are you today?"

Now, with Albus' words so fresh in her mind, she had a hard time not blushing in front of Severus.

"I am quite well, thank you. And yourself?" His silky soft tone relaxed her slightly and she flashed him a small smile. He truly did have impeccable manners when not in his 'bastard of the dungeons' persona.

"I'm well. What can I do for you?"

"I would like to purchase these," he pushed the stack of four tomes towards her, "and I would like to special order Clarkson's Early Potions for the Modern Man. I noticed that you didn't have it in stock, but it is rumoured to be an excellent book on early potions and I would quite like to read it."

"Of course." She had heard about the book - it was supposed to be an excellent book on early potions - and made a note to order enough to keep in stock. "I will have a delivery owl drop it off to you when it comes in, as I'm sure you will be busy with classes soon."

She laughed softly as he grimaced at the reminder that classes were starting too soon for his liking. "Thank you for reminding me," Severus said sarcastically. In an effort to change the subject, he added, "I understand that you will be having book readings every Sunday afternoon."

"Yes, this weekend will be the pilot run, but I think people will enjoy it," Hermione explained. "Our first reading will be something well known among wizards and witches, I'm sure, but after that we will branch out to lesser known works."

Severus nodded approvingly and Hermione felt her heart swell at having his approval. It only took fourteen years, but better late than never, right?

They both seemed to notice the line growing behind Severus at the same time. Poor Mary had been handling each customer while Hermione babbled away with Severus.

"I should get back to work," Hermione said unenthusiastically. She wanted to remain talking with Severus about books, readings, or well, whatever else they thought of, but she really did need to help Mary.

Severus nodded curtly and gathered his books before Hermione thought to put them in a bag. He left without another word and Hermione felt a little deflated at his silent departure. She promptly forgot about it, however, as she lost herself in her work once again.