Chapter 12

Severus sat in front of the fireplace in his dilapidated house in London. The walls were dark, and the shadows from the fire danced across his face. He was reading the latest edition of Witch Weekly. (A periodical that he would never admit to partaking in.) He thumbed through the pages as he sipped a glass of fine elf-made wine.

The sounds of the muggle city outside carried on, but here in his own home, he was wrapped in the loving arms of solitude.

All of this was broken with the sound of a pecking noise at his small window. A tawny owl sat, irritated, looking into the room. Severus stood slowly and opened the window, allowing the bird to swoop inside. The irritated creature held his leg out expectantly and waited for Severus to untie the letter.

As soon as the letter was free, the bird hooted and swooped from the room. Severus eyed the letter with boredom. It was addressed to Professor Severus Snape and it was written in thick green ink. The paper was expensive and he assumed it was from Hogwarts. Severus tossed the letter onto the table without opening it.

Minerva could wait until he was good and ready. This was his break after all. Why should he answer to her on his time off?

He spent the quiet night leisurely reading and sipping wine.

Severus wasn't dreaming. Something was assaulting him in his sleep! He brought his arms up to cover his face as a piece of paper popped him smartly on his rather large nose. The envelope that had come by owl the night before was attacking him. It flopped around his face and refused to stop. Severus reached for his wand, silently cursing Minerva, as he attempted to stun it. The curse did nothing but infuriate the envelope more and it whipped across his nose and the top of his head.

Severus stood, with the envelope still catching his forehead and arms, and grabbed the offending object. He was seething by the time he ripped it open. The moving stopped as he read.

This was, in fact, another one of Hermione's extremely lucrative spells. The spell is cast on a message, or bill and if it sat for more than six hours unopened, the envelope would assault it's intended recipient until read. This was a popular spell with bill collectors and parents of teenagers. Quieter than a Howler, but just as expressive.

Severus had to read through the letter twice to catch every detail. Ms. Granger was requesting that he come for a consultation. It seems she was having trouble identifying an unknown potion and claimed he was the best there was, in regards to potions and identifying their ingredients. She said nothing more about it, except that he was instructed to bring his Potions Directory and any other materials he could use to help her, if he chose to come. Severus didn't need a directory. His nose was his directory. He could positively identify ingredients in a potion no matter what they were mixed with.

Sevrus had no desire to go. Why would he? He tossed the paper aside and gave it a sharp look. Silently daring it to assault him again. If he were to go, it would only be to put that little know-it-all in her place for sending him an enchanted letter. The nerve of her!

Sevrus was once again reading by firelight, though it was light outside. But he found he could not concentrate on the material before him. His mind wandered. His life was monotonous and he was resolved, and somewhat thankful, for it. But the desire to once again be challenged with something new, to work on something that could bring him from the deep chasm of boredom that he had dug himself…well…it was tempting. He wasn't all together thrilled about answering a summons by the Ms. Granger.

Perhaps….perhaps she was working on some lucrative potion? If it were big enough, he could retire early and live off of that and a partial retirement. He could cut his losses and retreat into the world. Certainly Ms. Granger had enough money and prestige by now, he was sure she could arrange it. Perhaps it would be beneficial for him to go? Do the work she asked of him and then…yes. He would go and end his miserable state of affairs.

But first, he needed her to accept him as an official consultation. A wage earning consultant. A consultant that was paid residuals in whatever potion or potions he assisted with. No…he would be no assistant. He would all of the work and claim all of the rewards.

Severus grabbed his wand and summoned a piece of parchment and quill.

Ms. Granger…