Chapter 32
Severus and Hermione said their very reluctant farewells in Hermione's lobby. They dare not go into the sitting room, where it was more comfortable, just so the evening wouldn't be ruined with Elmer's talking.
Severus kissed Hermione's cheek, then her hand and stepped back away from her.
"I will return in the morning. Sleep well."
"Goodnight Severus." she breathed his name and he felt the flush all over again. He had to go.
He nodded his head to her and was gone with a crack.
Hermione stood still in the quiet room and then squealed with delight. He clapped hr hands and turned to go to the sitting room, where she knew Sylvester was waiting.
She entered the room and threw her cape over a chair and saw Sylvester sitting in a chair reading a book.
"Sylvester!" he dropped the book and jumped to his feet. He had taken liberty with his mistress by reading her books. Hermione only smiled at him and laughed.
"Syl, don't look so terrified. Now pick up that book and mark your page for later. I have much to tell you." Sylvester looked relieved and followed Hermione into the next room. As they passed Elmer she heard his voice speak quietly.
"You look very good in love." Hermione stopped and frowned a bit at her reflection. But Elmer was silent and didn't say another word. Sylvester was pulling on her hand so she followed.
Sylvester awakened Hermione early the next morning. The sun was barely peeking over the horizon as Sylvester scuttled about the room pulling her clothes out and humming a tune Hermione didn't know.
She stretched her arms over her head and felt energy fill her. She hadn't felt this good in a very long time. Today was exciting already and then there was the wonderful perk of seeing Severus again. Her heart flipped in her chest when she remembered his kiss. Such passion and such warmth she would never had believed could come from him. But he showed her how very wrong they all were about him over the years.
Hermione showered and dressed in the clothes Sylvester had put out for her. She wore her smartest robes and pulled her hair into a tight knot on the back of her head. She checked herself over in her full length mirror and was satisfied. Sylvester brought her a cup of tea to the lab as she entered and set out to organize her notes and everything else they were going to need on this very important day. But she saw as she sat down, that Sylvester had done it all. There were little folders, each with notes and forms filed neatly inside. There were vials of both potions and their ingredients lined up in neat little rows, ready to be checked over again and placed in a carrier Sylvester had set out for them. There was nothing for Hermione to do but sip her tea and wait.
Severus did not keep her waiting for long. He had risen before the sun and paced his bedroom, waiting for the sun to arrive so he could apparate to her. He seemed as though he had lost a limb when he went home. Something inside of him was missing that he knew could only be repaired by being in her company.
When it was time, he apparated without a second thought into her lobby and with great strides, entered the lab in a flourish of robes.
Hermione looked up at him as he entered and they were both taken aback at the intensity in each others eyes. Severus felt that her eyes caressed his heart and he was blessed with warmth inside of him. He slowly entered and walked towards her.
"Good Morning Severus. Tea?" she conjured a cup for him and poured him a cup without waiting for an answer. His eyes swept over the long lab table and saw everything ready for them.
"You've been busy." he said. Hermione smiled as she handed him a cup and shook her head.
"No, I haven't. Sylvester did all of this." Together they looked over all that Sylvester had done and Severus nodded his head in approval at the elf's abilities.
They turned as Sylvester entered the room with a POP.
"Is my misses be satisfied?" he looked a little concerned and his bulging eyes raced from one human to the other.
"Sylvester, you are amazing. Truly amazing. However, there is one thing that you need to do before we leave." Sylvester's face cracked into a wide grin at her praise.
"Yes Miss?" he padded towards her and looked up at her.
"Sylvester, I want you with us today. You have done just as much work as we have and we need all the support we can get. Will you come?" Sylvester's eyes, as well as Severus', looked wide and confused.
"Hermione, do you think-" she cut him off.
"Sylvester? Do you want to come?" she smiled at his gleeful squeak and he popped from the room to 'go get himself smartened up'.
An hour later, they were ready to apparate to the Irish Ministry. All three of them looked at each other in silence. When they returned, their worlds would be a bit hectic for awhile. Sylvester stood before his mistress and carried the potions carrier. Severus and Hermione stood, arm in arm and then they apparated.
The Irish ministry was located in Belfast. Beneath a castle that had turned into a tourist attraction, lay deep catacombs that were the Irish Ministry of Magic. Windows were enchanted to show the weather outside and large fireplaces lined the walls of the foyer. Candles lined the walls as Severus, Hermione and Sylvester approached the reception desk.
A plump, merry old man sat behind the desk and was smoking a cigar as he spoke.
"Top o'the morning' to ya! Where is it you three are going?"
"We have an appointment, in the office of Patents and Experimental Magic."
"What's your name lass?" he was checking a roster of names that had appointment times listed beside them.
"Hermione Granger and Severus Snape." Severus felt uncomfortable and looked as awful as he felt. He hated being in Ministries and cringed when she said his name. His name was usually accompanied with glares and gasps.
"Oh yeah, I see here. Welcome to Belfast! We are delighted you came. I will alert the officials that you are ready. Welcome, welcome to the both of you." and with that, he apparated form his chair and left the two of them dumbfounded.
Hermione chanced a glance at Severus and he looked as shocked as anyone could be. She chuckled as she thought he was probably more nervous at his own welcome to the Ministry, more so than the actual demonstration today.
Before long, a group of people approached them in the lobby. The first man was short and smiling from ear to ear. He introduced himself as the Irish Minister of Magic, William Greensboro. The second man was tall and thin, he too was smiling at them while he twirled his bowler hat on his finger. He was the Assistant to the Minister of Magic, Sean O'Flagen. There were two clerks who were introduced to them and everyone was all smiles. They greeted Hermione and Severus with warmth and Severus never felt so flustered in his life. They even introduced themselves to Sylvester, who looked mortified by the attention he was being given and took to hiding behind is mistress. This was met with merry laughter.
They were ushered into an elevator and the group of them were talking amicably about the weather and Quidditch, to which neither Severus nor Hermione cold volunteer any opinions.
They unloaded the elevator and followed in a tight group down a hall and turned left, then right, then left again. They entered a large waiting area and stopped.
Sitting in the waiting chairs, to the Minister's office, was Percy Weasley. Percy still was Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic in London. He wore a grim expression and stood when the group entered the room.
Sean O'Flagen approached him and offered his hand.
"Good Morning to you. Are you here to see the Minister?" Percy shook Sean's hand briefly and placed his nose in the air.
"I am required to be here to witness the demonstration of," here he checked his papers and read the names of the potions off. " 'The Coniectura Potion' and the 'Arbitrio Suo' combination under the order of the English Minster of Magic. Well then, I am ready when you are gentlemen."
"Excuse me lad, but why on earth would the English Ministry need to witness a demonstration here? We are well educated on all things, just as much as the English are." Sean didn't look happy. His jovial manner was dropped and a business attitude was adopted. His matched Percy's, but his was stronger and more self assured. The Irish Minister continued to smoke his cigar and smirked a smile at his assistant.
"Yes, the Minster of Magic wishes to have a representative of is own present this morning. Due to the nature of the…erm…experiment and also," here he gestured towards Severus. "because of that man." All eyes, except for Hermione's followed his pointing finger to Severus' hard face. Hermione remained glaring at the sniveling Percy.
"This man?" Sean motioned towards Severus over his shoulder. Percy nodded his head in a sad way.
"Yes. In London, well in all of England actually, he is known for his…obsession with the Dark Arts."
"Well, wouldn't that be a good thing? Today of all days? If he didn't have that 'obsession' as you put it, he and the lovely Ms. Granger wouldn't have developed what they have, now would they?" Sean had taken upon himself to challenge the red headed Weasley and Hermione felt a wave of gratitude toward him.
"Yes, that's all well and good of course. However, this man is and was a follower of…You-Know-Who."
There was silence in the room.
Percy seemed to be emboldened by the silence.
"Yes, it is regrettable, but he has also…murdered a very important person in the community." Sean turned to look Severus over for a moment and then back at Percy.
"Then why, pray tell, does the Ministry allow a man to go free who has been found guilty of such crimes? Shouldn't he be in Azkaban?" Percy shifted his weight and stumbled a bit before he spoke.
"Well, ah…well he as cleared of the charges on a technicality. He …well…the Ministry was unable to charge him formally."
"Minster, please. We can explain! It was-" The Minster waved his hand to Hermione and placed his cigar in between his teeth. He approached Percy, his wide girth preceding him as he walked with his hands behind his back. He looked thoughtful as Sean stepped back.
"My good man, we here believe in the law. We would never harbor a fugitive or give anyone asylum. However, since your Ministry was unable to prove his guilt and since he has been working with a prominent figure in our own country," here he waved his hand to Hermione "we consider him a noble man with no other motives other than to do his duty. I am not interested in deeds done in people's past. All things considered, Scrimgeour is a honorable man and an able Minster If he was not able to prove this man's guilt, then he is innocent in the eyes of this Ministry." Hermione beamed at the stout man's back. She glanced at Severus, who had a severe look on his face. She reached out and squeezed his hand. He squeezed it back and they waited.
Percy looked ready to explode. He and Ron were alike in that when they were angry or embarrassed, their ears went as red as a radish.
"Well, I suppose that concludes this interruption. Let's move on shall we?" Sean smiled in Severus' direction and Severus inclined his head his way. They filed past Percy and the Minister and entered a large, empty room.
"What was your name again lad?" The Minster asked Percy.
"Percy Weasley sir. Undersecretary to-"
"That's nice. Your welcome to observe. Any interruptions will be considered a direct insult to me. You are a welcome guest." he looked at Percy pointedly and they motioned for him to precede him into the room.
Greensboro clapped his hands together and rubbed them, smiling. The thick cigar still between his teeth.
"Gentlemen, lady," he bowed slightly to Hermione. "shall we begin?"