AN: Thank you so much for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
Of course the day she began working with Severus was the day she spilled ketchup all over her powdered gray skirt. Despite the various cleaning spells, an oily vestige remained. So, at a quarter to seven she was scouring her closet for something to wear.
Hermione scowled. The only acceptable options were the coal gray business suit she had planned to wear the next day or her small sleeveless black dress which she had no plans to wear in the near future. Deciding on the latter, she changed.
After spending a few moments becoming presentable, she marched into the sitting room. It was odd to sit barefoot around in such a nice outfit, but she was not wearing high heels to impress a spirit who wore only a black tunic.
"Hermione?"
She startled.
"Hermione? Are you there?"
She rushed to the fireplace. "Harry?"
"Hey I just wanted to see if…" his eyes grew. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt anything."
"You aren't interrupting anything."
"No, I can call back," his ashen eyes gleamed. "I understand if you need to be somewhere soon."
"I have nowhere to be."
"Oh sure, you just like dressing up when you're lounging around the house."
She glanced at her dress and laughed. "Oh this, it's nothing really."
"It's pretty fancy for nothing."
"It isn't what you think anyway," she took a deep breath. "I have someone coming over to discuss my father's potion with me."
"So you wore that?"
"I didn't have a choice. Laundry day is tomorrow, and this was the only presentable thing I had left."
"Sure," he drawled.
"Honestly, our relationship is strictly professional."
"You don't need to lie to me."
"I'm not lying."
"Then don't lie to yourself."
She closed her mouth.
"It's good that you're finally moving on."
Hermione shook her head.
"I was going to invite you over for dinner on Sunday, but if you're busy I understand."
"No, Sunday works great for me. Just tell me when to come and I'll be there."
"Be here by five. Bring your friend if you'd like. I'd love to meet him."
"For the last time, I do not have a friend," she argued.
"So it isn't serious yet?" He asked.
"It isn't serious at all and it never will be."
"That's fine. Starting slow is a good thing."
She sighed. "How many people are going to be at your dinner?"
"You'll be the only guest in attendance."
"You could've invited other people."
"No, we thought you needed a distraction from everything. Besides, I'm sure it's been awhile since you've had a dinner that didn't come from a restaurant."
"I don't always eat out."
"I forgot, you sometimes make sandwiches and warm up a can of soup."
Hermione grinned. "They are good sandwiches."
"Oh yes, you should open your own deli."
"I should."
"In all seriousness," Harry cleared his throat. "It'll be good to see you again. Luna has some ultrasound pictures she wants you to see."
"I'd love to see them," she answered.
"Good."
From the corner of Hermione's eye, she saw a yellow glow. The room temperature increased.
"Anyway, I should let you return to your evening."
"Yes, my guest has arrived."
"Go knock his socks off!"
"Harry!"
"What? I'm just encouraging you."
She groaned.
"You deserve some happiness. Don't ever forget that."
"I won't."
With that, the fire died.
"Did you tell Potter about us?"
She turned towards the spirit. "Hello Hermione, how are you? Oh I'm fine, thank you for asking."
"Did you tell Potter about us?"
"For a spirit trying to get into heaven you certainly are being rude now."
"Fine," Severus' frown deepened. "How are you doing, Ms. Granger?"
"I am fine." She put some wood into the fireplace. "Work was chaos as always, but I think things are under control, at least for the moment."
"That is great to hear." Severus sat on her sofa. "Now, did you tell Potter about us?"
"I told him I had a guest coming to discuss my dad's potion with me. He might have extrapolated more than I meant for him too."
"Have you mentioned anything about me to him?"
"Yes, Severus, I spend my entire day discussing you with everyone I meet. In fact, I plan to floo Rita tomorrow asking her to run a story on my new supernatural visitor."
Severus suppressed the smile tugging at his lips.
"I have been too unsettled by you to tell anyone about you," she pulled out her wand, pointed it at the fireplace and muttered. "Incendio."
"That is probably for the best."
"I did ask Luna about spirits though." She strolled towards the sofa.
"Why would you ask her about spirits?"
"She was the only magical creature expert I knew."
"You have a point there."
"Given that Harry hasn't asked about you I doubt she told him anything," She sat beside him.
"Why would Luna tell Potter anything?"
"They've been married for four years with their first child on the way."
"Oh," he drawled. "How lovely for them."
"They make an amazing couple," she answered.
"Though a surprising one. I thought he was in love with Ginevra Malfoy."
"He was until she ran off with Draco."
"Lucius must've been thrilled."
She smirked. "He about had a stroke."
"I would image."
"He threatened to disinherit Draco over it, until Narcissa threatened to divorce him if he did so," Hermione chuckled.
"She always did take Draco's side."
"Everyone is glad she did. Even Lucius admits Ginny isn't the worst daughter-in-law he could have."
"The poor man must feel as if he's being tortured every day if he's admitting such things."
"Undoubtedly."
"All that being said, Potter does not need to know of my existence. It would make things too," Severus paused. "Complicated."
"I respect your privacy, but I'm sure he'd love to speak with you," she replied.
"Even if I wanted to speak with him, which I do not, I cannot do so as long as I stay in this form."
"If he hears about your afterlife, it won't be from me."
"I would prefer it that way."
"Me too. My life is complicated enough without you in it."
"Indeed it is."
Hermione picked up a parchment and placed it in his arms. "Here is are my latest calculations. I finished them last week."
He unfurled it. "I still say you gave up on mixing the unicorn hair and snake venom too soon."
"I considered that while at work today, but I'm still at a loss as to what the third stabilizing ingredient would be."
"Hopefully we can find it in time for your father."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
He gazed into her wide, caramel eyes. "It means I cannot make any promises of success. Nobody has told me whether or not I was destined to cure your father, only that I should help you create this potion."
"Oh."
He kept his eyes on her.
"I guess I thought when you came here that maybe Dad was meant to live. It gave me hope." The tear on her cheek glistened in the firelight.
"If I could make promises of success, I would. All I know is I am meant to give you a sense of eudaimonia, which can take a lifetime to achieve."
"Do you think you'll be here my entire life?"
"Actually I think this will only take a few months, or so I hope."
"That's probably for the best."
"It is," he replied. "In the meantime, I don't want you to have any false hope."
"No, you're right." She sniffed. "I shouldn't have false hope."
"Yet you care for your father."
"I do."
His glow dulled. "I cannot say that I can relate to your sentiments, but I understand how important this mission must be to you. For that reason alone, I will do everything within my power to help."
"Thank you, I do appreciate that."
"Do not thank me yet. You may decide by tomorrow that you want little to do with me."
"Honestly, it's nice to be around you again."
"Why would you say that?"
She shrugged. "You are familiar without knowing too much about me."
"So you want to remain somewhat mysterious?" He raised an eyebrow.
"No, I just do not want someone judging me for being in the Golden Trio, or from whatever they've read in the tabloids."
"Understandable."
He began to examine the parchment.
"I stopped selling Rita's book."
He glanced up.
"I realized it was wrong to make a profit off of her. I know what it's like to be the victim of her lies. Even though you were dead, I should've remembered that feeling and done more to protect your reputation, not profit from your death."
"I appreciate the apology, but think nothing of it. There is no reason to be upset over it considering that nobody can do a thing about it now."
"I know but." She attempted to take his hand, but she could not touch his body.
"If you want to atone from your perceived wrongdoings, please allow me to return to my work."
She smoothed out her dress. "Yes."
Instead of reading her notes, Severus took note of her expression. Her eyes were pleading with him for any kind of encouragement, even if it was laced in sarcasm. When he was teaching, that look had been grating. As an equal who was attempting to earn his respect, it was important that he give her at least some hint that he did not believe she was a dunderhead.
"Aren't you going to read any more of my notes?" She rubbed her arms.
"Yes." He returned his attention to her work.
Had he not known the woman behind this writing was Ms. Granger, he would have called her a great potions mistress. He may have even been tempted to agree to mentor him, assuming it did not interfere with his spying duties. Since it was Ms. Granger's work though, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of pride that she had learned so much from him, and regret that he had never encouraged her to dedicate her life to potions. Was he really so terrible a teacher that he had squashed instead of nurtured her potential?
"What did you think?" She shivered.
He set the parchment onto his lap. "I have two main thoughts"
"Yes?" She smoothed her dress again.
"These formulas are well-researched and logical. There is more creativity contained in these five parchments than in all your course work over at Hogwarts."
Her eyes glistened.
"I also think we will have a more productive conversation if you wear more appropriate clothing."
"Oh," she blushed. "I told you, I have nothing else to wear."
"What about your sweatpants and shirt?"
"Those are night clothes, not research clothes."
"You will focus better if you are comfortable."
"I'm comfortable."
"As long I think you are uncomfortable I will be too distracted by your fidgeting to be of much use. Please change."
"Fine." She stood. "But you did like my research?"
"It gives us a good starting point. There is potential here."
"Thank you!"
If she was a spirit, she would have glowed the brightest yellow Severus had ever seen.