CHAPTER 12: A Single Rose
AN: Title is from the quote "A single rose can be my garden, a single friend, my world" by Leo Buscaglia.
An hour later, while Severus was busy at the apothecary as Isaiah bailed not wanting to stare at pickled anything any longer, he was wandering the shelves of Flourish and Blotts. He was reaching up for a book about runes when someone walked into him. A mass of bushy brown hair hurried to apologize.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't look where I was going," she said and proceeded to drop to her knees to pick up all the books she had spilled.
Isaiah waved his hands and all the books neatly stacked themselves in his outstretched hand. "That's alright. Here you go." He tried to give her the pile but she stood there open mouthed.
The girl gasped. Wide brown eye stared in surprised. "You didn't use a wand!"
"I don't have one, so there isn't one for me to use."
"What happened to it? Oh, sorry that was incredibly rude. I know someone whose wand was snapped and he doesn't like to talk about it. Brings up bad memories. And here I am asking you such a personal question."
He laughed. "I never had one to begin with."
"Really?"
"Really. Now Miss, would you like your books back?" He looked at the titles. "What so special about newts that other salamanders were bundled over in the popularity contest?"
"What?" she was confused.
He tapped the title of the top book before handing them over. "Newts. They all say newts. I myself like olms better, or sirens if we're on the topics of salamanders."
It was her turn to laugh. "Not newts, NEWTs."
"Repeating the same word does not a definition or clarification make when they sound the same."
"I meant that these books are not about the animal but the exams." At the blank look he gave her, she went on. "Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test."
"That's a silly name for an exam."
"Yes, well, I've learned that the wizarding sense of naming things is vastly different than in the muggle world."
"Yeah, I'm learning that."
"You must not have attended Hogwarts if you didn't recognize what NEWTs were."
"Nope, no fancy magic school for me."
"But you're a wizard."
"I was," he paused, "tutored in an exclusive foreign community."
"Oh, I've never met a witch or a wizard that didn't attend a magical school."
He shrugged. "What year are you in then?"
"Seventh. It's my last."
"And your last year is spent being nastily exhausted by exams?" He made a face. "Sounds fun."
"I need to do well to get a job at the Ministry. It will be worth it."
"Of course, Miss. Say, have you taken runes?"
"Oh yes, it's one of the NEWTs I'm taking."
"Great, which one of these," he pointed to the bookshelf, "is a good guide for beginners."
"Spellman's Syllabary was the assigned text when I started taking it as an elective. It contains information on runes, their meaning and is a great guide for translations into modern English."
"Great. I'll get that. Do you need help getting the rest of your school books?"
"No, I'm done, I was headed to the till when I ran into you."
"Lead the way then. I'm all done as well."
They paid for their items in silence and left the shop.
"I'm Hermione Granger by the way." She offered her hand.
He took it and they shook. "How say you? My prisoner? Or my guest? by your dread 'Verily', One of them you shall be."
"You know A Winter's Tale?"
"Indeed, Ms Granger. My name is Isaiah Santos, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Just Hermione, please."
"Isaiah then." She smiled at him a bit shyly. "So, what's Hogwarts like?"
Hermione launched into quite a tale to rival Hogwarts: A History. He got the impression that she didn't have many friends as she only named people she studied with at the library. Probably other outcasts. She was just winding down from a tirade about her Potions class when Isaiah noticed Severus approaching.
"The Slytherins get away with sabotaging our potions. I can't tell you how many times poor Neville's cauldron melted or exploded, but they never have points taken or detentions assigned. I understand that it is a dangerous class so he has to be very strict but sometimes it feels like he hates anyone who isn't in his house."
"That sucks. He sounds like a right tosser." Isaiah said this and smirked over Hermione's shoulder where Severus was standing, glaring at him.
"Professor Snape is brilliant, really he is. The youngest Potions Master in the country, but I wish he was a bit more fair."
"Is that so?" replied a cold voice from behind her.
Hermione whirl around and paled suddenly when she saw who it was. "Professor Snape! Sir, I….I."
"Yes, Miss Granger?"
"Don't get shirty. She wasn't being disrespectful." Isaiah was giving Severus his best 'I'm disappointed in you' look.
"Oh my god, I'm going to be in detention for the rest of my life," she fretted to herself.
"What do you do to those poor students? I'm so glad I never had you as a teacher."
"Yes, well, we've previously established that point."
Isaiah smiled, walked over to the man and kissed his temple, a bonus of his recent growth spurt. He was taller now and loved it. "Don't pout, Sev. And don't get mad at Hermione. It's all my fault."
Hermione's eye would have fallen out of their sockets if they could. There she was watching a stranger kiss her mean Potions professor in a manner that was clearly intimate.
"I'm not surprised. You are a troublemaker. While I could not say the same for Miss Granger in the six years I've taught her."
"Thank you," she said quietly out, face flushing.
Severus hurrumped and Isaiah wrapped his arm around his waist. "Hermione was telling me all about Hogwarts. It's interesting to hear about it from a student's perspective."
"You know I attended the school as well," Severus replied.
"That was like a million years ago," he teased and winked at Hermione. "Plus I got to hear all about what my boyfriend is like as a teacher. I thought you would be as soft as a kitten but she says you have claws."
"I refused to be compared to a cat."
"Baby snake then, what are they called?" he looked at Hermione who actually answered.
"Hatchling, or neonate."
Isaiah nodded and Severus glared at her. "Hey now, no glaring at my new friend." Hermione beamed but shot Severus a worried look.
"Of course you would like her," he huffed.
"Do you have an email account? You know, in case I have questions about that book you recommended," Isaiah asked Hermione.
"Oh no, electronics don't work in the castle," she said, her forehead creased.
Isaiah turned to Severus. "How do you email me then?"
"I leave the grounds, obviously. Faculty privileges."
"Right."
"You can send me an owl," she offered.
Isaiah raised his eyebrow at that. "An owl?"
Severus answered. "Magical messenger bird, they carry our post."
"That's so weird. I thought they were just exotic pets everyone wanted. I don't have an owl and I don't see where I would keep one while at Uni."
"Oh you're a university student! How exciting! Where do you go? What are you studying?"
"I'm studying Theology and Sociology at the University of Bristol. I have a more functional interest in religion."
"How so?" she asked, quite interested.
"Belief systems encourage social order and stability in ways that cannot be rationalized by existence of non-rational accounts can then be explained by the benefits they offer to society. Religion serves many purposes, like providing answers to spiritual mysteries, emotional comfort, as well as creating a place for social interactions and social control. That is what I am interested in. The opportunities it creates, the formation of groups, the support, the networking and how it all stems from a common belief."
"In that case, anything can be a religion. Like having magic."
Isaiah smiled. "That is correct." They were interrupted by an approaching older couple.
"Hermione, sweetie, are you done?"
"Mom, Dad!"
"Are you going to introduce us?" her mother asked.
Isaiah let go of Severus.
"This is my Potions Professor, Severus Snape and…." she wasn't sure how to continue.
"My partner, Isaiah Santos. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr and Mrs Granger. Your daughter is my best student and the top of her year."
Hermione blushed, her parents beamed with pride and Isaiah gave him an approving nod. Isaiah stepped in to rescue Severus. "It was very nice to meet you, Mr and Mrs Granger. Hermione, we'll keep in touch. I'll send word with Severus."
"I can't believe how terrified she was of you, poor girl," Isaiah noted as they walked away from the Grangers.
"I terrify everyone."
"Not me!"
"You're not everyone."
"Aw, aren't you sweet. Where to next?"
"I have to drop off some last minute documents at Hogwarts. I'll floo over to Hogsmeade from the Leaky Cauldron. Would you like to accompany me?"
"How long will it take?"
"Less than half an hour."
"No thanks then, I'll get started on this runes book that Hermione recommended. I'll wait for you in the pub."
"Very well. Don't get into any trouble."
"Me? I'm a saint. Now you on the other hand," he let the tease hang. "Don't make me wait long, go on."
Severus did as he was told and disappeared into the green flames of the fireplace. Isaiah found an empty table, ordered a drink and promptly started reading his book.