Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own anything.
A/N: Welcome to Chapter 4, enjoy!
Hermione let out a rush of breath as she realized she was no longer in danger.
But, Professor Snape was the last person she expected to come into her store. She laughed to herself as she got up from the floor 'he must be desperate for materials if he's come here' she thought glancing at him stupidly as she nodded an apology, turned around and awkwardly made her way back to the front desk. Once there Hermione realized he hadn't said anything to her upon collision or thereafter. Only silence. That would probably change once he was finished shopping and made his way to the front. Once there in front of her, Hermione was almost positive the snide remarks would then thus ensue from the middle aged hermit; reminding her of how inept she is.
Sighing again Hermione turned back to her tea and prophet in a desperate attempt to calm herself from the anticipation of having to deal with her old professor in the next few moments. Curious, Hermione looked up craning her neck and raising her head over the shelves gawking at the spot where she had practically bulldozed the man. He was no longer there, of course. He had moved to where she could no longer see him. He must still be in the book section of the shop. shrugging her shoulders Hermione turned her attention back to her paper once again.
As the minutes flew by Hermione's shop started to flourish with customers. Some faces she thought were familiar, but at once she disregarded the notion of knowing anyone other than Professor Snape. 'Where is he by the way' she thought glancing quickly around the shop but did not find him. 'He probably didn't find anything to his liking and left' she thought & dismissed the thought of her professor from her mind. Hermione then started to reflect on the time she'd been away from the magical world. She'd been gone for nearly five years - living in Muggle London. all in all everyone seemed strange and alien to her now in Hogsmeade. All the same though, as each new person entered, she was gentle and generous in welcoming everyone into her shop as well as thanking them for their business and wishing them a good day whilst checking them out.
Hermione's stomach started to do flips at the thought of how many people so far had ventured through her shop. Sure, it was opening day but Hermione thought that hardly anyone would show up at all and she would just become some hole-in-the-wall place that people would very rarely venture. As the day progressed further into the afternoon and as more people came and went Hermione grew anxious at the increasing chance that someone she did know would eventually come in. Hermione sighed and began to busy herself to get her mind off of her nerves. Quickly, she went into the back room of her shop and retrieved a bushel of dried lavender. Lugging it to the front she then heaved the bushel onto the front desk and began to make little bundles of lavender for resale. Hermione started counting out the beautifully fragrant strands of plant and compiled them about twenty pieces per bundle. Hermione admired her handy work, making each bundle equal in size to the next binding them together neatly with a brown string. Hermione continued to work like this throughout the day, restocking the shelves, keeping tabs on inventory, determining what she would have to order from certain vendors the following day. Sooner than she expected Seven O'clock rolled around. Closing time. Hermione was grateful for the little bird the called to her from her clock, signaling the end of the business day. She'd have a lot of work cut out for her if business continued the way it had today. Walking down the isles Hermione looked for any stragglers before she locked up. Of course that was the last thing she wanted; to lock someone in her shop for the night, but if people didn't start to leave she's reconsider the idea. She found a few persons near the front and informed them politely that the shop was closing and that they would have to make their way to the front if they had any purchases.
Continuing through the shop Hermione found one last person and he was where she had last left him earlier that morning among the rows books that has convincingly concealed him for the whole day. Hermione looked at him bewilderedly. 'I thought for sure that he had left earlier' She thought.
"Have you been reading all day?" She asked softly.
Without looking up he nodded. Hermione didn't know what to do. She didn't really feel like disturbing the capricious man, but she really did need to close the store. Hermione cleared her throat gently.
"The store is closing in ten minutes" she lied. It was already 7:20 and she had customers waiting for her at the front, but she didn't mind if it saved her from a verbal out-lash from a particular crab of a man. she shifted her weight from one foot to the other waiting on any form of response from the unpredictable person in front her. Again, without looking up from his book he nodded. Hermione looked at him with concern and confusion clearly etched on her face. Regardless, she turned and made her way to the front of the store and began to check out the man who had waited for her. Once Hermione had bagged up the man's purchased items and handed the bag of goods to him she thanked him for his business and hoped to see him again. 'Hopefully during an earlier part of the day' she though. Once the bell on the door rang acknowledging his departure Hermione glanced at her clock; 7:45. Snape had yet to emerge from the bookshelves. Hermione made her way to the back of the store where she knew Snape would be and poked her head around the corner. He was still reading. Hermione moved into the isle and closed in on the Professor. Determination was her game. she cleared her throat softly like before.
"Uh- Professor, It's currently 7:45." she said politely.
Snape looked up but not at Hermione. He looked in the direction of the clock. "So it is." he stated in a matter-of-fact tone. He turned his head back to the book he was reading.
Hermione gawked at the man who was obviously refusing to leave her store. He had been an insufferable teacher back at Hogwarts, and she assumed that was only due to the fact that he was dealing with adolescence's all day. Hermione thought there was maybe at least an ounce of decency in the man due to the loyalty he acted upon during the war. Hermione was sorely mistaken. Her heart rate went up a few notches at the slight anxiety of having to find a way to possibly make this insufferable man leave her store. Hermione stood up straight with her eyes looking forward at the man as she threw her shoulders back and her chest out slightly. She wouldn't cave anymore to this prick.
"Sir, I'm sorry. My store was supposed to close forty-five minutes ago. So, if you please make your way to the front to make any purchases that you might have, otherwise, you must leave now. I open in the morning at 8 o'clock as you well know...come back then."she said unyielding her ground.
Snape looked up and sneered at her "As you wish" he said softly as he placed the book back on the shelf. He didn't look at her again as he passed her and stalked to the front of the shop. Hermione ran to get in front of the man and opened the door for him. She's be damned if he slammed her door up against the wall breaking any glass. He glared at her as he departed not looking back as he exited.
Hermione sighed letting the door retract, closing on it's own. She pulled out her wand after the door had closed behind him mumbling a few words she placed her protection & locking charms around her shop and made her way to the supplies/work room she had in the back. She couldn't believe that man was there all day...... and reading for that matter! Hermione didn't know how to analyze the situation, or her entire day for that matter. She pushed all the events from the day out of her mind and proceeded to the cauldrons she had in the room. There was a line consisting of 5 cauldrons situated in the middle of the room- big enough to boil something roughly the size of boar. Hermione thought it would be cheaper to mass produce her own potions; sleeping draught's, headache remedy's, wart remover, anything simplistic and needed regularly Hermione made and stocked herself on her shelves. Then, on the right side of the room Hermione had a table going against the wall, running the length of the room. The table was covered with smaller cauldrons; all varying in sizes, and was littered with many different ingredients. Hermione used these to make more complex and special ordered potions that she might have. she hadn't had any inquiries today about specialty potions but she knew it was only a matter of time before someone asked and she'd be more than happy to do it. Hermione checked on the progress of the potions that were currently brewing. She added some ingredients to one and stirred another three times clockwise and twice counter clockwise.
Sighing, she turned out the lamps in the work room and went up the steep staircase to her bed room. It was in this moment she realized and understood how unbelievably alone she felt . She was glad that her loneliness was forgotten during the day due to the torrent of people in her shop. But, she couldn't help feeling so empty inside during this time of unbearable silence, She wished desperately for someone to confide in. Someone to hold. Someone to whisper her name. Anything but the silence. Hermione slipped into her night gown after brushing her teeth thoroughly. she looked in the mirror after spitting out some water from her mouth. She despised herself now in this moment. Her eyes were lined with purple. Her cheeks were less full than they once were. It felt as if she were in a different life time. Hermione closed her eyes tightly trying to remember when here life felt more lighter than now. Trying to remember what it felt like to have a family that loved her dearly. She tried to remember what it felt like to smile at friends just because. She tried to remember......but couldn't. Hermione felt like she'd be stuck in this personal hell forever. Opening her eyes Hermione found herself griping tightly at the sink, her knuckles white with strain. She quickly left the presence of her reflection and got to her bed, she maneuvered herself under the comforter and turned out the lamp on her night stand. She fell asleep Instantaneously.
Oh geeze, your still reading? well, Thank you! if you could....please review.
I hope you have enjoyed it and i will update soon....i hope....I'm on a roll people!