Snape was there the next day. Hermione was waitressing lunch, rushed off her feet, and when she returned to the kitchen with a plate still filled with food and a face full of fury, Ginny had to bite her tongue – hard – to keep from laughing.

Hermione slammed the plate down on the bench, a few peas jumped off the plate, and she turned to Maude. "He says it's too rare. Steak! Too rare! There's no such thing…"

Maude – rushing already – spared the meat no more than a glance and a shrug of her shoulder. Ginny finished the meal she had been arranging, put it up for the other waitress, then took Snape's steak. She put it on the grill and turned to Hermione.

"I should invite Snape over more often," she teased. "I haven't seen you this full of life for weeks."

Hermione huffed, shot her friend a glare and hustled out of the kitchen with another meal for another table. Ginny turned the steak, replaced it on the plate and put it up again. Hermione glared at the plate when she returned, turned the glare to Ginny, then flounced away.

"Maude, I am hiring someone to help you," Ginny said to the middle-aged witch who was levitating vegetables out of the boiling water in which they had been cooking and dropping them onto plates.

"Fine, just make sure whoever it is has some sort of skill!" Ginny ducked as meat whizzed off the grill and onto plates, then moved out of the way as the plates flew to the counter. The bell rang, and Hermione picked up the plates to take them out.

When the lunch rush finished, Ginny hung up her apron, washed her hands and went out to see Snape.

He was in his usual table, tucked into the corner where he could watch both exits easily. His heavy black cloak was wrapped around him, despite the warmth of both the day and the room. As Ginny sat down, she said, "You really should stop teasing her; she'll decide you hate her."

Snape just grinned nastily. "Have you received any news from Seeker?"

"Even better," she replied. "Malfoy himself visited yesterday."

Snape snapped to attention, leant forward instinctively. "Malfoy was here?"

"Yes," Ginny replied. "And he seemed to enjoy kissing my hand." She waved her left hand lightly.

Snape's eyes widened. "Stupid girl!" he hissed, smacking her hand down. "Was he aware…"

Ginny frowned. "He seemed curious."

Snape cursed under his breath. "And Seeker's report?"

"An 'account from silence'. Malfoy tried to accuse me, but I think I deflected well enough."

"He was probably too distracted by whatever that ring did to him." Snape muttered vehemently for a few more moments. Ginny changed the subject.

"The steak was to your liking?"

Snape shrugged. "Teasing."

"Snape, you just don't tease about steak."

He raised a black eyebrow. "Bring Granger over here."

Ginny hesitated. "If she hits you, I won't stop her."

Snape smiled nastily. Ginny sighed and called her friend over. Snape looked Hermione over for a long moment and Ginny could feel the heat radiating off her friend's face.

"What?" she snapped.

"Would you like to work for me?" Snape asked plainly. Ginny snorted.

"You trying to steal my staff now?"

"She's your guest, not your staff."

Hermione cleared her throat. "I am standing here, you know. What gives you any indication that I'll even consider your offer, Snape?"

"Because your brain is atrophying in this job? That and my charm," he added. Hermione snorted, but Ginny grinned at his straight-faced humour.

"Well? Are you going to explain to me what you expect me to do? And how much you'll pay me?" Hermione's cheeks were flushed, and her hands were on her hips, unconsciously gathering her dress closer to her frame and making it ride a little higher than her knees. Snape ignored her.

"How much are you paying this girl?" He asked Ginny.

"Room, board, a galleon a day," Ginny replied.

"Generous," Snape replied. "I can afford only a little more than that, minus the room and board. But I do need someone to slice mandrake roots for me."

"I can't help you, I've got a pub to run." Ginny turned to Hermione.

"Mandrake root? Ashwinder eggs? Mermaid scales?" She was working herself up into a fury. "Any other dangerous ingredients you want to farm out?"

Snape raised a hand. Hermione stopped speaking. "I am hoping to win the contract to provide St Mungo's with hospital-grade potions."

Hermione's eyes widened. "That's why the…"

Snape's face turned dark. He turned to Ginny. "Have you informed the whole neighbourhood of your activities?"

Ginny stood her ground. "No. Hermione only. But you'll need all the help they'll give you… Though Hermione can tell you exactly what that article will do, and I don't know if it'll make you lucky enough to get the contract."

Snape sneered. "Luck is all it provides."

"Actually," Hermione interrupted. She wavered as Snape turned to look at her, but she continued in her lecturing tone. "Actually, it's not about luck at all. It's about political power. They'll make you successful… but only in line with your political ambition. Malfoy had them: the wealthy became extremely politically powerful, and Malfoy continued to make money. I don't know if it'll help you get the contract."

Snape stared at her. Ginny grinned. Hermione floundered.

"I suppose I will need all the help I can get then," Snape said eventually.

Hermione looked to Ginny. Ginny returned a raised eyebrow and a shrug. Hermione narrowed her eyes.

"Are you asking me to help you, Snape?"

Snape's face stayed blank. "I suppose I am," he returned.

"Then I want to be an equal partner."

Ginny saw Snape's jaw clench. He kept his face blank apart from that one reflex movement. "One third. You can't buy in, you haven't the capital."

Hermione stood straighter. "One half, and you can subtract one half of your starting proceeds from any dividends we make."

Snape considered her for long minutes. Hermione flushed again, but kept her shoulders set and her back straight. "Equal partner," Snape eventually said. "You'll share in whatever costs we have as well as whatever money we make."

Hermione looked a little shocked, but she took the hand Snape held out and shook it firmly. Ginny thought that Snape kept his face blank to stop from smiling. One third partner was far too high to begin bargaining if he'd ever wanted to keep her at one third. He'd wanted her as equal partner, but had made her fight for it. Merlin, the man was helping Hermione get over the hurts inflicted by her brother more than she herself had.

Snape stood, Hermione backed up to let him past as he nodded goodbye to both women.

"I think he wanted me to hit him, the way he was winding me up," Hermione said to her friend.

"Good work on not, by the way. I would have," Ginny confessed. "Equal partner! Well done!"

Hermione smiled a little. "I've just bought into more hard work than profit. He knew exactly what he wanted, and he got it."

No, Ginny thought, he hasn't got it yet.