Severus didn't talk at first; he left her, uncomfortable, in the living room to go upstairs. Hermione took the moments alone to look around the room. There were no pictures on the walls, but there were vials and potion ingredients everywhere. Scattered throughout the few surfaces of the room, books were piled on top of each other.
She had never imagined his home would like this. It made her sad to know he lived like this. She wished she could make it more like a home instead of a workspace.
He came back downstairs carrying more books. "Now we start."