It's What's Inside That Counts
Chapter 30
July 15
Hermione put the last of the dinner dishes in the sink and took out two dessert plates. She had invited him to the Farm three times for "friendly dinners" since the Potter wedding.
"I have a job interview tomorrow," she said as she laid a slice of pie on Severus' plate.
Since Ginny's wedding, she had felt something different from Severus, a good different than what she felt before.
"Oh?" he inquired.
She nodded. "The Aurors are creating a new department to free more of them for field work and training," she explained. "It's called the Auror Support Department. They'll be handling the bulk of administrative work such as research, evidence analysis, and maintenance of the case files of the baddies they catch. In addition, the 'A-S-D' as they call it will be doing most of the Potions work as well."
"I know the interview will go well for you," he replied and covered her hand with his.
The next morning, Hermione was putting the finishing touches on her hair when the telephone rang.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Are you ready for your interview?" a familiar deep voice asked.
"Severus?"
"I finally procured a telephone for my humble hovel."
"So I hear," Hermione said with a chuckle. "And yes, I'm about to leave for my interview."
Severus closed his eyes at the sound of her sweet voice and husky chuckle. "I enjoyed dinner with you last night," he said.
"I enjoyed it too."
"What are your plans this evening?"
"Honestly, I have no idea."
"Would you care to take in a play?"
"A play, Severus?"
"Yes, a Muggle one no less," he teased, "...at the West End."
"I'd like that," she replied. She loved West End plays.
"Very well, shall I meet you there or-"
"Severus, we can go together you know."
His heart gave a thump of joy. She was letting him back in, little by little, bit by bit. She was being careful, but after what he did, could he blame her?
"The play begins at seven, would you care for something to eat prior to the opening curtain?"
"Sounds great."
At five p.m. Severus arrived at the Farm and was greeted by Hannah, who bounded from the back yard toward him. He bent over to pet the dog and heard the front door open. He looked up to see Hermione grinning at him. "I'm almost finished with today's post," she said. "Come in."
He sat at the dining room table and watched Hermione straighten a mess of papers.
"I got the job," she said with a smile.
"Congratulations," he said.
"Although I have enough money to live on for awhile, some of the bills are starting to add up," she said. "I admit that it feels good to know that I'll be doing something useful again."
She saw the uneasy look and twitch of his lips. "I'm sorry Severus."
"My dear, what in the world would you be sorry for?"
"I know how much you liked working and here I go throwing that in your-"
"Hermione, everything that has happened in my life, good or bad, is entirely of my own doing," Severus said. "I'm not totally without options, I am a Potions Master after all. Now, are you ready for a night on the town?"
He felt heartwarming affection as he watched her read the dinner menu. She was biting her lip as she murmured the selections to herself.
"...the grilled chicken..no...ham?...no...yes, here we go.." she said and looked at Severus. "I'll have the Lamb Cassoulet."
Severus repeated her order to the server and ordered drink refills.
"Thanks again for tonight, in addition to seeing what I hope is a good play, I also see it as rewarding myself for my new job," she said.
"When do you start?" he asked.
"Monday. They're putting the finishing touches on the remodeled offices."
"You have your own office?"
"I will," she said with a grin.
During the play, Hermione paid rapt attention to the performance. She could identify with the humorous but angsty romance between the lead couple. Severus cold only pay rapt attention to the lady beside him. The captivating fragrance she wore this evening, the pretty satin sundress she wore on this balmy night and the way she groaned and caressed the fork with her lips when she ate her triple chocolate tiramasu drove him to distraction. He was startled from his thoughts when she suddenly rose and started clapping. He rose too and saw that the entire audience was clapping too. The actors on stage bowed and left.
"Wasn't it a wonderful performance?" she asked with dancing eyes.
"Uh...yes...yes it was," he said and guided her from the theatre.
"What about the part when the little green men beamed her aboard their space ship?" she asked.
Severus stopped and looked at her curiously, wondering if she had heard her correctly. "I beg your pardon?" he asked. He saw the corners of her lips twitch and the mirth in her eyes. "You're teasing me, aren't you?" he asked.
She quickly nodded her head. "Severus, here we were at a play and you barely watched any of it. It was really good."
"I had something better to watch," he said casually. When she adorably blushed, Severus said, "Come, I'll take you home."
On the front porch, when Severus stooped to give her a kiss on the cheek, she put her fingers on his lips.
"Would you like to come in for a bit? Molly sent the pictures from the wedding," she said. "Maybe you'd like to see them."
Like I would say no! he thought and stepped over the threshold. They sat on the sofa and looked over the pictures. He only had eyes for Hermione.
"You were stunning that day," he said softly.
"So I'm less than stunning all the other days?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. She saw the panicked look in his eyes and smiled.
"What I mean to say is that..." he said and stopped. "You're teasing me again, aren't you?"
"Shall I stop?" she asked. "Relax Severus. You're trying so hard, and I thank you for that."
"I need you back in my life, sweet, there's nothing I won't do," he said and took her hands in his. She didn't pull them away. "I love you."
"Say that again Severus," she whispered.
"I need you, I love you," he said softly. Her hands squeezed his and he looked at her face. Her bottom lip was trembling and single tear fell from her left eye.
"I don't meant to upset you," he said.
He was happily startled when she suddenly hugged him. A sudden infusion of warmth, affection and comfort overtook him, a feeling that only she aroused. She was the only person that ever made him feel that way. How had he ever lived without it?
"I'm not upset. I'm happy and scared," she said.
"And I thought I was conflicted," he teased. "I'm pleased you're happy, but what frightens you?"
"Of being hurt, of being discarded as if I were a bit of rubbish," she said with a sniff.
Severus sighed. "Hermione, if it were in my power, I would take away those awful moments. I will be forever sorry for hurting you in such a way, but allow me to vow here and now that I will spend the rest of my life proving that your love...is like air to me. Without it, I can't survive."
They talked and cuddled for hours and fell asleep on the sofa.
Severus woke the next morning to the crooning of a rooster. Well, there is one in the backyard after all!
When his sleepy vision cleared, he saw that Hermione's head was resting on his thigh and was softly snoring. Hannah was sitting in front of them, looking at them patiently while softly thumping her tail on the floor.
"You don't need alarms when you have an Irish Setter thumping her tail on the floor at six in the morning," the drowsy voice of Hermione said from his leg. She rose, yawned and rotated her neck. Severus thought her sleepy eyes and tousled hair adorable. Hannah trotted to the kitchen and came back with her dog bowl in her mouth.
"Alright, cheeky dog," she mumbled and stood up.
Severus followed her to the kitchen. She filled Hannah's bowl with kibble and started coffee. "I need coffee before I tend to the animals," she said and yawned again.
After a cup of coffee, she went to the bedroom and changed into jeans and a t-shirt that she wore when she tended to her animals. When she walked to the back door, Severus followed. She took her wand from her back pocket and transformed his clothes.
"Can't have you ruining your fine silk shirt and linen pants stomping among the cows, can we?" she asked.
An hour later when the cows, chickens, cats, rabbits and lambs were fed and watered, Hermione dunked herself in a water barrel, emerging wet from the waist up. Severus almost dropped the bag of chicken feed he was holding when Hermione ran her hands through her wet hair and arched her back, accentuating her breasts through the wet t-shirt. He was startled by the voice of Harry Potter from the back porch.
"Damn, makes me wish I lived on a farm, nice sight first thing in the morning," Harry quipped. Ginny slapped his arm and looked at Severus carefully.
"Hey you two! How was the honeymoon?" Hermione asked and ran to the back porch.
"Fiji was a dream," Ginny said.
"Have you had breakfast yet?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, mum made a huge fry-up," Ginny said.
"When did you get back?" Hermione asked and ushered everyone inside to the breakfast nook in the kitchen.
"Last night," Harry said. "We floo called here, but there was no answer."
"Oh, we went to dinner and a play," Hermione said and took two more cups from the cupboard. Harry and Ginny again glanced at each other when she winked at Severus. "Where are my manners! Here I am with guests, filthy and acting like I'm in wet t-shirt contest!" Hermione declared. "I'll be back in ten minutes."
When she left the kitchen, Severus said, "Are you sure you don't care for a bit to eat? I'm making breakfast anyway," he said.
"No thanks," Harry said and took a sip of coffee. "So, you two went to a play?"
"Yes, and dinner," Severus said and whipped three eggs in a bowl. He had to be careful- these were two of Hermione's closest and most protective friends.
He sliced a tomato and mushroom, grated some cheese and checked to see that the pan was hot enough and poured the egg in, adding spices. He added the tomato, mushroom cheese and carefully finished the omelet. He meticulously added butter to some toast, arranged it on a plate with the omelet and set the plate among a perfectly arranged setting at the table. He set a large glass of orange juice and fresh cup of coffee at the top of the plate and nodded. Hermione came back into the kitchen, freshly showered with damp hair.
"Your breakfast awaits," Severus said and pulled out a chair.
The Potters watched the scene with interest. Hermione gave Severus a warm smile and took a seat. She put a napkin in her lap and eagerly ate the omelet while giving Severus charming glances. When she finished, they all went to the living room and talked about the honeymoon, Hermione's new job and the gossip about their former classmates.
"I hear that Susan Bones is pregnant," Ginny said.
"Well done Neville," Harry said.
"Didn't know he had it in him," Hermione quipped.
"Apparently Susan did," Harry said.
The three friends laughed. Severus listened to the interaction between the three. It was so good to see the old Hermione back.
That night, Hermione was at the Burrow for dinner with the Weasleys. Severus felt lonely and out of place alone at Spinner's End, despite his books and music. A familiar white owl arrived at the living room windowsill. He took the letter from it and dismissed it with a wave. He opened the letter, read it and sighed.
If you hurt Hermione again, I'll kill you myself, after my darling wife has her way with you first. After all she's been through, Hermione needs happiness. I saw it in her eyes this morning- keep it up.
Sincerely, Harry Potter