KIND AND FAIR
Disclaimer: This is a non-profit tribute to the works of JK Rowling who created and, together with her publishers and licensees, owns the characters and settings elaborated herein.
A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers and especially to my previewers, Bellegeste , Cecelle and Lady Memory.
The story so far: After Professor Snape reveals his true feelings to a newly graduated Hermione, an unexpected friendship slowly develops, furthered by exchanges of letters and occasional meetings. But his past keeps butting in, and so do her friends...
Her smile didn't waver as his eyes searched hers, but she didn't unclench her hand till he changed the subject. "You mentioned a job offer?"
She unstiffened her back and rolled her eyes. "I said no, but he insists on keeping the position open till January in case I change my mind. I'm sure he only wants me because I'm friends with his family."
"You think he wants your help to reconcile with them?" he asked.
"He doesn't want to reconcile. He still blames them for the split." A log crumbled and shifted. She poked it back in with the fire-iron. "I just don't trust him anymore."
His lips pursed. "He was never a malicious boy. My house found him annoyingly meddlesome, but kind and fair; even Draco didn't hate him, and he'd been brought up to despise all Weasleys."
"He changed when he started working for Crouch. He thought poor Winky deserved to get clothes. Just for being afraid!" she complained.
Severus raised his eyebrows. "Didn't Potter ever tell you that her negligence then almost set young Barty free?"
"Yes, but Percy didn't know that. He just thought his boss was always right. And he ended up ditching his own family."
"Because they thought Dumbledore was always right. Percy was on the rebound from worshipping at the same altar; naturally he looked for an opposite."
You'd know about worshipping and altars and looking for opposites, wouldn't you?
"I thought Dumbledore was always right, too," she admitted. The fire was burning low. She wanted to add a log, but was afraid she'd hit his face.
"Perhaps he was. We won in the end, didn't we, whatever he sacrificed along the way?"
Like you.
Her feet were going numb. "I'm not any closer to understanding why Percy's so determined to hire me."
"Three reasons: Either because he thinks you're the best candidate, or he finds you attractive – "
"Percy?"
"Or, like his sister, he's trying to protect you." He gave her a straight look. "From me."
"They ought to trust my judgement." She uncurled her legs and hunched them in front of her, resting her chin on her knees.
"Do you always trust theirs?" he asked.
"Don't you mind that they're always criticising you to me?"
"I remember what it's like to try to persuade a friend she's making a mistake."
She wasn't going to talk about Lily.
"Will I see you before the holidays? It's your turn to pick somewhere. Er, probably not ballet." She grinned sideways. He nodded.
"There's a Hogsmeade weekend in two weeks, and fortunately, I'm off-duty. I thought, weather permitting, perhaps we could go on a picnic."
She'd never associated him with picnic rugs and plastic plates. Of course, he could conjure chairs and china if he preferred.
"Do you have somewhere particular in mind?" she asked.
"I do," he said. "Somewhere that I both shared with Lily – and did not."
The thought seemed to amuse him somehow. It didn't amuse her at all.
A/N I base Snape's comments about Percy's dealings with Draco and other Slytherins on Percy's encounter with first Polyjuiced Ron and Harry then Draco in CoS, ch 13. He shows concern for the safety of Slytherins, does not punish outright rudeness and doesn't seem to have made himself Draco's enemy, despite the enmity of their parents/families ... even if he is silly enough to say "I am a Prefect. Nothing's about to attack me."
Crouch sacked his house-elf Winky for failing, due to her fear of heights, to guard his insane Death Eater son at the Quidditch match she'd persuaded him to let him attend. Barty Jr promptly stole a wand, sent up a Dark Mark and was barely stopped from escaping.