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Hermione spent most of the next day working out in the gardens. She warded the doors to the sheds, and put a strong barrier between the poisonous plants and the rest of the garden. As Atticus ran around enjoying the brief bout of sunshine, she pulled weeds, watered, trimmed, and tidied. She had spent the evening after Atty went to bed looking at various gardening spells. There was, of course, the option to enchant a muggle lawn mower to cut the grass. She knew it was the option Arthur Weasley would have gone for without a doubt, but there was always the risk of something going haywire, and the thought of Atty around a machine with blades that big made her cringe. There were two other cutting spells, but they only covered small areas, and with how large the lawns were at the estate, they would take far too much time. One book had gone so far as to suggest goats, but Hermione didn't think Severus would fancy having goats in his back yard.
If their situation did indeed become a permanent one, she thought she might ask Severus to purchase a large, riding lawn mower and she could work through it the muggle way in no time at all. Until then, though, she wasn't going to ask him to spend so much money on something she highly doubted he would ever use himself. Instead, she carefully measured the length she wanted the grass to be, cast a very simple slicing spell, and then set it to duplicate itself until stopped. It was a little crude, and she would have to make sure that Atty didn't get near it, but it worked very well.
At lunch, she was sweaty and in no mood to stand over a hot stove, so she prepared cold cut sandwiches and fresh fruit for the three of them. Severus had come to the kitchen without her having to go in search for him, and asked her politely how things were coming along. They chatted through the meal about the benefits of various de-gnomer brands, had a friendly argument about whether the feverfew needed more water, and she told him about her plans to clean out the tool sheds while Atticus napped.
At the word 'nap,' the little boy began kicking his feet against the table and chanting NO. Hermione took several deep breaths and reminded herself that Atticus was, in fact, a well behaved and sweet little boy. Most of the time. As she wondered what troll had possessed her baby's chubby little body, Severus drew out his wand.
"If I may?"
Hermione didn't like the idea of anyone casting spells at her son, but she did trust Severus. Curious as to what he would do, she nodded. He flicked his wand and suddenly Atticus hiccuped loudly. He pulled his leg back to kick the table, and hiccuped again. He opened his mouth to yell NO and hiccuped a third time. He could still move and speak every other word just like normal, but when he tried to kick the table or yell 'no', he hiccuped. Hermione smothered a giggle at her son's confusion. When he realized what was happening, he did it a few more times just because he could, and then subsided. With a half-hearted pout, he went back to eating his sandwich.
"Clever," Hermione said, impressed with his methods. "For someone who's never had children, you certainly know how to handle them." The words had barely left her lips before she realized that she didn't know that he didn't have children. "I mean, I assume you don't. Not that I would know." She closed her mouth before she could stick her foot in it any further.
"No, children were never in the cards for me. Considering my upbringing and disposition, I don't often lament the fact."
"I can understand that during the war it would have been extremely dangerous, but I don't see anything about your disposition that would warn against having them now."
Severus paused a moment, realizing that he'd slipped into old doubts that he no longer truly believed. "Perhaps. But as no witches have come forward declaring themselves eager to bear my progeny, I doubt the matter will ever be tested." Hermione laughed at his caviler attitude.
"I thought that's what dates were for." She smirked. "Well, among other things." Severus nearly choked on the last bite of his sandwich. He raised both brows at her audacity, and returned her smile.
"The last time I was on a 'date,' it was still in fashion to bring flowers to the door and promise to have her home by ten. 'Other things' were, alas, not on the menu. Somehow I doubt I would do well in this romantic age of hookups and one offs." He rose and dropped his plate in the sink. As he headed out of the kitchen, he added over his shoulder, "if you happen to know of old fashioned witch who doesn't mind her beau resembling a bird of prey, however, then by all means send her owl my way."
Hermione chuckled at his sarcasm, but couldn't help wondering if he would actually have any trouble dating at all. Considering he had likely taught more than three quarters of the single witches on the continent, his reputation was likely to be an issue, but his old fashioned ideals surely wouldn't. Yes, there were many empowered, modern witches that had no inclinations towards domestic bliss (which was very well and good for them) but there had to be plenty that wanted a traditional wooing and courtship. Maybe not many who wanted to be wooed by their former professor. And perhaps less that would look past his somewhat unique features and see how handsome he could be when he smiled, how charming he looked when he was unguarded.
Atty's eye lids began to droop, and Hermione pushed thoughts of Severus' dating life from her mind as she took her son up for his nap. After all, she didn't have the time or mental acumen for her own love life, let alone her employer's. A sudden thought struck her, making her pause mid step on the stairs to the attic. Surely Severus wasn't- She thought over their conversation, over what he'd said and what he hadn't said. Just because he hadn't been on a date since he was much younger, didn't mean he'd never...
No, she wasn't going to think about it. It was none of her business, and she had no right to be wondering about whether the man who's house she was living in was a virgin. In fact, she wasn't even curious. Not a little tiny bit. Which was why she spent the rest of the afternoon trying desperately not to think about whether or not he'd ever done the deed.
At dinner that night, she carefully steered their conversation away from anything that could even remotely be construed as sexual. They discussed the work she'd gotten done in the gardens, the potions he was brewing, even the process she'd used to create her monitoring charm for Atticus. By the time she put Atty to bed that night, the subject was totally out of her mind. Completely. Or, at least, she'd almost managed to convince herself of that.
She spent the rest of the week focused entirely on putting the estate to rights. From top to bottom, inside and out, she cleaned, organized, updated, and stocked. Sometimes, Severus joined her and Atty for breakfast, but more often, for lunch and dinner. There were times he was too engrossed in a brew or research to attend, and Hermione made sure to always leave a plate for him in stasis. They talked companionably when in each other's company, a fact that both of them enjoyed. Hermione hadn't realized quite how starved she'd been for adult interaction. Severus had been aware of his lacking, but was unprepared for the extent of the impact rectifying the issue would have on him. He felt more content than he had in years. The emptiness that had begun to consume him was fading away.
He had never thought he would enjoy having a child in his home. Though his feelings on children in general had changed drastically over the last few years, it hadn't ever occurred that he could feel close to a child. That he would take so much pleasure in interacting with one. That he would feel so protective and proud. And stranger still, that he was feeling these things about a child that wasn't even his own.
If he was lucky, Hermione would decide to stay after their three month arrangement, and at most, Atticus would come to think of him as a family friend or favorite uncle. But not as a father figure. The thought left him curiously saddened. Why, he couldn't quite place. It wasn't as if he felt compelled to parent every youngster he came across. Hell, he'd spent years in a place crawling with children and never once felt paternal towards any of them. So why did he wish he could be that way with Hermione's son?
Perhaps... it was possible... that some of that stemmed from his feelings about Hermione herself. She was intelligent and funny, sarcastic and kind. And sweet Circe, she was beautiful. He'd thought he knew what his 'type' of woman was. Wild haired, brown eyed, single mothers had never been it. But still, he found the unaffected grace of her, the simple beauty, her casual sensuality, to be utterly alluring.
Which was, in and of itself, a problem. It wasn't as thought he ought to be lusting after her. Not only was she obviously not looking for any kind of romantic entanglements, but she was also in his employ. But then, both of those hurdles could probably be gotten past if he was willing to put his mind to the task. After all, the rewards would easily be worth the effort. He did have to consider the possibility that the only reason he was reacting to her so strongly was that she was the first female he'd spent any significant amount of time with in years. If any other woman was in her place, would he be so attracted to them, as well?
The thought held him back from thinking anything further, even in his mind. It wouldn't be fair to either of them for him to begin to consider pursuing her if he couldn't be certain that it was her that he was drawn to, and not just her convenience.
Not so long ago, there would have been so many other reasons not to let himself think romantically of her. His looks, his age, the fact that he'd been her teacher... All those self doubts would have eaten away at any desire for her until he'd felt worthless for even being attracted to her. But time, and forgiving himself for his many sins, had cleared those doubts away. He'd been a professor for so long that if he refused to even look at ex-students, he would have to wear a blindfold in any populated areas. His age wasn't truly a factor since in wizarding terms, he hadn't even hit middle age. And his looks... well he'd never been good looking and never would be good looking. But he wasn't absolutely hideous by any means, and a lot could be overlooked in favor of his more appealing qualities.
Still, there was far more that he had to consider before he formed any intentions. And he would take his time sussing out every angle. After all, he was nothing if not patient.
