AN: I have no idea how well edited this is. There's been some drama recently that's been taking up my energy. I didn't even have time to update Voices Carry.

Still, I thank you all for your support. Your support does make me smile and makes my day a little brighter.

Minerva slumped at her desk. After reviewing the memories of each interview, her next step wasn't clear. On paper, all of the candidates appeared promising. After the interviews, some clear front runners were emerging. The candidate who believed in Hufflepuff supremacy and the one who believed ear goblins were the biggest threat to the Wizarding World would not continue on in the process. A few seemed less than enthused about the job, with one outright stating they only applied because their father threatened to kick him out of his house if they didn't get an interview somewhere. That narrowed the field down to five candidates.

One of whom was Hermione.

Minerva reread her application and considered her interview. She'd viewed her interview in the pensieve three times, more than any other candidate. On paper, she was the perfect candidate. In reality she was the riskiest. Right now, her job was predicated on her fulfilling the promise that she could fly. If this became a reality, then Hogwarts would have a formidable Defense Against Dark Arts professor, and could become world famous for her work. If not, then Hogwarts would have a DADA professor who could not perform the basic functions of her job.

"She flew."

Minerva looked at the doorway. Severus entered the room with a rare genuine smile.

"Hermione flew," he repeated.

"She did?" Minerva raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed she did," he sat at the chair across from her.

"Nice of you to join me," Minerva covered the applications with her arm. "I'm glad you came on time for your appointment."

"Sarcasm is unnecessary," Severus' smile faltered. "You wanted to know when Hermione flew. Thus, I'm telling you she flew today."

"How high?"

"Roughly three meters."

"How long did she stay in the air?"

"Longer than I did on my first attempt."

"How long was that?"

"I did not have a way of keeping track of time. I was more interested in teaching her how to move in the air than I was in watching the clock."

"And you think she can do it again?"

"Of course she can."

"Are you certain?"

"Why so many questions?" Severus scowled.

"Because I want to know what my employees are doing," Minerva answered. "Especially when they are applying for a physically demanding position."

"She is the third known person to fly. Isn't that impressive enough?"

"I agree that it is," Minerva's grin tugged at her lips. "It's nice to know that my employees are succeeding in their goals."

"It would be nice if Hogwarts could celebrate her accomplishment by acknowledging it," Severus answered.

"And by acknowledging it, you mean give her this job."

"You said that, not me."

Minerva shook her head and exhaled.

"Hermione implied your biggest reservation concerning her was her inability to fly. Now, she has flown," Severus replied. "Why do you still have so many reservations?"

"I'm not at liberty to discuss the hiring process with you."

"Hermione has discussed it with me though. You made it clear if she could fly, she could go on in the process. She flew. Now, when can she do her demonstration?"

"First of all, I haven't made a decision as to who will advance yet."

"I just told you her biggest drawback is no longer an issue. Why the hesitation?"

"Severus, references and fellow employees cannot come to me and campaign for their candidates."

"I'm not campaigning for her," Severus answered. "I just think you deserve an update and to know exactly what she is capable of."

"I appreciate that."

"You are welcome."

"I mist ask though," Minerva shifted the applications so he could not read them. "What's in it for you if Hermione gets this position?"

"Excuse me?" He drawled.

"You are invested in Hermione obtaining this position, more invested than you were in yourself obtaining it when you applied."

"My lack of enthusiasm is not shocking. When I applied, I was weighed down by a war and teaching the son of a man I despised. Given those, a job was the last thing on my mind."

"Hermione was the best friend of the son of the man you despised, yet you do not seem to be holding it against her."

"That is because she has changed," Severus answered in a soft voice. "She has become a much calmer, more eloquent, more exquisite woman."

"She's also a vulnerable woman," Minerva warned.

"How so?"

"She's a woman who is headstrong, yet often does not understand her physical limitations. Right now, she's in an environment where her needs can be accommodated. This may not be the case in a Defense Against Dark Arts classroom."

"Hermione will thrive in whatever atmosphere she is in."

"Do you believe that?" Minerva folded her hands.

"I know that fact as well as I know the formula of any potion I create," he furrowed his eyebrows.

"With all due respect, you have not seen Hermione at her most vulnerable."

"Of course I have."

"When?"

"I saw her when you initially turned her down for the position. I would say she was vulnerable in that moment."

"Have you seen her after undergoing a medical treatment?"

"I've seen her when her leg is spasming and she's struggling to leave her bed, so in a way, yes," he answered.

"Have you seen her when she was unable to bathe herself, when she needed someone to wheel her down the hall, when she was crying in agony because it felt as if her leg had been amputated?" Minerva asked.

"I have seen her in pain, though I have always believed she was a functional adult who would tell me if she needed help caring for herself."

"Has she ever asked you to care for her?"

"No."

"Exactly, because you have never seen her at her weakest." Minerva's throat tightened. "You were too busy complaining about your life and the fact you were back at Hogwarts to give Hermione any heed when she first became disabled."

"Are you seriously suggesting that I should've been there for her when it is unlikely she would have wanted me in her life?"

"No, even I will admit it would've been unreasonable for you to be there given that you would have just bit her head off if she so much as looked at you."

"Thank you for your kind understanding."

"Still, you didn't see the kind of anguish Hermione was in after every doctor's appointment, how she could hardly sleep after some of them because her leg was in so much pain it kept her awake."

"Which is why she discontinued the treatments," he argued. "She had a low quality of life, but now she has an excellent one. That must be taken into account before you write her off as being too disabled to do her job."

"How much magic does one use when flying?"

"I couldn't quantify it."

"But it must be taxing to do it time after time."

"At first it is taxing, but your body adjusts over time."

"Did you and Voldemort adjust, or are you hoping Hermione adjusts?"

He blinked.

"Was she in any pain after she flew?" She demanded.

"Somewhat," he admitted. "But I'm convinced it will pass once her body adjusts to using her magic in this way."

"You're hurting the girl!"

"I'm empowering her to obtain a job she desires."

"You're going to harm the girl and leave her to pick up the pieces!"

"First and foremost, she is a full grown woman," he snapped. "She can determine if her body is taking too long to adjust to her magic. If it is, she's old enough to determine if she should cease lessons or if she wants to keep going. Regardless, I will respect her wishes."

"You're using her for some purpose and care little for what will become of her," she argued.

"I only want to help her reach her full potential."

"Because you're so well-known for going out of your way to help others reach their potential and achieve their dreams."

"In Hermione's case, I will do both of those things."

"Why?"

Severus closed his mouth.

"Why do you care if Hermione gets this job? Why are you willing to put her health at risk for this job?" Minerva retorted.

"I am teaching Hermione a skill she wants to learn. If she decides to put herself at risk, then that is her prerogative."

"That's all you can say?" Minerva asked. "You claim to care for someone, yet you couldn't care less if they overexert themselves?"

"All magic carries with it some type of risk. You know that, as do I, as does Hermione. If she's willing to take this risk, then I will help her succeed in any way I can."

"Which brings me to my initial question: why do you care whether or not she gets this job?"

"Because Hermione needs someone to believe in her. Since you will not fill the role, I will do so for you."

"That's it then? You're just filling the role of a supportive friend?"

"More or less."

She shook her head.

"Am I not allowed to have friends anymore?" He snapped. "You are putting me on these blind dates because I supposedly have no one to care for, yet the second I care for someone you want me to abandon them."

"I am trying to prevent you from doing something we will all regret."

"What am I doing that's regrettable?"

"Pushing Hermione to get this job in order to fill some kind of need which I doubt even you understand. One day, you will regret using Hermione for your own ends."

"I understand my needs just fine, and I'm not using her. I'm empowering her."

"Then explain: why do you care about who gets the Defense Against Dark Arts position?"

"Because I want to see the best candidate get the position, which is Hermione."

"You haven't looked at the other candidates."

"No, but I've seen a few of them interact with Hermione."

"Oh?" She cocked her head.

"Indeed," he replied. "Two of the candidates visited her today, and proceeded to brag to both of us that they were applying for the job. They behaved as if she was five and discounted anything she said. I know what it is like to live when you feel as if you have no voice, and I care enough about Hermione to help her avoid that fate."

"And that's all this is?"

"I am a man who for the first thirty-eight years of his existence had no control over his life," his voice softened. "I care too much for Hermione to watch her undergo the same fate and suffer the results that I did."

"Nobody is asking her to spy for anyone. That is a major difference."

"No, but everywhere she looks, her freedom is restricted. She's treated as if she's some child who doesn't know what's best for her, and not as an adult who can determine her own destiny," his eyes betrayed his vulnerability. "As someone who cares, I want better for her than I had."

"She isn't you," Minerva replied. "She is restricted by her body, not by her past. If you do not understand that, you will harm her."

"Or I will empower her to become the person she wants to be."

"At what cost?"

"At whatever cost she's willing to pay."

Minerva hummed.

"Do what you want with the information she can fly. Just know that she is a qualified candidate, both mentally and physically," He concluded.

"I will keep it in mind."

Severus hummed before standing.

"You have a date on Friday night," Minerva replied.

"Oh joy," he deadpanned.

"Also," she raised an eyebrow. "You seem to have recovered from your cold nicely. For someone so sick this morning, you certainly are upright. I don't think I've heard so much as a cough from you."

He coughed before smirking. Then he left the room.

Minerva stared at where he'd sat, wondering if Hermione would fly high enough to overcome her limitations, or if she would crash along with her dreams and her shaking leg.