AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
"Neville and I should start making bets on the new woman Minerva is forcing you to date." Hermione's smile was much too wide for Severus' liking. He thought it would've faltered from the exertion of going up to the headmistress' office on a castle-made ramp, but when she had mischief up her sleeve her eyes danced in a way Severus couldn't help but find enticing. Not that he'd ever let her know. Some things did not need to concern her, like how she grew more beautiful by the day, and how his affection for her grew with every hour they spent together.
"Do you take a perverse pleasure in my torture?" Severus asked with a spark in his eyes.
"Not a perverse pleasure," she wheeled herself harder. "But sometimes Neville speculates on who the headmistress will put you with next. It becomes tiring hearing him go on about who would be the perfect woman for you when I suspect your next date will be another woman who will find a way to make you miserable."
"So you want to benefit from my suffering monetarily by swindling Neville out of his money."
"In my defense, if Neville is right I could lose monetarily, which would make me miserable."
"What if you both are wrong?"
"I don't know," she admitted. "It's doubtful Neville would want to gamble with me though, so the point is moot."
"I would imagine you would've lost when Andromeda appeared anyway."
"Yes, I did not see her coming."
"And Wren?"
"No, didn't see her coming either. I didn't even know she existed." She bit her lower lip. "I suppose I would've lost a lot of galleons by now."
"Indeed."
"Anyway, if you want to have the wine tomorrow night we can. I don't want you to become too exhausted."
"I want to have it tonight after I finish this," he hummed, "Meeting."
"Are you certain?" She asked.
"I doubt Minerva will allow me to consume alcohol while at this little get-together, and I would appreciate some to get the horridness of these dates out of my mind."
"Don't be so pessimistic. This may be the most pleasant date yet."
"Unless she has vodka or a new potions discovery," he put his hand on the doorknob, "I doubt it."
"I hadn't thought of someone who could brew with you."
"Neither has Minerva."
"Indeed, you may appreciate a potions partner."
"Or she would be more interested in dominating me in the lab rather than working with me. Besides," he glanced at her. "I already have a research partner into that anti-inflammatory potion."
"Indeed you do." She flexed her right hand and flicked her wrist.
"Are you well?" Severus asked.
"Yes, but I forgot how hard it is to wheel up these ramps. It hurts your hands after awhile. I know the castle tries, but those ramps are still steep."
"It is quite disappointing that an electric wheelchair doesn't work here. It would make life much easier for you."
"You have no idea what I'd give for one," she muttered.
Severus hummed "You look like you could use some ice on that hand."
"I'll manage," she didn't look at him.
"I believe you should have someone look after you, lest your hand cramp too uncontrollably." He grinned.
She glared at him as she flexed her other hand. "I'm perfectly fine taking care of myself."
"I know that, but does Minerva?"
Her eyes gleamed as she stilled her hands. "No, I doubt she does."
"So if you needed someone to ensure you took care of your hands…"
"Well, you are free."
"Indeed I am."
"Are you two going to continue talking, or does either of you have the password?" The gargoyle interrupted.
"Be of good courage," Severus furrowed his eyebrows.
"Enter." The door opened, allowing them entry.
"Severus," Minerva began from her desk. "It's about time you came. I was beginning to think we'd have to hunt you down."
"I was hoping we wouldn't need to do that," the woman sitting across from her began. "I've been hunting criminals all day. I don't need to hunt down the man I'm to share tea time with."
"Isn't it a little late for tea time?" Severus asked.
"It's four o'clock somewhere," Minerva gestured to her desk, which contained a silver tea pot and three porcelain tea cups. On the desk was also a tray of small cake snacks, scones, and pieces of fudge.
"I do not know if it is advisable for me to eat so late at night," Severus argued. "I get horrible indigestion, and tea rarely settles my stomach. It may be best to postpone this for a later time."
"Then you can brew yourself a heartburn curing potion," Minerva pointed to the chair. "Sit down."
Severus glanced at Hermione who winced and squeaked, "Oh, my hands."
"Hermione?"
Hermione held her right wrist. Her eyes grew. "Hestia?"
"Hermione," Hestia stood. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"I didn't expect to come to the office," Hermione admitted. "But when my meeting with Severus was interrupted I decided to see why Minerva called him to her office."
"And you got up here all by yourself?" Hestia began in genuine shock.
"Yes," Hermione gritted her teeth. "I did."
"Severus didn't push you?"
"No," she stretched her hand. "He didn't."
"Hermione," Minerva began, "I would invite you to tea, but sadly, I only brought three cups."
"And I'm sure it would be too much of an imposition to go into your room and give her one," Severus cut in.
"This tea party was designed for you and Hestia, not for you, Hestia, and Hermione."
Severus glanced at Hermione, eager for some type of support.
"How is the auror department doing, Hestia?" Hermione asked.
"It's going great," she replied. "We just busted a gang of illegal potions brewers. They had seven kilos of illegally brewed buruiana."
"That sounds very difficult to manage."
"Not as difficult as getting up those stairs must have been."
"I will admit the ramp was a bit steep, but I managed. An elevator would've been nice though."
"Merlin Hermione, you've always been so inspirational, but now, seeing you like this, seeing you living life in your state, well I can't imagine how you do it."
"It would be easier if there were certain accommodations like permanent ramps, elevators, and doorways which weren't so small. Still, I'll manage."
"Yes, but you're so inspirational."
"Thank you," Hermione ground out, her face becoming more red by the second.
"Perhaps we should sit and allow Hermione to continue on with her evening," Minerva began. "I'm sure she would like to return to her room and continue her Halloween celebration."
"I mean, how do you do it?" Hestia asked, ignoring Minerva.
"Do what?" Hermione asked.
"You know, just live confined to that wheelchair. I'd imagine it's extremely difficult."
"First of all, I don't always use a wheelchair Sometimes, I use a cane, and others a walker."
"Yes, but even using a walker must be so difficult."
"Admittedly certain things would make my life easier, but I'm managing."
"Yes, but I can't imagine how. I mean," Hestia's smile remained wide. "I would die if I were you."
"What?" Hermione paled.
"Yes, I think if I lost my mobility, I would kill myself. Life would be too difficult to be worth living," Hestia answered.
Hermione took a deep breath. A few times she opened her mouth, but closed it. Then she pointed at Hestia, but the words left her. Without uttering a syllable, she turned her wheelchair around and wheeled herself out of the room.
The door closed behind her.
"Nice to see you again Hermione," Hestia called after her. "We'll have to get together sometime."
"You unmitigated arse," Severus growled.
"Excuse me?" Hestia asked, taken aback.
"Was any of that called for?" He snapped.
"Severus, what's wrong?" Minerva asked.
"Yes, I was just telling Hermione what an inspiration she was," Hestia argued. "It isn't my fault she got overwhelmed by my kindness. She probably doesn't hear how wonderful he life is very often. I thought it would be best if she knew."
"You told her that your life wouldn't be worth living if you'd lost your mobility."
"I know, which is why it's brave that she keeps going on," Hestia sighed. "She really is a hero."
"She's a hero because she fought in a war to protect ungrateful dunderheads like you, not because she's in a wheelchair."
"Now don't call me a dunderhead!" Hestia snapped.
"Severus, sit down," Minerva ordered.
"No," he made his way to the door. "I'm going to check on Hermione."
"She's fine," Minerva argued.
"How can you say that?" Severus retorted. "She could barely keep herself together when she left."
"It isn't Hestia's fault she couldn't accept her compliments."
"Compliments?" Severus spat. "What part of any of that patronizing speech was a compliment?"
"The part where I find her an inspiration," Hestia argued.
"You find her an inspiration for getting up and living her life?"
"Yes, it must be hard for her to exist as she is."
"She is not a heroine for existing. She is a person who's trying to live her life."
"I can't believe how heartless you're being," Hestia argued. "Hermione's life is terrible, barely worth living, and you're acting like she's normal."
"She is normal."
"She's an invalid who struggles to get out of bed in the morning, yet bravely continues on."
Severus glared at her. "Don't ever contact me."
"Severus," Minerva snapped. "Don't forget the bet."
"I have not forgotten the bet. I just want to save us some time."
"Save us time?"
He turned around. "Let me explain how this will go: Hestia and I will make awkward small talk until she mentions the war. Either I will be called brave, or I will be demonized. Then we'll fight because she doesn't see me as a person, I'll leave in a huff, and Hermione will have spent the evening believing nobody gives a shit about her well-being."
"Don't act like we don't all care about Hermione," Minerva argued.
"Really, because this is the second women you've allowed to openly disrespect her in front of you."
"Hestia was complimenting her."
"I find her an inspiration!" Hestia argued. "What is so wrong with that?"
"Everything," Severus snarled before taking off after Hermione.
"I," Hestia turned to Minerva. "I don't understand what just happened."
"What happened was Severus wanted to get out of this date, and used Hermione as an excuse to do so."
"Regardless, he had a point," Hestia frowned. "I'm not interested in dating an ex-Death Eater."
"But you said you were interested in Severus."
"Yes, but he's different. He fought Voldemort bravely, and nearly killed himself," her eyes took on a dreamy quality. "He is an inspiration, and living proof of the power of love."
"Indeed he is," Minerva drawled, beginning to see that Severus may have in fact, had a point about Hermione and her reaction to Hestia.