AUTHORS NOTE: Sorry for the short update, got a poorly friend and rushed off my feet, next chapter will be here soon to make up for it.
Fingers digging into the fabric as though it was stitched with goblin gold, he looked at the large claw footed tub now filled to the brim with steaming hot water and a soft cloud of bubbles. Vaguely he could hear Hermione downstairs, opening the oven and then the sound of the cutting board as she no doubt began to prepare some vegetables to go alongside the promised roast.
For the second time that day, he broke down and wept.
The bath was heaven. Severus had never been a religious man, but he was pretty sure that he was having the closet thing he'd ever had to a religious experience the moment his weary bones settled in the water. Even as he hissed at the temperature of it. Why do women run their bath water so bloody hot? Though he succumbed to it, thinking even this was preferable to cold. Though he did fight the urge (and lost) to cradle his bollocks protectively from the heat as he lowered himself in to the steaming waters, but after a few moments his body began to acclimatise to it, his skin gaining a warm pink flush .
Once his body acclimatised to the heat, it was beyond pleasant and he felt as lax an boneless as a kitten that had been promptly grabbed by the scruff. He'd never been one for such churlish things as bubble-baths as an adult at Hogwarts, and had never had the fortune enough to afford them when he could appreciate them as a child. Though now he revelled in the luxury of it, and was grateful for the covering of foam providing a visual barrier that meant he didn't have to look at his miserable body as he relaxed.
The smells of the bath permeated his skin and his senses, the mint that rose from the foam, along with a slight hint at citrus. The soft tickling sensation as the bubbles pressed against his skin. The Dampness on his face as the warm humid air surrounded him. He relaxed there for a while, until his mind once more kicked into gear. A glance at the water and foam showed it was still pristine and clear with clean white foam, which surprised him. He knew he was less than clean before he collected his son and got covered in all of the filth and grime that it had entailed, so why was the water not filthy? He'd expected to have to change the water a few times, to avoid sitting in the amassed scum.
His question was answered however, when he carefully rubbed some blood from his arm. The blood flaked into the water turning it slightly rusty for a moment before it swirled slightly and went clear again. He saw a slight light in his peripheral vision as it did, and turned to see the subtle runes carved into the side of the bath, which were glowing intermittently. Seeing as it was a muggle claw foot tub, it looked like they'd been added by hand afterwards. Clever, Granger. Very clever. It was obvious the bath had runes for cleaning and purification en-spelled into the tub itself. Another cursory glance found more subtle runes engraved into the taps. It was then that he realised that despite being sat in the water for a good few minutes, the bath water felt just as warm as it had when he first got in, and now that his skin had acclimatised to the temperature, he had to admit it felt rather pleasant.
He recognised the flowing cursive script as belonging to Granger, and he instantly knew that she'd done all the spell-work herself. Some might even have been her own creations. She'd always been a prodigy, but Charms, Transfiguration and Arithmancy had been her forte. She'd had Filius, Minerva and Septima all chomping at the bit to take her on as an apprentice.
She'd been excellent at Potions of course, able to recreate any potion as long as she was given accurate instructions. Though she simply lacked the flair required for experimenting and creating her own brews. But this he thought, experimenting with the different runes and finding one that made the water churn like a muggle Jacuzzi, this is where she shone.
He recalled the discovery of her bluebell flames, and the way Filius had reacted to it.
Severus and Filius had been monitoring the study hall together when a 4th year boy had botched a simple spell and had somehow managed to deluminate the great hall, leaving the room pitch black and the students in rising panic as they were unable to cast even a simple lumos. Until Hermione had conjured her bluebell flames, a constant steady light in the darkness, allowing them to take control of the panicked room. Severus and Filius had been stunned for a moment, before they began the lengthy task of calming the room. They made Hermione stay behind, and she demonstrated the charm once more for them. In addition to providing a steady stream of light, the bluebell flames didn't burn...unless she wanted the to. They had been a creation of hers to solve the problem of reading light in the Hogwarts library. She hated using the lamps or candles for fear of damaging the books, and the lumos spell as well as being taxing and needing frequent re-castings, it formed a harsh and strong white light that she was frightened would fade some of the books if used for an extended time, as sunlight did. Thus, she'd set out to create a safer alternative.
Little third year Hermione Granger, had created her own spell from scratch, when most adult wizards would find it impossible and it was just so she could read longer. She didn't even think anything of it, had not realised how monumental it was. Severus had looked at her with no small amount of interest when she'd mentioned how the light was safer to use around potions and ingredients that were sensitive as it didn't generate any heat (unless you wanted it to and was therefore less reactive. Then she had gone on to demonstrate a number of new spells she'd been working on just for fun. Just for fun. Like her little birds, before Severus finally excused her as he feared Filius was about to have a stroke. Later in the staff-room, clutching a jar of the bluebell flames the small man was so overwrought with joy and pride, Minerva had to give him a snifter of Brandy before he passed out from waxing eloquently so long, while Severus looked on enviously at the jar in his hands.
When Severus returned to his classroom that evening, he found a jar of bluebell flames waiting on his desk for him.
Relaxing in the feel of the warm churning water, he rested his head on the back of the tub and allowed himself to close his eyes, just for a minute.