She smiled then, holding back her tears. She knew where he was working, knew what he was getting paid, knew this had to have come out of his own meager wages and she felt warmth spread through her as she the found the answer to the question she'd been asking herself since he first arrived at her door.
"Severus...would you like a new job?"
He eyed her warily, but she wasn't offended. Not in the least. His cautiousness is what had kept him alive for this long and she wasn't about to begrudge him it now.
She knew she would have to be as Slytherin as possible, and she hoped she could pull it off. At one Order Meeting, he'd once said to her though, that the best lies held an amount of truth within them, and well that was something she could certainly do.
"Hear me out before you turn me down, please?" When she smiled like that , especially cradling his son so tenderly in her arms while she nursed him, he could not say no. Not that he'd had any intentions of doing so anyway.
"The Ministry have been about as useful as a chocolate fireguard in terms of helping people who've been damaged and displaced by the war, and Harry and I have been in the process of starting a proper foundation to help witches and wizards that are down on their luck. The muggles have a welfare system for those who are out of work or unable to work due to injury or illness, and we thought it was high time that the Magical community had somewhere or someone they could turn to in their time of need. I mean between me and Harry we have more money than sense, and Harry already has a number of people staying at Grimmauld, we've already been looking at premises to rent to make into something of a halfway house, for people in need of free lodgings and even Molly is contributing by cooking meals for people and making and repairing clothes for those that can't afford new ones. And this is where you come in"
He shuffled uneasily, tears burning at the back of his eyes and threatening to fall, but he held them back through sheer force of will alone. It would destroy what was left of his pride , but if she offered him a home at such a hostel, he wouldn't be able to say no, for the sake of his son. The shame might destroy him , but at least his son would be warm and fed.
"What I'm proposing is that you allow me to hire you as an in-house potion's master, to brew potions for us and for the foundation. I definitely wouldn't say no to a few more brews for Rose and others in a similar boat, if you feel up to some experimenting?. I'd love some potions that are suitable for vegans, or at least vegetarians and I know that Lavender was mauled by Greyback, and though she wasn't turned she does have the same silver intolerance that Rose does, and she can't even use some of her cosmetic potions! Besides, there's so many people suffering with injuries and illness after the war, and especially those who are being monitored by the Ministry and not being allowed access to treatment at Mungos, it's barbaric. Legally I can't pay you more than what the Ministry allows, but we can cover the costs of any equipment and ingredients you required to set up your own lab, and there's nothing in the law that says I can't throw in free room and board to sweeten the deal... if that's something you'd be interested in of course? I know most places are charging an absolute premium for anyone who's on the Ministry's monitoring list, thieving opportunists."
His heart was thudding in his chest, and he swallowed around the stone lodged in his throat, unable yet to form words at the momentous bombshell she'd dropped in his lap. Fortunately , she wasn't done talking , and it gave him some time to get his heart rate back to normal.
"Room and board would be here of course, not at the hostel, I find I enjoy your company far too much to share it, and I can be rather possessive you know. I can even include free babysitting when needed of course, can't we handsome, oh yes we can!" The last words were directed at the boy in her arms who smiled and cooed at her , now he'd finished nursing.
She finally met his eyes when he was silent for a long time, and she saw the expression on his face was a little dumbstruck, rather than the anger or offence she'd feared she might find there. So, ever the Gryffindor, she decided to go for the jugular.
"Please? And I know it's probably not your dream job, not by far and I'm sure that you'll quickly tire of my company, but I do like spending time with you Severus, and I miss you when you're not here. Besides, even if it's only temporary, I'd appreciate the company and the foundation would appreciate the help, I mean lets face it, I feel awful insulting you with the wage that I'm allowed to give you, but to any other Potion's Master, they'd laugh in our face, it wouldn't be worth their time or effort."
She moved closer to his side, passing his son over to him gently. "And I love spending time with this little guy too"
There was a scuff scuff as Sacha promptly sniffed the baby to ensure she hadn't damaged it, then attempted to return to Severus's lap.
"And I'm pretty sure my dog loves you more than me" She said wryly , watching the great Doberman attempt to fit into a space a chihuahua might struggle with.
He had a curious expression in his face when he met her eyes so she simply smiled back at him.
"Please say you'll consider it? Or does the lonely single mother need to think of more reasons, because I've still got a few more under my belt, I'm not beyond begging you know?"
Her face was so earnestly hopeful that he was once more holding back tears , though this time it was for an altogether more pleasant reason. For the first time in what felt like forever, he had hope for a brighter future for him and his son. He was still a slytherin though. So he rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically.
"What will the proposed budget be for potions equipment? Alas the equipment I used at Hogwarts belonged to the school, as does the equipment I am currently using, belong to my current employer."
She frowned a bit then, and the way he forehead crinkled in concentration was so adorably endearing he almost chuckled.
"Well...there isn't one I suppose. I mean, Like I said , between Harry and me, money isn't really an issue. I mean, I'm not really going to be thrilled if you wanted to install solid gold countertops, but as far as brewing equipment goes , if you think you'll need it, then it's yours, we don't want to be cutting corners on something that so many people may be reliant on"
Pausing she smiled at him, and it was a real, unconstrained wide smile that showed all her teeth and the dimples in her cheeks and he felt warmed by it.
"Does this mean you're considering it?"
He wiped a hand down his face , as though in exacerbation though in reality it was to hide the grin he was trying to reign in.
"I have three Conditions."
"Name them" She was practically bouncing on her heels with excitement, that he couldn't fathom.
"One. If I am to break my current rental contract, I will require my first month's wages in advance, to cover the costs associated with terminating my tenancy early"
He had no such contract, no-one on the Ministry's radar did. They rented month to month, but if he could get his wages in advance, he would be able to cover the arrears he owed his landlord, and cut ties with no debt to his name.
Waving a hand as though it was trivial, Hermione simply scoffed. "Of course , I'm asking you to break your tenancy so it's only fair that I cover the charges. You shouldn't have to pay it, I'll bill it as an incentive payment, so it doesn't have to come out of your wages at all."
He nodded, almost unable to believe his luck, but took a breath and carried on anyway.
"Two, If I am to be doing experimental brewing it will require a range of ingredients which may be costly, so I would require use of the gardens here. They're going to waste as it is, and they could with some effort be cultivated to grow both common and uncommon ingredients to keep costs to a minimum. Likewise , I would like to convert the shed to a Lab. Again , with experimental brewing I would prefer to be closer to the lab, and closer to my ingredients. It would also save costs on renting a premises" after a moment he also added on more softly "I also don't want to be taken too far away from my son"
Smiling warmly and indulgently, Hermione brushed a lock of the boys dark hair with hr hand. "Easy, done. I can kill my houseplants so honestly, it's all yours. I can't promise you won't have company at times though. I'd love to truly see a master at work sometime"
He almost blushed from the praise as she grinned and bumped his shoulder with hers.
After that he was silent , staring at the boy in his arms that settled so easily and held onto one of his fingers tightly.
"And?" Hermione coaxed him after a moment. "You said you had three conditions?"
Taking a deep breath , Severus met her eyes and his words shook her to the core.
"My third condition, is that you, Hermione, will be my son...Alexander's...Godmother."